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Hello! Akron/Family

23 Jan

So there I was stumbling around in this dark house. It was completely empty beside my own mindless stupor. I was attempting to watch the patterns I created on the floor with my random but strangely pre-meditated directional changes, but I knew that I was ultimately destined to be distracted by the pictures on walls. And I mean, well, you had to be there… I felt like I was in a seven-eleven at 4am… and tired. Which means that every square inch of the said walls was glowing with pure color, and possibly edible. And it wasn’t just any ordinary color, it was pixelated, which means it had the benefit of hurting your eyes if you stared at it for years. And my eyes did hurt… how many years have I been here?

Staring around me I noticed that it was just pure randomness in terms of content. Funny videos, pictures from nights out, miss-spelled text, and carefully targeted advertisements. It all seemed sort of surreal, like I actually knew why I was seeing all of these seemingly pointless things, even despite the intense notion that I was being completely un-productive. In a moment of clarity I hastily looked for an alternative. I mean the shadows on the floor created by the seemingly arbitrary setup of furniture which i had just noticed around me did look really neat. But before I wrestled away my full attention from the colors, I noticed one square, and it didn’t let go. I had definitely gazed at it hundreds of years ago and quite possibly even wrote for it. A blog. That realization, combined with a momentary hundred year guilt trip, felt like a grenade suddenly exploding in some random filing-cabinet in my head. After a brief paper cleanup I came to the hasty conclusion that my thoughts can change my surroundings… by writing on them. I was now excited and running steadfast with eyes closed, no way to hit the wall that way.

Hopefully it won’t turn out that my thoughts will actually be broadcasted to others, not that I care, it’s just that judging by what I’ve been reading for all these years… they might not be able to handle it. I realized how completely irrelevant that previous notion was when compared to my now questionable attention span. I dwelled upon it for only a bit, because I had to stay focused. I didn’t feel like tripping anymore, and the only way to keep critters from running under your wheels is good-old fashioned gonzo-journalism, and hitting the floor was only fun for the first few-hundred times and quite honestly at this point, I didn’t also really know what I was writing or even thinking about, but that it made it all the more adventurous. Besides whats the worst that could happen? It’s not like the walls were lying to me and it actually turned out this room was inhabited by drunken kids and Matt Coleman was yelling at me about why I haven’t posted on his blog in a while.

hahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahaha
Matt actually didn’t yell at me at a party about his blog… he did that earlier in the day. I just felt like the subsequent party was a more suiting setting. And don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. I’m just one of those individuals who needs motivation from time to time after all. &)

So… I hear more people need help journeying to the center of their minds. I just needed a break cause it gets tiring making that trip back and forth every weekend. I was beginning to see the I-95 in my nightmares.

But I’m back with warm presents!

Nothing like some peaceful country psychedelia to start off this chilly semester.
Really there is no way to describe this fully. His voice is awesome. And as a result all of whatever it is he is actually saying just turns into a warm fuzzy blur. Something about atoms splintering and a river? Physics! Trippy shit man.

The CD version has the benefit of bird noises, but that is really just arguing semantics at this point. Amazing band with a powerfully versatile style which is all connected by this sort of psychedelic brand ever so liberally hinting at christian rock. Whatever that means haha. All of their music is awesome, so listen to it. But if you are lazy then for now just get their latest album Set em wild Set em Free and I guess I will come back to them one day… Where was I again?

P.S. Listen to their song Don’t be afraid, you’re already dead for some brilliant, almost beatle-esque brand of ironic mind-fuck psychedelia which is actually just a nice pretty song… if you think you can handle it!

&)))))))))))

extra: imagine being there with akron/family when that video took place. i’m willing to bet it was chill

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July 1968 Psychedelia – A-“My Clown” B-“Dandelion Seeds”

19 Jan

July is perhaps best known by the eclectic group of UK 60’s psychedelic album collectors. Do not let this specific title draw you away from this post. If you are a fan of psychedelic music, modern or original, this post should be of interest to you. I will reserve “Journey to the Center of the Mind” posts to explorations into the eccentric world of psychedelic music. Occasionally blogger Peter Mosur will join us on our trip down mind-bending, kaleidoscopic lane. Today we will explore a single released by July in 1968 and the coinciding album that has garnered much attention even in its mediocrity.

July came out of a verdant psychedelic scene in Britain. Hallucinogenic music still maintained its cult popularity and bands were still experimenting with different sounds. July was the product of a merger between two separated bands. In the early 1960s a band named the Dreamers began playing pop music. The band changed its name to The Tomcats because of Freddie and the Dreamers and also changed their genre to blues/rock. In 1965 the band consisted of guitarist and vocalist Tom Newman, bassist Alan James, guitarist Peter Cook and drummer Chris Jackson. And, in typical band fashion, this incarnation of The Tomcats broke up in 1965.

Also exploring the London music scene was a band named Second Thoughts. They also broke up in 1965. Second Thoughts were an R&B band that featured conga player, flautist and keyboardist Jon Field, guitarist Tony Duhig, singer Patrick Campbell-Lyons future Thunderclap Newman vocalist and keyboardist Speedy Keen. Keen wrote Thunderclap Newman’s one-hit-wonder “Something in the Air.” Also, just for those who are interested, Thunderclap Newman was created by the Who’s Pete Townshend to showcase Keen’s songwriting (which produced one huge hit). Keen was the Who’s chauffeur. The music business is all about connections.

Anyway, the two bands combined forces and a new Tomcats line-up was created with Newman on vocals, Duhig on guitar, Field on flute/keyboard, James on bass and Jackson on drums. Newman and former Tomcats member Peter Cook began writing more psychedelic music for the Tomcats and in 1968 the band changed its name to July. They were picked up by Spencer Davis (of his group) and produced by watched most attentively by Tommy Scott on their 1968 eponymous release off Major Minor Records Limited. Those who have the record understand that joke. I actually have the CD.

The band broke up in 1969 after their singles and album flopped. Newman actually went on to produce Mike Oldfield’s work. But their legend lives on.

July is overall a mediocre psychedelic album. But, the first two tracks on side one are exceptional pieces of psychedelic music. “My Clown” and “Dandelion Seeds” were released as a single in 1968. Today, 43 years later, this single is widely regarded as one of the best psychedelic singles ever released. No. I am not kidding. This London-based psychedelic band managed to slip through the cracks of obscurity and are now finally being recognized. Let’s explore these two songs.

The track immediately sends us into the normal psychedelic repetition. I just love the track manipulation that is a constant in psychedelic pieces of that era. You also can spot some classic British elements of psychedelic music in that it maintains solid pop harmonies. The chorus is wonderful. The voices are precise and melodic. The song shifts into hard psychedelia at around the 1:25 mark. It is there that we hear a guitar solo. We can also hear vocal manipulation which is interesting and well done. Perhaps my favorite part of the song is the conclusion. The voice echoes and then falls into some conga and distorted flute.

“Dandelion Seeds” is immediately different. This is what makes this single so great. What you hear immediately is rhythmic and distorted blues. The verse follows this progression with awesome mind-melting lyrics. Then at 50 seconds the verse becomes almost poppy and effervescent. It’s cool. You can really hear the R&B influences. Then something odd happens. At 2:30 the song changes completely. It becomes drawn out with keyboards and almost seems like a scene out of a psychedelic movie. It has a soundtrack feel to it. But, in the background (almost like a nightmare) is the originally beat of the song which replaces the odd sound and we come back again. The song ends with a guitar solo (no backing).

Six Degrees of Your iPod: Kaleidoscope to The Amboy Dukes (with Rusty Day in between)

18 Jan

*I have a theory that all music is somewhat related. All artists have some connection (whether it be inspiration, concert, producer, etc.) with other artists which have connections with other artists. It may be confusing but it is most likely true. The iPod allows for all of this music to be randomly dispersed or, in iPod terms, shuffled. Six Degrees of Your iPod is an easy game to play. Go to your iPod (or other musical device) and play one song. Do not use that song. Then, after you make sure your iPod is set to random, skip to the next song. Starting with that song post six songs on the comments and attempt to connect the first and sixth song. If I am right, you will be able to find a connection between the first and sixth. And, that is exactly what I am going to try to do. Let’s play the musical version of the Kevin Bacon classic.*

The U.S. Kaleidoscope

1.) “Minnie the Moocher” by Kaleidoscope (US).

Kaleidoscope – not to confused with the UK psychedelic band with the same name – was a psychedelic folk band that operated between 1966-1970, releasing singles on Epic Records and then fading off into the abyss with many other talented bands like them. The band won their recording contract with Epic Records because of their stringed prowess. The group certainly knew how to play their strings. They also could play practically any genre of music. Seriously. Rock, blues, folk, jazz, middle-eastern; you name it they’d play it. This is evident in the song featured today. “Minnie the Moocher” is a jazz song first recorded by Cab Calloway (an influence on the group). It is based, both musically and lyrically, on Frankie Jaxon’s 1927 “Willie the Weeper.” Calloway’s version is famous for his call and response scatting, which Kaleidoscope attempts to imitate in their version (below).

2.) “Sleep” by The Dandy Warhols

3.) “You’re the Cocaine” by Joshua James

4.) “My Fight” by Greg Laswell

5.) “Hang on Sloopy” by McCoys

6.) “Journey to the Center of the Mind” by The Amboy Dukes

“Journey to the Center of the Mind” is the pinnacle of The Amboy Dukes’ success. The song is a psychedelic-rock masterpiece. In 1968, the song was released as track 1 on side two of Journey to the Center of the Mind. The album is a solid piece of conventional late 60’s psychedelic music. The Amboy Dukes are most famous for launching the career of guitarist Ted Nugent.

The Connection

I think this is going to be an easy one. The last few times I have played Six Degrees I have been stuck with next to impossible connections. Today I get to play around with two American psychedelic bands that were playing music during the same years. The only difference is the type of psychedelic music. Kaleidoscope were playing psych folk in LA and The Amboy Dukes were playing hard psychedelic rock in Michigan.

This is actually too simple. I can take a shortcut on this one and immediately connect the record label. Kaleidoscope released their music on Epic Records and Ted Nugent, after dropping the Amboy Dukes band name in 1975, went to Epic Records. So, yes, at different times members of each band played under the umbrella of Epic Records. But come on, that’s too easy.

I have to choose something much more complex. Kaleidoscope’s band leader was David Lindley, who became a famous studio musician (mainly because of his proficiency playing a ton of musicians). His long list of collaborations includes one with Rod Stewart who had at one point of his career (before joining Faces) considered joining a supergroup named Cactus with Jeff Beck and others. Instead of joining Cactus he joined Ronnie Wood in Faces. Cactus did form eventually and it consisted of the Vanilla Fudge rhythm section, Jim McCarty of Mitch Ryder‘s Detroit Wheels and singer Rusty Day, who came from a short stint with The Amboy Dukes.

There you have it. I’m looking forward to your games below!



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Six Degrees of Your iPod: From Barenaked Ladies to Harry Chapin

10 Dec

I apologize for the late posting. After a long day of work/final preparation I went to Binghamton University‘s Anderson Center and supported my Fraternity brother, Andy Castillo, who was playing drums in a Jazz ensemble. It was an excellent two-hour long show. Now, back in my warm house, away from the single-digit temperature of Binghamton, I thought I’d try to warm you night owls up with Six Degrees of Your iPod. That’s right, the Music Court category of musical connections. I hit shuffle on my iPod – which currently holds around 13,000 songs – and choose the first six songs that appear. After providing the first six songs, I attempt to link songs one and six. The lead singer of band one had a son whose wife’s brother-in-law is the drummer of band six. If that’s the case, I’ll dig it up. Let’s play!

1.) “Thanks That Was Fun” by, The Barenaked Ladies

This famous Canadian band formed 22 years ago in Ontario. Yes, how long ago it feels. But, they still maintain a youthful feel to their high-powered music, especially with their humorous live shows (including rap battles). The band knows how to rock it, and knows how to slow it down for intimate songs like my personal favorite “War on Drugs.” This particular song’s true video is a montage of old Barenaked Ladies videos. I could not embed it, but you can all certainly check it out on Youtube.

2.) “Cry Baby Cry” by, The Beatles

3.) “Goodnight Sweetheart” by, Billy The Vision and the Dancers

4.) “Uncle Johns Band” by, The Grateful Dead

5.) “Infinite Arms” by, Band of Horses

6.) “Cat’s In The Cradle” by Harry Chapin

The story of Harry Chapin unfortunately ends with his untimely death because of a car accident on the Long Island Expressway near exit 40 for Jericho, NY (which is where I live by the way…no not on the expressway). But, Chapin’s incredible musical talents paired with his philanthropic contributions make him an honorable musician and man. Chapin was posthumously awarded with the Congressional Gold Medal and “Cats in the Cradle,” perhaps his most famous song, still lives on today

Connection:

Well, like usual, I get the impossible task of linking two songs and bands that have absolutely nothing to do with each other. How can one link a Canadian band with a Brooklyn based singer-songwriter? Okay, let’s start with Chapin. “Cats in the Cradle” was released in 1974 off of Chapin’s fourth album Verities And Balderdash. It was the first track. The Barenaked Ladies’ fourth album was Stunt and the first track on that album is “One Week,” their famous fast-paced hit. “One Week” has several pop culture references mentioned in the song, including Harrison Ford, who is perhaps most famous for the Indiana Jones movie series. And, would you look at that. Harry Chapin passed away in July of 1981 and what was the #1 movie at the time…”Raiders of the Lost Ark” starring Harrison Ford. From Chapin to Barenaked Ladies to Harrison Ford. What does this have to do with anything? Absolutely nothing. That’s Six Degrees of Your iPod and I am going to sleep!

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Tame Impala – Innerspeaker

30 Oct

Well Fall this year is actually beautiful. Aside from the fact that it has been raining at least once a day consistently for at least two weeks, I think it hit like 80 degrees one day this week. It felt and smelt like summer. You know that summer smell where the air is just telling you to go do fun things. If only finance could be done without using books, writing utensils, or calculators and could be done in the woods. Staring at trees is just as productive as staring at stock price fluctuations anyway.

All this summer weather reminded me of my favorite band from a couple months ago. Hailing from Australia (which is now only preparing for its summer) is Tame Impala, with their debut album Innerspeaker!

I couldn’t find my favorite song off the album on youtube, so you get two other ones! (And neither three are the single at that!)

“I know where you went, but I don’t know how you get there”

I’d be sitting in a car with my friends on a warm day watching people walk by doing things, and I’d be smiling because this is probably one of the best lines ever.

Not to mention the music is like being transported to 1970 where everyone still kept the 60’s chill-out vibe. They sound like the Beatles would have if they started playing hard rock. No one else seems to agree but the singer sounds like John Lennon!

The random talking, the noises, reverb mixed with phasers. The lyrics speak to exactly the sound they are aiming for! If anything can describe this, it is simply professional. These Aussies definitely knew what they were doing. Specially considering that there are no Impalas in Australia. They must have envisioned this entire musical project a good while before it was enacted.

This band lists Dungen as one of their influences which excites me because I hear it and it is awesome. It is specially evident on my favorite song, with its psychedelic break-down at the end. Tame Impala can easily be the summer component to the winter Dungen.

I want everyone to listen to this music, close their eyes, and imagine summer. It’s like casting a spell and when you do it right you will start to feel warm inside as if the sun is shining upon you. Or it’s actually just meditation – same thing.

-oko

P.S. My favorite song is Desire be, Desire Go. There is only a live version on youtube, which I honestly didn’t listen to all the way. lol &)

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