12 posts tagged “r&b”
Even if you've not heard of N*E*R*D (that's "No one Ever Really Dies"), you'll likely know of founding member R&B producer Pharrell Williams. N*E*R*D are a collaborative effor between Pharell, Chad Hugo, Shay Haley and whoever they manage to drag in to band duties, and are pretty much the only band I've ever known to try and combine R&B style lyrics in to Hip-Hop / Rock tunes whilst trying to pass themselves off as an Indie / Rock band in the likes of metal mag Kerrang!. If it was anyone other than Pharell, I'm sure it'd crash and burn, and they've deffinately got their fair share of critics (especially for the lyrics), but the result is at least one extremely catchy album - Fly or Die - from which I've included the track Breakout but you really should check out the rest if you've not already.
- Chris"f*ck glas"topher
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First off, huge apology to Jen, we had taped a segment, but the audio recorder didn't quite work out. I'm going to look into other Skype recorders, yes, I will even pay for it (the current one I'm using is free). If you have any Skype recorder suggestions, let me know.
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She first came to my attention for her involvement with Veronica Mars, a show that I'm sad to see have ended with the third season, and I wanted to have her on to ask about working on the show. If you want to find out more about her as an actress, IMDB does a great job on compiling her appearances.
Some of the topics we chatted about:
- Her influences
- Veronica Mars
- Tara Caballero
- True Anthem
- social networking
- What she's listening to lately
Victory Ship at the 400 Bar, Minneapolis (01/18/09) ♥ photo by Brody
It's also kind of funny to see the mystery of Brody unveiled in tcdailyplanet.net:
I'm sure the success of this show will ensure more shows in the future.Whomever Brody McCoy was, he had reason to be proud. Last night’s show, the first ever presented by Brit Rock at the Top, was a great success. McCoy is a Shoreview native, but as its name suggests his blog celebrates all things British and rockin’; the thread meant to tie the night’s three acts—Joey Ryan and the Inks, Sika, and Victory Ship—was a degree of trans-Atlantic affinity.
01/18/2009 22:41:26 ♥ vu (
)♥weheartmusic.com♥podcast.weheartmusic.com♥news.weheartmusic.com
Like Lara's previous Top List, here is my lame list. Yes, I know most of these are of the dance-variety, and yes, I know they are mostly (hot) women. That's a given.
1. Ladyhawke - "Dusk Til Dawn"
myspace.com
Named after an 80s movie of the same name, Ladyhawke is Pip Brown, a young woman from New Zealand. This song is pretty catchy, the repeating lyrics "bang bang bang on the wall, from dusk til dawn. doo doo doo doo" made it easy to remember.
What made this song awesome is the totally cool music video that paid homage to 80s horror flicks like Jason from the Friday the 13th movies and Freddy from Nightmare on Elm Street.
myspace.com/jeremyjay
Certainly lanky tall-man Jeremy Jay has a hit on his hand with "Alpharhythm".
At first, I wasn't sure why I had liked this song so much. The more I started listening to just the bassline, I realized that this song is essentially a "cha cha cha" song. No, really, that's why you want to do the cha cha cha when you hear this song.
If you know how to read music, here is a break down of the cha-cha-cha notes.
lykkeli.com ♥ myspace.com
Lykke Li (that's her first name!) made it on various people's top 10 list for 2008, and it's not really a surprise really. The reason why I like her is that there's something in her voice. It's child-like and it doesn't exactly sound English, if you know what I mean?
In my favorite song, "I'm Good. I'm Gone" there is a basic clank clank rhythm that makes you want to jerk along to the music. Plus, the lyrics talks to me:
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And if you say I'm not okay
Then that's the goal
If you say there ain't no way that I could know
If you say I aim too high from down below
Well, say it know 'cause when I'm gone...
You'll be callin' but I won't be at the phone
theasteroidsgalaxytour.com ♥ myspace.com
I think this Denmark band will be huge in 2009, but in the meantime, check out "The Sun Ain't Shining No More". What I love about this song is is that it sounds so very 60s pop. The song tells about meeting someone on the dancefloor and then suddenly turned into a one-night stand. The song is as brief as the encounter, and contains the brilliant line: "It didn't last very long, a week or maybe two. When he called me on the phone, saying 'baby, I don't love ya'".
myspace.com/sharonjonesandthedapkings
Speaking of 60s, Sharon Jones and The Dapkings are one of the bands bringing back Motown/Soul music in 2008. They are one of the more popular bands, if you like this, you'll definitely need to check out Lady Dottie.
Although the lyrics are kind of simple (you get it: it takes 100 days and 100 nights to know if a man is good for you), the soulful vocals of Jones and the horns and keys of her backup band made this modern song a classic. Listen to the whole song to get the punchline, by the way.
Links:
www.weheartmusic.com
podcast.weheartmusic.com
news.weheartmusic.com
| jaklumen wrote on Ladyhawke - Dusk Till Dawn (Pascal Gabriel Radio Mix) in reply to devonrex’s comment: Mon, Jan 12, 2009 at 7:48 AM |
I'd be very interested to hear why you think so.
Various descriptions I've seen of New Wave range from the genre being an evolution of punk (particularly post-punk) to a rather frosty, indifferent bourgeois response to the harshness of punk. The latter might be fitting considering the synth sound being a very stark departure from guitars, and the look being very against hippie fashion.
I really liked the folk rock of the mid to late '70s (being heavily exposed to it as the college music of my parents) but by the time MTV hit my neighborhood music was awash in very cheesy hair bands, and the next trend of garage rock with the grunge fashion really wasn't to my taste. Depeche Mode started hitting the apex of their popularity, and I started combing back to see what was all the fuss about the "New Wave" that started MTV.
Being painfully shy in much of grade school, synth resonated with me more. It's the main reason why I've been doing a lot of electronica reviews.
| niggytardust wrote on Jeremy Jay - Alpharhythm: Mon, Jan 12, 2009 at 7:52 AM |
[c’est top] That's cool it sounds a little like Tom Verlaine or Gang of Four! I didn't know it. Thanks for the discover. I've made my own 2008 list too, if you're interested it's here.
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Nothing's quite as good as a solid, soulful R&B record to chill you down or warm you up, depending on your mood or...ahem, your company. But real R&B has been hard to come by lately. Sure, artists like Rihanna are often identified as R&B, but that kind of hip-hop-influenced R&B is but a pale shade of the real thing that crooners such as Luther Vandross, Aretha Franklin, Barry White, Grover Washington Junior, and Deniece Williams have put out. Fortunately, thanks to the good folks at Little Dizzy Records, a Sherman Oaks, CA-based independent urban digital record label, aficionados of real R&B--the smooth and soulful kind--will find their palates sensuously courted by newcomer Angie Whitney, whose first solo album, That's What Love Is All About, is out now.
Angie Whitney's been singing since the age of four. A native Californian, as a child she began singing duets with her twin sister Rachel, and soon became members of their father's church choir in Vallejo, California. The twins were soon in demand by many local groups and organizations, but Angie's career as a professional singer really gained credibility and notice when she and her sister and cousin formed their own group, The New Horizon, and were also selected as background singers for one of my alltime favorite soul groups, the legendary Spinners. Whitney now performs with the Angie Whitney Jazz & Blues Clique and Easy Street Big Band Orchestra, but her debut solo album is all her--and she's all you really need.
Despite its almost clichéd title, That's What Love Is All About is a lovely collection of soulful tunes that will heat up dancefloors and bedrooms. The lead track, "Don't Tease Me Now," is an upbeat, funky, almost disco-like dance track propelled by Whitney's smooth, silky voice and a sultry sax accompaniment. The song has a distinctly '80s kind of sound and calls to mind Sade, which is a very good thing--but Angie Whitney has a vocal identity all her own. The music, composed of soul staples bass, piano, and strings, is accented uniquely with smoky saxophone accents that play off of Ms. Whitney's voice as if she's actually singing a duet with the instrument in the intro to "Now Baby or Never," a finger-snappin' little number with a jazzy, 1920s Cotton Club sound. The title track, "That's What Love is All About" is a lovely romantic ballad, but is somewhat overshadowed by the minimalistic beauty of the eminently-soulful "Love Me By Name," which is smooth as eighty-year-old scotch and just as heart-warming. And definitely check out the straight-up elegant funk of "Excuse Me (I've Got A Life To Catch)" which features the slickest interplay between synths and sax that I think I've ever heard.
All in all, Angie Whitney's first solo effort is a sexy, sophisticated, accomplished album that gives its listeners a true, unadulterated soul/R&B experience. Her voice is not as powerful as Aretha Franklin's, but is much more energetic than Sade's, so I would say she covers a middle-ground between each...a territory little explored by soul singers these days, who all aspire for Aretha's mighty pipes or Sade's slinky purr. So put this album on the next time you come home from a long day at work. Mix up a martini, relax with yourself and a significant other, and let the music give you a nice mental massage that might...well, who knows what it might lead to, if you get my drift. ;)
Links:
angiewhitney.com
myspace.com/angielwhitney
www.littledizzyrecords.com
The New York Times broke the identity of high-priced call-girl, Kristen, in For an Aspiring Singer, a Harsher Spotlight (March 13, 2008 by Serge F Kovaleski and Ian Urbina).
For those that doesn't live in the US or hasn't kept up with the latest news, Kirsten is in the middle of a sex scandal that caused Eliot Spitzer to step down as New York governor effective March 17, 2008.
I just don't want to be thought of as a monster. This has been a difficult time. It is complicated.
As it turns out, "Kristen" was born Ashley Youmans but now known as Ashley Alexandra Dupré, is an aspiring R&B New York singer.
Upon the breaking news, her myspace was getting over 1 million hits per hour on Thursday (as reported by The First Post) and her Amie Street Profile shot her songs to 98 cents in a matter of minutes, the maximum popularity cost. (The concept behind Amie Street is that unpopular songs are free, but as more people download the song, its cost rises - topping out at 98 cents.)
Noting her sudden popularity, she created her own Facebook fan group, but the page is currently down... possibly to overwhelming interests.
It should be interesting to see more of her in the future to promote her music, now that she's got everyone's attention.
03/15/2008 09:58:48
vu
my♥posts
myspace.com/ninavenetta
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Discography
Influences James Brown, Eddie Bo, Lyn Collins, Marva Whitney, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Mahalia Jackson, The Meters Sounds Like |
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings are a modern day funk and soul band from Brooklyn, New York. Ceji previously mentioned them in Daptone Records sampler. Jones & company are starting their southern 2008 tour tomorrow, so you're in luck if you reside in these states.
Before we start with Sharon Jones, the singer, we really need to talk about the Dap-Kings. They were originally known as The Soul Providers headed by Philip Lehman and Gabriel Roth. They had recorded a string of singles and albums in the 90s and decided to split up due to difference of opinion.
Lehman went on to create Soul Fire Records (now defunct) while Roth went to create Daptone Records. The Soul Providers also split and most of the members went on to become Daptone's house band: The Dap-Kings.
Since 2000, the band's been hard at work, providing music for Amy Winehouse, Jay Z, and Mark Ronson.
What I like about what Daptone is doing, not only reviving the funk/soul music of the 60s and 70s, is that they're bringing back the singles. Just looking at Sharon Jones' discography, she's already released 10 singles (all 7") in the span of a few years. The 45s are reasonably priced (about $5 a single) and it's a good way to collect and sample some of their recording artists.
I also liked that in 100 Days, 100 Nights CD, they also included a Daptone sampler disc called "Binky Griptite's GhettoFunkPowerHour Radio Show". This is a "radio" program that I originally thought was an actual recorded broadcast (but soon realized that it's a sampler). Griptite is actually the Dap-King's guitarist... but listening to him, he's a real natural at DJing.
Some highlights of Binky's show: "But I'll tell you, it's only available as a 45 so if you don't have a turntable, you better make friends with someone that do. And when they leave you, you keep that turntable and play this record. And cry." plays "Could Have Been" by Lee Fields.
The sampler CD is not available on the vinyl 100 Days, 100 Nights, but Daptones made the sampler available via MP3: Binky Griptite's GhettoFunkPowerHour Radio Show.
All the theme on 100 Days, 100 Nights seems to be involving relationships. For instance: "Keep on Looking" (searching for a good man), "Let Them Knock" (won't answer for nobody except for her man), "Something's Changed" (a relationship is about to break), and "Nobody's Baby" (the title says it all).
Don't let the same theme dissuade you, it is still a wonderful soul/funk album. Just listen to the "100 Days, 100 Nights" song to hear Jones' soulful voice. I hear a little James "Godfather of Soul" Brown in her voice, don't you?
If you like the song, head over to their myspace and get the song as a free download.
100 Days, 100 Nights was released October 2, 2007, from Daptone Records. Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings are also going to set sail on their month-long tour:
- Jan 03 Ft. Lauderdale FL - Culture Room
Jan 17 Washington DC - Black Cat
Jan 18 Charlottesville VA - Satellite Ballroom
Jan 19 Atlanta GA - Variety Playhouse
Jan 21 Orlando FL - The Social
Jan 22 Tampa FL - Skipper's Smokehouse
Jan 23 Tallahassee FL - Club Down Under
Jan 24 New Orleans LA - House of Blues
Jan 25 Houston TX - Walters
Jan 26 Austin TX - Antone's
Jan 27 Dallas TX - Granada Theatre
Jan 29 Lawrence KS - Granada Theatre
Jan 30 St Louis MO - Duck Room
Jan 31 Cincinnati OH - Bogarts
Feb 01 Louisville KY - Headliners
Feb 02 Nashville TN - Mercy Lounge
01/02/2008 09:19:12
vu
my♥posts
www.daptonerecords.com
“I don’t think of it as a soul record…
just came never to think of the idea of soul as being a category.”
Born and raised in Washington DC, while sharing time on her Grandma’s 69-Acre farm outside of Augusta, Georgia, city-country, R&B-Soul, just who is Alice Smith? If you listen to her debut album “For Lovers, Dreamers and Me”, she is a little bit of everything. Besides the nod to the amphibious crooner, Kermit, I also hear:
- Echoes of Duke Ellington’s “Take the A Train” in her second song “Woodstock.”
- A touch of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On?” in the final “Love Endeavor.”
- A sliding steel guitar slipping “Now That I” into a Broadway country ballad.
- A funky-blues lament about the current state of pop in “Fake Is the New Real.”
Speaking of Pop, my favorite song on this album is unabashedly so. It is in “New Religion” that Smith finds her stride and is willing to let loose on what may be one of the most wonderful voices I’ve heard in a while. It’s full, it’s bold and when it warms up, it separates Smith from most of the current female singers on the scene as indicated on the title song “Dreams.”
How Smith approaches this song is interesting. It starts sounding like a relative of Foreigner’s “Cold as Ice.” But then like a prime athlete waiting to excel, Smith starts to deliver her lyrics with a pop-like libretto. And as the song continues, she let’s her phrases expand deeper and longer but still holding back, waiting, letting the moment build until the end when she lets it all go, giving a hint of what she’s capable of.
I’m looking forward to hearing more from her.
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12/10/07 The Nightlight, Bellingham, WA 12/14/07 Theater of Living Arts, Philadelphia[1] 01/04/08 Jamcruise, Fort Lauderdale
Footnotes
[1] With The Budos Band |
You've heard of Daptone Records, even if you've never heard of their name. 2007 has been a major year for the label, with their artists being used all over albums like Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black", Jay Z's " Roc Boys" single and Mark Ronson's "Version". I love both Winehouse and Ronson albums and decided to check out more of the Daptone Sound when I got a chance to do this review.
The Scion CD Sampler Vol. 19 is Daptone Records Remixed, with a major chunk of the Daptone Artists being featured. Disc One is all remixes and Disc Two are the songs in their original state. However, I have to say that although I enjoyed the remixes I enjoyed the original versions more if only for sentimental value. I used to have to go down South every summer, and at the end of every BBQ some Uncle of mine would pull out his old records and make us all dance, shouting "What you know about that soul youngblood?"
My standouts on the Remixed Disc were The Budos Band's "Chicago Falcon" remixed by Mark Ronson with vox by Wale. I'd heard this on Ronson's Authentic Shit radio show and it's one of my favorite tracks because it just gets you dancing along to the music. It's one of the songs I listen to when I go out.
Sharon Jones is my new hero and Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings "Stranded in Your Love" remix is awesome. You don't hear much of her vox on this track, I just like the flowing rap in the background.
Disc Two is where everyone really shines but again Sharon Jones KILLS on "Keep on Looking" and the Daktaris "Etlsugh Ibal Lasiti" and The Budos Band "T.I.B.W.F." are my favorite instrumentals for listening to.
You can pick up the whole Scion Sampler on iTunes for a mere $8.91 along with other Daptone Artists. I even ordered some on vinyl for old times sake. Enjoy!
12/10/2007 22:10:29
ceji
my♥posts
www.daptonerecords.com
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Apologies for taking so long with this album review. As you may have figured out, I'm behind on my album reviews (hopefully I will be able to do a few this coming week).
We start off with a comment from W♥M Podcast #13: Hacktone Records Part 1:
| Sixbucksamonkey wrote: Oct 10, 200 9:34 PM |
[Hell Yeah!]
I love this record! I discovered Arthur via Ben Vaughn, whom I adore. I'm a little conflicted about buying the re-release, though... If the bonus tracks are good, let me know so I can re-invest. =]"If heartbreak had a sound, it was this voice."
~B.V. re: A.A.
6BoM, although I don't have the original album to compare to - I believe that Hacktone's Lonely Just Like Me: The Final Chapter has been remastered (plus all the extras, which I'll cover later in this article) and may sound even better.
EXTRAS
Like DVDs, it's all about the extras. In this release, we get a live set from Fresh Air with Terry Gross from 1993. Three songs were played, with interviews between the songs.
The interview is really good, he discussed why he left the music business and also how The Rolling Stones and The Beatles got into his music (he talks about Radio Luxemburg).
There's also "The Hotel Demos" which are rare recordings (some are demos and some have never been recorded in the studio). Although the quality is what it is, they did clean up the audio so it's still listenable.
It's followed by "Anna" live at The Bottom Line in 1991. This song is listed here because it's really the first time that he played live again after so many years away from the industry. This is also referenced on Fresh Air as "A Bunch of Songwriters Sitting Around Singing" in New York.
The final song is a hidden track: "Glory Road". The hidden track is possibly from the Hotel Demos. There are no music, but Alexander carries the song very well with just his voice.
PACKAGE
I've often told people that whenever I buy music, I make sure to
get the Limited Edition or if the packaging is cool (I've often
contemplate about buy music based on the package - I know, I know, that
saying about judging a book by its cover...)
If you had a chance to listen to our podcast, David Gorman explained that he designed this package as if it was a box full of wonderful clipping from Arthur Alexander's life. They are basically individual replicas including: Funeral Program, Production Program (for the new re-release), Original album note (an essay written by Ben Sandmel), Ben Vaughn's five page article on Alexander, a hand-written production note (possibly by Alexander), the original press release for Lonely Just Like Me, and 4 photographs (from press photos to personal photos).
I've a lot of favorite songs off this album, but I'm going to let famous music artists do the talking through their covers. Did you know that Alexander is the only artist that was covered by Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, and the Beatles!??
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Ry Cooder covered "Go Home Girl". This song probably best sums up Arthur Alexander's music. He basically is in love with his best friend's girlfriend. Like many of Alexander's songs, there is a flaw in his character that is preventing a total happiness of the character. Does he betray his best friend and live with the guilt - or does he go on living with his heartache? I love it! |
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"Sally Sue Brown" was covered by Bob Dylan. It's pretty easy to see why Dylan chosed this song. It's basically about a sleazy girl, but he loves her just the same. Dylan made it more soulful, complete with backup singers. |
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The Beatles covered "Anna (Go to Him)". I believe John Lennon is singing on this song. I think the Beatles may have other Alexander covers (but I'm too lazy to check for you). I thought I read somewhere that Lennon was a pretty big Alexander fan and it's through him that convinced the rest of the Beatles to cover his songs. |
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The Rolling Stones' first two EPs (Five by Five and The Rolling Stones EP) were all based on R&B songs. I actually really loved their early songs and have a newfound appreciation for Mick Jagger. Again, this song is a typical Alexander song, which really comes down to that money doesn't buy love. |
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Pearl Jam's cover of "Soldier of Love (Lay Down Your Arms)" is in the same vein as their cover of Last Kiss. It's a live track and also from the No Boundaries, it's fitting for the wartorn country of Kosovar. |
All these songs (with the exception of "Soldier of Love") appears in one form or another on Hacktone's Lonely Just Like Me: The Final Chapter, which was released October 9th. These covers really should give you an understanding how influential Alexander's music were to major artists.
11/04/2007 09:15:34
vu
my♥posts
vu@weheartmusic.com
www.hacktone.com
Hacktone Records have re-released Arthur Alexander's Lonely Just Like Me today (October 9th). We did an interview with co-President of Hacktone's David Gorman for our podcast.
Information on how to subscribe using iTunes, Yahoo, and Google, and other forms, please head over to weheartmusic.mypodcast.com. You can also download it.
In part one, we discuss:
- Gorman's background at Rhino Records
- Why they choose certain albums to re-release
- Who their current/active artists are
Stay tuned for part two when I review Alexander's Lonely Just Like Me.
10/10/2007 00:26:21
vu
my♥posts
vu@weheartmusic.com
hacktonerecords.com
myspace.com
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