music

NC native and banjo pioneer Earl Scruggs has died.

RIP

It was just yesterday that we decided to take a day off from politics and talk about music, both familiar and not so much; the conversation ran a bit long, and when we got halfway through we decided to get together tomorrow.

It was pretty fun, what with sewers and male models and Gorillaz and all, and when we had put down the pen it was just after taking in Sarah Vaughan’s reworked dance version of the Peggy Lee classic, “Fever”.

They say tomorrow never comes…but now it has…and we have eight more songs to talk about before we can finish our multigenerational “Summer Music Appreciation Playlist”.

Today we’ll incorporate jazz and dance, the invention of modern musical recording, arguably the greatest saxophone player ever, and a shout out to “our man in Paris”.

If all that wasn’t enough, we also discover what happens when you graft a certain Pepper onto Jamaica’s musical tree.

You don’t want to stop now, so jump on board and let’s get this train rollin’.

It is a huge news day today, what with death and confirmation on everyone’s mind...and I’m not going to do anything about it—well, not today, anyway.

Instead, I’m taking the day off to bring you something more compelling: a music appreciation class, with recordings old and new, and just right for your summer soundtrack.

And if that’s not enough...by an amazing coincidence, we also get to talk about the (I never even know it existed) McRice burger, and, just for a summer bonus, we even have a smoking hot male model to grab your attention.

It’s all about fun today, so let’s get right to having some.

Are you or do you know any students that dream of breaking ground in the music industry? P'Tones Records is the program for them!

It's become more or less common knowledge that US forces have been using music as an operational tool for some time now, and I've begun seeing lists of the songs that are being used either to inflict pain, to demoralize, or to just generally disorient various people in various sorts of situations.

There are others, wiser than I, who will opine as to the questions of efficacy and the moral issues surrounding these kinds of operations; I will opine, instead, as to the quality of the songs used.

Frankly, had anyone asked, I could have put the torturers onto much better musical choices, just by selecting from my own "My Music" folder--which left me thinking: "hey, it's the weekend...why not do exactly that?"

Got any psychological warfare mission planned for the weekend? Expecting to have to direct amplified sound at an angry mob in a defensive maneuver Saturday night? Planning a Halloween haunted house that goes a bit...fuurther?

Come along with me then, soldier, and I'll provide you a playlist that should do the trick in almost any foreseeable emergency.

Every Sunday at Scrutiny Hooligans I put up a musical selection, and I thought I'd drop a little mountain talent on this page today. Laura Blackley is a singer/songwriter swampy folk blues legend in these parts, and you ought to make an effort to get to know her better. This video is a little out of sync with the audio, but give it a listen.

Not long ago there was a huge upset with Bruce Springsteen fans because the decision was made for Walmart to exclusively offer one of his "best hit" CDs.

Well, it looks like Springsteen is regretting that decision

In a fine profile written by Jon Pareles on Bruce Springsteen, the Boss said the decision to do a deal with Wal-Mart for an exclusive greatest hits package was made too hastily. “We were in the middle of doing a lot of things, it kind of came down and, really, we didn’t vet it the way we usually do,” he said. “We just dropped the ball on it. ... Given its labor history, it was something that if we’d thought about it a little longer, we’d have done something different.”
He added, “It was a mistake. Our batting average is usually very good, but we missed that one. Fans will call you on that stuff, as it should be.”

The Silver Jews are a musical act of the rock and roll indie rock variety. You can listen to their music by clicking here.

Richard Berman is a scumbag.

His lobbying firm, Berman and Company, monthly invents a new astroturf organization to undermine the efforts of watchdog groups. Berman spends millions of dollars to mislead the public about the minimum wage, the dangers of smoking, obesity, mad cow disease, drunk driving, and other serious issues. Berman runs at least 15 organizations that have no actual membership, but are flush with corporate cash.

In which we offer a welcome diversion that can be found not only this weekend, but beyond that, as well.

What is your favorite political song?