The Old Jew

A female CNN journalist heard about a very old Jewish man who had been going to the Western Wall to pray, twice a day, every day, for a long, long time.

So she went to check it out. She went to the Western Wall and there he was walking slowly up to the holy site.

She watched him pray and after about 45 minutes, when he turned to leave, using a cane in a very slow fashion , she approached him for an interview.

"Pardon me Sir, I'm Rebecca Smith from CNN, What's your name?"

"Maury Fishbein" he replied.

"Sir, how long have you been coming to the Western Wall and praying?

"For about 60 years."

"60 years! That's amazing! What do you pray for?"

"I pray for peace between the Christians, Jews and the Muslims. I pray for all the Wars and hatred to stop, I pray for all our children to grow up safely as responsible adults, and to love their fellow man."

"How do you feel after doing this for 60 years?"

"Like I'm talking to a fuckin' wall."

Kings of Leon Rock My World

“People call us renegades, we like living crazy. We like taking on this town, some people’s getting lazy. I don’t’ care what nobody says, no I’m going to be her lover. Always mad and usually drunk but I love her like no other…”

These lines from Because of the Times’ opening track “Knocked Up” pretty much sum up the Kings of Leon: drunken outlaws driving around, chasing a good time and bad women. On their huge third album, out today, the Kings add something else a little unexpected given their penchant for those aforementioned pastimes: musical maturity.

One of the best things about this band is that each album has shown marked development and improvement from the previous one without losing the essence of their sound. The first album Youth and Young Manhood has “Trani” which is probably still my favorite song and Aha Shake is underrated and excellent. Here’s “Trani” from Bonnaroo 2004 (I wasn’t there but I’ve seen it live and this song is a sick way to close a set).


Because of the Times, however, is the biggest jump for them: you can actually understand most of what brother Caleb sings, the instruments are given much more space to show off and sound big but not cheesy (like, say, the Killers), and Nathan Followill is driving on the drums--really interesting and clean. They experiment with new sounds without losing the nasty southern rocking soul that brought them a devoted following in the first place. Here’s one of my favorite tracks, the first single off the record called “On Call:”


The opening chords off “Knocked Up” and several other songs sound like something epic off a U2 track. Perhaps during their stint opening for that biggest band in the world, the Tennessee-based Kings set their sights a little higher than trying to one up southern fried rock bands like the Black Crowes: on their ambitious and brilliantly produced third album it shows. U2 isn’t the only new influence that can be heard in the Kings’ new and enriched sound: Red Hot Chili Peppers (“McFearless”), the Mars Volta, and the requisite Bob Dylan (check out their quotation of the beautiful “ 4th Time Around” on “The Runner”—Kings of Leon also opened for Dylan who loves them) also have made their impression on the young Followill boys. Zeppelin and Skynard still remain one of their biggest points of reference, but the last track “Arizona” even takes a complete 180 and sounds a little bit like really amazing, weirdly tripped out 80’s power pop to me.

McFearless:


Here are 2 of my faves:
Fans
Ragoo
I know I included a lot of video today and that's not just because the Kings of Leon are fun to look at, though they really are. It's just easier.

This is the kind of album you want to turn up and speed around too. Because of the Times is out today. I suggest you buy it.

Take Me Out to the Twins Game

My favorite rockers The Hold Steady have recorded a version of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" for Craig Finn's favorite hometown team, the Twins.

The song is here, and a video of them recording is here.

I like this band. They have a funny name.

It is Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin.
They look kind of like babies, except the dude on the left. I wonder how old they are.


They have a new song here.

Hypocrite says what?

Potential Presidential nominee (oh god) calls Spanish language the language of the ghetto. Dumbass.

Among Newt's other credentials for President is his opposition to the 1st Amendment. Here's a great Keith Olbermann ass-whopping of the guy.

And, lest we forget, the leader of Clinton's inquisition was having an affair at the same freaking time:

What does it all mean?

Today I'm starting a new section of posts entitled "What does it all mean?" in which I post music-industry news and think about....what it all means.

First up: From a couple of weeks back, the Big Four record labels settled with the FCC for $12.5 million (not billion, million, which is chump change for them) for their most recent payola lawsuit. They also voluntarily made a deal with the American Association of Independent Music to set aside a bunch of half-hour blocks for independent music on the radio. So, stay tuned to terrestrial radio at around 4am for a fleeting block of music that isn't Nickleback or terrible. More here and here.

And today's news: EMI will be the first major to lift the DRM (digital rights management) copy-protection anti-piracy system currently in place on the label’s online catalogue. Play songs wherever you want, whenever you want, in better quality. The catch? 30 cents more, so not for cheapskates. (via Rockdaily)

And now for something completely different...

From the sometimes obnoxiously repetitive throbbing bass, drums and synths of house music to the sometimes sappy singer-songwriters, I found something pretty for this yucky Monday morning...err afternoon. Here's Ray LaMontagne, a guy I used to love, who now I like a lot, sometimes, with Damien Rice (ditto). They're on a french music show doing the Bee Gee's song "To Love Somebody."

Go to I am Fuel, You are Friends to DL.