Paul Schiernecker

Category: Other

  • Music Jar – week 42

    Each week, I take the name of an artist or band from a rapidly diminishing supply in a pickle jar, and do what I can to explore their back-catalog. This week was New York’s own, Talking Heads.

    What I Knew Before
    Of course I knew Talking Heads before this week. It’s impossible to make it to 33 without realising that this is not my beautiful house and this is not my beautiful wife.
    I knew Talking Heads came up as part of the CBGB sect in the 70s – I visited what is left of the site last year. I am aware that David Byrne is one of the most important silver foxes in the world today (a list which also includes Taiki Waititi, Max Joseph and Keith Murray). What I didn’t know, is how much music there was and how little of it I had explored. I maybe had the top five tracks committed to memory but the deep cuts on Speaking in Tongues were somewhat beyond my comprehension.

    What I Know Now
    Talking Heads are the most important band I’ve discovered this year since My Chemical Romance (a sentence that doesn’t make sense in a linear fashion and probably hasn’t been spoken before).
    I have learnt that I missed out on seeing American Utopia in person (I believe it was on in London where a friend of mine saw it and cried) and also on in New York while I was there. The Spike Lee directed version has appeared online in the last week but again, I failed to catch it when it was shown on the BFI Player. I must try harder and learn to keep my eyes open in future.

    Favourite songs:
    Psycho Killer, Once In A Lifetime, Born Under Punches, Life During Wartime, (Nothing But) Flowers.

    Favourite album:
    Talking Heads ’77 or Remain in Light

    Spotify my favourite songs from this project.

  • Music Jar – week 41

    Each week I listen to a different musical artist, taken at random from a pickle jar that I filled up at the start of the year.
    This week was the turn of a little singer you might have heard of, Elvis Presley.

    What I Knew Before
    Well, I knew of Elvis. Obviously I knew of Elvis. The first memory that comes to mind is my secondary school science teacher who had a poster of Elvis on the wall of his classroom. When we became too loud and disruptive (which was often), he would point at the sign and say: “think about what Elvis would make of this, yeah guys! A little less conversation, a little more action please.”
    This would get us straight back to our Bunsen burners.
    It’s hard not to be impacted by Elvis Presley. I mean The Beatles were impacted by Elvis. He’s the king.

    What I Know Now
    Basically, that, but with a bit more Elvis in my mind. I suppose it’s entirely possible that a week isn’t enough time to delve into the discography of one of the most important musicians of the 20th century. There’s only so far that Blue Hawaii can get you in a week.
    There’s no escaping the fact that a lot of it started with him and I’ve ever looked it until now. I’ll have to keep on listening.

    Favourite songs:
    Suspicious Minds, Jailhouse Rock, Heartbreak Hotel, Blue Suede Shoes, Hound Dog.

    Favourite album:
    ’68 Comeback Special

  • Music Jar – week 40

    Each week, I take an artist I don’t enough about from a jar, and try to listen to their back catalog in a week. This time around, it was northern Irish anti-masker, Van Morrison.

    What I Knew Before
    I was lucky enough to see Van Morrison perform at Hop Farm Festival 2010. A festival I just had to Google because it’s hard to believe the lineup. Van, Bob Dylan, Blondie and Ray Davies.
    I knew the hits. I’ve probably performed Brown Eyed Girl in a seedy karaoke bar at some point.

    What I Know Now
    Probably the same as the above, with a sprinkling more of the controversy that surrounds his recent comments. Van (The Man) was the only artist I took from the jar and pulled at my collar over, worried that in a little over nine months, his placement in the jar might have soured.
    Does his attitude change the songs he’s written?
    No.
    Does the fact he wrote Astral Weeks excuse it?
    Also no.
    I’m here for the music though, so let’s park the Three Chords And The Truth, and get into it.

    Favourite songs:
    Tupelo Honey, Moondance, Have I Told You Lately, Crazy Love

    Favourite album:
    Blowin’ Your Mind!

  • Music Jar – week 32

    Each week, I listen to an artist, someone I might have heard of but never took the opportunity to “get into”. This week was the turn of Detroit’s own, Melissa Viviane Jefferson, better known as Lizzo.

    What I Knew Before
    Lizzo is probably the artist on my list that I felt I was the closest to missing out on. I’d heard a number of her songs and knew that she was a woman with a powerful vocal range and a voice for topics. I had glimpsed her in the brilliant, Hustlers. I was also familiar with the line, “I just took a DNA test, turns out I’m 100% that bitch”. I’m sure we will all agree, highly relatable content there.

    What I Know Now
    Lizzo’s 2019 album, Cuz I Love You, is one of the most important albums to be delivered into the world in the last decade. Her songs have a dynamic range that is unlike anything else happening in modern music. She is an absolute force and I am thankful I’ve taken the time to educate myself on her.
    Lizzo released two more-hiphop focused albums earlier in her career, which were met with some critical acclaim but it was the arrival of the single Juice, and then her third album that brought her mainstream success.
    She is outspoken on body issues particularly for women in the public eye as well as being a supporter of the LGBTQ+ movement.
    She has played flute since she was a child. Her flute is named Sasha Flute.
    I could go on. She’s really something special.

    Favourite songs:
    It goes without saying that the songs of Lizzo’s that I was familiar with are the ones you would expect. They’ve gone viral through TikTok and they’re screamed in your face if you dare step into any club playing them. Feel free to correct me but I really like Good As Hell, Tempo, Juice and Truth Hurts. Cuz I Love You is a very strong opening track. When I first listened to the album, I felt my knees buckle at the absolute splendor of that track; it’s at once a 50’s bop and the best Bond theme you’ve never heard.

    Favourite album: It will come as no surprise that I am 100% that bitch. It’s got to be Cuz I Love You.

    Spotify my favourite songs from this project. 

  • Music Jar – week 31

    Each week, I pick a band or artist from a pickle jar and listen to them as much as possible. This week was the turn of London four-piece, The Big Moon.

    What I Knew Before
    I knew nothing of the band before this week. They were a recommendation from my friend Sarah when I told her I didn’t have enough female bands in my wheelhouse.

    What I Know Now
    The Big Moon have two studio albums, Love In The 4th Dimension and Walking Like You Do. They formed in 2014 and if it wasn’t for my inability to know anything about new bands (post 2012) then they would definitely have been a band I followed with a lot more interest.
    I’ve been into indie since my teens. For a long time, I knew everything that was hot, cool and young. Then I was no longer any of those things and I slowly lost my grip on the NME mantle. It could be argued that NME has done the same since. I’d like to think I’m linked to their decline.
    That aside, The Big Moon are cool as shit and you should listen to them.

    Favourite songs:
    ADHD, Your Light, Cupid, Sucker.

    Favourite album:
    Walking Like We Do.

    Spotify my favourite songs from this project. 

  • Music Jar – week 22

    And here we go again. Each week, I take the name of a musician I don’t know enough about from a jar and listen to them, learning more as I go.
    This week was the turn of experimental hip-hop outfit, clipping. (yes, it’s stylised like that).

    What I Knew Before:
    Absolutely nothing. They were a recommendation from my friend, Palmar.
    What I Know Now:
    clipping. are a collaboration between three friends who met in school/college born of a remix project for their own amusement. They have since gone on to release a mixtape and three albums on Subpop.
    Interestingly, this was the first time that, despite a few interesting tracks, I simply could not get along with a musical artist. I really enjoyed the flow of the raps but the static and white noise used throughout made me feel anxious. And that’s fine. clipping. may not be for me and I’m okay with that. There’s plenty of noise I can get behind.
    Favourite song(s): Nothing is Safe, Story 2 and Work Work.
    Favourite album: midcity

  • Music Jar – week 21

    Inspired by Larson House, I am listening to artists I have never indulged in before. Each week, I take an artist suggested to me by friends, from the jar and listen to them for the week.
    This week was the turn of Norwegian alt-rock band, Madrugada.

    What I Knew Before: This is one of the few artists that I knew absolutely nothing about. I was on lunch at work, discussing the project with my friend Sarah, who is doing the same as we speak. We were both recommended Madrugada by the wonderful Lefteris. When I told him that they had been pulled this week, he told me they were more of a winter band. There’s nothing I can do about that. The name was out of the jar and the rules must be obeyed. I’m not Dominic Cummings.
    What I Know Now: Madrugada are a Norwegian rock band, formed by Sivert Høyem, Robert Burås and Frode Jacobsen. The band’s name comes from the Spanish word for the blue hour before dawn. Allmusic describe them as “bareboned blues-inspired alt-rock, which is 100% my bag.
    After Burås passed away in 2007, the others decided to finish what would be their final, and self-titled, album.
    Favourite songs: Majesty, The Kids Are On High Street and Blood Shot Adult Commitment.
    Favourite album: Grit.

    Spotify my favourite songs from this project.

  • Music Jar – week 20

    Each week, I take an artist from a pickle jar on my bar caddy and try to indulge in their discography for a week. What with one thing and another, this sometimes proves slightly difficult and my brain is unable to process at the best of times. 
    This week was the turn of Roberta Joan “Joni” Mitchell.

    What I Knew Before: I was likely introduced to JM by the soundtrack to Almost Famous, which is responsible for any number of my hot musical takes. The song River, which appears on Blue, not only makes the soundtrack but the cover of the album also features as young William lovingly strokes his sister’s vinyl collection while their mother declares that Simon & Garfunkel are on drugs. 
    I also know that a Joni Mitchell album is not an appropriate present for your wife after you’ve bought that tramp in the office a hideous and overpriced necklace. 
    What I Know Now: Joni Mitchell may just be a prophet. Her wide collection of albums are sombre and sad. She leaves a legacy that was uncompromisingly her own and she garnered so much respect for that. If anything, I wish I had more time to sit with her music and understand it. The project forces me to press on but Mitchell is in my heart.
    It’s clear she’s been an influence on ,many artists I have now come to love including Laura Marling, Rufus Wainwright and of course, Taylor Swift. 
    Favourite song(s): River, Big Yellow Taxi, Both Sides Now and California. 
    Favourite album(s): There’s no question about it right. Everyone has a favourite Joni Mitchell album. It’s the same Joni Mitchell album. It’s Blue. 

    Spotify my favourite songs from this project.

  • Music Jar – week 18

    Every week, I listen to an artist that I’ve never taken the time with before. This week was the turn of Gloucestershire’s own FKA twigs.

    What I Knew Before: I was aware of FKA twigs (and yes, that’s lowercase on purpose) more for her amazing performance in Honey Boy and her relationship with Robert Pattinson, where from what I can tell, she helped make him a lot cooler. As a result of her performance in Honey Boy, I mistakenly assumed she was American.
    What I Know Now: twigs is a bit of a powerhouse. She’s one of those incredible people who seems capable of turning her hand to anything and to do it on her own terms. She put her own EP out on Bandcamp and then made videos for each of the tracks. She’s trained as a dancer. She can act.
    Her musical style is a combination of electronica, R&B and hip-hop. Her vocals reminded me slightly of Bat For Lashes, but that’s because my understanding of the genre is so limited.
    Favourite song(s): cellophane, mary magdalene, Hours.
    Favourite album: It’s a tough call between LP1 and MAGDALENE but I think the former takes it.

  • Music Jar – week 14

    At the start of the year, I put the names of 52 artists into a jar. Each week, I take one out and focus on that musician, singer or band. This week I had the absolute pleasure of listening to Memphis’s own, soul sen-goddamn-sation, Aretha Franklin!

    What I Knew Before: It’s pretty hard not to at least be familiar with Aretha. The woman was (I’ve found out this week that she’s dead) a powerhouse performer with a legacy of songs that are a force to be reckoned with. I knew her best for her performance of Think in Blues Brothers and unfortunately from the version of Respect in Blues Brothers 2000.
    What I Know Now: There are a lot more Aretha songs that I knew and didn’t necessarily associate with her. Her version of Son of a Preacher Man is something else.
    I also watched Amazing Grace, the 2018 documentary show of her 1972 show at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles.

    Favourite song(s): All the big hitters I suppose; I Say A Little Prayer, Respect, (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, Think, Preacher Man, Chain of Fools, You Send Me.
    Favourite album(s): Everything from The Electrifying Aretha Franklin through to Runnin’ Out of Fools is damn near perfect.

    This is unprecedented in the fourteen weeks I’ve been posting my music jar listens, but please, watch this. Everything about it is incredible. What a woman.