Screamin' Jay Hawkins - Constipation Blues

The spoken intro is somewhat of a rarity on studio recordings.  Largely relegated to live performances, or recreating those performances in the studio setting, the intro can work a crowd up, building excitement for a song they’ve been waiting for and know/hope is coming.  It can also place a crowd in the right mindset, creating a natural break in a set, readying the audience for a down-tempo tune.  Screamin’ Jay Hawkins knew the value of such a setup, even outside of his live act.

Screamin’ Jay provides a laundry list of harsh realities and adversities that can be addressed in song.  Heartbreak.  Loneliness.  Being broke.  All tried and true topics for a blues tune.  But each of those troubles pale in comparison to this, a song about REAL pain.  Give a listen to the tragicomic tale set forth in “Constipation Blues”, and let it go! Let it go…

The Weather Girls - It's Raining Men

I've been using the song "It's Raining Men" as a punchline for years... but maybe that's because I hadn't heard the rest of the joke.  Finally, stumbling upon to the music video earlier today has opened my eyes to an under-appreciated piece of disco camp that has far greater appeal than it's archetypical gay/girl power following.  Not to mention that it's beyond hilarious.

The video features the aptly named Weather Girls alternating between belting out the chorus and giving hungry eyes to a veritable hoard of gentlemen callers.  The lyrical genius shines brilliantly at moments such as "I'm gonna go outside and get/Absolutely soaking wet".  Tucked in among it all are some extraordinarily GIF-worthy moments (see the video at 0:25, 1:13, 1:21, and 3:24 to get an idea).  The video contains more hilarity in 5 minutes than most major comedies and when all is said and done, you're asking yourself "Why isn't this used as a Rick Roll?"  I've got no answer for that, but I do have the timeless classic, video and all, embedded below.  Hope it makes your day as hysterical as mine was, enjoy!

Dinosaur Feathers - Fantasy Memorial

Sometimes, all it takes is a band's name to convince me, and the music inevitably follows.  Beach Fossils, Fartbarf, The Gromble, and more are all groups I discovered through their winsome names, and they've all been outstanding acts.  One month from tonight (4/13), the inventively-titled Dinosaur Feathers play The Outer Space in Hamden.  Sonically akin to Vampire Weekend covering Fleet Foxes, Dinosaur Feathers' debut Fantasy Memorial places the listener in a tropical netherworld somewhere between the Mediterrean and the Carribbean.  It's the sort of warm weather music that buoys the spirit, drenched with an infectious happiness that is as enjoyable the hundreth time as it was the first.  We couldn't be more excited for the show, happening just days after their sophomore LP Whistle Tips drops, which will aso feature Phillie-based art-rockers Grandchildren and local favorites EULA.  We'll be writing more as it aproaches, but until then here's the first two tracks off Fantasy Memorial "I Ni Sogoma" and "Vendele Vida".

The Chambers Brothers - Time Has Come Today

I remember ten years ago when this song underwent a renaissance of sorts.  Appearing on everything from CSI to car commercials, the track was fairly ubiquitous for a period in the early 2000s.  This being a trend I feel should start again, take a trip back to '68 with The Chambers Brothers' sprawling classic "Time Has Come Today".  Your soul just might get psychedelicized.

Traffic - The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys

Long before he was taken to ‘higher love’, Steve Winwood was doing outstanding vocal work with The Spencer Davis Group and fronting the seminal 70s rock act, Traffic. Nowhere is that early creative success better demonstrated than on Traffic's 1971 album, The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys. The title track is a nearly 12 minute sprawling masterpiece of 70s rock, featuring intertwining piano and synthesizer parts as well as extended saxophone and keyboard solos. While “Dear Mister Fantasy” might be a crowd favorite, “The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys” is, for me at least, Traffic’s signature track.

Buckethead - Theme from Cannibal Holocaust

In order to indulge my affinity for live rarities, here's an alternate version of the recently featured theme from Cannibal Holocaust.  Performed by guitar virtuoso Buckethead, his plugged in take on the original's chillout blend of synth and acoustic guitar is more emotive and (thanks to his signature mask) almost as unsettling.

Rush - 2112 (Happy Rush Day! 2/1/12)

Hello internet!  Just found out that it's Rush Day and couldn't resist honoring Canada's greatest non-bacon export.  Take a minute (or 20) to tip your hat to Messrs. Lifeson, Peart, and Lee and enjoy the entire title track from their classic album 2112.  Rock.

Neutral Milk Hotel - Engine

The night is upon us! Mr. Mangum plays the Shubert in a few short hours.  We'll be hearing this one during the encore (we hope), so get ready and give "Engine" a listen now.

Neutral Milk Hotel - Oh Sister

Our excitement for Jeff Mangum’s upcoming tour has reached a fever pitch as of late. The formerly reclusive Neutral Milk Hotel frontman opens his 2012 schedule with a stop at New Haven’s Shubert Theatre. Like kids on Christmas, we’ve been wearing out our copy of their seminal record In The Aeroplane Over The Sea. Other standouts, such as Mangum’s Live at Jittery Joe’s LP have gotten us through the last few weeks, but it’s the newly collected EP Ferris Wheel on Fire that has been the biggest and most welcome surprise. The sole complaint about Jeff Mangum and Neutral Milk Hotel would be a comparable lack of material when looking at other beloved acts, being that there are only two full-length NMH albums. Ferris Wheel on Fire immensely adds to their fairly short discography, collecting 8 excellent rarities and b-sides, all of which would feel right at home on Aeroplane. The EP’s leadoff track, “Oh Sister” features the impassioned vocals and allegorical lyrics that have enamored listeners over the years, and is the perfect compliment for an album that so many know so well. We’ll continue our Mangum coverage over the next couple days, so give “Oh Sister” a listen and don’t miss the show tomorrow night (1/18).

Real Estate - Wonder Years

You know when there's a song that grabs you?  It might not be the album's big hit; it might not be everyone's favorite track, but its YOUR favorite track.  "Wonder Years" off Real Estate's newest LP, Days, is one such song.  Ringing guitar gets paired with melancholic lyrics, hearkening back to hot, hazy afternoons and days that blend into each other, with nothing but droning cicadas and fuzzy FM radio breaking the stillness.  That description could apply to much of Real Estate's work, but more than any other track, "Wonder Years" fits that bill, drawing on more than just fond summer memories, but not so fond ones as well.  Nostalgia becomes wistfullness becomes lament on this tune, a requiem for summers long since past and the people and places that reside in those memories.

 But I'm not yours and you're not mine

No, I'm not okay but I guess I'm doing fine

The Remnants - Bad Taste

“We’re the Astro Investigation and Defense Service! (AIDS)”
“We’ve got to change that name…”

“It’s like elevator music for head bangers!”

“What are you astro-bastards doing on my planet?”

“Did ya have to drink some chuck?”

Keep in mind all of these lines are much better delivered with a Kiwi accent amid the madness of an invasion of hungry aliens, which was the plot of Peter Jackson’s directorial debut, Bad Taste. The film, a gory splatterfest replete with violence, vomit, brains, and big guns, combines gross-out moments with a darkly comedic tone (An AIDS joke in '87? Bold.) making for an over the top action experience that will have you laughing until it hurts. And as no action flick would be complete without a good tune for the end credits, here’s the catchy-as-hell “Bad Taste” by The Remnants.

Sinn Sisamouth - I'm Still Waiting {House of the Rising Sun}

I've been listening to far too much Sinn Sisamouth to go without posting a track.  His Khmer-language rewrites of Western hits feature distorted guitar work and frenzied, garage-band style playing.  East truly meets west on tracks from seminal acts such as Procol Harum, The Beatles, and The Animals.  More prolific than Elvis, Sisamouth recorded an astounding amount of music in his career, which was cut short in the Killing Fields after the Khmer Rouge takeover of Cambodia.  Give a listen to the 5:13 of overdriven guitar virtuosity that is "I'm Still Waiting" his version "House of the Rising Sun" and give it up for the 'King of Music' and the amazing work he left behind.

Sinn Sisamouth - I'm Still Waiting {House of the Rising Sun}

Fartbarf - Hero of Time

Yes, yes, I know.  Ignore the name.  Today we've got a track from LA's Fartbarf, a largely local act that stands to have a bright future.  Featuring analog synthesizers, adept set playing, cavemen masks, the occasional vocoder, and jumpsuits out of Devo's yard sale, Fartbarf is getting quite the reputation for their overwhelmingly lively and fun performances.  Check out their track "Hero of Time", embedded below, and keep an eye out for their debut album coming soon.

The Walkmen - Juveniles

While boning up for Fleet Foxes this Sunday, I’ve been listening to quite a bit of opening band The Walkmen. Here’s a recent Letterman performance of “Juveniles”, the leadoff track from their most recent LP, Lisbon. Good fun indie rock that will be a great start to an early autumn show.

Mates of State - Sleep The Clock Around (Belle & Sebastian cover)

I did my fair bit of complaining about Crushes (The Covers Mixtape).  I was less than thrilled about a band like Mates of State, who have so many great songs of their own, performing an entire LP of the work of others.  A couple years (and shows) later, I’m willing to admit it grew on me.  Hearing Kori and Jason put their signature sound to songs both new and old has been welcome when I’ve played “Goods (All in Your Head)” to death.  Check out a highlight of the mixtape, the classic Belle & Sebastian track “Sleep the Clock Around”, which retains the charm of the original but still has the undeniable fun of the Mates' oeuvre.

Don’t forget the free show at BAR New Haven, tonight!  Mates of State and Snake Oil.  Be there.  Here’s the event page link: http://on.fb.me/qSZFyG

Mike Carano - Happy

On the surface, this might just be another punk tune, but the guitar interplay, driving percussion, and lyrical content of Mike Carano’s “Happy” make it anything but typical.  I’m also finding constantly humming to myself the refrain of “have you ever been so happy that it makes you cry?” or the tag at the end, "gone are the sorrows".  Check out it below, you might get hooked too.

Also, it’s worth mentioning that this is the theme music for the Loveline After Disaster, a hilarious train wreck of a podcast brought to by Anderson Cowan, Tyler White, and Mike Carano himself.  Follow them on Twitter at @AfterDisaster or download the podcast for free on iTunes.  It will be disastrous, but that just adds to the fun.

Dion & The Belmonts - Runaround Sue

Having a relaxing, oldies kind of day today.  Doing some cooking and packing some coolers to get ready for UConn football's season opener tomorrow against Fordham (slaughter!), and playing a classic Dion tune "Runaround Sue".  Sampled by rapper G-Eazy for his newest album The Endless Summer, the track gets into your head and stays there.  Check out the original song, embedded below, or G-Eazy's track of the same title, right here: http://bit.ly/qqnFjF

David Bowie & Andrew Kolb - Space Oddity

By now, many of us have heard of or read the children’s book adaptation of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity”.  Space Oddity, illustrated by Andrew Kolb, is a singularly spectacular adaptation of the song’s lyrics.  Even better are the two works, song and book, presented together as a music video.  The emotional arc of any great tragedy is condensed into a 5 minute slideshow with audio.  The pdf isn’t currently available due to legal issues, but is likely now on file sharing sites and, for the time being, is available here via YouTube.  Let us know in the comments if the link goes dead, and enjoy.

Also, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter at @merrypicnic where I say hilarious things or like us on Facebook, just search Merry Picnic.

Dâm-Funk - Kaint Let 'Em Change Me (No!)

Another future-funk outing from keytar wunderkind Dâm-Funk showcases all of his signature features.  From the dueling melodies to his crunchy space-grooves, the track continues in his trademark style of cool, refusing to "let 'em change me".  Check it out.

Kaint Let 'Em Change Me (No!) - DāM-FunK [unreleased] by DâM-FunK

Charles Bradley - This World (Is Going Up In Flames)

Earthquakes. Hurricanes. In Connecticut? At this point I'm just waiting for the plague of locusts and wondering if Mr. Bradley is right.