The set I’ve been playing is a Pearl set I borrowed from my cousin. Good for beginning, but I knew early on it didn’t sound the way I wanted it to. My cousin wants his set back, so I was forced (*wink wink*) to acquire another set. I promptly found a Ludwig Accent CS Combo in Wine Red (used) purchased it, set it up and was beating on it into the night!
Ludwig Accent CS Combo
This particular drum set was recommended on several websites as a decent set that would at least take you through “beginner drummer” into “intermediate drummer”. The Pearl set was not doing it for me. It was also way too high in pitch for my liking.
Who knows why, but this song was stuck in my head as I woke up this morning. My favorite version is the one by Marvin Gaye, though it is good to also listen to Gladys Knight & the Pips’, a close runner up in my book:
Marvin Gaye’s has more of the emotion of a guy who has just had his heart broken, and really match the lyrics. Gladys Knight & the Pips’ version it is harder to believe “Losing You Would End My Life You See” because she sounds more like she is ready to move past it and go out dancing. Angry and sad perhaps, but not broken. Marvin has a bit more of a soul feel, where as Gladys has a bit more gospel and maybe a touch of funk.
Neither of those two versions were the original recording though. They were 3rd and 4th (or 4th and 3rd depending on your point of view), both recorded and released in around the same time. The first version was by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles but was not released at the time. It was rerecorded and released in 1968. Click here to listen to it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Rv9ZA8GOIw This version has a more “oldies” kind of feel and is actually kind of between the other two stylistically I think, but perhaps without as much emotion as either the Gladys Knight & the Pips or Marvin Gaye versions.
Of course the real heroes here are the song writers, Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong, who not only wrote this song and several others for the likes of The Temptations, Marvin Gaye and others, but were truly two of the fathers of the “Motown Sound”. Before this was released by any artist, they were asked to change the song by the CEO of Motown Records, Berry Gordy, because it was not strong enough and “horrible”, but they refused. True artists and inspirations forever. (Hey, Berry, founder of Motown Records, couldn’t be right 100% of the time.)
As the millennium approached this was the song my friends and I played to mark the occasion. At least that is how I remember it. It also happened to be the night G and I decided we were more than just friends. (Makes remembering the anniversary easy.) It makes this song a fantastic keepsake, though it is also an excellent song to run and exercise to.
I got to see Chairlift a few weeks ago open for The Killers in Cleveland. I was impressed with how each of them played multiple instruments and there was no distinct “lead”, though I really think the energy of Caroline Polachek outpaced both Aaron Pfenning and Patrick Wimberly. Also without her voice I don’t know if they would be distinctive enough to have made it as far as they have. I liked several of their songs, today’s song being their prize jewel. Most of you have probably heard it a gazillion times already on iPod commercials.
G made an interesting observation about the “ooo”-ing of Caroline, which occurs in several songs. G thought she must have grown up listening to a lot of Björk. It does make for a distinctive sound, but hopefully they won’t over do it and make it their shtick. I did love the use of the cowbells. “I got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell!” (Click for SNL video of Christopher Walken and the cowbell skit.) Given how passionate Caroline seemed, I think we can expect a lot more out of her, Chairlift, and definitely her cowbell.
Only recently have I realized how much I love this song despite hearing it on the radio for over a year now. It was like an awakening and will result in further exploration of MGMT’s two albums. MGMT is set to release a third album this year too, “Congratulations”. I love that they are an “accidental” sort of band. “We weren’t trying to start a band. We were just hanging out, showing each other music that we liked.”
Just so you know the video is fan-made but perfect for the song. I was totally confused at first because there is a woman in the video, but MGMT is two guys, Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser. At first I thought maybe one of them was very feminine in face paint or something, until I found the truth.
Update 2009/05/29: This post has immediately become my most viewed in two days. It is understandable because MGMT is so addictive once you have tasted how delicious they are. “Kids”, “Time to Pretend”, and “Electric Feel” are all stuck in my head now, playing on repeat like a radio station with only three songs. MGMT is so addictive I had to hunt down their demo album “Climbing to New Lows” which is not for sale but was leaked on the Internet, and I found a link to it here, and it is FREE though who knows for how long.
UPDATE 2009-06-14:
Apparently MGMT has made an “official” video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3R53bXHMSkk) and it probably took a lot more effort, time and money to produce, but it just isn’t as good as the fan made one that is so popular. Sorry MGMT! Stick to the music. Maybe you could do as M83 did and run a contest on YouTube!
You may recognize the voice as that of “Poe”. Most people probably assume after her 2nd album, “Haunted”, she retired or something, but no. She has been active in a variety if pursuits, including several songs on two Conjure One albums, and probably the third one in the works. Conjure One is the “project” of Rhys Fulber known previously for Front Line Assembly and Delerium.
I think it is a brilliant and beautiful song. If I wasn’t so busy with my day job perhaps I’d learn how on earth they produce some of the sounds in songs like this.
If any artist has a legitimate reason to be political, it is her, Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam. Although she was born in London, she grew up amidst the conflict between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil militancy. Her stage name, M.I.A., is in part a reference to her being “Missing In Action”. I have to believe it is a misnomer at this point though because I believe her popularity has fostered more international sympathy for the Sri Lankan Tamil minority than anything else in the past decade.
I totally agree with her on the so called “War on Terror”. “You can’t separate the world into two parts like that, good and evil. Terrorism is a method, but America has successfully tied all these pockets of independence struggles, revolutions, and extremists into one big notion of terrorism.” The world is not so black and white. Are the Sri Lankan Tamil civilians and militants unjustified for wanting equality or independence when the policies and culture of the majority Sinhalese clearly deny them the same rights and opportunities? One of the origins of the Sri Lankan Civil War is “The government of D.S. Senanayake passed legislation stripping the estate Tamils of their citizenship in 1949, leaving them stateless.” No rights?! Sounds like fighting words to me!
I remember back in 2005 when I heard Eisley’s first album thinking and telling people they were the best new band I had heard all year. I love both of their albums “Room Noises” and “Combinations”. They have a sound that seems out of place in our post modern world, as if from a small town from another time. They are indeed from the small city (Tyler, Texas), which perhaps helps to influence their sound. Also they are all from the same family and they use tools like “GarageBand” to write music. If they can do it so can we, assuming we have some musical talent. Of course I do not have a Mac. Hmmm.
Because they are all still so young (ages 17 to 27), I think we can expect many more great albums and songs from them. They are working on their third one now!
Something about May and June always draws me to my Tori Amos albums, especially when it is gray or raining outside. I know the melancholy pervasive in most of her songs is appealing to me. Listening to her speak she comes across as a bit touched or perhaps even crazy, and she may be, but I sympathize with crazy. However her well crafted lyrics touch the root of emotion and paint a picture of innocence hopelessly lost but wanting to return. Ophelia would’ve listened to Tori, particularly this album. Simply put “make me laugh, say you know what you want”.
I think most people do not understand Tori and thus avoid her music. Perhaps they do not wish to feel as if barefoot and bound, running hopelessly through a forest? Well I think those people are missing out and would rather pretend they never feel that way. Perhaps they do not wish to be reminded of that feeling?
Here are my 5 favorites from the album, with “Jackie’s Strength” being my favorite.
Unfortunately I could not find the original “Liquid Diamonds” online, so the link is to a good live performance. I’m sure to post more on Tori Amos. She is a staple and I just bought her new album, “Abnormally Attracted to Sin”, the other day and it is still sinking in.
Listen on Blip.fm!