Release Date:
Genre: Indie, Jazz, Experimental
The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do.
That is the 23-word title to Fiona Apple's latest album. Apple has been silent since Extraordinary Machine came out back in 2005. She's spent the past few years agonizing over the tracks, title, and every creative component for her latest album, and, as usual, it shows. One thing that we have come to expect from Fiona Apple is that she will not disappoint us. Seven years was worth the wait, and we now have yet another soulful, inventive, ecclectic masterpiece in The Idler Wheel.
I will always give Apple credit for being inventive in her music. She has found a way to create a distinct sound, all her own, while still bringing something new to music each time she writes. Her lyrics (even her titles) are soulful, deep, full of meaning, longing, heartache, heartbreak, and every other span of human emotion. What you won't find on her albums are autotune, a catchy hook, or dubstep tracks. THANK GOODNESS! Her music is refreshing in an industry overflowing with Justin Biebers and Deadmau5.
Every track on The Idler Wheel feels more like artwork than mainstream music. If Apple's songs were paintings, her songs would be the oil paintings of Monet or Van Gogh or Picasso of the music industry, while Taylor Swift and Chris Brown churn out sidewalk chalk drawings on street corners 10 minutes before a thunderstorm. The first single, "Every Single Night," is something that I think a lot of people can relate to - that fight that many of us go through every night to shut out brain off. Most of Apple's lyrics seem to do a great job of being thoroughly relatable. The stripped down style of her songs, mainly piano and bell tones and a slight hint of percussion, highlight her poignant lyrics throughout the album.
It wouldn't be a Fiona Apple album without at least one killer breakup track, and this time around it's "Werewolf." Any song that likens a guy to a werewolf (and a shark and volcano and a lightning bolt) is probably about a breakup. This isn't the Twilight, fuzzy, puppy dog looking werewolf. This guy really broke her heart. The imagery in this one is vivid, and paints the picture of Apple wishing someone was dead, either her or him. This masochistic theme is common in her music, and really strikes a cord with fans. At the same time, I can also understand how it might intimidate some people. Then again, she's been intimidating the music industry at large since 1996.
If you're willing to venture outside of the box of convential pop music, Apple's The Idler Wheel... is a great place to start. There's artistry and invention to be appreciated in every second recorded. However, this review comes with a warning: the content is not for the faint of heart.
Friday, August 3, 2012
Monday, July 23, 2012
No Doubt: Settle Down
It isn't often that I will take to reviewing a single or music video. I personally believe that music videos should be just about obselete. Just download the song and use your imagination - the song should tell it's own story.
That being said, No Doubt has waited a decade to share a song with us. As a lifelong fan, I felt the need to share my thoughts on "Settle Down."
"It's My Life" was what No Doubt left the fans with back in 2002, the "bonus track" on a greatest hits album. They didn't even leave their fans with something original - they chose a cover! So, we're going to ignore that for right now and say that Rock Steady back in 2001 was the last thing we've really seen from No Doubt. A solid album, starting to dive more into a reggae vibe than the Orange County ska sound that originally catapulted them to fame. Well...
"Settle Down" picks up right where Rock Steady left off. There's a strong reggae influence, and the band is as tight as ever. You can tell this project was a labor of love, b/c Stefani's vocals were much cleaner cut and on target than any of the solo stuff she's put out. Maybe that's because her voice was clearly made for this type of music. But her voice isn't the only thing that shines - the quality of every layer of this track is off the chain. The song itself is over 6 minutes long - a gutsy move for a single. After ten years of waiting, at least the fans get more than 3 minutes of a teaser.
To be quite honest, I'm still working out the lyrics on this one. Usually Stefani's lyrics are pointed and straightforward. Her lyrics read like an open book under most cases. I don't know if she wrote these, or if it was a group effort. It's quite a catchy hook, "Get in line and settle down." But who on earth is supposed to settle down? Stefani? The band? The fans? The label? I've got nothing here. And the lyrics mention trying to "get a hold on this." And the band said that they chose this song specifically as the first single - what's the message?
Who cares?!?! It's a catchy number, and after just a few viewing of the video, it's looping in my head. It proves that No Doubt can still write a hit. But the real question is whether or not they can produce a complete, coherent album with a message. Tragic Kingdom struck a cord with so many fans back in the 90's because it had a message. Return of Saturn is, in my opinion, one of the greatest breakup albums every composed. Rock Steady was even a successful gamble. Let's hope Push and Shove was worth waiting 11 years for.
That being said, No Doubt has waited a decade to share a song with us. As a lifelong fan, I felt the need to share my thoughts on "Settle Down."
"It's My Life" was what No Doubt left the fans with back in 2002, the "bonus track" on a greatest hits album. They didn't even leave their fans with something original - they chose a cover! So, we're going to ignore that for right now and say that Rock Steady back in 2001 was the last thing we've really seen from No Doubt. A solid album, starting to dive more into a reggae vibe than the Orange County ska sound that originally catapulted them to fame. Well...
"Settle Down" picks up right where Rock Steady left off. There's a strong reggae influence, and the band is as tight as ever. You can tell this project was a labor of love, b/c Stefani's vocals were much cleaner cut and on target than any of the solo stuff she's put out. Maybe that's because her voice was clearly made for this type of music. But her voice isn't the only thing that shines - the quality of every layer of this track is off the chain. The song itself is over 6 minutes long - a gutsy move for a single. After ten years of waiting, at least the fans get more than 3 minutes of a teaser.
To be quite honest, I'm still working out the lyrics on this one. Usually Stefani's lyrics are pointed and straightforward. Her lyrics read like an open book under most cases. I don't know if she wrote these, or if it was a group effort. It's quite a catchy hook, "Get in line and settle down." But who on earth is supposed to settle down? Stefani? The band? The fans? The label? I've got nothing here. And the lyrics mention trying to "get a hold on this." And the band said that they chose this song specifically as the first single - what's the message?
Who cares?!?! It's a catchy number, and after just a few viewing of the video, it's looping in my head. It proves that No Doubt can still write a hit. But the real question is whether or not they can produce a complete, coherent album with a message. Tragic Kingdom struck a cord with so many fans back in the 90's because it had a message. Return of Saturn is, in my opinion, one of the greatest breakup albums every composed. Rock Steady was even a successful gamble. Let's hope Push and Shove was worth waiting 11 years for.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
John Mayer: Born and Raised
Genre(s): Country, Folk, Rock
Release Date: May 22, 2012
I have to admit, it took me a while to brave this latest release from John Mayer. After Continuum and Where the Light Is, I thought I was looking at the next Stevie Ray Vaughn. In previous work, John Mayer has come up as a young man with more soul and guts than we've seen from any artists in 20-30 years. His next attempt, Battles Studies, was hit or miss. The song with Taylor Swift was definitely a miss, that's for sure. When I saw the promo picks for Born and Raised with Mayer in a cowboy hat, I have to admit, I was scared. I did not wait 2 years for one of my favorite artists to for sake the blues and turn country on me.
Finally, I sat down and gave the album a chance. I mean, REALLY gave the album a chance. I listened to the melodies, read through the lyrics, and really took the album in. Just listening at face value, it sounds like a country album. A slightly low-key Nashville hopeful. However, if you dig a little deeper, and look at the lyrics, you'll find that Mayer really bares his soul in these lyrics. After his antics with interviews in Rolling Stone and Playboy, followed by 2 years of dead silence to the media, Mayer has finally found an "appropriate" outlet. He addresses his insecurities, fears, and mistakes, without calling out anyone else. (This isn't a quality that Taylor Swift could boast. Maybe she'll take a page out of Mayer's book and stop writing songs with her ex's names in them.)
I think that Mayer's hit single, "Shadow Days," was brilliantly titled, packaged, videoed, recorded, and marketed. For the past 2 years, Mayer has lived in the shadows, and prefers it that way. In his most recent interview with Rolling Stone, he shows that he doesn't expect to return to the limelight, dating the photog's favorite starlets. Mayer has packed his bags and moved to Montana, and will likely spend quite a while in the Big Sky Country, recording , but not playing the media's games. Lyrics like, "I'm a good man with a good heart/Had a tough time, got a rough start/But I finally learned to let it go" are really turning him into an open book. Not in the way that Twitter or media frenzy did while he dated one hot blonde after another, but in the way that he better understands himself, and where he went wrong.
Born and Raised reads like an apology to the masses. An apology to the fans for only putting half of his heart into Battles Studies. An apology to the great musicians he's been compared to, for not living up to their good names. An apology to the media for his absence. And an apology to anyone else who doesn't like it.
Instead of ruining the album with "spoilers," instead I invite you to track down the jacket notes (digital or the actual CD) and read it for yourself. Maybe then you'll see this as more than just another country album. Like many of the great before him, Mayer has undergone his first major resurrection. And it is a success.
Release Date: May 22, 2012
I have to admit, it took me a while to brave this latest release from John Mayer. After Continuum and Where the Light Is, I thought I was looking at the next Stevie Ray Vaughn. In previous work, John Mayer has come up as a young man with more soul and guts than we've seen from any artists in 20-30 years. His next attempt, Battles Studies, was hit or miss. The song with Taylor Swift was definitely a miss, that's for sure. When I saw the promo picks for Born and Raised with Mayer in a cowboy hat, I have to admit, I was scared. I did not wait 2 years for one of my favorite artists to for sake the blues and turn country on me.
Finally, I sat down and gave the album a chance. I mean, REALLY gave the album a chance. I listened to the melodies, read through the lyrics, and really took the album in. Just listening at face value, it sounds like a country album. A slightly low-key Nashville hopeful. However, if you dig a little deeper, and look at the lyrics, you'll find that Mayer really bares his soul in these lyrics. After his antics with interviews in Rolling Stone and Playboy, followed by 2 years of dead silence to the media, Mayer has finally found an "appropriate" outlet. He addresses his insecurities, fears, and mistakes, without calling out anyone else. (This isn't a quality that Taylor Swift could boast. Maybe she'll take a page out of Mayer's book and stop writing songs with her ex's names in them.)
I think that Mayer's hit single, "Shadow Days," was brilliantly titled, packaged, videoed, recorded, and marketed. For the past 2 years, Mayer has lived in the shadows, and prefers it that way. In his most recent interview with Rolling Stone, he shows that he doesn't expect to return to the limelight, dating the photog's favorite starlets. Mayer has packed his bags and moved to Montana, and will likely spend quite a while in the Big Sky Country, recording , but not playing the media's games. Lyrics like, "I'm a good man with a good heart/Had a tough time, got a rough start/But I finally learned to let it go" are really turning him into an open book. Not in the way that Twitter or media frenzy did while he dated one hot blonde after another, but in the way that he better understands himself, and where he went wrong.
Born and Raised reads like an apology to the masses. An apology to the fans for only putting half of his heart into Battles Studies. An apology to the great musicians he's been compared to, for not living up to their good names. An apology to the media for his absence. And an apology to anyone else who doesn't like it.
Instead of ruining the album with "spoilers," instead I invite you to track down the jacket notes (digital or the actual CD) and read it for yourself. Maybe then you'll see this as more than just another country album. Like many of the great before him, Mayer has undergone his first major resurrection. And it is a success.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
The Rocket Summer: Life Will Write the Words
Genre(s): Pop, Indie, Rock
Release Date: June 5, 2012
The Rocket Summer, a.k.a. Bryce Avary, has branched out with his own label, Aviate Records. Life Will Write the Words arguably has a higher recording and production quality than anything he released on S/R/E Records or Island Def Jam. This isn't surprising, as Avary has been writing and composing every song he's recorded, and played every instrument to boot. Adding successful producer and record label owner to his resume is the logical next step, and this album clearly shows that.
For a few weeks now, we've had our hands on the first single, "Run and Don't Stop." The only bad thing I can say about this song is that it sounds like it could easily fit on Do You Feel, which means it sounds like something we've already heard. Still, you can't deny the quality of every song he puts out. Also, it's refreshing to hear love songs with a clean mindset; instead of listening to pop/punk/indie bands lusting after the girls they can't get, we get to hear Avary sing about how wonderful it is to be married to the best girl. In my opinion, that is much more swoon-worthy than anything Fall Out Boy could put together.
One song really stuck out as different from the normal, but I couldn't tell if this was a "good" normal or a "bad" normal. "Just For a Moment Forget Who You Are" sounds like it was written for someone else. The chord progression and arrangement sound more like something off of Daughtry's albums, or maybe a cast aside track from Goo Goo Dolls. It's almost like Avary forgot who he was for a moment, which is a shame, because he's one of the most original acts out there on the indie scene.
I have to admit that I always look forward to the slow songs on Avary's albums. So, naturally, I was disappointed to wait 9 tracks to hear it. "Soldiers" did not disappoint. Avary delivers the passion, emotion, and quality I've come to expect from him in this track. If everything else on the album sounds like something I've heard before, this track makes up for it. The slow songs that Avary chooses for each album are the moments when he lets his heart bleed. For those who remember, "Christmas Present" off of Hello Good Friend could guilt a mass murderer into surrendering, or a billionaire into building a homeless shelter. "Soldier" blurs the lines between spiritual warfare and wars of flesh and blood, and the losses in both, with lyrics like "And in heaven, maybe he's/Smiling down on me/But behind those doors of my heart, I am crying/If I said it was easy always, I'd be lying." Heaven help you if you can't relate to that.
Overall, this is an album worth picking up. The upbeat tracks make a perfect summer soundtrack, and the depth of the lyrics will tug at your heart and your conscience better than most of the junk that the indie pop/punk genre has been throwing at us for the past 10 years. Life Will Write the Words is a sweet treat that you won't have to feel guilty about, and is sure to keep you in a good mood. But you'll be hard pressed to find an album from Avary that isn't. With a new label, I'm excited to see what else he puts out.
Release Date: June 5, 2012
The Rocket Summer, a.k.a. Bryce Avary, has branched out with his own label, Aviate Records. Life Will Write the Words arguably has a higher recording and production quality than anything he released on S/R/E Records or Island Def Jam. This isn't surprising, as Avary has been writing and composing every song he's recorded, and played every instrument to boot. Adding successful producer and record label owner to his resume is the logical next step, and this album clearly shows that.
For a few weeks now, we've had our hands on the first single, "Run and Don't Stop." The only bad thing I can say about this song is that it sounds like it could easily fit on Do You Feel, which means it sounds like something we've already heard. Still, you can't deny the quality of every song he puts out. Also, it's refreshing to hear love songs with a clean mindset; instead of listening to pop/punk/indie bands lusting after the girls they can't get, we get to hear Avary sing about how wonderful it is to be married to the best girl. In my opinion, that is much more swoon-worthy than anything Fall Out Boy could put together.
One song really stuck out as different from the normal, but I couldn't tell if this was a "good" normal or a "bad" normal. "Just For a Moment Forget Who You Are" sounds like it was written for someone else. The chord progression and arrangement sound more like something off of Daughtry's albums, or maybe a cast aside track from Goo Goo Dolls. It's almost like Avary forgot who he was for a moment, which is a shame, because he's one of the most original acts out there on the indie scene.
I have to admit that I always look forward to the slow songs on Avary's albums. So, naturally, I was disappointed to wait 9 tracks to hear it. "Soldiers" did not disappoint. Avary delivers the passion, emotion, and quality I've come to expect from him in this track. If everything else on the album sounds like something I've heard before, this track makes up for it. The slow songs that Avary chooses for each album are the moments when he lets his heart bleed. For those who remember, "Christmas Present" off of Hello Good Friend could guilt a mass murderer into surrendering, or a billionaire into building a homeless shelter. "Soldier" blurs the lines between spiritual warfare and wars of flesh and blood, and the losses in both, with lyrics like "And in heaven, maybe he's/Smiling down on me/But behind those doors of my heart, I am crying/If I said it was easy always, I'd be lying." Heaven help you if you can't relate to that.
Overall, this is an album worth picking up. The upbeat tracks make a perfect summer soundtrack, and the depth of the lyrics will tug at your heart and your conscience better than most of the junk that the indie pop/punk genre has been throwing at us for the past 10 years. Life Will Write the Words is a sweet treat that you won't have to feel guilty about, and is sure to keep you in a good mood. But you'll be hard pressed to find an album from Avary that isn't. With a new label, I'm excited to see what else he puts out.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Jason Mraz: Love is a Four Letter Word
Release Date: April 17, 2012
Genre: Pop
Leave it to Jason Mraz to give us an upbeat breakup album. Fresh off of a broken engagement with Tristan Prettyman, Mraz poured his heart and soul into the 12 tracks that make up LOVE is a Four Letter Word. From the melodies, you'd think it was just another happy, upbeat set from Mraz. However, both the title of the album and the lyrics in the songs reveal a very different story.
The first single, our first taste of the album, is "I Won't Give Up," and shows Mraz being willing to do whatever it takes to make his relationship work. There's more where this optimism is displayed (see "The Freedom Song"). But, there's also the reverse side, the broken heart peeking through. "I wish I was a fixer, I would fix you up inside [...] I wish I was that guy," these are lyrics that show the regret that we all know comes with heartbreak.
For those familiar with Mraz from his previous efforts, such as Waiting for my Rocket to Come and We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things, we know that Mraz can put a positive spin on just about anything. "The Remedy" puts that optimism on cancer, "Curbside Prophet" puts a positive spin on the rough lifestyle of touring as an indie artist, and this list could go on for a long time. LOVE is a Four Letter Word is no exception to this. Mraz has given us a break up album that can lift our spirits and help us start that healthy process of moving on. with such upbeat melodies, you can't help but smile and sing along to track like "Everything is Sound." Sing it with him, "La la la la."
Genre: Pop
Leave it to Jason Mraz to give us an upbeat breakup album. Fresh off of a broken engagement with Tristan Prettyman, Mraz poured his heart and soul into the 12 tracks that make up LOVE is a Four Letter Word. From the melodies, you'd think it was just another happy, upbeat set from Mraz. However, both the title of the album and the lyrics in the songs reveal a very different story.
The first single, our first taste of the album, is "I Won't Give Up," and shows Mraz being willing to do whatever it takes to make his relationship work. There's more where this optimism is displayed (see "The Freedom Song"). But, there's also the reverse side, the broken heart peeking through. "I wish I was a fixer, I would fix you up inside [...] I wish I was that guy," these are lyrics that show the regret that we all know comes with heartbreak.
For those familiar with Mraz from his previous efforts, such as Waiting for my Rocket to Come and We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things, we know that Mraz can put a positive spin on just about anything. "The Remedy" puts that optimism on cancer, "Curbside Prophet" puts a positive spin on the rough lifestyle of touring as an indie artist, and this list could go on for a long time. LOVE is a Four Letter Word is no exception to this. Mraz has given us a break up album that can lift our spirits and help us start that healthy process of moving on. with such upbeat melodies, you can't help but smile and sing along to track like "Everything is Sound." Sing it with him, "La la la la."
Monday, May 7, 2012
Keane: Strangeland
Release Date: May 8, 2012
Genre: Pop
Keane broke into the American music scene with Hopes and Fears in 2004. Songs like "Somewhere Only We Know" and "Everybody's Changing" have been heard in film and television every year since. If you like those songs, and like hearing something just like those songs, then you'll love their latest work, Strangeland. If you were bored after hearing those songs on the radio for all of 2004, then you'll fall asleep 2 tracks into this album.
Most people don't realize that the band has actually been quite prolific in their 12 year career. Their website (www.keanemusic.com) lists 27 releases, including singles and live sessions, and a deluxe version of their breakthrough hit Hopes and Fears. Most of their success has been across the pond in the UK and Europe, but they did manage mild success with Under the Iron Sea in 2006. Tomorrow their next release, Strangeland, hits iTunes and local record stores. It's already been released across most of the globe, and has been selling much better than anticipated.
Strangeland was a bit of a disappointment for me, to be honest. It sounds just like everything else Keane puts out. You can hear the influence of Oasis, and, by extension, The Beatles. The piano driven pop sounds just like any other band in the same genre. In fact, it's even hard for me to distinguish between tracks, because most of them sound exactly the same. After insightful lyrics on Hopes and Fears, I fear the bar was set too high. Keane may in fact be a one trick pony.
I will give them this: they can write lyrics. In "Sovereign Light Cafe," a beautiful picture is painted of life in a small town: "I didn't know I'd be finding out now I was torn from you [...] We were wide eyed dreamers and wiser too." I don't think I'll ever grow tired of their lyrics. And this theme of romantically looking at life before fame seems to run through the whole album. While most of us can't relate to the lifestyles led by one of Britain's biggest acts in the past decade, we can relate to looking back on different (and better) times in our lives. At the end of the day, I'd just rather here someone else singing about it. Or take the distortion off of the piano for one minute. Or do ANYTHING different than the past 4 studio albums have shown us. Oasis didn't gain so much popularity for giving us 20 different versions of (What's the Story) Morning Glory? They kept bringing something new to the table. Keane, when are you going to bring us something new?
Genre: Pop
Keane broke into the American music scene with Hopes and Fears in 2004. Songs like "Somewhere Only We Know" and "Everybody's Changing" have been heard in film and television every year since. If you like those songs, and like hearing something just like those songs, then you'll love their latest work, Strangeland. If you were bored after hearing those songs on the radio for all of 2004, then you'll fall asleep 2 tracks into this album.
Most people don't realize that the band has actually been quite prolific in their 12 year career. Their website (www.keanemusic.com) lists 27 releases, including singles and live sessions, and a deluxe version of their breakthrough hit Hopes and Fears. Most of their success has been across the pond in the UK and Europe, but they did manage mild success with Under the Iron Sea in 2006. Tomorrow their next release, Strangeland, hits iTunes and local record stores. It's already been released across most of the globe, and has been selling much better than anticipated.
Strangeland was a bit of a disappointment for me, to be honest. It sounds just like everything else Keane puts out. You can hear the influence of Oasis, and, by extension, The Beatles. The piano driven pop sounds just like any other band in the same genre. In fact, it's even hard for me to distinguish between tracks, because most of them sound exactly the same. After insightful lyrics on Hopes and Fears, I fear the bar was set too high. Keane may in fact be a one trick pony.
I will give them this: they can write lyrics. In "Sovereign Light Cafe," a beautiful picture is painted of life in a small town: "I didn't know I'd be finding out now I was torn from you [...] We were wide eyed dreamers and wiser too." I don't think I'll ever grow tired of their lyrics. And this theme of romantically looking at life before fame seems to run through the whole album. While most of us can't relate to the lifestyles led by one of Britain's biggest acts in the past decade, we can relate to looking back on different (and better) times in our lives. At the end of the day, I'd just rather here someone else singing about it. Or take the distortion off of the piano for one minute. Or do ANYTHING different than the past 4 studio albums have shown us. Oasis didn't gain so much popularity for giving us 20 different versions of (What's the Story) Morning Glory? They kept bringing something new to the table. Keane, when are you going to bring us something new?
Friday, May 4, 2012
10 Underrated Artists: Taylor Momsen (The Pretty Reckless)
Taylor Momsen is one of the most hardcore front women in rock music today. And she earned that title before she finished high school. Furthermore, she earned that title while playing Jenny Humphrey on Gossip Girl. Revolver magazine listed Momsen as one of the greatest living rock starts. And The Pretty Reckless, Momsen's current project, has only released one album.
The lyrics on Light Me Up discuss things that you would hope most 17 year old girls don't know about: sex, drugs, and rock and roll. The sound is gritty and dark, and lyrics match it. The album opens with the line, "Somebody fixed my medicine [...] somebody's in my head again." It continues to hit topics like a relationship with a man 10 years older than her, and prostitution. As Momsen has said on the record, she's no role model. She's rock and role, the way that the (late) great Janis Joplin and the (still) great Debbie Harry were, before rock went pop. Let's just hope that hard lifestyle doesn't keep on, or she'll follow the path of Joplin, and many others that were taken too soon.
Light Me Up does show a softer side, too. The ending track, "You," is an acoustic track. It's perhaps the most vulnerable moment on the whole album. After Momsen brags on her hard core party lifestyle, other exploits, and walking away from God, she's there at the end of the album pining after the boy (or man) who broke her heart so badly. It reveals that all of that pain that Momsen reveled in for the previous 11 tracks don't hide that hole in her heart.
I would definitely say this isn't rock and roll for the faint of heart. This isn't what you play your 16 year old daughter. This is not for the faint of heart. But if you enjoy the gritty, old school sound of groups like The Runaways or Blondie, then this is right up your alley. Here's where I usually suggest tracks, but The Pretty Reckless only has 1 album and 2 EPs. My advice: go on YouTube and find a live performance. I'm pretty certain a live shot of "Make Me Wanna Die" will tell you everything you need to know about Momsen and what she has to offer.
The lyrics on Light Me Up discuss things that you would hope most 17 year old girls don't know about: sex, drugs, and rock and roll. The sound is gritty and dark, and lyrics match it. The album opens with the line, "Somebody fixed my medicine [...] somebody's in my head again." It continues to hit topics like a relationship with a man 10 years older than her, and prostitution. As Momsen has said on the record, she's no role model. She's rock and role, the way that the (late) great Janis Joplin and the (still) great Debbie Harry were, before rock went pop. Let's just hope that hard lifestyle doesn't keep on, or she'll follow the path of Joplin, and many others that were taken too soon.
Light Me Up does show a softer side, too. The ending track, "You," is an acoustic track. It's perhaps the most vulnerable moment on the whole album. After Momsen brags on her hard core party lifestyle, other exploits, and walking away from God, she's there at the end of the album pining after the boy (or man) who broke her heart so badly. It reveals that all of that pain that Momsen reveled in for the previous 11 tracks don't hide that hole in her heart.
I would definitely say this isn't rock and roll for the faint of heart. This isn't what you play your 16 year old daughter. This is not for the faint of heart. But if you enjoy the gritty, old school sound of groups like The Runaways or Blondie, then this is right up your alley. Here's where I usually suggest tracks, but The Pretty Reckless only has 1 album and 2 EPs. My advice: go on YouTube and find a live performance. I'm pretty certain a live shot of "Make Me Wanna Die" will tell you everything you need to know about Momsen and what she has to offer.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
10 Underrated Artists: Flyleaf
We've all heard of Paramore. Well, at least, those of us not living under a rock. They broke on the scene a few years back with "Misery Business," and have gone on to do the soundtrack to Twilight and sell out stadiums. That fiery little redhead has caused quite a stir in the music industry.
But that's not who I'm writing about. If anything, that band is overrated. Especially when you consider Flyleaf. This band came out around the same time, but with a much harder yell. Less than 15 seconds into the first track off of Flyleaf, you hear the lead singer, Lacey Sturm, let out a scream with more pain and heartache than most metal frontmen could ever conjure. Standing less than 5", she'll scare the hell out of anyone in her audience. No joke; I've had 6'2" football linebackers whisper in my ear, "That girl scares me." That's definitely her goal - to scare the hell out of them, and then preach like there's no tomorrow.
If you've heard Lacey's story, there almost was no tomorrow. At a young age, she attempted suicide, but overcame that and her depression when she turned to a life of faith. She'll share that, and much more, with each crowd she sings to, whether it's thousands at OzzFest or 20 in a dive bar. By the end of the show, she'll have grown men weeping and singing along to worship songs. As a worship leader, this girl is my hero.
And that's just the spark of the lead singer. The band itself is musically outstanding. They've taken Christian music and made it appeal to a much wider audience just through sheer musicianship. Flyleaf has more metal in it's first track than a good amount of what Metallica has released in the last decade. Their second album, Memento Mori, leaves out the screaming, but shows growth in the lyrics. It's definitely an album for people who think they hate metal music.
If you haven't checked out Flyleaf before, here's a few tracks to get you started:
"I'm So Sick," Flyleaf
"Beautiful Bride," Memento Mori
"All Around Me," Flyleaf
"How He Loves," How He Loves [Single]
"Supernatural," Much Like Falling EP
"Cassie," Flyleaf
But that's not who I'm writing about. If anything, that band is overrated. Especially when you consider Flyleaf. This band came out around the same time, but with a much harder yell. Less than 15 seconds into the first track off of Flyleaf, you hear the lead singer, Lacey Sturm, let out a scream with more pain and heartache than most metal frontmen could ever conjure. Standing less than 5", she'll scare the hell out of anyone in her audience. No joke; I've had 6'2" football linebackers whisper in my ear, "That girl scares me." That's definitely her goal - to scare the hell out of them, and then preach like there's no tomorrow.
If you've heard Lacey's story, there almost was no tomorrow. At a young age, she attempted suicide, but overcame that and her depression when she turned to a life of faith. She'll share that, and much more, with each crowd she sings to, whether it's thousands at OzzFest or 20 in a dive bar. By the end of the show, she'll have grown men weeping and singing along to worship songs. As a worship leader, this girl is my hero.
And that's just the spark of the lead singer. The band itself is musically outstanding. They've taken Christian music and made it appeal to a much wider audience just through sheer musicianship. Flyleaf has more metal in it's first track than a good amount of what Metallica has released in the last decade. Their second album, Memento Mori, leaves out the screaming, but shows growth in the lyrics. It's definitely an album for people who think they hate metal music.
If you haven't checked out Flyleaf before, here's a few tracks to get you started:
"I'm So Sick," Flyleaf
"Beautiful Bride," Memento Mori
"All Around Me," Flyleaf
"How He Loves," How He Loves [Single]
"Supernatural," Much Like Falling EP
"Cassie," Flyleaf
Norah Jones: Little Broken Hearts
Release Date: 05/01/12
Genre(s): Pop
Throw out any idea in your mind of what Norah Jones sounded like. Staples like like the mild, soulful "Don't Know Why," or the folksy, "Sunrise, Sunrise," should be far from your mind. If that's what you're looking for on Jones' latest effort, you're going to be sorely disappointed. Little Broken Hearts sounds nothing like Come Away with Me, or anything else Jones has put out before.
Just looking at the cover, you know to expect something different. Jones has chopped off her signature long, raven locks for a short, sassy bob. The girl on the cover sporting a killer pout and attitude to match shows you exactly what you're in for on this album. Every song is smart, sassy, and comes with an attitude. The production value is amazing, and you'd expect nothing less from Brian "Danger Mouse" Burton. Burton has reinvented Jones here.
From most of the lyrics, you'd gather that Jones went through quite the break up. After all, the album is called Little Broken Hearts. Most of the lyrics show the deep sorrow that can only be associated with a failed relationship. "Does she make you happy?" is the haunting question Jones asks in "She's 22," and in "Happy Pills" (the first single), Jones reflects, "With you gone I'm alone/Makes me feel like I took happy pills and time stands still." This is not exactly the sentimental romantic we've seen before.
The only negative thing I can say about this album is that it sounds like several of the indie singer/songwriters out there already. If you've heard Meiko or Lenka, then you have heard this type of sound before. It's new for Jones, and new for Danger Mouse, it's just not new to the music industry. That being said, Jones not only jumps into a new genre, but Danger Mouse produces it better than anyone has before. There's a reason he's been named the best producer in the decade (2000-2009), and there's a reason he's got 11 Grammys on his shelf. Jones picked the best collaborator available, and I'm sure they'll both be adding to that Grammy collection next February.
My verdict here: Go buy the album, and enjoy it for what it is. Just don't expect Jones to sit at the piano for 12 tracks and sing you a love song. That artist has fled the coop, and a much more intelligent, confident artist has come in her place. It's a beautiful album. Despite the heartbreaking lyrics, the melodies are incredibly upbeat. Little Broken Hearts is a ray of sunshine and a breath of fresh air for this growing musician.
Genre(s): Pop
Throw out any idea in your mind of what Norah Jones sounded like. Staples like like the mild, soulful "Don't Know Why," or the folksy, "Sunrise, Sunrise," should be far from your mind. If that's what you're looking for on Jones' latest effort, you're going to be sorely disappointed. Little Broken Hearts sounds nothing like Come Away with Me, or anything else Jones has put out before.
Just looking at the cover, you know to expect something different. Jones has chopped off her signature long, raven locks for a short, sassy bob. The girl on the cover sporting a killer pout and attitude to match shows you exactly what you're in for on this album. Every song is smart, sassy, and comes with an attitude. The production value is amazing, and you'd expect nothing less from Brian "Danger Mouse" Burton. Burton has reinvented Jones here.
From most of the lyrics, you'd gather that Jones went through quite the break up. After all, the album is called Little Broken Hearts. Most of the lyrics show the deep sorrow that can only be associated with a failed relationship. "Does she make you happy?" is the haunting question Jones asks in "She's 22," and in "Happy Pills" (the first single), Jones reflects, "With you gone I'm alone/Makes me feel like I took happy pills and time stands still." This is not exactly the sentimental romantic we've seen before.
The only negative thing I can say about this album is that it sounds like several of the indie singer/songwriters out there already. If you've heard Meiko or Lenka, then you have heard this type of sound before. It's new for Jones, and new for Danger Mouse, it's just not new to the music industry. That being said, Jones not only jumps into a new genre, but Danger Mouse produces it better than anyone has before. There's a reason he's been named the best producer in the decade (2000-2009), and there's a reason he's got 11 Grammys on his shelf. Jones picked the best collaborator available, and I'm sure they'll both be adding to that Grammy collection next February.
My verdict here: Go buy the album, and enjoy it for what it is. Just don't expect Jones to sit at the piano for 12 tracks and sing you a love song. That artist has fled the coop, and a much more intelligent, confident artist has come in her place. It's a beautiful album. Despite the heartbreaking lyrics, the melodies are incredibly upbeat. Little Broken Hearts is a ray of sunshine and a breath of fresh air for this growing musician.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
10 Underrated Artists: Ben Folds
A little ray of sunshine in the midst of pop music, I decided to continue my 10 underrated artists series today with a look at pop gone right. Ben Folds has been infamous in indie circles since Ben Folds Five first came on the scene. In today's pop culture, you might recognize him more for his judging spot on "The Sing Off," an acapella reality show, than you would for his breakthrough hit "Brick."
Folds grew up listening to piano rock icons like Elton John and Billy Joel, and it shows. Their influences can be heard in Folds' lyrics and piano driven sound. The song "Brick," made Folds' and his band, Ben Folds Five, a household name. I wonder how many people know that song is about Folds' high school girlfriend having an abortion. Yet that song seemed to resonate with crowds across the country, catapulting Whatever and Ever Amen up the charts.
Folds' antics on stage have also proven to be attention grabbing, to say the least. One of the crowd favorites, "Rock this *****," started at a concert. One of the fans in the audience shouted out the request, "Rock this *****!" Folds gladly obliged, belting out an unrehearsed string of lyrics. This improvised chorus has gone on to be a staple in all of Folds' live performances. You can catch it on a few live recordings, but it's nothing as glorious as the live version. You never really know what outlandish thing will come out of his mouth next.
My favorite track to date has to be, "The Luckiest," from his solo effort, Rockin' the Suburbs. If I had been able to hunt down a piano player, I would have walked down the aisle to this song. This beautiful tribute to falling head over heels, silly, crazy in love with a person is heart warming. Hands down one of the best love songs of all time, yet few people have heard it. This one gives Elton John's "Your Song" a run for it's money any day of the week. The winning moment of the song is when he talks about passing on just days apart: " Next door, there's an old man who lives to his 90s/And one day passed away in his sleep/And his wife, she stayed for a couple of days and passed away/I'm sorry, I know that's a strange way/To tell you that I know we belong."
Folds went on to be rather prolific in the 1990s and 2000s. Between solo work, Ben Folds Five, and the vast array of side projects, Folds has released 14 albums. If you haven't got these already, here's a good place to start:
"The Luckiest," Rockin' the Suburbs
"Brick," Whatever and Ever Amen
"Tiny Dancer," Ben Folds Live
"Evaporated," Whatever and Ever Amen
"Not the Same," Rockin' the Suburbs
Folds grew up listening to piano rock icons like Elton John and Billy Joel, and it shows. Their influences can be heard in Folds' lyrics and piano driven sound. The song "Brick," made Folds' and his band, Ben Folds Five, a household name. I wonder how many people know that song is about Folds' high school girlfriend having an abortion. Yet that song seemed to resonate with crowds across the country, catapulting Whatever and Ever Amen up the charts.
Folds' antics on stage have also proven to be attention grabbing, to say the least. One of the crowd favorites, "Rock this *****," started at a concert. One of the fans in the audience shouted out the request, "Rock this *****!" Folds gladly obliged, belting out an unrehearsed string of lyrics. This improvised chorus has gone on to be a staple in all of Folds' live performances. You can catch it on a few live recordings, but it's nothing as glorious as the live version. You never really know what outlandish thing will come out of his mouth next.
My favorite track to date has to be, "The Luckiest," from his solo effort, Rockin' the Suburbs. If I had been able to hunt down a piano player, I would have walked down the aisle to this song. This beautiful tribute to falling head over heels, silly, crazy in love with a person is heart warming. Hands down one of the best love songs of all time, yet few people have heard it. This one gives Elton John's "Your Song" a run for it's money any day of the week. The winning moment of the song is when he talks about passing on just days apart: " Next door, there's an old man who lives to his 90s/And one day passed away in his sleep/And his wife, she stayed for a couple of days and passed away/I'm sorry, I know that's a strange way/To tell you that I know we belong."
Folds went on to be rather prolific in the 1990s and 2000s. Between solo work, Ben Folds Five, and the vast array of side projects, Folds has released 14 albums. If you haven't got these already, here's a good place to start:
"The Luckiest," Rockin' the Suburbs
"Brick," Whatever and Ever Amen
"Tiny Dancer," Ben Folds Live
"Evaporated," Whatever and Ever Amen
"Not the Same," Rockin' the Suburbs
Jewel: 0304
Release Date: 06/03/03
Genre(s): Pop
Jewel, shame on you. That's where I have to start. Thankfully, she later issued an apology to her fans for letting them down with 0304, as she very well should have. Her previous efforts showed depth and growth, and even her lyrics on this album show far more maturity than the heavy synth usage we hear in every track. Songs like "Stand" fall right in line with "Life Uncommon" from Spirit and "New Wild West" from This Way, but fans of her earth, acoustic, folk sound will be sorely disappointed.
When I started the first track on this album, I thought I had put the wrong disc in. Surely the folk singer from Alaska, famous for standing with her guitar in a bathroom and belting out "Who Will Save Your Soul," is not the same one masking her voice behind drums and an accordion? Even the album cover made me do a double take, With Jewel wearing some combination of scarves and a tank top. This is a far cry from the jeans that she wore in most public appearances and photo shoots.
Unfortunately, the outside matches the inside of this album. Jewel described this album as a "yearbook" for the years 2003-2004. I'll give her this: a lot of the music that came out that year was dreadful. But why did she have to add to it? She's got dozens of beautiful unreleased acoustic tracks, and instead she developed songs more in line with the moderate success of "Serve the Ego," off of This Way. She might have done better to write more like "You Were Meant For Me," off of Pieces of You. That one stayed on the charts for over a year.
And yet this one sold. It peaked at #2 on the Billboard Top 200. What the Billboard charts won't tell you is the number of people who turned around the next week and returned the album, or sold it to their local used music store.
Maybe this boils down to a bias. Listening to Pieces of You as a child and young adult is part of what prompted me to pick up a guitar in the first place. I might enjoy this album more as the pop debut of a new artist, but not the departure, or death, of one of my favorites. After this, we didn't see a return to Jewel's folk, down to earth roots. Her next efforts dove more into the country music scene. Alas, I think this album is the soundtrack to the funeral of a great folk singer.
Genre(s): Pop
Jewel, shame on you. That's where I have to start. Thankfully, she later issued an apology to her fans for letting them down with 0304, as she very well should have. Her previous efforts showed depth and growth, and even her lyrics on this album show far more maturity than the heavy synth usage we hear in every track. Songs like "Stand" fall right in line with "Life Uncommon" from Spirit and "New Wild West" from This Way, but fans of her earth, acoustic, folk sound will be sorely disappointed.
When I started the first track on this album, I thought I had put the wrong disc in. Surely the folk singer from Alaska, famous for standing with her guitar in a bathroom and belting out "Who Will Save Your Soul," is not the same one masking her voice behind drums and an accordion? Even the album cover made me do a double take, With Jewel wearing some combination of scarves and a tank top. This is a far cry from the jeans that she wore in most public appearances and photo shoots.
Unfortunately, the outside matches the inside of this album. Jewel described this album as a "yearbook" for the years 2003-2004. I'll give her this: a lot of the music that came out that year was dreadful. But why did she have to add to it? She's got dozens of beautiful unreleased acoustic tracks, and instead she developed songs more in line with the moderate success of "Serve the Ego," off of This Way. She might have done better to write more like "You Were Meant For Me," off of Pieces of You. That one stayed on the charts for over a year.
And yet this one sold. It peaked at #2 on the Billboard Top 200. What the Billboard charts won't tell you is the number of people who turned around the next week and returned the album, or sold it to their local used music store.
Maybe this boils down to a bias. Listening to Pieces of You as a child and young adult is part of what prompted me to pick up a guitar in the first place. I might enjoy this album more as the pop debut of a new artist, but not the departure, or death, of one of my favorites. After this, we didn't see a return to Jewel's folk, down to earth roots. Her next efforts dove more into the country music scene. Alas, I think this album is the soundtrack to the funeral of a great folk singer.
Britney Spears: ... Baby One More Time
Release Date: 01/12/99
Genre(s): Pop
No list of the worst in popular music would be complete without a nod to Ms. Spears. This was the album that changed it all. The former Mouseketeer churned out this collection of new pop hooks and covers in early 1999, shedding the clean Disney image for Catholic school girl skirts and her first (failed) attempt at sensuality.
You hate to admit it, but you know all of the words to the title track. Whoever wrote that was a genius, because it became a staple in pop culture. However, the radio singles were the "singles" for a reason, because the rest of the album was completely forgettable. Furthermore, every track's overuse of autotune is not only unprofessional and unimpressive, but flat out annoying at times.
Bubblegum pop nonsense dominates the rest of the album, especially with songs like "Soda Pop" and "Email my Heart." Email my heart? Really? This is a song? It's garbage like this that paved the way for a multitude of other autotune pop artists, like the infamous Justin Bieber. Even her attempts to be serious, like the ballad, "From the Bottom of my Broken Heart," reek of trying to be something else. In later years, we know that Britney found her "voice," but only after she found two divorce lawyers, two kids, and a razor.
Parents, you remember this from your youth. Don't be foolish enough to let your children endure the pain that you did! Any copies of this disc should be collected and burned, and forgotten with other such 90s pop stars as NKOTB, Backstreet Boys, and *N Sync. I know Justin Timberlake would agree.
Genre(s): Pop
No list of the worst in popular music would be complete without a nod to Ms. Spears. This was the album that changed it all. The former Mouseketeer churned out this collection of new pop hooks and covers in early 1999, shedding the clean Disney image for Catholic school girl skirts and her first (failed) attempt at sensuality.
You hate to admit it, but you know all of the words to the title track. Whoever wrote that was a genius, because it became a staple in pop culture. However, the radio singles were the "singles" for a reason, because the rest of the album was completely forgettable. Furthermore, every track's overuse of autotune is not only unprofessional and unimpressive, but flat out annoying at times.
Bubblegum pop nonsense dominates the rest of the album, especially with songs like "Soda Pop" and "Email my Heart." Email my heart? Really? This is a song? It's garbage like this that paved the way for a multitude of other autotune pop artists, like the infamous Justin Bieber. Even her attempts to be serious, like the ballad, "From the Bottom of my Broken Heart," reek of trying to be something else. In later years, we know that Britney found her "voice," but only after she found two divorce lawyers, two kids, and a razor.
Parents, you remember this from your youth. Don't be foolish enough to let your children endure the pain that you did! Any copies of this disc should be collected and burned, and forgotten with other such 90s pop stars as NKOTB, Backstreet Boys, and *N Sync. I know Justin Timberlake would agree.
Taylor Swift: Fearless
Release Date: 11/11/08
Genre(s): Country, Pop
Taylor Swift started out as a preteen songwriter. Nashville originally snapped her up to write for some of the biggest names in country music. Instead, they recorded the model turned musician and started releasing the bubble gum country pop that Taylor Swift is famous for, such as "Teardrops on my Guitar." Her second album, Fearless, is on the chopping block today.
I'll give Swift this: she can write a hook. Even writing this review, the chorus to "You Belong with Me," is stuck in my head. Darn it. Now I'll have to go listen to The Civil Wars to remind myself that good country music does indeed exist...
The driving force behind this album was the song "Love Story." Given her age, and the content of the song, my guess was that she read Romeo and Juliet (or watched the 90's cult classic with Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes) and wrote a song about it. Most of her songs seem to read from a teenager's diary, and the lyrics from this album are no different. being able to write a hook doesn't mean that you deserve a recording contract or a Grammy. And yet this album guaranteed Swift both.
There's a reason that this album cranked out radio hits and music videos, to be sure. Swift's catchy hooks are easy to get stuck in your head, and her lyrics definitely appeal to her demographic 13-18 age group. All of the girls want to be her, all of the guys want to date her - she's a marketing dream. However, I don't know that I believe for one minute that Swift is the girl on the bleachers, jealous of the cheerleaders. I would more likely believe that Swift was robbed of a proper adolescence. Maybe one day that experience will slip into her lyrics. Maybe then she'd have something to say worth listening to.
Genre(s): Country, Pop
Taylor Swift started out as a preteen songwriter. Nashville originally snapped her up to write for some of the biggest names in country music. Instead, they recorded the model turned musician and started releasing the bubble gum country pop that Taylor Swift is famous for, such as "Teardrops on my Guitar." Her second album, Fearless, is on the chopping block today.
I'll give Swift this: she can write a hook. Even writing this review, the chorus to "You Belong with Me," is stuck in my head. Darn it. Now I'll have to go listen to The Civil Wars to remind myself that good country music does indeed exist...
The driving force behind this album was the song "Love Story." Given her age, and the content of the song, my guess was that she read Romeo and Juliet (or watched the 90's cult classic with Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes) and wrote a song about it. Most of her songs seem to read from a teenager's diary, and the lyrics from this album are no different. being able to write a hook doesn't mean that you deserve a recording contract or a Grammy. And yet this album guaranteed Swift both.
There's a reason that this album cranked out radio hits and music videos, to be sure. Swift's catchy hooks are easy to get stuck in your head, and her lyrics definitely appeal to her demographic 13-18 age group. All of the girls want to be her, all of the guys want to date her - she's a marketing dream. However, I don't know that I believe for one minute that Swift is the girl on the bleachers, jealous of the cheerleaders. I would more likely believe that Swift was robbed of a proper adolescence. Maybe one day that experience will slip into her lyrics. Maybe then she'd have something to say worth listening to.
"Worst" of the Music Industry
So far, many of my posts have highlighted some of my favorites in the music industry. Today, I'd like to touch on some of the "worst" I've discovered in the music industry. Look for today's blog posts to touch on some of the worst the music industry is churning out.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
This Day in Music History: May 1st
Ten Years Ago: Ashanti's "Foolish" was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The top five songs were all hip-hop or R&B.
Twenty Years Ago: "Jump" by Kris Kross was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Bohemian Rhapsody" was #4, even though Freddie Mercury passed away in 1991. This may have been influenced by it's inclusion in the film Wayne's World, or Mercury's recent death.
Thirty Years Ago: "I Love Rock 'n Roll" by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The instrumental theme to the film Chariots of Fire, which recants the story of missionary and Olympic runner Eric Liddell, was #2. If that's not irony...
Elsewhere in the world... one year ago today, Osama bin Laden was located and killed in a raid in Pakistan, at the order of Commander in Chief Obama. Not that this has any musical significance.
10 Underrated Artists: Bon Iver
This dude won a Grammy last year, and suddenly everyone was asking, "Who is Bonnie Bear?" The sad thing is, most of these same idiots flocked to theatres for the Twlight films, so they've hear his music before. He's also worked with Kanye West, who seems to provide more "leading" to the general public than the elected officials. Bon Iver, a.k.a. Justin Vernon, started out making music out of a cabin in the woods. Since then, he's gone from an indie inspiration to a fresh breeze in the recording industry. His vocals nearly whisper in falsetto tones as he coasts through his lyrics. Each song from Bon Iver is more than just lyrics and chords; truly, all of Vernon's masterpieces are compositions, in an industry where music has nearly lost its artistry.
You may have heard "Holocene," the single that brought Bon Iver out of obscurity. Here's a few others to check out:
"Skinny Love," For Emma, Forever Ago
"Blindsided," For Emma, Forever Ago
"Rosalyn," Twilight Saga: New Moon, Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
"Blood Bank," Blood Bank EP
You may have heard "Holocene," the single that brought Bon Iver out of obscurity. Here's a few others to check out:
"Skinny Love," For Emma, Forever Ago
"Blindsided," For Emma, Forever Ago
"Rosalyn," Twilight Saga: New Moon, Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
"Blood Bank," Blood Bank EP
Colbie Caillat: Coco
Release Date: 07/07/07
Genre: Singer/Songwriter, Pop, Acoustic
Mother's Day is coming up. To treat my mom, we're going to see a concert at the local St. Augustine Ampitheatre: Gavin Degraw and Colbie Caillat. In preparation for this, I decided to check out some of the music that made her famous, so I can at least know what I'm getting into.
I started at the very beginning, with Coco. Unless you've lived under a rock for the past few years, you've probably heard that annoying song, "Bubbly" playing somewhere. On the radio, at the supermarket, at the gas station, at the mall, in your doctor's office - everywhere. And then it gets stuck in your head, and you want to knock yourself out just to get it to stop playing. If someone could please explain to me what a "bubbly" face is, and why it's a GOOD thing, I'd really appreciate it. When I think of a "bubbly" face, I think of someone who needs to get better skin care products.
Now, clearly, Caillat is not one of the people that needs better skin care products. She looks like she's fresh out of a Hollister ad, and her music sounds like the perfect backdrop. Aside from the breakthrough hit, "Bubbly," Caillat's stuff sounds just as good as everyone else in her singer/songwriter genre. One unique thing I will mention about Caillat's music is that she sings a full octave lower than she plays. Caillat is clearly an alto singer, hitting the falsetto much lower than some of her peers, but she plays nearly every song with a high capo. This trademark composition style makes her music easy to pick out from the crowd. However, 12 tracks of this seems a bit tedious. I can't imagine what the next 2 albums will sound like.
Genre: Singer/Songwriter, Pop, Acoustic
Mother's Day is coming up. To treat my mom, we're going to see a concert at the local St. Augustine Ampitheatre: Gavin Degraw and Colbie Caillat. In preparation for this, I decided to check out some of the music that made her famous, so I can at least know what I'm getting into.
I started at the very beginning, with Coco. Unless you've lived under a rock for the past few years, you've probably heard that annoying song, "Bubbly" playing somewhere. On the radio, at the supermarket, at the gas station, at the mall, in your doctor's office - everywhere. And then it gets stuck in your head, and you want to knock yourself out just to get it to stop playing. If someone could please explain to me what a "bubbly" face is, and why it's a GOOD thing, I'd really appreciate it. When I think of a "bubbly" face, I think of someone who needs to get better skin care products.
Now, clearly, Caillat is not one of the people that needs better skin care products. She looks like she's fresh out of a Hollister ad, and her music sounds like the perfect backdrop. Aside from the breakthrough hit, "Bubbly," Caillat's stuff sounds just as good as everyone else in her singer/songwriter genre. One unique thing I will mention about Caillat's music is that she sings a full octave lower than she plays. Caillat is clearly an alto singer, hitting the falsetto much lower than some of her peers, but she plays nearly every song with a high capo. This trademark composition style makes her music easy to pick out from the crowd. However, 12 tracks of this seems a bit tedious. I can't imagine what the next 2 albums will sound like.
10 Underrated Artists: Lifehouse
It's hard to classify a band as "underrated" when they've had some of the biggest hits in a decade. Try finding a wedding scene on TV that doesn't have "You and Me" playing in the background. I dare you. For that matter, find a person who hasn't heard "Hanging by a Moment" enough to know the lyrics. I think I even heard it in Walmart just the other day. Every Lifehouse album seems to churn out at least one radio hit that is guaranteed to take the album gold, if not platinum.
These hits transfer to the stage quite well. I've seen this band live 3 times now, and each time they give 100% on stage. They sound just as clean and polished on stage as they do on the CD. I don't mean that in the sense that they sound like they're singing along to a recording; they're that practiced, smooth with their songs that playing them live is as natural as breathing.
But the hits aren't what makes this band great. Jason Wade can write a hook better than almost anyone in the business. However, hidden between tracks like "Hanging by a Moment" and "First Time" are depth and emotion that few even know about. Tracks like "Walking Away," where Jason Wade addresses his father, who walked out on his family when Jason was young. You find tracks like "Storm," which Jason wrote as a worship song years ago, when he was a worship leader in California. And I haven't even hit the bonus tracks you can find on the imports.
Lifehouse has seen a rotation of musicians backing Jason Wade since No Name Face came out in 2001. The current lineup includes Bryce Soderberg, Rick Woolstenhume, and Ben Carey. One of the most amazing things about this group is that it really is a band, despite the heavy rotation. While Jason does most of the writing, this group functions more as a unit instead of a group of guys fueling the front man. It's because of that solid structure that we haven't seen the last, or even the best, from Lifehouse yet.
Lifehouse is currently recording their 6th studio album. If you don't have their album's yet, my recommendation is to start with Who We Are or No Name Face. Here's a few of my favorite tracks:
"Storm," Who We Are
"Better Luck Next Time," Lifehouse
"Nerve Damage," Smoker and Mirrors
"Everything," No Name Face
"Sky is Falling," Stanley Climbfall
These hits transfer to the stage quite well. I've seen this band live 3 times now, and each time they give 100% on stage. They sound just as clean and polished on stage as they do on the CD. I don't mean that in the sense that they sound like they're singing along to a recording; they're that practiced, smooth with their songs that playing them live is as natural as breathing.
But the hits aren't what makes this band great. Jason Wade can write a hook better than almost anyone in the business. However, hidden between tracks like "Hanging by a Moment" and "First Time" are depth and emotion that few even know about. Tracks like "Walking Away," where Jason Wade addresses his father, who walked out on his family when Jason was young. You find tracks like "Storm," which Jason wrote as a worship song years ago, when he was a worship leader in California. And I haven't even hit the bonus tracks you can find on the imports.
Lifehouse has seen a rotation of musicians backing Jason Wade since No Name Face came out in 2001. The current lineup includes Bryce Soderberg, Rick Woolstenhume, and Ben Carey. One of the most amazing things about this group is that it really is a band, despite the heavy rotation. While Jason does most of the writing, this group functions more as a unit instead of a group of guys fueling the front man. It's because of that solid structure that we haven't seen the last, or even the best, from Lifehouse yet.
Lifehouse is currently recording their 6th studio album. If you don't have their album's yet, my recommendation is to start with Who We Are or No Name Face. Here's a few of my favorite tracks:
"Storm," Who We Are
"Better Luck Next Time," Lifehouse
"Nerve Damage," Smoker and Mirrors
"Everything," No Name Face
"Sky is Falling," Stanley Climbfall
Concert: Michelle Branch
In my hiatus, I have had the pleasure of attending one concert: Michelle Branch. Thanks to my Twitter obsession, I was able to discover that she was playing locally. On short notice, my husband and I were still able to grab some good tickets.
I had all of Michelle's albums, as well as her work with The Wreckers. She was a staple on the radio during my late teens and early college years. I've even covered "Goodbye to You" a few times in recent years. Her stuff was always solid.
What I didn't bank on was how well her talent would transfer to the stage. Michelle has what is commonly referred to as "perfect pitch." The woman can't miss a note. Furthermore, that well-tuned instrument that is her voice is paired with passion and solid guitar playing. With a three piece band, Michelle filled the place with sound. During tracks like "Loud Music," everyone (young and old, male and female) couldn't help but sing along.
The best part of the whole show was seeing her personality come through. She KNEW her audience. She polled for requests on Twitter before the show, and played a special song for an audience member who flew in from Europe. She came across as accessible, and the end result was a touching performance set.
That being said, there was also something missing. Her impressive, award winning body of work from The Wreckers was nearly absent. Despite the cries from the audience for some of The Wrecker's hits, Michelle kept churning out stuff from her new album.
What this concert did provide was proof that Michelle is still at the top of her game, ten years after the release of The Spirit Room. It also gave the fans that taste of the best from Michelle's solo work. If you're willing to forget The Wreckers ever happened, then this might have been the best Michelle Branch concert ever.
I had all of Michelle's albums, as well as her work with The Wreckers. She was a staple on the radio during my late teens and early college years. I've even covered "Goodbye to You" a few times in recent years. Her stuff was always solid.
What I didn't bank on was how well her talent would transfer to the stage. Michelle has what is commonly referred to as "perfect pitch." The woman can't miss a note. Furthermore, that well-tuned instrument that is her voice is paired with passion and solid guitar playing. With a three piece band, Michelle filled the place with sound. During tracks like "Loud Music," everyone (young and old, male and female) couldn't help but sing along.
The best part of the whole show was seeing her personality come through. She KNEW her audience. She polled for requests on Twitter before the show, and played a special song for an audience member who flew in from Europe. She came across as accessible, and the end result was a touching performance set.
That being said, there was also something missing. Her impressive, award winning body of work from The Wreckers was nearly absent. Despite the cries from the audience for some of The Wrecker's hits, Michelle kept churning out stuff from her new album.
What this concert did provide was proof that Michelle is still at the top of her game, ten years after the release of The Spirit Room. It also gave the fans that taste of the best from Michelle's solo work. If you're willing to forget The Wreckers ever happened, then this might have been the best Michelle Branch concert ever.
The Civil Wars: Barton Hollow
Release Date: 02/01/11
Genre(s): Country, Bluegrass, Indie
To start my return to music reviews, I figured I'd start out with a not-so-indie group out of Nashville. Actually, if you trace the roots of The Civil Wars, you'll find out that Joy Williams came through Contemporary Christian Music as a teenager in California, and then left it all behind for Nashville. The result was a small label, a grass roots duo, and a BIG sound. Barton Hollow sounds just like the music you'd hear at your local crawfish boil or small town festival deep in the south. For some of you, that sounds like home; for others, it sounds like another world. The tracks that make up this album really dig down deep into the emotions of the men and women in the South, with such depth that it reaches out and grabs the rest of America. The song that has been haunting me for months is "I've Got This Friend." Not only do the lyrics beautifully tell the story of two friends, and that wonderful moment when they realize the one they're looking for has been right there all along, but the melody itself is hauntingly beautiful.
Then there's the title track, "Barton Hollow." I heard that for one minute during the Grammys. The next day I went and downloaded the album. The harmonies, the melody, the voices, the twang - I was blown away. And, from what record sales tell me, so was everyone else.
If you don't have this album, get it. If you HATE country music, and don't have this album - get it anyway. This is country music for people who hate country music but LOVE good music. Some albums simply transcend genres, and Barton Hallow is one of them.
Genre(s): Country, Bluegrass, Indie
To start my return to music reviews, I figured I'd start out with a not-so-indie group out of Nashville. Actually, if you trace the roots of The Civil Wars, you'll find out that Joy Williams came through Contemporary Christian Music as a teenager in California, and then left it all behind for Nashville. The result was a small label, a grass roots duo, and a BIG sound. Barton Hollow sounds just like the music you'd hear at your local crawfish boil or small town festival deep in the south. For some of you, that sounds like home; for others, it sounds like another world. The tracks that make up this album really dig down deep into the emotions of the men and women in the South, with such depth that it reaches out and grabs the rest of America. The song that has been haunting me for months is "I've Got This Friend." Not only do the lyrics beautifully tell the story of two friends, and that wonderful moment when they realize the one they're looking for has been right there all along, but the melody itself is hauntingly beautiful.
Then there's the title track, "Barton Hollow." I heard that for one minute during the Grammys. The next day I went and downloaded the album. The harmonies, the melody, the voices, the twang - I was blown away. And, from what record sales tell me, so was everyone else.
If you don't have this album, get it. If you HATE country music, and don't have this album - get it anyway. This is country music for people who hate country music but LOVE good music. Some albums simply transcend genres, and Barton Hallow is one of them.
Thoughts on Cover Songs
I've been a guitar player for over 10 years now. I've played Christian music, rock music, folk, country, jazz, and lot of other stuff. However, God didn't see fit to provide me with the musical creativity to write my own stuff. So, as I try to develop as a better player (and singer), I find myself stuck with covers. Unless anyone wants to take up writing songs for me, all of my gigs from here to eternity will be covers.
I know I'm not alone in this boat. If you walk into an open mic night at your local bar or coffee shop (if you are indeed lucky enough to have a local bar or coffee shop with that vibe), you'll likely hear half a dozen renditions of "Wonderwall" before the night is out. You'll be bored before the first chorus. However, if you stick around through the unrecognizable Beatles covers and 15 versions of Hallelujah (many of which are not in tune), you'll stumble across a few gems. You'll find that dead broke college student, who just broke up with his girlfriend, connecting to a Dashboard Confessional song. You'll find that recently replaced housewife connecting to every emotion in Adele's "Someone Like You." Nearly every open mic night will be unforgettable, but you'll leave talking to your friends and family about that one song that put the rest to shame.
After 10 years of playing to churches, I know I'd like to spread my wings and hit some of my local open mics. As I do, I'll share my set lists. Feel free to share yours as well!
I know I'm not alone in this boat. If you walk into an open mic night at your local bar or coffee shop (if you are indeed lucky enough to have a local bar or coffee shop with that vibe), you'll likely hear half a dozen renditions of "Wonderwall" before the night is out. You'll be bored before the first chorus. However, if you stick around through the unrecognizable Beatles covers and 15 versions of Hallelujah (many of which are not in tune), you'll stumble across a few gems. You'll find that dead broke college student, who just broke up with his girlfriend, connecting to a Dashboard Confessional song. You'll find that recently replaced housewife connecting to every emotion in Adele's "Someone Like You." Nearly every open mic night will be unforgettable, but you'll leave talking to your friends and family about that one song that put the rest to shame.
After 10 years of playing to churches, I know I'd like to spread my wings and hit some of my local open mics. As I do, I'll share my set lists. Feel free to share yours as well!
Return to Blogging!
I've only had 22 views, so I doubt that anyone has missed me. But, alas, graduate school and married life have subsided long enough for me to return to this beautiful hobby of music reviews! In light of Record Store Day 2012, I have been newly inspired to return to my "accidental" music review blog as I sift through some exciting new (and not so new) music. Look for LOTS of posts in the weeks to come.
And, in case you aren't following enough people on Twitter already, please follow me! @bconvoy
And, in case you aren't following enough people on Twitter already, please follow me! @bconvoy
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