Finally there is a song that will stay in your head for hours after hearing it... that isn't a piece of shit. Fitz and the Tantrums song "HandClap" is possibly the most infectious song you will hear - and love. If it was a disease the human race would be toast. Fitz and the Tantrums are a Los Angeles band formed in about 2010 by French-born American Michael Fitzpatrick. He enlisted his college buddy James King who recommended soul singer Noelle Scaggs and suddenly Joseph Karnes, John Wicks and Jeremy Ruzumna completed the lineup. Michael Fitzpatrick stated that putting the band together was like five phone calls, one rehearsal and they could've played a show that night... that's how much they clicked.
Their debut album 'Pickin' Up the Pieces' from 2010 featured another Bitter FM favourite "MoneyGrabber" - another song that will always be on the Bitter FM playlists.
They released their self-titled third album this year and that even has a song co-written and produced by 'Lorde' producer Joel Little. But let's get back to "HandClap". The album itself may be a move from old Motown style soul to more polished pop-soul with even less of the indie rock element - but if "HandClap" fires up your next party.... then all is forgiven.
Get Clapping!
Lake Taupo
Monday, October 31, 2016
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Rainer Ptacek - "Life Is Fine"
I rediscovered an album that I thought I had lost. It was a tribute album for Rainer Ptacek, a German born but Tucson based musician. The album 'The Inner Flame - A Tribute to Rainer Ptacek' was released in 1997. Howe Gelb, a former bandmate of Rainer's at the formation of 'Giant Sand' and Robert Plant organised the tribute album to help Rainer pay for the ever increasing medical costs after he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and lymphoma a year earlier. The list of willing contributors was exceptionally good. It featured Giant Sand with Howe Gelb, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Emmylou Harris, Evan Dando, Victoria Williams, Mark Olson, Vic Chestnut and Tina Chesnutt, PJ Harvey, John Parish, The Drovers, Madeleine Peyroux, Kris McKay, LK, Jonathan Richman, and Bill Janovitz and also featured Rainer on a lot of the tracks.
His finger picking and slide guitar playing made him a legend with his peers. He was invited to play and record with artists such as ZZ Top and Robert Plant and a lot of his recordings are becoming available again - since most had been out of print and some were originally cassette releases.
Unfortunately Rainer Ptacek died in 1997... after it seemed he had beaten the disease.
His performance on 'Later with Jools Holland' below, is so emotional it is hard to believe it predates the time of his sickness by a few years. Even the lyrics are enough to send shivers down your spine when you know what was to come.
A tragic loss.
Madeleine Peyroux's version of "Life Is Fine" from the tribute album is sensational as well.
His finger picking and slide guitar playing made him a legend with his peers. He was invited to play and record with artists such as ZZ Top and Robert Plant and a lot of his recordings are becoming available again - since most had been out of print and some were originally cassette releases.
Unfortunately Rainer Ptacek died in 1997... after it seemed he had beaten the disease.
His performance on 'Later with Jools Holland' below, is so emotional it is hard to believe it predates the time of his sickness by a few years. Even the lyrics are enough to send shivers down your spine when you know what was to come.
A tragic loss.
Madeleine Peyroux's version of "Life Is Fine" from the tribute album is sensational as well.
Sunday, September 25, 2016
Eef Barzelay - "Shaker Star"
Eef Barzelay is an Israeli born/American based musician and leader of the band Clem Snide. Since the debut Clem Snide album in 1998, he has released more than a dozen albums - a few of them as a solo artist.
In 2011 he released an EP of songs by Seattle band Transmissionary Six and Terri Tarantula. He was originally asked by Paul Austin a member of the band,to record a Terri Tarantula song as a surprise for her because she was a big fan of Clem Snide. That grew into an EP. The surprise must've been heartfelt because his interpretation of "Shaker Star" is sensational. The song itself is interesting enough.... it's inspired by the song "Death Valley Rain" from Steve Wynn and the Miracle 3 - due to the shaker performance from the drummer Linda Pitmon. It's a great moment when a little known artist finally attracts some of your attention - but brings to light an unknown artist simultaneously in one song. The EP is Black Tin Rocket (Songs of the Transmissionary Six) and it's a stayer.
The Terri Tarantula original
In 2011 he released an EP of songs by Seattle band Transmissionary Six and Terri Tarantula. He was originally asked by Paul Austin a member of the band,to record a Terri Tarantula song as a surprise for her because she was a big fan of Clem Snide. That grew into an EP. The surprise must've been heartfelt because his interpretation of "Shaker Star" is sensational. The song itself is interesting enough.... it's inspired by the song "Death Valley Rain" from Steve Wynn and the Miracle 3 - due to the shaker performance from the drummer Linda Pitmon. It's a great moment when a little known artist finally attracts some of your attention - but brings to light an unknown artist simultaneously in one song. The EP is Black Tin Rocket (Songs of the Transmissionary Six) and it's a stayer.
The Terri Tarantula original
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Deap Vally - "Gonnawanna"
Deap Vally are an Alt-Rock duo from LA. Since 2011, Lindsey Troy (guitar, vocals) and Julie Edwards (drums and vocals), have been entertaining crowds all over the world with their blend of Rock/Blues/Garage Rock and topped up with a bit of metal. At times they can be like The White Stripes in more ways than just the guitar and drums combo. Their live footage tells us one thing for sure... that they were born to rock, no argument. "Gonnawanna" is from their forthcoming album 'Femejism' out real soon and a candidate for the album title of the year.
Thursday, August 25, 2016
The Stars of Track and Field are Beautiful People (Trilogy)
Part 1,
The Belle and Sebastian album 'If You're Feeling Sinister' led with the track "The Stars of Track and Field" and it featured the line 'The Stars of Track and Field are Beautiful People', which has set the stage for this trilogy.
After the success of the Rio Olympic games - I'm kind of missing it all, even if our timezone made it a little difficult to catch all the good bits live. Luckily we can re-live the Olympic Games - thanks to Belle and Sebastian. The Rio Olympic games was the inspiration behind the new single "Olympic Village, 6AM"... which is an upbeat instrumental that is somewhat inspirational as well. The video goes even further down that route - with one classic and unforgettable Olympic moment, which I will save for part 3.
Part 2,
As stated above, Belle and Sebastian had released "The Stars of Track and Field" on an earlier album. In fact, it was 20 years earlier, in 1996. So I wonder if this song was actually inspired by the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta. The lyrics are taken from their website belleandsebastian.com
The Stars Of Track And Field
Make a new cult every day to suit your affairs
Kissing girls in English, at the back of the stairs
You’re a honey, with a following of innocent boys
They never know it
Because you never show it
You always get your way
They never know it
Because you never show it
You always get your way
Have you and her been taking pictures of your obsessions?
Because I met a kid who went through one of your sessions
In his blue velour and silk
You liberated
A boy I never rated
And now he’s throwing discuss
For Liverpool and Widnes
You liberated
A boy I never rated
And now he’s doing business
The stars of track and field, you are
The stars of track and field, you are
The stars of track and field are beautiful people
Could I write a piece about you now that you’ve made it?
About the hours spent, the emptiness in your training
You only did it so that you could wear
Your terry underwear
And feel the city air
Run past your body
Could I write a requiem for you when you’re dead?
“She had the moves, she had the speed, it went to her head”
She never needed anything to get her round the track
But when she’s on her back
She had the knowledge
To get her into college
But when she’s on her back
She had the knowledge
To get her into college
Part 3,
Generally the Olympic 3000m event would not attract the attention of the sprint races - but at the 1984 Olympic games in Los Angeles, the womens 3000m was to be one of the highlights of the games.... for so many reasons, controversy included.
The poster girl of American athletics, Mary Decker, was on home turf and was ready to finally claim a gold medal, after her world championship titles and world records leading up to the games.
A rival of Mary Decker's was a teenager from South Africa, Zola Budd, who had beaten Mary Decker's 5000m world record by 6 seconds some months earlier. However, because of the sanctions against South Africa due to their apartheid policy, Zola Budd's world record did not stand. Zola Budd was now a star of track and field but couldn't compete at the olympics. But wait.... A British newspaper journalist dispatched to South Africa found out she had an English grandfather and that led to the eventual British passport and citizenship, with lots of help from all corners. It wasn't without controversy though, with many Brits not in support and it gave the anti-apartheid movement more prominence.
So here we have the world champion at home against the newly relocated barefoot running sensation vying for the ultimate prize.
The expectations were high and there was probably going to be some drama..... well, the drama was in truck loads.
The Belle and Sebastian album 'If You're Feeling Sinister' led with the track "The Stars of Track and Field" and it featured the line 'The Stars of Track and Field are Beautiful People', which has set the stage for this trilogy.
After the success of the Rio Olympic games - I'm kind of missing it all, even if our timezone made it a little difficult to catch all the good bits live. Luckily we can re-live the Olympic Games - thanks to Belle and Sebastian. The Rio Olympic games was the inspiration behind the new single "Olympic Village, 6AM"... which is an upbeat instrumental that is somewhat inspirational as well. The video goes even further down that route - with one classic and unforgettable Olympic moment, which I will save for part 3.
Part 2,
As stated above, Belle and Sebastian had released "The Stars of Track and Field" on an earlier album. In fact, it was 20 years earlier, in 1996. So I wonder if this song was actually inspired by the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta. The lyrics are taken from their website belleandsebastian.com
The Stars Of Track And Field
Make a new cult every day to suit your affairs
Kissing girls in English, at the back of the stairs
You’re a honey, with a following of innocent boys
They never know it
Because you never show it
You always get your way
They never know it
Because you never show it
You always get your way
Have you and her been taking pictures of your obsessions?
Because I met a kid who went through one of your sessions
In his blue velour and silk
You liberated
A boy I never rated
And now he’s throwing discuss
For Liverpool and Widnes
You liberated
A boy I never rated
And now he’s doing business
The stars of track and field, you are
The stars of track and field, you are
The stars of track and field are beautiful people
Could I write a piece about you now that you’ve made it?
About the hours spent, the emptiness in your training
You only did it so that you could wear
Your terry underwear
And feel the city air
Run past your body
Could I write a requiem for you when you’re dead?
“She had the moves, she had the speed, it went to her head”
She never needed anything to get her round the track
But when she’s on her back
She had the knowledge
To get her into college
But when she’s on her back
She had the knowledge
To get her into college
Part 3,
Generally the Olympic 3000m event would not attract the attention of the sprint races - but at the 1984 Olympic games in Los Angeles, the womens 3000m was to be one of the highlights of the games.... for so many reasons, controversy included.
The poster girl of American athletics, Mary Decker, was on home turf and was ready to finally claim a gold medal, after her world championship titles and world records leading up to the games.
A rival of Mary Decker's was a teenager from South Africa, Zola Budd, who had beaten Mary Decker's 5000m world record by 6 seconds some months earlier. However, because of the sanctions against South Africa due to their apartheid policy, Zola Budd's world record did not stand. Zola Budd was now a star of track and field but couldn't compete at the olympics. But wait.... A British newspaper journalist dispatched to South Africa found out she had an English grandfather and that led to the eventual British passport and citizenship, with lots of help from all corners. It wasn't without controversy though, with many Brits not in support and it gave the anti-apartheid movement more prominence.
So here we have the world champion at home against the newly relocated barefoot running sensation vying for the ultimate prize.
The expectations were high and there was probably going to be some drama..... well, the drama was in truck loads.
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
"What's the Matter?" - Leftover Cuties
LA band Leftover Cuties somehow found their way onto Bitter FM playlists. But while I can't remember how I stumbled upon them, it's still no surprise at all. They have a lot of attributes that attract my attention musically. Beautiful vocals courtesy of Shirli McAllen, blended genres, some upright bass, ukulele and great songs with no frills. It is hard not to like a lot about Leftover Cuties. "What's the Matter?" is off their 2013 album 'The Spark & the Fire.'
Monday, August 15, 2016
Astrud Gilberto With Stan Getz - "Girl From Ipanema"
We are into the second week of the Rio Olympics and that calls for the most obvious song of all to celebrate the ultimate sporting occasion. I've already had "Girl From Ipanema" on this blog - but this version, although without Joao Gilberto, is worth it for capturing a snapshot of the times.... when Bossa Nova was king. This was from the 1964 film 'Get Yourself a College Girl' and here it features Astrud Gilberto and Stan Getz with the Stan Getz Quartet. Thanks Rio.
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