Cd of The Week: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix + I'm Back!!

Hey y'all, miss me? First of all I congratulate my esteemed friend Mary Ann for keeping the blog alive during my absence. Do to many technological problems (compy down, internet down) and personal problems (doggy is sick among other things) I have been away from my computer. But for all you worriers, I'm back, safe and sound. Now onto the stuff you come here for in the first place.

Now my C.D. of the week is a weird choice. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. This is the new cd from the band Phoenix. This Cd combines the legato (for you none music types, that means a slurred sounds) vocals of Thomas Mars with the erratic staccato ( short single notes) of Laurent Brancowitz's guitar. At first glance this seems like a decent indie-pop band, but as you listen to they're music you realize, they add in a very exotic element to the songs. This element is electronica. Phoenix's new cd is more Alt. Rock rather than indie-pop electronic. but it still a great C.D.

Laurent Brancowitz (lead guitar) and Deck D'Arcy (bass) are the people to look out for in this C.D. They both display a phenominal expertese in their instruments. Their singer is mediocere. He should stop doing echoes. He does this thing where he repeats himself constantly in an effect to become his own echoer.

The song I chose from this C.D. is Lisztomania. Liszromania is the big hit from Phoenix. He does the echoing this and the lyrics don't make much sense, but its a catchy tune. Enjoy guys.

The Roots

So if you're into hip-hop or rap, you shoulda heard of The Roots. These guys stack paper like John Travolta, and they kill on the mic. I swear most all of there stuff is freestyle, and it makes sense, which is unusual with freestyling. Not only that, but from all I've heard, they don't have a single song bout beating the crap outta someone or poppin a piece on some gansta or whatnot. Sure they have lyrics challenging or dissing other rappers, but nothing excesivley violent.
These guys are like Ghostface Killah with KRS 1 mixed in. Their unique beats are emfisized by their fast and thrilling lyrics. I can't emfisize their awesomeness enough. This is their song "Don't Feel Right" from the cd Game Theory, check it.


If you like that, check this link (I can't post it on here but whatever) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avqImhVwObo&feature=channel

Cd of The Week 2: Mr.Beast

Hello fair ladies and all you handsome men. How has the week been? Yah me too, anyways it is Cd of the week time. This week, Mogwai has made this exclusive list of ever popular bands. Specifically the Cd Mr.Beast. This electronic/instrumental band has made many great Cds, but this one is by far the best (in my opinion)

Most instrumental bands usually have that ambient "oh I didn't realize I put this on" feel to it, but not these guys. They know how to combine great riffs and beats to create a ambient but noticeable tone to it.

The song featured in todays blog is Friend of the night. Like I said it contains the elements of a good instrumental without sounds blase. so enjoy, and good night.

Cd of the Week 1: The Crane Wife

Hello and good day everyone. I figured that would start a tradition that every Saturday I would chose a C.D. and make everyone who reads this listen to it. The first C.D. I've chosen is The Crane Wife by the Decemberists.
This is a very folky c.d. The vocals have a bristish nasally feel to it, but it works well in the songs they play. Though I have to say Colin Meloy (the singer/acoustic guitarist) can't change the sound or pitch of his voice at all which bothers me greatly. Also there is no subtlety in the music whatsoever. All the metaphors and similes are so obvious that it leaves very little left to the imagination. I realize that folk music rarely has a hidden meaning, but in the songs that are supposed to have those hidden meanings, The Decemberists paint the message in neon paint and shout it out to the world. But if you like music where the lyrics explain everything to you. this is the perfect C.D. for you.
The songs are almost all stories of love and tragedy and the such. The riffs are really addictive and get stuck in your head. But they are calming and easy to remember so you won't go insane. I should point out that this is the best "I feel sad and lonely and I want music to help me really cry" C.D.
My favorite song off of this C.D. is Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then). Laura Veirs guest stars and it is really up beat compared to the rest of this C.D. I think the harmonious duet really enforces the lost love aspect of the song.
So I suggest you check it out. The following video is the title track, The Crane Wife 1 & 2.

Hello Interweb!

Hello everyone, as previously mentioned by esteemed colleague, I go my the name Mr. Quin or Harley Quin. I chose the name from a series of Agatha Christie stories featuring a man of that name. I am classmates with Mary Ann.
I am a musician (piano, clarinet, guitar) and currently enroll in music theory classes at a local college. I plan on being a musicologist, or a concert performer.
As far as music tastes go, I prefer music that is not mainstream. That does not mean I hate all mainstream music, I just don't enjoy most of it. My favorite artists are:

• Chris Botti (Jazz trumpet player, played one of my favorite versions of My Funny Valentine)
• Gomez (British Rock group, saw them live, great show, cute singers, this is one of my favorite songs by them)
• Wolf Parade (personally, they had the best cd of 2005, Apologies to the Queen Mary, this a song from that c.d. )
• Laura Veirs and The Saltbreakers (a geologist rocker, what do yah know? Solid vocals and great lyrics. The only thing is that I wish they wouldn't have so many mellow songs. This is from their c.d. "Saltbreakers")
• Limbeck ( country-style-rock, they're fun to listen to if you're in "Lets Just Dance" mood. This is a great song by them )

I like to think I have a wide range of musical taste. I enjoy everything from punk and metal to jazz and opera. So if you want to fallow this blog, expect to get an entire spectrum of the music world.
On a side note, if you do email us, please put who you are adressing in the subject. Thanks again!