The Music Court

                  Greg Laswell is from Long Beach, California and has done a fantastic job in creating popular and amazing music while staying virtually unknown. How did I find out about him. His song “Comes and Goes in Waves,” appeared in a trailer for a new HBO movie. I thought it was great and then searched on google, “What is that song in the trailer of the HBO movie Taking Chance,” and of course received the results in 3 seconds. Oh the wonders of the internet. Greg Laswell has appeared in such television shows as True Blood, Dollhouse, and Grey’s Anatomy. For all you early viewers surprisingly not Scrubs…yet. In my opinion, in the last of thousands of bands that appear on television soundtracks, Laswell has the best music.

              “The One I Love,” is off of Laswell’s thirds studio album Three flights from Alto Nido released on 2008. The first thing I like about its song is its length. It is only 2:38. It gets out its message and melody and ends. It is like a short spurt of enjoyable music and there is not enough time to get the song possibly out of your head. After the song ends I guarentee you will be singing or humming the chorus’ hook. The harmonized melody between the piano chords and the short guitar riff. Laswell’s voice also echoes quite well throughout the entire song.

             Check it Out:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ren3_UEuJE

               Wierd Al!?! Yes, I am sure many of you are surprised that I would go to the level of clever musical parodies. Well, I just saw Bruno tonight where I was both grossed out and put in stitches so I have decided to devote this song of the day to gross musical comedy. But, come one who does not like some Wierd Al. My favorite has always been “The Night Santa Went Crazy,” mainly because the lyrics are hilarious. Yet, behind the comical lyric there also is a song. A song that Wierd Al adopted from three different songs. What people generally miss is the talent of Wierd Al. Just because the music is funny does not mean it is not good. The song is actually quite creative

           “The Night Santa Went Crazy,” takes portions of a Greg Lake song, an Ozzy Osbourne song, and a Soul Asylum song. It merges these very different songs together in order to create a song where Santa Claus snaps and massacres his reindeer and his elves. The song ends with the elves working at the post office and Mrs. Claus negotiating a movie deal.

Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTGlUMvbhSw&feature=related        Great cartoon video

              Well we have reached 1500 views and to honor this number we have reached into our bag of, “There must be a song about anything,” and found a song with the theme of 1500. See, this blog can never get old because there is simply way to many songs out there. Just not enough words so I am most likely becoming trite, hackneyed, repetitive and whatever other words you would like to use to describe uninteresting. Anywho shall we get to the song?

              Out of the deepening bag of unknown and unrespected artists comes the Oklahoma independent band that combines two stepbrothers Rockwell Ripperger and Dain Samuelson. Well I probably should not say unknown because they have 2,024,385 myspace profile views. So, yes they are beating me by a lot in the hits count. Don’t rub it in. But, hey they get their shout out here with their song 1500 miles which is a mellow, well sung, acoustic song with pleasant lyrics. The more I listen to it the more I like it and that most likely explains their draw. You should definitely check out this song and then visit the blog daily to get us to 2000 views soon. Come on I know you cannot wait to see what song I choose for 2000.

Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiuFMs3bRhw

Okay it is a little tasteless but still rather comical

         One of my favorite things on televsion has recently become the ESPN Make A Wish specials where they take a child who has suffered ten times more then anyone should ever have to suffer and they grant them their wish to meet their sports idol. It is not only touching but it humbles sports idols who are on top of the world. It is both inspiring and touching and I love watching the stories and how our sports stars, while they may be fantastic athletes, are all human just like us. So, inspired by the optimism displayed in these brief stories between highlights and top plays I am taking a completely different route and choosing “Optimistic,” the 1991 gospel hit by Sounds of Blackness.

         Yes, gospel. I know not usually my cup of tea on this site but it is necessary to touch upon all genres (except for hardcore rap because that is not music). You know gospel is an incredibly important genre. It is true roots music that is the main inspiration of blues and soul music. Without blues there would be no rock. Without rock and soul no R&B. Without R&B no hip-hop and Rap. You can see how important it is now. While Sounds of Blackness is more a fusion band which combined elements of gospel, R&B, soul, and jazz together, gospel music is still noticeable in a majority of their songs. “Optimistic,” is a good example of this.

        The 1991 hit has inspiration lyrics that plead, “Don’t give up and don’t give in, Although it seems you never win, You will always pass the test, As long as you keep your head to the sky, You can win as long as you keep your head to the sky, You can win as long as you keep your head to the sky, Be optimistic.” It is a catchy song which focuses on great vocals as well. But, it really is the lyrics that pull the song together. Optimism is key in order to live life the correct way. Look at these kids for example. They have suffered terribly over their short lives. So, next time you may be stressing about work or a sports game for example, trust me, many have it much worse then you. So smile like them and stay hopeful.

Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML_QydtOae8

This is an awesome album cover

There seems to always be a controversy when discussing Coldplay. Whether it be about plagiarizing music or just simply people believing that it is particularly lame to listen and like Coldplay, there always seems to be some obstacle you must cross to say you like the band. Well, I like Coldplay. They are not my favorite band but their music is both catchy and meaningful and I believe this is what is important when judging a band. So, for all those who blindly dislike this band I want you to take a listen to my favorite song from them. A lesser known rarity off of the Viva La Vida EP Viva La Vida Prospekt’s March Edition.

“Now My Feet Won’t Touch the Ground,” is quite topical today because of the elaborate burial of Michael Jackson going on in Hollywood Hills, California. The song seems to be about death and how it should not be feared. Chris Martin sings,

 “Let me go boys, let me go

   Push my boat from the highest cliff to the sea below

  Rocks are waiting boys, rocks await

  Swoop down from the sky and catch me like a bird of prey.”

             He seemingly is saying death you cannot scare me. I know I will be caught and will forever be off the Earth in a heavenly state. What strikes me about this song is the compacted beauty. It is only 2 minutes 30 seconds long but it certainly packs a lasting punch. A picked acoustic guitar lays a perfect backdrop for Martin’s voice which never strains. It is mellow and feels right. So check it out and maybe learn to accept a band that doesn’t entirely deserve such a bad rap.

Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZIoFXmWbv0&feature=related