Sunday, October 21, 2012
Aaron Aaron Aaron
Wow, after a lifetime soaked in music and 258 Songs of the Week, I am thrilled to post a song that is my namesake! 'Aaron' was an uncommon name when I was born, but got considerably more popular about 20 years later... Today's 'Aaron' is a spare, bluesy, edgy ballad by Berlin-based Canadian singer/songwriter Dan Bodan. It's a coming of a age song and I guess love song, maybe platonic, maybe not... 'Aaron don't you see / I think we're growing up.' I am so hooked!
The Guardian described him as " indier, more abstract Bryan Ferry" and " really a torch singer, wallowing in blue moods and the anguish of romance." Bodan's a bit of a mystery, without a site or a Wikipedia page, but he plays DJ sets around Berlin and does gigs at galleries and in collaborations with visual artists. Clearly influenced by James Blake, Antony and the Johnsons, Soft Cell and even Björk.. Perry Como in purgatory.
The 'Aaron' video is as spare and moody as its sonic döppelgänger...
The 'Aaron' video is as spare and moody as its sonic döppelgänger...
'DP' is an even stronger song than 'Aaron' but how can you blame me, really, for choosing the latter? : - ) "If you want to read to me your poetry / I'll sleep with you..."
One more lovely tone in the same vein: 'What's So New..'
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Sunday, October 14, 2012
Aging Well Head
'Youth is a gift, but aging is an art,' a wise person once said, and by that token David Byrne is two times an artist. With musical vision and surprising partners, the former Talking Heads frontman has turned his fifties into a golden age. Today's Song of the Week', 'Who?,' is from his latest and most tantalizing joint venture to date: 'Love This Giant,' a collaboration with Annie Clark, aka St Vincent, an avant garde singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist if there ever was one!
St Vincent's work is often as challenging as it is rewarding, but she can certainly pen instantly lovable tunes, this weeks single as the case in point.
The cinematic black & white video for 'Who' is as artful and innovative as the song it showcases....
St Vincent won my music heart on Day 1 with her beguiling 'Jesus Saves, I Spend,' a meditative, symphonic musing that I featured on Song of the Week back in 2008...
One of David Byrne's best moments from his Talking Heads tenure was 'This Must Be The Place' from 1983....
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Sunday, October 07, 2012
The Dane Event
This week's song is the charming, off-beat gourmet bubble gum that is 'Mafia.' Its delightful synth riffs and Cyndi Lauper-ish vocals belong to Danish pop duo Asteroids Galaxy Tour, with vocals by Metter Lindberg and production/writing by Lars Inversen.
On tour, the Copenhagen-based duo becomes a sextet. Their big break came when Amy Winehouse heard their demo disc; the band's first live show was warming up for Winehouse in Copenhagen. After releasing a debut to good reviews in 2009, they hit the road with Katy Perry.
There's no video for our SOTW, but there's an excellent psychedelic video for the group's current single, 'Heart Attack.' I guess I could have chosen this song for SOTW, but I like 'Mafia' a smidgin better. You be the judge....
There's no video for 'Mafia' but you can listen to it while admiring the group's groovy cover art... : - )
Here's the group live at Le Figaro in France performing 'Out of Frequency,' which I like even better acoustic than I do on the album:
The band's debut single was 'The Sun Ain't Shining No More..'
'Around The Bend' is yet another great tune and video from the band...
There's no video for 'Mafia' but you can listen to it while admiring the group's groovy cover art... : - )
Here's the group live at Le Figaro in France performing 'Out of Frequency,' which I like even better acoustic than I do on the album:
The band's debut single was 'The Sun Ain't Shining No More..'
'Around The Bend' is yet another great tune and video from the band...
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