Belle & Sebastian

Barry (aka Jack Black): Holy ____. What the ____ is that?
Dick (aka Todd Louiso): It's the new Belle and Sebastian...
Rob (aka John Cusack): It's a record we've been listening to and enjoying, Barry.
Barry: Well, that's unfortunate, because it sucks ass.

I used to love this hilarious quote from High Fidelity (2000), but have come to realize how it nearly kept me from enjoying an amazing band. My tastes were much different back when I first saw this film, so I wasn't able to fully appreciate Belle & Sebastian for what they were, and instead sympathized with Jack Black's character as I cranked up the Tenacious D in the stereo.

Fortunately I recently acquired a number of B&S albums, and am now in love with their effeminate and airy version of Britpop.

Formed in Glasgow, Scotland, and influenced by The Beatles and The Smiths, if you like the The Decemberists and The Shins, you should love Belle & Sebastian.

Mo Leverett

On Sunday I arrived at our church and discovered that Mo Leverett was preaching. I knew a little about him from some friends who had heard him speak before, and seeing a short television special on his work. Mo, a big, athletic good-ole-boy from Macon, GA, has devoted the last sixteen years of his life to loving and serving the residents of one of the roughest housing projects in New Orleans.

When he got up to speak, instead of going right into his talk, he picked up a guitar and went straight into one of the many songs he has written. It was some of the most soulful music I have ever seen performed live, and it becomes so real when you ponder what he has devoted his life to. He spoke on suffering, and he sang the blues, with an authenticity that only someone who has accomplished what he has can.

Take a look at this article from Paste, on Mo's music and work:
http://www.pastemagazine.com/action/article/2495/feature/music/mo_leverett

Bendita Tu Luz - Maná y Juan Luis Guerra

Spanish Music

I felt like such a grownup the day I realized that I was listening to so many international artists. Now I could look down my nose at all those who listened only to music originating from the U.S. or U.K.

Upon discovering this new universe, it blew my naive little mind to realize that the rest of the world was producing music that was also good. Who cares if you have no idea what they are saying - its not like anyone understands the words or their meaning in most the songs they listen to. (In fact, when it comes to Sigur Ros, having no idea what they are saying adds to the allure, and encourages free imagination). So, I would encourage you to give international music a shot, if for no other reason than being able to make people think you are sophisticated when they ask what your favorite band is. For starters, I would suggest anything from Scandinavia or the Indian subcontinent.

This post, however, is about Spanish music. I am indebted to a couple of my close friends for introducing me to la musica: Derek, who downloaded Lynda's "A Mil Por Hora" to my computer in 2002 (hated it then, love it now), and then later fed me Carlos Vives, Jaunes, Los Pericos, Mana, and (most recently) Jarabe de Palo; Ethan, my roommate who constantly played and sang along with "Caraluna" by Bacilos, which became the first Spanish song I actually enjoyed listening to; and Isaac, who told me that a great way to learn Spanish was to listen to Spanish music, and I took his advice. My Spanish still isn't the best, and I am constantly reminded of how intelligent Derek, Ethan and Isaac are for being able to learn this language so effortlessly.

Now the majority of the time in my car is spent listening to VIVA 105.7 "!Tan Latina Como Tu!" The thing you have to understand about most Spanish music is this: it is sort of the equivalent to American country music. Every song is about love or heartbreak and the "lyin, cheatin, two-timin, double-dealin, mean, mistreatin" person causing this heartbreak. (The exception to my over-generalized rule is Reggaeton - Spanish clubbing/booty-music having its birthplace in Puerto Rico in the '90s - whose lyrics are the equivalent to those of Lil John or the Ying Yang Twins.) The simplicity of these songs helps someone like me, who requires a fair amount of thought and dictionary reference work in order to fully understand the meaning of many Spanish songs. It also helps one learn much about Latin culture, a culture where passion is a virtue most revered, but love seems to easily come and go.

Like the majority of the young Spanish-speaking world, the Mexican rock group Mana is my favorite. (More on them and an amazing concert experience in a future post). Recently, though, VIVA 105.7 has introduced me to the "R&B" (also described as "Contemporary Tropical" - whatever that means) group Aventura, a Dominican-American group based in the Bronx. That's right. Sadly they were permanently banned from performing in their home country because of an under-aged girl who got on stage and danced inappropriately (just like Akon).

More posts on Spanish music to follow. Hopefully I will limit my use of parentheses in the future.

Once trailer

Glen Hansard, The Frames, Marketa Irglova, Once, and The Swell Season

If you don't recognize any of the names in the above title, you are in for a pleasant surprise.

You might say Ireland is a kind of island incubator for cool singer-songwriter music. For example, everyone now knows about Damien Rice (who, by the way, was phenomenal on PBS' Austin City Limits, and is also featured on the aforementioned "In Good Company" soundtrack - still doesn't redeem the movie though), but there is also this Fionn Reagan character, about whom Bailey is all abuzz.

Its like these Irish musicians really are able to pull off the dingy nouveau-grunge look that is now the hip fashion for artsy musician types (of which I am not one, but oftentimes wish I was). In Ireland, you really do need that sweater and stocking cap, and the scarf constantly hanging from your neck serves a purpose. The well-grown beard keeps you warm. Nasty British weather, combined with fewer hours of daylight at such a northern latitude, keep the mood melancholy; the streets, buildings and everything else look just as dirty and run-down as you do. Lots of Guinness and Irish whiskey to lubricate the song-writing gears, and a sing-song accent adds the final touch. My point is this: it probably takes a lot more effort to produce moody singer-songwriter music if you grew up in sunny Orlando, Florida (the home place of N'Sync, I believe).

Anyway, there is a movie called Once. It stars Glen Hansard of The Frames, and Marketa Irglova - a teenager from the Czech Republic. Neither are actors, but both are amazing musicians and make this movie/musical such a remarkable and moving experience. I lack the writing abilities to relate to you the simple beauty of this film. Please just go see it, and you will understand.

Lastly, Hansard and Irglova are touring under the name The Swell Season. They may be coming to a town near you and likely are playing the songs from the film. Find someone you want to fall in love with (for the first time, or again) and take them to this show.

Romantica

Like most of the new stuff I find out about, Bailey introduced me to Romantica and their album "America." Perhaps the album name is fitting, because I've read that their music can be described as falling into the "Americana"genre. They are from Minnesota - which for some strange reason gives them instant credibility in my mind. People from Minnesota seem to be hearty Quaker types who don't mind being cold in the winter. I may be wrong about this, but I'm just letting you in on what went across my mind. The lead singer also has Irish roots, which gives him certain advantages. (see my later post).

Everyone who is a musician or music lover wants to avoid labeling something as "sounds like." I guess this is for fear that the artist or group will be seen as imitating another's music, and thus will be seen as unoriginal/uncreative at best and Michael Bolten at worst. But here goes for Romantica: a voice akin to Sam Beam on some tracks and Jacob Dylan on others, with music like the Jayhawks or Calexico. You will enjoy. (That was both a statement and a command). The track "Drink the Night Away" is phenomenal.

Sam Beam at Messiah - The Trapeze Swinger (2/10/07)

Iron & Wine

It took another boring evening of watching a tiresome movie for me to remember how much I love Iron & Wine. The movie was "In Good Company" with Topher Grace and Scarlett Johansson. Like a good husband, I allowed Fabienne to choose what we should watch.

The movie has a terrible ending, but when the credits began to roll, "The Trapeze Swinger" by Iron & Wine started to play, and it instantly was like medicine to my tortured soul. Above is a video of Sam playing the song live at Messiah College this past February.