Archive | January, 2011

Gorillaz Have New Cartoon – CSN Leaves RR and C – Chilly Music Proven

13 Jan

Gorillaz Sign On New Band Member

Back in November Gorillaz beckoned their fans to submit drawings for a new cartoon character they would add to their animated band. Do you know how hard it is to snatch up a new band member out of the cartoon realm. It’s much harder than simply drawing someone up. Gorillaz gave a broad description as to the appearance of the Evangelist, the new character. Basically, they said he was the opposite of the saturnine, gas mask wearing Boogieman character who has already appeared in some videos (see Stylo).

So, Gorillaz listeners took the call and over 5,000 submitted what they thought the Evangelist should look like. I would have just sent in a photo of Billy Graham. After sifting through submissions, Daman Albarn and Jamie Hewlett decided on a drawing by a user named Jirouta. Hewlett redrew it and this, my friends, is the Evangelist:

Ha...Doesn't look like the harbinger of right-winged christian theology

Well…that’s terrifying. Jirouta gets a framed, signed print of the photo in a gift pack (pretty awesome deal) and Gorillaz has their new cartoon member. He looks like what would happen if you dunked Benson from Regular how into the ocean…a radioactive ocean.

New Gorillaz character...part 2?

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Long Time Gone

Crosby Still and Nash have parted ways with producer Rick Rubin and Columbia records after planning on releasing an album of cover songs. It seems that the folk band lost patience with the producer, who was working to complete other projects before delving into the CSN covers album.

CSN had previously stated that Rubin was quite picky in his song choices. In an interview with Spinner, David Crosby said, “We write down a list of songs we think are potentials, learn them, make up our version, and sing them for him. He’ll like maybe one out of eight, so we go back to the drawing board and learn another eight or 10. It’s a very slow process.”

I haven’t heard anything about CSN releasing this album independently or on a different label. Until then enjoy CSN performing “Ruby Tuesday.”

Link: http://www.spinner.com/2011/01/11/crosby-stills-and-nash-covers-album/

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Music and Science!


According to a study from The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital — The Neuro at McGill University, scientific pleasure can be released by listening to music. The study, released in the Nature Neuroscience journal, proves that listening to music releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked with pleasure. You see, music is not just murdering our hearing.

The report was released in article from yesterday’s Science Daily.

“The team at The Neuro measured dopamine release in response to music that elicited “chills,” changes in skin conductance, heart rate, breathing, and temperature that were correlated with pleasurability ratings of the music. A novel combination of PET and fMRI brain imaging techniques, revealed that dopamine release is greater for pleasurable versus neutral music, and that levels of release are correlated with the extent of emotional arousal and pleasurability ratings.”

Hooray for science. The article is an interesting read and certainly proves that music is a vital part of human nature. I mean we did not need a genius to tell us that music is pleasurable, but it does help to have the scientific proof!

Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110112111117.htm

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“Summercholy” by Britta Pejic.

11 Jan

We at the Music Court would like to welcome Britta Pejic into our humble blog castle. She comes with acoustic cheer, eccentric lyric and folky voice.

This Maine-based singer/songwriter released her debut solo album Backyards That Weren’t There Before in 2010 and is beginning the gain recognition for her talent. She has been compared to Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros, but I do believe her voice is quite different than Sharpe vocalist Jade Castrinos. While Jade’s voice is accented and slightly esoteric, Pejic’s pipes are smooth and understandable. She is a classic storyteller and her lyric does her justice. Her voice does not overpower and instead highlights her guitar and story. This is a positive trait for an aspiring troubadour.

Track four off her new album is a creative song entitled “Summercholy.” While I am currently experiencing a blend of wintercholy, this interesting piece is perhaps the strongest off her easily accessible album.

She creates great noise from a lone acoustic and her voice. The rhythm guitar chugs along with the riff and the words flow over the guitar effortlessly. Pejic creates a great balance. If you like what you hear travel on over to the link provided and buy the CD. Also included is her website.

CD: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/brittapejic

Britta Pejic: http://brittap.com/

Coldplay’s Touch of OCD – A Tribute Band Longs For Full Authenticity – Aerosmith, I Don’t Really Care

10 Jan

Okay, now everytime we sit on this couch it needs to be in this specific sitting order.

Chris Martin Talks New Album

Coldplay fans will probably have to wait until the end of this calendar year for the release of the band’s fifth studio album that lead vocalist Chris Martin says may begin with an M and be two words. May I suggest More Manic.

In an interview with BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe, Martin said that the album will explore “love, addiction, OCD, escape and working for someone you don’t like.” Yeah! Fight the establishment.

Martin also described how the album will be representative of “what happens within the group.” Anyone smell volatile group relations. It would seem that this interview subtly portrayed portentous happenings. Well, if my ramblings are true, I’m sure Jay-Z wouldn’t mind forming a group with Chris Martin. Recently he said that Martin was a “‘a brother from another mother” and lauded him as a true musical genius. Well, I don’t know if I would go that far.

It will be difficult to eclipse the success of Coldplay’s last release, Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends. But, Coldplay has a large following and anything is possible.

Link: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/chris-martin-says-new-coldplay-disc-is-about-love-and-ocd-20110110

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Good Luck With That

Tribute bands often attempt to clone the look of their heroes in an attempt to be more authentic. Somehow echoing the band’s sound is not enough. But, Pyromania, a Dallas-based Def Leppard tribute band, may be taking their search a little too far.

In a flyer (above), the band wrote they are looking for a “one arm drummer (no prostetics).” I presume this statement means they are looking for a drummer with one arm who does not wear a prosthetic replacement. You would think that someone in the band would have done a quick spell check before posting the flyer. Come on guys.

Def Leppard is of course famous for their drummer Rick Allen who overcame the complete amputation of his left arm at 21 years old. Even without his left arm (which he lost because of a car accident) he is still able to pour some sugar on anyone.

Pyromania also requires the drummer to have a “flame retardent kit & stick.” Pyromania, the correctly spelling of retardant is retardant. And, remember folks, “seriose inquarys only!” So, if you lack an arm and an ability to spell correctly, Pyromania is looking for you. Actually, scratch that, let me add to the flyer that the drummer needs to also be semi-literate. Yes, someone who can spell to write future flyers.

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Problems in Aeroland

Steven Tyler, who is currently a judge for “American Idol,” wants to get Aerosmith together for a new album but he cannot find guitarist Joe Perry.

“I’m trying to rally the guys together,” he told Rolling Stone. “We’re having trouble getting Joe [Perry]. I don’t know where he is, but just come down to L.A. at the end of January sometime. I’ve had enough downtime.”

Joe Perry does not like Steven Tyler. The two barely talk off stage and Perry has made it clear that he thinks “American Idol” is absolute garbage and he would be ashamed if Aerosmith was linked to the show at all.

Do I really care about the ramblings of these two musicians? No, no I do not. So, instead of making this story a story, I am going to turn this over to Acoustic Affairs a German guitar trio who perform an awesome acoustic cover of Aerosmith’s “Dream On.”

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Great Moments in Cover History: “Blueberry Hill”

7 Jan

Mmmm...Blueberries...Homer Simpson guttural noises

“Blueberry Hill” has a history. It’s roots are in early 40’s music. This could come as a surprise to fans of the classic, most famously made a standard by Fats Domino 15 years after it was first released to the public. I’m sure when most of you read the title of the post the thought of a more recent cover came to mind. Yeah, probably someone covering Fats’ song. But, no, on the contrary, today’s great moment in cover history belongs to none other than Fats Domino himself.

So, where did “Blueberry Hill” come from? Slow the song down and you have the work of Mr. Vincent Rose, an Italian musician and band leader, who also wrote the music to Al Jolson‘s 1921 hit “Avalon.” Rose’s music was paired with the well-known lyric by Al Lewis and Larry Stock and the song was immediately recorded…in 1940. It was originally recorded by several orchestras. Glenn Miller and his orchestra laid down a version and so did Sammy Kaye, Russ Morgan, and Kay Kyser. But, perhaps the most famous recording was done by Gene Autry, the Singing Cowboy for the aptly titled movie “The Singing Hill.”

Sounds slightly different than Fats’ hit, right. It has a country charm to it, obviously. The old-time guitar twang that comes off like a moan. It makes you feel like you are actually back in the 40s. Yes, the song is that dated. It also makes you yearn for the most innocent musical time ever. Seriously, this song was recorded when World War II was only a year old. It is 70 years old. Listen to that. The original song is 70 years old. Look what’s on the charts today. From Gene Autry to Kady Perry. Wow. That’s all I can say.

After Louis Armstrong did a version in 1949, Fats picked up the song in 1956 and put down the “Blueberry Hill” we all know and love.

Fats’ version hit at the right time. It is also clearly the best version of the song. The song works better up-tempo. It shot up to #2 in the Top 40 and was #1 on the R&B charts for 11 weeks. It sold five million copies in its first year. It also set the stage for several other musicians to cover the song. Keep this in mind. After Fats’ cover, 14 other musicians – including musicians like Duane Eddy, Cliff Richard and The Everly Brothers – all covered the song within the span of 14 years. It was that influential. Now, if we took this as Fats’ classic, which it mostly is, I can pose the question of what is the best cover of Fats Domino’s version.

One of my personal favorites is this version recorded by Nat King Cole and 11-year-old Billy Preston on the Nat King Cole show. The version was recorded in November of 1957. I cannot embed it into the post, but do check it out. Billy Preston is incredibly talented, even at 11.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1loV9_xLF8Q

But, let us not skip over one of the most awesome covers of the song performed by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. He did a good job performing the song in English and it was at a children’s charity event. It is slightly odd, but, heck, the man likes to sing and play the piano so good for him.

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Zappa Plays Zappa – Baker Street Closes – Pink Floyd Ends a Legal Dispute?

6 Jan

Dweezil Zappa Talks About His Father


Growing up in the Zappa household must have been a wacky atmosphere teeming with psychedelic drugs, right? On the contrary, Dweezil Zappa, 41, remembers his house as clean and sober.

“We grew up having a lot of respect with our parents and none of us ever got in trouble,” Zappa told Spinner in an interview. “I’ve never taken a drug in my life, I’ve never gotten drunk and I’ve never smoked. Frank never did drugs or got drunk either. People assumed he did because of his music, but Frank used the power of the mind.”

This is one of the wide misconceptions about the older Zappa who died of prostate cancer in 1993.

Yet, do not think for a second that the Zappa house was conventional in other ways.

“To rebel in our house, I always said I’d have to become an accountant or a lawyer,” said Zappa

Zappa is currently playing Frank’s 1974 album Apostrophe in it’s entirety on tour. He admits it is tough playing his dad’s material which is infused with several different musical elements that he studied for two years before assembling his band.

Link: http://www.spinner.com/2011/01/03/dweezil-frank-zappa-apostrophe-tour/

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Gerry Rafferty Passes

Gerry Rafferty, the Scottish singer/songwriter who brought the world “Baker Street,” “Stuck in the Middle,” and “Right Down the Line,” died on Tuesday of liver disease. He was 63 years old.

Rafferty’s musical career is marked by the success of these three songs.

“Stuck in the Middle” was written by Rafferty and Joe Egan, both members of the band Stealer’s Wheel. The song hit immediate success, peaking in 1973 at #6 and the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It now remains a staple for classic rock stations.

And, for the soft rock stations, “Baker Street,” an entirely different soft rock classic, may very well go down at Rafferty’s most successful piece. The infectious saxophone solo, performed by Raphael Ravenscroft, is one of the most noticeable sax riffs ever. The song reached #3 in the UK and #2 in the U.S.

Rafferty spent years fighting alcoholism and depression and eventually the alcohol consumption did catch up to him. His music still does live on.

Here is “Baker Street”:

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Floyd Ends Dispute

The dispute you are all thinking of ended a while ago. Now, simply, Gilmour does not want to work with Waters anymore because, well, Waters is arrogant and domineering. He is incredibly talented, but, you catch my drift.

Pink Floyd did settle a legal dispute with their long time record label EMI. The two sides agreed to a new five-year deal, officially ending the legal battle over whether or not the label could rightfully take apart their albums and sell individual tracks online.

The news is not at all exciting, but, let’s face it, most news is not. EMI should be happy to have Pink Floyd back, though. While no new material will ever be created, the band still generates a ton of revenue from their expansive discography.

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