A Truer Sound has posted the August edition of the monthly Feel Bad For You compilation. Phil Norman (Twitter) gets the props for the nice artwork for this month's edition.
The concept is stupidly simplistic. Several of us have formed some sort of whacked, 'X' degrees of separation kinship through blogs, Twitter, Facebook, etc. (kind of like one of those distant cousins you avoid even at once-a-decade family reunions). We submit one song of our choosing each month. The fact many of us have common interests in music doesn't suck when it comes to compiling the submissions. (As an aside, Compiling The Submissions sounds like an awesome goth band name if you ask me.)
In addition to sampling each others' choices, you too are a winner. Treat the compilation like loading your plate at a weird wedding reception. Take multiple helpings of some, taste a bite of another before tactfully returning the rest to your plate, smell some and recoil in horror, etc.
So with the continuing - yet to be expected - heat and humidity, mop your brow, deodorize your pits, swig a cold brew, and listen to FBFY here (or click here to download the compilation).
My contribution this month was One More Summer by Kansas City's The Rainmakers. After a 14-year hiatus, the band reunited (less one founding member), released a CD of all new material, and toured several joints in Norway. NORWAY??? Yes - Norway - who supported the band early and often in their prime time. One More Summer is from the band's second release - Tornado - from way back in 1987. (Seriously? 1987? When 100% of my college loans were still due?) But here is a version of the song from one of the band's spring Norwegian shows.
A Truer Sound has again posted the compilation of Feel Bad For You - July edition. Popa2unes (Twitter) designed some hilarious artwork for this month's edition.
With much of the country enduring insufferable heat and humidity this month, perhaps these tunes will provide some soothing, ointment relief ... to your ears. Listen to it here (or click here to download the compilation).
Incredibly, 2011 is already half-way done. As a result, I submitted a song titled The Fifty Percenter by Rich Hopkins and Billy Sedlmayr. For several years, Hopkins was lead guitarist for the Tucson, AZ based band The Sidewinders. (The band later changed its name to the Sand Rubies after an unfortunate, ridiculous lawsuit over the Sidewinders name by another band.) Today, Hopkins records and plays more often with his band The Luminaros.
This video will give you a second helping of Hopkins' music - the great, title track of an album he did with The Luminaros: Dirt Town.
I'm pretty sure I forgot to blog about the May and June editions. So take a listen those compilations at the FBFY site as well.
Stay cool. Drink plenty of fluids. Stretch your mind. Enjoy different music.
July 4, 2011 - The 235th birthday of the most incredible, liberty-filled, freedom-rich nation on the earth. I'm immensely grateful to the founding fathers, the Continental Army, and the military branches of the United States for visioning it, declaring it, earning it, and defending it.
This week's City Songs Saturday focuses on some of the key cities at the flashpoint of the revolution then and at the epicenter of government today. As has been the pattern, I've included 5 songs. But to be honest, it was a bit of stretch to go with five and still cover multiple cities. Songwriters haven't exactly been forthcoming with songs about places like Lexington, Concord, Saratoga, and Valley Forge. Perhaps I could have included one about Quebec, but I've tried to focus this series on U.S. cities. So away we go...
I'm Shipping Up to Boston - Dropkick Murphys - I'll lead with this one because (1) the song is short but fun to scream and (2) I'm giving a nod to fellow blogger - the music diggin', straight shootin' Rockstar_Aimz - who currently claims Boston as home.
I'm a sailor peg / And I lost my leg Climbing up the top sails / I lost my leg!
I need to create a "to do" to blast this song later this September on Talk Like A Pirate Day.
Brasilia Crossed With Trenton - Bob Mould - I have no idea if Mould's Trenton is meant to be about the New Jersey city. But in this case, I'm going to make it so.
I see buildings / With laundry hanging out of the window Never in my wildest dreams would I think I'd see Brasilia crossed with Trenton
Streets of Philadelphia - Bruce Springsteen
Philadelphia Freedom - Elton John
The Ghost of Old D.C. - J.B. Beverly & The Wayward Drifters - This one was a stretch for me. I didn't have what I believed to be a blog-worthy song title about Washington, DC. But in searching around for one, I found this band. From what I've heard of this video and other song samples, I'll be listening to them more ... a lot more.
...well, there is a patch of train tracks outside of Silver Spring it used to be the freight line right into old DC...
Happy Independence Day folks. Never - ever - take your freedoms for granted.
Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. That should be plenty of territory of border states to explore a few city songs. Right?
Spokane Motel Blues - Tom T. Hall
El Paso - Marty Robbins
Saginaw, Michigan - Lefty Frizell
Brownsville Girl - Bob Dylan
Helena, Montana - Terry Allen - Strong song...even if the video isn't
More than twenty years ago - seriously? can it really have been that long ago? - I picked up the debut release by a band called Semi-Twang. I don't recall exactly how I learned about Salty Tears. It was likely a review in Rolling Stone or Pulse, the Tower Records magazine.
I had already latched onto my share of twang by getting into artists and bands such as R.E.M., Blue Rodeo, Joe Ely, E.I.E.I.O., The Rainmakers, Lone Justice, The Silos, etc. No question the band's name caught my attention. If twang was involved, I was convinced it would align nicely with these other artists I'd really begun to enjoy.
It turns out the first half of their band name was the part I underestimated. The band was only kind of ... that is, semi ... twangy. But that was OK. I really enjoyed the CD - and still do to this day. I enjoyed it enough that I kept my eyes open in the store bins and in magazines for info about a follow-up release. But it never came.
Over the years, I've pulled Salty Tears off the shelf and listened to it many times over - not something I can say about everything in my collection. (Click here and scroll down about half-way to listen to a couple of band-provided tracks from their debut.) In the pre-web days though, it was weird not knowing how this talented band could end up as a one-and-done.
Then the e-mail arrived several weeks ago. I'm not sure if the publicity folks found me through this blog, tracked me down through my monthly contributions to Feel Bad For You, or what other sources they used. Either way, the news was so surprising I had to read it a couple of times. After a 23-year absence, sure 'nuff Semi-Twang was back with their second release, Wages of Sin.
As was the case 20+ years ago, my attention was snagged. One, because after a 23-year absence, I was floored to realize a second album was actually here. Two, Wages Of Sin was also a song title by The Rainmakers - so the hook was set.
You might think after a two-decade pause between recordings, a second release might move Semi-Twang to Fully-Twang. Listen to a few of their tracks, however, and I think you'll find Semi is the part they continue to embrace best. Some bluesy riffs, a nice dose of organ without going overboard, and generally a mature sound and vocals - to be expected from performers who have added a good bit of gray to their look. Yet, there is enough distortion, fuzz, and nasally tone to qualify for the twang portion. Musically, the band is very tight as a unit while still playing a bit loose for their style.
Doubting Thomas - Guilty as charged. Never thought I'd see another release by these guys - maybe they didn't either!
When My Angel Smiles - the longest track of the album at 4 minutes even with somewhat of a haunting-sound.
As is common with many folks, I generally learn the names of band members whose albums I listen to over the years. With Semi-Twang's single release, however, I never really took the time to learn about the individual members. I just listened to the CD, shelved the jewel case, and didn't think much more about it.
This time, though, I tried to dig around a bit more about the band. Lo and behold, Mike Hoffman who was and still is in Semi-Twang was in E.I.E.I.O. back in the day - one of the bands that helped cement my interest in twang. Tonight, I pulled their 1988 CD Land of Opportunity off the shelf, opened the liner notes, and ta-daaa there he was.
Furthermore, Hoffman has contributed recently to Florizona, the latest album by The Silos. Walter Salas-Humara has been known to change the members of the The Silos over the years about as often as I change socks. But it was cool to learn yet another connection between multiple bands I enjoy.
My suggestion? Go ahead and get both Semi-Twang so you can be fully twanged. Besides, I'm not sure any of us can wait another 20 years for release number 3.
Without a logical theme coming to mind for today, I figured I'd stick with the simple. Here's a sampling of city songs from the "A" states of the good ol' USA.
Alabama: Angel From Montgomery - John Prine
Alaska: Anchorage - Michelle Shocked
Arkansas: Little Rock - Hayes Carll
Arizona: By The Time I Get to Phoenix - Glen Campbell
Arizona Bonus: Goin' Back to Tucson - Supersuckers
With all the drama surrounding [snark] The [/snark] Ohio State University, Jim Tressel, Terrelle Pryor, tats, weed, jerseys, and cars, I thought a Big Ten edition of City Songs Saturday might work.
Before anyone unleashes on me, yes I realize these cities aren't the homes of Big Ten universities. I'm just trying to get in the general vicinity of the states.
Detroit Rock City - KISS
Cleveland Rocks - The Presidents of The United States of America
The concept is stupidly simplistic. Several of us have formed some sort of whacked, 'X' degrees of separation kinship through blogs, Twitter, Facebook, etc. (kind of like one of those distant cousins you avoid even at once-a-decade family reunions). We submit one song of our choosing each month. The fact many of us have common interests in music doesn't suck when it comes to compiling the submissions. (As an aside, Compiling The Submissions sounds like an awesome goth band name if you ask me.)
