Here We Go 'A Waffling. Wait... That Can't Be Right.

You know, only in America would you find a guy who decides to protest the loss of spirituality in Christmas by crucifying a Santa Claus on his front lawn. My god, what are we doing that we don't think up shit like that, J?

Anyway, we're having a brown Christmas here in the south due to the drought. It's becoming an "oh shit" period of time down here, but we'll survive. I thought I would post a little something before I head over to my parents and open up presents. My mom's German customs have always become standard in the house, so we open presents on Christmas Eve, the stockings are for show only, we and just spend Christmas Day watching movies, crackling tree fir, and eating ham. Our pagan-like customs promise to be no different this year, weather notwithstanding.

Rather than doing a hitlist with some of my favorite songs, I thought I would discuss some Christmasy things I've been thinking about today.

Firstly, a few years ago My Chemical Romance did an adorable cover of All I Want for Christmas is You. You can find it here.

Nikki Sixx's new band Sixx:A.M. has a song called Xmas in Hell. Check out this stanza:

I've started a new diary and this time I have a few new reasons.
One, I have no friends left.
Two, so I can read back and remember what I did the day before.
And three, so if I die, at least I leave a nice little suicide note of my life.

My friend C sent me this video because a long time ago one of the first things we ever talked about was the strange union of these two. We then jumped into a rendition of it, complete with the "peace on earth…" bit. We still think we're hilarious.



There was an article I was reading that referenced the history of wassailing. This just cracks me up.

"In the 17th century, Puritans, who had long seen the holiday as a Catholic manifestation, concluded that attempts to tame or "Christianize" Christmas had failed. They managed to get Christmas banned for several years in England and Massachusetts, which was then an English colony.
The holiday returned in the 1660s, picking up a tradition of "wassailing," which in New England involved drunken bands of men banging on the doors of the rich, demanding entry and singing songs in return for food and alcohol.
"It was a rough version of caroling," Nissenbaum says. "It made for a lot of tense interaction."

That's all I had for now. Happy Holidays, y'all! -K

Christmas Controversy in the UK

Travelling to Wales this week, I didn’t hear about the controversy until it was over. It seems that The Pogues’ classic “Fairytale of New York” was going to be censored for radio airplay but now that has changed. See the interesting article here that documents the rollercoaster ride. Funny, one of my housemates saw The Pogues this week in London. Of course the song was played without any censoring. He had to demonstrate for us how the drunk Shane McGowan approaches the microphone, so we all had a laugh over breakfast. Here’s a clip from YouTube. Happy Christmas, you F**k! --J

The Enemy - Unexpected

The Enemy seems to be everywhere in England and because of this, I have been avoiding them. But when I saw their record in a shop recently I could no longer resist. “We’ll Live and Die in These Towns” what a great title of a record! I will recommend the tracks “Away From Here” and “We’ll Live and Die in These Towns”, but really the whole record is pretty good. I do not believe they’ve invaded “the colonies” yet but kids, take note. “Away From Here” is the latest great example of the “fuck work genre”. --J

Dan Fogelberg - Part Two

As demonstrated in other posts, K and I definitely can represent two sides of an argument. While I am sorry to hear of someone’s passing, Dan Fogelberg’s death made me think of two things:

1. A story a friend told me about him
2. The lyrics to Same Old Lang Syne

My buddy J’s sister (or was it friend?) was once chased off of private property (didn’t realize it was private) by Dan Fogelberg and he was pretty aggressive. When his sister told him this story, he said with a mix of disbelief and sarcasm something like, “Soft rock Dan Fogelberg?”

How do I know this story? You know how sometimes you can work at a place that has the radio on the same station all day, which leads you to the realization that the station plays about five songs over and over again. Well, Same Old Lang Syne was one of the songs on heavy rotation on the work radio and I was complaining to J about it and how much the song irritated me, which of course made us both laugh about it. The line that J can’t take from the song is when the male “rock star” says that the “travelling was hell”. It doesn’t sound very rock star, but maybe it does sound soft rock star. --J

Dan Fogelberg Dead at 56

From E! Online

Dan Fogelberg Dead at 56

by Sarah Hall

The leader of the band is gone.

Easy-rocking singer-songwriter Dan Fogelberg, known for such '70s and '80s hits as "Leader of the Band" and "Same Old Lang Syne" died Sunday at his home in Maine, following a battle with prostate cancer. He was 56.

"Dan left us this morning at 6 a.m. He fought a brave battle with cancer and died peacefully at home in Maine with his wife Jean at his side," read a statement posted on the singer's Website. "His strength, dignity and grace in the face of the daunting challenges of this disease were an inspiration to all who knew him."

Fogelberg was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in 2004. He underwent hormonal therapy and achieved a partial remission but failed to completely eliminate the disease.

In a statement expressing his gratitude to his fans for their support following his diagnosis, Fogelberg said he found it "truly overwhelming and humbling to realize how many lives [his] music has touched so deeply all these years."

"I thank you from the very depths of my heart," he added.

Over the course of his career, Fogelberg released more than 20 albums, many of them going gold or platinum.

While his first album, 1972's Home Free, received only a lukewarm response from critics, his follow-up, 1974's Souvenirs, was a huge hit, catapulting him to stardom.

Perhaps his best-known album was 1981's The Innocent Age, which included his biggest singles, "Leader of the Band," "Same Old Lang Syne" and "Hard to Say."

His final album, Full Circle, was released in 2003, and featured a return to his folk-inspired roots of the '70s. It was his first album of original material in a decade.

Fogelberg was also known for his live performances and spent most summers on the road, either with a full band or as a solo acoustic act.

In 2002, fans showed their appreciation by selecting him to be one of the first 10 artists inducted into the Performers Hall of Fame at Colorado's Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

At the time of his cancer diagnosis, he was planning a fall tour, which he was subsequently forced to cancel. He later urged others to be tested regularly, writing on his Website, "I promise you, you DON’T want to go through what I’m going through if you can avoid it."

Fogelberg is survived by his wife, Jean. No funeral plans had been announced.

Judakris spends a lot of time writing about and listening to popular music, but we have always had a soft spot (in truth, also a tearful affection) for the easy rock sounds of our childhoods. In my opinion, the music industry has lost an extremely talented singer/songwriter. Hits like Longer, Hard to Say, The Lion's Share, Leader of the Band, and Same Old Lang Syne will continue on in my heart on those long road trips where I can sing as good as Dan. -K

Switches

Tonight I was typing away on my laptop when a song came on a show called October Road that was on in the background. I didn't know who sang it or what the song was called, so I took one line of the song and googled it. It turns out the song is called Killer Karma by an English band called Switches. Of course,this lead to a full-on You Tube search for other songs and a discovery that this band is not too shabby. Unfortunately, U.S. iTunes doesn't have much beyond their EPs for Drama Queen and Lay Down the Law, so I'll have to play the waiting game for their new album Heart Tuned to D.E.A.D. when it's released here in the States next year. It was supposed to drop in October, but was inexplicably delayed. Ah well. This happens.

Switches reminds me of Franz Ferdinand and Jet, who remind me of the Stones, Bowie and a little bit of Sweet. While I wouldn't necessarily say that they will save rock n roll or that they're doing something terribly original, I think their music is perfect party fare. Check them out. -K

Lay Down the Law


Message from Yuz


Lyrics to Killer Karma

Its funny how as time goes, its funny how the pain grows
It's funny how the guilt snows, on your mind
Its funny how as time goes, its funny how your world slows
It's funny how god knows, I will take my time

Well we'd all like to know what our lives have yet to show
But there's one place we can go, and that's our minds
And we'd all like to be, with who our eyes have yet to see
But there's no-one foolin me, cus that's a lie

It's funny when your plane leaves, its funny how your soul grieves
It's funny how the light weaves through the blinds
It's funny how your heart rules, the feelings that your head cools
It's funny how the hate pools, creepin up the side

Well we'd all like to know what our lives have yet to show
But there's one place we can go, and that's our minds
And we'd all like to be, with who our eyes have yet to see
But there's no-one foolin me, cus that's a lie

Cus I got Killer Karma now, I got Killer Karma now, I got Killer Karma now (x2)

Yea we'd all like to know what our lives have yet to know
But there's one place we can go, and that's our minds
And we'd all like to see, with who our lives have yet to be
But there's no-one foolin me, cus that's a lie

Arcade Fire cont.

It's such odd timing that J just posted something about Neon Bible. My friend T, who is a fan of this band as I am, told me last night that there was a video on youtube that included three of his favorite things: Bono, Arcade Fire, and the song Love Will Tear Us Apart; that despite the combination it didn't quite work for him. After watching it today I have to agree. Regardless, I still get chills when I hear the opening of Intervention and the key changes in Rebellion (Lies). Watch and judge for yourself. -K

The Critics' Darlings

The Arcade Fire’s Neon Bible is on many a critic’s list for best records of 2007. I have seen The Arcade Fire perform on television and all I could think was why do they need so many goddamned people?! It looks like a political movement, not a band. Okay, in a moment of weakness, I picked it up but my position hasn’t changed. Maybe I’m too much of a philistine to appreciate this fine example of orchestral pop but I just can’t do it. I’ve tried! --J

Raising Sand - Unexpected

While Robert Plant joined the rest of his mates on stage for the long-awaited Led Zeppelin reunion just a train ride away from me, I was downloading Raising Sand, his recent recording with Alison Krauss. It has become my lullaby record, playing as I lay in the darkness, hoping that insomnia will pass me by. Some of the songs are so haunting and beautiful at the same time. The standout track for me is Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us. Alison Krauss is amazing. --J

Kings of Leon - Unbelievable

In my office at work I have a bulletin board that has pictures of all the men in my life, my husband, grandfather, dad, brothers, and nephews. I didn’t set out to make a “men only” board, it just ended up that way. It seemed only fitting that I would put my ticket to the KoL show on that board for safe-keeping. I stared at that ticket while booting up my laptop and sipping my first cup of coffee yesterday, thinking it didn’t matter what the hell happened at work, I could get through it today. My last show of the year was the third time that I would see Kings of Leon this year. Knowing that they have had more success here, I was anticipating seeing how different one of their shows might be.

Wembley Arena, which is right next to the grand and new Wembley Stadium, reminds me a lot in design and size of UIC Pavilion in Chicago. In terms of the venue, it was not impressive. Since this show had been sold out, I kept telling myself I was going to just be happy with having scored a ticket, knowing it was not going to be great, but I would have a seat. I’m a little afraid of the standing sections in the UK, they get really rowdy with lots of beer throwing. But when I realized how far back I was, the thrill was gone just a bit. The stage was the most elaborate I have seen for a KoL show, and really beautiful at times.

For the setlist, the band played songs that I have never heard them play live before like Holy Roller Novocaine and Razz. It was nice to see them mix it up, since in the spring, their setlist did not change from show to show. The audience favourites were Fans, which is written about the English fans so I thought that would get quite a reception, and The Bucket. The audience sang every word and over-powered Caleb on vocals. They were passionate. My favourite probably was Holy Roller Novocaine because I have never heard them perform that live and it’s such a Southern song, which made me think of home.

It was a real treat to get to see them here, but their show at The Pageant this year was by far my favourite. --J

Josh Groban Ties Elvis? Really?

This article on Billboard.com is so depressing, even if it is just about a Christmas album. I just can't understand the attraction to this warbly, overgrown hobbit. Clearly, I'm in the minority. -K

Is it a miracle?

I was way far back tonight at the Kings of Leon show so the only pictures I could really take were of the video screens. As I got home and started downloading my pics, I couldn't believe how "holy" these looked. Nathan Followill or Jesus on drums, you be the judge. --J

Kings of Leon - Wembley Arena, London

I will write more later. Here is the setlist from the show tonight.

Slow Night, So Long
Black Thumbnail
Taper Jean Girl
King of the Rodeo
My Party
Holy Roller Novocaine
Fans
The Bucket
Milk
Arizona
On Call
Razz
McFearless
Ragoo
Camaro
Molly's Chambers
Spiral Staircase
Trani

ENCORE
Knocked Up
Four Kicks
Charmer

Duran Duran

I was at a cocktail party this week and met someone who plays in a gypsy band. I started asking him what the music was like and in the course of my questions I mentioned having seen Gogol Bordello perform on a music show recently. He latched onto this statement and started going on about how great they were live. I admitted I had quickly dismissed them when I saw them perform with Madonna since she is a vampire, latching on to whatever new trend she can find to try and make herself relevant. My work colleague standing near overheard this, laughed and said, “Hold on, she’s my age”. And my response back was, “Yes, but you’re not trying to be a pop star”. What does this have to do with Duran Duran? Probably less than just demonstrating my pessimistic mood these days, but I was going to circle it back around to Duran Duran working with Timbaland and Justin Timberlake for their new album, Red Carpet Massacre.

When I was thirteen I was desperate to go and see Duran Duran in concert. Their non-threatening, sexually ambiguous good looks had won my adolescent heart even with probably the silliest lyrics in history. This probably is why I now take issue with keyboards. One too many a night I watched Friday Night Videos just to get a glimpse of Nick Rhodes pouting like a supermodel behind stacks of them. God help me. When my best friend and I began plotting that my oldest brother would take us to Chicago to see them, his answer was simple, “J-, I wouldn’t take you to see them if they were playing across the street.” In the end, three days before the concert, prompted by his new girlfriend, he took us.

Because of this past infatuation, I am always interested in hearing what they are up to. I was disappointed to hear that they were trying to be trendy. I watched their latest video and was not into it at all. I grabbed a newspaper on my flight back to London this week and there was a review in The Daily Telegraph of a recent Duran Duran concert. Helen Brown states, “While the Spice Girls whip through the campy costume changes and Take That offer up punishing dance routines with a twinkle of self-deprecation, Duran Duran fans must be satisfied with a couple of videos of a naked woman swimming underwater and a 49-year old Le Bon punching the air like a dad winning a pub quiz”. Not good. While memories of their makeup’d faces will always have a special place in my heart, I wish they could remain a bit of 80’s nostalgia. --J