The Music Court

Noah and the Whale Release New Album

Noah and the Whale’s pervasive optimism was challenged with their last album The First Days of Spring. But, with the recently released Last Night on Earth, the band takes their album title seriously and performs an exciting ode to optimism. If it was my last night on Earth I’d party it up too. In some ways, the band fell into the trap of the sophomore album slump, but this third release reveals 11 tracks, some upbeat and catchy and some more low-key but still positive. Every release, creative in its own right.

Adrian from music-news.com calls it, “a very uplifting, competent album from an act that will ride the wave of nu-folk and potential top it.” I like that title. Nu-folk. That is what bands like Noah and the Whale and Mumford and Sons play. Modern folk tinged with old inspiration and new Indie modernity.

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A Dead Man’s Curve Happy B-day

From nu-folk to surf pioneers. Dean, of the surf music pioneers Jan and Dean, is 71 today and we celebrate by looking back at the surf genre that they mastered. Surf music follows a similar construction. The songs have high-pitched simple chord structures and vocal harmonies. It is based off of the example that the Beach Boys set.

Jan and Dean mastered their vocal harmonies and saw success because of it. In 1964 they released “Dead Man’s Curve” which neatly fit into the surf pop teenage tragedy genre that was soaring at the time. For some reason, listeners wanted to hear about teenagers meeting an unfortunate end because of youthful stupidities, like drag racing around dead man’s curve. The Shangri-La’s had three examples of tragic songs. Perhaps the best is Wayne Cochran & the C.C. Riders’ “Last Kiss” from 1962, but Jan and Dean’s drag race is up there. Here it is:

Jeff Beck Plans Blues Album with Rod Stewart

Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/04/us-jeffbeck-idUSTRE72350Y20110304?feedType=RSS&feedName=entertainmentNews&rpc=22&sp=true

Jeff and Rod

Most people know Rod Stewart as the small singer who made our mothers swoon. Well, before Rod Stewart even joined Faces prior to his illustrious solo career, he was Rod the Mod, lead vocalist of the Jeff Beck group, and his excellent voice was used for gritty blues. Yes folks, Rod Stewart is/was a blues singer. And Jeff Beck has plans to bring that Rod Stewart back.

“It all depends on how he delivers,” said Beck. “He’s gotta come across big-time, vocally. But until the fat lady — uh — the skinny geezer sings!”

Beck, in an interview with Reuters, talked about how he plans on recording a retro album with Stewart, but requires the album to be mind-blowing or it will not hit the shelves. Rod Stewart helped Beck formulate perfect blues experimentation projects. But, then he left and ended up recording “Maggie May.”

“There’s nothing wrong with ‘Maggie May,’ but it would have been so much more powerful, I think, more strident, more futuristic,” said Beck. “But who am I to say? Look at the results he got.”

Do I smell blues reboot of Stewart’s classic? Probably no, but how awesome would that be. Pretty awesome, I think.

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Paul Simon’s Spring Tour

In celebration of his new album So Beautiful or So What (and now the post title makes sense), Paul Simon announced a Spring tour that will hit cities from Seattle to New York.

The album, Simon’s first in five years, was called, “His best since Graceland,” by Rolling Stone. Graceland was released in 1986 and won the Grammy for Album of the Year. So, basically, the album is good.

The tour will draw from his entire career. The dates are below:

4/15 — Seattle, WA, WAMU Theater
4/20 — Los Angeles, CA, Pantages Theatre
4/21 — Los Angeles, CA, Pantages Theatre
4/25 — San Francisco, CA, Davies Symphony Hall
4/26 — Oakland, CA, Fox Theatre
5/2 —  Minneapolis, MN, Minneapolis Convention Center Auditorium
5/6 —  Toronto, ON, Massey Hall
5/10 — New York, NY, The Beacon Theatre
5/11 — New York, NY, The Beacon Theatre
5/17 — Chicago, IL, Chicago Theatre
5/19 — Nashville, TN, Ryman Auditorium
5/22 — Gulf Shores, AL, Hangout Festival
5/25 — Washington, D.C., DAR Constitution Hall
5/28 — Atlantic City, NJ, The Borgata
5/29 — Mashantucket, CT, MGM Grand Theatre @ Foxwoods
6/1 —  Boston, MA, Wang Theatre

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Paste’s Noticeable Supergroups of the 21’st Century

Link: http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2011/03/best-super-groups.html

We have experienced 11 years of the new century thus far. During those years, new supergroup combinations have rocked onto the scene and Paste decided it was time to profile 11 of them. I have no problem with that. Supergroup extraordinaire Danger Mouse appears on the list twice, no surprise. So, here is how I am going to break this list down. You can check out the list in full following the link above, but I am just going to post a supergroup that you should check out, and one I did not know existed but want to check out.

First one that you should check out.

Broken Bells

Broken Bells consists of Danger Mouse and the Shins’ lead man James Mercer. Their sound combines folk/indie rock with synth effects and Danger Mouse’s zany production, organized but, at times, psychedelic. Mercer’s voice is perfect for the group. Here is my favorite song by the two.

Check out my analysis of the song: https://musiccourt.wordpress.com/2010/12/25/the-best-songs-of-2010-5-the-high-road-by-broken-bells/

And now a group I have not heard of but would like to check out.

The Baseball Project

When did Steve Wynn and Peter Buck get together? That is just uber-awesome. Apparently, the band was formed four years ago after Wynn and Buck had a conversation at REM’s Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame induction. Their second album, Volume 2: High and Inside, was released earlier this month.

Here they are on Letterman promoting their first album which was released in 2008

Suze Rotolo, Bob Dylan muse, dead at 67

When Bob Dylan wrote lines like:

“I’m walkin’ down that long, lonesome road, babe
Where I’m bound, I can’t tell
But goodbye’s too good a word, gal
So I’ll just say fare thee well”

and

“I got a letter on a lonesome day
It was from her ship a-sailin’
Saying I don’t know when I’ll be comin’ back again
It depends on how I’m a-feelin’.”

he was thinking about

her

Many do not know who Suze Rotolo was. I will enlighten you. She was Bob Dylan’s girlfriend and muse for two years after Dylan moved to New York. Dylan was absolutely infatuated with Suze Rotolo. She was 17 when Dylan first met her. He was 20. They were young lovebirds and the relationship did not last long. Dylan began gaining fame and there was questions of his fidelity (Joan Baez). But, for the two years that is lasted, Dylan was positively impacted by Rotolo.

Not only did he write these famous love songs, but also Rotolo was partially responsible for perhaps the most famous album cover of all time (The Freehweelin’ Bob Dylan). Also, she exposed Dylan to CORE (The Congress of Racial Equality) and took him to meetings and marches. This is where Dylan’s first civil rights song came from. “The Death of Emmett Till” was written in part to impress his young girlfriend.

Rotolo died four days ago after a long illness. Dylan fans should give thanks to her for inspiring the greatest lyricist of all time.

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Reznor is an Oscar Winner

After Trent Reznor, of Nine Inch Nails fame, and co-writer Atticus Ross, won the Oscar for best movie score last night he shared these words with his twitter fanbase, “HOLY SH*T doesn’t seem enough.” I think he was happy.

Reznor and Ross won for their Social Network score which was both creative and helped create the movies flow.

The Oscar’s are not a place I ever thought I would see Trent Reznor. Just never seemed to be his scene. But, hey, he is a multi-talented musician and the credit is well deserved. Kudos to Reznor.

Here they are accepting the award:

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Records Back in Business (Yes 12″ LP)

Article: http://www.azcentral.com/business/consumer/articles/2011/02/25/20110225Vinyl-records-spin-back-into-vogue.html

Yeah, not as archaic is you thought

Records are making a comeback?

Brian Passey of USA Today writes, “According to recent Nielsen SoundScan numbers, vinyl was the fastest-growing musical format in 2010, with 2.8 million units sold, the format’s best year since SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991.”

Yes, CD sales are dropping and vinyl records are finding their way back in stores. Am I surprised? No. Here’s why.

If I know one thing about people, it is that they love novelties. Why do you think zany restaurants like Mars 2112 stay in business. The food isn’t that good and it is overpriced, but the elevator that takes you to the dining room is a spaceship simulator. I know, it’s freaking awesome. Records, similarly, have fallen out of practical use, but as a novelty they work quite well. Instead of pressing play, you need to life the arm and place the needle on one of the round solid lines marking each track. It is a classic feel. It was inevitable. Old baseball cards are more popular than new ones. It is just how it is. I am also not complaining. I have a mini record collection. I have one, though, because I just loved the classic music and the original product is sometimes necessary.

Mountain Goats Perform on Letterman

The Mountain Goats will release their new album All Eternals Deck on March 29. Yesterday, they performed “Birth of Serpents,” a song from the album, on Letterman. John Darnielle had his full band behind him and the harmony was spot on. The song is faster and more rock than their last album, but Darnielle has proven that he is a jack of all trades when it comes to musical styles. Check out the performance. Can’t wait for the new album.

http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid401.photobucket.com/albums/pp94/theaudiopervjr/mountaingoatsletterman_Segment100-00-05-00-03-40.mp4

Rolling Stones Fact Check

Link: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/photos/rolling-stone-fact-checks-famous-rock-songs-20110223

There are many songs out there that feature incorrect information. Generally, they go unheeded because people just unconsciously sing along. Rolling Stone magazine did some of their own fact-checking and have called out 11 musicians who just did not get their information right. My favorite one on the list is Chuck Berry’s “Brown Eyed Handsome Man. “Berry sings “Two, three count with nobody on. He hit a high fly into the stand.” As RS points out, the batter would already be back on the bench after striking out. I know, it sucks, but the song doesn’t go 1-2-3-4 strikes your out.

Happy Birthday Nicky Hopkins

You have probably not heard of pianist Nicky Hopkins, but, chances are you have heard his work. The consummate studio musician was born today in 1944. He died at 50 from complications because of surgery. Over the course of his career he performed on albums by The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Beatles and Jefferson Airplane, who he performed with during Woodstock. So, here is Jefferson Airplane performing “Somebody to Love” and “White Rabbit” at Woodstock.