Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Stuff For A Wednesday



This performance by Steve Martin & Edie Brickell from the Letterman show last week surprised the hell out of me. I didn't know what to expect, but I didn't expect this. Absolutely beautiful. So I bought the record. Highly recommended.

Martin, on touring with Edie:
"She brings class to the tour bus. We used to just drink and play songs. Now we're illustrating Dante's Inferno with gold leaf."



COVER VERSION OF THE WEEK:

Please enjoy the Chandler Travis Philharmonic with a fantastic spin on this 70's classic.



FROM MY FRIEND GENO: 

"The 19 year old "performer," Justin Bieber awaits someone to create his next hit. These 19-21 year olds created this by themselves 42 years ago. Hard to understand how music is getting better..."




AND FINALLY...

Here is the new David Bowie video for the title track from his recent release, which by the way, has not lost one bit of its appeal. Not sure how many of you readers are fans of the dame, but there has to be others aside from me and BuzzBabyJesus who love this record as we do. Can't recall any comments saying so.




19 comments:

Unknown said...

Allow me to join the club, Sal. I love this record! To me, it's the best thing he's done since the '70's.
It simply has everything you could want from a Bowie record:driving beats, catchy hooks, atmospheric anthems. It is, in fact the best record by anyone I've heard this year(and last!).
I put the CD in my truck and didn't take it out for a month. And I only took it out then was to give it to my son-in-law, telling him he just HAD to hear it!

Jeff Matthews said...

Great vid! Was with Slick this past weekend - still nothing re tour or one-off dates, at least as far as he and Sterling know. TND really does stand up to repeated listens - I think there's only one clunker (Boss of Me). I just received the vinyl version in the mail and, as usual, there seems like there's more to hear on it compared to the digital files. In fact, Slick was complaining that his acoustic guitars in Valentine's Day were buried by Visconti until I played him the vinyl version and he went "Shit, they ARE there!" One more bit of info - he says there are about 8 other tracks in the can so he wouldn't be surprised if there is an early follow up release.

Anonymous said...

true story - "Mr. Big" was playing on the radio in my teenage bedroom. my dad walks in just as Andy Fraser starts the bass solo. Dad says, "That's pretty impressive for a tuba." "Dad, that's an electric bass." "No, that's definitely a tuba."

Sexiest band ever?

Sal Nunziato said...

Jeff...is your vinyl pressed in Poland? Mine is. Never saw that before.

Jeff Matthews said...

I don't know - I have the double album 200 g version, will check when I get home.

Sal Nunziato said...

I got mine thru Amazon UK. Same thing. Heavy double vinyl...pressed in Poland.

Troy said...

Thanks for posting the Steve Martin & Edie Brickell clip. That song is spectacular. I'm looking forward to hearing the full album.

Any chance the Chandler Travis song might end up on a future BW Weekend mix? ;) That was a fun listen.

buzzbabyjesus said...

"Free Live" has long been a favorite of mine, and "Mr. Big" a high point, even though that version just ends with the tuba solo.
Amazing what can be done with instruments plugged into amps.
No effects pedals or anything.
Still digging "The Next Day". Definitely one of his best.

JAYESSEMM said...

I like the Steve Martin / Edie Brickell a lot.

The concept scared the hell out of me -- a comedian's vanity project, Mrs. Paul Simon and Peter of Peter and Gordon. But it works.

SunDawg said...

Steve Martin and Edie Brickell. Who knew they could make such beautiful music. I definitely gotta grab that. Thanks for sharing.

steves said...

I wonder how the country purists will respond to this. Is Edie a genuine Okie or is she just affecting it on this album? IAC, I like what I've heard a lot.

As for Bowie...I like "Valentine's Day" a lot better than that track, which is a drag and a downer IMHO.

Anonymous said...

I'm still loving the Bowie. Think I told you by phone or text, but I'll comment it here !!

Sal Nunziato said...

So Steves, you prefer the upbeat song about the kid who shoots up a school?

;)

steves said...

Really? That's what it's about? At least it has a groove.

(Besides, no one listens to words any more.)

A walk in the woods said...

Damn, that Edie/Steve track was killer. Love the opening line - sounds rustic, then she mentions email. LOVE that!

William Repsher said...

I like the new Bowie, but haven't gone nuts over it. It's a good album, much like Heathens was, too. It feels a bit like Lodger to me, save with an album like Lodger you had a few catchier/melodic songs like "Fantastic Voyage" and "Boys Keep Swinging" -- and that's what I'm not hearing, songs on that level that could be pop hits. I've always been drawn much more to Bowie's pop instincts than his experimentation ... simply because he's a great pop songwriter. But it is good to hear someone in his position still putting out reasonably good music.

Jeff Matthews said...

Valentine's Day fun fact: Regarding the guitar line that Slick plays in the beginning, DB specifically wanted him to find a Waterloo Sunset vibe (note the "Teddy and Judy" vs Terry and Julie reference).

Sal Nunziato said...

@WilliamRepsher

Interesting thing about "Lodger," it's probably my least favorite Bowie record of his classics. There are some true gems on there, like the two you mentioned, but I find most of it to be an amelodic mess. Whereas, unlike you, I hear nothing but radio hits on the new album, save 2-3 tracks.

Gene Oberto said...

Thanks for the h/t-always like props, especially yours.