2 with ten – the letter b
ok, on to the letter B. b is a tough letter cos there are a ton of b bands i would like to play. i know i said i would try to play songs that also started with that letter but i’ve decided to bag that idea – too difficult and besides, i really want to play the songs that initially hooked me to these bands. some of the songs i post may indeed be the band’s most popular one and in that case i guess u can say i have agreed with the masses….shoot me.
Blonde Redhead. i first heard this band via an ex gf – hmmm i see a pattern developing, maybe that’s the role girls have come to play in my life…bearers of music rather than children. blonde redhead formed in ny in 93 and have since become a 3 piece with no bass player. the italian brothers in this band are also twins. i have an italian twin brother as well. it would have been nice to have been in a band with my italian twin…but probably just a trio like br cos 3 is a visually great # for compositions. my favorite br song is equus but magic mountain is a real close second. equus is such a great name for a song. i have grown to love this band – talk about an original and distinctive sound. the love or hate it aspect to this band is kazu makino’s voice. it’s fucked up, give it a chance.
Boards of Canada. if you arent into electronic music then u might not understand how great this pair of scottish dudes are. i first heard about boc from a guy who moved into the apt across the hall from me when i lived near the troubadour. he gave me all their cds and it quickly became bedtime background music. the song i posted is called roygbiv. u guys know what that is right – short for the colors of the spectrum – red orange yellow green blue indigo violet. like equus was a cool title this is as well. i love the low tone moog melody line – that’s what hooked me about this song. the album this is off, music has the right to children, came out in 98 and it’s a great record. 98 was an amazing year for music come to think of it.
B is for fucking bonus song!
Band of Horses. ok ok i know it’s called 2 with ten but for damn sake i couldnt get out of my b’s without talking about this band- more so because of this song. once again, i first got into band of horses via an ex gf’s laptop. there are lots of things i like about this band, particularly ben bridwell’s voice and phrasings. in a strange way he reminds me of mercury rev at times. i also liked the first photos i saw of them…one was in front of an old blue truck and another with a boxer in it…sort of like we did at one point. anyway, we’ve played a couple festivals with these guys but unfortunately both times our set times overlapped and i missed them. the first lyric of the song that never get tired of listening to is “it’s looking like a limb torn off” – very nice.
b was tough..i’m really gonna go for lessor known bands when i hit c. i regret not mentioning bo diddley for this – please give bo a try.
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Francis Ten
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Wanted to toss in The Black Heart Procession
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spxyrxWG_LQ
They are particularly gloomy.
and Broken Social Scene “Cocaine Skin” and “Passport Radio”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kp3XLRC9Gw
Some sort of atomic bomb fan video with hilarious argument made by fourteen-year-olds via the comments section.
B
Blaqk Audio is a synthpop group from Oakland, CA formed by Davey Havok & Jade Puget of AFI. This track is called “Stiff Kittens†off their 2007 debut album CexCells. A throwback sound to 80’s electronica groups like Depeche Mode and New Order.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1rs4byfv8o
Banco De Gaia is a ambient dub group from London, England formed by Toby Marks in 1991. The track “Drunk As A Monk†is off their 1997 album Big Men Cry. The Mix I like though is the “Brass Monkey Mix†off of the disc “R.I.T.M. Remixes – vol.2†Couldn’t find it on-line so I’ll post it in your drop box.
Brian Vasquez (I have no info on & can’t find any) does a song called “The Morning After†a short song that has a great dream like feel to it. His voice in this song reminds me a lot of Rob’s. I got this one from a 2005 compilation disc “You Wish You Heard It Yeasterday vol.4†(a collection of peasant class sounds from L.A.’s underground). This one also will have to be dropped into your box, so look for it there.
Brazilian Girls is a electro dance music band out of NYC. The track I’ve selected is “Don’t Stop†off of their self titled 2005 debut album. I love Sabina Sciubba’s voice, the multi-lingual lead vocalist born in Italy then reared in Germany & France. Her voice reminds me a bit of Suzanne Vega.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIykKakGA8M
B for bonus: Bloc Party is an English indie rock band formed in 1999 whos influences include The Cure, Joy Division & Sonic Youth. The track featured is “Blue Light†off their 2005 album Silent Alarm. I came across this version (Engineers Anti Gravity Mix) from the 2006 disc “Perfecto Chills vol.3†A chill groove. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7sCvXvHx04
Too many B’s buzzin’ in my head! I can’t help it! I love music!!!
Ben Harper – “Excuse Me Mister†from 1995 album Fight For Your Mind. Great album! Check it!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dNbymstZjs
Peace!
Love all of these suggestions… Especially Bon Iver, Burial, Bibio and Big Pink – (BP is playing in LA very soon at the El Rey I believe)… can’t forget Battles…
I’d like to name a few of my faves if I may:
B – well… first and foremost Bill Cosby
Artist wise:
Beta Band – nuffff said!
Brightblack Morning Light – surprised no one posted them – awesome mellow grooves
Boozoo Bajou (album name: Satta) – basically K&D Sessions revisited
Boss Hogg – Jon Spencer and Christina Martinez, sexy funky blues jams, can’t go wrong
Boris (album name: Smile) – thick, bass heavy slow, sludgey fuzzy jammy jams
Blitzen Trapper (album name: Wild Mt Nation) – such a great hippy, trippy, black crowes meets distortioney solos and harmonies album…
Song wise:
Blue Light – Mazzy Star
Broken Little Sister – Death In Vegas
B+A – Beta Band
Better Living Through Chemistry – Queens of the Stone Age
Baker Street – Gerry Raferty
Blinded by the Light – Manfred Mannnn
and of course – Blue Wave -by… wait – who’s that band again?
~Cosby out
Fran
1 last late entry! Built to Spill: Life”s a dream-Off their brand new album There is no enemy! Trust me your playlist will be better with the addition
Happy to hear there’s another Bic Runga fan on board, Michael. 🙂
Btw, Fran, I really enjoyed the “B” songs you posted. I’d never heard of any of those bands before. To me, the singer in Blonde Redhead sounds a little reminiscent of the legendary Dale Bozzio (Missing Persons), at least in that particular song. Also, the Band of Horses tune you posted sounds like it could’ve very well been a song from WIG. Great tune! I agree…Ben’s got a really great voice. Kinda sounds like a combination of maybe Perry Farrell, Kevin Cronin and your own Robert (James).
Oh, the Bibio song link. Shwoops.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TewD2AWqNxY