Rilo Kiley - With Arms Outstretched

Jenny Lewis in one of her greatest performances ever.

Moody Blues - Candle Of Life

So love everybody, and make them your friend.

Rilo Kiley - Portions For Foxes

It's just damage control for a walking corpse...like me, like you...

Moody Blues - Never Comes The Day

This one is for the Right Reverend Richard Warfield, pastor of the Psychedelic Church out in Wimberley Texas. Warfield recommends turning off the rational mind as he works strenuously to establish unity.

Here Comes The Sun

Today we are celebrating George Harrison's birthday at KTWS Radio. That's www.thewalrusspeaks.blogspot.com on your cyber radio dial.

George Harrison - Run Of The Mill

Harrison was born 68 years ago today. He was assassinated by tobacco. I hate it!

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

This is a beautiful version that was not included on the White Album. The Walrus Speaks wishes all of you a wonderfully happy George Harrison Day.

1943-2001.

George Harrison - If Not For You

George Harrison left us behind in 2001, but today is his 68th birthday. "If Not For You" was written by Harrison's good friend Bob Dylan, but I like Harrison's version better.

George Harrison - Isn't It A Pity

George Harrison was an avid vegetarian. Can't you tell?

George Harrison - What Is Life

Today is Harrison's birthday. 1943-2001.

George Harrison - My Sweet Lord

The album version. Harrison was born on this day in 1943.

George Harrison - My Sweet Lord

It's live at the concert for Bangladesh, Madison Square Garden, 1971.

George Harrison - Don't Bother Me

KTWS Radio is celebrating the 68th birthday of the late George Harrison today. "Don't Bother Me" was the first Harrison composition included in a Beatles album.

Gretchen Wilson and Alice in Chains--Barracuda

Great job by Gretchen Wilson, who I am not familiar with, on vocals here. Jerry Cantrell's guitar sound is unstoppable as usual.

Foo Fighters--Everlong

For as good as the music was in the early 90s, by 1997 a desperate situation had developed. One of the few great bands to emerge during this dark time was the project started by former Nirvana drummer Dave Ghrol, who was reinventing himself as a singer-songwriter. The results were far better than anyone could have imagined.

Foo Fighters - Band On The Run

I have never heard a Beatles cover that I considered better than the original. However, the Foo Fighter's version of Paul McCartney's solo track "Band On The Run" is excellent, and has greater power in my opinion. Station Agent?

Hall & Oates--She's Gone

Borrowed this cheesy little charmer from Crooks & Liars. Guilty pleasure or inexcusable schlock? If I have to ask...

Tracy Chapman - Change

Well, would you...change?

The Beatles--Revolution

Is Saudi Arabia next?

Rome

My wife and I are half way through the second season of HBO's Rome--only to learn that there are only two seasons because it was canceled! And the Republicans want to shut down PBS! So unless we want to watch Two And A Half Men, we are screwed?

And people ask me why I am not more mainstream?

The Blow--Fists Up

"The rebels just cant muster the force,
To walk the thin line between belief and delusion..."

Los Campesinos--Romance Is Boring

Another live performance from Seattle's KEXP.

REM--Try Not to Breathe

I will try not to burden you
I can hold these inside. I will hold my breath
Until all these shivers subside,
Just look in my eyes...

Florence and the Machine--Cosmic Love

From a performance on KEXP.

Mixed Martial Artists Going Vegetarian

MMA fighter Jon Fitch

There are so many objections to vegetarianism, few of which have any substance. For instance, there is the canard that one needs to eat meat to be in top physical condition. But wouldn't you presume that professional fighters have physical health, power, and skill as a priority? So if eating meat is supposed to be necessary to be bad to the bone--no pun intended--then why are mixed martial artists going vegetarian?

Not all of them, mind you--just enough to prove my point. Read the article.

Rilo Kiley--A Town Called Luckey

And you drove 'til you saw a sign for a town called Luckey
Spelled L-U-C-K-E-Y...

Six from The Elected

I am very excited to hear that Blake Sennett's band The Elected will put out their third album in May. This calls for the unprecedented KTWS double triple shot.

Michael Franti

Richard Warfield, pastor of the Psychedelic Church out in Wimberley, Texas, turned me on to Michael Franti.

Tegan and Sara--I Know I Know I Know

In case you were wondering when the next T&S album would be coming out, the answer is... kinda soon.

Here's one of their old songs, the infectious "I Know I Know I Know."

Slow Club--Giving Up On Love

I agree with Stephanus Corneluis Joss, who writes on the band's facebook page, "This band is the new theme song to my life, thank you for being amazing."

Bob Dylan - Love Minus Zero/No Limit

1965.

Rilo Kiley--A Man/Me/Then Jim

And I remembered why I loved her, and I asked her why I drove her off...

Conclusion Of Beatles LP Countdown - Abbey Road Medley

Back in the summer of 2008 I began a new feature on KTWS Radio, the Beatles LP Countdown. That's a mountain of great music, and it being Beatles music, I took my time. Now the countdown has come to an end.

I followed the British albums instead of the records put out by Capitalistic Records, which issued them in such a way as to maximize their profits instead of the way the Beatles would have preferred. For those who don't know their Beatles history--don't they teach the kids anything useful in school these days?--Abbey Road was recorded later than Let It Be, which was the last one released because it moldered in the vaults before Phil Spector--who will likely die in prison on a homicide rap--produced it. You see, towards the end the Fab Four were at each other's throats and their usual producer George Martin couldn't hack any more of that. But they came together with Martin one more time for Abbey Road. Sensing that the end was approaching, they were on their best behavior with each other and I must say the love does shine through.

Anyway, here is their final effort. Before Paul has the last word about getting a bellyful of wine, there is this following pearl of wisdom from the four Liverpudlian saints. Let's always remember it and pass it on to our children, who will pass it on to their children, etc. It is only this--

AND IN THE END THE LOVE YOU TAKE IS EQUAL TO THE LOVE YOU MAKE.

Thanks for listening.

Hector Diego and Jay Allbritton, February 16, 2011.

Best Pass in NBA History?

Lebron James called this pass he received from Miami Heat teammate Dwyane Wade "probably the best pass in NBA history". Maybe so. It's certainly the best pass I have ever seen.

Slow Club--Because We're Dead

One more from Slow Club.

Portishead--Wandering Star

Portishead, ladies and gentlemen.

Bruce Springsteen--Valentine's Day

They say if you die in your dreams you really die in your bed
But honey last night I dreamed my eyes rolled straight back in my head
And God's light came shinin' on through
I woke up in the darkness scared and breathin' and born anew
It wasn't the cold river bottom I felt rushing over me
It wasn't the bitterness of a dream that didn't come true
It wasn't the wind in the grey fields I felt rushing through my arms
No no baby it was you
So hold me close honey say you're forever mine
And tell me you'll be my lonely valentine.

Cee-Lo, Gwyneth Paltrow--Forget You

Don't forget to say "forget". We sanitize everything here. Charming duet, nevertheless.

Rollins Band--End of Something

Continuing the celebration of Henry's 50th birthday. Henry, you are my guardo camino.

Henry Rollins on Cynicism

Happy 50th birthday, Hank.

Los Campesinos--Knee Deep In ATP

From 2008, Italy.

Legal Alcohol Kills But Cannabis Is Illegal?

Whenever you point out to the anti-cannabis-legalization people that if alcohol drinkers have a right to drink their drink, they invariably respond with, "Yes, that may be true--but we don't need any more legalized problems." Yet this argument presumes that cannabis legalization would cause more problems, which is hardly a self evident fact.

And 4% of the world's deaths are attributed to alcohol, according to the latest study. Booze kills more people than violence, AIDS, or tuberculosis. No one is making or ever has made any such claims for cannabis. So doesn't this make the anti-cannabis-legalization argument ridiculous?

Read the article.

Slow Club--When I Go

I could swear I've heard this before...

Paul Is Undead

A film will be made from the graphic novel Paul Is Undead, by the producers of Pulp Fiction. The Beatles will be zombies, but if you want music from The Zombies, that's something else.

The Beatles--Revolution

From the Facebook page of my good buddy Russ on the occasion of The People's revolution in Egypt!

Slow Club--It Doesn't Always Have to be Beautiful

This knocked me on my bum.

Vanessa Gregory--I Like Giants

Vans does a good job of keeping up with Kimya on this wonderful cover. Keep up with Vans and friends as they make rad music on her very entertaining YouTube channel.

Jesus Jones--Right Here Right Now

From the twitter feed of Kimya Dawson:

@mrskimyadawson When this song was new my older brother was fighting the 1st Gulf War & I was protesting in DC. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7z6dxQVhE8o

Michael Cassidy - Protoplasmic Crud

This guy kills me.

Gordon Waller 1945 - 2009

Waller is the one that doesn't look like Austin Powers

"I Go To Pieces" is my favorite song of Peter and Gordon. I don't know how I missed the news of Gordon Waller's passing. Time is indeed running out.



Written by Del Shannon.



Written by Paul McCartney.

Jenny and Johnny--Animal

From French TV.

Michael Cassidy - Questions Questions

Lyrics by Jeffrey Armstrong.

Jenny Lewis--It Wasn't Me

It'll take a lifetime to clear your name under the bridges of fame...

Bright Eyes--Road to Joy

From 2006. Bright Eyes new record hits the noise floor next Tuesday.

Rilo Kiley--A Better Son/Daughter

"You'll fight and you'll make it through
You'll fake it if you have to
and you'll show up for work with a smile
you'll be better
and you'll be smarter
and more grown up and a better daughter or son
and a real good friend..."

All You Need Is Love

Yes indeed.

Roll Over Beethoven

"Roll Over Beethoven" appeared on The Beatles Second Album released in the U.S. by Capitalist Records. George on lead vocals, and of course, a fine guitar solo.

Kimya Dawson--Being Cool

From the the Che Cafe in San Diego back in January. The whole show is available here.

Jenny and Johnny--Big Wave (Video)

The video from Jenny and Johnny's "Big Wave" is finally online. The clip seems a bit incongruous in a way that too many music videos are--they focus on the song's narrative and the band's persona despite the fact that those things have nothing to do with each other. Despite that, the clip is aesthetically brilliant, which is no surprise, considering it was directed by the great indie photographer Autumn de Wilde.

Jenny and Johnny "Big Wave" from PEDESTRIAN.TV on Vimeo.

Rachael Yamagata--Worn Me Down

Rachael has a new record in the works.

The Blow--Parentheses

Khaela Maricich of The Blow talks about her new project.



And here's a song from her last album, the fantastic Paper Television.

Elliott Smith--Say Yes

From his last live show.

John Lennon - God

A soul stirring performance demo. Lennon lists things he doesn't believe in, but can you say that he did not believe in his own soul?

Tokyo Police Club--Your English Is Good

A co-worker told me earlier today that if I ever wanted to just pack up and run away from home I should consider going to live in Austin. I remain skeptical of any place that is so utterly surrounded by the rest of Texas, but if I had already run away to Austin, I assure you, I would be at the Tokyo Police Club show at La Zona Rosa this very night. If you too do not live in Austin, upcoming tour dates here.

The Rural Alberta Advantage--Drain The Blood

Their new album hits the streets March 1. This is from their old album.

George Harrison - The Light That Has Lighted The World

"Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on the light."

--Albus Dumbledore

10,000 Maniacs--Candy Everybody Wants

From 1992, on the Arsenio Hall Show.

Johnny Cash - Five Feet High And Rising

What a voice!

Flatt And Scruggs - Foggy Mountain Breakdown

Deliverance - Dueling Banjos

Soggy Bottom Boys - Man Of Constant Sorrow

I woke up this morning at about 4 am because I could not sleep. And now I am listening to this.

Damn.

Natalie Merchant - Down On Penny's Farm