2009-11-23

The Jazz Butcher - Sweetwater


Artist: Jazz Butcher

Song: Sweetwater

Album: Waiting For The Love Bus (1993)


Jazz Butcher says (about Waiting…)

Too early for me to say, but there's a clean, simple sound to a lot of this that Condition Blue detractors might appreciate. It's not a deliberate change of musical policy, just a gradual personal evolution thing. I'm ten years older now than when I made Bath Of Bacon, and right now, after all that morbid stuff, it only really feels like about three. There's rockin' shit and there's a big ballad or two and some weird little pop songs and a nice family sing-along about penguins. I hope you like it.

Vielly got her miracle
And Church is looking suave beside his flowers.
And Pete could learn to love it here
The buffet doesn't close for hours.

I rode here in the front seat with the window down.
And I can't hear a single thing that anyone says
'Coz it's all in my face and it's all too beautiful.

Chorus:

Oh sweet water sometimes it feels like ancient Rome
Oh sweet water I can't believe we're home.

Staring at the cats behind the ironwork and looking for a dine
There are problems in this world I know
But right now none of them are mine.

And Hoagy Carmichael never came here, Dave.
Havana cigars on the back seat and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Chorus

At long last person or persons unknown
We don't have to be alone it doesn't have to be a circus.

2009-11-22

Chumbawamba - Mountain Biking


Artist: Chumbawamba

Song: Mountain Biking

Album: Sportchestra! 101 Songs About Sport (1998)

Formed in a squat in Leeds, England, in 1984, the anarchist pop group Chumbawamba were a most unlikely mainstream success story. After more than a decade in relative obscurity, much of it spent attacking the very notion of stardom, the band signed to a major label in 1997 and quickly scored a major international hit with the riotous single "Tubthumping." The single would prove to the band's commercial peak, even though Chumbawamba continued issuing politically aware albums (many of them featuring an increased emphasis on folk music) during the 2000s.

Chumbawamba were originally comprised of…Read more

Sportchestra: 101 Songs About Sport, is a Chumbawamba collaborations with various other musicians recording under the name 'Sportchestra': “About two-thirds of Chumbawamba wrote and performed this double album, along with various "guest" vocalists from Mekons, Citizen Fish etc. As it says, it's 101 songs about sport - short and snappy pop snatches, every one about the good, bad and ugly sides of sport.”

There's pedal bikes and motor bikes
And now they're riding mountain bikes
Up and down and out of town
Over, under, through, around
I ride my little bicycle, i ride it to the top
No red lights or traffic signs to tell me when to stop
There's racing bikes and motor bikes
And now they're riding mountain bikes
Up and down and out of town
Over, under, through, around

2009-11-15

Eric Herman and The Invisible Man - The World's Fastest Bicycle


Artist: Eric Herman and the Invisible Man

Song: The World’s Fastest Bicycle

Album: The Kid in the Mirror

The Kid in the Mirror is the debut CD by Eric Herman and the Invisible Band. Highly acclaimed by kids and adults alike, The Kid in the Mirror features ten songs, including "There's a Monster in My House", "The World's Fastest Bicycle" and the much beloved "The Elephant Song".

"Engagingly sublime, with sophisticated artistry and magnificent wit." - Mindy, age 3

"Way cool!" - Sir Lord Alastair Huffington III, age 84

The Kid In The Mirror rocks with 10 tracks of cool tunes for kids, including such instant classics as "The Dinosaur, the Dodo and the Unicorn", "Video Game", "There's a Monster in My House" and "The Tiger and the Zebra". Five of the songs feature words written by renowned funny poetry author Kenn Nesbitt. Inventive arrangements, snazzy sound effects, imaginative lyrics, the engaging voice of Eric Herman and the punchy tightness and visual appeal of the Invisible Band all put The Kid In The Mirror at the forefront of contemporary children's music.

The real story about what happened to the dinosaurs, dodo birds and unicorns... An all-consuming video game... An extremely fast bicycle... A noisy, sleep-depriving monster... Ethereal dreams of flying... A hungry tiger and tasty zebra... A dangerously crazy mountain road...

Clapping, dancing and jumping along with the kid in the mirror... Elephants that swing through trees... The sun in a bathing suit and the moon in pajamas...

Yes, this album has it all! :o)

And here's the blah blah blah part...

Eric Herman has been a regular music and theater performer/writer in the Western New York area for over 15 years (by the name 'Eric Endres'). He has released several recordings of original music, spanning a wide variety of styles, and has regularly been nominated for area music awards. In addition to performing theater roles including Harold Hill and Alfie Dolittle, Eric has also written the book, lyrics and music for two full-length musical comedies, the first of which, A Week In The Life, was produced at the Alleyway Theatre in Buffalo, NY 2003 to much success and acclaim.

As a performer, Eric is known for being an accomplished and versatile guitarist and vocalist who performs poignant and memorable songs with a humorous and engaging stage manner that entertains audiences of all ages. Early in 2003, Eric began performing music for children at schools, day cares and other events, and quickly gained a reputation for involving kids in the performances and eliciting enthusiastic responses. Eric often performs with his backup group, The Invisible Band, which includes some of the finest invisible musicians in the world, adding a creative and fun element to the convention of backing tracks.

Eric's first album of music for children, The Kid In The Mirror, features ten memorable songs of tremendous wit, depth and musical craft, including five songs with words by popular funny poetry writer Kenn Nesbitt. Above all catchy, humorous, fun and imaginative in its variety of songs, The Kid In The Mirror also touches appropriately and creatively on important subjects like personal safety, self-esteem and bravery in the face of life's challenges.

review

My bicycle's the fastest that the world has ever seen.
It has supersonic engines and a flame-retardant sheen.
My bicycle will travel a gazillion miles an hour.
It has rockets on the handlebars for supersonic power.

Every time I take a ride everybody's eyes get wide-
"Wow! Cool!"

Zoom! Zoom! Zoom! Vroom! Vroom! Vroom!
Go! Go! Go! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
Zoom! Zoom! Zoom! Vroom! Vroom! Vroom!
Go! Go! Go! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!
Here I come now on my bike!

The pedals both are jet-propelled to help you pedal faster.
The shifter is equipped with an electric turbo blaster.
The fender has a parachute in case you need to brake.
My bike is undeniably the fastest one they make.

Every time I take it out everybody starts to shout-
"Wow! Cool!"

Zoom! Zoom! Zoom! Vroom! Vroom! Vroom!
Go! Go! Go! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
Zoom! Zoom! Zoom! Vroom! Vroom! Vroom!
Go! Go! Go! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!
Here I come now on my bike!

Yeah yeah, I could ride it day and night.
Yeah yeah, it's faster than the speed of light.

My bicycle's incredible. I love the way it feels.
And I'll like it even more when Dad removes the training wheels…

Zoom! Zoom! Zoom! Vroom! Vroom! Vroom!
Go! Go! Go! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

2009-11-02

Atom and His Package - Cross Country Atom and his Package Tour via Bicycle


Artist: Atom and His Package

Song: Cross Country Atom and his Package Tour via Bicycle

Album: Redefening Music (2001)

Pennsylvania-native punk pioneer Adam Goren is one of the most unconventional musicians of his time. Armed with only his "package," the creative musician is known for his hilarious, playful synth pop punk songs and outrageous rhymes about unconventional topics. Adam Goren, as his alter ego persona Atom, writes, performs, and records all of the music himself with a QY700 Music Sequencer, an RM1X music sequencer, and a B.C. Rich guitar.

The musical one-man and machine outfit Atom and His Package was created after Goren's punk band Fracture broke up in 1995. Chock-full of creative ingenuity, Atom's song repertoire includes a sweet pop ode to Irish songstress Enya, "Pumping Iron for Enya," the rebellious "Punk Rock Academy," and the raucous "If You Own the Washington Redskins, You're a Cock." Atom and His Package have toured internationally, including numerous treks across the entire U.S.A., Canada, Japan, the U.K., Netherlands, Belgium,... Read More

music

I want to ride my bike with Mike across the country
I'll record the package's music, yeah, I'll burn a set on CD
Some will complain, though duh, it's the same thing
I'll build a weird looking hollow box with
lots of lights on it flashing

Raise your head, raise your head,
Raise your head it's a long day coming
Raise your head, raise your head,
Raise your head it's a long day coming

We'll ride all day, play a show around every fourth night
We won't have any merchandise,
It'll be punk as fuck, touring on bikes
We may whine, just cause we're hungry
Mike, think about all the candy we could eat
Exercise equals guilt-free

Raise your head, raise your head,
Raise your head it's a long day coming
Raise your head, raise your head,
Raise your head it's a long day coming

Raise your head, raise your head,
Raise your head it's a long day coming
Raise your head, raise your head,
Raise your head it's a long day coming

2009-11-01

Elvis Costello - American Without Tears


Artist: Elvis Costello

Song: American Without Tears

Album: King Of America (1986)

When Elvis Costello's first record was released in 1977, his bristling cynicism and anger linked him with the punk and new wave explosion. A cursory listen to My Aim Is True proves that the main connection that Costello had with the punks was his unbridled passion; he tore through rock's back pages taking whatever he wanted, as well as borrowing from country, Tin Pan Alley pop, reggae, and many other musical genres. Over his career, that musical eclecticism distinguished Costello's records as much as his fiercely literate lyrics. Because he supported his lyrics with his richly diverse music, Costello emerged as one of the most innovative, influential, and best songwriters since Bob Dylan.

The son of British bandleader Ross McManus, Costello (born Declan McManus) worked as a computer programmer during the early '70s, performing under the name D.P. Costello in various folk clubs. In 1976, he became the leader of country-rock group Flip City. During this time, he recorded several... Read More

review

Outside in new orleans the heat was almost frightening
But my hotel room as usual was freezing and unkind
On tv they prosecute anyone who's exciting
So i put on my overcoat and went down to find

In revlon and crimpelene they captured my heart
To the strain of a piano and a cocktail murderess
She was singing that "it's too late", i agreed with that part
For two english girls who had changed their address

[chorus]

Now it seems we've been crying for years and for years
Now i don't speak any english, just american without tears
Just american without tears

One had been a beauty queen and the other was her friend
They had known rogues and rascals and showbiz impresarios
While the boys were licking hitler they had something to defend
>from men armed with chewing gum and fine nylon hose
By a bicycle factory as they sounded the siren
And returned into the dancehall she knew he was the one
Though he wasn't tall or handsome she laughed when he told her
"i'm the sheriff of nottingham and this is little john"

[chorus]

At a dock in southampton full of tearful goodbyes
Newsreel commentators said "cheerio, g.i. brides"
Soon they'll be finding the cold facts and lies
New words for suspenders and young girls backsides

Now i'm in america and running from you
Like my grandfather before me walked the streets of new york
And i think of all the women i pretend mean more than you
When i open my mouth and i can't seem to talk

Now it seems we've been crying for years and for years
Now i don't speak any english just american without tears
Just american without tears