Posts tagged music

It’s a rare occasion that I write about an article. Mainly because I find it to be redundant and overall pointless. People read articles to absorb information and form their own opinions about the given subject. But when it comes to pieces that try to give people a true glimpse of the music industry, I try to spread it around — because there’s a lot of things people don’t know. And when I saw this one posted on my friend and Drift Division drummer Corrado Rizzi’s wall, I had to take a stab at it.

AN ENDING FOR ENDERS

Alternative Press’s article “No Money, Mo’ Problems: Why Even Successful Bands Struggle Financially” follows the journey of Ace Enders as he begins to bow out of the independent music world. After the demise of his indie-pop troupe The Early November, Enders began his own project, I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody’s Business. His name didn’t do him justice. As he chugged on to “live the dream,” his touring and record sale profits never outnumbered the expenses, creating a financial mess of typical “starving artist” proportions. With a wife and young child, there’s only so long a man can put his dream above all else. On Dec. 21, Enders announced at his show in Teaneck’s Mexicali Live that it would be his last show until further notice.

This story is nothing new. Although the current economic status of our country isn’t the biggest help, the music industry has been hobbling around on its last leg for about a decade now. Torrents and download sites are replacing the record stores, and it seems like more people are looking to Youtube for their “live show experience” than the dive bars that many of us know and love.

However, this article hit me so hard because I was at the Mexicali that night. I saw the lighthearted boy get taken over by sheer gloom while he admitted that it was time to throw in the towel. It was evident and obvious that Enders was meant to be on stage. He had a sheer joy while performing that night, and had the stellar audience interaction to boot. So…why are talented, determined and somewhat successful people like Enders destined to suffer and quit their dreams for a life of monotony?

As AP’s article states, it depends on the artist. It depends on money spent on recording, touring, and designing and ordering merch. It also depends on the amount that other people spend. People meaning the fans. Sure, some people will pay 15 to 20 dollars to see a live performance. But will they buy a CD and/or merch too? This variable may seem small, but mixed with the number of expenses and “important people” to pay, it’s difficult for even the most successful artists, especially in the pop/punk/indie game, to make a substantial living. Say Anything’s Max Bemis, Eisley’s Sherry DuPree Bemis, and Thursday’s Geoff Rickley are examples of artists that were forced to work retail and other side projects to make a living.

THE GREAT SELL-OUT DEBATE

 Some of this year’s most beloved artists including the Black Keys and Vampire Weekend have developed publishing deals and plans to put their tracks in television commercials. Cue the “boo’s” from the peanut gallery. But in today’s industry, that is where the most money comes from and in essence, where the artist can get most control. They decide where their music goes, and they decide how much their music is worth (given the publishing deal they signed…but that’s another story). The Black Keys were nominated for six Grammy’s this year. Was it because their track was in a Zales jewelry commercial? Doubtful. In all actuality, it’s because they’re a talented group that pushed to the revive gritty swamp-rock sound that a lot of people were scared to touch. It’s really that simple!

At the end of the day, I can’t make anyone go to a concert, buy a T-shirt or an album. I may be the only one that salivates beyond control when I see a limited-edition tour poster for sale. But I know how there is nothing more perfect and indescribable than a good live show — and I know I’m not alone in this. Long story short, next show you go to, try and take the leap and buy a shirt or EP. You’d be surprised how much you’d be making their day.

I give endless amounts of credit to Rizzi and a number of my other friends that are fighting to keep their dream alive while striving to entertain anyone that will listen. There’s not only talent, but an unlimited amount of love and passion in every note sung and each snare hit. On that note (pun intended) the Drift Division EP is only 5 dollars! And you can download the Escape Directors’ debut album Ladders for free on their site.

This past Thursday I went to Karaoke Night at a small and somewhat dumpy bar/restaurant in Fairlawn, N.J. Despite groans from my boyfriend when he became aware that we were going to listen to drunkards sing along to Ke$ha at 11 p.m., we made plans to meet the standard group of friends we usually go out with. Little did we know that we would be the most vivacious people in attendance, besides a 60-something-year-old man that liked to bump and grind to Lady Gaga and Rockabilly revival.

To some, the principles and overall methodology of karaoke is sacred. There are several titles covering important concepts and rules, including an in-depth analysis of the entertainment within Chinese culture, written by William Paterson University professor of Communication Theory, Dr. Casey Lum (whom was also my professor). However to others karaoke nights are just excuses for them to go to empty dive bars, consume the cheapest vodka possible, and make fools of themselves by rocking out to the greatest hits while their friends laugh at (not with) them. The latter characterization was me — minus the whole rocking out thing.

As I explained to my friend Nick of the Escape Directors, I get extreme performance anxiety. No matter how small the audience, my throat dries and closes up, my voice quivers and I forget the lyrics. Simply not an ideal situation for all parties involved. But at the same time I found myself peering over my friends’ shoulders, looking at the blessed “song binder” to see which songs I would perform as my karaoke debut. But alas, the bible never fell in my lap and I couldn’t muster up the courage to step up to the mic. So now’s the time for me to lay out what I would perform if I had (figurative) balls of steel and became a hard-core karaoke champ. Keep in mind, these were in no way analyzed — songs chosen are merely tracks I have found myself singing and dancing to in the privacy of my own home and car. Readers of this blog now I’m mainly a rock girl, but this entry will cover not only rock, but the top five pop and rap/R&B tracks. Is this thing on?

Rock
1. “The Stroke” Billy Squier: First thing that comes to mind is the epic “first day of high school” scene in Billy Madison. But the guitar lick is contagious and it’s just one of those tracks that can make even the most belligerently drunk folks head bang to the beat and sing “Stroke me, stroke me.” 

2. “Pour Some Sugar On Me” Def Leppard: Another unnecessarily yet amazingly dirty song. Although this song has kind of been done to death, from being synched in Coyote Ugly to On The Line starring the once-straight Lance Bass and Joey Fatone, it’s so freakin’ easy to see why. Come on, people! Listen to it! Can’t you just see some trashy chick chuggin’ $2 PBR’s grinding the mic stand to this while garbling the lyrics? Karaoke gold!

3. “Livin’ On A Prayer” Bon Jovi: Do I really need to get into this? Jersey chick aside, this song has such an epic build up. Not only can singers shout the chorus and finger point to the audience, they can (attempt to) seductively croon the verse. Beautiful.

4. “Fat Bottomed Girls” Queen: Everyone who even slightly knows of my existence knows my devotion to Queen. I’ve been wearing out their CDs and collecting vinyls and T-shirts since my pre-teen, disgustingly angsty years. The heartbeat-thumping drums interlace perfectly with the guitars. Throw in your best Freddie Mercury voice and a little bit of booty bouncing and you’ve got the perfect performance.

Honorable mentions:

“My Sharona” The Knack
“American Woman” by The Guess Who
“Paradise By the Dashboard Light” by Meatloaf
“Dude Looks Like A Lady” by Aerosmith
“You Shook Me All Night Long” by AC/DC

Pop

1. “Whip It” Devo: Okay, okay, I know this isn’t necessarily a “pop” song, but its bass lick is too contagious and the lyrics too outrageous to be a flat-out rock song. Within the first five seconds, I can guarantee that 75 percent of any audience will start grooving in their seats (or out of them, if they’re feeling feisty). Crack that whip!

2. “Love Shack” B-52s: Another band that can easily fall within the dance/alternative sector, but hey, this is my blog. And to be honest, the B-52s in my eyes are the epitome of pop perfection. Dance beats, experimental and whacky lyrics, and outrageously colorful characters. Come on, how fun is it to impersonate Fred Schneider?

3. “Hit Me Baby (One More Time)” Britney Spears: More current, but still a classic.

4. “La La” Ashlee Simpson: Read the commentary on “Pour Some Sugar On Me” and it will apply to this contagious dance track. However, the likelihood of said drunk girl going on the prowl and sinking her claws into some poor, unaware male is far more likely.

5. “Toxic” Britney Spears: It may seem like I’m cheating by putting two Brit-Brit songs in one five-song countdown, but this chick is the ideal in terms of seductive yet innocent and fun pop music. Isn’t that what karaoke is all about?

6. “Bad Romance” Lady Gaga: This is the song to sing if you’re feeling saucy and are determined to show off. The bridge leads up to the most perfect “star moment” that I have heard in at least the last five years. This is by no means honorable mention. This is top notch stuff. Use with caution.

For the classic-lovers…
If you don’t wanna touch that modern stuff, here are the obvious top choices I would proudly get on stage and shriek along to.

“Like a Virgin” by Madonna
“Beat It” by Michael Jackson
“Little Red Corvette” by Prince
“Straight Up” by Paula Abdul

Hip-hop/Rap/R&B

1. “Push It” Salt-N-Pepa: We all know the notoriety of this song. Not only is it a fantastic dance track, it will show your sex appeal and your rap skills. If you don’t believe me, check out this scene from Grandma’s Boy. Who wouldn’t want a piece of that?

2. “Baby Got Back” Sir Mix-A-Lot: Seriously, who doesn’t like this song? Seriously.

3. “Notorious” Notorious B-I-G: Only skilled emcees need apply. I don’t care how drunk you are, this isn’t for the faint at heart.

4. “99 Problems” Jay-Z: See above explanation.

5. “Woo-Ha” Busta Rhymes: Okay, this song is merely wishful thinking. Honestly, my goal for 2011 is to be able to perfectly perform this track. At least now I have something to work towards!

These “lists” may be vague. However, these were the songs that stuck out most for me in terms of most contagious, danceable, fun and just overall awesome. I don’t want to hear any schmucks singing Journey’s “Open Arms” while crying into their glass of house merlot. If you’re gonna cry, don’t cry on the stage. I’ll be busy rockin’ out to Def Lep. Bartender, another vodka soda please!

Happy singing, folks!

Come September 28, Bowie fans will be giddy with EMI’s reissues of David Bowie’s 1976 classic Station to Station firmly grasped in their clammy hands.

One package will feature a three-CD Special Edition of the album with video and audio from the Nassau Coliseum show that occurred March 23, 1976. But for the extreme Bowie freaks, there is the Super Deluxe Limited Edition, as shown above, that features the CDs, LPs, EPs, DVDs and countless memorabilia of the album’s era, including a reprint of a Bowie Fan Club membership card, posters and badges. As the latter characterization of Bowie fan, I will see you all on the street outside of the nearest Best Buy Sept. 28.

Pitchfork has all of the juicy details, but here are some of the tracks listed.

Station to Station Special Edition:

Station to Station (original analog master):

01 Station to Station
02 Golden Years
03 Word on a Wing
04 TVC15
05 Stay
06 Wild Is the Wind

Live Nassau Coliseum ‘76 (part one):

01 Station to Station
02 Suffragette City
03 Fame
04 Word on a Wing
05 Stay
06 Waiting for the Man
07 Queen Bitch

Live Nassau Coliseum ‘76 (part two):

01 Life on Mars?
02 Five Years
03 Panic in Detroit
04 Changes
05 TVC15 
06 Diamond Dogs
07 Rebel Rebel
08 The Jean Genie

By Alicia Fiorletta

Eminem’s newest album is breaking chart records.

To some, he was a music industry phenomenon. To others, he was a social threat that promoted violence. But to most, Eminem was the voice of a generation.

Since his 1999 major-label debut The Slim Shady LP, the artist also known as Marshall Mathers has been recognized for obliterating enemies with his venomous tongue and creating coarse narrative that showcased his less-than-humble upbringings in Detroit.

No one was untouchable in the white rapper’s material. His mother and even his then-wife and mother of his children Kim were the main and fatal targets of his tracks. But it was his walking-time bomb flow and raging swagger that drew in fans and haters alike.

With six albums under his belt, Shady has more gusto than ever. Focusing more on his inner demons than his beefs and annoyances in the outside world, his newest album Recovery is proving after each moment of turbulence, the man can still break records like no other MC in today’s game. 

According to Billboard, Eminem is officially the top-selling artist of 2010, selling 741,000 copies its first week and topping the Billboard 200 chart. Recovery is also the highest-selling release since AC/DC’s Black Ice in 2008 with 784,000 units sold. The album surpasses the first week sales for the rapper’s last two albums — Relapse, which closed its first week with 608,000 units sold in 2009, and 2005’s Curtain Call, which sold 441,000 units.

Recovery is the MC’s sixth straight number-one debut, trailing behind only hip-hop entrepreneur Jay-Z for most number-one albums in the genre. Hova holds the record with 11.

Eminem also managed to break digital records, racking in 255,000 downloads of the LP in its first week. As a result, he holds the number two spot for the most digital downloads sold in a single week of all time. Coldplay’s Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends holds the ultimate record, with 288,000 downloads in its first during the summer of 2008. 

 However, the most impressive record he is inches from breaking is being held by rock legends the Beatles. Slim Shady stands firmly at the number two spot for most consecutive number-one debuts. With six albums debuting at the top of the charts in the last decade, the Brits are the only ones standing in the way, with eight consecutive number-one debuts from 1965-69.

Despite the countless protests against his work, Eminem has claimed his relevancy in the mainstream music circuit and in hip-hop history. He has the spunk to continue growing as a musician despite setbacks and emotional demons, but it’s safe to say this Recovery will help guide the way.

Note: This is one of the few articles I’ve contributed to the Rhythm & Beats blog. Like what you see? We keep tabs on today’s mainstream music industry with countdowns, classic videos, news, and the best tracks. www.rhythmbeats.tumblr.com

By Alicia Fiorletta

On July 2, 1988, Michael Jackson made music history.

Last week marked the one-year anniversary of Michael Jackson’s death. Leaving behind three children (Prince, Paris and Prince II or “Blanket), his family and legions of fans around the world, Jackson’s prominence in the entertainment world thrives proudly.

Between his incredible vocal range, hypnotizing dance movies and alluring songwriting, the legendary performer has been awarded 13 Grammys, been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, and has five L.Ps on the list of the best-selling albums of all time. His 1982 album, Thriller, is number one on that list.

On July 2, 1988, Jackson was named the first artist to have five number one singles from one album. Including the title track from 1987’s Bad, the L.P. had chart-topping tracks “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You,” “Man in the Mirror” and “The Way You Make Me Feel.” This day marked the moment Jackson broke the record with “Dirty Diana.” The track amps up the icon’s ambiguous sexuality as he tells the tale of a groupie-prowess eager to destroy his home life for bragging rights. His vocal tone is angry, practically seething, as a rock band outfit accompanies him. Like his other rock-driven track, “Beat It,” Jackson feels oddly comfortable with harsher instrumentation.

A vocal chameleon of sorts, he was a performer that didn’t unsuccessfully try to reach out to a bigger audience. Rather, he effortlessly used the raw guitars to help transform his voice to fit the narrative. He created the standard for the “musical experience” and took listeners on a journey with each track. He was pure entertainment, and he will forever remain a legend.

With two shows in the works, created by the Cirque Du Soleil franchise, countless books, an exhibit at the Motown museum, a videogame and several other projects in the works, Jackson will continue to be a fascination in the world’s eyes. Jackson’s hometown of Gary, Indiana has even announced plans of building a memorial museum and performance complex in honor of the singer. But along with his moments of worship is the past that he can’t escape — even with death. According to reports, father Joe Jackson is fighting his exclusion from the will and is seeking a $15,000 a month allowance from his son’s estate. Regardless, his music and stamp on pop culture will remain, as more performers will come forth, naming him as their creative inspiration.

Rock on, Michael.
We still think about you and sing and dance in your honor. You are quite a “Thriller.”

Topp stemning pa lokal bar
Polyvinyl

After performing for countless indie and techno-heads in small England clubs, hopping through the European festival circuit, and a string of performances at this year’s SXSW, Norwegian pop troupe Casiokids are attempting to win over America. With their new album, which loosely translates to “Great Vibe At Local Bar,” they are quite successful in their attempt. 

Their first single, “Fot I Hose,” lacks vocals, but has the fun, plucky guitars and humming synth syncopation to set the stage for music that can seemingly make you sweat out happiness while dancing along. But when there is singing, lyrics are sung in the band’s native tongue of Norwegian. This choice isn’t distracting, nor annoying. The vocals merely become an additional instrument, blending into each track. “Finn Bikkjen!” showcases the quivering falsetto that channels the Bee Gees and ABBA, and the Afrobeat influence the band takes such pride in crediting.

“Verdens Største Land” is the top track of the album because it manages to mesh all of Casiokids’ influences into an almost-seven-minute homage. The Afrobeat inspiration is clear with its contagious jungle beat and pulsating, funky bass work, channeling a hearty mix of the Commodores and African Manu Dibango’s “Soul Makossa.” Throw in the poppy, fun piano melodies of “Grønt Lys I Alle Ledd” and the pure, percussion-thumping swagger of “Min Siste Dag,” and you have the bands’ fearless approach to creating music.

Between their classic pop arrangements, their tributes to disco greats and overall positive vibes, Casiokids create legitimately fun dance music, rather than tracks that are desperate to pack in as many musical references and production enhancements as possible. They manage to create an effortless assortment of songs that flow perfectly into each other, and aren’t threateningly loud or chaotic. Casiokids are here for the good times and I think it’s safe to say Americans will welcome the fun-loving gang from Norway with open arms.

In A Word: Contagious
Grade: A-
— by Alicia Fiorletta

After funnyman Conan O’Brien and music mastermind Jack White made subtle hints of “working together” at White’s record label headquarters in Nashville, fans began to line up around the block, eagerly awaiting a legendary event hours before it was even expected to happen. But the excruciating southern heat wasn’t taken in vain, for the patient people found themselves witnessing a rock show featuring the unexpected friends inside of Third Man Records.

O’Brien and White, best friends forever. Photo Courtesy of Team Coco

O’Brien and his backing band played a number of tunes from their current “Legally Prohibited From Being Funny on Television Tour.” White then joined the former-late-night host for their interpretation of Eddie Cochran’s “Twenty Flight Rock” and O’Brien’s rendition of Radiohead’s “Creep.” Fans who were lucky enough to witness the event got first dibs on a pressed recording of the show.

I’m intrigued to hear from witnesses what the full show was like. O’Brien is known for his passion of rockabilly and has put on some decent performances during his late night run. Surprisingly, his voice isn’t bad…at all. Him and White have carried a steady friendship, he appeared in the White Stripes music video “Denial Twist,” and the band performed on the finale of O’Brien’s run on “The Tonight Show.” White’s known for his somewhat sadistic and overall enthralling performances, so their onstage chemistry is something I’m interested in hearing about. There are a few videos on Pitchfork’s web site, and Team Coco has all of the details.

The Strokes make a rocking comeback.

It seems like the music gods have finally delivered in response to the constant praying I’ve done. Now, don’t get my wrong — I was quite the fan of lead singer Julian Casablancas’ solo endeavor and found his performances full of spunk and eagerness…almost like a toddler going into the world for the first time.

But it seems redundant to say what a prominent figure the Strokes are as a collective unit. As a band. As the forefathers of indie-garage rock in the New York scene. Personally speaking, they were one of the first bands that got me into said scene, and encouraged me to be more excited to musically explore. And I digress with sappiness…

The Strokes banded together again last night for the first time in four years at a small club gig in London’s Dingwalls. Under the pseudonym “Venison,” they played a hearty catalog of hits for shocked fans and lovers of the five-piece. They performed tracks like “Reptilia,” “Last Night,” “New York City Cops,” and “12:51.” The secret show for less than 500 people is only the beginning for the group as they begin their venture on the festival circuit, including a headlining set at Lollapalooza.

“Holy shit-fuck,” Casablancas mumbled after concluding “Reptilia.” Well, yeah, that about covers it.

For decent videos of three of the performances, check out Rock it Out! Blog