Here's one of the most interesting songs I've heard, Frontier Psychiatrist by The Avalanches. To me it seems that the only part of the song that The Avalanches actually composed was the beat.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Genre-benders
I was going to post a whole slew of videos that document the art and musical forms of a certain subculture. But I decided to post some videos from artists who blur genres, sometimes deliberately. I also included some acts that some major label artist use to make other kinds of music. I also relied on the fact that I get to name drop and say that I am connected to these groups in one way or another.
WARNING: these videos are not PG-13. That is why they are links, so you may choose to visit or not.
Crystal Castles:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jf6I5qZFoHI&feature=related
CocoRosie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Exm8bKidg4Y
Das Racist:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tfn4pnY3WcA
Devendra Banhart:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSsW9ALDcKI
Devendra Banhart in Megapuss:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5PFZjyfvCs&feature=related
Beirut:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc3ZAs17uAg
What I am not going to presume is that I know where the edges of music are located. I also am not going to say that I despise the mass music production scene or major artists. Just because something exists in an institution and is popular and is backed by a circus of money and PR reps- doesn't mean I should ignore it. The more you pay attention to media, and music and pop, etc. the more you are able to point out its own historical and artistic references, deconstruct its meaning and witness exactly what happens when pop is absorbed into a culture.
WARNING: these videos are not PG-13. That is why they are links, so you may choose to visit or not.
Crystal Castles:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jf6I5qZFoHI&feature=related
CocoRosie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Exm8bKidg4Y
Das Racist:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tfn4pnY3WcA
Devendra Banhart:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSsW9ALDcKI
Devendra Banhart in Megapuss:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5PFZjyfvCs&feature=related
Beirut:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc3ZAs17uAg
What I am not going to presume is that I know where the edges of music are located. I also am not going to say that I despise the mass music production scene or major artists. Just because something exists in an institution and is popular and is backed by a circus of money and PR reps- doesn't mean I should ignore it. The more you pay attention to media, and music and pop, etc. the more you are able to point out its own historical and artistic references, deconstruct its meaning and witness exactly what happens when pop is absorbed into a culture.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Non-Major Record Label Music
In the interest of going above and beyond the call of duty, I'm posting two distinct bands that have found success outside of mainstream record labels.
First, I have a clip from Pig Destroyer. They are signed to Relapse Records, which started by representing three bands, grew into wholesale and distribution, and has expanded into a well-respected extreme music (e.g., more abrasive sub-genres of punk rock and heavy metal) label. Pig Destroyer is not a band that's ever going to find themselves on a mainstream radio station, if any radio station. I have seen their videos on television, but only on programs that specialize in similar music, which are on specialty channels and at obscure hours. Their music has sparse appeal, so the DIY method could only take them so far; without support and the internet, I would never have heard of them. They produced this video for an unknown amount of money (If anyone can find the number, I'd be most grateful), and it's received more than 500,000 views.
The other band I'd like to share with you is called Vertigo Venus, and their situation is very different. Their sound is much tamer, and as a result, has wider appeal than Pig Destroyer. They, however, are unsigned. Having recently played South by Southwest in Texas and signed a contract to put their music in television programs, though, they're doing a fair job of it without a label. They do shows in and around Albuquerque (including an upcoming performance at NMT on 4/29), and distribute CDs through a local wholesale owned by a friend of theirs. They're looking for support through specialty punk and electronic labels (e.g. Epitaph Records and Metropolis Records). This video was made in the basement of an old strip club for eight pizzas. It has received over 14,000 views, but comparing the two videos belies the kind of resources available to the respective bands.
First, I have a clip from Pig Destroyer. They are signed to Relapse Records, which started by representing three bands, grew into wholesale and distribution, and has expanded into a well-respected extreme music (e.g., more abrasive sub-genres of punk rock and heavy metal) label. Pig Destroyer is not a band that's ever going to find themselves on a mainstream radio station, if any radio station. I have seen their videos on television, but only on programs that specialize in similar music, which are on specialty channels and at obscure hours. Their music has sparse appeal, so the DIY method could only take them so far; without support and the internet, I would never have heard of them. They produced this video for an unknown amount of money (If anyone can find the number, I'd be most grateful), and it's received more than 500,000 views.
The other band I'd like to share with you is called Vertigo Venus, and their situation is very different. Their sound is much tamer, and as a result, has wider appeal than Pig Destroyer. They, however, are unsigned. Having recently played South by Southwest in Texas and signed a contract to put their music in television programs, though, they're doing a fair job of it without a label. They do shows in and around Albuquerque (including an upcoming performance at NMT on 4/29), and distribute CDs through a local wholesale owned by a friend of theirs. They're looking for support through specialty punk and electronic labels (e.g. Epitaph Records and Metropolis Records). This video was made in the basement of an old strip club for eight pizzas. It has received over 14,000 views, but comparing the two videos belies the kind of resources available to the respective bands.
Now that's what I call music
I was gonna just post some of my friends' album (and oh no I'm doing it anyway listen to them they are awesome Squab Squawk and These Estates) but then I kind of figured self-produced, self-recorded stuff doesn't even count as the fringe of music so here's a little bit of a quick cop out- St. Vincent.
Lunasa
Here's a link to one of my favorite songs from one of my favorite bands. They played at Tech ... I want to say about ten or so years ago, which is where I first heard them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtW2Tw-KdKQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtW2Tw-KdKQ
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Jack Savoretti - Wonder
Just trying to share some music that I don't know that anyone else (or many other people) have heard of :)
Jack Savoretti - wonder
Jack Savoretti - wonder
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