Friday Music: New Old Stuff

The internet does occasionally rise above it's dubious status as Time-Waster Central and The World's Most Efficient Porn Distribution Network....

It has allowed regional bands and creative genre-shattering mashups to build small but global fandoms, and it has also resurrected obscure music from the past to be appreciated and enjoyed by new generations.

I have two selections for us going into the weekend...

Kyuss - Space Cadet

Before Queens of the Stone Age, Frontman/guitarist Josh Homme and drummer Alfredo Hernandez were cranking out excellent Stoner Rock/Alternative Metal. This song has some Tool-like echoes, but Kyuss came first. Listening to the vocals, I also wonder if Days of the New were influenced by them...

Excellent soundscape music accompanied by an equally-excellent and hypnotic video.  Enjoy!

From 1994, Kyuss's masterpiece, Space Cadet...



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Simon and Garfunkel - The Sound of Silence  

Finn brought us two versions of The Sound of Silence last week, and when he featured the original, it was the true original.  I apologize for chewing old cabbage, but I had planned a blog post on this song, but Finn got the jump on me.

I accidentally stumbled across the un-remastered original that just happened to be on a CD I purchased.  The CD is stashed away somewhere, but the liner notes said this original version was featured on their debut album, Wednesday Morning.  The album flopped, and Simon and Garfunkel parted ways.  But the song's producer remixed it and layered in more instruments, re-released it, and it became a hit. That is the song we are all familiar with, so when I heard this un-remastered version for the first time it knocked me over.  The sparseness of it, the very folkie strumming acoustic guitar and their voices sound much more folkie in this bare-bones arrangement.

If you didn't give it a good listen last week, please put on some headphones, close your eyes and listen to it. If you haven't heard it before, and even if you are tired of the radio version, you will find this original recording haunting.

I like the original better, but I've been in rebellion lately against over-produced music; one of the factors that killed country music for me.  I apologize if I'm telling you something you already know. I discovered Simon and Garfunkle among my dad's collection of musty old LPs, and although not an avid devotee, I appreciate their artistry, and I have their Greatest Hits CD.

From 1964... Simon and Garfunkel's un-remastered The Sound of Silence...



Have a great weekend!