The music blog continues at http://musicbymusicians.blogspot.com.
This week: musical tones and textures. Some artists use them really well and others don't. Sometimes they make all the difference. There are so many artists I could write about, but I need to keep this readable. Plus I have about 40 pages worth of university papers to write by the end of the week, so I really need to get off this and onto that.
In short, I'd say some genres rely on a wider variety or usage of tones than others, but in almost any genre, one can be a really good musician but simply fail to stand out because one does not exhibit sufficient stylistic uniqueness. Here are a few music groups of varying musical genres and a little commentary on what I think makes them stand out.
Thrice
Post-hardcore band Thrice's second most recent album Vheissu was an accomplishment and fans were deeply impressed. However, Thrice has outdone themselves once again with the completion of this year's two-part, four-disc release The Alchemy Index. Each disc features six songs representing one of the four classical elements: Fire, Water, Air, and Earth. The styles and textures of each disc reflect each element beautifully. "Firebreather" begins the album with harsh overdriven guitars comparable to the heavier tracks on Vheissu before plunging into Disc II: Water - which uses more electronic elelments to create a shimmering pool of fluid, rippling sound - but not lacking any of the depth and vigour of Disc I thanks to songs like the forceful instrumental "Night Diving". Disc III begins with a noticeably lighter tone to it, chiming harmonies played possibly indicative of wind chimes, then launches into a clouded and grainy texture which reminds me of pollution. Clever? I think so. Correct? I'd have to ask the band. Finally, Disc IV: Earth, which remains my favourite for its humble, worshipful lyrics and natural, acoustic vibe. Again, I'll make another allegorical stretch - but I would say it reflects the earth acknowledging its Creator.
Dave Matthews Band & Tim Reynolds
If you haven't heard of Dave Matthews Band, they have a really interesting story. I saw them play at the Gorge in Washington State this summer and it was the most amazing auditory/visual spectacle I have ever witnessed, bumping Mute Math's energetic performance at the Vancouver Commodore Ballroom into second place.
Listen to the bass, listen to the strings, listen to the brass, listen to the incredible drummer Carter Beauford whose philosophy seems to be an understanding of the drums as another instrument rather than just percussion. Also listen to how Dave Matthews uses his voice, and of course to the techniques and tones accompanyist Tim Reynolds employs.
Don't Drink The Water (Dave Matthews Band)
What You Are (Dave Matthews Band)
Seek Up (Dave Matthews Band)
You Are My Sanity (Tim Reynolds)
Betrayal (Tim Reynolds)
Victor Wooten
Victor plays bass in Bela Fleck & The Flecktones and he is considered the premier bassist of our time. Ah, you know what...just watch this video. By the end of it, you should be impressed. If not, you lose. Need I say much more, except to check out many other videos - especially this one of he and his brother Reggie having a guitar battle.
My Brightest Diamond
Shara Worden, who fronts My Brightest Diamond, is the daughter of a musician and has a degree in opera. She began her musical career at age 3 with her first song and kind of blossomed from there. She has been inspired by artists like Nina Simone and Rebecca Moore. While playing with her band Awry, she met Sufjan Stevens and became one of the Illinoisemakers. After the breakup of Awry, Shara brought together a group of musicians using instruments as various as wine glasses and wind chimes and My Brightest Diamond was formed.
I'm going to write about a single song, "Inside A Boy", and I'm going to begin my saying I wish I could listen to it on really, really good speakers so I could fully indulge in the slithering basslines and driving guitar beneath Shara Worden's soaring, gliding vocals. It really is exquisite, and you can find it on Stereogum in the mp3 section.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Sunday, November 9, 2008
'Indie'
It's that time again. I had the weirdest/coolest dream ever. The dream was that "International Honour Indie Music Day" was coming up soon, and I should write a blog on some of my favourite indie (independent) music. I woke up and decided maybe that's not such a bad idea, regardless of whether International Honour Indie Music Day exists or not. Interestingly, this week there seems to be a theme for indie bands beginning with the letter 'b'.
This site claims to have Canada's indie band database. Bands can submit their name to be included, verified by the submission of an album.
Another great site for finding less well-known Canadian music is CBC Radio 3. And let me make a big deal about my favourite music blog site, Stereogum.com. Free, legal downloads, remixes, videos, reviews and music news. You should check it out, and sign up for their weekly newsletter, The 'Gum Drop, which contains a free, artist-sanctioned mp3 download every week!
Fun fact: Portland, Oregon, is known as the indie rock capitol of the world. Vancouver, Seattle, and Portland seem to really encourage artistic vibrancy outside of the conventional mainstream. This psychologist says this sort of vibrancy may something to do with the openness to experience of the liberal mind.
Now indie's a funny thing, and the term 'indie' is often used to attempt to describe a genre which actually doesn't exist. In its true form, 'indie' means that the artist produces their work independently - outside of the clutches of a major record label - thereby securing greater musical and political independence. Thus, indie is not a genre, but it is a label.
Recently, it has become a popular trend in shows like The O.C. and Smallville to seek out and use obscure indie music in their soundtracks. This music becomes popular, which is great for the musicians, but for a number of reasons indie has now become a term that everyone likes to throw around but has jack all of an idea what they are talking about.
For example, The Killers are not indie. They're signed to a major label and get way more radio airtime than they probably deserve. Now Death Cab For Cutie and Radiohead are peculiar cases because they have both released albums independently. Remember In Rainbows (2007) electronic release and the huge fuss a while back? While Death Cab's Ben Gibbard produces work for The Postal Service independently, Death Cab's transition to a major label I believe declassifies that particular band, just as any other who does the same. As for Radiohead, having released 6 studio albums and several live recordings with media giant EMI, and then returned to an independent label, they are a tricky one to classify - in their defense, they fought hard to maintain both lyrical, musical, and political independence from their label right to the end, but I think they just don't quite cut it according to the traditional definition of 'indie'. This does not affect the fact that they are still really awesome.
But enough counter-examples, and on with the list:
Currently listening: "In Love" - Jon Foreman - The Song Inside the Sounds of Breaking Down
Bodies of Water
I'm just going to go out on a limb here and do some musical calculation for you:
Kings of Leon + Arcade Fire ÷ of Montreal = Bodies of Water. If that sounds like math you might enjoy doing, I would urge you to calculate your way over to their myspace or last.fm page.
(check the back of your textbook if you suspect an error. If that doesn't help you at all, try this one instead)
Maclean
I just found out that Vancouver band Maclean's first full length album Hang This On Your Wall was produced with the guy I'm taking Digital Recording class with next semester. They've toured around the Pacific Northwest, even managing to play an opening act for Lynyrd Skynyrd last July. They play a really ambient, melodious alternative rock, with hints of progressivity (see song "Changing Views").
B
Yep. Just 'B'. They play dreamy, atmospheric post-rock not quite as epic as Godspeed You! Black Emperor but certainly comparable to a slightly less percussive Explosions in the Sky. If you want to find them, it'll take some serious searching on the Internets - I haven't been able to find them yet online, all I know is I own their eponymous four song EP. They played at the awesome Cornerstone Musical Festival this summer and their album is really good for sleepytime, or if played quietly, maybe a good meditative atmosphere.
Blonde Redhead
Driven, bass-heavy rock written by Italian twin brothers Simone and Amedeo Pace and featuring the soaring, expressive vocals of the talented female singer Kazu Makino, based out of New York. You can listen to tracks off their albums here. Make sure to check out '23' when you do.
This site claims to have Canada's indie band database. Bands can submit their name to be included, verified by the submission of an album.
Another great site for finding less well-known Canadian music is CBC Radio 3. And let me make a big deal about my favourite music blog site, Stereogum.com. Free, legal downloads, remixes, videos, reviews and music news. You should check it out, and sign up for their weekly newsletter, The 'Gum Drop, which contains a free, artist-sanctioned mp3 download every week!
Fun fact: Portland, Oregon, is known as the indie rock capitol of the world. Vancouver, Seattle, and Portland seem to really encourage artistic vibrancy outside of the conventional mainstream. This psychologist says this sort of vibrancy may something to do with the openness to experience of the liberal mind.
Now indie's a funny thing, and the term 'indie' is often used to attempt to describe a genre which actually doesn't exist. In its true form, 'indie' means that the artist produces their work independently - outside of the clutches of a major record label - thereby securing greater musical and political independence. Thus, indie is not a genre, but it is a label.
Recently, it has become a popular trend in shows like The O.C. and Smallville to seek out and use obscure indie music in their soundtracks. This music becomes popular, which is great for the musicians, but for a number of reasons indie has now become a term that everyone likes to throw around but has jack all of an idea what they are talking about.
For example, The Killers are not indie. They're signed to a major label and get way more radio airtime than they probably deserve. Now Death Cab For Cutie and Radiohead are peculiar cases because they have both released albums independently. Remember In Rainbows (2007) electronic release and the huge fuss a while back? While Death Cab's Ben Gibbard produces work for The Postal Service independently, Death Cab's transition to a major label I believe declassifies that particular band, just as any other who does the same. As for Radiohead, having released 6 studio albums and several live recordings with media giant EMI, and then returned to an independent label, they are a tricky one to classify - in their defense, they fought hard to maintain both lyrical, musical, and political independence from their label right to the end, but I think they just don't quite cut it according to the traditional definition of 'indie'. This does not affect the fact that they are still really awesome.
But enough counter-examples, and on with the list:
Currently listening: "In Love" - Jon Foreman - The Song Inside the Sounds of Breaking Down
Bodies of Water
I'm just going to go out on a limb here and do some musical calculation for you:
Kings of Leon + Arcade Fire ÷ of Montreal = Bodies of Water. If that sounds like math you might enjoy doing, I would urge you to calculate your way over to their myspace or last.fm page.
(check the back of your textbook if you suspect an error. If that doesn't help you at all, try this one instead)
Maclean
I just found out that Vancouver band Maclean's first full length album Hang This On Your Wall was produced with the guy I'm taking Digital Recording class with next semester. They've toured around the Pacific Northwest, even managing to play an opening act for Lynyrd Skynyrd last July. They play a really ambient, melodious alternative rock, with hints of progressivity (see song "Changing Views").
B
Yep. Just 'B'. They play dreamy, atmospheric post-rock not quite as epic as Godspeed You! Black Emperor but certainly comparable to a slightly less percussive Explosions in the Sky. If you want to find them, it'll take some serious searching on the Internets - I haven't been able to find them yet online, all I know is I own their eponymous four song EP. They played at the awesome Cornerstone Musical Festival this summer and their album is really good for sleepytime, or if played quietly, maybe a good meditative atmosphere.
Blonde Redhead
Driven, bass-heavy rock written by Italian twin brothers Simone and Amedeo Pace and featuring the soaring, expressive vocals of the talented female singer Kazu Makino, based out of New York. You can listen to tracks off their albums here. Make sure to check out '23' when you do.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Jeremy Enigk, Iain Cook, and UK garage rock
In keeping with my promise for a weekly expository music blog...
Jeremy Enigk
Jeremy is my musical role model. He has inspired me to seek out new musical and lyrical ground and express my faith naturally through my music, rather than focusing on an explicitly Christian message which can sound cheesy and insincere. Throughout the 90's, Enigk accomplished musical fame as the lead singer of groundbreaking Seattle alternative/emocore band Sunny Day Real Estate. Mid-decade, he realized his life was crashing and cried out for help. He recounts the story thus:
"For a long time I dwelt on a lot of pain in my life. Pain that I had tried to get rid of in many different ways. I watched myself slowly shrivel up into a hopeless, bitter and lonely person. Well one thing led to another and I could not take it anymore so I took a shot on calling upon God. He answered me. My pain was gone. I was full of joy. I had hope again. All the hope that was squeezed out of me was replaced ten times. I have given my life to Christ".
Sunny Day Real Estate finally broke up after releasing The Rising Tide, and Jeremy became frontman for The Fire Theft, who arose from the ashes of Sunny Day Real Estate. Their song "Uncle Mountain" contains my favourite line of all time:
"I want love, if love wants me,
I want God, if God wants me"
Jeremy now performs solo material, generally with accompanying musicians and sometimes a string ensemble. His vocals featured on two tracks on MewithoutYou's Brother, Sister.
The Subways
Originally known as Mustardseed, and later Platypus, The Subways are Billy Lunn (guitars/vocals), Charlotte Cooper (bass/vocals), and Josh Morgan (drums). They formed in 2003, hailing from Hertfordshire, England. They play pulsing garage rock; if you like bands like The Libertines, Dirty Pretty Things, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, you will love The Subways.
Iain Cook
A fellow student at my university, Iain asked me to play clarinet on his first EP entitled "Similar Songs". During the recording session, I was messing around playing airily at a break between takes, when Iain all of a sudden said, "Wait, do that again. That sounds kind of dreamy. I like that. Let's use it". So that is how I ended up using improper clarinet technique on my first professoinal clarinet recording.
Iain plays piano and enlisted the help of several Trinity Western University musicians during the recording and performance process, including TWU Orchestra violinist concertmaster Brielle Goheen, and cellists Elisabeth Fallon and Brian Chan (who also contributes to In Medias Res). Iain plays with a community of musicians in Knoxville, TN. Definitely check Iain's music profile out, and purchase some tracks!
Jeremy Enigk
Jeremy is my musical role model. He has inspired me to seek out new musical and lyrical ground and express my faith naturally through my music, rather than focusing on an explicitly Christian message which can sound cheesy and insincere. Throughout the 90's, Enigk accomplished musical fame as the lead singer of groundbreaking Seattle alternative/emocore band Sunny Day Real Estate. Mid-decade, he realized his life was crashing and cried out for help. He recounts the story thus:
"For a long time I dwelt on a lot of pain in my life. Pain that I had tried to get rid of in many different ways. I watched myself slowly shrivel up into a hopeless, bitter and lonely person. Well one thing led to another and I could not take it anymore so I took a shot on calling upon God. He answered me. My pain was gone. I was full of joy. I had hope again. All the hope that was squeezed out of me was replaced ten times. I have given my life to Christ".
Sunny Day Real Estate finally broke up after releasing The Rising Tide, and Jeremy became frontman for The Fire Theft, who arose from the ashes of Sunny Day Real Estate. Their song "Uncle Mountain" contains my favourite line of all time:
"I want love, if love wants me,
I want God, if God wants me"
Jeremy now performs solo material, generally with accompanying musicians and sometimes a string ensemble. His vocals featured on two tracks on MewithoutYou's Brother, Sister.
The Subways
Originally known as Mustardseed, and later Platypus, The Subways are Billy Lunn (guitars/vocals), Charlotte Cooper (bass/vocals), and Josh Morgan (drums). They formed in 2003, hailing from Hertfordshire, England. They play pulsing garage rock; if you like bands like The Libertines, Dirty Pretty Things, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, you will love The Subways.
Iain Cook
A fellow student at my university, Iain asked me to play clarinet on his first EP entitled "Similar Songs". During the recording session, I was messing around playing airily at a break between takes, when Iain all of a sudden said, "Wait, do that again. That sounds kind of dreamy. I like that. Let's use it". So that is how I ended up using improper clarinet technique on my first professoinal clarinet recording.
Iain plays piano and enlisted the help of several Trinity Western University musicians during the recording and performance process, including TWU Orchestra violinist concertmaster Brielle Goheen, and cellists Elisabeth Fallon and Brian Chan (who also contributes to In Medias Res). Iain plays with a community of musicians in Knoxville, TN. Definitely check Iain's music profile out, and purchase some tracks!
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Female vocalists // Socially conscious hip-hop
Some of my friends call me the walking jukebox. It's true, I have a musical mind, and between playing and listening to music, I manage to fit the rest of my too-busy life in. But what am I supposed to do with all this music knowledge? I'm not going to work at a record store or radio station as I'm being directed down another path, but music is still one of the largest components to my life. So I'm putting my skills of seeking out, evaluating, and mentally mapping out new music to work. Don't hold me to this promise, but every week, I'm going to try my best to post and link a descriptive list of music I've been finding. If you're reading this blog, it is my sincere hope that you'll find something you might like!
Rachael Yamagata
With the mystery and charm of the girl next door, Rachael's velvety alto voice is a fresh break from your standard diva, and very comparable to Chan Marshall (Cat Power) or Fiona Apple. Musically, she hails from funk roots; latterly her styling has taken a turn towards the alternative singer-songwriter/piano vibe.
A Fine Frenzy
Alison Sudol, in my opinion, pours her very soul into her music. She's also an incredibly stunning 22-year old redhead, which is an incontrovertible fact. Growing up in a literature and arts-geared household, her music reflects a deep understanding of true art - as does her stunning wardrobe, which draws on deep, vibrant greens, blues, oranges, pinks and creams which really accentuate her overall aesthetic.
For starters, I would recommend song "You Picked Me" off the album "One Cell In The Sea". Her live DVD showcases her true talent as both lead vocalist and lead instrumentalist - expertly at both. Her barefoot, expressionate playing sends shivers down my spine - although the cool October evening breeze through my window is partially to blame.
Flobots
What do you get when you combine a classically trained violinist, a jazz trumpeter, a bass, a guitar, a drum kit, and two rappers passionate about social justice and bringing redemption to America's international reputation through national initiatives? The Flobots fit the bill - a performance hip-hop sextet who cover everything from the logistical clusterf*ck of the New Orleans governmental response program to U.S.-sanctioned topplings of elected South and Central American heads of state resistant to U.S. foreign policy. Watch their video "Rise" here.
Rachael Yamagata
With the mystery and charm of the girl next door, Rachael's velvety alto voice is a fresh break from your standard diva, and very comparable to Chan Marshall (Cat Power) or Fiona Apple. Musically, she hails from funk roots; latterly her styling has taken a turn towards the alternative singer-songwriter/piano vibe.
A Fine Frenzy
Alison Sudol, in my opinion, pours her very soul into her music. She's also an incredibly stunning 22-year old redhead, which is an incontrovertible fact. Growing up in a literature and arts-geared household, her music reflects a deep understanding of true art - as does her stunning wardrobe, which draws on deep, vibrant greens, blues, oranges, pinks and creams which really accentuate her overall aesthetic.
For starters, I would recommend song "You Picked Me" off the album "One Cell In The Sea". Her live DVD showcases her true talent as both lead vocalist and lead instrumentalist - expertly at both. Her barefoot, expressionate playing sends shivers down my spine - although the cool October evening breeze through my window is partially to blame.
Flobots
What do you get when you combine a classically trained violinist, a jazz trumpeter, a bass, a guitar, a drum kit, and two rappers passionate about social justice and bringing redemption to America's international reputation through national initiatives? The Flobots fit the bill - a performance hip-hop sextet who cover everything from the logistical clusterf*ck of the New Orleans governmental response program to U.S.-sanctioned topplings of elected South and Central American heads of state resistant to U.S. foreign policy. Watch their video "Rise" here.
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