2 with ten – the letter b
ok, on to the letter B. b is a tough letter cos there are a ton of b bands i would like to play. i know i said i would try to play songs that also started with that letter but i’ve decided to bag that idea – too difficult and besides, i really want to play the songs that initially hooked me to these bands. some of the songs i post may indeed be the band’s most popular one and in that case i guess u can say i have agreed with the masses….shoot me.
Blonde Redhead. i first heard this band via an ex gf – hmmm i see a pattern developing, maybe that’s the role girls have come to play in my life…bearers of music rather than children. blonde redhead formed in ny in 93 and have since become a 3 piece with no bass player. the italian brothers in this band are also twins. i have an italian twin brother as well. it would have been nice to have been in a band with my italian twin…but probably just a trio like br cos 3 is a visually great # for compositions. my favorite br song is equus but magic mountain is a real close second. equus is such a great name for a song. i have grown to love this band – talk about an original and distinctive sound. the love or hate it aspect to this band is kazu makino’s voice. it’s fucked up, give it a chance.
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Boards of Canada. if you arent into electronic music then u might not understand how great this pair of scottish dudes are. i first heard about boc from a guy who moved into the apt across the hall from me when i lived near the troubadour. he gave me all their cds and it quickly became bedtime background music. the song i posted is called roygbiv. u guys know what that is right – short for the colors of the spectrum – red orange yellow green blue indigo violet. like equus was a cool title this is as well. i love the low tone moog melody line – that’s what hooked me about this song. the album this is off, music has the right to children, came out in 98 and it’s a great record. 98 was an amazing year for music come to think of it.
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B is for fucking bonus song!
Band of Horses. ok ok i know it’s called 2 with ten but for damn sake i couldnt get out of my b’s without talking about this band- more so because of this song. once again, i first got into band of horses via an ex gf’s laptop. there are lots of things i like about this band, particularly ben bridwell’s voice and phrasings. in a strange way he reminds me of mercury rev at times. i also liked the first photos i saw of them…one was in front of an old blue truck and another with a boxer in it…sort of like we did at one point. anyway, we’ve played a couple festivals with these guys but unfortunately both times our set times overlapped and i missed them. the first lyric of the song that never get tired of listening to is “it’s looking like a limb torn off” – very nice.
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b was tough..i’m really gonna go for lessor known bands when i hit c. i regret not mentioning bo diddley for this – please give bo a try.
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Hey Fran,
Bibio_”Sugarette”
BT (sophisticated glitch/pop/orchestral)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwErxckY-Xc&feature=related I love the part that kicks in at 7:30
BT has always pushed things technologically, been popular in the clubs, dance, and cool kids crowd early in his career, but I feel he pushed things and matured when he scored the film for the movie Monster, and then stepped to another level and created something very rare and marvelous when he combined glitch, with orchestration and innovation for his album This Binary Universe. I feel this is his crowning achievement, but a bit long winded and requires the listen to have a good attention span and to focus with microscope in order to really appreciate the fine details hidden everywhere.
Nice choices man! I would have added BRMC too
Bon Iver – Blood Bank
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-BZ0D92mtU
It probably isn’t everyone’s first choice of the bands song’s but I love it, and I think the band in general is really worth checking out if you haven’t done so. Really mellow stuff.
Wow.. love Boards of Canada!
Ok… I’m going to have to go with…. #1:
Bjork!
There just isn’t possibly enough room to go over what an amazing artist she is (I was instantly in love with her after hearing the song Regina (SugarCubes) while in highschool) but I was very moved by her foray into Cinema. She was asked to write and produce the musical score to a movie called “Dancer in the Dark”, which she eventually was convinced to act in. The resulting score was released and is called “Selmasongs”. When I first saw the movie I was haunted by a beautiful french horn melody which, years later, I realized was strikingly similar to another composer I had so much enjoyed as a child, John Williams. The haunting score is called Overture on Selmasongs.. give it a listen. However, the song I really want to call attention to is New World, which the same theme and melody as Overture establishes… This is probably one of my favorite Bjorks songs outside of her mainstream stuff. This is also the song the movie credits roll to, and I have to admit, I was so moved by the song, I had to rewind the movie 2 or 3 times just to listen to it again. Give it a listen.. it’s quite nice… and very cinematic… and of course, amazing lyrics and vocals…. if you are a french horn fan, you’ll be quite delighted.
#2: Big Audio Dynamite.
I was first introduced to B.A.D. by my best friend in highschool in the late 80′s whilst cruizing the beach, and trying not to get in trouble during late summer nights. Released in 1985 on the album “This is Big Audio Dynamite”, the song E=MC2 has an amazing, timeless, childlike aura about it. It pretty much summed up my entire care free summer of that year. The song was WAY ahead of it’s time in terms of electronic sampling and mixing. Not that it was a pioneer, but that it was mixed so well between the lyrics, music, samples, harmonizing, etc. And of course, the unmistakable vocals of the Clash guitarist and singer, Mick Jones. After doing a little research, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that this song is a tribute to cinematographer and film director Nicolas Roeg (Man Who Fell to Earth). Enjoy!
J
I love Band of Horses and that song in particular. For my suggestion, I’m going to recommend a band from my state (PA), Black Moth Super Rainbow, in particular this song “Forever Heavy.” (http://www.fanaticpromotion.com/mp3s/blackmothsuperrainbow/bmsr-foreverheavy.mp3)
bon iver’s “for emma, forever ago” should be in your music library. i mean, if u like ben bridwell’s voice and phrasing you’ll appreciate justin vernon. his voice is bone chillingly beautiful and his phrasing is so full of imagery- kinda fun getting lost in his sadness. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssdgFoHLwnk
so which ex got u into baha men
OK since I was totally lame with the “A”‘s and didn’t get my selections in until the last minute I am going to get a head start and recommend my “B”s early.
While perusing through my library for B’s I discovered I really don’t have much in the way non-mainstream B-Bands. Since B.O.C. has already been so rightly suggested (great choice Fran) I’ll stick with the following two:
Beth Orton http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xfv1z_beth-orton-she-cries-your-name_music
Can’t beat listening to Beth on the outdoor bose drinking wine around the firepit.
and
Buffalo Daughter:
This is the one worth checking out: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x290y2_buffalo-daughter-cyclic_music
older stuff is hit or miss but this one rates high for me and overall another great Japanese import.
Finally, since I can’t refrain from being a damn rule breaker, I am shamefully plugging a runner up: “The Boxer Rebellion” (http://www.myspace.com/theboxerrebellion) … I deserve the hazing but if it scores with ya’ll it was worth it…)
C ya in the C’s
Burial. Lonely walks in the nighttime city music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hI4bSCy9iE
DAMN YOU FRAN! I was waiting for “B” so I could throw down some boards of canada. I have a feeling our itunes libraries have a lot in common, cuz blonde redhead is on heavy spin as well (esp. the album “23″).
Well, I guess i’ll have to step up to the plate with two more chill out electro bands for ya:
Bent: Old School mid-90s triphop/downtempo.
Links: “Private Road” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ebd87zFaPug&feature=player_embedded#at=18
“Magic Love” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10RZsjvX-f0&feature=player_embedded (your gay neighbor might dig this track more than you)
Second artist:
Bonobo – Downtempo IDM
“Recurring” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfugtAWxooU&feature=player_embedded#
check it…
br
The Big Pink is an awesome new band from the UK. Check out Velvet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OA3twi3iSNQ Too Young to Love and Dominos are also recommended. I hope they count since they have The in their title.
Battles- Atlas http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpGp-22t0lU
I don’t have a massively stuffed ipod. This is all I have for B that I love and think is special enough to share and it’s nothing new I’m turning you on to, but maybe still nice to hear — Billie Holliday. I have loved her since I was a kid. Loved-loved-loved her for that long. I don’t know why. She just moves me to the bone. I listen and a million voices call out to me. And this performance is so raw…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4ZyuULy9zs
My “B” contribution is Blue Cheer in memory of Dickie Peterson, who passed away several weeks ago. Dickie was BC’s bass player, singer, founding member, and guiding light. Fran, I can hear Dickie’s approach to rock bass guitar in your playing: clean, melodic, driving, and creative without showing off. Check out Doctor Please from the band’s 1999 live Japanese CD “Hello Tokyo, Bye Bye Osaka” (the UK edition has the boring title “Live in Japan”). Doctor Please is the perfect example of BC in “controlled chaos” mode (which is what “Vincebus Eruptum,” the title of their first album, roughly means), 18 mindwarp minutes of extreme guitar distortion, powerful drumming (though low in the mix), and Dickie’s solid bass playing anchoring it all (and you do have to listen to the whole performance to fully appreciate it). The two extended instrumental passages in this song are brilliant. Literary cred: Blue Cheer is mentioned in two Thomas Pynchon novels, “Vineland” and “Inherent Vice.” They are that cool! (Stealthily sneaking in another “B” artist, gotta mention that I hear a lot of BC’s controlled chaos in Babes in Toyland, especially on their incredible album “Fontanelle.”) – Nick
Monsieur Ten, I was anxiously awaiting the ability to post my B suggestions. But first, I dig Boards of Canada…once a year I go on my electronic/ambient buying kick and this is added into the wish list now, so thanks for that. As is Black Moth Super Rainbow, thanks John.
Sooooo my Bs Needs are…though neither are actively recording/touring. Beta does have offshoots luckily.
Big Milk (http://www.myspace.com/bigmilkband) and also on CDBaby to try. Headed by late great singer, songwriter, and guitarist Luciano Lenchantin…as well as his good friends Steve and Mike. Luciano comes from a very musical family. His last name might tell you. A very humble and gracious individual with many influences that you can hear in his music. I miss drives up to LA just to see them. Another deserted-island CD, though my deserted-island is spacious. Listen to the song “Harlem”.
The Beta Band (http://www.myspace.com/thebetaband)
Though I want to say I heard about them from High Fidelity the movie when he said “I will now sell five copies of “The Three EPs” by The Beta Band.” but sadly I think it was after I was in San Diego and stumbled upon them. If I owned a record shop I’d be making the same cocky claims. Picking one song is tough because this is one of my deserted-island/save-from-a-house-fire CDs but listen to “Dr. Baker” sounds like it could have came out of a The Mighty Boosh episode. Certainly good for a Nevada desert trip to Vegas too.
cant believe you didnt write about your hometown hero, bob seger…B is for Black Star…call me
Brittany Spears …Baby One More Time http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bsniYwSaWg *hides*
Is Bauhaus too obvious?
Short and sweet-Black Star “Definition”= classic hip hop hope your into it!
ahhhhhhh *slaps self*.. Bauhaus… classic…I’m dead.. I’m dead… haha
Doh! Not realizing I probably should have posted links to my previous post of song choices.. here they are in case you couldn’t find them:
Bjork – New World (off Selmasongs)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjYKbIk5MKM
and
Big Audio Dynamite – E=mc2 (off This Is Big Audio Dynamite)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTiIjq3omvA
cheers!
Fran, you might have heard her already, but check out Bat For Lashes and her song “Daniel” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00ZHah-c0hQ Natasha Khan has an amazing voice and her music and videos are very experimental and unique.
Also there’s a singer by the name of Boh Runga. Here’s her song “Starfish Sleeping” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlZqRZXb3WU It’s pretty pop sounding but she’s got a great voice.
Also, Boh’s old band was called Stellar* , and although it doesn’t start with “B”, you might wanna check ‘em out since she sang lead for them and the music was a LOT different than her solo stuff. This is their song “Violent” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok8Vd_cGd-s
OK, so you already took my beloved Band Of Horses, so I’ll move on. But I’m glad you like them.
Right, so for B, here we go.
Since I live in San Fran, I’m gonna have to go local and I present The Brian Jonestown Massacre’s “Hide and Seek” –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nImQg5yX00
I saw them open up for Primal Scream a while back and they ended with this tune. Brilliant.
Coming in for the second choice, well, sometimes you just have to get a little euro with things, so I’m going with Benny Bennasi’s “Love Is Gonna Save Us” –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKGxhNJ8Imw
Yes, it’s a bit techno, but there is something there.
Lastly, since indeed B is for Bonus, I’m throwing Blind Faith’s “Can’t Find My Way Home” in. OK, it’s old and yes we’ve all heard it often, but man, no matter how many times it’s crossed my path I will always have an ear for this tune. A little bit melancholic, yet sings like a siren’s call to the soul.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IN1J5sMv28Q
not going to mention the obvious artists, david bowie, james
brown, etc, don’t think that is the point of this and i can talk about those two artist for hours and bore the shit out of everyone.
when i was teaching myself how to play guitar, the breeders “last splash” just came out and i practiced every day to attempt to play along with it and eventually learned every song.
(it’s also one the first albums i ever bought, totally rad and brings back tons of memories)
“saints” is one of the first songs i ever taught myself and i love this video because it’s the official video and this version is played live and kind of sloppy like they didn’t give a shit, just thought that was really cool when i was younger. plus i had a huge crush on kim deal back then,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt5MWCwFhCI
my new favorite artist that simply blows me away, i am entranced with this woman,
natasha khan who is the band called “bat for lashes”
the song “daniel” came on the radio one day and it really intrigued me so i went out and bought her new album “two suns” and i’ve been hooked ever since, her voice is so hauntingly beautiful to me, it seriously gives me chills.
i was fortunate enough to see her live in two small venues recently and after the hundreds of concerts i’ve been to over the years those two were in my top 5. it is so much different live, it’s a lot heavier and absolutely powerful.
i even dragged along a friend of mine who is a major metal head and was talking shit all the way to the venue and after the show he was like
“HOLY SHIT THAT WAS FUCKING…AWESOME!”
if you ever get a chance to see her live, i strongly suggest
it, even if you aren’t into her, you won’t regret it, i promise.
i can’t really choose any one video or link to truly represent her, so i’ll just link you to her latest video, “sleep alone”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1vtr9fXdg8
Hi Fran, I’d like to recommend New Zealand artist Bic Runga. She had a song called “Sway” quite a while ago that you might remember. This is one of fav tunes of her’s, though.
Bic Runga – Get Some Sleep
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-C1yNyiUmF4&fmt=18
I’d also like to recommend Bic’s sister, Boh Runga. She’s mostly known for having been in a particularly fantastic/famous Kiwi band (which I’ll be recommending as we get further down the alphabet), but has since released a solo CD and is now living in L.A.
Boh Runga -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g97snL1ZPg
have to agree with rick,
man, bic runga is awesome, i heard her cd “beautiful collision” playing at tower records over the speakers when i was in hawaii around 2002 and bought it right away, it’s also the time i was going through a divorce so it was like totally therapeutic, thank you for reminding me of her again, i didn’t know she had a sister, im going to check that out.
thanx for all the posts people…due to some server issues this week i will be posting my video response and the lettter c at some point tomorrow…hopefully.
Big Chief, sweetheart. And when you get to W, you know what’s coming… XOXOXOS
The problem is when you are sick as hell, you get behind on real life: being in the same space with people you love and like, mingling with strangers, the dog, the sun, good food and vino, the beach, and on and on, and then other life: FB and the like, get neglected too.
Dig this idea and loved your “A” video. Had I been there in time would have suggested, Add N to (X); I’m too late for B, but I’ll still throw down: Beirut, and since you are soon onto C, must say, Cansei de Ser Sexy.
On another note, I think I still have a mix tape you made for me: with some “C” Clash, and a band that I think starts with an “A” in some box somewhere I ran across. I think I was trying to dictate what you put on the tape too. Sad. Control issues I had/have.
Off to more meds and hopefully sleep.
I gotta go mainstream with the first: Beck. Yeah, it’s the obvious and therefore not cool choice, but you were saying in the A’s how you wished bands could adapt and change over time, and he definitely has. Great variety album to album, with good quality throughout.
Black Cab: Australian band that hasn’t had much exposure in the states. Check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tD93AGs7P0c – not sure I’d say it’s their best song, but only one I could find online.
Oh, the Bibio song link. Shwoops.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TewD2AWqNxY
Happy to hear there’s another Bic Runga fan on board, Michael.
Btw, Fran, I really enjoyed the “B” songs you posted. I’d never heard of any of those bands before. To me, the singer in Blonde Redhead sounds a little reminiscent of the legendary Dale Bozzio (Missing Persons), at least in that particular song. Also, the Band of Horses tune you posted sounds like it could’ve very well been a song from WIG. Great tune! I agree…Ben’s got a really great voice. Kinda sounds like a combination of maybe Perry Farrell, Kevin Cronin and your own Robert (James).
Fran
1 last late entry! Built to Spill: Life”s a dream-Off their brand new album There is no enemy! Trust me your playlist will be better with the addition
Love all of these suggestions… Especially Bon Iver, Burial, Bibio and Big Pink – (BP is playing in LA very soon at the El Rey I believe)… can’t forget Battles…
I’d like to name a few of my faves if I may:
B – well… first and foremost Bill Cosby
Artist wise:
Beta Band – nuffff said!
Brightblack Morning Light – surprised no one posted them – awesome mellow grooves
Boozoo Bajou (album name: Satta) – basically K&D Sessions revisited
Boss Hogg – Jon Spencer and Christina Martinez, sexy funky blues jams, can’t go wrong
Boris (album name: Smile) – thick, bass heavy slow, sludgey fuzzy jammy jams
Blitzen Trapper (album name: Wild Mt Nation) – such a great hippy, trippy, black crowes meets distortioney solos and harmonies album…
Song wise:
Blue Light – Mazzy Star
Broken Little Sister – Death In Vegas
B+A – Beta Band
Better Living Through Chemistry – Queens of the Stone Age
Baker Street – Gerry Raferty
Blinded by the Light – Manfred Mannnn
and of course – Blue Wave -by… wait – who’s that band again?
~Cosby out
B
Blaqk Audio is a synthpop group from Oakland, CA formed by Davey Havok & Jade Puget of AFI. This track is called “Stiff Kittens” off their 2007 debut album CexCells. A throwback sound to 80’s electronica groups like Depeche Mode and New Order.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1rs4byfv8o
Banco De Gaia is a ambient dub group from London, England formed by Toby Marks in 1991. The track “Drunk As A Monk” is off their 1997 album Big Men Cry. The Mix I like though is the “Brass Monkey Mix” off of the disc “R.I.T.M. Remixes – vol.2” Couldn’t find it on-line so I’ll post it in your drop box.
Brian Vasquez (I have no info on & can’t find any) does a song called “The Morning After” a short song that has a great dream like feel to it. His voice in this song reminds me a lot of Rob’s. I got this one from a 2005 compilation disc “You Wish You Heard It Yeasterday vol.4” (a collection of peasant class sounds from L.A.’s underground). This one also will have to be dropped into your box, so look for it there.
Brazilian Girls is a electro dance music band out of NYC. The track I’ve selected is “Don’t Stop” off of their self titled 2005 debut album. I love Sabina Sciubba’s voice, the multi-lingual lead vocalist born in Italy then reared in Germany & France. Her voice reminds me a bit of Suzanne Vega.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIykKakGA8M
B for bonus: Bloc Party is an English indie rock band formed in 1999 whos influences include The Cure, Joy Division & Sonic Youth. The track featured is “Blue Light” off their 2005 album Silent Alarm. I came across this version (Engineers Anti Gravity Mix) from the 2006 disc “Perfecto Chills vol.3” A chill groove. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7sCvXvHx04
Too many B’s buzzin’ in my head! I can’t help it! I love music!!!
Ben Harper – “Excuse Me Mister” from 1995 album Fight For Your Mind. Great album! Check it!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dNbymstZjs
Peace!
Wanted to toss in The Black Heart Procession
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spxyrxWG_LQ
They are particularly gloomy.
and Broken Social Scene “Cocaine Skin” and “Passport Radio”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kp3XLRC9Gw
Some sort of atomic bomb fan video with hilarious argument made by fourteen-year-olds via the comments section.