Music News & Views

2004-04-24T19:30:00.000-04:00

Remembering Seattle’s Finest
Almost three weeks ago on April 5th, music fans across the country celebrated the life and death of two Seattle based artists, who both found popularity during the grunge music phase. 10 years ago on this day, Nirvana co-founder and singer, Kurt Cobain, killed himself with a massive dose of heroin and a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He was only 27. Eight years later on the same day, singer of the already defunct rock-band Alice in Chains, Layne Staley, age 34, was found dead from an overdose on a combination of heroin and cocaine. Surely it’s a coincidence, but it’s worthy of mention when considering the similar background both musicians shared.
But where Cobain’s death has been met with a massive public outpouring of grief, not just from the day he passed, but each day forward as the years pass by, Staley’s has been greeted with a general shrug of indifference and a complete lack of surprise. The difference may be in the fact that Staley’s band has been inactive for so long, and he’d already been written off by so many; it almost seemed like he’d already died. In fact there had been rumors spreading for years that his heavy drug use is what tore his popular and successful band apart. Cobain’s band on the other hand was at the height of their career, which is why so many people questioned his depression that would eventually lead to his suicide.
It still however continues to puzzle my mind because both artists were well known drug users and in my opinion and obviously within the case of Cobain’s death it should not be held against them. When Cobain died, fans gathered to not only celebrate his life but his music. After all that was what brought these people to Cobain and made a connection. Staley made many contributions to music as well, while his band was successful overall; his voice was an inspiration to many up and coming singers and his bands music was in awe by so many for their ability to transpose many of their hit songs into acoustic hits as well. The question still remains unanswered in my eyes: why has Staley’s addiction caused people to overlook his contribution to music and why did only an estimated 200 fans attend a vigil after his death?

2004-04-14T17:26:00.000-04:00

Reject Wins Americans' Heart Afterall
Will William Hung get the last laugh on the "American Idol" judges who booted the 21-year-old University of California student off the show in January? It definitely looks possible according to the national sales chart this week.
Last week alone, the diminutive man with the big grin turned up singing during halftime at a Golden State Warriors NBA game, landed guest shots on NBC's "Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and ABC's "Good Morning America," and saw the release of his Koch International debut album, Inspiration.
His album includes his celebrated rendition of the Ricky Martin hit, "She Bangs," and karaoke-like versions of the Eagles' "Hotel California," Elton John's "Can You Feel the Love Tonight," and the Village People's "Y.M.C.A" It also contains audio with Hung's observations on passion, perseverance and being yourself.
Believe it or not, Hung's release appears to be on the way to a Top 40, maybe even a Top 30 debut according to Billboard. So far it's on track to sell 30,000 to 40,000 copies its first week in stores.
Some speculate - and I tend to agree - that more people are laughing at Hung than with him. There does however appear to be a sizable following that thinks he deserves another shot at the "American Idol" crown. A petition on the website www.petitiononline.com shows more than 100,000 e-signatures of people who would like to see Hung return to the Fox show!
Hung's sincerity appears to be the quality that has elevated him above other contestants ushered off the show in the early stages of competition, and the lesson to be learned would seem to be that talent is far less critical to winning Americans' hearts than honest effort.

2004-04-06T19:05:00.000-04:00

N.E.R.D: Fly or Die
Thanks to their unstoppable hit-making abilities for artists like Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears and just about everyone else on TRL, producers Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo (the Neptunes) are free to indulge themselves every once in awhile and they really cut loose on the latest effort with their group N.E.R.D, which also features rapper Shay. The group’s second album, Fly or Die, features songs that showcase their love of new wave, hip-hop and metal. The hip-hop element, which was more apparent in their first release, In Search Of, plays a more subtle role and is replaced with classic rock. However the element of surprise still exists and you never quite know what to expect with each song.
The title track is a prime example of the punk/rock combination that N.E.R.D have progressed into. Joel and Benji Madden from the punk-rock band Good Charlotte even jump in, lending their musical abilities on the song “Jump.” Other key guests on the album include the drummer of The Roots, ?uestlove (and yes that is how he spells it!) and guitarist/vocalist Lenny Kravitz. The current single, “She Wants to Move,” needs no clarification: a song about sex and love, which features a strong bass line and a solid groove. It is this theme of sex and love that translates across the entire album. “The Way She Dances” is the archetypal N.E.R.D song, oozing with charismatic coolness and sexiness, which comes across in not only the group’s music but also in the musicians they produce.
Their entire album is hard to find fault with. As you would expect from this super duo, it is brilliantly produced and demonstrates their ability to change and evolve, as does our culture.

2004-03-28T11:14:00.000-05:00

Class of 2004
Outkast, Alicia Keys, Kid Rock and Dave Matthews were just a few of the musicians who introduced the new inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last week.
At the celebration, which is held annually at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York, their peers honored renowned recording artists Prince, Bob Seger, Traffic, Jackson Browne, the late George Harrison, the Dells, and ZZ Top. Rolling Stone magazine founder Jann Wenner was also inducted.
The four-hour ceremony, which was whittled down to a two-hour TV special for VH1, began with a film collage of artists who died in 2003, accompanied by the late Johnny Cash’s cover of the Nine Inch Nails tune “Hurt” and the Righteous Brother’s “Unchained Melody.”
The Hall of Fame then went of to pay tribute to the music legends, starting with Prince: “Back in the day, entertainers were singers, they were dancers, they had great style and personality,” Outkast’s Andre 3000 said in his introduction. “We’ve lost a lot of that today, and so when it comes for me to do music, Prince is most definitely one of my greatest inspirations.”
Prince’s acceptance speech was brief, yet sentimental. He even thanked Warner Bros. Record Company, with which he battled for years and once protested by writing “slave” across his face to illustrate the label’s ownership over him. He then went on to perform an energized medley of his hits “Let’s Go Crazy,” Sign of the Times” and “Kiss.”
The 70’s rock band Traffic, led by Steve Winwood, went on to play a lengthy version of their classic “Dear Mr. Fantasy” after being inducted by Dave Matthews with an amusing, personal account of his first experience with their music. Anyone who has ever been in an altered state of mind, like Matthews said he was at the time, can easily relate to his tale.
Other inductees, Bob Seger and Jackson Browne went on to perform emotional and reflective versions of their classics, while Mick Jagger introduced Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner and his band mate Keith Richards introduced ZZ Top. The Texas Bands performance of “La Grange” and “Tush” proved to be one of the most energetic and flashy events of the night.
The show had its lighthearted moments with the late Beatle George Harrison being inducted by Traveling Wilbury’s cohorts. His wife and son accepted the honor. Harrison’s son, Dhani, even joined the band’s members on stage to perform the Beatles classic “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.”
The show closed with the usual mega jam in which most of the night’s inductees perform together on stage. This year they covered Chuck Berry’s “Sweet Little Rock and Roller” and Traffic’s “Feeling’ Alright.”
My only complaint is that with all the great classic songs that were not performed by the inductees, there could have been a better choice in the songs they selected to close the night with. Where were some of the other hits by Prince, such as “Purple Rain” and what about ZZ Top leaving out their hit song from the 80’s “Legs.”

2004-03-21T19:11:00.000-05:00

The Vines: Winning Days
I must admit that when The Vines first album, Highly Evolved, was released, i was somewhat skeptical. Afterall, The Strokes, The Hives and The White Stripes were all doing similar-sounding things. I suspected The Vines would continue in this same vein, a backwash of punkish power pop, melding with angry vocals. To make matters worse, my reservations were also based on the fact that record labels were signing, hyping and shoving as many of these three-chord, cookie-cutter bands as that could. I was wary because it was painfuly obvious that this was the "now" sound and it was becoming worn.
However, something about The Vines' debut caught my ear. They had an attitude to them. They swaggered, screamed, snarled, leered and growled. This immediately superseded my assumed comparisons to The Strokes and Nirvana.
Delving into the record was a pleasant surprise. Craig Nicholls proved to be a vocalist who could work with catchy guitar hooks. He could get his band mates riled up, creating pop songs with intensity, cohesion, and melody. Yes, The Vines were indeed a fun punk-rock band.
Fast forward two years to 2004. The Strokes, The White Stripes and The Hives are still around in an expanded field that now includes Jet and The Datsuns. With so many guests already at the table, you might think there wouldn't be enough room for The Vines anymore. Think again. This is the stage for The Vines as they release their second album, Winning Days. Although the hype, Mtv buzz and media frenzy has simmered down somewhat, this has not stopped The Vines from unleashing an unrelenting album.
After one listen to Winning Days, it is abundantly clear that The Vines want to be famous, stadium playing rock stars with fast cars and nice houses. The best example of this is the pounding, rock anthem first single, "Ride," which sets a loud, crushing tone for the rest of the album.
On the whole, this is a well-paced and well-constructed record. It doesn't tire easy or give in midway through. The pace is slowed down somewhat with "Animal Machine" and the candle-flicker anthem "Autumn Shade II." By the time The Vines start to rock again, on the gritty "Evil Town," i was completely taken in by how big and massive they sound. Winning Days has the great power chords that every pop song needs, but it descends into this great, chaotic, swirling bed of noise at the end. "She's Got Something to Say" comes out swinging with a loud, raucous guitar intro. It has heavy, loud percussion and a spastic bass line. "TV Pro" and "Rainfall" are solid rock songs, ideal for indie radio. "Fuck the World" ends the album where it began, with loud, expansive rock.
With the release of Winning Days, it is clear that The Vines are going to be around for a while. They manage to wear their attitude on their sleeves without ignoring their influences or innovation. They have proven themselves to be a band with legroom. Unlike many in the music business today, The Vines have walked the walk and produced an impressive sophomore effort.

2004-03-06T13:17:00.000-05:00

Wasted Wes
According to reports from various newspapers, magazines and websites, the rock band Puddle of Mudd walked of stage during a concert in Toledo, Ohio, leaving their drunk vocalist, Wes Scantlin, behind to confess onstage that he was "too fucked up to perform."
However, that didn't stop him from cursing, throwing a bottle into the crowd and doing an impromptu solo set of incomprehensible songs. While it seems unlikely that Scantlin's on the spot lyrics could be any worse than an actual Puddle of Mudd song, the fans weren't impressed and retaliated by cursing and throwing debris on stage.
After facing the wrath of the crowd, Scantlin headed backstage where he was greeted by Toledo Police and arrested for disorderly conduct and intoxication. Charges of criminal mischief and misconduct involving public transportation were added when Scantlin spit in the police cruiser on his way to the station. He was released on $150 bail. Incidentally, all charges were dropped after police discovered the bottle Scantlin threw was plastic, not glass. He also reported that the charges of him spitting in the police car were also false.
Regardless of whether or not the charges were dropped, it still does not excuse his performance. Afterall, this is his job and these are people who respect and appreciate him enough to go out and purchase a ticket to see his band play. Scantlin definitely did not live up to the responsibilities and obligation.
Despite the performance, some loyal Puddle of Mudd fans are not only standing by the band, but also actually enjoyed the show. However, there are some who have enough common sense to condemn the band and their fans.
Comments on their official message board range from "I love you Wes! Fuck the police! You rocked last night!!!" to "Fuck those assholes I'm glad to see you fans of this sap assed band enjoy being robbed...dumbass!"
Indeed. I couldn’t agree more with the last statement.

2004-02-29T13:36:00.000-05:00

50 for Town Councilman?
Rap superstar 50 cent has expressed an interest in running for town council in his new hometown of Farmington, Connecticut. 50 recently purchased the 18-bedroom estate from boxer Mike Tyson, which features a nightclub, health club, movie theater and an indoor pool. The former crack dealer has decided that is he's going to live in Farmington, he may as well get involved in running it. In a recent interview with reporters 50 stated "If Arnold can do it, why can't 50?" He of course is referring to actor Arnold Schwarzenegger's new role as Governor of California.
While 50 was probably joking when he recently discussed this with reporters, one local newspaper, The Herald of New Britain, says the head of G-Unit should consider getting serious. Staff writer Bill Larkin wrote an editorial last week urging last year's top selling musical artist to get involved in local politics. He believes that 50's run for office would fire up the community and inspire young people to pay closer attention to politics that affect them directly: "Do you really think public participation would be a problem if Curtis Jackson (50 cent's given name) was the first speaker on the agenda?"
In my opinion 50 is simply trying to push people's buttons. Neighbors in the town are far from thrilled that he going to live in Farmington and 50 is aware of this. What better way to get even more of a rise out of his new neighbors than state that he's going to run for a public office and help run the upscale community. I will be very surprised if we see him getting this involved. After all, with all of his touring and promotion responsibilities for his current album, along with a future one slated to be releaseded later this year, how much time will he really be spending in the area?

2004-02-22T17:19:00.000-05:00

Graduation with Honors
The liner notes to Kanye West’s album, “The College Dropout,” read like a high school yearbook, complete with the senior pictures of the graduating class. The class being all the rappers and technicians whom had a hand in the making of the album, most notably Sean Carter, also known as Jay-Z, and Dante Smith, better known as Mos Def. And last but not least, down at the bottom corner sits Mr. West himself, who has been voted “Best Dressed” and “Most Likely to Succeed.” Whether or not these distinctions were actually bestowed on West as a teenager is not certain, but it stands as a perfect metaphor for his underdog status throughout the album, which details his rise from a misguided and aimless student to his current position as on the of today’s premier figures in hip-hop.
Unlike most debut albums that garner attention because of a previous guest spot on an established star’s album or a demo that’s produced an underground buzz, West took a different path to stardom. He made a name for himself as a producer, leaving his mark all over the airways on such hits as Jay-Z’s “Izzo” and Alicia Keys’ “You Don’t Know My Name.” He quickly became a top gun over at Roc-A -Fella records, and earned himself a place on the short list of the most coveted producers in hip-hop today.
The question is can he rap? The answer is a resounding yes. “The College Dropout” is a concept album, a long and winding tale that touches upon West’s scholarly struggles, his cocaine dealing for financial stability, and his near-fatal car crash in October 2002, which he rap’s about in the first single of the album, “Through the Wire.” The song is an impressive display of his cleverness with lyrics, as he rhymes dessert and syrup by pronouncing them in a slight Snoop Dogg style as "dizzert" and "sizzurp."
The musical styles that West utilizes come from all over the map: soul, blues, gospel, etc. The previously discussed track, "Through the Wire" samples Chaka Khan's "Through the Fire." He continues to amaze us yet again when it comes to his ability to take an older piece of music and make it his own, while still retaining the passion and feel of the originals. The most impressive blending of musical genres comes on the track, “The New Workout Plan.” The song’s first half is carried by the sound of violins laid over a beat, but then the song makes a surprising, yet smooth transition into electronica.
By the time the album is completed, West has essentially told his entire life story through vivid narration, skits, and interludes. West has proven to be successful indeed, with “The College Dropout” as a testament to his current musical fame. It’s hard not to agree with him when he boasts, “I swear this right here, history in the making.”

2004-02-16T20:00:00.000-05:00

Biggest Night in Music Overshadowed
Last Sunday's presentation of the 46th annual Grammy Awards, which was on a five-minute tape delay, remained tame yet drew the biggest TV audience the award show has had in three years. In my case, as I am sure for any others, I tuned in to the event not to see who won, in fact I really don't even remember who won, but rather who would show up and what the night's antics would be. To my disappointment, the show lacked the excitement that I was looking for. Mind you, I didn't want to see another artist's breasts but I want to see if any of the musicians would rebel and speak out against the intense criticism Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake have received.
What I did see, along with the 26 millions of viewers that watched was Timberlake apologizing for his involvement in the previous Sunday's Super Bowl halftime show scandal. I question the sincerity of the apology considering CBS demanded it from him if he wanted to be on the program. Seeing that he took part in three of the night's performances I guess this was a no brainer for Timberlake. During his apology I noticed that he really doesn't see to accept his own fault in the breast-baring incident, but rather believes that he too is a victim and was falsely told of what was supposed to happen after he tore the black leather bustier off. He is simple passing the blame to Jackson and her crew.
Jackson meanwhile opted not to show, but was in spirit throughout the night, most notably when Christina Aguilera took the stage to accept her Grammy award. Aguilera, who was wearing a gown with a plunging neckline, commented: "I don't want to have the same thing happen that Janet had done." As long as she stays away from Timberlake, it's a safe bet she's all set.

2004-02-08T14:02:00.000-05:00

Breast in Show
While there may have been a dramatic finish to last Sunday's Super Bowl, everyone has been talking about what happened during halftime. The closing number, which featured Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake, left many asking, what were they thinking? While performing the hit song "Rock Your Body," Timberlake sang the line "I'm going to have you naked by the end of the song" and then proceeded to rip off a portion of Jackson's top. Her right breast briefly flashed millions of viewers. The FCC has been handling thousands of complaints from angry viewers, which has prompted a wave a statements from everyone who is feeling the heat.
CBS and MTV both claim they knew nothing about the removal of Jackson's leather bustier. Meanwhile, Timberlake stated that it was an accident, blaming the incident on a "wardrobe malfunction." The only one who really seems to owning up to the incident is Jackson. Earlier this week, she took full responsibility for the mishap and admitted that no one knew of the planned strip tease, but also backed Timberlake's statement by stating that her breast was not supposed to be exposed but rather a red lace bra that was underneath, which apparently "collapsed." This still has not let her or everyone else involved off the hook. Later in the week, a Tennessee woman filed a lawsuit
against Jackson, Timberlake, CBS and MTV on behalf of all the American's who witnessed the incident.
While I agree the stunt was in bad taste, especially considering the Super Bowl is considered a family event, I'm not so sure as to why everyone is in shock by it. First of all, seeing Britney Spears writhing around on stage a couple of years ago with her butt hanging out, dry-humping the stage, is far more offensive than seeing someone's exposed breast, with the areola covered by some silver body jewelry. And let's not forget last summer, when Madonna kissed Britney Spears at the MTV Video Music Awards, the bar was raised even higher for this kind of moment on a TV event. I have to say to CBS, Viacom, and the NFL, that when you ask MTV, who has always produced provocative entertainment, to produce the halftime show, this is what you are going to get. These companies and corporations want to be hip and cool yet also want to appeal to families, but you can't have it both ways.