She has one of the funniest reflections on a Ryan Adams songs that I have ever heard. In fact, she chose the Ryan song that would have made MY top five and I’m kind of jealous that she got to choose it first! Apparently, he taps into her short skirt and cowboy-boot wearing alter-ego. Overall, she picked a stellar set of music, including the “beautiful and strange” female artist whose greatness makes her weep and the Canadian collective she is determined to join as a triangle player. She selects a humorous TV duo with real musical chops and a former neighbor whose dedication to "the glorious treasure that inebriation can give you" is honest and poignant.
Her newest project, The Cho Show, debuts on VH1 this month and she will be back on her "Beautiful" stand up tour in September.
http://www.kcrw.com/music/kcrw-guest-dj-project
RR
I have no idea how people knew about this already, since I didn't really tell anyone, but there is some new work (based loosely on the barn in Pineapple Express) up on my portfolio, in case you're one of the four people who hadn't seen it already. I can't say it's my favorite piece of work (thus its taking of the number three spot) but there are certain aspects of it with which I am very happy, and also I did it in like three days. This is a continuation of that new texturing technique I told you about. It's the one blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
Brett Favre played his first game as anything but a Green Bay Packer (except for those two disasters he played with the Falcons about 17 years ago) last Saturday in a preseason game that didn't count. Favre himself was only involved in something like eight plays. The thing I wanted to mention is that the other guys on the Jets' offensive line seemed genuinely surprised when he'd jump back up after taking a hit. They're so used to their old glass-jawed QB Pennington getting hurt with every play that they really don't know how to respond to this. It should be noted that since Favre made starting QB he has never missed a game and never not started.
This is an animation called Idol. I first saw this over at Filmdrunk. Unfortunately, I don't know anything about it, except that I thought the music in the background was Boards of Canada, but instead turned out to be Howie B., who has done some work in the past with U2. Anyway, it's 8.5 minutes long and just twisted enough to keep me interested.
We get a lot of quirky characters coming through KCRW during our pledge drives. Our phone volunteers and drive captains are a fun-loving bunch and this year we’ve decided to capture it on video. You can watch a bunch of short videos – from clips recorded by our DJs and hosts to a puppet series and documentation of “Star Trek” Friday – on KCRW’s Speak Easy on the home page at KCRW.com (on the right hand side). It really is a trip and they are short little spots, perfect for an entertainment snack anytime. KCRW.com
It’s the LAST day of our Summer Sign Up so if you haven’t pledged yet, please do! Come on board as a new member or renew your subscription – it’s super easy and you get a lot back (other than guilt free listening, you get the super $$$ saver the Fringe Benefits card, you’re eligible for ticket giveaways, etc…)
Thanks for listening!
RR
When I walked up to the Roxy, the line to get in had already snaked down Sunset Blvd as far as I could see. It’s hard to believe Raphael Saadiq is about to put out one of the best albums he’s ever done considering how incredible his catalogue is. When he sang doo-wop, Motown-style songs from the new CD, everyone sang and danced along. When he started “Dance Tonight,” a bunch of Lucy Pearl fans (like myself) cheered. But the Tony!_Toni!_Toné! hits were definitely the crowd favorite, classics like “It Never Rains In Southern California,” “Feels Good,” “Anniversary,” and “If I Had No Loot.” Saadiq is an R&B master and now he’s done it all redefining soul in the late 1980s to revitalizing old school soul. I highly encourage any soul lovers to pick up “The Way I See It” in September. Also, Janelle Monae was a fitting opener – her set was a bit short but the singer made a big impression with her futuristic stylings (the Outkast influence is obvious – a few of her tracks were on the movie soundtrack for "Idlewild")
RR
p.s.: for the celeb spotters out there, Eddie Murphy was hanging in the corner of the VIP section.
p.p.s.: Raphael Saadiq was Today's Top Tune last week. If you haven't signed up to receive a free song a day, DO IT!
The metal community likes nothing more than controversy. They thrive on it, actually. The baser members love nothing more than being able to rub their lifestyle in the face of - in this example, anyway - the pious. As you know, or at least can understand, a great proportion of the heavier styles of metal, particularly death-, black-, and gore metal, rely almost exclusively on blasphemous, profane lyrics to go along with their music. For the most part, if you ask them, the lyrics are a condemnation of the rigid religious structure imposed on worshippers, as well as the perceived hypocrisy of major religion in the light of its advocating ostracization of those who do not embrace the message. Of course, there is also the frustration with the fact that the religious framework that many governments are built on and therefore are controlling members of the populace against their desires. But what happens when you reverse the elements?
There's a relatively new death metal band called Impending Doom (Encyclopaedia Metallum page here, MySpace here) who released their debut full-length (Nailed. Dead. Risen.) back in 2007. At first listen they sound like fairly standard death metal, with low guttural bellows for lyrics, pounding double-kick drums and some fairly mean-sounding power chords. Impending Doom add a little metalcore flavor with some interesting-but-not-mind-blowing breakdowns - in that respect this sounds like Job For a Cowboy's debut EP, although that disc was stunningly engaging while this is merely "pretty good." The major difference lies in the lyrics.
If you choose to Google Impending Doom's lyrics, you'll see that their subject matter is surprisingly pro-Christian; they border on right-wing militarism, actually, although that may just be a result of the medium in which they are delivered. Here's an example, from the title track of their new album, Nailed. Dead. Risen.:
"Nailed dead and risen, a perfect life divine sacrifice.
A despised savior-despise only me.
Silenced by the mislead who mock the God they never met.
The evil of men's minds knows no limits, who chooses hell over forgiveness.
You try and try to obliterate my fathers name, it sickens me!
I stay silenced no more.
A despised savior-despise only me.
You try and try to obliterate my fathers name, it sickens me!
I stay silences no more.
Send me to the depths of hell, and I'll bring back risen souls.
Despise our savior-just remember, nailed, dead, and risen."
As you can imagine, this is causing some controversy in the metal community at large. If you read comments on their videos on YouTube, for example (keeping in mind that YouTube's message boards are notorious for trolling), or even the reviews on their Amazon page, you'll see that the reaction is mixed at best.
It is unusual to see music like this being used to convey a message like the one above. Take, for example, Vital Remains. The musical styles are very similar, although Vital Remains is quite a bit more technical and more accomplished as far as musicality and technical prowess go, but overall we can say that their styles are similar. However, the message behind the music is diametrically opposed to that of Impending Doom. With song titles like "Hammer Down the Nails" and "DeChristianize," one can see plainly that their lyrical inspiration is quite assuredly different from that of Impending Doom. (Although, let's be honest, can you really tell what they're saying anyway? The lyrics are bellowed so low and so distorted that they're more akin to a deep-body belch than actual speech.)
As for me, what do I think? Well, overall the music sounds pretty mean. I know that this is not the only Christian metal band out there (As I Lay Dying being a relatively popular metalcore band), but to date this is the hardest/heaviest Christian metal band I've encountered, and certainly the only one that plays death/gore metal behind their lyrics. Their music is rather primitive compared to, say, Nile, and the production quality is spotty at best. The technical prowess of the musicians isn't quite as sharp as some more accomplished death bands, but they appear to have a good start on it. The tracks on their album do tend to sound alike, although that is indicative more of their genre than a lack of inspiration. Vocals are actually pretty respectable. The album itself is very short, with only ten tracks averaging under three minutes long each. Overall, as I said above, Nailed. Dead. Risen. is pretty good, but not spectacular. I would be interested to see what these guys can do in a few years, after they've honed their skills a little more, and maybe throw a little more variety into their mix.
For your entertainment, here's the video for the second single off their album, called "My Nemesis." As you'll see, unfortunately Impending Doom have been cursed with some fairly weak music videos. Watch closely and you'll see the lead singer wearing a Jesus t-shirt - unironically!
We just launched our web page for A Sounds Eclectic Evening (October 12!) – it has all the details about the show, but also a special feature that I can’t stop playing with! When you go to the page, your cursor is a little spray paint can and you can actually paint over the page itself. I’ve already written my name, the name of one of my co workers, and then pretty much covered the page. It’s Friday afternoon, I deserve a little break – and you probably do too. Check it out
Also, the artwork for ASEE may look familiar –its by Mr.
Brainwash. More on that to come…
RR
KCRW’s summer pledge drive finishes up on Monday and one of our premiums (or incentives, you might say) is a copy of our new compilation CD Sounds Eclectic: The Next One with limited-edition packaging. The CD features exclusive live tracks by The Shins, Ting Tings, Spoon, Swell Season, Bat for Lashes and more. It’s our most upbeat compilation yet!
Pick it up now and become a member OR you can get it when it becomes available to the public on September 2 through Amazon.com.
RR
Upcoming on MORNING BECOMES ECLECTIC with host NIC HARCOURT
Friday, August 29 -- MORRISSEY!!! The acclaimed solo artist and former lead signer talks about and plays the songs that have meant something to him as guest deejay on Morning Becomes Eclectic at 11:05am.
KCRW PRESENTS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Fri, August 15, POP LEVI at THE ECHO.
Sun, August 17, RAPHAEL SAADIQ at THE ROXY.
Tues, August 19, GLEN CAMPBELL AT THE TROUBADOUR.
Wed, August 20, CHRIS PIERCE at HOTEL CAFÉ
Thurs, August 21, Nights at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art: Surrender to a world of glamour, magic and perfection inspired by Made in Hollywood: Photographs from the John Kobal Foundation.
Fri, August 22, ALLA at THE TEMPLE BAR.
Sat, August 23, SONDRE LERCHE at THE TROUBADOUR.
Sat, August 23, Grand Performances features The Dakah Hip Hop Orchestra as they perform in an amphitheater setting at 350 S. Grand Ave. Anne Litt will host.
Sun, August 24, SONDRE LERCHE at the TROUBADOUR.
Mon, August 25, NICOLE ATKINS at LARGO.
Thurs, August 28, PATTY GRIFFIN at BELLY UP in San Diego.
Tues, September 2, SONS & DAUGHTERS at TROUBADOUR.
Wed, September 3, PAUL WELLER at THE WILTERN.
Thurs, September 4, EMILY WELLS at HOTEL CAFE.
Sat, September 6, NADA SURF at the TROUBADOUR.
Sat, September 6, AMOS LEE at HOUSE OF BLUES ANAHEIM.
Mon, September 8, AMOS LEE at MUSIC BOX AT THE HENRY FONDA THEATER.
Tues, September 9, BALKAN BEAT BOX at THE EL REY THEATRE.
Tues, September 9, MOGWAI at THE WILTERN.
Wed, September 10, RATATAT at THE MUSIC BOX AT THE HENRY FONDA THEATER.
Tues, September 16, DEVOTCHKA at the EL REY THEATRE.
Wed, September 17, KCRW is Media Sponsor for NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS WITH SPIRITUALIZED at THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL.
Thurs, September 18, LENKA at HOTEL CAFE.
Thurs, September 18, RODRIGO Y GABRIELA at the GROVE OF ANAHEIM.
Thurs, September 18, Nights at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art: Celebrate the international avant-garde inspired by the Museum's collection of art of the 30's - 60's. Special guest deejay, Jason Bentley.
Sun, September 21, MY MORNING JACKET at THE GREEK THEATRE.
Sun, September 21, KCRW's World Festival series with: Ozomatli, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Lila Downs, Nortec Collective-- the evening is hosted by Raul Campos at the Hollywood Bowl.
Mon, September 22, HOT CHIP at THE WILTERN.
Tues, September 23, CSS at the MAYAN THEATRE.
Wed, September 24, BRAZILIAN GIRLS at the WILTERN.
Wed, September 24, CSS at GLASSHOUSE in Pomona.
Fri, September 26, PACHA MASSIVE at FORD AMPHITHEATER.
Wed, October 1, STARS at the AVALON.
Thurs, October 2, STARS at the HOUSE OF BLUES ANAHEIM.
Thurs, October 2, SIGUR ROS at THE GREEK THEATRE.
Sat, October 4, SWELL SEASON at THE GREEK THEATRE.
Tues, October 21, CONOR OBERST AND THE MYSTIC VALLEY BAND at THE MUSIC BOX AT THE HENRY FONDA THEATER.
Wed, October 22, CONOR OBERST AND THE MYSTIC VALLEY BAND at THE MUSIC BOX AT THE HENRY FONDA THEATER.
Thurs, October 30, RAY LAMONTAGNE at THE WILTERN.
