worthy<-MUSIC

What I Loaded On My Player Today

Just a quick post to let you know what new releases I downloaded from Rhapsody To Go today and loaded on my player. My thoughts to follow soon, especially on the debut Wolf Parade album which is a potential contender for the top spot on the Most Worthy 2005 list.

Wolf Parade - Apologies To The Queen Mary
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Jacksonville City Nights
Big Star - In Space
The Joggers - With A Cape And A Cane
Elbow - Leaders Of The Free World
Abandoned Pools - Armed To The Teeth

Enjoy! I sure hope I do!

So, Not ALL Radio Sucks

Hey there. I know I've been away for a while and I am sorry for that. Work has really been kicking my tail lately and I just haven't had the time or the oomph to post. I am back home for a couple of weeks so I should be able to squeeze in some posts... that is, if the release quality picks up a bit. The past two weeks have been quite dry when it comes to new releases... so I haven't felt so bad about still being completely addicted to Bloc Party's Silent Alarm. Definitely in a clear lead on my Most Worthy 2005 list.

Anyway, today's post is not about a new album but rather just a quick one about my own personal music endeavors. As you probably remember, I sing with the North Carolina Master Chorale. We did a performance of Sergei Prokofiev's Alexander Nevsky with the NC Symphony this past spring. Well, tonight on our classical station here in Raleigh they replayed the performance which was a lot of fun to hear. I recorded it with my H10 and split it into tracks so I could listen to it again. For any who are interested, I've posted links to these tracks here. Keep in mind that it was recorded off the radio so the quality sucks. And, I think the MP3 splitter program I used inserted a couple of digital clicks in a couple of places. But, you can get the overall gist of the program and our sound. I love performing with this ensemble and am lucky we have such a great group here in Raleigh. Probably not legal for me to post, but I'm going to take the "easier to ask for forgiveness than permission" approach on this one... we'll see... Here are the tracks:

Opening Comments and Interviews

Alexander Nevsky - Sergei Prokofiev

1. Russia Under The Mongol Yoke


2. Song About Alexander Nevsky


3. The Crusaders In Pskov


4. Arise, Ye Russian People


5. The Battle On The Ice


6. The Field Of The Dead


7. Alexander's Entry Into Pskov

Closing Comments

Hope you enjoy... And yes, that is Russian we're singing.

New Nickel Creek Album and Video

Nickel Creek - "When In Rome" (video single)
Just a quick post here to let you know that Nickel Creek has made their new video available on the Yahoo Music website (not the YME application). The link above will take you there. The single is called "When In Rome" and it is the first off their forthcoming new release, Why Should the Fire Die?, due out August 9th on Durham, NC's Sugar Hill Records. I'm at the end of an insanely busy work day so I've only had a chance to listen to it once on my laptop, but first impressions are pretty good. I need to throw on the headphones to pick up some of the bass and to really listen to some of the cool 3 part harmonies. Video is pretty basic but tries to make sure the message of the song is taken universally, rather than in reference to one culture of people.

Also, to the left I've added an Amazon link to the album. If you buy it now, you will immediately be able to access the entire album via a digital stream on your computer. That way you can listen to it right away rather than having to wait for the disc.... but don't worry, they'll ship the disc on the Monday, August 8th. If you pay the overnight shipping charges you can have it at your doorstep on the day of release.

For those of you who are religious online music subscribers/purchasers like me, history shows that Sugar Hill will make the album available on all services on the day of release. So expect a post from me soon after that as I am very much looking forward to this one.

Hope you are all having a good week! I have a few albums in the queue so hopefully I can block out a little time to write about them soon.

Nice Pants

Rolling Stones - Dirty Work
No, don't worry.  I haven't lost my mind.  This post is my response to Robert of the Radish's challenge to pick the worst album cover by a popular artist.  As opposed to the recent lists featuring obscure artists, this one had to feature artists that were widely known.  I thought about just posting Billy Corgan's new album, for which I recently posted my thoughts on the terrible album cover.  Plus, there is the horrible cover on Creed's "Weathered," which is actually quite appropriate for the horrible music contained within. But I decided on "Dirty Work" by the Rolling Stones for what I think are obvious reasons.  Here we have one of the all-time great bands succumbing to the pressure of the superficial 80s. Even I get embarrassed looking at this album... I can't imagine what Mick and the guys think when they see it.  Just look at those coordinated neon outfits.  They look like Rockapella or one of those cheesy a cappella groups.  And what's up with Keith's knee looking like its going for the kill in Mick's crotch???  Didn't the photographer or the art person or the band notice how ridiculous that looks?  How silly were they trying to look.  I'd like to say that at least the music behind the cover was great, but ooo, not so much. Definitely one of the low points all around for the Stones.

Go here to check out the entire list of bad album covers compiled by Robert.  Some good ones on there!

The Radish Strikes Again: Most Overrated Songs

My good friend (whether he likes it or not), Robert, over at the Rhapsody Radish recently came to me and asked for my entry into a "Most Overrated Song" playlist he was compiling with input from top music bloggers.  I'm always flattered when he includes me in that bunch as I certainly don't believe I belong...  Whatever the case, he has just published the playlist along with the comments from each of the bloggers.  You can find the full article and links to the playlist at both Blogcritics.org and FIQL. It is very interesting, quite entertaining, and has generated quite a bit of conversation over at Blogcritics.

Of course, my entry is flying a little below the radar as it is the most recently released song on the list.  I just haven't been able to get past all the attention garnered by Annie and her song "Chewing Gum" which to me is just not everything that Pitchfork and other reviewers are making it out to be.  It is a throwaway song that has little meaning and is nothing better than derivative of the weak dance pop of the late 80s early 90s.  Perhaps I should have chosen something a bit more well-known and time-tested, but of course, my focus on this site is always the newest stuff out there... so I figured I stay with my theme.  If you want to read my thoughts on Annie's album overall (which I generally was much nicer to than this single alone), go here.

Thanks to Robert for another installment in the community playlist file.  Can't wait to see what the focus of the next one will be.  Enjoy!

Pipes of Gold

Download "Lose It All" MP3
Download "I Can't Be Trusted" MP3

Brennan Strawn
Any of you who read my Most Worthy 2004 list know that a few of the top spots were occupied by some fairly unknown acts that I absolutely love. The highest ranked of these was Monarch who's The Granduer That Was Rome came in at #2. I still love that album dearly and listen to it pretty regularly. Unfortunately, finding out information about that band is next to impossible. So, yesterday I did some digging to see what is up with them and lo and behold, they've broken up. Damn. Was very disappointed by the news. So, I kept searching and found out that the golden-piped lead singer is now doing solo work. This quickly erased my disappointment as he was certainly the standout performer from his now former band.

Turns out he's set up a page on MySpace to showcase his stuff. Has two songs out there so far. Personally, I can't stand MySpace. I think it is so poorly designed and simply a headache to use. But, I do like the fact they have set up a place for artists to share some of their music and even included a little player. To get the full impact of how good Brennan's stuff is, though, I fully recommend downloading the tracks so you can hear them at a bitrate of 128Mbps. "Lose It All" is so fantastic and to me shows that he is becoming more confident in his overall music delivery. His tenor voice is so intense and so engaging... so expressive. I am so very excited to see where he goes next... and certainly hope the music business doesn't squash him as someone with his talent *needs* to be heard by all. So, visit his site, download the songs and give him the support he deserves! Enjoy!

Radish Birthday Challenge

Holy crap, I can't believe I actually finished this list. Robert (aka Playlist GrandMaster) over at Rhapsody Radish created a birthday playlist which contained a song from each year of his life. Of course, he turned to us other bloggers and challenged us to do the same. It's harder than it looks, for sure. And it definitely tells you a few things about yourself... no wonder I'm such a nerd. I took a free form approach, not trying to develop a theme or anything... just the songs that left a lasting impression from each year. But hey, don't blame me for anything in the mid to late 70's... that's all my two older sisters' fault. I love my sisters to death, but that crap's messed up.

worthyMUSIC Radish Birthday Challenge Playlist

1972 Big Star: The Ballad of El Goodo
1973 Pink Floyd: Us and Them
1974 Bachman-Turner Overdrive: You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet
1975 Glen Campbell: Rinestone Cowboy
1976 Daryl Hall and John Oates: Rich Girl
1977 Bee Gees: Stayin' Alive
1978 Leif Garrett: I Was Made For Dancin'
1979 Gary Numan: Cars
1980 Joy Division: Love Will Tear Us Apart
1981 Adam and the Ants: Prince Charming
1982 Adam Ant: Goody Two Shoes
1983 Duran Duran: The Reflex
1984 Ratt: Back For More
1985 New Order: Subculture
1986 R.E.M.: Fall On Me
1987 The Cult: Love Removal Machine
1988 Camper Van Beethoven: She Divines Water
1989 Poi Dog Pondering: Thanksgiving
1990 Toad the Wet Sprocket: Come Back Down
1991 Kitchens of Distinction: Drive That Fast
1992 Gin Blossoms: Until I Fall Away
1993 Pearl Jam: Rearviewmirror
1994 Jeff Buckley: Last Goodbye
1995 Richard Buckner: Blue and Wonder
1996 Belle and Sebastian: Like Dylan In The Movies
1997 Guster: Demons
1998 Neutral Milk Hotel: In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
1999 Travis: Writing to Reach You
2000 Teddy Thompson: Wake Up
2001 The Shins: New Slang
2002 Doves: Pounding
2003 The Wrens: Hopeless
2004 The Autumns: Cattleya
2005 Ryan Adams: How Do You Keep Love Alive

Benjamin Britten: War Requiem

So, I know I've been relatively quiet again this week. Sorry about that. This April has been an uncharacteristically heavy performance month for me so I've been spending a lot more time practicing and listening to the pieces I am performing than listening to any new indie/pop/rock/etc. stuff. This coming weekend is my last performance of the season after which I should have a long break until rehearsals start back up sometime at the end of August. Today's post is a recording of the piece I will be performing this weekend as a member of the North Carolina Master Chorale. The Rhapsody and Amazon links on the left are for the same disc; the iTunes link is of a different recording. I've also included an Amazon link to another recording of the piece that is considered by many to be one of the best out there. It won a Grammy in 1990 for best choral recording.

Anyway, this piece is enormous. Not only is it lengthy, but it requires the participation of both an orchestra and a chamber orchestra (we'll be using 78 pieces overall) and a large chorus (we're approx. 170 strong) and a boys choir. Because of this and the difficulty of the piece, it is rare to see it performed. I am so happy that I am getting a chance to sing it fairly early in my life so perhaps there's a chance I'll get another opportunity sometime. Many, many, many musicians and critics believe this work to be the best choral work of the 20th century. Our fantastic conductor, Dr. Al Sturgis, said to us that he believes there to be only a handful of works he would consider 100% "complete" and fully developed and this one stands at or near the top of that list. We are expecting one of our bigger Spring performance crowds this weekend as musicians and enthusiasts from around NC and beyond are coming to witness the performance. Exciting, eh?

The piece itself is obviously focused on war... not the glorification of war, but the brutality and horror of war. Here is a fantastic write up about Britten and his War Requiem that does a much better job than I ever could explaining it to you. It is a complex, emotional piece that, although was written for World War I, is very appropriate for the current state of affairs in the world. If you're in the Raleigh area and want to come see this performance, click here for reserved tickets (only a small number left!) and here for general admission. Be sure to note that there is a free lecture on the War Requiem starting 1/2 hour before the performance. So, if you're in the area, come on and enjoy! If not, enjoy the links!