I am in a Musical Improv troupe and our coach recently gave us a homework assignment, listen toOklahoma.
It’s a musical for sure. I have never seen it, and since I listened to just the songs, I vaguely know what the plot is about. But what I did gather from it was this. Oklahomais one of those famous musicals that you see local theater groups, high schools, and colleges putting on. Because of that, I always felt like maybe Oklahomawas an easy musical. Wrong. I’m surprised so many people put it on. Musicals are so hard (maybe for just me). In our improv group we are looking at the structure of the songs and when certain kinds of songs are sung. I’m always so impressed with musicals and people who perform them. It truly is the trifecta of theater ability, singing, dancing, and acting. I may just find myself attending the local high school’s performance of Oklahoma.
I was looking through Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums list, and found this at #12. Love jazz. I listened to it all day. Super soothing and relaxing. I obviously work at a desk job. So when dealing with 100 e-mails, phone calls, 20 post-it notes laying around everywhere, and empty coffee cups laying around, having a little jazz in the background seems to make it all seem okay. Jazz keeps me guessing. I can’t tell what is rehearsed and what is improvised. Either way, when I pay attention to it, it makes my brain feel like it’s getting exercise, and when I’m not paying attention, it relaxes me.
Grade: Sometimes I feel like I was born in the wrong era.
Wow, so many words. I started my musical journey in life with bands like Yes, Genesis, The Police, Elvis Costello, then moved to rap and punk rock. So I missed a lot of Beatles, Stones, and Dylan.
This makes me mad. Not Dylan or this album, I think it’s amazing. I just think it’s sad that music like this doesn’t get the kind of recognition it deserves in today’s musical climate. I mean, what happened? Did real music people lose control of the music industry? Are we just being fed shitty music by the record companies? Are we too lazy to seek out good music? Dylan’s voice wouldn’t even get close to anything like American Idol, or top 40 radio. His lyrics would confuse too many people (and still do I’m sure). I kind of makes me sick. This is why I say we are on the cusp of the next Beatles. I feel like we have gone to a dark place in popular music. Where musical ignorance is celebrated. I truly believe that everything is cyclical, so therefore we need a new Dylan, a new Lennon, a new Jagger. I’m predicting that they are alive right now, and possibly working on reaching our ears as we speak. If not, they’re at least breastfeeding.
Grade: History was always my favorite subject in school
After listening to his solo album, I thought it might be a good idea to hear more of what brought Jack White to where he is today.
What was wrong with me? A lot of this blog has made me realize how judgmental I used to be. I used to think Meg White was a shitty drummer, boring and unoriginal. I used to think Jack White was an ugly version of Johnny Depp, and who would want to listen to that? Turns out Meg plays exactly what these tunes need. It’s not about the drums. The simplicity of the drums provides the background for everything else to take place and take center stage. Jack is super creative in his lyrics, and song structures. Each song is different and fun to follow from beginning to end. I was working out while listening to this album, and it actually fit the setting perfectly. I could also see this music going well while doing the following:
Driving
Anger Management
Video Games
Party
Dishes
Poker
Sex
“The White Stripes, good for just about anything” - Their new slogan that I just copyrighted.
Grade: High School Matt… You’re an idiot
Stand Out Track: “I Think I Smell A Rat” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHVZDGf3gPs
Okay, I have found a loophole in my system here on Listen 365. Some artists can’t be given a fair shake in one round of blind listening. Rufus falls into this category of artists.
My first instinct is that I think it’s okay. I felt like the album started off great, but as I made my way to the second half of the album, I was bored. I felt like all the tempos were very similar and his voice lived in the same zone, showcasing little range. However, I feel like I am missing out on what he’s saying. He seems like an artist that has a lot to say and enjoys saying them in different ways. I LOVED the first song and what it was about. I didn’t listen to the rest of the album as intently. Therefore, I’m not giving him a fair shake.
On the flip side, this blog is for me to listen to as much as I can in the span of a year. I have to go off of my instincts, because honestly, I don’t have enough time in the day to dissect everything. By that definition, I don’t feel bad saying that I got bored with this album towards the end. However, I see why people like him.
Put this one off. Chose this because this has the album art I remembered the most from them. I’m telling you, album art is so important to the success of an album or a band.
I couldn’t help but think about the Talking Heads the whole time. I LOVE the Talking Heads, so I was surprised. I put off Modest Mouse for a long while. This time period of Indie Rock didn’t set well with me. I guess I didn’t get it. But like I’ve said in the past, one thing that is great about music, is that I have so much to listen to and discover. You can’t fault someone for their timeline. In my case, I’m late to this party, but now I can hear it. I can hear their originality, hear what makes them a great band. I can hear the passion, I can hear the influences and originality at the same time. I can hear the thought put into every instrument. I’m learning to listen, and loving it.
Grade: It doesn’t matter when you show up to a party, it’s the fact that you showed up at all!
Stand Out Track: “Dashboard” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmm_SjUAK7I
Again, a band that understands how to use album art to describe the music. I love this kind of cover.
I don’t really know how to categorize this music. I just know it’s very good and it pulls from many different places. I feel like they are the Mars Volta of indie pop rock. They can change a song at the drop of a dime and make it work and flow well. As a drummer, I admire the ability to start, stop, left turn, right turn, jump, right turn again, and stop. That’s how a lot of this feels, but you aren’t tired. Sometimes when bands do too much, I get almost physically tired by the end of the album. This was weirdly soothing. Very cool stuff.
Grade: Their catalogue just made my to-do-list.
Stand Out Track: “Ye, Renew the Plaintiff” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64D0On9M5Ac
I must admit, I’m fighting another Urban Outfitters joke. I hold back, because I’m starting to understand the music a little more.
What I’m understanding is that certain music needs to be played at certain times. If you’re getting ready to go out and rage with your friends, maybe this isn’t the album to play in the background. But if your sitting there chilling or need good background, mood setting ambiance, this works.
I feel like any music that has any sort of following can’t be called bad music. Because someone or some group of people think it’s good, and who are we to tell them they are wrong. There is a time and a place for all music. Our lives bring us to the music that helps describe us. I bring this up now because this is a band I would have written off not too long ago. I realize now that it’s good music, but it’s better to listen to it in a setting that enhances the experience of the sound. Do your music justice.
Grade: I have seen this in the clearance rack a few times. I now realize that it’s a deal I should jump on.
The other guys in my band love these guys, so that’s always a good reason to check out new music.
I pretty much loved this. It was my kind of catchy, folky, rock ‘n’ roll. It reminds me of bands I would hear in Athens, OH. Late night, small bar, drinks, and your one friend who understood the music the way you did. Dancing like two awkward white dudes. Realizing that there is only about 30 people experiencing the same thing. The thing is the band playing. Those are some of the best nights of sleep I’ve ever had. So, yeah, that’s what this band makes me think.
Grade: Jack and coke please!
Stand Out Track: “Lonesome” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwzjJKdyMzU
I have a connection with this band. The lead singer Greg Dulli is from my hometown of Hamilton, OH. My dad has played music in the Cincinnati area since the 70s and remembers his rise to fame. So it’s about time I listen to this dude from my own gene pool.
This is one of those albums that has more attitude than it does musicality. Although I liked the music itself a lot. His lyrics are pretty honest. “Ladies let me tell you about myself… I got a dick for a brain, and my brain is gonna sell my ass to you.” Pretty straight up. Those kind of lyrics are very in your face, which they make no apologies for which is why you have to respect it. This is however an acquired taste. He is not a good singer by any means. But like I said, this is more about the attitude than it is the talent.
