today's playlist - 4/16/78 GD, 7/7/69 GD, 7/25/74 GD, Jimmy Smith and some Wilco bootlegs from their recent Chicago run...
currently reading - "Wired" by Bob Woodward...a solid biography on the life of John Belushi...about 100 pages deep...
...and i have a half dozen assorted poetry magazines/journals i bought today on deck next so's i can get myself familiarized with what's going on these days...
...snow on the ground...still searching for a new job...with the weekend right around the corner...
Friday, February 22, 2008
Beck - Odelay Deluxe Edition review
In 1996, Beck released his 2nd major label release “Odelay” and left an influential footprint so large that its impact can still be felt today. With its b-boy hooks and b-side samples, brilliantly assisted by the production wizards of the time – the Dust Brothers and Mario Caldato, Jr. of Beastie Boys fame, the record contained all of the true essences of 21st century cool without sounding like the attempt was ever made at all.
With “Odelay”, Beck picked right up where his first commercial achievement “Mellow Gold” left off, only full of more freak-out energy and ass-wiggle than ever thought possible from a skinny white boy hailing from LA. Tracks like “Hotwax”, “Jack-Ass” and the CDs 1st single, “Where It’s At” bounce along with the help of cerebral beats and lyrics full of equal parts sage wisdom and lysergic gibberish. Wisely making it the final song of the CD, the hypnotizing acoustic dirge “Ramshackle” is the perfect closer to this sample-perfect, simplified groove-based time capsule of the mid 90’s. The remaining songs that complete the CD are all worthy of closer attention and are essential parts of the greater whole, each track as important as the next – a rare accomplishment, capable of only the best albums of our time.
After listening to the recent Deluxe Edition treatment of “Odelay”, it’s obvious that despite the addition of over a disc’s worth of bonus cuts, unreleased gems and other assorted tracks from those same sessions, Beck flawlessly hand-picked the best of the bunch for the final cut of it’s initial release 12 years prior. Out of a bevy of 19 new tracks to indulge in, the only keepers are the twang-hop heavy “Gold Chains”, a sopping-wet with bass 12 min-plus remix of “Where It’s At”, “Feather in Your Cap” – a slower, haunting blues song that cuts right through you and an acoustic organic re-working of “Jack-Ass” called “Strange Invitation” that showcases the deeper-than-you-think lyrical quality of Beck that is often overlooked.
In the end, it’s an honor deserved but not an honor necessary for this particular CD. Hard-core fans will appreciate it for sure, but it’s doubtful that the extras will stand the test of time as well as the original has in a dozen more years. However, as Beck has established since the start of his career, his uncanny artistic ability to continue to reinvent himself while still staying true to his essence ensures continued success in his current and future projects to come. In the end, even though this re-release breaks little or no new ground for the hard-core fan, it certainly re-affirms Beck’s place as a member of the artistic musical elite and reminds us just how high the bar has been set.
With “Odelay”, Beck picked right up where his first commercial achievement “Mellow Gold” left off, only full of more freak-out energy and ass-wiggle than ever thought possible from a skinny white boy hailing from LA. Tracks like “Hotwax”, “Jack-Ass” and the CDs 1st single, “Where It’s At” bounce along with the help of cerebral beats and lyrics full of equal parts sage wisdom and lysergic gibberish. Wisely making it the final song of the CD, the hypnotizing acoustic dirge “Ramshackle” is the perfect closer to this sample-perfect, simplified groove-based time capsule of the mid 90’s. The remaining songs that complete the CD are all worthy of closer attention and are essential parts of the greater whole, each track as important as the next – a rare accomplishment, capable of only the best albums of our time.
After listening to the recent Deluxe Edition treatment of “Odelay”, it’s obvious that despite the addition of over a disc’s worth of bonus cuts, unreleased gems and other assorted tracks from those same sessions, Beck flawlessly hand-picked the best of the bunch for the final cut of it’s initial release 12 years prior. Out of a bevy of 19 new tracks to indulge in, the only keepers are the twang-hop heavy “Gold Chains”, a sopping-wet with bass 12 min-plus remix of “Where It’s At”, “Feather in Your Cap” – a slower, haunting blues song that cuts right through you and an acoustic organic re-working of “Jack-Ass” called “Strange Invitation” that showcases the deeper-than-you-think lyrical quality of Beck that is often overlooked.
In the end, it’s an honor deserved but not an honor necessary for this particular CD. Hard-core fans will appreciate it for sure, but it’s doubtful that the extras will stand the test of time as well as the original has in a dozen more years. However, as Beck has established since the start of his career, his uncanny artistic ability to continue to reinvent himself while still staying true to his essence ensures continued success in his current and future projects to come. In the end, even though this re-release breaks little or no new ground for the hard-core fan, it certainly re-affirms Beck’s place as a member of the artistic musical elite and reminds us just how high the bar has been set.
Coltrane - Live @ the Half Note review
With the release of 2005’s “One Up, One Down - Live @ the Half Note”, Impulse Records continues its fine tradition of sustaining the almost mythical career of the great jazz saxophonist John Coltrane. Only four songs fill the 2 discs of this historical live recording, each averaging over 20 mins in length, but all are breathtakingly captivating to even the most casual Coltrane fan. Printed right below the track listing is the amazing line-up Coltrane put together as his quartet for these two shows – McCoy Tyner on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass and Elvin Jones on drums – all masters of their instruments and on these nights of March 26th and May 7th of 1965 at the Half Note, legendary towering gods of their craft.
Disc 1’s opening track, the title song “One Up, One Down”, starts things off with some of Coltrane’s most thrilling playing and fearless improvisation ever recorded. “Afro Blue” is performed with its usual break-neck grace and swing, allowing Tyner to showcase his nimble, long sauntering bursts of notes. In the ensuing 22 minutes of this version of “My Favorite Things”, the entire band goes well beyond simply putting their stamp on this signature Coltrane opus and proceeds to cover every base from the Von Trapps to the Cantina Band of Tatooine and everything in between.
These two discs swell with genius and are an amazing document to this historic quartet that played with unrivaled passion and absolute conviction. As bandleader, Coltrane displays all that he is famous for – mind-numbing eruptions of notes that seem to go on forever mixed with shorter, more delicate passages that wrap around you like a warm blanket. On drums, Elvin Jones continually pushes Coltrane to his limits and challenges man’s own physical confines as he endlessly flexes his skill at every harmonic turn, never overplaying or outdoing the biggest name on the marquee. Likewise, Tyner’s piano talents are called into action throughout each of the four pieces on this set, complementing Coltrane’s fluid style and making the best of every opportunity to flourish when given the spotlight to solo or lead the band. Executing his duties like an assassin, with the least amount of flash of any musician on stage, Garrison’s subtle but soulful bass lines become the necessary rock that anchors the other musicians during the most experimental portions of the jams.
It’s now been 40 years since Coltrane’s death, precisely the same amount of time as his own existence. His genius was instantly recognized back then and his recordings have long been collected by jazz fans all over the world ever since he put a mouthpiece to his pursed lips. This, in and of itself, is a true testament to the greatness and longevity of his craft. Yet, we can also take solace in knowing that buried treasures like this release are being made available to us now while the possibility of future undiscovered gems will continue to keep us all waiting with mad anticipation.
Disc 1’s opening track, the title song “One Up, One Down”, starts things off with some of Coltrane’s most thrilling playing and fearless improvisation ever recorded. “Afro Blue” is performed with its usual break-neck grace and swing, allowing Tyner to showcase his nimble, long sauntering bursts of notes. In the ensuing 22 minutes of this version of “My Favorite Things”, the entire band goes well beyond simply putting their stamp on this signature Coltrane opus and proceeds to cover every base from the Von Trapps to the Cantina Band of Tatooine and everything in between.
These two discs swell with genius and are an amazing document to this historic quartet that played with unrivaled passion and absolute conviction. As bandleader, Coltrane displays all that he is famous for – mind-numbing eruptions of notes that seem to go on forever mixed with shorter, more delicate passages that wrap around you like a warm blanket. On drums, Elvin Jones continually pushes Coltrane to his limits and challenges man’s own physical confines as he endlessly flexes his skill at every harmonic turn, never overplaying or outdoing the biggest name on the marquee. Likewise, Tyner’s piano talents are called into action throughout each of the four pieces on this set, complementing Coltrane’s fluid style and making the best of every opportunity to flourish when given the spotlight to solo or lead the band. Executing his duties like an assassin, with the least amount of flash of any musician on stage, Garrison’s subtle but soulful bass lines become the necessary rock that anchors the other musicians during the most experimental portions of the jams.
It’s now been 40 years since Coltrane’s death, precisely the same amount of time as his own existence. His genius was instantly recognized back then and his recordings have long been collected by jazz fans all over the world ever since he put a mouthpiece to his pursed lips. This, in and of itself, is a true testament to the greatness and longevity of his craft. Yet, we can also take solace in knowing that buried treasures like this release are being made available to us now while the possibility of future undiscovered gems will continue to keep us all waiting with mad anticipation.
Stretching my legs...
Testing 1, 2, 3...
i feel so much pressure to get this first post up and on the board...and now that i'm here, i'm at a loss for words...
the creation of this blog has been long overdue...and now that it's been crudely created, i have more ideas than i have time to develop this site...but i'm determined to "sit-on-the-couch" as much as possible and let this thing evolve over time...
i want this to eventually become an overall collection of goings on in my life...music i'm into...books i'm reading...thoughts i'm thinking...feelings i'm festering upon...the huge tapestry of friends and family...pictures...quotes...off the top of my head, from bottom of my heart and all over the middle of the road...
...all the random keyhole lint that occupies my life...
...and while i can't imagine this being of any use to anybody other than myself, if you do find yourself here - on purpose or by accident, i invite you to stay awhile, comment on what ya' see 'round these parts while i continue to refine my written voice...
...this is sure to be interesting...so don't be a stranger...
...here are a few CD reviews i've written recently to get the ball rolling...
i feel so much pressure to get this first post up and on the board...and now that i'm here, i'm at a loss for words...
the creation of this blog has been long overdue...and now that it's been crudely created, i have more ideas than i have time to develop this site...but i'm determined to "sit-on-the-couch" as much as possible and let this thing evolve over time...
i want this to eventually become an overall collection of goings on in my life...music i'm into...books i'm reading...thoughts i'm thinking...feelings i'm festering upon...the huge tapestry of friends and family...pictures...quotes...off the top of my head, from bottom of my heart and all over the middle of the road...
...all the random keyhole lint that occupies my life...
...and while i can't imagine this being of any use to anybody other than myself, if you do find yourself here - on purpose or by accident, i invite you to stay awhile, comment on what ya' see 'round these parts while i continue to refine my written voice...
...this is sure to be interesting...so don't be a stranger...
...here are a few CD reviews i've written recently to get the ball rolling...
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