Ok, so if you read my posts carefully, you will draw the following conclusions (among others):

• I listen to old music
• I think about nerdy things
• I love to combine my nerdiness with the old music that I listen to

And I can understand reasons why you might draw these conclusions. After all, a many-thousand word review of the complete works of Rush…well that qualifies as old music and nerdiness, which ironically happens to be much of the focus of the post. But let me say that I’m not completely old fashioned. In fact, I have been listening to quite a lot of new music, and I mean that both as “new” and as new.

What I mean by “new” is:

• Bad Plus – I finally broke down and checked them out. If it weren’t for that stupid DRM software then I would already have heard Suspicious Activity?, but I have to do some kind of work around on that, since Sony isn’t giving away new copies anymore. Perhaps I’ll listen to it on (gasp!) a stereo. But I have also heard These are the Vistas. I waited to check them out on purpose because I didn’t want to get involved in the hype. So here’s my thought: they rock. It’s so nice to hear “jazz” musicians doing what jazz musicians have always done – use popular music from the day as the material. Way to go Bad Plus.
• Steve Kuhn – Live at Blue Note – This has Ron Carter & Al Foster on it, a follow up to a 1980s recording. And it’s completely great. Kuhn plays so great, and in his totally Kuhn-ish way, it’s a pleasure to hear. I’m hoping to lay this on basically all of my bass students (one at a time, obviously) because Ron is unbelievable on this. And Al. What’s not to love about Al?
• Beck – Guerro. Beck rules. Really. I think many or most people disliked this CD, but it works for me.

And New includes:

• The Amy Winehouse stuff. She has such a beautiful, troubled voice. Normally I think stuff like this is all hype, but she’s the real deal. The writing is incredible, the vibe wonderful. Very very nice.
• The Lily Allen stuff. Ok, so her voice just doesn’t do it for me, but what she can do is tell an interesting and/or funny story. So that works. But my top pick for hip things to do if you are interested in marketing your music comes straight from the school of Lily Allen – record a Simlish version of your “hit.” 70 million users will check it out.
• CeU, the Brazilian (via London?) singer, such a wonderful voice. The music is both over produced and over arranged, but that’s one of the lovely things about Brazilian music. Listen to Jobim’s Wave if you don’t believe me.
• Arctic Monkeys – Yes, I have spent an afternoon or so with their music, and I found an interesting thing out about them (I mean, myself). The more they cocknify themselves (I know it’s not a word), the more I like them. What I mean is, ironically (because I believe so strongly in unique, individual sounding music), the more they stereotype their sound, their accents, the arrangements, etc., the more I like them.
• Electric Soft Parade – I love a tune called Bruxellisation. Makes me think that this group is Wimpier than Wilco (I may have mentioned this before).
• “New” Rush – It really is new Rush, but so old sounding that it can hardly be called new. The single, A Far Cry, is really great in their totally nerdy way.
• Feist. She’s the darling, the critics’ pick (pretty much everywhere). Personally I find her music O.K.

Oh, there is more. Lots more. But this is at least a start…

Thanks,

Rick

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