Great "Hold Music"

Whilst on hold with one of my customers today I was treated to this 1974 funk delight: “What Is Hip?” by Tower Of Power.

I later hung up after being left on hold for too long.

The Weepies

I recently got into The Weepies, an indie pop-folk band fronted by singer-songwriters Deb Talan and Steve Tannen (no relation to “Biff Tannen” from Back To The Future) out of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Since 2003, the duo has put out 3 albums and has one more on the way next month. Not sure how they slid past my radar all these years but I have a feeling they are to become my next obsession.

Off 2008’s “Hideaway” this is “Wish I could Forget”:



Off their upcoming album, this is the title track and first single, “Be My Thrill”:



These guys also have some great, simplistic album artwork:

Jump In The Line

For some reason I had this scene in my head for days. The song itself is called "Jump In the Line" composed by Trinidadian calypsonian Lord Kitchener (Aldwyn Roberts) in the late 40’s. It was then re-recorded by Harry Belafonte in 1961, the version used in “Beetlejuice”.

“Beetlejuice” theatrical trailer from 1988:



Also to note: In 1998, the song was covered by American rock/swing band the Cherry Poppin' Daddies for the soundtrack to the movie BASEketball.

The National – Slow Show

Off 2007’s, “The Boxer.” Great tune, found it done “open-mic” style. The setting really accentuates singer/songwriter Matt Berninger’s baritone.


The National - Slow Show (Part 2 of 3) from Bandwidth on Vimeo.


Studio version below. The acoustic above lacks the piano ending which really makes the song.

We Are Scientists – Rules Don’t Stop

Really digging this video. I love the shots of the 80’s pink Kramer guitar. One of the first to have the “original” Floyd Rose bridges.


We Are Scientists - Rules Don't Stop from Labour on Vimeo.

“Top 6” After 6

6 months into 2010 there’s been a bunch of good tunes. I was going to focus my mid-year tops list on albums but since moods change so much in 6 months I just assume individual tracks would work better.


1) “Vaporize” by Broken Bells (Broken Bells):


2) “Brand New Shoes” by She & Him (Volume 2):

3) “Giving Up The Gun” by Vampire Weekend (Contra):

4) “Tighten Up” by The Black Keys (Brothers):

5) “Camera Talk” by Local Natives (Gorilla Manor):

6) “Laredo” by Band of Horses (Infinite Arms):

Honorable Mention:


- “Ambition” by We Are Scientists (Barbara):

Notes:

- “Vaporize” by Broken Bells is now the #1 most listened to track on my iPod.

- I fell in love with “Brand New Shoes” by She & Him when I saw them @ The Bowery Ballroom a few months back.

- “Brothers” by The Black Keys is arguably one of my favorite album covers of the past decade.