Best of 2009

2009 was a great year in music (for me). I enjoyed it so much that the Best of 2009 list has been expanded to include the top 10 this year! Woohoo!!!


Top 10 Albums of the Year:

1) Gavin Castleton- Home (see previous blog post for an in depth review)

2) Dirty Projectors- Bitte Orca
If you like the Talking Heads polyrhythmic style, you'll instantly fall in love with Dave Longstreth's multifaceted compositions.

3) Grizzly Bear- Veckatimest
Lots of space and soaring harmonies create a soothing aesthetic that takes over this album. The subtle rhythm ideas are genius. This album gets better with every listen.

4) Passion Pit- Manners
It used to be a guilty pleasure, now I consider myself a 'sleepyhead'.

5) Phoenix- Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
I was exposed to these guys via Cadillac commercials and oddly I still liked it. Even stranger, I love the album. And they're French! Who knew?!?!

6) Animal Collective- Merriweather Post Pavilion
I don't sweat them as much as Pitchfork.com but a great album nonetheless. Great harmony ideas and a nice cross over into electronica/jam band for me in 2009.

7) Andrew Bird- Noble Beast
Fantastic musician who uses interesting wordplay to create unique melodies. He is a multi-instrumentalist and includes 'whistling' as a proficiency on his website, how Bird-like...

8) Akron/Family- Set 'em Wild, Set 'em Free
Fun album. Their live show is even better.

9) Drug Rug- Paint the Fence Invisible
Great local act out of Boston. Strong harmonies and storybook songwriting give this album a great flow.

10) 311- Uplifter
Okay, maybe 10 albums was spreading the love a little thin... but nice to have my favorite band from high school make a decent disc that received several listens this summer.



Top 5 Phish shows:

1) Phish 11/28 Times Union Center, Albany, NY

2) Phish 8/14 The Comcast Theatre, Hartford, CT

3) Phish 8/13 Darien Lake Performing Arts Center, Darien Center, NY

4) Phish 6/07 Susquehanna Bank Center, Camden, NJ

5) Phish 5/31 Fenway Park, Boston, MA


Top 5 Shows:

1) Lettuce 6/13 The Paradise, Boston, MA

2) Passion Pit 2/06 Middle East Downstairs, Boston, MA

3) Andrew Bird 1/30 The Orpheum Theatre, Boston, MA

4) Rustic Overtones, Nate Wilson Group, Gavin Castleton 11/07 The Paradise

5) Umphrey's McGee 4/09 House of Blues, Boston, Ma


Song of the Year: (Tie) Grizzly Bear- Two Weeks & Phoenix- 1901

Video of the Year: Grizzly Bear- Two Weeks

Greatest Video of All-Time: Beyonce- Single Ladies

Most Overrated Album: Neko Case- Middle Cyclone

Most Disappointing Album: Umphrey's McGee- Mantis

Comeback Album: Phish- Joy

Best Album Cover: Animal Collective- Merriweather Post Pavilion

Wost Album Name: Phoenix- Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Best New Artist: Drug Rug

Best Performance: The Entire Phish Summer Tour

Most Confusing Artist: John Mayer

Lifetime Achievement: Gavin Castleton

An open letter to Alanis Morrissette

Dear Alanis Morrissette,

Based on several listens to your song "Ironic" over the years, I can only assume you have no idea what the word irony means.

According to dictionary.com:
i⋅ro⋅ny /ˈaɪrəni, ˈaɪər-/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [ahy-ruh-nee, ahy-er-] –noun, plural -nies.
1. the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning: the irony of her reply, “How nice!” when I said I had to work all weekend.
2. Literature.
a. a technique of indicating, as through character or plot development, an intention or attitude opposite to that which is actually or ostensibly stated.
b. (esp. in contemporary writing) a manner of organizing a work so as to give full expression to contradictory or complementary impulses, attitudes, etc., esp. as a means of indicating detachment from a subject, theme, or emotion.

I would like to take the time to dissect the lyrics from your song Ironic. To see what actually is ironic about your song.

"Ironic"

"An old man turned ninety-eight
He won the lottery and died the next day"

Okay, not ironic. Actually kind of expected. The guy is 98 and he won the lottery. I bet it was a heart attack. My heart jumps just thinking about what I could do with that money. Shouldn't he be playing bingo? Come to think of it, bingo can be quite exciting...

"It's a black fly in your Chardonnay"

That's just gross. If the Chardonnay was called "No Fly Zone Sparkling Wine" then that would be very ironic.

"It's a death row pardon two minutes too late"

Not only is this not ironic but how does this happen? How was the guy on death row and the jury was still out? I mean two minutes? Do you know how long the legal system in America takes to arrive at a verdict? We're not in Canada anymore, Alanis.

"And isn't it ironic... don't you think?"

Nope, so far, I don't.


Chrous: (The lightning round!)

"It's like rain on your wedding day"
Nope, just shitty circumstances

"It's a free ride when you've already paid"
That's impossible, you've already paid.

"It's the good advice that you just didn't take"
You're a bad listener.

"Who would've thought... it figures"
Apparently not you, Alanis.


"Mr. Play It Safe was afraid to fly
He packed his suitcase and kissed his kids goodbye
He waited his whole damn life to take that flight
And as the plane crashed down he thought
Well isn't this nice..."

Mr. Play it safe should have listened to his instincts. Doing the opposite led him exactly where we thought it would. Shit happens.

"And isn't it ironic... don't you think?"
I will give you 1/2 a point but it is unfortunate more than anything else.


Repeat Chorus

"Well life has a funny way of sneaking up on you
When you think every thing's okay and every thing's going right"
That's paranoia, lay off the pipe.

"And life has a funny way of helping you out when
You think every thing's gone wrong and everything blows up In your face"
Things fall apart, Alanis.

"A traffic jam when you're already late"
Should have left earlier, slacker.

"A no-smoking sign on your cigarette break"
You should probably quit. How long have you been working there? Should you know? You could probably walk down the block and not be bothered.

"It's like ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife"
Where the hell are you? Who has 10,000 spoons in one place and no knives? (Don't say Dairy Queen)

"It's meeting the man of my dreams
And then meeting his beautiful wife"
He'd probably would not touch you anyway. Didn't you used to hook up with Uncle Joey from Full House? Ummmmm, I mean...

"And isn't it ironic...don't you think?"
Nope.

"A little too ironic...and, yeah"
No, not Really.

"I really do think..."
You're an idiot.

Repeat Chorus

"Life has a funny, funny way of helping you out

That's surprisingly positive for a woman who screams about wanting to remind me of the mess I left when I went away. As sure as Alanis knows what irony is, I am sure she wrote "You Oughta Know" about me.

"Helping you out"

I'll help you out by declaring you should never write a song lyric again. I was a very confused 7th grader in 1997 because of you. And I'll tell you what's ironic, the fact that the woman who made millions of dollars writing this song, doesn't even know what the title to her song means.

Sincerely,
John

Micropoem

Why do i do the things i do?

I was Saved by the Sound of Michael's Song (Ma Ma Se, Ma Ma Sa, Ma Ma Coo Sa)

Bret- "Michael Jackson's off the wall." Murray- "I'll say he is... off the planet! Isn't he gonna freeze himself?"
- dialogue from Flight of the Conchords

As of yesterday Michael Jackson's is no longer with us, so if I am ever going to blog about MJ the time is now. Michael is one of the most important and controversial artists of the last 100 years. His music is an overwhelming flow of talent, soul, and grace. His stage presence is simply captivating. It is incredible that an artist can execute both at such an extremely high level.

I feel a cosmic connection to MJ's smash hit Thriller. On December 1st, 1982 this classic album and I were released into this world. The world would never be the same. The album went to sell 109 million copies around the world (Guinness Book of World Records). I went on to tell roughly the same amount of bad jokes. The album is arguably the most important of all time. At this point, I could sing every note of the album and I haven't listened to it in years. Alright, maybe months. Okay...minutes.

I remember dancing with my mom in the living room to "Wanna be Startin' Something" until the needle would skip on the record. I distinctly recall the first time I saw him do the 45 degree lean in Moonwalker. I remember catching his Moonwalk on VHS and rewinding it over and over to learn from the king. That is the magic of watching Michael Jackson perform. His showmanship is at such a high level of style that it looks easy. You become involved by trying to replicate his actions. You grow a deeper understanding for his talent and dedication when you fall on your face trying to stand sideways. You wonder how he can look so smooth as your feet stick to the floor trying to slide backwards at a 5th grade dance. (maybe that's just me)

The later years of Michael's career are another example of what too much time in the limelight can do to a superstar. His odd marriage to Lisa Marie Presley, bleaching his skin, several plastic surgeries, and of course "The Neverland Ranch." He was acquitted for multiple child sexual abuse charges over the last 25 years. He was coined "Jack-o" by Letterman, ridiculed on South Park, and the roast of many stand up comedians. And outside of mainstream media he is mocked by countless water cooler jokes. I added a few new jokes to the repertoire today. Its sad that a person can bring so much joy to the world and still be seen as a monster. From his father's overbearing drive to see a better life for his kids and his obvious talent made him a public spectacle for four decades. He was a tragic figure who never really had a shot at normal life.

It is my hope that his legacy be the magic he created and not the tragedy that was his personal life.

Home

Most readers of this review have a collection of albums they enjoy, including those favorites that are hard to explain to others. Then there are albums you introduce to friends because, you reason, they will enjoy the material. Steps above the rest are the albums that exceed your expectations in such an overwhelming fashion that, without hesitation, you introduce it to anybody with the ability to listen. Gavin Castleton’s latest CD titled Home fits in the category of the last kind, the best kind. With incredible accuracy his website claims, "Home is an epic project designed to console all who have encountered love and lived to tell about it."

Gavin Castleton still requires an introduction to people not tapped into the Providence music scene at any point during the last 15 years. Any preamble about Gavin's career will skew thoughts about his sound. From his various solo works to his former group Gruvis Malt, his music has always progressed and rarely remained the same. The idea of placing Gavin into a category or genre simply cannot happen. Castleton recently relocated to Portland, Oregon and Home chronicles this 6-year story into an evocative 53 minute piece. Thus, the listener is left with few questions unanswered about where he has been.

The story is told through the eyes of the two lovers, played by Gavin and Lauren Coleman, surrounded by rhetorical zombies that leave their relationship in peril. The hyperbolic zombies are only outdone by the ladybugs that sing Gavin back from the edge. It's a lot to digest, I know. Explaining the entire story here would cheat the listener of the experience. Luckily, every disc contains the “cliffnotes” known as the lyric sheets. Personally, I am still analyzing the zombie metaphor Gavin uses to describe their relationship, a true element of great art.

Gavin does well to make each song on Home attractive to listeners of all levels, even if you don't care for the narrative. A concept album at heart, Gavin has used a thematic storytelling approach on many of his solo albums. He claims, "(It)…wasn't really a conscious effort, I guess I just like stuff in bigger chunks... I feel like every section of every song should give you a reason to want to keep listening. And every song should give you a reason to listen to the next song. Call it a bi-product of American self-importance: we need an incentive to give someone else our attention." The first single "Coffeelocks" is a prime example of this sentiment. Simple in its structure but deep in layers. The rhythm makes everyone move and the astute ear enjoys the artistic touches Gavin has applied to its outer core. Lauren Coleman's angelic voice first appears here and remains unmistakable and distinct as it soars over the top of each chorus.

Castleton demands the listener’s attention to the music in order to bring understanding with many ideas present. The album shifts stylistic gears several times, not by virtuosic front, as accompaniment to the lyrical dialogue. The bliss of new found passion found in the pop single "Coffeelocks". The strategy of conviction in "Warpaint" which provides the profound lyric, "And if you build your love on a black and white chessboard; there is a very good chance you'll always be at war". The climaxing tempo of "Sugar on the Sheets" alludes to the anticipation of a lover’s touch. All that embodies the sticky funk of love can be found in the synth driven "Stampete". The cinematic closing "Credits" is just that. Providing the punch line that "Home is not the place you dwell, Home is where you see yourself".

Gavin is currently on the west-coast touring in support of Home. When asked what his future plans are he replied, "I live pretty day to day. I plan on touring extensively to spread the word on Home. After that, I'll probably get a job at Denny's. “Let’s hope he doesn't take the day job.


More info on Gavin Castleton can be found @ http://www.gavincastleton.com/

Great Beards Throughout History

Jesus H. Christ, Chuck Norris, Abraham Lincoln, Henry David Thoreau, and the late John Lennon are just some of the great beard growers throughout history. I am not any of these men. After completing the Super Macho Tough Man Recession Charity Beard Competition at work, I have decided that maybe it's time to give up the fight and accept male pattern baldness of the face. See Here.

I did raise over $300 for a great cause, but I also put my ego in check. Growing a beard can feel like having your manliness on display for all to view. After about 2 weeks it was obvious that I could not grow a beard like the ones I had seen in all of those old western movies. Although, I did come out with a superlative award for the, "...Maybe When You Hit Puberty" Beard. What was truly humbling was having the 6 female judges sign off in accordance to their vote. Another day that I am thankful for a strong sense of humor...

I've always wanted to be a writer. I often wonder if I could ever be a great writer without a beard. Isn't beard growth a function of wisdom? And maybe I could never be a lumberjack or trucker without facial grizzle. I'm okay with that. I just want to write good prose. Either way, I am back on the blog and ready to ramble on through 2009. Beard or no Beard.

Greatest Guitarist of All time

(This was actually written months ago and I just never posted it)

Am I the only one who knows what a Guitar God is anymore? A few years ago Rolling Stone compiled a list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time and it was terrible. Some low lights were placing Keith Richards at #10, Kurt Cobain at #11 and somehow placing Stephen Stills and John Fogerty (among others) in front of Frank Zappa. Needless to say, there is some serious confusion about what makes a Great Guitarist and what makes a Great Songwriter over at Rolling Stone. I thought my outrage on the issue subsided, but it recently came to my attention that Jimmy Page, the Edge, and Jack Black are featured in a new film titled It Might Get Loud. A documentary directed by Davis Guggenheim that explores the history of the rock-based electric guitar.

Instead of bashing the movie, I thought I would use the space in my overly biased blog to explore my overly biased opinions. As always, there are a few ground rules I must follow:

1) The guitarist must be alive. We need to film them, right? Creepy John, just creepy...

2) Note, the 3 guitarists in the movie chronologically depict the time frame of the 1960s to the present. Page= 60s & 70s, Edge= 80s and early 90s, Jack White= Late 90s to present. See how neat that is?

3) Another pattern in the selection is variation in rock style of the players filmed. Perhaps to make the documentary more interesting or to sell more tickets to a wider demographic? You decide.

With no further ado ...........Let the Opinions Fly!!!

Best (Living) Guitarist of the 1960s + 1970s

Jimmy Page

This is the only guitarist I would have picked for the film. Page is a monster. There were rock stars before Page, but he was the first Rock God. Every rock guitarist has a Page lick in their repertoire and supercharged R&B style defined arena hard rock in the 70s. And Page was no one trick pony, he could put down his electric to settle into some spine tingling acoustic folk (with the help of Robert Plant, of course). He did it in the face of confused critics who didn't know what to say about the songwriters wide range of styles. Page approached the guitar like a force of nature until drugs grounded Led Zeppelin down to mortal status. Page wrote classic after classic riff in the 70s and there is not a bad song on their first 6 albums, which is no easy feat. On top of that, Page's songwriting dominated the entire decade, something that is unmatched in the history of rock and roll.

Honorable Mention:

Eric Clapton

Many believe that Hendrix revolutionized the electric guitar. They are wrong. Hendrix idolized Clapton's playing. After blowing every rock guitarist away with delta blues licks and self expression, Clapton would go onto to confuse more listeners than John Mayer (more on him later). Clapton's drug use made him an inconsistent songwriter. A friend of mine once joked that if he died after "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs" he would have gone down as the greatest guitarist of all time. Although he would have been DQ'd for my Honorable mention category per rule #1!

1980s

Best (Living) Guitarist of the 1980s and early 90s

Eddie Van Halen

Ummm, I guess he was in rehab in 2008 so that made him unavailable? Van Halen should have just been called Eddie Van Halen and the less talented coattail riders. Diamond Dave was entertaining, but everybody in the 80s was baffled by Eddie's talent. Including the greatest entertainer of the 1980s, Michael Jackson. Eddie took what Clapton, Hendrix, and Page did before him and brought it to another level. Another universe. His precision, technique, tone, and flash are unmatched. Listen to any Van Halen album, particularly the DLR era, and prepare to be floored by at least one track on each album. If anything Eddie is a victim of his time. Everything in the 80s was flashy and over the top, especially in LA. Every metal band was trying to be a caricature of Led Zeppelin at that point and in retrospect it was disgusting. The fact remains, the guy can flat out play.

Also of Note:

Angus Young, Alex Lifeson, Gary Pihl, Mark Knofler, Slash (i ran out of names)

1990s

Trey Ananstasio

You thought I wouldn't pick this guy? Even bigger than his guitar playing is the incredible grassroots success of his band Phish. In 1995 they sold out the Madison Square Garden without the aid of Rolling Stone, MTV (when they used to play videos), or radio! Trey combines Frank Zappa's composition, Jimmy Page's blues riffing, and Jerry Garcia's rock based improv to create a fusion of awesome. He can be a bluegrass flat picker, a speed jazz shredder and a rocker all in one night. His tone is unmistakable. And the way he can slowly sweep your cognitive thought away on a carpet of imaginative licks is astounding. He went completely against the grain in the mountains of Vermont during the late 80s and early 90s. The band emerged on the scene just in time to carry the jam band torch from the Dead. What everybody didn't know is that Trey had been rocking the Northeast for years at that point.

Honorable Mention:

Tom Morello

The guy can DJ on his guitar. It's nuts.

Also of Note: Mike Eizenger, Tim Mahoney, Jerry Cantrell, Vernon Reid, Jake Cinninger, Mike McCready, John Frusciante, Derek Trucks, John Mayer

Look at that list, I can't believe John Mayer is on it. He is good, but it only confirms to me that the guitar god is dead. Or just lost in the world of Heavy Metal. More on my confusion with John Mayer to come....