Things like Coldplay‘s first album, Parachutes, normally take a little while to catch on, but it was deservedly an overnight success and as spectacular as Parachutes was, each album has continued to build on the previous one. At the beginning, their sound was simple, either a piano or acoustic guitar, electric guitar, drums and bass, but their most recent album and EP, Viva La Vida and Prospekt’s March, are soaring musical works with everything including the kitchen sink. Sure there are some simpler songs on the album with less total instrumentation (Death and all His Friends), but the albums namesake, “Viva La Vida,” contains a full orchestra and multiple percussion parts and just sounds big. One of the coolest things about Coldplay is that they have cool sounding music without sacrificing melodic hooks.
Muse lead singer is an enthusiastic conspiracy theorist and takes mushrooms recreationally to open his metaphoric third eye. And, you can tell. Lyrically, lead singer Matthew Bellamy conjures scary images of 1984 and a post apocalyptic tyranny while also suggesting that America needs to control Europe, the Middle East and Asia to secure an oil supply in United States of Eurasia in The Resistance. Their best album, however, is Black Holes and Revelations, which contains both really cool sounds fans have come to expect of the band coupled with catchy hooks (just watch the video for Starlight below). Musically, Muse uses effects, not only on guitar but also on bass and vocals, to conger images of what I can only imagine is an acid trip but a good one nonetheless.
Has music ever made you feel high? I don’t mean high like at an Allman Brothers Band Concert or like Keith Richards before, during and after he fell out of that tree. I’m talking about a feeling of lifting off and just soaring, free from all bonds imposed by gravity and without a care in the world. Although U2 dreamed big like Michelangelo, Radiohead turned inward to paint tortured lyrics in the same way Van Gogh painted Starry Night and Coldplay merged them to produce an inward looking but still optimistic artist my knowledge of art history doesn’t cover. All three made music that just sounds big. Turn the lights down, put on your big dj headphones, close your eyes and just lose yourself.
Just put on the previous clip and read on. The slow opening synth chords move into the Edge’s guitar and the driving rhythm section which culminates into Bono‘s voice. Like many other U2 songs, especially on the album The Joshua Tree, “Where the Streets Have No Name” makes a political and social message sound so damn cool by adding layers of synthesizers and the Edge’s unique talent for making his electric guitar more than just a guitar. The rest of the album is just as good. Throughout their career, U2 has changed their sound by combining elements of other genres, especially in the 90’s, but they can never be accused of dreaming small either in sound or in message. Their early albums (The Joshua Tree and Rattle and Hum) capture these ideas at their finest, but checkout the following video for one of their later songs that is maybe not filled with overwhelming sound, but with overwhelming execution.
Upon writing this, I didn’t realize how much I could say in the introduction or about U2 so I decided that I’m going to do a second article about the other major bands I was going to talk about. There is one band that I wasn’t sure if I would have the space to write about, but apparently now I do. They are Explosions in the Sky.
If you’re one of those people that listen to music for the lyrics, then these guys are certainly not for you considering they have no vocalist or lyrics. They do, however, convey emotion just as, if not even more powerful, through three guitars and a single drummer. The following song, like most of their others, builds slowly and uses different effects operating on separate guitars that come together to surround the listener in a dome of sound.
Alfred E. Newman – Oh – I mean Scotty McCreery, winner of the most recent season of American Idol, will release his first album Clear as Day on Oct. 4. In a message to his fans McCreery wrote, “We focused on making the best music possible. I’m really proud of it and so grateful to have the opportunity to record an album before my 18th birthday.”
When I was 18…well, I wasn’t releasing debut album. Wait, let me qualify that. Debut “Succesful” albums. That is pretty awesome. For the top-24 this year I knew that McCreery would end up winning the entire competition. Why did I think this? American Idol has an incredibly strong country base. Seriously, solid country stars can fly through the show with ease. McCreery not only has a true country croon, but also he is young and respectable. Big, big help. At the end, the final two contestants were country singers and this really came to no surprise to people who have been watching the show for a while.
McCreery is insanely talented. Yes, for some, his act became old quickly. I mean, he could only sing country, right? Yes. But why is this an issue? He has a niche. He is perfectly comfortable in said niche. His first (and all remaining albums) will be country (with a probable pop twist). That is what album number one will be. I’ll make this prediction now. I think that McCreery will have the longest and most succesful career among all idol winners.
What the heck does that album title mean? Good question. Your guess is as good as mine. Coldplay will release Mylo Xyloto on Oct. 25, their official full-length follow-up to 2008’s Viva La Vida, which both had an understandable name and sold 2.8 million units. Yeah, nbd. Despite the rap that Coldplay gets, they are a hugely popular band and their piano-based rock is enjoyable. The band released the album’s first single “Every Teardrop is a Waterfall,” in June. On Sept. 12 the band will release their second single “September” to the awaiting public. Yeah, September in September.
I’m looking forward to the new release, even moreso now because the title is so enigmatic. Coldplay knows what they are doing and if the album has similar fire power to Viva La Vida it will meet with tremendous success. I’m also curious. Chris Martin has stated that the album does not have a specific genre and while that is pretty consistent with his dislike for pigeon-holing Coldplay’s music, it is still worth mentioning because last time fans were told to expect the unexpected, the band released an album that oozed with fluid sounds and eccentric rhythms.
Alright, this is pretty awesome. Billboard had their Summer Blowout Party featuring bands like LMFAO and Swizz Beatz. That’s not the awesome part. I mean I’m sure the concert was cool, but the way that people got into the concert is even cooler.
ShowClix, a company founded by Joshua Dziabiak, is attempting to revolutionize the way that people get into shows. Do you lose papers easily and sometimes misplace tickets? Well, with ShowClix, everything is on your phone. That’s right, after you purchase your tickets they are sent to your phone via text message. When you get to the gate, you present the text message with your ticket and an attendant uses a device to scan it. Deal done. You go and enjoy your show and the garbages at the venue are not full with ripped up tickets (an environmentally friendly option). That’s how people who went to Billboard’s Summer Blowout displayed their tickets. It takes electronic ticketing to a new level.
I think this is great. Even if this is applied as another delivery option, it can save a lot of paper and frantic minutes searching for those damn tickets before you leave for the show. I can foresee this emerging as a premier ticketing option in the future. What do you think?
Before I get into this segment of Music News, I have a question. Why is it that the name Brian Wilson spawns craziness? Brian Wilson (musician) lost his marbles in 1969 and has been collecting these marbles ever since. And Brian Wilson (the SF Giants closer), is perhaps the most intense baseball player in the game and his beard is weird (to quote the Just For Men beard commercials).
Anyway, Brian Wislon (musician) recently announced that he would retire from live performances in 2012, but before his last goodbye he may want to rejoin his old surviving band mates and run through his old discography. How cool would that be? “Good Vibrations” with the Boys of the surf.
Asked by BBC Music about playing with the band, Wilson said, “I’m considering it. I don’t know yet but I’m considering it. Nothing’s really holding me back. I just don’t know if I want to be around those guys you know. They’re zany guys. They’re crazy.”
It would be the first performance for Wilson with his old band-mates in around 20 years.
Do you think he will schedule some dates? I have to think Wilson will perform a few with the band before he retires from the stage.
Driver’s Education instructors who want to promote safe driving should put Coldplay on to relax students getting behind the wheel for the first time. Seriously.
According to a Stereogum article, “A new survey by Halfords asked people if their driving was affected by the music they were listening to while behind the wheel. 60% said yes. A couple of the tracks that made them more aggressive: Beastie Boys’s “Sabotage” and Kanye West’s “Stronger.” On the flipside, folks felt mellower in the presence of Jack Johnson (obviously) and Fleetwood Mac.” Link: http://stereogum.com/705722/coldplay-fans-may-not-put-out-but-theyre-safe-drivers/list/
On the list of chill driving songs is Coldplay’s “Yellow.”
Here is a little plug for an excellent “Consequence of Sound” review of Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi’s Rome which will be released tomorrow. The album is truly excellent. Here is the Music Court review for another perspective.
Okay, now everytime we sit on this couch it needs to be in this specific sitting order.
Chris Martin Talks New Album
Coldplay fans will probably have to wait until the end of this calendar year for the release of the band’s fifth studio album that lead vocalist Chris Martin says may begin with an M and be two words. May I suggest More Manic.
In an interview with BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe, Martin said that the album will explore “love, addiction, OCD, escape and working for someone you don’t like.” Yeah! Fight the establishment.
Martin also described how the album will be representative of “what happens within the group.” Anyone smell volatile group relations. It would seem that this interview subtly portrayed portentous happenings. Well, if my ramblings are true, I’m sure Jay-Z wouldn’t mind forming a group with Chris Martin. Recently he said that Martin was a “‘a brother from another mother” and lauded him as a true musical genius. Well, I don’t know if I would go that far.
It will be difficult to eclipse the success of Coldplay’s last release, Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends. But, Coldplay has a large following and anything is possible.
Tribute bands often attempt to clone the look of their heroes in an attempt to be more authentic. Somehow echoing the band’s sound is not enough. But, Pyromania, a Dallas-based Def Leppard tribute band, may be taking their search a little too far.
In a flyer (above), the band wrote they are looking for a “one arm drummer (no prostetics).” I presume this statement means they are looking for a drummer with one arm who does not wear a prosthetic replacement. You would think that someone in the band would have done a quick spell check before posting the flyer. Come on guys.
Def Leppard is of course famous for their drummer Rick Allen who overcame the complete amputation of his left arm at 21 years old. Even without his left arm (which he lost because of a car accident) he is still able to pour some sugar on anyone.
Pyromania also requires the drummer to have a “flame retardent kit & stick.” Pyromania, the correctly spelling of retardant is retardant. And, remember folks, “seriose inquarys only!” So, if you lack an arm and an ability to spell correctly, Pyromania is looking for you. Actually, scratch that, let me add to the flyer that the drummer needs to also be semi-literate. Yes, someone who can spell to write future flyers.
Steven Tyler, who is currently a judge for “American Idol,” wants to get Aerosmith together for a new album but he cannot find guitarist Joe Perry.
“I’m trying to rally the guys together,” he told Rolling Stone. “We’re having trouble getting Joe [Perry]. I don’t know where he is, but just come down to L.A. at the end of January sometime. I’ve had enough downtime.”
Joe Perry does not like Steven Tyler. The two barely talk off stage and Perry has made it clear that he thinks “American Idol” is absolute garbage and he would be ashamed if Aerosmith was linked to the show at all.
Do I really care about the ramblings of these two musicians? No, no I do not. So, instead of making this story a story, I am going to turn this over to Acoustic Affairs a German guitar trio who perform an awesome acoustic cover of Aerosmith’s “Dream On.”
The Music Court 