D1Y: Sample-based Music

My love of NPR was once again confirmed when I happened upon RJD2's World Cafe clip. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, National Public Radio has a segment which features a musically/socially relevant artist in the studio. Host, David Dye, will usually chat with the artist for a period of time about sound direction, inspiration, etc. and then ask to hear some live tune-age.

RJD2's World Cafe appearance was formatted slightly differently. Dye asked the electronic virtuoso to explain the creative and technical processes behind his songs. Over the span of 30 minutes, RJ talks about digging through piles of albums in record stores, scouring them for interesting and isolated sounds, queueing and tuning his found sounds, and layering them up to create, for lack of a better term, original un-original music. There is also a 15-minute video clip that shows RJ at the tables, exhibiting his craft.

I enjoyed this World Cafe segment so much for several reasons: A) RJ's electronic format can, with some practice and equipment, be replicated on a simple level by even the most musically talent-lacking individual. If you can find a series of interesting sounds, you can clip them together to make your own sample-based song. B) David Dye's interviewing style is really great. He always asks questions that a fan would ask, and this is because he really is a huge fan. His love and understanding of music always comes through, but in a way that connects with listeners. C) RJ is so darn cute. His earnestness is unmistakable; he wants his fans to understand where he comes from. After listening to him describe his technique, I was left with a new-found appreciation for his style...and a huge crush.

Listen/look here:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126513428

Ryden High

Mark Ryden's art is some of the trippiest stuff I've looked at in a while. He paints beautifully intricate and delicate images with recurrent themes of femininity, pop culture, life & death...and bloody meat. His work lures you in with beautiful colors and baby-like subjects and then throws you off balance with an unexpected twist, like a raw pork shank; see his "Incarnation" above.

His stuff is wonderful, perplexing, and disgusting all at the same time. The parallels to Hieronymus Bosch, of the 15th Century, are fairly endless, and I'm sure that Ryden is fine with that. (See below for Ryden's "The Magic Circus," 2001 and Bosch's "Garden of Earthly Delights," 1504)

Psyched Out

I'm not a dog owned by a man named Pavlov, but I have developed a unique response to certain stimuli. Yes, the spring shoe collection at Nordstrom and boys who play guitar make my mouth water, but what I'm talking about here is my obsession with psychologytoday.com. I love that website.

Psychology Today's site is an amalgam of the articles featured in their monthly published mag, blogs, cognitive quizzes, et cetera. Every day a topic is chosen and four appropriate articles are selected to represent the topic at hand. Psychologist bloggers also continuously post, so content is always new and exciting; some blogs detail experiments, some blogs attack other posts, some blogs are entertainingly poorly written. If you're not into any of that, and you question whether you're a completely uninteresting person, you can take a quiz to find out. Always a good time.

Unapologetic Rock

The question is common, the answer is predictable:

"What's your favorite kind of music?"

"Oh, I'm down with everything."

Even if you believe you've got the most eclectic taste in tunes, you know there's something that just gets you going a bit more than everything else.

For me, it's always been rock, tinged with disobedience, machismo, and humor...and when I say tinged, I mean slathered.

This thought occurred to me a few days ago while listening to J Roddy Walston and the Business. You see, I immediately knew I would be all over their recently released EP "Don't Break the Needle". J Roddy sounds as if he were spitting his vocals into the mic after a weekend bender, possibly still inebriated and certainly in for a nasty hangover. On "Brave Man's Death," he sings about stealing his mother's hard-earned cash and being unable to love his kids. J Roddy, thank you for keeping this beautiful thing we call Rock 'n Roll alive.

http://www.theburningear.com/media/2010/06/J-Roddy-Walston-and-The-Business-Brave-Mans-Death.mp3

S. Carey

I happened across S. Carey while reading one of my favorite music blogs, prowling for something new to listen to. As I read the small description of S. Carey and his featured tune "In the Dirt" I realized that this guy's full name is Sean Carey. If you're familiar with Bon Iver you may recognize this name; Sean has been drumming with Justin Vernon's band for several years. If you graduated from Badger High School in Lake Geneva, WI you may also recognize this name; I went to school with this kid, and I'm so excited he's getting a shot.

"In the Dirt" is dreamy, sorrow-tinged, and acoustic, not far from the sound of most of Bon Iver's work. This particular tune also reminds me of one of my favorite local (and now defunct) Madison bands, the Profits.

Sean's full-length debut, titled "All We Grow," is slated for release on August 24 through Jagjaguwar. I wish him all the best with it!

http://nofearofpop.net/downloads/S.%20Carey%20-%20In%20The%20Dirt.mp3

Mustang, You Had Me at "Hello"

I can think of some pretty gripping car commercials--Cadillac instantly comes to mind with their use of Led Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll" and Phoenix's "1901," while Lincoln was memorable with Cat Power's "Space Oddity" cover--but I have to say that Ford's 2011 V6 Mustang ad has me.

The song is Band of Skulls' "Light of the Morning," and, played while images of America's most recognizable sports car rip dirtily across the screen, the result is indelible. I want a Mustang; Ford marketing, job well done.

It's the inherent sexiness of this fast machine paired with the Skulls' passionate and wanton sonic delivery. The throwback look of the restyled Mustang is similarly echoed by the retro rock feel of "Light of the Morning" and perhaps it's this nostalgic yearning for better, more carefree times that strikes an emotional chord...work is the furthest thing from sexy, but it's amazing how a minute-long spot, viewed from my drab little cube, gets my blood pumping.

Hi-Fructose is Eye Candy

Hi-Fructose is a quarterly contemporary art publication I somehow happened upon. I initially discovered the magazine through their webpage and was so transfixed by the art that I immediately bought a subscription for $26/year...I just had to.

As an Art History major, I feel ashamed to say that I rarely concern myself with the happenings of the current art world. I felt instantly reinvigorated and fascinated by what I spent the better part of four years doing: looking at interesting images.

The stuff featured in Hi-Fructose has a coherent theme: vivid colors, graphic line, fantasy-like characters, and twisted situations (Take a look at Alex Pardee's "Digested Rainbow" above). Sure, there is social/political commentary if you're into analyzing that sort of thing, but, if not, the art is just plain cool to look at.

Browse or subscribe here: http://www.hifructose.com/home.html

Sleigh Bells vs. Christianity

Track after track on Sleigh Bells' debut album "Treats" possesses the Holy Trinity of a great song: fat beats, dirty guitars, and saccharine vocals. I'm on a mission to spread the good news.

I was first introduced to Sleigh Bells via "Rill Rill," a low-key, Funkadelic-sampling, acoustic tune. I was pleased, but wrote the band off as one of those dream pop acts that seem to have infiltrated the music scene of late. Then I heard "Crown on the Ground"...

Guitar/beats man, Derek Miller lets it fly right from the beginning with a screaming little guitar riff, while singer Alexis Krauss joins in with a jittery, pep-rally vocal chant. The bass is heavy and the lyrics are singable. What's not to like?!

The album more or less follows suit, with 2- and 3-minute tracks that deliver infectious, danceable beats throughout. This album is perfect for my morning commute, and I plan on rocking out in my car well into the foreseeable future.

I also plan to see them perform live at Pitchfork on July 18. Will you follow?
http://www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com/index.php?d=sunday

Listen: "Crown on the Ground"
http://tympanogram.com/files/Sleigh-Bells-Crown-On-the-Ground.mp3

Dear Chicago: Driving in You Sucks!

My car was pooped on this weekend. No, no it wasn't a pigeon nor was it Dave Matthews' tour bus pulling a quickie refuse dump. I was flashed by a Red Light Violation Camera at an intersection for a right turn during a red light...that's right, bullshit.

I expect the $100 ticket to come in the mail any day now; it'll tell me to make my check payable to the Chicago Dept. of Revenue.

The laws of physics have us here, citizens of Chicago. Unless you're featherfoot McGee and have a knack for reading obscure traffic signs, everyone who drives in the city regularly is bound to get flashed by the robotic red light brigade. As a matter of fact, I bet I'll have racked up two more by 2011.

My experience this Memorial Day Monday immediately set my veins aflame, and my blood was still boiling hours later. I already pay IL income tax, city property tax, the highest sales tax in the country (10.25 %), and an annual $120 zoned parking sticker. I don't have much more to give; my June budget is now ruined, and I won't be able to afford those gray skinny jeans I've been eyeing at Anthro.

I need to take a stroll...and I won't be jaywalking.

Blitzen Trapper: Wolves in Dylan's Clothing

From the poetic, emotive writing to the vocal delivery and phrasing, Blitzen Trapper's "Destroyer of the Void" has their influence plastered from floor-boards to crown moulding. I mean, the first line on the title track/album opener goes something like "Here's to the lone and wayward son, for to love is to live for to roll like a rolling stone." The album is cohesive and clear in a way that dear Bob may no longer have the the brain cells or vocal cords to pull off.

Blitzen Trapper hail from Portland, OR and are signed to Sub Pop, but Southern- and folk-rock are what these guys are all about on this album. Evoking the sounds of the Grateful Dead and Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, lots of vocal harmonizing and a healthy dose of guitar combine with tight production to create a decidedly retro-sounding album.

Standout tracks are found mid-album in "Love and Hate" and "Heaven and Earth." While the listener's brain gets lulled into a steady, twangy groove, "Love and Hate" opens with a heavy riff that commands the body's attention just like a nice guitar line should. And while they've got your ears, the band continues with the beautiful piano ballad "Heaven and Earth." Singer/songwriter/guitarist Eric Early's writing style is put on exhibition nicely here: all melancholy and oblique, the song begs a second listen as soon as it's over.

Consistency is king on "Destroyer of the Void;" the album is a smooth listen, the caveat being exactly that: tracks tend to pile together without much differentiation.

Listen below through NPR before the album's release June 8:

Hello!

In my recent search for a creative outlet and, after perusing a friend's well-written and witty blog, I've decided to create my own little page ("Way to join the computer age!" you say? Yes, I realize my techy tendencies have been latent).

I hope to share some of my own perspective on things I am passionate about, fascinated with, and entertained by, which is bound to include music, fashion, food, animals, and other fun stuff.