I’ve had this song in my head for nearly a week now. I’ve only heard it a few times and could only remember the melody, but I was humming it all over the place. In fact, I had never been particularly impressed with Adele until I heard and watched the video for “Rolling in the Deep.”

There is something about the desperation in the lyrics and the passion in her voice that lets you know she poured herself into every second of the song. Every new layer builds on the next and by the time she gets to the chorus where she belts out “We could have had it all” I get chills.

When She talks about scars and fire and you can hear that burning come through in her voice. And the voice…the sultry sound is reminiscent of musical greats of the soul era that hardly anyone in modern music ever touches.

The video is just a cherry on top. Abstract but builds in much the same way the song does. The ninja dancer kicking up dust, the pile of broken china, the sparking that causes the model city to catch fire, the play with light and shadow. This, dear readers is a work of art on every level.

Share

Erykah Badu has always been an artist, and music, her medium. She has mastered this craft and has also embarked on creative ways to transmit this art beyond providing a beautiful listening experience. The latest video “Out My Mind Just In Time (Movement 1)” is a sensual and unexpected interpretive dance. Badu’s body flows as though compelled by the sound of her own voice, evoking with her body, the same pained and broken feeling. Check it out below.

OUT MY MIND JUST IN TIME from Creative Control on Vimeo.

Share

Last week a writer from NME magazine wrote a haterade-filled scathing post about why everyone is wrong about Lady Gaga.

Not only does the author expose himself as a luddite in his second paragraph by admitting that he doesn’t have a Twitter or Facebook profile, he also demonstrated an utter disdain for pop music. And nothing irritates me more than the attitude of superiority that certain indie music lovers assume.

So fine, he doesn’t like pop music, or Lady Gaga. But there is some serious hypocrisy in writing a “Top 10″ article — one of the internet’s most beloved formats — during the week leading up the the release of her new album. Oh, you tried to avoid her? Sure you did, that’s why you’re feeding into the frenzy with such obvious flame throwing traffic bait.

Now on to his criticism. The truth is that he is right in many of his criticisms. But if I hear or read one more person complaining about the spectacle of Gaga, I’ll scream. I mean, would you rather hear about her flashing her pooter as she exits her limo on the way to a club and stumbling out of said club hours later? Would we rather hear about her being strung out on drugs and going to jail?

There is none of that with Lady Gaga. The spectacle is about her art. She is her own canvas and the music is her muse. Beyond the outfits and the music, what else is there? Plain and simple: It’s none of our business.

When it comes to music, every music critic should know good and well, that great music and great pop music are not one in the same. Gaga makes pop music, and she’s really good at it. She is also a performance artist. Have you seen her perform? She gives herself fully to the music, she doesn’t lip-sync and she pours her soul out to the people who pay and come out to watch. If that ain’t what pop music, showmanship and entertainment is about, I don’t know what is.

So for all those hating music critics who say, “I tried to avoid writing about Lady Gaga, but she’s everywhere…” just remember that your giving in makes you a hypocrite who is capitalizing on the buzz to get traffic, just as much as Gaga is capitalizing on the outrageous to get attention.

Now I’m off to dance like mad to Lady Gaga’s new album, which I got yesterday for a steal.

Share

It’s been a while yes, but what better way to make my return to music blogging than with the latest Beyoncé single Run the World (Girls). An anthemic war chant, this song sounds surprisingly MIA influenced with its naked, but dance inducing drum tracks and barely there baseline. The video features several Alexander McQueen looks, and serves as a reminder that Beyoncé is one of the great pop artists of our generation (and that Lady Gaga is forcing everyone to step up art part of performance artistry in music).

Unfortunately, the video can’t be embedded, so you’ll have to click through to see the whole shibang. Its totally worth it though.
Beyonce_Run_The_World

Share

So maybe that’s a little harsh, but I can’t for the life of me figure out what Scarlett Johansson–who I like as an actress but let’s admit it, she’s a little bland–brings to the music industry aside from a complete lack of talent. Seriously. If you thought she was a bland actress, you’ll no doubt think she’s snoozeworthy as a songstress.

I’m sorry but that is NOT singing. Its an impersonation of what she thinks she should sound like IF she were a singer. But a singer she is not.

Ms. Scarlet, please stick to acting and leave the singing to the professionals. kthxbia.

Share

Sometimes having a day job gets in the way of what we had going here. I don’t know how many people read or don’t read, all I know is that I have this music blog and it was one of the most important things in my life for a while…Writing about music in particular.

Then came along the day job–one I am grateful and blessed to have–and there seems to be no time any more.

But I still need someone to tell my thoughts about music, because it is so rare that I come across someone with whom I can actually have a conversation about music.

So I store up these thoughts and they build up and I lament never having posted them at all.

Well…I’m just going to dump it.

On Femme-Fronted Rock Radio Rotation: It really frustrates me that so few female voices make the radio. It does however bring me joy to hear Nico Vega’s “Gravity” on KROQ’s “Locals Only” broadcast. I guess if enough people request it, they’ll play it more, but it’s nice to hear them on the radio even a little.

Rock super group, Dead Weather–conceived by Jack White, fronted by Alison Mosshart–gets played on another local station, but they say “Jack White’s side project…” It makes sense, since Mosshart’s following pale’s in comparison to Jack’s; but would it heart to acknowledge the vocalist? I guess it must be like being the drummer…which is what Jack happens to be for Dead Weather.

On Lady Gaga: At first I wanted to hate her but she makes good pop music. What? She does! Doesn’t your body move despite you turning up your nose? Aren’t they silly and just burrow into your brain? Yeah, yeah, yeah her costumes are over the top, so what. The girl can sing, and she can put on a show. She’s entertaining and talented. That’s just about all I need right there. Mind you…I don’t like that “Love Game (Disco Stick)” song, but I just think the girl knows her audience on that one…aaaaaaand it wasn’t me. Her VMA performance may have been criticized as rough, but for a newcomer, I think she put on a fantastic show. She’s got room to grow, but if she doesn’t fall off in a few years, Gaga could well go through many transitions and be around for much longer than anyone expects.


On Kanye at the VMAs:
That was shitty, but its Kanye’s shtick. He makes some douche-bag publicity stunt, people talk about boycotting and what an asshole he is. But notice, no one was talking about the embarrassment Tailor Swift suffered; which is good for Tailor Swift. The flip side of it not being all about Swift? It was all about Kanye. So he got what he wanted, people were talking about it, and there was buzz to support his latest project (which I won’t link, ‘cuz fuck that).


On the Cycle of Music:
I watched practically every Fall premier this season (What? You can do that when you don’t watch live TV and you’re vegging out on a Sunday afternoon). It’s been kind of exciting to hear music I was writing about a year ago–up to two years ago even–being used in commercials, movie trailers and on prime time TV shows. The part of me that wants to love underground cringes when I hear The Kills’ “Cheap and Cheerful” in a promo for 90210 and Tilly and the Walls’ “Pot Kettle Black” in a Target promo for the new Anna Sui line, let’s face it though…these are good things for the bands. But seriously, a year for that level of exposure? Didn’t take long for the band with Jack White behind it though; they got in with the series premier of the CW’s Vampire Diaries. Some call it selling out, I call it smart business.

Share

The other day I was asked who my favorite bands are right now. I answered the question, singing the praises of Janelle Monae and Dead Weather but I must admit that I forgot a few. So I figured since I’m always thinking about updating this blog, maybe I’d dump my brain for real and share my some of my new favorites with you, dear readers (if you’re still with me).

Of course there are the two mentioned above, one a super band created by a man most would agree is a rock GENIUS; the other an underrated member of the recent soul revival. Here are a few others:

Kings of Leon: The music is great and I have to admit that while like so many others I had never heard of KOL until “Sex on Fire” broke, I think they’re older songs are much better than the ones on the latest album. In fact, on my favorite tracks from Because of the Times (2007) is “My Party.” If you can sit still while listening to this song, you’re not alive and that is the simple truth. The only problem I see with KOL is that the energy in the music doesn’t seem to translate into an engaging performance. All the same, I’m perfectly happy bouncing around to their music without needing to see a live show.



Nico Vega: Anyone who has read any of my music blogs knows that I LOVE Nico Vega. This is one band whose energy does translate and transcend live. If you ever need a rock fix, Nico Vega has the cure for ails you. They’re already an underground sensation and definitely on the break.



The Lexingtons: These guys are as fun as they are dapper. A group of up-and-comers who sort of make you remember what cool really is. What do I mean by that you ask? Just have a look at this “Bad Kids” cover video. Doesn’t it just remind you of what a video should be? Videos may not make a star anymore but that doesn’t mean they can’t be interesting.



Flotation Walls: Orchestral and cinematic is the best way to describe this group. To see them live is to see just how hard they work. Acoustic, electric, violins, guitars, upright bass, synthesizers, percussion, drums, horns…you name it they can play it, sometimes all in the same show. And we’re not talking about some 10 person ensemble. The music is a wonderful combination of dramatically classical and sharp witted rocking edginess.



I’m sure I’ll think of more later, but for now, these are the folks at the top of my recommendation list. What are you listening to these days?

Share

When The Kills opened for the Raconteurs at San Francisco’s Treasure Island Music Festival last year, it was apparent that the two bands well matched. The Kills gave one of the best performances of the weekend, warming up the crowd for The Raconteurs; one of the best shows I’ve ever seen (its a tie between Raconteurs @Treasure Island and Nico Vega @ The Viper Room).

I guess, Jake White felt the same way and has since recruited Kills’ front woman Alison Mosshart to front his latest side project, Dead Weather. The result is gritty, jarring and electric; a beautiful fusion of The White Stripes and The Kills.

Part of me wonders what this means for Kills guitarist Hotel, the other part wants to see Dead Weather go mainstream as proof that female fronted bands get airplay. I’ll not hop on my soap box about the radio blackout on female rockers though…

Check out the single “Hang You From the Heavens.” If you like The Kills and you were a fan of The White Stripes, there’s not doubt you’ll make room in your heart for Dead Weather

Share

Ya fly as hell, swagger right, brown skin poppin’, ya know just how to talk to me, know just how I like it.
Ya turnin me on, ya turnin’ me on…

Almost a year ago, I wrote about Keri Hilson being the next R&B “it” girl and since the release of her debut album In A Perfect World… she has become exactly that.

I’ll try not to gush, because on some levels I like her despite myself. A beautiful voice, catchy song-writing, dance music, legs for days…The girl is hot hot hot and I might actually go purchase the album.

In the meantime, I’ll just play “Turning Me On” until I can’t stand it anymore.

Dime divas give it to me!

Share

On Thursday a legend died.

I was surprised by my grief.

It wasn’t grief like that for a personal friend, but rather the sense that this person had contributed so much to the soundtrack of my life. He was a cultural icon the world over and had spent his entire life creating and sharing beautiful music with a message of love.

What I love is that in his death, no one chose to focus on the controversies surrounding Michael Jackson’s later years. There was an outpouring of love, which is exactly what he had given the world for so long.

One person asked if MJ would go to heaven or hell and wondered whether or not he had made peace with his demons. I believe MJ’s demons hunted him until the day he died and that his hell was here on earth. Pop critic Robert Hilburn wrote a beautiful piece on MJ’s wounded heart, from which he never recovered. If he only knew how much we really loved him…

Dennis Romero of DanceBlogga noted that Michael Jackson’s Thriller was the best selling studio album of all time and has told me time and time again, that Off the Wall was his favorite Michael Jackson album. How funny that “Off the Wall” should be the song stuck in my head from the moment I heard of MJ’s passing.

MJ was a major influence on music and culture. So many in my generation grew up listening to his music. Hell, every R&B boy from Usher to Chris Brown to Ne-yo and Akon, has gotten their moves from Michael Jackson.

The afterlife only matters to the living. Untimely or not, June 25, 2009 will be remembered as the day Michael Jackson died. And all I can say is that life ain’t so bad at all, when you live it off the wall.

Share