à la Mode St.

Posts tagged ‘music’

(Stupid) Music Monday: The Flys- Got You Where I Want You

May 6th, 2013

My husband just landed himself a gig as the front man of a pretty good cover band. The set list of the guys before he came along consisted of Talking Heads, Neil Young, The Beatles, Queen, and Van Halen. Good choices, eh? Oh yes! I just picked the best ones, though. The rest of the songs however ranged from okay to just stupid. I think you can do a good cover and maybe even make an existing dumb song better if the band members are talented enough, which I’ve heard they are. So really, I am not dissing the band…because as of last weekend, my husband has been a part of it :)

Anyway, one of the more irritating songs that was on the list was “Got You Where I Want You” by the Flys. Besides being painful aurally (ugh, that sexy voice…NOT.), I’d like to take the first workday of the week (Monday, fyi) to take apart the smart lyrics in the song. The lyrics are in a different color.

Hey what’s the point of this
Oh hey, what’s your favorite song
Maybe we could hum along

Yeah, what IS the point of this song? My favorite song, at least for today, is this gem right here. That’s why I’m featuring it, OBVIOUSLY.

Well I think you’re smart
You sweet thing
Tell me your name
I’m dying here

He thinks this girl is smart. He already has given her this cheesy pet name, too. All THIS before knowing her actual name? I hope we can all agree that “I think you’re smart” is just a pick-up line catered to girls who are beautiful but are insecure about their intelligence. Girls with low self-esteem (Arrested Development reference)?

Ooh got you where I want you
Ooh got you where I want you
yeah

Where YOU want her? Hmm, alone and helpless in a dark alley?

Hey, maybe just a smile
Oh hey, did you know that I can’t dance
Could we talk for a while

Revealing your “safe” flaws? How cute.

Suffer suffer
You don’t get no rougher
Rub it up baby girl
Torture me like no other

Gross.

Suffer suffer
You don’t get no rougher
When you rock me baby
Put your thing on me lover

Might I ask what “thing” is he referring to? I think sexuality expressed in lyrics is fine. There are some that are well done. The Bible even has buttloads of these references between lovers in the book Song of Songs. My husband and I used to make tons of mixes for each other back when we were dating (and some still on special occasions like anniversaries and birthdays). The Flys are just not clever enough to have some well-written lyrics. And oh, did I mention that this song is just a bit SEXIST?

True, there are worse songs out there–much worse as far as quality and of course, content. This song though, along with the songs I’m going to hopefully be featuring every Monday are subtle at their stupidity. So… stay tuned fellas for next week’s (Stupid) Music Monday!

Indie Band Goes Mainstream via Runway: Wild Cub @ Rebecca Minkoff Fall ’13

March 27th, 2013

I am a supporter of underdogs and indie artists, so I was pleasantly surprised to hear about small-time Nashville band Wild Cub‘s being chosen to play at Rebecca Minkoff’s Fall 2013 runway in New York. Minkoff, according to MTV, at least recently has chosen bands to play at her shows—including NYC native Theophilus London and THE GOASTT (a band members Sean Lennon & model Charlotte Kemp Muhl), a more obvious fashion music choice.

REBECCA MINKOFF FALL 2013 FASHION SHOW I really liked the clothes, but I can’t pretend that I enjoyed the music nor can I vouch for Minkoff’s statement that Wild Cub’s music matched the the runway’s theme. Her Fall 2013 clothes did have somewhat of an 80s vibe to it, which Wild Cub has elements of. The clothes, however, also had an edgier futuristic theme, which I cannot visualize at all from the music. If the show reminded me of a time, it would be a mix of 1980 and 2020. Wild Cub is 1986-1990, which many can agree, encompasses the worst time in music history.

I am happy though for these guys and their sudden success from being featured at NYC’s fashion week. I hope that gives more indie artists out there hope that they can be instantly recognized through fans like Rebecca (who happens to be a big style icon) without being in the Top 40.

A few of my favorite looks from the show:

rebeccaminkoff2013fall

It reflects a sad reality, though, that our pop icons don’t necessarily have the best taste in music, and they choose to give the spotlight to whoever happens to catch their attention. That’s how it is on the radio, though, so I guess that’s how it’s going to be on the runway. It seems to be the way most of us non-musicians pick and choose our music. I can’t tell you technically why I don’t like Wild Cub, but I can tell you that they just don’t fit my taste. My husband, who’s a musician, can explain why he didn’t like it either, but I am representing the population who can discern subpar music without being musicians ourselves.

If I had to come up with a comparison that’s not so bad, I’d compare their sound to David Byrne’s late ’80s/early ’90s solo worldy-sounding music. David Byrne is awesome. I love The Talking Heads, but I am just not a huge fan of Byrne’s later work.

Wild Cub, you remind me of later David Byrne. Congratulations and have fun having tons of fashionista fans.

Multimedia source: rebeccaminkoff.com

(Post) Valentine’s Mix: Friends & Lovers

February 15th, 2013

2013valentinesmix I was going to put up this post yesterday on Valentine’s Day, but I had an unforeseen special evening with the hubby and delayed this! Here is the first ever “Valentine’s Mix: Friends & Lovers.” Okay, so I just meant one lover and the rest are some of my awesome friends whom I handpicked based on their equally good (or just varied) tastes in music. :) I am proud to say that a lot of these gals I chose picked songs I would’ve picked myself if I had to choose more than three top love songs, and picking just three was very difficult to do…

The “best” songs of course usually change from time to time, but these selections are at least the top three love songs we fancy at the moment. Rob and I have exchanged countless of mix tapes from back when we were just dating till after we got married, where more than half were in the theme of love.

For your listening pleasure, in alphabetical order… enjoy :)

Bella (Citizen Rosebud) : Avett Brothers – I and Love and You | Cake- She’ll Come Back to Me | Queen- Can Anybody Find Me Somebody to Love

Cameron (33 Avenue Miquelon) : Al Green- Let’s Stay Together | Mazzy Star- Fade Into You | Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds – Into My Arms

Elisa (Style Bizarre) : Pearl Jam- Just Breathe | David Bowie- Heroes | Siouxie and the Banshees- The Last Beat of My Heart

Kailey (Mermaidens) : Blur- To The End | Kimbra – Cameo Lover | Pet Shop Boys – Love Comes Quickly

Victoria (Justice Pirate) : Alton Ellis- Ain’t that Loving You | In Pieces- The Anchor | Imelda May – Falling in Love With You Again

Rob (linked to my heart): Lykke Li -My Love | Colin Bluntstone- Her Song | his third song… he can’t make up his mind!!!

Moi, yours truly. (à la Mode St.) – Casper & The Cookies – Across the Sea | Black Moth Super Rainbow – Spraypaint – Toad the Wet Sprocket - All I Want

Recap of Our Winter Rock Shows: Deerhoof, Liam Finn, Ash, and many more!

December 9th, 2012

Hey all! I’m going to try to write more soon (these promises hopefully won’t be empty again), but for now here are some photos I took from Instagram of shows Rob and I went to and cool people we got a pleasure of meeting in a span of a month. Enjoy!
Rob and I with Irish rock gods Tim Wheeler and Rick McMurray of Ash at Johnny Brenda’s in Philadelphia. If you are reading this, sorry about the”contagion” warning. It was truly nothing. Rob was just being extra careful. He is worry nut, but he is sweet and a really big fan. I am equally (if not more) in love with your music! Oh yeah, yay Pixies and Ziggy Stardust, sci-fi, and “stars”! Can’t wait to see you all again and hopefully not sick.

Ash rocking out

It’s Reputante! They remind of Psychadelic Furs. This photo is a reminder to get an album of theirs (update: I don’t think there’s anything that’s available except for the free downloads on their Bandcamp). I really need to keep track… Oh, and nice legwork.

Rob and I bought a replacement copy of our “stolen” Runners Four album from Ed of Deerhoof who was running the merch table. The guy who we lent our album to (who doesn’t have the guts to settle a misunderstanding in person) is still a friend of ours on Facebook, so I have yet to tag the guy on this photo. Is that mean?

I love Satomi from Deerhoof! She is so cute. It was also fun talking to Greg Saunier. To Greg, I WILL try to find that impossible pink camo jacket!

Liam Finn got us a list of cool New Zealand bands to listen to. Liam, it was really nice meeting your girlfriend, and I’m very sorry for having you stand out in the cold for too long!

Liam Finn performing ALL the instruments himself.

Ah, Aubrey of Formica Man is great. They have this song that sounds a lot like Monotrona! Awesome voice. Cool band. Please check this Oregon group out! P.S. ATTN: ESPECIALLY Kate Bush!!!
Cute candid shot. 1 of like maybe 5 shots with really bad lighting.
Formica Man on stage at the Ottobar

Deerhoof on stage at the Ottobar in Baltimore. I was going to take a photo of the wacky Spanish shirt Ed was wearing, but he quickly changed to regular clothes when we got to talk to him because the shirt was too soaked in sweat.

Dopebody is a local band from Baltimore, and below was one of three (I think) older folks standing right in front of the stage!! I’m not sure if they were there together, or if it was someone’s grandma and grandpa from the band? This was definitely one of the most memorable shows I’ve been to (Deerhoof Break Up Song tour ’12)

I took a bunch on low-fi videos (and more photos not online yet), but I’d rather post some better quality ones from Youtube for you to check out if you haven’t heard any of these guys.

Ash – “Arcadia”

Deerhoof – The Perfect Me

Liam Finn- Second Chance

Reputante – Deep Set Eyes

Ooh Mama, it’s Michelle Phillips of the The Mamas & The Papas!

October 1st, 2012

The vintage clothing inspiration for today is the gorgeous Michelle Phillips of the 60s pop band The Mamas and The Papas. Michelle’s style back in her day had a good mix of textures—mostly tribal/hippie (trippy?)/ psychedelic. She wore a lot of maxi skirts and flowy free-spirited tops.

Chiptunes & 8-Bit Love @ MagFest 2012

January 17th, 2012

A tamer (as far as clothing goes) but louder environment than ComiCon exists at a wondrous and colorful convention called MagFest, a video game and VG music festival held every Winter Solstice on the East Coast. This year, it was held in National Harbor, Maryland. It was a nice 29th birthday treat for my husband, Rob, who is very much into but yet to be fully involved in the chiptunes/8-bit scene (I think it may be my fault that’s he’s not super famous right now, because I enforce a massage-a-day routine and expect to be written a new song dedicated to me every week. Save him from my filthy (non)pedicured paws, please, and support his love for chiptunes).

Virt is playing in the video above. He’s a really wacky guy with pink hair (stole what the idea I originally had for mine), talent, and punk mesh gloves (totally ripped me off that day… I had on the same thing). It’s all good. I tried to act mature about it and decided to whine like a baby here instead. Below, you can see another chiptunes band that played before Virt. They were pretty cool, too—a little more dance-y (though Virt had some super catchy tunes as well. Anyway, they’re Knife City, and please try to ignore my husband’s and my commentary—or, you can listen and be blown away (that is, if you can discern what we’re even saying or talking about).

Dub step from ? (not like the Mysterians… I just didn’t catch who this was!)

There were also VG music cover bands there. Originally, we wanted to see Temp Sound Solutions, but they played during the week, so by the time we got there, they were done both of their shows. This (above) is Random Encounter, the most stylish and color-coordinated band that played this year. It makes me wonder, why don’t I have this girl’s KA military boots yet?

Bit Brigade is playing in the above video with synchronized live game play. So ridiculous! We liked them best until, of course, Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu and his band played at the end.

I am not huge on video games myself (not since middle school), but I will watch (and sometimes participate) and be entertained by Rob’s pushing the buttons (not mine). I do love 8-bit music, however, and have worshiped pixel art for as long as I can remember. I was always into Flash when it was still owned by Macromedia, and I have always liked motion graphic designs. I just can’t get myself to be brave enough to play the actual games and face digital defeat.

The other day, our cousin, after taking a break from watching the new Star Trek movie, was humming a tune over dinner that I was familiar with but wasn’t sure what it was or where it came from. So, I hummed the tune back to him to make sure that that was what he was humming. Rob goes, “I think it’s from a movie. Star Trek? The one we’re watching right now…” I sat there the whole time during dinner just trying to figure out what that song was. Finally, after about an hour, I blurted, “That’s Rob’s song!” He was very flattered.

Anyway, Perspection is Rob’s 8-bit handle. I have high hopes that he will continue to make awesome music. I feel the same with his brother Dave’s video game apps. They are extraordinary together.

Vintage: An Inside-Out Experience

July 15th, 2011

By David Gasten, producer of Vintage Music compilation This is Vintage Now

Why do we come to Vintage? The answer is very simple: we come here to escape. When we pick up old magazines like Collier’s or Life, watch movies like Casablanca or The Seven Year Itch, or listen to music like Louis Prima or Julie London, it takes us to an alternate way of living that is similar to what we experience today, but better. It has many of the modern amenities that we have grown accustomed to, but there’s something fresh, invigorating and exciting in that old way of doing things that is a huge sigh of relief from the feeling of being sandblasted over and over by the same old cookie-cutter swill like we are used to today.

Furthermore, we see people having understanding conversations instead of looking for opportunities to be offended. We find appliances and clothing that are built to last instead of to be thrown away. We see people building lifelong friendships and strong communities instead of going through other people like candy in the quest to feed their narcissism. And, my favorite part, we see beautiful, confident ladies being treated like the queens and princesses they are, by gentlemen who are manly and strong, but also civilized and kind. With all of this to offer, who wouldn’t want to escape to Vintage?

But here’s the dirty little secret to all this. In order to truly and fully embrace Vintage, you have to embrace it from the inside out, otherwise it’s nothing more than a costume party. It is the values of the period that made them what they are; the artifacts are nothing more than the fruit of the tree. Think about it: if someone is full of themselves and condescending to you, are you going to like them more just because they are wearing a 1950’s outfit? Probably not. And yet that “costume party” issue is exactly the hurdle that the new Vintage Movement will need to overcome if it is going to be anything more than another silly fad. However, if we who are into Vintage can embrace the Vintage values first and let that guide us as we bring back and build upon what our grandparents left us, I am convinced that we will instead have a solid alternate culture that will be here to stay and will give current raunch culture a serious, pants-down run for its money.

Vintage Music (current and previous) is my specialty, and I got into it thanks to the 1990’s Swing Revival. The Nineties Swing Revival is actually a very good example of a movement that did not embrace the previous period from the inside out, and quickly tanked because of it. In the wake of its failure, I have devoted a large portion of my time studying what went wrong and learning from this cautionary tale. I launched a jump blues-style group called David Gasten & the City Kids that has sought to tap into what originally got people dancing and socializing, and bring that to today’s listeners without trying to be punk or some other current style. How we do this is by understanding what the original period was like AND understanding what people want and are used to today, and then finding the common ground between the two. We stay grounded in the original spirit of the period and its way of doing things, whilst projecting forward as though we were an artist from the time projecting themselves into the current day. We call this way of doing things “Vintage Now”.

While I was planning the recording sessions that produced our song “The Deacon Don’t Like It”, I found a number of other artists that are exciting and have that same “Vintage Now” way of doing things that we do, only in other Vintage-style genres. I also found original period artists like 1950’s jazz vocalist Beverly Kenney that are very compatible to the current day, but allow us to listen to the music of the time with fresh ears, therefore helping to bring the period back alive even more. I got the idea to bring these artists together under one umbrella, and came up with a name off the top of my head: This is Vintage Now.

This is Vintage Now just came out on CDBaby as an MP3 album on June 21st, 2011. Already we have received responses that the compilation is getting people excited about new music again, and are receiving reviews that state that it holds its own with the classics of the period—VERY high praise indeed that is really touching to receive. To make things even more impressive, a number of those comments are coming from living music celebrities from a host of different genres—check out the Endorsements Page on our website to see what we mean.

And speaking of This is Vintage Now’s website, we went really over the top with the website! We went out of our way to make it an information and resource site for not only This is Vintage Now and its artists, but for Vintage Music and The Vintage Movement as a whole. We wanted people to feel good when they read the site, and we wanted it to just seethe quality, passion, and substance, whilst being fully informative and entertaining. And again, it appears that we accomplished our objective, although we ask that you be the final judge. We’ve got pages for all of the artists on the compilation, including living jazz legend Big Jay McNeely, current Dutch hitmaker Caro Emerald, 20-year-old Australian chanteuse Ilana Charnelle, and my own group David Gasten & the City Kids to name a few. We have articles about Louis Prima (“Jump Jive, an’ Wail”) and Bill Haley (“Rock Around the Clock”) with Youtube Videos and loads of VERY rare information about both. And we have a Vintage Links resource page that samples some of the best in what’s available in Vintage Music and Vintage Lifestyle today. It’s very much like falling down the rabbit hole.

For those who bristle at the thought of embracing the values of the Vintage period, take the time to throw the “oppressed” caricatures aside, and really try to understand the underlying values as portrayed in the magazines, movies, music, and TV shows of the period. You will find out that they are largely based in simple common sense. The concepts of genuine communication and mutual respect permeate the period, as do the concepts of ladies and gentlemen. Music embraced a true integration of the races in jazz and rock n’ roll, and that would roll over into the culture as a whole with time. Music and pop culture in general centered a LOT around women, but as whole people, not as packages of body parts whose full identity hinges on their performance as sex objects as we see today. Look again, and take it in as a whole, and I think you’ll be surprised. And if you find something that’s not perfect, spit out the bones and eat the meat, don’t damn the culture as a whole because of one problem. Vintage people (i.e. our grandparents and great-grandparents) are/were people too, and we can always improve upon what they left us with as long as we understand and embrace their culture first.

This is Vintage Now, both the compilation itself and the companion website, was only made possible from embracing those values. Embracing the artifacts but not the values is nothing but a costume party, and the fact that it is fake and insincere at its core will come out sooner or later, as it always has in the past. There really is no other way, or else the other way would have worked by now.

This is Vintage Now is available at CDBaby, iTunes, and Amazon.com MP3. Visit the compilation’s official website at http://www.thisisvintagenow.com.