Audio files: Grandpa Cobain; the Naked Tenor; and Tiny Tim’s Dance Machine
Welcome back to the Internet’s premier den of rectitude, “Audio Files.” Last week’s column generated about $15,000 in Google Ad revenue, and this week I’m shooting for $20K. Parachute down the rabbit hole with me once again, won’t you?
NEWS
- Bernie Madoff’s prison has a soundproof music room. He shreds on the laser harp.
- Bike paths! Walkability! Housing bubbles! Are members of the Arcade Fire urban planning aficionados?
- Gibby Haynes of the Butthole Surfers causes great discomfort for comedy fans in Brooklyn.
- Reserve a copy of Jimmy Page’s new book…if you have cash to burn.
- Seattle newspaper profiles Kurt Cobain’s grandfather.
- Ted Nugent receives fine for baiting California deer.
- The Boston Typewriter Orchestra has a new single.
- Today’s kids think Beethoven is a dog.
SAILING THE SEAS OF YOUTUBE
- Hey gang, I implore you to check out this sign-language version of Creed’s big hit, “With Arms Wide Open.” Tears flew out of my face and ruined my suede elbow patches.
- Here’s another emotional young man doing the Creed song.
- And here’s Crispin Glover covering Michael Jackson’s “Ben” against the backdrop of a rat orgy.
- Is there not grandeur in Tiny Tim’s worldview?
- Mike Sharpe does a commendable version of “Light My Fire.”
- Pete Drake plays the talking steel guitar.
WEEKLY DISPLAY OF VIRTUOSITY
It’s time to feast upon “I Wonder” by the Mahavhishnu Orchestra. John McLaughlin sets fire to Valhalla around the 2:33 mark.
UNCLOTHED MUSICIAN OF THE MOMENT
This week’s nakedness award goes to Ursula Knudsen of the Fishtank Ensemble, whose exposed back looks pretty good.
SYMPHONIC FLICKR
- Beautiful Korg synthesizer.
- Meet the Naked Tenor and his plump, yeasty mass.
- Nirvana Condensed Utero Soup.
RANDOM SHARDS OF SONIC INFORMATION
- Does “the Puddler Class” make you think of incontinent third graders too?
HEATING UP MY PLAYLIST
- Estradasphere, “A Corporate Merger” and Don Cabellero, “Sure We Had Knives Around.” I posit that nervy time signatures and busy, idiosyncratic arrangements improve my focus. These two songs in particular excite my dopamine receptors. Nick Mortensen, give ‘em a try, friend!
- Tom Waits, “I’m Still Here.” I don’t like the Tom Waits songs where Tom sounds drunk, theatrical or gravelly. But I love Waits songs that have the ultra-a.m. quietude of Closing Time, Tom’s first and best album. “I’m Still Here” has that quality: “You haven’t looked at me that way for years/But I’m still here.”
- Randy Newman, “Living Without You.” More raw emoting. My musical arrow has been pointing this direction for weeks.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
This has nothing to do with music, but if you’d like to join the Pro Football Pick ‘Em League I commission, I welcome you “With Arms Wide Open.” The sign-up information is here.
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I had to break up with a woman over Creed, so I cannot share your enthusiasm for the “Arms Wide Open” performances, no matter how moving.
But Tiny Tim — that guy was a genius who really did live in his own world. I mean he was truly original. And best of all I never had to break up with a woman over him.
@Ricky
You’ve gotta love the commitment toward inner strength these emotive Creed fans have, though…tears are flying out out of my eyes right now like rapid-fire shrapnel…
And you can see video of Pavabotti – The Naked Tenor all-singing and all-dancing at:
http://castlist.tv/video/145/Pavabotti%2C+The+Naked+Tenor+-+O+Sole+Mio
Dig the Estradasphere. Reminiscent of SC3, for obvious reasons.
@Daniel
My favorite Estradasphere song is probably “Meteorite Showers.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTRjDbgaw0k
It practically begs for the trite music critic comparison device e.g. “it’s like the Bay City Rollers getting gang-raped by Calypso street thugs underneath a canopy of Pantera’s ass-mussels, betwixt Gong!”
So good..