Lifethroughalens » Music

Liz Phair

ajaymalghan — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 14:20:06 +0000

Liz Phair released an album out of nowhere and its um…different. There’s a song called “Bollywood” where she raps. She’s getting ripped on every publication but they’re kind of missing the point. I’m pretty sure these are the same people that dogged her when she worked with the Matrix 5 years ago and wrote some ridiculously catchy tunes. The only way someone couldn’t like those songs was them being too pretentious or too cool to admit they like a pop song. Its a whole lot more appealing when a grown woman (and mother at that) is singing about love rather than Avril Lavigne who well, I don’t really care to go there.

The fact that she’s had a sustainable career since before I was in high school to still creating, is no small feat. The relevancy factor on the other hand is entirely something else. I used to rock the hell out of Whip-Smart, specifically Supernova when I was in 10th grade. The guitars on that song were the coolest sounds I had heard to that point. I’m pretty sure I used to cut out pictures of her from the magazines in art class, for what reason I have no clue. I got into fights with the girls at my table in art because they said Sheryl Crow was hotter whenever I tried to espouse the virtues of Whip-Smart. Yeah my school sucked. The only other person with good taste was Jesse and we didn’t become friends until 2001 when I bought gear from him at Guitar Center. My parents did ask him mom to come over our house and talk to me about drugs. I hadn’t even smoked weed at that point so I was kind of clueless when they kept asking questions.

****She’s been on a gazillion labels and none will allow you to embed so this is the first version of the Extraordinary video. Whoever shot this version needs to ask their film school for a refund.

Mojopin-Jeff Buckley

ajaymalghan — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 04:09:34 +0000

Every time I listen to Jeff Buckley I feel like I have no clue what he’s doing on guitar and its the greatest thing. I don’t want to learn his songs I just want to enjoy them and their million different versions. In my opinion he’s one of the greatest composers of our time. Think of all the music the world missed out on in the last 13 years. Maybe he realized his bar was so high that there wasn’t anywhere left to go.

12 String

ajaymalghan — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 07:25:03 +0000

Whenever I go to Atomic its usually to pick up a pedal, so I never stray to the back. A couple weeks ago I was killing time while I got my oil changed and wandered across the street. I saw this guitar and convinced myself that I needed it for an acoustic EP that I wanted to record. Gear junkies can always find a way to validate their purchases. I recorded 5 songs off my last record, no overdubs, just my voice and guitar. My singing sounds alot better when its not fighting for space with drums and 14 guitars.

Volume III

ajaymalghan — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 16:27:55 +0000

Concerts

ajaymalghan — Mon, 17 May 2010 19:28:42 +0000

Uploaded into the pages section. I’ve been getting my portfolio ready for Grad school and to move forward with my new work.

Ben Harper at Pier 6 Pavilion

ajaymalghan — Wed, 05 May 2010 16:48:10 +0000

I almost forgot to post these; with all the nature stuff that I’ve been shooting this show seems like months ago.

Alberta Cross-Pier 6 Pavilion

ajaymalghan — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 16:57:56 +0000

Ben Harper

ajaymalghan — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 05:55:03 +0000

I had the pleasure of shooting Mr. Harper and his (ridiculously good) new band tonight…my camera is breaking down piece by piece but it still pulled through the set. Did I mention Alberta Cross killed it during their set? This is expected by now since their past being everyone’s favorite secret. Their cover of Lennon’s Steel+Glass was my highlight.

Sometimes

ajaymalghan — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 06:29:10 +0000

Sometimes by ajaymalghan
This is the second song I ever wrote. I did a version with Colin and Joe from Aleda in 2005 (Joe’s drumming sounded ridiculously good on my songs) but I had no clue how to use my voice. I’m still learning, this is why I’m going back to all my old songs and reworking them so I can move onto the next phase in my songwriting.

I remember working with Mcvey mixing it at Discovery until 5am. I went to work and then left for England and Greece that afternoon, it was my post-graduation trip; it seems like decades ago walking up to the Acropolis. I played the songs for the woman I was sitting next to on the flight, she said I sounded like Bono…I think she was trying to make me feel good about myself. Coincidentally Brian Link told me to stop singing once he heard these songs, he said I was ruining them; that’s some funny shit now that I think of it. The line,”sometimes you find the best enemies in friends” rings so true…

For an Uncle

ajaymalghan — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 06:45:12 +0000

The description in the player explains the origin of this song. I was thinking maybe I’ll play this song next time I play live since I’m an uncle now-that means I would have to learn it. I kind of know what I was doing but there’s no way I’ll ever come close to this performance. Spot on. One take.One mic.10,000 miles away from home in my fathers village.
For An Uncle by ajaymalghan

I was looking for a picture for this post and I came across this extended moment from this past summer. This was the first shot that I took after I got off crutches. In my eyes its raining stars.