Help!

Lennon once remarked that "Help!" was the only "honest" song he had ever written. 1965.

U2--Acrobat

U2 has big plans for their headlining set at Glastonbury.

I happen to strongly like and dislike this band, but that's what it's all about--choice, eh? This is one of the ones I like quite a bit, from their last great album, Achtung Baby with an awful title--"Acrobat":

Big Love

I have the economy cable, so I don't get HBO, and consequently I discover great series years after they have finished. So what? In today's smorgasbord world culture, I'm sure I'm not alone.

I wouldn't rate Big Love as highly as Rome--what to speak of The Sopranos--but it is very good. It shows us many things about love and family, that a family is what you think it is; that polygamous women in Utah are still American women, not shrinking violets; that having three wives is a lot of fun and a lot of trouble; that sharing a husband can be a heartache; that for some people, love, family, and religion cannot be untangled.

Polygamy is abhorred by the cultural left and right for very different reasons. The left thinks it is degrading to women, and the right thinks that sex is something to be enjoyed only by strict rationing. However, if it is being practiced by consenting adults, I can't see how it is anyone else's business.

My wife agrees with this--so long as I don't start getting any polygamous ideas of my own.

Jenny Owen Youngs--Voice On Tape

On tour NOW! People of North Carolina, you get two shows this week--Ashville on Friday and Charlotte on Saturday. Go to these shows! Also Boston May 4th and New York June 15th. It will be so great.

Bruce Springsteen - Born In The USA

Moody Blues - The Balance

Dedicated to the Right Reverend Richard Warfield, pastor of the Psychedelic Church and Founder-President of the Dedicated League of Demons, out in Wimberley, Texas.

Steve Earle's Tiny Desk Concert at NPR

Country-rock survivor Steve Earle played a set for the fine folks at NPR.

Colin Hay--Down Under

I like this version better than the famous studio version by Hay's band Men at Work.

Toad The Wet Sprocket--Walk On The Ocean

Here's a song I used to like when I was in high school. Nice to see these guys are still playing, at least as of 2009 they were, anyway.

Grateful Dead - I Will Take You Home

The late Brent Mydland

Rilo Kiley - Hail to Whatever You Found in the Sunlight That Surrounds You

Rilo Kiley frontwoman Jennifer Diane Lewis

All hail!

Please Please Me

After all these years, the Old Mac still has it.



Here's the original. It was also the very first post of The Walrus Speaks.

Cyndi Lauper - True Colors

Such a classic.

Tebow's Underwear

We are not getting a penny for running this commercial--that's not what The Walrus Speaks is about. We're just posting it for the ladies.

Iz - Somewhere Over The Rainbow

Don't you ever give up.

Tough Crowd Greets Paul Ryan at Town Hall

Earlier this week, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), the guy who came up with the Medicare-free budget alternative, held a town hall meeting in his own district and was faced with a question from a lifelong Republican about income inequality. Apparently the economics are not trickling down properly for this man and many of his fellow constituents. They're the ones booing.

PJ Harvey--You Said Something

"How did we get here? To this point in livin'?"

Bob Dylan - It's Alright, Ma

Obscenity, who cares? Propaganda, all is phony.

Tori Amos--Desperado

Tori talks about growing up playing this Eagles classic in her father's church.

Pearl Jam--Immortality

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer looks at the re-issues of PJ's 2nd and 3rd albums, Versus and Vitalogy.

Radhe Shyam

Mumford & Sons--Little Lion Man

Live From Coachella 2011.

Jenny Lewis - Pretty Bird

I'll Follow The Sun

An early example of McCartney craftsmanship, a little gem.

Del Shannon - I Go To Pieces

The late Del Shannon is the composer of "Go To Pieces". He died by his own hand in 1990.

Traveleling Wilburys - Not Alone Anymore

Mumford & Sons--The Cave

Entertainment Weekly has a look at their recent NYC show.

Soundgarden--Burden In My Hand

Dead band walking. This clip is from 1996, but the band is alive and well. Take note, Blake Sennett, who recently likened his dormant band Rilo Kiley to a dead man on a slab facing the grim prospect of zombification. It's like Bruce Springsteen said in "Atlantic City", "Maybe everything that dies, someday comes back".

Beatles At Shea Stadium

Another first--the Beatles played sports stadiums.

Supremes - Stop In The Name Of Love

What a voice.

Ray Charles - Hit The Road Jack

When I was eight, this was one of my favorites.

James Brown - I Feel Good

The Godfather of Soul, or something like that. Whatever you call him, he was outstanding.

Jenny and Johnny Play Jimmy Kimmel's Show

They played "Scissor Runner"


...and "My Pet Snakes"

Tracy Chapman - Would You Change?

Well, I'm changing, though rather slowly.

Gayatri Mantra

For thousands of years, this mantra was supposed to be secret, divulged only to initiates. Now, in the Kali Yuga, anyone can know it. So no one can say the Kali Yuga has no advantages.

Rilo Kiley--I Love L.A.

But when the palm trees bow their heads
No matter how cruel I've been
LA, you always let me back in

Bishop Allen--You Ain’t No Picasso

I would like you better if you had a job
‘Cause you ain’t no Picasso

Titus Andronicus--Birdhouse In Your Soul

Titus Andronicus stopped by the AV Club to cover They Might Be Giants' "Birdhouse In Your Soul".


Titus Andronicus covers They Might Be Giants

Paul Simon - Mother And Child Reunion

Now this is a great song! Watch it with a child.

Thank You Girl

It's take 1. I like the echo.

Susanna Hoffs and Matthew Sweet--Different Drum

The Bengals' Susanna Hoffs and singer/songwriter Matthew Sweet have teamed up to make quite a delightful duo. This is their version of Michael Nesmith's "Different Drum".

Blind Melon--Mouthful of Cavities

One of the finest recordings I have ever heard.

Merlin's Magic - The Heart Of Reiki

This one will put you in The Zone.

Civil War Myths Debunked

Everyone is talking about the Civil War these days, so let me jump in. Are you one of those misguided folks who think this war was not about slavery? I'll bet you have never been confronted with the truth in a lucid and simple way. If so...

Read on.

Hi Ho Silver Oh--My Confessor

This song comes by way of the fantastic Charlyne Yi's twitter feed.

Tori Amos--Operator

Tori has an important phone call to make in this staggering Jim Croce cover.

Conservatives Try To Steal Big Sky Country

Over 70% of Montanans approve their state's passage of a law legalizing medical marijuana, but the Tea Party is trying to reverse this legislation without consulting the people. So the notion that the "independent" element of the Tea Party might consider the marijuana issue in terms of human rights and constitutional rights, at least in Montana, has been dismantled. What else do you need to know about the Tea Party? Isn't all their noise about the Constitution a smoke screen for their real agenda--holding on to economic power?

Read the article.

George Harrison - Give Me Love

Such a sweet person.

Deftones--Change (In the House of Flies)

From the 2000 album White Pony.

Revolution

Yeah.

Rob Bell, My Kind Of Preacher

Rob Bell is my kind of preacher. Not least because he says God's blessing means that with God's help we bless this world. But his views are controversial--an indication to me that they deserve a listen.

Could you be an evangelical and believe that people who are not evangelicals could stay out of an eternal hell? Some people don't think so, and they are outraged that a Christian minister would contradict their belief in hell for folks that have other beliefs. For these religionists, belief is everything. What about you? What do you believe in?

Read the article.

Ben Gibbard--After Hours

"If you close the door..."

Oh, hello blog reader. You've found The Walrus Speaks. In this episode, Ben Gibbard plays a cover of The Velvet Underground's classic, "After Hours."



That reminds me, didn't Ben's friends do a cover of that song too? I think they did.

Robert Jordan Memorial

At first I was slightly skeptical about The Wheel Of Time series, but the Station Agent had already turned me on to so many good things I figured I had to give it a try. Now I am a Jordan fan all the way.

Tori Amos--Cornflake Girl

Not sure where this was recorded, but the quality is exquisite.

Rilo Kiley - Always

Just remember--the phantom is watching you.

James Brown - It's A Man's World

Without a woman or a girl, it would be LESS than nothing.

Taxman

In my youth, I thought the Taxman was a metaphor for karma or death or whatever. But now I know that Harrison was really singing about Britain's high tax rate, and all the nonsense it went for--such as the war in Viet Nam.

Mieka Pauley--Fate Day by Day

Performing live on 89.7 WNKU back in 2007.

Murray Head - One Night In Bangkok

For the Right Reverend Richard Warfield, pastor of the Psychedelic Church out in Wimberley, Texas, and assorted friends.

Obama's First Public Action Of 2012 Campaign

It was announced that papers would be filed. It's now official for all intents and purposes.

The Station Agent and I are adventurous--not least, because Jenny Lewis said that we should be--as well as pragmatic. Therefore we recommend Barack Obama for another term.

I still say he could be Lincoln reborn, with that mole on his left cheek...

Read the article.

Mieka Pauley--Run

From South by Southwest, 2006.

Nellie McKay--April Showers

I'm setting this to post on April 2nd from December 14, 2010. It's about as cold today as Gainesville gets. Here's hoping that four months from now things are going pretty good. If nothing else, it will be much warmer. There's a holiday party going on in my department, and I'm going on vacation in a few days for two whole weeks. I'm looking forward to seeing some old friends. Maybe seeing this post in 4 months will remind me how great the end of 2010 worked out to be. I remain hopeful. Okay, people of April, stay dry.

Piano Version of System of a Down's "Toxicity"

Not sure who this is playing, but her work here is amazing. A commenter wrote, "There has not been a left hand like yours since Beethoven."

The Fifth Dimension - Age Of Aquarius

What a recording! It's off the scale!

Cat Stevens - Peace Train

Cat Stevens is now Yusuf Islam.

Youngbloods - Get Together

Smile on your brother!

All You Need Is Love

You know it's true!

Yael Naim - New Soul

New souls often mistake themselves for old souls. Here is one that does not-and is well on her way, it would seem, to old soul status.