Posts Tagged ‘matt wells’

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Matt Tracks June 27-July 3: Baby Wrote a Bad Bad Blog

The Bucket – Kings of Leon (2004)

I always find it interesting how a band can thrive in one part of the world but not quite hit in another part. If you think about it, it’s actually a pretty good way to observe differences between cultures, we need not look any further than out own country and see how the massive amount of Canadian subject matter in The Tragically Hip’s music has made them iconic in our country while not quite catching on the same way in America. Sadly however, I think it also shows that having a radio hit is more about the people who wield the influence at the biggest radio stations than just a great song or a great artist. At the end of the day there are certain influential radio stations that set the temperature for the rest of a country and those radio stations ultimately are the ones who start the musical trends that eventually cover the masses like a blanket of gate keeping lava. The “Big Cheese” who can make things happen in London cannot necessarily do the same in NYC so music usually just has to take its course and its time to spread to other territories and countries. In SOME cases, an artist immediately catches on everywhere if one record company is able to convince all of it’s offices around the world to push the same artist at the same time, but that is rare these days and many of the biggest bands in your part of the world were big in someone else’s part of the world first……like Kings of Leon. In 2005, this American band’s 2nd album “Aha Shake Heartbreak” was a massive hit in the UK but didn’t quite catch on in North America…..then as their sound changed from the dirty rock and roll they had began with into the more polished arena rock they are known for now-they became one of the biggest bands in North America…and the world. Maybe it was their change in music, maybe it was the influence of selling records in the UK or maybe it was musically meant to be, who knows. The good news is there is a lot of Kings of Leon music to find for those whose first taste was “Sex on Fire”.

Seventeen – The Heartbroken (2011)

I have a vivid memory of sitting in a pizza joint in downtown Halifax shortly after I had moved there from St. John’s and watching a Damhnait Doyle video on TV that had hit # 1 on the MuchMore countdown and thinking how great it was that a fellow Newfoundlander was having so much success. Well since that time (almost 10 years ago) she has continued to have success not only as a solo artist but as a member of the trio “Shaye” (who toured with Willie Nelson making me disgustingly jealous) and these days she has a brand new band called “The Heartbroken”. This new project is a little bit rock and roll, a little bit country, it’s fronted by that powerful and unique Damhnait voice….and it’s pretty damn good.

Suspicious Minds – Fine Young Cannibals (1986)

The 1969 song Suspicious Minds is the song that helped Elvis Presley get back to the top of the charts after his big comeback special in 1968, it was actually the last #1 of his career. It was written by a songwriter named Mark James who has silently reaped the royalties that song has brought him over the years as it has been covered by Waylon Jennings, Dwight Yoakam, GlasVegas with Florence and the Machine, Robbie Williams, Clay Aiken (ick) and Fine Young Cannibals which I will argue is the best version of this song AND…..one of the best covers of all time.

Grown Ocean – Fleet Foxes (2011)

Kind of music geeky I know, but I love examining the relationship between artist and producer. Phil Ek has become a renowned producer in the indie rock circles of music (good God do I still loathe the word “indie” to describe music, but I digress)-his first breakthrough as producer was for the classic Built to Spill album “There’s Nothing Wrong with Love” and he has also made records with Mudhoney and the Shins. His latest success has been working with the Seattle band Fleet Foxes, he has produced both of their albums and if ever there was a producer/band perfect musical eHarmony style match-this would be it. The brand new Fleet Foxes album “Helplesness Blue”, I promise, will be on most top 10 lists of 2011 (because indie is so cool man).

Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing – Chris Isaak (1996)

Chris Isaak gained notoriety in the 90’s for his throwback style of rock and roll with a vibe that was very much 50’s and 60’s and very much Sun Records. He also had success as an actor over the years landing roles in movies like “Silence of the Lambs” and he had his own TV show for a little while, but it was the use of his music in movie soundtracks that really boosted his profile. First it was his best known song “Wicked Game” which became a hit thanks to David Lynch’s 1990 flick “Wild at Heart” and then it was Stanley Kubrik’s 1999 movie “Eye’s Wide Shut” that made “Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing” a hit 3 years after its original release (well, that and the purple pants).

share the music,
=mw

Posted: June 27th, 2011 | Category: Matt Tracks | Comments: No Comments
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Matt Tracks June 20-26: The Eagles VS Cypress Hill

This week we are unleashing the 2011 edition of Barenaked in Barbados so don’t be surprised (jealous) when you see me on the tube yacking about these island/summertime vibed Matt Tracks…….on a beach.

Mixed Emotions – The Rolling Stones (1989)

By the mid 80’s The Rolling Stones were ready to fall apart. They had released a couple of albums that didn’t really make an impact, music was changing, and Mick and Keith were not really getting along (understatement of the century)- things were not looking good. So the band took refuge in Barbados at Eddy Grant’s Blue Wave Studios and something happened, not many people know exactly WHAT happened but whatever it was (*cough debauchery *cough) it was enough to rekindle the Mick and Keith bromance, which lead to their classic 1989 comeback album “Steel Wheels”. Barbados might very well have saved the Stones.

Tequila Sunrise – Cypress Hill (1998)

I’m not sure if it’s my tendency to take on the characteristics of the Big Lebowski from time to time (don’t ask) or if it’s truly the case that, more often that not, listening to the Eagles makes me want to stab myself in the ears. That investigation I’m afraid will have to wait, so right now I will just talk about the “Tequila Sunrise” that’s NOT a song by the Eagles and doesn’t make me want to take sharpened pencil to ear.

Even though Barbados is more about the rum than the tequila, “Tequila Sunrise” is an excellent summertime Matt Track…..as long as it’s the one by Cypress Hill. Before they established themselves for their music, they were mostly recognized for being a very vocal pro-marijuana group; almost every song and every interview was about that topic so it helped bring them a lot of attention that perhaps they otherwise wouldn’t have received. But Cypress Hill had the music to back up all of that attention and their sound was a big influence on 90’s hip hop and they also became a somewhat surprising mainstream success in 1993 with the album “Black Sunday”. That album was a monster hit, it debuted at # 1 in the US, they became the first Latino group to go Platinum and thanks to the song “Insane in the Brain” became a crossover hit when it topped the rap charts but also hit top 20 on the Hot 100. This mainstream success did however bring criticism from the hip hop community with the predictable cries of “sellout” but it also made them one of the most popular groups in music which culminated with an appearance on Saturday Night Live. If anything the performance proved they definitely hadn’t sold out on at least one topic when they got themselves banned for life for smoking a joint during their performance. 5 years later they released the album “Cypress Hill IV” which included a song that would not only work as a future Barbados Matt Track, would not only murder the subtlety of the Eagles trying to sing about a late night party but most importantly would set the stage perfectly for ending my disjointed schpeel with this classic Lebowski quote: “Can you turn the radio off? I’ve had a hard night and I hate the fucking Eagles man!”

Summerlong – Emm Gryner (1998)

Oh summer love…isn’t it amazing? That is of course until the summer ends and your heart is destroyed. Emm Gryner has a song that’s kind of about that but she puts it a little more beautifully that me. Emm is a Canadian musical gem; she hasn’t had the mainstream success that her music deserves but as we all know, there are so many things, aside from the music, that are necessary to thrust someone into the mainstream. Just because the gatekeepers of the industry haven’t quite figured it out doesn’t mean that her music hasn’t found its way to a lot of people including some dude named Bono and she also found a fan in David Bowie – who Emm actually toured with as a member of his band in 2006. She is songwriter you should know.

I love the Summer ‘Cause I Love the Women – Mayor McCa (2001)

I love the summer because I love the women. No truer words have ever been spoken….but they are not my words, they are the words of Canadian musician and one time Hamilton Mayoral Candidate: Mayor McCa. He’s living in the UK these days but he is still making music, and if you ever have the chance to catch him live when he swings back through Canada you should, or simply find some clips on YouTube. He will often tour as a one man band playing everything from a kazoo, harmonica and guitar to bass drum and shoe tambourine. God Dammit!! He should have been the Mayor of Hamilton.

I’m a Worried Man – Willie Nelson (2005)

If anyone can find a reason to talk about Willie Nelson, it’s me. Summer time songs Matt? Wille Nelson? Yes children, Willie is the soundtrack of life and can musically do just about anything he wants. He has topped the country charts, he has topped the pop charts with his version of standards…but since we are talking Barbados and island-y vibed summertime fun- Willie has also topped the reggae charts. His 2005 album “Countryman” featured original songs, songs by Jimmy Cliff and a song written in the early 70’s by Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash called “I’m A Worried Man”. Willie’s version features Toots Hibbert of the Maytals and I’m guessing those boys had some fun shooting this video…..they should have invited Cypress Hill.

the dude abides,
=mw

Posted: June 20th, 2011 | Category: Matt Tracks | Comments: No Comments
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Matt Tracks June 13-19: What have I done?

Police on My Back – The Clash (1980)

Check this out-June 21st at 8pm is the premier of Barenaked in Barbados which is our annual trip to the island where this year I swung from a zip-line with Suzie Mcneil, went diving for Turtles with Maroon 5 and…… hung out with Jennifer Hudson (Jennifer figured talking to me was adventure enough apparently). It’s TV magic, believe me. On the topic of Barbados, the island is musically famous for Rihanna these days but before that- Eddy Grant famously made the island his home and has played a part in some monumental musical moments. After moving there in the early 80’s and establishing his Blue Wave Studios everyone from Sting to the Rolling Stones have taken refuge within it’s walls at very important times in their careers. Above and beyond his recording studio he has of course also made an impact with his own music and while the world may best know him for “Electric Avenue” it was songs like “War Party” and “Police on my Back” that established him as a socially charged artist, and you KNOW you are doing something right when the Clash start covering your tunes.

Revolution – Coco Love Alcorn (2009)

Coco Love Alcorn is a Canadian musician who has been releasing albums since 1995. I know this is going to sound weird but she’s one of those artists whose talent is sort of a detriment when it comes to her music reaching people because her style is so eclectic. There literally have been times in her career when a record company has said “we love what you do, but don’t know how to market it” More often than you think, the music that is given a chance to reach the masses comes down to business decisions like that which is not a groundbreaking statement, it just means you have to search extra hard to find something that doesn’t sound like everything else…..if that’s what your ears crave. My guess is you are going to dig this artist, if you haven’t found her already.

Beautiful Woman – Toots and the Maytals (1981)

Toots & The Maytals have been making music for a very long time; originally just the Maytals when formed in the 60’s they are one of the most influential bands in the history of reggae and ska. They have been covered by everyone from Robert Palmer, The Clash and Sublime, to Jack Johnson and No Doubt and if you can believe it Toots Hibbert along with the current incarnation of the Maytals are STILL touring. They will play Vancouver, Winnipeg and Toronto this July where you can buy their latest album loaded onto a USB key…… shaped like a joint, which is ironic now because back in the day Toots spent some time in jail for possession and the band knew they could never replace his voice so they waited the 18 months for his release. Check out the 1981 album “Knock Out!” and thank me later for your perfect summer sounds.

Tiny Dancer – Ben Folds (2002)

I recently found this old clip on youtube of Dave Grohl doing an acoustic version of Elton John’s Tiny Dancer on the Late Late show when it was still hosted by Craig Kilborn. Before he started playing Dave said the first time he remembered actually listening to the song was during the classic sing along moment in the movie “Almost Famous” and he wanted to recreate that vibe right there with the studio audience, on live TV, which basically just turned into 6 minutes of the chorus. So, it got me thinking what other artists might have covered this song and I stumbled upon a version by Ben Folds from 2002…..sadly neither Dave nor Ben once slipped in a “hold me closer Tony Danza” (it will never not be funny).

Caravan – Van Morrison (1969)

Look, if you ever find yourself in a bar or a club and there is a band playing music that you don’t recognize; it’s possible they are performing original songs and no matter how bored or drunk you might be—repeat after me: “I will never request Brown Eyed Girl”. I used to think this was a touring band myth that at some point almost every performing musician with an acoustic guitar gets asked (seriously asked) to cover Brown Eyed girl, I thought it was just an exaggerated story that is funny to tell, but not really true……. until it happened to me a few weeks ago. I looked around for the hidden camera, picked my jaw up off the beer soaked floor, politely (sarcastically) declined the request and plowed through the rest of our set with a little bit more contempt for one of the most recognizable songs, ever. I never though it possible to love an artist but feel hate in my bones for one of their songs, let alone someone like Van Morrison who is one of the greatest songwriters, singers and performers of all time…..but sadly, it is possible. Let’s listen to everything else by Van Morrison and not blame him for writing great songs, but blame ourselves for abusing them.

Hey, where did we go?
=mw

Posted: June 13th, 2011 | Category: Matt Tracks | Comments: No Comments
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Matt Tracks June 6-12: Go Team Adele.

Chasing Pavements – Adele (2008)

I will argue all the little monsters to the death on this one: Adele is queen of the music world right now. I am of the opinion that if Lady Gaga didn’t show up at award shows in a giant egg then people wouldn’t care about her music nearly as much. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate her place in pop music and the theatrics that can heighten the entertainment value of music and I also appreciate her choice to use her huge platform to promote a “be yourself” sort of vibe….. but this guy is on team Adele (and lets be honest it’s more fun to pick one than pick both). Adele’s album “21” stayed number 1 for 9 weeks in the US, in the UK she broke Madonna’s record for the longest time at # 1 by a female at 10 weeks and she went # 1 in more than a dozen other countries: not bad for a 23 year old. So far in 2011- 1 in 10 albums purchased has been an Adele album, and she hasn’t had to wear a meat dress to make it happen-singing the shit of some great tunes has been plenty. In her recent Rolling Stone feature Adele says that she loves Lady Gaga and Katy Perry but her place in music can be summed up by this quote “I don’t make music for eyes, I make music for ears”. Go team Adele.

If That’s Your Boyfriend (He Wasn’t Last Night) - Me’Shell Ndegeocello (1994)

9 Grammy nominations hardly sounds like an underground phenomenon but that’s exactly the case with Me’Shell Ndegeocello (pronounced how it looks). She’s sort of an underground sensation who popped up for mainstream air a few times like in 1994 when she had a mega hit duet with John Mellencamp covering the Van Morrison song “Wild Night” ( it stayed in the top 40 for more than 30 weeks). For the most part however Me’Shell has remained under the radar and is what “they” call a musician’s musician who has become respected for the music she continues to make combining jazz, funk, hip hop and soul with socially conscious lyrics. This song on the surface might not seem socially conscious and it certainly doesn’t talk about saving the world but it was a strong female voice and a sound ahead of it’s time when it cracked mainstream radio and scored her 2 Grammy nominations in 1995. It is from her first album “Plantation Lullabies” which was released on Madonna’s much hyped and short lived Maverick Records.

Lonely Day – System of a Down (2005)

For the most part when songs are recognized as great “songs” at award shows or on best of all time lists-they rarely recognize heavier music (I don’t see Mastodon getting a Grammy nomination for best song anytime soon.) Obviously Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, The Sex Pistols, Metallica and bands who have been genre defining usually pop up on those lists but The Slayers, Motorheads, or Iron Maidens of the world usually don’t get the same credit for writing “great songs” outside of the metal world. System of a Down have been writing amazing tunes since their first album back in 1998, their albums are full songs that are easily as poignant as others that have been elevated to “great” status; their music is intricate, complicated, beautiful and yes, loud. HOWEVER, some of those songs sound like they could be played next to any of your favorite songs on the radio and ya never know, if you heard one it just might entice you to go through their entire catalogue, even if you don’t like it loud.

Love is the Seventh Wave – Sting (1985)

By the time The Police stopped making music together Sting was a mega-pop star…and he hated it. Part of the reason that the band stopped at the height of their success, aside from the fact that they couldn’t stand each other, was because Sting wanted to find his place as a serious songwriter and musician – but as a solo artist. So he went to Barbados and took refuge in Eddy Grant’s studio, along with a handful of jazz musicians, and those sessions produced the album “The Dream of the Blue Turtles”, and the track “Love Is the Seventh Wave”.

Jack Sparrow – The Lonely Island f. Michael Bolton (2011)

Let me take a moment to address all the Michael Bolton haters, and don’t be coy because we are all guilty of it. How many times have you done your best Bolton-esq voice and shouted to the heavens: “How can we be lovers, if we can’t be friends”? How many times did you make fun of his long, flowing super mullet…..that sometimes looked like it was crimped?……… Remember that time he dated Ashley Judd? How the hell did that happen? Anyway now it’s time to let the hating end and the loving begin because thanks to Andy Samberg’s “The Lonely Island” Michael Bolton is featured in the song of the year. The comeback is official.

Share.This.Music.
=mw

Posted: June 6th, 2011 | Category: Matt Tracks | Comments: No Comments
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Matt Tracks May 30- June 5: Please read the blog (that I wrote).

Please Read the Letter – Robert Plant & Alison Krauss (2007)

One of these days I suppose I will get around to a Led Zeppelin Matt Track but as long as Robert Plant keeps making such good new music- It might be a while before I have the chance. A little while ago we talked about him bringing back his classic Band of Joy as his latest project but before that, back in 2007, along with Alison Krauss he released the album “Raising Sand” that swept the 2009 Grammy’s which created a bit of a musical controversy because it beat Coldplay and Radiohead for album of the year…..but if you listen to the album once, you’ll understand why.

Second Chance – Peter Bjorn & John (2011)

In 2007, Sweden’s Peter Bjron & John jumped on to everyone’s radar with a track called Young Folks (you may remember this song because of its fine whistle solo). The song was huge for the band: Kanye sampled it, James Blunt covered it for god sakes and it was used in dozens of commercials and TV shows from Grey’s Anatomy to Californication. In the face of that hit song however the band decided to then focus on side projects and on making music that was completely the opposite from what had just made them famous, and you’ve got to respect that kind of self defeating pop success mentality (assuming of course there was some grand plan to it). Whatever the case, they have decided to bring back the catchy with a track called Second Chance. Skol!

I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man – Prince (1987)

For as long as I can remember it seems like Prince has been in a constant battle with the music industry, and regardless of what side of his arguments you fall; there is no arguing that he is about as righteous as they come. In the 90’s he changed his name to a love symbol and released music in very quick succession in an attempt to get out of his contract with Warner Brothers, and to this day he beautiful stubborness has made him the only person who can rival P Diddy in the “What do we call you?” name game. Most recently he’s been outspoken about the lack of money he feels artists make through digital retailers like iTunes, but mostly he’s pissed these days because he doesn’t think people should be allowed to cover his songs unless he gives them permission. Even in recent interviews he still seems put off by that fact that the general public thinks Sinead O’Connor wrote “Nothing Compares to You”. Granted, he might be wiping his tears with thousand dollar bills over the success of the song he wrote and Sinead made famous, but it still stings him nonetheless and the fact remains: he thinks the original artists should decide who gets to cover their songs. This may or may not have something to do with that time Jordan Knight covered “I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man” back in 1999.Ick.

Two – Ryan Adams (2007)

One of my favorite quotes in music is from Bob Dylan who said that the song “Tangled up in Blue” took him “10 years to live and 2 years to write”. More than just having a way with words or with an instrument, when it comes to writing great songs, it’s about having experience; having lived the years to know who you are; what you want to say; and how you want to say it. Ryan Adams has been making music since he dropped out of school in the 10th grade and has become know as one of the most prolific songwriters of the past 25 years. He has fought through a struggle as a musician trying to make a living, he has struggled through addiction and including the music he has released with Whiskeytown and the Cardinals he has released 15 albums before the age of 40 (not counting the wealth of music he has released online). From his 2007 album “Easy Tiger”, check out one of his many great tunes: “Two”.

Down the Line – Jose Gonzalez (2007)

Jose Gonzalez is a pretty good example of “don’t judge a book by its cover”. His early days in performing involved playing both guitar and bass in punk and hardcore bands, but then after finishing a Masters Degree in Molecular Chemistry he had to cut short his path of getting a Ph. D in Biochemistry because his music career began to take off. The music that was taking off however wasn’t the punk and hardcore he had started with; it was his unique place in the world of singer/songwriters where in some beautiful way he found out what would happen if Joy Division met the sounds of a classical guitar. From 2007’s “In our Nature”: Down the Line.

share the music,
=matt

Posted: May 30th, 2011 | Category: Matt Tracks | Comments: No Comments
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