Photo shoot: Vampire Weekend

"Lights by the ocean
A westerly motion that moves California to sea
Eyes like a seagull
No Kansas-born beetle could ever come close to that free."





The photo shoot concept: Capture the members of Vampire Weekend in poses that are fun, a little preppy, and quirky, just like the band themselves.

The models: Ezra Koenig (lead vocals, guitar), Rostam Batmanglij (keyboards, guitar, backing vocals, co-writer, lyricist), Chris Tomson (drums, percussion), and Chris Baio (drums, percussion)

Above lyrics are from "Bryn", off Vampire Weekend's titular debut album, released in 2008.

"[...]it is a condescending idea that music needs protecting. The idea that African music needs to be protected and shielded by white American critics, let's say, is one of the most patronizing things you can possibly do. And these are the people who are trying to criticize our music as being culturally insensitive? People need to understand that to be inspired by music from around the world is a good thing. That's how music works! The African music I love tends to be more modern music with electric guitars. So, should people be getting angry that these Africans took this quintessentially American instrument, the electric guitar, and did their own thing with it? No! It's amazing that music works that way. And trying to raise red flags about musical appropriation is no substitute for real social activism. Love music, but use other parts of your life to educate yourself about the global political climate. That's what I try to do. And, I'm 25; hopefully it's something I'll get better at."  - from an interview with frontman Ezra Koenig about critics of the band.

Music and Fashion Go Hand in Hand

Music is a very influential force in the world. There have been forms of art inspired by it, movies created to fit with music, and dance styles, of course, made to jam out to certain genres of music. But music can also spark ideas in the minds of the fashion-conscious. Below is a list of how music, musicians, and fashion have come together to influence trends over the decades.


Madonna was a huge fashion influence in the 1980s. Her style, especially the one shown in her music videos, changed how teenagers at the time dressed. They began to emulate the pop star by wearing lace tops, skirts over capris, fishnet stockings, large earrings, bangle bracelets, and ballerina skirts, creating a bold and fun style that helped to characterize how we culturally see the 80s today.

Another fashion trendsetter was the rock band Nirvana. It was the 1990s, and grunge music was very popular with the youth. The Aberdeen, Washington based band helped shape the grunge fashion trend, which was characterized by an unkempt style very unlike the fun, bright fashions of the previous decade. Grunge kids usually wore messy clothing and lots of plaid, and often did not put much effort into their appearance, much like Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain. It might not have been a culture change that parents approved of, but grunge definitely showed that looking like a punk who just rolled out of bed could be cool.

In the present day, a lot of fashion for male black teens and male teens of other races has been affected by the hip-hop genre. Brand names, baggy pants, caps, sunglasses, and hoodies are just some of the styles made popular by artists such as Jay-Z, Wiz Khalifa, and Kanye West. Like grunge, this style has been controversial, especially concerning baggy pants, because of the negativity often heard through hip hop lyrics. However, this "street" style can actually be fashionable if put together in the right way, and not as if you were a hoodlum. Needless to say, this is a clothing style that'll stick around for a bit.

 Gwen Stefani has, in a way, become the Madonna of the 21st century with the way she made waves in the fashion industry. Her look is also fun and quirky, but the 'Harajuku Girls' concept first brought up in her lyrics and music video for "Rich Girl", bring a far-out, Far Eastern Japanese aspect to her fashion. Gwen is a rocker chic chic and it's no wonder why her L.A.M.B. and Harajuku Lovers clothing lines are doing well today.





Basically, music and fashion go hand and hand. Both are unique art forms that sometimes showcase passion, other times a quiet and subtle mood, and even a funky loudness. These two are perfecrt for each other and I'm curious to see how these two will influence each other as the years go by. :)

We Got it Covered!: John Mayer does Radiohead

We Got it Covered!: John Mayer does Radiohead

Today I’m introducing a new blog segment, We Got it Covered!, that explores covers of songs by different artists. This post looks at John Mayer’s cover of the Radiohead song “Kid A”. The cover version can be heard on the B-side to “Bigger than My Body”, a single off of Mayer’s album Heavier Things.

The link to the song on YouTube can be found here:

The lowdown: “Kid A” was originally a track from Radiohead’s October 2000 album of the same title. Radiohead’s version of “Kid A” is a mysterious sound in both lyrics and music, and while John Mayer strayed away from its original mood a little bit, but he brings a mellow-ish, understandable (because honestly, wasn’t it a little difficult to heart what Thom Yorke was trying to say in Radiohead’s Kid A?), enjoyable sound that isn’t better or worse than the original, but manages to be its own special sound. The guitar in the background is a cool touch as well.

My final verdict: 9 out of 10. I love both John Mayer and Radiohead and thought this was an excellent cover from an excellent singer.

Sometimes You Gotta Try a New Ice Cream Flavor (Album review + a summer playlist)

First off, let me start this post by saying I enjoyed Arctic Monkeys’ latest release, Suck It And See. I wouldn’t go as far to say that it was their best album, but it had a nice sound to it and I enjoyed “Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair”, “Library Pictures”, and “Black Treacle” the most.  I think The Monkeys first started to really change things up stylistically with 2009’s Humbug, and while I prefer Humbug to SIAS, I still recommend giving their new album a listen. :) Like always, our favorite Sheffield boys produce a great music effort.

My 1-10 rating: 7 out of 10

Other songs to check out: “Reckless Serenade”, “Love is a Laserquest”, “All My Own Stunts”

Now, for the real reason behind this post. I’ve been doing conditioning for cross country these past few weeks, and it has been HOT. Heck, even when I’m not running, it’s hot. I’ve turned on the fan, now drank plenty of water, and even had some ice cream to try and cool off, but I know by now that music is the ultimate way to make me feel better. So I’ve scoured the Internet and my own personal song collections to make a satisfying summer mix of 30 songs that includes classic rock, contemporary alternative/indie stuff, and—yes—even one or two pop and country songs. Don’t knock it until you try it though, and once you listen, you may start to feel cool as a cucumber despite the sizzling heat, especially on those long and boring road trips. Enjoy!

Note: Though a lot of them are about summer, there are also songs I threw in there because they’re upbeat and fun, or chill and laid-back.

1.       “Dusk and Summer” –Dashboard Confessional

2.        “A-Punk”—Vampire Weekend

3.       “Summer of ‘98”—The Secret Handshake

4.       “California”—Phantom Planet

5.       “Summer Nights”—Van Halen

6.       “Holiday”—Green Day

7.       “Walkin’ on Sunshine”—Katrina and the Waves

8.       “Ocean Avenue”—Yellowcard

9.       “Summertime”—Kenny Chesney

10.   “Summer Nights”—Rascal Flatts

11.   “Soak up the Sun”—Sheryl Crow

12.   “I Can Talk”—Two Door Cinema Club

13.   “End Love”—OK Go

14.   “Florida”—Modest Mouse

15.   “No, Not Now”—Hot Hot Heat

16.   “Wine in the Afternoon”—Franz Ferdinand

17.   “Bambi”—Tokyo Police Club

18.   “Teddy Picker”—Arctic Monkeys

19.   “Summertime Blues”—The Who

20.   “Summer Skin”—Death Cab For Cutie

21.   “Dani California”—Red Hot Chili Peppers

22.   “Sunny Afternoon”—The Kinks

23.   “Horchata”—Vampire Weekend

24.   “Lovers In Japan”—Coldplay

25.   “The Great Escape”—Boys Like Girls

26.   “Summer Angel" — Minus the Bear

27.   “The Beach”—All Time Low

28.   “Summer Love”—Justin Timberlake

29.   “Hey Ya!”—Outkast

30.   “Rebellion (Lies)”—Arcade Fire

So sorry I couldn't compile all the songs into an online playlist like my winter playlist, but I had too many songs to work with this time. Hopefully all can be found online so you can make your own mix yourself!

Album Review: Angles by The Strokes

School's been keeping me busy so it's been hard to update the blog...but the long-awaited new album from The Strokes came out a few days ago and I had to talk about it on here! Since I'm perpetually broke, I listened to the album online, and have come to enjoy it. It's definitely a step away from classic Strokes--albums such as the debut Is This It and second album Room On Fire. However, the funky new feel of Angles is exactly what makes things work.
 
This year, artists such as Radiohead and Arctic Monkeys are shifting their usual music style with new albums (Radiohead's The King of Limbs, released last month to mixed critical reviews, and Arctic Monkeys's Suck It And See set to release in June and already showing its unique sound with the song "Brick By Brick", posted to Youtube three weeks ago and recieving plenty of buzz). The Strokes, an iconic New York indie rock band formed in the late 90s, is just another band breaking away from their traditional mold here in 2011. Many have criticied that Angles doesn't have the feel of a traditional album by The Strokes, but I disagree. With a retro chic, 80s-sounding tune like "Macchu Picchu" starting off the album, you can't go wrong...many people on Youtube (and even non-Youtubers like myself) have admitted to putting the addictive first track on repeat. A song named after Peruvian ruins never sounded so good, huh?

Another noteworthy track on the new album is "Call Me Back", a tune about the problems of whether feelings in a relationship are mutual and the fear of confronting the fact because they want to avoid rejection, a feeling some of us know all too well. The chords in the background are mellow and enjoyable, and arguably another very good track.


Though some people may not say this is the best work from our favorite New York boys, I like Angles just fine. True, it doesn't rank up there with previous albums quite yet, but after a few listens it may grow on you. In its own way, Angles is a pretty solid album, and evidence that changing up like a chameleon doesn't always lead to a disatrous sound.


My 1-10 rating: 8 and a half stars

Other songs to check out: "Under Cover of Darkness", "Life is Simpler in the Moonlight", "Gratisfaction"

English Invasion!

Today we haul our butts across the pond to the United Kingdom--to England, to be specific. Jolly old England has a rich musical history, spawning dozens of centuries, from the folk songs of old to the rock and popular music we have today. No matter who you are or what your music taste is, this UK culture that also shares its borders with Scotland and Wales (also great centers of music) has plenty of artists and bands that are sure to delight. Here are a few of them, reviewed here and now on the Region Spotlight.
Note: I will soon be doing individual reviews of artists, but I'm still going to also review bands in the Region Spotlight. Just get used to seeing a bunch of reviews on here from now on. :P


Name: The Clash (1976-1986)
Origin: London, England
Discography: The Clash (1977), Give 'Em Enough Rope (1978), London Calling (1979), Sandinista! (1980), Combat Rock (1982), Cut The Crap (1985)
Genre(s): punk rock
Website: http://www.theclash.com/ (official)

The Clash, a product of the original wave of British punk music, was one of the most iconic and critically acclaimed bands of its day. This band is amazing in my opinion because of their musical experimentation and the fact that they weren't afraid to espouse their political views in their work, whether you agree with them or not. They were an inspiration for many English musicians associated with punk, and even some American bands credit The Clash as one of their influences. Their debut album and London Calling are perfect examples of what punk rock music is all about, and their musical style is a great one that people of past, present, and future can identify and enjoy. Though they are broken up now, and their later years saw a decline in their music, may we all remember the awesomeness of one of the best English bands of all time.

5 songs to check out: Rock the Casbah, London's Burning, Spanish Bombs, Police & Thieves, The Card Cheat


Name: Arctic Monkeys (2002- present)
Origin: Sheffield, UK (located in South Yorkshire, England)
Discography: Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (2006), Favourite Worst Nightmare (2007), Humbug (2009)
Genre(s): alternative rock, post-punk revival, garage rock revival
Websites: http://www.arcticmonkeys.com/ (official), http://www.myspace.com/arcticmonkeys (Myspace), http://twitter.com/ARCTICMONKEYS (Twitter), http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/ArcticMonkeys (Facebook)

The Clash paved the way for bands like Arctic Monkeys, creating a song that these Sheffield boys would only expand upon two decades after the original punk wave band dissolved. Headed by vocalist and lead guitarist Alex Turner, also known for his side project band The Last Shadow Puppets, this band is fun, loud, and one of the finest acts England has to offer, both musically and in terms of their amazing lyrics, complements of Mr. Turner himself.

Their style seems to shift with each new release, but it's all for the better, as the Monkeys can deliver a good performance no matter what music and lyrics they have to work with. They're a good hip-shaking, food-stomping dance floor romp, something relaxing to listen to in an empty room, or a headbanging tune that keeps buzzing in your ears even after the final chords. And with an anticipated fourth album coming out this year and a planned apperance at the Benicàssim International Festival in Spain along the likes of  The Strokes, Arcade Fire, and Scottish band Primal Scream, who knows what this English quartet will drum up for us next? Only time will tell, but I have a feeling it'll be a pleasant surprise.

5 songs to check out: Fluorescent Adolescent, Crying Lightning, Teddy Picker, A Certain Romance, Fake Tales of San Francisco



Name: The Libertines (1997-2004, 2010- present)
Origin: London, England
Discography: Up the Bracket (2002), The Libertines (2004)
Genre(s): indie rock, garage rock revival, post-punk revival
Websites: http://www.thelibertines.com/ (official), http://www.myspace.com/thelibertines (Myspace), http://twitter.com/carlbaratmusic (frontman Carl Barat's Twitter)

Though the band had its ups and downs, mostly thanks to the downward spiral of vocal and rhythm guitarist Pete Doherty (also of Babyshambles fame), there's no doubt that The Libertines, another iconic band (in the early 2000s, they helped launch the garage rock revival movement that many UK bands would later be a part of), have a wonderful thing going on. While Barat and Doherty had differing musical styles, their collaboration forms something unique and musically satisfying. A review at popmatters.com describes The Libertines and their debut album as "overbearing, loud, and abrasive", but overall "great fun to listen to". I have to agree on that. While they did get off to a rough start, London's Libertines were able to sail towards popularity with their often deep lyrics and personal relationships with fans, often playing a Guerrilla gig so fans could see them up close and personal. This band is a must-listen, and after reuniting in August 2010 where they played at England's Reading and Leeds festivals, there's no doubt that maybe, just maybe, we could hear even more tunes from these guerrilla and garage rockers.

5 songs to check out: Time For Heroes, Can't Stand Me Now, What Became of the Likely Lads, The Man Who Would Be King, Vertigo

A look back: my favorite albums of 2010

The Suburbs- Arcade Fire


Contra- Vampire Weekend


Speak Now- Taylor Swift

       
       Volume Two- She & Him


 This Is Happening- LCD Soundsystem



Teen Dream- Beach House

News: 2011 release dates

Happy New Year! It's a new year and with that comes new events in the world of music. Here are a few releases coming out in 2011, in various genres, so you can look forward to great music throughout the year:

Confirmed dates:

January 18: The King Is Dead- The Decemberists

January 25: Mine Is Yours- Cold War Kids

May 23: Born This Way- Lady Gaga

Unconfirmed dates/titles:

Untitled album- The Strokes

Untitled album- Coldplay

Untitled album- Radiohead

Untitled album- Passion Pit

Untitled album- Arctic Monkeys

Untitled album- Franz Ferdinand

Untitled album- Paramore


Wow, there's a lot of albums by bands to look forward to this year! Hopefully I'll be able to do some album reviews once some of these CDs come out. :)