In my last blog I mentioned that I was impressed by Swedish TV's recent willingness to show quality concerts. Tonight, I have enjoyed a concert with vocalist Cassandra Wilson and her excellent band. I had the great pleasure of hearing Wilson live two years ago at the Copenhagen Jazz Festival. Excellent stuff then, excellent stuff on the telly now.
Cassandra Wilson is one of my favourite vocalists ever. In her case, it's because of her husky low voice and her impeccable and flexible sense of rhythm. Very laid back, relaxed and self-assured. Having good songs always helps. As does a remarkable presence onstage. Ms Wilson's got 'em all.
My girlfriend and me only have a few artists we both like a lot. Björk, Peter Gabriel and Cassandra Wilson are three examples. We also agree that with Cassandra Wilson, you should go for the Blue Note albums. On these, you will find the best versions of The Monkees' "Last Train to Clarksville" you are likely to hear as well as Dylan's "Shelter from the Storm" done far better than the grumpy old man himself and modernized versions of old blues chesnuts. And yes, her take on "Tupelo Honey" is sweeter than Van Morrison's original version.
Monday, July 11, 2005
Saturday, July 09, 2005
Iron Maiden
I was pleasantly surprised when I heard that Swedish TV were going to show Iron Maiden live from Ullevi, Gothenburg. Not that I am a big Maiden fan, I really am not. Way back in 1981, I was thinking about seeing them in Gothenburg, but in the end, I didn't. Since I was a very young man, I probably didn't have the means to go.
The reason I think it's great that Swedish TV transmitted a live concert with Iron Maiden (and a taped performance of AC/DC yesterday) is that this is a sign of democracy. For years, hard rock and heavy metal has had a very large fan base, even during the punk and new wave years when, according to some journalists, the music scene was supposed to be dominated by youngsters with safety pins stuck through various body parts. The truth is that there were many types of music that outsold punk, but punk just happened to be fashionable at the time (and disco even more so). Anyway, during the second half of the 70's, many great hard rock bands made fantastic albums. Thin Lizzy, UFO, Rainbow, Whitesnake, Gillan and The Scorpions made lots of fans and sold many records during these years. During the 80's hard rock and heavy metal made it really big, but you saw very little of it on TV. There were radio shows and a couple of shows that dealt with metal, but not in proportion to the enormous popularity of the bands.
During the 90's and the 00's, hard and heavy rock music has developed and kept a big audience at the same time. A quick look at the Swedish charts tells us that bands such as Audioslave, Candlemass and Iron Maiden are top-10 chart material. Just like in the 80's. Another thing that has changed - to the worse - is the exposure of metal on Swedish radio and TV. Why is it that you can hear metal being used in commercials, but not being played regularly on daytime radio, nevermind TV? It's not like this music is percieved as rebellious anymore now is it?
So, that is why I applaud the decision to show AC/DC yesterday and - even better since it was a show going out live - Iron Maiden today. I hope this is just the beginning.
The reason I think it's great that Swedish TV transmitted a live concert with Iron Maiden (and a taped performance of AC/DC yesterday) is that this is a sign of democracy. For years, hard rock and heavy metal has had a very large fan base, even during the punk and new wave years when, according to some journalists, the music scene was supposed to be dominated by youngsters with safety pins stuck through various body parts. The truth is that there were many types of music that outsold punk, but punk just happened to be fashionable at the time (and disco even more so). Anyway, during the second half of the 70's, many great hard rock bands made fantastic albums. Thin Lizzy, UFO, Rainbow, Whitesnake, Gillan and The Scorpions made lots of fans and sold many records during these years. During the 80's hard rock and heavy metal made it really big, but you saw very little of it on TV. There were radio shows and a couple of shows that dealt with metal, but not in proportion to the enormous popularity of the bands.
During the 90's and the 00's, hard and heavy rock music has developed and kept a big audience at the same time. A quick look at the Swedish charts tells us that bands such as Audioslave, Candlemass and Iron Maiden are top-10 chart material. Just like in the 80's. Another thing that has changed - to the worse - is the exposure of metal on Swedish radio and TV. Why is it that you can hear metal being used in commercials, but not being played regularly on daytime radio, nevermind TV? It's not like this music is percieved as rebellious anymore now is it?
So, that is why I applaud the decision to show AC/DC yesterday and - even better since it was a show going out live - Iron Maiden today. I hope this is just the beginning.
Friday, July 08, 2005
Alive and Kicking
My first thought when I heard about the explosions in London was: I hope nothing has happened to my good friends the Bereza family. A few minutes ago, I got an e-mail from Andy confirming that everything was OK. Phew! Along with 99,99 % of the rest of the world, I shake my head at the insane acts of violence that have hit London today. My heart goes out to the victims of this vicious attack.
On a happier note, I spent the afternoon with my oldest friend Peter today. We haven't seen each other for... I don't know, more than half a year. There are various reasons for this, but we made up for it by having lunch and a good chat after me selling him my old car, Drafi. Drafi is a Mazda 323 inherited from my Grandfather. My sister and me were the custodians of this elderly gentleman (he's from 1987), but since both of us are driving newer cars nowadays, poor old Drafi has been resting in a parking lot. I offered Drafi to Peter for a very reasonable price indeed, and he certainly knew a bargain when he saw it (and drove it). It's good to know that Drafi will have a good home in the future.
After a few minutes at work sending e-mails, we headed off for our lunch mentioned above. Discussions on music, Peter's stupid co-workers, music, heating, music and... eh... music followed. We must have bored the people at the café. When we came it was crowded, when we left there were only two other people there. We headed home to Peter's flat, watched a Kim Mitchell DVD and remembered the 80's when we were both buying second hand copies of Mitchell's work with the excellent Max Webster. Kim Mitchell was clearly the leader of this slightly bizarre and funny Canadian hard prog rock band. As Frank Zappa famously said: "Does Humor Belong in Music?". Listen to Max Webster and you will find out that the answer is the affirmative.
As I am writing this, I am watching The Last Waltz. Frequently regarded as one of the best rock movies ever, but I am not so sure. I prefer The Band's first two albums. If you ask me, it all went downhill after those two fine examples of Americana. Isn't it ironic that it took a Canadian band to do it properly? And the other performers were either better before or after The Last Waltz was shot. Not bad, not bad at all. But not that good. Personal highlights include Joni Mitchell's performing "Coyote" and Van Morrison actually coming as close as ever to being a bit of an extrovert.
I have never been a fan of Simple Minds. They recorded "Alive and Kicking" on their Once Upon a Time album in 1985. The best things about the band at this point were probably their drummer Mel Gaynor and, even better, the great bass player John Giblin. Check out the man's work with Brand X!
NP: The Last Waltz (but you knew that already)
On a happier note, I spent the afternoon with my oldest friend Peter today. We haven't seen each other for... I don't know, more than half a year. There are various reasons for this, but we made up for it by having lunch and a good chat after me selling him my old car, Drafi. Drafi is a Mazda 323 inherited from my Grandfather. My sister and me were the custodians of this elderly gentleman (he's from 1987), but since both of us are driving newer cars nowadays, poor old Drafi has been resting in a parking lot. I offered Drafi to Peter for a very reasonable price indeed, and he certainly knew a bargain when he saw it (and drove it). It's good to know that Drafi will have a good home in the future.
After a few minutes at work sending e-mails, we headed off for our lunch mentioned above. Discussions on music, Peter's stupid co-workers, music, heating, music and... eh... music followed. We must have bored the people at the café. When we came it was crowded, when we left there were only two other people there. We headed home to Peter's flat, watched a Kim Mitchell DVD and remembered the 80's when we were both buying second hand copies of Mitchell's work with the excellent Max Webster. Kim Mitchell was clearly the leader of this slightly bizarre and funny Canadian hard prog rock band. As Frank Zappa famously said: "Does Humor Belong in Music?". Listen to Max Webster and you will find out that the answer is the affirmative.
As I am writing this, I am watching The Last Waltz. Frequently regarded as one of the best rock movies ever, but I am not so sure. I prefer The Band's first two albums. If you ask me, it all went downhill after those two fine examples of Americana. Isn't it ironic that it took a Canadian band to do it properly? And the other performers were either better before or after The Last Waltz was shot. Not bad, not bad at all. But not that good. Personal highlights include Joni Mitchell's performing "Coyote" and Van Morrison actually coming as close as ever to being a bit of an extrovert.
I have never been a fan of Simple Minds. They recorded "Alive and Kicking" on their Once Upon a Time album in 1985. The best things about the band at this point were probably their drummer Mel Gaynor and, even better, the great bass player John Giblin. Check out the man's work with Brand X!
NP: The Last Waltz (but you knew that already)
Thursday, July 07, 2005
It's a Shame About Ray
I've just watched the blockbuster Ray which, of course, deals with the life and times of Ray Charles. Not bad at all. Jamie Foxx is great as Ray, the music grooves along nicely and there's a great story in there. Somewhere. It's just that I have problems with"the American dream". If I never ever saw a movie, read a book or heard anyone sing about this subject matter again, I would be a very happy man indeed.
On the DVD version, you can choose between the cinematic version and a longer version. In the longer version, deleted scenes are edited into the cinematic version. This means that you occasionally get to see parts of some scenes twice. At one point in the film, we get more than we bargained for. The same scene is shown about ten times. Luckily, it's a short scene, but it's annoying. A clear case of misjudgement if you ask me.
As much as I appreciate some of Ray Charles' music - his recordings on Atlantic - he treated the women in his life terribly badly. That's why it's a shame about Ray.
Evan Dando wrote "It's a Shame About Ray". I've never liked the song, but it makes a good headline for today's blog, doesn't it?
NP: Ellery Eskelin/Andrea Parkins/Jim Black - One Great Day...
On the DVD version, you can choose between the cinematic version and a longer version. In the longer version, deleted scenes are edited into the cinematic version. This means that you occasionally get to see parts of some scenes twice. At one point in the film, we get more than we bargained for. The same scene is shown about ten times. Luckily, it's a short scene, but it's annoying. A clear case of misjudgement if you ask me.
As much as I appreciate some of Ray Charles' music - his recordings on Atlantic - he treated the women in his life terribly badly. That's why it's a shame about Ray.
Evan Dando wrote "It's a Shame About Ray". I've never liked the song, but it makes a good headline for today's blog, doesn't it?
NP: Ellery Eskelin/Andrea Parkins/Jim Black - One Great Day...
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Leaving home ain't easy
Leaving home ain't easy is one of my least favourite Queen songs, but a fact for me these days. After living in Malmö for ten years and seven months, it's time to move. Luckily, I am off work and my extracurricular activities are temporarily put on ice until I have settled in the place I will call home: Skurup.
In the meantime, my days consist of packing, packing and more packing.
NP: Andy Summers - Green Chimneys
In the meantime, my days consist of packing, packing and more packing.
NP: Andy Summers - Green Chimneys
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