You are currently browsing the monthly archive for September, 2008.
I am going to break format this week and instead of reviewing a CD, I want to recommend that you see a great music documentary entitled “Young At Heart”.
This is a very life affirming movie about the “Young At Heart” Chorus. A group of senior citizens who perform contemporary and classic rock, pop, punk, funk and disco songs. This film chronicles them as they rehearse new songs for their latest tour.
As this group of seniors (backed by an outstanding band) rehearse and preform covers by Jimi Hendrix, The Ramones, and The Bee Gees, the camera takes us into their personal lives, many plagued by health issues that are not uncommon for most seniors. And through it all, it’s their desire to keep making it to the next rehearsal and to the next performance that keeps them going.
If you need proof that music can keep you young, look no further than this movie. It is all at once hystericly funny, and sadly bittersweet. Young at heart breaks down barriers between young and old and proves that we can all be (at the very least) “Young at Heart”.
Speed Racer (the movie) just came out on DVD. I wasn’t a fan of the Speed Racer cartoon as a kid (Gigantor was more my thing). But a friend of mine wanted me see it , so I did.
First of all, I was surprised at how much fun the movie was, I surprised by it’s heart, but most of all, I was surprised how much the films story worked as an analogy for the struggles independent musicians/recording artists (of whom I count myself one) and the indie music scene.
When the film starts Speed is an independent racer. He is sponsored by no one but his Father’s own equally independent Racer Motors.
When Speed wins the films opening race and makes the papers, his pit crew of 1 wonders why Racer Motors wasn’t mentioned in the story.
Pops racer grimly states “The sponsors control the media”. This sets the tone for the rest of the movie. Speed Racer struggles between the idea of signing with a major sponsor or staying independent.
Once upon a time, if you where a musician/songwriter, the only way you where going to release an album was if you signed to a Major label. Oh sure you could release an album on your own, but it would cost you a LOT, and no one would know about it after you where done. The labels controlled distribution. They controlled what made the shelves (they still do for the most part) they controlled what got on the radio through payola (and for the most part they still do).
The 2 big differences between now and then is that digital technology has made the recording process affordable and digital distribution is open to everyone and the labels have no control (but they keep trying to control it god bless em’ LOL).
Speed quickly learns that signing to a major sponsor can put a lot of money in his pocket,but that they (the sponsor)can decide what he can and cannot do. They can even tell him he has to lose the race.
And like the Major labels, if speed doesn’t sign with them, if he dares to race against them as an independent racer, they will bury him. They will make sure he never leaves the starting gate.
Even with the Internet the Major Labels try their best to control any avenue of promotion they can.
IE: It’s not enough to beat the competition. They don’t want the world to know that it even ever existed in the first place
Speed is told by the sponsors that his ideas of racing are all wrong. That racing is not about anything grander then the commerce it provides. Later his mother confirms that watching him race is like watching art.
numerous are the stories of recording artists with a real vision of their own finding themselves at odds with a label, who doesn’t see their vision as “commercially appealing”. Many times an artists signs to a label ecstatic at first, only to be frustrated later when desicions about their music, is not in their own hands.
In the end, Speed chooses his independence. As a result of his decision he must face impossible odds. He must face a giant promotion machine that wants him to not exist, and a system that works completely against him. Speed faces all these challenges and he triumphs (This a Hollywood movie after all).
In the real world The Indie music artist must face pretty much the same challenges. Our victories may not be as dramatic as a motion picture but they do happen and they are shared. When indie musicians Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová won the Oscar for their song “Falling Slowly” from the Film “Once” it was a victory for the entire independent music community.
I am sorry to hear that Speed Racer did not do as well as hoped at the Box office. It is a visually stunning film with a surprising amount of heart (Not to mention a lot of fun). Go seek it out on DVD if you haven’t seen it yet, and if you have already, perhaps after reading this, you might see it through different eyes.
Artist: Peter Frampton
Album: Now
Worth Buying: Yes, the whole album
You will be interested in this album if you are fan of: Classic rock and want to hear something new
Tell Me More: This album came out in 2003. I missed it the first time around. I am sorry I did. I was never really a fan of Peter Frampton. This is not to say that I didn’t like his music. I was familiar with his hits. But I never owned a copy of Frampton Comes Alive
. I was certainly aware of what an exceptional (and sometimes overlooked) guitarist he is, from his own work, and his recorded work with other major artists. So when this album was released in 2003 it was not at the top of my list……And what a mistake I made. I am very glad to say that if you are a fan of Classic Rock, this album is definately worth putting on your to do list. It won’t matter if you are a fan of Mr. Frampton’s previous work or not. What we have here are songs that by the 3rd listen became increasingly more and more enjoyable to hear. These are well crafted songs played by vituosos who neither overplay nor underplay. I think that both old and young fans of Classic Rock will really enjoy hearing some music that is new, but sounds classic…..And don’t let the cover fool you. The album Rocks!
What about the packaging? The album comes in a standard jewel case with a 12 page booklet, but sadly no lyrics are included.
Listen to samples and buy in CD format here at CD universe here
Unfortunately I could not find this album in mp3 format on iTunes or Amazon. So I cannot recommend a single for you.
The other day another musician told me the following joke:
Q: How do you respond when someone in the audience requests “Freebird”?
A: Extend your middle finger to them and say “There you go, free of charge”. 
The radio play keeps coming in.
This time I found out that 100.1 FM KRUU (The voice of Fairfield) played my cover of “Hey Ya” (From my CD Another Roll Of The Dice) during the Eden’s Hour show hosted by Erin Skipper.
Check out the show here
http://www.kruufm.com/edens-hour-playlist-2008-9-6
Thanks Erin!
Artist: The Bird and the Bee
Album: The Bird and the Bee
Worth buying: Yes, the whole album.
You will be interested in this album if you are a fan of: The Carpenters, Electronic pop, ambient pop. quirky pop, & indie pop.
Tell me more: Imagine if the Carpenters where more ambient sounding, and weren’t opposed to using the “F” word from time to time. This is an album with lush and beautiful musical landscapes which came off at first listen as being electronic. But on closer listening I found that the instrumentation was actually more acoustic than I realized. But most importanly are the beautiful silk like female vocals that give this band it’s unique sound (thus the Carpenters comparison) . There is a fun and quirky subversive quality to this album that extends beyond just the occasional use of the aforementioned “F” word. This is one of the most enjoyable pop albums I have heard in some time.
click here to listen to samples and buy in the mp3 format
click here to buy in CD format
Artist:Michael Ubaldini
Single: Talkin’ High Gas Price Blues
Worth Buying: Yes
You will be interested in this song if you are a fan of: Blues, Folk, Country , Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Protest music, Satirical music
Tell Me More:You know, I’ve always said that it’s great if you want to write a song with with a “message”, or a “protest song”, or a song about something “topical” (God knows I’ve done it). But often I find that artists who write these kinds of songs forget that no matter what your message, you still have to write a good song, and you still have to entertain the audience: Well, Roots Rocker Micheal Ubaldini didn’t forget this and he has hit the proverbial nail on the head with his latest single “Talkin’ High Gas Price Blues”. There is no one driving a car in the US right now who won’t be able to relate to his latest single release. This song definitely vents, but it’s also fun. It’s humor and anger are in all the right places. Once you hear this song, you will want to tell your friends about it (that’s what I’m doing right now). Give some love to a hard working indie artist by spending only 99 cents.
Artist: Without the Blonde
Single: Love You I do
Worth Buying: Yes
You might be interested in this single if you are a fan of: Alt Pop, Lo Fi Pop, and music from the Juno Movie sountrack
This cool and quirky love song from OC indie artist ”Without The Blonde”, could have easily sat on the Juno movie soundtrack. This is just a single but is fun and enjoyble bit of indie pop that comes off like breath of fresh air, so let’s hope we see an album from her in the near future. Give some love to a struggling indie artist by spending 99 cents.
