Entries from May 2009 ↓
May 27th, 2009 — Uncategorized
So, we’re out of The Beatles and The Beach Boys. I realize after listening to The Beach Boys that I like their lesser known songs more than what they’re actually famous for.
But, now we’re back in the quagmire, slopping through albums featuring large string-band families and other groups that have signed deals with record labels called “Kama Sutra Music Inc.” Right now we’re listening to Beck, Bogert & Appice and it’s what I’ve christened as rusty blues; it’s rock/blues and it could give you tetanus if you listen too much–that’s how tough it is! It’s the kind of music you should listen to before a “you-don’t-have-the-guts-off” with a friend. This is where you and your friend scream at each other, “You know how I know you aren’t going to pull the trigger?! ‘Cus I know you don’t have the guts to do it!” It’s the kind of music this guy would listen to:
He's got the guts... do you?
Tune in often for more reports from the field.
<3
MLM
May 18th, 2009 — Uncategorized
So it’s happened… we’ve hit the Beatles. We’re doing all the albums that are in the collection in chronological order. See where we are HERE. These albums have seen a bit of use. A few tracks skip too much to even be listened to.
Personally, I’ve never bought into the “hype,” if such a thing can exists over forty-years later, around “the greatest band ever.” However, today has helped me to see how impressive they were. The amount of experimentation in pushing their sound in new directions and remembering what your other options in music were at the time, demonstrates to me how impressive this stuff is.
From silly cover band in 1962 to albums that changed the way we listen to music in 1967; an impressive feat. But, I’m still not sold on them as “the greatest band ever,” but who knows maybe I’m the walrus in this equation.
MLM
May 15th, 2009 — Uncategorized
The Murray Street team, believe it or not, does more than just records. We produce award winning radio. Check out some of our productions at murraystreet.com and on PRX. Two wonderful places to see what’s happening on the cutting edge of radio.
MLM
May 15th, 2009 — Uncategorized
Alexa brought up an excellent point this morning as we were listening to Gary Bartz’s 1973 album I’ve Known Rivers and other Bodies. A sexy title to what I would call “modern” or “ahead” Jazz. The sound goes all over the place and it seems like any kind of melody is a cast-away convention of the old world. My liking for this genre is… well “growing.” Generally, I compare this kind of music to the sounds a three year old makes: screaming words and being frustrated by almost everything. There’s a sense that they’re making things sound different just for the sake of being different. A important exercise maybe once in a persons life. Obviously, I’m being over dramatic here and missing some basic and key elements to enjoying this genre. I never claim to know what “real” music is, but right now, at this point in my life, this music does not speak to me.
Alexa pointed out that if we have unlimited vetoes then we basically would only listen to what we like and we wouldn’t learn anything. Learning, as Alexa pointed out, should be painful.
So I present a NEW RULE! The new rule is Alexa and I each get only 10 vetoes for this entire journey. That’s a grand total of 20 vetoes for 3,000 or 4,000 albums. That’s between .6% and .5% for you math freaks. It could be a long ride.
MLM
May 13th, 2009 — Uncategorized
We found this record naked and haphazardly thrown inside another album jacket. I lost a quarter to Matt since I guessed the artist was Odetta or another female singer of the sort. It turned out to be Harry Belafonte Live at Carnegie Hall (1959, RCA). He’ll forever be know for his ‘Banana Boat’ song, but here it’s mostly ”Cotton Fields,’ ‘John Henry’ and other folk songs.
Belafonte returned to Carnegie Hall in 1960 to record another album. Once we break on through the B’s, I’ll let you know how that sounds.
It’s a very soulful album. I give it 4 Murray Streets (out of 5 from the yet to be established rating system).
Listen to side 1 here:
Belafonte Live at Carnegie Hall (1959, RCA)
May 13th, 2009 — Uncategorized
See what we’ve been listening to and what our thoughts are!
This will update very regularly so please check back often. An “X” under my name (Matt) or Alex’s means we liked it. More X’s indicate the intensity of our liking.
Your Friend,
MLM
PS: You can also find a link to this directly on the right-hand column under blogroll.