Thoughts on Rhianna

As some of you may know; I have a soft spot in my heart for Rhianna. More specifically for Rhianna's song Umbrella. ( I would have attached links to the song but 1. it's not that hard too find. 2. you probably already know the song. and 3. if you don't know the song, you would just roll your eyes when you heard it.).

Whatever, I don't care if you think the song is stupid. I happen to know, for a fact, that lots of the things you like are also stupid.

Some time back, I was driving through a city and was listening to the college/alternative/whatever radio station and they were playing this indie-rock/pop/whatever cover of Umbrella. The new version was acousticy with a woman singing (not dissimilar to the Taken By Trees cover of Sweet Child o' Mine).

Anyway, I was looking for the Rhianna cover on the place-where-people-go-to-find-songs-they-want-to-listen-to. I found several covers of Rhianna's Umbrella. Each one was worse than the next, well actually maybe the first one was the worst. I would add links for these bands that did covers of Rhianna's Umbrella, but, I don't want to give there websites any more traffic than they may already have and I wouldn't want my linking to them to be accidentally construed as an endorsement by My Awesome/Actual Camera™.

I guess my point is that I didn't find the song. And the nine or ten covers I DID find were worse than awful. And I forced myself to sit through the choruses just so I could listen to these emotional men (did I mention that all of the copies of the song I found were performed by men with guitars?) try and warble their voices. While I am a man and I DO like the song, it is not a song to be covered by a man. Should a man try and cover Dolly Parton's I will Always Love You? The answer is NO.

Be a F***ing man and sing man songs.

Not about indie-pop (mostly)

So, I've been listening to a lot of indie-pop recently, but the last thing anyone needs is another blog about indie-pop, thus here are some things you should check out that are NOT indie-pop. I don't know what it is about being depressed and feeling the need to listen to excessive amounts of Regina Spektor.

Anyway:

PRE - Epic Fits: I didn't realize that the Skin Graft label even existed anymore. This would be a good album for irritating your roommate/cubical-mate at 2 in the morning/8 in the morning, respectively. I think this album has inspired me to have a no-wave dance party once spring finally gets here.

Tujiko Noriko: Maybe this is getting closer to indie-pop, however, she is on the Mego record label and, the wise and powerful, wikipedia described her as a "Japanese avant-pop-experimental-musician". Tujiko Noriko, probably, wont irritate your roommate, depending on how sensitive your roommate is. Hopefully, she will elicit spontaneous joy and dancing in you and your roommate. Maybe I could have an electro-avant-pop dance party in the spring as well.

Lykke Li: Ok, Lykke Li IS indie-pop, but, if you haven't heard her yet; you probably should. I think all the kids are going to be blasting her from their boom-boxes this summer, during their; indie-pop dance parties. If nothing else, you should check out her myspace picture, she's totally cute, maybe I will ask her to come to one of the before mentioned dance parties.

If you would like me to make you a mix-tape; I will accept trades in the form of baked goods, especially cup cakes.

Very little to do with ethnomusicology

I am waiting on some guest commentary, so, today I will do some music reviews.

1. Skweee: Skweee (note the three Es) is my new favorite genre of music. Skweee is a form of Electro from Northern Europe. There are two Skweee record labels (that I know about); Harmonia and Flogsta Danshall. You can listen to tracks on both of their MySpace pages, they have regular websites as well. I'm not sure what else to say, except, 1. I plan to make my own Skweee t-shirt, 2. I think we should have a Skweee dance party here in Roseburg, and 3. I really like saying Skweee and noting that it has three Es.

2. M.I.A - Kala: I mentioned seeing M.I.A at Conney Island. Her/their new album Kala is well worth checking out. One song on the album includes samples of children singing, guns, and a cash register. This particular track offended Lindsey terribly. Lindsey is very sensitive, apparently. Lindsey's sensitivity reminds me of this dance party where Evelyn was terribly offended by Peaches.

3. Speaking of Peaches, one my other new favorite genres of music is Electrocrass. Electrocrass is a sub-genre of Electroclash with sexually explicit lyrics. I recommend checking out Captain Ahab, they do a song called Snakes on the Brain based on Snakes on a Plane. Maybe I will make a mix tape for Lindsey and Evelyn.

4. Eurovission Song Contest: The Eurovision Song Contest is kind of like American Idol, except, it has nothing to do with America, the competition has been around since 1955, and it is so much bigger than American Idol (or any of the other Idol shows). In this annual competition countries throughout Europe put forward their most powerful performers, to sing songs and compete for global dominance. I haven't actually seen any of the competition, but, I'm sure I would like it. Oh yeah, and it's where ABBA got their big break.

I could go on, but I think this is enough fodder to keep people entertained for a while.

p.s. As Roseburg has no record stores and especially no record store carrying any of the aforementioned genres of music. If you wanted to make me a Skweee mix tape, I would be very happy...my birthday is coming up you know...

Some random notes

I haven't been getting out that much recently, for various reasons. Anyway, these pictures cover several days.

I ran into Bonnie at House of Spirits, we chatted for a while, I was a little embarrassed because, I had a laundry outfit on and my shirt had a food stain on it. We parted ways, I probably should have offered her a ride home.

I got a 40 of Sol.

I was trying to get a picture of the cat drinking from the faucet, his tongue is long and black.

I felt kind of gross that day.

I went swimming at some point. I don't think that is when I took this picture.

Scenic digs.

Again.

My brother gave me this cookie, I think he got it at Christmas.

I ate it but it was a little gross.

I may have mentioned that I have been learning piano/melodica. To show you how far I've gotten, here is a rousing rendition of Oh, Suzanna, performed by me.


In case you were not enthralled by my playing...


Recorded Reviews:
I listened to the newest Peaches album, Impeach my bush
It's pretty ok, not great but worth checking out.

I've been really into this turntabilist trio, I think they are from France, called Birdy Nan Nan, I'm a little embarrassed though because I read about them in somebody's "top ten" in Art Forum.

And the latest Dr. Octagon is also pretty good, there is one track about a turtle in somebody's uterus...