The Curse of Sophistication

A good Wednesday evening to the collected masses.  Today is a special day in Ideological Cuddle land, as it marks the 56th birthday of one of the 2 or 3 greatest songwriters alive today - Declan Patrick MacManus, aka Elvis Costello.  He is right at the top of my favorite artists list, next to the likes of Tom Waits and Bob Dylan.  The thing that sets Elvis apart from those visionaries is his constant ability to try, and succeed at, new styles.  He's the ultimate musical chameleon, going from literate punk, to R&B revivalist (Get Happy! is clearly the music snob's choice for best Costello album - I agree completely), to country music jester, to straight rock and roller, to torch song savior, to Nawlins preacher, to alt-country crooner, and everywhere in-between.  His discography is the blueprint for hyper literate, catchy songwriting.  Josh Ritter, Joe Pernice, Ted Leo, Billy Bragg, Ray LaMontagne, Nick Lowe, even his contemporary in the British punk scene, the legendary Joe Strummer - they all have written in the style that he perfected.  Each of his albums have their own charms, but I'd select This Year's Model, Armed Forces, Get Happy!, Imperial Bedroom, and King of America as the 5 best (in no particular order).
For the vinyl obsessed (ooh ooh! me! me!), his original picture sleeve singles on the Stiff Records label are highly collectible and quite affordable.  The parade of collectible picture sleeve singles continued upon his switch to Radar Records in the UK with "Radio, Radio" and "(I Don't Wanna Go To) Chelsea" being favorites.  The ultimate 45 from the early E.C. collection, might be his 1979 red vinyl Valentine's Day single of "My Funny Valentine" - knock-off copies exist, so buyer beware.
I could go on for hours about dear old Mr. McManus, but the best way to celebrate his birthday is to listen to some of his music.  Below, you'll find live versions of many of my favorite Costello tunes (yes, I know that "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself is a Burt Bacharach song).  All are of beautiful quality and most are acoustic versions (many with just Elvis and Steve Nieve, The Attractions' virtuoso piano player).  Enjoy:
UPDATE - LINKS REMOVED
"Temptation" (Live at Massey Hall, Toronto, Ontario, 1996)
"Little Triggers" (Live on the Elvis Costello/Steve Nieve Tour, 1996)
"(I Don't Wanna Go To) Chelsea" (Live on the Elvis Costello/Steve Nieve Tour, 1996)
"I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself" (Live on the Elvis Costello/Steve Nieve Tour, 1996)
"The Other End of The Telescope" (Live on the Elvis Costello/Steve Nieve Tour, 1996)
"Riot Act" (Live on BBC Sound Stage with The Attractions)
"45" (Live on The Tonight Show, 1999)

And last, but certainly not least, his best known song with some beautiful transitions to some Motown classics (including "The Tracks of My Tears" and "No More Tear-Stained Makeup") :
"Alison -> Tears Medley" (Live on the Elvis Costello/Steve Nieve Tour, 1996)

Until next time, celebrate the musical gifts of Mr. Declan Patrick MacManus, and listen...

Another Song, Another Mile

A good Sunday evening to everyone out there.  It was quite the eventful weekend here in Ideological Cuddle land, as it was packed wall-to-wall with concerts, sporting events, dinners, even reunions with old friends (glad to have you back, Big Sexy).  Tonight's post is the next in the Cuddle's series of Top 5s and involves some great music and one of our favorite movies.

The Ideological Cuddle Top Five:
     Songs That Should Have Been In Almost Famous
                   (But Would Have Been Anachronistic If They Were)

1. The Black Crowes - "Wiser Time" (Live on VH1 Unplugged, 2008) - This one is easy.  The best "travelling band, being on the road" song of the past 20 years, the Crowes write what they know.  It's easy to see a little bit of the Crowes in the fictitious Stillwater from the movie (especially since Jason Lee seems to channel his inner Chris Robinson throughout the film - in look and demeanor).  I could easily see this tune replacing "Tiny Dancer" in the scene on the bus after Russell takes a bit too much acid at a party in Kansas.  Might not have the sing along power of Elton John's smash hit, but would hammer home the stresses of being in a band, travelling across the country with your best friends who so easily can become enemies.  The acoustic version above highlights the guitar breakdown in the center of the song - the perfect section for the scene mentioned.

2. My Morning Jacket - "Golden" - Another travelling song, this one's not so specific to the band, but still highlights the loneliness of the road.  Jim James' haunting voice propels the song on beautiful acoustic guitar/slide guitar lines.  I can picture Russell, again on the bus, strumming this song to himself as the rest of the band listens in.

3. Wilco - "Monday" - I can picture Jeff Tweedy and the rag-tag group of musicians who have made up Wilco over the years starring in an Almost Famous-type film.  In effect, they've already documented their quasi-demise and subsequent rise in their excellent documentary, I Am Trying To Break Your Heart.  Any music fan, especially those who love Wilco owe it to themselves to check it out.  This song, off of Being There, is a rollicking throwback of a song, documenting life on the run.

4. Blitzen Trapper - "Stolen Shoes and A Rifle" - Total 1970s country-rock throwback.  There's no other way to describe this standout track from Blitzen Trapper's breakthrough Furr record.  Play it for the uninitiated and they'll swear it was written and released sometime in the early 70s.  Maybe not the perfect song for Stillwater to play in the movie, but something that its lead singer, Jeff Bebe would be found listening to.  Lazy vibe, vintage sounds.

5. Drive-By Truckers - "Outfit" (Live and acoustic at Cooley's House, 12/29/03) - OK, this one is almost too perfect.  A definite masterpiece in the Trucker's canon, Jason Isbell's song of fatherly warning is cautionary, yet encouraging.  A father sings to his rock front-man son, telling him not to fuck up the gifts that he's been given.  "Do you want to grow up to paint houses like me?  A trailer in your yard 'till you're 23?  Do you want to feel old after 42 years?  Keep droppin' the hammer and grindin' the gears."  Daddy sets it out nice and plain, while encouraging his son - "Don't sing with a fake British accent, a Southern man tells better jokes" and "Have fun and steer clear of the needle".  One could imagine Russell or Jeff's father singing this to them on the phone after calling home during a bender.

If any of you out there haven't seen Almost Famous, do yourself a favor and go out and grab a copy now.  It's likely the greatest love note to rock and roll that the silver screen has/will ever seen.  Grab a copy, look, and listen.

Nobody's Listening, My Friend

Good Evening.  Tonight, we are happy to introduce a new and (hopefully) recurring feature at The Ideological Cuddle.  I had the idea recently to throw some quick hit posts out there, highlighting Top 5 lists (everyone likes lists, right???).  There are tons of ideas bouncing around in my head (and further suggestions are always welcome... leave a comment).  Here's the first :

The Ideological Cuddle Top Five:  Unexpected Covers

1. The Afghan Whigs - "Miss World" - This might be my favorite cover of all time.  Greg Dulli manages to boil the punk roots of the Hole original down into a dirge - comprised of slow marching piano, pleading trumpet, sax, and trombone only.  Courtney Love's lyrics of self-loathing are taken from declaration of independence into funeral rite.  Originally released on the "Somethin' Hot" single, it is well worth seeking out.

2. Elvis Costello - "Beautiful" - Recorded for and initially heard over the end credits to an episode of the TV show House, Costello's take on the Christina Aguilera hit is surprising for its unadorned beauty.  It can be found on the soundtrack to the same show.

3. My Morning Jacket - "Tyrone" (Live on KVRX Radio, October, 2000) - This one shouldn't come as much of a surprise to those of you familiar with MMJ's sound.  Fans know that the band can stretch out into funk territory with the best of them.  Their reworking of Erykah Badu's classic is very faithful, funky, and fully-realized.  Jim James' gentle falsetto sits front and center.  The band has been known to pull this one out of their bag of tricks from time to time live in concert.  Keep an eye out for it (and click above for the real thing).

4. Gillian Welch and David Rawlings - "Black Star" (Live at Bonnaroo, 2007) - I hope everyone out there has heard the Radiohead original of this song, as it's a beautiful, guitar-driven ode to relationships on the brink of disaster, and one of the band's true underrated gems.  Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, alt-country troubadours to be sure, strip away the noisy layers of guitar and feedback, leaving the beautiful, acoustically strummed melody unadorned.  Their voices intermingle beautifully, leading to a stunning performance.  Not to be missed.

5. Ted Leo - "Since U Been Gone > Maps" (Live in Studio) - OK, not only does this track include two covers, but it shows Ted Leo's range (or possibly his insanity... maybe both).  Not many indie rock superheroes would dare cover something as mainstream as a Kelly Clarkson song, but Leo pulls it off with aplomb, showing the song to be a stunningly catchy tune.  His ability to go seamlessly into the Yeah Yeah Yeahs lone hit, "Maps", shows not only his range, but the scary similarities between the tunes.

BONUS COVER!!!  Ted Leo - "Spirit of Radio" (Rush cover Live In Studio) - The awesomeness of this track just speaks for itself - Ted Leo + Rush = Indie Fan Boy Wet Dream (and shit can Ted play guitar).

Until next time, drop your thoughts on future Top 5 lists below, or just feel free to share some of your favorite Unexpected Covers... and don't forget to listen...

I Got A Head Full of Sermons and A Mouth Full of Spiders

Greetings, dear readers.  Today, a glimpse into one of the world's hardest working and least appreciated bands.  For 20 years now (with a couple of hiatuses mixed in), The Black Crowes have been criss-crossing the globe bringing their own brand of dirty rock and roll to the converted masses.  Functioning like a modern-day biblical fable, the rambling, shambling crew that has comprised the Crowes lineup over the years has always been helmed by the brothers Robinson - Chris and Rich.  They fight, they make up, they write, they fight again... and so it's gone for twenty plus years.
To many, the Black Crowes will always be that band that covered Otis Redding, got famous, opened for a bunch of big rock stars, got thrown off more than one tour, wrote "She Talks To Angels", put out a couple more albums, copped the Stones' 70s sound, and disappeared into anonymity.  This couldn't be further from the truth.  Although many mainstream music fans would like to assume that the Crowes disappeared, they clearly have not.  They boast a fan base as committed to their live experience as the most fervent deadheads.
The Black Crowes came screaming out of Georgia in the late 80s boasting a sound that was quite passe at the time (rock 'n roll throwbacks to the previous decade) and made it their own calling card.  Those of us lucky enough to see them live in concert on multiple occasions were never disappointed - they always brought their best, night after night.  As a bonus, they're a taper-friendly band and recordings of shows circulate widely (lately, the band has taken to recording and releasing all of their shows themselves, a la Pearl Jam).
The back-to-back punches of Southern Harmony and Musical Companion and Amorica in the first half of the 90s might be the finest that the decade has to offer in the rock field.  The songs have aged tremendously well and sound like they could have come from any of the past 4 decades.  "Wiser Time" wins the award for "Song Most Likely to Have Been Included in The Soundtrack for Almost Famous Had It Been Written in the 1970s".  Substance driven?  Sure.  But if it leads to art this good?  What the hell...
The Buffalo area has been lucky enough to host some of the band's most transcendental moments - their Spring 1995 Amorica Tour show at Shea's in downtown Buffalo, the band willing a thunderstorm through Darien Center at their July, 1997 Further Festival headlining slot (their version of the legendary B-side "Feathers" followed by the Exile On Main Street classic "Torn & Frayed" that night is not to be missed), the band's triumphant reunion tour as it burned through the Kool Haus in Toronto in 2005, the packed house at The Town Ballroom in 2008 as the Crowes preached the gospel, and the emergence of "I Ain't Hiding" - what can only be called disco-Crowes - at the Harbor concert series last summer.
The stage has been set for a final "farewell" this fall - "Say Goodbye To The Bad Guys" with The Black Crowes is being billed as the bands last hurrah.  The faithful has heard this one before, and the boys always seem to make it back.  This time, it feels like it could be the real thing - none of the members are getting any younger, Chris Robinson has his hands in production (he produced Gary Louris' excellent solo record, Vagabonds, among others) and guests on many records, and Luther Dickinson seems primed to head back to The North Mississippi All-Stars with his brother.  Whatever happens, we, the faithful, have years of recorded concerts to pour over and reminisce with... Here's just a taste...and each is taken from a bootleg source...

The Black Crowes - Live In Concert (sorry... don't remember where each of these are from...)
"Remedy"
"Wiser Time" - The Town Ballroom, Buffalo, NY 2008
"Dreams" (Allman Brothers cover)
"High Head Blues"
"Midnight From the Inside Out"
"Movin' On Down The Line" - The Town Ballroom, Buffalo, NY 2008
"Wounded Bird" - The Town Ballroom, Buffalo, NY 2008
"Black Moon Creeping"

Until next time, raise a glass to the hardest working band in Rock 'N Roll, The Black Crowes, and listen...

I Can't Define Love When It's Not Love

Well readers, this little blog (which I thought that no one actually read) received some complaints over the past week regarding some of our posts.  We seem to have been nicked for posting some mp3 files from bands who don't appreciate that kind of thing.  In response, I'm trying to find a way to still provide those of you who faithfully read the posts in my corner of the universe with some music that I love.  My current storehouse of files doesn't have the capability to share streaming versions of the songs, so I'll be working on that soon.

In the meantime, I'd still like to share some music that I've had kicking around for a while.
The Talking Heads are the first band that I can remember worshipping.  I was well-known among family circles for doing a spot-on impression of David Byrne in the "Once In A Lifetime" video.  I have been known to break out that dance when the occasion is right and I have enough liquid courage surging through my veins.  The band's music mutated over the years - starting with the blueprint for classic NYC post-punk, morphing into MTV-friendly pop, and finally exploring world rhythms.  Their entire canon is excellent and their music doc Stop Making Sense is commonly regarded as the finest of the genre.
Here's a taste of 1979 Talking Heads, recorded live in Los Angeles:

"Stay Hungry"
"Love > Building on Fire"
"Psycho Killer"
"Life During Wartime"
"Take Me To The River"

Until next time, be careful what you listen to and where you find it (a hard lesson for those of us here, I guess), and listen to some Talking Heads...