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I hope everybody took a moment yesterday to read Wufnik’s outstanding piece on Bert Jansch, who died on Wednesday. I’m hoping that our other Boomer music guru, Jim Booth, will find time to weigh in, as well. For now, though, I wanted to offer a few comments of my own.

I pretty much never knew Bert Jansch’s music. He was of the previous generation and his genre was folk, a style that I respect but that I don’t listen to very much. I knew of Jansch, certainly, but the sad truth is that there’s just not enough time in the world to focus on all the music that’s deserving of attention. If I tried, I’d have to give up doing things like eating, sleeping, earning a living, reading all the great books that I haven’t gotten to yet, and by the way, working on my own artistic pursuits. So when Jim or Wuf thrash me for not knowing an artist I ought to know, all I can do is throw up my hands and remind them that there are only so many hours in the day. (I also remind them of a few of the great artists I know that they may have missed. Sometimes this works, but not always.)

In any case, Wufnik’s obit sent me running to YouTube, where I found some examples of Jansch’s work. Predictably, I was blown away. Wuf is right. Jim is right. Armies of music critics were right.

Simply put, Bert Jansch could freakin’ play. And like a lot of folks, I don’t usually associate guitar virtuosity with folk. Sure, I know there are folkies who can play, but I was raised in a context that worshipped the Electric Guitar Gods, and quiet plinking on an acoustic rarely rouses the thunder deities of Axeheim.

So I sat and sampled a few vids of Jansch and his understated magic, just marveling at the technique, the craft and the emotive power of it all.

Today’s SVR is dedicated to the memory of Bert Jansch, then, a man respected by his peers and loved by fans. They will miss you, and I regret that I only found my way to your work after you died.

It’s also dedicated to all the other incredibly talented musicians out there whose brilliance I don’t know about, but probably should. I hope I find your music before you die, too….

And now, some music. This is “Black Waterside.” And if you’re thinking this is one flute solo away from being a Jethro Tull track, join the club. I’m guessing one Ian Anderson was a fan.

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One more….

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Happy Saturday, everyone, and may the wind be at your back, Bert….

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And tomorrow we’ll be exactly what we were yesterday, only moreso. Maybe today is a bad time for critiques. Or maybe it’s the perfect time. Hard to say. But if you find a few minutes today and need a breather, here are some innocent distractions for you.

First, it’s true – we’re all living in Amerika.

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Specifically, Disney’s America.

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Pretty as a picture, dancing the night away…

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Hey, Governor Perry – 1993 called…

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Thanks you for tuning in, and may God Bless America.

First, I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll.

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Next, I wanna kiss the bride.

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Finally – well, you saw this coming a mile away, huh?

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Best of luck to my boy Ryan, and Happy Saturday, yo.

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But the truth is that Stacy’s dad is really kinda rad.

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Happy Saturday, yo.

PS – Apologies to all you Buffy fans. I know that had to hurt a little….

Political leaders can be that way, and right now, all across America, lots and lots of folks are reeling at the brazenness of Barry’s betrayal. So it’s only natural that the next time a smooth-talker comes around pressing all the right buttons, they’re going to be leery.

My friend doesn’t need my advice, exactly. Just needed to air out some thoughts, wanted a sounding board, knows that I don’t really have anything new to say. So I tried to respond to the general nature of the dynamic, reinforcing, emphasizing certain themes, etc. Here’s roughly what I said.

Cults of personality are going to get us nowhere. So if I were you, I’d be playing out scenarios. What will happen if this person betrays us? Will we move on, forging ahead in the right direction because we have been emboldened, or will we jump off a cliff in despair? Or worse, will we continue to follow him, making excuses for bad behavior, lying to ourselves about who he really is, telling ourselves he’s doing the best he can do under the circumstances? Will we immure ourselves behind walls of cognitive dissonance?

And what is the probability that he will betray us? What evidence, hard evidence, do we have that might help us predict his future actions? Past performance is no guarantee of future success, but it correlates strongly. Past performance tells us who you are, and you’ll stay who you are up until something significant (and usually observable) changes you. I mean, now that we look back on it, you’re not the first girl Barry cheated on.

It’s imperative that we begin from a position of … well, maybe suspicion isn’t the right word, but certainly we should proceed with a healthy measure of reserve when it comes to those who seek power or around whom power seems to accumulate. Whatever trust we accord them MUST be trust they have earned through their deeds. If we trust them only because of their words and the force of their personalities we deserve what happens to us.

This doesn’t mean we can’t work with them, but it means that our efforts have to be aimed at empowering the values and the goals of the movement, not the leader’s personal brand. That is, we have to be doing things that will endure in the absence of the individual. If he drives off a cliff. If he is caught in bed with someone unsanctioned by the reactionary morality of our opponents. If he, like Barry, betrays us.

Finally, the leader in question should be smart enough to recognize all of this. He should get that we’re not working for him, we’re working with him and for the good of the American people. Not only should he or she be okay with it, he or she should applaud and encourage it. If this doesn’t happen, then we will know that his/her goals are personal, not pro-social. And when the chips are down, leaders who are in it for themselves can be counted on to act in their best interests first, last and always.

None of this is a comment on Van Jones. In truth, I know next to nothing about him and am only beginning to get an intro-level handle on the American Dream Movement. At a glance there’s much to like, and I hope that as it gains momentum I find more and more to like. And America could certainly use a leader who is what Jones appears to be and professes to be, so I hope for the best.

I think my friend already knew all this. You probably did, too.

Corey, Vernon, Muzz and Will are four gentlemen who by gods understand it, so we’ll let them sing us out. Happy Saturday.

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Sometimes we get movements that are heavy on the revivalist, though, and in the past few years we’ve seen a real doozy in all the various iterations of Neo-Soul. Honestly, some of the acts are ethically little more than Holiday Inn cover bands, but damn damn, damn, the best of these bands are just fantastic, even if you think you’ve heard it all before.

So today SVR would like to call your attention to the best of contemporary Neo-Soul, modern bands that got a little Motown, Stax, Northern Soul, James Brown, Philly and Dusty in their heads and liked it. Let’s start with the band that I can’t get out of my head this past week or two, LA’s Fitz & the Tantrums. Mercy, what a record. I know, they’re knocking off every single trick they ever heard, but this guy is one of the best pop songwriters I’ve tripped across in any genre in a long time, and that makes a huge difference.

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If you haven’t heard of Adele yet, you will. This kid is tearing the world up right now, and it has a lot to do with the fact that she’s so completely real. Oh, and she can sing like nobody’s business – I mean, was even Aretha any better than this at 21?

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The undisputed masters of hard ’60s Soul hail from Brooklyn: this is Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings.

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Over on the Dusty Springfield/White Girl R&B end of the spectrum is one of my very favorites, England’s Lucky Soul.

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While Lucky Soul manages to remain relatively unfamous, fellow Brit Duffy is having no such problems.

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Then there’s She & Him, featuring one of the sexiest ingenue types in the world, Zooey Deschanel. Whoo – somebody get me some water.

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There are some more pure revival acts that I know a lot less about, but they seem to have a following, so let’s have a listen to The Pipettes…

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…and Nouvellas.

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Nicole Atkins’ new album has sort of moved on from the retro R&B sound into areas that are a lot bluesier, but check this from her debut:

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A really cool artist I seem to have lost track of is Little Jackie, whose ’70s funk-tinged pop comes with a side of hip-hip.

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Let’s close it out with one of the singers who defined the Neo-Soul revival, Amy Winehouse, who in another day and age could have twin-billed with Sam Cooke. I just hope she lives long enough to give us another record.

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You may have noticed that this list is pretty dominated by female artists. But not all the great Neo-Soul stuff is by women. I wish there were a video for something, anything, by Lewis Taylor, whose ’70s funk-influenced rock-pop is among the music world’s best -kept secrets, as well as the last CD from NC jangle pop/blue-eyed soul legend Don Dixon. Click those links and check them out when you get a chance.

Quick Update: Our friend Carole McNall saw this and suggested one more: Ryan Shaw. Damn.

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I’ve mentioned Baron Bane a time or six to all my Facebook friends, but I’m not sure I’ve shared the awesomeness of this Swedish indie outfit with the wider S&R audience. Consider them shared – this disc is simply remarkable. Go listen to the rest of it.

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Over the past three years The Pains of Being Pure at Heart have emerged as one of the world’s best indie bands, combining a deft ear for a hook with a decidedly fuzzy musical ethic that echoes the best of Shoegaze and Dreampop. At a glance, Belong might seem too light and happy to be taken terribly seriously, but this is a legit candidate for CD of the Year. It’s really that damned good.

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Esben and the Witch has been one of the most critically hyped acts going over the last few months. Violet Cries is by no means the feel-good hit of the summer, but if you like moody, dark, atmospheric psychedelia that proves somebody remembers the Airplane, you’re going to want to give this one a spin.

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I’m not a Foo Fighters expert – huge respect, but sometimes I lose track of them for a year or three. A lot of critics are calling Wasting Light the best thing they’ve done in years. It is indeed a superb record.

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Nicole Atkins’ latest is a little rougher around the edges, a little bluesier than the polished girl-groupish wonder that was Neptune City. Guess what? She can still sing the absolute hell out of it.

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It’s not unusual for bands from yesteryear to get together for a glory days reunion. Maybe a CD, maybe a dinosaurs of rock tour, whatever. What is unusual is when, after all those years, the band manages to remain as vital as they were when they were important. Wire was one of the more influential bands of the New Wave and they still gots it. I wish they’d spend a few bucks on a real video, but here’s a live performance of “Please Take” from Red Barked Tree.

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That’ll do for now. We’ll keep listening for cool new music for you, but for now, everybody here at Scholars & Rogues wishes you a great 4th of July Weekend.

Meanwhile, I’m ramping up for the evening with some new tuneage. Just downloaded last year’s Fitz & the Tantrums CD and I’m rapidly falling in love. Here are a couple of samples.

Y’all have a good one, y’hear? And if I don’t see you, happy 4th. I’ll be doing barbecue, Lexington style, with some good friends. You won’t be eating as well as we are, but have fun the best you can….

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Oh, I wish I could “sing” this well …

First off, fellow scrogue Dr. Jim Booth reminded us this morning via Facebook that today is the birthday of Sir Paul McCartney. As I noted on my own FB page, I have often been critical of Paul’s post-Beatles work, accusing it of being frivolous. I mean, come on, “Coming Up”? Still, it would be wrong to let a few iffy songs cause me to denigrate a wonderful career, especially when that career includes stuff that’s just fuckin’ awesome. Like this.

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Then I finally decided I needed to set up my PS3 so I could watch movies and maybe play FIFA if I felt like it. (I recently moved and don’t have quite everything in place yet, but I’m damned close.) So to test it and make sure all was working properly I grabbed my Complete Queen Videos collection and cranked it up. Sweet hell, people, this is what Rock & Roll sounds like, in case anybody ever asks you for an example.

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Another of my very early favorites was Elton John, and I have some very specific youthful memories about a girl who didn’t love me back. For some reason, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” is always playing on the soundtrack in my mind.

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So that’s me. Feel free to jump in and share some of your own youthful favorites, if you feel so led. Meanwhile, Happy Saturday, and I’m off here in a few to the Highlands Street Fair, of whatever they call it. Ought ot be fun – beautiful, sunny Colorado day here in Denver’s coolest neighborhood.

Happy Birthday, Macca.

Up first, hot off last night’s appearance in the Big Apple, Doco does “Cocoa Beach Blues” live on 11 O’Clock Rock. The new disc is entitled Stereo Chemistry.

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It seems like every time REM releases a new CD, people trip over themselves labeling it “the best thing they’ve done since Automatic for the People. This time, that’s actually true.

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I mentioned Denmark’s The Raveonettes a couple of weeks ago on SVR and today I’ll mention them again. The CD is Raven in the Grave and this is “Apparitions.”

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There’s a brand new Death Cab for Cutie record out, too. I haven’t had a chance to draw any conclusions yet (just got it the other day) but it’s Death Cab, after all, and early reviews are speaking glowingly of it.

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When Adele’s debut dropped in 2008 the critics would not shut up. I didn’t think it was that great – maybe I need to go back and give it another listen. Regardless, this year’s follow-up, 21, is insanely brilliant. It isn’t just that the girl can sing (she can, boy can she sing). It isn’t just that the songwriting is exceptional (again, it is, and it pointedly refuses to adhere to the tenets of faithful soul revivalism). More than that, there’s an informed emotional depth that you simply shouldn’t be able to find in an artist who’s this young. The last time I had these kinds of observations we were talking about Fiona Apple. Different kinds of performers, but in both cases what you’re getting is very, very real.

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One more. Let’s see…hey, did you hear? The Cars are back! Yes they are. The new disc (their first since 1987′s much-maligned Door to Door) isn’t anything revolutionary, but it proves that Ric Ocasek still knows how to put a song together. It may not be the debut or Heartbeat City, but Move Like This does hold its own with the rest of the catalog, which is pretty high praise. Here’s my favorite track on the disc, “Sad Song.”

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This is fun. Maybe I’ll do a part 2 next week….

This morning I was trying to decide what CD to pick up to round out my monthly eMusic selections and I noticed that I had saved The Asteroids Galaxy Tour for further review. Funky, trippy CD, sorta like Saint Etienne high on an Ecstasy/Nitrous Oxide cocktail. I had wondered about their background, so I hit teh Googles and discovered that hey, they’re from Copenhagen. Which made me think – there are some other Danish bands I like a lot, too. So let’s take a few minutes and celebrate the Danes, shall we? (All of them except Pay Lars, anyway – he got his.)

AGT is up first. The song is “The Golden Age,” and it ain’t just a Heineken commercial.

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One of the best CDs of the year so far comes from a band that’s been very, very good for several years now, The Raveonettes.

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Here’s Mew, a band I don’t know a lot about, but thanks to some recommendations they have been on my “to explore” list for awhile. Today’s as good a day as any.

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Volbeat is a little bit of Elvis, a little bit of Johnny Cash and a smidgen of we’re going to stomp your balls off.

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Hey, check it – they apparently have garages in Denmark, too! This is something fun from Blue Van. Reminds me a little of Jet.

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For some reason, I always thought Carpark North was English. I was wrong, and I’m genuinely sorry about it.

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Let’s end with a gratuitous, totally uncalled for moment. White Lion hailed from New York, but guitarist and songwriter Mike Tramp was from – you guessed it – Danmark!

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Happy Saturday, and a happy holiday weekend to everyone.

One of my favorites of 2011 so far is 4am from Buffalo’s Dotsun Moon. I’ve always been a sucker for bands descended from the Portishead side of the trip-hop family tree (oddly, I like many of these artists more than Portishead themselves), and Mary Ognibene’s understated, sultry delivery hits me right between the, ummm, well, let’s just say eyes here to avoid any trouble with the broadcast standards department, shall we? Musically, Rich Flierl (keys, guitars, and the primary songwriter) conjures a smoky, minimalist economy of sound that feels quite polished despite its sparseness.

Who do they remind me of (because since you haven’t heard them, we have to triangulate via bands you may know, right)? Well, I mentioned Portishead, and Flierl admits to a fondness for Massive Attack and Jah Wobble. “Who Do You Love?” suggests that he’s heard a bit of Love & Rockets, as well. There are places where Ognibene reminds me a lot of Girl Next Door’s Kat Green and the CD’s more animated numbers put me in mind of a sort of noir version of Supreme Beings of Leisure. Other places I swear I hear bits and pieces of The Church, U2, maybe a little Echo. Or maybe I’m projecting – hard to say. Sounds and influences sneak into a mix from all over the place.

All in all, there’s a lot of like here, and if I’m not mistaken this is the band’s first release. Which is even more impressive.

So, what next? You can listen to some tracks here. You can buy the CD here. You can follow them on Facebook. And, this being Saturday Video Roundup, you can watch a video or two. Like “Heed the Warning”:

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And “Glory” is just gorgeous.

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Happy Saturday, yo.

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And now, the devil went down to Julliard…

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Up first: the inimitable Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings:

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Sometimes it’s hard to even try being objective when you love something as much as I love The Birthday Massacre.

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The Gaslight Anthem made a lot of year-end best of lists, including this one.

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A few months ago S&R interviewed Danielle Kimak Stauss of Rabbit Velvet. Great interview, great CD.

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And now, New Young Pony Club. It’s 1983 and we’re dancing….

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Bettye LaVette is singing. Pete Townshend is thinking damn, if I’d had her instead of Daltrey I could have really made something of my career.

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It’s been a rough emotional patch for E, but it’s gonna be okay. I’m down with that.

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Two Door Cinema Club is best new indie pop act I’ve heard since Phoenix. In fact, I think I like them even better. You’re free to make up your own mind, though.

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Curve’s Toni Halliday is back as Chatelaine. Sadly, she doesn’t yet seem to be back with any real video. You can at least listen, though.

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Another not-a-real-video, but The Scottish Enlightenment is still worth the listen.

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And let’s close with one of my absolute favorites of the year. This is why people use terms like “wide-screen” to describe a sound.

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Item 1: Guns? Screw guns. What we need is a mandatory five-day waiting period for the purchase of any audio or video editing software. Then again, happiness is a warm gun, they say. Although this is more about hammers and polyester than powder and hot lead.

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Item 2: Might as well imagine. Go ahead and imagine. Specifically, imagine a world where people have too much respect for the dead to do this.

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Item 3: Okay, I admit it. This one is actually pretty cool. (Although they could have tried a little harder at syncing Freddie.)

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Item 4: This one is great, too. John would have loved it, I bet.

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Item 5: Hi. I’d like you to meet my friend Nelly Skynyrd.

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Item 6: Suck it, bitches – you been Trent Rolled!

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Item 7: Gotta say, The Who + The Doors + The Bay City Rollers would have the most bizarre supergroup ever.

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Item 8: And as bad as I hate The Doors, this works, too.

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Item 9: The Fabs + Ludacris + Outkast + Kelis. This is so damned postmodern.

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Item 10: Paul and the Kinks pay tribute.

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Item 11: Meet the Greetles!

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Item the Last: Let’s let Diamond Dave and The Fabs drive us home.

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We miss you, John. RIP.

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I can’t stop laughing. On behalf of real men everywhere, let me say thanks to the fine folks at Dos Equis.

Hope everybody is having a fun Saturday night. Of course, if you’re reading this on Saturday night, what the heck is wrong with you?

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Thx to djerrid for passing this one along.

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Thx to Lara Amber for the link.