All Hallow's Mix - Halloween Music

It struck me a while back that there is an inordinate amount of Halloween flavor in Alternative music.  Indie artist the world around make mention of "ghosts", "monsters", "vampires", "evil" and general creepiness.  Perhaps it is the pensive, introspective, and distrusting nature of the artistic mind that drives success in today's music scene.  Or maybe the raw imagery of these spooky specters are so vivid that they lend power and strength to any composition.  Or it could be that we all still like to tell ghost stories around the campfire and yearn for that tingle running down our spine.  Whatever the reason, there are a lot of cool songs out there that have a tinge of All Hallow's Eve.

Here is a mix I made of some of my favorites. 

1) Time of the Season - The Zombies
2) Skin and Bones - JET
3) Creep - Stone Temple Pilots
4) Ghosts - The Head and the Heart
5) Fake Palindromes - Andrew Bird
6) Dracula - Gorillaz
7) Give Up the Ghost - Radiohead
8) Evil Bee - Menomena
9) Your Bones - Of Monsters and Men
10) In Our Blood - Horse Feathers
11) Ghosting - Freelance Whales
12) Creep - Radiohead
13) The Ghost Inside - Broken Bells
14) Vampire - Dr. Dog
15) Scatterbrain (As Dead As Leaves) - Radiohead
16) Ghostship - Menomena
17) Caring is Creepy - The Shins
18) Little Ghost - The White Stripes

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Uncle E's Hip-Hop Anthology: Vol. 7- Pass Tha Mic

Ok, so this might be a little confusing because I haven't posted any of Uncle E's Hip-Hop Anthology previously, and this is Volume 7.  But think of it like how Star Wars started with Volume 4 (Episode IV: A New Hope).  This particular mix is just fun to talk about, so we're starting here.

A few years back I started putting together mixes for my nephew that included some of my favorite tunes from Hip-Hop's "Golden Age" (generally considered the early-to-mid 90's, after "Old School" but before every record label had to have a Hip-Hop act and sort of ruined the spirit of the genre).  This became a larger task than I initially thought.  It grew from a couple mixes into a multi-disc anthology.  There are some well known classics, but there are a bunch of hidden gems that are hard to even find anymore.  With that said, here is the first installment of Uncle E's Hip-Hop Anthology:

Volume 7: Pass Tha Mic

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TV on the Radio - A Method

Went to a great concert out at McMenamins Edgefield.  TV on the Radio was playing, and Menomena opened for them.  It was a beautiful day that faded into a perfectly calm night.  As the last vestiges of daylight dwindled in the distance, during the encore, TVOTR came back on to play this little gem.

"A Method" is an infectiously awkward tune driven by manual percussion (i.e. clapping) and flat monotone vocals.  It does grow to crescendo as little by little other instruments are added, but it never loses the focus it begins with so simply.

It is an elegant song, even if it is strange to the ear at first.  But after a few listens you will find yourself whistling the tune at the grocery story, or in the shower, or driving around town.  It is one of those songs that doesn't go away easy.  But you will be happy to know that the song you're humming to yourself in public is cooler than most earwigs that people are stuck with...  (check it out)

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Album Review: Live From Nowhere Near You: Volume 2

Few things inspire pride in the human condition more than when people lend not only their time to worthy causes but their talents as well.  The charity album is not a new idea, but few have the twist of musicians being on the album with many of the very people they are working to help.  This is the concept of Kevin Moyer's "Live From Nowhere Near You: Volume 2".  It is described on the cover as "A Benefit Concept CD: Collaborating Street Musicians + Professionals with the Profits Going to the Homeless and Street Youth Programs of Charity OUTSIDE IN".  A worthy cause indeed, and with 3 CDs, 64 songs, 80+ contributors, and over 3 and half hours of music, many hours and talents were lent in the making of this project.

The album has a jaw dropping line up including: The Strokes, Modest Mouse, The Dandy Warhols, Ryan Adams, Bright Eyes, The Helio Sequence, Wilco, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and members of many other popular bands like Pearl Jam, The Shins, Menomena, and The Decemberists.  Much of it is brand new music, but there are also special previously unreleased demos and acoustic versions of old favorites.

Of course it falls into the common pitfalls of any compilation albums, with artists of such variety and differing genres, of inconsistency and frantic concerns of where it is going next.  But considering the subject matter of the album these issues are not only appropriate but add a tangible feel to the sense of immersion.  "The Streets" are woven throughout and are a reoccurring character reminding the listener not to assume they know what is coming around the next corner.  Musical interludes like the take off of the Jimi Hendrix classic "Little Wings" called "Winging it" by Skeeter, and "A Piano in New York" by Thomas Lauderdale of Pink Martini move the story forward as the journey from block to block continues.

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Child Piano Prodigy (Video 1946)

I first received this video in an e-mail reading "'LITTLE RICHARD' WHEN YOUNG".  Intrigued but skeptical I took a look.  It is mesmerizing, and if it doesn't put a smile on your face I hold out little hope for anything ever putting a smile on your face.  But I still doubted the claim that it was Little Richard, so I did some digging.

It turns out it is not Little Richard but footage of child prodigy Frank "Sugar Chile" Robinson.  Robinson won his first talent contest in Detroit at the age of 3!  He was unable to tour due to child labor laws but played guest spots with Lionel Hampton in Detroit as well as on the radio.  As his popularity grew there were more and more outlets for people to see him play.  Hollywood came calling, and the clip below is footage of the 1946 movie "No Leave, No Love" where Robinson performed "Caldonia", a song he later performed for President Harry S. Truman at the White House.

After a few year of touring (with special permission given to avoid any legal entanglements) he "retired" from music at the ripe old age of 13 to focus on school.  He went on to receive a Ph. D. in Psychology from University of Michigan.

It might not be Little Richard, but it was a great chance to do some research and learn more about a really amazing person.  Check out the video and let me know what you think...

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Live from Nowhere Near You: Volume 2 (7/6 Update)

Buy This Album!!!

Well, away we go...  As of yesterday "Live From Nowhere Near You: Volume 2" is officially released.  So far it has created quite a buzz.  With such a long and distinguished line up it has garnered interest from all over (like pitchfork twice, both here and here, and even Portland mayor Sam Adams).  There is new info on different tracks coming out regularly at the fan page on facebook.

The album is now out in stores or online, but the "pre-release" link is still active and you can get a better deal here.  There are many tracks that are only available on the physical CD version .  Also keep in mind it is a 210 minute, 3 CD set (as well as the digital version) for $15.  And all of the proceeds go to charity.  If you don't have it yet, you should.  And if you do have it, let me know what you think...

Keep an eye out for The Polymouth Review over the next few days...

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Live From Nowhere Near You: Volume 2 (Update)

There is more news coming out about the charity concept album "Live From Nowhere Near You: Volume 2" every day.  The album pairs popular bands with street musicians and is raising money for the homeless and street youth programs. 

The best place to get up to date information is at the facebook fan page.  But in case you aren't "on the 'book", or you can't look it up while at the office, or you prefer getting info from quaint, small, hard to find blogs, or you're the guy who helped start facebook but got squeezed out through stock dilution and can't support the fan page on principals, or signing up for facebook is just to much commitment for you, or whatever your reason may be, here are some of the latest updates:

1. Buying at the Pre-Release Sale link (here) gets you BOTH the digital download and the physical 3 Disc CD collection.
2. There are several songs that are only available on the 3 CD set
3. The Strokes are only going to be available on the 3 CD set (not the digital download)
4. Elliott Smith will have 2 songs on the album, 1 previously unreleased, and 1 with members of Heatmiser (not to be confused with this Heat Miser), and The Decemberists

Buying the album in the Pre-Release Sale basis is not only going to be cheaper (only $15 for 3 CDs, over 210 minutes of music), but you are going to get songs that will not be included on the digital version.  Once again the Pre-Realease Sale link is right here.

And if you can't join the fan page, come on back to The Polymouth, we will try to bring updates asap.

Support a cool cause, and get some cool tunes:)

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Live From Nowhere Near You: Volume 2 (Pre Release Sale Link)

Hey Kids,

Here is something really cool that The Polymouth is proud to be a part of supporting.  Live from Nowhere Near You is a project done by a close friend of The Polymouth collaborating many of todays best loved and influential musical artist with street musicians, with all of the proceeds going to charities that help the homeless and street youth.  Volume 1 was released in 2003 to critical acclaim, and Volume 2 is set to be released in the next few weeks.

We are lucky enough to have access to a Pre Release Sale.  Volume 2 makes up for the time since the last release in both scope (it is comprised of 3 discs) and talent (the list of todays top acts is quite impressive).  If you hit the link above you can get the whole album for only $15 until the release date!

I would be remiss if I didn't give you the deets on what your $15 buys you:

• The 3 disc set with cover art, liner notes, and tales of how the songs came to be (including tracks NOT on the digital download)
• The Digital Download of the 3 discs as well
• Bonus songs and album preview tracks
• Braggin' rights that you had it before it was out in stores
• And a well deserved increase in self worth because you will know you did the right thing

Just SOME of the bands involved include:

Pearl Jam, The Strokes, Modest Mouse, The Dandy Warhols, Joe Purdy, The Helio Sequence, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Bright Eyes, Blind Pilot, The Presidents of the United States of America, and the list goes on, and on, and on...  There is even a song with Greg Oden of the Portland Trailblazers.  

This is a very cool project, done by really cool people, for a very cool cause.  Plus if you check it out now you get a good deal for it too! 

I will keep you updated as additional info comes along...

ROCK

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The Cousin's B-Day Mix 2011

Since the last mix I put up here was from years gone by, I figured I should put up a more recent edition.  My cousin and I are about 16 months apart in age, and while we are very different on several levels, we sort of have our own short hand much like sibling, and one thing we usually agree upon is tunes.  Every now and then he asks for me to make up a mix of music for him, and it has become a nearly annual tradition for me to give him a mix for his birthday.

Here is the latest iteration, I think its a fun blend of some new stuff and some gems from the past.  It also has a good balance between very very chill stuff, and some more up-tempo-get-out-of-your-seat-and-shake-it jams.  But don't take my word for it, check it out for yourself and let me know what you think...

(also if you see my cousin don't tell him you saw this because I give him his birthday mixes without a playlist so he has to do some sleuthing and learn more about the bands on the mix.  But for you, I included links to info on all of the bands)

(song-band-album)

1. Two Weeks- Grizzly Bear- Veckatimest
2. Wordless Chorus- My Morning Jacket- Z
3. Hang On- Dr. Dog- Fate
4. I Gotta Woman- Toots & The Maytals- Light Your Light
5. Rosetta Stone- Bombadil- A Buzz, a Buzz
6. Sailing to Nowhere- Broken Bells- Broken Bells
7. Cubism Dream- Local Natives- Gorilla Manor
8. Thistled Spring- Horse Feathers- Thistled Spring
9. The Black Roses- Codeine Velvet Club- Codiene Velvet Club
10. Dirty Cartoons- Menomena- Mines
11. Ragged Wood- Fleet Foxes- Fleet Foxes
12. Hotel Yorba- The White Stripes- White Blood Cells
13. A Good Man is Easy to Kill- Beulah- The Coast is Never Clear
14. Weekend Wars- MGMT- Oracular Spectacular
15. Say Hello- Stars of Track and Field- Centuries Before Love and War
16. Don't Look Away- The Helio Sequence- Love and Distance
17. Hannah- Freelance Whales- Weathervanes
18. Daylight- Matt & Kim- Grand

A couple final notes- My Morning Jacket just had a real cool set on VH1 Storytellers; Toots & The Maytals is playing at the Washington Park Rose Garden Amphitheater on the 4th of July (just a few weeks from the time of this post, buy tixx here); The Polymouth is still mourning the breakup of The White Stripes, say it ain't so Jack and Meg; and as always stop piracy and BUY THE MUSIC!

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Great Internet Guitar Lessons

I love music.  I love listening to it, talking about it, seeing it live, making music mixes, playing the jukebox at the local watering hole, and passing along cool songs or bands to people who haven't heard it before, I just love music.  Playing it?  Well, sort of.  I would firmly put my ranking at the beginner level, but I really do enjoy strumming on my guitar.  I've never had any formal lessons, and I am basically self taught from song books and tabs I found on the Internet.  A while back I was surfing YouTube looking for some guitar lessons.  And like much of the content on YouTube there were several options and a varying degree of usefulness.

There were quite a few that were pretty helpful, but there was one teacher that I seemed to return to most often. Justin Sandercoe at justinguitar.com (I found his lessons on YouTube, but his site has more comprehensive information about each lesson).  I don't think I am spilling the beans here or anything, the guy has achieved quite a bit of notice for his video lessons and website.  Justinguitar.com has hundreds of lessons for all levels and abilities.  And his content has had over 93 million views.  For my money he is quite simply the best guitar teacher on the Internet (did I mention the content is free to users?).  

He is affable, direct, and most importantly very, very knowledgeable.  He has a way of getting large amounts of information into short lessons without confusing the student.  His philosophy is to learn a little at a time and over time become a stronger guitar player.  And I can attest that it works.  My own playing has improved by leaps and bounds since I have started using his video lessons.  I hope to some day soon rise up the ranks from beginner to novice.  And with the help of Justin's lessons I think that I will be able to move far beyond that.

So if you have never picked up a guitar, or you want a tune up to take your skills to the next level, check it out.  Its never too late to try.  Let me know what you think...

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The Whine List

Well I have to start somewhere and this mix goes back quite a few years (I think i made it in late 2004), but it is still one of may favorites I've made over the years.  It is The Whine List, named for the whiny tenor of most of the tracks.  Some of these tunes (like Arcade Fire's "Neighborhood #4", and Modest Mouse's "One Chance") have become quite popular since then, and others have yet to make it to the big time, but nonetheless I think its a real cool collection of tunes.  Let me know what you think....

(song- band- album)

1. Front Page- The Redwalls- De Nova
2. I'll Believe in Anything- Wolf Parade- Apologies to the Queen Mary
3. The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth- Clap Your Hands Say Yeah- Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
4. Two-Headed Boy- Neutral Milk Hotel- In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
5. Neighborhood #4 (7 Kettles)- The Arcade Fire- Funeral
6. I'm Here- Climber- Climber EP
7. Lull- Radiohead- Desk Top
8. Falling Away With You- Muse- Absolution
9. If You Could Save Yourself (You'd Save Us All)- Ween- Quebec
10. One Chance- Modest Mouse- Good News for People Who Love Bad News
11. Southern Anthem- Iron & Wine- The Creek Drank the Cradle
12. Bad Days- The Flaming Lips- Clouds Taste Metallic
13. What a Wonderful Man- My Morning Jacket- Z
14. The Same Boy You've Always Known- The White Stripes- White Blood Cells
15. Oh Comely- Neutral Milk Hotel- In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

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