Strange times. "Psycho Killer" was a song by the Talking Heads released in 1977. The official music video was just released today.
I'm a big Talking Heads fan and a big fan of "Psycho Killer." In the abstract, I'm not opposed to making a modern music video for it - I don't see the point, really, but not opposed. But I don't get this. The contrast in era between the music and video is too great, it's jarring. I think maybe it could be helped if you go for a 70s aesthetic, but I don't know. Certainly a better concept/story is called for, for such a classic song.
The following songs are all songs that I emotionally and psychologically associate with Spring. The change of seasons, the warmer weather, the idea that there's still plenty of the school year left but the end is in sight - it's all here. ROCK.
If it's nice out listen to these songs whilst enjoying the sunshine. If it's not, listen and pretend it is.
Talking Heads - Nothing But Flowers
(The above takes me right back to my senior year in high school. I had ordered the Best of the Talking Heads CD online and listened to it a lot while making an entire website for a school project using Frontpage. Those were the days.)
Passenger - Walk You Home
(The above takes me straight back to 2007. That's probably to recent to reminisce.)
The Lemonheads - If I Could Talk I'd Tell You
(The above takes me right back to 1997 or thereabouts... it takes me there but whilst there I don't have access to a calendar. Ah, to be back in the '90s.)
Elbow - Scattered Black and Whites
(Takes me back to 2001. Working a summer job by day (I say "working" though it was really more like "surfing the internet and then leaving after 8 hours") and hanging with friends in the evenings.)
Radiohead - Maquiladora
(It's oft been said that Radiohead's B-Sides are better than other bands' A-Sides. S'truth. Takes me back to 1998. In those days there was a webpage with every Radiohead B-Side listed and each had a link to download the song right off the webpage. Those days are gone, eh? I went through the B-Sides endlessly while exploring the new "internet" and trying out new Winamp "skins".)
The fact that 3/5 bands have the word "head" in the title is completely coincidental. A different 3/5 are British. Also coincidence.
I've lost track of Peter Gabriel in the period since John Cusack held a boombox aloft in "Say Anything" but he's come up with an interesting concept.
With his new album, entitled "Scratch My Back" Gabriel covers 12 songs by 12 different artists. Then, later, another album will be released of those 12 artists covering Peter Gabriel songs, entitled "I'll Scratch Yours". The main point of interest is the artists involved. Other than Peter Gabriel, you have names like David Bowie, Paul Simon, Talking Heads, Lou Reed, Arcade Fire, Radiohead and Neil Young.
Check out an exclusive preview of the first album here.
I'm a fairly big fan of some of his work with Genesis and his solo album "So" is a masterpiece in my opinion. However, I haven't heard much of his material since then and this is his first release in 8 years so I didn't quite know what to expect. My initial impression is that the style of the moment for him seems to be slow, dire, stark and dour. If you're looking for dark and atmospheric music this is probably the album for you. If you're not, it's not. From what I've heard so far, I'm not sure but I'm liking it. I wouldn't say any one songs stands out at this point but that's to be expected - it's the kind of thing that sneaks up on you slowly. I'll keep listening and see what I find. Anyways, I'm more looking forward to the second album - with all those artists it's bound to be an interesting treasure trove of interesting covers.
The rumormill is abuzz with what song each artist will cover. I've heard that Bowie isn't involved and it actually be Brian Eno who will do the response song (lame). The biggest mystery is exactly how the Talking Heads are involved as they have said things in the past that indicate that they'll never reunite.
