In 1973, Paul Pena, a diverse American blues singer from Massachusetts, recorded “Jet Airliner” for his New Train album. Yet, after conflicts with his label, the album went unreleased (until 2000) and “Jet Airliner” was left as bootleg recording. For four years one of modern classic rock radio’s most overplayed hits laid on the shelf collecting dust. This until Steve Miller heard a recording of “Jet Airliner,” and decided to record it for his album Book of Dreams. Miller placed a Clapton-like “Crossroads” guitar riff in front of the airplane epic. The song hit #8 on the Billboard chart after being released as a single, and, like I said earlier, now is severely overplayed on almost all classic rock radio stations. If I ever get the opportunity to be one of the preservers of classic rock music on the radio, I will make a point not play “Jet Airliner.” How about “Swingtown or “Going to the Country?” I am not saying these are better songs, but, at least they are different.
The reason I am profiling “Jet Airliner” today is because on Monday I will be taking a big ol’ jet airliner to Israel on Birthright. Birthright is a Jewish charity that sponsors free 10-day trips to Israel for Jewish youths. I fit the profile of a Jewish youth and therefore am fortunate enough to be going on this trip with fellow Music Court writers Josh Lampert and Amanda Grannis, my girlfriend, and our suitemate Marc. I am incredibly psyched. I will be away from May 17-27. So, I wish all of you faithful readers a fantastic 10 days and I am looking forward to posting when I return. During the 10-day span, a familiar face will be returning to the blog to write a couple of posts and “water the flowers” when I am gone. I trust he will do a great job.
There is an old music adage first said by the wise Technotronic. It goes, “Pump the jam, pump it up.” That’s right people, get those feet stompin’. Excuse me. Random Technotronic outbursts have always plagued me. But, this festive 80’s hit does make a point that has become stuck in many people’s musical psyche for the past 20 or so years. Just pump the tunes and let me dance. Popular music today has warped into an odd mixture of auto tune, remixed fast-paced beats, and alien-like dress.
Ra Ra Ah Ah Ah roughly translates to I come in peace
There has been less of a focus today on the true art of a putting together an epic LP, and more focus on single hits that can destroy the charts. The tangible CD is a thing of the past and if you ask a 10-year-old what a Walkman is, their response would most likely be a twisted version of the game Hangman. But, I must admit this all just a natural progression. 78’s turned in 45’s which turned in 12-inch 33’s which turned into 8-tracks and then cassettes, CD’s and finally MP3’s and those fancy schmancy IPod’s. You know in my day I had to hold my thin Walkman while I went running and it usually skipped. And, unless you are overly nostalgic or just a little crazy like me, a record player is an antique.
CD’s still exist though and while they are often burned onto an MP3 player, they have not been fully weeded out quite yet. But, what has seen a tremendous decline, is album art.
Album art used to be one of the most important parts of a record (when they were the size of a laptop computer). It drew people in as they shopped for music in record shops. If the album cover was intriguing, the chances of an indecisive person buying the album increased. Therefore, the majority of the amazing album covers are trapped in the past; most created before the year of my birth, 1989. It is unfortunate that album cover art has mostly been lost. Album art included pictures with subtle intricacies, interesting messages and, sometimes, humorous/austere elements that certainly were embedded in many memories. These masters of the square palette of colorful album creations do not get enough/any credit for their works. For example, when I think of Abbey Road, I am immediately brought to a scene of the four Beatles walking in a single-file line across the street, and if it wasn’t for creative director Kosh and photographer Iain Macmillan, we may have seen a completely different image.
So, in honor of the necessary art of album cover creation, let’s run a poll today on the Music Court. What do you believe is the greatest album cover of all time? I will include pictures. Also, I anticipate many other votes, so, if you have an album that you believe should be included please comment and let’s discuss.
Lady Gaga, the incredibly eccentric pop musician who has utterly confused and enthused the music world, has recently told Various that she longs to perish while playing a show. “I would rather not die on vacation,” she said. “I’d rather die on-stage with all my fans.” Well, some people want their ashes scattered over the sea, or at a baseball stadium, but, Gaga wants to roma, roma-ma all over the stage. I wonder which song she would like to go out to. I am thinking “Poker Face.” Because, under her ode to a Stanley Kubrick masquerade ball, people won’t even know she is dead. They wont understand that what they are actually seeing is a Gaga ZOMBIE.
Gaga Zombie
Talking about zombies, BEATLES ZOMBIE! Remember Alan Goldsher’s graphic novel, “Paul is Undead: The British Zombie Invasion.” Yeah, neither do I. The book of fantastic illustrations (so I hear) depicts the Beatles as zombies. The book roughly depicts a mass Beatles murder by John Lennon, who after killing his band mates, goes on a zombie tour where the zombie Beatles must be on the lookout for ninja Yoko Ono and zombie hunter Mick Jagger. Wait, this is not the real story of The Beatles after the release of Abbey Road. Well, this absolutely hilarious idea has just been bought by two filmmakers. Yes, this may be made into a film. And, do you know what’s funny. I am more looking forward to this movie than Liam Gallagher’s serious Beatles’ film.
I first heard about Annie Eve from my friend Mike who met her by chance on vacation. He told me that on the last day of his vacation, while everyone was coming to the harsh reality that they would have to split, Annie started making up songs on the spot, shocking everyone with a music ability that no one knew she had. Yes, but behind a humble demeanor, is a wonderful voice just bursting with potential and excitement. While listening to one of Annie’s songs on her Myspace, I scrolled down and read some of the comments. One listener wrote, “a breath of fresh air in a genre that has started to sound the same.” This could not be a more spot on compliment. Annie does just that. In her Youtube videos, she strums away on her acoustic while sitting on her kitchen floor as a computer picks up a rough recording of her youthful folk. It is the fact that she is sitting in her house that makes the music so raw and refreshing. She is a tremendous, young talent that is starting to tour and her music proves that she is ready to make a name for herself and add her soulful voice and folky guitar riffs to a watered-down folk genre.
Annie Eve hails from North London. She started playing music when she was 13, inspired by her older brother who is also a musician. I had a chance to interview Annie Eve through e-mail (oh the wonders of the technological age). Her enthusiasm shined through her words. Before she even got to answering the interview questions she wrote, “As soon as I picked up the guitar I started to write songs, it really just came naturally. Playing guitar, singing and writing songs all come in a package with me I don’t like doing any of them separately. Music is all I do now, I spend my time writing, recording or playing anywhere and I love it.” In an industry that often gets bogged down by musicians unable to balance fun with the often overriding want to make money, this is just great to hear.
Before we get to the interview, I would like to include a song by Annie that I believe most directly highlights her potential.
“Fish Bowl Shark Tank” is raw, exceptionally catchy, and wonderfully structured. Annie’s youthful vigor and ardent voice seeps through the homemade recording and gives the song a hint of maturity, even though she is clearly a callow musician. Yet, age aside, her emotion is raw and fresh, and her voice is uncultivated, but I mean that as a compliment. This song particularly reminds me a lot of Jaymay, a folk singer-songwriter from New York, and I believe Annie is travelling a similar path in both lyric and music. Take a listen to Jaymay.
What do you all think?
Here is the interview with Annie Eve:
Music Court: Who inspired you to get into music? Are there any bands you can label as major influences?
Annie Eve: My brother Simon first got me wanting to get into music, he showed me a load of music id never heard of, it was like his mission to make sure I didn’t listen to generic pop, I remember him sitting me down and playing a bunch of punk, blues and rock tunes at me (Simon fighting the good fight). The songs of mine I like the most are usually the ones that have been inspired by another band or a song, so I have alot of inspirations. To name a few, I would go with; Joni Mitchell, Led Zeppelin, Rilo Kiley, Bon Iver, Bob Dylan, Radiohead, Kimya Dawson and John Martyn. You might not hear them in my music necessarily but trust me they are in there.
MC: Tell me about your music making process if you can. How long does it take for you to generally write and record a song?
AE: Writing songs comes naturally to me, however writing a song I like, or think is good enough is another issue. After I write a song, Ill show my producer David, and play it at an open mic night, then Ill work on it and change it whenever I play it until I’m happy with it.
MC: Any plans for some upcoming shows?
AE: I’m starting to gig alot more now my EP is almost done, the next one I know of is on the 23rd of May at The Abbey Tavern in Kentish Town. I’ve also just booked a month in America to travel around and play, Ill post what im doing either on my facebook page or Myspace.
MC: Have a favorite band or song?
AE: My favourite band? Wow, I have many, to name a few; Radiohead, Rilo Kiley, Ramones, Led Zeppelin, Kings of Leon, Bon Iver and so so many more.
As one can see, she is starting to travel and play and this will hopefully help her get her name out in the music world. If you would like to learn more about Annie and see if she is coming to a town near you visit her Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/annieeve. Also, you can watch some of her videos over on her Youtube page: http://www.youtube.com/user/AnnieEveTracks.
Matriculate (Verb): To enroll in a college or university as a candidate for a degree.
Musical Example: A timely SWOD. Let me offer a big congratulations to the graduating class at Binghamton University and all other universities. I will be donning the gown and cap next year. Students matriculated some years ago and after changing both physically and mentally now will enter graduate school or…gasp…the real world. Give it a few years and we will all be pondering where college went. Well, as Leslie Hartley said, “The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there.” I always thought this was a telling quotation. So, to all graduates, good luck on your continuing journey down that narrow river of passing time. Hopefully you will all be able to accomplish what you have set out to achieve.
There are many songs about college days. But, I thought I would go a little unconventional today. Instead of entertaining you all with song, let’s go to some musical comedy. “Whose Line is it Anyway,” one of the funniest, nonsensical shows on television, has a great skit satirizing Time life CD Infomercials. This is the “Greatest Hits of College”
The Music Court 