MARCH 2, 2006
MUSIC
T H E B U Z Z @ DA I LY T I TA N . C O M
THE BUZZ
THE MUSIC SCOOP PART TROIS By Jimmy Stroup Daily Titan Staff Writer
I have returned again in my quest to release you from the rampant commercialism that has throttled music and driven it from its real purpose: girls. That’s correct – the reason why music exists is to aid in getting laid (for those who make it, as well as those you use it). Fortunately, almost any music can help in attaining this goal. And these next five beauties might be what you ought to pick up and try out toward that end. (11) Nighthawks at the Diner by Tom Waits. I agonized over this pick. Because Waits is as diverse an artist as you’ll ever find, choosing one over others becomes a real hassle since he’s a musical chameleon and his albums reflect that. Mule Variations, for example, is really great. But I settled on Nighthawks because it’s accessible, and if you like this, you can move on to the
more complex. Sort of an homage to whisky and dive bars, this live double album is a nice mix of jazz tunes with Waits on vocals, piano and guitar (but only two at a time), and four other guys filling out the standard quintet. Especially good are “Better Off Without a Wife” and “Big Joe and Phantom 309,” a cover of the old Red Sovine ghost truck driver song (it’s OK – I know none of you know who Red Sovine is). (12) Aja by Steely Dan. This is my favorite band named after a dildo. Aw, it’s just one of my favorite bands period, name or no. I liked their early stuff, but I’m partial to the period in their career that Aja (pronounced Asia) came out of: just after they quit touring and before they quit altogether. And though reunited and again making music, I still think Aja’s my favorite. Some of you will recognize instantly the beats and rhythms taken out of several of these songs and “sampled” underneath some
popular R&B tunes of the last 15 years. Just remember that there’s a reason the R&B guys are ripping this off to make their crap better – because it’s totally killer. With
The reason why music exists is to aid in getting laid. JIMMY STROUP
great funk, the jazz-rock on Aja combines the best in construction of very poignant and unforgettable tunes that stick with you long after you’re done listening. Best on the album: “Peg,” I think. It doesn’t hurt that Michael McDonald lends his considerable talent to the backing vocals throughout, either. (13) A Bigger Piece of Sky by Robert Earl Keen. Though not much a sing-
er, Keen’s best album is an excellent example of how great songwriting will compensate for other inadequacies. I admit that this is a country album; I think it’s the pedal steel that really gives it away. And the backbeat. And the fiddle. But forget all that, because this album is like crack. I keep it in the car at all times. “Jesse With the Long Hair Hanging Down” is as good a fast-paced ballad ever written, and “Paint the Town Beige” describes growing older in startlingly touching terms. “Daddy Had a Buick” is also a noteworthy tune, just because it’s so much fun. (14) The Commitments Soundtrack. I wouldn’t be recommending a soundtrack if it were the usual collection of lame movie tunes. Set in Dublin during the never-ending recession, The Commitments is a 1991 film about a rhythm and blues band made up entirely of white Irishmen (and women) – and they’re fantastic. The album’s a collection of soul covers the band per-
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forms during the course of the film. “Dark End of the Street,” “Mustang Sally,” “Destination Anywhere”; they’re all there. And when I tell you that the guy who sings lead (Andrew Strong) was only 16 at the time, you’re going to call me a damn liar, but it’s true. (15) Graceland by Paul Simon. A staple of any complete musical collection, Simon brilliantly blends his folk style with South African influences to create a new standard for experimental fusion. The popular “You can Call Me Al” (some may remember the video featuring Chevy Chase – himself a musician in his own right) was a popular radio hit, but “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes” and the title track “Graceland” have proved to be more lasting. “I Know What I Know” is my favorite track, but I could be argued out of it, since it’s all so good. That’s it for this week. Check back next Thursday as I line up five more albums for you t.o go buy.
ARTIC MONKEYS FACE FIERCE COMPETITION By Cindy Tullues
Daily Titan Staff Writer
Is it me or did the Arctic Monkeys appear out of nowhere? They might not be the next best thing in the music industry, but the British rockers’ hit single, “I bet you look good on the dance floor” has created a musical buzz in the indie rock community and are slowly creeping their way onto your radio! The monkeys walked away with several British music awards this year, proving they are worth listening to. After much hype from the British music press, the group released their first debut album titled “Whatever people say I am, that is what I’m not” across the nation on February 21. Catchy lyrics fueled by a rollercoaster of guitars and drums have transformed them from an unknown band into a No. 1 phenomenon in the United Kingdom, even daringly being compared to The Beatles.
But their music seems to be a mix between The White Stripes and Franz Ferdinand – also under the same record label. The only resemblance the Monkeys have to The Beatles is an unassuming British accent. The album is undoubtedly filled with a lot of young energy that drives the musical talents of 20year-old singer Alex Turner. Though he cannot be considered a musical poet, his relentless stories about women, clubs and fame is refreshingly amusing. But, most of their songs seem to be clones of one another and of all other indie bands. Despite their monotonous music, listeners will find themselves bobbing their heads and humming to “Dancing Shoes.” I do not doubt that the Arctic Monkeys will become sensations, but I fear that they will only become another face in the music industry. “Whatever people say I am, that is what I’m not” is a good start, but the competition is fierce.
