ladymisskirroyale

Portland

Jul 192012

Next week, Mr. Royale and I will be traveling to Portland, Oregon. I don’t know much about the city other than every single person I have ever talked to about it has said that we would love it. I associate it with the IFC show, Portlandia, food, the films of Gus Van Sant, rain, roses, Powell’s Books, more food, and a problematic art gallery (a separate story of getting friends of friends to hijack several pieces of Mr. Royale’s art from a non-paying gallery owner who just wouldn’t/couldn’t return them).

But you, RTH’s cultured readers, have certainly traveled to Portland before. Or if not, you most likely have knowledge of the city’s music scene. Mr. Royale and I will be there three days, and in between our eating and drinking, we hope to discover more about Portland’s music life. I ask you, please help us devise a tour of noted Portland rock and roll sites.

Summertime and the Music Is…?

Posted by ladymisskirroyale

Jul 102012

What are you listening to these days? While we may be inundated by suggestions for beach reading, grilling recipes, and refreshing beverages, I’d like to hear more about what you all are listening to during the heat wave, your holidays, your longer daylight hours. It’s the summer and for me it means more time to explore bands I’ve been meaning to catch up on or learn more about. So here are 2 that I’m totally addicted to these days:

1. The Men

Mr. Royale has been sneaking tracks from this Brooklyn 4-piece onto music mixes he’s been making for me, but it was this track that really turned things around and made me join the cult:

This is 8:06 of The Power and Glory of Rock! We start with some Neil Young “Southern Man”-style guitar, and move into a psychedelic guitar lead that winningly reminds me of one of my favorite covers, Camper Van Beethoven’s version of Pink Floyd’s “Interstellar Overdrive.” Two minutes in, the beat picks up but then is followed by a teasing lull. However, the volume kicks back up and at 5:18, The Men are in full swing and even add cowbell! I’m imagining the group of them head banging in tandem and this continues with some extra psychedelic guitar noodling thrown in for good measure. This music IS everything and the kitchen sink!

Whereas The Men are very overt with their influences, my other music addiction these days could be described as True Originals:

How Many Licks Does It Take?

Posted by ladymisskirroyale

Jul 042012

A friend of mine posted this on his FB page (his band was included!):

http://gawker.com/5922848/sixty-years-of-rock-n-roll-summed-up-in-100-famous-guitar-riffs

I found this to be a highly entertaining trip through the last 40 years. I had a little difficulty with numbers 89-92 or so, but was happy to wear my RTH Badge of Rock Knowledge and was able to recognize and name most of the riffs included.

But I’m a guitar neophyte (still at a very avid Beginner level on Guitar Hero) and can’t really comment on 1. the dude’s skill and 2. whether he played the licks in the keys they were originally written.

What do you think of this of medley of 100 guitar licks? Is it sufficiently inclusive? Are their any that really don’t belong or any songs that unfairly missed the cut?

Previously: Songs You Play in Music Stores…

Baby’s First Beats

Posted by ladymisskirroyale

Jun 282012

This weekend, some friends and I are co-hosting a baby shower for a good friend of mine. My friend is a dancer and avid music listener, and we frequently share music. Recently, she jokingly suggested that I should make her a mix to listen to when she’s in labor, and I was reminded of The Period Mix that Ashton Kutcher makes for Natalie Portman in No Strings Attached. (Because I’m among friends, I’ll admit to watching this with Mr. Royale—it had been a long week, we needed some mindless entertainment, and wanted to see what Ms. Portman had been up to after Black Swan.) While the movie is pretty dumb, it does have some funny moments, and we laughed at this take on the oh-so-earnest, trying-to-woo-the-girl love mixes that appear in movies such as High Fidelity.

I think that you all can help me create a mix for my friend who will soon be giving birth to a baby girl. Could you provide some suggestions, from the most sincere (cut to scene of gazing at cute baby clothes while a single tear rolls down my friend’s face) to completely ludicrous (the mothers in the audience know what’s ahead and all need a really good laugh)? Thanks.

Wires Crossed

Posted by ladymisskirroyale

Jun 212012

The other day, I was driving to work and listening to one of my favorite recent albums, Mazes, by Moon Duo. Every time I get to this song, I get distracted:

Each time “Scars” come on I wait for the next two notes of this song:

This phenomenon of “Proactive Interference” happens to me a lot—my listening to the later song is impacted by my recollections of the earlier song.

I’m guessing that this happens to you, too. I’m also suspecting that this tendency contributes to some listeners not really wanting to seek out a lot of new music. (“It just reminds me of the older stuff.”) Or for you musicians out there, have you ever found that you have a difficult time learning to play a new song because you are recalling an older, similar song (“Proactive Inhibition”)? Do you have other songs that you can share with us that demonstrate these cognitive processes and drive you to distraction?

Sophomore Slump?

Posted by ladymisskirroyale

May 212012

Second helping!

A musician friend of mine recently got some Facebook conversation going about a band’s “second recordings that I listened to even more than their first.” Here are some of the albums listed:

Hypnotised
Before Hollywood
Heaven Up Here
Chairs Missing
Reckoning
This Modern World
Bandwagonesque
Solid Gold
Teenage Symphonies to God
If You’re Feeling Sinister

To this list, I would add:

II & III
Surfer Rosa
Power, Corruption & Lies

At this time of year, when graduations are upon us, can you provide some guidance and examples for the Class of 2016 that a band’s sophomore year may be even better, if not more memorable, than their first?

May Day Is an “A” Day

Posted by ladymisskirroyale

May 012012

Next: John Peel's Soap Collection!

As if I don’t think about music enough, THIS was brought to my attention.

Starting May 1, YOU can browse through John Peel‘s record collection. I took a quick glance at the A‘s (the rest of the alphabet will be posted one letter each week) and immediately had to look away. Like looking at a mirror reflected in another mirror, I could see the endless hours that I would be spending browsing, listening, sampling, obsessing and conducting other musical whathaveyou.

Take a look. At your own peril.

http://thespace.org/

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