2 with ten – the letter a
yesterday i was thinking about how different most of my friends’ itunes libraries are. i think u can tell a lot about someone by going through their music library – to a degree it reflects ur personality. i thought a fun thing to do would be to go through my own library from A-Z and pick 2 artists that start with each letter and then play one song from each. im gonna play songs by artists that i think everyone should at least be familiar with. i’m gonna pretend we’re just hangin and vibin’ out. my goal here is to hopefully inspire and reinvigorate your music library cos we all could benefit from a little change and growth. i’m on a quest for new or even old music that i havent heard (thus making it new to me) that will add something good to my life. there are too many bands out there and no way to filter them all. i will usually trust my friends opinion before any publication’s. if i pick a popular band dont fucking rag on me…it’s in my itunes and hey, i like it and im gonna tell ya why. i might even attempt to have the names of the songs also begin with that letter but that might prove a bit too difficult. ladies and gentlemen, i give you the the first installment of 2 with Ten featuring the letter A
Astrud Gilberto. I first heard astrud when i was in the company of a pretty blonde in her downtown detroit dirty hell hole of an apartment. i have loved her (astrud, not the girl) ever since. astrud was married to joao (famous) gilberto and the song she’s best known for is the girl from ipanema. interesting fact – bebel gilberto (who tours now) is technically not her real daughter – same dad, diff mom. that might explain something that i have always wondered about. i have seen her live show twice (one of those times we opened for her) and both times she didnt play her “mom’s” hit. both times i remember being bummed out to the point of swearing cos i wanted to hear the girl from ipanema. i guess there might be some weird issue with her mom- that’s the only reason i can think of for her not playing that song – damn u bebel. without further adieu here is agua de beber and not the girl from ipanema.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Air. i first heard air in the car of one of my gay friends back in 98. this guy had his finger on the pulse of what was some good electronic music back then. and no, his finger wasnt on the pulse of aything else if ya know what i mean. i was, and at times, still softly mesmerized by moon safari – their debut and easily my fav. i should play the song la femme d’argent which i consider the deepest and best track on that album but in efforts to play a song that begins with the letter A im going with alone in kyoto which is beautiful in its subtle build up psuedo chorus. this song was off a later cd…i think it was also in the movie lost in translation but i might be wrong about that and dont feel like fact checking it now. i havent been a big fan of their more recent stuff as i feel like it’s more of the same but not as good….that is the plight of almost every band. in an ideal world great bands evolve (ie the clash) instead of releasing watered down versions of their earlier records.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
OK – please send me some music starting with the letter A – something u think is super cool and i would like…as well as Appreciate. Leave a comment – this will be good for everyone.
About The Author
Francis Ten
Other posts byFrancis Ten
Author his web sitehttp://www.facebook.com/francisten
I have a song! IF IT BE YOUR WILL, sung by Antony Hegarty. I think it’s especially beautiful. Like so emotionally honest, on every level. I can’t hear it without connecting even in the littlest way with all that’s true, which is completely undefinable and captivating to the point of blindness. It’s a Leonard Cohen song. His words and the sounds he explodes them into the universe with blow me away.
I don’t know how to post it / send it to you. Maybe you just meant to post the name here. Otherwise tell me how and I will. It’s a gem.
Thanks for the 2 songs you posted. I loved listening.
)
Lola
send if over to fran@westindiangirl.com – will listen and report back – i have never heard of antony hegarty…did he play grizzly adams on tv?
Hey Fran!! Right now I am digin’ on AFP or Amanda Palmer from the Dresden Dolls. The Astronaut http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1O6GqCwjh-k. Check it out if you don’t know of her. Johnnie
Very cool idea Fran. Let me add one in here – American Analog Set – Choir Vandals
Led by the brilliant musical mind of Trevor Horn, “Art of Noise” released “Moments in Love” in 1985. I remember the first time I heard this song, I never wanted it to end. One of the first electronic “synth” pieces I had been introduced to, it is beautifully atomospheric with intentions of sensuality and ecstacy. Still sends me into a dreamy state when it sneaks up on one of my play lists.
i am starting off with an “A” but not doing the second part because i think this song best represents the artist and why i like him.
Andy McKee-Drifting
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ddn4MGaS3N4&feature=SeriesPlayList&p=447B977301B3AB7D
i happened to stumble upon this musician by chance in a very dark period of my life where i basically lost almost everything back in the beginning of ’07.
i was sitting watching what i thought was a big fat redneck get ready to play some “Skynyrd” covers and what came out was not only one of the most beautiful things i have ever heard it made me re-examine the old saying
“don’t judge book by it’s cover”
this guy plays straight from the heart.
he has a youtube page you should all check out.
http://www.youtube.com/user/andymckee#p/a
secondly back to the two A’s and to my favorite band of all time, “Atari Teenage Riot”
song simply called “Atari Teenage Riot II”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oxqcylYAvI
i can go on and on for hours of why this band is the best thing ever to exist but i’ll spare you the novel. this band is the reason i got into programming and sound engineering.
I’ve only heard one song by All Tiny Creatures, but they stood out as I scrutinized the “A’s” in my iTunes library. I heard their song “To All Tiny Creatures” (http://hypem.com/track/939765/All+Tiny+Creatures+-+To+All+Tiny+Creatures) while I was trolling through the 2009 SxSW showcasing artist pages. I love the slowly building textures. Like a great story, I have to get to the end.
abe vigoda? of course!
i would pick dead city/waste wilderness, but this is a fun homemade video too..
http://tinyurl.com/ygtbwhq
I’ll recommend an “A” artist: Audience, and their 1971 album “House on the Hill.” Their lineup of acoustic nylon string guitar, woodwinds, bass, and drums makes it sound like they were a soft rock band, but they were actually a blistering unit, set squarely between Blodwyn Pig and Van der Graaf Generator. Their music had a slightly gothic feel before goth was trendy. Killer tracks: Jackdaw and Nancy. (Street cred: singer/guitarist Howard Werth later moved to L.A. and cut a 45 for Dangerhouse.)
the auteurs
the animals
amon duul ii
a r kane
the au pairs
the avengers
alexander “skip” spence
damn – love these responses – i will check all these songs out…thanx for the you tube links – i will let u know what i think
Great call on Air’s Moon Safari. Definitely one of my favorites and is commonly in my record player.
Are you a fan of Autechre?
br
OK, in an attempt to balance the rock with the smooth, I first present A.R. Rahman’s “Mumbai Theme Tune”, a symphonic little number that I simply always have an ear for due to it’s ambient goodness:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm-l_zD–j0
Secondly, here’s the rock, The Avengers “American In Me”. A theme tune that pretty much sold me on the punk rock back when I was 15 years old:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXb_fltp8QI
Asteroids Galaxy Tour: Sun Aint Shining No More: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTuAXV8WyuI
I’m a big fan of Japanese rock music even though I’m not Japanese. Did you know there’s a singer/guitarist there who goes by the name of Air as well? My favorite song of his is Hair Do and here’s a link to a live of him playing it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxxbtmgvMO4
I also recommend his songs Me We and Liberal. He also plays jazz style music too.
Then there’s the song Aoharu Youth by one of my favorite bands (besides WIG) Supercar and here’s the link for that: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toBuWGYAh9M
I recommend every song by them especially Lucky and White Surf Style 5.
Looking forward to WIG coming to the Belly Up Nov. 20!
Aphex Twin (Not an unknown by any means) Love this song.
Nannou – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaXqU7hVVhI
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR LEAVING A SUGGESTION. I HAVE JUST RESPONDED TO ALL OF THEM VIA VIDEO POST – chalkmaze – great call on aphex twin…didnt get a chance to mention this on vid but good call – nice to reconnect with a little aphex twin
You’re spot on with the iTunes library being a window into someone. Though, I’m still a fan of buying CDs (if the album has at least 4 good songs) as they are usually out in the open for visitors to peruse and it’s less intrusive to tip-toe over to the display of CDs than to ask “hey, if I promise to avoid finding your porn, can I look through your iTunes on your computer?” Though it is 2009 and they probably have the iPod situated out in the open in a dock but still, you have to purposely ask to pick it up and look through it. And as we all know, your friend’s computer/desktop iTunes is the master not the iPod itself…so if they have William Hung’s latest music, it will be there. Though, throwing in William Hung in my iTunes would act as a sort of “brown M&M” because there’s no way any of my friends would be able to hold back harassing me for it and thus I would know they looked through my music bible. Ah, William Hung….such a bright star burnt out too fast. haha
dan where the fuck have u been!? obviously not drinking since i have no drunk voice mails
OK, sneaking these in at the midnight hour:
Aes Dana
http://ultimae.com/en/composers/aes%20dana/tracks.html
(When your stuck on the tarmac during a red eye)
and
Arkestra One
http://www.myspace.com/arkestraonemusic
and because I don’t know if this is a T or A:
The Album Leaf:
http://www.myspace.com/arkestraonemusic
“Broken Arrow” is getting lot’s of play on my Ipod these days. Cheers Fran…
sh*t… that would be http://www.myspace.com/thealbumleaf on the last one…
A
Alice In Chains is great! Air was mentioned. Love “Surfing On A Rocket”! But I’ve selected Adam (Fenton) F, a jungle/drum and bass DJ from England. “Circles” is the track I’ve selected from his 1997 album Colours, a d&b jazz fusion mix.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9iC3Yo2A2Y
I obtained this from the 1998 MTV compilation disc – AMP2
Next is – Arcade Fire a 2003 indie rock band out of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The track I’ve selected is “Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)” off their 2004 release Funeral.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqGiCXtvokM
The vocals are performed by founder of AF, Win Butler & on this track he has a kind of early Adam Ant sound to his voice. Some have compared their music to “Modest Mouse”, “TV On the Radio” & “The Decemberists”. Always one to embrace a wide variety of the more obscure instruments, working them into their sound like the xylophone, accordion, hurdy gurdy, mandolin & harp.
I mentioned Adam Ant and would be remiss if I didn’t throw him in here as well. Even though he is well known for more commercially pop sounding songs like “Goody Two Shoes, “Stand and Deliver” and “Prince Charming” his earlier work is what I consider to be his best. Before becoming Adam Ant he was known as Adam & the Antz with a much heavier late 70’s punk influenced sound. Even though a bit softer than his contemporary associates of the day “The Sex Pistols” he still had a raw, unique sound that set him apart from most others. Comparable artists from this time period includes, Siouxie Sioux, Jordan & The Ramones. The tracks I’ve selected are off his 1979 first album “Dirk Wears White Sox”. Have a listen to these and I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised!
“Animals and Men”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIA0XoY3qvM
“Digital Tenderness”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5RtsJOqKyQ
“Tabletalk”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFeqKL9IHSU
Side Note: Fran, you had mentioned Bebel Gilberto and funny enough I had her in my iTunes and didn’t even know it. That’s what happens when you have almost 8,000 songs in your library! The song I have is “August Day Song” off the KCRW Sounds Eclectic compilation disc. Nice sound and voice!
1. Album Leaf “On Your Way”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkPGx2wnMbM
A cute video…but my favorite song is actually “Over the Pond”
http://www.myspace.com/thealbumleaf
2. The Acorn “Hold Your Breath”
http://www.myspace.com/theacorn