here they are:
"Just One Drink" by Jack White: Just listening to the beginning of this song, I can already tell it's good! It has the chugging beat of The Velvet Underground's "I'm Waiting For the Man" coupled with scathingly funny lyrics about opposites (for instance, "You drink water, I drink gasoline", and "I watch TV, you watch the ceiling"). Much like Jack did on the title track to "Lazaretto", "Just One Drink" also combines rock 'n' roll guitars with bluegrass fiddles. Just ONE drink, eh?! I don't need a single one for me to enjoy a song like this one!
"Step" by Vampire Weekend: Of the three songs that have been released as singles so far from VW's latest album, "Modern Vampires of the City", "Step" seems to be the mellowest one so far. It has a soothing sound that is influenced by the bright shiny organs of 1960's baroque-pop songs. VW tend to be going for a '60s vibe for many of their latest songs, actually, including the oddball rockabilly sound of "Diane Young" and the jaunty, Monkees-esque piano-pop of "Unbelievers". Ezra Koenig delivers lyrics in "Step" that are as cheeky and clever as ever, rattling off a list of mostly American cities in the first verse, showing off knowledge of obscure idioms (i.e. "rich as Croesus", meaning extremely rich), and even referencing another indie-pop group ("such a modest mouse" in the chorus - Isaac Brock, are you paying attention to this?!)
"Stolen Dance" by Milky Chance: "Stolen DANCE" by Milky CHANCE?! Well, let's take off our pants, make romance, and watch out for ants as we water the plants! Not every day you come across a song whose name rhymes with its performer(s)!! Its sound is quite unique, coming off as an unlikely (but still quite catchy) cross between Mexican folk music and indie-pop. Using only an acoustic guitar, smooth, hushed vocals, and hand claps for a percussion section, "Stolen Dance" could be described as "The Gipsy Kings from outer space" in terms of how it sounds. The words "stolen dance" do not make an appearance anywhere in the song, but the song's refrain of being "stoned in paradise" is a rather apt description of it. The song goes nowhere, but maintains a blissful mood all the while, as though it is dangling down, perpetually suspended in mid-air, from somewhere in the night sky.
"Tennis Court" by Lorde: Lorde knows (pun intended) that high school is not an easy thing to go through! As a high schooler herself, Lorde seems to have a rather cynical point of view about her peers in her latest song, "Tennis Court". Here, she takes the high school stereotypes of "class clown" and "beauty queen" (casting herself as the latter, in a manner that is probably tongue-in-cheek), and viciously deconstructs them to the point in which they engage in a battle of trash talk. Ironic that someone whose songs present a rather sour point of view towards teen pop culture is getting revered by the teen pop crowd (and beyond)! Perhaps we'll wait and see what she has in store for us once she reaches her 20's!!
"Waiting All Night" by Phish: As a jam band who followed directly in the footsteps of The Grateful Dead from the moment they debuted, Phish are typically a very blissful band to listen to. However, none of their songs so far have had a vibe quite as blissed out as their latest song, "Waiting All Night". Those expecting the guitar noodling that Phish usually have will probably be disappointed, but it is still a song worth listening to nonetheless. "Waiting All Night" is pretty much what you'd get if you tried imagining what an extremely mellow version of Pink Floyd might be like. The lyrics are a bit repetitive, but Phish are usually more about sound than they are about lyrics, and the sound of "Waiting All Night", fittingly, is perfect for gazing into the night sky.
"You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover" by Kenny Wayne Shepherd: In which two generations of rock 'n' roll music meet up!! "You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover" is a cover of a song by rock pioneer Bo Diddley, as performed by '90s blues-rock extraordinaire Kenny Wayne Shepherd. It's hard to measure up to a legend like Bo, but Kenny comes very close in his rendition of "You Can't Judge A Book...", retaining all the chugging beats and relentless, high spirited energy of the original!
Showing posts with label Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
New songs for June 12th, 2013
here they are:
"Born Again" by Robert Randolph: Funk, jazz, blues, and rock is the kind of musical gumbo you can expect from Robert Randolph and The Family Band!! It's been about 7 years since Robert last released a CD with The Family Band, though, so I was curious to know if his musical blend still held up well. Not only does his latest song, "Born Again", retain an eclectic musical sound, but it's also incredibly fun to dance to! It has a catchy rhythm. When Randolph says in the chorus of the song that he feels "born again", I think he's referring to more than just the religious sense of the term (if that). I think he's also feeling "born again" musically, as anyone should when listening to a song like this!!
"Don't Want Lies" by The Rides: The name of this band made me think it was another up and coming indie group, but the voice of Stephen Stills (yes, THAT Stephen Stills) on "Don't Want Lies" is unmistakable!! Blues-rock aficionado Kenny Wayne Shepherd is also a part of this group, a supergroup as it turns out (I guess it's the second one Stills has had since Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young!!) Like the typical CSN & Y song, "Don't Want Lies" uses both electric and acoustic guitars. The acoustic guitars, with their crisp sound, would not have sounded too out of place on a mid-'70s CSN album, and the blues-y electric noodling is brimming with the signature sound of Kenny Wayne Shepherd. And here I thought Neil Young was the only musically active member left of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. Guess I was wrong!! "Don't Want Lies" is a mellow song, but it also has a dynamic enough sound to possibly become a future concert favorite!
"Man" by Neko Case: Neko Case's music has been referred to as "indie rock" and "country rock", but the "rock" element has never been that apparent in her music. Until now, that is! "Man" is quite a "man"-ly song, if you know what I mean!! Perhaps it could be said that both the lyrics and the music of "Man" are an attempt at redefining gender roles. Rock 'n' roll has had its fair share of women before, but usually, phrases like "I'm a man" aren't present in the music of female rockers. That very phrase is the most repeated one (and perhaps, the most defining one) in Neko Case's "Man". This song is not the typical Neko Case song, by any means!! She even throws in a couple choice swears towards the end of the song, which I don't remember her doing in any of her other songs. "Man" rocks hard and pushes boundaries!! Who knew?! I sure didn't!!
"Part of Me" by The Tedeschi-Trucks Band: Yet another talented rock 'n' roll woman from the past decade or so is the blues-y, soulful, Susan Tedeschi! "Part of Me" places more emphasis on soul than on blues or rock, though. Tedeschi's signature slide guitar sound is still present on the song, but most of it just sounds like Sam & Dave's "Soul Man" with the gender roles reversed. Tedeschi and Trucks typically have upbeat music to begin with, but "Part of Me" is probably the most upbeat song they've had together so far! I don't think it's too much of a stretch to describe this song as the first feel-good jam of summer 2013!!
"Royals" by Lorde: This "Lorde" is a lady!! And a very young one, at that (she's 16 years old, believe it or not!!) Unlike the other songs I've chosen to review for this week, there is more emphasis on vocals and rhythm than there are on instruments for "Royals". Nevertheless, there is something quite alluring about "Royals". Perhaps it's the smooth, slinky vocals of Ella Yelich O'Connor (whom, by herself, is "Lorde" - it's her stage name, not the name of a band), or the way the chorus just burns its way into your subconscious when you're trying to concentrate on something else during the day!! At first listen, "Royals" probably just seems like your everyday pop song, but it seems to have this vibe that is both icy and smooth underneath. If you want your Top 40 music to have a bit more sizzle to it, then I highly recommend "Royals"!
"Stockholm" by Jason Isbell: Perhaps both the mellowest and most bittersweet of the songs I have set to review for this week, "Stockholm" marks the second time I've heard a solo release from alt-country group, Drive-By Truckers (the first being Patterson Hood's "Disappear" from last year). Between this song and the Patterson Hood song, I can tell that the Truckers have some talented, accomplished poets in their group! Examples of some of the (mostly) metaphorical, poignant lyrics of Jason's "Stockholm" include lines like, "Ships on the harbor and birds on the bluff don't move an inch when their anchor goes up, and the difference with me is I'm falling in love, Stockholm, let me go home". I love how this song utilizes the themes of loneliness and homesickness in such a playful manner. Highly recommended!!
"Wanna Feel It" by The Olms: Last, but certainly not least, is a song that comes from what you would get if you combined an indie musician (Pete Yorn) with an indie AUTHOR (J.D. King)!! Clearly Pete Yorn is taking the lead in this song by a band whose name refers to an obscure species of amphibian (an olm), with his vocals dominating the song, and his brand of bittersweet, moody folk-rock giving the song its direction. One thing that's not so Pete Yorn-ish about "Wanna Feel It" is its use of Moog synthesizer, creating a psychedelic, hypnotic swirl in the song (J.D.'s idea, perhaps?!) In any case, "Wanna Feel It" makes me...well...wanna feel it!! That is, it makes me wanna feel good!
"Born Again" by Robert Randolph: Funk, jazz, blues, and rock is the kind of musical gumbo you can expect from Robert Randolph and The Family Band!! It's been about 7 years since Robert last released a CD with The Family Band, though, so I was curious to know if his musical blend still held up well. Not only does his latest song, "Born Again", retain an eclectic musical sound, but it's also incredibly fun to dance to! It has a catchy rhythm. When Randolph says in the chorus of the song that he feels "born again", I think he's referring to more than just the religious sense of the term (if that). I think he's also feeling "born again" musically, as anyone should when listening to a song like this!!
"Don't Want Lies" by The Rides: The name of this band made me think it was another up and coming indie group, but the voice of Stephen Stills (yes, THAT Stephen Stills) on "Don't Want Lies" is unmistakable!! Blues-rock aficionado Kenny Wayne Shepherd is also a part of this group, a supergroup as it turns out (I guess it's the second one Stills has had since Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young!!) Like the typical CSN & Y song, "Don't Want Lies" uses both electric and acoustic guitars. The acoustic guitars, with their crisp sound, would not have sounded too out of place on a mid-'70s CSN album, and the blues-y electric noodling is brimming with the signature sound of Kenny Wayne Shepherd. And here I thought Neil Young was the only musically active member left of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. Guess I was wrong!! "Don't Want Lies" is a mellow song, but it also has a dynamic enough sound to possibly become a future concert favorite!
"Man" by Neko Case: Neko Case's music has been referred to as "indie rock" and "country rock", but the "rock" element has never been that apparent in her music. Until now, that is! "Man" is quite a "man"-ly song, if you know what I mean!! Perhaps it could be said that both the lyrics and the music of "Man" are an attempt at redefining gender roles. Rock 'n' roll has had its fair share of women before, but usually, phrases like "I'm a man" aren't present in the music of female rockers. That very phrase is the most repeated one (and perhaps, the most defining one) in Neko Case's "Man". This song is not the typical Neko Case song, by any means!! She even throws in a couple choice swears towards the end of the song, which I don't remember her doing in any of her other songs. "Man" rocks hard and pushes boundaries!! Who knew?! I sure didn't!!
"Part of Me" by The Tedeschi-Trucks Band: Yet another talented rock 'n' roll woman from the past decade or so is the blues-y, soulful, Susan Tedeschi! "Part of Me" places more emphasis on soul than on blues or rock, though. Tedeschi's signature slide guitar sound is still present on the song, but most of it just sounds like Sam & Dave's "Soul Man" with the gender roles reversed. Tedeschi and Trucks typically have upbeat music to begin with, but "Part of Me" is probably the most upbeat song they've had together so far! I don't think it's too much of a stretch to describe this song as the first feel-good jam of summer 2013!!
"Royals" by Lorde: This "Lorde" is a lady!! And a very young one, at that (she's 16 years old, believe it or not!!) Unlike the other songs I've chosen to review for this week, there is more emphasis on vocals and rhythm than there are on instruments for "Royals". Nevertheless, there is something quite alluring about "Royals". Perhaps it's the smooth, slinky vocals of Ella Yelich O'Connor (whom, by herself, is "Lorde" - it's her stage name, not the name of a band), or the way the chorus just burns its way into your subconscious when you're trying to concentrate on something else during the day!! At first listen, "Royals" probably just seems like your everyday pop song, but it seems to have this vibe that is both icy and smooth underneath. If you want your Top 40 music to have a bit more sizzle to it, then I highly recommend "Royals"!
"Stockholm" by Jason Isbell: Perhaps both the mellowest and most bittersweet of the songs I have set to review for this week, "Stockholm" marks the second time I've heard a solo release from alt-country group, Drive-By Truckers (the first being Patterson Hood's "Disappear" from last year). Between this song and the Patterson Hood song, I can tell that the Truckers have some talented, accomplished poets in their group! Examples of some of the (mostly) metaphorical, poignant lyrics of Jason's "Stockholm" include lines like, "Ships on the harbor and birds on the bluff don't move an inch when their anchor goes up, and the difference with me is I'm falling in love, Stockholm, let me go home". I love how this song utilizes the themes of loneliness and homesickness in such a playful manner. Highly recommended!!
"Wanna Feel It" by The Olms: Last, but certainly not least, is a song that comes from what you would get if you combined an indie musician (Pete Yorn) with an indie AUTHOR (J.D. King)!! Clearly Pete Yorn is taking the lead in this song by a band whose name refers to an obscure species of amphibian (an olm), with his vocals dominating the song, and his brand of bittersweet, moody folk-rock giving the song its direction. One thing that's not so Pete Yorn-ish about "Wanna Feel It" is its use of Moog synthesizer, creating a psychedelic, hypnotic swirl in the song (J.D.'s idea, perhaps?!) In any case, "Wanna Feel It" makes me...well...wanna feel it!! That is, it makes me wanna feel good!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
New songs for June 22nd, 2011
here they are:
"Finally Begin" by Cold War Kids: This is a cool song, but I'm having a rather difficult time figuring out what (if anything) is so special about it. Many CWK songs seem to have some sort of distinguishing factor. For instance, "Louder Than Ever" was very dynamic (yet still melodic), and "Hang Me Up to Dry" had some catchy piano hooks. "Finally Begin" just seems to be more of the "U2-goes-indie" vibe that CWK have become known for. There really isn't much else to say about this song, but it is catchy, melodic, and was easy for me to get stuck in my head. Perhaps that's all a good CWK song needs, though!
"Fragile Bird" by The City and Colour: This song is a far cry from the only other City and Colour song I know, the largely acoustic, somewhat melancholy, but rhythmic "Sleeping Sickness". "Fragile Bird" shows a whole new side to the Canadian indie band, with its fuzzed out, "psychedelic" guitars, and pulsating rock 'n' roll beat! My fave part of this song so far is the chorus, which, strange as it may sound, suggests what it might have been like if The Velvet Underground covered The Police's "Wrapped Around Your Finger" (since both "Fragile Bird" and "Wrapped Around Your Finger" have a chorus consisting of a G chord followed by an F major 7 chord). The guitar solo here, short as it may be, is also pretty rad! Certainly not what I would have expected from The City and Colour, but a fantastic song nonetheless!!
"Mayhem" by Imelda May: Get ready for this description, folks - a female Brian Setzer!! WHAAA?!? That's right!! Imelda's pretty cute, too, with her black hair with yellowish "stripes" in between! "Mayhem" is such a catchy tune, and not one you'd normally get to hear in the 21st century! It's a rock 'n' roll song with jazz and swing influences that sounds as if it's being sung by a somewhat lower-voiced Gwen Stefani. It also makes me wanna dance more than almost any song I've heard within the past five years. I dunno about you, but I think right now, I'm gonna party like it's 1998 and put in some Squirrel Nut Zippers, Cherry Poppin' Daddies, and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy records, 'cause those are the type of swingin' hepcat bands that "Mayhem" reminds me of!!
"Never Lookin' Back" by Kenny Wayne Shepherd: With all the various alumni of The Allman Brothers (Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks, and Gregg Allman himself earlier in the year) and contemporary bluesman Keb' Mo' all releasing new stuff in 2011, and now this song, a gritty, Stones-y blues-rocker, I'm thinkin' 2011 must be the "blues-rock comeback" year!! Shepherd seems to have already built a pretty large fanbase among "classic rock" fans (despite the fact he debuted in the mid-'90s), but THIS song takes the cake as far as classic rock influenced songs are concerned! I hear The Rolling Stones, The Black Crowes, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and ZZ Top ALL influencing the punchy, boogie feel of this song! "Never Lookin' Back", huh?! Sounds like you're LOOKIN' back, Kenny, but at least you're doing so in all the right directions!!
"Stand" by Lenny Kravitz: And speaking of contemporary musicians influenced by classic rock, who would embody that description more than Lenny Kravitz?!? The man has made a cliche of his own work within the past five or so years, with just about every song sounding like a faux-Stones/Zeppelin/Who type song! It was fun when he did this in the '90s, but after awhile his "classic rock revival" schtick started to get old. Thankfully, "Stand" is a much more refreshing song than that! Instead of taking on the more "commercial rock" approach The Rolling Stones started to go for in the late '70s/early '80s, "Stand" sounds more like Lenny's attempt at doing one of the "Sgt. Pepper" songs!! It's bright and optimistic, while still retaining a rock 'n' roll sound with its echo-y swirling guitars and sunshiny organs! It's about time Lenny broke free from his "commercial curse", and if he puts out any more material like "Stand", I'll be looking forward to it very much!!
"Finally Begin" by Cold War Kids: This is a cool song, but I'm having a rather difficult time figuring out what (if anything) is so special about it. Many CWK songs seem to have some sort of distinguishing factor. For instance, "Louder Than Ever" was very dynamic (yet still melodic), and "Hang Me Up to Dry" had some catchy piano hooks. "Finally Begin" just seems to be more of the "U2-goes-indie" vibe that CWK have become known for. There really isn't much else to say about this song, but it is catchy, melodic, and was easy for me to get stuck in my head. Perhaps that's all a good CWK song needs, though!
"Fragile Bird" by The City and Colour: This song is a far cry from the only other City and Colour song I know, the largely acoustic, somewhat melancholy, but rhythmic "Sleeping Sickness". "Fragile Bird" shows a whole new side to the Canadian indie band, with its fuzzed out, "psychedelic" guitars, and pulsating rock 'n' roll beat! My fave part of this song so far is the chorus, which, strange as it may sound, suggests what it might have been like if The Velvet Underground covered The Police's "Wrapped Around Your Finger" (since both "Fragile Bird" and "Wrapped Around Your Finger" have a chorus consisting of a G chord followed by an F major 7 chord). The guitar solo here, short as it may be, is also pretty rad! Certainly not what I would have expected from The City and Colour, but a fantastic song nonetheless!!
"Mayhem" by Imelda May: Get ready for this description, folks - a female Brian Setzer!! WHAAA?!? That's right!! Imelda's pretty cute, too, with her black hair with yellowish "stripes" in between! "Mayhem" is such a catchy tune, and not one you'd normally get to hear in the 21st century! It's a rock 'n' roll song with jazz and swing influences that sounds as if it's being sung by a somewhat lower-voiced Gwen Stefani. It also makes me wanna dance more than almost any song I've heard within the past five years. I dunno about you, but I think right now, I'm gonna party like it's 1998 and put in some Squirrel Nut Zippers, Cherry Poppin' Daddies, and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy records, 'cause those are the type of swingin' hepcat bands that "Mayhem" reminds me of!!
"Never Lookin' Back" by Kenny Wayne Shepherd: With all the various alumni of The Allman Brothers (Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks, and Gregg Allman himself earlier in the year) and contemporary bluesman Keb' Mo' all releasing new stuff in 2011, and now this song, a gritty, Stones-y blues-rocker, I'm thinkin' 2011 must be the "blues-rock comeback" year!! Shepherd seems to have already built a pretty large fanbase among "classic rock" fans (despite the fact he debuted in the mid-'90s), but THIS song takes the cake as far as classic rock influenced songs are concerned! I hear The Rolling Stones, The Black Crowes, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and ZZ Top ALL influencing the punchy, boogie feel of this song! "Never Lookin' Back", huh?! Sounds like you're LOOKIN' back, Kenny, but at least you're doing so in all the right directions!!
"Stand" by Lenny Kravitz: And speaking of contemporary musicians influenced by classic rock, who would embody that description more than Lenny Kravitz?!? The man has made a cliche of his own work within the past five or so years, with just about every song sounding like a faux-Stones/Zeppelin/Who type song! It was fun when he did this in the '90s, but after awhile his "classic rock revival" schtick started to get old. Thankfully, "Stand" is a much more refreshing song than that! Instead of taking on the more "commercial rock" approach The Rolling Stones started to go for in the late '70s/early '80s, "Stand" sounds more like Lenny's attempt at doing one of the "Sgt. Pepper" songs!! It's bright and optimistic, while still retaining a rock 'n' roll sound with its echo-y swirling guitars and sunshiny organs! It's about time Lenny broke free from his "commercial curse", and if he puts out any more material like "Stand", I'll be looking forward to it very much!!
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