Something is Brewing - Live!

The latest album by Live. Where have the Pennsylvania boys been since Throwing Copper and Secret Samadhi? In the next few days, you'll see a totally fresh view of this release as I haven't even heard it yet.

Happy New Year...Wanna go see some dead bodies at Science World?

Happy New Year. I bet you're wondering what the title means? On New Years Day, my wife and I saw Body Worlds 3, a collection of human anatomy specimens which show everything under the skin in an artistic way using a method called Plastination. I would definitely recommend it but I have since gone quiet in the office about it as there is definite controversy over it. You can get away with saying almost anything when someone asks you about your holiday but you mention dead bodies...and people stop to discuss philosophy and the morality of it. (Check out the link to learn more) Note to self...don't bring this up with management during a performance review.

The first review of the year by Music Cafe Corner is the classic 1996 release "Crash" by the Dave Matthews Band. This release has nothing to do with the vehicular car crash sex fetish movie of the same name released the same year. (though for some reason, I find myself staying on the channel a while when it comes on TV late at night) It is such a popular word, that the title "Crash" was used again in the multiple Oscar winning in 2004.

Of the 12 tracks, I would have to say the first track, "So Much to Say" is my favourite and it is a good thing it is at the beginning of the CD because I have the attention span of a gold fish. Hey, I'm the consumer and the market rules. Putting this song first on the CD was an act of genius as it grabs my attention. The first song I heard from this release, however, was the fourth track "Too Much" on the radio. I found it funky with it's cool rhythmic lyrics such as "Got more cars than a beach got sand" but it's not my favourite. The song and video got overplayed. Memories of Dave hopping side to side playing those chunky acoustic riffs are still in my head. It was just "Too Much". (that was awful but who could resist?)

The third track "Crash Into Me" is a beautiful ballad and sounds like he is playing two guitars. I can't seem to get that bass line Dave is playing while letting the melodic part ring. I guess that's why they pay him the big money. The words "Hike up your skirt a little more and show your world to me" always make me smile. I now live for my wife's reaction of rolling her eyes when I point out that line when the song comes on the radio.

"Say Goodbye" is another ballad which blends in from the previous track #41 via some cool percussion and horn. The song is about two friends who decide to cross the line and be lovers. Perhaps they live in a small town and there is a limited number of fish in the sea. Or perhaps they are just too busy meeting in coffee shops after a long day's work before the long commute home to Chilliwack, Airdrie or Ajax because it is the only place they could afford property. Perhaps it is both. In any case, it is always exciting doing something that is taboo. It would have been nice to have a song later on in the CD that was entitled "Hopefully, it won't be weird tomorrow" followed by "That was just weird and I need to move to a small condo downtown that I can't afford just to get away from you."

"Tripping Billies" starts off with some horn by Leroi that sounds like the beginning of a gameshow. The track jazzes me up especially the way Dave sings it with a country twang which is carried on by Boyd's fiddle solo at the end of each chorus. "Proudest Monkey" is a great mellow song to end the CD. I've heard that in some concerts some rock bands will play soft music to calm down the crowd so they don't riot in the streets. After hearing this album, I wouldn't bet on me even trying to topple a Smart Car but you will find me smiling and bobbing my head to melodies, chunky acoustic riffs and giving percussive slaps to my sides. Oh no, I think I'm swaying side to side. It's just too much!

A Journey of 1,000 Miles...The First Step

Hello,

My wife has always said that I should do a blog on music as I am a "musiholic". I have been playing guitar for over 2o years and you know why I started?....to meet women or "girls" as they were called back then. Along the way I have gained a greater love for music, its grooves, its harmony and its magical power over my body. I am not talking about devil possessed gyrations but rather a head bobbing or a surprised look at my right hand picking along to some cool lick on the radio. My dating days are over and one day I plan to serenade my wife from the street to our 2nd floor bedroom. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that she won't like "Rock you like a Hurricane" by the Scorpions. I wonder why I didn't score more in my teens with my long hair with an "axe" in hand?

I can listen to a band and can assess if they have the "stuff" to be successful. It's not just about the music though. Marketing is the main factor behind success. In a perfect world, the music should come first and the music companies seeing something of value should bid to sign the musical act offering the best deal possible. Following this stage, the musical act should be marketed at a level commensurate with the music companies' access to resources. This is a little of Musical Economics 101 but if you studied Economics in school, you know that there are exceptions called Market Failures. Some of these "failures" in the economics sense but successes in reality include Britney Spears, Paris Hilton's short lived musical alter ego and Milli Vanilli. Anyways, given these challenges to my crystal ball (or Magical Eight Ball), I will do my best to assess the works of musical performers.

This Blog will share with you my relationship with music. Without getting too weird like an inebriated guest at a wedding who thinks he is being so profound, I'd like to share in a way that you can relate to. Reviews of bands' past, present and upcoming releases are a great way for you to agree, passively tolerate or even disagree vehemently. Our journey has begun and in two days, a new year will begin as well. Happy New Year.

If you'd like to contact the Music Cafe Corner, please email us at musiccafecorner@yahoo.ca or click here.