I recently got the urge to declare to myself what my favorite albums of all time are. I figured here would be a great place to share them because you can see them and then maybe if you are inspired enough you can share your favorites in the comments section and we can see how different/similar the lists can be.
I would like to emphasize that the albums listed here are in no way the most critically acclaimed albums ever. I'll say right now that you will not see anything by The Beatles, Bob Dylan, or The Rolling Stones on this list. I am of a generation where most did not grow up on those bands. My experience is more shaped by late '70s rock music. At the earliest. These albums are just the ones I have connected with the most, but that's how yours should be too. Never allow your favorites to be everyone's favorites just because you feel like you have to.
Needless to say, I do not trust any large publication with an all time list. They are not fact and sometimes people treat them as such. Same goes for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Sure these artists great, but are they all the greatest of all time? Maybe to the critic's ear and eye, but that's not what music is for. We claim no kings and queens of rock. (Even if some silly nickname says so). After all, music is art. Some people forget that. It cannot be judged in terms of right and wrong, good and bad. There are not extremes, just tastes. Do you like it? Be my guest and like that music.
With that being said, here is my list. How about sharing yours?
Disclaimer: There is no order between these albums. There are some oldies on here but also some recent albums that I hope stay on the list for a very long time.
Counting Crows "August and Everything After"
Arctic Monkeys "Whatever People Say I Am That's What I'm Not"
Pearl Jam "Ten"
Dave Matthews Band "Crash"
John Mellencamp "Scarecrow"
Bruce Springsteen "The Rising"
Moon Taxi "Cabaret"
The Pass "Melt"
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers "Damn The Torpedoes"
The Wild Feathers "The Wild Feathers"
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
11 Kentuckiana Bands Who Had a Great 2013
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Kentucky is truly filled with great and diverse music. There were many names this year who released great records and made noise nationally. From hip hop and spunky rock to electro pop and down home country, the commonwealth was bursting at the seams with great tunes done by great people. Here are some (and by no means all) of the highlights:
The Debauchees: The rising stars in the Louisville music scene are these three spunky teens. Two things that pop out even before hearing their tunes. The group is two thirds female and they decided to create the band before they knew how to play. With that being said, they create some poppy spunk rock with vocals to kill from their debut release Big Machines & Peculiar Beings.
The Pass: Labelmates with The Debauchees and purveyors of the same scene, The Pass from Louisville keeps getting bigger with every album. They were still ridding the coattails of their second full length Melt when they began 2013 and they are on this list especially for their announcement of a new album and special release of singles that will occur during the first four months of 2014. The Pass's electro pop will keep you dancing and yes, the occasional air guitar.
Buffalo Rodeo: Buffalo Rodeo is another fantastic band from the crop of alternative bands that keep coming out of Bowling Green. But they definitely have their own style. Hard enough to rock out to and poppy enough to dance and sing along to, Buffalo Rodeo had a great year by releasing their best EP yet in April called Home Videos. They play a crazy live show and they plan on keeping the momentum in 2014. Zanzabar in Louisville seem as if it is becoming the home away from Casa de Buffalo. They return January 16.
The Debauchees: The rising stars in the Louisville music scene are these three spunky teens. Two things that pop out even before hearing their tunes. The group is two thirds female and they decided to create the band before they knew how to play. With that being said, they create some poppy spunk rock with vocals to kill from their debut release Big Machines & Peculiar Beings.
The Pass: Labelmates with The Debauchees and purveyors of the same scene, The Pass from Louisville keeps getting bigger with every album. They were still ridding the coattails of their second full length Melt when they began 2013 and they are on this list especially for their announcement of a new album and special release of singles that will occur during the first four months of 2014. The Pass's electro pop will keep you dancing and yes, the occasional air guitar.
Cage The Elephant: The biggest name on this list is the alternative rockers from Bowling Green, Kentucky. They made their year with the release of their third album Melophobia (which oddly enough means fear of music). CTE threw us something different on Melophobia including a horn section and a guest spot from Alison Mosshart from The Kills. Supposedly they didn't allow themselves to listen to any music other than their own during the recording process. We are still waiting on a full blown tour from CTE but check out Letterman's reaction when they played lead single "Come A Little Closer" on his show.
Sundy Best: Here is a pair of good ol' boys from Prestonburg, Kentucky that have been playing the heck out of the state and region throughout all of 2013. The released Door Without A Screen in 2013 and have already made plans for their second album Bring Up The Sun in March 2014. It's simple tunes-one plays guitar, the other is percussion and that usually means the box. They sing very tangible lyrics and down home tunes. Country is real and it's Sundy Best. Buffalo Rodeo: Buffalo Rodeo is another fantastic band from the crop of alternative bands that keep coming out of Bowling Green. But they definitely have their own style. Hard enough to rock out to and poppy enough to dance and sing along to, Buffalo Rodeo had a great year by releasing their best EP yet in April called Home Videos. They play a crazy live show and they plan on keeping the momentum in 2014. Zanzabar in Louisville seem as if it is becoming the home away from Casa de Buffalo. They return January 16.
Ben Sollee: Ben Sollee can do just whatever he absolutely wants and people will eat it up. Originally from Lexington, he captivates us with his sincerity, generosity and innovation. His activism is always present in his work and that usually deals with his protests of mountaintop removal. This year he released The Hollow Sessions, for free and unannounced. It was an album chalk full of great cover tunes. Sollee started solo but has come to bringing his percussion Jordan Ellis and much more of a full band around now. He went a bike tour earlier this fall where he traveled to each show via bike.
The Hollow Sessions (name your price bandcamp album)
Nerves Junior: Way back in February, Nerves Junior released what some people have called the best EP of the year in Craters. That garnered the Louisville band an invite to SXSW. Nerves junior continued with walking the fine line between darkness and dreams with ambient synth and driving rhythm section with drowning vocals. Stay tuned for a full length.
Jalin Roze: There may be an argument but Jalin Roze is Louisville's best hip hop act hands down in my opinion. His beats are creative and bumping. His rhymes are catchy, relatable, and driving. Still can't get over when he rhymed "newest thrills" and "are you for real" with "Dumervil" (former UofL LB). The best part of his year was playing Pianos in NYC for CMJ. He documented it. Watch it here. Roze announced today that he will be touring with a full band in 2014.
Matt Duncan: At the very very beginning of the year Matt Duncan (the band, not the dude) released the best throwback with their album Soft Times. We are talkin Motown and Stax for white guys. The key word is smooth--in lyrics and music. The Lexington group brought a '70s flashback with a twist and its definitely easy on the ears.
Kaleidico: Kaleidico released Free Falling Waltz to the world in May in all its psychedelic glory. This record was maybe the most critically acclaimed record to come out of Louisville this year. They have not done too much promotion for it, but that definitely does not take away from how good it is. To compare it to something, I would say a dreamier Tame Impala with less guitar. But it basically sounds like an experiment, there is so much going on. They ring in the New Year at The New Vintage tonight.
Honorable Mention (because of geography): Louisville has a tendency to kind of claim everything good that comes out of New Albany because it is just across the river and sometimes it really seems like the same city. Sooooo the last band may be the pretty big, but I'll throw it in here anyways.
Houndmouth: Houndmouth had the best year ever. Hailing from New Albany, Indiana, they brought their guitar twang raucous all over the USA and Europe hitting the festival circuit with a fierce energy. From the thumping "Come On, Illinois" to the crowd sing along "Krampus," their debut album From the Hills Below The City officially made them national news. Don't expect it to slow down either.
There you have it: a mix of 10 of Kentucky's best plus one from southern Indiana because I had to. It shows how blossoming Kentucky is in terms of their musical success and diversity. I did not even mention how much bigger Forecastle is getting every year. String Cheese Incident, The Black Keys, and The Avett Brothers headlined this year and we can expect more and more for 2014. Not to forget Cropped Out Music Festival, @LouMUSICulture, the resurgence of the Louisville record shop, and all the fantastic shows that took place this year (some of which you have seen on this blog).
Here's to an even better 2014. Cheers.
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Deciphering Today's Country Music: Part 1
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I have no idea what qualifies as country music. Do you?
I have been confused with the essence of country music ever since high school when some people who became my best friends also were some of the people went to the free Billy Currington shows at the KY States Fair. Since then, I have seen The Band Perry, Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, Zac Brown Band, Miranda Lambert, Eric Church, Rascal Flatts, Eli Young Band, and Little Big Town.
It may not be my favorite genre, but I been around it a few or so times.
I still don't get it.
When I saw the viral video called Why Country Music Was Awful in 2013 (created by Entertainment Weekly country music writer Grady Smith), I really believe that what he says makes a lot of sense. It's a male dominated genre in airplay whose lyrics are both similar and shallow. In my opinion, it is a female dominated genre in talent. Women like Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, Ashley Monroe, and Carrie Underwood have the chops to takes down all the guys. I do not include Taylor Swift in that list because I still don't know how much country she actually plays anymore.
I assume the male singers are popular because men idolize them and women want to be with them. They are finding ways to pinpoint the demographic and create music distinctly for their tastes.
But their position on these tunes reminds me of a Bo Burnham sketch. Here I will let him explain.
Both the music and lyrics of most of these men (specifically the ones in the video like Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, and Randy Houser) are vague enough to apply to most any girl. That's why I feel like today's country music is very popular to both country, rock, and pop fans. They are vague and blur the lines off different genres both musically and lyrically.
With that being said, I'll go off the topic of the video a little bit and address my confusion with what people classify as country music. The multiple country music awards shows throughout the year are exhibitions of what country fans find acceptable in and out of the country world. A fine example is the monologue of Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood when they host the CMAs.
Country Music Television though is a different story. Musicians that were presenters or performers at the 2013 CMTs included Lenny Kravitz, Seth & Scott Avett, Ed Sheeran, and Nelly. Not necessarily twangiest of people are they? Also in terms of CMT music videos, sometimes those are loosely interpreted as country. I am thinking specifically of Moon Taxi's "River Water" and The Wild Feathers' "The Ceiling." Both are very high quality songs and those are two of my favorite bands but are they country songs? And if they are country songs, are they today's country songs? It is decisions like these two that make me believe that country music isn't one genre or one idea, but merely determined by what the county demographic deems good and acceptable.
Now to address those that oppose that country is definitely not one genre or idea. Well I would disagree. I will point out specifically country and hip hop/rap that are defined by certain values and musical characteristics. Other genres that have been given names like pop, rock, alternative, and indie are loosely based more on a philosophy, an attitude, or how the songs get played on radio. Pop, rock, alternative, and indie songs have such a wide spectrum within the genre and before country became influenced by these other genres they were their own entity with their own sound.
None of these accusations are too diminish the songs themselves that are listed here. My point is that what was country music in the past is hard to recognize by who represents the genre. If you ask anyone, they will attest that one of my favorite bands is Zac Brown Band and how much I love their concerts. But they are a fine example of the melding that occurs and I will just state it by who they cover in their shows, as cover songs are a great indicator of the influence of the band. At ZBB's show in Tulsa on December 28, they played 25 songs and 10 cover songs. The bands they covered were John Mayer, Stevie Wonder, Van Morrison, Dave Matthews Band, Guns'n'Roses, Garth Brooks, Billy Joel, James Taylor, Metallica, Led Zeppelin, and The Charlie Daniels Band. Now that is a wide array of artists, all likely to be received well.
I'll end this little explanation with a couple women who I believe are represented what country music used to be: Ashley Monroe and Kacey Musgraves.
I have got to be wrong in this thing somewhere so let me know what you think in the comments section or tweet to me @parasiticnoise.
I have been confused with the essence of country music ever since high school when some people who became my best friends also were some of the people went to the free Billy Currington shows at the KY States Fair. Since then, I have seen The Band Perry, Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, Zac Brown Band, Miranda Lambert, Eric Church, Rascal Flatts, Eli Young Band, and Little Big Town.
It may not be my favorite genre, but I been around it a few or so times.
I still don't get it.
When I saw the viral video called Why Country Music Was Awful in 2013 (created by Entertainment Weekly country music writer Grady Smith), I really believe that what he says makes a lot of sense. It's a male dominated genre in airplay whose lyrics are both similar and shallow. In my opinion, it is a female dominated genre in talent. Women like Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, Ashley Monroe, and Carrie Underwood have the chops to takes down all the guys. I do not include Taylor Swift in that list because I still don't know how much country she actually plays anymore.
I assume the male singers are popular because men idolize them and women want to be with them. They are finding ways to pinpoint the demographic and create music distinctly for their tastes.
But their position on these tunes reminds me of a Bo Burnham sketch. Here I will let him explain.
Both the music and lyrics of most of these men (specifically the ones in the video like Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, and Randy Houser) are vague enough to apply to most any girl. That's why I feel like today's country music is very popular to both country, rock, and pop fans. They are vague and blur the lines off different genres both musically and lyrically.
With that being said, I'll go off the topic of the video a little bit and address my confusion with what people classify as country music. The multiple country music awards shows throughout the year are exhibitions of what country fans find acceptable in and out of the country world. A fine example is the monologue of Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood when they host the CMAs.
Country Music Television though is a different story. Musicians that were presenters or performers at the 2013 CMTs included Lenny Kravitz, Seth & Scott Avett, Ed Sheeran, and Nelly. Not necessarily twangiest of people are they? Also in terms of CMT music videos, sometimes those are loosely interpreted as country. I am thinking specifically of Moon Taxi's "River Water" and The Wild Feathers' "The Ceiling." Both are very high quality songs and those are two of my favorite bands but are they country songs? And if they are country songs, are they today's country songs? It is decisions like these two that make me believe that country music isn't one genre or one idea, but merely determined by what the county demographic deems good and acceptable.
Now to address those that oppose that country is definitely not one genre or idea. Well I would disagree. I will point out specifically country and hip hop/rap that are defined by certain values and musical characteristics. Other genres that have been given names like pop, rock, alternative, and indie are loosely based more on a philosophy, an attitude, or how the songs get played on radio. Pop, rock, alternative, and indie songs have such a wide spectrum within the genre and before country became influenced by these other genres they were their own entity with their own sound.
None of these accusations are too diminish the songs themselves that are listed here. My point is that what was country music in the past is hard to recognize by who represents the genre. If you ask anyone, they will attest that one of my favorite bands is Zac Brown Band and how much I love their concerts. But they are a fine example of the melding that occurs and I will just state it by who they cover in their shows, as cover songs are a great indicator of the influence of the band. At ZBB's show in Tulsa on December 28, they played 25 songs and 10 cover songs. The bands they covered were John Mayer, Stevie Wonder, Van Morrison, Dave Matthews Band, Guns'n'Roses, Garth Brooks, Billy Joel, James Taylor, Metallica, Led Zeppelin, and The Charlie Daniels Band. Now that is a wide array of artists, all likely to be received well.
I'll end this little explanation with a couple women who I believe are represented what country music used to be: Ashley Monroe and Kacey Musgraves.
I have got to be wrong in this thing somewhere so let me know what you think in the comments section or tweet to me @parasiticnoise.
Friday, December 27, 2013
Phish and Conference USA basketball
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Phish irritated some fans this Halloween by "covering themselves" than their usual routine of covering an album like they have done in the past such as The Beatles "The White Album." But in changing things up, the band played their next album in its entirety which they said they will record soon.
It's noteworthy to me because I am a fan of the University of Louisville. But what exactly is the connection between Phish and the University of Louisville?
Well...Phish wrote a song about one of the most random things that anyone might be able to conjure up. They debuted a song at their Halloween show this year about the 2005 Conference USA basketball championship game. Completing in this game was Memphis and Louisville. The song is specifically about the internal turmoil of Darius Washington Jr. (Memphis) at the free throw line. He was fouled while shooting a three point field goal as tike expired. His team was down two.
He only made one. Louisville won.
Here is a story by ESPN on Darius Washington and those free throws.
And now the song. Here is Phish debuting "The Line" live in Atlantic City this year on Halloween.
"The Line" begins at 2:07:10
It's noteworthy to me because I am a fan of the University of Louisville. But what exactly is the connection between Phish and the University of Louisville?
Well...Phish wrote a song about one of the most random things that anyone might be able to conjure up. They debuted a song at their Halloween show this year about the 2005 Conference USA basketball championship game. Completing in this game was Memphis and Louisville. The song is specifically about the internal turmoil of Darius Washington Jr. (Memphis) at the free throw line. He was fouled while shooting a three point field goal as tike expired. His team was down two.
He only made one. Louisville won.
Here is a story by ESPN on Darius Washington and those free throws.
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Check Out Your New Favorite Female Vocalist
0 commentsHer name is Nini Fabi and she sings for the electropop band Haerts. Fabi was originally born in Ohio and moved to Germany. She studied music in Boston and now has landed in New York. In the attached video for the song "Wings" off the debut EP Hemiplegia, Fabi has such a commanding vocal part of the song. Her elongated notes drown everything else out and yet the beat compliments her very well. Can't wait to her the full length from Haerts.
"Wings" is being performed during CMJ 2013 at Judson Memorial Church. The acoustics are incredible.
Haerts website
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
My Favorite Albums of 2013
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I'm no genius and I am hardly a qualified critic but I figured I can shed a little light on my favorite albums of 2013. No order--just a group of the best (with audio/video of my favorite song from each).
Cage The Elephant -- Melophobia
The Wild Feathers -- The Wild Feathers
Arcade Fire -- Reflektor
Jake Bugg -- Shangri La
The Debauchees -- Big Machines and Peculiar Beings
Moon Taxi -- Moutains Beaches Cities
Kurt Vile -- Wakin On A Pretty Day
GROUPLOVE -- Spreading Rumours
Houndmouth -- From The Hills Below The City
Kacey Musgraves -- Same Trailer, Different Park
Cage The Elephant -- Melophobia
The Wild Feathers -- The Wild Feathers
Arcade Fire -- Reflektor
Jake Bugg -- Shangri La
The Debauchees -- Big Machines and Peculiar Beings
Moon Taxi -- Moutains Beaches Cities
Kurt Vile -- Wakin On A Pretty Day
GROUPLOVE -- Spreading Rumours
Houndmouth -- From The Hills Below The City
Kacey Musgraves -- Same Trailer, Different Park
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Music News O' The Day (12/19) + Jagwar Ma
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The Super Bowl halftime show may be headlined by Bruno Mars, but that will be just scratching the surface of music come Super Bowl weekend in New York. On Thursday, January 30 a "History of Hip Hop" party is on, hosted by The Roots featuring Run DMC, Busta Rhymes and special guests. Friday the 31st, take in some Imagine Dragons and follow that up on the first of February with the double bill of Foo Fighters and Zac Brown Band. And before going to the game on Sunday, fans can take in Fall Out Boy and Jake Owen. Also NYC radio station WFAN will be hosting a Super Bowl party of their own the night before the game with a lineup that includes Red Hot Chili Peppers, MS MR, J. Roddy Walston & the Business, New Politics, and Basic Vacation. (via Consequence of Sound)
The first slate of Grammy performers have been announced. They are as follows: Daft Punk (first live performance since 2008), Kendrick Lamar with Imagine Dragons, Pink with Nate Ruess of fun. and a combination of Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, and Blake Shelton. The Grammys are January 26. (via The AV Club)
On the heels of announcing new singles and their debut on vinyl, The Pass will unveil each 7'' with a release show every month from January to April. That means one show each month at Zanzabar in Louisville. Each show will feature great local/regional acts with some special guests. The first show is Saturday January 11 with Skyscraper Stereo. Tickets are $8. (editorial: How about having the full album release party in the summer at Headliner's or The New Vintage where youngin's under 21 can go and enjoy these great tunes.) (via Backseat Sandbar)
Listern here: Jagwar Ma "Uncertainty"
The first slate of Grammy performers have been announced. They are as follows: Daft Punk (first live performance since 2008), Kendrick Lamar with Imagine Dragons, Pink with Nate Ruess of fun. and a combination of Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, and Blake Shelton. The Grammys are January 26. (via The AV Club)
On the heels of announcing new singles and their debut on vinyl, The Pass will unveil each 7'' with a release show every month from January to April. That means one show each month at Zanzabar in Louisville. Each show will feature great local/regional acts with some special guests. The first show is Saturday January 11 with Skyscraper Stereo. Tickets are $8. (editorial: How about having the full album release party in the summer at Headliner's or The New Vintage where youngin's under 21 can go and enjoy these great tunes.) (via Backseat Sandbar)
Listern here: Jagwar Ma "Uncertainty"
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