I'm Down Here For Your Soul

As we move closer and closer to Halloween, one's thoughts tend to wander off into the macabre.  Nick Cave and his many projects tend to be the perfect soundtrack for this time of year. 
Cave deals in the things that rattle around in the back of men's minds, out of sight of the rest of the world - deviant sex, gruesome murder, the evils of religion, lust, greed, and even hate.  Early in his career, he had a tendency to alternate aggressive, evil albums with quieter, more introspective ones.  His sound is clearly informed by Leonard Cohen (some have said that, without a Leonard Cohen, there wouldn't be a Nick Cave - he might still be making loud, abrasive post-punk with The Birthday Party).  Cohen's influence is all over Cave's The Boatman's Call, No More Shall We Part, and parts of The Lyre of Orpheus - quiet, introspective affairs that show off Cave's trademark baritone and emotive songwriting.  No song of this ilk is more beautiful than "Love Letter" from 2001's No More Shall We Part.  Here's a beautiful live version on The Late Show with David Letterman with the McGarrigle Sisters singing back-up (the visual quality isn't great, but the performance more than makes up for it) :



Cave is not afraid to delve into pure rock and roll either - not that his version of rock and roll is anywhere near "pure".  The cast of characters that have comprised his Bad Seeds over the years are a who's who of avant-garde talent - legendary guitarist Blixa Bargeld and violinist Warren Ellis among them.  They add dissonant flashes to Cave's compositions and add a flair missing from 99% of the music out there today.  Bargeld has since left the band, but Ellis' signature can be found all over recent masterpieces Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus and Dig!!! Lazarus, Dig!!!.  He's also an integral part of the Grinderman project (who I've waxed poetic about in the past). 
To truly appreciate the Bad Seeds' genius, they must be experienced live.  If you can't find them in your town (they're not currently touring as Grinderman is), check out The Abattoir Blues Live tour document - overflowing with 2 live CDs and 2 live DVDs of Bad Seeds madness.  For more, I've dug out some live bootleg tunes from the vaults for your enjoyment. 

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Live from Copenhagen, Denmark on November 19, 2004:
"God Is In The House" - Another beautiful, quiet, introspective tune from No More Shall We Part.  It's a song that pokes fun at religion, prejudice, and the denial that many of us live in.
"Easy Money" - More introspection, this one from The Lyre of Orpheus.  I've thought about the meaning of this song a lot over the years - I've come to the conclusion that the subject of the song has chosen to do some unsavory (and likely unclean) things in order to allow his family to survive, but I'm always up for further interpretation.
"Babe, You Turn Me On" - This one's deviant.  Also from The Lyre of Orpheus, "Babe You Turn Me On" seems gentle and loving on the surface, but upon closer inspection, the singer's "babe" is being hunted like prey, and the singer is NOT being invited to seduce the object of his desire.
"Red Right Hand" - The quintessential Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds song (mostly because it's the most recognized), I've always felt that the main character in this song would make a terrific Halloween costume (while Mrs. Cuddle claims that no one would know who I was - she's likely right).  It has always been the chimes that make this song stand out from a sonic perspective, and the image of a Something Wicked This Way Comes-type protagonist, willing to give anyone anything (for a price), that make the lyrics stand out.

Live in Germany on May 21, 2008:
"The Lyre of Orpheus" - A terrific song that turns the Greek myth on its head, this version is most notable for the crowd singing along with Cave, creating an eerie choir.
"Moonland" - One of my favorite tracks from Dig!!! Lazarus, Dig!!!.  I could imagine this song in lounge version, being sung in Vegas by Sinatra.  Zombie Sinatra, but whatever.
"Deanna" - Legendary in the Cave canon, "Deanna" is from 1988's Tender Prey.  It's raucous, pleading, and sexy.  That it is still filling setlists 20 years after it's initial release is a testament to it's staying power.
"Into My Arms" - More tenderness, this time from The Boatman's Call.

Bonus Live Bad Seeds from various sources - each song is from Murder Ballads :
"Henry Lee (with PJ Harvey)" - I love this traditional song, manipulated to Cave's sensibilities.   One of two duets on Murder Ballads (the other is just as beautiful - "Where the Wild Roses Grow"  with Kylie Minogue), the voices of Cave and Harvey meld beautifully (as did, presumably, their bodies, as they were a couple for a while).  The macabre pairing of Harvey and Cave was almost too perfect, and their relationship didn't last all that long.  We still have this song to remember it.
"Stagger Lee" - Not for the faint of heart, this version of the traditional Stagger Lee is peppered with more f-bombs than almost every other song that I know of.  Beyond the colorful verbiage is the violence - Cave doesn't spare any gruesome detail of the fateful night in The Bucket of Blood bar.

Until next time, enjoy the various moods of Nick Cave (check out his albums as well - Mute Records is in the process of re-releasing everything in the catalogue), and listen (but maybe not too closely if you're faint of heart)...

I've Been Crowned The King of It and It Is All We Have

Evening, y'all.  Quite the tough week here at the Cuddle, as it was not the easiest past 24-48 hours in sick kids land.  Another week of call in the books... and we move deeper into our favorite season, Autumn.  nyctaper is quickly becoming our favorite blogger of all time, not just for the sheer admiration that we have for his craft, but, now, for his taping of EACH of Pavement's shows at Central Park Summer Stage in NYC this past week.  He has each of the shows up for free download (in MP3 version on the site, in FLAC form if you email him).  I encourage each of you to head on over to his site and listen to each of the shows.  They're breath-taking in their variety and sheer duration (each show runs about 2 hours and 30 minutes).  The quality is fantastic as well (considering the venue and lack of a ceiling).  You'll find a preview of some of those shows below.

Can't say that there's a whole lot more on my mind right now.  Just kind of feeling burned out.  Need to recharge.  Peep some Pavement here: 
MP3s REMOVED DUE TO COMPLAINT.
Pavement Live at Central Park Summer Stage:
September 21, 2010 :
"Perfume V"
"Frontwards"
"Silence Kit"
"Grounded"

September 22, 2010:
"Starlings On The Slipstream"

September 23, 2010:
"In The Mouth A Desert"

September 24, 2010:
"Rattled By The Rush"

Until next time... kiss the ones you love and remind them how much they mean to you... and listen...

I Put A Spycam In A Sorority

While we're cleaning out the cobwebs and talking about favorite things, let's hit another few points.

As Ideological favorite, stereogum points out, it's Pavement week in New York City (they'll hit Jimmy Fallon's show this Thursday/early Friday).  They'll be playing 4 shows in Central Park to the collected throng of hipsters (yeah, I'm jealous) over the next 4 days.  Blogger Big Ass Lens captured some excellent bootleg footage of the last four songs of last night's encore at The Williamsburg Waterfront - "Starlings in the Slipstream" (an Ideological favorite), "Gold Soundz" (ditto), "Kennel District", and "Range Life" (total classic) - check out the Vimeo video below:

Pavement - Starlings Of The Slipstream / Gold Soundz / Kennel District / Range Life from Big Ass Lens on Vimeo.

Yesterday's post of some live My Morning Jacket and Superchunk tunes inspired me to post some tracks from two of our other favorite folks whose albums will be jockeying for position in our Best of 2010 list.  Josh Ritter's So Runs The World Away didn't make a whole lot of noise when it came out (our vinyl copy was procured at Record Store Day a few weeks before the regular release date), but has been quite the "grower".  Ritter's prose is nearly unmatched among current singer/songwriters.  "The Curse" and "Folk Bloodbath" are the standout tracks on SRTWA and live versions from the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC back in May are below.
We've waxed poetic on the awesomeness of Spoon's Transference, which came out in January.  Archive.org, on their Live Music Archive, has a few excellent Spoon shows up for public consumption.  The two tracks below, "Got Nuffin" and "Written in Reverse", are taken from Spoon's set opening for the Arcade Fire at Radio City Music Hall last month (and were taped by another of our favorites, nyctaper).  Enjoy.

Josh Ritter - Live at the 9:30 Club - Washington, DC - May 8, 2010:
"Folk Bloodbath"
"The Curse"

Spoon - Live at Radio City Music Hall - New York City, NY - August 4, 2010:
"Written In Reverse"
"Got Nuffin"

Until next time... spend some time with the music of Josh Ritter, Pavement, and/or Spoon... and listen...

Here's A Song About Nothing And Everything at Once

It's been quite a while, dear readers, but we here at The Cuddle are pleased to be back on the blogging track.  Since we last had a chance to chat (and since we received our most recent threatening e-mail about removing MP3 files) there has been a lot going on in our musical landscape.  We've seen some great shows and heard some great new things that have gotten our fires stoked.  It's a time for change, as we're speeding toward the greatest time of year in sweet, little B-lo - Fall.  Just over 24 hours from now, our calendars will mark September 21st, the start of the Autumn season, and with it, Mrs. Cuddle's favorite holiday, Halloween.  We've got a lot planned between now and then, but in the meantime, on to an update:
On a beautiful late summer evening (August 28th to be exact), Mrs. Cuddle and I ventured to the Canandaigua Music and Arts Center (CMAC from now on) to see two of our favorite bands (to be fair, two of MY favorite bands, ONE of hers) - The New Pornographers opening for My Morning Jacket.  Despite being sans the rapturous Neko Case (felt more than a little slighted there), the Pornos sounded great.  Carl Newman was in fine voice as usual, the band was tight, and Kathryn Calder was downright impressive - not only singing her parts, but covering Neko's as well.  It was a little disappointing that the venue was less than 1/10th full to see one of indie rock's foremost groups, though. 
After a short intermission, the now packed CMAC was greeted by the nattily dressed quintet and its dual guitar onslaught of Jim James and Carl Brommel as they tore into "The Way That He Sings".  For the next two hours, those in attendance were held in rapt attention by what must be the finest live band playing today.  Besides the great setlist and amazing musicianship of the band, what stands out is how much fun they seemed to be having.  Jim James played a variety of guitars (among them, his signature flying-V) and danced all over the stage.  Besides playing most of our personal favorites ("Dondante" and "Wordless Chorus" were sublime), the band played new tune "Circuital" - a live version from an earlier show on 8/17/10 appears below.  This show will rank right up there with the best of our concert-going lives and made us long for their next show in our surrounding area.  A final word on the CMAC - the venue was absolutely perfect.  Great concessions, well-arranged, perfectly clean, great sound, easy parking, helpful staff.  We'll definitely make every effort to go back soon.

Just 5 days later, Buffalo's finest rock venue, The Town Ballroom, played host to another one of rock's most incendiary live acts - The Black Keys.  The room was packed to the rafters as Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney took the stage and burned through some old favorites (kicking things off, as usual, with "thickfreakness").  They were later joined by a bass player and organist to flesh out the sound of some tunes from this year's masterpiece, Brothers ("Ten Cent Pistol" was a definite highlight).  No one in the crowd left disappointed by The Keys' aural onslaught, despite the huge build-up that the show received in our local media (one would think that a band couldn't live up to the hype... The Black Keys certainly did).

This past Tuesday (September 14th to be exact) was quite the new release day, with 3 albums that will vie for places near the top of The Ideological Cuddle's Best of 2010 list.  First, the always enchanting Leonard Cohen blessed his fans with another postcard from the road of his almost two year 2008-2009 tour, adding to the spectacular Live in London which was released last year.  Songs From the Road is a CD/DVD combo (also available in 2 LP form - $35 was a little rich for my blood despite my obvious proclivity for all things wax) with 12 songs taken from various venues on the tour.  The CD and DVD contain the same material, but no matter.  Take it from a Cohen obsessive - the CD is great, but the DVD is essential.  Just watching a 74 year old musical genius weave his web of intrigue is worth the price of admission.  Each performance is pitch-perfect (Cohen's chilling intonation and impressive guitar playing on "Avalanche" is a highlight), but the version of "Hallelujah" from the 2009 Coachella Fest is TRANSCENDENTAL - try not to get chills as Cohen holds 100,000 kids in rapt attention and gets them to sing along.
Nick Cave's Grinderman project returned this past week with Grinderman 2, another album full of sex and sleaze with a psych-blues bent.  More sonically dense and lyrically evil than its predecessor, Grinderman 2 burns out of the gate with "Mickey Mouse and the Goodbye Man", a wicked tune about two brothers clearly up to no good (OK, that's an understatement - felonious would be a better description).  When the band cranks the volume, thrashing ensues.  Where the first Grinderman record was clearly a mid-life crisis record about hunting tail ("No Pussy Blues" anyone?), this record presents the morose along with the deviant.  The protagonist in "When My Baby Comes" is longingly singing from his hospital bed, waiting for his beloved to show up (hint - she ain't coming), while "Palaces of Montezuma" professes the singer's deep love for his woman with all of the things (corporeal and ethereal) that he'll give to her.  All in all, another feather in Cave's crowded cap of masterworks.  While we're on the topic of Nick Cave, if you like the works of Irvine Welsh (author of Trainspotting and Filth, among others) and Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club), by all means check out Cave's second novel, The Death of Bunny Munro.  This book is not for those looking for a clean, good time, but for those seeking a little bit of seediness with their literature.  I picked it up while on vacation and couldn't put it down.  I kind of wish I had known about the audio book version, as it's 7 discs worth of Cave reading his prose.  Perfect for the Halloween season.
The final new release from last week that has our ears ringing and our hearts leaping out of their collective chests is the thundering return to form by Merge records superheroes Superchunk.  Majesty Shredding can't be called a return to form, nor can it be called a new direction for the band.  What it can be called is a modern masterpiece of indie power-pop.  Coming through the speakers like a New Pornographers LP turned up to 45 speed, Mac McCaughan and company spin through 11 tracks without a dud in the bunch.  First single "Digging for Something" starts the proceedings off right and the band refuses to slow down throughout 42 minutes of perfection.  Most affecting might be "Fractures in Plaster" or "Everything at Once" - as each muses on getting older, and hanging on to what matters.  I must admit being a little late to the Superchunk party (only falling in love within the past 5 years and becoming full-on obsessed while in Boston earlier this year), but consider me a full convert.  It's hard to believe that there are millions out there unaware of this band's prowess and power.  This record is clearly one of the 3 best that 2010 will see and just might supplant The National's High Violet or The Black Keys' aforementioned Brothers at the top of this year's list.

Here's a live taste of some of the best that My Morning Jacket and Superchunk have to offer:

My Morning Jacket:
Live in Japan - February 6, 2009 - "Dondante"
Live in Chicago, IL - Charter One Pavilion - August 17, 2010 - "Circuital"

Superchunk:
Live at Duke University - September 26, 1997 - "Shallow End"
Live in Washington, DC - 9:30 Club - September 17, 2010 - "Throwing Things"
Live in Washington, DC - 9:30 Club - September 17, 2010 - "Fractures in Plaster"
Live in Washington, DC - 9:30 Club - September 17, 2010 - "Everything at Once"

Until next time, please head out to see a band that you love live in concert and check out the new Superchunk LP - it'll make your day... just listen...

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...