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“Ooh La La” Goldfrapp Supernature |
I'm happy that I've found four brand new artists that released their debut records this year that I really dig. I've featured these artists in The Spin I'm In throughout my six months here at FDL and wanted to share a list of my 2006 favorites with all of you.
Whitey, Pop Levi, and Jim Noir are all stylish English chaps who write and record everything themselves and then put bands together to tour. (They all also sometimes wear cute little bowler hats.) Cheem is an Aussie transplant in LA whose singer/guitarist Billie Sola also writes and records everything herself. Computers are an amazing asset to a somewhat disenfranchised recording artist. It can be so difficult to keep a band together, but one can at least creatively be pro active on the relative cheap with a computer generated recording studio. Here's to the shut-ins who still manage to kick out the jams!
2006 also brought cool releases from more established artists like Teddybears, Goldfrapp, Eagles Of Death Metal, Beck, Viva Voce, Bluebird and Gram Rabbit. Can't wait for 2007! Happy New Year everyone!
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Zed’s dead baby
Hazmat Modine
A band that could come only from New York City. Where else would you find a klezmer-inspired blues harp player and a jazz bass saxophone? OK, Chicago, but they are playing with Leon Redbone.
Just an FYI to the gatekeepers at FDL.
I LOVE THIS weekly spot.
It helps me keep in touch with what I’m missing– trapped outside the beltway (of DC)– as no rock happens out here.
Donita — oh man, am I going to have some fun with this today. Thanks much — what a great playlist!
Ellie O @ 3
Right on. We all need a little help keeping in touble. Glad to be of service.
That video is an absolute homage to Marc Bolan. Where is TRex when you need him?
Ellie O @
3
Bless you Ellie, it’s comments like these that make the effort worthwhile for both Donita and I. Happy New Year and look for a new Donita Sparks release in 2007!!! YAY!!!
johnSwifty @ 6
That song Ooh La La also samples Spirit In The Sky.
johnSwifty @ 6
YES! Totally, that’s who I couldn’t remember this vid reminded me of! I love the disco horse in the middle of the video for no apparent reason.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 4
Thanks Christy. Happy New Year to you and yours baby.
She’s riding that mirror-covered horse bareback.
Looks painful.
Donita Sparks @ 8
And I wonder why they would have chosen “Spirit” when, “The Eggplant That Ate Chicago,” was available?
I like that Gram Rabbit song. That girl looks funny with those ears.
Cheers to you Donita! I have so enjoyed your posts & fabulous playlists. You’ve turned me on to some great new music! I have that Pop Levi song in my car right now and I am constantly hitting the “repeat” button!
Here’s to you & your new band! All the success to you all in 2007! I’ll see you in the front row.
Love,
Nora
OT - I don’t know if anyone else has noted, but I just realized that Bush and his cronies have planned it so that Saddam will be hanged (tomorrow?) during perhaps the most holy time in the Islamic year, i.e. Hajj. With the masses of pilgrims now in Mecca, this could very well lead to a really horrible situation there (multiple deaths and violence - intentional and not). The guy is truly evil, or is this a coordinated part of his “Crusade” (the more Islamic dead the better). A hanging a couple of weeks later would not have made a difference (though I think the whole thing is appalling and turns my stomach). But add this to the rest and….
Nora @ 14
Thanks so much Nora. The best in ‘07 to you too.
Donita- What kind of guitar do you play and why do you like it?
PSA - Tornado watches and warnings southwest of Dallas and Waco TX
Riesz Fischer @
11
I almost broke my computer trying to hurry up and play the video, until I realized “bareback” meant without a saddle.
mmmmm… Gram Rabbit. Been awhile. That’s off the new album Cultivation. Haven’t heard anything off that yet. I need to kick them up in the queue.
CTBob at 19 — Expecting a Lady Godiva vid, were you? *G*
Everythingseemssoneat @ 17
Well right now I play a 1963 Gibson Melody Maker. I like it because it’s very light to wear. In L7 I played only Gibson or Epiphone flying V’s because I thought that they looked funny when we started out. Then it just stuck.
Connecticut Bob @ 19
Ha!
Check my current blog post, specifically stuff I wrote with links to some tunes by Shem von Schroeck.
This dude is so fine. Listen in particular to his song “Born to Take the Fall.”
He’s Kenny Loggins’ bass player these days.
BTW- I’m on MySpace now, part of my effort to hustle the band.
_
oh, my - I feel so out of touch…only recognize one name among those artists (Beck, one of my favorites).
Donita- I remember you jamming on the Gibson. I think I saw L7 3 times but the most memorable was at Coconut Teazers when I fought my way to the front.
punaise @ 25
Beck is one of my faves as well. Check out the links that Fini has provided under the artist’s names. All of these artists are doing cool and unique stuff. A little re-con goes a long way.
This is so true — I bought a digital recording studio a year ago, and it’s motivated/helped me enormously. Neither my ear nor my fingers were skilled enough to play along with records, and being able to create my own songs & arrangements from scratch has helped me to finally improve my guitar playing after years of just noodling around.
Even better, with GarageBand on my Mac laptop, I don’t have to be a shut-in… I can remix songs in a coffeehouse or wherever. :-)
Christy Hardin Smith @ 21
Well, a boy can dream!
Donita Sparks @ 27
will do! (I need to get out more anyway)
Everythingseemssoneat @ 26
We had some fun shows at Coconut Teazers. I hope that your nose didn’t get broken or anything. Many casualties at Teazers.
Swopa @ 28
GarageBand is wonderful!! My wife and I recently went Mac all the way, with his & hers 20″ iMacs. GarageBand comes with them. I am havin’ so much fun with it.
_
Swopa @ 28
I used to hate computers until I got into it. My friends used to call me “anti-technology woman”. Now I think that computers are total Power To The People machines.
my beautiful old Premier mahogany drum set has been unused for decades, due to a lack of space and sound insulation (they make a gawdawful racket). time to consider an electronic kit.
I was an early adopter of digital recording technology and have been working with MIDI technology for over 20 years now. It took a long time to convince my musician friends around here of the advantages of digital recording tech. The debate still rages to this day with a lot of people in fact, but for me digital recording tech is exactly what Donita said it is its power for the people who make music. Viva la revoluccion digital!
Donita- Yeah, that place was great, it could get rough though like a few other clubs. I remember the downtown Scream getting pretty rough.
Home recording and individual digital distribution helps us get art and commerce separated, concepts thoughtlessly twinned by an industry seeking simplicity in the quest for greater profits.
That being said, Gold Star, Record Plant, Power Station et al are wonderful cradles of creation if one has the budget and deserving material…Just like WEA, Koch, RED et al are wonderful methods of distributing material product, if one has a desire to approach the masses in bulk.
The prevailing ’suit’ mentality riding the pipeline, however…Meh. More Jac Holzmans and Ahmet Erteguns, please.
Wonderful playlist, Donita…And a peaceful new year to all!
Hey! Happy New Year to you all!
I’ve been missing you the past few weeks, sleeping too late and Donita’s been running off to the studio. Just wanted to wish you a great new year and all before I read the post and listened to stuff.
{{{{bigasshugs}}}}
(from various posts)…jeebus, the Coconut Teazer…I can remember going there for their cheap food special (chicken, was it?) when it was in its old digs cattycorner to where it wound up. it was a complete pick-up joint then, in the halcyon pre-AIDS days. I kinda always hated it, as a place to see music, primarily because of what Donita says…it was always too crowded with rowdy fratboys who liked the idea of slamdancing as permissible violence. there were some good shows there, though.
anybody wanna talk Raji’s? :)
darkblack @
37
I agree with everything you said 1000%, especially the more Holzmans and Erteguns part!
annagranfors- Raji’s, I loved that place, then I drove by one day and it was a slab of concrete.
You know, I like this Goldfrapp song a lot better if I don’t have to look at the video. The whole glam rock look has always left me a little cold. I would posit that any man who puts on a feather boa should be swiftly kicked in the nuts.
darkblack @ 37
Thanks darkblack. Yes, I prefer a top notch studio as well, but home studios have been my creative life line for the last few years. I love ProTools!!!!
TRex @ 42
Bowie kind of cornered the rock star feather boa market in the 70s, didn’t he? I’ve always thought that prop was silly for proper rock dudes too. I like my rock n roll dirty not pretty.
That said I dig the babe from Goldfrapp, she has a classiness missing from the scene. Reminds me a little of Deborah Harry sorta.
Everythingseemssoneat…yeah, it was my favorite club back then. useta go to those weekly Continental Drifters shows all the time. I don’t think it was at one of those, but I can remember being really surprised by this warm-up band called Treat Her Right, which featured a pre-Morphine (and stunningly hot!) Mark Sandman. sigh… :)
Since when did pop music becomes freaking costume party? I liked this record in 1973 when it came out the first time. Yawn. I thought this was a progressive blog, not a nostalgia blog.
TRex @ 42
Hi TRex. I thought that you might like Goldfrapp. Their glam trip is slightly tongue-in-cheek. Humour is one of the ways that they describe their trip. Check out some of their live stuff on Youtube. I think that they (just her and one fella in the band technically) have a cool bag going on. Light show, dancers, etc.
Did you see the NYT piece on Norman Greenbaum last week? It was hilarious and he is doing well. RE Feather boa’s, check out the Scissor Sisters SS
Donita Sparks @ 8
Men are so rarely pretty enough to pull off the androgyny thing. Especially musicians, who tend to have craggy, emaciated faces from their heroin and tofu diets. They just end up looking like Keith Richards passed out face down in a Malibu Barbie makeup kit.
Watch, Donita is going to chime in here and say that she thinks glamrock guys are TEH SEXXXY!!
(the irony of me reminiscing like a AARPer in a post celebrating new music has not escaped me. where’s my fuckin’ Geritol??!!)
And if you haven’t seen “Take your Mama” from the Brit Music Awards check it out. Huge chicken, singing watermelons and, if memory serves, boa’s! Take your mama out tonite and show her what it’s all about!
Jumbo @ 46
Yes of course, no cultural discussions whatsoever. Back to all politics all the time, no socializing people! BACK TO IT!
You need a shot of singing watermelons, it’ll help you mellow out.
Fini FiniTOOBZ! @ 52
raven @ 51
I saw that for the first time just a day or two ago, its brilliant! Does this mean the boa is back?
I was totally ready to take the song or leave it when the singer ripped into the chorus like a jet engine revving for takeoff. Interesting how they mixed it, too, laying a softer vocal over a slightly fuzzed out loud vocal that’s been pulled back in the mix. It makes you want to listen to it as closely as possible to figure out what’s going on.
My bad, no boa, he’s got wings on his butt!
okay, to climb out of my slightly-premature Depends a little, anyone heard that “accidentally leaked” (heh) Arcade Fire tune that “accidentally” made it onto iTunes yet? I fricken LOVE Win and Regine! (and this song, segmented into two parts, each alternately featuring R, then W, is just AMAZINGLY good.)
TRex @ 49
I think Bowie and The Dolls looked pretty great, yet none of them did it to me in my nether regions. I like my guys slightly more butch. I think Dee Dee was my favorite hubba hubba.
Santa brought me a Creative Zen — this is great, I have a bunch of new things to load up on it now! Thanks, Donita & Fini!!
(Just discovered I can keep the spouse from “borrowing” the Zen by loading it up with Beck…isn’t that convenient?)
raven @ 56
The girl is wearing the yellow boa is where you got confused. I do love their theatricality though.
Sigh. Me, too.
Have you read this book?
TRex @ 49
Well, the ‘Eat-once-a-week-whether-I need-to-or-not-and-dig-my-new-Maybelline-eyeliner-ooh-ooh-baby’ look was in vogue for quite some time.
Then there was the California ‘Just-a-little-more-pancake-will-smooth-out-this-craggy-visage-with-a cherry-red-bouche-on top-and-are-my extentions-on-straight-goddammit‘ variation.
Of course, I blame Clinton.
;>)
Everythingseemssoneat @ 41
I don’t think I ever saw a show at Raji’s. I recall many visits to the Starwood and (a few years later) Club Lingerie, though…
Rayne @ 59
I’ve got an early model and love mine. I dont think I”ve burned a CD in 3 years because of it. I do need to upgrade though, mine doesn’t have the ability to accept DRM files from Napster which I belong to.
Try this one, it’s about Radio! Fitz on the radio
Fini FiniTOOBZ! @ 60
Thanks for another great playlist. Can’t wait to hear YOUR new music in 2007!
Sid
Swopa- I never made it the Starwood but I used to go to Club Lingerie. Best shows I saw there were Hole and Dave Vanian.
raven @
51
That was totally hot. I so wish I could download these things from YouTube for my iPod. Does anyone know where I can find great videos that are downloadable?
Riesz Fischer @
11
When you all order my pony, please specify the “disco” option.
If you have a mac and use Safari there is an app called podtube that allows you to rip the youtube vids to your iTunes. As Janis said, “get it while you can”.
Jacqrat @ 68
podtube
Jacqrat @ 68
iTunes has a downloadable video section, and Movielink does too. Google video does too but selection is crappy compared to iTunes.
TRex @ 61
Yes, I’ve also read all of Dee Dee Ramones’ books. Have you read them? He was a great writer, though the Chelsea Hotel one gets a bit weird.
TRex @
42
ow! I guess I gotta clean out my closet (again!!)
Donita Sparks @ 73
That’s a big ten-four, good buddy.
raven @ 70
Very useful info. I fear that this Youtube stuff will start disapearing over copywrite infringement.
Fini — Santa got me the Microphoto; I have to admit that the thing that really sends me is that I can also sync contacts and calendar on it, also plays FM radio.
But it is still very Windows-oriented, can’t move stuff directly from my iTunes to the Zen without migrating it to Creative’s player/organizer first. [sigh]
And I have get Outlook in order to sync my contacts/calendar. Hate Outlook.
“Nostalgia blog” and “reminiscing like a AARP’er.” Hubris of the young, my set likes to call that kinda talk. I assure you that you will feel differently after life’s mileage begins to show on your face and psyche.
You bet it will, that’s why I’ve been loading up on Fairport Convention, Richard Thompson, Buddy Miles, John Lee Hooker and any other old stuff I can find!
Donita Sparks @ 77
TRex @ 76
g’day, Sentence Lad! (it’s my new superhero name for TRex).
Jacqrat, we need to send you prizes for winning the Jane Wiedlin contest. Can you send your info and T-shirt size to Fini?
raven @
71
OMG you are a GODDESS (?) or a GOD. Sorry but handles are so gender-illusory.
Seeings how this a music thread, Click on the link below, turn up the volume, and sing along.
You’ll get it.
http://filmstripinternational.com/
the Lingerie! fond memories: a great (and oft-bootlegged) Mats show, Kirsty MacColl’s first LA show…oy, many others. I useta feel slightly embarrassed for the waitresses, whose uniform in the early days was 100% Frederick’s, though…
ooooh, gender-illusory is a very kewl new hyphenate, j!
Raven is actually my old old sweet cocker spaniel, I’m Mark.
Jacqrat @ 83
Fini FiniTOOBZ! @
72
iTunes videos are so hard to search for, and I’m looking for vintage stuff that they don’t seem to have. Podtunes is already downloaded, can’t wait to check it out!
BTW: the very first one I will d/l is that kick ass Lynne Anderson “Rose Garden” that I first saw here, thanks to Donita.
TeddySanFran @ 86
aw, shucks. Thesaurus.com is my friend.
Donita Sparks @ 82
Whoooeee! I already did, twice. Did he not get them?
HI donita! You rock so hard.
Bustednuckles @ 84
Ha! Ain’t it the truth?
Take your time with the downloads and only do one at a time. Let them encode fully, happy trails.
iTunes videos are so hard to search for, and I’m looking for vintage stuff that they don’t seem to have. Podtunes is already downloaded, can’t wait to check it out!
Bustednuckles @ 84
That was awesome, thanks for linking it.
Jacqrat @ 90
Thanks Jacqrat! We’ll get on it.
Jacqrat @ 90
Perhaps the spam filter ate your email. Send again and I will be on the lookout for it. Sorry about that!
Jacqrat check your email!
OfT (sorta): gender