The Random Music Sightings Thread

[Josh Powell]

Melinda Dolittle did a great job of performing My Funny Valentine tonight. Which is now a song I love ever since I've heard OtR's cover.

[Aaron]

While watching the Nickel Creek music videos on the Reasons Why DVD, I noticed that Robert Trujillo (current bassist for Metallica) was in the video for The Smoothie Song.  Trujillo has actually played with Nickel Creek on some songs and in some concerts here and there.  Very nice to see that and for him to show his proficiency in more than one style of music.  Oh, and I am in love with Sara Watkins.

[murlough23]

Trujillo has actually played with Nickel Creek on some songs and in some concerts here and there.

I'm not aware of any album versions he played on with them (he didn't on "Smoothie Song" even though he's in the video), and I thought Mark Schatz was their touring bassist, but I suppose he didn't have to be present at every single gig. Does he actually play upright bass?

Oh, and I am in love with Sara Watkins.

She's kind of one of those people who it's impossible to not like. She really should record a solo album.

[Brenden]

She really should record a solo album.

I think she is, at least, there's solo material up on her Myspace.

[Aaron]

I'm not aware of any album versions he played on with them (he didn't on "Smoothie Song" even though he's in the video), and I thought Mark Schatz was their touring bassist, but I suppose he didn't have to be present at every single gig. Does he actually play upright bass?

She's kind of one of those people who it's impossible to not like. She really should record a solo album.

I think he's played with them at times.  Schatz is their touring bassist but they've had others play with them before Schatz joined them.  And yes, Trujillo plays upright bass.

[murlough23]

And yes, Trujillo plays upright bass.

Well, then he's the man.

NP: "One World", Toby Mac

[Aaron]

Yes he is.



and speaking of random..Do people here like Neko Case more as a solo artist or as part of The New Pornographers?

[ajyouthguy]

Mat Kearney was on Good Morning America this morning.

[bloop]

I prefer The Pornographers, but she's very different without them, so it's hard to choose definitively.

[enemy anemone]

I love Neko solo. haven't heard much New Pornographers stuff, just one or two songs. Mass Romantic and something else I think. I should probably check them out further, but I kind of have a feeling I'd mainly like them because of Neko. from what I've heard, they can tour without her, so I guess she's not even a major part of the group.

[dgp11776]

I prefer The Pornographers, but she's very different without them, so it's hard to choose definitively.

Yeah, that's a good way to put.  I like both, but they are so different from each other.  I would probably say my enjoyment of TNP is slightly greater, though.

[Aaron]

I cannot stop listening to Twin Cinema.  It is one of the best albums of the past 10 years.  A.C. Newman, Neko and company are flippin great.

[Aaron]

This coming monday, 3-5-07: Anberling performing "Godspeed" on CBS on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.

[enemy anemone]

apparently Kelly Clarkson was at the Patty Griffin gig I went to at the Hotel Cafe a couple weeks ago. I didn't see her and wouldn't know who she was even if I had, but there you go. Cameron Crowe and Gina Gershon were also there. (pics of these personages are on Patty's myspace.)
not really music sightings, but along the same lines, I am sure I saw Bitty Schram (who played Sharona on early seasons of Monk) at Eleni Mandell's record release gig. also saw someone who looked exactly like Miranda July at the Neko Case concert. who knows, could've been them. why not?

[enemy anemone]

a couple of Eleni Mandell's songs were featured on some tv shows. "Girls", from Miracle of Five, will be on tomorrow's episode of Brothers and Sisters, and "American Boy", from Afternoon, was included on an episode of Men in Trees.

[-Rough Draft-]

There was a commercial not too long ago for some woman's weight loss program. Not exactly relevant to me, so I tuned out until I noticed that the artist in the background was Sam Phillips. She was strumming and kind of warbling along to a tune that I'd only heard her Section Quartet play, called "Zebra." It's a wordless tune but very catchy.

[murlough23]

Tonight I went ice skating with some friends in Pasadena... as far as I know, the rink isn't owned by Christians, but at one point I recognized the Grits song "Ooh Aah" and realized that they were playing the Grits CD The Art of Transformation in its entirety, which was weird, because I recognized the songs but not the mixes (it's a remix album).

[plvarona]

Today I heard Jonezetta's "Bringin' It Back Tonite" on ESPN SportsCenter's Ultimate Highlight.  This now means 3 of the 4 bands that played at the Mute Math concert in Atlanta this past October have now been used on The Ultimate Highlight.  Now we just need them to use Club of the Sons.

Also, as I was walking into a Quizno's on Saturday, I caught the end of Mat Kearney's "Unbelievable."

[murlough23]

Also, as I was walking into a Quizno's on Saturday, I caught the end of Mat Kearney's "Unbelievable."

I thought that was "Undeniable". Anyway, I hear either that song or "Nothing Left to Lose" in so many random places now that it's kind of becoming cliche. He really should have released better songs as singles.

[plvarona]

I thought that was "Undeniable". Anyway, I hear either that song or "Nothing Left to Lose" in so many random places now that it's kind of becoming cliche. He really should have released better songs as singles.

Whoops.  You're right.  I had a brain-freeze there.

I also agree that Mat choices as singles have left a lot to be desired.  I do know "Undeniable" has been going for adds on Mainstream, which is why I certainly noticed when I walked into Quizno's this weekend, although I do think it is one of the weaker songs on his album.

[murlough23]

I also agree that Mat choices as singles have left a lot to be desired.  I do know "Undeniable" has been going for adds on Mainstream, which is why I certainly noticed when I walked into Quizno's this weekend, although I do think it is one of the weaker songs on his album.

I really like "Bullet". It's too late for it now and I think I'm about the only person who feels this way, but I think "Trainwreck" is his best song.

I like the blend of styles that he brings to the table, but his mainstream deal seriously downplayed the hip-hop/spoken word influences in favor of making him sound like a Coldplay clone. Barely any of the new songs have spoken parts, and that's not necessarily something he should do in every song, but it's what makes him stand out.

"Undeniable" at least shows his core style, but it has an extremely weak chorus. "Nothing Left to Lose" is catchy - I find myself humming it at times, but it's your typical traveling troubador pop song, and I always find myself annoyed by the way that the rhythm intentionally skips a beat during the chorus. I normally like weird time signatures but that just sounds like someone was playing in 4/4 and lost their place.

[eatahouse]

Heard MuteMath's "Typical" on the MTV channel in New York... =)

[Brenden]

Blast from the past!

DC Talk's Wanna Be Loved was sung on American Idol.

[Josh Powell]

Not my favorite dc Talk song.. but still awesome. Who woulda thought?

[bloop]

Blast from the past!

DC Talk's Wanna Be Loved was sung on American Idol.

something I said earlier:

I also hope that his entire strategy isn't just to get that CCM niche and ride that to victory, because I just don't think that would work out very well in the long run.

Same contestant, too.  Hmm - there may actually be something to this little musing of mine.

[dgp11776]

If anyone is interested, here is a link to the new album from Chris's band.

Linky

He wrote all of the songs, produced and arranged the album, and played several instruments.

[Brenden]

Same contestant, too.  Hmm - there may actually be something to this little musing of mine.

There might, indeed.

That's gonna kill his chances of winning.

[bloop]

Strategically, it isn't bad early in the competition. 

It's like if a contestant decided that he was going to do a lot of indie rock.  He could very likely get a lot of votes relative to other contestants early doing that, but as the competition narrows down, he'd want to change it up to something more mainstream at some point.  It may be hard to pull that off and seem authentic doing it.

[Josh Powell]

I think Chris has done enough secular stuff to pull off a switch whenever he wants. Not to mention that most AIers probably don't even know who dc Talk is, or if they do, didn't know the song.

[bloop]

So far, he's done 1:1:1 CCM:Fence:Mainstream, right? 

Yeah - might not be a bad strategy.

[RedcoatJones]

Strategically, it isn't bad early in the competition. 

It's like if a contestant decided that he was going to do a lot of indie rock.  He could very likely get a lot of votes relative to other contestants early doing that, but as the competition narrows down, he'd want to change it up to something more mainstream at some point.  It may be hard to pull that off and seem authentic doing it.

Of course, if he really wanted a certain niche, then "not winning" but getting high enough to get a lot of exposure can be useful. Similar to the way Chris Daughtry ran the rock wagon into the top 4 or so, and then still had enough exposure to release a "rock" record instead of an "AI winner" record.

[RedcoatJones]

I also thought it very funny that not one of the judges knew 311!    And they're "in touch" with the record buying public?

[bloop]

Of course, if he really wanted a certain niche, then "not winning" but getting high enough to get a lot of exposure can be useful. Similar to the way Chris Daughtry ran the rock wagon into the top 4 or so, and then still had enough exposure to release a "rock" record instead of an "AI winner" record.

You make a good point here, not that it would stop me from voting for a person even if i knew their intentions.

[murlough23]

Same contestant, too.  Hmm - there may actually be something to this little musing of mine.

Well, now there might be. Any good proof by induction requires more than one instance to establish a pattern. When you first made the remark, there wasn't much of a basis for it.

Anyway, the particular dc Talk song in question is a nod to funk/soul influences from a few decades prior, and is about as explicitly Christian as your average Robert Randolph song. The CCM crowd will certainly recognize it, but most folks who aren't in the know probably won't peg it as a CCM song.

Anyway, I know it doesn't work this way in the real world, but shouldn't the voting be based on the performance and not on whether the contestant picked songs that the audience liked? I guess part of that is picking songs that suit your vocal style, but still. It would be lame for people to vote/not vote for him just because he sang "Christian" songs (though I totally expect stylistic bias to win out over actual talent; that was one of the glaring flaws of American Idol from the get-go).

As much as I liked that he did a Mute Math song, I actually watched that performance on YouTube, and he was behind the beat and seemed to totally miss the aspects of Paul Meany's vocal performance that really make that song kick. I wouldn't have voted for him.

[bloop]

Well, now there might be. Any good proof by induction requires more than one instance to establish a pattern. When you first made the remark, there wasn't much of a basis for it.

Don't hate my moment of clairvoyance.   

*Ahem* Anyway, I wasn't observing a pattern, and never claimed I was.  I said "I hope" that wasn't his entire strategy, because I didn't think it would work well in the long-run, even if it may work in the short term.

I didn't vote last night, as I didn't actually watch the show.

The CCM crowd will certainly recognize it, but most folks who aren't in the know probably won't peg it as a CCM song.

Yet another wise choice by Mr. Sligh.

Anyway, I know it doesn't work this way in the real world, but shouldn't the voting be based on the performance and not on whether the contestant picked songs that the audience liked? I guess part of that is picking songs that suit your vocal style, but still. It would be lame for people to vote/not vote for him just because he sang "Christian" songs (though I totally expect stylistic bias to win out over actual talent; that was one of the glaring flaws of American Idol from the get-go).

Well, yes, but it is definitely largely a popularity contest, unless the winner was chosen entirely by a small committee of experts.

As much as I liked that he did a Mute Math song, I actually watched that performance on YouTube, and he was behind the beat and seemed to totally miss the aspects of Paul Meany's vocal performance that really make that song kick. I wouldn't have voted for him.

Also, he was a little ridiculous with Simon after it.  I wouldn't vote for him then, either.

[murlough23]

Well, yes, but it is definitely largely a popularity contest

Which is precisely the problem. The music business is already a popularity contest; I don't see how this is helping.

Also, he was a little ridiculous with Simon after it.  I wouldn't vote for him then, either.

Tough call. I've only seen tiny bits and pieces of AI episodes since I can't stand to watch it for very long. I have to respect someone who can talk back to the judges, but then in this case, they had a good point. The brief Simon/Ryan feud that followed it was amusing, though.

[bloop]

I don't see how this is helping.

I don't either, but I also don't see why it needs to.

[murlough23]

I don't either, but I also don't see why it needs to.

It's probably a discussion best left for another thread, but I'll say this much. AI is for the most part allowing artists to become popular by brute force based on the existing tastes of the singers, not so much on their ability to adapt and try new things. I can see that there's a little bit of that, but placing the emphasis on song style and vocal performance leaves out a very important aspect of the creation of good music - the songwriting.

What's good about it is that it gives the everyman a chance, and I think that's what appeals to people. I could never listen to a Taylor Hicks album, but part of me is thrilled that someone like him who isn't a teenybopper and doesn't look or sound trendy, who is an out-of-synch weirdo by Hollywood standards, can become a star by skipping the middle men known as record labels and radio and just letting the people hear the guy and decide for themselves. That's cool. But the people are still going to judge more based on personality and song choice than on the actual quality of the performance, for the most part.

[plvarona]

Yesterday morning one of the shows on a local Sports Talk radio station opened with Chris Rice's "Smellin' Coffee."  While I realize the song was appropriate given the timing of the show, I still felt it was a bit odd to be hearing Chris Rice on sports radio.

[ajyouthguy]

I heard Jars of Clay's "Five Candles (You Were There)" in a local McDonald's last night.