Mr. Moderator

Mr. Moderator

When not blogging Mr. Moderator enjoys baseball, cooking, and falconry.

Jul 012008
 

It saddens me to find myself stuck in the middle with Townsmen Hrrundivbakshi and E. Pluribus Gergely over issues of The Style Council and animality. I’m reminded of the words of founding Traffic member Dave Mason.


Before we turn the page on these issues, before we possibly reach the level of understanding and unity offered by the first-ever European International Pop Festival (go to about the 00:50 mark of the above video for a full explanation of our potential as a community of music lovers), let’s consider the following clip:
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Jul 012008
 

Today I purchased the film rights to the Eric Burdon and War Story. I’d been negotiating for the rights to the Eric Burdon’s and the Animals Story – you know, that “San Franciscan Nights”/”Sky Pilot” era of the Animals – but then I saw this:

The rights to the Eric Burdon and War Story were about a third the price. It was a no brainer. Along with the climactic “Spill the Wine”/”Magic Mountain” scene, I’d work this into the film:
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Jun 302008
 

Phooey!

You may recall a thread from a couple of weeks ago about my latent appreciation for the craft and catchiness of ’90s Britpop sensations Blur. A group I know well, a group of which I’ve long been a member, The Bad Attitude Club, needed more evidence of the band’s relative goodness. I supplied some live tracks from a bonus disc that came with the initial pressing of their Best of… collection. I doubt that either of my posts had any effect on the nasty old dudes who compose The Bad Attitude club, but more than a few Blur-loving Townspeople requested the posting of additional tracks from that live CD. To you, young at heart and open of ears, I say, Enjoy!

More from Blur at Wembley

“She’s So High”

“To the End”

“Stereotypes”

“Charmless Man”

“MOR”

“Tender”

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Jun 302008
 

Comes a time…

Coming July 22, Paul Weller will release a sure-to-be sprawling masterpiece, entitled 22 Dreams. If the following Product Description from Amazon doesn’t inspire you to pre-order the CD, perhaps an honest re-examination of Weller’s work with Style Council will.

”After As Is Now I thought the time was right to make the sort of record I wanted to make,” says Paul Weller of the creative process which led to his striking ninth solo album 22 Dreams. ”Instead of worrying about anyone else, I wanted to really push the boat out. I think the result is going to surprise a few people.” Surprises have always been part of the artistic vernacular for the man who changed rock forever with The Jam, explored a host of eclectic influences with The Style Council and cemented his position as the patriarch of Brit pop with his legendary solo work. 22 Dreams is the latest chapter in a creative journey spanning 30 years, with material spanning the full breadth of popular music rock to classical, avant garde to funk and spoken word to experimental. In addition to a cast of Weller s frequent collaborators including Steve Cradock and producer Simon Dine, 22 Dreams also features some of the largest beneficiaries of Weller’s incalculable musical influence. Noel Gallagher and Gem from Oasis lend their talents to “Echoes Around the Sun”, a writing collaboration between Weller and Gallagher. Ex-Blur guitarist Graham Coxon appears on “Black River”. The spirit of collaboration and an in-the-moment creative approach have resulted in one of Weller s most spirited works and one that is sure to expand the artistic canon of the one and only Modfather.

To help us pass the time while we eagerly await delivery of our pre-order, does anyone care to read between the lines of this Product Description?

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Jun 272008
 

Most of us would agree that Neil Diamond‘s appearance in The Last Waltz – and Robbie Robertson‘s production of his 1976 album Beautiful Noise – constitute an unlikely rock collaboration. Excluding completely staged, novelty collaborations, like Pat Boone dueting with Ozzy Osborne, what unlikely rock collaborations are really worth our tracking and discussion?

Holiday television special duets are acceptable.

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Jun 272008
 

My apologies to The Great 48 and the Halls of Rock for not visiting the e-mail account where “G48” sent me the following report and tracks. Thanks, Great One.

The Great 48 wrote:

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I realize this is not Jazz Town Hall, but allow me a moment. I discovered tonight [6/17] that my favorite contemporary jazz musician, the Swedish pianist Esbjorn Svensson, died over the weekend in a scuba diving accident outside Stockholm.

Svensson was the leader of the Esbjorn Svensson Trio (more commonly shortened to E.S.T.), whose albums I recommend unreservedly. A lyrical pianist in the style of Bill Evans, Vince Guaraldi, or Tommy Flanagan, Svensson was capable of spiky free improv or speedy bop-influenced showboating, but his natural style fell towards the melodic and stately. He didn’t really go towards pretty for pretty’s sake, but he understood that jazz doesn’t have to be “difficult” to be good. He will be missed.

MP3s are from E.S.T.’s 2004 album Seven Days of Falling.

E.S.T., “Ballad for the Unborn”

E.S.T., “Why She Couldn’t Come”

Previously, in the News!

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