Birthday 2007.2

Birthday 07.2

2007 was a changing year for me. I was introduced to a lot of great music that year - so much that I couldn't really fit it all onto one disc. Because of that for my birthday that year, I made two discs.

For my birthday that year I gave out the first disc as party-favors. I like the idea of party-favors. Sure, it was my birthday and some people did bring some gifts. At the same time though, I like the idea of going to a party and having a great time with friends and STILL walking away with memories...and a little something-something. As with all of my discs, I don't spend the time making labels, or tracklists or such. I love the surprise element of a mix-disc. Not knowing what is going to be next, or such...the joy of hearing a song you've never heard, or hearing a song that you love but forgot all about.

so - the deal is this. Everyone who came to my birthday dinner at Spill The Wine that night walked away with a cd...2007, vol 1. Any one who emailed me with the tracklist would get a bonus disc.

This is the bonus disc:

1) In The End - Justin Bond & The Hungry March Band

2007 was the year that John Cameron Mitchell's movie "Shortbus" came out. I think that movie is an incredible work of art. While it certainly isn't a movie for everyone, I think a lot more people should see it. Justin Bond played a great role in "Shortbus" and ends the movie with this song. In the film it visually starts the same way the song starts - it starts with Justin lighting candles in a big loft, soft, people gathering, quiet. And as the song builds, the scene builds until suddenly this band is heard slowly walking into the loft. I got chills in the theatre when I first saw it, and I still find it a great scene. But here is the thing - I like the lyrics as well. I like that it starts with us all bearing scars. We do all bear scars - and there is a point that we all fall down and fail. This is one thing I really love about life. We are all so individual and unique...and yet we all have such similar lives and experiences. There is always some way that we can connect with each other - either by our successes, or our failures. (and it is written by Scott Matthew, who I was introduced to via "Shortbus" - like Jay Brannan on the 07.1) note: plus, who doesn't like a big huge sing-a-long at the end of a song?

2) A Song For Kids - Miho Hatori

Miho was one half of a great duo called Cibo Matto. I didn't really know Cibo Matto at all until I went to see them at First Ave. I think they opened for Soul Coughing, or some other band and I thought they were very cool. Two Japanese girls living in New York singing and rapping...how could you not love it? This is from a solo album by Miho - her first album - and it is in Japanese, it has some very traditional Japanese elements to it - and yet is modern. And as a bonus for me...it mentions Mt Fuji. Now, to be clear, my Japanese isn't as good as it should be to translate so - here is the translation:

My mom and I made a custard pudding like volcano
She went grocery shopping at 3, so I took a nap
I had a dream of a southern island, made of pudding
The beach was made of sugar, it's shining, so beautiful

Please don't think I am just dreaming because I am a kid
I am full of curiosities, piled like a mountain
I have so many words I want to unravel the meanings
That's much bigger than Mt. Fuji

I found a key to the dream island, I'll be back
i'll give you a code between us, it's secret
Only we know, even mom and dad don't know
I will find the place like this, when I become an adult

Please don't think i cry easily because I am just a kid
I know time will never go back for us
Right now is precious, right now is delicious
Enjoy the time we have, enjoy the time for now

I said hello to an old fisher man
"There are so many kinds of fish, why don't you count them?"
"One, two three..."
"I give you a fish, but you must choose only one"
"Even if you cry, you have one chance" "So think well"

Please don't think I cry easily because I am just a kid
I know time will never go back for us
Right now is precious, right now is delicious
Enjoy the time we have, enjoy the time for now

3) Wanderlust - Bjork

There is no artist out there like Bjork - so individual, so unique, and what a great instrument for a voice. I really like the flow from the track by Miho to Bjork to Andrew Bird. I'm excited every time Bjork comes out with something new - I'm always amazed and interested in what she is doing. Volta was no different - her voice, her lyrics, the fact that she duets with Antony - all reasons why this is such a great album. And this song is such a great track - relentlessly restless, wanderlust - I love to travel and i've grown up traveling. I have certain things that I miss that I can only find by traveling - the ocean, the mountains, new people, new foods...so brilliant. and I love the brass in this song.

4) Yawny at the Apocalypse - Andrew Bird

sometimes you just need some Andrew Bird

5) Wild Is The Wind - Billy MacKenzie

I first heard David Bowie sing this song. Everyone knows his voice...and has heard of him. How many have heard of Billy MacKenzie? He was the lead singer with a band called The Associates. It is a band that very few know and I think more people should know of them. I think his voice is really good and needs more attention...a great range, great expression. "My love is like the wind, and wild is the wind." Here is a video of Billy singing live..

6) Prenzlauerberg - Beirut

I first heard of Zach Condon and how he recorded a whole album in his bedroom under the name Beirut. I heard a track or two - or possibly a sample of this band and thought it was so cool. For a 15 year old to be channeling the Eastern European styles, the roma styles of music...so cool. And I like his voice as well. I don't always understand what he is singing - but then i listen to a lot of music where I don't understand the lyrics...however i do understand the vocal inflection, the melody, and I feel like I understand the intent from that. I also just realized that there is some brass on this album - starting off with the Hungry March Band in the first track, then Bjork, and now Beirut. hmm - I certainly didn't choose these three tracks because of the brass, but I'm sure it was there in the background, the subconcious. I feel very Italian or Godfather when I hear this song. or Spanish - even though it is a German title...do you agree?

7) Language - Scott Matthew

Scott Matthew was also in "Shortbus" and I fell for him hard. I like his look, his writing, his music and love his voice. This is from the soundtrack to "Shortbus" - and I think in the movie he is sitting and singing this in the background. I think that is enough...

8) I Just Want To see The Boy Happy - Morrissey

I try to put songs from albums that 1) meant a lot to me in the previous year, or 2) were released in the previous year. I believe that this falls into both catagories. I've been a Morrissey fan since I first hear The Smiths. And I think that we have all been in the place that this song is in...it doesn't really matter what happens to me, I just want to see this other person happy. And there are times that we will do anything we can to make the other person happy - or at least try to make them happy. (I also think that Morrissey is incredibly hot and will go see him perform any chance i get)[edit: 2022, my view on Morrissey have changed due to his political viewpoint]

9) Oceans Of Lust - Devotchka

Very similar to Beirut, Devotchka is a band that I've fallen in love with. It combines a wide variety of styles from all around the world and makes the most wonderful music. Most of you have probably heard them from the soundtrack to "Little Miss Sunshine." I'm not even sure why I love this song - but i do really like the rhythm of it, and there are so many times that we float on oceans of lust.

10) If It Be Your Will - Antony

I like distinctive voices...if you haven't noticed by now. Distinctive Voices and singular songwriting. This has both of them. Antony and the Johnsons...I kept hearing about this group, reviews in the New York Times or other New York based magazines. I finally decided to try them out. it took me a while to get into his voice, but I think his songwriting is interesting, lyrics are great, and he is incredibly expressive with his voice. The song in this instance was written by Leonard Cohen. This is another artist that I'm slowly getting into. I always heard that he was a great poet - so many artists rave about him. Somehow I think the first album I tried to hear of his - it just didn't sound like what I was looking for. So, i have yet to really buy any of his albums. This is from a tribute concert that was put together - a variety of singers (including Rufus and Martha Wainwright) singing the songs of Leonard Cohen. This song is really great - and I think that Anthony's voice is perfect for it. Here is the video...[edit: 2022, Anohni is her name now, she/her pronouns, and she still sounds amazing] (total sidebar, on the album Volta that the Bjork song Wanderlust comes from - Bjork and Antony duet)

11) I Was Meant For The Stage - The Decemberists

From one theatrical song to another. I heard this song before I was a Decemberist fan. I first heard it on the album Kiki and Herb Will Die For You - Live at Carnegie Hall. Yes, Kiki is also known as Justin Bond. On the album, Herb sings it - and I thought it was a really good song, very well written, and great lyrics. After all, I'm an actor - I was and am meant for the stage. This was something I was doing at the time that I put this album together, but I really wanted to be on the stage - as I do every day almost. Then, a friend started talking about The Decemberists. "Crane Wife" had just come out - and we had an instore play copy at Barnes & Noble. I played it often (the Japanese aspects of it helped quite a bit) and I loved it. At that point I decided to buy the catalog - and have bought their CDs and the one DVD they have put out. I worked for a few summers at Fort Snelling - a lot of their music reminds me of the music that we would play while working there. The story songs, the somewhat simple instrumentation - Now...I'm not keen on the bombastic, noisy ending of the song - but what can you do right?

12) I wish I could forget you - Barbara Cook

Barbara Cook. There is no voice like hers. She first became known for playing Marion in the original cast of "The Music Man". Now - let me tell you about Seth Rudetsky. Seth Rudetsky is a guy from NY, who does a little bit of everything. He plays piano and is a alternate, or stand-in pianist for a lot of Broadway shows. He also does rehearsal piano, and teaches Master Classes in performance. He has written a book that is very very funny, and he has a blog that thrills me every time I go on. On his blog (actually a Vlog as it is all Video) he does these deconstructions of songs, and singers - mainly from Broadway. He will play the song, talk about the lyrics, and break down the performance - usually pointing out interesting choices the singer has made, or tidbits of history about the song, etc. I love watching them as I learn about the voice, the performer, and the song - and Seth is very fun to watch. What does this all have to do with Barbara Cook you ask? He has provided the best definition of her voice - it is just her speaking voice that is now on pitch and with vibrato. Now - about this song. It is from Sondheims musical "Passion." It was first sung on stage by Donna Murphy (who I later saw play Anna in "The King And I" my first trip to NYC). I chose this song for a couple reasons. First off, I think Barbara is amazing. i think the song is amazing. The big reason though is this. On the first disc I opened and closed with songs of rememberance, songs for Tim, Justin, Harley, Zack, and those others who have gone before me. There are times that I do wish I could forget them - but then I remember all that I learned from them, and the part that they played in my life (even if they didn't know the significance) and the last few lyrics of this song come to mind:

and should you die tomorrow
another thing I see
your love will live in me

13) Running Up That Hill - Kiki and Herb

First off - I'm a huge Kate Bush fan. I fell in love with her album Sensual World. There are still songs on that album that make me shiver, they are so gorgeous. She has had a long career and I think is gorgeous. I love watching her dance, her artwork for each album, the lyrics - and most of all - I love her voice. This song specifically still blows me away. In watching the video, it is the movement with her arm up, swinging side to side that I think is so cool. The album this song is from is "Hounds of Love" which is one of my favorite albums of hers. The first "side" is a collection of songs. The second "side" is a whole concept that blows me away. I could write much more about this - but I'm going to hold off for now. So, let me turn your attention to this specific track. Kiki and Herb - this is the last track of their one live album. I really like the arrangement, the one piano, and the voice. The slow beginning, the need that is expressed (if you will). Take a look at the live video from a performance at Joe's Pub. The break in her voice, the simple piano...it is close to perfection. Then there are the lyrics...if I only could, I'd make a deal with God and get him to swap our places... Like earlier with the Morrissey song - there are things and times that you as a person realize that for love, or whatever, that you are willing and wanting to switch places with someone - to go through the pain they are going through so that they don't have to. At least, that is how I interpret the song. Of course, there could be the reverse...but my life has driven me to the point where I want to take care of people.

It took me long enough to write this up and get to this point. Hopefully I'll be able to write the others and not take three years to get them written.

peace -
krl