Five Things

The D Man is willing to share more of his random thoughts with his loyal cadre of readers. So here it goes.

• Vampire Weekend has more rhythm, funk, syncopation, and flow than nine out of every ten rappers. The Columbia-grads put on a great show last week and sounded tight, inspired, and fresh. Check out the new video for "Giving Up the Gun," featuring a few interesting cameos.
• The D Man received this text from his (unnamed) brother, who was attending a concert over the weekend: "Jet rocks!" No, thankfully he was not talking about The Jets, but still: Jet rocks? Maybe Jet rocks for people who watch VH1 every morning and have a ten-album collection that consists of The Eagles Greatest Hits and Yanni: Live at the Acropolis. But for people who love and listen to actual rock music? Original, bona fide rock music? Not so sure. Jet arrived in 2003 attempting to ride the wave of the so-called rock revival led by the likes of The Strokes, The White Stripes, The Hives, and even fellow Aussies The Vines. Unlike their better peers (particularly The Strokes and The White Stripes), Jet opportunistically aped every imaginable band possible (The Stones, AC/DC, Oasis) to become one of the most corporate, vanilla, and inauthentic "rock bands" of the past twenty years. The band would make Joe Jonas blush--this actual review of a Jet record says it all. Indeed, The D Man concurs with critic Nick Sylvester's even less nice review of the band's most popular album to date, Get Born. The very act of writing this hit piece has reminded The D Man that he needs go pick up the new Under Great Northern Lights box set as soon as possible. Relief.
• Still love this song.
• The National's "Bloodbuzz Ohio" from the forthcoming High Violet is stunning. I was carried to Ohio in a swarm of bees.
• These three songs from Broken Social Scene's much-anticipated album are quite good.

PS22 Chorus

The D Man had a great choir director in high school. When Mr. Keck wanted to cut loose, he rocked out with some American folk songs. But this sensitive pony-tailed guy? He leads his chorus through endearing renditions of Journey, Survivor, and Coldplay.

PS22 Chorus is a fifth-grade choir from Public School 22 in Staten Island, New York. The diverse group of kids has received more than 14 million YouTube hits and been featured with artists such as Tori Amos, Stevie Nicks, and Common. Recently, they were featured on three songs from Passion Pit's fantastic debut album, Manners, including the infectious sing-a-long from "Little Secrets." Check out the chorus doing "Lisztomania" from Phoenix. Thanks to G-Reese via B-Reese for the heads up.

Classic D Man

When "Bizarre Love Triangle" came on the radio the other day, I sang every word. The D Man realized that the song has held up remarkably well, especially considering the last decade's computer-assisted foray (or even obsession) into danceable pop music influenced by the likes of New Order and other Eighties post- new wave purveyors.

The D Man was also reminded of Frente!'s lovely version of the song from 1994. I remember listening to the song on late-night summer drives and thinking Australia's Angie Hart had the most perfect voice in the universe. If you have watched American Idol recently, you do not need to be told that a second-take rarely measures up to the original. But Frente!'s "Bizzare Love Triangle" is worthy of discussion as an authentic interpretation of a fantastic pop song, thanks to Hart's bittersweet restraint and the lilting acoustic line somehow discovered among the bleeping synths of the original.

Song of the Week

It takes an ocean not to break. The National debuted "Terrible Love" on Fallon this week and The D Man is thrilled with the sound of another anthemic breakdown of brooding post-rock and mega-chorus brilliance. The band's fifth album, High Violet, does not hit record stores until May, but The D Man is excited about everything he is seeing and hearing. The album cover takes a decidedly In Rainbows-esque turn to something brighter and more magnanimous than the band's previous (albeit superlative) artwork. And if the band's pulsing energy on display with "Terrible Love" is any indication of the album's thrust, we are in for a treat.

Danny Gokey

The D Man has been a consistent American Idol viewer for the past few years. Yes, a young Bowie or Tweedy is unlikely to grace the stage, but it is still compelling reality television with some seriously talented individuals.

Arguably one of the best human beings to appear on American Idol, Danny Gokey stole the hearts of viewers last year with his story, sincerity, and authenticity. Losing his young wife shortly before appearing on Idol, Gokey inspired listeners, sent up great performances, and eventually finished third behind lesser-voiced Kris Allen and just plain scary Adam Lambert.

His debut album, My Best Days, was just released. Making a wise career decision to go country, Gokey can now sing straightforward songs suited to his big soft-gravel voice--and can even mention the Lord to an understanding audience. (Gokey was a church choir director before Idol). If there is someone worth supporting on country radio, The D Man suggests that you give Mr. Gokey a try. Or you can listen to Lambert and try not to catch something.

Classic D Man

Singer-songwriter Mark Linkous (aka Sparklehorse) passed away this weekend after taking his own life. Massively talented and destined for major stardom after the release of Sparklehorse's first album in 1995, Linkous opened for the likes of R.E.M. and Radiohead. But he instead filtered much of his lush and melodic music through experimentation, ultimately becoming a cult figure beloved by his fans and fellow musicians, including the many artists that he collaborated with such as PJ Harvey, David Lynch, Tom Waits, Daniel Johnston, The Flaming Lips, and most recently Danger Mouse on the just released Dark Night of the Soul.

In 2006, The D Man wrote the following about Sparklehorse's fantastic album, Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain:

Indeed, many of these songs sound as if they were composed in the belly of a mountain, dew-eyed from ages of Van Winkle dreaming and obscured by the depths of the earth. Mark Linkous has been called reclusive, and there is a hermit-like quality to his music that echoes from forest hollows—intimate, unsettled, lonely but cautiously hopeful. And perhaps it is the few streams of hope that bubble up to the surface, through the static, which makes this record so fresh and vital—unlike past efforts, Linkous seems slightly reborn after sleeping for so long.

Unfortunately, Linkous could never escape his constant battle with depression and other demons. Like many gifted artists before him, he will best be remembered through his music. Enjoy The D Man's favorite Linkous moment below. May your shade be sweet.

Song of the Week

Frightened Rabbit is still responsible for one of the best guitar-pop songs of the past few years. And with the band's forthcoming third album, The Winter of Mixed Drinks, the guys from Selkirk take center stage among the recent cast of solid Scottish bands such as Camera Obscura, Glasvegas, Idlewild, and of course, Belle & Sebastian. The D Man likes the new single "Swim Until You Can't See Land," even if no bagpipes get wet.

Road Trip

Music is an essential element to any good road trip. Music can enhance your time in the car unlike any other pastime. Mood, location, time of day, weather, and a host of other factors can (and should) determine your personal soundtrack. There is nothing worse than the wrong song at the wrong time. But there is something enjoyable, exciting, and even enriching about listening to the right song on the open highway.

The D Man recently hit the road for San Diego. Seaworld. Legoland. The works. Enjoy my music log on what proved to be a fantastic time. As you will see, The D Man was on his game and hit all the right buttons.

• Monday. Started in the early morning with Beach House's exquisite, hazy Teen Dream. Absolutely perfect. While leaving the Wasatch Front, the late winter clouds hung low, and the Baltimore duo's music extended the clouds right into the car.
• During the bleak winterscapes of central Utah, The D Man went with The xx. The atmospherics could have been sexier except for Mrs. D Man curled up in her velour sweats reading Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. (Note: she cried for the first time at page 57. Yep. Page 57).
• Next: Alligator from The National. High point: "All the Wine" and "Abel" over the snow-riddled summit of Beaver pass.
• After emerging from the Virgin river gorge, The D Man slipped in Rules from The Whitest Boy Alive. No better album for the vast desert on a clear, forward-looking day. Awesome.
• Coming down into Las Vegas, Kanye West's Graduation was on track five.
• Tuesday. While trying to find some breakfast on the streets just off The Strip, we listened to The Very Best. Brilliant selection. The D Man wondered whether anyone would notice. Nope.
• Setting out for California, we listened to Nashville from Josh Rouse. The D Man really loves this album, especially in the springtime. Needed to get those open-hearted vibes going.
• Across Death Valley, had to go with something big, anthemic. Kings of Leon did the trick. Pulled into Barstow while listening to this song.
• Played the Beach Boys as we headed down into the coastal valleys of California. A tradition of sorts, dating back to road trips as a kid. Is there a better soundtrack for the coming surf and sun?
• We hit San Diego at night, which obviously required something smooth, urban, breezy. Ne-Yo. Check. Year of the Gentlemen. Check.
• Wednesday. Animal Collective.
• Thursday. The D Man pulled out a special treat while driving on the Pacific Coast Highway to Legoland. The Outfield. Greatest Hits. A triumph that I will never forget. Awesome drive, awesome day.
• Beach House. Again. Displaying serious versatility, the duo's music transformed into an ethereal accompaniment for the setting sun.
• Friday. We listened to Camera Obscura while driving through the palm-tree lined streets of Coronado. Who knew a Scottish band could be so pitch-perfect on an island?
• Saturday. The return trip is always difficult when it comes to your music selection. That sense of anticipation and excitement is gone. Road trippers need strong songs to carry them home, songs that can retain the trip's excitement or at the very least ruminate on the good times past.
• California rain on a Saturday morning: Begone Dull Care from the Junior Boys. The D Man wondered at this stage whether he is one of the best road trip DJ's of all time. Seriously.
• Enjoyed my first listen to Spoon's Transference.
• Two Suns from Bat for Lashes carried us up and over the cloud-shrouded El Cajon pass. This song was brilliant as we made the ascent.
• In the desert again, we needed something sprawling, open, and somehow American. Wilco's Summerteeth fit the bill. Maybe The D Man's favorite album from Chicago's finest band.
• Eventually slowed things down with Sun Kil Moon's Tiny Cities, one of The D Man's favorite driving albums of all time. More rain. More thinking. The rest of the car was asleep or reading (Little Women is apparently pretty long), so The D Man contemplated big things. Shot to the moon / Read a paperback and I wanna come home / Soon.
• Getting closer to Vegas again, The D Man loosened things up with Passion Pit. The kids woke up and liked what they heard. On the other side of Vegas, we continued the happy pop vibes with Vampire Weekend's Contra and The Very Best (again).
• Hit more rain and snow just before our stop in Cedar City. Beach House. A third time.
• Sunday. The D Man eased things into his final day of driving with The Kings of Convenience. Probably have listened to Declaration of Dependence more than any other album the past few months.
• Neko Case. Ryan Adams. Maxwell. Home.