Best song from 2006?

My 2-year old thinks so anyway.

The Pipettes' single "Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me" barely made Pitchfork's top 100 singles of last year (#74,) but is Eli's number one with a bullet. Their debut (We Are The Pipettes) won't make it stateside until August, but this single gives a good taste of their 60s girl group groove. The band was started by guitarist/dj Monster Bobby as a revival of the classic Spector girl group sound, with a modern twist, with Becki, Gwenno and Rose leading the charge in polka dot dresses.

Eli's had a pretty good track record with artists he's taking a liking to... Nelly Furtado ("Maneater") and Lily Allen ("LDN") have done pretty well for themselves. Now we'll finally get to see if his old faves The Pipettes deliver as well here in the states. "Your Kisses" is quite fun, and gives me goosebumps every time the lil' guy sings along to "and you might cry for some time... and you might try to hold my hand again..." Like ice cream on a hot summer day.

Once the full album comes in, I can finally do a playlist of Eli's top songs from last year, as it's just not complete without The Pipettes other hit "Pull Shapes":


#1 for 2007 so far? Mika's "Lollipop." Please something come along and knock this one off the charts...

tags: music, album review, the pipettes, lily allen, nelly furtado, video, new releases, rhapsody

Get Happy!!

Elvis has entered the building...

Elvis Costello's catalogue from the Columbia years* has finally made it's way into the Rhapsody catalogue, this after a slew of redundant reissues following the transfer to Universal (Rhino's double-disc reissues really should've closed the book.) The period (1977-1986) represents the angry young man in his prime, with his first seven albums all classics in their own right (the first four - My Aim is True to Get Happy!! - especially.)

Playlist: The Best of Elvis Costello - The First 10 Years

Anytime there's a transfer to a new label for an old catalogue, there's almost always a greatest hits to coincide with it, and Universal's Hip-O label is no different. The Best of the First 10 years is at least the third to tackle this important period, and you'd think we'd heard the last of it, but truly, it's hard to argue against the 22 tracks chosen as a prime introduction to the Costello library. The album comes into Rhapsody as a 'buy only' option, but nearly every track is there for the taking from the actual albums ('cept "Oliver's Army" which is absent for some unknown reason,) and I've taken the liberty of assembling them for you.

The other collection Universal has for us (Rock And Roll Music - also a 'buy only' option) piques my interest a bit more, with several hard to find songs like "Big Tears," "Baby's Got A Brand New Hairdo" and several live tracks. It's slanted heavily to This Year's Model (which has six songs on it) and attempts to compile Costello's more raucus early material together with some level of success.

Why don't I have my own compilation? I'm not about to narrow it down, I'm afraid... just play the whole damn catalogue and be done with it, I say. Between this and Macca's recent addition, we've got some pretty large cracks in the digital distribution dam... it's only a matter of time. I now can (but will I?) go back and finish some playlists that have been lingering awaiting Costello's appearance for (near) completion.

Bonus treat: Elvis' infamous SNL appearance in December, 1977.

And years later Costello revists that moment with the Beastie Boys.

*'Columbia Years' as defined by US distribution. Costello was on several UK imprints during this time - Stiff, Radar, Fbeat and Demon.

tags: music, elvis costello, video, rhapsody

Macca the knife

By now, you already know the back catalogue for Paul McCartney (or 'Macca,' as he's affectionately known,) has finally made it into digital distribution circles (just in time for the buzziest Macca release in ages, Memory Almost Full.) It adds a lot of great music to the library, but it also unfortunately adds some real waste as well. Wild Life (1971,) Wings at the Speed of Sound (1976,) Back to the Egg (1979,) Pipes of Peace (1983) and that dogs of all dogs, Give My Regards To Broad Street (1984,) all need some desperate cutting.

I am, however, excited to have his first two solo releases, as both them, while critically panned at the time, feel ahead of their time in scope and feel. The minimal/nearly lo-fi approach of Paul McCartney (1970) and Ram (1971) seemed like a reaction to the wall-of-sound treatment that Phil Spector gave Let it Be's "The Long and Winding Road." In fact McCartney started his first recording in his home-built studio at the same time Spector was bringing in his opulence to those fated Let it Be mixes. The lack of production turned a lot of people off at the time, but the intimacy of the songs help close Macca's emotional distance, and, more importantly, they don't sound dated like some of his later fuller production with Wings (and moreso with his solo reboot in the 80s.)

Macca's self-titled debut was also the perfect reaction to being in a band for so long, as he plays every frackin' instrument. While there's little emotional impact from the songs (as his often the chink in Macca's armor,) the melodies are all there. "Junk" is recorded like a throwaway track (indeed it wasn't deemed worthy for The White Album or Abbey Road) but contains one of his most memorable melodies, and "Maybe I'm Amazed" might very well be the best song he's ever written.

His second album, Ram, was recorded in a real studio with some help, but still retained much of the minimalist production that Macca was toying with at the time. "Too Many People" and "Smile Away" are two of the most underheard Macca gems. "The Back Seat of My Car" signaled a move back to higher production value, and "Uncle Albert / Admiral Halsey" was a precursor a lot of the work he'd do with Wings. The reviews continued to be poor, and forming Wings helped served as a way to not have to take the brunt of the critics anymore. That's too bad, 'cause while Band on the Run was truly great, the rest of McCartney's work in that period is a mixed bag. It's fun to imagine what a solo McCartney would've sounded like through the rest of the 70's... without sheltering himself behind the Wings moniker, would he have been so willing to go so sickingly sentimental? Or was he just Linda-whipped and the rest was inevitable.

There's something to the Linda angle, as it took her tragic death to get him to back on track with the post-Linda trilogy (Flaming Pie, Run Devil Run, and Driving Rain.) Chaos and Creation in the Backyard furthered a necessary maturation in Macca, as he finally let go and let someone besides himself behind the board to co-produce (Nigel Godrich.) Now he's given up the reigns (almost) entirely with the forthcoming Memory in Full, which works very well.

The lead single ("Dance Tonight") is probably the simplist track on the album, but having Michel Gondry direct and Mackenzie Crook in your video more than makes up for it.

Here's the EPK for Memory in Full.

tags: music, album review, macca, paul mccartney, wings, beatles, classic rock, rhapsody

She was a big freak

Here's a raw treat for your funky weekend.

I said I'm wigglin' my fanny
I'm raunchy dancing
I'm-a-doing it doing it
This is my night out
- "If I'm in Luck I Might Get Picked Up"

Betty Davis is most often remembered for being the model turned second wife to Miles Davis, who introduced him to Jimi Hendrix and Sly Stone, which in turn helped inspire him to record Bitches Brew. But not many know her as a funk goddess pioneer. She was a flamboyant and RAW performer who's sexual overtones were way ahead of her time, paving the way for many female artists since.

Light in the Attic Records is on a serious roll with reissues. Here they've reissued Betty Davis' first two albums, and, like past efforts, have beautifully packaged them great liner notes from soul music scholar Oliver Wang (soul sides, o-dub,) who chats with Davis in only her 2nd interview in 25 years. (A third interview is in this week's cover story for the Seattle Weekly ("Betty Davis Is Back")

These albums aren't out for two more weeks, but Rhapsody has 'em right now.

Album: Betty Davis - Betty Davis

Davis' first album featured an all-star Bay area lineup. Bass legend Larry Graham and drummer Greg Errico were Family Stone veterans anchoring a tight rhythm section; while guitarists Neil Schon and Douglas Rodriguez were member of Santana. And if that weren't enough, there's the Tower of Power horns as well. But it's Davis who commands your attention, as a woman on the prowl, singing with raw sexuality.

Album: Betty Davis - They Say I'm Different

Davis' second album continued the sexual aggression, even going as far as S&M on "He was a Big Freak": "I used to beat him with a turquoise chain, yeah!" That she sounds like she enjoyed makes you wonder who the bigger freak was.

As to who that song was about, it may have possibly been Miles, who said this about divorcing Betty after only one year of marriage:

Betty was too young and wild for the things I expected from a woman...Betty was a free spirit, she was raunchy and all that kind of shit.

She had a more blues-based band for this effort, but the lady can't help but let her funk come out.

You'll be begging for more (like the Big Freak that you are.)

More: An interview in Seattle Weekly reveals that while she's stayed away from the music business, she continues to record music. Asked what the songs are like, she simply says "They're sex-oriented... Yeah. All my songs are about sex."

Previously: From the vault, circa 1971 (Light in the attic reissues of Karen Dalton, Jackie Mitoo)

tags: music, album review, betty davis, miles davis, sly stone, jimi hendrix, light in the attic, funk, soul, new releases, rhapsody

Welcome aboard, Dischord!

Over the past few days, I've been hypnotized by the steady stream of albums on the Dischord Records label making their way into the Rhapsody library. I started compiling a playlist and writing a post, but with each passing day, the picture becomes more complete, until today, where it's near full saturation. So, before I get too far, here's a playlist that documents nearly every Dischord release, starting with #1 (Teen Idles, Minor Disturbance EP [1980]) going to #160 (The Evens, Get Evens [2006].)

Playlist: Dischord Records

The label started with the end of the D.C. band Teen Idles, which was Ian MacKaye, Jeff Nelson, Geordie Grindle and Nathan Strejcek (photo.) They'd played together for less then a year, but were ready to pack it in, so they took their earnings and released an EP to document the band. This release, Dischord Records #1, was released in December, 1980. Inspired by Dangerhouse Records in LA, MacKaye and Nelson were going take any earnings from this first release and use it to put out the growing number of bands in the DC scene. State of Alert (S.O.A.,) which featured former Teen Idles roadie Henry Garfield (Henry Rollins,) wasn't going to wait. Henry put up his own money and released the EP No Policy (Dischord #2.)

At the same time, Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson went on to form the group, Minor Threat. They debuted, along with S.O.A., opening for Bad Brains in December of '80 (a month which also marked the label's debut.) Their 1st 7" release made for Dischord #3, with it's now legendary cover (that Nike recently copied and apologized for.) The song "Straight Edge" became the title of a movement of post-punk bands, describing a drug and alcohol-free lifestyle.

By 1984, the DC punk scene was rife with violence, and Dischord was in financial straits. But they held on, and by 1985, more bands joined the fray, inspired in part by what Dischord was doing, and also with the motive to take back the scene with a non-violence mission. Revolution Summer became the moniker for this 1985 movement, and it saw a move towards a more melodic sound. The most important of these was the band Rites of Spring, who, while only releasing one full-length (End on End, Dischord #16,) were almost single-handedly responsible for what would become emo. (They briefly reformed as Happy Go Picky, and their experimental live sound (utilizing tape loops,) was later documented on Dischord [#109] as well. Ian MacKaye, at this time, was also influencing this new genre with his shortlived band Embrace.

Ian MacKaye then (1987) formed the band Fugazi, which shortly after incorporated former Rites of Spring members Guy Picciotto and Brendan Canty, cementing one of the most principled bands of all time. To many, they hold the same significance as Bob Dylan (on their parents.) Their discography is the picture of artistic consistency, from their beginning to now current (as of 2002) indefinite hiatus. Repeater (Dischord #45) was my introduction, but it was 1991's Steady Diet of Nothing that comes to mind when I think about the band.

In the wake of Nirvana's 91's breakthrough, the label began see an increase in sales, and a couple bands on the roster made the jump to major labels. Jawbox (Atlantic) and Shudder To Think (Epic,) were derided by many ardent Dischord fans, but they remained true to their sound, and with their exposure helped broaden Dischords fanbase in the process, as fans looked for prior releases on Dischord (like STT's Get Your Goat, and Jawbox's Novelty,) and picking up a Lungfish or a Circus Lupus record in the process.

With Dischord's biggest mealticket (Fugazi) now on the sidelines, the label's roster is a lot less visible (and a lot more mellower.) Acts now include Antelope, French Toast, Soccer Team, Channels, Medications, Fugazi's Joe Lally (Dischord's first ever solo release,) and MacKaye's latest project, The Evens.

Of note: Rhapsody has the release dates off by a (fairly) consistent four years... just something to watch out for.

tags: playlist, music, dischord, diy, indie rock, minor threat, fugazi, rites of spring, shudder to think, jawbox, rhapsody

No one would riot for less

One of the aching holes in the Rhapsody library appears to have been filled. With the inclusion of Bright Eyes' latest, Cassadaga, it appears that Conor Oberst's label Saddle Creek Records is now in the fold (or will be.) Currently only Cassadaga and Maria Taylor's Lynn Teeter Flower (both 2007 releases) appear to be available at this time.

Album: Bright Eyes - Cassadaga

Other artists on the label include Eric Bachmann (Crooked Fingers, Archers of Loaf,) Two Gallants, Cursive, Orenda Fink, The Faint and many others. Hopefully, soon releases from these artists (and previous releases from Bright Eyes) will make themselves Rhapvailable.

Free album stream from AOL

tags: music, saddle creek, bright eyes, maria taylor, eric bachmann, cursive, two gallants, rhapsody

I got your big log right here

While the mammoth Robert Plant box set Nine Lives came out last September, it took a series of Plant reissues released this week to make me notice it in Rhapsody. Namely due to the fact the album The Principle of Moments didn't make it, and the only way to hear it is via said box set, which compiles every Robert Plant solo release (including The Honeydrippers) along with several demos and bootlegs.

Album: Robert Plant - The Principle of Moments

Like many, I'm more partial to the first couple solo albums (Pictures At Eleven and The Principle of Moments,) when the material still rose above the dated production... these songs did not age very well. By Shaken 'n' Stirred, Plant was too reliant on the production, and the songs sound even more dated now.

A couple songs especially take me back, "Burning Down One Side" and "Big Log." Had to hunt down the latter's video for full effect.... it's definitely a WTF moment in popular music history. Did Robert Plant reach the top 20 with a non-sequiter reference to his penis (or bowel movement) in the title? Maybe it was a private joke with Phil Collins who played drums on the song (and on most of the tracks off the first two albums.)

Song: "Burning Down One Side," "Big Log" - Robert Plant
Video: "Big Log" - Robert Plant (iFilm)

tags: music, robert plant, classic rock, rhapsody

...and all is love

Happy Valentine's day... fitting that I just discovered the debut from the Swedish band Love is All finally made it into Rhapsody. Nine Times That Same Song was originally released in 2005 to rave reviews, and then proceeded to make many year-end lists for 2006 as well (including my Best of 2006 really from 2005 list.)


Album: Love is All - Nine Times That Same Song

The album runs through several styles at once... punk, 60's-style reverb-filled harmonies, frantic Talking Heads (and even Bow Wow Wow) rhythms, Yeah Yeah Yeah's vocal delivery. Most the tracks are upbeat workouts, but Love is All will ask you to "Turn the Radio Off" and then later to "Turn the TV Off," and that's when it's time to make out (then fall out, then make up.)

It's a lot to digest, but after a few listens you too will find yourself full of love.

tags: music, album review, love is all, sweden, indie rock, album review, rhapsody