Yes, yes, I know you've all been wondering why I've been silent. Truth be told, it's always hard to put your first thought up when working on a project like this. So many ideas, but so hard to decide what to write. Fortunately, Jess has been more diligent at posting with her new record player and ridiculous collection of assorted albums. Anyways…

What better way to start posting than with one of the artists who has influenced me the most, Joe Strummer. Sure, sure everyone knows him from his work with the Clash--which is understandable--but most people unfairly write off the work he did as a solo artist. This is largely due to the fact that a lot of it avoided the conventional definition of punk rock. Instead of the quick tempo, 3-chord, guitar-bass-drums set up that everyone associates with punk, Strummer often favored a more world music approach. This didn’t mean a merely ska/reggae edge, either. His influences have a lot of Latin influence as well as eastern European notes. This of course, before bands like Devotchka and Beirut made the whole Gypsy-punk thing the latest buzz with the hipsters.

One of the best examples of this is his orchestral compositions for the soundtrack to the movie “Walker”, a 1987 Ed Harris film about a coup in Nicaragua. Never heard of it? Not really that big of a surprise, since it wasn’t a box office smash or anything. The soundtrack is a great piece of work, though, and definitely not what people would expect from Strummer. You can hear the Latin-tinged cowboy-style music in tracks like “Sandstorm,” and even a bit of jazz-inspired, new age in “Latin Romance”. Some of the string and horn arrangements are definitely not what you would expect to hear from a veteran punk rocker. He seems, for instance, to have a particular obsession with waltzes, or at least songs in waltz-time.

The fun part is where Joe actually writes pieces he gets to sing, such as “the Unknown Immortal”. The lyrics are interesting because they are entirely based on the movie (“I once was once an immortal/with William Walker…”), so they are obviously not as deep as say “Clampdown” or something of the Clash era, but this shouldn’t stop them from being enjoyable. Take “Tennessee Rain”, a country/blues song heavy on the banjo and harmonica; a great departure that really shows the diversity of influences that Strummer draws upon and a track that encourages fans to broaden their own tastes a bit. One of my favorite pieces is “The Brooding Side of Madness,” which is hauntingly beautiful in its simplicity. A catchy piano riff, some classical style guitar and basic auxiliary percussion.

For your consideration:

1. Joe Strummer - "Tennessee Rain"

2. Joe Strummer - "The Brooding Side of Madness"

3. Joe Strummer - "Machete"

Let's get something straight: I don't purchase import CDs. Why? Because I'm not that kind of a music fan. If I can't find your music online, in my local record store, or from a friend, then I won't be listening to your album any time soon.

Unless, that is, you're Tokyo Jihen (English translation: Tokyo Incidents).

I first discovered this band in 2004, on a now-defunct mp3 blog called Red Lotus. The blogger posted a live version of "Marounochi Sadistic", a jazz-driven, tumbling track off their debut full-length album MUZAI MORATORIUM.  Listen here:

1. "Marounochi Sadistic" (Live) - Tokyo Jihen 

The track left me wanting more, so I shelled out $23 for their debut single to be shipped from Japan. Three weeks later, my CD arrived, at which point I became an unofficial U.S. promoter for the band and a one-woman hype machine. And here I am to hype some more.

Tokyo Jihen is the creation of its lead singer and solo artist Shiina Ringo (also spelled Sheena, Shina and Shena). Ringo is masterful songwriter, and sits among J-Pop's performing elite. Her semi-autobiographical lyrics on the band's debut album tell of life in Tokyo as a young, aspiring musician. Combine these lyrics with TJ's frenetic, yet controlled, melodies, and one begins to feel the whisper of something bigger. What that is, I don't know...but I like it.

1.  "Gunjou Biyori" - Tokyo Jihen

2. "Faces" - Tokyo Jihen (bonus)

The tracks presented here are from 2004. As of 2006, the band was still cranking out singles. Here's a track of the full length:

 

-- Jess

I hereby declare Monday to be "dueling records day!" Today, I'm setting France against Italy circa 1969/70.

On the French side, we have the sensitive, harpsichord-lovin' heavyweight Graeme Allwright.

1. "L'Etranger" - Graeme Allwright

2. "Jusqu'a La Ceinture" - Graeme Allwright

Graeme gained fame by introducing the French listening public to American folk stars Pete Seeger and Leonard Cohen--including his hit cover of Cohen's song "Suzanne." Allwright comes out swingin' with some fast finger-picking in the melancholic dirge, "L'Etranger," translated from the orignal Leonard Cohen score. He follows up with blues-inspired jam by Seeger "Jusqu'a La Ceinture."

Italy goes bigger with Massimo Ranieri. His music declares, "you shall know me!" Or something like that. Ranieri sounds exactly like how I'd imagine Italy in 1970. On the verge of major change, but not. quite. there. yet. Vent'anni's verses radiate with a kind of national pride that feels uniquely Italian. Makes me wish I was zooming through Florence on a scooter, a bouquet of flowers strapped to the seat.

1.  "Fai Di Me Quello Che Vuoi" - Massimo Ranieri

2. "Candida" - Massimo Ranieri 

3. "Aranjuez Amor Mio" - Massimo Ranieri 

Italy wins, if only for the grand finale of "Aranjez Amor Mio." Who can beat those crescendos?

-- Jess 

The dollar bin at your local used record store contains many treasures. And today, I'm here to prove it.

1. "Dance Music" - Bumba Massa

2. "Barometre" - Bumba Massa 

3. "Sania" - Bumba Massa

The first time I spun Barometre, I was reminded of my childhood, when my mom happily danced around to Paul Simon's Graceland while dusting our living room. I guess it's rather shameful that Congolese pop music reminds me of an American musician that cashed in on interpreting music from African countries, but that's the way it goes. 

Bumba Massa is a veteran Congolese singer, who's been making music since the 1970s. In 2001, he joined with other Congolese legends in the group Kekele to return to the roots of the traditional Congo rumba sound. The solo album shown here, Barometre, was released in 1990 on Tabala Records.

-- Jess 

Two things I'd like you to know before I wade into the shallow waters of lesbian folk music's past:

1.  I'm a dyke.
2.  I have attended my fair share of Indigo Girls concerts.

I say this because I don't think it would be appropriate for a heterosexual person to write about mock Dobkin. And, in case you were wondering if there were any lesbians left who haven't been to an Indigo Girls concert, I'm here to tell you that, no, there aren't.

Now, let's get on with our history lesson for today: ALIX DOBKIN, a.k.a. "the head lesbian".

Alix Dobkin is said to be the first musician ever to make music by, for and about lesbian women. She performed lesbian folk music, and wrote her music in such a way that her intentions were unmistakeable (i.e., no pronoun ambiguity). Dobkin can be credited with launching the entire lesbian follk music genre and touring circuit that includes the likes of Catie Curtis, Ellis, Dar Williams, Chris Pureka, and countless more. (Reigning at the top of that list: the Indigo Girls)

Dobkin released her first full length record, Lavender Jane Loves Women, shortly after coming out in 1972. The record sent ripples through the lesbian community, and made Dobkin an instant star in the community. In 1975, Dobkin released her follow-up LP, "Living With Lesbians."

1.  "Living with Lesbians" - Alix Dobkin featuring the Lesbian Power Authority
2.  "Amazon ABC" - Alix Dobkin featuring the Lesbian Power Authority
   

Now that I've given credit where credit is due, I've got to tell you, Dobkin's music hasn't aged well. In fact, it's effin' HILARIOUS. Sometimes the hilarity is intentional ("Amazon ABCs"), and sometimes....well, it's a train wreck.

...And yes, those handsome butches on the album cover are indeed weilding garden hoes.  Don't mess with a dyke and her gardening tools.

 --  Jess

 

Mitch Miller is a considered by the Wikipedia kids to be a controversial figure in music's past, but I like to think of him as the guy with the red bouncing ball. Yep, that's Mitch--his television show "Sing Along with Mitch" used the animated bouncing ball to guide viewers in group sing-alongs. He also coined the phrase "All smiles", solidifying his reign as the "king of camp" years before Susan Sontag ever invented the term.

Check out two very scratched tracks from my mom's childhood:

1. "My Melancholy Baby" - Mitch Miller and the Gang
2. "The Anniversary Song" - Mitch Miller and the Gang

From Wikipedia:
As head of artists & repertory at Mercury Records in the late forties, and Columbia Records in the fifties and early sixties, Miller gained a reputation for creating records that created what music historian Will Friedwald calls an "aural texture":

"Miller also conceived of the idea of the pop record 'sound' per se: not so much an arrangement or a tune, but an aural texture (usually replete with extramusical gimmicks) that could be created in the studio and then replicated in live performance, instead of the other way around. Miller was hardly a rock 'n' roller, yet without these ideas there could never have been rock 'n' roll. 'Mule Train,' Miller's first major hit (for Frankie Laine) and the foundation of his career, set the pattern for virtually the entire first decade of rock. The similarities between it and, say, 'Leader of the Pack,' need hardly be outlined here."

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I've also got three tracks from a 1967 (?) album inspired by the Mission Impossible television show.

 

1. "Mission Inside" - The Larry Schaffer Orchestra

2. "Mission Outside" - The Larry Schaffer Orchestra

3. "Mission Impossible" - The Larry Schaffer Orchestra

This is the Larry Schaffer Orchestra version of the soundtrack--not the LP by Lalo Schifrin. The entire album is packed with great espionage-inspired jazz and rather sophisticated orchestra arrangements. Googling indicates that this album is somewhat rare. One collecter calls it "a rare gem."

So, what are you waiting for? Grab a martini and make like Holly GoLightly.

Let the musak begin! My buddy and I have batted around the idea of starting an mp3 blog for the past year or so, and tonight, with the help of Delerium and I.P.A., we're finally taking the plunge. I'm starting this mp3 blog out with a tune from my high school punk rock vinyl collection.  Tomorrow I hope to discover sobriety, at which point I will fill in the rest of this entry with intelligent, clever commentary on why this band is worth giving a whirl.

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Update: Bladder Bladder Bladder is an appropriate name for this group of British style punk rockers.*  They like repetition. A lot. And surprisingly, it works. In fact, the more they chant "U.S. Dole Queue," the more I want to sing it myself.

I purchased this split E.P. in 1998, in the twilight of my brief, but firey, love affair with punk music.  I don't remember why I bought it, but it probably had something to do with the band's silly, adolescent-sounding name (I certainly hope it wasn't the "100% Punk" declaration on the cover).

The EP was a split with the East Coast band Dimestore Haloes, but I think BBB outshines the Haloes in every way--tighter melodies, better lyrics, catchier guitar riffs. You can find these tracks and more at their website.

1. "U.S. Dole Queue" - Bladder Bladder Bladder

2. "White American National Killer" - Bladder Bladder Bladder

 * "British style" means the lead singer has a pisseriffic British accent most likely acquired by spending too much time listening to albums by The Business and Sex Pistols. The band currently resides in the very un-British place of Hollywood, California.