1st Anniversary: What I Look For In Music

So it was this time last year when I finally got around to finishing my first blog post, and since I'm procrastinating with the current crop of albums, I thought I might share some of the qualities that I look for in music, as well as some of my personal preferences.

Though you may have kind of guessed some of these if you've been reading these posts (if anyone actually does, and aren't just checking blogs for links to albums), my musical interests are pretty broad, though the qualities I look for in each genre are essentially universal. I like innovative sounds, technical proficiency, and creativity. Redundancy does not sit too well with me, because if all you're doing is retreading, I really don't see why you're bothering. I'm also a firm believer in music as an expression of ideas and emotions; music that is simply "fun" has its place, but baby love love songs or money cash hoes anthems have very little in the way of substance other than their unfortunate commercial appeal. I like music to say something, and this goes especially for hip hop. With more melodically leaning genres, I can see past some lyrical deficiencies, but in a genre that is essentially all about what is being said, you had better be on point. I'm probably more critical on lyrics than the average listener, but if the lyrics were just throwaways, just make instrumentals.

I also like music that sets moods, or tries to take you somewhere. This is one of the reasons I'm a huge fan of psychedelic rock, as well as the artier alternative kind of stuff. I'm a huge fan of prog for that reason as well. The instrumentals are so complex and the lyrics are very intelligent and evocative. That is not to say that one can not play very sparsely and not impress, as my enjoyment of bands such as the Sex Pistols and Joy Division can attest to. But with both of those, they set distinct moods; rage filled and confrontational, or somber and melancholy, respectively.

I feel like I'm rambling here, but I thought I might just expand on that a bit. As for future developments, I'll probably be getting back to reviews soon. Very excited about the news of new Godspeed You! Black Emperor material, as well as the follow up to Benji by Sun Kil Moon coming out later in the year. Looking forward to of Montreal's Aureate Gloom coming out in early March, along with the new Modest Mouse and Cannibal Ox's first LP in a long time. Also eagerly anticipating William Basinski's Cascade, which should be out soon, and keeping my ear to the ground regarding the rumored slew of My Morning Jacket releases in the works. Kigo and J. Francis are also planning new projects that I'm looking forward to hearing, as I have become a fan of both their work over the year. Also really looking forward to Record Store Day this year.

So, I guess I'll be writing soon. If there's an album you think I should listen to,I'm always open to suggestions and always enjoy getting turned on to new stuff.

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Album Spotlight: Live At The Fillmore Auditorium 10/15/66 (Late Show- Signe's Farewell) [2010]

First of all, I apologize to anyone who actually reads this blog for slacking a bit in sharing my thoughts on new releases. I'll probably get around to it eventually. In the meantime, I thought I'd take a look at one of my favorite bands from the 1960s: the Jefferson Airplane.

This live release comes from a time of transition, from the band's initial folk sound to a harder psychedelic sound, as well as a change in female vocalist. By this point, Signe Toly Anderson had been the band's female singer, but after the birth of her child, she decided to leave the band. She would be replaced the next day by Grace Slick, former singer for the Great Society, and the female vocalist most fans would be familiar with (this performance is also available under the name 'Grace's Debut'). 

I find this concert to be a very interesting artifact of the band's early history, and is a must have for fans of Jefferson Airplane Takes Off, as this is more in that vein. It's also interesting to note that this is one of the few releases you'll hear between the hiring of new drummer Spencer Dryden to replace the new Moby Grape front man Skip Spence, and Signe's departure. Signe has quite a different energy than Grace Slick, and is probably a bit more subtle in her approach. Grace is all power, and her contributions, including 'Somebody to Love' and 'White Rabbit' can be seen as influencing and steering the band towards its heavier, later sound. I find it a strange question to think about, but the band could have taken a much different approach had Anderson never left the band. 

Highlights from this concert, at least for me, are the initial version of '3/5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds', which lacks the speed of the later version, and the Signe Anderson showcases, 'High Flyin' Bird' and 'Chauffer Blues'. I'd also recommend the great version of 'Tobacco Road' here. I find this performance very interesting, as the jam elements of the band are still present even this early, but the band is coming into its own and is tightening up by this point. A must hear for hardcore Airplane fans.

Should be posting more soon.

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Review: Kigo- Like Amber

For followers of this blog, it should go without saying that I have become a pretty big kigo fan over the past few releases. There's just something so arresting about the music that Dwayne Pearce makes under this name, and I can't help but keep coming back for each fuzzed out piece of music he throws our way. He recently released the second single from kigo's upcoming album, which I, needless to say, am excited about.

'Like Amber' is a little more subdued than some of kigo's other songs, as the cascading waves of synth replace the fuzzed out guitar tones we've become accustomed to. The guitar here works in more melodic and complex lines that weave their way throughout the track, and I'm really a fan of the chilled out drum track here and how it seems to almost slip off the beat but somehow keep a deeply hypnotic rhythm. Pearce's voice, as always, is well obscured by the rest of the mix, but that really works to incorporate it more as an additional instrument that really complements the ambient synth drone and the guitar work. I do like the fuzzed out sound that other kigo songs have, but I can really appreciate the more subtle nuances of this track due to its quieter nature, and for that I can say its one of kigo's more melodic and beautiful compositions.

With these past few singles, it's really interesting to see the new directions that kigo is taking with this new album, and I think that this project is going to be a pretty diverse and interesting take on shoegaze music. I'm really looking forward to hearing the new project, and I doubt no one is surprised to learn that I liked this track.

I'll be back later to do some more reviews and album spotlights, Not really sure what just yet, but I'm cooking up some stuff.

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Kanye Grammys Rant

Wow. I woke up this morning, having not watched the Grammys (because, come on, it's the Grammys. They don't matter) to see that once again, Kanye West decided to open his noise hole. For those who have not heard, he ran up on stage once again, this time during Beck's acceptance of the Album of the Year award. Nothing was said, but in a later conversation with E! (Irefuse to put news after that), he stated that Beck should have given the award to Beyonce, and that he needs to "respect artistry"and accused him and the Grammys of "diminishing art".

While I can definitely agree with the Grammys diminishing art, I have to stand up for Beck here. Even though Morning Phase wasn't one of my favorite albums by Beck, it demonstrated an artistry and talent that neither Kanye nor Beyonce will ever even dream of possessing. Not only that, but Beck writes his own material. Beyonce's album had a list of writers and producers longer than a novel by Tolstoy. To me, nothing diminishes art like song writing by committee, but this isn't about how overrated Beyonce is as a performer and artist. This is about how Kanye West needs to re examine his life choices, and maybe listen to some music.

While I can respect some of Kanye West's work as a producer, even though all of Yeezus could easily be seen as co-opting the sound of Death Grips and other noise hop artists and not at all innovative as it was so hailed, I could never stomach his attempts at rapping. If one wants to accuse someone of diminishing an art form, look no further than Kanye. His lines are corny, offensive, and often, total garbage. He's made puns of civil rights slogans to the point that they have lost all meaning, and 90% of his recent offerings are collapsing under the weight of their own hubris, misogyny, and general tastelessness. For him to accuse Beck of any lack of respect is the definition of hypocrisy. He has never, and will never, respect any human being, as he is completely incapable of thinking about anyone outside of the context of himself. His comment about not saying anything to protect his daughter, and then turning around and saying it, seems just stupid to me. No one is going to blame North West for your behavior, Kanye. We're going to blame you. You were a tremendous ass long before she was born, and you will remain one long after she reaches adulthood, not that you will even be relevant by then. But you know who might be? Beck. Someone actually innovative, and who has been making quality music since you were tinkering around with a keyboard in your parent's basement.

I know I sound pretty harsh here, and I really don't try to be, but the fact that Kanye has yet to learn from all of this is simply appalling. I commend Beck's behavior in largely ignoring this, but honestly, I would have taken great offense not to the walk on, but to the post show comments. Those really got under my skin. With all these big words, Kanye had better deliver an amazing album next time around. And from the look of the 2 singles released, that's definitely not going to happen. Working with Paul McCartney will not make your album any better if you refuse to do anything besides slather a bunch of piano chords with auto tune. Just saying.

So in conclusion, Beck, you are a class act, Generation X's Bob Dylan, and an amazing musician. I can't wait until your next album. Beyonce, you are kind of boring, and oversing to almost Aguileran proportions. Every note you sing is like you're trying to cave in my ear drums and you are overrated as all hell. Kanye. You need to learn to shut the hell up, respect actual artists, and not to take these Grammy things so seriously. Milli Vanilli had Grammys, for God's sake. Also, instead of picking on artists who just do their own thing and are awesome, you should focus on your own music, since it is terribly uneven. I look forward to your new album, mainly so I can appreciate the production, get massively let down by the same old boring subject matter, and then reassert that you have no place criticizing any one else's music. I will most likely be in the minority here, since apparently most critics seem to see something in what you try to pass of as lyrics that I will never see. 

So that was the Grammys for me I guess. Also, people won stuff. Sam Smith had a nice haul, so that's good I guess. What did you think of Kanye's little outburst, or any of the 583,000 previous ones?

I'll be back later to take a look at the new kigo single, "like amber", as well as some other reviews or album spotlights.

"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."

Album Spotlight: The Grateful Dead- So Many Roads (1999)

I am a pretty big fan of the Dead, and I've been getting into these archival box sets in a big way recently. This is a five disc set of a lot of live recordings of Dead songs at various points of their career.There's even some pre-record deal stuff on here from 1965 and 66, including some studio work from the Autumn Sessions. This is not the extent of the studio material contained in this box set, however, and the other studio material included here is what I find the most interesting.

The studio material here are in the form of outtakes from the Workingman's Dead and American Beauty sessions, as well as some material the band had begun to work on for their unfinished 14th album. Now this is where things really get interesting, as it's fascinating to hear bits of what might have been had everything gone ahead as planned.

The live material in the box set is also pretty great. It's a real testament to the band as a live act to have archives of live material that have been scoured pretty heavily for great takes, and still have so much quality material left. At the time of the boxes' release, only 1 track had been previously released officially, and though a few more have seen other releases since, this is still a treasure trove of great live Dead material.

As it stands, if you're a Grateful Dead fan, you should check this box out, if not for the live tracks, then for the unreleased studio material and a look at the band's unfinished final album.

I'll be back in the future for more reviews/ album spotlights.

"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."