Smed's Music Club

On Hiatus

smedindy — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 02:56:48 +0000

Hey there, I’m blogging at

http://smedcards.wordpress.com

It’s about baseball cards.

Enjoy.

Still Here

smedindy — Fri, 07 May 2010 18:39:09 +0000

Next week, I’m unveiling the new improved music club…I think!

Changing Gears?

smedindy — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 23:08:31 +0000

Hey all.

Still workin’. However, a revelation hit me just know as I was in a half-sleep daze listening to “Black Love” by the Afghan Whigs (no, don’t take anything out of context there – it just as easily could have been “Led Zeppelin III” or “Pet Sounds”).

I may change up the format – make it more conducive to writing and less dependent on videos which get taken down without me knowing it.

So, yeah…

Still Workin’ It

smedindy — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 13:57:21 +0000

Haven’t abandoned anyone, but work is winning out.

Work Work Work

smedindy — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 13:46:34 +0000

Next week, I PROMISE!

RIP Alex Chilton

smedindy — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 16:46:53 +0000

Sorry, been busy but wanted to send my condolences on the death of Alex Chilton.

Some vids:

ABBA – Hey, Hey Helen

smedindy — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:16:53 +0000

Title: Hey, Hey Helen

Artist: ABBA

Album: ABBA

Year Released: 1975

What It Is: A surprising hard rockin’ track from the Swedish hit-meisters. This wasn’t a hit, but was a crowd favorite, I suppose. At first, it really sounded a bit like it would be a Gary Glitter stomper. Anyway, it’s nice to hear an ABBA song that wasn’t played to death either during it’s time, or in all of the tributes, etc.

Riffage / Hookage: Well, you know it has a hook, since it’s ABBA. But it’s surprisingly riff-a-licious too! And it’s also kinda funky in the middle.

Cowbell?: Nah, but heavy drums, man.

Words Of Wisdom: “So at last you’re free
It’s the way you wanted it to be
And the price you pay
To become a woman of today
Is it worth the pain to see the children cry
Does it hurt when they ask for Daddy “

Well, maybe that’s why it’s not on stuff like Mamma Mia, eh?

Mixology Report: Oh, yeah, because people will be a bit surprised at hearing the heaviness.

Top Five Genius Results: Olivia Newton-John – If Not For You
Albert Hammond – The Free Electric Band
Carpenters – Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft
ELO – Yours Truly, 2095
Bee Gees – Spicks & Specks

For The Good Of The Order: ABBA will be inducted into the rock-and-roll HOF, but there will be no reunion. Agnetha doesn’t like to fly, and Bjorn has some family thing-deal-bit, so Benny and Anni-Frid will be there.

Here’s a vid from Don Kirchner’s Rock Concert. Yeah, they’re miming. Oh, well…

King Crimson – The Great Deceiver

smedindy — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:08:32 +0000

Title: The Great Deceiver

Artist: King Crimson

Album: Starless & Bible Black

Year Released: 1974

What It Is: A burst of jazz-prog rock with weird lyrics. The playing is expert on all accounts, and yes John Wetton does play those tricky bass parts and sing at the same time.

Riffage / Hookage: Robert Fripp is always good for a strong riff. He’s an exceptionally powerful guitarist. It’s a shame metalloids don’t give him his due. Perhaps it’s because most Crimson songs change tempos and styles at the drop of a hat.

Cowbell?: I’m sure Bill Bruford hits it once or twice. He hits EVERYTHING ELSE in his kit, it seems.

Words Of Wisdom: “Cigarettes, Ice Cream, Figurines Of The Virgin Mary.”

Mixology Report: Mix with care. The opening lyric is “Health Food Faggot”, but that’s British slang (well slang in 1974) for a veggie meatball.

Top Five Genius Results: Yes – The Gates Of Delirium
ELP – The Barbarian
Genesis – Can-Utility & the Coastliner
Van Der Graaf Generator – Man Erg
Gentle Giant – Black Cat

For The Good Of The Order: I think some incarnation of King Crimson going on right now, gigging periodically. Fripp is so mercurial though, it’s hard to tell what’s next with him.

Here’s a recording of a live version from “The Great Deceiver” 4-cd set. David Cross quit Crimson because he was often drowned out by Wetton and Bruford. Fripp complained about this as well, and rather much shut down during the “Red” album, which was the last Crimson record for many years.

Joe “King” Carrasco & The Crowns – Person – Person

smedindy — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:40:05 +0000

Title: Person – Person

Artist: Joe “King” Carrasco & The Crowns

Album: Synapse Gap (Mundo Total)

Year Released: 1982

What It Is: A hella fun Tex-Mex rock ‘n’ roll song from one of the best party bands ever to come out of Texas.

Riffage / Hookage: Any song with a farfisa is going to have hooks.

Cowbell?: Nah.

Words Of Wisdom: “Herman? He can’t even tie his shoelaces!”

Mixology Report: Always great for a party mix!

Top Five Genius Results: Too much partying for Genius!

For The Good Of The Order: The discography of Joe “King” Carrasco is kind of a mess. Some songs, like “Buena” appear on three different releases with three different recordings. You may remember Joe from “Party Weekend” on MTV, but that song was recorded at least twice.

Here are two vids. The first is the MTV vid that is hilarious even now; gotta love the production value. Not values, value.

The second is from the “Son Of Stiff” tour in 1980 and it shows that the whole intro routine was worked out well before the song hit vinyl.

R. E. M. – Feeling Gravity’s Pull

smedindy — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 03:41:00 +0000

Title: Feeling Gravity’s Pull

Artist: R. E. M.

Album: Fables Of The Reconstruction

Year Released: 1985

What It Is: A classic R. E. M. song that kicks off a moody, understated, misunderstood album. The album is murky, mysterious and unsettling, and this cut very much epitomizes that feeling.

Riffage / Hookage: Peter Buck’s guitar riff is one of the all-time classic R. E. M. riffs, and one I actually learned long ago. (Like I remember it now…) The cello and strings are a fascinating counterpoint to the whole thing.

Cowbell?: Bill Berry is very, and rightly, understated in this cut.

Words Of Wisdom: “I fell asleep and read just about every paragraph.

Read the scene where gravity is pulling me around
Peel back the mountains peel back the sky
Stomp gravity in the floor
It’s a Man Ray kind of sky
Let me show you what I can do with it
Time and distance are out of place here

Step up, step up, step up the sky is open-armed
When the light is mine, I felt gravity pull

Somewhere near the end it said
‘You can’t do this’, I said ‘I can’
To shift sway rivers shift, oceans fall and mountains drift
It’s a Man Ray kind of sky
Let me show you what I can do with it

Step up, step up, step up the sky is open-armed
When the light is mine, I felt gravity pull onto my eyes,
Holding my head straight (looking down).
This is the easiest task I’ve ever had to do…

I fell asleep and read just about every paragraph

Read the scene where gravity is pulling me around
Shift the swaying river’s shift
Oceans fall and mountains drift
It’s a Man Ray kind of sky
Let me show you what I can do with it
Time and distance are out of place here

Step up, step up, step up the sky is open-armed
When the light is mine, I felt gravity pull onto my eyes,
Holding my head straight (looking down).
This is the easiest task I’ve ever had to do…

Holding the sky in their arms
Gravity pulls me down”

Since Stipe is mumbly on the album, I thought I’d post the entire lyrics.

Mixology Report: I think you may have to watch where you put it, since it’s so moody and introspective. But yeah, throw it on a mix!

Top Five Genius Results: The Replacements – Achin’ To Be
Bob Mould – See A Little Light
XTC – Mayor Of Simpleton
10,000 Maniacs – Verdi Cries
Echo & The Bunnymen – Do It Clean

For The Good Of The Order: 1985, Butler University. The Minutemen opened up. Who the heck thought it was their third to last gig? R. E. M. came out on stage. Stipe had a music stand and a bag over half of his head, and sung to the side of the mike. They opened with this. My girlfriend wasn’t that whelmed, but I about lost my cookies. Sorry, Marie, I wasn’t that fun of a date that night, but I was in heaven.

Here’s the official vid. It’s very much influenced by Neil Young’s films, I think (as in, WTF am I watching here?)

Here’s a live cut from 2003

And now, from their Dublin shows which were compiled in a totally KICK ASS album just recently. Go buy it! YESTERDAY!