Friday Morning Fun: Sam Buck Rosen

On a tip from the keyboardist of the aforementioned weekend, Sam Rosen is solid. Particularly the song Mexico.

IT'S ALMOST VAMPIRE WEEKEND!

You mux. I mux. We all mux for tapemux.

My first Muxtape.

GOO GOO for GA GA

Pitchfork, my one-time indie rock ally, posted an interview with Spoon front man Britt Daniel recently, discussing the band's latest "GA GA GA GA GA", attendance at a Public Enemy show and the art of selecting album art -- according to Daniel, among other weighty material.

Now, I've always, and I mean always, found Daniel to be quite the irksome type -- particularly when performing live. Talking about Chicago like he knew Chicago, acting like the rock-star he wasn't (This is due in-part to the fact that I grew up appreciating how timid the olden days' Jeff Tweedy was on-stage), gesticulating frantically all over the stage, numerous beers in tow, flirting with the young fans in the front row. I could be wrong, but I doubt it.

And, so, I see this headline on the pompous music site for the interview with the guy, thinking, goody. So, I start reading, and my intellect is filled with just what I had expected -- be wary, though, this was just a result of my previous bias. It shouldn't be discredited though, that Daniel had created that bias in me.

Turns out, I enjoyed the interview. Daniel seemed funny. Seemed to be enjoying making a life out of something that so many can't even come close to doing -- making one out of music. No longer was he the guy drinking imported beer after imported beer, leering lasciviously at the girls in the front row conspicuously from on-stage. He was the guy slowly reeling in his hard-fought, hard-won success. He was the guy you thought expected all the success in the world from the start, and suddenly, needs to pinch himself to realize what's happening -- he's become something. And he's doing it in a much more humble than this writer would've expected.

And so, Mr. Daniel, I thought I'd let you know I thoroughly enjoyed "GA GA GA GA GA." Did it have to be in all caps, though? Yes, I guess so.

Well, that's art.

Secret tongues

This art? Well, that's art.

What have I heard that was really great, just recently? Well... And a few other qualms, you say? Well...

1) P Everett McPartland -- check out the first couple of songs on his myspace.
2) "Someone Great" -- LCD Soundsystem. I discovered how much I liked this song whilst driving through the verdant and rolling hills/blue mountains of Pennsylvania.
3) Something to revisit? "I'm Old Fashioned" off Blue Train by Coltrane. Great tune.
4) Everybody's saying how good Man Man is, but I just don't agree...saw them live and simply wasn't impressed -- they were trying too hard to be cool. And that just makes the music bad. My comment = shallow, but true.
5) Patton Oswalt's really funny.
6) I know, I know, it's been a while, but I just realized Slim Thug's horn section on "3 Kings" feat. T.I. and Bun B is the same as RJD2's "Ghostwriter." That's weird. But they're both exquisite songs. And I figured this out on my own, using my own ears.

Pulitzered

An article on Romenesko’s site today caught my eye. It was about Pulitzer winners and the way many of them often feel, psychologically, after receiving the award. The column, by Jon Friedman, ran before the public knew the winners. At the core of the story was the question that almost all Pulitzer winners face shortly after their win – “What’s next?” Friedman writes.

The column was mainly a profile bit on James Risen, a New York Times reporter who won one of the prestigious awards after he exposed President Bush’s secret spying program in 2006. It was about Risen, and basically how his then-recent fame made him uncomfortable. I don’t know why, but this reaction completely surprised me. I thought a Pulitzer and its bright fame were all most journalists ever could dream of? Not true, according to Risen, and Friedman, too.

Friedman sheds light on the idea that journalists are used to writing about the spotlight – lots of times shining the spotlight – rather than being in it. For me personally, just having my byline printed crests waves of anxiety over my head – the way people can be affected by my writing sometimes can scare me. But that’s something I’ve learned to live with. Friedman calls us journalists “shy egomaniacs.” When I think about his statement I can see where he’s coming from. This is an award that is often regarded as the tops. So it might seem natural for a reporter to inadvertently become melancholy about their career’s future. It makes me eager to see how Bob Dylan will be able to overcome his “Pulitzer burnout” – he’s certainly not green to fame.

“The problem is, you’re never as good as people say you are when you win a Pulitzer,” Risen was quoted in the column. This quote really got me, in the same way the entire column did – I never would’ve thought this way, until now. Are journalists all so insecure? I should check myself. Me, that is, I should be checked. But, for now, I say enjoy the joy of a Pulitzer, even if it’s in the anecdotes, such as being recognized in the back of a Taxi by the driver – as Risen was. It’s a story to be told for years.

Link to story: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/pulitzer-burnout-how-james-risen/story.aspx?guid=%7BBC4EDC86%2DBBB3%2D449A%2DB6D5%2DD46C5C3626F4%7D

Ya know what I'm sayin' big Nas?

Why is it, that "Memory Lane (Sittin' in Da Park)" off Nas' Illmatic is probably my -- how should I say this -- favoritist hip-hop song ever. Each time I listen to it, I think this. Why? I've heard people, throughout time, talk about how great Illmatic is, and it is, but no one's ever going on and on about this song. It sounds like it could've been the theme song to A Bronx Tale or something. Or Jane's theme song. The smooth, melodic tone of that woman or man in the background is straight out of that borough. Whenever I want to feel cool, I want to listen to this song. I guess I just need to spruce up my hip-hop intake. Will do. As long as blood is blue in my vain, I'll keep honest to that.

Why wasn't this little modicum turned into an entire song?

I've begun revisiting Radiohead's latest "In Rainbows," only after the wave of crazy music psychopathic speculation has passed, and only to find out how much I actually think It's a masterpiece. So go listen to the last 48 SECONDS of "Reckoner," and tell me why it wasn't transformed into 4 minutes of sonic bliss.

"All Points West" Festival Lineup sounds delish

Pitchfork reports the "All Points West" festival has announced its lineup, and it sounds like it could be a pretty tasty affair. This sucker's put into action by the same souls that bring us the great Coachella fest. APW runs Aug. 8-10 in Jersey City's Liberty State Park. The wonderful Website reports: "Apart from Radiohead and Sunday headliner Jack Johnson, we've got Animal Collective, Cat Power, the New Pornographers, Girl Talk, the Roots, Underworld, the Go! Team, Metric, CSS, Andrew Bird, Black Kids, Chromeo, Amadou & Mariam, Rogue Wave, Mates of State, Juana Molina, the Black Angels, Jason Isbell, Neil Halstead, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Youssou N'Dour, Kings of Leon, the Felice Brothers, Sia, Duffy, Little Brother, Nicole Atkins, Michael Franti & Spearhead, K'Naan, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Alberta Cross, the Virgins, Forro in the Dark and Your Vegas all making the trip."
Andrew Bird, Black Kids and Radiohead would make my day alone.

I am all up in yr facebook pokin all yr honeyz

Ok, so I could rant or rave for a while about what I've been listening to lately, or what terrible terrible things I've read on celebrity gossip pages. Or I couldn't. It's snowing outside, and I'd rather just talk about a short article I read today entitled "The Kink," all about Ray Davies, the lead man of the popular 60's British rock band the Kinks. Come on, they had hits like "Sunny Afternoon" and "Lola" -- instantly recognizable. It's all about this old guy, wearin "ray-bans, a multi-colored scarf, gray stovepipe jeans, and running shoes," Stop right there. Who is this guy? He better be makin a stop soon at the local bakery for a bismark. This is what I said, but he never gets around to it.
Anyway, it's pretty cool, and it's short -- very important. But it takes him back, using a nostalgic approach, to the city he pseudo-immigrated to decades ago -- The Big Apple.
He stops by old cafes and bars like Zabar's and Cafe Lux, where he used to be a regular. He talks about crying on a bus while being confronted by the then-heavyweight champion of the world. He talks about pleasant encounters with John Lennon.
It ends pleasantly: "I must remember never to say I remember. But it's easy to forget."
My point isn't much, but it isn't that the Kinks were really really great or anything, a lot of people would probably say they were. But I'm not. I'm saying this little New Yorker "Talk of the Town" piece really wrapped itself around my heartstrings -- it was quite beautiful. Not only did it take Ray Davies back, but it took me back to a time and place I've forgotten because I can't remember, so I won't say I do. You should read it. Early bird gets the whale.

Focus is here!

This blog will be a site dedicated to the true criticism of music blogs.

On English breakfast

What's up with this weather man, blurg! I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt last week. Perhaps it's still winter, but I tend to lose any concept of time this part of the year. What's going on in these political races? What's up with that? Hillary and Barack neck-and-neck, McCain jawing away, running wild with his lead, Romney realizing his denial, and sweet Mr. Huckabee still chatting up his college football politics. That's crazy talk. 

I watched Syriana last night -- one of the best movies I've ever seen. It's best qualities were in its confusion. I'll probably have to watch it again tonight to catch the things I missed. 

My foreign policy teacher looks a bit like a walrus, and he acts a bit like David Brent -- always using the expression "vis-a-vis" and what not, as an actress said to a bishop! 

I'm still looking for some focus here on this blog. Why would a reader come here? I need some focus. How about, what's it like giving up coffee for tea? That might work.

One more note, Roger Clemens has dug himself a big hole here, and I think some things are going to come out soon that chop his shovel in two. Public opinion left a long time ago. Clemens looks like he'll be needing the immediate care of a  very reputable reputation doctor. I know of a good one in Skokie.

The Chicagoan

Howdy. This blog is a product of my Online Journalism class. This is my final semester in school, and I look forward to being in contact with the entire world whenever I want. Enjoy.