Harry Nilsson is sort of a cross between John Lennon and Bob Dylan in my mind, I fell in love with his brilliant song “Don’t Forget Me” through the brilliant Neko Case’s version—but more on her in the late autumn. I’m also, embarrassingly enough, a sucker for the film “You’ve Got Mail”, so I opted [...]
They didn’t call him the Jesus of Cool for nothing. Or, at least he didn’t call himself that without providing some evidence: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3jiCi7aFZE&hl=en_US&fs=1&] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmNmz9rg8Lk&hl=en_US&fs=1&] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_tZQtO6twI&hl=en_US&fs=1&] Your Thoughts?
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zw5ztuhEat4&hl=en_US&fs=1&]
A few weeks ago Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers revealed they would be releasing a new album called Mojo this spring. Somewhat amazingly, this fulfilled the final of three major projects that Tom Petty had listed wanting to do four years ago. At the time I was skeptical he would actually put together a reunion [...]
An atmospheric-bluegrass-folk-Beachboyharmony kind of bandwhose debut album is best listened to straight through so that it can wash over you. The first song below is my favorite of theirs and the second is another really good one put to a claymation video, so heads up to fans of claymation. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brZTvGIzeGg&hl=en_US&fs=1&] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrQRS40OKNE&hl=en_US&fs=1&] Your Thoughts?
The 21st Century ’70s Springsteen, Craig Finn writes songs that are anthemic, evocative, and rich with narrative and emotional detail and perceptiveness. If his talk-singing didn’t become a slog so often, his band would rank much higher. This song always makes me smile though: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqdT8tIrfEU&hl=en_US&fs=1&] Your Thoughts?
The list of my top 366 favorite bands now becomes a list of the top 300 with Joseph Arthur: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJkOat8zTO4&hl=en_US&fs=1&] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QotZ7TIaztw&hl=en_US&fs=1&] Your Thoughts?
Easily one of the most prolific and promising punk rockers of the young century until his tragic and untimely death earlier this year: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG65eqfg6bc&hl=en_US&fs=1&] Your Thoughts?
So, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince are a childhood favorite and “Men In Black” was essentially the song of the summer in 1997 as, dancing and singing along to it, I cleaned theaters playing the film Men In Black for weeks on end. I rarely listen to either musical incarnation of Will Smith [...]
So earlier in the month CWH webmaster Dave and I went to see Laura Marling, who is one of both of our favorite recording artists, and we featured two great videos taken during the show here on Camels With Hammers and expressed hopes that video of Laura whistling her way through the string portion of [...]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nMHGyR_i8g&hl=en_US&fs=1&] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36nW3e3Pkf4&hl=en_US&fs=1&] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpdDpi2Y4Y4&hl=en_US&fs=1&] Your Thoughts?
Catchy melodic riff and bass heavy hard rocking punk: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCQ7VLoY7bQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&] Their entire Veni Vidi Vicious album just never lets up and I never want it to. Your Thoughts?
Alright, so I normally hate children’s choirs as much as the next guy, but that’s because they’re normally put to the smug indoctrinating purpose of having children innocently and preachily mouth platitudes their parents, churches, or schools want to inculcate into them. It’s nauseating. But there is another way to use children’s choirs and it’s [...]
If Amanda Palmer of the Dresden Dolls was in the band Heavenly, it’d sound something like The Long Blondes. It’s a shame they’re definitely done for good already. I particularly love the first song because it gives musical expression to an anecdote I sometimes share with my 19 year old students about talking to a [...]
Another band with both a male and female lead, this one from New Zealand. The first song below is pure unadulterated pop in all its simple pleasure and the second one showcases how much Heather Mansfield sounds like Emily Haines o Metric and Broken Social Scene, which is a total plus. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ipL7twa6xo&hl=en_US&fs=1&] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_z0-Q-C8Xb0&hl=en_US&fs=1&] Your Thoughts?
So, last Friday I escaped the dissertation for a night to go see Laura Marling live down in Greenwich Village at Le Poisson Rouge. I went with my friend (and Camels With Hammers webmaster and occasional blogger) Dave. Considering Laura is essentially my very favorite female folk singer of all-time this was an extraordinary [...]
The cover of their Grammy winning album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix has more pink than any other color. Which is thoroughly appropriate for a band that sounds like cotton candy with a strong bass line. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weoqE_thaIk&hl=en_US&fs=1&] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RulP4OXxFbM&hl=en_US&fs=1&] Your Thoughts?
I find Jenny Lewis’s voice and delivery at its most distinctive to be charmingly snotty and geeky. But my favorite Rilo Kiley song is her gorgeous country song, “More Adventurous”. Someday I hope they write the great album I’m sure they have in them but haven’t produced yet. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eHiyOYAn08&hl=en_US&fs=1&] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qACCt2DMhDQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m11svmUCs3g&hl=en_US&fs=1&] Your Thoughts?
Kings of Leon are all big hooky southern rock riffs and full passion vocals all the time. And it works enough of the time to actually earn Tom Petty’s respect (a rarity for a young band) and to open for Bob Dylan and to get Lykke Li willing to chip in a remix. I included [...]
I probably don’t need to tell you about the movie that made Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová famous (or, if not famous, at least Oscar winners), but the real must film to watch is the hilarious claymation one somebody made for my favorite Frames song, “Fake”: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_P3k0BG5WA&hl=en_US&fs=1&] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoSL_qayMCc&hl=en_US&fs=1&] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utnB-95ebi8&hl=en_US&fs=1&] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs0SXMtCy3c&hl=en_US&fs=1&]
The most popular rock band in the world these days is not as bad as people say. It was their love song “Sparks” that really piqued my interest. And if the great Brian Eno can see something in them, who am I not to? Plus, I’m a Garden State fan. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUlEw4xAG-0&hl=en_US&fs=1&] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbI1FpLd4Vk&hl=en_US&fs=1&] Your Thoughts?
More famous for their spectacularly catchy and romantic “Young Folks” song and video which featured a perfect vocal from Victoria Bergsman of Concretes and Taken By Trees fame, Peter Bjorn and John here deliver a really great kiss off song without the help from Ms. Bergsman. The song’s called “Let’s Call It Off”: Your Thoughts?
That’s the key life affirming spirit from the teenaged Swedish sisters in the band First Aid Kit. I’m not sure if or where they might make the big top 366 list but figured I’d pass on a great song in an atheist spirit to my godless readership. The dissertation is completing steadily and I’ll be [...]
A harrowing and unbelievably brave song about one of the worst imaginable personal experiences: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKzCxi2yf5s&hl=en_US&fs=1&] Your Thoughts?
They had might as well be called British Pop Power since it’s the epitome of their sound: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYJKtC2cMoo&hl=en_US&fs=1&] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2n-7K0Ef6Y&hl=en_US&fs=1&][youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ucC4FG4w_Q&hl=en_US&fs=1&] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0RAdfrQwvo&hl=en_US&fs=1&] Your Thoughts?