The Monsters of Folk - Music Worth Buying 10/21/09

Artist: The Monsters of Folk

Album: The Monsters of Folk
Worth Buying? Yes indeed.
You might be interesting this album if you are a fan of: Bright Eyes, My Morning Jacket, She and Him, and........Mike Mogis?

Tell Me More: It's funny you know, I am not a fan of Bright Eyes. I listened to the latest album by My Morning Jacket and didn't get that into it. I listened to a bit of She and Him and wasn't all that intrigued by it (even though everyone was telling me to check it out).....and prior to hearing this album, I had no idea who Mike Mogis is.....so it's funny that I should start finding myself being enamored to an album that features members from all three of these groups (along with Mr Mogis) as a "Supergroup" with the humorous moniker of "The Monsters of Folk".

The Monster's line up is Connor Oberst (Bright Eyes), Yim Yames (Morning Jacket) M. Ward (best known for collaborating with Zooey Deschanel on She and Him). Rounding off the line up is Mike Mogis (an engineer and multi instrumentalist who has worked in the past with both Oberst and Ward).

A quick look at the album credits show that this is not a couple of Oberst songs here, a couple James songs there, etc, etc.

The 4 Monster's have written all the songs together as a four way collaboration. They have also played all the instruments themselves (taking turns on various instruments) with no outside players.

Stylistically this album is all over the map, so what's really impressive is just how cohesive it sounds. In the opening track entitled: Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F.) matters of the spirit are discussed over a white boys playing old school R&B style vibe.

Dear God ...I'm trying hard to reach you.
Dear God....I see your face in all I do
Sometimes ...it's hard to believe in
But God....I know you have your reasons

Track two entitled, Say Please jumps right into classic rock (as in Rockin') territory and track 3 entitled Whole Lotta Losin (I can't help but feel that that title is a pun on Whole Lotta Love) moves into a fun early rock/americana vibe......Like I said, all over the map but it sounds like the same group with each song.

This is another one of those albums where I previewed the 30 seconds tracks on Amazon and was sold on just the 30 second previews.

When Crosby, Still's and Nash, first got together and released that first CSN album it was like lightning in a bottle. And while this album sounds nothing like it I feel a similar kind of excitement when I listen to it. These four individual artists got together and did something that they couldn't have done apart and in the process, they caught lighting in bottle. I don't if there will be a follow MOF album. Sometimes you can only capture lightning once. But if there is, I will certainly be curious to find out.

What about the packaging? The CD is packaged in a beautiful mini LP gatefold sleeve that includes very nice artwork, and lyrics booklet with art and photos.

TJR 10/21/09

Currently 8.99 for the mp3 version

Currently the CD is only 7.99 so get it on CD instead

Unless you would rather have it on vinyl (comes with fee mp3 version)

Adventures in Vinyl

The other week I bought a USB turntable, and I have been re-discovering the joys of vinyl as I digitize a lot of old vinyl records that I haven't been able to hear (or look at) for ages.

There has been a recent cult resurgence for vinyl lately with many artists releasing limited edition vinyl versions of their current CD releases (sure wish I could afford to do this). I think what's been most interesting about this is comparing some of these records to their digital counterparts in back to back comparisons. I even indulged in buying a few NEW vinyl releases for just this reason.

Here is what I have discovered.

It is of course.....unfair to compare dirty scratchy vinyl record to a CD.

...But a clean Vinyl record is a different story. While the CD may lack those little vinyl clicks that even very clean records sometimes can't avoid.....I have discovered that there are sometimes certain aural pleasures to vinyl that the CD just hasn't quite got down.

Here are few observations that I made while listening.

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New Vinyl Vs New CD

U2 No Line On The Horizon

I listened to this album numerous times on CD and while I didn't think it was bad, I also didn't think it was great either. I listened to it on vinyl and it was like hearing it for the first time. I think I am starting to like it better.

>

Kid Rock - Rock'n'Roll Jesus

I liked the CD better. It was beefier and crisper sounding.

>

The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love

I Looooved this album on CD. It is one of my favorites of the year......I loved it so much that I bought a brand new vinyl pressing of it. As good as it was on CD, the vinyl pressing was a step above. Even my song writing partner Kathy noticed the difference immediately when I gave her a blind taste test

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Old Vinyl vs Old CD

The Beatles - Please Please Me

My 87 CD release of this album is cleaner and beefier.....but there is something warmer about the guitars on the vinyl record that is appealing.

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Old Vinyl

Wings  - Wings Over America

I have had this 3 record set of Paul McCartney's Wings over America for years now. This record is from the 70's. I have never gotten the overpriced (and hard to get) CD version, so I can't compare it....but the I was amazed at how full and warm and dimensional the recording of the band sounds on this record.

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CSNY - De Ja Vu

I want to get the CD of this record, so that I can compare it. The vinyl was an absolute journey of sheer aural delight.  Besides the songs being fantastic, the record itself is amazing to just listen to.

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Part of it, is just the analog warmth of vinyl. Everything was analog to analog back in those days.....I think that is why, even with digital guitar amps doing amazing things, most guitarists (myself included) still prefer to use old style vacuum tube technology.

Another thing (and this has been a development only in the last 6 years or so) is that so many of todays CD releases are so over compressed (this has been done to make them louder) that all the dynamic range has bled out of them.......Older CD releases have more dynamic range because they haven't been as compressed.

In the end beauty is in the ear of the beholder. Metallica took a huge amount of flack for how over compressed their last album was, so much so that later pressings were remixed with a lot of the compression removed. A backlash has already started against the massive amounts of compression used on todays CDs so think we will start to hear more dynamic range in CDs again.

Episode 2 Cheap Trick & The Decemberists

Episode 2 TJR & Robert Kinsler review CDs by Cheap Trick and The Decemberists

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17jO4ntUQPw

The Decemeberists - The Hazards of Love - Music Worth Buying 10/12/09

Artist: The Decemberists
Album: The Hazards of Love
Worth Buying: It should be a classic.

You will be interested in this album if you are a fan of: Classic concepts albums like Dark Side of the Moon, and Thick as a Brick.

Tell me more: This is my first album by The Decemberists. I have not listened to any of their previous albums. I bring this up, because I understand that some of their longs time fans are bit put off by this album. Apparently because the band moved beyond from what many describe as a kind've Celtic Folk rock sound in order to record this epic concept album of star crossed love.

Some artists stay within their genre album after album and do a great job of it. Some feel the need to musically morph. When an artist with an established fanbase, and an established sound does this, it can turn off some fans and delight others. But I have no preconceived notions about what a Decemberists album should sound like, so I listened to their latest "The Hazards of Love" with no preconceived notions.

I think that it was somewhere in the middle of  my 2nd listen through, that I
realized that this album can stand head and shoulders with classic rock concept albums like Dark Side of The Moon and Thick as a Brick........Yes, it's that good.

The albums story tells the tale of a mortal woman (Margaret), who falls in love with William, a magical shape shifter from an enchanted forest. But their love is threatened by William's jealous mother, the Queen of the forest.

Amazon.com described this as an album that demands repeated listening, with more to be gained from each said listening. And I couldn't agree more. If HOL had been released back in the heyday of FM rock radio, I think it would have gotten a lot of airplay and that by now it would be considered a classic. But it wasn't. It was released now. In an era where there is no airplay for this kind of an album. There is only the word of mouth. So that is what I will give this album. If you enjoy epic rock albums GET THIS ALBUM! ...........And don't illegally download it!!!! BUY IT and support these fine musicians so they can afford to live and make more music.

The Decemberists are now officially on my radar and I am now very interested too hear their previous releases. Are there any Decemberists fans that want to give me their recommendations?

TJR 10/12/09

What About the Packaging? Standard Jewel case format but with a nice lyrics booklet .

Mp3 version currently for 8.99

CD Format currently 10.99

On Vinyl

Episode 1

Episode 1 of the Music Worth Buying internet series: Hosted by yours truly and music writer Robert Kinsler



Band of Skulls CD currently 9.49

Mp3 format currently 5.99

Bright Blue Gorilla CD various prices

Bright Blue Gorilla mp3 currently 8.99

CD Review: Drive By Truckers The Fine Print Music Worth Buying 09/28/09

Artist: Drive By Truckers
Album: The Fine Print
Worth Buying: Every Track
You might be interested in this album if you are a fan of: Neil Young,
Lynnard Skynnard, Southern Rock, Old School country music and albums where bands reveal their rare b-sides and alternate versions of their songs.

Tell me more: The latest release by the DBT is subtitled as a collection
of oddities, rarities and alternate versions. Sometimes collections like
this can be uneven and are made to appeal to the hardcore fan rather than
the first time curious. So it’s a pleasant surprise to hear how well this
collection works as an album even if you had not heard any of their
previous albums.

In the liner notes group member Patterson Hood talks about the origins of
these tracks. In one case a (fantastic) remake of the Bob Dylan record
“How Does it Feel” was released only as part of a compilation CD for Mojo
Music Magazine. In another case a song like When The Well Runs Dry was recorded for the Blessing and A Curse album and then later kept off. But these tracks are in no way leftovers, or tracks that weren’t considered good enough…..In fact on a couple of these Mr. Hood himself express’s the opinion that these tracks that didn’t make it on the album are better than anything that was on the album…..What he doesn’t bother to say is why?

I personally would have liked to have read more about the why on this, but
no information is given. Either way, though it is great to see hear these
tracks. All together there are covers from Tom Petty,Warren Zevon, and Tom T Hall. There is a sprinkling of alternate versions of tracks that did make it onto albums, and then just recordings that for one reason or another where never released.

Ever since I was introduced to the DBT via their epic 2 CD concept album
(Southern Rock Opera) I have been a fan. And when someone new to their
music asks me what’s a good album to start with, I always point to
Southern Rock Opera as a good starting point (I would use the same
philosophy with The Who or the Beatles and recommend either Who’s Next or
Sgt Pepper). For the most part I would still point to Southern Rock Opera
when making this recommendation, but as a second choice I might just go
with “The Fine Print”. A collection of oddities that comes together quite
well on it’s own as an album.

What about the packaging? DBT albums are always well packaged and this
one is no exception. It is packaged in a mini lp gatefold sleeve. The
artwork is beautiful and interior artwork is equally beautiful and makes
you wish you had it in a larger vinyl format. It comes with a booklet too.
There are no lyrics, but (as mentioned earlier ) there are notes by
Patterson Hood for each track and it makes good reading.

Get this album on CD

mp3 version

TJR  09/28/09

American Idol: From banned to the Grammys

Hey everyone!

My song American Idol, and it's video, made the Grammy Nominating Ballot this year in the categories of:

For performance by TJR:
Record for the Year
Male Country Vocal

For Songwriting:
Song of Year and Country song AMERICAN IDOL
Kathy Barrett & Timothy John Ramirez, songwriters

For video:
Best Short Form Music Video

TJR
Best Country Song AMERICAN IDOL
Best Short form video

Some of you may remember that this is the video that was banned from Youtube for a short while due to Fremantle Media's claim of Copyright infringement.

First of all, I think it's cool that I made the Country category because I am NOT a country artist.....But wouldn't it be funny if I actually got nominated? (After all they did to try and shut me up).



A BRIEF TIMELINE

01/14/09  TJR premieres the video for his song "American Idol" On Youtube. The video uses clips from the TV show to parody the series and make it appear as if TJR is auditioning for the show.

01/17/09  In less than 4 days and after 20 thousand views, the video is pulled from youtube by request of Fremantle International Media claiming copyright infringement.

01/26/09  TJR premieres an alternate version of the video, replacing all the scenes used from the A.I. TV show with puppets. In less than four days this video is also pulled from Youtube at the request of Fremantle International claiming that this video (that uses none of their media) is violating their copyright. TJR's entire Youtube channel is also taken down.

TJR contacts the EFF (www.eff.org) for help. He files the paper work to contest Femantle's charge of copyright

02/19/09 A month later Youtube concludes that TJR's 2nd video is not a violation of copyright and restores his Youtube channel, & the alternate version of the video.

03/11/09  After a month of complete inaction on Femantle International's part to counter TJR's challenge, TJR 's original American Idol video is restored. Reactions to the video by A.I. fans range from outright hostility for daring to saying anything negative about their favorite show to kudos for calling them out on ageism.

09/21/09 TJR get's the news that his song and it's accompanying video has made the opening Gammy ballot for the 2010 Gammy Awards in the categories of: Record of the year, Song of the year, Best Country Song, & Best Short Form Music Video.

UPDATE: Well, I didn't get nominated, but it was vindicating to get Grammy Consideration (And I don't have the hype and power of National TV show to help me none either)

Take care everyone