Tag Archives: Music

The Mountain Goats – All Eternals Deck – Track Reviews

1 Apr

An album featuring multi-faceted music that explores the elaborate construction of lyric and sound and makes the complex sound simple, melancholic, and eerily sweet. That is my one sentence review of the new Mountain Goats‘ release All Eternals Deck, which dropped two days ago. When I went to pick up the album at Barnes and Nobles, the salesman asked me how are the Mountain Goats. I have wrote so many gushing reviews of the band on this blog, that I attempted to prevent myself from overwhelming him. I told him, if you like great lyric, passion and folk, then you will enjoy John Darnielle and the Mountain Goats. All Eternals Deck is a classic recent Mountain Goats album mixed with some more complex instrumentation, vocalization and skill. Darnielle’s studio work has morphed to match his elaborate lexicon and syntax. I cannot keep my review to one sentence. So, instead, I am going to profile the music and lyric of some of my favorite songs on the album. Enjoy and go listen to the new album, NOW!

Music: The album opens with “Damn These Vampires,” a track that moves like a typical Mountain Goats release. The song is led by Darnielle’s voice. It features short chords from both the keyboard and acoustic, as well as a defined bass guitar that adds a deep element to the song. The best display of musicality in this song comes during the chorus, where the guitar and keyboard follow Darnielle’s progression with supporting notes. You can feel the band’s presence in this moment.

Lyrics: Darnielle often has small gems in his songs, lines that blend in and taste good. In “Damn These Vampires,” Darnielle sings, “Saphire trans-am, highbeams in vain. Drive wild broncos, down the plain.” His lyric paints pictures, and this advanced imagery proves his literary prowess.

Music: “High Hawk Season” is unconventional for the Mountain Goats. Darnielle adds this gloomy barbershop quartet sound that carries the song beautifully. The call-back with the line “rise if your sleeping stay awake” is spine-tingling. The song is carried by Darnielle’s acoustic and the backing vocals

Lyric: “Spray our dreams on any surface where the paint will stick, Try to time the rhythm, listen for the click.” The lyric is as saturnine as the dark backing vocals. This is where Darnielle seems most comfortable.

Music: “For Charles Bronson” is being quickly touted as the song’s best album. I can understand the praise. While it may not be my favorite – which is reserved for the two above – this song has the classic Mountain Goats charm. It is led by Darnielle’s great voice, a solid chord progression and a solid drum beat. The haunting keyboard is a great addition.

Lyric: I just want to leave you with the last verse/chorus of the song profiling Charles Bronson.

“Let the frame find you when the cameraman’s ready
Work until I drop drift from place to place
Ehrenfeld, Pennsylvania, scratched into my face
Set your sights on good fortune, concentrate
Pull back the hammer, try to hold the gun straight
Try to hold the gun straight”

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The 60s Psychedelic Experiment – Pop Psych – Strawberry Alarm Clock

29 Mar

Something about Tuesdays has started smelling a lot more psychedelic, and in the nasal orifice of a certain psychedelic band from Los Angeles, psychedelia smells like strawberries. We continue our psychedelic exploration of the 1960s with the genre of psychedelic pop music and one of the bands that mastered this potential corny genre was Strawberry Alarm Clock, who rode the line of bubblegum and psychedelic music like a professional.

So, I guess the first question we have to ask is what exactly is psychedelic pop music and why is music that can be considered “watered down” relevant on our psychedelic trip? The answer to this question is simple. Psychedelic pop, at its finest, is not hackneyed, but rather creative and infectious. Yes, I understand that because the music had to fit under the description of “pop” it usually needed close-knit harmonies and catchy rhythms, but, while it was “mainstream” at the time, these necessities did not take a way from the music’s worth. While the music succumbed to rigid specifications, it was still allowed to venture forth into the world of guitar distortion and zany instruments. Take a listen to this.

In the first 20 seconds the genre is practically described. “Incense and Peppermints” by Strawberry Alarm Clock was released in 1967 and it hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. The keyboard mixes beautifully with the reverbed, distorted guitar. The background vocals provide a haunting beginning to the tune. The song’s high-pitched keyboard provides an unmistakable psychedelic presence to the song that is a shining example of why the song is psychedelic.

Can you get the song out of your head? No. I didn’t think so. It fits the pop convention perfectly and this is why it was so popular. I consider this an instrumental work of psychedelic music and I disagree with those who believe that pop’s conforming to the psychedelic phenomenon was a bad thing. It allowed pop bands to create psychedelic pieces (a la Beach Boys) and psychedelic bands to market themselves with pop classics like “Incense and Peppermints.”

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New Mountain Goats Drops Tomorrow – Radiohead Selling CD’s – Final Four Update

28 Mar

All Eternal’s Deck Released Tomorrow

The new Mountain Goat’s album drops tomorrow, and I will most certainly be picking it up prior to seeing them this Saturday in Ithaca. Yes, call me a traditionalist, but with artists like The Mountain Goats, I like to listen to the album in full by way of hard copy. It’s just one of my many archaic idiosyncrasies. But, that does not mean reviews have not been written of the album yet (by way of advanced copy or NPR first listen – which was published in late February).

The reviews are positive. Like expected, Darnielle excellent bare singer/songwriter style is bathed lightly with some new studio effects (a trend that has been duplicated on recent albums). The lyrics are hard hitting, though, and while there is no over-arching theme linking songs, each does have a wondrous effect (the Mountain Goat’s effect). I suggest you go out and purchase this album, but if you want some proof, here is two reviews (one written and one YouTubed).

AP Review – http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110328/ap_en_mu/us_music_review_the_mountain_goats

YouTube-

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Radiohead Selling Well
King of Limbs was released digitally back in February. The ending track, “Separator” has spawned some thought that the digital album was only part of a larger release that would be sent out with their “magazine” release of the album in May.

Read about that here: https://musiccourt.wordpress.com/2011/02/22/radiohead-ahead-of-the-music-business/

The tangible album is being shipped out today and the band created such a draw with their rapid digital release, that the physical copy was #2 on the Amazon pre-sale list. And so continues the genius of Thom Yorke. Do you want to sell an album? Hire him to do your marketing.

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UPDATE ON 1967 March Madness Tournament

The men’s college basketball March Madness tournament has reached its Final Four and it is jam-packed with Cinderellas. The Music Court’s 1967 Album March Madness tournament – which is looking for votes on the best album released in 1967 – may go pretty chalk. Here is an update and where you can vote. Remember voting ends this Friday

 

The #3 seed: Are You Experienced by The Jimi Hendrix Experience is currently beating the #6 seed: Strange Days by The Doors 5-1.

The #2 seed: The Doors by The Doors is currently avenging its sister’s demise by beating up on the #10 seed: Surrealistic Pillow by Jefferson Airplane 6-1.

Vote on these two matches here: https://musiccourt.wordpress.com/2011/03/24/the-elite-1967-album-eight-second-half/

 

The #1 seed: Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles is not surprisingly beating the #9 seed John Wesley Harding by Bob Dylan 8-2

In the closest match-up (and potential upset) the #4 seed: Magical Mystery Tour by The Beatles  is losing to the #5 seed: Disraeli Gears by The Cream 6-4

Vote on these two matches here: https://musiccourt.wordpress.com/2011/03/20/the-elite-1967-album-eight-voting-begins/

 

Let your voices be heard. Don’t let your favorite album lose!

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The Best Songs of 2010: #10: “Excuses” by The Morning Benders

20 Dec

How can you not like number graphics?

And it officially begins. Today is December 20. By December 30 the mystery will be unraveled and the Music Court’s top 10 songs of the year will be revealed. People love lists. Seriously, if I devoted this entire blog to “Best-Of Lists” I would gain a tremendous amount of viewers. For the next 10 days (excluding Sunday the 26) I will list a song a day from today’s #10 to Dec. 30 #1. Let us begin with #10.

Song: “Excuses”

Artist: The Morning Benders

I have been trying to put my finger on what “Excuses” by The Morning Benders sounds like. Well, the #10 song on our list was released in March of 2010 and co-produced by Grizzly Bear bassist Chris Taylor. The Grizzly Bear influence is evident. The song is what happens when you put Spector’s “Wall of Sound” concept and late 60’s light, melodic, British psychedelia into a particle collider and let them hit each other at such a rapid speed that it bends time and travels 40 years and penetrates lead singer Chris Chu. The melodic hook in this song is beyond wonderful…it’s eery.

This is a 5-minute work of genius. Notice how we immediately are introduced to a wacky string section that already hits us with the Grizzly Bear sound. And when they erupt into the acoustic chords and normal string section it is as if we have been sent back in time. The string coordination is beautiful. Chris Chu’s voice appears in the first verse and, just like an ocean wave, douses listeners with water infused with vocal goodness. The harmony prior to the chorus is so British harmonizing it is absolutely scary. The lyric is not shabby either.

The breakdown extends the song’s infectiousness. We have another one that sticks. And, in typical “Wall of Sound” fashion, the breakdown slowly rises into this ultimate crescendo that leads into the powerful last verse where it seems like several voices are pounding into listeners. After listening to the song I felt drenched. This piece starts off our Top 10 well. And, as you can imagine, if this is #10 we have a solid list and 10 days ahead of us. See you all tomorrow.

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Jason Spooner’s 2010 Release a Monster One

17 Dec

Back in November I looked at the New England-based singer/songwriter Jason Spooner. Here is a brief caption from the post:

Spooner decided he was going to create it; a new beat that takes a taste of old and combines it with an emerging modern acoustic/blues trend. Music that never forgets about the important art of lyric. Spooner has grown up and come a long way. He has just released his third album, an absolute gem. As songwriter Christine Lavin wrote about Spooner, “This is someone important.”

Yes, I have sunk so low that I must sample myself. How dare I plagiarize myself. I have gotten my hands on Spooner’s new album (the third album mentioned above) and will review it here. It was released July of this year.

The first track of any album is obviously reflective of the rest of the pieces that follow it. It is my firm belief that if the first track does not succeed in capturing the listener than the rest of the album is a failure. Never underestimate the importance of #1. Trust the old adage; put your best foot forward. In this statement I do not mean that the first song has to be the best on the album. On the contrary, it should most certainly not be (you want to leave the listener with gems later in the album). The first song must only accomplish the task of capturing the listeners attention.

That is what “Crashing Down” does for Spooner. It introduces the listener to the album with a short repetitive riff and quick drum beat. The true hook is Spooner’s voice. It is smooth and inviting. The song moves into a quick pre-choral lyrical combination that tastes like The Script. And don’t think I missed bassist Adam Frederick’s funky bass line underneath Spooner’s voice and acoustic guitar. These are the small diamonds I like in Spooner’s music. Frederick and drummer Reed Chambers are wonderful musicians who influence Spooner’s music with creative gems like the small funky bass line.

The introductory track never comes crashing down. Even when the song fades away it maintains its tight vocal harmonies and great guitar. Though exciting, it is a slower piece and most definitely inviting. The track ends and the CD reads track two.

Boom. A great drum beat leads into a vibrating chord and all of a sudden the folk piece we just heard has been wiped away by the blues. And, in an effortless transition. It is great track selection from Spooner. We get a completely different element. Spooner’s harmonica and guitar evokes a twangy feeling that matches with his original voice. The chorus is powerful. It draws you further in. Take a listen below (Kudos to Chambers on the drum box)

Spooner’s album so far is shaping up like a musical goody-bag. Let’s see what we get next. The third track really does have a Script feel. This is not a bad thing, as the Script have gone on to be tremendously successful. I can see Spooner’s music gaining popularity as it gains some age and recognition. It is certainly widespread radio bound. This is what I hear on track three. The backing guitar whines while Spooner harmonizes with Frederick. It never gets out of hand. It is a sharp track. This is how it is throughout.

I would like to highlight one specific track that is my personal favorite from the album, “Seed In The Ground.” I believe this is a step above most of the other songs. It is an amalgamation of all things Spooner does right musically. It has a consistent drum beat, infectious rhythm guitar, faded harmonica and Spooner’s wonderful lead vocals and choral harmonies.

So, here comes the portion of the review where I sell you on the album. I give this the Music Court title of “get your hands on a copy and take a listen.” Spooner is a talented musician who understands the meaning of effective music. His songs are snug like a fitted suit. You just feel good when you are in it, swimming the melodic sea of his music.

Visit Spooner’s website for more information on his music and to buy the new album.

Link: http://www.jasonspooner.com/

Also, in the spirit of the Holidays, let the Music Court provide you with a Spooner cover. Here is Spooner and Dar Williams performing “Girl from the North Country,” available by way of free Mp3 download.

Link: http://www.jasonspooner.com/free/holiday/

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