Young Dreams

So, Neil Young's new album, "Chrome Dreams II" comes out soon. I know this because my radio station has been promoting it. I have heard a song from it every day this week. It's because they got the funding, or the two morning guys like Neil Young. It's an independent station, so there aren't the same pressures for them to play top 40, or certain artists. So, I have to assume that they're pushing this because they like it.

HOWEVER, this means that I have sat through some terrible stuff this week. Now, I hear 'Neil Young has a new album' and this thought makes me happy. Then, I listen to it. Um, no. There is no reason that a man who has always pushed the envelope and been different should create an album that has nothing distinctive about it save for his craggy old voice.

Monday was "Dirty Old Man" which I almost turned off (I kept waiting for it to get better - I'm an optimist, and it's Neil). It was not only not a nice sounding song, but it was boring. It was every classic rock song ever made. In sum, it was disappointing.
I can't remember what they played Tuesday. Yep - it couldn't even stick in my head.
I think Wednesday was "Ordinary People" - it went on forever. The song is like 18 minutes long, so I'm not sure if they played part of it or not. This one was a bit better, but any long song should be more diverse, it should grown and change and morph. You can look to classical music for this, how one movement of a longer work can still be ten minutes long, but it goes through a life of it's own, returning home to the theme now and then while still taking the listening on a journey through other ideas and variations. Hmm...looking at Neil's website, I wonder if it was "Spirit Road" instead? Both titles sound familiar. Well, whichever - ti was slightly less grating than the other two.
Today they played "The Believer" and sadly, I didn't have the chance to hear the whole thing. This song is actually pretty good and didn't feel like every other song I've ever heard. Even his old voice sounded smoother on this track - whether it was the day he recorded it or the grace of the mixers, I don't know. Don't care, either. I was pleasantly surprised this morning on the way to work. It would have really sucked to write off the entire album.
Tomorrow is another day, and I expect, another song from "Chrome Dreams II." Thus far the trend has been horrible to better, with Neil being 1.5 for 4. Does this mean that tomorrow morning's song will be totally awesome? Let's hope. I've already told a friend that the album is crap, but I fell a bit anxious to revise that. I don't know that I'll buy it. I guess that really depends on tomorrow's preview. I may end up just buying a few tracks (ok, THIS is why things like iTunes are great; this is why we love the mp3) that I like, and forgetting the others.

So, I guess if I had to give a recommendation, then I'd say that people should give it a listen and try it for themselves. Maybe "Dirty Old Man" doesn't suck in your ears. To each his own, right? Plus, I suggest listening to a few songs if you can, not just one. One song, no matter which, is NOT a good measure of the album.
And while you're think Neil, I suggest giving his website a look. It's pretty neat. There are different versions, depending on what you like to look at. And, I think it's a good representation of him as a person.

http://www.neilyoung.com/

It's 4am, do you know where your music is?

Warren Ellis, in his Red Bull driven wisdom, has decided to create a podcast. He's been asking for musicians to send him stuff and he's putting together what he likes.

The podcast is called The 4am and thus far (there have been three installments) he has been nothing but successful. It is all good music, often from artists and groups the rest of us would not otherwise hear. Warren has his little internet fingers all over the place in terms of music. His eclectic tastes and staunch unwillingness to put up with crap make him the perfect filter.

The 4am 3
The 4am 2
Inaugural 4am

Keep a watch on warrenellis.com anyway - the man uses to keep track of research and inevitably keeps posting the interesting and bizarre. And good music. In addition to The 4am he often links to pages of artists he's been listening to lately.

Set brain-list to randomize

This morning, in my pre-second cup of coffee stupor, my brain decided, all on its own, to start playing songs. Random songs. Random songs that I have not listened to in some time. And how it decided to blend Johnny Cash's "Flesh and Blood" and "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair" from South Pacific I'll never know

Rosin up your bow, and play that fiddle hard

Music comes in waves sometimes. I get a new CD and I'll play it out for about a month before retiring it to a normal listening rotation. Sometimes I'll discover, or rediscover, a genre that will dominate my listening for weeks.

Lately, that trend has been with bluegrass and American folk. Coming out of the normal post-ICON celtic mood, a swing into folk is not v. surprising. They are in a similar vein. In the past months my moods have wanted Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger (who turned 88 recently!) and JOhnny Cash. Then I listened to the band of someone I know - an old time bluegrass/folk group (The Powder Kegs. It'd been a long while since I'd listening to old bluegrass (as opposed to modern groups like Alison Kraus and Union Station) or Appalacian. These are genres I equate with my father, my family in Kentucky, and my childhood. And granted, too much drawl and banjo can get to me after a while. I have the same problem with rap and modern country music (forget some of the 70s country. Save for a few fav artists, or the kind that borders more folk/bluegrass than country, can't do it). But good bluegrass should make a body want to get up and dance. You shouldn't be able to sit still - the need to tap your toes or something should be overpowering. Ubeat grooves should make the endorphines flow. Ballads should make you feel like staring at the mood and crying. Is this alot to ask of a folk genre, one useually played by smaller groups and not main stream artists? Maybe. But music needs to be made with passion. Bluegrass without passion? I...don't even know what that could be, except terrible. At least pop music without passion still makes Billboard charts.

Music like this has a stigma, though, especially in today's political climate. It is associated with hicks, rednecks, neo-cons, conservtives, and crazy uber-patriotics who want to bomb things. I ahte steretypes, and this one really gets to me. Yes, traditional American folk music is listened to and performed mostly by older people with a sense of nostalgia nd 'the good old days.' Yes, this is predominately a Caucasian, middle America genre. But! There are no absolutes! The band I mentioned is a group of guys in their early twenties from the Northeast and New England. Not sure, but I think they might even be suburbanites (gasp!). And for the record, music preference does NOT equal political position. My father is a conservative Republican who listens to, and played the music of, Pete Seeger (he once told Pete to his face that he disliked his politics, probably calling his a dirty Commie). Left-wingers listen to country (hell, look at the Dixie Chicks!). Music brnigs people together, not the other way around. It touches the mind and soul in ways that transcend silly social, racial, political, and cultural lines. True, it is a powerful medium often used for political motives (see- Pete, The Dixie Chicks, most 1960s American folk, campaign songs, Civil War temperence movement - the list goes on), but sound knows no boundries.

Ok, so this started with bluegrass, and I had every intention of writing about the heartyness of the genre and why I love it. It got sidetracked. And into politics, no less! (I hate politics.) Such is life.

Sing me a tale

A book that recently came accross my desk is Broadstreet Ballads: songs from the streets, taverns, theatres and countryside of 17th century England (Can't find any links to buy it at this time - still working on that). It's a really cute assortment of songs with comentary by the editor, who seems to have really done her homework on the histories. They include lyrics and either the tune for the song, another tune it was published with in the past, or an alternate tune when the original is not available.

I really love music from the 15th - 17th centuries in England. Am I one of those Renny people? Yep. The ballads of the times were often v. fun and lighthearted. Or, they acted as Variety, singing about gossip or events. They were v. ephemeral, as well. Some were written down, others not. Some were saved through the years, others forgotten just as quickly as they were composed. It was a part of the long bardic history, and a song becoming v. popular was like topping the Billboard charts.

I wonder if is the aural aestheic of the period that appeals to me? It's so lilting and light. I guess this is due to the neccessity of singing a capella or with a few carried instruments, but there is definately a plus to minimal accompianment and simple melodies. Maybe it's the instrumentation - lyres, harps, mandolins, wooden flutes - and the certain timbres they have. I think that's the most of it - the sound of the intstruments. Hmm, no the storytelling. Oh, Bugger. All of it - I love all of it!

Today I don't know that there is a real corelate in the music world. Country often has the storytelling aspect to it, but then so do some r&b songs. The American folk tradition, esp. from the 1960s definately has some trends like that - the current events, the lilting, bardic sound. Even before the sixties I think the folk music would be sort of similar. Alot of storytelling, history making, and all that.

Sounds like I 've rambled, but I'm feeling too terrible to clean it up. Take it as it is.

Reggetone

I have found a new genre to adore. Reggetone. It's sort of a blend of hip-hop and Latin - v. good for dancing. Also, v. good for waking me up in the morning. Wandering about a quite library when one is sleepy is not good. Wandering around listening to something so upbeat helps the body wake up. Better than coffee. Sadly, I have two albums by two artists: Wisin & Vondel and Noriega. I think they're DJs, or one is a tribute. I don't know, I don't speak Spanish. I just listen. And groove.

I was so hoping to see Emerald Rose at a convention in a week or so. But now I see that they aren't going to be there. Not only do I adore their music (celtic american folk rock), but I adore the band as well. They are the grooviest folk ever, v. friendly and fun. I know I've written about them in the earlier LiveJournal installments of Muzings.

This just makes me sad. I listen to their music all the time, but I have yet to really sit and watch a performance. I've always been so dern busy at the convention!! I guess this means that I must go to Georgia and stalk them properly.

Everyone should listen to them. Their music makes you happy. Seriously. Better than Prozac.

And She Will Be loved

Sometimes an album just sticks with you. You can play it over and over, and no matter how many years or play-throughs go by, you love it just the same. I have a few like that, but today at work I listened to one in particular: Songs About Jane by Maroon 5.

I find this album great for taking walks or working around the library. You can turn it up ad listen to every lyric or keep in the background. It keeps me centered, makes me feel better when I'm upset or sad, and feels right when I'm already in a good mood. It's an all-the-time album. And I did say album, because the whole thing works. No reason to jump to favorite songs and skip the lesser ones. They are all single-quality. Songs About Jane is a staple.

Adam Levine's voice is partly to blame. It's not anything spectacular, like a pop star's might be. It's not particularly unique - no Bob Dylan here. But it still isn't generic; it still catches the ear. He sounds smooth and easy; there's a comfortableness to it.

Most of the songs bounce a lot - that's what makes it a great walking album and mood booster.

All this time, and I still return to Maroon 5, Adam Levine's awesome voice (yes I love the song w/ kanye West, too) and the confort of Songs About Jane.

Sing unto the Lord

I'm not a v. religious person.
I'm not gah-gah for Jesus.
And yet.

And yet I find myself perpetually at church and singing Christian music.
Plus, I am LOVING it.

I sing in two groups - a community group and my church choir. Like many classical vocal groups, there are a lot of Masses and Latin text Christian works. It's not a Jesus thing. It's a music thing.

In the past, some of the most beautiful music ever written was commissioned by the church. Masses, Requiems, litanies, glorious praises to God. Perhaps there was devotion in the hearts of the composers, perhaps it was just the money. Or both. Just as I tend to ignore my own odd motivations for church-going, I really don't care about the motivations of these composers.

Gabriel Fauré's Requiem is one of my favorite pieces to sing, and listen to. It soars, and cries, and mourns. It carries you through all those emotions a mass for the dead should. Recordings by really top-notch performers have made my chest clench and brought me through physical reactions. It begins with a quiet, almost whispered dirge and swells like the tears of a loved one. The Agnus Dei is v. dark and mournful. The Sanctus soars like angles.

Two large works I am currently singing are John Rutter's Requiem and Missa Gaia/Earth Mass by Paul Winter. The Rutter is a modern take on the funeral mass. It is not a straight requiem like Fauré's is. He inserts psalms and other songs. His melodic structure is markedly modern, and turns something usually thought of as old-sounding into a v. contemporary song at times. But still it inspires and moves. It has a different flow of emotion, but an equally strong one.

The Earth Mass is just that - a mass, prayer, for Mother Earth. Winter combines psalms and liturgical music with things such as "Canticle for Brother Sun." There is a CD that accompanies the piece with wolf and whale sounds. It is odd, and not one for the strictly classical types. He takes the inspiration from the sounds of nature. He writes the entire Kyrie based on the notes of a howling wolf.

There is beautiful classical music out there. Most of it is religious - Christian and otherwise. It's just something you get used to as a performer.