Audiomaverick

RE: The Great Ryan Adams Debate

audiomaverick — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 20:17:24 +0000

Nearly a year after the release of Easy Tiger, he remains a hot topic among alt-country music lovers and pop culture fans alike. Known for his romantic links, troubled past and wildly emotive behavior; Ryan Adams continues to invoke one great debate. Asshole or no?

Some peg him insane while others call him brilliant. Call him great, call him nuts, call him arrogant, call him genius. Call him what you will. He is human. That’s why he’s just so good. He knows what it means to be alive. What it feels like to be devastated, hopeful, bitch-slapped and famous. And it shows. Through his art. Well, isn’t that the point?

I love art. I love music. I love humanity. I cannot say that I love Ryan Adams the man because I’ve never met him and question whether or not we’d get along. I can say that I love Ryan Adams the musician. He sees the world for what it is and takes the time to write it down then pour it out through music.

I get that. I admire that. I love that.

And that is all I have to say about that.

“Keep Making Art,
and when you get tired; eat,
and/ or watch movies, every kind
make tea and then Keep Making Art.
That Will Keep You From Becoming
“THEM”
- You Know-
those people
who could, but don’t
and know there is nothing left for them
them, the terrible them
that tear down the ones
WHO NEVER GAVE UP
on the dream
because you and me kid,
we were made of that stuff
and were born to dream,
even sometimes
for ‘them’”

-excerpt from “ENOUGH ROPE”
D R Adams, portion of ‘Unfinished Works”
2005-2008

Chris Garneau and a side of Pomegranates

audiomaverick — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 15:08:35 +0000

I’ve been following Chris Garneau since the release of his gorgeous debut album, music for tourists. He has steadily kept a firm position among the 25 most frequently played artists on my iPod, but for one reason or another I’ve continually missed the opportunity to see him live. Until the other night, where he made a brief stop by the Canal Room to perform with Scary Mansion and Pomegranates. (Sadly I missed out on the Terrodactyls, word is they put on a swell show.)

It seems fitting that Garneau would choose an endearing band full of warmth and love like the Pomegranates to open before splitting your soul with his extraordinary performance. Where the Pomegranates create an aura of happy times past and hope for the future, Garneau captures the room with his intriguing sound and heart breaking vocals. good heart break. the kind that inspires art and makes you feel truly alive

Watch him now. then buy his album.

Vampire Weekend

audiomaverick — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 06:01:48 +0000

Vampires are sexy. Weekends are too. There you have it. One sexy band called Vampire Weekend. Growing in popularity the band was recently featured on Letterman and Saturday Night Live. It took me a bit to fall for the band but it looks like I’ve finally caught on… and will be including the song A-Punk on several upcoming mixed tapes. Check it.

A-Punk

Johanna drove slowly into the city
The Hudson River all filled with snow
She spied the ring on His Honor’s finger
Oh-oh-oh

A thousand years in one piece of silver
She took it from his lilywhite hand
Showed no fear – she’d seen the thing
In the Young Men’s Wing at Sloan-Kettering

Look outside at the raincoats coming, say OH

His Honor drove southward seeking exotica
Down to the Pueblo huts of New Mexico
Cut his teeth on turquoise harmonicas
Oh-oh-oh

I saw Johanna down in the subway
She took an apartment in Washington Heights
Half of the ring lies here with me
But the other half’s at the bottom of the sea

Pirates, puppets and rock.

audiomaverick — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 20:37:16 +0000

Take the muppets, flight of the chonchords and captain hook, stick ‘em in a blender and here’s what you get. Jollyship the Whiz-bang. An electro-pop theatre guild who incorporates puppetry into their live shows. Absolutely genius and completely insane at the same time. Check it.

listen to the song ‘Pirate Love’ and tell you me you can’t imagine Bret and Jemaine singing it.

New Music Alert: The Deadly Gentlemen

audiomaverick — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:39:04 +0000

Thanks to a referral from my friend Mike, I’ve recently become quite a fan of the hiphop/bluegrass group The Deadly Gentlemen. That’s right. Hiphop slash Bluegrass. What the…?!? Well the result is surprisingly good. Check out their video on the making of their debut album ‘The Bastard Masterpiece’ below.

Buy their album. Trust me. It’s a goodie.

And the Award Goes to…

audiomaverick — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:48:33 +0000

For those of you who didn’t get a chance to watch the Academy Awards Sunday night, here’s a quick recap of the finer moments. ‘Once‘ the BRILLIANT little indie wonder won the Oscar for Best Song. As this was the only award I truly cared about this year, I was thrilled to see the incredible singer/songwriter duo Glen Hansard and Marketa Iglova win for their inspired song about hope, ‘Falling Slowly’. Check out their performance.

Incredible. If have not seen this film tear yourself away from my gripping blog and do so… now…then buy the soundtrack.

the song ‘lies‘ makes me cry a little…

And as for the rest…

I now have a crush on Marion Cotillard who was honored by the Academy for her performance in ‘La Vie en Rose’ ….

“Thank you Life! Thank you Love!” Awww. I just…just…love her…

Also have a crush on Javier Bardem and his sexy scruff, Tilda Swinton is resident badass mammojamma for commenting on George Clooney’s Nipples during her acceptance speech and Daniel Day-Lewis is a crazy person. See below…

and the dialogue you cant hear while Helen Mirren walks DDL off stage:

HM: “Oh I get it! I played the queen…you kneeled…I get it!”

DDL: “yes. hmm..haha..”

HM:” Oh Daniel you so crazy! Congratulations dear!”

Ipervious and Arms

audiomaverick — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 22:04:45 +0000

The other night I made my way down to Brooklyn to see Impervious perform at Union Hall. It takes a small miracle to force my lazy bum off the island, but for them I would gladly do it again. And it looks like I’m going to. February 20th when they perform as their alter-ego Ambulance Ltd.

They put on a killer show but the real surprise of the evening came from the one man band opening act, Arms. His quirky acoustics, soulful voice and awkward charm won me over immediately. I look forward to see what comes of this raw young talent and am an avid fan from here on out. Be sure to check him out.

Joe Purdy gets ‘Lost’

audiomaverick — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 04:40:36 +0000

In light of tonight’s season premiere episode of ‘Lost’ I thought I’d dedicate this one to Joe Purdy who’s music through ‘Lost’ was found. In early 2001 Joe, a former school counselor, decided pack up and leave his native Arkansas in favor of Cali to pursue his singer/songwriter dreams. He started recording music at home and playing in and around L.A. Around 2003 J.J. Abrams took notice and asked if he would write a song for the show. In 2004 the popular series became synonymous with his song “Wash Away”. Lookie here at the video below!

Ahh Joe, your music is just that. Purdy

Currently listening to:

An Awakening

audiomaverick — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 23:08:06 +0000

This morning when I awoke I had no idea my world was about to be rocked. I got out of bed, ate some Special K, grabbed a latte and began my merry commute. I arrived, sat down at my desk and not long after noticed my coworker rockin’ out to some tunes. “what are you listening to?” i ask “not sure.” she responds. she then pulls up Pandora Radio on her screen and there it is. What may be the greatest website I’ve never known about. It’s and internet radio site that builds playlists based around an artist or song of your choosing. It searches the artist then pulls up bands that have a similar sound. Cue the bright light and choir of angels singing. Absolutely BRILLIANT!

Thanks to a play list built around The Avett Brothers I discovered a group called The Vinyl Skyway. Check ‘em out. Specifically the song ‘Elvis Costello’

Thank you Julia! My life just got WAY more interesting…

Bon Iver makes me all giggly

audiomaverick — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 20:13:51 +0000

Hello folks,

I have a new crush on Justin Vernon, who moonlights as Bon Iver.

Oh yes. His music was a result of a break with his previous band and 3 months of seclusion in the mountains of Wisconsin . And you can hear it. The eerie haunting sound. The sweetly high falsett. and this…

Come on skinny love just last the year
Pour a little salt we were never here
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my
Staring at the sink of blood and crushed veneer

I tell my love to wreck it all
Cut out all the ropes and let me fall
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my
Right in this moment this order’s tall

I told you to be patient
I told you to be fine
I told you to be balanced
I told you to be kind
In the morning I’ll be with you
But it will be a different “kind”
I’ll be holding all the tickets
And you’ll be owning all the fines

….those lyrics slapped me right across the face and started tugging at my heartstrings. So if you see him sitting across the cafeteria please send him this crumpled little note on my behalf.

Many thanks,

Maverick

oh and if Bon Iver got you a little bit down… listen to this.

the song 5 years time makes me haaaapy and gives me hope for future full of love and sunshine