Category: art

Decoding a 1990s Legacy

On December 19th 1989 a song in four keys with 18 key changes was released as a single by a major label. It was recorded with a simple drum machine track and a bunch of synth tracks. The lead vocalist’s instrument was the accordion. It wasn’t Al Yankovic.

It peaked at #6 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart in USA despite sounding nothing like Nirvana, Sonic Youth, or Radiohead. It made #6 on the UK Single charts alongside of Madonna, De La Soul and New Kids on the Block,

Using completely different instrumentation, it was performed live with Doc Severinsen and the Tonight Show Band at 10BPM faster than in rehearsal.

It was They Might Be Giants (TMBG).

A short list of creators who have publicly cited TMBG as being influential in their work:

  • Lin-Manuel Miranda (cites TMBG as a favorite artist)
  • Terry Pratchett (references to TMBG in the Discworld series)
  • Will Toledo (Car Seat Headrest)
  • John Darnielle (The Mountain Goats)
  • Chris Carrabba (Dashboard Confessional)

Their theme song “Boss of Me” for Malcolm in the Middle won a Grammy Award.

If you’re tight on time, and not been exposed to Flood, at least listen to the 46 second track: Minimum Wage and Istanbul (Not Constantinople) at 2:33.

Otherwise take 43 minutes to hear all of Flood.

2013 Exhumation: Robots want your love.

I’m unearthing a unpublished draft post written in reaction to the announcement of Google Play All Access from 2013.  I recall thinking of “Tyranny of the Majority”, “Dunbar’s Number” and “The 90-9-1 Principle” and the notion that communities of unpaid music curators are rare, fragile, precious and worthy of preservation.

The thing is, what Google was promoting then is equally apropos to what Spotify is now.

So here it is, from 2013, what the presenter said announcing All Access, and my reaction:

Music unites us. It’s universal. No matter who you are, or where you’re from, the joy of music is a constant. And with ubiquitous mobile devices, there is a potential to bring that joy with us wherever we are. But when a bunch of us on the Play Team got together to talk about the next generation of our Music service, we all agreed the reality was somewhat different. Yes, mobile devices give us more choices than ever before, but they weren’t helping us discover music we loved. It felt more like work. .. so why is it that like managing my queue feels like a chore?

My answer: “because it is a worthwhile chore.”  Would you ignore a reading a book that wasn’t on the New York Times Bestseller list? What is wrong with expending effort, especially on something you are passionate about?  For me the hunt and sharing of discoveries of any art is a joy. Google may have a spectacular categorization, tagging and recommendation algorithm, but if one succumbs to only what the robots anticipate as your every desire, it diminishes the value of one’s connection to every other sentient being.Radio Wall Plate • closeup

The glory of Deerhoof, two decades hence

I would like to celebrate the twenty-plus years of the Art, Noise, DIY, Mysticism, and Creative Joy of Deerhoof.

Trivia: Their seminal Apple’O album was recorded in one nine hour session.

 

A Sincere Recommendation If You Can Spare Two Hours For Teleportation

birdmanYes, I’m making a movie recommendation, because we all require a change of perspective. The film’s setting is the NYC theatre district, likely insignificant with respect to your ever-present concerns. However, I believe you will savor the artistry of this work because (a) you are a performer, (b) you have uncanny visual and audio acuity, or (c) you harbor suspicions regarding the panem et circenses of mass media.

Please treat yourself to the masterpiece that is Birdman. Hasten to your local art-house cinema. Or not, and wait for it on DVD, Netflix or whatever, but please, please avert your eyes and ears from any spoilers or reviews except for my proclamation that the sound editing alone is worth 50 Oscars.

“A thing is a thing, not what is said of that thing.”

​Please enjoy ​Roberto Capocchi playing​ “Loro” by Egberto Gismonti​.​

I’ve known Roberto for a few years via a mutual friend and as such I knew some of his wonderful qualities, but until recently was totally unaware of the depth of his musical artistry.

Exhibit A is his performance of Loro, composed by Egberto Gismonti.

I believe this performance is especially noteworthy. The original is a Brazilian fusion/pop hit from 1981. In 1994, the composer performed it with John John McLaughlin placing it in jazz nerd-dom. Subsequently both pianists and vocalists have employed to highlight their chops.
 
What Roberto did with it is sublime.

What is this Kawaii Metal?

I’ve seen lots of stuff I don’t understand but this particular video has me prisoner because I believe it signifies something of import. Yes, it is a mash-up of Death-Metal, Kawaii, millisecond edits, Jesus, teen-fetish, and intricate over-loaded hand gestures. It may play out as an ephemeral trans-cultural fad. However, I ponder why this artifact came to be.

Perhaps this simply a shallow global marketing effort akin to The Monkees.

Or perhaps it is evidence of something else? Indulge me in over-abstraction wherein a particular signal is selected. Could it be an eruption of latent Japanese pride, of long suppressed nationalism, saying “Hey Western World: Remember us? We were rebuilt in your image and likeness. We gave you Kanban, adoration of technology and sushi. Why have you forsaken us for China?” Japan has experienced a catastrophic housing bubble, outsourcing, and a dankai no setai generational welfare Rubicon. Japan is your future. Japan’s culture is asking us to pay attention.

Marvelous Band + Game Show to Tour Again

Jon Brion on Songs vs. Performances

Jon Brion

In 2006 whilst on a relatively rare appearance outside Los Angeles, Greg Kot & Jim DeRogatis of SoundOpinions interviewed Jon Brion.
The Full Show • Interview with Jon starts at ~ 20 minutes in. See also the Footnotes.

TL;DR edited version: An illustrated YouTube excerpt of  Songs vs. Performances