Playlist for the Unpopular Music webcast for July 16, 2016

 

Hi folks, a jazzy set with some pop song interludes (plus some Messiaen) for hot July day. Plus soundboard hum and motorcycle noises.


Vive la France!

 Enjoy!

See the playlist after the break...

Playlist for the Unpopular Music webcast for July 9, 2016

Again, at the last minute, which actually keeps me from overthinking it. It's kind of a "best of what played on my phone this week" kind of show. The "overthinking", however, usually keeps me from repeating songs or helps me filter out artists I at least think I play too often - so hello Lee Konitz, Ornette Coleman, Deerhoof, and the Bang on a Can All-Stars! (but somehow no Bill Frisell).

It looks like we ended up with four different shows put together - a jazz show, an indie/alternative pop show, a folk/pop show, and an long-slow-quiet-electronic-ambient show.


See the playlist after the break...

Unpopular Music 4th of July Spectacular

I wasn't quite together enough to get this ready in time to be posted for Saturday's webcast, so there's a special bonus playlist for the 4th of July. We celebrate America, the good, the bad, the ugly. (but, no, not, you know, him.)

As said by Carl Schurz (1829–1906), Union Army General, U.S. Senator from Missouri, Secretary of the Interior, journalist, newspaper editor, orator, and namesake of my favorite New York City park -

"The Senator from Wisconsin cannot frighten me by exclaiming, “My country, right or wrong.” In one sense I say so too. My country; and my country is the great American Republic. My country, right or wrong; if right, to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right."

See also some supplementary reading from Mr. Charlie Pierce.

No jazz to speak of today (which I admit is no way to celebrate America), but a variety of sounds all the same.

See the playlist after the break...

Playlist for the Unpopular Music webcast for June 25, 2016

A really last minute playlist... more to come. Probably the only Boston Free Radio program this week to twice feature Bernie Glow!

Update - I've finally gotten around to putting up an archived version. The reason I was unprepared for the show was that my computer crapped out last week, and I've had other stuff to do and to take care of as well which is why I was unprepared for the webcast and to put up an archive. I also ended up with another hummy, hissy studio recording so I've put in the original files instead, except for the breaks and the last tune, which I took out of the BFR library. Hopefully it sounds alright by when it reaches your ears.

See what's here after the break

Playlist for the Unpopular Music webcast for June 18, 2016

Another grouchtasctic show from me. The music was good, though right? To find out for yourself, peruse the playlist below. The will be no archive.

Sun Ra and the All-Stars in Berlin, 1983

A find from Network Awesome, an all-star concert from 1983 led by Sun Ra of masters from various free-jazz schools (if I may use such a contentious term). From the Arkestra Marshal Allen on alto, drummer Clifford Jarvis, and the ever underappreciated John Gilmore on tenor; from the Art Ensemble of Chicago Lester Bowie on trumpet and Don Moye on drums and percussion; from Ornette Coleman's universe Don Cherry on trumpet; representing the Coltrane school Archie Shepp on tenor sax and Richard Davis on bass; and the odd man out, post-bop drummer extraordinaire Philly Joe Jones.

Playlist for the Unpopular Music webcast for June 11, 2016

Today's arbitrarily selected program. It's like the old saying about New England weather, "if you don't like it, it'll be different in five minutes." I'd give this show seven to ten.


See for yourself after the break...

Playlist for the Unpopular Music webcast for June 4, 2016

I had the program put together in plenty of time, but I was barely put together myself. A typically freeform show. Something for everyone, so if you like everything, you're all set!

See for yourself after the break...

Short review of Kidd Jordan at Once Lounge, June 3, 2016

I feel like this is a special set for people who know what music really is.

Short review of Jooklo Duo at the Once Lounge, June 3, 2016

Oh, hell yeah!

... and neither was I for that matter

For a diversion, I direct you to a piece from the Onion A. V. Club (which is not satire, if you don't know) with the headline "No, Kim Gordon was not bit by a coyote at Whole Foods"

Jonathan Lethem on influence and ownership in creativity

I found a random link to this essay by Jonathan Lethem on how everything is influenced by everything else, and how attempts to control ownership through copyright and such can be futile and counterproductive. It's also largely made up of "previously used" sentences and phrases, conveniently sourced at the end.

I consider the Unpopular Music webcast to be a "second use" creative object, taking the sounds created by Henry Threadgill, The Ex, or Machaut and realigning them into a new sound/time experience. I was also reminded of a time back in my open mic days when the someone introduced his own song as an "original" and then something like "we're quite presumptive to consider this original".

Webcast info for May 28, 2016

I'm out of town for the holiday weekend, so this week we'll be presenting a classic episode from the Unpopular Music archives, specifically the episode from January 10, 2015.

If you don't recall, we here in the Boston area had all come down with Olympic Fever, and it took a good seven months for the antibiotics to kick in.

But, I did come up with the program that was cited as a "recent typical show" when I was presented with the award for music show at the SCATV/BFR awards ceremony later that month.

Another option is the Memorial Day episode from 2014, which also included an 100th birthday tribute to Sun Ra.

Playlist for the Unpopular Music webcast for May 21, 2016

Consistency, or just more of the same -  you be the judge. Actually, there are a couple of recent additions to the Unpopular Music Library, along with some further digs into records I've played before. Enjoyable all the same I think.


See the playlist after the break...