The Walrus Speaks

The Ballad Of John And Yoko

2012-01-31T00:23:00.000-05:00

We are continuing The Year of John Lennon for 2012--money back guarantee that the world will not end.

Obama Sings

2012-01-30T06:58:00.000-05:00

If you haven't heard Obama singing, you must.

Good Morning Good Morning

2012-01-30T06:41:00.000-05:00

A guy realizes that he is ordinary in every way. Although he has nothing to say in his defense, he thinks it's OK. That is what I think this song is about.

Miracles of Modern Science--Pumped Up Kicks (Foster the People cover)

2012-01-29T23:55:00.000-05:00

Diabolically good cover of FtP's new classic. They whistle. There's this hard-core break for no other reason than to make me spit water through my nose. These guys are geniuses.

Undefined--So What'cha Want (Beastie Boys cover)

2012-01-28T23:53:00.000-05:00

Digging this Studio Brussels YouTube channel I have stumbled upon.

Hey Bulldog

2012-01-28T07:43:00.001-05:00

We are continuing with The Year of John Lennon at The Walrus Speaks.

Washington State To Vote On Cannabis

2012-01-28T07:37:00.000-05:00

The Pacific Northwest state is close to legalizing recreational cannabis. What else are you supposed to do on all those rainy days? Read the article.

Tori Amos--Honey

2012-01-27T18:00:00.000-05:00

This is a brilliant performance of another great song that Amos left off her albums. There's a bit of a strained conversation about Letterman and Leno at the beginning of the clip that you can bypass by jumping to the 1:29 mark.

Rilo Kiley--The Good That Won't Come Out

2012-01-27T14:38:00.000-05:00

You say I choose sadness
That it never once has chosen me
Maybe you're right
The Good That Won't Come Out by Rilo Kiley on Grooveshark

Rock And Roll Music

2012-01-27T09:11:00.000-05:00

I have taken the spiritual advice of Frank Turner, and now, turning to the Church of John Lennon, let's have some more rock and roll.

Frank Turner - I Still Believe

2012-01-27T09:05:00.000-05:00

The guy is saying that rock and roll will save the world, save souls. I could think of crazier ideas...

Sleater-Kinney--Entertain

2012-01-26T15:06:00.001-05:00

S-K live on Henry Rollins's TV program.

Tori Amos--Spark

2012-01-26T14:30:00.000-05:00

Tori recently spoke to NPR about her new album, Night of Hunters.

This is the music video for Spark from her amazing 1998 album From the Choirgirl Hotel.

Plastic Ono Band - Cold Turkey

2012-01-26T12:53:00.001-05:00

I never understood how great this song was in my youth. I couldn't relate to John Lennon's heroin addiction. But now, forty years later, I do understand what it means to not get enough sleep. I don't use heroin, thank God (and Goddess).

Sarah Winters--S & M (Rihanna Cover)

2012-01-26T01:00:00.000-05:00

Sarah Winters has a covers EP available through Bandcamp (h/t Cover Me).

Rolo Tomassi--I Love Turbulence

2012-01-26T00:30:00.000-05:00

I assume the name of this magical screamo-melodic band is a reference to a line uttered by Kevin Spacey's character at a key juncture in the film L.A. Confidential. At any rate, I dig the sound of these crazy kids.

Tori Amos--China

2012-01-25T21:19:00.000-05:00

I started posting all these Tori clips because I wanted Hector Diego to get a feel for the depth of Amos's catalog, especially her early years. What I did not expect was that doing so would trigger a Tori avalanche in my brain. I can not get enough of this. I'm sure it will end soon, but as of now, it's 1993 all over again and there's no end in sight. Not when i keep finding gems like this performance of China with a couple of professional vocalists on background.

Tori Amos--The Wrong Band

2012-01-25T21:01:00.000-05:00

"Instead of just leavin'...She said it's time I open my eyes...Don't be afraid to open your eyes...
Maybe she's right."

Feist--Inside and Out

2012-01-25T18:17:00.000-05:00

She ain't no vision. She's the girlwho loves you inside and out.

Caroline Smith--Denim Boy

2012-01-25T15:08:00.000-05:00

Soulful solo rendition in a doorway.

You've Got To Hide Your Love Away

2012-01-25T12:51:00.000-05:00

Great vocals by Lennon.

Help!

2012-01-25T12:47:00.004-05:00

It's the entire film, brought to you with love by The Walrus Speaks. 2012 cannot be the end of the world so long as we are playing the Beatles! So make some popcorn, put your arm around your dearly beloved, and hang out in Beatle land for one hour and thirty one minutes.

Slaughterhouse River Of Blood

2012-01-25T12:39:00.000-05:00

You can see a river of blood from a slaughterhouse, on the left. Slaughterhouses are highly regulated factories, but quite typically the regulations are not followed, and enforcement of these regulations is lax, particularly the regulations regarding humanitarian slaughtering procedures. Therefore, to save time and money, and quite often just to be cruel, humanitarian slaughtering procedures put in place by well meaning legislators are routinely ignored.

Take a good look. This is where your Big Mac or Sad Meal comes from.

Fiona Apple--Paper Bag

2012-01-25T00:30:00.000-05:00

Word on the street is that a new Fiona Apple record is imminent. Only been 6 years. Bring it on.

Tori Amos--Caught a Lite Sneeze

2012-01-24T14:09:00.000-05:00

I've seen Tori live five times, which is more than just about any other musician I don't know personally. Only twice, of those five times, did she play with a band. I love her both ways, but the band adds another dimension. And it does stop the audience from drowning her out by singing too loud or screaming out in the middle of a quiet moment in a song. She knows you love her. Keep it to yourself.

Happiness Is A Warm Gun

2012-01-24T11:40:00.000-05:00

Great lyrics, and very moody. John Lennon got the idea for this song, as was common for him, by watching television.

First Aid Kit--Emmylou

2012-01-24T11:27:00.002-05:00

The new Mogis-produced album from Swedish sister act First Aid Kit dropped today. It's called The Lion's Roar, and it's va nice slice of soothing harmonious goodness.

Here is NME's review.

This song is on it:

Moody Blues - Departure/Ride My See-Saw

2012-01-24T08:07:00.000-05:00

Uplifting music for a gray morning in North Florida.

Internet Forever--Break Bones

2012-01-24T01:00:00.000-05:00

On their twitter page, this band calls themselves a pop band for the twenty twenties, so they certainly have a plan. I think they may be a pop band for far sooner than that.

Wild Flag - Endless Talk

2012-01-23T19:24:00.000-05:00

Hey, you're a little bit ruthless
Claws out and wild
You wore me down to toothless
So gummy and mild

Elliott Smith--Waltz #2 (XO)

2012-01-23T14:36:00.003-05:00

"I'm doing just fine hour to hour, note to note..."

The Year Of John Lennon - Please Mr. Postman

2012-01-23T14:30:00.001-05:00

Lennon's vocals in "Please Mr. Postman" are so classic. Have a Happy 2012, from The Walrus Speaks!

Tori Amos--Caught A Lite Sneeze

2012-01-23T14:13:00.000-05:00

The line "made my own pretty hate machine" is a reference to the debut Nine Inch Nails album Pretty Hate Machine.

Tori Amos - Caught A Lite Sneeze (Official Music Video)Tori Amos

St. Vincent--Creul

2012-01-23T00:06:00.001-05:00

The brilliant Annie Clark performing live at KCRW last fall.

Stevie Nicks - Landslide

2012-01-22T21:44:00.000-05:00

It's a live radio performance. Exquisite.

Come Together

2012-01-22T08:14:00.000-05:00

"Come Together" is so very, very John Lennon.

Florence And The Machine - Rabbit Heart

2012-01-22T06:53:00.002-05:00

Great vocals.

Incubus--Stellar

2012-01-22T02:00:00.000-05:00

"How do you do it?"

Tori Amos - Crucify

2012-01-22T01:49:00.000-05:00

We crucify ourselves. Why do we do that?

Tori Amos--Song for Eric

2012-01-22T01:30:00.000-05:00

Some of Amos's finest moments are from the songs that are not on her records. This is one of those.

John Lennon - Working Class Hero

2012-01-21T18:06:00.003-05:00

It's day 21 of The Year of John Lennon at The Walrus Speaks.

Sleater-Kinney - Little Babies

2012-01-21T18:00:00.001-05:00

Why do I like this song? Because it is good, hot, rock and roll.

Tori Amos--Hey Jupiter

2012-01-21T13:56:00.000-05:00

This is actually a re-mix of the original, but I like this version better.

Rilo Kiley Cover - Does He Love You?

2012-01-21T12:15:00.000-05:00

Someone by the name of bdamiano12 recorded this. Outstanding.

Los Campesinos!--By Your Hand

2012-01-21T04:37:00.000-05:00

It is so validating when the obscure bands I become obsessed with show up in the mainstream. Nice exchange with Letterman at the end too. Kind of a shame that this didn't happen two albums ago.

Tori Amos--Leather

2012-01-20T21:12:00.000-05:00

At the beginning of this clip, Amos explains that when she played this song for someone in the recording industry he told her that if she played this song, she wouldn't have a career. Wrong!

Etta James, 1938 - 2012

2012-01-20T14:22:00.002-05:00

Her heart was wrapped up in clover...

Etta James--Feelin' Good (Six Feet Under Promo)

2012-01-20T14:03:00.000-05:00

Farewell Etta James.

This is the iconic promo from the final season of the show Six Feet Under that makes wonderful use of her classic "Feelin' Good".

Bruce Springsteen--We Take Care Of Our Own

2012-01-20T11:42:00.002-05:00

Cribbing a bit from "Born in the USA" this political anthem about economic injustice hides in plain sight, thinly disguised as a jingoistic jingle. Like "Born in the USA," the chorus is ripe for the Republican National Convention, but the verses tell the tale.

The Year Of John Lennon - Give Peace A Chance

2012-01-20T09:45:00.001-05:00

Everybody's talking about...

Tori Amos - God

2012-01-20T09:41:00.003-05:00

The Station Agent posted this song a day or two ago, but it was not the full version. This song is too great not to hear in full. And yes, I believe God does need a woman to look after him...that would be Goddess.

Caroline Smith Duo--Eagle's Nest, Calliope

2012-01-20T03:02:00.000-05:00

Caroline Smith and Jesse Schuster perform the songs "Eagle's Nest" and "Calliope" inside a former orphanage in Duluth, Minnesota in November of 2010, during a snow storm.

Kimya Dawson--Anthrax

2012-01-19T16:14:00.000-05:00

Kimya Dawson performing live at Sidewalk Cafe in NYC on Dec 26, 2001.

Tori Amos--God

2012-01-19T13:59:00.001-05:00

"Do you need a woman to look after you?"

Tori Amos--Silent All These Years

2012-01-19T13:53:00.001-05:00

According to Amos, she wrote this song with the intention of submitting it to Al Stewart. Thankfully, her producer talked her out of it and it went on to become the centerpiece of her first album.

Rilo Kiley--Capturing Moods

2012-01-19T12:21:00.000-05:00

Pretty solid camera work for being about twelve or so rows back. From Toronto, on May 28, 2008.

Revolution

2012-01-19T11:59:00.002-05:00

2012 cannot be the end of the world so long as we are playing John Lennon and the Beatles. 2012 is The Year of John Lennon!

Johnny Horton - The Battle Of New Orleans

2012-01-19T09:03:00.000-05:00

Horton had a string of hits with historical themes. Quite a corker, that guy.

Johnny Horton - North To Alaska

2012-01-18T21:36:00.001-05:00

I dedicate this song to my brother Otis, who has lived in Alaska for three decades or so.

Faith No More--Falling to Pieces

2012-01-18T19:11:00.001-05:00

Indecision clouds my vision, No one listens...
Because I'm somewhere in between
my love and my agony,
You see, I'm somewhere in between...
My life is falling to pieces
Somebody put me together!

Falling to Pieces by Faith No More on Grooveshark

Tori Amos--Cornflake Girl

2012-01-18T14:58:00.004-05:00

"You bet your life it is..."

Nerina Pallot--Sophia

2012-01-18T13:41:00.000-05:00

Live at the BBC, circa 2006. Very good stuff.

The Mountain Goats--Going to Georgia

2012-01-18T11:53:00.000-05:00

John Darnielle wields bitterness so well in all of his songs, but he wields it especially well in this road song.

The Comedy Of John Lennon

2012-01-18T11:06:00.000-05:00

This has cheered me up this morning, so I thought I would share it.

Neil Young Covers Imagine

2012-01-18T10:53:00.000-05:00

Neil, Neil, how we love you...and John.

The Sledding Crow

2012-01-17T16:50:00.002-05:00

A crow sleds down a roof in Russia.

The Year Of John Lennon - Strawberry Fields

2012-01-17T07:31:00.001-05:00

The world cannot end in 2012 if we continue to play John Lennon and the Beatles.

Ringo Starr - Wings

2012-01-17T07:26:00.000-05:00

From his new album Ringo 2012, featuring Joe Walsh.

Caroline Smith and the Good Night Sleeps--Young Turks

2012-01-17T02:56:00.000-05:00

Nice reclamation of this Rod Stewart tune I never liked until now. Very excited about Caroline Smith.

Leonard Cohen - Show Me The Place

2012-01-16T22:23:00.001-05:00

This is not lighthearted music.

Public Enemy - Fight The Power

2012-01-16T19:19:00.000-05:00

My wife, Kim, dedicates this song to the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King on his birthday. The King is dead, long live the King.

Okay, One More Time WIth This Gotye Song

2012-01-16T12:19:00.000-05:00

A clever youtuber aligned Walk Off the Earth's cover of "Somebody That I Used to Know" with Gotye's original and it lines up perfectly. As if playing it all on one guitar wasn't difficult enough, they nailed the tempo.

John Lennon - Crippled Inside

2012-01-16T08:32:00.000-05:00

One thing you can't hide, is when you're crippled inside. Ain't that the truth!

Telekinesis - Country Lane

2012-01-16T08:25:00.002-05:00

Not bad at all.

The Elected--Greetings in Braille

2012-01-15T17:50:00.000-05:00

...so now that you finally failed
just like you said you would, down to the last detail.
Well if living's such hell,
here's to your dying days.
You won't have to be afraid.
And the heroes you met were just fiction,
yeah, with high expectations.
And your friends grew up faster than you got successful,
told you to keep it up.
Good comes to those who work.
And the stories they told you were true, babe.
Your mom really went crazy.
But that doesn't have to be you.No.
And I miss Tara and Melissa, Allen and John.
And you'll never have friends like you did when you were young.
But our bodies were pulled away and swept out to the sea
And I'd call and say hi if I thought you'd remember me
cause somethings are worth leaving old memories for...

Greetings in Braille by The Elected on Grooveshark

Caroline Smith--She Ain't Got It

2012-01-15T14:50:00.000-05:00

Live at 89.3 The Current.

Smoosh--We Are Our Own Lies

2012-01-15T02:03:00.000-05:00

These youngins are going to do some big things sooner than later.

Charli XCX--Stay Away

2012-01-15T01:30:00.000-05:00

I think I like songs that sound like this more than I actually like this song.

Wild Flag, Patti Smith - Ask The Angels

2012-01-15T00:14:00.000-05:00

I guess we should have the original version as well.

Wild Flag Live - Future Crimes

2012-01-15T00:03:00.000-05:00

This is the best live version I have heard. I like the echo bit at the end. Philadelphia 3/16/11.

Tim Tebow and David Bowie as One--Tebowie!

2012-01-14T17:32:00.000-05:00

Clever little bit from Fallon. Good luck to the Broncos tonight against the dreaded Patriots. Sadly I don't see Timmy pulling this one off.

Rilo Kiley - All The Good That Won't Come Out

2012-01-14T16:17:00.000-05:00

Ms. Jennifer Diane Lewis of Rilo Kiley

We are still mourning the break up of Rilo Kiley here at The Walrus Speaks, for an entire year. "All The Good That Won't Come Out" is the first Rilo Kiley song that the Station Agent had me listen to, and I was instantly hooked.

The Good That Won't Come Out by Rilo Kiley on Grooveshark

Nerina Pallot--Real Late Starter

2012-01-14T13:33:00.001-05:00

I too am off to a late start today...

Loma Linda Wants No Sad Meals

2012-01-14T12:54:00.000-05:00

That's right, folks. The health conscious, vegetarian people of Seventh Day Adventist Southern California community Loma Linda are outraged that McDonalds is trying to bring Sad Meals to their fair city. As a vegetarian since 1974, I must concur. I do agree that vegetarianism, like any moral issue (and I do consider it a moral issue), cannot be legislated, but if the citizens of Loma Linda manage to ban the stupid golden arches, I will be very pleased.

Read the article.

Hear the music.

I decided not to post "Free Me" with images of animals being abused. I can't take it this morning. How about you? Does knowing how your meat is produced bother you, or not? Are you hiding from yourself?

The Corin Tucker Band--It's Always Summer

2012-01-14T11:29:00.000-05:00

We've been playing a lot of former Sleatter-Kinney members Carrie Brownstien and Janet Weiss's new band, Wild Flag. So, in the interest of fairness, here's a peek at what the other member of S-K, Corin Tucker, has been up to.

Saturday Play--Gotye's "Somebody that I Used to Know"

2012-01-14T11:00:00.000-05:00

David Allun Jones has an excellent review of Gotye's "Somebody that I Used to Know" (via Jonk Music). Between the original and Walk Off the Earth's cover of it (5-person guitar-style, no less) I am positively obsessed with this song.

I whole heartedly agree with Jones that guest vocalist Kimbra's contribution to the song takes it to another level. Jones writes:

Once featured guest (and MM fave) Kimbra arrives on the half-way mark to help fill in between the lines in the role of the new ex-girlfriend though, “Somebody That I Used To Know” is elevated to a whole new plateau of awesomeness, her steely cut-down of his behavior in their own relationship providing one of the most fantastic “wait…what?” musical moments in recent memory in it’s jaw-dropping verse-ending reveal (“You said that you could let it go/ And I wouldn’t catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know!!!”) that brilliantly shifts the target of all his succeeding hook agitation towards her.

The album isn't even available in the states until January 31.

Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye on Grooveshark
Here's Gotye's performance of the song at LA public radio station KCRW.

Helium - Lullaby Of The Moths

2012-01-14T10:18:00.000-05:00

Beautiful. Moody.

John Lennon - Oh Yoko

2012-01-14T09:00:00.000-05:00

This is totally classic.

Marijuana Policy Project 2011 List

2012-01-14T08:46:00.000-05:00

You can read the Huffington Post article here.

1. Congress de-funds the White House drug czar’s ad campaign.

2. Our ideal bill is finally introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives -- a bill that would let states determine their own marijuana policies without federal interference.

3. Public support for “making marijuana legal” reaches an all-time high of 50%.

4. Delaware legalizes medical marijuana.

5. Maryland and Vermont improve their medical marijuana laws.

6. Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, and D.C. implement/expand their medical marijuana laws.

7. Arkansas and Connecticut lower their penalties for marijuana possession.

8. World leaders reject the drug war and advocate marijuana decriminalization via the “Global Commission on Drug Policy.”

9. Ron Paul shakes up the political debate by relentlessly criticizing the drug war during his presidential campaign.

10. Governors ask the federal government to reschedule marijuana.

John Lennon - God

2012-01-13T15:26:00.000-05:00

Today is day 13 of The Year of John Lennon here at The Walrus Speaks.

Jimmy Fallon Does Tebow And Bowie

2012-01-13T15:21:00.000-05:00

Station Agent, it just keeps spinning out of control.

Mazzy Star--Fade Into You

2012-01-13T12:07:00.001-05:00

The reunited Mazzy Star will be one of many 90s acts doing it live at Coachella.

Liz Phair--Supernova

2012-01-13T12:01:00.001-05:00

Live on Letterman.

Wild Flag--Future Crimes

2012-01-13T01:08:00.000-05:00

“If you're gonna be a restless soul/ Then you're gonna be so, so tired."

Wild Flag - Judy Is A Punk

2012-01-12T23:19:00.000-05:00

I don't know Jack about punk, but this here is good hot rock and roll.

Helium - Wanna Be A Vampire Too, Baby

2012-01-12T22:11:00.000-05:00

I'm not much into vampires, but I'll make an exception for Mary Timony.

Suzanne Vega - Pornographer's Dream

2012-01-12T22:02:00.000-05:00

Suzanne meets the girl from Ipanema.

An Atheist Defense Of Tim Tebow

2012-01-12T20:21:00.000-05:00

American Atheists President Dave Silverman Tebowing

A prominent atheist says that all this God hoo-ha detracts from Tebow's real worth as a football player, and I have to agree. The man has guts.

I like the way Silverman has added Rodin's "The Thinker" to Tebow's pose.

Read the article.

The Year Of John Lennon - Mother

2012-01-12T13:34:00.000-05:00

Here is the studio version.

I couldn't resist posting this live version. Be sure to listen. Lennon's brief soliloquy is the God awful truth, isn't it?

Wild Flag--Short Version

2012-01-12T10:49:00.000-05:00

I'm continuing to catch up on the path of fire blazed by WF last year in support of their debut. Carrie Brownstein recently said that she would like to see the band put out a new record in the Fall.