Song of the Week

The D Man has "Little Secrets" as his ringtone and it is one of the better choices he has made. Why? Because even when obnoxious people call it still makes me feel good about life. Higher and higher and higher.

Check out the new video for "Little Secrets." There is absolutely no reason why Passion Pit shouldn't be selling millions of records. Of course, I suppose the fact that the general populace has sketchy taste in pop music is a problem. Alas.

Classic D Man

If this is not the best ten-minute acoustic song of all time, then there are some spine-tingling verses that deserve a serious explanation. On "Lost Verses," Mark Kozelek shapes the sentimental into the artistic, an aesthetic feat that few singer-songwriters ever accomplish. The patient buildup and lovelorn payoff are pure emotional electricity. And the open-tuned guitar finale? Brilliant.

BONUS: Check out this incredible live version, captured somewhere in America.

Song of the Week

Midlake just released their long-anticipated album, The Courage of Others. The band's much-beloved 2006 album, The Trials of Van Occupanther, sets an extremely high bar--it was one of the fifty best records of the decade. Check out "Acts of Man," a fitting song for the dog days of February.

Peter Gabriel

The D Man has always worshiped the work of Peter Gabriel, even though the video for "Shock the Monkey" scared me as a little kid. Gabriel's unique creativity has spawned countless classic tracks, both far-reaching in the popular and intimate in the personal. So it shouldn't be a surprise that at this stage in his career, with an overwhelming catalog to maneuver against, Gabriel is releasing an album reinterpreting the songs of other great artists. Scratch My Back is due out in March, offering up renditions of Radiohead, Arcade Fire, Elbow, and Bon Iver, among others. Hear the beautifully orchestrated "Flume," one of the standout tracks from Bon Iver's recent classic, For Emma, Forever Ago. Gabriel's reverent incantations are stunning.

Song of the Week

The D Man is a fan of Matthew Ryan's sparse traditionalism that is rooted in a minimalist approach to the Nashville music scene where he makes his home. His work with Neilson Hubbard in Strays Don't Sleep is underrated excellence, and his unique voice has been described as a "hushed rasp, with words catching like vows destined to be broken--one of modern music's most potent whispers." Check out "We Are Snowmen" from Ryan's recent release, Dear Lover.

Grammy Redux

The Grammy Awards have become fairly ridiculous and an exercise in excess. (Not to mention the bloated and contrived music industry "moments"). So naturally The D Man slogged his way through the entire affair so he could bring you some semblance of sanity. Enjoy. (Mrs. D Man's comments are in italics).

• Lady Ga-Ga arrives! “She is so gross.” The D Man wonders whether Madonna was ever this contrived, and then a soot-covered Elton John shows up for a duet. Close call.
• Song of the Year? "Single Ladies" by Beyonce. At least my son knows the version from The Chipmunks.
• On Jennifer Lopez: “She’s got a major girdle on. No way.”
• Green Day is now in rarified company--one of the most overrated best-selling bands of all time. Green Day the Musical? Did The Seussical end its run? We are a long way from “Longview.”
• On one of Green Day's musical singers: “She must be a meth addict or something because her skin is awful.”
• Tired of Taylor Swift acting so surprised. That is all.
• Beyonce going with the Tina Turner Beyond Thunderdome look. No complaints here. But I am surprised to see her without two ladies next to her that have had their thighs carefully measured. Yes, you know what I'm talking about.
• Just noticed Weird Al in the crowd. Finally. 51 million youtube views cannot be wrong.
• "Nicole Kidman's face looks like Play-Dough. Molded.”
• Was Pink getting ready for a Vulcan wedding? Man she was bad. I felt violated when she took off her robes. “Ooh, she’s wet, honey. They dipped her in water.”
• Zac Brown Band as Best New Artist? How out of touch is this show? Keeps breaking new barriers every year.
• The D Man's best joke of the night: “At least the Peas will bring the Boom Boom Pow.” (Giggles). Lyric of the Year has to be "Mazel tov." But I'm not gonna lie. Loved the dancing boom-box guys. I think the Timpview drill team must have let the Peas borrow their costumes.
• Lady Antebellum was really singing. Good for them. Not a bad song either. A Fleetwood Mac-style burner.
• I voted for “Livin' on a Prayer," if you were wondering.
• Record of the Year goes to “Use Somebody” by The Kings of Leon. Given the inadequate category choices, not so bad.
• Robert Downey, Jr. is on fire. And he knows it. Jamie Foxx, not so much. He is starting to get on my nerves with the whole double-threat thing. Leave that to Neon Deon. And why keep pretending to sing if everyone knows you are not singing and apparently does not care if you sing?
• “I’m just imagining your Dad watching this and it makes me laugh.”
• Slash appears for a shill-out solo. (Sigh).
• Mary J. Blige performs at every awards show. If she is not careful, she could become the female Stevie Wonder.
• Green Day wins Rock Album of the Year. Somewhere people cared.
• The Zac Brown Band had to pretend they were stoked to play with the legendary Leon Russell, right? No matter. A half-way decent performance. Cold beer on a Friday night. Pair of jeans that fit just right.
• On Stevie Nicks: “Her voice is so raspy.” The D Man: “That is because she’s got a quarter-sized hole in her nose from all the coke she snorted.”
• Lionel Richie comes out. “Yeeesssss.” Smoothest presenter of the night. And it is not even close.
• Was I supposed to get 3D glasses for the tribute to Michael Jackson’s tribute to the planet earth? Thankfully I stole a pair after Avatar.
• Michael’s alleged kids accepting a word on his behalf. Creepy. Grammy people, get a clue.
• Lyric of the Night: “I highjacked a rainbow and crashed into a pot of gold.” Sheesh. Thanks, Bon Jovi.
• Bocelli can sing. Refreshing. Mary J. Blige brought the goods too. She can come back next year. Just don’t sing “Superstitious.”
• The Dave Matthews Band? What can The D man say? At least they are good musicians, sound tight, and know how to play to a large audience.
• Maxwell was DYNAMITE. Classy. Talented. “My favorite performance so far.”
• Still a fan of dead artist montages.
• On Lil' Wayne: “I don’t know how his pants stay on when he’s running around like that.” Half his song with Eminem and T-Pain was blocked out. Mercifully.
• Strange, Taylor Swift’s Fearless didn’t make The D Man’s Top Twenty List. Oh well, there is always next year when Vampire Weekend wins. Ummm, wait.