What's the deal with the kids on the balcony?
October 14, 2009 2:42 PM Subscribe
Dolby tells the story nicely, in a low-key manner, but in the end? Not much of a story.
posted by Dee Xtrovert at 2:55 PM on October 14, 2009
posted by Dee Xtrovert at 2:55 PM on October 14, 2009
Not much of a story.
But a nice journey as the story unwinds. When I saw Dolby live recently I thought the music was just OK, but his between song banter was well worth the price of admission.
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 2:57 PM on October 14, 2009
But a nice journey as the story unwinds. When I saw Dolby live recently I thought the music was just OK, but his between song banter was well worth the price of admission.
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 2:57 PM on October 14, 2009
The weird thing about Thomas Dolby is that I pretty much only knew him through a series of quite nice ambientish electronic albums. And then I find out he had this other goofy pop career. !?!
I suppose Eno sets the precedent on this.
posted by Artw at 3:06 PM on October 14, 2009 [2 favorites]
I suppose Eno sets the precedent on this.
posted by Artw at 3:06 PM on October 14, 2009 [2 favorites]
The Moth is pretty fantastic, I have to say -- it's been a big part of my life since moving to New York. The weekly slams are a lot different than what makes it onto the podcast or the CDs, though. I've met a lot of incredible writers and storytellers there. Check out:
Adam Wade
Jim O'Grady
And look, maybe it's self-promotional, a little, feel free to delete: one of my own.
posted by chinese_fashion at 3:07 PM on October 14, 2009
Adam Wade
Jim O'Grady
And look, maybe it's self-promotional, a little, feel free to delete: one of my own.
posted by chinese_fashion at 3:07 PM on October 14, 2009
I think "She Blinded Me With Science" ruined his appeal for many people the way that "Popular" did for Nada Surf. The idea that their was an extraordinarily gifted songwriter/lyricist behind the music escaped a lot of people. For a lot of music geeks in the 80's The Golden Age Of Wireless was a revelation, so it's interesting the way in which Dolby seems quite comfortable participating in the public arena so willingly (Twitter, etc). If only Eno or Byrne would be so accessible.
posted by docpops at 3:16 PM on October 14, 2009
posted by docpops at 3:16 PM on October 14, 2009
Damn. I was hoping for "He blinded me with séance!"
posted by srboisvert at 3:17 PM on October 14, 2009 [3 favorites]
posted by srboisvert at 3:17 PM on October 14, 2009 [3 favorites]
If only Eno or Byrne would be so accessible.
There's always the Oblique Strategies twitter feed.
posted by Artw at 3:20 PM on October 14, 2009 [2 favorites]
There's always the Oblique Strategies twitter feed.
posted by Artw at 3:20 PM on October 14, 2009 [2 favorites]
At the tender age of three
I was hooked to a machine
Just to keep my mouth from spouting junk
Must have took me for a fool
When they chucked me out of school
'Cause the teacher knew I had the funk
posted by evilmidnightbomberwhatbombsatmidnight at 3:38 PM on October 14, 2009 [2 favorites]
I was hooked to a machine
Just to keep my mouth from spouting junk
Must have took me for a fool
When they chucked me out of school
'Cause the teacher knew I had the funk
posted by evilmidnightbomberwhatbombsatmidnight at 3:38 PM on October 14, 2009 [2 favorites]
Quite enjoyable.
posted by Mike Mongo at 4:53 PM on October 14, 2009
posted by Mike Mongo at 4:53 PM on October 14, 2009
'Cause the music of the streets? It isn't any rap attack.
posted by Mike Mongo at 4:53 PM on October 14, 2009
posted by Mike Mongo at 4:53 PM on October 14, 2009
docpops: "I think "She Blinded Me With Science" ruined his appeal for many people the way that "Popular" did for Nada Surf."
Slight derail, but yes yes yes a million times. Nada Surf continues to release great albums that no one is listening to.
posted by Roman Graves at 4:56 PM on October 14, 2009
Slight derail, but yes yes yes a million times. Nada Surf continues to release great albums that no one is listening to.
posted by Roman Graves at 4:56 PM on October 14, 2009
That goofy pop career was not all that goofy. Grab The Golden Age of Wireless and listen to "Europa and the Pirate Twins," which has that whole British "sounds up but is really down" thing from a couple decades back, then listen to a later album for "Eastern Bloc" — it's a followup whose sound is a hint that he'd be going in a whole new direction. "Screen Kiss" was also a sign that he was very into soundscapes.
In a way, That Single was as much of a curse as a blessing. I suspect that if Dolby had visited with Jackson ten years later, they'd have that in common.
posted by adipocere at 4:56 PM on October 14, 2009
In a way, That Single was as much of a curse as a blessing. I suspect that if Dolby had visited with Jackson ten years later, they'd have that in common.
posted by adipocere at 4:56 PM on October 14, 2009
Always up for a good Moth story.. will check this out, thanks. My favorite Moth stories...
Jack Hitt: Slumlord
Mike Birbiglia: Sleepwalk with me
posted by starman at 7:02 PM on October 14, 2009
Jack Hitt: Slumlord
Mike Birbiglia: Sleepwalk with me
posted by starman at 7:02 PM on October 14, 2009
Oh, that Mike Birbiglia story is one of my favorite things, ever.
posted by pinky at 7:48 PM on October 14, 2009
posted by pinky at 7:48 PM on October 14, 2009
Thanks kmz for the Choi post -- that could be a FPP itself. Even from a strategic point of view, I want a soldier of that caliber fighting for me. I could care less what gender of person he loves. It's ok to have an 800 SAT and go fight the enemy, but kiss a guy, graduate from Westpoint, learn Arabic, get to Lieutenant no way! RIDICULOUS. Thanks again.
posted by skepticallypleased at 8:35 PM on October 14, 2009
posted by skepticallypleased at 8:35 PM on October 14, 2009
Artw, are you maybe thinking of someone else? Thomas Dolby doesn't have any "ambientish electronic albums". The Gate To The Mind's Eye OST is as close as it gets and even that's a stretch (electronic maybe, ambient only in places).
posted by Lazlo at 9:56 PM on October 14, 2009
posted by Lazlo at 9:56 PM on October 14, 2009
"They just can't believe you're the guy off the TV."
That was worth the nine minutes for me. I love that kind of story and Dolby tells it very well.
Some Dolby Linkage:
Airwaves
Key To Her Ferrari
One Of Our Submarines Is Missing
And most especially...
Dissidents
posted by Joey Michaels at 10:02 PM on October 14, 2009 [1 favorite]
That was worth the nine minutes for me. I love that kind of story and Dolby tells it very well.
Some Dolby Linkage:
Airwaves
Key To Her Ferrari
One Of Our Submarines Is Missing
And most especially...
Dissidents
posted by Joey Michaels at 10:02 PM on October 14, 2009 [1 favorite]
Just FYI, not to be confused with Ray (NR) Dolby.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 5:19 AM on October 15, 2009
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 5:19 AM on October 15, 2009
Retrospectacle: The Best of Thomas Dolby was the first CD I ever bought with my own money. I love his work with embarrassingly thoughtless abandon. Thanks for this.
posted by GameDesignerBen at 6:33 AM on October 15, 2009
posted by GameDesignerBen at 6:33 AM on October 15, 2009
Starman cited my favorite two moth stories. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the moth, probably due in part to the fact that I grew up in a family of storytellers.
Anybody know if there is a podcast for the Moth Radio Hour? They've been talking about the new show on the moth podcast, but I can't find a podcast for it.
posted by craven_morhead at 8:40 AM on October 15, 2009
Anybody know if there is a podcast for the Moth Radio Hour? They've been talking about the new show on the moth podcast, but I can't find a podcast for it.
posted by craven_morhead at 8:40 AM on October 15, 2009
Artw, are you maybe thinking of someone else?
er... actually yeah: Though he definately has a lot of album work more interetsing than his novelty hit my brain is mixing him up a little with Bill Nelson, who's stuff I was probably listening to about the same time, and who also had a fairly poppy hit* that was different from a lot of his other stuff.
* Degree to which this might actually be a hit arguable. It was on the telly and stuff.
posted by Artw at 8:45 AM on October 15, 2009
er... actually yeah: Though he definately has a lot of album work more interetsing than his novelty hit my brain is mixing him up a little with Bill Nelson, who's stuff I was probably listening to about the same time, and who also had a fairly poppy hit* that was different from a lot of his other stuff.
* Degree to which this might actually be a hit arguable. It was on the telly and stuff.
posted by Artw at 8:45 AM on October 15, 2009
Dolby's album The Flat Earth will wash away all that poppy, blinding with science stuff.
Incredible work. Highly recommend.
posted by willmize at 9:26 AM on October 15, 2009
Incredible work. Highly recommend.
posted by willmize at 9:26 AM on October 15, 2009
docpops: "I think "She Blinded Me With Science" ruined his appeal for many people the way that "Popular" did for Nada Surf."
Yeah and look how utterly awesome Nada Surf got after that song! I'm not being sarcastic at all; they're great!
posted by inoculatedcities at 4:39 PM on November 8, 2009
Yeah and look how utterly awesome Nada Surf got after that song! I'm not being sarcastic at all; they're great!
posted by inoculatedcities at 4:39 PM on November 8, 2009
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posted by kmz at 2:45 PM on October 14, 2009 [1 favorite]