ca⋅thar⋅sis /kəˈθɑrsɪs/ The purging of the emotions or relieving of emotional tensions, esp. through certain kinds of art, as tragedy or music.

What can I say that hasn’t already been said about Bon Iver‘s For Emma, Forever Ago? So forgive me that the collective blogosphere has been peeing themselves over this album for a full year; I’m just late to the party.

It’s about that time of year where everyone’s feeling down, where winter is almost winning the battle against the summer in our souls, where most of us want to go hibernate in a Wisconsin cabin for a few months the way Justin Vernon did. Many of us would go to get away from the world for awhile, but some might need to purge themselves of their grief over losing a job, a loved one, dealing with a breakup, with a prolonged illness, with things in our lives never quite being what we had planned out. I double-dog-guarantee that NONE of us would be able to create something with so much beauty out of so much pain and sadness.

http://www.cryingwhileeating.com/

Do yourself a favor: Download this album, climb under some very warm blankets on a very cold night, turn the lights off, and listen to it. This is a man’s soul laid bare for us, and as much as I want to keep listening to it, over and over and over, sometimes it’s just too much for me.

Here are my favorite two songs from the album:

Bon Iver – Flume

Bon Iver – Skinny Love

P.S. I Googled the lyrics for this post, and I was TOTALLY disappointed to find out the line in the chorus of “Skinny Love” is “I told you to be balanced” instead of “I told you to be badass.” I want my money back.

I have a lot to talk about, a lot of bands to make you listen to, but for now I’ll start with a song from the Portland-based Blitzen Trapper. The title track off their latest album, Furr, is one of the best songs I’ve heard all year – er, this one and last. The rest of the album is a bit too eclectic, and it still has yet to grow on me; a bit of Eels, a bit of Ben Folds Five, and a bit of Automatic For The People-era REM, but nothing that says “GREAT” to me the way “Furr” does.

Things I love about this song: the stomp kick; the almost ethereal harmonica work that doesn’t really play notes but more tonal coloring; the melody that sounds like it’s always existed; the spiritual/naturalistic feel of the song that Blitzen Trapper pulls off without it being too airbrushed-sweatshirt-I-read-William-Faulkner-and-listen-to-Devendra-Banhardt-swamp-whatever that permeates too many songs like this.

And the rhyme scheme, God, can we talk about it? My biggest peeve in lyrics is when, in trying to fit the rhyme scheme, writers sacrifice either the meaning of the song or fill in the blanks with something predictable.

Country Singer Trying To Think Of Rhyme For ‘Shove You’

“So from the cliffs and highest hill, yeah
We would gladly get our fill
Howling endlessly and shrilly at the dawn”

GOD. Beautiful. Unexpected and completely satisfying, while at the same time speaking to a greater truth that exists far beyond anything the song itself could actually convey.

So what have y’all been grooving to?

Blitzen Trapper – Furr

Nah, I’m kidding – I just stood around on Tuesday for about eight hours, after getting up at 5:00 am, then driving back here to Richmond. So I’m just tired.

The best part of my trip? That should be obvious. But a close second was this moment at the concert on Sunday (which I also attended):

Listen closely to the third and fourth verses:

There was a big high wall there that tried to stop me;

Sign was painted, it said private property;

But on the back side it didn’t say nothing;

That side was made for you and me.

Nobody living can ever stop me,

As I go walking that freedom highway;

Nobody living can ever make me turn back

This land was made for you and me.

A bit Socialist, nu? That the song included all of the original verses (per Pete Seeger‘s request, too; watch him smiling bigger than he’s smiled in his 89 years when he’s singing about the other side of the wall), that the song was sung where it was sung, when it was sung, that our freaking president was singing along, this is what makes me love this country.

And a note of explanation is needed, to all my occasional readers:

Due to various circumstances, I didn’t have internet access on my computer from July to the beginning of this month. And blogging from work, especially without my music library, was something I just couldn’t bring myself to do. But I’m in a new apartment, and though I’m leeching internet now, I will be able to write and update this blog more frequently. Maybe not every day, but I’ve missed you all too much. It’s good to be back – I have a new apartment, a new phone, a new car, and now – a new PRESIDENT.

James Brown – Funky President

Legend has it that “I Put A Spell On You” was written as a slow, soulful ballad, but when frustration in the recording studio boiled over and the bourbon came out, an intoxicated Hawkins started grunting and screaming from a place down deep inside himself that, frankly, I’ve never been to, and don’t know if I ever want to. He had wanted to be an opera singer, like Paul Robeson, but as soon as people heard this CRAZY SHIT that he was making that was all they wanted. And he soaked it up, the music, the glory – by the time he died, the number of his illegitimate children was estimated at anywhere from 50 to 75.

Here are a few songs of his: “Yellow Coat,” and “I Put A Spell On You,” which I’m sure you’ve heard, even if you don’t think you have. All you lovers out there, listen up: Put this on your next mix CD for your girlfriend or boyfriend and I guarantee they’ll love you forever. If they don’t, then dump their ass as quickly as you can – dating someone who doesn’t understand Screamin’ Jay isn’t worth your time.

And as an extra bonus, I’ll throw in Jeff Buckley‘s cover of “Alligator Wine”. I love Jeff Buckley as much as anyone else, but this might be one of my favorite songs of his; not only is his impression spot-on, but you can also hear how much bloody FUN he’s having. And speaking of fun, check out this video of Screamin’ on some 1980s music show – this is after more than 30 years of playing “Spell,” and he’s having a blast.

Screamin’ Jay Hawkins – I Put A Spell On You

Screamin’ Jay Hawkins – Yellow Coat

Jeff Buckley – Alligator Wine

This is Jason Anderson.

And here he is again:

And here he is again:

Needless to say, I’ve heard he puts on a hell of a show.

I got into Jason Anderson randomly one day through browsing on Hype Machine. He reminds me a lot of Bruce Springsteen’s early stuff, although his lyrics are much different – in the early 70s, Bruce was still trying to be a street prophet, and Jason Anderson just wants everyone to have as much fun as he’s having. These are two tracks, one from his newest album, “The Hopeful and the Unafraid,” and the title track from his “Tonight,” which is STILL around at Plan 9 Records, for all you Richmonders. I’m trying to convince him to come to Richmond to play a show – please, Jason, Richmond needs you.

I also love that he prefers playing house parties and campfires instead of clubs. It’s always so much more rewarding to be surrounded by a dozen or two of your friends, sweating and singing along as loudly as they can, rather than playing to a larger crowd and not connecting at all. Jason Anderson isn’t in it to get rich or famous (I mean, he did an entire tour on a BICYCLE, for chrissakes), he’s in it because music makes him feel alive like nothing else can, and because he wants to share it with you. And you, too. And also you.

I’m not usually that vocal about supporting specific musicians. I know Bruce Springsteen’s wallet won’t be hurting that much if I throw an mp3 of “Backstreets” online. And I know that Jason Anderson isn’t doing this to make tons and tons of money (he’s released six or seven albums this year, all but two of them free), but please buy his albums. See him play, wherever, whenever, and as often as you can. When I first heard “Tonight,” I said to myself, “This is the guy I’ve been looking for my whole life. This is the music that makes me feel more alive than ever.” And now you can, too! Enjoy!

Jason Anderson – Watch Your Step

Jason Anderson – Tonight

I don’t know how many of you out there listen to classical music, but for those of you who do, I have a huge find – a recording of Sergei Rachmaninoff‘s piano concertos with the composer himself on the keyboard. It’s pretty fuzzy-sounding, since it was recorded in 1920-whatever, but that just makes it that much more awesome. Here’s the second movement “Adagio Sostenuto” from his second Piano Concerto:

Sergei Rachmaninoff – Piano Concerto No. 2 Movement II – Adagio Sostenuto

Toodles! ~Matt

Here’s what I did:

Yeah. I saw Bruce Springsteen at the Richmond Coliseum last week. It was my fifth Springsteen show, and in all honesty, the best one yet.

My first memory, no shit, my FIRST memory ever was of me begging my parents to take me to a Bruce concert. This must’ve been 1987 or ’88 on the Tunnel of Love tour, and I remember pleading and pleading for them to take me along. They said no, telling me that “it would be too loud.” My little two-year-old heart was broken, but I’d have another chance to see him in 1999 in DC.

At that point in time, I was a bratty little thirteen-year-old who didn’t really care about the crap my parents listened to, and I’d heard some stuff of his on VH1 every now and then, but I didn’t care THAT much about going or not. But oh, my mom didn’t want to hear that. “He’s reuniting with the E Street Band!” she said. “This is a historic occasion! You’re coming with us!”

Well, I did, and within twenty minutes of the lights going down and the show starting, I was on my feet screaming “Bruuuuuuuuuuuce” with everyone else in the arena. I didn’t know all the words, but you bet your ass I tried to sing along anyway. It was unlike anything I’d experienced before – I was so caught up in the energy of the band and the crowd and the music that all rational thought was cast out of my mind and I only had room for the music. Springsteen’s music has always had an aspect of “rock ‘n’ roll as salvation,” and that night (and at every show since) I’ve felt truly saved by the music – filling me, exalting me, transcending every worldly concern and simply just losing myself in the show.

Or whatever. It’s hard to talk rationally about this.

But this show last Monday was simply the best out of all of them. The three-hour-plus set list, the sheer fun that the band was having, the energy of the crowd all around me, surpassed the other four shows I’d seen. I’m amazed that someone who’s been making music this long can still be this valid and important and still have something useful to say.

The first selection I’ll give you today is “Backstreets,” from his 1975 “Born to Run” album. This album is the one that catapulted him into national stardom, and this has always been one of my favorite Bruce songs (and continues to be my father’s favorite).

Second is a 1978 performance of “It’s Hard to be a Saint in the City,” which is one of my many anthems for my years in Richmond. I’ve spent dozens of late summer nights where the whole town echoes with the energy and joy in this song.

Third is the title song from his 2005 acoustic album “Devils and Dust.” This is much more subdued than his other stuff, but it’s just as chilling and amazing. I saw him play an utterly transcendent version of it at the Grammys a few years ago, and when I heard that Bruce will be playing a solo set at the Democratic Convention, right after Obama’s acceptance speech, I started hoping that he’ll play this.

I’ll finish up with two videos for ya: This is a 2002 performance of “Prove It All Night,” which was my favorite song from the Richmond show. The last minute or so I think my brain actually had an orgasm – it was beyond fantastic.

Lastly is a quick clip from the end of the Richmond show; they were playing “Badlands,” which is one of the best songs in their live set (check out the 1999 New York performance). Ignore the crappy handheld quality. I’m including it just to make you all look at the crowd, look at the energy, look at the happiness, and know that I WAS THERE. I WAS THERE. I WAS THERE.

Bruce Springsteen – Backstreets

Bruce Springsteen – It’s Hard To Be A Saint In The City (Live)

Bruce Springsteen – Devils and Dust

This is “Oh Shit,” by The Pharcyde, my absolutely most favoritest rap group ever ever ever. Check out their Spike Jonze-directed video for “Drop”; it’s one of the greatest things I’ve seen, even if Coldplay stole the concept for their “Scientist” video TEN YEARS LATER (Coldplay? Stealing other peoples’ ideas and pretending it’s theirs? Who’da thunk it?)

And I said, “Oooh, what’s that song? It sounds like some old War jam from the 1970s or something awesome!” So I googled the lyrics and I found out that it’s the goddamn Killers.

Why do I hate them so much? The same reason I hate Coldplay – their music is a completely soulless derivation of all these really good bands. This was their modus operandi from the beginning: take “Somebody Told Me,” okay? Dance-infused, disco-inspired beat, sort of witty gender-bending wordplay in the chorus. Yeah, okay, not my groove, but that’s fine.

The Killers – Somebody Told Me

Now witness Blur’s “Girls & Boys” from 1994, a full NINE YEARS EARLIER. Dance-infused, disco-inspired beat? Check. Sort of witty gender-bending wordplay in the chorus? Check. What’s the difference? Well, the Blur song is actually GOOD. And this was around a whole decade before the Killers decided to shit around and copy them wholesale.

Blur – Girls & Boys

And, I gotta say, you guys think you can grow mustaches?

You can’t grow mustaches. Fuckers.

Last Monday was my mother’s birthday, and I’m going to tell you a story about her. When I was in the fifth grade, my mom called me downstairs from my room, saying that there was something I needed to do. I hoped I wasn’t in trouble, and I walked downstairs to the basement. She told me to sit down, and I climbed into my dad’s recliner. And then my mother – my wonderful, beloved mother whose only musical tastes I knew ran to 1970s acts like the Eagles, Jackson Browne, and Dan Fogelberg, my darling mother, friends and neighbors, put her copy of the Ramones‘ “Rocket to Russia” on the turntable.

The Ramones – Sheena Is A Punk Rocker

She then just sat and watched me as the whole album washed over me. It felt so raw, so intense, so funny, and unlike anything I had ever heard (which, at that point, was mainly classical music, the Beatles, and early REM).

Listening to it more than ten years later, I’m amazed at how unpretentious it was. I’m not a scholar of punk music or anything, so feel free to doubt my authority, but the biggest problem with punk music was that it was so bloody ANGRY all the time. It died a quick death because it was too busy posturing and being self-destructive instead of being what it should have been, what the Ramones achieved – just a couple of ugly guys who barely knew how to play their instruments (or sing) stand around and play together. It was messy, it was short, and their range occasionally stretched to four chords, but God it was awesome. They weren’t trying to make any kind of statement about the past (in fact, Joey Ramone’s love of Brill Building 1960s music really made it AWESOME again -witness their definitive cover of Sonny Bono‘s “Needles and Pins”), they were just playing music that they loved, and really, what’s more punk than that?

The Ramones – Needles and Pins

REM – Harborcoat