This post was submitted by Rocky

Happy Tuesday, folks! Welcome to What We’re Listening To, TNG’s weekly rundown of the music we’re madly in love with! Before we begin, some of you may know this already, but today is Arts Advocacy Day up on Capitol Hill. Hundreds of artists, teachers and administrators from all over the country have come to D.C. to lobby Congress for additional federal funding for the arts, which personally I think is an incredibly important cause. I didn’t have the worst childhood by any means, but it certainly wasn’t all that fun. I’m fairly certain that without the arts programs at my school I wouldn’t be here writing this. (I mean, yes, I went to private school, but still…) Aside from being a relatively poor, black queer in an all-white, Southern prep school, I was a generally weird, awkward kid from a broken home. I wasn’t cool. I never fit in. It was pretty miserable. So for me, the value of getting up in the morning and knowing that at some point in the day I’d get to play some music, or share a poem I’d written, or get on stage and act a fool was incalculable. Having a small place in a small community of people where I felt nurtured, inspired, respected and valued was probably the greatest gift I have ever received. Honestly, it saved my life, so this is something really close to my heart.

I attended a lecture last night given by jazz legend Wynton Marsalis at the Kennedy Center and sponsored by Americans for the Arts. (Public thanks for the invite, Jules!) He said a number of really amazing things, and one thing that really struck a chord with me is that, without a substantive cultural education, we’re giving our kids and our nation as a whole a huge disservice. Keeping up with other nations in terms of science and technology is very important, but the technology of the human heart doesn’t change and without the ability to embrace and connect through music, dance, visual arts and our shared cultural history, who are we? What’s the point of living in this pretty awesome country, with all the rights we’re afforded, if we’re going to deny ourselves and our kids the means and tools to express what’s in our hearts articulately and creatively? When I was in Buenos Aires last fall, this violinist got on the subway and everyone on the train stopped their conversations, listened, applauded and gave him bank. I was flabbergasted. When was the last time you saw anything like that in America? They’re a people who respect their artists and listen to them. Unfortunately, we’re not, so as an artist myself that was really life-affirming to see. I think we should all make a concerted effort to be more like that.

I’m gonna get off my soapbox in a second I promise, but before I do I just really want to encourage everyone to get out there and support your local artists. I know you know, but still. Do it. Go to a craft fair or a poetry reading. Go to a comedy show or see a new band you’ve never heard of. Whatever floats your boat. You’ll be better of for it and these folks need you! And if you’re an artist, don’t get discouraged! (Which I guess is more for me than anyone else…) Don’t ever, ever stop! Just by getting up and trying you’re contributing more than you could ever know. But most importantly, and this goes for everyone, in uncertain times it’s always the artists who have the ability and the tacit responsibility to really inspire and educate, so please donate to any of the billion charities devoted to preserving arts education in our public schools, or, just as importantly if not more so, give of your time. You’d be amazed what sharing a little of what you know with someone younger can do, because without it, the music’s just going to keep getting worse, the discourse more corroded and pretty soon people are going to start jumping off of rooftops left and right. And that would suck.

OK. I’m done, and I think that’s the most I’ve ever written on this blog! But I really wanted to say that, so thank you for indulging me. Back to the business at hand: the music that moves and inspires us to what we do and will hopefully inspire you as well. On the menu this week, we’ve got: Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, Queen, Colin Munroe, Metric, Lavender Diamond, Jeremy Jay, No Doubt and Doves. Our reviews, plus everybody’s favorite part, the mixtape, await you below…

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti—Grandes Exitos – Greatest Hits

If funky rhythms, male falsettos, and word-play make you as giddy as they make me, then definitely check out Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti. The music itself evokes early 60s pop structures, with super low production values. But the melodies, harmonies and lyrics really seal the deal. As for word-play, just look at the song titles: “Jules Lost His Jewels,” “For Kate I Wait,” “Beverly Kills,” and so forth. Stand-out tracks include “Interesting Results,” “Are You Gonna Look After My Boys” and “Life in LA.” Look for a full length record and an east-coast tour (skipping DC, sadly) in the coming months. – Michael

Queen—Classic Queen

This album is one of my favorites, including many well-known Queen hits, including “Under Pressure” which featured David Bowie. Other favorites of mine include “It’s a Kind of Magic” and “Who Wants to Live Forever.” This album is characterized by the great harmonies and powerful sound which gives Queen its popularity. I think the mix of tracks in this 1992 compilation are some of the band’s best. – Matt

Colin Munroe—Colin Munroe is the Unsung Hero
When I fall in love with an artist, I fall hard. Rarely can I listen to an album all the way through, except Aaliyah’s 2001 album and Boomkat’s Boomkatalog One, but this album filled my ears for most of my 8 hour plane ride from Chicago to London last week. Colin Munroe is a brand new alternative pop canadian artist whose infectious rhythms and sincere crooning will having you feeling every single word in every song he sings. Some of my favorites are “As Much As You”, “Will I Stay”, “Piano Lessons”, and the catchy “Last Cause”. – Adam

Metric—Fantasies
I like all kinds of music but FREE music is my favorite. So when Metric started streaming their new album Fantasies, out April 7th, on their Myspace page, I took full advantage, playing it all week when at a computer. The lyrics themselves are kept fairly simple and stripped, but the production value is really high this time around and some of the tracks may have some mainstream cross-over potential. While “Gold Gun Girls” and “Gimme Sympathy” are both really fun, the lead track, “Help, I’m Alive” has been banging around in my head non-stop like, well, a hammer. – Jolly

Lavender Diamond—Imagine Our Love

With strummed guitars, rolling piano licks, simple drums and some perfectly placed string parts, this quartet is perfect listening for this time of year. The band’s only full album, Imagine Our Love, was released in 2007. Singer Becky Stark has a sweet voice with amazing talent, technique and range. Her vocals on “Garden Rose” and “Dance ‘Til Tomorrow” are really to be admired. Lavender Diamond walks a line between folk, alt-rock and cabaret and while the album has a few missteps (“Like an Arrow” is not my favorite), gems like “Bring Me a Song” and “Open Your Heart” are a real treat. I don’t mean to make it sound like it’s total springtime fluff;songs like “Oh No” and “I’ll Never Lie Again” are really personal. The full album download brings you a bonus track: a cover of “Oh No” by The Decemberists’ lead man, Colin Meloy. – Chris

Jeremy Jay—Slow Dance

Surely an acquired taste, the second album by LA-based electro-crooner Jeremy Jay has the amazing ability to inspire countless repeat listenings in me and disgusted annoyance in my boyfriend. Like a cross between Gerry Raferty and David Byrne, his slightly nasal, slightly folky voice combines with synth or computer beats to make songs that wouldn’t be out of place on either 70s AM radio or speak-easy on Mars. It’s a little slow, and a little odd, but I love it. I just can’t listen to him until my boyfriend leaves… – Zack

No Doubt—The Singles: 1992-2003

I am depressed as hell that No Doubt is playing in all four cities I will be living in this summer… and I am missing them each time by a matter of days. At least I still have this old collection to listen to. I start off each Sunday in the House of (fashion) God, Gwen Stefani, by listening to “Sunday Morning” while I make coffee and dance around my room. I play “Just a Girl” when I’m in the mood for some feminism, and “Spiderwebs” when I’m feeling nostalgic – remember when people had answering machines and would screen calls? Some things may come and go, but great bands like No Doubt will always be on my playlist. – Corey

Doves—”There Goes the Fear”

I love that feeling you get walking home at the end of a long night out and you turn the corner onto your block. It’s like “Yes! There’s my place! I can see it! And in a few, I can pee and put on my pj’s and snuggle under the covers until tomorrow afternoon. Life is awesome!” it’s just so comforting. That’s what this song is like for me. Back in the summer of ’02, I was obsessed with Doves’ The Last Broadcast. Kind of a random album to be obsessed with I guess, but it was important in terms of my personal development. That was the summer I went from “Poptart” to “Indie Fag,” started writing songs full-time (instead of, um, going to college), and, you know, decided that girls weren’t really my thing anymore. That album had a lot to do with those first two things at least, and “There Goes the Fear” was by far my favorite song. It’s a perfect blend of pop and indie rock, funky and sweet, intimate and epic. And, lyrically, it’s a wonderful reminder that insecurity is almost always completely unnecessary. It’s kind of like the musical equivalent of coming home and dancing around your living room like a dork in your favorite sneakers, alone and a little drunk at 3 AM. Not that that happened on Saturday. At all. Anyway, it’s bliss! – Rocky

And without any further ado… THE MIXTAPE!

Click me!

Ever since the heartbreaking loss of Scrabulous, I’ve been loathe to download any new Facebook applications. I don’t want to get burned again, you know? (Yes, yes, there’s “Lexulous” now, but it’s not the same.) Last week, however, I noticed that a large number of my friends seemed to be into that “5 Albums That Shaped Me…” application and it got me thinking. Five albums that shaped me? I mean what a difficult question! There are certainly a few albums, like Fiona Apple’s Tidal or Radiohead’s The Bends, which at the time blew my little teen-aged mind and caused me to consciously turn the wheel and take my life in a different direction. The first time I listened to Tidal, it was an experience akin to religious ecstasy. I was so moved by “Sullen Girl” that I sat on a bench and started to cry, and I decided right then and there that I wanted to be a full-time musician, because I wanted to do what she did for me in that moment for someone else. I figured that if I could take my guitar and write something that helped some lonely, depressed teenager not feel so defective, then my life might have some purpose. I’d be using my talent and skills and passion for the greater good. And if I just so happened to become the biggest rock star on the planet in the process, well then that’s just gravy. (And I was 16, so cut me some slack!) But then, as I learned this weekend when “There Goes the Fear” randomly popped onto my iPod for the first time in years, there are songs and albums that totally affect you and shape you while you’re not paying attention. For me, there are a few random songs that have the power to transport me back to a certain place or time in my life. “Trigger songs,” if you will. It’s like there are these certain pieces of music that live in my subconscious, and when I hear them suddenly I’m in college walking up a snowy sidewalk just wishing he’d call and wondering why I had to go and open my big mouth, or blithely watching MTV on a lazy Saturday morning in junior high. It’s weird. So I included a couple of my trigger songs on the mix this week: “Writing to Reach You” by Travis and Boyz II Men’s “End of the Road.” Do you guys have trigger songs or is it only me? What are they? Where do they take you? Let us know in the comments! Here’s this week’s playlist:

Lavender Diamond – “Open Your Heart” (Chris)
Doves – “There Goes the Fear” (Rocky)
No Doubt – “Spiderwebs” (Corey)
Colin Munroe – “Piano Lessons” (Adam)
Metric – “Help, I’m Alive” (Jolly)
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – “Interesting Results” (Michael)
Jeremy Jay – “Gallop” (Zack)
Travis – “Writing To Reach You” (Rocky)
Queen – “It’s a Kind of Magic” (Matt)
Boyz II Men – “End of the Road” (Rocky)

Alright, folks, show’s over! Thanks for stopping by and hopefully I’ll see you next week! Same time, same channel! X’s and O’s…

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