Photo shoot: She & Him

"Old habits die hard
When you've got
When you've got a sentimental heart
Piece of the puzzle you're my missing part
Oh, what can you do with a sentimental heart?"









The photo shoot concept: Capture fun times and bonding moments between the members of indie folk band She & Him.

The models: Zooey Deschanel (vocals, piano, ukulele),  Matthew "M. " Ward (guitar, production)

Above lyrics are to "Sentimental Heart", from their album Volume One (2008).

"[...]When I send a demo MP3 to Matt he'll always come up with production ideas that I never would have thought of in a million years. It's really fun to watch the songs blossom and unfold. Blossoming and unfolding are basically the same thing, but blossoming is more romantic, wouldn't you agree?" -Zooey Deschanel, in an interview for Pitchfork (March 15, 2010).

Playlist: Wintertime Blues

 Christmas time is fast approaching (can you believe Christmas Eve is tomorrow?) and I'm sure that by now, some of you are tired of hearing the same old holiday tunes. So here's a playlist full of good songs to get you through the winter that are not-surprise!-holiday tunes. Hopefully this special playlist, with tunes from the likings of Gwen Stefani, Sara Bareilles, and other artists, will help cheer us up or mellow us out during these chilly wintertime blahs. After all, if we can't get any snow here in Georgia, we can listen to music that helps us visualize it. ;)


http://www.playlist.com/playlist/21249205259/standalone


Happy holidays, and don't forget to spread the word about The Beatbox to your friends!


P.S.: Playlist.com says that "Winter Wooskie" by Belle & Sebastian is unavailable, which is a shame because it's a lovely song. I've posted the video to it below so you can still listen to it though. :)

Music Video: Do You Want To

Today's video link is to "Do You Want To", a song by the much-adored Scottish dance punk band Franz Ferdinand. Lead singer Alex Kapranos has said that the song is based off of a night at a party at an art gallery. Well, it must've been some wild night because the video and song suggest a crazy night of antics. It's a fun song to dance to (as is the usual for most Franz Ferdinand songs) and you'll get a kick out of the video, I'm sure.

Oh, Canada!

Ah, Canada. Ten provinces, three territories, and an overall population of 34,295,000 according to the 2010 census. Known for maple syrup, hockey, free healthcare, and those Canadian accents Americans love to mock.

Canada is also known for its thriving music scene, which boasts many famous artists from hip hop/rap artist Drake to pop diva Céline Dion. But in addition to these individual artists, there are a variety of bands, some well-known, others indie, dominating the Canadian music scene. I have quite a few favorites, but this post will list merely three of them, primarily from the indie side of the spectrum because honestly, I'm a huge indie lover. So eat some poutine , adjust your mountie hat, and enjoy.

Name: Arcade Fire (2003- present)
Origin: Montreal, Quebec
Discography:  Arcade Fire EP (2003), Funeral (2004), Neon Bible (2007), The Suburbs (2010)
Genre(s): indie rock, baroque pop, art rock
Websites: http://www.arcadefire.com/ (official), http://www.myspace.com/arcadefireofficial (Myspace), http://twitter.com/arcadefire (Twitter)

Touting numerous music awards and critical acclaim for their albums, this multi-instrumentalist band is, arguably, one of the best bands to emerge from the Canadian indie scene. Arcade Fire has a unique sound that can't be specifically described in one word or labeled under just one genre. They create lyrics that are sometimes poetry, sometimes a love letter, other times just something to open your ears to and enjoy. In any case, this is a band that should definitely be listened to because while they might not always have a hit with their songs, they put passion into their music and can instantly become the newest band you're sure to adore.
5 songs to check out: Neighborhood # 1 (Tunnels), My Body Is A Cage, The Suburbs, Modern Man, Neon Bible

Name: Tokyo Police Club (2005 - present)
Origin: Newmarket, Ontario
Discography: A Lesson In Crime EP (2006), Smith EP (2007), Elephant Shell (2008), Champ (2010)
Genre(s): indie rock, garage rock, post-punk revival
Websites: http://tokyopoliceclub.com/home/ (official), http://www.myspace.com/tokyopoliceclub (Myspace), http://twitter.com/tokyopoliceclub (Twitter)

Tokyo Police Club is, in my words, a collection of different aspects of awesome that have been combined and mixed in a blender, served in a tall glass with one of those cool little umbrella straws in it. In short, these guys are pure unadulterated fun, whether it's through their music, Twitter posts, or video blogs. This youthful band often creates bouncy, enjoyable tunes (an example being "Wait Up (Boots of Danger)" but collections like A Lesson In Crime also bring out their garage rock roots. Their lyrics are often quirky but understandable, and quite catchy...I warn you that certain songs will be stuck in your head for a while. All of their albums and the Lesson In Crime EP are showcases of their genius and how a bunch of early twentysomething boys can jam together and make wonderful music.
5 Songs to Check Out: Citizens of Tomorrow, The Nature of the Experiment, Breakneck Speed, Wait Up (Boots of Danger), Tessellate


Name: Tegan and Sara (1995 - present)
Origin: Calgary, Alberta
Discography: Under Feet Like Ours (1999), This Business Like Art (2000), If It Was You (2002), So Jealous (2004), The Con (2007), Sainthood (2009)
Genre(s): indie rock, indie pop, New Wave
Websites: http://teganandsara.com/ (official), http://www.myspace.com/teganandsara (Myspace), http://twitter.com/TEGANandSARA (Twitter)

This softspoken (or rather, soft-sung) duo comprised of identical twins Tegan and Sara Quin has been making wonderful music together since their teen days at age fifteen, though they didn't professionally record until 1999 when they released their debut album, Under Feet Like Ours. They often switch on who's singing lead and backup voices, but figuring out which twin sings what part in a particular song just might be part of the fun of listening to them. Their songs are great easy listening with beautiful lyrics and often contain an infectious background beat that will have you bopping your head in time with the music. They are a truly creative force in the world of music, with unique music videos as well as songs to establish them as great artists. All in all, the Quin sisters are double the fun, creativity, and listening pleasure for any music fan.
5 Songs to Listen to: Back In Your Head, Hell, Where Does the Good Go, Underwater, Alligator

Whew, that was a boatload of words to write and probably even more to say out loud. Hopefully you've seen some artists you want to check out, or gotten another person's perspective of artists you do like. And if you have any other Canadian favorites not on the list, feel free to rave about them in the comments. :)

What is Music?

“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.”

-Plato

Merriam-Webster Online's Dictionary and Thesaurus defines music as this:

mu·sic

noun, often attributive \ˈmyü-zik\

1

a : the science or art of ordering tones or sounds in succession, in combination, and in temporal relationships to produce a composition having unity and continuity b : vocal, instrumental, or mechanical sounds having rhythm, melody, or harmony

2

a : an agreeable sound : euphony <her voice was music to my ears>

Yes, those two examples are good literal definitions of music, but can a simple glossary of terms truly capture the true spirit of what music is all about? I think not.

Music is about emotion, whether it be through lyrics, instrumentals, or a combination of the two. It's a variety of forces banding together to create sounds that people can enjoy and share with each other. It's something for people to play or listen to. It evokes memories within us, humorous or sweet, romantic or sad, and takes us back to another time or place. It paints a picture in our minds and tells a story to our ears, whether it be the simple lines of a pop love song or the complex chords of a rock ballad.

Whoever you are and whatever type you like, music is many different things to many different people. So don't rely on the dictionary definition or even my own, because music is what you want it to be. It's something that people all around the world, whether they agree on certain aspects of it or not, can be brought together by, and that is why music is such a great and amazing thing.

That's what this blog is all about: the beauties of music. From top 40 pop hits to lesser known indie bands, I hope to explore as many parts of the musical spectrum that I can. It's an amazing world of melodies and sound out there, and I want this blog to capture as much of it as possible.

P.S.: This blog was named after "Beatbox", a song by The Songs, a Swedish New Wave group that I absolutely love. Check them out if you can.