SOUNDTRACK: THE MYNABIRDS-Tiny Desk Concert #64 (June 21, 2010).
I wish I liked The Mynabirds a bit more than I do, especially after hearing the origin story of the band’s name. Laura Burhenn says she wanted to create a band that was sort of like Neil Young playing Motown. She toyed with the name Myna and came up with The Mynabirds and then found out that in the 1960s Neil Young and Rick James had made music together for Motown under the name The Mynah Birds. Cool.
Burnhenn has a sultry kind of voice, which is nice. But I don’t really like Motown, so the “ooh la la” in the verses and the whole sound of the chorus of “Numbers Don’t Lie” is not my thing.
I prefer the second song “Let the Record Go” which is a bit faster and more rocking (and I like the oh’s at the end of each verse much more). The final song is by request from Bob. It’s the lead off track from the album “What We Gained in the Fire.” It’s a slow broody opener with interesting lyrics. It has a R&B feel and is a fine song.
It’s possible that I am confusing them with someone else, but I thought the band was more folky, so this was a little disappointing to me (although they are clearly very good).
[READ: June 19, 2015] Manners for Millionaires
I saw this book at work and thought it sounded really funny. A 1900 British book about millionaires? With that obvious pseudonym?
The opening prefatory note says that “the coloured plates specially prepared for this volume had at the last moment to be omitted owing to the unfortunate indisposition of the Academician employed, but rather than disappoint the Public we have inserted instead a few specimen woodcuts from a forthcoming treatise on British Fishes.”
Great, so, silly, nonsensical fun, right?
Well, the problem for me with this book is that it supposes you know a lot about wealth and the aristocracy of England circa 1900. Gah. I’m not even exactly sure who the intended audience was for this book. (more…)
I Just Read About That... 