Author Archives

by

Song of the Day #459: ‘Gabriel’s Oboe’ – Ennio Morricone

missionI have a philosophical objection to movie soundtracks. It traces back to my album fixation… I feel that if you’re introduced to some new songs you like via a movie soundtrack, it’s your responsibility to seek out those songs from the original source. Movie soundtracks are just a step above greatest hits collections in my book.

But I do have exceptions. And this week I’ll highlight a handful of songs from film soundtracks I’ve owned over the years.

The distinction I make between a worthy soundtrack and an unworthy one is this: a good soundtrack is not really about the songs, it’s about the movie.

Continue reading →

by

Bob Dylan – Christmas in the Heart

christmasintheheartJust what everybody was clamoring for… an album of Christmas classics sung in the dulcet tones of Mr. Bob Dylan! In a career of head-scratching surprises, on the surface Bob Dylan’s latest release, Christmas in the Heart, might just be the head-scratchingest.

Here are 15 traditional Christmas songs — everything from ‘Little Drummer Boy’ and ‘Winter Wonderland’ to ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ and ‘Here Comes Santa Claus’ — played totally straight, complete with a choir of backup singers that make Frank Sinatra’s “j-i-n-g-l-e bells” seem downright gritty.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #458: ‘Lovely Rita’ – The Beatles

pepper2One of my other favorite tracks on Sgt. Pepper is Paul’s charmingly kinky ‘Lovely Rita.’ The Beatles had a knack for populating their songs and albums with colorful characters like this. On Sgt. Pepper alone, they gave us Rita, Lucy, Mr. Kite and of course Ringo’s alter ego Billy Shears.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #457: ‘Getting Better’ – The Beatles

sgt_pepperI’ve highlighted a “Paul album” and a “John album” so now it’s time to focus on one that’s a bit of both. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was a collaborative effort, with John and Paul sharing input on most of the album’s 13 tracks. The few exceptions mostly belong to McCartney (‘Fixing a Hole,’ ‘When I’m 64,’ ‘Lovely Rita’) although Lennon is credited with authorship of ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’ and ‘Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite.’

The album’s best-loved track, ‘A Day in the Life,’ is split in two, with John contributing the dreamy verses and Paul the upbeat center portion (as well as the cacophonous crescendos in the middle and at the end. One of the reasons that song rises to the upper tier of my list of favorite Beatles songs is how beautifully it combines the personalities and talents of those two songwriters.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #456: ‘New Routine’ – Fountains of Wayne

trafficweatherFountains of Wayne’s fourth, and most recent, album is 2007’s Traffic and Weather. It’s similar in tone and content to their previous three although, for my money, the songwriting isn’t quite as strong.

Traffic and Weather continues the FOW pattern of turning life’s mundane details into pop art. The album features a song about a guy crushing on a pretty teller while waiting in line at the DMV; one about buying a ’92 Subaru (with an “alarm system so confusing we can’t even get in”); another about a drive down I-95 to meet your girlfriend.

Continue reading →