Filed under: This One Goes Out To | Tags: beck, coldplay, daft punk, dr. octagon, grammys, hot chip, jethro tull, katy perry, kid rock, kings of leon, m.i.a., my morning jacket, radiohead, the eagles
Really? Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida” for Song of the Year? Five musicians who I’ve never heard a single song from for Best New Artist? Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl” for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance? Kid Rock’s “All Summer Long” for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance? The Eagles of Wal-Mart for anything? The list goes on and on…
While there are some respectable names on the list (M.I.A., Radiohead, Daft Punk, Hot Chip, Kings of Leon, Beck, My Morning Jacket), it’s obvious that someone needs to reboot the whole damn institution. Maybe I’m being too harsh though. At least it appears (as of today) that they’ve actually selected artists who sing their own songs.
What planet do these tone deaf blowhards come from where Jethro Tull is considered metal? This one goes out to you, Grammy nomination panel…courtesy of a fellow extra-terrestrial, Dr. Octagon…
This recurring segment is the product of me wasting hours upon hours scouring Amie Street for good music from bands I’ve never heard of. This week’s inaugural selection is Jotto’s eponymous EP, which you can purchase for $2.60 by clicking here.
What do I know about Jotto? I know they’re from Philly, like another one of my favorite bands. I know they have yet to release a full length album. You know what else I know, I can’t wait until they do.
If you’re inclined to buy the Jotto EP, I can tell you that you’re getting a nice six pack. Although they echo already entrenched indie bands, mainly The Strokes and The National, there’s something a little off about these guys. Just listen to “The Girl Who’s Seen Too Much (In II Acts)”. The mush-mouthed vocals contrast the conventional piano progression. The result is a bizarrely memorable song.
“Backyard Circus” is the best song on the EP, and it’s a brilliant piece of work. The dirty ditty manages to stay exciting from the opening keys to the closing horns. The opening track “Young in the City” is also terrific. Although the drumming is distinctive, it’s the lyrics that won me over – they really capture the cocktail of uncertainty and optimism shared by many 20-somethings. Here’s the video:
One thing that concerns me is that Jotto’s second EP released earlier this year isn’t nearly as strong. Maybe that’s why it’s cheaper. You can download Good Friend Electric for free on the band’s website.
Filed under: This One Goes Out To | Tags: charlie weis, drew carey, modest mouse, notre dame
Bravo to everyone involved. Charlie Weis is coming back for another season – good news for people who love bad news. Have fun watching Pudgy McCockmunch waddle along the sidelines with his stupid Drew Carey haircut for another 12 games next year.
It would be one thing to be patient with the guy if he wasn’t a total a-hole. When people are writing stories like this about your coach, it’s time to let bygones be bye, gones. Another year of Weis is only going to further soil Notre Dame’s once sterling reputation as a college football power.
Dynasty be damned. This one goes out to you, Notre Dame football…courtesy of Modest Mouse…
Filed under: Miss Elanie | Tags: burger king, meatnormous, street fighter, whopper virgins
Have you seen these new Whopper Virgins commercials? I normally love BK ads. They feature an unusual amount of self-awareness and a warped sense of humor. They named one of their breakfast sandwiches the Meatnormous. Do I need to explain myself further?
Here’s the thing though. They’re pimping this serious (at least as far as I can tell) documentary about bringing burgers to villages where the natives don’t even have a word for the food. Here’s the web page, which must have borrowed its name from a fat fetish site.
While I applaud them thinking outside the lines of the traditional taste test, how can they contend that this is an unbiased poll of which burger is better? These people have probably eaten tree bark and insects their whole lives. I doubt their palettes are very developed. Also, they’re probably starving. So they’re naturally going to prefer the larger of the two burgers. It’s like running the test with dogs. They don’t care what tastes better; they’re just happy to have some human food.
It seems that Burger King has set up a poll that the Whopper can’t lose. Clever marketing ploy, no doubt. But don’t get a Whopper because Sagat and his friends from Thailand dig it. Buy one because it’s way better than a Big Mac. Take it from me, a real connoisseur.
Just don’t ask for my opinion on bamboo.
Filed under: Pointless Lists | Tags: av club, beastie boys, beatles, david bowie, funkadelic, john butler trio, oasis, pink floyd, r.e.m., radiohead, the flaming lips
Sorry for being truant this week. I’ve been trying to kick some ass at work so that I can have a three-day weekend to enjoy my trip to Louisville to see My Morning Jacket. Mission accomplished. Back to blogging.
Earlier this week, the Onion AV Club posted a great list of instrumental songs. Here’s the link. In case you don’t feel like reading their explanation, staffers selected the top 29 songs by artists who typically don’t produce tracks without lyrics (yet somehow Pink Floyd made it on the list).
I really enjoyed their rundown, so much so that it inspired me to compile my own list of instrumentals. I didn’t stick to their criteria – this is simply a list of my favorite wordless tunes, regardless of artist. However, I did make a point not to include any songs from the AV Club list. You know, just to keep things fresh.
10. “New Orleans Instrumental No. 1″ – R.E.M.
9. “Speed of Life” – David Bowie
8. “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 2″ – The Flaming Lips
7. “Flying” – The Beatles
6. “Pow” – Beastie Boys
5. “Fuckin’ in the Bushes” – Oasis
4. “Meeting in the Aisle” – Radiohead
3. “One of These Days” – Pink Floyd
2. “Ocean” – John Butler Trio
1. “Maggot Brain” – Funkadelic
