Best use of the phrase, "shat on the fan." Ever.

PLATINUM HIT

Hey all!

Check out Johnny Marnell in Bravo's new reality show Platinum Hit. He's awesome, and if he's the standard of competition they've brought onto the show, the other artists are going to be pretty damn talented too. I plan to be "hooked."

(yup, just a little music humor there)

http://www.nbcumv.com/mediavillage/networks/bravo/platinumhit/biographies?bio=contents/biographies/Talent%20Bios/Bravo/PlatinumHit/1Marnell_Johnny.xml

The Ke$ha Syndrome

Rebecca Black.

People are treating her like her "success" is such an unfounded anomaly. But the fact of the matter is, she isn't anything new or unique.

Her superflop/superhit "Friday" is only proof that people with semi-decent voices will often opt to use a nasal, bratty sounding, talk-speak style of singing instead of actually engaging their diaphragm, paying attention to their own lung capacity and the correct ways to use it, etc.

IT'S SUCH A SHAME!

At about 2:52 of that song, she starts singing some background vocals. Typical "oooooh yeaaah," "whooooaaa" type stuff. In what I'd call a mezzo-soprano range. And she sounds GOOD (I'd not go so far as to say "great" but good)! So where the heck was that voice for the first 2 minutes and 51 seconds of that awful song?!?!

It's not an awful song because she sucks at singing. It's an awful song because she chooses NOT to sing. That, and the lyrics border on being unforgivably bad, though that is probably a selling point for a lot of pop music these days. It's obvious the girl's a bit tone deaf (most people are to some degree or another), as is evidenced by her performance of The Star Spangled Banner on a TV news interview. But if she gets some training and learns how to use proper singing techniques to make up for what she lacks in raw talent, she could actually manage to be tolerable as far as pop culture standards go.

But she need to use her mezzo singing voice, instead of talking "melodically" through her nostrils. She needs to overcome her Ke$ha Syndrome.

Though I think it's obvious why, I will explain that I choose this name because Ke$ha is one of those big pop artists doing exactly the same thing and making people believe it's music. Ke$ha is not talented. Her producers are. The mixes, the beats, the catchy refrains in her songs (i.e., all the musicality within her songs) has nothing to do with her "singing." And again, most of her lyrics border on being unforgivably bad.

Rebecca, stop trying to be Ke$ha. She is nothing to aspire to.

Check-out Artists Lineup 1

I have a list of artists from my semi-recent past (meaning the last 7 years) that I want to recommend, because they really deserve more attention than they get for the amazing music they make. I realize it'd be counterproductive to write individual posts about each of them right now, as I'd tap out too soon. Plus people would likely only read the first one or two posts instead of all 10. So, consolidation wins. I'll probably be doing posts like this pretty frequently.

CHECK THESE PEOPLE OUT!

Two Spot Gobi

A phenomenal group out of Britain, first put on my radar by Jason Mraz, and permanently entrenched there by the fact they are really fun to listen to, comprised of a very talented group of musicians, and above all, super nice.

Ari Hest

Out of Brooklyn, his lyrics are modest and moving, and his smoky sincere voice is simply beautiful. He is also super nice.

Black Carl

The female lead just knocks my socks off every time she sings. Flat out. I cannot attest to how much practicing she does or how much vocal training she has, but her voice gives the impression of being raw talent at its finest. The way she sings makes you believe she came out of the womb sounding like that. So good.

Djavan

The sounds he creates on the guitar always transport me. His sound is very Brazilian bossa jazz folk so it's probably a niche audience, but I love him to absolute pieces.

Paul Dateh

I discovered him by watching The LXD on hulu. He composed the music for episode 10 (I Seen a Man). I heard it, and researched furiously to find out more about him. He managed to distract me from my usual practice of staring, jaw agape, at Chris Scott's dancing. That is saying something. He and Chris Scott made an amazing pairing, but Paul also manages to be a great pairing with just about anyone (for example, I suggest you check out his work with Ken Belcher, and a lesser known duet of him doing I Wish You Love with Esna Yoon). He's multi-faceted and multi-talented, and produces every part of a lot of his own stuff.

Gabe Bondoc

The chord patterns he uses. The guitar arrangements he creates (like his cover of Justin Nozuka's "After Tonight"). Oh, and his voice. You will want him to sing you to sleep every night for the rest of your life.

Jason Yang

Violin + genius = Jason Yang

Todd Carey

So nice. So talented. His music is just fun to listen to. It makes you feel good. You can't help smiling. What more could you want on a lazy Saturday afternoon?

Brendan Green

This singer songwriter has some effortless depth (not bass, so much as brilliance) to the way he sings. I just feel like I have to listen to him, like he's saying something more meaningful than just words set to music. The aura around his voice is just magnetic.

Jason Reeves

Friend of Colbie Caillat, Jason Reeves stands on his own with lyrics and humble honesty in his music. He says things in a way that is poetic enough to make it "art," but simple enough that he can speak to anyone's heart. He says what he means, and in a way that makes you glad you listened in. And I wish the songs "Pretty Eyes" and "You in a Song," were written about me.

The last three I saw on tour together, thus the fact they were listed in such close proximity of one another.

Now go forth and enjoy your musical journeys!

Bernhoft

Don't be embarrassed if you have to go change your soiled panties and/or boxers. This is musicgasming at it's "utmost."

How to make a Janelle Monae

Take one heaping scoop of James Brown's unbridled energy and passion.

Slowly & gently pour in the sultry (yet oh so dignified) sex-cat sound of Sarah Vaughn.

Sprinkle in just the occasional suggestion of John Legend's reticent vocal styling.

The result is the strong and sensuous blend of all good musical things, that is Janelle Monae.

In short, I am a big fan.

LOVE THIS BAND

The Orkids! Not The Orchids. Not the Orkid. THE ORKIDS. Be sure to get it right when you go buy all their songs on iTunes, which you should.

This band hails from Athens, GA. I have to say, the band was one of the few truly amazing things I discovered there. The band is made up of all awesome people, too, which really helps. The producer, guitarist, lead male vocal Adam is just ridiculously talented at everything musical. I mean everything. I'm convinced there's nothing this guy can't do. And lead vocalist Sandra just has so much raw talent it's disgusting (in a good way). Not to mention she's gorgeous. And Josh on keys feels the music in everything he does, and it only makes for magic on stage. I can say that because I've had long conversations with him on the subject of music.

Their Paper Dolls EP was released last year, and the video for their breakout hit "Paper Dolls" has been out on youtube for a while now. If you haven't seen it, you should.

But now my fave song off their EP also has a video!!! And it's super fun. So now, get ready to enjoy the video for "What Is It With Me?"

American Idol Wildcards

I am about to become a terrible cliche by posting this, but I fully accept responsibility for that. I do hereby state I am of reasonably sound mind as I make the choice to make an American Idol commentary post. (gasp!)

I just think Lauren Turner should have been in the Top 10, but I didn't vote, and realize I can't whine by proxy because I made the classic mistake of thinking she'd be a shoe in. But she BROUGHT IT when she sang "Seven Day Fool" and I was really looking forward to seeing more from her. I assumed the rest of America would feel the same. I was wrong. Whatever.

But WTF were the judges thinking giving Ashthon and Kendra a second chance over her? Lauren was WAY more interesting, and WAY more talented, and WAAAAY more fun to watch and listen to. I am super duper bummed I won't get to hear more sassy singing from her.

Also, I am especially bothered by the fact that Ashthon strikes me as being disingenuous. She comes off as a diva who pretends to have humility and compassion for her fellow competitors, but is very transparently out for herself and herself alone. Granted it's a competition so there's certainly nothing surprising or necessarily "wrong" about that. But I just don't like the fact she came off as fakely sweet. If she's a diva, she should own it. Stop pretending she gives a shit if anyone else in the competition succeeds. From her shameless flirtation with Ryan, to her finger pointed "you and me, brotha, we right here" type exchange with Randy... she just strikes me as being one of those pretty girls who knows she's pretty and assumes she's untouchably perfect because of it. Her voice is mediocre at best. She needs to be taken down a few pegs.

I will balance my critique of Ashthon by saying she DEFINITELY had stage presence and confidence and I have to give her props for that. She's got what it takes to be an Idol... except for having the best voice in the room. Then again, that hasn't stopped former Idols from making it to the top...

But nevertheless... BOOOOO to Ashthon making it over Lauren.

And YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY for Naima making it in. She's a sweetie.

Overall I like the lack of evil snarkiness and incoherent blather that used to be present on Idol with Simon & Paula (respectively) judging. So I say good riddance to them. Steven Tyler is way more interesting to watch, and Jennifer is way more relevant, hot, and sweet. I dig it.

Aight... no more Idol posts, ever.

Back and Ready for Action

After researching my former self for upwards of 73 minutes, and being surprisingly happy with what I learned, I have come to the conclusion that I was meant to write things down. But to keep up with my thoughts my handwriting would become forcibly illegible, thus, I choose to use the medium of a blog instead.

Read if you wish. Don't bother if you don't. Though the odds that you're reading this much must mean you at the very least are mildly amused by passing your eyes over words on a screen.

Much of my postings will probably still be somehow tied to music. In so much of all I do and feel, music is somehow involved.

But this isn't just a blog designed to serve as a performance review for the artists of today and yesteryear.

This blog is here

So I don't disappear

Rio de Maio

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWOxUG5ADWc

It's a song by Ivan Lins, who doesn't necessarily have the greatest voice in the history of all voices.  But it's beautiful nonetheles.  It's Bossa Nova/Brazilian jazz pop, so it's probably not everyone's taste.  Still, the words move me.

The chord progression from 2:26-3:12 in this particular version of the song... is beautiful.  It's also my favorite part lyrically of the song.  As far as I can garner, the translation of the words there is (roughly):

Close to are two wise people in love

Close to me two adolescents kiss

Close to me is the homesickness of you and I

And the kisses of our love

And if only our life were a film such as this

An immense kiss and the sea singing Jobim

A grand love that encompasses all of our lives  

For the lyrics:

http://letras.terra.com.br/ivan-lins/128237/

I also STRONGLY recommend hunting down the duet Ivan Lins did with Jane Monheit on this song.  That's actually the version of the song I heard first, and fell in love with.  The honesty of his words and voice matched with her incredibly sultry and sincere voice make for a perfect match that show the song's true potential.