Sufjan Stevens - Age of Adz

After a long hiatus, Sufjan Stevens has released a new album entitled Age of Adz. Since his purported early retirement, this is a welcome album that proves a worthy follow up to Illinois, although VERY different. It represents a nice blend of sounds, but retains that uniquely Sufjan sound.

The Samples

Feeling a bit nostalgic, I have recently done some scouring around for a few good Samples videos. The Samples, a Vermont/Colorado-based band that derives its name from King Soopers grocery store niblets, is an euphoric band that has been representing a unique rock influenced reggae sound since the early 1990's. One of my favorite shows in college, with my buddy Jack, was played by The Samples at the local concert hall. Without question, one of the greatest concerts I have been a part of - it allowed me to reframe the next four years in a different light.

Thought I would share a few tracks that have made an impression:



when I saw the churches
the stained glass was gone
and the boxes were empty
I wondered how long

when I saw the blind man
who can't see the sun
he talked of his army
and some war they won

he prayed for the future
and he prayed for the past
and he said his heart still bleeds
for the wife he once had

when I told the blind man
we're all here alone
he said the strong wind
was taking us home




when years pass between us
and the light shines on the water
I ask please for one thing
leave shelter when it's raining

decisions in blueprint
so nervous and deceiving
in concrete these structures
that our small hands
just keep building

through towers and phone lines
connections to each other
I wonder who's watching
as light shines on the water

when the stars fall beyond us
and our small eyes
just keep watching
I ask please for one thing
leave shelter when it's raining
when it's raining





we were children in our places
with the world beneath our feet
and growing up was on our faces
I remember yours so sweet

did you ever look so nice

every turn became our future
there for us to make our bet
that the longer I remember
you're the hardest to forget

did you ever look so nice

and if we make it thru
these changes
to find that nothing was in stone
but the glance of our exchanges
did they ever look so nice

did you ever look so nice

Li Yundi and Fabio

Not sure why he was formerly known as Yundi Li, then Yundi, now Li Yundi, but let us not get distracted. What really irks me is the video for Schumann's "Traumerei." When you are lauded as one of the world's greatest musicians (as is Yundi/Yundi Li/Li Yundi/LY LoveMachine/Looooww Ryyyder), it is almost a responsibility to make an awesome music video. So what happened with Yundi's/Li Yundustrious's video for "Traumerai?"

Since I don't wish to make enemies, I will simply state that I am less than impressed with this particular video. Frankly, whomever is doing PR for YL/LY should be fired immediately. This video is so contrived, cheesy, and just disconcerting in many ways. I guess what really bothers me is that classical music needs superstars to help revive popularity amongst the masses. But is a video of one of the world's most exciting pianist portrayed as Milli Vanilli going to draw crowds? It remains to be seen...but it has the power to quickly make one nauseous.

Please watch and be be less than excited:

Lloyd Miller and the Heliocentrics

What a treat on an overcast day here in NY!

Definitely going to looooove this from Kurosh Ali Khan and his crew the Heliocentrics:

Stornoway Tonight

Just happened to stumble across an interesting, relatively new band from oustide of Oxford, England called Stornoway. They have blended your classic, love-sick pop music with a crooning folk sensibility that makes for a refreshing combo.

I like a couple of their songs tonight, so I will post three that intrigue me: "Fuel Up," Zorbing," and "I Saw You Blink:"

Weekend Tunage

Go enjoy Labor Day! Spend that cake!