Hi All. First, my sincerest apologies. Initially my September CD was going to be called, "Fall Back". Since I failed to get the CD out in September, I decided to call it, "September in October" but also realized that in my haste to get the CD out before a business trip, I forgot to change the title of the CD. My flakey-ness is inexcusable and I make no excuses. Just kindly accept my most sincerest apologies.
Fall in September:
Originally, I was going to call this CD collection, “Fall Back”-the turning of the leaves and time. However, since this was supposed to be a September CD and it’s getting out in October, I prefer the name, “September in October.” Apologies for this being so late. Somehow between travel and some new business and having a kid on the Cross Country Team, I fell back and didn’t turn the leaves of time but only allowed time to turn on me.
Havest Moon/Neil Young-While I don’t have the expanded musical taste of most in this club, I tend to fall back on tried and true tunes like this one. Neil Young is so talented. Love the sweetness in his voice, the intelligent lyrics, and the slow and easy pace of this song.
September/Earth Wind & Fire-This song is always reminiscent of the leaves turning to me. While we live in California, there is still a distant memory of the leaves turning and the weather suddenly going cooler in September.
I Fall Down/U2-U2 is one of my all-time favorite artists. This track is a little more along the lines of my original intent of the CD of “Fall Back.” It’s early U2, before they became one of the biggest bands on the planet and you may have forgotten about this one.
October/U2-Did I mention I like this band?
Weather with you/Crowded House-This one is for the creator of this club, Paul Mena. Crowded House is specifically for him and for all of us to enjoy alongside of him.
Bad Moon Risin/CCR-How can I go wrong with CCR? Whether you like indy rock or classic rock, it is my personal feeling that one can never go wrong with CCR. A Bad Moon risin’ seems like it’s only when the weather turns from fair to funky so I added this to the playlist.
Time Has Told Me/Nick Drake-This song always reminds me of when we start lighting the fireplace in the Fall. Drake’s early demise is my reward each and every time I want to relax, enjoy a cup of wine, and stare for hours at the fireplace. Hope you remember this talent that left us way too early.
California Dreamin’/The Mamas & The Papas-Living in CA, so many people reminisce about summer when the weather turns cold and dark in other parts of the country. This is my personal effort to bring some warmth to other parts of the country who may not have the sun during this time of year.
Turn!Turn!Turn!/The Byrds-”There is a season. Turn! Turn! Turn!”-What better lyrics to remind us that not only does music reflect life, but it also reflects a time and a place when it was written. I can’t help but think of The Byrds drinking hot apple cider as this piece was being worked on in the studio. Well, ok, maybe not. But it’s the mental image in my head.
November Rain/Guns ‘n Roses-I had long forgotten about this track but recently my husband introduced our son to some of the guys from Guns ‘n Roses and they have been on my mind of late. The Title fit the “Fall Back” theme and it also works with the new theme of September in October because it’ll soon be October in November if I don’t mail this sooner!
Autumn Almanac/The Kinx-This happy tune is primarily chosen for it’s title, beat, and happy go-lucky rhythm. What can I say? It is the “Autumn Almanac. Yes, yes, yes!”
No Fun/The Stooges-When the weather turns cold, dark, and the sun hides, I always think it’s “No Fun, walking here by myself” too. This song is about staying in and having no fun. Although we’re spoiled with sunny warm weather in California, fall and winter is our rainy season and “No Fun.”
Fall on Me/REM-While this song has absolutely nothing with the weather, the title does plus it’s a catchy tune! Enjoy.
Again, September in October almost became October in November. May your fall be sunny, bright, and filled with fun!
Ileana
Sunday, October 21, 2012
September in October is here!
My sister-in-law Ileana mailed out her "September in October" compilation early last week, so most of you should be receiving it shortly if you haven't already.
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!
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