tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45805804524354361612024-02-19T04:53:05.107+01:0090s geeks - surviving in the futurewe deal in music and pop culture.
if you've come for news, you're in the wrong place. despite the occasional piece of news, we mostly do olds.jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02894654286713188245noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580580452435436161.post-44474226960128784202016-08-22T22:25:00.000+02:002016-08-22T22:25:35.412+02:00turns out the 90s IS the future!maybe it's time to resurrect this blog, considering a number of things;<br />
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1. i saw <a href="http://mudhoneyonline.com/">mudhoney </a>play this summer in malmö, and the audience was full of young people with 90s band t-shirts and sonic youth tattoos.<br />
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2. every other 90s band is re-releasing their greatest albums (on vinyl), or even recording new ones! also, they are on tour. <a href="http://www.lushofficial.com/livedates">lush</a>, <a href="http://bellyofficial.com/news/">belly</a>, <a href="http://l7theband.com/#tour-dates">L7</a>, <a href="http://thejesusandmarychain.uk.com/">the jesus and mary chain</a>...<br />
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3. well, that was about it. also, it would be nice.<br />
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4. i just bought tickets to see dinosaur jr in november.<br />
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<br />jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02894654286713188245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580580452435436161.post-91589435516758752712012-01-29T13:43:00.002+01:002012-01-29T13:47:54.688+01:00just some videosi'm a bad blogger. here's something to improve your sunday afternoon..<br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/itl125pavOM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2WT_WJV5fpk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MI0a9hTh5AU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UDvobdLt_po" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02894654286713188245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580580452435436161.post-69615010864536578222011-09-01T00:01:00.013+02:002011-09-01T01:04:25.846+02:00In the right mood for mud: English Festivals<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_WRt_dlMetxphX6ANdZ5g3H4wja_Q7Zp_ch3ANCu3x-Rm1U8_H1DZ5Ei5kVqFKH-8ZdyzDoOfIp-edQ5-exBt55HUVtwHy__7hTVs-PzRjcUDAEDec81qHKdZO672MxJR7qb_ndF07d1/s1600/reading+1997+poster.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_WRt_dlMetxphX6ANdZ5g3H4wja_Q7Zp_ch3ANCu3x-Rm1U8_H1DZ5Ei5kVqFKH-8ZdyzDoOfIp-edQ5-exBt55HUVtwHy__7hTVs-PzRjcUDAEDec81qHKdZO672MxJR7qb_ndF07d1/s320/reading+1997+poster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647145581384903282" border="0" /></a>
<br />"September is here again", sang eternal <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8RxNeHKgNU" target="_blank">David Sylvian</a> in 1987.
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Glastonbury Festival</span> set June to fire, and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Reading (and Leeds) Festival</span> unplugged its plugs last Sunday night.
<br />Therefore even this year I've not gone to any of the two most suggestive and symbolic festival ever (to me).
<br />I still go to concerts and I'm happy to necessarily take planes to reach the venue; I went to festivals, got soaked with rain, beer and sweat (mine and others'), longed for a real toilet, yet enjoyed the experience thoroughly.
<br />But, I feel there's a kind of... void anyway.
<br />I've been planning to squeeze myself into the crowd of one of the two UK festivals since I first handled a precious copy of New Musical Express and read epic reviews of epic concerts, some 20 years ago.
<br />Postponing after postponing I'm here, 36 and counting, and progressively less eager to share an ocean of mud with 50.000 people. Especially when you get Beyoncè (Glasto) or My Chemical Romance (Reading) as headliners (I mean, I've nothing against them, I even like them, but it's definitely not my cup of tea).
<br />Anyway,
<br />since this blog is meant to talk about 90s, here's something from the poster above:
<br />
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Manic Street Preachers* - Revol (1994)</span>
<br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/C-Y1rZJoU_c" allowfullscreen="" width="420" frameborder="0" height="345"></iframe>
<br />*: when they were still cool
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Suede** - Metal Mickey (1992)</span>
<br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0rbw5FaCAzw" allowfullscreen="" width="420" frameborder="0" height="345"></iframe>
<br />**: everlastingly cool
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Cardigans*** - Sick and tired (1994)</span>
<br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8paAUN6lC3I" allowfullscreen="" width="420" frameborder="0" height="345"></iframe>
<br />***: jewel of a song, jewel of an album.
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<br />sergiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07301461447308379042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580580452435436161.post-53714837082651718092011-08-29T12:22:00.013+02:002011-08-29T12:41:05.796+02:00August, 1991As everyone knows, "<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Nevermind</span>" was released in <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">August 1991</span>.
<br />Exactly 20 years ago.
<br />Is there still something to add about this album?
<br />Yes, I do think so. And I'm sure you're pining to know what it meant and still means to me, its role in my... musical education, and... and sooner or later your curiosity will be fulfilled. I'll write a post about it someday.
<br />(omg, 1991... I was 16, my hair was longer than Eddie Vedder's, I weighed almost 20 kilos less than now, and... man, the 90s had just begun!)
<br />Anyway...
<br />in that very same month other milestones of (indie / pop / alt) music saw the light of day.
<br />From my beloved brit bishops <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Blur</span> and their first album "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Leisure</span>", to riot grrrl goddesses <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Hole</span> ("<span style="font-weight: bold;">Pretty on the inside</span>"), from trip-hop fathers <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Massive Attack</span> (monumental "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Blue lines</span>") to seminal "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Ten</span>" by <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Pearl Jam</span>, not forgetting <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Metallica</span>'s "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Black album</span>", <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Cypress Hill</span>, and... er... Spin Doctors.
<br />Talking about singles that colored record shop shelves in that fiery August 1991, here are some.
<br />Even some multi-million selling artists, for once.
<br />Enjoy.
<br />
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Smashing Pumpkins - Siva* (August 1991)</span>
<br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/F3wAtWywrP4" allowfullscreen="" width="420" frameborder="0" height="345"></iframe>
<br />*: those colors, those blurred images, Billy Corgan's not bald head...
<br />I think my heart stopped for some seconds
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">PJ Harvey - Dress** (August 1991)</span>
<br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/N7s9bnkGeBc" allowfullscreen="" width="420" frameborder="0" height="345"></iframe>
<br />**: Polly's first ever single.
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Metallica - Enter sandman (August 1991)</span>
<br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/otuCPqrGd0Q" allowfullscreen="" width="420" frameborder="0" height="345"></iframe>
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">R.E.M. - Near wild heaven*** (August 1991)</span>
<br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oC7er_6dpsI" allowfullscreen="" width="420" frameborder="0" height="345"></iframe>
<br />***: admit it, you do love "Out of time", as everbody else.
<br />Pop at its best.
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hole - Teenage whore (August 1991)</span>
<br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hqscn8Fkb6o" allowfullscreen="" width="420" frameborder="0" height="345"></iframe>sergiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07301461447308379042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580580452435436161.post-10434412980245899872011-08-28T19:32:00.010+02:002011-08-28T19:54:44.599+02:00Crumbs - Crumb #3Crumb #3: "<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Fake fur</span>" by <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Urusei Yatsura</span>
<br />
<br />Uuhh.. that's what I call a "crumb" (for the correct definition of "crumb", see <a href="http://90sgeeks.blogspot.com/search/label/Chainsaw%20kittens" target="_blank">this post</a>)!
<br />I've totally forgotten (about) both song and band.
<br />
<br />Premise is needed:
<br />if you own a Facebook profile or, in general, are used to hang out at forums, you've most likely noticed that lots of italian (males as well as females) users' avatars are japanese (TV) cartoon characters, the most part coming from the late 70s and 80s.
<br />All of us Italians, 30-heading-for-40 something, were raised up with, no... <span style="font-weight: bold;">thanks</span> to japanese TV cartoons.
<br />Even my 67 y.o. father still remembers characters, themes song / opening themes from lots of them.
<br />Try to google "<span style="font-weight: bold;">cartoni animati giapponesi</span>": a new world will open itself before your eyes.
<br />
<br />A few days ago, while taking advantage of my fake FB profile to take a peek at other people's life, I noticed that a (male) friend of mine chose an image of <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lum_Invader" target="_blank">Lamù</a> as his avatar.
<br />Among utterly forgettable comments I happened to read the original japanese name (I somehow forgot) of the series: <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.furinkan.com/uy/index.htm" target="_blank">Urusei Yatsura</a>.
<br />And suddenly... poof! my mind went immediately back to this scottish combo, and the only one song of theirs I knew.
<br />And so.. here it goes:
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Urusei Yatsura - Fake fur (1997)</span>
<br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/n4VEqWyQCK4" allowfullscreen="" width="420" frameborder="0" height="345"></iframe>
<br />
<br />and... er... this is the italian version's opening theme
<br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/FvzPLp9Y_yU" allowfullscreen="" width="420" frameborder="0" height="345"></iframe>
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<br />sergiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07301461447308379042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580580452435436161.post-43852626772553337722011-07-30T19:10:00.001+02:002011-07-30T19:11:20.000+02:00Songs by numbersIt's all in the title of the post.<br />Songs, numbers.<br />Songs with a number, nothing else, in their titles.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Massive Attack - Three (1994)</span><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8uW2lucCx_8" allowfullscreen="" width="425" frameborder="0" height="349"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jimmy Eat World - Ten (1999)</span><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/iTdUhN-XcSU" allowfullscreen="" width="425" frameborder="0" height="349"></iframe><br />Fan made video: don't know whether it captured the spirit of the song or not, but... I liked it.<br />(and "Clarity" is a great album indeed)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cranberries - Twenty-one (1994)</span><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/nzpLMD1xb0Q" allowfullscreen="" width="425" frameborder="0" height="349"></iframe><br />I proudly admit it: I loved "No need to argue". Period. And songs like this or "Empty" still give me the shivers.<br />(I know, I know... this video basically is "Dreams" re-edited. But to me is new, because I've always thought <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlMWAl7tIro" target="_blank">this version</a> was the only one existing. And, anyway, the 4AD atmosphere suits the song like a glove)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Smashing Pumpkins - Thirty-three (1996)</span><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/CUbQBVbXNsU" width="425" frameborder="0" height="349"></iframe>sergiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07301461447308379042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580580452435436161.post-64384692155721176102011-07-21T23:28:00.005+02:002011-07-22T01:02:33.831+02:00The view from stageAs I wrote somewhere in this blog already, I was in a band, in the 90s, and we existed from 1994 to 2001. Actually, we kept on rehearsing and putting sketches of songs on tape (and on audio file) until 2004, but we basically ceased to be everyone's favourite active indie pop band (only in my dreams, of course) in 2001, when we played live for the last time.<br />It was the 21st of July. So it's exactly 10 years now.<br />I remember it was so windy, just like today (in Sardinia).<br />Ten years... aargh!!<br />I definitely need something carelessly happy, and pop, and <strong>live</strong>, to cheer me up a bit.<br />Here it goes:<br /><br /><strong>Pulp - Disco 2000 (1995)</strong><br /><iframe height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/nWJX4NvFJGk" frameborder="0" width="425"></iframe>sergiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07301461447308379042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580580452435436161.post-10455065938910519732011-07-11T20:39:00.004+02:002011-07-11T21:04:21.717+02:00speaking of elliott smiththis is one of my favorite songs by him, the ballad of big nothing, off of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Either/Or_%28album%29">either/or</a>. no video it seems, so here's a live version with pretty good sound. skip the first minute, cos it's all just applause. (although, <a href="http://youtu.be/Gx62ZleG9DA">click here</a> if you want to hear the recorded version.) enjoy.<br /><br /><iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/P4zSLR_doCw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02894654286713188245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580580452435436161.post-46356993694013067812011-07-10T21:04:00.011+02:002011-07-10T21:29:18.792+02:00Oh, yes! Bright Eyes is Nebraskan!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jdDz0cmkooZAEcoMo8DZM2L7kGxN1b4QfSfoSyO4p6yhJARTOEv0nn90NXBjo5NY_RCG9ZmFJHmGeZTaJeuf23bdYu7pY7IW0xKkXC2wWQ7ikoHm7fgs6JwXt80jduM8rlCat8Bd8kjK/s1600/piece+of+Nebraska+panel.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 264px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jdDz0cmkooZAEcoMo8DZM2L7kGxN1b4QfSfoSyO4p6yhJARTOEv0nn90NXBjo5NY_RCG9ZmFJHmGeZTaJeuf23bdYu7pY7IW0xKkXC2wWQ7ikoHm7fgs6JwXt80jduM8rlCat8Bd8kjK/s320/piece+of+Nebraska+panel.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627804551526366882" border="0" /></a>"<span style="font-style: italic;">What about 90s music from Nebraska</span>?"<br />That's what I was thinking about yesterday morning, while putting the finishing touch to the "Nebraska" panel.<br />Because I have this artsy-fartsy project going on (one of the many; most of them pointless and indefinite): simply, I cut out Google Earth aerial views, then I combine them together through collage techniques (on PC).<br />I suppose millions of PC / interent users have done it alreay before.<br />Anyway... I've completed only one of the 4 (digital) patchworks / panels that will compose the work, so far (work that, when finished, will adorn that sad and white wall of my living-room).<br />This panel's called "Nebraska", because all the patches pertain to Fred Astaire's, Hillary Swank's and Marlon Brando's home state.<br />Getting back to the point: a quick search on Wikipedia revealed that Conor Oberst, <a href="http://www.conoroberst.com/" target="_blank">Bright Eyes</a> <span style="font-style: italic;">deus ex machina</span>, was born in <span style="font-weight: bold;">Omaha</span>, Nebraska's biggest city. I've always seen him as something from the 00's on (I came across Bright Eyes only in 2000, when "<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Fevers and mirrors</span>" came out), but I just finished listening to 1998 "<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Letting off the happiness</span>" and it's great!<br />And there's a track on it that smells like 90s. Like <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sparklehorse</span> on a shoegaze trip (with intriguing female backing vocals).<br />Enjoy.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">PS: unforgotten Elliott Smith was born in Omaha, too. But he was kind of "adopted" by Portland, Oregon.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bright eyes - pull my hair (1998)</span><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/186jUh-1woE" allowfullscreen="" width="425" frameborder="0" height="349"></iframe>sergiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07301461447308379042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580580452435436161.post-64815722010090699002011-07-06T02:04:00.007+02:002011-07-06T02:23:35.857+02:00PJ Harvey, a girl from EnglandTomorrow... no, today, early morning, I'm going to take a plane from Sardinia (Italy; it's the large island on the left, for those who have not been taught geography properly) to <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.ferrarasottolestelle.it/index.php" target="_blank">Ferrara</a> (centre-north of Italy). And in the evening I'll be there, again a few meters from my love of a life time, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Polly Jean Harvey</span>.<br />Since I'm in a hurry (wake up time is within... 3 hours), and since this blog is all about 90s, here's one of the very few songs taken from PJ's 90s albums she's going to play in Ferrara.<br />I think I'll write and upload something about the concert anyway, next week.<br /><br />(suggestion: go to Youtube and search <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.youtube.com/user/letenglandshake" target="_blank">PJ Harvey and "Let England shake"</a>; there's no official TV-friendly video at all. But you'll find 12 short documentaries, the size of a song. 12 songs on "Let England shake", 12 videos about England, its colors and shapes and humanscapes, about english people, their eyes and hands, their past and present, hopes and disillusions and memories, the story of a nation through images of daily simple life)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">PJ Harvey - The sky lit up (1998)</span> tour 2011<br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/P5l384RX26M" allowfullscreen="" width="425" frameborder="0" height="349"></iframe>sergiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07301461447308379042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580580452435436161.post-36715689164549337952011-06-30T19:15:00.011+02:002011-06-30T19:38:14.074+02:00Winona, Winona and WynonaUndoubtedly, when you think about <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Winona Ryder</span> your mind can't help focusing on 90s.<br />Because it's in everything she evokes (evoked): it was in her haircut, in the way she nodded her head, in the position of the camera that made it look like she was less tall than you and she was watching you like a scoutgirl at your front door on a mission to sell as many biscuits as possible (*gasp*, forgot to breathe!..), it's in "Reality bites" as well as in "Edward Scissorhands" (and in her lovestory with Johnny Depp), it's in the way she dressed, it's in her bewildered fawn glance.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(however... er... she always left me unimpressed; my younger sister, instead, was definitely a "winonian")</span><br />This clueless post would like to... celebrate Winona Ryder through three classic (to me) 90s videos that simply bear "Winona" in their title or... feature Winona lip-synching.<br /><br />We start with gross "Wynona's big brown beaver" by <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Primus</span>* (although leader Les Claypool always denied any reference with the girl from Minnesota).<br />Second video is "Talk about the Blues" by superb <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.thejonspencerbluesexplosion.com/" target="_blank">Jon Spencer Blues Explosion</a>: Winona sings, Giovanni Ribisi plays guitar, and John C. Reilly is on drums.<br />Third video is "Winona", by guiltily underrated <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drop_Nineteens" target="_blank">Drop Nineteens</a>: intense Uk-style shoegaze made in Boston. And that's my favourite by far of the bunch.<br />Enjoy<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(*I hated Primus. It'not (only) their fault. I'll write a post about it)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Primus - Wynona's big brown beaver (1995)</span><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/aYDfwUJzYQg" allowfullscreen="" width="425" frameborder="0" height="349"></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Talk about the Blues (1998)</span><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LO3CQy0Fj-Q" allowfullscreen="" width="425" frameborder="0" height="349"></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Drop Nineteens - Winona (1992)</span><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_4oCboj39jo" allowfullscreen="" width="425" frameborder="0" height="349"></iframe>sergiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07301461447308379042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580580452435436161.post-24786853648508280752011-06-22T00:59:00.010+02:002011-06-22T01:25:38.936+02:00It's 90s g(r)eeks!<span style="font-weight: bold;">Slowdive - Souvlaki (1993)</span><br /><br />Just came back from a trip to the island of Rhodes, Greece (suffice it to say: you do have to visit that place!).<br />After strolling along the windy alleys of the Old City for a few minutes, you immediately realize that you've been surrounded by... menus! They are everywhere, trying to enchant the unwary tourist from a restaurant window, or triumphally invading the (narrow) streets in form of a 2x1 metre board, or lasciviously offering their goodies to your hungry eyes from an unsteady lectern.<br />And all of them promise nothing but one thing: authentic, real, genuine greek food.<br />And in a whiff you feel comfortable with words like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolmades" target="_blank">"dolmades"</a>, "gyros", "moussaka" (and "tzatziki") and, of course, "souvlaki".<br />But... could have a 90s geek like me simply eaten <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Souvlaki" target="_blank">that delicious thing</a> without thinking about <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slowdive" target="_blank">Slowdive</a>?<br />This post is for the cold-hearted readers out there who don't know that "<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Souvlaki</span>" is, also, the 1993 masterpiece by essential <span style="font-weight: bold;">Slowdive</span> (and for all the people who thinks that their 90s would have been poorer without that band and that album).<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">file under: shoegazing, My Bloody Valentine without distortions, music to float to, thank God there had been </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.creation-records.com/" target="_blank">Creation Records</a><span style="font-style: italic;">, oh my! Rachel Goswell turned 40 last month.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Slowdive - Alison</span><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DxpEtbcVvZ8" allowfullscreen="" width="425" frameborder="0" height="349"></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Slowdive - Souvlaki Space station</span><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/G0LIO138Z-A" allowfullscreen="" width="425" frameborder="0" height="349"></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Slowdive - When the sun hits</span><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8J2O6SAOmxw" allowfullscreen="" width="425" frameborder="0" height="349"></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Slowdive - Machine gun</span><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xuxMu0FtEbM" allowfullscreen="" width="425" frameborder="0" height="349"></iframe>sergiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07301461447308379042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580580452435436161.post-88498383718778729362011-06-17T00:03:00.010+02:002011-06-17T01:08:45.593+02:00How to disappear. Not completelyHello again.<br />To the millions of (silent, apparently) readers of this blog out there... sorry for disappearing again.<br />I promise it won't happen any more.<br />I offer you <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://lightfromadeadstar.org/index.htm" target="_blank">Lush</a>'s "<b>500 (shake baby shake)</b>" as an apology.<br />There's an <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpT2JP1SjVc&feature=related" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" >alternate video</span></a> for this song, and it's definitely sooo 90s: a kind of summary of 90s videos mood, something resembling Stone Temple Pilots' "Creep" meets Garbage's "Stupid girl" meets Whale's "Hobo humpin slobo babe" meets Smashing Pumpkins' "Bullet with butterfly wings".<br />Pretty cool indeed.<br />But tonight I prefer version #1. An image for "carefree happyness"? Miki (Berenyi) singing and nodding her head in time while driving a 500 (yes, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_500" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" >"500" is that tiny car's model</span></a>, symbol of Italy's history and culture. My family owned two of them when I was a kid!).<br />Enjoy<br />(Now go and buy "Lovelife"!)<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Lush - 500 (shake baby shake) (1996)</span><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1G2GoFl3bHc" allowfullscreen="" width="425" frameborder="0" height="349"></iframe>sergiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07301461447308379042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580580452435436161.post-68950512968737156242011-04-30T21:57:00.003+02:002011-04-30T22:04:14.770+02:00fade out againthis is one of my favorite music videos of all time and also one of my favorite radiohead song. great combo there. both video and song are so incredibly beautiful. i get the urge to watch it every now and then, but it's been, i think, over a year now. my brain just went "hang on.. street spirit!" all of a sudden. <br /><br />so, enjoy. the video is from '96 so, considering, the effects still work. good job there video making people.<br /><br /><iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/IrTB-iiecqk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02894654286713188245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580580452435436161.post-31099991101605762322011-04-16T19:07:00.005+02:002011-04-16T19:15:46.933+02:00Taking songs for realJust got to know that <a href="http://www.lacunacoil.it/" target="_blank">Lacuna Coil</a>, "Italian gothic metal band from Milan" (as Wikipedia reports. And I'm not going to venture trying out some other definitions: I'm not into metal <span style="font-style: italic;">et similia</span> at all), made an elegant cover of <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.dubstar.com/" target="_blank">Dubstar</a>'s "<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Stars</span>", a good ten years ago ("Halflife" e.p., 2000).<br />I'm not a fan of Lacuna Coil, though I respected them much (each time an italian band / artist reaches international success through appreciable music... thumbs up, anyway). But, needless to say, I prefer Dubstar's original version.<br />And, for the record, Sarah (Blackwood, the charming singer), is one of the thirty? fifty? billion girls / women I fell in love with during my 90s.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dubstar - Stars (1995)</span><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/b-x6ywUqVvk" allowfullscreen="" width="480" frameborder="0" height="390"></iframe>sergiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07301461447308379042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580580452435436161.post-78662523332519665822011-03-31T19:19:00.010+02:002011-04-01T19:53:06.985+02:00Birthdays and self-gifts<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgz-Ym9a1yYhQhBUrDL5kBjQyf4hR6_pelN6naEzvjt4AJKsbL933U2a97i7urZiganuD_gRPMCERoqrJKksItdUabh9tbl09LDMYT2uHhsJdJJtugY2Ka3UyGPyap-UsLrFZeXdckLLj/s1600/jane%2527s+addiction+pic.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 277px; height: 208px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgz-Ym9a1yYhQhBUrDL5kBjQyf4hR6_pelN6naEzvjt4AJKsbL933U2a97i7urZiganuD_gRPMCERoqrJKksItdUabh9tbl09LDMYT2uHhsJdJJtugY2Ka3UyGPyap-UsLrFZeXdckLLj/s320/jane%2527s+addiction+pic.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590674531785384994" border="0" /></a><br />So it's my birthday, today.<br />And it's time for a self gift.<br />Because, you know, the (not-written) rules of this blog are strict and inflexible: "<span style="font-style: italic;">Remember: thou won't write about anything happened before the 1st of January 1990 and after the 31st of December 1999. Rrremember!</span>".<br />Thus this is one of the rare chances I have to venture out of the 90s.<br />It's a crime worth committing, I think.<br />The record is 1988 "<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Nothing's shocking</span>" by <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Jane's Addiction</span>.<br />I'll write an entire post about them sooner or later, that's for sure.<br />For now, let me just say that: if you want to thoroughly and deeply understand and appreciate the 90s, you definitely shouldn't keep ignoring it.<br />There are no fillers, no dull songs on that record.<br />It's so dense, so full of ideas, genres, sheer class and genius.<br />And there are Perry Farrell and Dave Navarro at their best.<br />I would have liked to upload "Ocean size" video, but, you know, embedding is not permitted... (however, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5CWCFIG7ZY" target="_blank">here's the link</a>)<br />So here is "Jane says", the most relaxed moment on "Nothing's shocking".<br />A sublime ballad. With my name in it, too.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jane's Addiction - Jane says (1988)</span><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xh-5FI21s6M" allowfullscreen="" width="480" frameborder="0" height="390"></iframe>sergiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07301461447308379042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580580452435436161.post-4562211291388271652011-03-29T19:52:00.009+02:002011-03-30T00:54:59.366+02:00Reissues: "Deserter's songs" by Mercury Rev<span style="font-weight: bold;">Mercury Rev - Goddess on a highway (1998)</span><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1xJbEoc5sDw" allowfullscreen="" width="480" frameborder="0" height="390"></iframe><br /><br />For those cold hearted people out there who have never listened to <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Mercury Rev</span>, this is your chance to make up for this shameful lack.<br />As <a href="http://pitchfork.com/news/41781-mercury-rev-reissue-ideserters-songsi/" target="_blank">Pitchfork reports</a>, the "upstate New York orchestral rockers" reissued fundamental 1998 "<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Deserter's songs</span>" two weeks ago, their most famous and critically acclaimed album, and everyone's favourite.<br />The (according to NME) "best album of 1998" features all the elements that have been defining Mercury Rev's peculiar sound since "<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">See you on the other side</span>" (1995): "<span style="font-style: italic;">shimmering psychedelic pop, immersive indie-rock, spectacularly engrossing passages of sumptuous instrumentation</span>"*. Mine definition could be... uhm... "evocative orchestral astro dreamy pop with falsettos"??<br /><a href="http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/mercury_rev/deserters_songs/" target="_blank">Rate your music</a> filed it under "Chamber Pop, Indie Pop, Neo-Psychedelia, Dream Pop, Psychedelic Pop".<br />I've always loved music genre categories...<br />Anyway...<br />I strongly suggest you to provide a copy of this gem, and to listen to it over and over, until your heart and blood are warm again.<br /><br />(*: by Mike Diver for BBC.co.uk. <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/8dm5" target="_blank">Full review here</a>)<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mercury Rev - Opus 40 (1998)</span><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fusKcZjj7dg" allowfullscreen="" width="480" frameborder="0" height="390"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mercury Rev - Holes (1998)</span><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/SYe5Q-oMEME" allowfullscreen="" width="480" frameborder="0" height="390"></iframe>sergiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07301461447308379042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580580452435436161.post-69763177048660582062011-03-27T19:09:00.009+02:002011-03-27T19:37:02.002+02:00We are Grandaddy and we play Strokes coversI just realized, with surprise and shock, that I can't, I won't upload "The crystal lake" by <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandaddy" target="_blank">Grandaddy</a> on this blog.<br />Because that marvellously dreamy song, one of my favourite ever, was released in 2000.<br />So I won't even write about the magnificent <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/3545-the-sophtware-slump/" target="_blank">"The Sophtware slump"</a>,<br />the album that contained it.<br />To (partially) relieve this discomfort, I can't do nothing but watch this:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Grandaddy - Summer here kids (1998)</span><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Phop741MCIU" allowfullscreen="" width="480" frameborder="0" height="390"></iframe><br /><br /><br />and, obviuosly, this:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Grandaddy - AM 180 (1998)</span><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YX-_yLyU1fU" allowfullscreen="" width="480" frameborder="0" height="390"></iframe>sergiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07301461447308379042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580580452435436161.post-16278121974166276232011-03-17T19:21:00.009+01:002011-03-17T19:56:43.627+01:00150 years<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VoNl05U2S7jKh-vuqLkOjIcaU3XExhkEj7PW_PYMBZZ8Ufegg2F9gqvPFIM-A2odQbDG5RpdofAw2eCwLIXwpoCE1BB5UNYFGeA4IHB0v7cSXWmSMvd_PemjntKZ_uE1EExqS8Ou9M53/s1600/neighbour.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 216px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VoNl05U2S7jKh-vuqLkOjIcaU3XExhkEj7PW_PYMBZZ8Ufegg2F9gqvPFIM-A2odQbDG5RpdofAw2eCwLIXwpoCE1BB5UNYFGeA4IHB0v7cSXWmSMvd_PemjntKZ_uE1EExqS8Ou9M53/s320/neighbour.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585124188088454754" border="0" /></a><br />Today Italy celebrates 150 years of unity.<br />I however think Italians don't have that much to celebrate these days.<br />And if you happened to read about Italy politics, you'd agree with me and with a good half of italian citizens.<br />A-ny-way...<br />Since I'm Italian and I didn't display a national flag on my window, I want to celebrate somehow.<br />Is there anything fancier than a 90s video and anything more proper than an italian one?<br /><br />Viva l'Italia!<br /><br /><br />(<span style="font-style: italic;">for the record: in 1997 my band opened for them. I stored the event poster somewhere. In case you don't believe it...</span>)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao - Satelliti (1997)</span><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ebMzoiOmx7A" allowfullscreen="" width="480" frameborder="0" height="390"></iframe>sergiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07301461447308379042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580580452435436161.post-46033399148062328532011-03-11T19:45:00.020+01:002011-03-13T23:58:50.954+01:00The "if I were an astronaut about to launch etc..." listNick Hornby, in "High fidelity", showed us the delightful art of compiling lists.<br />It's more satisfying than what you may think, unless your mind can't go further than a dull "my favourite 10 albums" list.<br />Along the years I happened to come across intriguing lists like "songs to be heard at my funeral", classics like "songs to shag to" (or "ALBUMS to shag to", in case you were that type) or weird inventories like "most useless member of a band" (uh... if I don't get wrong, I read it on the Melody Maker, and the "winner" was awkward skinny allucinated-eyed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bez_%28dancer%29" target="_blank">Bez</a> of the <a href="http://www.happymondaysonline.com/" target="_blank">Happy Mondays</a>. Actually, his role was to play maracas and dance. Although maracas were not hearable and he danced like "a man who needs the bathroom trying to start a fight at a bus stop"*).<br />Anyway, talking about oddness, here's my "<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">songs I'd listen to if I were an astronaut in the Space Shuttle two minutes before countdown starts</span>" list.<br />Imagine yourself, sitting stiff and tensed in a Space Shuttle about to lunch, alone in your spacesuit, breathing like Darth Vader, halfway between the warm confidence of your beloved ones, the noise and confusion of your earthly life, and the cold, astonishing silence of the great beyond.<br />What would it be your soundtrack?<br />That's my choice:<br /><b style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span">#5</span></b><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtU9FLXERpQ" target="_blank"><b>Foo Fighters - Next year (1999**)</b></a><br />Widely predictable.<br /><br /><b style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span">#4</span></b><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIY1X_UcBWo" target="_blank"><b>Blur - Far out (1994)</b></a><br />Ground control for the Major Damon...<br /><br /><b>#3</b><br /><b>R. Kelly - I believe I ca</b>... no, joking.<br /><br /><b style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span">#3</span></b><br /><b>Nine Inch Nails - A warm place (1994)</b><br />Because I'll need an instrumental<br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/G1vxJb6MQ34" allowfullscreen="" width="480" frameborder="0" height="390"></iframe><br /><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span">#2</span></b><br /><b>Mansun - Wide Open Space (1996)</b><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2SRVFJfjcf8" allowfullscreen="" width="480" frameborder="0" height="390"></iframe><br />(I suggest you to have a listen to the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bI3yiqjMNY" target="_blank">acoustic version here</a>)</div><div><br /><b style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span">#1</span></b><br /><b>Spiritualized - Ladies and gentlemen, we are floating in space (1997)</b><br />Anything to add?<br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DFcgOO2uoS0" allowfullscreen="" width="480" frameborder="0" height="390"></iframe><br /><br />*: by David Pollock in independent.co.uk. <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/happy-mondays-academy-glasgow-1229693.html" target="_blank">Full excellent review here</a>.<br />**: ok, the single was released in 2000; but I received the album as a Christmas present, in 1999.</div>sergiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07301461447308379042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580580452435436161.post-22434820973178801852011-03-08T01:46:00.001+01:002011-03-08T01:50:01.643+01:00So-called alternative sister<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMogHIg89Y_bkksmCBsh27PAXRyYL8gT4bMBNuqe89iM1DQgeWCGXYJhSCGLf-HnERWrjqjgOaVUaBjhsL_6u-xHCQ6cfKNQ7JDymaisKnTvcK92UYigLfWry0GurzN7cFdvidR1JmYwV/s1600/my+sister%252C+this+world%252C+and+body.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMogHIg89Y_bkksmCBsh27PAXRyYL8gT4bMBNuqe89iM1DQgeWCGXYJhSCGLf-HnERWrjqjgOaVUaBjhsL_6u-xHCQ6cfKNQ7JDymaisKnTvcK92UYigLfWry0GurzN7cFdvidR1JmYwV/s320/my+sister%252C+this+world%252C+and+body.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581495079612898818" border="0" /></a>Yesterday* my sister turned 31.<br />But she still is a 14 years old girl to me, at a time when she was mad about Pearl Jam, Blur and so-called 90s alternative music.<br />I supposed it's so common for older brothers to see their younger sisters like... they were eternally framed in their teenage years; and I presume I'd feel the same even if she turned 40, or got married or spawned noisy creatures called "nephews".<br />But I arrogantly think my case is even more serious, and that's because so many memories of my "90s in music" are closely related to her: all those records we listened to together, all those VHS tapes as mementos of all the music videos and TV programmes we watched together, all those gigs of unknown local bands we went to...<br />We shared happy and unforgettable moments like that festival in 1999 (where Courney Love ordered the security staff to get rid of the "fan" who throwed a bottle on stage during Hole' set, and where Butch Vig had been only a spit's throw from me), as well as dreary ones, like the day Kurt Cobain egoistically resolved he would leave us orphans.<br />So many things changed since then (and how changed we are...).<br />(<span style="font-style: italic;">The words "The End" on the screen, melancholic violins, end credits</span>.<br />This oh-so-personal post is finally over)<br /><br />Yesterday* I went to my parents' house to celebrate her birthday altogether, and I secretly took a picture (see above) of two records from her collection.<br />The one on the left is a (rare?) 10inch vinyl copy of <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Juliana Hatfield</span>'s "<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">My sister</span>" I bought ages ago in London and gave to her as a present (one of my favourite song ever, for the record). I thought it couldn't miss from this post.<br />The CD on the left is 1996 "<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">This world and body</span>" by british band <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.themarionarchives.co.uk/" target="_blank">Marion</a>. I remember she loved that album so much.<br />Pretty nice song indeed.<br />"Our" song. Sort of.<br /><br />(*: the 6th)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Marion - Sleep (1995)</span><br /><object width="425px" height="360px"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="movie" value="http://mediaservices.myspace.com/services/media/embed.aspx/m=13763053,t=1,mt=video"><embed src="http://mediaservices.myspace.com/services/media/embed.aspx/m=13763053,t=1,mt=video" allowfullscreen="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="360"></embed></object>sergiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07301461447308379042noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580580452435436161.post-12753083479488480252011-02-25T22:44:00.001+01:002011-02-27T02:24:17.073+01:00...and all of a sudden it's February 1991I was searching material for a post about the so-called <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madchester" target="_blank">Madchester</a> scene; in my intentions it would take three sub-posts at least, in order to define, to discuss, to... explain (to myself, first) its role in the decade this blog is about.<br />It's such hard mission, and my English doesn't assist me the way I need it to. So many cool things to say, yet so few adjectives to convey the message.<br />Anyway...<br />While idly drifting from site to site, I stumbled upon a date, no... two dates.<br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.thecharlatans.net/singles.html" target="_blank">The Charlatans</a> released "<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Over rising</span>", one of their most legendary singles, on the 25th of February 1991. The year after, on the 24th of February, they published my favourite single of theirs, "<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Weirdo</span>".<br />You realize time is not on your side anymore when the songs of your life are twenty years old.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Charlatans - Over rising (1991)</span><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/a6daKJG14LI" width="480" frameborder="0" height="390"></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Charlatans - Weirdo (1992)</span><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/--TwfsHgA6U" width="480" frameborder="0" height="390"></iframe><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><span style="" id="search"><em></em></span>sergiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07301461447308379042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580580452435436161.post-19448723879388265402011-02-22T17:54:00.006+01:002011-02-22T18:50:17.387+01:00throwing muses et. al.there are three ladies that go together in the american indie musical landscape of the 90s; kristin hersh, tanya donelly and kim deal. all of them also go together with my favorite label, 4AD. <br /><br />the first of them, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristin_Hersh">kristin hersh</a>, formed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Throwing_Muses">throwing muses</a> in the early 80s (in her early teens). in the line-up were her stepsister, the second of the ladies, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanya_Donelly">tanya donelly</a>. they were signed by 4AD in '86. in '91 their 4th and pure fantastic album <span style="font-style:italic;">the real ramona</span> was released, after which tanya donelly left the band. by then donelly had already started a side project with kim deal (of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pixies">pixies</a>) called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Breeders">the breeders</a>. later that year, 1991, she also formed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belly_%28band%29">belly</a>, one of my absolute favorite bands. more about them in a later post.<br /><br />a few year later kristin hersh also started to release solo albums, something she's continued to do. she also formed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50_Foot_Wave">50 foot wave</a> in 2003.<br /><br />here's throwing muses "not too soon" off of <span style="font-style:italic;">the real ramona</span>. love it!<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/I50uWUWVUtA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />also, here's "bright yellow gun" from album <span style="font-style:italic;">university</span> from '95. (no real video)<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/JAj2DEOcpxQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />also, "your ghost" from hersh's first solo album <span style="font-style:italic;">hips and makers</span>. interesting note: michael stipe sings backgrund vocals here. <br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3VA8uaumikU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02894654286713188245noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580580452435436161.post-22705586232271606532011-02-14T20:21:00.009+01:002011-02-14T20:37:59.585+01:00Oh, my lover!The first time we met was in 1992, and it was true love at first sight.<br />And we've never parted since then.<br />I can say I somehow grew with her. I couldn't imagine my 90s (and my 00s) without her fierce glance and her ruby lips (and her smile often turning into a grin); I loved and still love the way she looks so real whether she shouts out her power and majesty in a fake leopard-skin coat or she drags you in the darkest corners of her heart with a shivering falsetto, dressed like a contemporary Emily Bronte.<br />She is <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">PJ Harvey</span>, and today, 14th of February, her new album "<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Let England shake</span>" is out.<br />If this blog survives, I'm going to write much more about her; so, for now, to salute her new work, celebrate Valentine's Day (do we really need it? No, of course) and give a hint of <a href="http://www.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=187186303" target="_blank">what took place yesterday here in Italy</a> , here's "<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Mansize</span>".<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I'm coming up man-sized</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />skinned alive</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />I want to fit</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />I've got to get</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />man-sized</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />I'm heading on</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />handsome</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Got my leather boots on</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">PJ Harvey - Mansize (1993)</span><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WuJE40OBt48" frameborder="0"></iframe>sergiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07301461447308379042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580580452435436161.post-33799531754967953852011-02-10T11:25:00.004+01:002011-02-14T20:40:11.443+01:00Oops! I gigged againIt's been more than a year since the last time I grabbed a guitar.<br />I thought I wouldn't fall into temptations again, but... it happened.<br />Last week, in a rehearsal room.<br />And.. uh! I wasn't alone.<br />So I think I can state that I play again in (a sort of) a band, somehow.<br />We're only in two, so far. Me on bass and voice and a friend of mine on guitar.<br />A third member is going to join us soon. A real bass player. So I'll switch to rhythm guitar.<br />And by the end of the month we would succeed in dragging a drummer, too.<br />This is the nth time I try to make music again. But this time it's different!! Promise!<br /><br />While checking amps, microphones and volumes, we wanted to put our sense of rhythm to the test.<br />I'm not a big fan of so called "math rock" (like "<a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xod_CrP-YQs" target="_blank">Don Caballero</a>", for instance); even if I was, I wouldn't be able to play anything "mathematic".<br />The most complicated thing that came to my mind was "<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Vasoline</span>", by the <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Stone Temple Pilots</span>.<br />Yes, it's not tortuous at all, on a rhythmic level, and.. yes, I'm a very poor guitar player (yet excellent songwriter, oh yes yes yes!).<br />But that song is marvellous.<br />(Original video <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht672-wYelc%3C/a%3E" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">here</span></a>, and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq63KUAGrdo%3C/a%3E" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">here</span></a>)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stone Temple Pilots - Vasoline (1994)</span><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jkSBY7O0-mc" width="480" frameborder="0" height="390"></iframe>sergiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07301461447308379042noreply@blogger.com1