Alright, well I just gave you one side of music. The fun, light, party atmosphere that music can create. A mix of everything, fancy-free and upbeat. I love it, because it can really help take your mind off things and just put you in the right mood, whether or not there is any actual substance to it. Just some words and a catchy backbeat. Because all music certainly doesn't have to have a meaning or purpose. But when it does, man, it can hit you, and it can hit you hard. Music is expression, and when a talented artist comes around, strips down to bare bones, and leaves their emotions in plain view for all to see, its one of the most intriguing forms of expression out there. You just seem to connect with that person, and have no clue why or how. But if an artist is so passionate and open with their craft, the connection can happen all too easily. To the point where you could listen to that artist a thousand times an very get tired of them. Matt Anderson of New Brunswick, Canada is one of those artists for me.
As a fellow guitar player, I am just absolutely amazed by this guy. For the longest time I have heard the word virtuoso, but never really knew how to apply it. I mean I guess for guys like Jimi Hendrix and Neil Pert, I've always admired their ungodly talents as musicians. But I always tend to question how much the technology and equipment their instruments helped them along to sounding that way. But Anderson, on the other hand, is stripped down to the bare bone. His voice and his acoustic guitar, and I swear I wouldn't want anything else from him. From the moment he starts playing, it's captivating. It's not even like he's playing the music. It's like by some divine miracle, the music just passes through him like he is the messenger of a greater power. Do you think I like this guy? If you answered yes, you are definitely on the right track. To me Anderson is the essence of soul. The way he performs, thoroughly enjoying himself and feeding off the energy of the crowd, just helps everyone to connect with him on a very personal level. It's just seems that if he were to perform in a bar lounge for the rest of his life, that he would be the happiest guy alive, so long as he got to share his music.
I emailed him and had a little back and forth conversation with him. He's a very friendly guy and truly has a love for music. Just a very genuine and down to earth guy. I've been looking to go to one of his shows for forever, but sadly the closest he's come to around me so far was VT, and I was busy that weekend. So I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for the next available concert. He is just one of those guys I know I just need to have a beer with before I die. I need to learn his secrets! Either way, below are two videos, one of him playing one of my all time favorite songs "Wagon Wheel" and another of him playing "Ain't No Sunshine". They are definitely two different sides of the spectrum and show off how well this guy covers rustic music, from folk to blues. With the immense amount of soul and life that Anderson pours into each one of his songs, I will forever continue to be a fan, and I hope you become one as well. But I'd love to know what you think! So on that note, park yourself on that barstool, order a couple rounds, and enjoy a healthy shot of Canadian soul courtesy of Matt Anderson.
And now for something completely different.
For those of you who know me well, I am a huge mashup fan. And for those who dont, I tried to begin clueing you in a few posts below when I introduced DJ Earworm. They are by far one of my favorite things to listen to, most likely because of my very broad tastes in music. I like nearly everything. And if you find the right mashup artist, they give you everything! A little hip hop, a little rock, a little folk, a little swing. A little bit of just about anything, if you find the right song. And more than anything else, mashups are the perfect medication for anyone with "Musical ADD", or MADD as it will now be referred to as. I prescribe them to anyone who complains that they cannot sit through an entire album without flipping, skipping, or fast forwarding through it. And after completing a quick listening treatment, their lives are forever changed. In today's society we sometimes need music that keeps up with us. Don't get me wrong, if all music were to turn to this, I'd be running for the hills. But this one unique genre is great for curing those impatient tendencies to continuously change songs. It does the work for you! There you go world, one step closer to becoming a completely automated society.
Impending doom of laziness aside, this posts artist is the mix mastermind himself, White Noise. Now, I had found him during the summer of my freshman year when I was Googling mashups on the inter-tube, and pretty much just stumbled across him. It actually brought me to his MySpace Music page, which I was pretty much gonna just skip over because let's me honest, not very much good music is featured on MySpace Music. It just seems to have that vibe that screams, "Hey, this probably sucks but I'm going to post it anyways, so get over it! Korn rulez! Bam Margera fo' lyfe!" But maybe that's just me. Either way, once I took a listen, I was definitely blown away. He has some great talent, and is definitely comparable with the greats such as Girl Talk and Milkman. He first started with two song mashups, but has now moved onto seamless albums that contain hundreds of different songs each. All the songs match up very well, and the number of genres that are represented in his work is very impressive. From todays hits, to 80's synth pop, to 70's soul, to 90's grunge. It's all there. I highly recommend downloading every one of his albums, as each one is great and has it's own vibe and theme. Spoiler Alert, one of his newest albums, mixes dialogue from popular movie plot twists into the music, and his most recent album Disregard Females, Acquire Currency takes song titles and puts a little Olde English twist on them. In the end, it was hard to pick two videos to post, because he has so many good songs, but I figured these two show off his talent and versatility well. So to all those self-diagnosed with a case of MADD, pop this pill, down a glass of water, and let the active ingredients of mashup mastery work their magic.
Ramble on,
AllTheFancyWicker
For those of you who know me well, I am a huge mashup fan. And for those who dont, I tried to begin clueing you in a few posts below when I introduced DJ Earworm. They are by far one of my favorite things to listen to, most likely because of my very broad tastes in music. I like nearly everything. And if you find the right mashup artist, they give you everything! A little hip hop, a little rock, a little folk, a little swing. A little bit of just about anything, if you find the right song. And more than anything else, mashups are the perfect medication for anyone with "Musical ADD", or MADD as it will now be referred to as. I prescribe them to anyone who complains that they cannot sit through an entire album without flipping, skipping, or fast forwarding through it. And after completing a quick listening treatment, their lives are forever changed. In today's society we sometimes need music that keeps up with us. Don't get me wrong, if all music were to turn to this, I'd be running for the hills. But this one unique genre is great for curing those impatient tendencies to continuously change songs. It does the work for you! There you go world, one step closer to becoming a completely automated society.
Impending doom of laziness aside, this posts artist is the mix mastermind himself, White Noise. Now, I had found him during the summer of my freshman year when I was Googling mashups on the inter-tube, and pretty much just stumbled across him. It actually brought me to his MySpace Music page, which I was pretty much gonna just skip over because let's me honest, not very much good music is featured on MySpace Music. It just seems to have that vibe that screams, "Hey, this probably sucks but I'm going to post it anyways, so get over it! Korn rulez! Bam Margera fo' lyfe!" But maybe that's just me. Either way, once I took a listen, I was definitely blown away. He has some great talent, and is definitely comparable with the greats such as Girl Talk and Milkman. He first started with two song mashups, but has now moved onto seamless albums that contain hundreds of different songs each. All the songs match up very well, and the number of genres that are represented in his work is very impressive. From todays hits, to 80's synth pop, to 70's soul, to 90's grunge. It's all there. I highly recommend downloading every one of his albums, as each one is great and has it's own vibe and theme. Spoiler Alert, one of his newest albums, mixes dialogue from popular movie plot twists into the music, and his most recent album Disregard Females, Acquire Currency takes song titles and puts a little Olde English twist on them. In the end, it was hard to pick two videos to post, because he has so many good songs, but I figured these two show off his talent and versatility well. So to all those self-diagnosed with a case of MADD, pop this pill, down a glass of water, and let the active ingredients of mashup mastery work their magic.
Ramble on,
AllTheFancyWicker
Well good evening fellow music explorers! I hope you're jonsin' for some new updates, because now that I have my beautiful, not-on-life-support, new computer, I'm hoping to keep the posts a'flowin' and introduce you to the latest music that I've came across! Once again, I apologize for the wait time between posts, but you know I can't leave you guys! So momma bird is back and looking to spoon feed her babies some of the finest new music discoveries this side of the Mississip! Which is the East coast. I cant promise it's quality anywhere over there in the West! Also, I'll be adding an RSS feed icon soon so you can keep up to speed with all the updates as well, which will hopefully make it easier for some of you who may use it. For anyone who doesn't know what an RSS feed is, it's alright, just go back to listening to Abbott and Costello on your tube radio. They just don't make em like they used to...do they? Either way, let's kick this off right! It's August and I'm still looking to power through and gather as many new artists and genres as possible before I have to also do that whole "senior year" thing. I hear I have to graduate after that. Yeah, right. Not if I can help it. I'm sure I can squeeze at least another year and a half out of it if I start failing some classes, stat. But that's a topic for another day. Instead I'd like to discuss something of much greater importance, British folk rock!
To preface this post, I want to briefly discuss my heritage. I am Irish. Very Irish actually. Not ghostly pale, flaming red-haired drunk Irish, but very Irish all the same. Maybe drunk Irish, for good measure. However, over the years I have really come to appreciate some of the traditional music that Ireland has to offer (God knows I can't come to appreciate their cuisine, Irish soda bread? Really Ireland? Goddamn!) It just gives me a real back-to-our-roots feel that seems to help connect me a bit more to the historical Irish culture and its people. Now I'm not looking to switch to steady diet of potatoes and take up step dance any time soon, but I could admit to having daydreamed about being an Irish shepherd in the green grassy hills of Céide Fields a time or two... In summary, after researching it a bit, I've definitely realized the wonderfully rich style that UK folk has to offer. It's gritty and real, yet has a very romanticized feel to it. Like living a simple life was not only acceptable, but desirable! However, I've been looking for a modern band to rise up and bring the genre back to life. Mumford & Sons does just that.
Mumford & Sons, straight from London, is fairly new to the music scene, having formed in 2007. However, their chemistry as a group and talent as musicians could easily lead you to believe that they have been playing with each other for decades. Their instruments range from brass to small string, creating an amazingly rich sound that truly tells a tale. It's like trying to read 5 books at once. There is so much going on that its hard to just key in on one detail. Each song is very dense and hearty, but can definitely leave you with a hungry with a sense of adventure. That's probably because of the mandolin. It just gives off such a great folksy shanty type of tone that makes you want to run around in a corn field with no direction. Well, that's just me I suppose. These guys certainly seem to speak to my more hidden rebellious nature, so I'm curious to see what happens if I listen to them too much. Havoc may ensue. Husbands, lock up you children and wives. Overall, it is undeniable the talent that these guys have. Their harmonies are amazingly tight, and they are true virtuosos of their craft. From what I can see, they dont seem to be hitting the states anytime soon, so unless you plan on travelling to Sweden or Germany anytime soon, you may not be seeing them live for a while. But oh well, c'est la vie. I guess until then I'll have to settle for YouTube videos. So take a seat, buckle up, and set on down the rough and tumbling road of British folk in the good hands of Mumford & Sons.
Ramble on,
AllTheFancyWicker
To preface this post, I want to briefly discuss my heritage. I am Irish. Very Irish actually. Not ghostly pale, flaming red-haired drunk Irish, but very Irish all the same. Maybe drunk Irish, for good measure. However, over the years I have really come to appreciate some of the traditional music that Ireland has to offer (God knows I can't come to appreciate their cuisine, Irish soda bread? Really Ireland? Goddamn!) It just gives me a real back-to-our-roots feel that seems to help connect me a bit more to the historical Irish culture and its people. Now I'm not looking to switch to steady diet of potatoes and take up step dance any time soon, but I could admit to having daydreamed about being an Irish shepherd in the green grassy hills of Céide Fields a time or two... In summary, after researching it a bit, I've definitely realized the wonderfully rich style that UK folk has to offer. It's gritty and real, yet has a very romanticized feel to it. Like living a simple life was not only acceptable, but desirable! However, I've been looking for a modern band to rise up and bring the genre back to life. Mumford & Sons does just that.
Mumford & Sons, straight from London, is fairly new to the music scene, having formed in 2007. However, their chemistry as a group and talent as musicians could easily lead you to believe that they have been playing with each other for decades. Their instruments range from brass to small string, creating an amazingly rich sound that truly tells a tale. It's like trying to read 5 books at once. There is so much going on that its hard to just key in on one detail. Each song is very dense and hearty, but can definitely leave you with a hungry with a sense of adventure. That's probably because of the mandolin. It just gives off such a great folksy shanty type of tone that makes you want to run around in a corn field with no direction. Well, that's just me I suppose. These guys certainly seem to speak to my more hidden rebellious nature, so I'm curious to see what happens if I listen to them too much. Havoc may ensue. Husbands, lock up you children and wives. Overall, it is undeniable the talent that these guys have. Their harmonies are amazingly tight, and they are true virtuosos of their craft. From what I can see, they dont seem to be hitting the states anytime soon, so unless you plan on travelling to Sweden or Germany anytime soon, you may not be seeing them live for a while. But oh well, c'est la vie. I guess until then I'll have to settle for YouTube videos. So take a seat, buckle up, and set on down the rough and tumbling road of British folk in the good hands of Mumford & Sons.
Ramble on,
AllTheFancyWicker
So, keeping with the theme that accounts for one half of this project's name, the mainstream, I decided to feature a guy I found back in 2008 by the name of DJ Earworm. He's a mash-up king in today's music scene, and has caught on quite a good deal in the club scene. For the past 3 years, he's made it a project to compile all the top hits over the past 12 months, and roll it up into a tightly packed single that is actually very well crafted. Now, there will be plenty of other mash-up artists featured here, because they are actually some of my favorites and I feel that any artist that can take an stale song, brush it off, and give it a whole new vibe is definitely one to be checked out. And to be completely honest, it's becoming quite the craze lately. People don't just want Katy Perry anymore, they want it mixed with Jay-Z. They don't just want Kid Cudi, but they want him to the backtrack of Journey. As I said, I'll be touching on this more with other mash-up artists as we go along. It's certainly not for everyone, but it's undeniably on the uprise. Tastes aside, the two songs below basically encapsulate the past 18 months of pop and R&B music hits. It's a time capsule that we basically forgot to bury and instead got immediately too nostalgic to let go. They certainly keep you guessing, and you'd be surprised how well these all fit together! Without further delay, I give you the time-travel, turn-table stylings of "United States of Pop ('09-'10)"
Alright! I'm back once again after picking up the antibiotic sword and slaying the serpent that was a serious sinus infection (fun, I know). Last time I EVER want to deal with something like that. Either way, hope you guys have been enjoying the music so far! The one thing I know I DO need to do is post more frequently, which I'm sorry for, I'm going to definitely try and stick to a twice a week schedule, and then see where it goes from there! Also, if you have any suggestions, please send them along! Whether or not I know you, don't know you, kind of know you, or any mix in between, it's just fine! I want other peoples' input to become a driving force of this blog, so send me anything you've got and I'll be sure to post it up at some point! Which in fact brings me to my next post.
This song was brought up to me by my good friend Justin. He sent it to be about a month ago, but seeing how I fell a little under the weather, I postponed it for a bit. Either way, Justin has always been one of my go-to's for up and coming hip-hop, R&B, and dance music. He has a great ear for knowing what people like to hear at parties, and I can't tell you how many times I've heard Justin play a song on his iPod for me, and then 3 months later, have it become a smash hit. He just has a knack for mainstream party music! Now I received a few messages about getting some more hip-hop and upbeat dance music, and I'm all for it! So I figured nothing better than to start it off with a song that's sure to be a summer hit very soon! It's one of the new singles by Flo Rida - "Club Can't Handle Me". Now people seem to be hit or miss with him, but I gotta say, anything he puts out just makes me tap my foot. I have yet to decide if I truly like him as an artist yet, because as most mainstream icons right now, he doesn't show a lot of versatility in his sound. But hey, who can blame him from not wanting to stray from what's working for him? All I know is, plain and simple, he get's people out on the dance floor, and you really can't go wrong with that. So raise your arms and rock the fist pump, because there's a few new club jams that are sure to emerge on The Mainstream Underground.
This song was brought up to me by my good friend Justin. He sent it to be about a month ago, but seeing how I fell a little under the weather, I postponed it for a bit. Either way, Justin has always been one of my go-to's for up and coming hip-hop, R&B, and dance music. He has a great ear for knowing what people like to hear at parties, and I can't tell you how many times I've heard Justin play a song on his iPod for me, and then 3 months later, have it become a smash hit. He just has a knack for mainstream party music! Now I received a few messages about getting some more hip-hop and upbeat dance music, and I'm all for it! So I figured nothing better than to start it off with a song that's sure to be a summer hit very soon! It's one of the new singles by Flo Rida - "Club Can't Handle Me". Now people seem to be hit or miss with him, but I gotta say, anything he puts out just makes me tap my foot. I have yet to decide if I truly like him as an artist yet, because as most mainstream icons right now, he doesn't show a lot of versatility in his sound. But hey, who can blame him from not wanting to stray from what's working for him? All I know is, plain and simple, he get's people out on the dance floor, and you really can't go wrong with that. So raise your arms and rock the fist pump, because there's a few new club jams that are sure to emerge on The Mainstream Underground.
I am going to keep this one short and sweet, no preservatives added, so better eat up quick! Long story short, this guy is awesome. He is the one and only Devendra Banhart. First of all, he's bat-shit crazy. He was raised in Venezuela for the first part of his life, and he brings some amazingly abstract flair to the table. and makes very smooth music that just kinda glides around in your brain for the rest of the day. It tells the story of folk using the soulful rhythms of funk, folk-funk, if you will. Pepper on some Spanish lyrics and and you have yourself a Devendra goulash that is best served piping hot. Mexico hot. Or maybe for the purposes of today's post, Venezuela hot? Either way. This video contains everything I would ever want, revenge, Jafar's magic cobra scepter (from Aladdin, duh), and last but certainly not least, Natalie Portman. Yes, Natalie Portman, ahhhh. If you don't like this song, that's fine, but you better like Natalie Portman. Because apparently if you don't treat her right, you will be attacked by snakes and your head will eat itself...at least according to Devendra Banhart. Don your Spanish dictionary, roll the car windows down, and enjoy the heated tunes of "Carmensita" by Mr. Devendra Banhart.
Hey music junkies! Sorry about the lag in posts, been settling down the past few days at my new job, so I've been racing around shaking hands and signing papers. But that's definitely enough about work, let's talk jams. Alright, so we've touched upon a good amount of musical styles already throughout this blog, which is exactly what I was looking to accomplish. However, I wanted to keep pressing the envelope a bit for this project and continue to unveil some musical styles that people may not have known were out there. This is certainly one of them. There are certain artists that are so off the charts that their music seems almost impossible to categorize. Too "this" to be "that", not enough "here" or not enough "there". It gets to a point where it's best just to give up and appreciate it for what it is, and see if other music comes close to it in the future. This is how I feel about today's mystery musicians -Beirut.
To start off, the most obvious theme to his music is definitely his love for Eastern European sounds and instruments. Can't really say you hear much Balkan folk music on the radio now. Hell, has the radio ever played Balkan folk music? Last I heard, accordion music wasn't named "most likely to make a comeback" anytime in the next century. But one man saw hope in this style, and his name is Zachary Francis Condon. Condon is truly a jack of all trades when it comes to music, which is what makes him so hard to pinpoint when it comes to genre or style. His influences are just too high in numbers to try and settle on one specific name or title. He's been called indie, he's been called western pop, he's been called folk. But isn't he all of these? One thing is for sure - he is American. Many Europeans are actually calling Beirut (now a collection of Condon and a few other artists) "too good to be American". Really Europe? That's creative. I love you, but come on. This is America, we put our own spin on things! Take pizza. Italian pizza is how do you say...awful? We came along and tweaked it a bit, and now it's everyone's favorite. Americans are improvisers! So, unless you have anything nice to say, Europe, keep it to yourself before we improvise our boot up the foreign part of your affairs...if you catch my drift.
Either way, this guy is pretty genius. Completely free-formed, and loves what he does. Extremely talented, yet highly overlooked. I hope to see more of him in the future, just because he's definitely pushing the boundaries of today's music. Whether you think he's pushing them in the right direction or not is completely up to you. Regardless of his influences, I just love the story this music tells. It's passionate and lively and hits you at your roots. Beirut shows that chaotic behavior is sometimes the best medicine for a chaotically cluttered mind. Some songs can remind you that everyone is a little crazy sometimes, and other songs can make you feel like the only one. But together the combination of Condon's hypnotizing and gentle voice with the blaring background brass instruments sends you on a twisted ride that always seems to let you down smooth. So without further adieu, I welcome you to enjoy the carnival calamity that is Beirut. The items on the menu tonight are "Elephant Gun" and "Postcards from Italy"
P.S. Condon has a trumpet cameo on The New Pornographers newest album "Together". What a coincidence!
Ramble on,
AllTheFancyWicker
To start off, the most obvious theme to his music is definitely his love for Eastern European sounds and instruments. Can't really say you hear much Balkan folk music on the radio now. Hell, has the radio ever played Balkan folk music? Last I heard, accordion music wasn't named "most likely to make a comeback" anytime in the next century. But one man saw hope in this style, and his name is Zachary Francis Condon. Condon is truly a jack of all trades when it comes to music, which is what makes him so hard to pinpoint when it comes to genre or style. His influences are just too high in numbers to try and settle on one specific name or title. He's been called indie, he's been called western pop, he's been called folk. But isn't he all of these? One thing is for sure - he is American. Many Europeans are actually calling Beirut (now a collection of Condon and a few other artists) "too good to be American". Really Europe? That's creative. I love you, but come on. This is America, we put our own spin on things! Take pizza. Italian pizza is how do you say...awful? We came along and tweaked it a bit, and now it's everyone's favorite. Americans are improvisers! So, unless you have anything nice to say, Europe, keep it to yourself before we improvise our boot up the foreign part of your affairs...if you catch my drift.
Either way, this guy is pretty genius. Completely free-formed, and loves what he does. Extremely talented, yet highly overlooked. I hope to see more of him in the future, just because he's definitely pushing the boundaries of today's music. Whether you think he's pushing them in the right direction or not is completely up to you. Regardless of his influences, I just love the story this music tells. It's passionate and lively and hits you at your roots. Beirut shows that chaotic behavior is sometimes the best medicine for a chaotically cluttered mind. Some songs can remind you that everyone is a little crazy sometimes, and other songs can make you feel like the only one. But together the combination of Condon's hypnotizing and gentle voice with the blaring background brass instruments sends you on a twisted ride that always seems to let you down smooth. So without further adieu, I welcome you to enjoy the carnival calamity that is Beirut. The items on the menu tonight are "Elephant Gun" and "Postcards from Italy"
P.S. Condon has a trumpet cameo on The New Pornographers newest album "Together". What a coincidence!
Ramble on,
AllTheFancyWicker
So to keep us in this electrorhythmasynthic funk we got going on here, I decided to take on a review from some of the recommendations that I've been receiving. Now before I get into the artist himself, I must say - this is exactly what I've been looking for, from both a music and recommendation standpoint. First of all, this guy grooves. He is just off the beaten path, but is still progressing enough so that his music is actually reachable for his fans. His style is very well rounded, and combines some pretty amazing music culture from the past with the new technology of music's future. An audio adventure through the ages, if you will. This is exactly the stuff I want to share, and I truly appreciate the recommendations from people. I had been first introduced to this artist about a month ago during my finals but after receiving a few other recent recommendations about him as well, I figured it was necessary to feature him next. So introducing Colorado's own cross-genre, electro-inspired lovechild - Pretty Lights.
Pretty lights is a music project created by Derek Vincent Smith that takes music from all generations and genres, breaks it down, and just like a puzzle, puts it all back together into something it truly never was before. He's a craftsman, and the attention to detail is certainly observable. Now he deals a lot with samples from other artists, which has sadly gathered a bit of a bad reputation when it comes to their use in today's music. Many people feel that it's just a cheap way to just steal from the success and creativity of previous icons, and yes, this can be a valid point. Artists who abuse the sample so that it's impossible to draw the line between what is theirs and what isn't *cough* Kayne West *cough* run the risk of seeming unimaginative and stale. Pretty Lights, on the other hand, takes a very good look at music from the past and finds the best way to seamlessly incorporate it in present day creations.
There is plenty of amazing talent to be admired from the past, and Pretty Light pays homage to it by including samples from more recent icons like The Notorious B.I.G to early legends like Etta James. In the end it's not the sample you use, but how you use it. Pretty Lights has taken some of the more obscure music from previous years, and molded it into something that everyone can enjoy. So to everyone from hip-hop lovers, to jazz listeners, to southern blues singers; I must say that Pretty Lights is a force to be recognized. Smith has plenty of music out there for your to listen to, but I decided to highlight two that I think provide great contrast to each other "Hot Like Sauce" and "Finally Moving".
Ramble on,
AllTheFancyWicker
Pretty lights is a music project created by Derek Vincent Smith that takes music from all generations and genres, breaks it down, and just like a puzzle, puts it all back together into something it truly never was before. He's a craftsman, and the attention to detail is certainly observable. Now he deals a lot with samples from other artists, which has sadly gathered a bit of a bad reputation when it comes to their use in today's music. Many people feel that it's just a cheap way to just steal from the success and creativity of previous icons, and yes, this can be a valid point. Artists who abuse the sample so that it's impossible to draw the line between what is theirs and what isn't *cough* Kayne West *cough* run the risk of seeming unimaginative and stale. Pretty Lights, on the other hand, takes a very good look at music from the past and finds the best way to seamlessly incorporate it in present day creations.
There is plenty of amazing talent to be admired from the past, and Pretty Light pays homage to it by including samples from more recent icons like The Notorious B.I.G to early legends like Etta James. In the end it's not the sample you use, but how you use it. Pretty Lights has taken some of the more obscure music from previous years, and molded it into something that everyone can enjoy. So to everyone from hip-hop lovers, to jazz listeners, to southern blues singers; I must say that Pretty Lights is a force to be recognized. Smith has plenty of music out there for your to listen to, but I decided to highlight two that I think provide great contrast to each other "Hot Like Sauce" and "Finally Moving".
Ramble on,
AllTheFancyWicker
Alright, so we've had a lot of slow down, relax and reflect, round trip ticket to Chillville songs recently. Now this is all and good, because I'm looking to introduce people to songs they may not have heard before, and certainly a lot of these songs aren't the type to be featured on the radio. However, as I said, I want to constantly add variety to the mix. I love being pensive, sitting and listening to a band and just soaking it all in note for note. It's like reading a good book. But I'm sure we would all agree, life would get pretty boring if it were solely about books. Life needs a little disorder to it sometimes. Sometimes it doesn't have to be about the lyrics or the intent. Sometimes, as human beings, we just need a little rhythm. A solid bass-line and a dancefloor. So after sifting through some of the bands I wanted to feature on this blog, I came across an old favorite of mine, American electropop band - Passion Pit.
Passion Pit has been around only for about a few years, but has seemed to be able to tap into the American pop culture. When their first hit "Sleepyhead" became an online video sensation, they immediately began to to slingshot into the limelight. However, most people that know their music can't actually remember the name of the band. So apparently they have found a very comfortable niche in that limelight, only about an arm and a leg in the spotlight, and the rest still in the shadows. They only have one legitimate album out right now, so I'm curious to see where they will go from here. In fact, they will be touring with Muse this coming Fall 2010, so I can only suspect great things to come. Either way, their style is unmistakably unique and is one of those songs that just gets you going in the morning, or keeps you going at night. Now stomp your feet and nod your head to the synthastic beats of Passion Pit's new single "Little Secrets".
Passion Pit has been around only for about a few years, but has seemed to be able to tap into the American pop culture. When their first hit "Sleepyhead" became an online video sensation, they immediately began to to slingshot into the limelight. However, most people that know their music can't actually remember the name of the band. So apparently they have found a very comfortable niche in that limelight, only about an arm and a leg in the spotlight, and the rest still in the shadows. They only have one legitimate album out right now, so I'm curious to see where they will go from here. In fact, they will be touring with Muse this coming Fall 2010, so I can only suspect great things to come. Either way, their style is unmistakably unique and is one of those songs that just gets you going in the morning, or keeps you going at night. Now stomp your feet and nod your head to the synthastic beats of Passion Pit's new single "Little Secrets".
So in light of the sun (ignore the awful pun) that is pouring through my window as I am typing, I figured it would be suiting to add a good summertime band to kick off the season. I was actually introduced to this group last summer by one of my coworkers (thanks Megan) and will forever associate them with warm weather. Probably because I'd listen to them while driving in my air conditioning-less car in the 90 degree weather, but I digress. Today's band is Portugal. The Man. They are a psychedelic pop band based out of Wasilla, Alaska and they have a really laid back, cool style about them. They are quite the virtuosos on the piano and the mix of high male and female vocals adds an awesome vibe to their music.
At first listen, bands like the Pixies and Radiohead may come to mind, and if so, you are spot on. Portugal The Man's first few albums were actually produced by those bands' famed producer Paul Q. Kolderie. Although, their influences range vast beyond their immediately comparable brother bands and have noticeable tinges of John Lennon to MGMT. Included below are two very summery songs of theirs "The Sun" and "Everyone Is Golden", though if you are looking for any of their darker material, it's surely out there as well. So you know what to do, grab the boombox, lay out on the pavement, and let your mind and body sizzle to the summer-time tunes.
Ramble on,
AllTheFancyWicker
At first listen, bands like the Pixies and Radiohead may come to mind, and if so, you are spot on. Portugal The Man's first few albums were actually produced by those bands' famed producer Paul Q. Kolderie. Although, their influences range vast beyond their immediately comparable brother bands and have noticeable tinges of John Lennon to MGMT. Included below are two very summery songs of theirs "The Sun" and "Everyone Is Golden", though if you are looking for any of their darker material, it's surely out there as well. So you know what to do, grab the boombox, lay out on the pavement, and let your mind and body sizzle to the summer-time tunes.
Ramble on,
AllTheFancyWicker
So here is the second installment of "Attack of the Swedes" here at The Mainstream Underground. Take a moment also to realize that this may be the only time ever that the words "attack" and "Swedes" will be used in the same name. Regardless, I'd like to swing the groove around a bit to fulfill the requests I've received for a push on the folk scene and I figured there was no better way to do that than to bring up the one and only Kristian Matsson, or as he has so modestly dubbed himself, The Tallest Man on Earth.
Matsson has a voice that is hit or miss for people, I can tell you that right now. He will be considered alongside the likes of Neil Young and Bob Dylan as the guy with "that freakin' weird voice". But there's a reason why voices like this catch on. It's because they are different. It's all in their phrasing, every word serves a specific purpose. We have heard so many voices come through the mainstream music machine, and yes some of those artists can hold their heads high for having created something unique in the process. However, a good amount of the music we hear that makes it to the top hits radio stations is basically different dough in the same cookie cutter. The mix may be different, but its boundaries are usually the same as all the others. Not to say this is bad, but it certainly doesn't maintain the purity of an artist's creativity. It's creativity from concentrate, and serves a family of 4.
The Tallest Man on Earth breaks the mold. He has the spirit of a travelling troubadour, in touch with the world around him, all folksy and free. Every time I listen to him I want to drop all of my material possessions, even if just for the day, and run off into the wilderness. He's just one of those voices that makes you think of things in a different way. Core values seem to take one step closer to the center stage. Peace of mind, not piece of shit car. Intimacy, not currency. Pure love, not dirty laundry. So strap on those overalls, take a puff of that ol' corn cob pipe, and take a walk in the over-sized shoes of The Tallest Man on Earth.
Matsson has a voice that is hit or miss for people, I can tell you that right now. He will be considered alongside the likes of Neil Young and Bob Dylan as the guy with "that freakin' weird voice". But there's a reason why voices like this catch on. It's because they are different. It's all in their phrasing, every word serves a specific purpose. We have heard so many voices come through the mainstream music machine, and yes some of those artists can hold their heads high for having created something unique in the process. However, a good amount of the music we hear that makes it to the top hits radio stations is basically different dough in the same cookie cutter. The mix may be different, but its boundaries are usually the same as all the others. Not to say this is bad, but it certainly doesn't maintain the purity of an artist's creativity. It's creativity from concentrate, and serves a family of 4.
The Tallest Man on Earth breaks the mold. He has the spirit of a travelling troubadour, in touch with the world around him, all folksy and free. Every time I listen to him I want to drop all of my material possessions, even if just for the day, and run off into the wilderness. He's just one of those voices that makes you think of things in a different way. Core values seem to take one step closer to the center stage. Peace of mind, not piece of shit car. Intimacy, not currency. Pure love, not dirty laundry. So strap on those overalls, take a puff of that ol' corn cob pipe, and take a walk in the over-sized shoes of The Tallest Man on Earth.
Alright, so for today I have decided to give a little credit to a group of people who rarely receive it - the Swedes. People from Sweden tend to have an uncanny ability to drift under the radar unnoticed, which to be honest truly isn't a bad trait to begin with. Take notes America. Either way, I was recently recommended two very good artists and low and behold, after a little research, I came to find they both hail from the chilly spires of Sweden. So let's start with the first one, Miike Snow. Now don't let the name fool you, as it's actually a group of guys (Andrew Wyatt, Christian Karlsson, and Pontus Winnberg) who collaborate together. They've openly admitted that they never had much of a plan or direction for the music, they simply messed around a bit and put out what they thought might pass. Well, now they are receiving much more attention than they ever thought possible, simply because their music clicks.
It's nothing excessively fancy. It could probably be best described as tech pop with maybe a touch of funk. But it's how they create this combination that sets it aside from others. In the song below, "Black and Blue", the classical piano meets with it's arch rival - the synthesizer. But instead of a competitive battle of crunch and crash, they used these sounds to complement each other. The light and airy sound of the veteran classical piano seems to mesh perfectly with the free spirited tones of the bass synth, and together these two drastically different sounds just magically click. Voice over some soulful harmonies and you have yourself a rough definition of what Miike Snow has created. So as I said, don those retro earmuff headphones and a comfy leather chair, let yourself sink in a bit, and enjoy!
Ramble on,
AllTheFancyWicker
It's nothing excessively fancy. It could probably be best described as tech pop with maybe a touch of funk. But it's how they create this combination that sets it aside from others. In the song below, "Black and Blue", the classical piano meets with it's arch rival - the synthesizer. But instead of a competitive battle of crunch and crash, they used these sounds to complement each other. The light and airy sound of the veteran classical piano seems to mesh perfectly with the free spirited tones of the bass synth, and together these two drastically different sounds just magically click. Voice over some soulful harmonies and you have yourself a rough definition of what Miike Snow has created. So as I said, don those retro earmuff headphones and a comfy leather chair, let yourself sink in a bit, and enjoy!
Ramble on,
AllTheFancyWicker
So after a late night at the bars in Portsmouth, I found myself at Joe's New York Pizza with a few friends for a couple of slices before heading back home. Mid-bite of my pepperoni pizza, I noticed my feet tapping to the beat of a song blaring over their sound system. My friend Chris and I looked at each other for a second and we realized that we were both thinking the same exact thing - this song is freaking awesome. It's very simple. A crunchy back beat with some synth and a repetitive chorus, all layered on top of each other to create a experimental electronica sandwich that would leave anyone's hunger satisfied. So, needless to say it was now stuck in my head, and after asking the cashier at the counter, we came to find that the musical masterminds behind the sound were none other than Hi Tiger, a side project for the Portsmouth based band Neon Coyote.
These guys have been dipping their hands into the world of experimental and mixes for the past few years, with work ranging from intense binary mashes to surf-vibe flow. Their music has a very cool "take it or leave it" aura about it, and they are clearly not looking to create anything that could be considered conventional. If it's not for you, chances are they probably know that, and also probably don't care very much either. They are creating, and whatever comes of it is always up for interpretation. Either way, I give these guys props for representing the Portsmouth area and wish them luck in the future. Now pull up a beach chair, sip on something refreshingly ice cold, and let your mind wander to the musical mayhem of "Dance Around" by Hi Tiger.
These guys have been dipping their hands into the world of experimental and mixes for the past few years, with work ranging from intense binary mashes to surf-vibe flow. Their music has a very cool "take it or leave it" aura about it, and they are clearly not looking to create anything that could be considered conventional. If it's not for you, chances are they probably know that, and also probably don't care very much either. They are creating, and whatever comes of it is always up for interpretation. Either way, I give these guys props for representing the Portsmouth area and wish them luck in the future. Now pull up a beach chair, sip on something refreshingly ice cold, and let your mind wander to the musical mayhem of "Dance Around" by Hi Tiger.
Alright, this post will be the last for today. I'm sure anyone who has read this already has seen all three posts have been throughout today. Let the record show that I do have a life, but I figured it would be nice to at least get a good few posts on here for people, you know? No really. Really. I DO have friends. Or at least hobbies. That's beside the point.
Introducing, The New Pornographers! They are another Canadian band (I do love a good Canuck, apparently) formed by Carl Newman, Dan Bejar, and the talented singer/songwriter Neko Case. Now besides the fact that their name is pretty awesome, they also have come together to create yet another cool and versatile sound. They cover everything from power pop to your classic indie shuffle. Regardless, their music tends to always at least have an upbeat rhythm, which makes for a great walking pace. If you are looking to walk somewhere fast, pop on some New Pornographers, and you are there! I swear, it's like time travel. I should probably look into that actually...either way, the song below is "Your Hands (Together)" off their album Together. Listen up, dial it down, and enjoy some awesome aerial acrobatics in the process.
Ramble on,
AllTheFancyWicker
Introducing, The New Pornographers! They are another Canadian band (I do love a good Canuck, apparently) formed by Carl Newman, Dan Bejar, and the talented singer/songwriter Neko Case. Now besides the fact that their name is pretty awesome, they also have come together to create yet another cool and versatile sound. They cover everything from power pop to your classic indie shuffle. Regardless, their music tends to always at least have an upbeat rhythm, which makes for a great walking pace. If you are looking to walk somewhere fast, pop on some New Pornographers, and you are there! I swear, it's like time travel. I should probably look into that actually...either way, the song below is "Your Hands (Together)" off their album Together. Listen up, dial it down, and enjoy some awesome aerial acrobatics in the process.
Ramble on,
AllTheFancyWicker
So yes, I am a sucker for harmonicas. But I mean c'mon! Harmonicas are a pretty badass instrument to play. You can literally carry it around in your back pocket, and if anyone asks you if you have a talent, you can just whip it out! ...the harmonica, that is. Oh you mean THIS harmonica? Ta-da. Done and done. Great parlor trick. I myself am determined to learn it...tomorrow. Or maybe a few days after that. Either way, I've known about this song since about December now, and I love tossing it on when I'm doing hw or driving at night. Something very relaxing about it, besides the whole lyrics being fairly centered around the whole idea of death. Who knew death could sound so pretty? Dallas Green did. And he knew it well.
Singer and guitarist Dallas Green is a Canada native and member of indie hardcore band Alexisonfire. After listening to the video below, you'll notice he made quite the transition across genres. Nothing too hardcore about this. In fact, under his recording alias of City and Colour, Green has stripped himself down to the bare minimum - an acoustic guitar and a standard harmonica. The song below, "Body in a Box", has a great shuffle about it. Something crisp and airy, but carries some meaning to it. As I said, definitely more of an upbeat rhythm than I would have expected given the lyrics, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
Singer and guitarist Dallas Green is a Canada native and member of indie hardcore band Alexisonfire. After listening to the video below, you'll notice he made quite the transition across genres. Nothing too hardcore about this. In fact, under his recording alias of City and Colour, Green has stripped himself down to the bare minimum - an acoustic guitar and a standard harmonica. The song below, "Body in a Box", has a great shuffle about it. Something crisp and airy, but carries some meaning to it. As I said, definitely more of an upbeat rhythm than I would have expected given the lyrics, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
So here's the flip side to the music I've been feeling today, the B-side track to my daily shuffle - Broken Bells. Broken bells is an indie rock band duo featuring famous music producer Danger Mouse (Brian Burton) and lead vocalist of Portland's own The Shins - James Mercer. The pair has been working on this project that manifested both of their creative dreams into something that neither of them could have done alone. Burton brings a great driving funk rhythm similar to those of his other projects with Gnarls Barkley or Gorillaz, while James adds his smooth haunting vocals, and together they have created a very cool blend of musical styles. Below are two of their hits off their self titled album, "The Ghost Inside" and "The High Road".
Ramble on,
AllTheFancyWicker
Ramble on,
AllTheFancyWicker
So last year I was introduced to a project that I had never heard about before, Gangstagrass. This project brings together two very different, but oddly compatible genres and creates a sound that I can only seem to describe as "gritty flow". I just may trademark that. Either way, it features a whole bunch of talented yet fairly unknown rap artists and puts them up against a folksy bluegrass backbeat. Similar to country-rap, but has a few extra ingredients to give it it's own unique flavor. Stir it up, let simmer for a few hours in the hot Tennessee sun, and you have yourself a heaping helping of Ganstagrass. Below is one of my favorites from the project, "Pistol Packin'", give a listen and tell me what you think!
Ramble on,
AllTheFancyWicker
Ramble on,
AllTheFancyWicker
I'm a music lover. I'm sure you've never heard that one before right? I'm sure I may have even lost half of you right there; it's sad but true. We hear that phrase all the time, from first dates to interviews, and we immediately lose interest. And of course we all react in the same exact way - "Well, duh, everyone likes music!" Which is quite true. Find me someone that doesn't like music. Not certain types of music, but music as a whole. In my research, I have found that there are two types of people in this world who don't enjoy music - those who are dead, or those who are zombies (the "undead"). That basically leaves anything with a pulse and a haircut (good or bad) as someone who can enjoy music. But when we hear the words "I'm a music lover", the words seem to just ring empty in our ears. It certainly isn't the most profound statement in the world. In fact it's really only about a few steps down on the "Scale of Profound Measures" from asking someone who just got out of the bathroom dripping wet if they just got out of the shower. Well done champ, another mystery solved.
But what if when you said it, you could back it up? What if when asked what it is about music that you love, what it is that truly hits you, that you could offer a reasonable answer. IS it music you love? Or is it something more? Or maybe something less? Don't worry, I'm not getting philosophical on you, though that may come later. What I'm trying to get at, is we all feel something with music. Whether we like certain music or not is another story entirely, because in theory, all types of music are in someway related. So why be a music snob? If country pop doesn't interest you, that fine! But at least appreciate what it helped create or what it was created from, or you may be missing out on something you never liked before. Music evolves, and generation after generation has evolved with it. Flower children of the 60's evolved with Bob Dylan and The Byrds as the misguided youth of the 90's evolved with Kurt Cobain and the Red Hot Chili Peppers; the trends can change as quickly as we do.
Now I know a lot of you may thinking, does our generation have a voice? We certainly don't have the standout Lone Rangers that have kicked off the musical revolution like those of previous generations. And of course we have all had our fair share of processed music shoved down our throats by the corporate fat cats of the music industry machine. Open wide, consume, chew well, spit out, repeat. If that's your style, all power to you, do what you enjoy. But I'd like to find some music that hits me with deeper meaning. I want to find out what it is exactly that makes me a music lover, and beyond that - what music makes me love music so much.
So in order to try and do this, I am beginning this blog. I want to learn. I want to share. And I want to meet others who can, for at least a moment, give me a new perspective. I feel that's what a lot of people just need sometimes, a new perspective. So this blog won't be preachy, I promise. No genre of music will go unnoticed. No singer will be too obscure. And no song will be too off beat. Sometimes in order to recognize what you like, you need to know what you don't like. So I will be be posting a song, band, or genre of music as often as possible and would love for you to comment. Let's use this as an experiment. If you learn even just one new song that you enjoy, I will consider this a job well done. But if we pool our resources, I'm sure we can introduce ourselves to things we'd never even though of before.
So there we are, calling all "music lovers". Dig up what makes you tick. Post what makes you tock. Let's see what we can come up with. Let's find the underground muse, or the mainstream martyr that has gone unnoticed or unshared. Let's find something we never thought was quite there - a generation united by the music we just haven't heard yet. Give it a try. Join me in the Mainstream Underground.
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