Jukebox the Ghost will not create an uncatchy song. It’s just not in their poppy nature. The Philadelphia-based band who met while attending school at George Washington University, has succeeded in creating indie/pop music that is far from corny. No, the well-read trio blends effervescent hooks and wonderful melodies. Lead vocalist and pianist Ben Thornewill has a magnetic voice and can just flat-out riff on the piano. Tommy Siegel (vocals & guitar) and Jesse Kristin (drums) carry the rest of the rhythm, Siegel providing some neat guitar licks and efficient back-up vocals. The band has been rocking since 2006 and show no signs of stopping. How do I know? Well, their new album Safe Travels is coming out June 12.
I’ve written about Jukebox before in a post featuring what I coined at the time “Anthemic Indie” and I do think they still fit in that category if only because their music is so easily singable and it is hard to resist singing out the tunes with them. You can check out that post here.
“Somebody,” a single off of the new album, is now available on iTunes and you can access it by checking out Jukebox’s site here. Let’s take a listen.
The song begins like a slowed down Fitz and the Tantrums piece – kind of rhythmic Motown meets funky indie. Thornewill and Siegel immediately embark on a succesful harmony during the verse which is carried by Kristin’s beat. The chorus takes on its own mold. Originally I thought I could compare it to Ben Folds, but I’m starting to think that the vocal swoons and unique rhythms are just Jukebox the Ghost. The best comparison is the band itself. In six years the band has certainly developed their own sound and it is easy to recognize their brand of pop. The song moves (with some more guitar stylings) and the catchy chorus that sticks.
If the rest of the album plays like “Somebody” we will be in for a good one. There is no reason to doubt it.
Guster performs March 28, 2012, at The Egg. (Michael Janairo / Times Union
Ryan Miller of Guster introduced the concert at the Paramount in Huntington, Long Island, yesterday as an acoustical/comedy combination and he laid out the ground rules. They would play a set, take requests in the middle (but if you shouted out a song they would not play it), and then finish off; all while comedian Jeff Garlin would come on and off stage (and maybe even play a song with the band – because of prior curiosity I knew he would be doing a Neil Diamond cover). As Guster put it, they are modern music men. The interactive, crowd-friendly concert was proof of this sentiment. While mainstays Miller, Adam Gardner, and Brian Rosenworcel are pushing 40, they still relate exceptionally well with a young crowd, earning them the title of the “Ageless College Band” – but, come on, any Guster fan can tell you that in the band’s years of performing they have certainly superseded the “college” title in pure musical talent.
Like billed, the concert was truly a comedy/acoustic combination. Jeff Garlin was the emcee and his scriptless blend of comedy carried the beginning of the show (which also featured a comedian that he brought along with him from California named Matt Edgar). Garlin, who most now know from Curb Your Enthusiasm, is hilarious. While the crowd became restless (it took a while before Guster came on stage), I enjoyed his brash style of “I don’t give a crap” comedy and I thought he pulled off a funny set.
Guster came out with a two-person string accompaniment and knocked through “Backyard” and new hit “Do You Love Me” with normal Guster proficiency. I immediately was struck by the smoothness of the strings. Guster has sampled strings in their music before so the orchestral addition in the concert was not shocking. Guster’s unique blend of alt/pop with acoustic proclivity is set up well for strings (or other unique instrumentation).
The first set flew by. The band was producing tremendous sound from some sweet-sounding acoustic guitars, bass, keys, and Rosenworcel’s classic eccentric drum set. Then, as the crowd seem to be getting settled in, Jeff Garlin glided out on the stage (prompting a Ryan Miller-led improv and odd Garlin dance) and introduced the request portion of the show. On the piano laid a fish bowl and concertgoers were given the opportunity to write requests, questions, or covers, and give their scraps of paper to Jeff who would pick out pieces and tell the band the song to play. This, of course, led to some pretty funny interactions. A girl tried to bribe the band to play “Mona Lisa” with dollar bills. They declined (but took the money!) Someone asked “Who is the roughest lover,” and the band concluded it was relative newcomer Luke Reynolds.
Songs were also played. Excellent songs. “Airport Song,” “Amsterdam,” and “Demons” within a span of 15 minutes. The crowd buzzed and sang along (as well as throwing ceremonial ping pong balls at the band after “Airport Song”).
The second set brought my favorite Guster song, “Either Way” followed by another gem “Satellite.” Here is a version of “Either Way” from earlier in the tour.
The beginning is similar to the type of off-the-cuff humor that we experienced last night. You know what I loved about it. It was just so real. You almost felt that you were back in Tufts seeing Guster in their incipient stages. The venue was intimate but the humor reminded me of inside jokes I used to have with my band. The interaction was fresh and humorous. I believe everyone felt like they belonged and that is something Guster does so well at their shows.
“Either Way” is subtle. It is carried by excellent harmony blending with a strong acoustic melody. I love the note Miller hangs when he holds out way. The strings just add to the calmness of this piece. But, don’t be fooled, the song, while soft, is tinged with emotion and passion.
I want to also provide you with a video of “This Could All Be Yours” which was played at the end of the concert last night. This song, off of the newest release, is very poppy but, hey, I like it.
I said it last time I saw Guster in Ithaca and I will say it again. Some bands do not enjoy themselves when they are performing. Guster does. You can tell they genuinely enjoy what they do and appreciate fans for listening to them. The concert was positively affected by this happiness and it was a joy seeing them for the third time – makes me want to keep coming back.
Oh yeah. I almost forgot. Jeff Garlin performed a William Shatner-like rendition of Neil Diamond’s “Solitary Man.” Here is him performing it in Milwaukee on April 7.
The English lexicon is immense. When I write reviews of artists I try to enlarge my discourse in a manner that is not grandiloquent. I hate repetition in adjectives and verbs, and I love experimenting with language. Yes this makes me a word nerd (a werd), but I embrace the title. The reason I begin this new artist profile with a statement on language is because I want to introduce you all to a great word related to the artist I am profiling. It is elysium. You can swap it out with Shangri-la, Zion, Canaan, Utopia, or, simply, Heaven. Let’s say your wandering around this network we like to call the internet and you come across a taste of elysium. Well, damn, you want to share whatever it is like wildfire (or perhaps keep it all to yourself – but I learned early that sharing is caring so here you all go). The little taste of music heaven is a Sri-Lankan-American folk/blues artist named Bhi Bhiman. And Mr. Bhiman can do this.
A lot of reality television shows – specifically one that has the creator of the piece as a judge – looks for the “Voice.” So what characterizes a voice? I think that the first necessity is for it to stop you in your tracks. You can be going a mile a minute trying to complete 20 different tasks, but, for at least the first time you listen to it, the voice forces you to drop what you are doing and just listen. It is quite heavenly in its relaxation properties. Consider it like a hegira. The “voice” contains a super-rich fullness that is whole and striking. It is clear and booming. The “voice” is very difficult to come by (only some truly have it). Good news for all of you. Bhi Bhiman has the “voice.”
Listen to the power. Listen to the vebratto. Listen to the soul. I am not overexaggerating the point. Bhiman takes “Crazy” and literally destroys the song. He picks it apart (similar to how Cee Lo sings it) and destroys its contents to the point that you don’t even hear the lyric anymore, you just hear him.
Okay, you are all saying. Sure. He can cover a great song. But this is Cee Lo. What about his original stuff? How does his voice work when you get him to perform some of his own songs? I’ve got some more good news.
Bhiman’s solo material is like what would happen if you combined the folky goodness of a David Bromberg/Tim Buckley with the southern soul of Otis Redding and then mixed in some good ol’fashioned early blues. Put all of that in a blender and turn the blender on puree. Ta Dah. Bhi Bhiman. His songs range from a humorous folk originality to sagacious note-shattering fosoblu (folk/soul/blues). Let’s start with the former.
Kimchee (kimchi) is a Korean fermented vegetable dish and Bhiman in “Kimchee Line” takes a pretty tradition blues riff and, well, sings about kimchi as if it is a vegetable train (sort of).
“Well I went up on the mountain To see if I could fly Went down to the sea, lord And the sea was dry So I picked a pickled pepper From the Leader’s Tree I got some prawn and oysters For the Vitamin E
I’m on the kimchee line Its radish time”
It is cheeky humor, a funny mix of traditional blues and a true eat your vegetables message. Bhiman is efficient on the acoustic guitar, lightly plucking the rhythm that guides the song. His voice clearly shines (like it does in all of his songs) and, don’t forget, it’s “cucumber time”
Included here is the full version of “Guttersnipe,” loaded with the excellent bass of Ben Tudor, moving percussion of Gabe Turow, and effective key-work by Sam Kassirer. The itenerant song features a simple chord progression that helps accentuate Bhiman’s croon. A guttersnipe is a street urchin (which Bhiman pays ode to in the song). The chorus of the song is just Bhiman demonstrating his fantastic chops to the listener. His drop down from his vocal limits back to his comfort zone is so difficult and done to such perfection. At around 4:15 the song darkens and you feel for the poor guttersnipe that Bhiman sings of. You feel the song and that is incredibly important to success. Bhiman is a modern troubador, a true “voice,” and one that you should keep an eye on for this point on.
Tour Dates:
Thursday 4/19 – Bowery Ballroom – New York City
Show @ 9PM sharp
Friday 5/4 – Oberlin Folk Festival – Oberlin, OH
Saturday 5/5 – Lincoln Hall – Chicago, IL
Show @ 8:30PM
Saturday 6/9 – The Independent – San Francisco, CA
Show @ 8PM
Take the Rolling Stones top 500 albums list for what it is – a subjective list of “game-changing” albums culminating (like most all-time album charts) with Sgt. Peppers at top – but prior to discussing how a 3-seed defeated #1-seeded Pet Sounds handily in the finals, I want to talk briefly about the Rolling Stones list. After Sgt. Peppers, the list goes Pet Sounds (2) and Revolver (3). First, isn’t it extraordinary that three of the greatest rock albums ever released hit record stores in around a 13-month span of time? Secondly, perhaps I misjudged Revolver. I recognized it as an inspirational album that, like Pet Sounds, revolutionized the sound of rock n’ roll music and helped introduce a generation to psychedelic music, but perhaps I underestimated its true force and influence.
Revolver may be #3 on the Rolling Stone list, but, according to our poll’s small sample, the top two albums ever released should maybe go Sgt. Peppers followed by Revolver, which would be representative of how incomprehensibly talented the Beatles were. In 10 months the band released two of the greatest albums ever. This is unparalleled in music and it is tough to find an equivalent in any form of talent, creativity, or sport. Mozart in his prime. There is one!
I voted for Pet Sounds. So did three others. The Beatles won 8-4 after sliding through the entire competition. This means that they, according to Music Court viewers, released the best album in 1966 and 1967. So how did this 3-seed take down the uber-talented Beach Boys and their Pet Sounds. Both bands were experimenting with tape delays, creative instrumentation and recording techniques, manipulated vocals, and drugs. Both bands tapped into the minds of all band members to create a unified sound that translated into excellent music. What was the difference besides the roots of the bands (surf vs. bluesy beat)?
The answer is simple. Nothing. Yes, the songs do sound different because the two bands are, well, clearly different, but as for impact and experimentation, there is really no difference. Revolver and Pet Sounds are near perfect albums (I reserve the title of perfect for two albums – Sgt. Peppers and Dark Side of the Moon). The Beatles are more popular so they may have won because of that, but, supposing that is not the reason, I want to look at two songs that may have helped propel Revolver to victory.
“Eleanor Rigby”
“Eleanor Rigby” is one of the most known and popular Beatles songs ever released and I think one of the reasons for this (besides the fact that it is just an excellent song) is it is so different. The song is carried by the staccato rhythm of a backing orchestra that sounds like it is narrating a tense scene in a horror movie (at times – the orchestra was inspired by the compositions of Bernard Herrmann – “Psycho”). Besides this, the song is just Paul McCartney singing with the occasional harmony. The lyric, which was created in a conjoined band effort, is just perfect. It paints a sad and simple image of the “lonely” Eleanor Rigby and her life and death. It is an untraditional rock song, not featuring any other instrumentation, yet it is wonderfully melodic and incredibly popular. The Beatles were changing the ears of a listening populace.
“Tomorrow Never Knows”
This song is not anywhere near simple. “Tomorrow Never Knows” is an Indian-inspired composition that features several psychedelic effects like tape delay, oddly patterned drumming, reversed guitar, and droning vocals. The song features the psychedelic works. It is an LSD-influenced dreamy ending that leads right into Sgt. Peppers, an album that features even more of this musical experimentation (which is pretty much what this song is). But, because this is the Beatles, the song is excellent and highly listenable.
So what do you think? Does Revolver deserve the title? Do you want to see this game played next year (and with what year?) I’m eager to hear your opinions. Thanks for playing!
There are few certainties. Among them are death, taxes, and American Idol. Idol is on its 11th season and I am still actively watching it and, now, writing about it. There is something to be said for this odd devotion. It probably wouldn’t be a flattering comment. But there is a reason we all keep coming back to the show. Is this year’s stock of singers excellent. No. There are a few gems like always, but eventually the act wears thin, you narrow the group to 2-3, and you wait until one of them takes home the crown and attempts to avoid falling into obscurity like many of their predecessors. This is American Idol and we are down to the top seven, a good point for us to review the season thus far and make a top three prediction.
Let’s do a little copy and paste work. In that post I wrote, “out of the diverse group of male performers, I will pick Colton Dixon, Phil Phillips, and Josh Ledet as my three best…out of the females, and this one is a bit easier because of what I see as a larger disparity between good and forgettable, I pick Jessica Sanchez, Elise Testone, and Skylar Lane”
After last nights performances, I think that Hollie Cavanagh will be gone after a sub-par performance of “Perfect” by Pink and that will leave us with the top six I mentioned above back on March 2. American Idol voters like symmetry. The season has been predictable thus far. The good performers shine weekly and the performers with less ability get left behind. I credit the voting populace for being so accurate. I guess after 11 years of this, America is sick of keeping in performers who are simply not good enough. Kudos!
Choosing the top three is difficult. I can actually envision a scenario where any combination of the top six (supposing it falls the way I think it will) makes it into the top three. Let’s start with my one lock for a spot in the top three.
Jessica Sanchez
Let’s say this in Randy lexicon. “Dude, she is in it to win it.” Look. Jessica is a vocal prodigy. She was when she tried out for America’s Got Talent five years ago, and she still is in her teenage years. Her voice is spectacular – jam-packed with a rich sincerity that combines with tremendous pipes and an ear for difficult vocal runs. The girl can sing her heart out and then do it again five minutes later. I don’t believe she has ever been close to the bottom in the vote pool and, right now, it seems like smooth sailing into the finals.
The other two, though, are quite difficult to pick. Well, actually, only one spot is difficult for me because my winner is not Jessica Sanchez. Elise may be bound for sixth place but I am convinced that the judges will save her if she is voted out because they seem to desperately want her to stick (think Haley last year). I think the top three may feature only one vocal powerhouse so that will leave Josh Ledet behind. I think his talent is out-of-control at times and there is no denying he can sing, but, the other two powerful gospel singers to win this show have not done very well in the industry and I think that the public recognizes this and will crave more diversity…unless we are talking country music.
Have you noticed that the majority of remaining contestants are from down South. Do not underestimate how popular this show is with the southern American populace. Now, I’m not saying that everyone down south loves country music, but, well, a lot of people love country music down south. That brings us to Skylar Laine. Skylar or Phil? Skylar or Phil? It can go either way. I am going to go with my gut on this one and while this may be the unpopular choice, I’m choosing Skylar here. Is Phil good enough to win the whole thing, yes. But I just see the country star following the Scotty/Laura path to the top three. And I can’t go against my pick to win.
Colton Dixon
Proof that Jennifer Lopez is an idiot? She asked for more song in her criticism (despite giving this candid performance rave reviews). More song? NO! Are you serious? Not everything can have driving hip/hop beats and dancing. Colton turned a hip/hop song into a raw piano piece that displayed his voice to perfection. He nailed his notes and proved that he can manipulate songs and identify with them. Colton strikes me as an alt/pop performer who projects as an Augustana-like performer. While American Idol is trying to play it off like Colton is competing with Phil for votes I think that is inaccurate. If I had to guess, Phil and Elise (like Haley and Casey) split votes; Jessica, Josh, and to a lesser extent, Hollie split; and Colton and Skylar have their own independent voting grouping. Will it be enough to propel these two to final three? We will see.
The Music Court 