Son House "Death Letter"

Here is a little ditty by Son House about a letter he wished he never received...It may just be true that the art of letter writing is dead...

I got a letter this morning, how you reckon it read?
It said, hurry, hurry, 'cause that gal you love is dead.
-Son House

For the guitar geeks: I believe Son House is playing a metal-bodied National guitar with a copper slide.






Many performers have covered or created their own unique versions of the song from blues greats Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters to more modern performers like The Grateful Dead, Cassandra Wilson and John Mellencamp, but my favorite still has to be The White Stripes. I love how it runs from a slow, sad blues to heart pumping punk in just a few minutes, and it's also pretty great that Jack throws in a "Grinnin' In Your Face" break as well - the guy is clearly in love with the music of Son House.



     

Thanks to scmm42 and punkfromthe70s for the uploads to YouTube.

Andy Samberg "On The Ground"

I ain't gonna be a part of this system!! I'm an adult!!!

Susan Boyle "Perfect Day"

I imagine that when Lou Reed signed the contract allowing Susan Boyle to record his beautiful tune "Perfect Day" he was envisioning what it must feel like to soak in a swimming pool full of cold hard cash. Could it be that Lou has simply out-punked even himself? I hope that he is happy with his decision. Personally, I don't get it, and I don't like it.

You're going to reap just what you sow.
-Lou Reed

Liars "Scissor"

Perhaps this is just a bit too heavy to kick off a short work week, but at the same time we could just chalk it up as a lament for weekends gone past.

I'm supposed to save you now
But my hands are flipping out
I'm a coward in a self-built army
I leave this blood to dry
-Liars

Liars' haunting tune "Scissors" oozes desperation and helplessness, and sonically, these guys deliver the goods. The video is clever and certainly solidifies the angst of the lyrics and the music. Life is heavy and it's coming down on you...no matter where you may find yourself...so good luck keeping your head above the water. I think Nick Cave would be proud.

Have a nice week!


















Thanks to MuteUSA for the upload to YouTube.

Burger King Tells Customer "Fuck You"

I like how the customer acts all hurt as if it's the first time anyone ever told him "Fuck You!" Fine! Have it your way Burger King!

Stray Cats "C'mon Everybody"

The Stray Cats close a show in Paris sometime in the 1980's playing a stripped down, literally and figuratively, version of the Eddie Cochran classic "C'mon Everybody." I love how Brian Setzer makes sure his hair is just right at the end of the show...I was always jealous of that hair!


















Thanks to 32deuce for the upload to YouTube.

B.T.Express "Do It ('Til You're Satisfied)"

Although yesterday I probably could not have named B.T. Express as the recording artists, their song "Do It ('Til You're Satisfied)" has played consistently in my head for all the years I've known it. When I say "consistently" I mean that I think of this song at every single week. It's strange because as far as I can recall I've never owned the album, and it's not like it's really played on the radio that often - although I imagine at one time it was. It probably didn't help when Nike began using their selling phrase "Just Do It" in the 1980's. So let's see if that constant repeat of "Do it...Do it...Do it 'til you're satisfied" followed by that amazing deep bass voice of "Whatever it is" stays with you as well.

Unfortunately, this is the only performance video I've been able to dig up on YouTube - the quality isn't great, but the song rings through.




Thanks to khakeshansard for the upload to YouTube.

Todd Rundgren "Hello It's Me"

Todd Rundgren appears on "Burt Sugarman's Midnight Special" with his solo version of "Hello It's Me."

I think it's pretty clear that a certain Miss Lady Gaga would admit to being inspired by Todd's costume choice. Lady Gaga just knows how to ramp it up a bit.









Bonus video:  "Hello It's Me" was originally recorded with Rundgren's first band Nazz. The version by Nazz is a lot more haunting.



...and in the name of overkill...another great outfit (clown chaps?) and a loose performance from Rundgren...


     

Thanks to evil0live and 75kashmir  and lmharpo for the uploads to YouTube.

The DeFranco Family "Heartbeat (It's a Love Beat)"

Teen heartthrob Tony DeFranco leads The DeFranco Family in the 1973 hit "Heartbeat (It's a Love Beat)." For those with an inquiring mind, and would like the answer to "Where are they now?" Tony has become a successful real estate agent in California. You can check out his website here.





Thanks to liarsclub75 for the upload to YouTube.

The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia

I spent part of a sleepless night living with a bit of West Virginia hillbilly mythology. The White family knows how to get in some trouble.  "The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia" was is a really outstanding documentary by Julien Nitzberg...great music, a bunch of appearances by Hank III, and a fascinating family who lives in the moment for better or for worse. If you have Netflix streaming I highly recommend you take a trip on over to Boone County and spend some time getting to know these folks, but be sure to leave at closing time.

From New York Magazine:
Shoot-outs, robberies, gas-huffing, drug dealing, pill popping, murders and tap dancing. Nestled deep in the Appalachian Mountains, the White family lives an existence more like something from the Wild West than modern-day suburbified America. The legendary family is as known for their wild, excessive criminal ways as they are for their famous mountain dancing members, including Jesco White, the star of the cult classic documentary Dancing Outlaw. The film follows the Whites over the course of one tumultuous year, as they deal with a stabbing, criminal sentencing, attempted murder, death and birth. Never dull, THE WILD AND WONDERFUL WHITES OF WEST VIRGINIA are 'the Hatfields and McCoys all rolled into one'

Die Antwoord "Evil Boy"

Set phasers to stun!  Die Antwoord prepares to take over the world, and they kick it into gear with this new video for "Evil Boy." I think it's pretty safe to say that this video is NSFW!

Ninja and Yolandi share the stage with fellow South African rapper, Wanga as well as DJ Diplo in the new video. I learned from BongBoing.net (the blog that broke this amazing band) that the song is about Wanga's reluctance to follow his tribe's tradition of receiving a circumcision in his teenage years. In Wanga's world, rejection of the circumcision means being accused of not being a real man, and of being gay. Wanga struggled with this rejection from his community, but in the end came to the conclusion that he would not follow suit with what those around him considered masculinity...in essence, he would be an "evil boy for life."



Get the album...

Kanye West "Runaway"

Wow! Simply wow! Kanye West has really outdone himself. First, he gives away a bunch of songs for free on his website, and then he follows it up with a 34 minute music video. Sure it's self-indulgent and a bit corny, but it also has some fun and beautiful moments as well. I think Luis Bunuel and Carlos Saura would be proud of his vision. Mostly, I thank Kanye for simply thinking out of the box and bringing a lot of unique attention to his music.

You know what I hate most about your world? Anything that is different you try to change. You try to tear it down. You rip the wings off the Phoenix and they turn to stone. And if I don't burn I will turn to stone...if I don't burn I can't go back to my world...I have to burn...



Bonus Video:  Kanye's "Runaway" is certainly a pretty, visually stunning and symbolically laden opus, however, it's no "Can't Tell Me Nothing" starring Zach Galifianakis...


     

Thanks to KanyeWestVevo and djmattwerner for the uploads to YouTube.