I Can't Help Falling In Love With You

Eddie Vedder delivers a rousing version of Elvis' classic.

Alice In Chains--It Ain't Like That (Live 2010)

Nice to see Alice in Chains is alive and well. This performance is from 2010. The main riff in this tune is unstoppable. I'm so glad it's on display over 21 years after its origin. This riff is old enough to drink!

For those of you in South America, AiC is hitting the festival circuit in November:

Nov 12 - Santiago, Chile - Maquinaria Festival 
Nov 14 - Sao Paulo, Brazil - SWU Music And Arts Festival

"I am Right by Your Side"

Pearl Jam blazes through this, their twentieth year in business, with another big moment tonight--playing Pink Floyd's "Mother" on Fallon. Their movie, Pearl Jam 20, which celebrates their twentieth anniversary, is in theaters now. I have been thoroughly enjoying the celebration of this band, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains and the broader alternative music that flooded from not just Seattle, but across America from 1989-1994. I'm feeling very nostalgic for this right now. It's hard to believe two decades have passed. As Ed says, "Delight in our youth!"

Here's PJ in their youth.


And here's the trailer for Pearl Jam 20:

Guided By Voices--Glad Girls

I'm not entirely familiar with GbV. In fact, I was sure this was a Black Crowes song I had missed when I heard it on a podcast earlier this morning. If you're not sure, that's meant as a compliment.

Neil Young--Don't Cry No Tears

Neil Young is working on a memoir tentatively titled “Waging Heavy Peace”. It's scheduled to come out in about a year.

Lewd Pseudonyms--It's a Hit

Another standout cover by a band crammed into someone's kitchen nook. The next great trend in American music? Perhaps.

Westboro Baptist Church

I have to say, most Baptists would have no truck with these folks.

Tyler Ramsey--Angel Band

The Band of Horses singer plays a song from his 2nd album for Filter.

Roger Waters & Foo Fighters--In The Flesh

It's Pink Floyd week at Fallon. Last night the brilliant Roger Waters joined forces with the fighters of foo to play Floyd's "In the Flesh". 

It's 16 Miles to the Promised Land...

Jenny Lewis explains where the lyric that opens Rilo Kiley's "With Arms Outstretched" comes from.

Honey Honey--Sugar Cane

Part of the The Living Room Series.

Fiona Apple--Shadowboxer

 Doin' it live.

Belly--Red

From the long lost John Stewart Show. Man, the 90's were a long time ago.

Rilo Kiley - Hail To Whatever You Found In The Sunlight That Surrounds You

We are continuing our year of mourning for the break up of Rilo Kiley.

Grateful Dead - Touch Of Grey

It happens to us all.

Warpaint--AllSaints Basement Sessions

The band incorporates a very melancholy version of "My Guy" into their set. 

Madonna - What It Feels Like For A Girl

Carly Simon - That's The Way I Always Heard It Should Be

Here's another one. You can see George Harrison talking to Art Garfunkel off to the side.

Lesley Gore - You Don't Own Me

An early feminist statement. 1964.

CANT--She Found A Way Out

I dig a good slow build. This track from Grizzly Bear member Chris Taylor's side project CANT is a fine example (h/t YANP).


CANT - She Found A Way Out (Music Video) from n a u t i c o on Vimeo.

The Belle Brigade--Losers

Puppies!

Circumcising Minors Is Wrong!

Doctors in Amsterdam are telling the naked truth--circumcision frequently has medical complications, and is a violation of human rights. Come on, now, wouldn't any infant boy, if he could understand what was about to happen to him, say, "No! Hell no! Don't circumcise me!"

Right? Read the article.

All My Loving

Good Saturday morning Beatles people, this is your wild and crazy Beatles DJ Dr. Hector Diego. The local temperature is 74 Beatle degrees. Broadcasting from America's Deep South, this is KTWS Radio. That's www.thewalrusspeaks.blogspot.com on your cyber radio dial!

Even This Conservative Knows The Truth About Cannabis

It is issues like these that put Ron Paul on the sidelines in the GOP race for their nomination 2012. Ironically, this is the only issue (well, maybe his position on foreign wars, too) of Paul's that I like. Paul is against funding education, which he insists is not a right. That's the way it is when you vote for one of these guys. You have to decide if you would rather lose an arm or a leg.

Anyway, even this conservative, who is an M.D., knows the truth about cannabis.

Jets to Brazil--Further North

This year took ten years
to tell me that I'm alone again.
Everything here's about to break.
I'm one inch from all that I can take,
and it's beautiful and sad,
but it's all that I have.
So tonight, let's stay inside.
I'll be the husband with a book for a bride.
Tonight, let's stay inside.
I could play guitar.

Elizabeth Warren Video Goes Viral

Here's an article about this video that has gone viral. Let's help it go mega-viral, folks, by forwarding this post to family, friends, and enemies. Here's another article.

R.E.M.--Country Feedback

Greatest Hits album out November 15th. 

Belly--Dusted

 

Mmm... goes to your heart. 

Mmm... sticks in your head.

Arctic Monkeys--Perhaps Vampires is a Bit Strong (live on KCRW)

Just found this gem from Arctic Monkeys. Why I ignored these guys for years I have no idea.

R.E.M.--So. Central Rain

For many years I was sort of anti-REM. Some of their videos misrepresented the band, but gradually the truth won out and it became very clear that this was a tremendous band with a rich, voluminous catalog. My "discovery" of this early gem long after it was a modest hit for the band in their early days helped turn me around on REM.

R.E.M.--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...

The Airborne Toxic Event--Kiss Off

The Airborne Toxic Event crammed themselves into someone's kitchen nook for this rousing cover of the Violent Femmes "Kiss Off". 

Florence and the Machine--Dog Days Are Over

Happy first day of Autumn, people.

R.E.M.--It's The End Of The World

It's the end of R.E.M. as we know them and I'm kinda sad. If you want a primer on the band, I recommend the work of the good people at The Good, The Bad, and The Unknown, who have a number of great R.E.M.-related lists.

Aerosmith--Seasons of Wither (MTV Unplugged)

Now that he's a judge on American Idol, the Supreme Court of pop culture that it is, it's clear that Steve Tyler has had three acts in his life. Before Idol, he went to rehab and got his band, Aerosmith (Or AeroSith as I like to call them because they went to the dark side of the force), back together clean and sober and wrote a string of horrible hit songs. Before that, in the mid 1970s, he formed Aerosmith and wrote five amazing drug-addled albums with them between 1973 and 1977.

This is one of the finest songs from the first act of Mr. Tyler's wild life--"Seasons of Wither," performed during the second act on MTV Unplugged.

Young The Giant--My Body (Austin City Limits)

Speaking of ACL Fest, here's one from Young the Giant, a band my friends Rob and Annie recently got me into.

Foster The People--Pumped Up Kicks (Austin City Limits 2011)

Thanks to the Austin City Limits festival for bringing their great event to the world live via their YouTube Channel. Here's Foster the People fostering the people.

The Belle Brigade--Rusted Wheel

From their KCRW set back in June. 

Dusty Springfield - The Look Of Love

A classic composed by Burt Bacharach, this song is a masterpiece of understatement. Springfield's husky voice doesn't need much instrumentation, so it is kept spare. Then they bring in a sax that sounds like Dusty Springfield.

1967.

Natz - Rolling In The Deep

A great cover of Adele's smash hit.

Etta James - Trust In Me

Awhile back the Station Agent mentioned that he liked Adele's "Rolling In The Deep." So I am wondering what the other half of The Walrus Speaks thinks of Etta James' "Trust In Me". A truly great vocal.

The Airborne Toxic Event--Sometime Around Midnight

I saw these guys for the first time on YouTube's Austin City Limits Music Festival channel over the weekend. They made quite an impression.

Sklar Brothers on Conan

The Sklars went on Conan to do a comedy set (h/t Max Fun).

Rilo Kiley--Silver Lining

From their show in Royal Oak, Michigan, on September 17, 2007--exactly four years ago this very day.

The Catherine Wheel--Sparks Are Gonna Fly

My favorite song by these guys. Excellent vocal line and melody meets some the finest wah peddle work I've ever heard.

Barack Obama - The Audacity Of Hope

Hope. This is something we need more of these days--as always--but undeniably, now. Yet, what is it? A young Barack Obama encountered George Frederic Watts' painting "Hope" in a Chicago preacher's office and understood it immediately: the hope of the world is singing to the Creator even though blind, and even though her lyre has only a single string. In other words, real hope is hope when there is little hope, hanging by a thread. Hope is audacious.

Obama's book The Audacity of Hope is one of the most inspiring books I have ever read. You can listen to the President read his entire book at Grooveshark.

Johnny Cash - God's Gonna Cut You Down

Chastened by Derek's comment on Jimmy Buffett, I give you The Man In Black. I don't find that Cash's music from this period is real fun to listen to, but I suppose that's not the point. Cash is a giant.

Why Don't We Get Drunk And Screw?

Get yourself a margarita, and...do you think the Father of Country Music, Jimmy Rodgers, had any idea that the genre would come to this? Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Jimmy Buffett.

Jimmie Rodgers - In The Jailhouse Now

Did you know that the Beatles were fans of Jimmie Rodgers? I say "The Father of Country Music" was a genius of melody, and I'm not that big on country music. But I am big on melody. Rodger's music is seminal, and it was John Lennon who said a good song is a good song.

Please Please Me

Possibly the best of their early music. At any rate, it's way up there.

Anna

Now, that is a great vocal by Long John Silver, of the Silver Beatles.

All I've Got To Do

Good morning, Beatles people. It is past midnight, and I am not sleepy. So keep it right here--www.thewalrusspeaks.blogspot.com, your cyber-radio headquarters for the Liverpool 4.

Pearl Jam--Blood

"Paint Ed big, turn Ed into one of my enemies..."

Ed Sheeran Rocks the Train Station

Well, his music is very soulful, so perhaps Ed Sheeran soothes the train station is a better description.

Elf Power - Willowy Man

I'm reading Tolkein's The Fellowship of the Rings and came across a passage about a "willowy man", when Frodo and the boys are assaulted by trees in the Old Forest. I wonder if Elf Power was inspired by this.

Echo & The Bunnymen--The Killing Moon

Time to goth out with Echo & The Bunnymen.

The Catherine Wheel--Judy Staring At The Sun (with Tanya Donelly)

My conversation with Derek in the comments has sent me on a Tanya Donelly jag. In the course of my investigation, I found this jem--Donelly with 90s guitar rock gods The Catherine Wheel. Delightful.

Rizzle Kicks--You Need Me, I Don't Need You

Remix of Ed Sheeran's incestuous anthem. Josie Charlwood's version is here. And Sheeran did it here. Surely more versions to come as one of the songs of the summer continues to explode.

Tanya Donelly--Breathe Around You

Here's a more recent look at Tanya Donelly rocking a post-grunge sound on Jools Holland's program.

Rockin' Birthday Party featuring Hail Mary Mallon, Kimya Dawson, and Your Heart Breaks

Billed as "an undisclosed backyard location somewhere in sector F-9, alpha D-34G, Ursa Quadrant." Seems like fun.

The Beatles - Full Album

Kick back. It's one hour, thirty-three minutes, and thirty-eight seconds.

Belly--Feed the Tree

 

So take your hat off, boy, when you're talking to me

And be there when I feed the tree

Kimya Dawson--All I Could Do

Kimya Dawson (tumblr account here) previews a song from her upcoming album, Thunder Thighs, which is due out October 25th, for some chickens. Look for a cute cameo from Panda at the end.

First Aid Kit--Our Own Pretty Ways

This Swedish sister act is on tour with Bright Eyes now. Their new album will be produced by Bright Eyes very own Mike Mogis. Look for that in January of 2012, should be a very special album, considering the firepower these two bring with their incredible voices.

Tegan & Sara--Living Room

Reconfigured in the Moog sound Lab. Sure, why not?

Jenny Lewis - You Are What You Love

This song always cheers me up.

The Juliana Hatfield Three--Little Pieces

 

And on and on it goes. 

Nobody knows. 

My heart's on fire, but my blood is frozen. 

Tori Amos--Losing My Religion

The new album from Tori Amos can be streamed in its entirity over at NPR's First Listen site (h/t Stacy). The album is called Night Of Hunters, and it is one of Amos's most ambitious projects.

Here's Amos covering REM's "Losing My Religion" on VH-1, back in the day.

U2--Love is Blindness

Jack White will be covering this song on an upcoming tribute to U2's Achtung Baby album, which is 20 years old this year. Best idea I've heard all day.

Here's U2 doing it for the people of Sydney in grand fashion.

Liz Phair--6'1

Here's a live look at Liz Phair from last month.

All My Loving

Beloved of generations.

R Kelly - I Believe I Can Fly

This one goes out to the Right Reverend Richard Warfield, pastor of the Psychelic Church, out in Wimberley, Vor-Texas.

I like the om at the end.

Elliott Smith--Division Day

 The late great...

Creedence - Long As I Can See The Light

Put a candle in the window.

Creedence - Have You Ever Seen The Rain?

Where were you?

Who Is Needed Here?

You can't read it in the image above, but I have seen it larger in You Tube. The book is the Holy Bible. In other words, only certain people are needed in the National Guard. Not Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, or Jews. And certainly--God forbid--not atheists. Only Christians.

Is this any way to commemorate 9/11?

9/11 Attack From Space

The Station Agent would not emphasize religion in the attack of 9/11. I would. But neither of us would ever separate politics from religion, because that is impossible.

The Falling Man

This is my ten year remembrance. I can't take it anymore.

The Civil Wars--Between the Bars

It's nice to know that from now until the end of time, quality musicians will be playing the music of Elliott Smith.

Mumford And Sons - Homeless

I had never heard of Mumford and Sons, until the Station Agent informed me that they would be on the bill with Neil Young, Eddie Vedder, Jenny Lewis, and other stars for the annual Bridge School benefit concert. Mumford and Sons--not bad at all.

Paul And Julian Discuss John

Julian saw his father as a "wise uncle."

All My Loving

Good morning Beatles people. This performance of "All My Loving" captures the excitement of their live show. The treble on George's instrument needs adjustment, but the harmonies are clearly in good form.

It is now 10 AM on this fine Saturday morning. Keep it right here to www.thewalrusspeaks.blogspot.com on your cyber radio dial.

Lauren O'Connell - O Death

In a just and sane world, Lauren would be a superstar. She is, with me.

Alex Clare--Relax My Beloved

Yet another British musician bursts onto the scene in a big way. This is becoming a daily occurrence. In the last few months I've "discovered" tons of great music new music from the UK.

Los Campesinos--By Your Hand

UK rock group Los Campesinos! have a new record coming out in November, and this is the first single. It took me a minute to get up to speed with the new material, but I like it. NME has a few UK tour dates posted as well.

The Doors - Ghost Song

Listen.

My Terrible Friend - When I Decide

Let's continue a bit more with My Terrible Friend. They are incredibly talented.

Lauren O'Connell And Nataly Dawn - The Daylight Here

Not true, Station Agent (see below). We posted this duo back in April, 2010, performing the "The Daylight Here". It's lovely.

My Terrible Friend--The Daylight Here

Dr. Diego and I have been posting Pomplamoose and Nataly Dawn videos for some time now. But, we did not know that Ms. Dawn had another excellent project called My Terrible Friend, a collaboration with Lauren O'Connell, a solo artist with two records of her own.

Thanks go out to Derek, who mentioned My Terrible Friend in a recent comment. Thanks Derek. The more Nataly Dawn we get, the better.

Crowded House--Twice If You're Lucky

 By suggestion from reader/listener Derek. Great stuff, Derek.

John Astin - Love, Serve, And Remember

I found a version of this song without images advertising a company, so I am posting it. I know that we have all lived many lives. We should ask ourselves, why?

John Astin has the answer.

The Petebox--Where is My Mind

Continuing with the trend of loopers--here is The Petebox doing "Where is My Mind" by the Pixies.

Bohemian Rhapsody

It was Freddie Mercury's birthday the other day. It took me awhile to warm up to this stuff, but eventually I recognized it--the guy was a genius.

My Favorite Song Of The 90's

OK, so this is from 1986, but I didn't hear it until the 90's, because I didn't listen to the radio much in the 80's, either. In '94 or so, the song was featured in Steven King's The Stand. So it's my favorite song of the 90's.

Sometime I will explain why I stopped listening to the radio in 1972--with a few exceptional interludes--but not now, because it is a dreary tale and sort of cruel. I will admit that I did miss out on some good stuff, which I have since caught up on. Like "Don't Dream It's Over".

Celene Dion - My Heart Will Go On

Cheesy. Over the top. Rolling Stone's #7 worst song of the 90's. I like it, sometimes. The Station Agent deplores it. There's no accounting for taste.

Aqua - Barbie Girl

Rolling Stone has pronounced "Barbie Girl" the worst song of the 90's. I didn't listen to the radio in the 90's, but I did hear this one in passing. If I had paid attention to the lyrics I might have found it amusing. I just have one comment to make. Barbie has a reputation for being pretty and dumb (and of course, her impossible figure, as if she had been stretched upon a rack in some medieval dungeon). But although dudes may want a woman who looks like Barbie, their desire for her to be intelligent or not depends upon the level of their own intelligence. There are definitely exceptions to this, but I'm just saying.

Barbie is simulacrum on steroids. She is a metaphor for everything about men's taste in women that women do not like, but the irony is that most males do not attribute an empty mind to Barbie. Perhaps it is because we are the ones with the empty minds, I don't know; my point is that women invented the Barbie of metaphor and in this sense she is pure simulacrum. Anyway, the music is stupid, the lyrics are amusing or outrageous, depending on your point of view, and what else can we expect from corporate radio? It's being run by Ken.

What's up with Ken's hair?

St. Vincent--Cruel

Annie Clark took her stylistic shredding and ambient layers to Letterman last night.

Ed Sheeran--Wayfaring Stranger

I've been enjoying Ed Sheeran's YouTube videos for a few days now. So much so that it was time to buy the man's record. Only, here's the thing, it's not out yet. That situation will be rectified on Sept. 12 when + is released in the UK. Hopefully this will be available in the US on that date as well. In the meantime, here's his cover of a song I've never heard that sounds amazing. Hmm... despite the note on his YouTube videos calling + his debut, this album seems to exist. Maybe we're talking about a major label (Atlantic) debut.

Nataly Dawn--Superman's Song

The wondrous Nataly Dawn (h/t Kayfabe).

Fall TV Preview--Community

NBC's Community has become one of my all time favorite shows. The third season begins September 22. Two of the stars of the show--Joel McHale and Alison Brie--recently spoke to Collider.Com about the upcoming season.

The Weepies - Nobody Knows Me

One commentator wrote, "I wish this song wasn't so short." My sentiments exactly. And that is a great achievement for any composer.

Ed Sheeran--You Need Me, I Dont Need You

Here's another outstanding looper. In fact, the previous looper I posted, Josie Charlwood, covers this song here.

Tegan And Sara - Call It Off

The Station Agent is quite fond of these two, talented women. I like this song a lot.

Tallest Man on Earth--These Days

Nice Jackson Browne cover, man who is clearly not the tallest.

The Ditty Bops - Walk Or Ride

Everything about this duo is cute.

Abbey Road

Hey man. The whole thing.

Norah Jones--Cry, Cry, Cry

Norah Jones goes country on this Johnny Cash cover at Glastonbury.

Jenny Owen Youngs--Tell Me Why

Jenny Owen Youngs takes a breezy pass at Neil Young's "Tell Me Why".

Jaya Radhe

Today is Radhastami.

Pearl Jam and Robert Plant--Going to California

This is an ironic little jam session between two generations of rock royalty. Ironic because Pearl Jam's "Given to Fly" was dismissed by several critics as a rip-off of "Going to California" when it was released in 1998. Clearly there are no hard feelings. Well, someone needs to catch up with Page and ask him, I guess.

Barry Goldwater - A True Conservative

"Every good Christian should line up and kick Jerry Falwell's ass."

How dangerously fanatic has our political scene become on the issue of religion? Well, do you know about the American Family Association? You should, because they are in bed and doing 69 with presidential candidate, Texas Gov. Rick Perry. This group believes that religious liberty guaranteed in our Constitution is meant only for Christians--and of course, Catholics and Mormons are not Christians. So Buddhists and Hindus, naturally, can go jump in a lake of hell fire. No pun intended, but we are in for one hell of an election season because politicians are now wearing their faith on their sleeves. This is not true conservatism, it is not what our Founding Fathers intended at all. What would 1964 Republican presidential candidate Barry Goldwater say about all of this? He said, "Every good Christian should line up and kick Jerry Falwell's ass." For more of Goldwater's views on religion in politics, click here.

Josie Charlwood--Feel Good Inc

I'm in shock at how good this is. Forget the song, which is a very good cover of Gorillaz "Feel Good Inc" and focus, if you will, on the process. This is one person performing about a dozen tracks at once. I've messed with loops for decades and this is just a massive revelation of how it can be done. Josie is incredible.

U2 - In A Little While

Obama Politicizing 9/11?

Some conservatives are claiming that Obama's call for American volunteers to honor victims of the 9/11 attacks is politically motivated. Really? George W. Bush made the same call. So, when a Republican does it, it is not political? I don't think it was political for either President, merely decent. The latest attacks on Obama and his volunteer call is simply outrageous.

Read the article.

My Morning Jacket on KCRW

The great My Morning Jacket played their recent album Circuital in its entirety for 250 people and KCRW's cameras.

KT Tunstall

A fine cover of the Jackson 5's "I Want You Back".