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The Year In Music – Top 10 For 2011

Mat Leffler-Schulman — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 02:39:54 +0000

My Top 10 for the Baltimore City Paper for 2011.

1 Sigur Rós, Inni (XL)
2 She and Him, A Very She and Him Christmas (Merge)
3 Beyoncé Knowles, 4 (Columbia)
4 M83, Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming (Mute)
5 Steve Reich and Kronos Quartet, WTC 9/11 (Nonesuch)
6 YEVETO, Remote Unelectrified Villages (self-released)
7 Fleet Foxes, Helplessness Blues’ (Sub Pop)
8 Florence and the Machine, Ceremonials (Island)
9 Foster The People – Torches (Columbia)
10 INFINITE HONEY, Infinite Honey (self-released)

34 Best Albums of the Aughts (unpretentious version)

Mat Leffler-Schulman — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:05:41 +0000

Because I love lists, here is a list of my favorite records from 2000-2009 in relative alphabetical order:

Angela Desveaux – The Mighty Ship (it’s just beautiful and great on vinyl)
The Arcade Fire – Funeral (if you don’t respoond to ‘wake up’ you could be lifeless and dead)
Britta Phillips and Dean Wareham – L’avventura (again, it’s a beautiful record)
The Dismemberment Plan – Change (my dc friends make their perhaps last and greatest record)
Mike Doughty – Rockity Roll (no over-thought tunes. i wish this was longer.)
Duffy – Rockferry (what a voice!)
Eno and Byrne – Everything That Happens Will Happen Today (two of my favorites yet again on a record together this time writing great songs)
Godspeed You Black Emperor – Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven (the soundtrack to the first have of the decade for me)
Kanye West – Late Registration (that kanye certainly has something to say)
Kadman – Sing To Me Slower (if dave never wrote another song other than diesel and honeymoon’s end, we’d be ok)
Keane – Perfect Symmetry (stellar pop)
The Killers – Hot Fuse (see above)
Leisure Icons – Leisure Icons (angular mathy locals that has been in heavy rotation here)
Low – The Great Destroyer (dave fridmann + low = happy mat)
Luna – Rendezvous (i used to put my daughter to sleep to this record)
Mouse On Mars – Idiology (Mmmm, stomp pedals)
N.E.R.D. – In Search Of… (more drums please)
The Octopus Project – Hello Avalanche (my band opened for them this summer. i can’t stop playing this record)
Parts and Labor – Stay Afraid (new york’s finest)
Saint Etienne – Finisterre (sarah cracknell’s voice is to die for)
Sam Prekop – Who’s Your New Professor (i love the beats on this record)
Katy Perry – One of the Boys (good production, songwriting and a pretty face don’t always equate to crappy pop music)
Prince – The Rainbow Children (prince did have some good records this decade, and this is his finest)
Rod Lee – The Official (rod is a genius and you’ll be hearing more about baltimore club very soon)
Shakira – Fijación Oral Vol. 1 (that shakira can do anything)
Sigur Rós – Takk (birthing sounds)
Austin Stahl – The Things You Carry (austin can write about heartbreak like no other)
Radiohead – I Might Be Wrong (one of my favorite live albums ever and i am not a huge radiohead fan)
Rilo Kiley – More Adventurous (jenny lewis.)
Justin Timberlake – Justified (pharrell williams is one sick drummer, JT is someone who i’ve yet to get sick of)
Tokio Hotel – Schrei (they were everywhere in europe. who cares if they play their instruments.)
Trans Am – TA (my dc favs… they can do no wrong)
Wendy and Lisa – Girl Bros. (see above, they can do no wrong)
John Zorn – Live at Tonic 2001 (john zorn would be in the supergroup in my head. acharei mot is my jam in this set.

Top 10 Favorite Bob Dylan Songs

Mat Leffler-Schulman — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 19:51:36 +0000

Picking favorite Dylan songs is like picking a favorite child. Each is intricate and well laid out. Even if he thinks otherwise. His arrangements change from year to year. He’s completely evolving at every moment. In 1965, at the Newport Folk Festival, he unintentionally did the most punk thing ever. Even more punk than Ian or Sid. Yes. He said, “Fuck You” to traditional folk music and picked up an electric guitar. And people started listening with their other ear. End of the era of protest song. And Bob started something new and interesting and more profound. Music could be more than just lyrics and melody. More than a chorus here and verse here.

It’s still just as inspiring now to hear music by Dylan. Words can’t explain it. Even Bob couldn’t. Actually, I bet he could. And he has.

I think the true testament is the fact that I can listen to Like A Rolling Stone over and over and over again and I don’t get sick of it. It’s not like Stairway To Heaven. Sorry Jimmy. I can’t take it. I remember pulling out of Jessie H’s driveway sometime in college and really hearing Like A Rolling Stone. I had heard this song since I was a sperm, but at that moment I had heard it for the first time. And I still ask myself the same rhetorical question he begged 43 years ago. Don’t you?

PS. Thank you, Sir Dylan.

All I Really Want To Do (Another Side Of Bob Dylan)
Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again (Blonde On Blonde)
[See post to listen to audio]
Shelter From The Storm (Blood On The Tracks)
[See post to listen to audio]
Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right (The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan)
Like A Rolling Stone (Highway 61 Revisted)
The Mighty Quinn [Quinn the Eskimo] (Self Portrait)
[See post to listen to audio]
Love Minus Zero / No Limit (Bringing It All Back Home)
The Ballad Of Frankie Lee And Judas Priest (John Wesley Harding)
When The Deal Goes Down (Modern Times)
Girl From North Country w/ Johnny Cash (Nashville Skyline)

Top 10 Favorite Jackson Songs

Mat Leffler-Schulman — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 19:53:35 +0000

Anyone can make a Top 10 Michael Jackson list, right? But it’s hard to pull outside Off the Wall and Thriller. Michael was no Prince. So you have to pull from the other Jacksons. Man I wish there was more Tito records out there, he’s outta sight! Not to mention my favorite Jackson. Sorta.

Dynamite (Jermaine)
Don’t Stop ‘Till You Get Enough (Michael)
[See post to listen to audio]
We Can Change The World (Tito)
Starting Something (Michael)
Enjoy Yourself (Jackie)
What Have You Done For Me Lately? (Janet)
Billy Jean (Michael)
Nasty (Janet)
Hum Along And Dance (Marlon)
Escapade (Janet)
[See post to listen to audio]

Top 10 Radiohead Songs

Mat Leffler-Schulman — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 19:57:13 +0000

I first heard Radiohead from my friend Jordan. You know, the dude who sang in all those high school bands I was in. Good times. It was probably a mixtape. At the time, it was pretty refreshing. Alternative Rock was the buzz word. I remember sophomore Geometry with my friend Ben Ko. We’d give each other funny looks every time the teacher said, “And here’s an alternative way to solve this…” For Radiohead it was great timing. Not to mention great music. I was first impressed that Sean Slade and Paul Kolderie from Fort Apache recorded the record. Some of my favorite records by Dinosaur Jr., Sebahdoh, The Pixies and Buffalo Tom were recorded there. The HUGE drums. I love it. And I loved it. And Radiohead was no exception. The drums were huge. This was Pablo Honey. Sadly the drums became smaller and smaller as each record progressed. The same progression also happened with the Flaming Lips. Such is so-called growth.

Then came college, The Bends broke. It was pretty different, but I never really hit me until a few years later. By then they were the biggest band around and I had stopped listening to music with lyrics. They simply didn’t matter to me.

In the early 2000s, I picked up OK Computer. Shit. I missed out when this dropped. I still firmly believe that the bass lines in that opener Airbag are the shit. Balls out. Regardless if John Leckie sat there hitting the mute button to chop it up.

I’ll be the first to admit Kid A was adventurous for Radiohead, as a band. It took guts. Not to mention was fodder for every programmer across the globe. But breakthrough and innovative in the full scope of modern music, however, I’d beg to differ. The critics and indie rockers simply called them the 2nd coming of christ, in so many words. Sadly Radiohead kept it comfortable for the next 7 or so years and did not release any records that spoke to me. However of the records from 2000 on, I feel Amnesiac spoke the clearest to me. Not to mention hearing it on double 10″ vinyl is the way to truly experience it.

Regardless of their records, sometimes I feel like Jonny Greenwood is my favorite guitarist. And in college I was lucky to have caught them at Roseland in NYC on a leg of the Bends tour. It might have been what I smoked after getting my nipple pierced earlier that day, but I swear Jonny Greenwood’s guitar spoke to me that night. Not to mention hearing one of their best songs that sadly hasn’t been released called Lift.

Fake Plastic Trees (The Bends)
Planet Telex (The Bends)
Stop Whispering – US Mix (Stop Whispering EP)
[See post to listen to audio]
I Can’t (Pablo Honey)
Airbag (OK Computer)
[See post to listen to audio]
Paranoid Android (OK Computer)
Lucky (OK Computer)
Idioteque (Kid A)
Pyramid Song (Amnesiac)
I Might Be Wrong (Amnesiac)

Top 10 Favorite Snare Drums

Mat Leffler-Schulman — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 19:59:06 +0000

According to the wikipedia:

The snare drum or side drum is a drum with strands of snares made of curled metal wire, metal cable, plastic cable, or gut cords stretched across the bottom head. Pipe and tabor and some military snare drums often have a second set of snares on the bottom (internal) side of the top (batter) head.

Ah, the snare drum. It’s typically what you hear on the 2 & 4 of a rock song. You know, where people with rhythm clap. I firmly believe it’s the most complicated instrument to record. There is so much going on. It covers so many frequency ranges. It has so many voices and dynamics. It’s overtones and harmonics are tremendous yet it’s a very sensitive instrument. More so than most people can imagine. It also gives the listener a real feel for how the room in which it was recorded is shaped. Only an experienced (or lucky) engineer can properly and accurately capture it’s sound.

Here are my favorites:

Bryan St. Pere (Why I Like The Robins by Hum) – A masterpiece of snare sound. A gigantor yet deep sounding snare with little decay. It’s very woody (which compliments the delicate undertones) sounding and you can really hear the room in which it was recorded in. It’s bombastic.
[See post to listen to audio]
Willie Hall (Walk On By by Isaac Hayes) – This snare is quite overwhelming. There is so much going on. There’s a slight verb in the left channel. Perhaps a plate reverb or just the room sound. It’s very gentle. And tuned slightly higher than average. It’s attack and compression are so natural. And one can’t forget the dynamics going on here. Perhaps it’s a sign of the times, but you can’t get much better than these subtle dynamics. [See post to listen to audio]
Stewart Copeland (So Lonely by the Police) – Quite possibly the most dry sounding snare, ever. If anything you get a feel for the room it was recorded in. One that has zero reflections. It’s almost lifeless and dead, except for the fact that Stewart is a master of his craft and can tune his snare like nobody’s business.
[See post to listen to audio]
Jimmy Chamberlin (Snail by the Smashing Pumpkins) – Yes, it’s almost demo-sounding. But there is such great girth to the snare. Saying it’s wide does not do it justice. And one can’t help but melt in to the gentle ghost notes Jimmy pulls out of the snare. And let’s not forget the pretty tight gate, which redeemed itself with a perfect release. Perfect!
[See post to listen to audio]
Yuval Gabay (Mr. Bitterness by Soul Coughing) – Actually utilizing two snares here. The ghost notes (slight right channel) are played on a smaller and higher pitch snare while the 2 & 4 are played on a larger deeper and mad girthy snare. Yuval has a way of tuning his drums to be huge, but not overwhelming. Perhpas it’s his playing. Whatever it is, it sinks my ears in wet, drippy, greasy, latherable butter that I can wade in all day.
[See post to listen to audio]
Brendan Canty (Glue Man by Fugazi) – Holy reverb. There’s about as much reverb on this snare as Bruce’s Born in the USA. Ok, well maybe not that much. But for Fugazi it’s a lot. But it works. This snare is quite poppy. Not like the style of music, but it’s recorded quality. Like popcorn. “GAH!” It jumps out. It does what it should. And has awesome high end harmonics to finish the deal. [See post to listen to audio]
Johnny “Machine” Herndon (Gamera by Tortoise) – It’s really recorded like a jazz record put on pause and stretched. It’s very roomy and open but has a slightly tight gate to contain the harmonics and decay. The ‘verb starts in the left channel and heads quickly to the right channel.
[See post to listen to audio]
Alex Van Halen (Dance The Night Away by Van Halen) – If anything his snare is the most consistent sounding of all time. How he gets his snare to sound like that is beyond me. And how Alex tunes it to sound that way on every record Van Halen ever recorded is almost godly. It’s mildly chalky, but has a kiwi juicy ring to it’s decay. I live for that decay.
[See post to listen to audio]
Prince (Another Lonely Christmas by Prince) – It’s pretty rare especially from this era of his catalog to have a raw snare sound not heavily processed by his Linn Drum machine. And it’s impeccable sounding. Super tight and panned hard to the left. There is really only a slight room sound to it that ‘verbs in the right channel.
[See post to listen to audio]

Honorable mentions include: J. Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.), Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth), Chester Thompson (Frank Zappa), John Bonham (Led Zeppelin) & Omar Hakim (David Bowie).

I am sure I’ll remember a few more tomorrow. But this is where I am standing tonight.

Top 10 Latin Musicians & Bands

Mat Leffler-Schulman — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 21:21:34 +0000

Marc Ribot – He’s the David Bowie of guitar. What I mean is his style of guitar and songwriting changes quite frequently and drastically. One minute he’s spazoid on Zorn’s label and the next he’s playing with Elvis Costello. Then he’s starting Radical New Jewish Culture festivals in Germany. His work, however on 1998′s The Prosthetic Cubans and 2000′s Muy Divertido! are incredibly well scripted Cuban jazz records. Both are must-haves.
Shakira – Most will blow her off as leftover commercial pop waste from the Latin explosion of the late 90s. Either I believe her scam or there’s something more. I’ve always been attracted to her non-high-pitched vocals. The high registers are typically the downfall of many women singers. She, at times, reminds me of Alanis Morrisette, a comparison I am sure the critics love to give her. And her songs aren’t always about heartbreak. The only thing I can say, is 1998′s Dónde Están los Ladrones? has blown my mind away and English is not spoken in one song. Just give “Ciega, Sordomuda” a try and if that bright blazing trumpet harmonizing with her voice doesn’t do it for you, well, there’s nothing left to say.
Seu Jorge – This Brazilian singer cranks out the pop like it’s noone’s business. And his covers of many Bowie songs from the The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou soundtrack is worth every penny. Did these chunks of songs also remind you of Jonathan Richman in There’s Something About Mary? Or was it just me?
Juan Garcia Esquivel – Not only a genius and flexible band leader, but a pioneer in pushing the limits of recording studios and technology with pop music of the 50s and 60s. Juan and Les Baxter should be in a hall of fame somewhere.
Gal Costa – I originally heard of Gal Costa when the singer in a band I was in gave me a CD to give to the girl I was dating at the time. Somehow it ever got to her and I found a few years ago behind another CD in it’s case. Never really knowing what it was, but always liking it, until I popped it in the computer and the artist and song titles showed up. She’s Brazilian. She plays the bossa and it’s tropical. She’s also kinda crazy. There’s nothing better for early summer music. Thanks Hewson.
Los Amigos Invisibles - Their 1998 and first American release (on Luaka Bop) was called The New Sound of the Venezuelan Gozadera. Perhaps Caracas’ finest party band. I first saw them for the first time sometime in 1998 when they were opening up for Soul Coughing. Was it Baltimore at the Recher? They really opened my eyes up to dance bands. It was possible. They were incredibly friendly and gracious. I had many conversations about the history of the Strat and other weird guitars with José speaking only in fragments of nouns and verbs trying to pull from the little amount of Spanish I learned in middle school. And whenever I would show up backstage where ever Soul Coughing took them, they would always scream openly, “MATEOOOOOOO!” It still gives me a warm feeling inside.
Astrud Gilberto – While “Ma” Rainey was considered the Mother of Blues, Astrud is the Mother of the Bossa Nova for me. I can’t think of anything else to say. That should pretty much sum it up if you’ve ever heard her music.
Os Mutantes – Brazilian psychedelia at it’s finest. Coming out around the times of Gal Costa it would be interesting to see who influenced whom. In all likelihood it was probably a call and response type deal, a la the Beatles and the Beach Boys circa 1965-1968.
Paulinho Nogueira – I know little to nothing about this artist. I do know he’s a guitarist from Brazil. I do know he died in 2003. I do know his record A Nova Bossa é Violao from 1963 continues to blow my mind away. It’s some of bossa’s finest.
Herb Alpert - In a similar vein, a la Esquivel, Herb’s arrangements were what made him successful. Oh and he was the “A” in A&M Records. Two words: Tijuana Brass. That’s all. I think he’s sold almost 100 million records worldwide. I own three of them.

Top 10 Favorite Trans Am Songs

Mat Leffler-Schulman — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 19:59:20 +0000

I first heard Trans Am in 1997. The record was Surrender To The Night. Hearing the solo to Motr brought a tear to my eye. It still does. It was the same night I heard Underworld’s Second Toughest In The Infants and Tortoise’s Millions Living Now Will Never Die the same night. It was quite an overwhelming and intense experience. I will never forget that rainy night in Joe’s dorm room. It forever changed my view of the synthesizer not to mention music.

What can be said about Trans Am? They are the David Bowie of video game music? Maybe. They are from DC but sound least likely to have come from there. It has been said that those from DC can hear and see the undertones they project. To me they epitomize the Metro. There is politics in their music aside from lyrics. They made instrumental music, but then started sometimes singing (mainly) in to vocoders. A great transition. And they keep reinventing themselves. And keep on doing it well. Bravo.

Trans Am also inspired me to make music. Or rather steal from them. (ahem) I can’t ever thank them enough for getting me off my ass.

Motr (Surrender To The Night)
[See post to listen to audio]
Carboforce (Surrender To The Night)
Futureworld (Futureworld)
[See post to listen to audio]
Home Security (The Surveillance)
[See post to listen to audio]
Cold War (TA)
Slow Response (Who Do We Think You Are?)
[See post to listen to audio]
Firepoker (Trans Am)
[See post to listen to audio]
Orlando (Trans Am)
First Words (Sex Change)
[See post to listen to audio]
Now You Die, You Thriddle Fool (Strength magazine split 7″)

Top 10 Favorite Prince B-Sides

Mat Leffler-Schulman — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 21:07:06 +0000

It’s almost a mystery of the world as to the number of songs Prince has actually recorded. He’s officially or unofficially released at least 1,100. But then again that doesn’t include the hundreds of songs he’s written for other artists. His volume of music is abundant and equally diverse. And his B-Sides are no slackers.

17 Days (When Doves Cry 7″) – The B-Sides from the Purple Rain Era are probably my most cherished gems. This is no exception. Has elements of what was to become of the Parade album. Awesome monotone backup vox from Wendy and Lisa. There’s even a 10 min+ extended mix. Also highly recommended.
Another Lonely Christmas (I Would Die For You 7″) – Definitely a stand out song for 1984. Very bluesy. The drums are incredible. Prince always new how to lay them down.
God (Purple Rain 7″) – Almost a Capella. Basically Prince singing about God. The chorus is kinda bad. (“God made you. God made me.”) But the emotions and vibe are what propels this song, not the lyrics.
Irresistible Bitch (Let’s Pretend We’re Married 7″) – Prince really was funky. Sounds like a P-Funk or Bootsy solo record song. Basically drums and vocals only. Some bass. Some bells. It’s the simple songs that do it in funk. The song was originally written and recorded two years prior (1981) and segued in to Feel You Up.
She’s Always In My Hair (Raspberry Beret 7″) – Most famously covered by D’Angelo in the 90s. Clearly even in this B-Side you could tell Prince was changing. He was happier and less cynical and it showed in his writing. Sadly this never lasts too long.
Scarlet Pussy (I Wish You Heaven 7″) – Yet another sex song. And a Camille tune which was Prince’s female alter-ego.
Sex (Scandalous 7″) – Similar vein to Irresistible Bitch musically and lyrically to Scarlet Pussy. Mainly drums, vox and minimal synth.
How Come You Don’t Call Me Anymore (1999 7″) – A simple piano ballad which has always been a fan favorite to be played live. Alicia Keys covered this in 2001.
Erotic City (Let’s Go Crazy 7″) – Now regarded as a funk/club classic. Features Sheila E. on backup vox. Again, drums, bass and minimal synth. Simple. Always gets it done.
Shockadelica (If I Was Your Girlfriend 7″) – Another Camille cut. This song was written in response to Jesse Johnson’s (The Time) solo record. It was called “Shockadelica” – Prince commented to Jesse that a great album should have a great title track. Jesse didn’t think so. And then Prince did it instead. Classic.

Top 10 Beach Boys Songs

Mat Leffler-Schulman — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 19:59:49 +0000

What more can be said about The Beach Boys?

Brian Wilson was a genius. It’s a fact. Dennis was significantly more talented than any idiot critic could understand. Carl had the soul. And Mike Love, well he was just a dick. And no one is really sure what Al Jardine actually did.

Why Pet Sounds wasn’t larger than life is still beyond me. And why Smile has never been officially released as it was originally intended is beyond me. It’s simply a mystery of the world.

Cabin Essence (20/20)
Heros & Villians (Smiley Smile)
Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Pet Sounds)
California Girls (Summer Days [And Nights])
Wild Honey (Wild Honey)
Do You Wanna Dance? (Today!)
Friends (Friends)
Do It Again (20/20)
Vegetables (Smiley Smile)
Good Vibrations (Smiley Smile)