Bill
i just noticed ed wanted a song from each of us to start
here’s per me
“Knockando” by Michael Hurley
Michael Hurley – Knockando [YouTube]
Al
“Feel it still” by Portugal. The Man is my initial salvo.
Bill
i just noticed ed wanted a song from each of us to start
here’s per me
“Knockando” by Michael Hurley
Michael Hurley – Knockando [YouTube]
Al
“Feel it still” by Portugal. The Man is my initial salvo.
“Feel It Still” — very fun tune, with that falsetto, catchy melody and killer bass line. very danceable, reminds me of 90s stuff i recall (though i actually don’t know when this song is from). slightly confused by identity of singer, who claims to have been “feeling it since 1966” and still partying in the 80s, which would make him or her probably close to retirement age.
Michael Hurley – Knockando :
A little John Prine-ish.
Simple and intimate. A man practicing his craft with guitar and voice – his tools.
Love the guitar work.
Still digesting the lyrics [& trying to figure out what he’s saying in some parts].
Also like the ambiguity of the title: Know. Can do. OR No can do. OR Knock and do. [What is this thing called love?]
Good stuff.
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Portugal. The Man – Feel It Still
I think a co-worker introduced me to this artist a few years ago. I’ve liked what I’ve heard and this track is no exception. Well-produced – a little New Order-ish as it starts.
Bops along nicely – gets me moving/dancing. Reminiscent of Gorillaz a bit – for me.
Appropriate length for what it is.
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So the length may depend on what is necessary (for the poem/idea?)
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Love the juxtaposition of of these first two entries – with regards to production and arrangement.
Michael Hurley: I could get behind this, good music to work to, very pleasing
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Portugal: Oh man, where do I start. I really dislike this song. Sorry man. I don’t know what it is about the guys face in the video that makes we want to deliver a fist right to his suck-hole. I think my dismay is that this song has been severely overplayed.
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The lack of a Strawbs song in round one has got me perplexed.
Just wait until we get to the Strawbs round. 😉
I enjoyed the Hurley tune. Bold, raw and genuine, quite similar to the gentleman who offered it up. I appreciated the sparse arrangement which really allowed the textures in his voice and guitar to be heard.
Regarding Feel it Still, I would describe it as infectious. It was one of those songs, for me, that I loved from the first time I heard it and couldn’t wait to hear it again. Yes, it has been played a crapton, though every time me or my family hear the opening bars, we break into virtual dance (i.e. not break dance). You may notice the samples from 60’s tunes and the homage to “Please Mr. Postman” in the melody line.
I think the Board should consider suggesting that members listen to the songs without the videos. Several comments make me think that the videos are distracting. Lots of great songs with horrid videos that diminish the experience. Also lots of bad songs with awesome videos which amplify the experience.
You make an interesting point about the videos. YouTube makes it easy to share the music, but it can be hard to look away from the footage. (Also appreciated the Ballooning reference in your website text.)
Michael Hurley – Not sure if it transports me to a smokey dive bar in the early 60s or a hipster coffee shop of today. Nonetheless, I can dig it
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PtM – As I listen to little, if any, commercial radio I do not hear this track that often. When I do, I groove a bit. Actually got a 70s soul vibe to it. For the overproduced pop of this decade, I’m on it.
I came across the Hurley track some 15 years ago, after attending his gig in Pittsburgh (he lived in PA somewheres at the time). He’s an old weird folkie from the 60s and had put out a lot of music but never had any commercial success. This is a mysterious song I like for many reasons. It is about drinking. (I assumed “no-can-do” as he pronounces it was a made-up name, but i just learned — “just” as in two weeks ago — that it’s actually a venerable Scotch.) I imagine the song is about sitting around a campfire (the “red” and “blue” of the flames) as the heart of the wood crackles (can you hear it?) and and one ruminates on the folly of mankind, examples of which perhaps took place on this very spot, the “dark and bloody ground.” A lovely, sad, contemplative tune with an unassuming little guitar hook, and I think of it often.
Hurley: Love the soaring out of reach vocal high notes. The song grabbed me right at that point and won’t let go. something about the genuineness of the singer also made an impact
Portugal: Love the rhythms, the horns and that catchy spark in the melody; also its nerdy cool feel landed in the sweet spot
Portugal. The Man: Kind of has an understated groovy, Austin Powers feel to it. I’m undecided whether they should’ve just dialed it up to 11 and let it all hang out, or whether I’m sated as is.
Ed knows my angle is always geographical. have a knack/obsession for “hearing” where band is from.
Never, never would pegged them as seeing Russia from the same perspective as the Palin clan….
HurleyBurley – Props for being a veteran who still has the chops. Dude had some mileage on him when this tune was released (2007) and still kickin.’
I see he’s a local from your patch – New Hope coffeehouse perhaps? (Endowed with concealed carry hip flask/medication, no doubt)
Listening to the Michael Hurley track now.
Really enjoying the stripped down, laid back simplicity of it.
Less is more
Listening to the Portugal track now. Pop without computers is a good thing. I’ve been liking how horns are working their way back into mainstream music recently
Yankovic-ing it.