So we didn't get down to J&R Computer/Music World on Park Row (place of all things wonderful that plug into an outlet, where I bought my computer and my window unit...) this afternoon to have our Dylanesque CDs (yeah, yeah, we know the cover's super ugly) signed by Bryan Ferry himself. Instead, I had to interview potential assistants -- one of whom came in dressed in all in black with pinstripes and a vest (yes, in this heat!); if only his samples had been as impressive as his attire. Anyway, I totally wanted a fangirl picture with Mr. Ferry (probably the only one I'd ever stand for!), but I would have been too hot and sweaty -- the weather has finally turned muggy -- and I would have wanted to look more, well, pulled together, so maybe the fact that we missed the big event was for the best.
Still, we caught him, accidentally, really, on Letterman last night, doing his cover of Dylan's "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" -- all uh, Roxy-fied. Check the castanets and the harmonica!
**
Dang it! When we heard E. Elias Merhige (Shadow of the Vampire, a few Marilyn Manson videos) was directing the video for Interpol's first single, "The Heinrich Maneuver" we thought, "Woo! Paul Banks dressed as Nosferatu? Carlos D. in a cassock for the first time this century?" Instead, this right here is some fucked up, bitter shit. Well, come on, now -- were you expecting something soft and foofy?
(in the event this is taken down from YouTube, the 'official' premiere is on the MTV site)
**
Call and response: Fluxblog 6/22/07
We were kind of busy doing other stuff on Friday and didn't get to our usual trawl of daily reads, which means we totally missed the kerfuffle over The National (via Pageblank) and the posting of former Sugababe Siobhan Donaghy's "Ghosts."
The Amazon.co.uk reviews of her album of the same name are a near-riot of people up in arms over the fact that she's "ripping off" an array of sources from Kate Bush to the Cocteau Twins to Tori Amos. Upon further listening, we agreed, to a point. Ms. Donaghy's definitely influenced by Liz Fraser's vocal stylings -- but not from her time with the Cocteau Twins that spanned a good part of the 80's into the early 90's; instead, she's clearly more influenced by Fraser's mid-90's guest turns with Future Sound of London and Massive Attack. Indeed, one song in particular on Ghosts, "Halcyon Days" samples Massive Attack's "Teardrop," better known in this day and age as the theme to "House, MD."
Cocteau Twins -- Carolyn's Fingers
from Blue Bell Knoll
Kate Bush -- Heads We're Dancing
from The Sensual World
The Future Sound of London (feat. Elizabeth Fraser) -- Lifeforms
from Lifeforms
Massive Attack (feat. Elizabeth Fraser) -- Teardrop
from Mezzanine
Tori Amos -- Caught A Lite Sneeze
from Boys for Pele
**
Did we mention it's hot here? Well, the Bermuda High finally broke and it's raining now, but ... we were inspired to make one concession to all this "Summmer of Love" 40th anniversary hoo-ha with the following video:
Big Brother & the Holding Company -- Summertime.
Labels: big brother and the holding company, bryan ferry, call and response: fluxblog, cocteau twins, future sound of london, Interpol, kate bush, liz fraser, massive attack, sibohan donaghy, tori amos
posted by cindy hotpoint at 11:12:00 PM
4 Comments:
new Interpol video = Bill Viola + "Mean Girls"
It's Donaghy not gonagy. At least make sure you spell the names of artists you blog about right. Siobhan has always been honest about being influenced by Kate Bush and Liz. Funny how people get al up and arms about female artists taking influences from others, while a lot of male bands and artists can get away with it.
Hey Lady Boss!
I used up my whole lunch break and then some to see Mr. Ferry yesterday. I've been worshiping the leopard-print-jacket-clad Bryan Ferry of 1974 for some time now, and at 62 he's still got what it takes to turn me into a big blubbery dork. He shook my hand and signed my Roxy Music record with a big silver flourish. And then I was ushered out by the kindly J&R bouncers/employees.
Stay Gold,
Ivy
Anon> We stand corrected on Donaghy. I'm not quite sure how that happened, but Cindy may have a story involving late night typing and one too many Pom+seltzers.
Further regarding Donaghy, I don't think anyone here got "al[sic] up in arms about female artists taking influences from others." Yes, I think that "Ghosts" is weak in comparison to the source material, but then again I think Liz Fraser's post-Cocteau Twins work is weak in comparison to her primary oeuvre. I think it's wonderful that young artists are revisiting vocalists whose work was arguably revolutionary because it sounded (and still sounds) like nothing else. What's disappointing about the Donaghy is the obvious studio trickery (Autotune, crazy multi-tracking of the same vocal part) rather than simple chorus and multiple vocal tracks. Then again, I haven't heard the rest of the record.
Up in arms? Surely your reading comprehension is better than that. ;)
Ivy> You are awesome. Please tell Cindy all about it. I can't believe she didn't meet me at the train yesterday hollering about how you went to J&R and we sat it out. For the record, I would have been a blubbering dork as well. Cindy had plans to have her "Slave to Love" poster signed. I didn't even know what to bring because showing up with a copy of Country Life felt a bit hackneyed. C'est la vie, I guess. Shuckins.
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