NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!?!

God help us all if THIS is true. God help us.

Austin City Limits Music Festival

So my sinuses were strung along so tight this weekend that Saturday night my nose nearly fell off as I watched The Black Keys. This year the dust was absolutely awful. There were some great acts to catch in between snot-sessions though, and here are two of them...

white denim

Success in rocking my body down to the core. Made Austin VERY proud to claim them as one of it's own. Get some free tracks courtesy of RCRD LBL.

spiritualized

Been waiting to see J. Spaceman and is intergalactic outfit for years now, ever since his masterpiece, Ladies and Gentlemen We're Floating In Space guided me through a year of living. I was fortunate to be close enough to let the bass take over the beating of my heart for me. Best show of the fest.

I'd write more, but first I have to finish my coverage for The Tripwire. Stay tuned...

photos by kyle rother @ ACL Fest

Up Yours, I Was On The Local News

The media man, always spinning my words, putting a slant on my message, what I want to say. Ok maybe they didn't, maybe they actually took words I was saying (that even in context probably didn't make a whole lot of sense) and used it exactly as they should have... Or maybe the snake of a reporter totally goaded me into saying what he wanted. FOUL PLAY!

Okay, none of that happened. But I was on the news last night, much to my family, friends and girlfriend's pleasure. I've never heard so many oohs and aahs and outright fits of laughter in one 2-minute span. Come on. Although they do have a point. I look like a goober. And what's going on with my hair? Boy, nothing like a 5-second cameo on the local news to mess with your insecurities. In my defense, they did ambush me at about 11am as I walked into Waterloo Records for a look at some new music. Sneaky bastards. All they wanted was some general info on the upcoming ACL weekend, little did they know they were dealing with a man who's soul is mostly made up of a love for music. They wanted general info and... that's exactly what I gave them. Take that you snake in the grass!

Kyle on the 6 o'clock news: Are you having a laugh?

Music Monday: New Wave

There hasn't been a Music Monday from The Foggiest in a while (my birthday list was the last actually, hope you enjoyed it), that's mostly because there hasn't been much music lately that's felt important enough to push upon you (except for The Walkmen's new album, which has prompted a considerable amount of logtime on my speakers - there'll be a MM specifically for that band in the near future).

This morning however I woke up and randomly happened upon two old favorite composers of mine and have been happy all day, so here's a little bit more Music Mondays.

Music Monday: New Wave

1. David Byrne & Brian Eno - Strange Overtones - off the new album Everything That Happens Will Happen Today. This was the song that hit me this morning nearly after waking up. I was searching the festival lineup for next week's ACL and here was a free download. I'm smitten. Brian Eno has been a small presence in my musical life, his Music For Films was the actual soundtrack to my life a few winters ago, but I am more familiar with his production work. He has worked with Bowie and U2 and many others. This is only is second collaboration with Byrne, the new wave god/lead man from Talking Heads. There's a very good chance you've found yourself humming one of his tunes, even if you don't know who he is. He's a weird guy, but he's a damn fine artist. Also of note, this song is quite obviously about writing a song. That just tickles my fancy.

2. David Bowie - Sound And Vision - off of the first of Low. The album artwork from this one is enough to make you love it. Add to that now the fact that this is also a song about writing a song. "I will sit right down waiting for the gift of sound and vision." Anyone that's ever created something knows exactly what the Thin Duke is talking about here. Again, it makes me giggle with glee. Plus the composition is just perfectly happy. This was the beginning of the Berlin Trilogy that saw Bowie collaborate with Brian Eno in recreating himself another time and creating some of his best known work to date. I always felt strange about David Bowie until one fall about 3 or 4 years ago when I bought an album on a whim. Ever since that day I've fallen in love with this man and his musical genius. He is one of the most romantic songwriters around, but in a way that almost makes you feel uncomfortable as it simultaneously wraps your heart in a warm blanket, shielding it from the cold bitterness of the lonely world. Well, that's what I thought at the time. But I still do believe in the romanticism of David Bowie. The weird androginous romanticism.

3. Coldplay - Strawberry Swing - off the latest offering, Viva La Vida or Death And All Of His Friends. I hate typing that whole title. Funny that this is the third offering in a joyful playlist and it is the third offering that Brian Eno has had his hand in. The man is pretty awesome. On this you can actually feel his footprint. Say what you want about Coldplay, or their new album (personally I like about 3/4 of it) but this song is absolutely beautiful in a Peter Gabriel "Solsbury Hill" sort of way *wink*. Again, Eno mixes with a band in need of a change, and he helps to no end as "Strawberry Swing" samples new ground for the Brit foursome in the way of percussive pounding and overall atmosphere, but still manages to keep that optomistic cloud of grinning. I want to frolic to this song. With polaroids snapping about, holding hands, in a grassy field. I want to Love to this song.

4. Peter Gabriel - Solsbury Hill - off of Shaking The Tree. I fell in love with this song as early as I could, my freshman year of college. It was before the song was used in pretty much every trailer for a movie vying for Oscar attention. It was before I fell in love for the first time. It was before I got cynical about some things (which is also before I am now, which is not so cynical... most of the time). This is the vintage version of Coldplay's track above. This is the first track I can remember wanting to play as I walked out of a building, breaking into sunlit green patches and picnic tables. The first song I wanted to play as my dreamgirl slo-mo tracked in my direction, smiling just past me. This was the first song I wanted to Love to. Now while this wasn't influenced in any way by Brian Eno, it still feels the same as the above tracks, so I felt it's inclusion justified. Peter Gabriel is a production genius in his own right.

New Ears: The Beatles

The Beatles.

I know it’s an easy choice. They’re so many people’s favorite. They cover nearly every genre of the aural spectrum. They’re so adorable.

Why is that so?

This answer makes them perfect for New Ears.

In the spirit of things, and after an entirely coincidental weekly trip to the pub, I thumbed the iPod into shuffle. This is essential to New Ears. Without the shuffle, New Ears is hardly possible. On this certain occasion all it took was a simple move to All Albums, first album, first song. This song happened to be “Come Together,” the first track to side A, Abbey Road.

Now, whether the ensuing words be as a result of the preceding trip to a night at the pub or a well researched, yet quickly arranged diatribe on one of the best groups of all time we’ll never know. Regardless, “Come Together” is an incredible recording.

Imagine starting off the final chapter in a saga so epic that it has drawn together what is nearly the entirety of the world. What might seem like a daunting task to most, “Come Together” accomplishes in the blink of 4:21. It perfectly starts off what will be the end of a group with a description of not just who they are, but what they represent to such a wide range of people, asking, nay, pleading with the listener, whoever they may be, to join in on the last moments of a dying act; the last moments of a group of minds that revolutionized an art form. I Like The Beatles.

Compositionally the song is absolutely heart/brain/body-meltingly pretty. Paul McCartney, in one of his more unselfish moments, smoothly ushers the rest of the band through the entirety of the track as Ringo adds footholds along the way. And Lennon’s exasperated yet somehow pitch perfect voice mingled with his and George Harrison’s fuzz, cuts through this all like a knife. At the risk of sounding too fan boy/conspiracy theory nut about this, it sounds like an out and out jab at the whole of the group.

It’s no secret that The Beatles ended in turmoil. Hell, it’s been well documented on film and recording that there were squabbles in the last few years, to the extent that major players walked out midway through recording. John hated/envied Paul, Paul hated/envied John. George hated/envied John and Paul. Ringo wanted Peace. That was the story for every album from The White Album on. This, however, isn’t why they are as interesting as they are. Actually, maybe it is, because despite the conflict and stress, despite the despise, despite the environment of the times, The Beatles still got together and made Abbey Road. In fact, they didn’t just record Abbey Road, they recorded Abbey Road and Let It Be.

A fun fact about the two albums is that even though Let It Be was released last it was Abbey Road that was recorded last. This is only deceiving to those interested in chronological accounts though, because if you listen to both albums together they sound like sisters. I beg you, play “Don’t Let Me Down” just after “Come Together.” You don’t have an accepted homogony between albums like that anymore. Nowadays a band sounds the same from album to album, they are crucified for redundancy. The Beatles did it in the early 70’s and managed to put out at least one of the technically and commercially great albums ever.

At the mention of redundancy: I feel like I’m slowly straying from the point (again, pub night).

Point: “Come Together” is capable of reigniting love. It may not be love for another (we’ll leave that more to track two from Abbey Road), but it is definitely love for The Beatles that lay buried under the surface of my skin. But isn’t this why The Beatles are who they are? Their span across the vast landscape of everything Music is such that this feeling is possible. They will always be there, no matter the circumstance. This New Ears could’ve happened (and probably will again) at any moment because these words could essentially be written about any song from the short lived-yet well-filled catalog from these scousers. I could have fallen again from “When I Get Home” or “Fixing A Hole” (which I’m libel to do, just wait). It could have been any song. This time though, it was “Come Together.”

Give it a shot with New Ears:

The Beatles – Come Together – mp3

isn't music fun?

MTV and their grip on 'Reality'

Just finished a bit of late weekend television and decided another bit of written-on-a-whim blogging would feel satisfying. Here's another New Ears...


So the nice thing about having a significant other again is that I'm introduced to new things. Sometimes I'm even re-introduced to old things I've managed to let slip from everyday life. This is entirely the case for MTV and their "awards show," the VMA's.

I know it's become incredibly cliché to rip on MTV, but it's not like they've made it easy on themselves. Actually, wait a minute, maybe they have. After all, how hard is it to produce the same television show over and over again, each with a new name, every three months? How hard is it to put aside actually seeking out new and exciting music and just push whichever label-produced PR dream is new this quarter because, well, they're part of the corporate family? Do you remember the day's (though few they may have been) when you actually felt compelled to watch MTV? Remember when they actually had cult programming? Beavis & Butthead wasn't exactly Shakespeare, but at least there was a story behind (some of) it, at least there was a creative process behind it. Nowadays, all you've got is a show literally about 20 guys & gals competing on an island where getting completely obliterated and hooking up with each other is actually encouraged. The commercial for MTV's new reality contest, The Island, actually dumbs it down enough for you midway through, when they actually say, "Oh yeah, and there'll be plenty of hooking up." It's prostitution for the new age.

And how about the actual VMA's? They used to have acts perform before and during the show, remember? Now it's the winner's of their reality dance competition show and a bunch of actors miming to a virtual orchestra of backing tracks. How long have I not been paying attention to the Top 20? When did popular music for the masses become a series of blips and screeches, flashes noise and crotch fondling? When did the complete absence of melody and tune become popular? Why are the nominees for best rock video a bunch of faces? And Rap, Hip-Hop, R&B? Guys, you're declining as well.

It's not that I don't like the genres, but you can do better. You all can. There were two performers tonight that weren't main highlights at all. They had no dose of spectacle, other than letting music speak for itself. Thank you Lupe Fiasco. Thank you Ting Tings. You two were the two best performers of the night, yet you were reduced to ushering in & out the commercial breaks.

And Britney Spears? Look, I'm with South Park on this one, leave her alone and everything will be fine. Forget about all the stupid shit that has happened in the past and lets just move on already. Instead, MTV makes the grandest apologetic gesture of all time, and one that completely solidifies it's place in the corporate marketplace, by giving Britney Spears three awards for a song & video that is literally her standing in one place shaking her hips. The awards it seems have been given as a "really sorry we made you out to look like a complete fool last year" type stunt. You know what though? Who cares right? It was the 25th anniversary of the VMA's, I say let them go out with a flutter.

I think I may be ranting. But that'll happening when you're listening to something again with new ears.

MTV, please go away. Take a breather. Come back in 5 years and let's see if we can't start this over again, on better terms. Right now I think the world can do without you.

On another note though, Brit-host Russell Brand was actually quite funny. I think he was perfectly offensive and nobody saw it coming. Well done, Russ. You were the best part of the night.

Jesus, I just blogged about an MTV awards show.

Random Act of Art

every now and then we all have random acts of art. You might just accidentally doodle something, or you might happen upon a rhyme that tickles your fancy. Maybe you take a photo you're exceptionally proud of or hum a tune completely original. Today I had a random act of art all my own. Here it is:


just a package of crayola watercolors and a calligraphy pen I bought a couple weeks ago. You never know when it'll happen, but when it does, you feel pretty good.

The Following Was Written On A Whim

but it might turn out to be a somewhat regular thing...

To those times when you feel like you’ve heard a song for the first time, but when it turns out you’ve actually heard it before, here’s New Ears:

Driving will often give insight into renewed vigor for something that was once somewhat to possibly meaningful. It happens with a personal regard to people, places, ideas and recommendations. It also happens with music. With this case in particular it happens within music with Jennifer Gentle.

An Italian band that I once reviewed after the release of their second full-length album, The Midnight Room, I’ve happened upon them once again and am smitten. It is absolutely lovely… for those that enjoy the oddness and twist a group of people will put on tradition. The Midnight Room feels like every new story you’ve ever heard that grabs at your imagination. That first story you heard as a kid that tied you to it’s hand and toted you around. The first campfire tale that gave you chills, or maybe that first film you saw that nearly literally brought you into another world.

That’s what it is for me. Another world. Every track off The Midnight Room is a brand new adventure into a strange new atmosphere, where your breath is light and your body is just slightly heavy. It’s a world of washed out gray scale, yet it’s as sharp as a The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. I hate to be one for self-reference (hey this is a column of second chances), but in my original review I mentioned relating to music by way of film. This is still, sadly or interestingly (you be the judge), the way I think. Which is why this album continues to at least grab at me.

The first few rotations left me with the impression that these Italians were a bit cheeky if not nerdy, bandying about a quick bit of quirk. I slung up a few words and laid them down with little mind paid after the review’s posting. Then I saw them play live about a month afterward. They were indeed quirky and nerdy and cheeky. They were also precise and technical and they didn’t seem right for this world. Finally, during my recent drive home they transformed the night into their own. I was transposing myself out onto the lamppost-tinted streets of downtown with Marcelo Mastroianni (hat and whip in tow). I was toasting to the grand lunacy of life. I was swimming in the Fontana di Trevi. I was an Italian living the post neo-realist life. I was possibly insane?

Or was it New Ears? Immediately I recounted my initial blasé reaction to the album and sent my inner monologue on an impressive tear down the road called Hypocrisy. Of course I like this album, what’s not there to like: melodic reference to one of cinema’s most influential periods and a blatant tip of the hat to Nina Rota, Fellini’s orchestral partner in crime. This album is the soundtrack to my sophomore year of college, yet it has no actual, literal connection to the time period. It just sounds like it.

So, as I find myself again ranting with absolutely no point or end in sight, the logical side of my brain will step in and put a period down. The main point to this session of New Ears is that Jennifer Gentle’s The Midnight Room is an album that may not at first be your cup of espresso, but if you’re at all a fan of the spirit and flavor of anything Frederico Fellini ever put his stamp on, that Nino Rota ever composed, maybe a bit of British Psychedilia and Ingmar Bergman’s The Seventh Seal, then you’ll probably grow to love this album. And if it is that bit of mind-altering substance that spreads colorfully across your brain then you don’t need to be reading this.

point of reference:
Jennifer Gentle - The Ferryman - mp3