New Music Court Categories

29 May

Happy Mardi - I mean - Memorial Day

Well nobody prevented me from posting this unsettling photograph on the blog, so here it is. Jesters playing drums. A perfect picture to represent this post: New Music Court Categories.

As stated yesterday, The Music Court will unveil new summer categories…right now! I know aren’t you excited? Alright let me shut-up and get to them.

Surprising Facts About Popular Songs

Guess what this category is going to explore? Did you know that “Centerfold,” the hit by The J. Geils Band about a man who is shocked to find out that his High School crush has grown up to become the centerfold of a “girly” magazine, could very possibly be about lead singer Peter Wolf’s past relationship with Prime Cut actress Angel Tompkins? Hint: she was in Playboy. This category, which will premiere and stay in the Tuesday posting slot, will provide you with fun facts about popular songs. You will want to pay attention to this information because…

Music Trivia

It has finally arrived. Every other Friday, readers will have a chance to answer difficult music trivia questions. The questions will run the gamut of era and genre. From 60’s bubblegum pop to 90’s alternative rock, Music Trivia will test your music knowledge. Questions will be multiple choice and will be posted up like a poll, so after you answer the question you can see what others thought. The poll style is for your convenience, but make sure to also post your answers in a comment. If the response is solid, prizes will be awarded to the first person who gets all the answers correct in that week’s post. I know what you are thinking. Can’t we just use Google? Yes, technically you can, but we at the Music Court go by the “fun” and “challenging” honor code. Games like Music Trivia and Musical Lexicon are supposed to make you think. Cheating is taking the easy way out.

Same Artist, Different Place

The last new category this summer will explore the journey that musicians take before landing in a successful band (or many). For example, Jeff Lynne was an up-and-coming musicians in the Idle Race before forming the more popular Electric Light Orchestra. Every musicians has a start.

A very Happy Memorial Day to all of you. I’m looking forward to a wonderful summer on The Music Court

A Gritty Reboot – The New Music Court on our Second Anniversary

28 May

The clock has been moved forward

The Music Court has now officially been around for over two years! Time does fly when your posting about music. Now that the blog has grown up in blog years, I think it deserves a makeover. As you can see the old theme is no more. I’m happy with this new theme. It is bolder and wider. I feel like it is more inviting and a little easier to read. All of the content is still there. Categories are now listed on the left-hand side of your screen.

The Music Court categories have also undergone a transformation. This change will continue over the next week. The new category ARCHIVES houses antiquated categories that have been moves to the back vault. Some categories have received name changes and all categories have received a blurb written about their content which can be unlocked by hovering your pointer over the category name.

Summer is a great time for the Music Court. For the past two years it has meant that I have more time on my hands. This summer should be no different. Therefore, I am embarking on the 60’s Band of the Week challenge once again. Let me break this down for some newer readers. In High School, I compiled a tremendous binder of materials about every 60s band I could find. The binder is not genre biased. It is made up of both bands and solo artists. Of course it does not represent the whole of 60s music. That is practically impossible. But I can confidently say that I have compiled a solid list of musicians, some well known and some underground. Starting next week this category will be back up and running.

Three new Music Court categories will be revealed tomorrow. If you have any ideas for categories feel free to e-mail me at musiccourt@gmail.com. New bands or artists can also e-mail that address for a chance to be featured on the blog. There are bands currently on the list! Follow the Music Court on twitter (@musiccourt) and on Facebook (The Music Court Blog).

Until tomorrow, here is one of my favorite summer songs for your listening pleasure:

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Review of the American Idol Finale

26 May

17-year-old Scotty McCreery became the 10th winner of Fox’s American Idol last night, marking a creative season of new judges and exciting talent that boiled down to two country singers in the finals. At the end, 16-year-old Lauren Alaina could not lasso the strong country vote away from the unmistakable croon of Scotty. The win was unsurprising and pretty unexciting. Scotty was practically tagged as the winner when the viewer voting began. He does fit the perfect parameters of a winner. He is a baby-faced, good-mannered individual whose dark voice fits effortlessly into country music. He also looks like a frightening hybrid of Alfred E. Newman and a young George W. Bush. It’s striking, right?

While Scotty winning Idol was rather pablum and seemingly pre-planned, the finale last night was a concert. I have to think that’s why most people tuned in. The night featured guest performances by Lady Gaga, Marc Anthony, Tony Bennett, Tom Jones, Beyonce, Bono and The Edge (from Spiderman: The Musical), and even Jack Black. Yes, Jack Black, who was his normal hyperbolic and awkward self. Lady Gaga and Bono/Edge performed theatrical sets by themselves, but singers like Tom Jones and Beyonce joined season 10 Idol contestants. Jack Black performed with bearded odd-ball Casey Abrams and Tony Bennett joined the grunty, jazz singer Hailey Reinhardt. Oddly enough, the two most vapid, uninteresting performances of the night belonged to the finalists, but maybe that’s just because I am not a big country music fan. If I had to give the grade of A+ to one performance during last night’s variety act, the title would have to go to the poppy/gospel rendition of “I Smile” with Kirk Franklin, Gladys Kight and season 10 contestant Jacob Lusk.

Jacob Lusk sings gospel. That is just what he does. Idol, though, forces singers out of their “comfort zones” so they can grow comfortable with all musical climates. The result is generally unproductive. Let the contestants sing what they sing well. Unless you are a contestant like Casey Abrams or season seven winner David Cook that demonstrates strong musical ingenuity, it is difficult turning a Carole King song into heavy metal (season 10 contestant James Durbin‘s plight throughout the season). Lusk is comfortable in gospel as displayed above. The performance was powerful. It was jam-packed with vocal runs, a stentorian chorus and, of course, the aura of Gladys Knight. Well done bringing this choir together, American Idol. It made the show.

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All You Fascists Gonna Lose Three Years After Dylan’s Birth

24 May

The year was 1944. World War II was raging, No Exit by Sartre was first published and Bob Dylan was three years old. Woody Guthrie, Dylan’s main teenage inspiration, was creating lyrics about how fascists were never going to win. Yes, Guthrie was advancing the genre of protest folk music. As we celebrate Bob Dylan’s 70th birthday, I thought we could take a little spin on the birthday celebration and give some credit to Dylan’s folk inspiration. The reason? I need to be different. So, my gift to you on your 70th Bob is this:

Oh the 1940’s, where the term “hillbilly” was, at least in Woody Guthrie’s mind, an indication of educated patriotism. “All You Fascists” is one of the most prescient Guthrie songs, an incredible salute to an American dream that would not be realized for another 25 years.

“People of every color marching side by side
Marching ‘cross the fields where the million fascists died
You’re bound to lose, you fascists are bound to lose”

Guthrie sings of a world where race hatred is a thing of the past. He longs for great change in the country, where fascism can be ended domestically and across seas. Dylan learned from the best.

If Only She Was Lying to Me – King Crimson Rules

23 May

Bob Dylan Was Addicted to Heroin?

Link: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/bob-dylan-admits-heroin-addiction-in-newly-released-1966-interview-20110523

On Sunday I graduated Binghamton University. One of the many reasons that I received my degree was because of academic integrity. In other words, I didn’t lie. On the heels of his 70th birthday, I can confidently say that Bob Dylan certainly does not get an A in honesty class.

Okay, that was a miserable transition, but I did want to mention my graduation. Yes, I am officially an alumnus of Binghamton University. How does that sound? I am back on Long Island and writing this post in my permanent room. My next room may be one that I own and that is certainly an odd prospect. But, until then, I remain a resident at home (which is not a bad thing at all) and since I have a little more time during the summer you all will see new categories and longer feature posts over the upcoming weeks. Sound good?

We begin with Monday’s staple (music news). According to Rolling Stone (link included above), Bob Dylan kicked a heroin addiction that he picked up after arriving in New York City. He told this to New York Times writer Robert Shelton on a plane from Lincoln, Nebraska to Denver during the 1966 Electric tour. But this newly released admission is already receiving many B.S. calls. Remember, Dylan is well known for his love of fiction. He did claim that he worked as a male prostitute after moving to New York. With all of these claims, I’m starting to think that Dylan is more of a “Midnight Cowboy” inspiration, rather than a folk/rock pioneer. Did he kick a heroin habit? Who knows. My guess is no. Dylan loves storytelling. That is one of the reasons his lyric is legendary. That is the issue. The man lives in the fictional world of song.

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“In The Court of the Crimson King” #1

Link: http://www.popmatters.com/pm/feature/141547-best-25-rock-songs-of-all-time/P4

Peter Sinfield


King Crimson‘s “In The Court of the Crimson King” was named the #1 progressive rock song in an enjoyable list by Sean Murphy of PopMatters. Murphy writes:

“Virtually any song from this album could ably represent the whole, but the title track is an unsettling, ceaselessly astonishing track that is at once the introduction and apotheosis of what progressive rock became. It has all the important elements: impeccable musicianship from all players, rhythmic complexity, socially-conscious lyrics and an outsider’s perspective that is neither disaffected nor nihilistic.”

Eloquently put and absolutely correct. King Crimson’s impact on progressive rock cannot go understated. Any mention of the genre without talk of this supergroup is a crime. The band simply oozed with talent and this song is no different. The lyric of this Crimson classic is poetic and medieval. It is a creative image of hell and it comes from the mind of Peter Sinfield, the true unsung hero of the band. So, while you enjoy the song make sure to also respect the lyric.

The rusted chains of prison moons
Are shattered by the sun.
I walk a road, horizons change
The tournament’s begun.
The purple piper plays his tune,
The choir softly sing;
Three lullabies in an ancient tongue,
For the court of the Crimson King. The keeper of the city keys
Put shutters on the dreams.
I wait outside the pilgrim’s door
With insufficient schemes.
The black queen chants
the funeral march,
The cracked brass bells will ring;
To summon back the fire witch
To the court of the Crimson King. The gardener plants an evergreen
Whilst trampling on a flower.
I chase the wind of a prism ship
To taste the sweet and sour.
The pattern juggler lifts his hand;
The orchestra begin.
As slowly turns the grinding wheel
In the court of the Crimson King. On soft grey mornings widows cry
The wise men share a joke;
I run to grasp divining signs
To satisfy the hoax.
The yellow jester does not play
But gently pulls the strings
And smiles as the puppets dance
In the court of the Crimson King.

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