Song of the Week: Cleveland Rocks

I spent this past Memorial Day weekend with friends riding the world-famous roller coasters at Cedar Point and Kings Island during an amusement park run in Ohio. Though I enjoyed my time at the parks, I can't say the same for the endless wheat fields that was the view for our commutes. I'm not bad-mouthing the whole state, however, because I was aware of one of it's great exports: "Cleveland Rocks". Originally written by glam rocker Ian Hunter for his 1979 album You're Never Alone with a Schizophrenic, the song is better known among younger audiences (like myself) for being covered by the alternative act TPOTUSOA and used as the theme song to The Drew Carey Show from 1997 onwards.

"Cleveland Rocks (Ian Hunter Cover)" by The Presidents of the United States of America

Listen to the original here

Rent is due,

Kelvin

Podcast of the Week: Ryan Adams and Bob Mould

A recording that's making its rounds on music news sites, Bob Mould was invited by Ryan Adams to his PAX-AM Studio and talks about paving the way for punk in America, among other things. The former is better known as the vocalist for the alternative bands Hüsker Dü and Sugar and his latest solo album, Patch the Sky, was released last Friday. The latter, another seminal rock musician and ex-husband of Mandy Moore, may have appeared on your social media feed in the last couple of months for his work in recording a cover album of Taylor Swift's 1989.

The pair have an extremely enlightening conversation that brings up Mould's history of playing alongside other underground acts and the way musicians and technology have an ebb and flow influence on the direction of the music industry. I definitely have my work cut out for me in checking out all the obscure 80's hardcore bands mentioned in this interview, alongside Mould's and Adams' respective discographies.

Notes I jotted while listening to this podcast

Listen to "Hear Ryan Adams and Bob Mould Play Music And Talk About Everything Under The Sun"

Visit All Songs Considered

Nipper,

Kelvin

7QT: New Year Discoveries

I've heard so much good music in just the past day that I couldn't boil it down to one song for the week. So I'm upgrading to a "7 Quick Takes" this week to showcase the awesome bands and albums that I've come across since the start of the year. A good chuck of this list are 2016 releases, but a few are simply albums from the past year that have flown under my radar.

1. Audrey Assad - Inheritance [12 February 2016]

It is with great joy that I announce today's (Friday's) official release of the fruit of Audrey Assad's hymns project, Inheritance! Since I helped support her through PledgeMusic way back when, I was able to get an advance download of the songs two weeks ago. Because she is covering various hymns for different types of worship the album is not as thematic as her other independent releases, but that does not take any bit away from the beauty of the songs and the reverence with which they were approached.

"Even Unto Death" by Audrey Assad

Feeling replaced

So I just got my hands on some personal live performances that I'd like to upload, and I thought I'd let the masses know here. I'm just posting one video here, but you should check out the blog's YouTube channel for more.

Just the other night (Thursday) I performed at a quaint and chic open mic. I started off with one of my all-time favorite songs: "Left of the Dial" by The Replacements. The song itself is a heartfelt ode to college radio and life on the road. I've grown to have a personal attachment to the tune, as it has played a significant role on various occasions as the backing soundtrack to various life-changing moments in the past few months.

"Left of the Dial (Cover)" by Kelvin

Listen to the original here.
Listen to a 1989 live performance here.
Listen to a 1993 live performance here.
Listen to a 1996 live performance here.

Covers Set #2: Alternate Takes

I have been busy. Busy, busy, busy. I will be busy. Busy, busy, busy. That's why I'm going to make this post longer (and arguably, more fun) than usual =D. I don't know when I'll get the chance to share more of my knowledge with the world again, so just sit back and enjoy the ride...

The theme for today: Alternative. These are alternative rock bands who have covered songs who's original authors span a wide range of other genres. If you like at least one cover/original combo (although it's pretty much impossible not to enjoy all 20), then I've served you well.

(#20) "Major Tom (Coming Home) (Peter Schilling Cover)" by Shiny Toy Guns

My introduction to Shiny Toy Guns was the song "Le Disko." It was the perfect union of Britney-dance and Marilyn-shock and it defined how electronica I would ever get. But when vocalist Sisely Treasure left and was replaced by Carah Faye Charnow in 2008, the band lost a lot of its edge and credibility. Case in point: "Major Tom." The band does an alright job of recreating Peter Schilling's one-hit wonder (you know, that one 80's proto-eurotrance song that everyone knows), but it's just so seeped in commercialism. The song was recorded for a Lincoln luxury car advertisment, and that selling-out-ness is made apparent in their live performance below.

Listen to the original here.

The Feast of St. Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day!

Unfortunately, I have an exam this evening that I am diligently studying for, but I still wanted to pass on my favorite song about the season: "Valentine" by The Replacements. There are several recorded versions of this song out there: the original studio, a rough mix on Boink!!!, countless live bootlegs...

My favorite version happens to be the studio demo on the 2008 reissue of Pleased to Meet Me. If you're musically inclined, you can try to learn how to play this song (more or less) and serenade that special someone on this special day.

But hurry!!! There's less than 20 hours left!!!

Picking valentines,
Kelvin

I think the word "Lady" was left out for a reason

Some bands are great and some bands are awesome, but sometimes it can be hard for a band to be simply... cool. The Killers is a cool band. Coming up from the deserts of Vegas, The Killers hit the ground running with their debut Hot Fuss in 2004. They skyrocketted the charts with the singles "Mr. Brightside" and "Somebody Told Me," making them overnight superstars. These radio jingles were how I was first introduced to them, and I didn't really give them the time of day until I saw them premiere "When You Were Young" on the 2006 VMAs. It was literally a jaw-dropping sight, and if I remember correctly, they premiered the music video for the song right afterwards. At that point, they pretty much... killed me.

Pepsi should have hired these guys

As I stated in my last post, I first heard The Replacements through Rock Band 2, which featured one of their songs. It was catchy and I probably played it 3 or 4 times before Christmas Break 2008 was over. A few months went by and I got into the habit of watching King of the Hill. After the upteenth episode, I was curious to find out who played that rockin' intro (curiously called "Yahoos and Triangles"). The credits at the end were flashing pretty fast, but I was able to make out the artist: The Refreshments.

I thought that The Refreshments was "that one band from Rock Band," so I decided to check them out because "now they had two cool songs." My search led me to the album Fizzy Fuzzy Big & Buzzy and I started listening to it from the beginning. A few seconds into "Blue Collar Suicide" I thought, "This sounds... different." Halfway into the song, I thought, "I don't think this is the same band." By the time "European Swallow" started, I had already determined the distinction online. Nonetheless, I continued listening, because I liked what I heard.

Out with the old, in with...

... The Replacements! The Replacements formed in late-70's Minneapolis, Minnesota. Switching from hard rock to punk rock, they released a demo in mid-1980. Twin/Tone liked their sound and agreed to sign them; they released Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash in 1981. This and the Stink EP were hardcore punk-influenced, but their second album Hootenanny (1983) showed a progression towards more mature songwriting.

Let's get happy!

Norah: This is amazing. You are literally like my musical soul mate! It's unbelievable. Except for all The Cure.
Nick: What's wrong with The Cure?
Norah: There's nothing wrong with The Cure, actually, but just the name. You know, The Cure? What are they The Curing? Get it? They should be called The Cause, right?!?