Art is the music we make from the bewildered cry of being alive. ~Maria Popova
04 Nov 2013 Leave a comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: b.c. camplight, thieves in antigua
BC Camplight: “Thieves in Antiqua” (2013)
from MCR Scenewipe:
BC Camplight is the moniker of one of Philadelphia’s most beloved songsmiths, and ex-boxer, Brian Christinzio. BC Camplight has been a critics’ favourite since the release of his highly melodic, often lyrically deranged baroque-pop debut Hide, Run Away (One Little Indian) in 2005. The album’s addictive works – which combined summery melodies not too far removed from Harry Nilsson, The Beach Boys and Burt Bacharach with twisted classical arrangements and dark, sometimes frightening subject matter – helped land Hide, Run Away on many international publications’ year-end ‘Best of’ lists. TIME magazine called BC Camplight ‘a name to become synonymous with star quality ‘. Both Hide and his 2007 follow-up Blink of a Nihilist were five-star Albums of the Week in the Sunday Times..
BC Camplight gained fans all over the world while touring virtually non-stop between 2005 and 2008 with his high energy, highly musical live performances. The New York Post called his 2008 set in Brooklyn ‘a genuine musical achievement‘.
In 2008, on the eve of recording his third record for One Little Indian, Christinzio suffered a psychiatric event and immediately retired from writing. Uncomfortable leaving Philadelphia, Christinzio put together a live line-up consisting of himself and several members of his hometown brethren The War On Drugs, and spent the next few years performing exclusively in Philadelphia. Some of these shows have become part of Philly music folklore. He also reverted back to his days as a highly coveted session pianist and performed on dozens of records – most notably Sharon Van Etten’s 2011 release Epic.
Last year BC Camplight moved to Manchester, and has finally recorded what he hopes will become his signature work. The record, entitled Grim Cinema, will be released this year.
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2012/02/17/recommended-albums-6/
See also: Songs You May Have Missed #683 | Every Moment Has A Song (edcyphers.com)
03 Nov 2013 Leave a comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: flutes of chi, ween
Ween: “Flutes of Chi” (2000)
Described by Mojo magazine as “Top-notch whiteboy radio rock with an eerie inner glow of Manson family sunshine…” Ween seems like the band the term “genre-bending” was coined to describe.
On 2000’s White Pepper album and “Flutes of Chi” we catch them in (mostly) straightforward, irony-free form, as they salute traditional Lennon/McCartney-influenced pop.
See also:
https://edcyphers.com/2018/06/16/songs-you-may-have-missed-629/
03 Nov 2013 Leave a comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: elvis costello, sweet dreams
Elvis Costello: “Sweet Dreams” (1981)
A song most associate most strongly with Patsy Cline, “Sweet Dreams” had actually been a hit at least twice already before her version was released just after her death in 1963.
In 1956 Don Gibson, the song’s writer, had a top ten country hit with the song. And in 1960 Faron Young’s version did even better. But since Cline’s version has done the most business in the years since, it’s become the “classic”.
Elvis Costello shocked fans in 1981 by releasing Almost Blue, a country album recorded in Nashville. It was his first album not to reach the top 30 in America, his fans not being ready to let him out of his New Wave pigeon-hole. But some of it really does stand up all these years later, including his take of “Sweet Dreams”, which includes some sublime piano work by Steve Nieve.
03 Nov 2013 Leave a comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: complante pour ste-catherine, kate & anna mcgarrigle
Kate & Anna McGarrigle: “Complante Pour Ste-Catherine” (1980)
Montreal-born Kate and Anna McGarrigle’s introduction to an international audience came via Linda Ronstadt’s recording of their “Heart Like a Wheel” as the title track of one of her platinum-selling albums.
Their French Record, from 1980, is a favorite among fans, even those who don’t know a word of French.
Kate McGarrigle and Louden Wainwright III (of 1970’s “Dead Skunk” fame) are the parents of Rufus and Martha Wainwright.
03 Nov 2013 Leave a comment
in General Posts, On a Lighter Note Tags: roy orbison
The Fastest Guitar Alive (1967)
Roy Orbison hides a rifle inside his guitar and uses it to kill countless Native Americans as he makes his way across the old west. Adding insult to injury, he then proceeds to appropriate their culture as part of his stage show.
We realize this movie was made almost a half-century ago and it was a different time, but it’s still hard to even watch the trailer for this film without cringing constantly. Also, we’re surprised that having a rifle hidden inside his guitar didn’t throw the instrument out of tune.
(Source: CBC Music)
Every Moment Has A Song 
