ROCK ALTERNATIVE ALTERNATIVES

My favorite indie rock internet radio station WOXY went off the air on Sept 15th at 5:40 ET, playing Oasis "Acquiesce", Public Enemy "Fight the Power" and MC5 "Kick Out the Jams" to close out their final playlist. Ever since then I've been looking for a suitable replacement. Verdict: there really isn't one, they were truly one of a kind. Plus, a lot of the alternatives I've found won't play on my computer at work (damn WMP 6.1). But here are a few that I've tried out.

The Current. This is a Minnesota public radio station which I can't listen to at work that has a little more eclectic mix: indie rock during middays, and some blues and jazz sprinkled in, and no hip-hop whatsoever (they're very white in Minny). What little I've heard has sounded pretty good, and they also have podcasts to sample.

Radio-Indie-Pop. An awful name, but a simple concept: give the listener the control over what they want to hear. There generate a different DJ-free playlist every day, and you can skip any song you want or play it again, like an mp3 player. Nice site, free registration required.

WLIR. Okay, so they're pretending to be the old 92.7 FM from Hempstead, Long Island (which later turned to WDRE, and then went off the air replaced by a Spanish station). This was the only station I could listen to back in the 80s to get my fix of Depeche Mode, New Order, The Cure and The Clash. Judging by the predictable crud on the playlist (Snow Patrol? Evanescence?), this isn't the same groundbreaking station. But they make up for the lack of Malibu Sue by giving us the 2 hour Flashback Lunch, in case you need more Romeo Void or Book of Love in your life.

Pandora. This site with its deceptively simple web interface is a resource hog, so it's either work or listen to this. Connected with the "Music Genome Project", it theoretically feeds you music depending on your likes and dislikes, but I found it spits out some truly odd choices. For instance, the 80s channel I tried to create kept giving me Green Day and The Bravery, and my Radiohead/Walkmen/Built To Spill channel gave me back Billy Freaking Joel. Ugh! It also doesn't let you skip too many songs in a given hour, which is irritating considering about 2/3 of the songs it gives you are not what you want to hear. I guess the more varied your tastes are, the more you confuse the program.

XM's Lucy. Discovered at Bourbon Street on Saturday, they play a great alternative mix, including R.E.M., Foo Fighters, 10,000 Maniacs, Soundgarden, The Sundays. Of course, I don't have the necessary software to listen to this at work, so maybe I'll try it at home on AOL's website.

KEXP 90.3. This Seattle station has similar weekday playlists to WOXY, but it leaves a weird West Coast aftertaste. Usual suspects like TV On The Radio and Wolf Parade show up during the day, with occasional songs by The Pixies and The Smiths. After hours and weekends are specialty shows, which I don't really listen to much. This is the one I'm going to keep on in the background at work, with Radio-Indie-Pop waiting in the wings to pick up the slack.

ROCK THE CRADLE

Some creative entity called Baby Rock Records has put out CDs containing lullabye versions of songs by popular groups (under the name Rockabye Baby!). From their website:

Baby Rock Records transforms timeless rock songs into beautiful instrumental lullabies, sending your little one to a slumberland of sweet dreams. Delicate instruments such as the glockenspiel, vibraphone, mellotron, harp and bells create a soothing atmosphere of sound. These charming recordings are sophisticated enough for everyone to enjoy, yet gentle enough for your little angel. This is cherub rock for a new generation.

So far, they've covered Metallica, Radiohead, Coldplay, Pink Floyd, and even TOOL.

I can't imagine what their versions of Paranoid Android and Schism sound like. Apparently they're selling well, because Beach Boys, Nirvana, The Cure, No Doubt, Queens of the Stone Age (hopefully, these lullabyes don't paralyze, right?), The Pixies, Smashing Pumpkins, Led Zeppelin and Beatles collections are forthcoming.

Yikes. I think I'll wait until the greatest hits album comes out.

VIDEO DUMP: THE WHITE STRIPES "THE HARDEST BUTTON TO BUTTON"

Jack and Meg White of the The White Stripes did a brief but funny cameo on The Simpsons this week, appearing in a segment parodying the music video for "The Hardest Button to Button" (from the album Elephant).



UPDATE: Here's the clip from the show, which is already on YouTube.


"Hey kid, why don't you watch where you're drumming?!"
'Tick Tock' Simpson and The White Stripes "The Hardest Button to Button" [YouTube]

As for the original video, it was filmed both in the 33rd Street PATH station and Central Park in Manhattan, and features a Beck cameo (the guy 2:30 into it with the white suit). It was directed by Michel Gondry, who is responsible for some interesting music videos, the excellent Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and a trippy looking new movie called The Science of Sleep.

Oh, and he's French. You know, just in case you were wondering.

The White Stripes "Hardest Button To Button" [YouTube]
The Science of Sleep (La science des rêves) - Official Site

R.E.M - BERRY'S BACK (UPDATE)

All four original members of R.E.M. played together this week, including the drummer formerly known as Bill Berry, and we have video evidence to prove it (good thing none of them murdered anyone). They did a benefit gig at the 40 Watt Club in Athens on Tuesday, prior to their Georgia Hall of Fame induction on Saturday (see previous bloggage). Here are clips of them performing "Begin the Begin" and "So. Central Rain". Stipe used the "tip your bartenders" line. Ha!


R.E.M. "Begin the Begin (Live at the 40 Watt Club, 9/12/06)" [YouTube]


R.E.M. "So. Central Rain (Live at the 40 Watt Club, 9/12/06)" [YouTube]

(NOTE: These videos only got 2 and 3 stars, respectively, on YouTube because the young 14 year old punks all over that site don't know dick about music history, and think lonelygirl15 is a real person.)

There are also some clips from the aforementioned GA-MHOF performance on 9/16/06, which I guess was only shown on Georgia PBS stations. Fittingly, the drums were mixed really loud at the beginning of "Begin the Begin", pointing out how much they miss Bill Berry. They also sang "Man on the Moon" and "Losing My Religion" from Out Of Time (1989). Enjoy while watching rich old white folks "rock out".


R.E.M. "Begin the Begin" Live at Georgia Music Hall of Fame, 9/16/06 [YouTube]

Now comes word from their official site that they might even record a song for charity, which would be the first time the 4 of them have worked together since 1997. (Not coincidentally was about the time I started to lose interest in these guys.)

VIDEO DUMP: ELECTRIC SIX "RADIO GAGA"

You may remember Detroit jokerockers Electric Six from "Danger! High Voltage" fame, with special guest Jack White. Well, now they've apparently taken the late Freddie Mercury to a gay bar.

When the original version of "Radio Gaga" was released in 1984 (on the album The Works), Queen was already far past their expiration date. The album The Game (1980) was a blockbuster success in the US, with crossover hit "Another One Bites The Dust" topping every chart that year; it was danceable and funky enough for disco and R&B fans, poppy enough for the Hot 100, with enough badass swagger for the rock chart. Think of it as a latter day Gnarls Barkley "Crazy", or as I like to call it, The Song That Kickstarted "Weird" Al Yankovic's Career. Beyond that the album showed signs of versatility, with the rockabilly-tinged "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", and "Save Me", which may have been the precursor to the metal power ballad.

Queen had a difficult time following it up, and released the plodding Hot Space in 1982 (with the Queen/David Bowie classic single "Under Pressure" tacked onto it), and never really recovered. The ponderous Radio Gaga (to this day, I have no idea what it's about, exactly) was pretty much the end of Queen's chart success in the US, a song/video combo as cliched and useless as "Mr. Roboto".

Which brings us to Electric Six dusting it off and rerecording it in 2006. I can't imagine anyone would listen to this and actually enjoy it, in a non-ironic way. This song would be a fun song to cover in concert, which would get some knowing chuckles from music fans in the crowd, but it's a pretty bad idea for a single release. However the video, ostensibly a "tribute" to Freddie Mercury (nee Farrokh Bulsara), more than makes up for it. Fake mustache? Novelty teeth? Ghost poodles? Sign me up! Someone still loves you, Freddie.



Electric 6 - Radio Gaga [YouTube]

LOW FIDELITY

This blog posting has a recommendation and a warning all wrapped up in one. I am not responsible how you use this information, but please use your best judgment.

I just read Nick Hornby's book entitled High Fidelity (1995), a witty, poignant story about a London record store owner who defines his pathetic life through Top 5 music lists. He starts off the book by listing his "Top 5 Most Memorable Split-ups", and then attempts to catch up with those 5 women who broke his heart. It's very well written, with great observations about both relationships and music. You may have seen the excellent movie adaptation from 2000 starring John Cusack and Jack Black, the former playing the store owner, and the latter at his most endearing and least annoying. I even liked Iben Hjejle as his current ex-grilfriend Laura, but it looks like this was her only American film (she's one of those Denmarkians).

Now, this is where the warning comes in. Someone in their infinite wisdom thought it would be a good idea to make this into a Broadway play. I don't know how this happened. I'll admit, I'm not a huge fan of musicals to begin with (especially those not named SPAMALOT). However, the songs on the official website are among the worst I've ever heard. To say they sound like Mentos commercials would be an insult to the Freshmaker. Just listen for yourself. This might be a worse idea than taking his book Fever Pitch, by all accounts an excellent book about English football fanatics, and turning it into an insufferable Red Sox movie starring Jimmy Fallon.

Oh my god, those somgs are so bloody awful. I think I just threw up in my mouth a little, and I really could use some of those Mentos.

All I can say is if you see this play, buy the book and/or rent the DVD, you'll only be encouraging Nick Hornsby and his evil henchmen. Go to the library and get the book or the movie for FREE, if you absolutely must. Hopefully, this will all blow over before too long. Together, we can get through this nightmare.

Oh, and one last thing. My Top Five Elvis Costello Songs:

1. Alison
2. I Want You (Album Version)
3. No Action
4. Uncomplicated
5. Green Shirt

Notice that the song "High Fidelity" is not on there. Thank you.

PUTTING ON A CLINIC

Clinic is a Liverpudlian four piece group who don't really sound like anyone else. But more importantly, they don't look like anyone else, as they wear surgical masks at all times while performing. Seriously, I caught them in concert back in 2002 in a very hot, stuffy Maxwell's in Hoboken, and they kept those masks on the entire time.

They have a new single out called "Harvest (Within You)", and the accompanying video is interesting, a surreal homage to the pagan festival celebrating the harvest. Or just some wacky English chaps in a field wearing surgical masks. Either or.

The new album Visitations will be available in the UK and on iTunes on October 16, 2006 but not in US stores in January 29, 2007. What the hell is that about?



This video for "Tusk" (thankfully, not the Fleetwood Mac song) is proceeded by a epilepsy warning, which may be a music video first.

Clinic - Harvest [YouTube]
Clinic - Official MySpace site

JOHN MOE'S POP-SONG CORRESPONDENCES

McSweeney's has some damn funny writing on their blog. Among the best stuff is JOHN MOE'S POP-SONG CORRESPONDENCES, which can be best described as letters written in response to a song. Okay, that's not a good description, so here are some examples.

Attention, Mr. Axl Rose: We Did Not Feel Welcome in the Jungle.

"The trip was a disaster from almost the beginning. True, you welcomed us to the jungle. And that was hospitable. And right off the bat you promised fun and games. But there were never any fun and games! Would it have been so hard to put together a bingo or a quick trivia thing? Then you promised that you and the other fellows could find whatever we might need. Well, we needed food and somewhere to lie down for a while. And all you offered was some stale pretzels and an old futon."

A LETTER TO SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND FROM SGT. PEPPER.

"Battling loneliness is difficult even without having a veteran rock band constantly drawing attention to it. I know you always get by with a little help from your friends, but the efforts of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band make my loneliness a life sentence. Imagine a day in my life, boys. Here I am, almost 64 now, with no one to turn to."

CONCERNING JON BON JOVI, WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE.

"Bon Jovi is no regular cowboy. He rides a horse made of steel. A steel horse. I am not shitting you. And don't think this is some sort of comical clunky robot horse with whimsical hydraulic sound effects and extraneous flashing lights. This thing is exactly like a Thoroughbred, only much larger and made from an incredibly resilient alloy. Bullets can't even penetrate this horse, much less stop it. Bon Jovi is also armed with a loaded six-string that he carries on his back. Reports differ on whether he uses it as a sort of crossbow or whether it's actually a guitar that he plays with such shocking mastery as to render victims helpless. Regardless, take heed."

Funny stuff.

NOUVELLE WAVE?

The French musical duo (I may have already lost you, but stick with me) Nouvelle Vague didn't learn from their first mistake. Last time out they made an entire album of laid-back lounge versions 80s post punk/new wave songs, including Depeche Mode's "Just Can't Get Enough", Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart", and the Clash's "The Guns of Brixton", among others. Now they've released a SECOND album of the same dreck entitled Bande-A-Part. Their take on the Billy Idol/Generation X classic "Dancing With Myself" made me throw up in my mouth a little. (Not that the original was that amazing, mind you, but this one is cringeworthy.) It reminded me of the Mike Flowers Pops Orchestra cover of Oasis' "Wonderwall", and if you're not familiar with that, think the sonic equivalent of being beaten to death with a frilly lace cravat. Among the other songs they delicately trash this time around:

"Ever Fallen In Love?" (The Buzzcocks) [listen]
"The Killing Moon" - (Echo and the Bunnymen) [listen]
"Sweet and Tender Hooligan" - (The Smiths)
"Pride (In the Name of Love)" - (U2) [listen]
"Bela Lugosi's Dead" - (Bauhaus) [listen]

BAU-FREAKING-HAUS??? Oh, this can't be good. And my most accounts, it's a hit and miss mess, a perfect iTunes/emusic "a la carte" (French term) album if there ever was one.

A much better way to go would be the Grant Lee Phillips album Nineteeneighties, who incidentally also does a version of "Killing Moon", as well as some Pixies, New Order, The Smiths, and a great version of the Psychedelic Furs' "Love My Way" [listen].

BERRY'S BACK . . . OR IS HE?

Back when I first became an R.E.M. fan (after taping a few albums from a friend, 1986's Lifes Rich Pageant sealed the deal for me), it was always Berry-Buck-Mills-Stipe, as they epitomized the "band first" ideology. I even remember Michael Stipe once saying that if any of the four leave the band, there WAS no R.E.M. However, after drummer Bill Berry left the band in 1997 (and I consequently stopped buying R.E.M albums), there was still a huge Warner Brothers contract to fulfill, so the remaining three members continued making (sub-par) albums without him.

When I first saw the BERRY TO REJOIN R.E.M. headlines today, I felt a little jolt of nostalgic excitement (which is as useful as a really strong static shock from a doorknob). Then I clicked on the link and realized they are only getting together to perform 3 songs at their Georgia Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony (are the Georgia Satellites in there yet?) on September 16. But it's still pretty cool.

Even though he's not an "official member", Berry has played with them a few times since 1997: once at a Atlanta show in 2003, again for a friend/roadie's wedding in October 2005, and again this past year at a Minus Five show (Buck's side project). The original four piece band defined "tight live band" back in the day, and this 2003 clip where Bill joins them on a cover of Aerosmith's "Permanent Vacation" gives you a little taste of that.

VIVA LA BERRYBUCKMILLSSTIPE!



R.E.M. - Permanent Vacation [YouTube]

RIP WOXY

My favorite internet radio station, WOXY.com, is shutting down forever on September 15. I don't have to tell you how much that sucks. This (non-CC) station had the perfect blend of new indie rock, local bands (well, to Ohio, anyway), and vintage stuff (including the incredible WOXY Vintage stream). Heck, I could even e-mail them at any time of the day and request anything, Tom Waits, Portishead, Jeff Buckley . . . AND THEY'D PLAY IT! (Beat that with your satellite radio!) And it's also the only decent radio station I can (miraculously) listen to at work, one of the only things that gets me through the day (that and The Onion; if they blocked that at work, I'd have to hand in my two week notice). Now I have to slog through the other choices to find an truly alternative alternative. Ugh.

RIP WOXY.