Twenty-six years ago today, John Wayne was celebrating his 75th birthday; a 7.7 magnitude earthquake rumbled in the Sea of Japan causing a tsunami that resulted in at least 104 people dead; and 28 year old woman woke up to the early signs of childbirth, got dressed, packed, swept and vacuumed her house before waking up her husband to take her to the hospital. Roughly 12 hours later, I was born.
I've said before that birthdays seem more appropriate for looking forward and back, reminiscing on past enjoyments and making new year resolutions, because this is the day when your year really does end. Sure there's an actual end to a calendar year, there's an end to a fiscal year, but these restrictions have been imposed on us from the moment our real chronology began. So on my birthday I like to look back and forward on my life, if only for a little while, to see what I can improve. The one thing I want to improve about this upcoming golden year? Anything to make it the best year of my life. Travel, work, create, love, nothing short of everything at a ten.
So with this day comes another playlist. Last year's Quarter Century list has continued to be a source of great joy for me. Whenever it's played, enjoyment ensues. It'll be tough to top for me, as I hold it as probably the most enjoyable list I've put together on this foggy blog, but here's a go, in the name of John Wayne's 101st...
01. Garden Walk - J. Spaceman -- off the soundtrack to the film Mister Lonely. Never ended up catching this quirky film, but it's director was cited as the source of inspiration for Mr. Spaceman (aka Jason Pierce of Spiritualized) to finally finish his latest album Songs In A & E after a tumultuous recording period which saw him actually die as a result of complications from pneumonia (his heart stopped), only to come back to the land of the living. It made for great album fodder.
02. Silent Sigh - Badly Drawn Boy -- off the soundtrack to the film About A Boy. Sensing a pattern here... The film from Nick Hornby's book continues to surprise me whenever I catch it on TV. It's funny, heavy and light, and it's got a great soundtrack provided by a man that goes by the name of Badly Drawn Boy (aka Damon Gough). Here's a lovely tune that's ripe for a morning stroll/ride.
03. Sunny Goodge Street - Donovan -- off the album Fairy Tale. It's a repeat, and not even a repeat from long ago, this song was on the last list I put up here. To be fair, I don't really care. If I were to do a list sometime in the future of my top 5 songs of all time, this would make a third appearance on the blog. I don't know what it is about this song that tugs at me. I first heard it on a compilation cd in which the tracklist was chosen by one of my favorite songwriters of all time (read: the greatest) Paul McCartney, the first time I spent time out of the country. I was studying one summer in London, the second day I picked up the Mojo magazine that contained the album and I've been in love since. It's sweet, it's haunting, it's love. I wish to find this street one day.
04. Le Poinçonneur Des Lilas - Serge Gainsbourg -- off the album The Originals. This album hooked me on Monsieur Gainsbourg and the resulting buying spree of music is soon to leave a large dent on my financial situation. Here's one of the first that hooked onto me. No idea what he's saying, just like it.
05. Ram On - Paul (and Linda) McCartney -- off the album Ram. This album within the past year or so has apparently gained a ton of popularity in the indie circles of Los Angelos, which is absolutely awesome. I picked up this album in the amazingness known as the Half Priced Books used record collection. HPB has what I consider the best collection of used stuff I've seen in a record store. I'm always in love with what I pick up there, and it's usually a quirkier find than any "true" record store. This album is the true definition of quirky pop, and could be considered one of the first "indie" albums, by way of its DIY nature. The song is pure bliss.
06. Musicbox Underwater - J. Spaceman -- off the soundtrack to the film Mister Lonely. I'll again end with an instrumental from the same man that started us off. This really out to trail off into Our glorious May 26th, as you wake, watch the sun rise, get ready for work, drive, walk, run, bike, eat, love, work and sleep.
Happy Birthday guys.
Showing posts with label Serge Gainsbourg. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Serge Gainsbourg. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Monday, December 01, 2008
Music Monday: Hibernation
So it looks like Winter is officially upon us here, with December finally rolling in. So what better way to celebrate this period of eating, sleeping and hibernating with a series of cozy play lists from The Foggiest? I wanted to do a little audio intro to this list, relive my college radio days, but in the end my ears couldn't stand the sound of my jazz hour voice and the idea was scrapped.
In any case, please enjoy the first installment of this Winter's Hibernation List...
1. Requiem Por Un Con - Serge Gainsbourg -- from The Originals. I've just recently (within the past year or so) gotten into Monsier Gainsbourg and this is one of the first tracks that grabbed me (technically I think it's the second, but really does this sort of thing matter enough to mention? ... apparently). I've featured his daughter here before, and now with the father it's easy to see where she gets her talent from. Mr. Gainsbourg is a tremendous influence to modern music. Everyone from AIR to Seu Jorge counts him as a leading influence and from this compilation it is easy to see why. The man was at the same time sleazy and seductive all while managing to compose some of the most beautiful, relaxed and technically well-rounded material in the modern era, and he's shaped and redefined what we know of the pop landscape forever. If you're looking for a great introduction musically, look into The Originals. If you're looking for a good intro into what his lifestyle was probably like, check out the cult film Slogan. It's where he met Jane Birkin - Charlotte Gainsbourg's mom - and one hot little number. The two (Serge & Jane) put out some steamy material and were one of the first really taboo couples around (he was well into his 50's when he met the under 20 Birkin). French & Scandalous!
2. Satt Att Se - Dungen -- from 4. This Swedish Psych outfit is led by Gustav Ejstes. He is a genius. I could stop there. The first album I heard of theirs was Ta Det Lung back in 05 I think. It blew my mind. Ever since I have been hooked to everything he's put out. This latest release sees him involve the band a bit more in the writing process and the outcome has benefited immensely. There is more of a jazzy vibe to it, which is readily apparent here on "Satt Att Se" Sure, you don't understand him (unless you speak Swedish), but that incomprehension allows the vocals to become just another instrument of melody. The album is great, I have nothing more to say about it. Get it.
3. Walkin' Back To Happiness - Helen Shapiro -- from some 60's compilation. This might've been one of those 'One Hit Wonders' from the 50's/60's for all I know. I know absolutely nothing about Ms. Shapiro other than I saw her daughter play last weekend and she covered this song. She is a dead ringer for her mother vocally speaking. She ain't too bad on the eyes either. It's a happy song.
**note of retraction: Helen Shapiro is not Binki Shapiro's mother... just found this out. whoops**
4. Shoulder To Shoulder - Little Joy -- from Little Joy. The aforementioned Shapiro, Binki is her first name. She and apparent boyfriend Fabrizio Moretti (The Strokes' drummer) have joined forces with a Brazilian crooner by the name of Rodrigo Amarante (of Los Hermanos fame). Saw them last weekend, pure joy. More than just a little joy. They embody that almost naive happiness from the late 50's/early 60's. They're looking to influence a good time, and they succeed almost every time. This debut album is great throughout and is a solid recommendation. It came out Nov. 4th, which makes me count it as the one thing to come out of this Fall in the way of Modern Music that has actually surprised me enough to hold onto.
5. Until Tomorrow Then - Ed Harcourt -- from The Beautiful Lie. If ever a song were meant for the end of a night, the end of a date, or the end of a touching montage in a romantic comedy when the two main characters are on the brink of love until the man/woman does something to incite the final plot point... this would be that song. It absolutely exudes suave charm. Like Sinatra almost. The strings help out a lot, but Harcourt's voice is also heartwarming to the point of laughter. It's a solid charm of a song, which makes the first hand account I've heard of this guy's drunken field day during one night of this past SXSW even more charming. Harcourt has been a solid songwriter for the past at least 6 years since I've known his work. "Until Tomorrow Then" is proof that he seems bent on continuing such output.
Hope Your Thanksgiving Was Peaceful And Tasty.
In any case, please enjoy the first installment of this Winter's Hibernation List...
1. Requiem Por Un Con - Serge Gainsbourg -- from The Originals. I've just recently (within the past year or so) gotten into Monsier Gainsbourg and this is one of the first tracks that grabbed me (technically I think it's the second, but really does this sort of thing matter enough to mention? ... apparently). I've featured his daughter here before, and now with the father it's easy to see where she gets her talent from. Mr. Gainsbourg is a tremendous influence to modern music. Everyone from AIR to Seu Jorge counts him as a leading influence and from this compilation it is easy to see why. The man was at the same time sleazy and seductive all while managing to compose some of the most beautiful, relaxed and technically well-rounded material in the modern era, and he's shaped and redefined what we know of the pop landscape forever. If you're looking for a great introduction musically, look into The Originals. If you're looking for a good intro into what his lifestyle was probably like, check out the cult film Slogan. It's where he met Jane Birkin - Charlotte Gainsbourg's mom - and one hot little number. The two (Serge & Jane) put out some steamy material and were one of the first really taboo couples around (he was well into his 50's when he met the under 20 Birkin). French & Scandalous!
2. Satt Att Se - Dungen -- from 4. This Swedish Psych outfit is led by Gustav Ejstes. He is a genius. I could stop there. The first album I heard of theirs was Ta Det Lung back in 05 I think. It blew my mind. Ever since I have been hooked to everything he's put out. This latest release sees him involve the band a bit more in the writing process and the outcome has benefited immensely. There is more of a jazzy vibe to it, which is readily apparent here on "Satt Att Se" Sure, you don't understand him (unless you speak Swedish), but that incomprehension allows the vocals to become just another instrument of melody. The album is great, I have nothing more to say about it. Get it.
3. Walkin' Back To Happiness - Helen Shapiro -- from some 60's compilation. This might've been one of those 'One Hit Wonders' from the 50's/60's for all I know. I know absolutely nothing about Ms. Shapiro other than I saw her daughter play last weekend and she covered this song. She is a dead ringer for her mother vocally speaking. She ain't too bad on the eyes either. It's a happy song.**note of retraction: Helen Shapiro is not Binki Shapiro's mother... just found this out. whoops**
4. Shoulder To Shoulder - Little Joy -- from Little Joy. The aforementioned Shapiro, Binki is her first name. She and apparent boyfriend Fabrizio Moretti (The Strokes' drummer) have joined forces with a Brazilian crooner by the name of Rodrigo Amarante (of Los Hermanos fame). Saw them last weekend, pure joy. More than just a little joy. They embody that almost naive happiness from the late 50's/early 60's. They're looking to influence a good time, and they succeed almost every time. This debut album is great throughout and is a solid recommendation. It came out Nov. 4th, which makes me count it as the one thing to come out of this Fall in the way of Modern Music that has actually surprised me enough to hold onto.
5. Until Tomorrow Then - Ed Harcourt -- from The Beautiful Lie. If ever a song were meant for the end of a night, the end of a date, or the end of a touching montage in a romantic comedy when the two main characters are on the brink of love until the man/woman does something to incite the final plot point... this would be that song. It absolutely exudes suave charm. Like Sinatra almost. The strings help out a lot, but Harcourt's voice is also heartwarming to the point of laughter. It's a solid charm of a song, which makes the first hand account I've heard of this guy's drunken field day during one night of this past SXSW even more charming. Harcourt has been a solid songwriter for the past at least 6 years since I've known his work. "Until Tomorrow Then" is proof that he seems bent on continuing such output.Hope Your Thanksgiving Was Peaceful And Tasty.
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