Music | Blacknell.net

Weekend Music: A-ha Edition

By MB

On November 13, 2010

When people (of a certain age) tell you that they “wore that tape out”, it’s almost always metaphorical. A-ha’sÂ Hunting High and Low? I wore it out. Â Everyone knows Take On Me. And, like everyone else, I love it. Â How can you not?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EXxMlIExpo[/youtube]

Speaking of worn out – don’t you love the tape-warble of the opening of this? Â Lots of 80s hits exhibited the same. Â But there’s so much more. Here I Stand and Face the Rain:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHp47UCSPI0[/youtube]

Living a Boy’s Adventure Tale:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZjoEoYzzLQ[/youtube]

That is pure 80s West Germany for me. Â Nothing but good.

Like Common People

By MB

On November 11, 2010

In Music, Personal, UK

I thought that Pulp’s Common People had been inescapable in the 90s, but a recent and brief personal survey corrected that perception. Â Here:

And if it’s not new to you, and it’s stayed in your playlist rotation as long as it has mine, you’ll find this examination of it more than a little brilliant:

In this scenario, Jarvis has the power and if the song continued in this vein it would be just a wittier, less misogynistic version of â€œsilly little rich girlâ€ Stones songs like Stupid Girl andÂ Out of Time. But then she smiles and holds his hand and the whole song shockingly, brilliantly snaps in half.

A terrific way to describe it, really. It goes on:

Itâ€™s as if a trap door has opened up under Jarvis and his sudden sense of big-picture powerlessness wipes the smirk from his face. The rage that consumes the rest of the song is way out of proportion to anything the girl said: sheâ€™s the trigger, not the cause. His voice becomes ever more ragged and desperate, and his anger shreds his coherence.

Quite.

Midweek Makeover: Really Mean It Edition

By MB

On November 10, 2010

In Music

The Killers’ Smile Like You Mean It:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1p_NHFd8jM[/youtube]

David Gray takes a crack:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWMUMnwrn9o[/youtube]

I like David Gray. Â I like the song. Â I do not like David Gray doing this song. Â I’m not entirely sure why. Â Maybe too much similarity between David Gray and Brandon Flowers (Killers’ lead vocalist) styles? Â Perhaps David Gray is only meant to sing David Gray songs.

And Tally Hall covers:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ku0UYbD_aoA[/youtube]

Something about this cover falls just short of getting there. Â I want to hear it in a cathedral (or, at a minimum, turn up the reverb). Â But still, I quite like it.

Weekend Music: Traveling Tracks

By MB

On October 14, 2010

In Music, Travel

It’s already Friday here. Â Let’s start with Melody of a Fallen Tree, by Windsor for the Derby:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2Jr0Yrox-M[/youtube]

And Lily Allen’s The Fear (Really. Â No apologies):

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-wGMlSuX_c&ob=av2e[/youtube]

And a bit of a mashup:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLrmYcHHSWs[/youtube]

Weekend Music: Speakers Matter Edition

By MB

On October 8, 2010

In Music

If you even occasionally listen to music via your computer, it ought to have a subwoofer.

Yolanda Be Cool & DCUP – We No Speak Americano Mashup

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bFymamXBEo[/youtube]

DJ Le Clown “La Woomboomboomba”

The Kleptones – Jump You Fucker [Van Halen vs. Cee-Lo Green]

Midweek Makeover: Cover Canon Edition

By MB

On October 7, 2010

In Music

This is a Charlottesville-based cover band – Love Canon – at the last Clarendon Day. Â Loved ’em – 80s glam bluegrassed covers. Â They were stuck with a mid-afternoon segment, so the crowd was thin, but I bet they could get Iota bouncing on a Saturday night.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9Prz5wwTuQ[/youtube]