Watch this. Bask in the warm fuzzy glow of 80’s camp. Or just fast-forward to around 1:15 minutes in and get ready to kick it old school. Confession: I just bought this song from iTunes for $0.99 and have been listening to it back to back for a half hour straight. I forgot that Pen and Teller have been around so long.
U2’s classic album, the Joshua Tree, is being re-released in a new re-mastered deluxe box-set edition. I’m listening to the (non-re-mastered) album right now. It might be the greatest album ever. Heck, the first four songs might be the four best songs ever. What a way to open an album. I think some people fail to appreciate the greatness of the album because it has become so familiar to them. I know we’ve all heard With or Without You a million times. But the song is wonderful and actually pretty darn innovative.
Check out this video of Bono playing a brand new song, which was left incomplete during the Joshua Tree sessions. Apparently he just recently finished the lyrics an recorded the vocal. It sounds pretty good.
I like Arcade Fire. Their 2nd album came out a couple months ago. It is called ‘Neon Bible’. It is an absolute triumph. It’s better in every way from their debut album, which says a lot. It was recorded in an old church (in Montreal I think), which gives the album a really cool, spooky, natural reverby sound. And they even used the huge church organ in a bunch of the songs. The album is haunted by the bible and biblical imagery. Regardless of what the band had in mind when they wrote and recorded these songs, to me they are songs for the great Christian pilgrimage - for life on the way to the heavenly city.
One of my favourite songs is called ‘No Cars Go’, which, to me, is a kind of psalm of accent, in which we are called by the singer to rise and gather together at place ‘where no cars go’. A place where man, by his technology and according to his natural powers, simply cannot go. In a confused, shambled and tattered way, I take this to be the voice of a herald sounding forth the Gospel.
I just found out (via this interview) that the band leader was a religion major at McGill.
OK. We’ve all heard this song hundreds of times. It’s a great song. But, man, check out this guy’s awesome right hand technique!!! He’s doing some really cool thumb and first two fingers pinching stuff. Very very cool. Wait and watch for it. You gotta love this guy’s guitar tone. It’s that perfect Stratocaster style, just barely overdriven yet still clean, kinda sound. I love it.
I’ve been on a serious Dire Straits bender this weekend while I’ve been finishing off my last few assignments. Only one paper to go.
New project for the summer: teach myself how to finger pick. I love that sort of dull, mellow sound you get when you play an electric guitar finger style.
Two new collections of noise and madness fell out of my head through my fingers. Beware.
What the leader of Pavement does now. Guitar heroics. The sound quality sucks a little, but wait it out. The solos/jams kicks some major ass. (3:05)
Good things come to those who wait.
Saw them live in Toronto in 2003. Mind blowing.
The closest thing they had to a hit. Back in 1994.
Here’s Pavement, the greatest rock band of all time.
I’m posting this to atone for my sins. In the last 24hrs. I’ve purposely listened to… and enjoyed… the music of both Justin Timberlake and Gwen Stefani.
Heck I don’t care.
Bask in the glories of Pavement.
