Sure there're more important things happening in the world. Between a Filibuster debate, Daily Abramoff revelations, a nuclear Iran, etc, I almost feel bad posting this.
Almost.
Sitting here trying to figure out what I could contribute to this community that has taught me so much- from the obvious political discussions to the Scientific Community, to Hybrid Cars and Energy Policy- I finally realized I should write what I know. And what I know is music.
So below please find the first in what I hope to be a series of posts on interesting and engaging music for those who are too busy posting about about important things to research new bands.
lick the thumb...
NEW ROCK
Komeda:: Though not necessarily new in the strict sense of the word, Komeda is still putting out albums and are relatively unknown. Named after Krystoff Komeda, the esoteric composer of such films as Rosemary's baby, Komeda's quirky Swedish pop was brought to the U.S. by a label called Minty Fresh. Their albums are filed with smart, self efacing melodies and an extensive list of vintage keyboard tones on top of rich and brilliant production and some of the best drumming I have ever heard.
recommended album::What makes it go
best summed up as::Weezer meets Stereolab
Link.
WORLD MUSIC
Goran Bregovic:: His bio puts it better than I could-- "Roots in the Balkans where he stems from, head in the 21st Century which he fully inhabits, Goran Bregovic's music marries sounds of a gypsy brass band with traditional Bulgarian polyphonies, those of an electric guitar and traditional percussion with a curious rock accent.... all against a background of a bedevilled string orchestra and deep sonorities of a male choir, creating music that our soul recognises instinctively and the body greets with an irresistible urge to dance." Suffice to say that listening to Goran Bregovic makes you terribly upset that you're not from the Balkans.
recommended album::Anything not in the 80s.
best summed up as::An Eastern European history lesson served with a side of fries.
Link.
HIP-HOP
Blackalicious:: Blackalicious is a duo from California who have worked tirelessly to keep the tradition of reall hip hop alive. The MC from Blackalicious, Gift of Gab, has the wit to juggle clever word play with social messages and classic b-boyisms without skipping a beat. The other half of the two man team, Chief Xcel is more than your average D.J., liberally sprinkling their albums with guest musicians and obscure samples to form a truly unique sound.
recommended album::Blazing Arrow. With guest musicians ranging from Rage Against the Machine to Gill-Scott Heron Blazing Arrow does an amazing job of demonstrating the full breadth of artistic possibilities of the frequently underestimated genre of hip hop.
best summed up as::What hip hop should be.
Link.
CLASSICS
Sly and The Family Stone:: You might think you know Sly. You might be reading this and I wanna take you Higher, or Stand might be running through your head, but in his later years, they recorded their greatest album: Fresh. The first song on Fresh, In Time, has inspired more funk and jazz musicians that you could imagine. Legend has it that after that album was released, Miles made all of his musicians listen to that song back to back for a week. The interplay between the bass and drums is stupendous and unprecidented, and Sly's voice is so incredibly heavy with a pained and desperate soul, it's easy to see why almost every musician I've ever met who's heard it puts it in their top 5 albums. If you can't buy the album, at least go to iTunes and download the song In Time. It'll make your day.
recommended album::Fresh
best summed up as::Sly meets heroin
Link.
That's it for this week. Thanks for stickin around. I hope some of you like the music I suggested.