From the Vault » The Daily Cut

Millionyoung

Michael Saltsman — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 19:15:04 +0000

New “dance music” can be a hard genre to get into these days, almost purely because of the oversaturation across blogs, advertisements, and terrible pop music that clouds our otherwise exceptional taste. I like a good toe tapper, but it’s hard to get into something that sounds contrived from the start. Millionyoung sounds honest in the way that they didn’t (or maybe they did? way to go!) set out to make a dance track, they just wanted to play some fun music that just so happens to make you want to move your butt. Their Daytrotter session is fantastic; I’d download it if I were you. Bonus: If you’re in New York, check them out at the Mercury Lounge next week (2/15) with ANR (personal favorite).

[Millionyoung is a post in From the Vault - The Wolfgang's Vault blog.]

Your Morning Weather Report

Michael Saltsman — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 18:12:12 +0000

If you live in the Northeast, you went to bed last night with a snowy icy mess pounding you in the face, and woke up to a winter wonderland of anywhere between 6 to 24 inches. Everyone is just holding their breath to see how in the world we are going to make it through this regional disaster. But while the Midwest scoffs and the West Coast laughs, Weather Report rolls in with some funky smoothness to get us through the storm.

[Your Morning Weather Report is a post in From the Vault - The Wolfgang's Vault blog.]

Inlets vs Outlets: More Electrifying?

Michael Saltsman — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 15:47:47 +0000

OK, I guess the simple answer would be outlets. Do not try and power your blender with this Daytrotter session by Inlets. Conversely, do not try to get a solid 15 minutes of sonic joy from the holes in your wall.

Puns aside, this exposed and transparent recording puts Inlets in their element, hiding nothing and pushing a great performance and inspiring songwriting to the forefront. You can find this track on their 2010 debut release, Inter Arbiter, on the always superb Two Syllable Records.

[Inlets vs Outlets: More Electrifying? is a post in From the Vault - The Wolfgang's Vault blog.]

MGMT: Music Greatens (with) More Time

Michael Saltsman — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 16:46:28 +0000

This MGMT Daytrotter session comes at just the perfect time… for me. I recently rediscovered their latest album, Congratulations, thanks to iTunes’ random, and I agree whole heartedly with Sean; it’s one hell of a “grower.” I listened to it a bit when it was leaked on their website back in March of 2010, but somehow I feel like it’s more relevant now than it ever was when it came out. The whole point is its staying power, which I would never have been able to know until now. This Daytrotter session proves that, and I’m happy to hear they do the songs justice in a more stripped down setting.

[MGMT: Music Greatens (with) More Time is a post in From the Vault - The Wolfgang's Vault blog.]

What about us Dreidel spinners?

Evan Conquest — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 19:38:04 +0000

With all this talk about Christmas, it’s easy to forget another holiday is happening right now that many celebrate: Hanukkah. The Festival of Lights doesn’t have an economy-friendly icon handing over presents to all the little children, so perhaps it makes sense that we’re not bombarded with corporate advertisements about it, but this holiday is filled with just as much historic relevance and tradition as Christmas. Today’s Daily Cut, “Dreidel” from Don McLean, goes out to all those celebrating the 3rd day of Hanukkah.

Check out the full concert from Don’s 1977 performance at the Bottom Line here.

[What about us Dreidel spinners? is a post in From the Vault - The Wolfgang's Vault blog.]

One For George, By George

Peter Oberg — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 01:11:31 +0000

George Harrison passed away nine years ago today. He was a beautiful man who wrote beautiful songs filled with serenity, peace, acceptance and love — just the thing for an occasion like today when our thoughts turn to remembering him. Though many of those songs are quite specifically spiritual, “Photograph,” co-written with Ringo Starr, is a secular tune that wraps heartbreakingly nostalgic lyrics in unabashedly joyous music. Ringo’s performance of the song at the Concert for George epitomized the cathartic mixture of grief and celebration that show was all about, and the tune remains one of the most fitting tributes to George imaginable.

You can hear more George Harrison covers from the Vault on this playlist.

I also highly recommend this 1975 interview with George Harrison – listening to it has helped restore my sanity on more than one occasion.

[One For George, By George is a post in From the Vault - The Wolfgang's Vault blog.]

The Dreamer’s Gone, but the Dream Lives On

Peter Oberg — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 17:51:01 +0000

Today marks the anniversary of one of the most tragic days in American history: the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963. While it’s difficult to understand how such atrocities can happen, the Dion song “Abraham, Martin & John” does its best to put it in perspective by grouping the assassination together with those of Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., and J.F.K.’s younger brother Bobby. Each of these individuals worked tirelessly for equality through civil rights and, senselessly, ended up dead for it. It seems unbelievable but, as Dion mentions in his introduction to this track (accompanied here by Dave Edmunds and Graham Parker), we can take solace in the fact that although the dreamers are gone, their dream of justice-for-all lives on.

[The Dreamer’s Gone, but the Dream Lives On is a post in From the Vault - The Wolfgang's Vault blog.]

Kanye in the Concert Vault? Sample This!

Michael Saltsman — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 21:16:46 +0000

OK, Kanye’s not really in the Vault, but in a roundabout and indirect way, yes he is! Sampling is nothing new these days, and Kanye West’s new album has its fair share of borrowed beats and riffs: thirteen total. One such sample is non other than “Iron Man” by Black Sabbath, used on Kanye’s track, “Hell Of A Life.” Yes, hip hop artists and producers definitely still have their ear on classic tunes to liven up pop hits. For a more extreme example, Girl Talk’s new album contains over 372 sampled tracks in just 71 minutes!

[Kanye in the Concert Vault? Sample This! is a post in From the Vault - The Wolfgang's Vault blog.]

Where’s the Riot Going On?

Evan Conquest — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 21:08:07 +0000

Riots after sporting events are almost common place now-a-days. In the past, if you wanted to get in the mix of some good old-fashioned mischief, you grabbed some beers for the road, hit the streets and followed the smell of smoke to the hot spots. But in this age of technology why should a drunk, riled up 20-something year-old sports fan have to walk around the streets aimlessly looking for a tree to rip out of the ground? That’s where smartphones and social media apps like Foursquare and Twitter come in because, in this fast-paced world, every second counts. After the Giants won the World Series last week, San Franciscans wasted no time tweeting their location or checking in on Foursquare so all their baseball-loving buds could join in on smashing some cars up, lighting some fires, and causing damage to local businesses.

Today’s Daily Cut, “Riot In Cell Block #9” pays homage to all those people who either wanted to or actually made it out to the city streets to celebrate the World Series victory. This song from the Grateful Dead’s 1971 performance at the Fillmore East is ushered in by an amusing synthy siren indicative of the less-developed technology of the day. But with the Beach Boys joining them on stage for the spontaneous mayhem, this recording is as epic as the Giants’ title and the celebrations that followed.

[Where’s the Riot Going On? is a post in From the Vault - The Wolfgang's Vault blog.]

Thanks, Veterans!

Michael Saltsman — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 20:23:57 +0000

There are any number of rock anthems and patriotic singalongs to accompany a Veterans Day Daily Cut, but this song by Triumph fits just perfectly. “Fight The Good Fight” captures our veterans’ earnest commitment to our country, their Rocky-like determination and ambition, as well as their wailing-guitar-solo-esque triumphant-ness. Take a few minutes out of your day to crank this up in honor of our nations’ Veterans who have fought the good fight, and continue to do so, to make the world a better place for us all!

[Thanks, Veterans! is a post in From the Vault - The Wolfgang's Vault blog.]