W♥M

W♥M Updates (May 2008)

As you might have noticed, I'm going to a lot more concerts and shows, being that it's Spring and very soon to be Summer (sorry, driving in the thundra that is Minneapolis in the bleak of Winter is just not for me).

Lisa Loeb & Steve Reynolds - Video Nasty Robin Danar Read More Robin Danar http://weheartmus... I was listening to Robin Danar's Altered States (released Mar 18th) for review on my iPod and se...

I have a few updates for this month, but before I get to it, I wanted to mention about Robin Danar's comment on my Altered States article.

We hardly ever get (public) feedback on reviews from the band/musician, so I was excited to read this:

Robin Danar wrote: Wed, Apr 30, 2008 at 12:29 PM

[this is good] i LOVE that you dig my disk and that you get some of my inside jokes!

yes, I called a bunch of brits to work on my version of First of the Gang to Die because i thought they'd get it. Yes, i called Lisa Loeb to sing on my version of the Damned tune because i wanted her to sing the word "NASTY", with which she's not often associated.

but i'm also thrilled that you dig my version of Weirdo and get what i was doing. i love your "before and after" presentation and i hope you like 'em all. i definitely had a blast "painting these pictures" and having friends come in and get into character to help me complete them.

thanks!
robin

It is pretty awesome that the real reason why Danar had Loeb cover that song was so he can hear her sing "nasty". Nice one.

W♥M Cards (Final) whm-card-clouds copy

The big update for this month is: I finally got my W♥M Business Cards printed. You might remember last November when I first mentioned the cards. I know that was ages ago, but as you have probably figured it out: I'm very, very busy.

I have started mailing a few cards out to W♥M writers, so you guys should be getting these in the mail in a few days. I'm still mailing them out, and if I don't have your address already, I will contact you shortly.

I am also making these cards available to readers - so if you are at least interested in getting some cards sent to you, email me () your address and I'll send some out to you. Please put "WHM Cards" in your subject title so I can set a filter.

If you also want a random CD, please let me know. I can't guarantee that you'll like the album, but at least you know that I've had to listen to it for review.

So, I eventually want to compile and print a book of W♥M articles. We have a lot of content that I would really like in printed form, perhaps to show someone or just to have it on my book shelf.

I don't think anyone else is actually interested, but I did some number crunching and each book will cost about $10+, so this is definitely a private project for myself. It will be perfectbound with a spine, in black and white, and about 100 pages.

Twitter:

weheartmusic

Do you use Twitter?  I personally don't understand it, but Ryan set up a weheartmusic account that automatically twitter our posts as soon as we post it.  So follow us and I'll make sure to follow you.

Flickr:

weheartmusic

I'm also a big fan of flickr, who isn't?

Jaiku:

weheartmusik

Er, yeah, there's also myspace.

 

 05/03/2008 14:12:18  vu my♥posts weheartmusic.com

Robin Danar - Altered States

Lisa Loeb & Steve Reynolds - Video Nasty Robin Danar Ratings: Press Release Altered States ft. Pete Yorn, Rachael Yamagata, Kinky, Minibar, Lisa Loeb http://weheartmus... Robin Danar Makes Shanachie Debut with Altered States featuring Pete Yorn, Lisa Loeb, Rachael Ya...

I was listening to Robin Danar's Altered States (released Mar 18th) for review on my iPod and seriously had a heart attack when I heard Minibar's doo-wop version of Morrissey's "First of the Gang to Die". It was the funniest thing I've heard in a long time.

As the name of the album suggests, Altered States are cover songs, however simply not just covers, these are songs reimagined.

I'll summarize the press material, this is music producer, arranger, musician Robin Danar's project. He assembled a cast of famous musicians to take on some famous (and not-so-famous) songs on this album.

I will have to admit that you really need to hear the original song to really appreciate the new versions. Although I haven't heard all the original songs, I know enough of them to really understand the joke.

Take for instance, Lisa Loeb & Steve Reynold's "Video Nasty", a sweet acoustic song. The irony is that the original song, "Nasty" is by UK punk band, The Damned.

If you're a fan of British culture, you'll probably know the term "Video Nasty" - which was the term they used to describe movies too horrible for consumption. These movies were banned and include (as mentioned in the song):The Driller Killer, Late Night Trains, and The Toolbox Murders.

Incidentally, when they made the Video Nasty list, it ultimately made a list of "must-see" horror films.... kind of like the "do not spam list", if you think about it.

Gary Jules & The Section Quartet - Weirdo

VS

The Charlatans - Weirdo

My other favorite song is Danar's take on The Charlatans' "Weirdo". The original song is kind of a psychedelic/dance song, but in the hands of Gary Jules and Section Quartet, these guy deliver a very strange industrial, gothy violin-driven song.... In some ways, even better than the original. You simply must hear it for yourself.

If you're a cover lover, like myself, this is a must-own album. It seems to me that many of these songs might be more obscure, but it's given me a new goal to find the original and hear how different they are compared to songs on Altered States.

PS, after receiving suggestions, I'm adding a "Rating" out of five hearts, for people who just want a quick summary.

 04/23/2008 00:30:54  vu my♥posts robindanar.com myspace.com/robindanar