Rocky Rita's Guide to Modern Music

soundtrack for a yoga retreat..

2009-02-06T11:35:00.002+08:00

Hello everybody

I've been so busy it's been impossible to write new stuff on the blog..there's so much new music out there this year already! Anyway later on I will surely find the time to do it..

For now, before I depart for a physical mental and spiritual voyage to India where i will be learning how to be a yoga teacher for a full month, i leave you with the music selection that I will be taking with me on my mp3 player.

Just last night i was talking about this with some girlfriends: 'what should I bring, something calm and zen to match the mood of the course, or something completely urban and noisy?'

I settled for in between, but more calm than crazy..

Some of this stuff is new, check it out!

- the dodos 'visiter' (nice folk with interesting drums - check out 'fools')
-beach house 'devotion' (beautiful lady folky voice - 'heart of chambers' or 'gila')
-nitin sawhney 'prophesy' and 'beyond skin' (some indian fusion is perfect for this trip, isnt it? If you dont know him, check 'nadia')
-woody allen movie soundtracks (its great!!check out the original of the doors' 'moon of alabama', its wicked!)
-working for a nuclear free city 'businessmen and ghosts' (i've been loving this..to get and idea of their sound, just imagine if chemical bros were a band and were calmer...the sweeter side of CB is all here)
- juana molina 'segundo' and 'un dia' (this argentinian girl is great..layers over layers of repetitive voices and sounds, calm relaxing and very beautiful..almost like a mantra, perfect!)
-school of seven bells 'alpinisms' (i've been adoring this as well...very modern in terms of production, and very curious vocals - a sort of trancy indian song structure, very hippy and modern at the same time...one of last year's revelations!)
-the epochs (really nice poppy band, with funky lite electronic arrangements..the best track is without a doubt 'giving tree')
-The ruby suns 'sea lions' (another of last year's best - hippie guys from new zealand that create beautiful atmospheres where you really feel the 'jam' thing of them sitting together and sort of improvising with instruments etc..really nice)
-scarlett johansson 'anywhere i lay my head' (contrary to what people think, scarlett is not only gorgeous and woody allen's new beloved muse - she sings well, knows how to choose great Tom Waits songs, and best of all - she knows how to pick great producers! This album is precisely that, a masterpiece of studio production..and a relief for all the people like me that sort of like and respect TW, but cant stand his voice..hehehe...)
-department of eagles 'in ear park' (one of last year's top top top albums..the solo album from grizzly bear's main man..can't really explain..folk meets cabaret? its just beautiful . If u like this u will love GB, one of my favourite new bands..)
-nusrat fateh ali khan 'mustt mustt' (if im going to explore mantras and singing to God in my yoga trip, i have to have a master with me to show me how to do it (and remind me that I already know how to do it..). Nusrat is a pakistani sufi singer, one of my all time favourites, in his voice you really feel the divine, the higher purer side of singing...for me (and many people) this is sacred music, and music at its higher purpose)

There's more, but i have to go now..time for my last meat eating meal!

In the meantime hope you all spend a wonderful February...i'll be expanding extending stretching pushing upgrading expanding and enlightening myself, but still with the thought of all you beautiful people in my heart.. and yes, music as always will be there: i'll start the day with a big Ohmm at 6 am, followed by lots of mantras and devotional songs..cool!!

A huge hug to all, see you soon!
Namaste!

Jens Lekman: when a lesbian needs a fake boyfriend

2009-01-08T12:22:00.003+08:00

Hellooo..

I'm listening to a record at the office by this sweet Swedish guy called Jens Lekman (http://www.myspace.com/jenslekmanmusic) that put out one of most original albums in 2007 ("Night falls over Kortedala").

Just simple pop songs with a vintage edge, apparently, but when you listen to the lyrics and pay attention to some of the details ( for example in one track the tempo goes faster when he gets to the chorus..genius!) you really start to appreciate his stuff...really nice.

Anyway I was listening to a track from his album and after yesterday's lesbian post I thought this one made sense - Jens' song "Postcard to Nina" shows the whole lesbian thing from a totally different perspective : it talks about the guy that has to pretend he is the boyfriend of a lesbian chick, so that her dad doesn't get disapointed...heeheheh

Anyway just watch the video, Jens will tell you the whole story (he says its real by the way).

The 1st verse is a gem:

"Nina I can't be your boyfriend so you can stay with your girlfriend

Your father is a sweet old man but it's hard for him to understand that you want to love a woman" HAHA!

And then it gets funnier: the dad loves the guy, buys his record, then sends him emails but he ignores him...lol... Im mean a song with the words " auto-office replies"? Its great!

Enjoy!*!

"Postcard to Nina"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLKJj-pEZ2c&feature=related

A heavenly haircut... so sweet...

Lesbian chicks and their toys

2009-01-07T16:20:00.005+08:00

Hehey! Dont be scared (or aroused) with the kinky title... Yes they are lesbian, but their toys are midikeyboards, etc... ha!

I don't really give a shit about their personal sexual choices, but it is curious to hear a girl singing about being in love with a girl..once again not totally new, but still, its something quite uncommon.. So to all those people that have been hating that stupid track that is on MTV right now, something like 'I kissed a girl and I liked it' (pffff...), here's something much more interesting and edgy:

Tender Forever is the alias of Melanie Valera, a crazy half french half american girl that makes these really sweet poppy/electronica songs...very cute and romantic, and you can see she really opens her heart (and lungs) out in her music. Her arrangements are really cool, all done probably in her little laptop with a simple sound editing program. Its simple but it works! Plus she makes these really cool paper cutouts and her shows are quite original..try to look for some of her concerts,like the one in a recent Sonar.

(She is the one on the right, with her lady)

Here's her myspace:http://www.myspace.com/tenderforever

The 1st track i heard was the one that won me over, "How Many" (although the dancing is pretty horrible, even if done as a joke..):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNroJ07w1J8&feature=related

A cover of Justin Timberlake's "My Love" (my brother loved it, of course):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZb3QquSYw0&feature=related

All done with a flat, a girlfriend and some silly paper thingis and fridge magnets!
"Magic of the crashing stars":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX7Mg0PuWPU

And to finish, the beautiful balad "To deal with":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNn5ihIeRAw&feature=related
Post-it dress?Yes!

Who tops sexy Beyonce? Those who are Tender Forever!HAHA!

And I leave you with one of her best lines: "When you talk about sex you dont talk about love, its like saying that pigeons are nicer than doves, its a lie"...she really is tender isnt she?

Nature's Folk: Fleet foxes & Iron & Wine

2009-01-07T15:13:00.007+08:00

Happy new year everyone!!!

New year, new music? Wait! There's a lot more to discover from last year's (and 2007's) great great music... Yes, and after returning from Portugal (where a friend told me he didn't find anything recent interesting) I feel an even bigger urge to share the really wonderful projects that have been coming out in the last couple of years. Cani this one is for you!

So to start smoothly but surely, I present to you Fleet Foxes, five shabby-haired hippies from Seattle, US.

Their music is nothing innovative, but its just so so beautiful... 60's fans of folk bands like Crosby Stills and Nash or Jefferson Airplane will absolutely adore these guys. From the minute their selftitled debut album starts, nature embraces you in such a sweet and pure way..These hippies invite you to sit with them by the bonfire, and once again, the vocals are at the front here, and they carry you into the woods, to see the small creeks, to smell the pine trees...mmm...

I know it seems I am exagerating, but if you listen, you will understand what I mean.

here's one of my favourite tracks "White Winter Hymnal", their myspace, the pitchfork rating & review (they gave them a 9/10!), and a interview-video pitchfork did with them when they were on summer tour in the US (dont start with this one, its better to hear some tracks first).

http://www.subpop.com/assets/audio/4264.mp3

http://www.myspace.com/fleetfoxes

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/51076-fleet-foxes-fleet-foxes

http://www.pitchfork.tv/daytripping/fleet-foxes

If you like this, then check out the texans Iron and Wine, they've been around for a while but their album "Shepherd's Dog" was a favourite in 2007.

I loved it, a bit "country" but in a good way :). The other records are not nearly as good. In fact, don't listen to them, just listen to this track(I found them through it and imediately fell in love):

Boy with a coin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLNyVLbqdEg

(the video is stupid, so just pay attention to the track..)

Here's a fun one: The Devil Never Sleeps

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IAkATz9RSM&feature=related

Here's another one, more mellow: Ressurection Fern

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMouvawdbKc&feature=related

And their sites:

http://www.ironandwine.com/

http://www.myspace.com/ironandwine

Peace and love to all you beautiful 21st century hippies!

New Year: time to reflect

2008-12-16T12:53:00.002+08:00

Although the countdown to the new year is a happy moment, for many (like myself) its a bit awkward, and you kind of feel mellow and nostalgic, and you find yourself thinking of all the new years you had, what happened (and didnt happen) in the last year, and what you wish will happen in the years to come.

With this in mind, I leave you with the ever thoughful Beth Gibbons and their partners from Portishead, performing live the profoundly moving track "Funny Time of Year".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AmKkz5-lyA

Wishing you all a lot of "blossoms on the trees"... ************!

Merry X'mas!

2008-12-16T12:37:00.002+08:00

I'm off to Portugal for a long awaited two-week Xmas holidays, so I leave my little blog routine with this cute song by Sally Shapiro from her album Disco Romance. Although not extraordinary, its a pleasant voyage, specially if you're girly and you love sweet voices and disco/electro on the verge of cheesyness...

Sally Shapiro: Anorak Christmas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHC1RaLEQSM

Ho Ho Ho...Enjoy! See you next year!

Ziggy's Back!:21st century Glam Rock Part 3

2008-12-12T11:35:00.004+08:00

Yuhuu..

To finish the week i'm ending this glam rock thing in style with the "glamest" band of all: Apes & Androids.

This NY band is probably the best continuation of the whole Glam/psicadelic legacy...Visually they totally follow their ancestors' gymmicks but what is really interesting is the music of their debut album "Blood Moon". To start with, its just brilliantly organized, really a voyage from beginning to end, that starts with this funny intro track where you hear chimps and robot sounds in the back- in analogy to the Apes and Androids name, duh - and at the same time there's the sound of a spaceship launch..

Anyway better than being funny and groovy, this album is truly psicadelic, and its great to hear the guitars and synths drift off, and the different parts of the songs coming out of nowhere...very nicely done. Songs are great when they are like this, made up of different sections, aren't they?

The Apes and Androids' sound is very rocky but also slightly electronic, with quirky bleeps that give it that modern edge. Nice.
The cherry on top of it all are once again the vocals - I'm a sucker for vocals.. - that are also bringing back the falsetto Queen thing, a la Bohemian Rapsody, but here they are a bit more agressive, not so la la la... reminds me of Prince and specially Beck's Midnight Vultures in many ways, not only the vocals, but also some arrangements. If you loved that, you'll love these guys.

Here's their website:http://www.myspace.com/apesandandroids

In my opinion all the videos suck, the album is much much better so bear this in mind when you watch them. As a matter of fact, if you can, listen to the whole album album first, and then watch these videos:

Here's their most popular track, "Hot Kathy":

“Hot Kathy” unofficial video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcr8rkit3Uw

“Put your hands up”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSXX6xkjaQg&feature=related

“Radio” (one of my favourites)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oM85Bw6sFn4&feature=related

“Make forever last forever” (this part of the song really shows what they're all about)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YYOJqquqVg&feature=related

And so does this one, "Johnny and Sarah"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0BeqUUbIak&feature=related

For Rolling Stone, they're breaking artists :http://www.rollingstone.com/blogs/breaking/2008/02/breaking-apes-and-androids.php

For Pitchforkmedia, they're fakes: http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/49388-blood-moon

Can't please everyone...

Have a nice w-e!

Macao people, don't miss Ray's concert with the swiss guy at the rooftop bar next to the st paul ruins! Sat at 19:00!See you there!

David Byrne & a talking building

2008-12-11T14:58:00.005+08:00

Although the latest news about music legend David Byrne is his latest album "Everything that happens will happen today" with Brian Eno (which actually is not bad at all, but nothing exciting either - except if you're a big fan of both, or over 50..), I recently found out that during this summer he did this amazing instalation in a building in New York where he literally plays the building.

After I saw the interview with pitchforkmedia I was impressed. This guy is an artist in the true definition of the word.

Check it out for yourselves.

The pitchfork video:http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/147723-best-of-pitchforktv-features

The project's website:http://www.davidbyrne.com/art/art_projects/playing_the_building/

Pity he wont be doing something like this at the HK convention center, that would be great, the place is so big!...BTW its on January 19 , and he'll be playing his latest album. Buy tickets here http://www.hkticketing.com/eng/.

Each piano key works like a button connected to each line, that in turn strikes or activates a part of the building. Wow... They should do this with a submarine, a church, with EVERYTHING!

Ziggy's Back!:21st century Glam Rock Part 2

2008-12-11T12:26:00.006+08:00

Hi again

After the easygoing pop duo MGMT, its time for something slightly more intelligent and wild: of Montreal.
They are also Americans and have been very trendy, specially live, because their concerts must be really fun. Why? Simple because they are VERY GAY, flamboyant and silly (just see their photos in their myspace http://www.myspace.com/ofmontreal).
Anyway these guys are just fun to listen to, the melodies are quite catchy, the vocals are great, and their arrangements are surprising, which is something rare these days... Somewhere between poppy 90s rock with synths, soundtracks for arcade video games, and in my opinion the vocals have a bit of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody".. (!)
Visually, people that love what Elton John wore in the 80's and the whole 70's disco craze will love this..and yes Ziggy is definitely back with this one.

Here's the pop single:

Of Montreal “Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5WNnbH-t18

"Mood shift, shift back to good again"? LOL.. And a chorus with the word Chemicals is just great..another great one for you druggies, ehehe..

Here's another one. Fun video, and more funny lyrics, specially when he go go go goes like this.
Of Montreal “Gronlandic Edit”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBfgQvM7wtE

And the last one, full pop power!! And another wonderful video..
Of Montreal ‘Suffer for Fashion”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBYGjC_hJ9A

There's a new album ("Skeletal Lamping"), haven't heard it yet, all these tracks are from "Hissing Fauna, Are you the distroyer". I advise you to start from this one, its irresistible..

Enjoy!

Frontman Kevin Barnes, always lovely..

MGMT babe...

2008-12-09T19:24:00.003+08:00

Check it out ladiiiieeeees...

I was right, wasn't I?

Ziggy's Back!:21st century Glam Rock Part 1

2008-12-09T17:53:00.005+08:00

In case you didn't notice, 2008 (and 2007) was a big year for glam/psicadelic rock.
Of course it's formatted for the 21st century teens - more poppy and easy, more filled with electronic glitches and bleeps. It's still fun, susprising, liberating - and yes, very gay - but less "dirty" and more rooted - after all, no one is taking acids and LSD's anymore... :)

So today here's number one (i.e. the top-selling one) : the Brooklin NY duo MGMT (should be pronounced Management, but I don't care, i just say MGMT..) Their album is "Oracular Spectacular" but they are recording a new one right now.

If you haven't seen this name or their faces than you are truly in need of this blog.. (heheheh)
Ladies (and all men-lovers) check out the boy without the beard, isn't he cute?
Anyway, here's the track that launched them,"Time to Pretend". Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVnRzEjpUmE&feature=related

Check out the lyrics, they're quite original - sort of a rock star "to-do" list, and also a beautiful reflexion on the downfall of adolescence:

I'm feeling rough, I'm feeling raw, I'm in the prime of my life.
Let's make some music, make some money, find some models for wives.
I'll move to Paris, shoot some heroin, and fuck with the stars.
You man the island and the cocaine and the elegant cars.

This is our decision, to live fast and die young.
We've got the vision, now let's have some fun.
Yeah, it's overwhelming, but what else can we do.
Get jobs in offices, and wake up for the morning commute.

Forget about our mothers and our friends
We're fated to pretend
To pretend
We're fated to pretend
To pretend

I’ll miss the playgrounds and the animals and digging up worms
I’ll miss the comfort of my mother and the weight of the world
I’ll miss my sister, miss my father, miss my dog and my home
Yeah, I'll miss the boredom and the freedom and the time spent alone.
There's really nothing, nothing we can do
Love must be forgotten, life can always start up anew.
The models will have children, we'll get a divorce
We'll find some more models, everything must run its course.
We'll choke on our vomit and that will be the end
We were fated to pretend
To pretend
We're fated to pretend
To pretend
----------------
Cool aren't they?Specially the "chocking on our vomit" part, but my favourite is the "digging up worms" verse...its beautiful.."carrying the weight of the world"? "Missing the boredom"?Wow...

The whole album is cool (WARNING:two or three tracks are a bit annoying).
Here's their website: http://www.whoismgmt.com/
And two other videos:
MGMT “Electric Feel”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtUI5MC9tVM&feature=related
(any ideas on what that shiny gooey thing is? And what are they on??)

MGMT “Destrokk”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vagvI7Y1hZ8&feature=related
(this one is not from their album - its from a previous EP. Don't really care much about the song itself but the video is great..check it out you druggies!!)

Launch post:Hello Blog world!

2008-12-09T17:37:00.003+08:00

Hello everyone!
After pretensiously thinking that blogs are for posers and narcisists, I decided to give in to the trend and create this blog about contemporary music.
I've always been into music (like most people..) but in recent years I've had time to surf and read a lot about what's happening in music today, and whenever I can I share my new finds with music nerds like me. But music takes time, you can't force it on people, so that's why I created this blog - here you can listen to tracks, read about artists or watch videos whenever you want, and you don't have to put up with me saying "well, what do you think?" (but please comment!).
To all my portuguese speaking readers - sorry, music is universal, and so is English...time to "practicate"!
Comments, questions and suggestions are appreciated!
Long live music and... Enjoy!