I would say that they should all know better, but it’s clearly untrue. Maybe pre-1985 Sting.
Please enjoy the schmoozy behind-the-scenes intro and soft focus.
Obligatory:
Polymeter?
The Strange Brew podcast on Lennon’s musical influences circa Double Fantasy sent me down some rabbit holes: Touch and Go, and time signatures. This was never one of my Cars favorites, but I’m totally fascinated by it now.
The song’s verses feature the use of polymeter. The bass and drums are playing in a time signature of 54, while the vocals, keyboards, and guitar are playing in 44.
Bastards! While my rather limited rhythm lobe tried to tap out the beats, my remaining auditory cortex projected the contemporaneous Spirits in the Material World, which only confused me more. Apparently that tune is 44 but so ska and misleading that you’ll fool yourself trying to count it out.
Available musicians please fix my brain and/or comment.
Loathsome Ad Jingle
You’re welcome.
Damn Protestants
I never would have missed an episode if they had included the live feed.
Nice Song Ray
When you’re ignorant, everything is new and exciting.
I had no idea that Mr Davies wrote this tune until I learned it in the episode of Waterloo Sunset, which just dropped. It’s awesome.
As are the Pretenders live in London.
The Licensing People Said No
Great Letterman bit. BMI & ASCAP are not to be trifled with.
Cunk History
I’ve been enjoying this series recently.
To say Cunk is an idiot is an insult to idiots—this is a person who stone-facedly inquires whether the pyramids were built from the top down. She calls the academics she speaks to “clevernauts” and “expertists” and then proceeds to ask these befuddled “boffins” about anal bleaching in ancient Rome. In between, she characterizes the advent of farming as a product of lazy hunters, math as a “tragic invention,” sports as “theater for stupid people,” the Model T as a “truly terrible car” and missionaries as “God’s bitches.” With her pop culture knowledge far outstripping her knowledge of literally anything else, she at least nails the name of the 5-part series’ religious episode: “Faith/Off.” Through all of it—even through the show’s inexplicable “Pump Up the Jam” leitmotif—Morgan never breaks. This is stupidity at its deadest seriousness.
When You Hustle, You Gotta Have A Hard Shell
Viva Schroeder
I read Peanuts over and over as a youngster. Our discussion of “Well-Tempered Clavier” triggered an old panel in my head. I couldn’t find it, of course, but seem to remember Schroeder’s involvement. It was a good springboard to look up his outstanding output.
I’m sure the classically-trained bastard among us can identify Schroeder’s enthusiastic tunes by a single measure.
NecronomiCon
“The weird is a way to connect with the world around us and make sense of it.”
So they say at the H.P. Lovecraft festival, held recently in Providence, R.I. There were film screenings, readings, academic presentations, concerts, live podcasts, walking tours of Lovecraft’s Providence, gaming, hardly any cosplay, and a Cthulhu Prayer Breakfast.
I like this crowd.