There are very few artists these days that think about the journey of an entire album. Today the industry is driven by the almighty single, so for the most part that's what you get. But when an album actually takes you on the road and there is story development with an emotional narrative structure it's pretty amazing. That's exactly what Noah and the Whale deliver on their sophomore album "The First Days of Spring."
And even though today is the first day of Winter this album sounds right. Because everyday, no matter how cold it is outside or inside, is a chance to rekindle that old flame, tweet, text, email, call, meet an old friend you haven't seen a while, or rebuild whatever's broken in your life. Here's the soundtrack to simplifying the complexities and springing forward...
In November I let you guys in on Secret Stash's A Reggae Interpretation of Kind of Blue. They were very generous and sent their entire limited edition collection of colored vinyl over today including the recently released Mad Dog's Hustle, Porno Groove, and A Reggae Interpretation of Kind of Blue. Since this is the season of giving I thought we should do another signature look giveaway.
When I discovered what Secret Stash were up to I thought this is so cool. And I know the word is really overused and means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. But to me these albums from concept to execution are really fuckin' cool. So I want to hear what cool is to you. It could be a quote, a story, an object, a photograph, a movie, maybe a few original words. Whatever is inspiring you lately. There is no right answer. But the coolest one gets the collection of vinyl. You have a week, use an active e-mail, inspire in the comments section below, and follow on Twitter @JakeDavisFilms for the cool...
Very few things stay with us for our entire lives... I think about that a lot as an artist. But more as a person. Modern life has become so disposable. Friends, clothing, technology... Mostly it all comes and goes like the seasons. Is that the way life was intended? Nothing is forever but shouldn't some things be pretty damn close? Is it human nature to give up prematurely? Or do things prematurely give up on us? That chambray shirt you bought this season, are you really going to wear it two seasons from now or are you going to be bored of it? That record that made you feel so amazing this year, are you going to remember it in a few years? I know you're definitely going to have a new iPod next year. That person you can't stop thinking about, are you going to remember their name next year?
For me December has always been a month of reflection. And as the year's cycle ends... many things come to a close. I'm truly thankful for the things that stay. As a man of habit and routine I am truly grateful for the constants in my life, especially when I don't deserve them. Since I was a boy running around the wood stove, George Winston has been the soundtrack to my Decembers. A constant every year. I wouldn't be the same without it...
S&S, Craig G, Tony Touch, Juice, Kid Capri, Ron G, Doo Wop, Silva Surfa, Clue, Evil Dee, G-Bo The Pro & DJ Rei Double R, Chill Will. Those are the mixtapes I grew up on and always had the latest one on me as part of my schoolboy kit. What's so cool about a mixtape is it's a soundtrack. It represents a time and a place in your life. And when it's done well... it's timeless. As technology has evolved these tangible pieces of our lives got replaced by playlists.
When I recently discovered these USB mixtapes at Turntable Lab I thought what a perfect invention. That's it. Nostalgic and modern. So we're going to keep with the theme of giving around here. A couple months ago I put together the soundtrack to my life for The Mixtape Club. I was a bit overwhelmed with how many people hit me up and asked me if I was okay. But I was even more overwhelmed with how many people wanted it. So I've decided to giveaway Moments Lost on a USB mixtape. I'll also be adding a few more bonus tracks to get lost to. All you have to do is tell me what music means to you in the comments section. The most inspiring response gets the mixtape. And be sure to follow me on Twitter @JakeDavisFilms as I'll be posting my daily favorites from all of you...
First kiss. First love. First break-up. There's something about firsts that stay with us the longest. This album feels like a first. It sounds like a late night conversation between two people in love that don't know how to say it. Filled with uncomfortable silences, awkward glances, and neither person wanting to show their hand. You know the feeling. The rush underneath your fingertips you so desperately want to get out. The lingering of emotions. The honesty and maybe dishonesty of it all. I think we're all looking for a bit of acceptance, a bit of attention, and ultimately a bit of love.
The self-titled debut from The xx of south west London provide the soundtrack and have a beautiful way of playing what's not there. The unspoken truth...
"Well," said Pooh, "what I like best," and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn't know what it was called.”
This is the kind of story I love... "In the spring of 1981 a group of reggae studio musicians from Jamaica gathered in New York City under the direction of Jeremy Taylor, a music professor at NYU at that time. The result was A Reggae Interpretation of Kind of Blue.
Though he was primarily regarded as a world-class Jazz musician and educator, Taylor had taken several trips to Jamaica to study reggae music with some of the best performers in the world. In his 1979 book, A Space Between Taylor wrote, my first trip to Jamaica in 1977 was the most eye-opening musical experience of my life. I met so many incredible players who had been brushed off by the snobby musical establishment at institutions such as the ones I was affiliated with. They showed more musicality, taste, and rhythmic comprehension than some of the most revered musicians in the states. I knew that I had to find a way to showcase their unparalleled talent in a different medium in order for some of my colleagues to fully understand and learn from it. This statement served as the basic concept behind this album. Taylor took the most loved, well-known modern jazz album of all time and put it in the hands of reggae musicians. It was in this context that he felt his contemporaries would be able to fully understand what it was he saw in these players.
Unfortunately, weeks after directing the sessions Taylor passed away in his Paris hotel room while on a speaking tour of Europe. A final mix of the album was never made and it was never released. Collectors have long spoken of this album and in the late 80s lo-fi cassette tapes of rough mixes circulated. No official release was ever issued until now.
In early 2009, Secret Stash Records began working with the Taylor estate to finally release this album. After creating final mixes, dub versions of all the songs were also made by Secret Stash producers. Now for the first time ever, this highly sought-after album is available. This blue vinyl-only release is a must have for any record collector."
It's stories, people, and music like this that inspires me everyday and hopefully you as well... Please spread the word and love about this beautiful album...
"Jake, when are you coming back to New York?" It'd be a lot easier if I didn't keep getting invited to dope ass outdoor shows with cloudless blue skies, no lines, and free tacos. Miike Snow, Vampire Weekend, and now these guys. If Phoenix and Portishead had an illegitimate child out of wedlock it'd be named Little Dragon.
It would look into your eyes with one glance and break your heart. It would make you think twice about love, loss, and all those other complexities that make life so beautiful. And it would ultimately inspire. As always let me know your thoughts...
I'm really curious to hear your thoughts on this brand new artist Lissie Maurus. My amazing music video rep sent me her music a few weeks ago and said, "you're going to love her, Jake. She's totally your stee. She's even wearing a flannel. Just how you like it."
It took me a little while to check her out but I'm so glad I did. I think Lissie has something really special that I can't quite articulate. She's opening for one of my favorite artists, Ray Lamontagne in November and her debut EP Why You Runnin' comes out November 10th. Give this track a little listen and let me know what you're thinking and hopefully you can express something that I can't.
Timing is everything in this life. Sometimes you're too ahead of the curve and it takes a while for the masses to catch up. This is the story of most innovative artists. In the case of the band Death it took nearly 35 years for the rest of the pack to catch up.
Death was punk before punk had a name. Three brothers from Detroit preceded legends like Bad Brains and The Sex Pistols. The band only recorded seven songs in a 1974 session funded by Columbia Records before a disagreement with Clive Davis about a name change. These guys are the definition of hard body. In a celebration of not selling out, artistic integrity, and saying fuck you without the fuck you money here are two burners from their only album ...For The World To See. It was released earlier this year when the demo tape was discovered in one of the member's attic by his son...
The very cool people at The Mixtape Club asked me to put together a few of my favorite songs. The soundtrack to my life. I hope the selection inspires you as much as these amazing artists and songs have inspired me... I'm happy they now exist together in one place for us to... Dream. Scream. Sigh. Cry. Smile. Exile. Think. Sink. Create. Alleviate. Obsess. Recess. Fight. Flight. But most importantly take that roller coaster ride that is life. This is for those Moments Lost...
I direct music videos because I love music. There are a lot of great things about being a director and some not so great things. But we're going to keep it positive around these parts because that's what we're all about. One of the perks about being a director is visiting Los Angeles and meeting with all the great music video commissioners at the labels. They introduce you to amazing artists that you would probably never hear of for many reasons. What I love about it is the vast spectrum of musical genres. They literally open up their library to you and give you the music of the artists they want you to make videos for or just check out because they're new and fresh.
You get home with piles of CDs like it's the holidays and it's pretty fucking cool. So I thought I'd share with you some of the real standouts that I love across all genres, thanks to being a director. All of these relatively new artists have many things in common even though sonically their music sounds so different from each other. These artists speak the truth from their hearts and sometimes that's the most difficult thing to do...
Julian Plenti is... Paul Banks of Interpol. One of my go to bands when I find myself staring at the wall looking for inspiration. I didn't want his solo debut to fall through the cracks like so many incredible albums do these days. The cover art is a photograph by Matthew Salacuse taken at the Beatrice Inn. Does anybody else miss the Beatrice? I mean the Jane is dope but it's not quite the same.
Anyhow... here are two of my go to tracks... Be sure to pick up the latest from one of our generation's great songwriters on Matador Records.
