Music Mondays: Duets

It’s been some time since I’ve had a Music Monday so I thought I’d treat y’all to a duet edition of your music fix. This week’s theme of duets is something I’ve been meaning to do for some time now.

It’s been only until recently that I’ve truly started enjoying some guy-girl duets. When I was very young, I used to listen to a lot of country music and all of the duets in that genre were just awful. It wasn’t nearly as bad, however, as the R&B duets that I heard on late ’90s/early 2000s Top 40 radio. Now, they are a staple on my Zune playlist. I was going to include a cover of Hank Williams’ “Ramblin’ Man” by Mark Lanegan and Isobel Campbell but the only video I could find was very NSFW and disturbing. (Youtube it if you dare).

She and Him, “Lonesome Town,” Los Angeles, Calif., January 6, 2008

As mentioned on an earlier post, She and Him is a composite of Zooey Deschanel, Will Ferrell’s love attraction in “Elf,” and singer-songwriter M. Ward. Their debut album, Volume One, comes out on March 18 and I’m excited for it.

Although M. Ward’s singing is very limited in She and Him, this still qualifies as a great duet. Zooey and M. cover Ricky Nelson’s “Lonesome Town” in this live set that taken away by Zooey’s powerful voice. The way she sings reminds me of a Janice Joplin you could take home to your mother. Regardless, it creates a great atmosphere. Check out some of their original work at the Playlist.

Dean & Britta, “Knives of Bavaria,” New York City/Paris Subway Station

I first was introduced to Dean Wareham and Britta Phillips through one of my favorite movies, “The Squid and the Whale.” Dean and Britta performed the entire soundtrack to that film, and it was lovely.

This video comes from one of my favorite Web sites these days, La Blogotheque. The La Blog stages live impromptu concerts around France with a single handheld camera, and they are great to watch. (In the Shins video, the cameraman nearly gets hit by a bus during the filming.)

This video to “Knives…” takes place in a subway. Before they could even begin playing, the intercom yells that there’s no video photography. Dean snaps back and they film the rest of the song through Britta’s legs.

Dean & Britta, “You Turn My Head Around”

I never know whether to spell Dean and Britta with an ampersand or not. Likewise, fans of Dean and Britta didn’t know where to find their first album in record stores since they were called Dean Wareham & Britta Phillips. Is it under D, W, B or P?

This is the official video to “You Turn My Head Around.” I post it for two reasons. One because I like the way it was filmed using Le Mond newspaper as a reoccurring theme. And two because I like seeing Britta wearing a skirt.

Emmylou Harris & The Band, “Evangeline” (from “The Last Waltz”)

Technically, this one may not exactly be a duet but I’m going to post it anyways. Most because it’s from a great movie starring one of my favorite bands, The Band, and my favorite female vocalist, Emmylou Harris. This bad boy was directed by Martin Scorsese in what I consider his best work. If I remember correctly, Emmylou Harris couldn’t attend The Last Waltz so this was filmed later in the studios. It’s remarkable how much Emmylou has changed physically since she collaborated with The Band. (Wait until the 2:30 mark for the actual song to begin in the video). If you’ve never seen The Last Waltz, you’re missing out on an amazing musical experience.

Damien Rice & Lisa Hannigan, “Cold Water” (from BBC4) & “Volcanoes”

Damien Rice is an artist I oftentimes forget about because I burnt myself out listening to “O.” I must’ve listened to that and the Arcade Fire’s “Funeral” every day in the winter of 2004-05. I was originally going to put up the more poppy “Volcanoes” but after seeing this seven-minute long version, I couldn’t resist putting both up. “Cold Water” starts off very softly, almost like it’s being taken from a religious service. Unexpectedly, a sudden burst of drums comes out of nowhere and short-lived, intense vocals dies out to a single violin string. Although Damien Rice gets the billing, the real star in this song in the under-appreciated Lisa Hannigan, whose soprano voice carries the song.

“Volcanoes” shows how differently a duet Rice and Hannigan are compared to the others. Rice and Hannigan’s voices contrast well, to the point where neither one overtakes the other. There’s less passion in their songs than a duet like Dean & Britta.

Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová, “Fallin’ Slowly,” Sept. 10, 2007, N.Y.C.

After raving about the music in “Once” and giving it a 9.5/10 rating, I had to include it on this list; whereas it actually inspired me to make his the theme of Music Monday. This song is fantastic, and it deservingly received the Best Song award at the Grammys for it. “Fallin’ Slowly” composed the affliction both characters had for each other in “Once.” Of the many videos of this song on Youtube, I chose this one because it seems to have moved David Letterman at the end of their set. It seems he choked up a little bit. Who would have known him for a sentimentalist?

Great band names for the unfortunate

I don’t have a lick of talent. I’m too embarrassed to even sing in the shower. But if I had, my band probably wouldn’t be called any of these:

• Smashing Vinyl
• The Whale’s Whole
• 10 Percent Satisfaction Guaranteed
• The Mavericks
• The Grump*
• Kingston Corners Near Burger King
• Hard-to-Pronounce Polish Surnames
• Snot Rockets
• Minor Civil Arrest
• Zombie Survival
• The Pennamites
• Captain Lazarus
• It’s a Simpsons Reference!
• Ananas
• The Heynas
• The Hyphens

* – Admission: 18 and over, please.

It’s about time Mother Nature got even with So. Cal.

Obligatory Super Bowl attracts “circuit girls” story.

Best criminal ever. (Courtesy of Allentown).

Hillary looks like Beetlejuice. Scary.

2008 seems like it’s going to be the year of movie-star-gone-indie. I’m very excited about Scarlett Johannson album of Tom Waits covers and Zooey Deschanel’s (Elf, Live Free or Die Hard) album as She and Him. (Listen to She and Him’s KCRW set at The Playlist.)

(Updated “Crap I like)

This post is SFW

Music Mondays II

I’m not in a very good mood right now, so I’ll save up my hostilities for tomorrow.

Here’s a great session with a band I’ve been getting into lately, Wilco. Wait for the dueling guitar action later in the song.

Wilco, “Impossible Germany,” A Basement

Today’s music video is LCD Soundsystem’s “Someone Great.” I think the video is really cool but wish they hadn’t chopped half of the song to make it MTV playable. Like they show music videos anyways.

LCD Soundsystem, “Someone Great”

I found a cover worthy of posting. It’s country singer (???) Charlotte Martin’s cover of the Rolling Stones’ “Wild Horses.” Fast forward a minute or so through the boring interview, but make sure to hear how high her voice gets during those choruses. Is it just me or does she look ridiculously awkward when she sings?

Charlotte Martin, “Wild Horses” (Rolling Stones Cover), Good Morning Arizona, 2006

Je t’aime Ottawa?

Because I can’t sleep at a reasonable hour, I’ve decided its Music Monday! We’ll see how well I do at keeping up with this or what the response is to my distinct taste of music. (Who am I kidding? I have no visitors). Anyways, I plan on posting a YouTube video of a music video, a live performance and, on rare occasions, a cover song.

Today, you get lucky because I’ve got two live performances. Actually, they are from the same concert. My favorite current band, the Arcade Fire, cameoed at a Bruce Springsteen, my all-time favorite musician, concert in Ottawa. I don’t have remorse for those Canadians who decided to skip the seven-song encore to beat traffic.

Bruce Springsteen & the Arcade Fire, State Trooper, Ottawa, Ont., Oct. 14, 2007. This is the first time The Boss played State Trooper live since the Born in the U.S.A. tour in 1985.

Bruce Springsteen & the Arcade Fire, Keep the Car Runnin’, Ottawa, Ont., Oct. 14, 2007. The shaky camera and holy shits are all I could find.

In honor of my insomnia, here’s the Shins’ video of “Sleeping Lessons.” I like the cinematography, color choice and the girl in it who looks like someone I once made out with at a party. Not too shabby on my behalf.

Werewolf bar mitzah

Why does it seem that every comedy television show I like is always tortured by low ratings? First, Arrested Development. Now, 30 Rock. I’ve been on a real 30 Rock kick lately — especially now that they referenced the Pennsylvania Coal Region several times on Thursday’s episode. Jack Donaghey (Alec Baldwin) and his girlfriend Senator C.C. (Tony Soprano’s wife) meet halfway in some town I’d never heard of. (Although, I found out the exterior scenes were shot in Middlebury, Vt.

Jack: Say what do you think they do for fun around here?
Miner: Smack around noisy out-of-towners. Also, we have a lovely doll museum.

Also from 30 Rock:

Speaking of werewolves and other fictional creatures, I found this story in The Stanford Daily that shows why Rep. Ron Paul is actually a zombie. My favorite part about it is the comments from Paultards:

This idiot is too stupid to understand real policies. Buying into Obama and Hiliary’s Hollywood politics regarding change. We’ve had 8 years of Clinton and look where it got us.
You should quit school (it isn’t helping) and go to Iraq. Tell a soldier to come home while your there.

All that money and still an idiot.

It is the American people that are the zombies. We have allowed our government to run amuck and now it is time to pay the mortgage. Open your eyes and wake up.

I guess only a true politician who tickles ears and does the opposite of what he claims to stand for will appease the hordes that love living in lies. I SUPPORT RON PAUL 100%. BY THE WAY IT’S BEEN PROVEN THAT DIEBOLD VOTING MACHINES SUPPOSEDLY MALFUNCTIONED AND RIPPED RON PAUL OFF…BY AT LEAST 7% AND POSSIBLY MUCH MORE. SEEMS WHENEVER THERE IS A SUPPOSED MALFUNCTION IT WORKS OUT IN FAVOR OF THE NEOCON WARMONGERS. THIS IS PROVEN , SO DON’T GO SAYING CRAP UNLESS YOU CAN BACK IT UP. DANIEL

Ron Paul is the second incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ. Can’t you see that you stupid stupid Staff Chiffer?

Who are the real zombies? Paultards. Think about it. They’re everywhere. They’re blood thirsty. They both are against taxes. They are both against government. (I’m assuming zombies are against taxation nor can I see a Zombie Nation ever being anything but anarchist.) You can also escape Milwaukee, run over zombies with an armored truck, kill thousands with chainsaws and flee to a deserted island in the middle of the Great Lakes and still not get away from Paultards.

Only good thing about Paultards? They hate left-wing nutcase Wonkette as much as I do.

In sports news, my adopted Jacksonville Jaguars fell short of beating the irritant New England Patriots. (Boo!) New adopted team for the playoffs? Green Bay. But I don’t really like professional football — or even college, for that matter — so I could care less.

I’m not going to even go into my rant about the Mitchell Report, other than it should have been slugged as “Worst Investigation Ever, Or How Baseball Wasted 19 Months and Millions of Dollars On A Wild Goose Chase/Witch Hunt, Or Why You Never Put Anyone Affiliated With the Boston Red Sox In Charge of Anything.”McSweeney’s offers a hilarious parody of the Mitchell Report in its Lost Findings from the Mitchell Report. (It’s more credible than the real one.)

NEPA radio station Rock 107 released its listener-voted Best 1007 Songs of All-Time. It’s pathetic for the following reasons:

• No Beatles songs are listed in the Top 400 songs.
• AC/DC is not worthy of having the No. 1 slot. They are so horribly over-rated. Yet they tallied four of the top ten songs. WTF?
• Creed and Nickleback, two talentless groups, both place higher than any Bob Dylan or Bruce Springsteen song.
• Rolling Stone Magazine’s No. 1 song of all-time, Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone” listed at the last spot at No. 1007.
• My songs posted fairly poor: Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone” (1007), Bruce Springsteen’s “Thunder Road” (752), Bruce Springsteen’s “Jungleland” (991), The Band’s “The Weight” (unranked) and Tom Waits’ “Christmas Card From a Hooker in Minneapolis” (unranked).
• No Tom Waits.

I understand that it’s a user-nominated list, but maybe if Rock 107 didn’t play the same freakin’ Pink Floyd, AC/DC, Van Halen, Led Zeppelin songs over and over again, this list would have some legitimacy. After reading this, I’m taking a moral stand and leaving my radio dial set to 102.3 The Mountain.

I like reading really bad student newspaper columns. Usually, they are written but know-it-all students who either polarized to the far right or far left. Like this columnist from the Daily Northwestern, home of one of the best journalism programs in the country, who feels the need to inform us of all as to why we’re all stupid for playing Sudoku. I could understand why he hates Sudoku. Spelling and pronouncing his name, Prajwal Ciryam, is difficult enough.

The Ohio State University once again tops Northwestern. And everyone else when it comes to journalist integrity. Check out its student newspaper’s cover after the Buckeyes lost another national championship. Yikes.

I’m listening to: Bob Dylan’s “She Belongs to Me”

Visions of Hannah Montana

Third post of the morning. I might add I have chronic insomnia and still may have some jetlag.

I just wanted to comment on the Baltimore Sun’s ridiculous amount of coverage on the Hannah Montana concert. I opened today’s paper and saw a Page 1 story, a story and three reviews. Three? Holy mackeral, I would have thought it was Led Zeppelin playing at the One Mariner Arena rather than the daughter of Billy Ray Cyrus. It nearly had more Page 1 space than the Hillary and McCain stories.

The best was the Sun journalist who shadowed three concertgoers.

Megan, 13-year-old Alexi Spector, and 13-year-old Leah Litwak stared at four jean miniskirts laid out on Alexi’s bed. The skirts were virtually identical, differing just slightly in denim wash and fray pattern.

“This is hard,” said Alexi, whose mother, Lori, was hosting a preconcert party at her Forest Hill home.

“Really hard,” Leah said.

Thank you Baltimore Sun for an entertaining story for once. And thanks America.