Thursday, August 16, 2012
Where Are They Now?
When Will and Katherine reluctantly told us that they would be too busy to participate in this year's Eleventilicious CD Club, they weren't kidding! First, they got married not long after their "Queen of Languages" offering in April. Then, they moved from Brooklyn to Portland, Maine and are busily working on their own coffee roasting business, Tandem Coffee Roasters. We hope to be able to visit them in the not-too-distant future. In the mean time, visit their Facebook page, and - if you happen to be in the area - visit their shop!
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
August Has Been Sent Out
Hi, all!
Well, August CDs are in the mail, and here's me hoping they reach you all right. The lady at the post office made a big deal about my desire to send them as letter mail, (even though I've always done it), so hopefully I'm not red-flagged now or something.
I've been absent on this blog not for lack of interest, but because this year has turned out to be one of the busiest of my life. Rest assured, however, that I have listened to each contribution and have been enjoying them.
I decided to go with an all-Canadian theme this year, with a number of these artists actually originating in Calgary. Last year I had a number of Canadian artists in my mix, and I figured this year I'd just go all the way. Being in Canada, it's tough to tell how popular these artists are internationally, as we tend to hear them on the radio here at a disproportionate frequency as dictated by the CRTC's regulations which require all radio stations in the country to play a certain percentage of Canadian content. New stations, for example, are currently being licensed at 40%. Hopefully there are some new-to-you artists within. (My apologies to the other Canadian in this group. I know you've heard of almost everyone on here. Hopefully you enjoy the mix nonetheless.)
There are two particular artists on this mix which I'm fairly certain none of you have ever heard of. I can say this because they're two of my own bands. Playing and recording music is a large part of what has kept me so busy this past year, so I decided I'd send along a couple examples.
The Jamies is a band I play drums in with my wife as the lead singer, and I'm currently recording and producing our first album. On Under the Stars, I'm playing drums, auxiliary percussion, and theremin. This song is one of the most complete on the record, being 100% tracked, around 90% mixed, and only in need of mastering.
No Famous Death is another band I drum in. We've spent the better part of the year in the studio writing and recording our first album. On I Can't Win, I play drums and auxiliary percussion. This track is amongst the most complete on the record, but is still in need of a bass track and a couple other things. I had the engineer do up a quick mix so I could include it here.
I play with both bands, and occasionally other artists, in and around Calgary a few times a month.
Well, August CDs are in the mail, and here's me hoping they reach you all right. The lady at the post office made a big deal about my desire to send them as letter mail, (even though I've always done it), so hopefully I'm not red-flagged now or something.
I've been absent on this blog not for lack of interest, but because this year has turned out to be one of the busiest of my life. Rest assured, however, that I have listened to each contribution and have been enjoying them.
I decided to go with an all-Canadian theme this year, with a number of these artists actually originating in Calgary. Last year I had a number of Canadian artists in my mix, and I figured this year I'd just go all the way. Being in Canada, it's tough to tell how popular these artists are internationally, as we tend to hear them on the radio here at a disproportionate frequency as dictated by the CRTC's regulations which require all radio stations in the country to play a certain percentage of Canadian content. New stations, for example, are currently being licensed at 40%. Hopefully there are some new-to-you artists within. (My apologies to the other Canadian in this group. I know you've heard of almost everyone on here. Hopefully you enjoy the mix nonetheless.)
There are two particular artists on this mix which I'm fairly certain none of you have ever heard of. I can say this because they're two of my own bands. Playing and recording music is a large part of what has kept me so busy this past year, so I decided I'd send along a couple examples.
The Jamies is a band I play drums in with my wife as the lead singer, and I'm currently recording and producing our first album. On Under the Stars, I'm playing drums, auxiliary percussion, and theremin. This song is one of the most complete on the record, being 100% tracked, around 90% mixed, and only in need of mastering.
No Famous Death is another band I drum in. We've spent the better part of the year in the studio writing and recording our first album. On I Can't Win, I play drums and auxiliary percussion. This track is amongst the most complete on the record, but is still in need of a bass track and a couple other things. I had the engineer do up a quick mix so I could include it here.
I play with both bands, and occasionally other artists, in and around Calgary a few times a month.
Monday, July 23, 2012
June - A Spectrum of Grey
Okay, folks far and wide should have it in their listen by now. Hope you enjoyed it. I certainly enjoyed putting it together and had an opportunity to listen to it today again on a day trip with some friends.
Beyond guessing the original artist on track 11 I have another challenge for everyone. I don't actually know if it's possible by what you can actually read on the cover art, but there are words on there. It's a photo I took. You get extra credit if you can tell me whose words they are and where the rock their carved on stands. You can email me the answer at renewcomer@gmail.com and I'll post news of a winner below.
Meanwhile if you'd like to comment on any tracks here I'll review them very quickly here:
Beyond guessing the original artist on track 11 I have another challenge for everyone. I don't actually know if it's possible by what you can actually read on the cover art, but there are words on there. It's a photo I took. You get extra credit if you can tell me whose words they are and where the rock their carved on stands. You can email me the answer at renewcomer@gmail.com and I'll post news of a winner below.
Meanwhile if you'd like to comment on any tracks here I'll review them very quickly here:
- Legions (War) from One Cello x 16 by Zoe Keating
- Old Man Atom by the Sons of the Pioneers... Was Roy Rogers still with them here?
- Days of Armageddon from Haiku by Songdog.
- The Bell by Stephan Smith with Pete Seeger, Dean Ween, and Mary
- Blackwater Slide by Bert Jansch
- Lady in Black by the Phudys
- What a Piece of Work is Man by the cast of Hair
- Helter Skelter by Siouxxsie and the Banshees
- Camina Burana Fantasy by Sandy Bull
- Girl by Tiny Tim with Brave Combo
- How many had to pull out the original track to remember what it sounded like?
- Wicked and Weird by Buck 65
- I Hung My Head by Johnny Cash
- Gimme Shelter by Twilight Dimentia
- Famous Blue Raincoat by Tori Amos
- Starman by the Culture Club
- Red Song by Hey Rosetta
- ... and finally, like the ending to another great album, Her Majesty by Chumbawamba
And for those who like the many covers in the set you can get an amazingly steady diet of them at coverville.com. Check it out. Become a citizen.
- Randy Newcomer
Friday, July 6, 2012
June is Late!
But all is not lost! The discs are being burned as I type and will be in the mail on Monday, or sooner if I decide to skimp on the commentary. So with any luck at least June will still precede July... and maybe even April.
So get ready for hopefully an eclectic mix of music that I hope you'll be able to find some old favorites as well as possibly a new one as well.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Cover Charge - May CD
Greetings, fellow music freaks!
Don't you just love hearing one of your favorite bands cover a song - from another one of your favorite bands? Or just do a kick-ass cover version of a song from a band or genre that is completely different from their usual style? Punks playing reggae or country or getting funky, a reggae band playing pop, hip-hop dudes rapping over hard rock, acoustic rockers rapping - you get the idea. And I'm sure you have your favorites. I certainly do.
And you're about to experience nineteen of mine, because my May offering, entitled "Cover Charge" - will be going out in tomorrow's mail. And just to keep a bit of mystery and build some anticipation, I'm not going to list them here. You'll have to wait until you receive the actual CD. Delayed gratification in the Internet age? Yes!
But feel free to speculate here about some of the possibilities, either from what you know about my musical tastes, or your own favorites!
Don't you just love hearing one of your favorite bands cover a song - from another one of your favorite bands? Or just do a kick-ass cover version of a song from a band or genre that is completely different from their usual style? Punks playing reggae or country or getting funky, a reggae band playing pop, hip-hop dudes rapping over hard rock, acoustic rockers rapping - you get the idea. And I'm sure you have your favorites. I certainly do.
And you're about to experience nineteen of mine, because my May offering, entitled "Cover Charge" - will be going out in tomorrow's mail. And just to keep a bit of mystery and build some anticipation, I'm not going to list them here. You'll have to wait until you receive the actual CD. Delayed gratification in the Internet age? Yes!
But feel free to speculate here about some of the possibilities, either from what you know about my musical tastes, or your own favorites!
Thursday, May 3, 2012
April CD
Hi All, me again! This time I'm posting on behalf of Billy K. who said his music CD will be in the mail to everyone within the next few days...
Dear Feleven (fellow eleventilicousites)
I was never very good with following directions or working with time constraints!
My sincerest apologies in not getting the 4/20 approved version of eleventilicous out on time.
Some
unforeseen professional and personal obligations have severely
restricted my creative output in recent weeks, but hope to be back to
full speed shortly-official CD to follow!
In the meantime please accept this video extra credit assignment; I hope you find it worth your time!
If you do not have broadband let me know and I will
try and send a DVD version w the CD
tyvm Billy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
For anyone who thinks Jerry Reed was the Bandit's sidekick in the movie and Chet Atkins is a guitar style
(both
true) this should be an eye opener. If you know them already it will
make you smile!!! You could spend most of the week finding Chet vidoes
worth watching, and Jerry Reed also a CGP is a national treasure!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Trying
to find
the Foo Fighters live cover of this song on you tube led me to
realization that more people on you tune think this is a cover of Dave
Grohl and Paul McCartney's 1st band was Wings......still the sax and
guitar solos are era defining
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
if
you ever wondered whether the Stones' "Greatest Band in the World" was
an honorific or a title, I offer this into evidence. These guys
grooooooooove and Ronnie can actually play guitar when he tries.......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
on the other hand, they were SOOO awesomely CAMPY or more evidence or whatEVER
and
this was wayyy before product placement bet Mick wishes he had thought
to have a Mr John Daniels cut the check...."that's a joke son, when
you've known hom as long as I have....."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Jeff Beck is the greatest living guitar player and he is the conversation for top 3 all time
y'all are encouraged to retort!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
ohmigoodgod....Prince
absolutely
rips it up here-check out Dhani Harrison's astonished grin and the
literal throwaway at the end....if you have never seen Prince you are
missing out big time..I took a metal head loving musician friend of mone
to see him a few years back on general principles (and at his wife's
insistence) and Prince opened the 2nd set with a blistering 20 minute
version of Whole Lotta Love that had every jaw in the place on the
floor....still in his top 5 all time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Mr Underrated showing off again.......
another underrated group of misfits the Crowes are retro and derivative and cover Led Zep almost as well as the Purple One
Rick
was my guitar teacher way back when, he was also in Knots and Crosses a
90s folk rock band in Boston that had the most requested song ever on
the local AOR station 92.9. They signed w Island record right
before a bunch of power struggles and after the lead singers divorced
that was that. They were their very own version of Richard and Linda
Thompson;s Shoot out the Lights which is odd because that was the
band's muse form the get go. Talk about form following function.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Victor is the Man!! but you knew that!!!
ok so here is a bonus...Roger is a VERY smart tech guy from Silicon Valley by way of Yale
Yale
had him back to teach a master class and have his band Moonalice play a
show. This will link you to both if you click the launch video on the
left side-might have to click it more than once if it hangs up on you.
If
you are into the internet or music distribution or marketing or tech or
old hippie rock stars or thinking--spend the time and watch the
video-the slide deck is downloadable for free as well directions in the
comments section
Pete Sears of Jefferson Starship is in the
band as well as John Molo and Barry Sless, two Jam Band pro's who are a
true joy to watch.........................
Enjoy and let me know what you think!!!
Thanks for all the great music!!
Ours go to 11....
March Madness
(Hi All~ I'm posting here on behalf of Mike Mena, my bro-in-law.)
Hello Eleventilicious friends,
The March CD has been shipped.
Things have been crazy! I was drawing a creative blank for the theme of
this CD when I came across a note from my brother Paul who, knowing I’m a
basketball fan, asked me if I was into MARCH MADNESS. And there was my theme.
I could say that the liner notes are here and not in your package
because I meant to be “green,” but that would be politician honest
and not my style. Most of the songs here are quite commercial but could be the
anecdote to ride out March.
Cheers!
Weezer have always sounded a bit undone but never more so than with the
song: “Undone.”
The Vapors only had one hit but “Turning Japanses,” was
decadent 80’s fun.
The Manic Street Preachers provides an anglophile fix with the song
“Tsunami.”
Napoleon IVX provide the novelty play with: “They’re Coming
to Take Me Away.”
Brett Dennen kind of fits in that awkward kind of folk-pop nuttiness
with “There Is So Much More.”
Rage Against the Machine get angry with insanity and provide a sonic
assault with: “Renegades of Funk.”
The Streets Anglo Rap has always appealed to me. He’s kind of
pissed off too with the song: “Prangin’ Out.”
Where would a March Madness CD be without Madness performing the song:
“Madness”?
Tears for Fears reminds us that it’s a “Mad World.”
When everything goes to hell, “Let’s Go Crazy.” Yes
Prince is.
Cypress Hill are indeed: ‘Insane in the Brain.”
When insanity creeps in, the Ramones: “Wanna Be Sedated.”
Weather does inspire insanity and the Jam do a number on the Martha
& the Vandellas classic: “Heat Wave.”
If once is crazy, what is three times? Michael Franti sings:
“Crazy, Crazy, Crazy.”
“Crazy,” can be a somber slow brew as well. Patsy Cline
sings her heart out!
Seal sings: “In a world full of people, only some wanna fly. Is
that not “Crazy”?
Green Day reminds us that if you go “too” crazy, you become
a: “Basket Case.”
All this nuttiness creates a: “Ball of Confusion,” as the
Temptations display.
Steely Dan illustrate going insane in articulate fashion with:
“Bad Sneakers.”
Have fun! Go nuts!
Mike
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