“Hambone,” exclaimed Lou, “that’s what my sound has been lacking!”
Dec 242007
Mr. Moderator
Dec 232007
From the collection of Townsman Mrclean comes the following, mysterious gift of music. He shares his thoughts following the track, which you are encouraged to open, contemplate, and comment on.
Mrclean Shares the Gift of Music
An old favorite that makes me think of rainy days or snow days and hanging out in West Philly. The LP cover is off putting with photos of some loutish looking lads with silly names that are odd compared to the LP title, itself a pretty bold and ridiculous statement. This vaguely intimidating package yields some lovely mellow pop. I love this whole album but was disappointed with their later releases. My guess is that at least one Townsman of my acquaintance in particular will immediately recognize this but I hope he withholds his comments until some others chime in…
Dec 222007
Today I watched two great old movies back to back: To Have and Have Not and Night of the Hunter. Each film effectively worked in live performances of music – with the characters singing in an otherwise nonmusical film – to enhance the story, the tone, the plot. This is a device that has been used to great effect in a number of films, including many by Robert Altman, Tender Mercies, O Brother Where Art Thou, but how often has it been done successfully using a rock song or rock songs? I’m not talking about rock soundtracks of the Martin Scorcese/Wes Anderson variety. I guess that long, excruciating cover a Van Morrison by Jennifer Jason Leigh’s character in Georgia is close to an example, but her character is a rock musician. Is there a movie in which a character simply picks up a guitar and bangs out a song? Will Ferrell does, come to think of it, in his “serious” film from the past year, when he plays “Whole Wide World”. Any other examples that are that casually woven into the plot?
Dec 222007
En route to an exotic, mysterious location, Townsman HVB asked that I post the following gift of music. A gamesman to the core, HVB has included a little mystery for us to solve!
Happy holidays from south of the border, fellow Townspeople! My holiday gift is here, under the palm tree, free for the taking. What do I like about it? Well, this mystery artist is justifiably reputed to be one of the greatest acoustic guitar players of the 20th century, but here he lets it all hang out with a touching, heartfelt, but downright ragged vocal performance. Telling you the name of the song would tip my hand on the mystery artist’s identity, but I’ll just tell you his wistful, earnest singing perfectly matches the lyric. I have an additional challenge for you: I’m currently in a nation next-door to this artist’s home — actually, the nation where this performer spent his formative years training with a classical guitar master before he struck out in his own revolutionary musical direction. What nation is that?
Your fellow Townsman and pal 4ever,
HVB
Dec 212007
Recently joined Townsman Hissing Fauna has boldly jumped in with his gift of music! Following the gift, he explains what the song means to him. Check it out, and don’t forget to return the gift with your thoughtful comments!
I really like this song for a number of reasons. It sounds like some modern wall-of-sound, without being annoyingly shoe gazey. The singer’s voice might be a little cloying but it has a really great melody. The lyrics are a highlight of the song for me. Unlike a lot of modern music, this song isn’t weighed down by depressing existentialist angst that can be heard in the Arcade Fire or Radiohead or whoever it is Pitchfork Media is hailing as the saviors of music. I think optimism in music is a great thing, because it can really be uplifting to the listener. That’s why I love songs like Neutral Milk Hotel’s “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea”, or “Wouldn’t it Be Nice”, or Songs in the Key of Life. Lyrics like “and the question is, was I more alive/then than I am now?/I happily have to disagree;/I laugh more often now, I cry more often now,/I am more me” appeal to me a lot because as a teenager, I have to deal with the overwhelming pessimism all the people at my school seem obsessed with spreading.
Dec 202007
First of all, Mad Props to Townsman Kcills for passing along the clip HVB just posted, which all ties into this thread I am posting now.
A little background: last weekend a handful of us were in attendance at the Bar Mitzvah for the son of a Townsman. As some of you know, I’m a big fan of almost any ceremony. I contemplate all the love in the room, the great people, the importance of the day, and our eventual deaths. Then I quickly well up at the first opportunity. Considering my history with this Townsman and his family, I was especially stoked for the day’s events. You can’t be too strong.
To be honest, though, as much as I love weddings, funerals, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, retirement parties, and even ceremonies much less grand, I do need to brace myself for the religious part of any faith-based ceremony. I’ve got nothing against anyone’s god or religion, just the potentially really long, boring parts of any faith’s service. Entering the synagogue, I took comfort in the fact that my friends are – how shall I phrase it – more earthly sorts, who probably wouldn’t feel the need to amp up the long, less-decipherable passages from the Torah. My family and I arrived a couple of minutes late and entered a small, friendly synagogue, with our friends’ son looking great and a warm cantor and rabbi conducting the ceremony.
The cantor was awesome. His pipes were strong, and he sang in a direct manner, making good eye contact with the audience, even those among us who hadn’t a clue what it was he was singing. I wished my little bit of religious exposure through my family’s religion would have included a good cantor, or in my family’s case, singing priest. Music is to mass as honey is to medicine.
The day’s featured mannish boy also got to sing along with the cantor, and he was on! I got to thinking of long ago, when my good friend – the father – had such a clear, innocent voice. Gosh, those of you who’ve heard him sing in public the last 25 years wouldn’t have recognized him before the Velvet Fog rolled in! Then my friend – our Townsman – sang a passage as well, and you could still make out a trace of his youthful voice. It must be like hearing Marianne Faithfull sing “As Tears Go By” today. I got to thinking that I need to incorporate more minor keys into the songs I write; it’s time I stop trying to whitewash my friend’s voice with all these songs written in G and E. It’s time his people came.
Then the rabbi put aside all ancient texts and spoke from his heart about our friends’ son. Then the jaws of all Townspeople in attendance began dropping. Continue reading »
Dec 192007
Beginning tomorrow through the end of the year, Rock Town Hall will be posting a track for your consideration and enjoyment. However, each track will come wrapped – and not identified as something by an artist who may or may not be within your usual sphere of listening. The Townsperson who submits each track, however, will provide a brief note regarding what it means to him or her. Then we will ask you to open this gift of music, listen without prejudice, and comment. Your comments, positive, negative, or somewhere in-between will be welcome. It is only by commenting that you return each day’s generous gift.
We have a few contributors lined up. If you have a track that you would like to contribute… Continue reading »
