Top Off The List With Something Catchy; The Mob Will Dance, But They Are Easily Pleased. You Put More Effort Into The Mix Than It Was Worth

I am making a playlist for a party next month. Nothing sophisticated. Just slapping together some danceable, sing-a-long songs for a bunch of drunks to stumble to.

I hope to conjure up a variety of memories; hokie middle school dances, slutty excursions to the club and unabashed dancing during household cleaning chores.

The main event will be live music via my amateur, punk-indie (and any other constricting label one can think of) band. A few friends will also play in their respective bands.

The playlist will be used in-between, before and after band sets. Really, it is an excuse to throw together music I like and obsessively run through it.

The secret to a good playlist is transitions.

It is those special moments, like when “Hello, Goodbye” by The Beatles starts to fade out and DJ Paul from Three-6 Mafia lets out a long, guttural “yeaaaah”. Or when Meg White of The White Stripes, stomps her bass through the end of a Dr. Dre song.

I have about six hours worth of music on the list. The party will require two hours, tops. But “better to be safe than sorry” an estranged relative once told me over the internet.

Live music, some jolly friends, a little Talking Heads mixed with Snoop Dogg — here’s to a great party next month.

Representing the Other X Chromosome; An Ode to Bands with Boobs, Spunk and Sometimes, Tap Shoes

Ever since women’s suffrage, there has been a steady influx of girls rocking musical instruments. The trend goes like this: chicks replace dicks in rock bands.

Yes, the times are changing.

Women are outnumbering men in higher education. Hillary Clinton is a strong contender in the Democratic race. Indie bands turn men more feminine than the women they play with.

I watched a live performance of Paramore online and mistook the guitarist as a woman. Just at first. It was the ridiculously long side-bangs and cleavage-cut shirt.

I am embarrassed to admit I watched Paramore, let alone that I mistook the guy for a girl, but it is a perfect example of the influence women are having on rock.

I mean, try picturing the Cure without eyeliner and smudged lipstick.

It is not just the clothes, makeup and accessories though.

The roots of women rockers lies in the plethora of girl-groups that existed during Motown’s reign. The women who sang classical blues in the 20s and 30s precede even this.

The biggest evolution in music is the mixture of male and female influences into one sound and the prevailing notion of “girls as always the singer” lessening over time.

Not that female singers are a bad thing; far from it. Joni Mitchell and Janis Joplin prove that girls can belt a tune straight to the soul’s core. No Doubt, Jefferson Airplane, Evanesence and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are all bands with strong, female lead singers (although I would argue the musicality of Evanesence).

Besides singing, many instruments are being grabbed up by women. Even those that have been traditionally masculine in practice. The bass seems to be a popular choice now-a-days.

With her simple, driving bass lines and innocent singing, Kim Deal is amazingly apt as the Pixies bassist. Sharin Foo from the Raveonettes is yet another example of a famous rock bassist. There is also the Talking Heads bassist, Tina Weymouth, … the list goes on forever.

The reason many women turn to the bass guitar is not clear.

Below is an odd and less-than-convincing explanation for the prevalence of women bass players (found on answers.yahoo.com):

“isnt the neck usually thinner? i dont know anything about them or guitars, but i have held one (YEARS AGO) and thought i remembered that. i dunno tho, i’d rather play bass if i were playing, it just seems easier to me (based oh my guitar hero experiences lol).”

The thing to keep in mind is that women and men are integrating more in music then ever before.

The Ettes are a band that break the mold. All the components of the band are women except for the bass guitarist. Their garage rock sound is infectious. Plus, I am a sucker for girls who play drums and make it look good. Other bands with notable female drummers are The White Stripes and Deadboy and The Elephantmen. Like the Ettes, both have that classic garage sound.

Tilly and the Wall is a band with a tap dancer in lieu of a drummer. This is their gimmick and it works quite well. She is quite attractive and a constant amusement to watch during performances. Unfortunately, they do not take advantage of her and the great chemistry between the other band members when recording. Synthesizers and drum machines replace any authentic sound and deteriorate the chemistry witnessed in their live shows. Stomps and tap dancing do shine through, but it is not the same and only becomes repetitive. Logical gut instincts dictate it can never be the same as watching her tramp across the stage live. And with that knowledge, they become just another generic indie-band. A generic indie-band that I would pay to see any day if they came through Florida.

Obviously, my miniature pseudo-history of women’s rock is butchered at best. It passes over events as smoothly as Dick Cheney passes homeless vets on the sidewalk.

There are flaws. Entire genres of music are ignored and a number of female artists not mentioned. Mostly, I did not want this post to become cumbersome and long, listing every female rocker who contributed to music and then still missing some.

Although, I guess it turned into a list anyways.

So continuing the list format of this post, here are some other female musicians you should either look up, re-acquaint yourself with, or nod in satisfaction to.

Dixie Chicks — I liked them even better after they were shunned for being “unpatriotic”. Plus, “Goodbye Earl” is classic.

Salt and Peppa — I think I saw one of them on a reality show recently.

Missy Elliot — She is one of the hottest and most creative rappers alive. Her music slaps a grin on your face.

Patti Smith — I saw an interesting picture of her sweating in front of barrels of fire.

Cat Power — A minimalistic Bob Dylan meets Nico.

Corinne Bailey Rae– “Girl, put your records on, tell me your favorite song…”

Feist — I love the counting and the banjo in “1234″. It’s like Elmo and Big Bird wrote the song.

Kim Gordon — Yet another female bassist. She plays in the highly influential band, Sonic Youth.

Odetta — I have a feeling this woman could knock me on my back with her powerful lungs. I imagine myself leaning toward her in a whirlwind gale. Her guitar strumming is phenomenal.

M.I.A — I mentioned her before. I believe it was my first post on this blog.

My Little Pony was a line of toys that was manufactured in the 1980s; the same decade that Ebony and Ivory was released by Paul McCartney and Steveie Wonder, two musicians who both play piano; as did the late Ray Charles, a man who shook his head a lot while singing; just like Thom Yorke of Radiohead, whose band has a Greatest Hits album in the works. It is being made after the success of their latest Album, In Rainbows; A title that sounds a lot like a My Little Pony Episode

Radiohead will have a greatest hits album.

It is one of the least expected lines in the history of music, right after “Jerry Lee Lewis just married his teen cousin.”

To the band’s credit, they have no part in the creation of the album. And to Jerry Lee Lewis’ credit, he probably really loved his cousin (or something).

The mere mention of the greatest hits album goes against Radiohead’s principles and musical aesthetics. Of course, the idea was cooked up by their former label, EMI.

The timing by the label to make such an album is commercially perfect, synching with the band’s recent album, “In Rainbows” — a stripped-down, more down-to-earth collection of music reminiscent of “OK Computer”. Although in many respects, a blast from the past, “In Rainbows” still maintains the driving repetition and texture laden sound pioneered in their later works. It is like the best parts of indie music sang from the heavens and played with a precise intensity.

Yes, a more accessible album, many said.

What happens if they become too accessible?

Next jingle bells and cracks of a whip will be dubbed over “Karma Police” and slapped on a Christmas album.

“A Radiohead Christmas”. They are one step away from becoming the Beach Boys — a mixture of genius, corny commercialized songs, greatest hits compilations and a Christmas album with a track wailing for “Little Saint Nick”.

Obviously an exaggeration.

It is a guilty pleasure to predict what songs will make the cut on Radiohead’s greatest hits album. The concept is not necessarily all bad.

Many a devoted fan was introduced to their favorite band through a greatest hits record. Though, I am glad this was not the case with my personal discovery of Radiohead.

Listen (It worked for Kurt Vonnegut when he asked):

I was lying on my pool table on the back porch after Hurricane so-and-so took out the power and flung palm fronds and fence posts into my backyard.

I forget how I got a hold of “OK Computer”.

Now that I think of it though, it was a burned copy of the CD. I listened to it through a Mary-Kate and Ashley CD player I had picked up at Walmart for $5.

I listened to that album straight through while lying there sweating. Toads croaked during the silence in between songs. A generator from across the street would start and rumble along with the unearthly guitars and Yorke’s crooning. Without power, the night was pitch black and I could see the stars.

Unfortunately, their hold since then has lessened with each passing album. Yes, I am one of those who could not quite follow Radiohead into their new sound. I am even slightly disappointed in their latest album.

However, watching a music video from “In Rainbows” in a line up of other band’s music videos made me realize how critical I have been. They are still on top of the game. I am only harsh because I compare Radiohead to Radiohead, not to any other band.

So with that, I look forward to critiquing what songs the record industry deems Radiohead’s greatest hits. Will it be an accurate cross-section of the band’s career? Will it merely be what made it on some silly Billboard Charts? Did they really have hits?

We will see.

http://www.nme.com/news/radiohead/34264

Players fondle the innards of a piano; Will.I.am dubs over an Obama speech

A recent NPR story (in true NPR fashion) covered an odd ensemble of musicians who are masters of a unique new instrument called the bowed piano. It is basically the stripped-down guts of a piano. They use things like fishing line, Popsicle sticks and plumbing tape to play the recently invented instrument.

Simply put, it is a piano with the top taken off and the inside strings manipulated by a group of people.

If you enjoy wacky new instruments, this chamber group is for you. Think the Blueman group turned slightly dull and classical. It is five hundred-times better than a video I watched about musicians playing metal folding chairs by scraping and sliding them across a linoleum floor.

The bowed piano music is eerie and beautiful, sparkling and fantastic. The chamber group is intense and amusing to watch.

Go to the site and read the article for yourself. Especially make sure to watch the video performance and interviews where the bowed piano is demonstrated and some of the tricks of the trade showcased.

NPR story on bowed piano

Next to discuss is Will.I.am’s latest song featuring the smooth John Legend, the beautiful Scarlett Johansson, the vegan rapper Common, that girl from CSI and a cluster-fuck of other celebrities echoed and dubbed over a Barack Obama speech.

The song is called “Yes We Can”.

Politics set aside, Obama’s speech is eloquent. His words play out like lyrics and are a natural fit to music; a mix between brilliant speech writing by Honest Abe (“Four score and seven years ago…”) and a jangly call for change by Bob Dylan (“This is the story of the Hurricane”).

The music is hokey, but highly entertaining. The production was done quickly, but is surprisingly professional and flawless. The Cooing and singing of celebrities intermingling with Obama’s speech can give a small migraine at times, but the dubbing process is overall something to be marveled at.

The video was directed be Jesse Dylan, the son who will always live under his father’s shadow (if you do not know who his father is, a clue can be found in my blog about Soy Bomb). Jesse Dylan is also the man who directed American Wedding.

Go ahead, see for yourself. The bellow link goes to a news story about the song, with interviews of Will.I.am and Jess Dylan. There is also clips of the music video and lyrics/words to the side.

YouTube video of news story

Cream of the Crop: Who can Spit it best, who can show the rest; throwing it down, boasting king of the hiphop crown?

Many rappers claim that they are kings of the hip-hop genre, boasting how they spit the sickest rhymes and flow smoothest through time.

Self-promotion is a large part the hiphop world.

Rappers from Lupe Fiasco (“I go by the name of Lupe Fiasco”) to Ludacris (“Luda!”) to Bubba Sparxx (“Okey-dokey, dis dat Bubba talk”) all throw down a plethora of verses in their songs based solely on their name or sometimes … how to spell their name.

“It’s the D, the I, the D, the D, the Y. It’s Diddy (hold up). It’s Diddy (That’s crazy).”

Yes, his name is Diddy.

However boastful an individual may be, there are clearly those that are king of the game and those that are full of hot air. It’s the difference between Scott Stapp and Justin Timberlake. Although in that off-topic example, one can claim both are full of hot air. Yet, there is a clear winner (and it’s not the man with his “eyes wide open”). Yes, a clear winner, unlike the Democratic Super Tuesday primary race going on right now.

Here are a few rappers I don’t think are full of shit. Bow down to your lyrical superiors.

1. Nas — His music is not the type of background noise party-goers love to grind to, but that is why he is so great. The release of Nas’ album, “Hip-hop is Dead” evoked an array of responses. Maybe hip-hop is not dead, but Nas was making a bold statement: stop super-manning that hoe and get into some rap with a message. If you do, it is well worth it.

2. Big Boi — Although I like Andre 3000 more as an artist, Big Boi wins hands down as the lyrical genius of the duo. His response to their split album (i.e. two solo albums packaged under the Outkast name) was eloquently phrased, “Outkast, cell therapy to cell division. We just split it down the middle so you can see both the visions.” His ability to shift rhythm and speed is incredible. One of my favorite lines by him also comes from their latest album: “And judges, just to hold grudges in a courtroom. I want to see your support bra not support you.” A masterpiece of comparison.

3. Tupac — Often more of a poet then rapper. A West coast/East coast feud, only fueled the lyrical skills. Biggie Smalls was amazing at being a gangsta, and had some smooth lines, but he was not near as eloquent and heartfelt as Tupac.

4. Bob Dylan — He was a rapper right? “Subterranean Homesick Blues” is definitely rap, and a good one at that. “Johnny’s in the basement mixing up the medicine. I’m on the pavement thinking about the government.” He even did a more traditional style of rap on an 80s track with Kurtis Blow (although this example is not the best of Dylan’s abilities).

5. Grand Master Flash — One of the pioneers of socially conscious rap. His infectious hooks are classic. “It’s like a jungle out there, it makes wonder how I keep from going under.”– enough said.

6. Anyone from th Wu Tang Clan — And I mean anyone. If I broke them up they would fill too many spots on the list.

7. Sage Francis — Amazing free stylist. I like the grate in his voice, like a white DMX meets Dave Attell, that host from the show “Insomniac”.

8. The Fugees — Wyclef is my favorite although Lauren Hill and the “other guy” (Pras) are great too. A recent viewing of Wyclef’s free style on BET’s “Rap city” solidified my respect for him. More as a whole though, the group was talented, conscious and daring.

9. Bradley Nowel — As the main lyricist of Sublime, he was a master at combining elements of punk, hip-hop, dub and reggae into infectious songs that speak to the soul. “…take hip-hop to a higher ground. And I know how.” An unconventional rap master.

I Did not list too many fun rappers like Biz Markie and Three-6 Mafia. I also Missed some respectable artists like Public Enemy, but will catch them next time. Or maybe next time the list will be of the worst rappers ever. God knows there is enough of them.