Hard to believe it’s been 40 years since Talking Heads released its debut album, conveniently titled Talking Heads: 77. Of course, I was five years old in 1977, so it’s not as if I’ve been a fan of the band for that long.
This sound feels unique and new even today, let alone four decades ago. David Byrne and his bandmates were truly trendsetting artists.
When this song popped up as the next random selection from my iTunes library, I was certain I’d featured it on the blog before.
After all, it’s the first major single from Toad the Wet Sprocket’s breakthrough album, and I’ve blogged about Toad the Wet Sprocket songs 13 times before.
But no, somehow I’d never made it around to ‘Walk On the Ocean,’ the first song I ever heard, 25 years ago, by a band I still love today.
I’ll need the weekend to wrap up Round Four of Montauk Madness and prep Round Five, the Final Four, which kicks off next Monday.
In the meantime, enjoy this impressive one-woman take on the recently-dispatched Michael Jackson’s ‘The Way You Make Me Feel.’ Kawehi is a Kansas-based musician who achieved internet fame when a cover of Nirvana’s ‘Heart-Shaped Box’ went viral a few years back. Continue reading
Our final Montauk Madness Round Four matchup is another good one. Randy Newman vs. The Beatles.
Newman took out Adele and The Rolling Stones before besting Fiona Apple in Round Three with 80% of the vote. The Beatles blanked Shakira in Round One but have had a progressively harder path, knocking out Ben Folds before winning a relatively close battle against Lyle Lovett, 64/36.
Our third Round Four matchup pits Elvis Costello against Taylor Swift. Swift has been a giant slayer in the contest thus far, propelled by some major fans and a whole lot of debate. She took out David Byrne in Round One, Tom Petty in Round Two and Simon & Garfunkel in Round Three (72/28).
Costello topped Carly Rae Jepsen, then John Mayer and finally Michael Jackson (with a commanding 90% of the vote).
Swift’s path has been a generational war, Millennials vs. Boomers, and that won’t change in this round. Can she continue to topple the oldsters on her way to the Final Four? Or will Costello prove too tough a foe?
Our next Montauk Madness Round Four matchup is a bit unexpected. It’s not a big surprise to see Bob Dylan here, but this is rare air for Counting Crows, who happen to enjoy quite a bit of popularity among my meager readership.
Dylan made it here by dispatching Miranda Lambert, Eminem and R.E.M. Even though I voted for him all three times, the losses of Lambert and R.E.M. hurt me. I wish they’d had an easier path. Counting Crows took out Morrissey, David Bowie and Ben Folds Five. I picked them in the first two rounds before siding with Ben Folds Five, but even that was a close call.
Welcome to Round Four of Montauk Madness! The Elite Eight! Four contests that, if everything has worked out according to plan, will have you pulling your hair out trying to pick winners.
Our first battle faces off a couple of legendary New Yorkers: Billy Joel and Paul Simon. Joel defeated Michael Penn in Round One, Frank Sinatra in Round Two and Van Morrison in Round Three. Simon took out Elton John, Sting and Lucinda Williams. I voted for both of them every step of the way. Continue reading
