Jumping on the Bandwagon: Esperanza Spalding

I am officially on the bandwagon. Esperanza Spalding is an incredibly talented musician/singer/composer that recently won the Grammy for Best New Artist. I had not heard of her before she won the award but I quickly bought her album when I found out these 3 things: she writes her own songs, plays an upright bass, and a singing style that critics' have so far been unable to find enough adjectives to describe. As if I needed to sell it more, perhaps I should note that she sings in three languages, beatboxes, and scats. Okay, that should do it.

If you have not checked her out do so IMMEDIATELY! I am doing you a favor, you're welcome.

Music Video of the Week - Feb 10, 2011 - FLASH DELIRIUM

Since Matt is doing songs and albums of the week, I figured somebody might as well throw in a video of the week.

I have to admit, this first video is quite possibly my favorite music video of all time, from one of my favorite albums of all time—so it's all downhill from here. It's "Flash Delirium" from MGMT.

I didn't use to be a huge fan of MGMT. I had been vaguely aware of their first record, Oracular Spectacular, and had heard their three singles from that album. They struck me as kinda cool, but also a little formulaic. When their second album, Congratulations, came out, I listened on a lark—and was completely blown away by the psychedelic music and surreal lyrics. For months, I listened to this album over and over—and picked up their first album Oracular Spectacular to find that the deep cuts were very experimental and better than the singles. When I stumbled into half-of-the-band Ben Goldwasser at Sasquatch last summer, it was like meeting Picasso. What do you say to Picasso? Meeting Ben went something like this: "Um... Congratulations is my favorite album of... like... ever." "Thanks."

Anyway, prepare yourself for the surreal, Kafkaesque masterpiece, FLASH DELIRIUM. Listen loud. Really loud:

MGMT "Flash Delirium" from JLP on Vimeo.

Improv's Effect on the Brain: A TED Talk

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/charles_limb_your_brain_on_improv.html

Courtesy of a tip from my friend Adam Fohrman, this TED talk researches how improvisation in music affects the brain. Studies include Fmri scans of musician's brains during the creative process and moments of pure musical improvisation. Check it out!

Alden Penner - Clues, The Hidden Words

After The Unicorns less-than-amicable break-up in 2004, songwriter Nick Thorburn became a well-known songwriter in his own right, fronting the ever-changing band Islands (in which Thorburn has been the only constant member), teaming up with Jim Guthrie as Human Highway, with Daddy Kev as Reefer, and most recently, launching supergroup Mister Heavenly with Man Man's Honus Honus, Modest Mouse drummer Joe Plummer, and Scott Pilgrim bassist Michael Cera (yes, that Michael Cera).

Less known in the indie world is what happened to the other songwriting-half of The Unicorns, Alden Penner. Aside from writing for film soundtracks, commercial jingles, and whatnot, Penner has also been involved in some musical projects. His band Clues' self-titled debut album is an sprawling epic-yet-intimate spiral through dark, crunchy power pop.

I've embedded a playlist of the album below. It's definitely worth a listen, especially if you liked anything the Unicorns did. If you listen to just one song, I suggest "You Have My Eyes Now."

Alden has recently reunited with former Unicorns drummer Jamie Thompson (who spent some time in Thorburn's Islands before another bad break-up) to create the religious band The Hidden Words, which puts music to sacred Baha'i texts. An album is forthcoming, but they have posted some media on their Facebook page. Here's a video for an untitled track:

Alden Penner - The Hidden Words from Video Marsh on Vimeo.

What do you think?

Off the Beaten Path, 2/3

Tonight I came across an album I hadn't heard for a while. "Collected (1999-2000)" by Folk-rock artist Ritt Deitz.

Ritt is a French professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, but is originally from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area. His backwoods origins ooze through to some extent in every track on the album. One of the unique things about Ritt often tours with his sons as the backing band (but aren't on the recorded album.) "Starlight" and "Give Me a Flower" have always been personal favorites of mine, but a special listening needs to be paid to "Shake", where Ritt plays every instrument on the track. After a slow beginning to the song, "Shake" starts to hit its groove around 1:45 in, and Ritt shows off his vibrato-laden voice in collaboration with his folk-guitar sound. All in all, a solid album, especially for the folk-rock fan.

My Week's Album

Aretha Sings the Blues:

Historical background and talent aside this album grips your very soul from track to track. The lyrics are haunting throughout and convey the creativity and melancholy of the blues as sung by a master. Aretha's passionate vocals bring the listener into the song and create an ambiance of sorrow and heartache. The two opening tracks, "Drinking Again" and "Today I Sing the Blues" set the pace for the album and start at the bottom of the well. A blues so sad you don't think you can escape. However, like all blues music you find yourself smiling and tapping your feet as the images and sounds of the band transcend your feelings of hopelessness. Like in "Muddy Water" it is clear the message is, that no matter how bad it gets, you can't the best of me. Or in"Nobody Knows the Way I Feel this Morning" there is a sense of strength of spirit in both the pace and energy of the music and in Aretha's voice that cannot be downtrodden. As if singing about her pain makes it all go away and the louder and more passionate her voice the farther her troubles will fade away.

Song of the Week, 2/2

For my first song of the week, I've decided to go with an old favorite of mine, Stereophonics "Local Boy in the Photograph", the second single from their debut album entitled "Word Gets Around."



The song was written about a boy from Northern Wales (where the band is from), who killed himself by jumping in front of an on-coming train. Lead singer of Stereophonics Kelly Jones knew the boy, and saw the picture of him in paper, and wrote a song about the incident. A somewhat haunting song from the early days of the band, I find it to be an excellent representation of the bands musical style. Jones' unique ability to express sorrow in his voice is on full display in this tune. Hope you enjoy.