Raconteurs: "Carolina Drama"

Happy Jack White Friday!

"Carolina Drama," performed by The Raconteurs.
Original on The Raconteurs' "Consolers of the Lonely" (2008).

Nirvana: "Lithium"

Nirvana arose from the Seattle grunge scene to become one of the most influential bands in modern music. Despite being active for less than a decade in the late '80s and early '90s -- cut short by lead singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain's suicide in 1994 -- the mark they left completely changed the public's conception and the music industry's marketing of alternative rock. The New York Times called Nirvana "the voice of a generation."

Slight tangent: Lynn Hirschberg wrote an incredible narrative piece for Vanity Fair in 1992 that centers on Cobain's life with wife (and crazy person) Courtney Love. It's about a 30-minute read and completely worth it, both for the beautiful prose and the incomparable look into the couple's life together. The piece is titled, aptly enough, "Strange Love."

This song, recorded in 1990 before Nirvana's second album, "Nevermind," garnered a lot of attention both in and out of the industry. The verses are calm and even; the choruses explode. Cobain leans and forces his voice to its end with his raspy "yeah"s, which most people totally couldn't get away with as far as one-word choruses go. But no one could sing this song like Kurt Cobain.

I don't know how else to describe it. It's impossible not to rock out to this song. Enjoy.

"Lithium," performed by Nirvana.
Original on Nirvana's "Nevermind" (1991).

Killers: "This River Is Wild"

I've stopped going to big stadium shows. My music -- indie rock, funk, blues rock, ska, and so forth -- is generally better on a smaller stage. But some bands are meant to be enjoyed by tens of thousands of people at once. Enter The Killers.

The Killers formed in Las Vegas in 2001. They released Hot Fuss in 2004, which went white-hot (6x platinum) and even got a Grammy nod for best rock album. Their second and third albums, Sam's Town (2006) and Day & Night (2008), were not...just really not as good. Or at least, they didn't develop the radio buzz that the first album enjoyed. (In truth, I probably owe them each a more dedicated listen-through.) They also released a compilation album, Sawdust, in 2007, and a live album/DVD in 2009.

This song is straight off Sam's Town by way of the DVD release. Again, not my favorite album, but with that lilt, Brandon Flowers can sell pretty much anything live.

I mean really, does this look like fun or what? Enjoy.

"This River Is Wild," performed by The Killers.
Original on The Killers' "Sam's Town" (2006).

Queen: "Fat Bottomed Girls"

Hey folks. I’ve had a long day at work. Have you? Are you bitter about it? Me too. Here, let me share with you my favorite way to kill the bitterness and stress that is currently crippling your mood:

Queen.

More specifically, Fat Bottomed Girls.

Enjoy/You’re welcome.

"Fat Bottomed Girls," performed by Queen.
Original on Queen's "Jazz" (1978).

This post was written by Brittan Wood.

Carrie Underwood: "Last Name"

It's a busy day, so a quick Monday post and some girl power to get you motivated this week. This is from the same CMA performance as the Carrie video I posted last month. Sang it, girl. (And also check out Kristen Chenoweth's scrumptious Glee cover of this song.)I hope you all had a very happy Easter -- whether or not you celebrate it -- and that you remember more of your weekend than Ms. Underwood in this instance. (That communion wine can be overpowering, I know.) Enjoy.

"Last Name," performed by Carrie Underwood.
Original on Underwood's "Carnival Ride" (2008).

Reel Big Fish: "S.R."

Reel Big Fish is a cornerstone in the ska music scene, helping to bring about an American ska revival in the 1990s. But as they prove with this song, they can also do so much more.

Reel Big Fish has been continually active since its founding in 1992, releasing seven studio albums and touring pretty much constantly. Lead singer/guitarist/songwriter Aaron Barrett is the only remaining original member of the band (though trombonist Dan Regan has been around since 1994). Lead backing vocalist/trumpet/other stuff player Scott Klopfenstein joined in 1995 and is the other face of the band, often leading the small talk/riffing with Aaron in between songs at live shows. Sadly he resigned in January to focus on raising a family (he and the wife just had their first kid).

Reel Big Fish is a great live band: They're totally pro, polished -- but still just boys having fun and playing music. The aimless, wandering conversation in between songs was a hallmark of Barrett and Klopfenstein's stage presence; I'll be curious to see how they do without Klopfenstein, both during and in between songs. (He's a killer with harmony.)

This song, which is short for "Suburban Rhythm," is not their best song, they admit -- so they attempt to improve it by recasting it in different genres. Here they go through a handful, but on the live album version they attempt no fewer than eight variations, from death metal to disco. (That's a great live album to own, by the way.)

It's a clever recognition that music can be packaged any which way and probably be wildly successful or...not so much...depending on that packaging. (It's that idea that provides Andy Rehfeldt with a very amusing hobby, re-dubbing recognizable songs in new genres.)

Hopefully this is not your introduction to Reel Big Fish (I'm sure you heard "Sell Out" at some point in the 90s), but if it is then I'm honored to introduce you to such an institutional group of live musicians. Enjoy.

"S.R.," performed by Reel Big Fish.
Original on Reel Big Fish's "Everything Sucks" (1995).

Wow, the paragraph-ending parentheticals got a little out of hand in this post. Sorry about that. (But it's just so easy!) (And it mollifies my multiple personality disorder.)

Karmin: "Look at Me Now"

This video, a cover of a current Chris Brown song, was uploaded just over a week ago and already snagged more than three million views for its young performers. They were even on the Ellen DeGeneres Show earlier this week. Maybe it's because this is, like, way better than the original.

Karmin is composed of musicians Amy Heidemann and Nick Noonan, who met at Berklee College of Music in Boston. (And are now engaged! Adorable.) They released an original EP last year and have a series of covers on their YouTube page. Amy's got a poppy R&B thing going on, and Nick is apparently a trained trombonist (and keyboardist/back-up vocalist). Their stripped-down covers feature Amy's lovely voice in a bunch of contexts -- but none more impressive than this. She sounds like she could go toe-to-toe with Nicki Minaj the way she handles the rhymes of not only Chris Brown but also Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes, who both rapped on the original track.

As a sidenote, this is a true modern indie duo: They're promulgating their music in every way possible, from the increasingly archaic MySpace to YouTube to Facebook to Twitter to Last.fm to Amazon to iTunes to iLike to Reverb Nation. And after all that work it's a Chris Brown cover that's getting them attention. Figures.

If you're skeptical, just watch the first minute and a half. If your jaw doesn't drop along with the beat at 1:15, you may not have a soul. Enjoy.

"Look at Me Now," performed by Karmin.
Original on Chris Brown's "F.A.M.E." (2011).

Cab Calloway: "Reefer Man"

They really don't make them like they used to.

Cab Calloway is one of the most famous bandleaders of the last century. His swansong to the MTV generation was his appearance in 1980's Blues Brothers, in which he sang his signature "Minnie the Moocher." He performed the song throughout his 60-plus-year career and it was admitted to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999, five years after Calloway's death.

This clip is from his early days as a performer. International House (1933) was Calloway's second feature film, released when he was just 26 years old. The movie was made before Hollywood started enforcing its Motion Picture Production Code, which directed the censorship of controversial topics (like drugs and sex) from 1934 to 1968, when it was dropped for today's ostensibly more objective MPAA film rating system.

If the film had been made a year later, this scene may not have made the cut. Luckily for jazz enthusiasts and stoners everywhere, YouTube keeps the hair flipping and the joints rolling. Enjoy, and happy 420.

"Reefer Man," performed by Cab Calloway and His Orchestra.
From International House (Paramount, 1933).

Dolly Parton: "Jolene"

Welcome to the second installment of Brittan’s Musical Obsessions!

Today I have a classic for you…a country classic. Don’t run away yet! Trust me, if you
haven’t already heard this (and subsequently are obsessed like myself) then allow me to enlighten you.

Dolly Parton’s "Jolene" was recorded in 1973 and hit number one on the Hot Country
Singles chart in February 1974. It's also on Rolling Stone's list of the top 500 greatest songs of all time.

Besides the fact that, with 25 number-one singles, Dolly Parton is known to be the "Queen of Country Music," she's also a hilarious, amazing, strong and intelligent businesswoman. Seriously, just YouTube some of her interviews like this one and you will be blown away by her wit, intellect and perseverance.

I don’t want to talk her up too much because I feel I can’t possibly do her justice. You really just need to experience the Dolly to really understand her amazingness. Yea, amazingness.

Until next Tuesday, Enjoy.

"Jolene," performed by Dolly Parton.
Original on Parton's "Jolene" (1974).

Oh, and while you’re at it, watch this video too. Just get some tissues ready because it gets the waterworks goin’.This post was written by Brittan Wood.

Sara Bareilles: "Single Ladies"

On Monday, a reminder to give covers a chance because often songs are completely different in the hands of new artists. After the initial love affair, like the rest of America, I grew weary of Beyonce's 2008 sensation "Single Ladies," which pretty much defined an entire year in pop music. I mean, it was everywhere. (The tipping point was definitely Liza Minelli's version in Sex & the City 2. So, so bad. But Liza can do anything.)

Sara Bareilles's version is actually nice to listen to, because her voice is nice to listen to. When she says she'll be a ghost, gone, if she doesn't get that ring -- well damn, she's not playing around. Plus there's a bonus interview at the end. Enjoy.

"Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," performed by Sara Bareilles.

Original on Beyonce's "I Am...Sasha Fierce" (2008).

Raconteurs: "Level"

This just...this just fucking rocks. Happy Jack White Friday. Enjoy.

"Level," performed by The Raconteurs.
Original on the Raconterus' "Broken Boy Soldiers" (2007).

Lady Gaga: "Poker Face"

The first time I heard this acoustic version of the ridiculous club hit "Poker Face," I remember thinking that this couldn't possibly be the same person who urged me to roll my eyes to the back of my head and, you know, just dance. It appears Lady Gaga (birth name: Stefani Germanotta) can actually sing. Happy surprises!

I'm not going to rehash Lady Gaga's entire history for you here -- that's what Wikipedia is for, and there's way too much to tell -- but it's fascinating realize how she went from a no one performing in rock clubs in Manhattan to a legitimate international sensation within literally a year. And no modern artist has done a better job of shrouding herself in weirdness and secrecy. Conspiracy theories abound, and are super fun to follow, but it can veil how sometimes her music is, er, not very good at all.

But look! She can really can sing! This is just so much more accessible music and it's a reminder that she is actually a musician (and not just a puppet of the Illuminati) (allegedly, of course). Kid Cudi liked it enough to sample it. It's joyful. It's playful. And it confirms that the bow made of hair is weird-looking in every context, especially outside a music video. Enjoy.

"Poker Face," performed by Lady Gaga.
Original on "The Fame" (2008).

Dave Werner: "Extraneous Lyrics"

Some days you just need something to make you smile. Since those days are usually Wednesdays, we're going a little less serious today with a parody video made a guy (and new father!) named Dave Werner.

Werner essentially took the biggest hits of 2010 and expanded the lyrics in a way that, one might argue, is much more complete and descriptive. For example, while Lady Gaga's lyrics are a bit abstract -- "I want your ugly, I want your disease, I want your everything as long as it's free" -- Werner takes a more literal approach: "I want your unappealing features, I want your infectious medical conditions, I would like everything you have as long as there is no currency exchange involved." His voice is passable but his articulation, thesaurus and musical sense of humor are top-notch.

Werner's recording, which has half a million hits on YouTube, has also been featured on VH1's Best Week Ever, Gawker and PopEater, among others. The songs he parodies:

"Dynamite" by Taio Cruz
"Love the Way You Lie" by Eminem, featuring Rihanna
"Fuck You" by Cee Lo Green
"Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga
"Tik Tok" by Ke$ha
"Baby" by Justin Bieber
"California Gurls" by Katy Perry

Enjoy.

"Extraneous Lyrics," performed by Dave Werner.
Original YouTube video.

Grizzly Bear: "Knife"

Check this out, folks...I’m officially a blogger! It doesn’t matter that I’m, like, only a once-a-week contributing blogger -- no no, it’s still blogging, especially since I have to actually check my spelling and grammar. Yikes. Be kind, people.

Like Brittany, I’m also a sucker for voices harmonizing in marvelous wonderment -- which is the core reason for my obsession with this song. Uh, what song you say? Oh, right.

I bring you “Knife” by the band Grizzly Bear.

A Brooklyn-based, indie-rock group, Grizzly Bear is comprised of Edward Droste, Daniel Rossen, Chris Taylor and Christopher Bear. Their sound has an experimental, dream-inducing, harmony-heavy, folk-inspired feel that stays with you for (in my case) years. “Knife,” the single from the 2006 album Yellow House, very much undercuts your soul with its slow, intoxicating vocals. Yeah, it’s that intense.

This particular video comes from La Blogotheque, a Parisian-born website featuring, what else, music! From that website was born “Take-Away Shows,” an innovative approach to live music whereby performances are filmed in a single take (shit, why didn’t I think of that?) and the focus is on the pure, raw talent these artists bring to the melodic world. The context and idea for the “Take-Away Shows” videos is just brilliant and I’m as much a fan of the format as Grizzly Bear’s hypnotizing a cappella rendition of “Knife,” shot walking the streets of Paris. Plus, I think Edward Droste (the tall, awkwardly handsome band member) is acting sheepishly cute in the video.

Until next Tuesday, folks, enjoy.

"Knife," performed by Grizzly Bear.
Original on Grizzly Bear's "Yellow House" (2007).

This post was written by Brittan Wood.

Maroon 5: "Must Get Out"

Maroon 5's album Songs About Jane may be one of the best full-length releases of the past 10 years.

It took awhile to get there though. The band formed in high school under the name Kara's Flowers and released their first album in 1997. They were pretty good, actually, but the band didn't find commercial success until they added a new guitarist (James Valentine) and released Songs About Jane in 2002. It was re-released in 2003 and made it into the top 10 album charts in countries around the world. Maroon 5 toured a bunch, won a Grammy for Best New Artist (2005), and released two more albums in 2007 and 2010.

Adam Levine has said the band will probably release one more album before disbanding -- though he's clarified the disbandment won't occur anytime soon. And why would it? Maroon 5 is doing incredibly well (though the second and third albums haven't lived up to the incredible hype of the first) and everyone is attractive, filthy rich and dating models. Good sense says they'll stick with it for awhile.

This is a great track, if only for the reason that it hasn't been played a million times by every Top 40 DJ. Levine even says at the beginning that it's become one of his favorites to perform live, and you can see why: I dig the percussive (and dirty) lyrics, funky guitar line and Levine's gorgeous, Michael Jackson-like intonation.

I saw Maroon 5 at the Allstate Arena a few years back; great show, but it would have been much more fun in a smaller space. Living up to his playboy reputation, Levine brought a girl on stage at one point and sang directly to her. The sound of thousands of girls swooning at once is something I won't soon forget.

Because my God, Adam Levine is hot. I mean seriously. (Warning: potentially NSFW.) And the music is awesome too. Enjoy.

"Must Get Out," performed by Maroon 5.
Original on Maroon 5's "Songs About Jane" (2002).

Reminder: Be sure to stop by tomorrow as our new regular Tuesday blogger, Brittan, will make her debut!

Announcement!

Hey guys, GET EXCITED because next week Dai(ly) Jams will add one (or possibly two!) new faces to our blogger staff! (Can I call it a staff even though I don't pay them?)

Tune in Tuesday to see the first guest post by the effervescent (and funny and wonderful) Brittan Wood!

Dead Weather: "60 Feet Tall"

I could write an entire blog about Jack White. He is hands down one of the most talented musicians of his generation, and all of his projects -- The White Stripes, The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather -- have been met with critical acclaim, if not hoards of screaming girls throwing panties on stage, which is the undisputed barometer of rock musician success. (Though I can't confirm or deny the panty count, since I've tragically never seen him perform live.) Rolling Stone named him one of the top 20 guitarists of all time.

The youngest of 10 siblings in a Catholic family, White (born John Anthony Gillis) grew up in Detroit listening to blues and '60s rock. He learned the drums and the guitar; tried his hand in a few small local bands and careers; considered attending seminary but decided against it because he probably couldn't take his amp with him; and then formed The White Stripes with his new bride Meg White (he took her last name) in 1997 at the tender age of 22. They divorced three years later but continued to play together until this past February. The biggest track to come out of that collaboration was "Seven Nation Army," which was released in 2003 and won a Grammy for Best Rock Song. It's been covered by everyone from Audioslave to the Northwestern University Marching Band. (I really wish I had a video. Next season, for sure.)

The success of The White Stripes opened the Louisiana floodgates; White is ubiquitous, performing with his two current bands as well as solo, producing other artists, and making appearances in films like 2009's "It Might Get Loud," in which he palled around with U2's The Edge and Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page. (Best scene of the movie: Whole Lotta Love-gasm.)

The Dead Weather is a powerful collaboration: White, The Kills lead singer Alison Mosshart, Queens of the Stone Age guitarist/keyboardist Dean Fertita, and Raconteurs bassist Jack Lawrence. They've released two albums, one of which (Horehound) is overflowing with incredible rhythms and licks. (I haven't heard the other album yet, though it's been out for almost a year. Shame on me.)

This track is stripped down but incredibly satisfying -- especially Fertita's guitar solo around 3:30. They make it look easy, but The Dead Weather is what a modern blues rock band should sound like. Enjoy.

"60 Feet Tall," performed by The Dead Weather.
Original on The Dead Weather's "Horehound" (2009).

Arctic Monkeys: A Trio of Songs!

It's your lucky week, Reader. Yet another video featuring multiple songs. Because we're generous like that.

Formed in 2002 in Sheffield, England, the Arctic Monkeys are a testament to the power of tape-trading -- that is, their original fan base grew entirely out of free recordings distributed by the band. (Suck it, Metallica.) By the time the Arctic Monkeys' first singles dropped in May 2005 -- one of which is the third tune in this video -- people were rabid for more. The first full album was released in 2006 (containing all three songs in the video) and sold 350,000 copies in the first week, making it the fastest-selling debut album in British history. They've released two more albums and have a third coming out this June.

Frontman Alex Turner has enjoyed instant recognition in the UK; he was even named the coolest person in the world in 2005 by British music tabloid NME -- at age 19. In a Q&A with SPIN Magazine, Turner talked about how the band has gotten louder since starting out, which works for headlining huge shows (which they do all over Europe) but means they can no longer perform small venues for fear of "blowing your head off."The Arctic Monkeys haven't garnered the same massive attention in the U.S. but they have gained a foothold: Their 2006 and 2009 albums topped the Billboard independent album charts, and the song "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor" spent 18 weeks on the alternative chart, peaking at #7. Their fourth album -- "Suck It and See," due out June 6th -- may change that.

I've seen the Arctic Monkeys twice -- once at Lollapalooza 2007 (for which I deserve a medal for escaping the mosh pit alive) and once at the Riv in Chicago -- and my head is still intact, but my ears were ringing for days. Boy are they ENERGETIC. They just rock the indie/punk/British/garage genre, with all its quirks. Their first two albums are regular members of my morning commute "PUMP UP AND TAKE ON THE DAAAAAAY" playlist. (Yes, it's really named that.) (That's a lie, but now I'm going to go home and make it happen.)

And seriously, the British accent gets me. Every. Time. Alexa Chung is a lucky woman.

The Arctic Monkeys are spending this spring and summer purposefully avoiding Chicago (or so it would seem), but I'm hopeful they'll return soon. Until then, all hail Jools Holland. Enjoy.

"I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor," "When the Sun Goes Down (Scummy),"
& "From the Ritz to the Rubble," performed by the Arctic Monkeys.
Originals on "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not" (2006).

Billy Joel: "Big Shot"

It's so fun to watch Billy Joel sing. He's been writing Top 40 hits for almost forty years; "Big Shot" peaked at #14 in 1979 and was written about Mick Jagger's wife, Bianca, who paved the way for party girls like Paris Hilton and Lindsay (just Lindsay) to pass out in fancy hotel suites and the backseats of limos all over town.

Joel has been nominated for 23 Grammys and has won six, but I doubt he's crying into his coffee. Joel is an artist with whom every musician and even tacit music lover should be familiar. In every sense of the word, he's a big shot. Enjoy.

P.S. I know this is a music video but I'll take them at their word that it was recorded live.

"Big Shot," performed by Billy Joel.
Original on Joel's "52nd Street" (1978).

Paramore: "Ignorance" and "That's What You Get"

Paramore lead singer Hayley Williams' voice has captivated the (pre-)teen audience thanks to the band's inclusion on the first Twilight movie soundtrack. The movie franchise also features bands like the Black Keys, Dead Weather and Muse -- meaning our lovesick (pre-)teens are, thankfully, listening to artists who are much cooler and more talented than Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift. (No love lost, ladies.)

You may also recognize Williams as the featured singer from 2010's radio hit "Airplanes" by B.o.B. A perfect example of a song I loved until about the 82nd turn in one week.

I'm loving these AOL and MTV unplugged sessions for live music videos; not only is the sound great, but the intimate space with the band is something you just can't experience at most concerts these days. (I will never again attend a concert at the United Center. No matter how great the musician, there's just no way to develop a relationship with a crowd of 20,000.)

Hayley Williams is the clear heart of this group. Barely breaking five feet tall, the spirited (dyed) redhead has an enchanting voice -- how do you think the vampires woo their prey? Thanks, Hayley!

I prefer "Ignorance" to "That's What You Get," but we at Dai(ly) Jams try to give you your money's worth, so enjoy these two solid Paramore tunes.

"Ignorance" and "That's What You Get," performed by Paramore.

"Ignorance" originally on Paramore's "Brand New Eyes" (2009).
"That's What You Get" originally on "Riot!" (2007).

--

UPDATE, May 20, 2011 - Viacom has removed this video from YouTube, so I offer you this other live version of "Innocence." It is also excellent, recorded at the BBC Radio studios.

Bill Withers: "Ain't No Sunshine"

This song haunts me. It was Bill Withers' first hit, released as a B-side in 1971 but favored by disc jockeys over "Harlem," the intended single. The song is now in the Grammy Hall of Fame along with "Lean on Me," and Withers is recognized and honored as a phenomenal songwriter.

In an interview in 2004, Withers said of this song: "It's pretty obvious what it's about. I was watching a movie called Days Of Wine And Roses (1962) with Lee Remick and Jack Lemmon. They were both alcoholics who were alternately weak and strong. It's like going back for seconds on rat poison. Sometimes you miss things that weren't particularly good for you. It's just something that crossed my mind from watching that movie, and probably something else that happened in my life that I'm not aware of."

Withers also apparently had plans to write more lyrics and was using the repeated "I know" as a placeholder, but Booker T. Jones convinced him to leave it as is. Good advice, I'd say.It's the saddest song this side of Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven," but it's simply gorgeous. This may be one of the best songs ever written. Anyone care to disagree?
Enjoy.

"Ain't No Sunshine," performed by Bill Withers.
Original on Withers' "Just As I Am" (1971).

Aretha Franklin: "Respect"

It's been a week of strong female voices (Ryan Tedder included) so we'll end with the undisputed queen.

This song, which became Aretha Franklin's signature in 1967, was actually written and released by Otis Redding first in 1965. According to the infallible Wikipedia, Franklin arranged the background vocals and ad-libbed the speaking lines ("R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means to me / take care TCB"). And the timing was great: The 1960's feminist movement embraced a song with a woman singing lyrics about getting a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T, if ya know what I mean.

It was more than the lyrics that made this song a feminist anthem; the woman singing it is a symbol of strength herself. She's fearless; you can feel it when she sings. Her ornamentation is stunning, but the force behind it is what drives the music. No wonder it's a karaoke favorite.

I grew up listening to Aretha Franklin, and she has without a doubt influenced me more than any other recording artist. Enjoy.

"Respect," performed by Aretha Franklin.
Original on Otis Redding's "Otis Blue" (1965).