NPR Talks Alien Invasion!

Oh, this article is way too amusing. Beware! There's a spoiler about the movie Cocoon if you somehow managed to not watch reruns during the last 20 years...

PS. They totally don't mention Mars Attacks! in the article, but they shoulda!

Ancient Flutes Discovered!

As an anthropology major (and a music lover), it's always great when new finds are made in the world of archaeology. I'm happy to share this article from NPR about a recent discovery made in several caves in southwestern Germany - the oldest musical instruments found to date! The flute that were found are made of vulture bone and ivory and date back to 35,000 to 40,000 years ago. The archaeologists who found it have also made replicas of the instruments and even made a copy of a song they played on it. One can just picture ancient man sitting around, looking for some entertainment perhaps. Maybe it was created by mistake, maybe someone found a bone with 2 holes in it and decided to blow in to it and discovered that it could make a sound. Either way, it's a pretty cool find.

How Scandinavian of me...

Bjork is one of those musical geniuses I always love but tend to forget about. I don't mean to. We all love Bjork. She's one of my few favorite musicians that I have yet to see live (but hopefully someday, though I don't see her making it to Miami anytime soon.) Whether she's singing for the Sugarcubes or belting it out on her own, she always remains phenomenal in my book.

NPR is giving a first listen to Bjork's new album Voltaic. which is apparently new recordings of several older songs. I just heard the first two tracks "Wanderlust" and "Hunter," both of which were great although I don't think "Hunter" was too much of a deviation from the original recording. "Innocence" is definitely more of a dance track, in the most bizarre way... like a mix of ethereal pop and hip hop and hypnotic vocals. Her new version of "Army of Me," although not straying much, is even more incredible and certainly more intense than the original. "I Miss You" also has that dance-y modern feel behind it, without compromising the essence of the song. Bjork outdoes herself again. Give the album a listen and let me know what you think!

The Continuing Controversy of the Elgin Marbles

During last semester's introduction to archaeology course, one of the last few things we learned about were the Elgin Marbles, which are sculptures/friezes originally belonging to the walls of the Parthenon in Greece, but which were removed by a British diplomat and now reside in the British Museum. It's a difficult case seeing as both sides seem to have fairly valid points. On the one hand, they technically should belong to the Greeks. They're asking for them back and feel that they weren't taken with their true consent. They would like these sculptures to be placed with the rest as they tell a story that can only be read when both pieces are together. The British argued that they were obtained legally and that it gave those who were unable to travel to Greece a chance to see at least one part of the Parthenon. They also argued that they were being well cared for in the museum and that being susceptible to the elements of the Parthenon, they would surely fall into poor condition over time. However, Greece has upped its care of the Parthenon and has opened the new Acropolis Museum (perhaps in response) in order to better care for their art and artifacts. I can surely understand the point that the British Museum is trying to make because they're also using the "well, if we give these back we might have to give everything back!" excuse. However, I don't think that everyone will be asking for all of their belongings back (although if they were, wouldn't that be a big mess in the museum world!) Cultural repatriation is a much more complicated issue than say the repatriation of human remains (which I feel transcends debate - people should have the right to bury their dead in the way they see fit, even if some science and history might get lost along the way.) 

I'll keep following the story of the Elgin Marbles, although I don't really see them going back. Personally, I think I feel for the Greeks. It's not like people will stop going to the British Museum all together because of a few (albeit important) statues going back.

Anyway, the point of this was to note that NPR interviewed author Christopher Hitchens on the story and he definitely had some valid points for the Greeks. Check it out if you feel so inclined!

Moby - 'Wait For Me'

He's at it again it seems! NPR just released a First Listen for his latest album, 'Wait for Me', which they are hailing as his best in 10 years. I'm on the third song right now, and it's already phenomenal. I've missed new music, rather... I've missed GOOD new music. Moby always manages to capture varying moods so perfectly, from the joyous and free-spirited to the melancholy and disenchanted. Hell, i'd say he can even portray quixotic (one of the coolest moods one CAN be in - thanks, Livejournal.)

Track 4 now... Still good. I think I fell in love with Moby via The X-Files (they used a few of his songs on some of the most powerful scenes of the entire series.) Fell in love more when I found out he was a vegan. Compassionate genius! If only I could have even an ounce of his talent.

Track 5 now... Here's an excerpt from his blog:

"it seems as if too often an artists or musicians or writers creative output is judged by how well it accommodates the marketplace, and how much market share it commands and how much money it generates.

in making this record i wanted to focus on making something that i loved, without really being concerned about how it might be received by the marketplace. as a result it's a quieter and more melodic and more mournful and more personal record than some of the records i've made in the past."

Track 6 now... It shows, sir. (The vocals are almost Peter Murphy-esque?)

Also cool is that David Lynch directed a video for his first single off the album. You can check it out @ Pitchfork's website here.

I don't even know what track I'm on anymore... but you should definitely give it a listen in its' entirety and let me know what you think!

Off to enjoy the rest of it...