oh johnette.
the band comes out to san francisco next week
to start work on the next record.
mark and marshall are coming up too.
the whole gang.
i can’t wait.
i am in love with some of the new songs…
but that’s how it should be, i guess.
i wish i had written ‘the scientist’.
i’m not the hugest coldplay fan, but that song crushes.
johnette napolitano, ex-concrete blonde,
does a version that just turns my insides out.
it decimates.
i listened to it on repeat last night while i fell asleep.
spooky dreams.
she has my most favorite of female voices.
her and pj harvey.
and ann wilson, from heart.
if i understood technology, i would post the song for you
… but i don’t.
so hop on over to itunes and give johnette your $.99
it’s worth it.
or check out ‘tomorrow wendy’ from the concrete blonde
record ‘bloodletting’. the third and fourth verses feel like
getting kicked by a horse…. if getting kicked by a horse
meant feeling glorious and majestic and hollowed out
and alive.
same with ‘joey’.
or ‘god is a bullet’
music is everything.
not this industry. not the artists. not the hype.
the music. the song. the performance. the voice!!
we are all so lucky.
February 27th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
That first paragraph makes me smile!! So glad you guys are getting together to make new music and that you are in love with some of the new songs!! Looking forward to more of your amazing songs!!!
February 28th, 2009 at 1:55 am
Great tip; her voice is simply intoxicating. I have not heard a rustic voice like hers in quite awhile-very refreshing.
February 28th, 2009 at 10:33 am
so glad to hear you and the band will begin working on your next record. can’t wait. listening to smh now….luv your music…come back to the pacific northwest soon. luv your shows at the knitting factory in spokane, wa. keep on keepin’ on Matt.
March 1st, 2009 at 10:36 pm
I was in the car with my friend this afternoon, listening to A Rush of Blood to the Head…I’m saying “Coldplay will never write another album like this”…My friend says, “Never say never.” “The Scientist” comes on and I say, “This video was very sad” and I explain to her what happens-Chris Martin and unknown lover, life in reverse…She says “That sounds depressing.”
Depressing in that good way. A good song is a good song. When you talk about the music of other people, I can tell how devoted you are to the craft and not to the ‘extra’ crap that surrounds the industry. Although, it was cute when Gwyneth winked at Chris at the grammys…
March 2nd, 2009 at 1:32 am
New music? Awesome.
I just bought tickets for the Austin show. I cannot wait. The Austin show back in November was the greatest gig I have ever been to.
March 2nd, 2009 at 2:16 am
Matt i agree music is everything…it is 2:59 can’t sleep…thanks for the late night read…luv the concrete blond reference…I have to pull that out and take it for a spin again…I am typing without any glasses so bare with:) Did I mention it is 3am…so awesome to see there is more then one show I will be able to see this tour…might even have to fly somewhere warm to see ya…can not wait to hear ur new songs although I am still deeply immersed in some mad hope and so thrillled for you that it has done so well…not surprised:) Here is a concrete blond video…Awesome if you do one of their songs on tour:)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ap5vXJi-cgc
Hope ur sleeping well! You are such a rockstar!
Celeste
March 2nd, 2009 at 11:07 am
Sort of unrelated but sort of not: the last paragraph of this post, along with giving me chills, also ties in really well with the quote for today on my “Rock ‘N’ Roll: 365 Quotes from the World’s Rock Stars” daily desk calendar.
Lou Reed said, “The music is all. People should die for it. People are dying for everything else, so why not the music?”
I’ll end my randomness now.
March 2nd, 2009 at 2:54 pm
I love Johnette Napolitano, I think she has such a cool and unique voice! Also, it was awesome to see you play at Emory (if I had been in admissions when you applied, you would have gotten in), especially since I also got to see you this summer playing with Lifehouse. Not only is your music awesome, but also you could have a whole separate career in stand-up comedy. You need to come back to play in Atlanta soon. I wish I could have talked to you after the show, but you seemed to vanish
You really know how to deal with crazy drunk people haha. I hope I can talk to you soon!
March 2nd, 2009 at 9:19 pm
All I have to say is I couldn’t agree more Thank the big man upstairs for music…its a beautiful thing. I feel lucky to hear it day in and day out! Keep on rocking Matt…it does everyone of us good!
March 2nd, 2009 at 11:31 pm
Hey, So i was at your show in Springfield on thursday, i was one of the super excited vip girls who got to meet you! Just wanted to tell u, that u did amazing, and come back to Springfield soon, i think we are going to hopefully see u when u perform in columbia so get excited! Anyways awesome job again, good luck on ellen and dont forget the two blinks to shout out to us. lol
March 2nd, 2009 at 11:34 pm
Hey, i just wanted to tell u what an awesome show u had on thursday at icon in Springfield. I think ur songs are so amazing. I was one of the lucky girls who got to meet u in the Vip, we were the young ones freaking out if u remeber. Well have an great day and come back to Springfield soon. Good luck on Ellen and dont forget the two blinks to shout out to us.
March 2nd, 2009 at 11:35 pm
o shoot i have commented twice lol well this will be my third now lol bye
March 3rd, 2009 at 2:02 pm
<3 So true. Thanks for everything, Matt.
March 5th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
I have fallen in love with your music. A man that I care about turned me on to your music from one of his favorite songs, “starfish and cofee” (we where talking about breakfast foods and there you just popped up like a piece of toast!) Any way… I would love to see you in Niagra Falls but the show is sold out! jeez! I wanted to share that with this man…anywho…
Btw - I’m a pastor in the Rochester area and I am officially pushing your cd to our members - its a pure piece of wonderful music! Good show!
March 7th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Love Joey!! One of my favorite voices is Imogene Heap. I fell in love with the song “Let Go” from Garden State, then heard this amazing female voice on Blue october’s “Congratualtions”….both Imogene. It’s crystal clear and heartwenching.
Love your music (that sounds trite, huh?)….I am trying to get to you in SF on April 7th.
Your song, “All We Are” has become the one stuck in my cd player.
My life tends to have a soundtrack, and for the last four months or so, you have been it.
Thanks.
May 15th, 2009 at 9:17 am
I love that song, and Johnette! The songs, the voice! I remember listening to Bloodletting over and over in my room.
May 18th, 2009 at 11:58 am
I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.
May 24th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Check out Aimee Mann’s live version of “The Scientist” on the deluxe edition of “Lost in Space.” It’s the best cut on the live disc. Aimee doesn’t do many covers but she certainly nails this one. Haven’t heard Johnette’s version but I will certainly check it out, per your recommendation,
June 5th, 2009 at 11:46 am
Johnette rocks! “Wendy”…that song just killed me…and of course “Joey”…how many times did I sing that one in the shower or my car at the top of my lungs?
Good stuff…wish they’d come out w/something new.
August 10th, 2009 at 11:44 pm
omgosh!!! i have had this song in my itunes forever!! i have all the versions of the scientist that i could find….aimee mann…JOHNETTE!!……alex parks..coldplay….and you are SOOOO right. i never ever base my musical opinions on that of others..but dude!!! she is sooo amazing. decimates it..perfectly said. she owns it. i am glad i’m not the only dork to put songs on repeat and go to sleep.
hey…ps….i do that with you sometimes….
it’s so cool that you dig great music.
pj harvey….have you heard her duet with nick cave? a dark little ditty…very cool….from his murder ballads cd. he also does a pretty cool duet, same album, with natasha bettingfield (*Spelling*)……
matt….you are, by far, one fucking-tastic artist!! you lyrics…so revealing. vicarious pain for me to share. silly crazy silly stuff…to make me smile. thanks for working your ass off to….bring it.
just another warped and lonely human….diggin this crazy life…it’s pretty amazing.
March 20th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
I just found this blog in google, looks great. Will have to subscribe.