Meaningful Songs: The Monkees - A Better World (PETER TORK)

The Monkees - A Better World

Ever since learning of Peter Tork's death the other day I and maybe even moreso my wife thought of him and THIS SONG.

See, my Monkees-lifer wife felt that THIS song "A Better World" was actually the best or her favorite track from the much praised Good Times! from 2016.

And it seems to receive very little to no love or attention!

It's really wonderful. The string arrangement, the sort of sad, cynical and in some way optimistic way it sounds and the lyrics specifically.

And so in thinking about Peter, this tune does not seem to leave my head. 


IT WASN'T EVEN ON THE STANDARD GOOD TIMES! BUT ONLY A BLEEPING BONUS TRACK!

............................................________........................
....................................,.-‘”...................``~.,..................
.............................,.-”...................................“-.,............
.........................,/...............................................”:,........
.....................,?......................................................\,.....
.................../...........................................................,}....
................./......................................................,:`^`..}....
.............../...................................................,:”........./.....
..............?.....__.........................................:`.........../.....
............./__.(.....“~-,_..............................,:`........../........
.........../(_....”~,_........“~,_....................,:`........_/...........
..........{.._$;_......”=,_.......“-,_.......,.-~-,},.~”;/....}...........
...........((.....*~_.......”=-._......“;,,./`..../”............../............
...,,,___.\`~,......“~.,....................`.....}............../.............
............(....`=-,,.......`........................(......;_,,-”...............
............/.`~,......`-...............................\....../\...................
.............\`~.*-,.....................................|,./.....\,__...........
,,_..........}.gt;-._\...................................|..............`=~-,....
.....`=~-,_\_......`\,.................................\........................
...................`=~-,,.\,...............................\.......................
................................`:,,...........................`\..............__..
.....................................`=-,...................,%`gt;--==``.......
........................................_\..........._,-%.......`\...............
...................................,lt;`.._|_,-;``................`\.............. 

I dunno, I love a lot of Good Times!

Birth of an Accidental Hipster, You Bring the Summer, She Makes Me Laugh, Me and Magdalena and some others...

but I may be siding with my wife now.

This is such a haunting, sad, beautiful tune.

And Peter never performed it live, I don't think. Not with The Monkees anyway, maybe at 1 of those solo shows he did in 2016 or 2017? I'd have to look it up.

It is kind of haunting me now..like his or his brother Nick's feeling about food and Global Food supplies. Why are people starving when there's more than enough food to go around.

It reminds me of "Earth Song" from Michael Jackson or a conversation I had with Johan Hallgren of Pain of Salvation in 2002 or 2004 at ProgPower USA.

In this song, it seems we are in a "Better World" and like Star Trek alludes to, starvation and famine are gone. A thing of the distant past, etc.

"Joytown" from Kevin Gilbert also comes to mind. Sort of a dream/fantasy utopia in some ways.

Rest in Peace Peter. Hopefully this song will reach even just more Monkees fans now posthumously.
I'm sure now you are living in this "Better World."

Maybe your brother Nick will at least be around to see that.


Bonus track from The Monkees' 2016 album GOOD TIMES
Credits Written by Nick Thorkelson
Peter Tork – Vocals, Guitars and Percussion
Micky Dolenz and Coco Dolenz – Backing Vocals
Joe Boyle – Lead Guitar, Bass and Backing Vocals
Sturgis Cunningham – Drums, Percussion and Backing Vocals
Katlin Wolfberg, Corinne Olsen, Emily Elkins and Eliza James – String Quartet


A Better World"

A better world is needed
I believe anyone can see it
A better world is coming
If we live as we believe
A better world is started
No need to be broken-hearted
No need for longing
We can have all we need

There’s more than enough
To feed all the hungry
To mend every broken heart
We can bring this about
If we mean it
It’s not gonna be easy
So start, so start, so start

The way we live is funny
Anyone can see it’s gonna
Take more than money
It’s gonna take all we got
The way we live is tragic
Anyone can tell it’s gonna
Take more than magic
But believe it or not

There’s more than enough
To feed all the hungry
With enough heart and soul
And if we don’t tire
We can bring this about
It’s not just my imagination
It’s not just you and me
And it’s not just two or three
It’s the whole wide world
On fire

You’ll get your money back
Your heart’s desire

A better world is needed
I believe anyone can see it
A better world is coming
If we live as we believe
A better world is started
No need to be broken hearted
No need for longing
We can have all we need

There’s more than enough (There’s more than enough)
To feed all the hungry
To mend every broken heart
We can bring this about
If we mean it
It’s not gonna be easy
So start, so start

Whole wide world
On fire
Whole wide world
On fire

Kai Danzberg - Pop-Up Radio (2017-2018)

So per Jellyfish and most recently Beck's band, Roger Joseph Manning's post on Facebook about this guy

Imitation IS the sincerest form of flattery, so w that in mind...thank u Kai Danzberg

I discovered the video below, and despite the blatant references, as a Jellyfish, Beatles, Pink Floyd fan, etc, it kind of hit home. And it does sound like a JF track.

So naturally I went to check out the album the track "Welcome to the Show" comes from, Pop-Up Radio, which was released on January 1, 2018.

So Kai Danzberg's music, at least on this song is rather power-pop-ish. I couldn't help but be reminded of Jellyfish or even the likes of Bend Sinister and Timmy Sean in some ways.

This guy I guess is from Germany, and this is his debut album I guess. Although he put out an EP titled Unacceptable last September which is catchy, but also has a New Jack Swing element to it. And he mentions Michael Jackson among the music he's inspired by, Which I actually hear a bit of sElf in the stuff on there.

At any case, I'm going to try and check this whole album out more (I've listened to maybe 2/3 of it, but there wasn't much time at work today = new job, etc), but it's great hear someone new doing proggy Power-Pop.

And that video: I wonder how he did it/how much time, money, etc it took.

Kai Danzberg on Facebook




1. Overture 00:42
2. Welcome To The Show 03:47
3. Yes We Can 03:38
4. Just Listen To Me 02:59
5. You're The One 03:02
6. Puppet On A String 03:45
7. Stranger 05:37
8. How Can You 03:01
9. Too Late 03:35
10. What The F 03:50
11. Sophie 03:28
12. I Should Try 04:22
13. Sleep (Tell Me) 04:08

Muse - Thought Cantagion (2018) [1B]

not bad. The video I think may beat the song it self.

Thriller much?

Stranger Things, The Goldbergs and 80's nostalgia.

Arcade Game, a Lamborghini Countach, even the Vampires and look of the that scene screams 80's Teen Horror/Teen Vampire movie or tv show.

Also I just noticed how "Black Mirror" the Anthology Scifi show, was an influence on their new music/album (a suggested video anyway).

edit:

Eric Nally - Ruby [1B] (2017)

Not sure what to make of this. I like the production overall, and while he seems to be channeling Michael Jackson a bit extensively, I can see how this works. It is very catchy in some ways.

The production SLICK, not unlike "Get Lucky" from Daft Punk for example.

I wonder if the vocals were enhanced, and I'll maybe get a better idea once hearing it with headphones tomorrow at work. But it wouldn't surprise me to learn there is some extensive reverb applied.

Eric Nally by the way, is from the band Foxy Shazam, who were/are a band I saw on tour, I think with The Dear Hunter and a couple of others. It was probably around 2009 or 2010. 2011 maybe, I forget. And their music, I wanted to like, but I guess I felt was kind of a short-lived novelty.

Like it seemed and sounded on paper, including just the name, like something I might like, but I just never found it as charming as say Under the Influence of Giants or something. However, perhaps I will with this?

The fact he was on a song with Macklemore and Lewis though, I can't say increases my interest.

The Year 1982 Albums Calendar and Rankings

Honestly, despite 1 of my higher ranked Rush albums and Pat Metheny. Along with both classics from both Michael Jackson and Prince, 1982, compared many/most other years, is rather thin/weak.

Certainly, there's some stuff on the calendar I haven't heard that could change that. But from my list, it's filled with mid-level stuff. I guess when I finish this project, I may rank each year, and at this point, 1982 I suspect won't be placing incredibly high.

1. Rush - Signals
2. Pat Metheny - Offramp
3. Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel (Security)
4. Michael Jackson - Thriller
5. Van Halen - Diver Down
6. Prince - 1999
7. XTC - English Settlement
8. Iron Maiden - Number of the Beast
9. Duran Duran - Rio
10. Kate Bush - The Dreaming
11. Genesis - Three Sides Live
12. Daryl Hall and John Oates - H2O
13. Toto - IV
14. Led Zeppelin - Coda
15. Al Di Meola - Tour de Force - "Live"
16. Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska
17. Huey Lewis and the News - Picture This
18. Al Di Meola - Electric Rendezvous
19. Asia - Asia
20. Phil Collins - Hello, I Must be Going!
21. Jethro Tull - Broadsword and the Beast
22. King Crimson - Beat
23. Jon Anderson - Animation





 
Jean-Luc Ponty - Mystical Adventures
rel January 18, 1982

 
Huey Lewis and the News - Picture This
rel January 29, 1982


XTC - English Settlement
rel February 12, 1982


Asia - Asia
rel March 15, 1982


Iron Maiden - Number of the Beast
rel March 22, 1982


Talking Heads - The Name of the Band is Talking Heads
rel March 24, 1982


Toto - IV
rel April 8, 1982


Jethro Tull - Broadsword and the Beast
rel April 10, 1982


Van Halen - Diver Down
rel April 14, 1982


Duran Duran - Rio
rel May 10, 1982


Genesis - Three Sides Live
rel June 1, 1982


Roxy Music - Avalon
rel June 1, 1982


King Crimson - Beat
rel June 10, 1982


Robert Plant - Pictures at Eleven
rel June 28, 1982


Jon Anderson - Animation
rel June 1982


Judas Priest - Screaming for Vengeance
rel July 17, 1982


Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel (Security)
rel September 6, 1982


Rush - Signals
rel September 9, 1982


Kate Bush - The Dreaming
rel September 13, 1982


Utopia - Utopia
rel September 17, 1982


Al Di Meola - Tour de Force - "Live"
rel September 27, 1982


Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska
rel September 30, 1982


Daryl Hall and John Oates - H2O
rel October 4, 1982


Prince - 1999
rel October 27, 1982


Andy Summers and Robert Fripp - I Advance Masked
rel October 1982


Venom - Black Metal
rel November 1, 1982


Phil Collins - Hello, I Must be Going!
rel November 5, 1982
 

 Led Zeppelin - Coda
rel November 19, 1982


Michael Jackson - Thriller
rel November 30, 1982


Twelfth Night - Face and Fiction
rel December 1982


Al Di Meola - Electric Rendezvous
rel 1982


The Dregs - Industry Standard
rel 1982


Pat Metheny - Offramp
rel 1982

Pop Music History Website (1958-2016, Billboard Top 5's)

https://pudding.cool/2017/03/music-history/index.html

I shared this the other day on Social Media and some forums, after seeing on the dreamtheaterforums.

It had myself and my wife kind of addicted for a couple of hours on Sunday afternoon, until it unfortunately crashed her 2012 Macbook Pro (she's not a PC person, and I am, but regardless, 2012 sadly, kind of says it all at this point in that she needs a new Mac laptop).

Pick any year and it goes through week-by-week, month-by-month, etc showing the top 5 songs, playing #1, which I believe is from Billboard.

It starts at 1958 and goes all the way up through the end of 2016 I guess.

Seeing the mid and even late 90's on, it was reminder, like many of the WatchMojo lists for music, of how gawd awful Popular Music, and specifically the stuff that charted/people bought, the last 20 years or so.

Many of the songs from 2000's that literally spent months at #1, I had never heard, or even heard-of the artist, lol.

Even stuff like Coldplay or whatever, didn't unseat some of them.

But the counter to that is looking at the charts in the 80's or a lot of the late 60's and 70's, it's neat to see certain songs take down others, or not be able to for the #1 song. Beatles vs Monkees, Michael Jackson vs Madonna.

And the Bee Gees, good lord, between their own hits beyond Stayin Alive, they had something like 12 #1's. And then the solo members/Gibbs brothers had a number of them in the late 70's early 80's. And I guess also some of the #1's that were from others were actually written by some of the Bee Gees.

Talk about dominating the Charts.

Why when Watchmojo Did a Top 10 Billboard #1's for each decade, it was baffling none of their songs were in there. 1 comment said because the list was for "Rock" which the Bee Gees weren't, but stupid semantic arguments didn't really reflect their domination of the charts at all.


Now, and I posted to this site's twitter account, they should try and setup another 1 of these for ALBUMS charted, which I think may not be highly better, but still worth comparing to for the last 2 decades, and of course the "Album Era" per 1967-1975 especially.

But this site is not exclusively for music, it's like a graphing statistical display analysis site for any number of topics, so Music may not be a priority necessarily. But if they do do an ALBUMS one eventually, I'll try and pass it along of course.

George Michael - Rest in Peace

12/27/16 11:50PM

Documentary Freedom is coming out in March on Showtime in the States (BBC in the UK).

factmag.com

Michael was making Freedom in conjunction with Channel 4, to be released alongside a reissue of the 1990 album. The film will reportedly focus on the late artist’s career, rather than his personal life, and features interviews with Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Tony Bennett, James Corden, Ricky Gervais and more. It has been narrated by Michael himself.

usatoday.com


12/25/16 6:17PM



http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-38432862

There's a lot to the reasons I'm sharing this Celebrity Death, but I'll fully admit to only being a mild fan at best. And I grew up in the 80's and new  both Wham! and albums like Faith at least. My band in grade school even played Faith the song.

"Wake Me Up Before You Go Go" was almost an Anthem or a daily thing to hear on WLOL in the morning when I was a kid,

But no, MY WIFE, who I've known for nearly 6 years, is an ENORMOUS fan of George or as she calls him HORE-HAY MEE-GELL.

Really beyond The Monkees and Michael Nesmith, and probably Michael Jackson, George Michael is her favorite singer/musician of all-time.

More than Prince, Whitney Houston, Robert Palmer, Mayer Hawthorne and Hall and Oates.

She has wanted to collect all the Picture Discs and 12" singles she could from him, and more or less anything on Vinyl, which we don't find too often at Record Stores in Minnesota. Her  belief is they are all in his native England, and possibly at stores on the Coasts. Hopefully when we finally take our honeymoon in the coming months, we will get to 1 of the Amoeba Records in California and she may find some.

Otherwise, there's the less enjoyable and possibly more expensive route of stuff like Ebay, Discogs, Amazon Marketplace of course.

But no, this is a HUGE SHOCK and a TERRIBLE thing to find out, on Christmas no less. Kind of ruining her X-Mas, and by extension, mine in some ways.

Really so sorry Mama, and to all the other fans out there.

I will add though, it's rather hypocritical to see so many Media Sources come out about this when it happens. Stuff like Pitchfork and 89.3 namely, when they probably had no fucking clue he was PLANNING A NEW DOCUMENTARY, NEW ALBUM AND TOUR.

http://www.georgemichael.com/some-news-from-george/

George Michael is busy putting the finishing touches to his special documentary film ‘Freedom’. He has discovered some incredible, unseen archive footage and is shooting additional interviews for the project so the film will now air in March 2017.

It promises to be a real treat for fans! To coincide with the film’s broadcast, George and Sony Music have decided to move the reissue of the Listen Without Prejudice album to the same time.

I mean was a George Michael or Wham album on 89,3's 893 ALBUMS LIST??? no..And there;s very little about him on Pitchfork.

The Grammys"..jeez, Prince, Bowie? and George Michael (Glen Frey, 2/3 of ELP, George Martin and so many others I'm not remembering off the top of my head right now).

I also feel like saying, I'm getting a huge sense of Melancholy about the 80's with this one, like with Prince and Bowie to an extent. Much like Whitney Houston back in 2012. Sort of the sad feeling of wanting to go back in time, when all these people were alive. Time seems to be gaining on myself and my wife who are just in are early 40's.

I sometimes think the day we do die, we'll return to the time when they were all around.

But it has hit myself and many others of late. I would say almost to the point I met my wife, or a few years earlier and since, about the Celebrity Deaths. Or even just people we know. Time is catching up on us, and if we are still alive, so many we are used to being alive with us, won't be.

By the time we reach say even age 60, it might not be weird to think the large majority of the celebrities and people of our Youth will be dead. Which makes me think, why don't we all just die anyway?..it's almost self-depressing torture. But I guess part of living is learning to live with others not being around anymore, as hard and sad as that can be. But we'll know that the younger folks will go through the same thing in later years with us, as our parents and older generations did, or learned to do.

But in the mean time, it is time to remember George Michael and celebrate his life. And also look forward to possibly a posthumous album and documentary of some kind.

Where's Andrew Ridgely?..he might feel a little like Krist Novoselic (not that I care for Nirvana, but the analogy sort of fits).

Also this has got to be, besides Eli Stone, one of my favorite uses of his music. Rather funny.



Also these are pretty funny from the film Keanu.

2015 Black Friday Record Store Day Preview (per Bull Moose in Maine)

Another Record Store Day coming up and another video from the gentleman from Bull Moose a popular record store in Maine.
I only have 1 or 2 things on the  2015 Black Friday RSD List I'm looking to pickup in the Queen 12' Bohemiaqn Rhapsody and the Jeff Buckley Sly and the Family Stone cover "Everyday People" 7'

But there's a couple other items I want to find that may be there, like that Rush Presto 180g and possibly Black Mountain LP if I and my fiancee end up going to The Electric Fetus (not the 1st place we plan to go to like last year).

She on the other hand, has 3 or 4 items she wants, including the Paul McCartney "Say Say Say" (feat. Michael Jackson) single, The Cardigans and the Alan Parsons Project single (with the "Games People Play" edit) included.

FTR: I already own a signed copy of the Jaco DVD per my contribution to the Pledgemusic Campaign. Review? Maybe I'll do both a written and video review soon.

And possibly shoot some video on BF RSD if possibly at Breakfast and at the stores.



It was very cool of the guy from this store, Bull Moose, to list in the description everything:

1:00 RUN-DMC
3:06 Soundtracks
High Fidelity
4:35 True Detective
5:00 Love & Mercy (Brian Wilson)
5:25 Color of Noise
5:49 Sons of Anarchy
6:12 Transformers

LPs and 12" singles - Part I
7:40 The Zombies
9:50 Zappa
10:20 Ween
10:33 Vitamin String Quartet - Modest Mouse
10:50 The Sword
11:25 Sunn 0)))
12:00 Schooly D
13:47 Linda Ronstadt
14:55 Rockabye Baby - Fleetwood Mac
15:15 The Revolutionaires
15:35 Queen
16:00 Pujol
17:20 Nine Inch Nails
17:40 Mighty Mighty Bosstones
17:50 MGMT
18:05 Wes Montgomery
18:47 John Cougar Mellencamp
19:19 Megadeth
19:30 Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson (with props!)
20:30 Eric Matthews
21:20 Dave Matthews
21:49 Jaco Pastorius
25:50 Mass Mental

7" singles:
26:45 Link Wray
27:15 S.O.D./The Deftones
27:30 Rich Robinson
27:55 Shooter Jennings/Lukas Nelson
28:10 Otis Redding
28:25 Shuggie Otis
28:40 The Pharcyde
29:05 The Kinks (x2)
29:15 Batman
29:37 Carissa Johnson (part I)
31:30 Eazy-E
31:45 Phil Collins (with stand-in, not Chester Thompson either)

LPs part II
32:30 Lush
33:48 Jesus & Mary Chain, B-52s, Buzzcocks
33:58 Nick Lowe/Los Straightjackets
43:40 Judas Priest
34:50 Waylon Jennings
35:11 Joan Jett (delayed)
Carissa Johnson (part II)
Local artists
36:50 Jay Electronica
37:21 International Submarine Band
37:43 Roscoe Holcomb
37:55 John Lee Hooker
38:21 Ben Harper
38:48 Glitch Mob
39:10 Garbage
39:24 Neil Finn & Paul Kelly
39:40 Deerhook (with stunt double)
39:51 Damnation A.D.
40:10 Coheed & Cambria (with another stunt double)
40:20 Cardigans
40:31 Bowie
40:42 Behemoth
40:55 Jeff Beck
41:10 Beck (Hansen)
41:46 Animals as Leaders
42:00 Terry Adams/NQBQ

Kimbra - They Don't Care About Us (MJ cover live at Rock in Rio)

This is pretty sweet, arranging and dressing the part like the Michael Jackson song's original tradition.

Mayer Hawthorne - Where Does This Door Go (2013)

7/8/13 9:19AM
NPR STREAMING THE WHOLE THING THIS WEEK (7/8-7/15?) 


6/26/13 11:43AM

New official for "Her Favorite Song"

oh my gawd, Mayer and the Doggeeeee Band!

Jessie Ware?

 
6/22/13 12:13AM

I dig this teaser, which I would guess "Behind the Door" is the title of a documentary about the album?



Having captured listeners’ attention with lead single Her Favorite Song and the Father’s Day-themed Reach Out Richard (which I’ve adopted as my official theme song), Mayer Hawthone continues to build anticipation for his senior set with The Stars Are Ours. A recent interview revealed that Hawthorne and frequent collaborator Pharrell Willams (co-producer of the record in conjunction with Andrew Cohen) share a passion for Steely Dan, and nowhere is that influence more clear than on this cut, a bluesy, ‘70s-inspired rocker boasting intricate guitar work and a knotty vocal melody. Like what you’re hearing? More retro, yet forward-looking jams await on Where Does This Door Go, dropping July 16, via Universal Republic.

Stream the 2nd to last track "The Stars Are Ours"
(it's also on iTunes by the way)


Deluxe Edition Link
Info:

1 Problematization 0:15
2 Back Seat Lover 3:51
3 The Innocent 3:22
4 Allie Jones 4:04
5 The Only One 3:20
6 Wine Glass Woman 3:47
7 Her Favorite Song 3:33
8 Ay Bass Player 0:14
9 Crime (with Kendrick Lamar) 4:40
10 Reach Out Richard 4:08
11 Corsican Rosé 4:08
12 Where Does This Door Go 4:18
13 Robot Love 3:27
14 The Stars Are Ours 4:31
15 All Better 4:18

1 They Don’t Know You (Bonus Track) 4:05
2 Fool (Bonus Track) 3:07
3 Kaila (Bonus Track) 3:57
4 Small Clone (Bonus Track) 4:00
5 Designer Drug (Bonus Track) 3:33


6/18/13 12:00PM
PRE-ORDERS LINK

Awesome how he finally is releasing Henny & Gingerale and at least Designer Drug will the B-side for that 7" single.


6/13/13 11:57AM
New song below "Reach Out Richard" as as Mayer just wrote:
Love you Dad. This new song is for you.  

Also I love how in this Article from RollingStone.com  he talks about his background with of all genres, \M/etal. Haha,..a genre my gf you can say, is not a fan of, lol.

The singer – who was raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan and has since relocated to Los Angeles – says Where Does This Door Go allowed him to explore all his varied musical influences, from hip-hop to funk and metal. "This is the album that is truly me," Hawthorne says. "It was really about a journey into the unknown, doing something totally different and not knowing where it was going to go or how people were going to respond to it. And if that means really having that sort of DJ Haircut side of me come out and my hip-hop background, and my love for Michael McDonald and Steely Dan and the Cars. . . I used to be a metalhead, too, back in the day. I listened to Iron Maiden and Helmet and those are influences that have finally gotten [a] chance."

6/3/12 8:00PM

http://lifeandtimes.com/mayer-hawthorne-reveals-where-does-this-door-go-tracklist-and-speaks-on-kendrick-lamar-collab

this album is sounding more intriguing in a lot of ways. The only things are, #1 Designer Drug is not included. Could it be this album's "Henny and Gingerale"?

#2 there's a whole bunch of guests, but other than Jessie Ware and I suppose now Pharrell Williams, they're not necessarily names I have favorable backgrounds with.

Although if the songs are good, that may not matter. The comparisons to Thriller and the name dropping of Steely Dan caught my eye in that interview.

I guess with Designer Drug's absence, and the comment about so many songs could be singles; i.e. the album has 4, 5, 6 or more songs as good if not better than Designer Drug, it's absence may also not matter.

But we'll see. July 16th of course is a holiday in more than 1 respect.



L+T: At SXSW, you premiered some of the tracks from Where Does This Door Go. If I’m not mistaken, you originally didn’t know if you were actually going to release some or all of the tracks as an EP or album…or even release them at all. Is that correct? Was there a determining factor that led to your decision to create a LP?

MH: I recorded over forty songs for this album. It was really tough to narrow it down. The track list changed every day. In the end I decided to keep the album short and try to release the rest later. I really wanted to make a party record like [Michael Jackson's] Thriller, where every song could be a single.




1. Problematization
2. Back Seat Lover
3. The Innocent
4. Allie Jones
5. The Only One
6. Wine Glass Woman
7. Her Favorite Song
8. Crime (with Kendrick Lamar)
9. Reach Out Richard
10. Corsican Rosé
11. Where Does This Door Go
12. Robot Love
13. The Stars Are Ours
14. All Better


5/15/13 8:16PM
New single "Her Favorite Song (featuring Jessie Ware)" being released on Monday May 20th, but streamable now.

This is just a out-of-leftfield prediction, but this Mayer Hawthorne may THEE record to come out of nowhere as a legit album of the year contender. Why I say that, I would NOT expect it. But these 2 new songs and trailer really intrigue me.

I may actually get to enjoying Mayer somewhat close to my Mayer-aholic girlfriend does, lol.

4/29/13 9:13AM



Facebook Link

July 16th, 2013. Where Does This Door Go it's easy to presume that is said title and the release date of his next full-length record. Designer Drug the single he released like a month ago, is about as good a track as he's recorded (although my Mayer-aholic girlfriend might argue otherwise). It even has a psychedelic element.

I do know this should be a big deal to me given it is such a big deal to my gf. It actually comes out only 4 days after Mayer plays at the 2013 Basilica Block Party in fact, in Minneapolis.

Interesting trailer which shows clips from many movies. The one's I caught:

Being John Malkovich
Beetlejuice 2x's
Willia Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
The Wizard of Oz
Scarface
The Shining
Alice in Wonderland
The Matrix
Team America: World Police



May 25 University of Denver - Magness Arena Denver, CO
Jun 08 Cultivate Festival - Golden Gate Park San Francisco, CA
Jul 12 Basilica Block Party Minneapolis, MN

with One Republic
Jul 23 Ravina Festisval - The Pavillion Highland Park, IL
Jul 25 LC Pavillion (Outdoor)  Columbus, OH
Jul 27 Meadow Brook w/ OneRepublic Rochester Hills, MI
Jul 28 Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center  Canandaigua, NY
Jul 30 Newport Yachting Center  Newport, RI
Aug 01 Bank of America Pavilion  Boston, MA
Aug 02 Mgm Grand Theater At Foxwoods  Mashantucket, CT
Aug 03 Musikfest  Bethlehem, PA
Aug 05 Filene Center At Wolf Trap  Vienna, VA
Aug 06 Cape Cod Melody Tent  Hyannis, MA
Aug 08 Tags w/ OneRepublic Big Flats, NY
Aug 09 Pier Six Pavilion  Baltimore, MD
Aug 10 Hudson Waterfront Park  Hudson, NY
Aug 12 Hard Rock Live  Orlando, FL
Aug 13 Seminole Hard Rock Live Amphitheatre  Hollywood, FL
Aug 15 Chastain Park Amphitheatre  Atlanta, GA
Aug 16 Time Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheatre Charlotte  Charlotte, NC
Aug 18 The Woods at Fontanel  Nashville, TN

Michael Jackson's "Thriller" released 11/30/1982

Not that it's as huge a deal to me, as to say my girlfriend, but today is the 30th Anniversary of the release of Michael Jackson 's landmark record Thriller.

And for the Record: I did buy the cassette tape, sometime around that time, more likely in 1983 or even perhaps '84. A cassette tape, along with Prince's Purple Rain I still own to this day.

Michael Nesmith - Wax Minute

 This song is awesome. I was just reminded by that fact in chatting on facebook with some friends.

I really haven't added much about Mike or The Monkees in here, like I should have. Especially the Davy Jones passing. Why? the ole time, procrastination, and too many other items to post about as well.

My girlfriend worships Mike and The Monkees, among others like Mayer Hawthorne, Josh Rouse, George Michael, Michael Jackson, Hall and Oates to name just a few.

But maybe it's Mike, among all her favorite music, I am most intrigued by. The guy has made some amazing music, with The Monkees and on his own. And I have listened to some of it, but not as much as I'd like.

If/when the time happens, I will try and include a lot more about both him and The Monkees. In the mean time, I will say Michael Nesmith, despite my gf's take, was doing progressive music of a sort. Sort of alternative country of a sort, with psychedelic elements thrown in. Pedal-steel and/or slide-guitar featured at times.

Also some of his music has this driving funk/groove to it. Like the track "Capsule" for example off his 1979 record Infinite Rider on the Big Dogma.

The thing to watch for is, within the last month, Mike is for some reason posting a ton on facebook. Why? perhaps due to his eyesight returning after Cataract surgery. Also maybe due to his realizing time is catching up with him and others with Davy's passing. He is opening for Lambchop on May 4th (ironically my gf's birthday) in San Francisco, along with some other tour dates soon. Plus an album is in the works.