The Days of Lore

Hall & Oates do Mercer & Burton

Monday, December 6th, 2010 | musiX | 1 Comment

No one was injured during the making of this video by Matt McCormick and Bryan Boyce, who set Broken Bells’ “The Ghost Inside” to the video for Hall & Oates’ “Private Eyes.” However, James Mercer did provide the “stunt mouth” for the shoot. Just in case. The end result is seamless—if not slightly creepy. John Oates’ mustache, on the other hand, not creepy at all.

Via End Hits.

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Tags: "Private Eyes", "The Ghost Inside", Broken Bells, Bryan Boyce, Hall & Oates, Matt McCormick

H2Over my head

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010 | musiX | No Comments

I recently dug up my old copy of 1980’s Voices by Daryl Hall and John Oates, sandwiched deep in the nether region of my record collection next to the E.T. soundtrack and some creepy, bizarro Pacman record. It was a birthday gift … I think I got it the same year man discovered fire.

I’d guess it’s the first time I’ve listened to that record in 25 years—and damnit if it doesn’t hold up. A little doo wop, some new wave, lotsa pop, not to mention Daryl Hall has one of the great rock voices … just ask Sebastian Bach and Robert Fripp. And John Oates has one of rock’s great mustaches … just ask anyone. Revisiting Hall & Oates has been like eating a heaping plate of mashed potatoes and gravy—comfort food for the ears, right up there with Fleetwood Mac and mac & cheese (the homemade kind with 16 different types of cheeses, of course).

Apparently Inara George and Greg Kurstin also like Daryl Hall and John Oates. They make up the The Bird and the Bee, which just released (inhale) Interpreting the Masters, Vol. 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall and John Oates. The duo adds their dreamy lounge to songs like “Kiss On My List” and “Private Eyes,” showing that a good pop song can stand the test of time no matter who plays it. The Bird and the Bee aren’t the only group to put their stamp on a Hall & Oates tune. The Fruit Bats recently took on “One On One” for The A.V. Club’s Undercover feature. Hipster cred will surely ensue.

Since finding that old record, I’ve been listening to Side A (the more rocking, new wave-y side) incessantly. Pay special attention to “United State”—a great power pop song right up there with some of Elvis Costello’s and Joe Jackson’s early output. Does it sound as if I’m trying to sell you something? Well, it’s probably because I am.

“United State” - Daryl Hall & John Oates

“Kiss On My List” - Daryl Hall & John Oates

“Kiss On My List” - The Bird and the Bee

“Private Eyes” - The Bird and the Bee

Tags: Hall & Oates, Interpreting the Masters Vol. 1, The Bird and the Bee, The Fruit Bats, Voices

Diss on my list

Friday, November 21st, 2008 | musiX | 2 Comments

It’s year-end list time already?! Everyone’s getting list-y, I tell you. Don’t you worry, I will soon. But not yet … not when there are releases by Fall Out Boy and Britney Spears still to come. Paste just came out with its Top 50 of 2008, which has already received some post-game commentary from Stereogum and Rawkblog.

I see a lot of the usual suspects in Paste’s Top 10 … the Vampire Weekends, the Fleet Foxes, the Shes, the Hims. I will only say this: Liam Finn’s I’ll Be Lightening (No. 27) should swap spots with Bon Iver’s For Emma, Forever Ago (No. 4). And, done (in my mind’s eye) … oh, and take out Flight of the Concords and add The Roots’ Rising Down. I’ll stop now.

In other slightly related news, former VH1 cool kids Third Eye Blind have already found their new song “Non-Dairy Creamer” as a runner-up for Worst Song of 2008 according to one Stereogum reader. The post received a ton of response, including one from 3EB frontman Stephan Jenkins … you’ll just have to read it for yourself. I will say this: Attack Jenkins’ lyrics all you want, but he is the guy who got the line “coming over you” onto mainstream radio.

And in a slightly related anecdote, I remember purchasing Third Eye Blind’s first album at Tower Records … I actually looked around to make sure no one saw me … and I’m pretty sure I told the clerk I was buying it for my nephew … and I took it home … and I like(d) it. Don’t tell anyone I told you.

And bringing this back around to the topic of lists, I also like “Kiss On My List” by Hall & Oates.

Tags: "Non-Dairy Creamer", Bon Iver, Britney Spears, Fall Out Boy, Hall & Oates, Liam Finn, Paste, Rawkblog, Stephan Jenkins, Stereogum, Third Eye Blind, Top 50 of 2008