Some Texas Country

With the rodeo coming up in about a month, I thought I'd take the time to talk a little about country music.  While some people might not consider country as "Rock and Roll," I must disagree.  I believe that the goal of rock music and music in general is to invoke some sort of emotion or response, which country music indeed does.  I am a fan of country music, but recently I've been listening to Texas based country music, mainly two bands: the Eli Young Band and the Josh Abbott Band.  Both bands...you guessed it, are out of Texas.
(Josh Abbott Band ==========>)

(Eli Young Band)    

The Eli Young band has more of a rock aspect to it that is mainly evident in the heavy influence the guitar and even the drums in some cases have in many of their songs.  They also tend to write and preform more somber and slower songs.  

Whereas the Josh Abbott band could be considered much more "country."  Their songs are much more upbeat, using the banjo along with the guitar.  One thing I like about this band is that many of their songs are aimed at making fun of other country music acts.  One of my favorites is "I'll sing about mine." Some of the lyrics include: "Cause tractors ain't sexy, and workin' is hard" a jab at Kenny Chesnesy's "She Thinks my Tractor's Sexy," another being "When you talk about the Dairy Queen, pickup trucks, and Springsteen make the place I love sound like a bad cartoon," taking a shot at Eric Church's Springsteen; something that many country artists don't do very often.  They also have much more of a "twang" that many people of my generation (among all of the others) can't stand, but I so happen to like.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

(The amazing female vocal that is featured on this track is Kasey Musgraves, an up-and-coming country artist for those who are curious.)

Listening to rock is awesome a lot of the time, but sometimes it feels good to relax and listen to not only country music but Texas country music. 

-Brooks Gonzales

Hey Marvin, What's Going On?

As we move into the 70's we are seeing a reemergence of soul music throughout the country, but especially in the African American community.  With the help of stars like Marvin Gaye and labels like Motown, the genre flew to an all time high.  Even with the disapproval of Marvin's producer Berry Gordy, (Jr.), his album "What's Going On," was a huge success.   

Even though, now I think that Marvin is one of the best if not the best soul artist I've ever heard, I might not have ever listened to him if we didn't in class.  I would've missed out on his amazing voice, the chill (sorry Mr. A) and smooth aspects really make it for me.  What I also really love about this album is it's use of jazz elements.  This probably means so much to me probably because I do play trumpet and although there aren't always trumpet features, I have respect for the music and like to listen to all of it's forms.  

My two favorite songs off of the album are: "Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky)," (I love the falsetto) and "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)." Something about the way he almost uses his voice like an instrument really interests me.  

(Check out this little gem i found from the archives of the '70's)

Even with the struggle of the civil rights movement among being an artist in general, Marvin Gaye succeeded in more ways than one, charming audiences from his first song to a little less than 30 years after his death; the mark of a true artist. 

-Brooks Gonzales

Joni's Blue

Normally I am not one for the singer-songwriter, folksy type that are prevalent throughout the 60's and 70's.  It's not that I don't care about the lyrics or the vocals, I being a musician myself, tend to pay more attention as to how everything sounds together.  Although, after hearing the extremely talented and breathtaking singer, Joni Mitchell, I had to reconsider that point of view.  I feel as if she has the song writing capabilities of Bob Dylan but with a voice that is about 100 times better.  Speaking again as a musician, the one thing that really swung me over was the octave jumps she preforms with her voice is simply amazing for lack of better term.  I feel as though every song on that album (Blue) could win some sort of award or be a number one because they really are preformed that well.  She uses her voice like an instrument, that admittedly, can some times be annoying but as you really listen you learn to appreciate the time and effort that she put into her craft to make it sound the way it does.  

My three favorite songs from this album are probably "All I want," "This Flight Tonight," and "A Case of You."  Her voice has a quality to it that could be considered by some as rough and to some even as too refined.  I think that these three songs show the best of her abilities both musically with her vocals but also lyrically.

It's amazing to me how there are albums like this one everywhere and how good something you've never heard about can be.  Just another reason to keep digging.

-Brooks Gonzales

The Milk

Once again, as I was messing around on Spotify, I came across a new band who calls themselves The Milk.  At first I was very skeptical because I had never heard of them before or any of my friends talk about them, but I'm glad I decided to check them out.  I now consider them one of my favorite bands.  Out of Essex, England, the group of 4 have created a mix of classic Motown with R&B, modern pop, and neo-soul, to create an amazing blend that they call their own.  Rick Nunn on vocals is by far my favorite member of the group; his voice sounding like a mix of Cee lo Green, Bear Rineheart (from Needtobreathe) and Chris Robinson (The Black Crowes).  In their album "Tales from the Thames Delta," many of the soulful songs are capped off by some random outro, in some cases even a sample of electronic music like in my personal favorite song: "B-Roads."  

I guess they like cats?

As I previously mentioned, my favorite song by the group is "B-Roads."  The song samples random and excellently placed vinyl scratches along with a very rhythmic drum beat that carries through the whole song.  Nunn's voice has a really amazing soulful and almost scratchy quality to it that creates an amazing atmosphere that goes along perfectly with the music that surrounds it. 

My second favorite song would have to be a song called: "Hometown."  Most if not all of their songs sound up-beat and "happy," even if the message sometimes says otherwise; this song is no exception.  The subtle guitar hits and the use of keyboard adds a great deal to the soulful/rock  feel of the song.

Also one of my favorites- a new aspect is introduced into their songs: rap

Unfortunately, on Spotify, there is only one album so more digging will have to be done somewhere else hopefully to find some more music.  They are easily one of my favorites now.

-Brooks Gonzales

Walking The Moon Again

In one of my first blogs I talked about a new up-and-coming band out of Cincinnati, Ohio and their first (self titled) album, Walk The Moon.  As I was searching the new music that so happened to appear on Spotify, I saw that Walk the Moon had released a new EP entitled Tightrope EP (named after one of the songs on their first album).  This EP has 3 new originals ("anywayican," "Tete-A-Tete," and "Drunk in the Woods") a re-release of "Tightrope," and acoustic version of the song, and a cover of Talking Heads smash hit "Burning Down the House."  

I personally do not like "anywayican" as much as the other two so if you want to hear it you'll have to look it up yourself, sorry.  In "Tete-A-Tete," they go back to their "roots" in a sense by using falsetto throughout the song, most notably in the chorus. The harder, more punk rockish guitar aspects to the song are juxtaposed with the use of the lighter and happier guitar riffs in the chorus and the use of keyboard.  

(this is the band preforming the song for the first time in front of a crowd at the Forecastle Festival in  Louisville, KY)

In the other original, "Drunk in the Woods," the beginning is full of keyboard and synth; this is something that wasn't used a lot by the group in the last album or many of their previous songs. This mixed with instances of a hard rock song (mostly in the drums) and a lighter indie song (once again mainly influenced by the drums) creates an awesome mood.

(the above video is a recording session of an acoustic version of their song "Tightrope," that is also featured on the album)

The one cover on the EP is a live cover of Talking Heads "Burning down the House."  I preferably like Walk the Moon's version better but that's just me.  I feel like Nick's vocals are much cleaner and more trained and I like the instrumental arrangement better as well.  

Here is a link to the Talking Heads version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8D4AsLzlM0

(I apologize for the poor quality, but it was the best I could find.  I highly suggest listening to it on Spotify if you happen to have one.)

This EP is really getting me excited for their new album...which is hopefully coming out soon?  If not, I guess i'll just have to wait unfortunately.  But until then, this EP will probably keep me satisfied. 

-Brooks Gonzales

The Last Infestation

After recording the behind the scenes disaster that was Abbey Road, The Beatles could tell that the end of an era was quickly approaching.  Yet, even though this was their last album released, many of the tracks on it were recorded in very early 1969 way before Abbey Road was put on the markets (September).  Even with the enlisted help of Phil Spector (session player, songwriter and producer), the Beatles rarely, if ever, rehearsed together.  To add to the problems, Lennon was also deeply immersed in the "heroin life" so to speak, creating a more disjointed and inefficient group. 

Even from this picture you can tell that John looks much older and in worse shape compared to Paul, Ringo, or even George.  

Regardless of physical appearance, John still has an unnatural and awe-inspiring way of making absolute nonsense sounding like something amazing.  For instance in the songs "Dig a Pony," (what does that even mean??) and "Across the Universe."

"Dig a Pony," I feel, is trying to come off as more of a soulful song with the begging guitar riff and the harder rock feel that is portrayed  throughout the whole song, along with a guitar solo about 2:30 in.  The drums are also used very heavily within the piece, accenting Lennon's vocals and the "critical points," during the track.  

(such a strange song...)

John wasn't the only one to have smash hits off of The Beatles last album released, Paul also wrote and sang on some killer tracks.  One of these such songs is "Let it Be," and the slightly more cheesy "The Long and Winding Road." 

I love the guitar and piano mix in this song, especially with Paul's vocals.  

In both of these recordings, all of the band members are spread out throughout the room, only making eye contact for cued entrances.  This is the opposite from when the band first made it really big, where there was nothing but smiles coming from the group.  Also I'm not sure how important or related to anything this is but all of Paul's main features on this album are accompanied with a piano and are slower and more somber than the other tracks.

The band then broke up after this album to go their separate ways musically, all of which producing some singles here and there.  Paul eventually went on to another band, Wings, where he had many successful songs including my personal favorite, "Band on the Run."  The Beatles era was one that will always be remembered for all that they did for the world of Rock and Roll and social culture in general.   

I can remember way back when, when I hated everything about The Beatles.  I now realize how completely ridiculous I was and now fully understand why they are the most popular rock band of all time.

-Brooks Gonzales

Left Side Deaf

After listening to Girl Talk (absolutely amazing artist) in class, it has inspired me to listen to more electronic music.  This is also a follow up to one of my previous blogs about Fatal Dubstep.  That channel on Youtube led me to find another amazing electronic/dubstep/glitch hop artist: Left Side Deaf.  

(This is the album cover from their 2012 album entitled "Aurora")

Left side deaf combines aspects of dubstep which is a genre of electronic music, mostly dance music, that contains "tightly coiled productions with overwhelming bass lines and reverberant drum patterns, clipped samples, and occasional vocals," (Allmusic.com). 

The song above is a perfect example of many of these characteristics; overwhelming bass lines, especially the chorus, different yet repeated (snare) drum patterns that resurface throughout the whole piece, clipped samples and occasional vocals that are combined into one entity.  Left Side Deaf usually uses clips and samples of female vocals for a reason that I have yet been informed as to why but they are very good at it none the less. 

One song of theirs that I really like (and so happened to find on Youtube) is called "Clutch."  This song incorperates what is known to electronic music lovers as "glitch hop."  Glitch hop can be described as intentional "glitches" that are put into the music that help progress the song.  To the untrained ear, this might sound like a mistake but this is far from reality.  Many times the artist will also add aspects of hip hop to their music, mainly drum breaks, to create an even more complex and amazing sound.

Left Side Deaf is a new and up-and-coming artist that hopefully will be able to make it in the big bad world that is music because there is definitely potential for a very successful career.

-Brooks Gonzales