Exploring the Intriguing
Category: Music
Okay, this isn’t about me as much as it is my son. He’s 9 (and a half) and listens to Radio Disney and enjoys artists like Vanessa Hudgens. But he also loves James Brown and Michael Jackson and in the last few weeks has pushed George Benson to all his classmates. Now most of the 3rd graders in his school listen to George Benson. How fun is that?!?
TP
Another fun new musical find has been Amy Winehouse. Even though she’s better known for her antics than her music she’s a tremendous singer. I’ve listened to Back in Black a few times now and I still can’t decide who she sounds like. But wow, she’s so good. Really talented, self-aware (Rehab?!?) and just plain fun.
Good stuff.
TP
Definitely not punk music. I’ve been discovering Atlanta Rhythm Section lately. This is a 70s ‘Southern Rock’ group that sounds like an interesting cross between Fleetwood Mac, the Doobie Brothers, England Dan/John Ford Coley and Steely Dan with a dash of Eagle thrown in.
The song ‘So Into You’ is an adult contemporary sort of track that rarely gets played on those stations but really should be a staple. They had a few top 40 songs, including So Into You and Spooky but never hit it big. My guess is that because ARS was so comfortable doing rootsy stuff with very little California spin they fell between the cracks a bit, perhaps in the same way that the Indigo Girls don’t really fit the formats of radio stations. (I’d be interested to know what other bands you think have that same problem.)
Regardless, ARS has numerous hidden gems on this 20th century collection I’ve been listening to. A brilliant singer, two versatile guitarists and 70s perfect polish production. Great combo.
TP
Last night, I saw an excellent new punk band called Strokin’ Aces. They’re just starting to gig consistently but they’re already really good. Punk isn’t my standard cup of tea but their musicality was obvious. I kept hoping that they’d chill on the in between song guitar tones because people wanted to clap and cheer but there wasn’t quite enough space between songs to do that. That’s a minor bitch of course. Strokin’ Aces played some fun, interesting music really well. I’m definitely planning to show up to watch them at a Battle of the Bands in Indy in a few weeks at Birdy’s (the site of an incredibly tight Prince aftershow a few years ago).
Their myspace page is here Strokin’ Aces
TP
Am I somehow becoming younger or is youth oriented music just a lot better than it was ten years ago? Nelly Furtado’s Say It Right is just the latest in a surprisingly long line of fun, interesting music that features clever lyrics, inventive sounds and a sense of optimism. Comparing it to the loud, hard, dark music of the 90s is really intriguing to me. I’m curious as to why the shift has been so substantial. If nothing else, I’m happy about it!
TP
I’m watching Tommy, actually just the last 45 minutes or so. I don’t know Tommy other than a couple songs. In fact, it’s only been in the last nine months or so that I’ve listened to my first Who album in its entirety. I’ve heard many of their singles on the radio but none of my music listener friends were ever into the Who while we shared music. Rachel has some of their albums but it’s not part of our shared musical vocab at all. So far, Tommy seems like about five music videos thrown all together. Since I didn’t see the start of the film I don’t know any of the connections. Other than this messiah stuff (which must have maddened the conservative element, right?) anyway.
Okay, so why is Roger Daltrey even in this band? It certainly isn’t as though Pete Townshend needed him to get any of the music out, yes? Is it because Daltrey is the kind of frontman who garnered attention? He’s very handsome, has the long hair and skinny legs which combined which manic energy probably made the concert experience much more 70s typical. hmmm. The whole thing is very curious to me.
Hmmm. Hopefully I’ll make a concerted effort to hear more Who.
TP
While watching a Missy Elliott video I asked Rachel if she thought Missy gave off ‘gay vibes’.
Rachel gave me the ‘are you kidding?’ look and responded “Missy Elliott is like Liberace to me.”
Needed to share that.
TP
Yes, it’s true. The Godfather of Soul is dead. It’s hard to acknowledge all the impacts James Brown has had on American society. It’s so much broader than music and includes politics, drugs, urban violence, Black identity, sports and so much more.
Mr. Dynamite was more than an entertainer and an icon; he was a force for positive social, cultural and personal change. His power was more an expression of will than a manifestation of skill. To begin life with so little and end it as such a revolutionary force is an amazing example of how much an individual can accomplish.
In my Black History class, I identify the Hardest Working Man in Show Business as one of the 10 most important Black Americans of the 20th century. I can only hope that the positive elements of his legacy (and the lessons of his monumental failures) are remembered as long as his music will be heard.
Soul Brother No. 1, it’s only been a day, but we already miss you.
FDO
Yes, it’s true. The Godfather of Soul is dead. It’s hard to acknowledge all the impacts James Brown has had on American society. It’s so much broader than music and includes politics, drugs, urban violence, Black identity, sports and so much more.
Mr. Dynamite was more than an entertainer and an icon; he was a force for positive social, cultural and personal change. His power was more an expression of will than a manifestation of skill. To begin life with so little and end it as such a revolutionary force is an amazing example of how much an individual can accomplish.
In my Black History class, I identify the Hardest Working Man in Show Business as one of the 10 most important Black Americans of the 20th century. I can only hope that the positive elements of his legacy (and the lessons of his monumental failures) are remembered as long as his music will be heard.
Soul Brother No. 1, it’s only been a day, but we already miss you.
TP
Watching Run-DMC’s Christmas in Hollis ten minutes after seeing Jay-Z’s … actually, I don’t even remember what the name of the song is but the point is that the contrast is absolutely stunning. * Nearly laughable in fact. I imagine this is what people felt in 1967 when they heard Sgt. Peppers’ for the first time. They all knew that they had liked Bill Haley’s Rock Around the Clock. After Peppers’ they felt embarrassed.
I feel like this listening to Jay-Z. The wall of sound, the percussive impact of the drums and the piano, the warmth of the shifts between instruments, the frenetic urgency of the entire production (They declare this song as their statement. Can you top this?). Even listening to this on a relatively poor sound system it still feels like the group might be on the other side of your wall.
Hollis in Queens sounds like it is supposed to be coming to you through an AM clock radio.
TP
*- Oh yeah, it’s called “Show Me What You Got”
fixed
The WhoDeannyPod 