Ladies and Gentlemen, The Tattle Tales

The Tattle Tales have been busy. They’ve got two shows coming up, May 7th and 14th, in Nyack. They’re releasing an EP (“Moon Glasses”) on the 14th. They’ll be visiting This Joyful Noise, and playing a live acoustic set, on May 24th. And then there’s this.

I thought the whole world slowed down for finals week, but apparently someone is still working hard. This is the tee shirt you will soon be able to purchase to proudly declare your allegiance to the Tales. Keep up with your favorite hardcore pop band with four vocalists, two guitars, a bass, drums and a keyboard at their myspace and tune in on the 24th at 2pm for The Tattle Tales unplugged.

Monae (That’s What I Want)

I played “Tightrope” on the show today. I didn’t realize there was a video. This is the best thing ever. (Please remember those four arrows at the bottom right make a video fullscreen.)

I adore how she moves. I first heard Janelle Monae on Studio 360; she performed on their live episode dedicated to time travel. She is crazy cool.

The ArchAndroid is out May 18th.

Stay Tuned

This Monday, David Aguasca joins me in the studio for a new segment we’re calling Songs To Fight Bears To. Learn about David’s many adventures, and why he is a very cool person, at his blog Stuff David Does, and don’t miss (what I’m assuming will be) his radio debut!

A little farther out, nuzzled somewhere in between finals and the start of summer touring, both Sons of an Illustrious Father and The Tattle Tales will be on the show. There’s even a chance that one or both of them will break in the station’s brand new performance studio and make some magic on the air. Dates will be posted as they’re finalized.

Click on those links and show these bands some love. Keep inviting people to listen, read, friend, follow, and comment, and write me if you want to be on the show. There are plenty of Mondays to go around.

Year of the Tiger visits TJN

Last week This Joyful Noise had its first on air guest, the fabulous bassist and singer and composer Emma Alabaster. We talked for the better part of the hour, and to anyone who missed it (is that everyone? that’s everyone, right?), I will try my best to get a copy. They’re telling me that won’t happen, but asking a few more times can’t hurt.

This week, I am proud to announce, we will be hearing the music of Year of the Tiger. Henry Ivry and Sable Young will be visiting the studio, where we will again test whether years of listening to Terry Gross actually qualifies someone to conduct a radio interview.

Here’s hoping. Nothing fell apart last time, unless you count that moment I left the mics on and wondered out loud why we didn’t hear the music (hint: it was because I left the mics on), which we just won’t.

Listen up, tomorrow (Monday) from two to three, WHCR 90.3 FM New York, and streaming live.

History of The World: Part 1 (through 100)

The British Museum is producing a series of stories attempting to tell the story of the human race. They selected 100 objects from their collection, and with BBC Radio 4, are building fifteen minutes of radio around each, releasing them in chronological order.

It’s worth noting the disenchantment over how the museum acquired these pieces, and the institution’s claims to universal importance; the imperial roots of this collection are clearly audible as you listen. The skillful storytelling and the range of experts you’ll hear goes a long way towards selling this project despite that, but the gorgeous story itself is the draw here: how humanity developed, grew, and changed over these last thousands of years.

No one account can do world history justice, but it would be criminal to give up trying. Nothing gives me a greater thrill than great big stories about the shape of the human story, and like other entries in this genre, A History of the World reminds you how complex and amazing this story really is.

We have accountants to thank, for example, for our species’ most important achievement: writing. What we would call literature was content with spoken language, memorized and performed generation after generation. The first bureaucrats, on the other hand, looked to reliable, physical accounting to administer an expanding state. Some of the earliest surviving writing concerns itself with rationing beer in 3000 BC.

It doesn’t hurt that Radio 4 delivers everything in a British accent and peppered with dry humor. One of the learned experts, on the topic of beer as currency, quips, “no liquidity crisis here.” Then he chuckles to himself. It’s so bad it’s awesome.

You can stream episodes here, but the site’s pretty messy. I recommend downloading the podcasts.

An article in The Economist first convinced me this project was worth following. The kicker is delicious: “Of the 100 objects, only one has not been selected yet. Mr MacGregor is waiting until the last possible moment to pick out the best symbol of our own time. Suggestions, please, on a postcard to: British Museum, London WC1B 3DG.”

Happy Valentine’s Day

This week every sitcom, column and podcast dutifully released a Valentine’s Day episode. Studio 360’s solicited ideas on resdesigning the holiday and produced this bacon bouquet. Which is awesome.

Romantic and delicious.

If you’re alone this weekend, in lieu of bacon you get a free pass to wallow in self-pity. 30 Rock had a lonely Liz Lemon celebrate with the Lifetime Original, “My Stepson is My Cyberhusband.” All Songs Considered took the opportunity to play breakup songs for a full hour. They missed my favorites, so I’m putting them here (with cheapo YouTube links!). The first is perfect if you’ve been broken up with, and the second is essential if you’re doing the breaking.

Sometimes I Still Feel The Bruise (Trembling Blue Stars)

It Ain’t Me, Babe (Bob Dylan)

Whether you celebrate it or not, don’t miss the only great pop song specific to this odd holiday. “Valentine’s Day” by Andre 3000, the best thing behind “Hey Ya” to come out of OutKast’s overflowing double album, is guaranteed to put a smile on your face whether you’re mooning or moping.

Talkin’ Web 2.0 Blues

Anyone who’s spent more than a few minutes worrying over their various online profiles or talking about nothing with strangers has experienced the weariness that Scott Blaszak captures in this hilarious song. His perfect imitation of the “talkin’ blues,” a folk staple, collides deliciously with his subject and its absurd invented vocabulary. Really, who came up with “Orkut”?

Download the song here, or check out the whole Studio 360 segment here.

For some context, listen to Bob Dylan singing “I Shall Be Free No. 10” here.

“Moments” by Radiolab

If possible, watch this fullscreen with a minimum of distractions.

There’s very little I can add to that.

I remembered this video writing about “John Smith” by This American Life, which is similar except it lasts an hour and might be even more beautiful.

Radiolab is a an extremely ambitious and innovative radio show on WNYC, always worth listening to. Check out their podcast and blog.

Ira’s App is Awesome

And he explains why you should buy it in an adorable video.

He could sell me anything with that little self depreciating laugh. We’re lucky he only uses his powers for good. And not, say, ShamWow. Because I would own one.

Come on, it’s a This American Life app. You don’t really need to watch the video, do you? Just buy it now.

If you haven’t seen it, “John Smith,” episode six, season two of the television series, is breathtaking. Watch it on that new “This Am Life” app you just bought.

Good Advice from Ira Glass

This was sent to me over the holidays, and made my month. The advice is priceless and perceptive, and I think almost everyone can relate: no one gets into game design because they want to make mediocre games, or takes up an instrument if they’re not in love with what music can do. Since it’s delivered by Ira Glass, who every week on This American Life reminds me how great radio can be, it felt like a special gift. Enjoy.

Remember: you’ve got to be a warrior. Best of luck to you all.

This Joyful Radio Show

Every Monday from 2 to 3, starting February first and continuing at least through the summer, This Joyful Noise will be broadcast on WHCR 90.3 FM New York, The Voice of Harlem, from the campus of City College. We have less than a month to get ready; send music, story ideas, events worth promoting, and potential interviews and guests (including your awesome self). Don’t be shy. There is no shortage of stories about New York City to tell, but we do have limited time and limited resources, so all your help is greatly appreciated.

This will be the first time This Joyful Noise becomes an actual audio program: February first is our rookie card, our first edition. Don’t miss it. In the future, when there are podcasts and book deals, and fame and fortune, you’ll want to be able to say you were there at the beginning, before we knew what we were doing.

This blog will also be revised and revitalized. Posts will be shorter, more interesting, and less about me. Tune in tomorrow for the first installment.

This Joyful Noise is hip and with it, and we want to reach as many listeners and contributors and collaborators as possible, so we’re now on Facebook and Twitter. Permanent links will be provided on this site.

News on content and guests will be posted as it becomes available. As always, the best channel for questions and feedback is emailing us at thisjoyfulnoise@gmail.com. Thanks for all your help and support, and here’s looking to a great 2010.

ga ga ga ga ga

In Garnerville today for the open house. Among my finds: 1) An internet radio station I may be able to hook up with – they don’t podcast because of royalty issues, but any DJing experience would be worthwhile. 2) A few guys who love their jobs. Always inspiring to see. Also, people for whom their work and career are separate. Always thought provoking. 3) Beauty, especially where human design interacts with non-human forces, like in woodworking, in cooking, and in that striking quality streams have while meandering through industrial complexes. 4) An intemperate love of carbonated water. What gives? I used to hate this stuff. 5) The Issac Bashevis Singer quote, “the real power of literature is in observing other people… Although I do write from time to time in the first person, I don’t consider it a healthy habit… The writer who writes about himself all the time must become a bore, just like the man who talks all the time about himself. When the writer becomes the center of his attention, he becomes a nudnik.” Something for all bloggers to think about. Here’s to observing other people. And seltzer.