Stevie Ray Vaughan and Albert King

 

I was just about to turn off the TV so I could get some much needed sleep (I woke up at 4AM today to catch a 6AM flight back from Chicago and then went straight to work) when I noticed that PBS was airing the TV recording of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Albert King.

I’ve got to get some sleep, but here’s some Stevie and Albert for your late night/early morning. Enjoy!

Stevie Ray Vaughan and Albert King – Pride and Joy

TSA Pat Downs – Part 2

Just to update everyone who was holding their breath, wondering what I would do when I arrived at the airport, I did, in fact, opt out of the scanners and choose to be patted down.

Why? I’m not entirely sure.

The National – Wake Up Your Saints

From the recently released High Violet Reissue, check out this new National tune. This one have a very different sound; it’s actually upbeat with a bit of a ragtime piano feel to it. I’m quite liking it, and you should too.

The National – Wake Up Your Saints

Daft Punk – TRON Soundtrack

The not-yet-released new Daft Punk album is currently streaming through my headphones. I began listening on my internal laptop speakers, but that’s no way to treat this band; especially when we’re dealing with their first studio offering in over five years.

Album Flashback: Bush – Sixteen Stone

The year was 1994. And for most, grunge had died back in April when Kurt Cobain tragically took his life, ending the grunge revolution that had taken hold of radio stations. In truth, this wasn’t the case. (Pre-reunion) Soundgarden and Alice In Chains each still had a few more years and grunge albums to share with the world. But beyond them, music was changing. Nirvana was no longer. Pearl Jam had moved into more experimental territory with 1994s “Vitalogy”. And a new music type was arising from the not-dead-yet embers of grunge: alternative. And again, we’re faced with a genre whose name, like punk, makes the most sense in its initial generation. Then again, alternative music was only really good for a few years.

Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Kanye’s new album, released today, is quite good. It’s absurdly obscene and crude lyrically, but musically it’s really really good. I’m not going to go into much detail, because I’ve just given it one listen, but so far I think it’s great.

Kanye recently said he ranked himself among the top 6 rappers of all time, and he wanted to work his way up that list. With this album, he’s certainly taking steps in the right direction.

Kanye West – Power

Kanye West – Runaway

Buffalo Springfield – Live at Bridge School

For your Sunday night listening pleasure, here’s Buffalo Springfield’s set from the second night of this year’s Bridge School Benefit.

I’d say more, but Peyton Manning is trying desperately to bring the Colts back from a 10-point deficit against New England. Given that both Manning and Reggie Wayne are on my fantasy team, and that I live in Boston but hate the Pats, I’m going to focus on the game, and let the music do the talking this time.

Download the entire show here.

Buffalo Springfield – On The Way Home

TSA Pat Downs For Everyone!

Wednesday is supposedly the most popular flying day of the year. And given the new possibly dangerous full body scanners, many people will be opting out of the scanner and settling for a supremely uncomfortable pat-down. Even if you go for the scanner, there’s still the possibility that you’ll get patted down by TSA employees.

I’ve heard and read of a bunch of suggestions of what to do: wear a kilt or strip down to your boxers; employees aren’t allowed to pat down under skirts or underwear, so these clothing options will leave you relatively free of a pat-down. It’s a pretty big fashion statement just to make a point, but I do respect those who make the effort to do that.

What will I do? I’m not entirely sure, but I’ll probably listen to of these songs to prepare for the inevitable uncomfortable situation.

My Morning Jacket – Touch Me I’m Going To Scream Part 2 (live)

Dr. Dre – Detox Leaks

So Dre has finally released the first track off the much-anticipated album Detox. He officially released Kush today on his site, and it seems to be the same as the version that was recently leaked. Additionally, a new song – I Need A Doctor – was leaked yesterday.

Check them both out below, or stream Kush on Dre’s site.

Dr. Dre – Kush (feat. Snoop Dogg & Akon)

Dr. Dre – I Need A Doctor (feat. Eminem)

Elvis Costello – Live at Bridge School

Punk rock has always been something of a curious genre to me, where the original intent seemed to get lost on later generations of the style. Punk, in its formative years, wasn’t specifically about a style of music. It was more about a mindset that could care less about commercialism, and flipped a big fat middle finger at mainstream music, styles, and ideals.

Of course, the 2nd generation punks decided to copy the music of their forefathers, totally reversing the ideal of originality and doing what you want, to a style that forced you to mimic previous music.

In truth, just like most indie bands are not independent at all, most punk bands are just about the farthest thing from punk. But there are exceptions. Mudhoney. Fugazi. And Elvis Costello.

Elvis Costello? A punk rocker? Well, not Ramones-style punk, but “I don’t care what you think, I’m going to do whatever the fuck I want”-style punk. His style has always been unique, and he’s switched genres enough to prove that this man could care less about what’s popular on the radio – he just wants to play whatever kind of music he wants to play.

So check out this bootleg of Mr. Costello playing at the Bridge School Benefit last month. It may just change the way you look at punk rock.

Download the entire show here.

Elvis Costello – King of America