Musical Interpretations

I couldn't really decide on an artist to feature with this post, but I still needed to put up something, so instead I'm going to pseudo steal a post from Soul Sides, an amazing music blog about all sorts of rhythmic music from soul to hip hop. An observant reader of soul sides noticed the songs Slow Dance by John Legend and He Can Only Hold Her by Amy Winehouse have very similar intros and chord progressions. Well Mr. Wang, the author of Soul Sides, quickly realized this was because both songs were based on The Icemen's 1966 single My Girl, She's a Fox.

The Icemen - My Girl, She's a Fox

Now sampling ideas from music is nothing new, but I found it interesting that both of these artists took the basic format of the song, including the little 'da da da da' line and incorporated it into a new song with different lyrics. I never knew of The Icemen song but I had heard both the Winehouse and Legend versions before reading the post, but I never put two and two together.

I can't say for sure, but I'm guessing both artists used the song with permission, as the similarities are definitely close enough to get sued for if not. Amy Winehouse picks the tempo up a little in her version and is more liberal with the songs use, but its still the same basic idea. John Legend reworks the lyrics but maintains the original tempo and feel of the song. I think his version is really the strongest as the lyrics just seem to fit so well with the song. In the end I think its just really impressive how one main idea can form the basis for three different songs which all have their own unique feel. I really love all three of these tracks, and don't consider any of them to be the same song.

John Legend - Slow Dance

Amy Winehouse - He Can Only Hold Her


And as a bonus, the live version of He Can Only Hold Her where Amy breaks into a certain Lauryn Hill song at the end. Pretty sweet.

Amy Winehouse - He Can Only Hold Her (live)


-Alec

It's gettin hot with Mark Ronson

I'm not exactly sure why, but when the weather gets hotter I tend to listen to more rap/hip-hop...when colder, more rock/indie. Well, the weather right now is hot, and Alec and I have been spinning a CD called Here Comes the Fuzz by mega-producer Mark Ronson quite a bit lately. Who is Mark Ronson? He is an England-born music producer who has been behind such gems as the incredible neo-soul disc Back to Black by Amy Winehouse, a few tracks off of Lily Allen's Allright Still, and some tracks from Rhymefest's grammy winning CD, Blue Collar.

Here Comes the Fuzz is a CD produced entirely by Mark Ronson himself. For this album, he signed up a lot of rappers and guest artists such as Nappy Roots, Saigon (of Entourage fame), Sean Paul, Rivers Cuomo (Weezer), Ghostface Killah, and Mos Def to name just a few. He lays down the sick beats and production while he lets his artists go seamlessly over the top. It is a really great album that shows off Ronson's versatility as a DJ and producer. He is able to make so many summer-ready songs with artists from so many genres...and they (for the most part) all sound great. There are a few weaker tracks on the album, but it's an album you could put on at a party and not skip a track. A few of my favorites are posted below.

The first features Saigon rapping over a tight drum beat, synth on the back beats, and little keyboard lines intertwined. The chorus is one that you'll be singing by the end of the tune, and I think it may make you want to check out some of Saigon's own stuff.



The next is called Bluegrass Stain'd featuring Nappy Roots. Mark Ronson lets Nappy Roots keep their southern, country-rap style which really works to their advantage. Synth and drums provide the base of the tune, while the short guitar cuts add a little flavor to the mix. This is some of the best stuff I've heard from Nappy Roots, and I highly recommend it.



The last features Q-tip and Debi Nova in a more soulful tune. It begins with a more DJ-esque feel and then breaks into a well-sung chorus by Nova while keeping the beat intact. Q-tip takes back over with his nasal-rap style and it once again breaks into a piece where Nova really shines with some added horn lines.



There are so many good tracks on this CD...if you are curious....let me know, I can send you more. Enjoy!

Common leaks

I didn't really want to post on the new Common album until it actually comes out. But a few tracks have leaked now and I feel like its important to share them rather than just hold onto them. Thanks to the one-man hype -machine Mr. Kanye West, Common's new album Finding Forever has quite a bit of buzz behind it. There's good reason for this as his previous album the critically acclaimed Be has launched Common into the top circle of rap artists, and I must admit that its one of my favorite rap albums. The thing I love about Common is how consistent he is. He doesn't have the flashiness or huge singles that so many rap artists depend on, rather he just makes consistently great songs that grow on you over time. Be is a solid album from beginning to end, something that is refreshing in a genre where there are so many filler tracks made just to fill out an album.

I am very excited about the release of Finding Forever, which is tentatively slated for a July 10th release. Once again the production is done by Kanye West, who does talk a big game, but also consistently seems to back it up. The first song here is rumored to be the first single from his new album, and features Common rapping over a basic hip-hop beat with some scratching done by DJ Premier. I love how this song demonstrates Common's ability to support a song based on his lyrics and rhyming. That's not to say that the beat is bad, its just striped down to allow Common to own the spotlight.

Common - The Game

The second track is one that is also rumored to be a single as well. The touch of Kanye is definitely evident on this one with its soulful style and sped up samples used. It's a real laid back song that you can just grooves and it's growing on me more and more.

Common - The People (feat. Dwele)

All in all I like what I've heard so far from the album. Kanye claims it will be the best album of the year (somewhat surprising considering he has an album coming out later this year) and although I think its a little too early to tell, what I've heard so far sounds promising.

-Alec

Break it on down in New Orleans

Sorry that it has been so long since the last post, but we'll get back on top of things now. For those of you that did not know, a few friends and I went down to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival last weekend. This is a 12 stage festivla showcasing all kinds of music from Jazz to Blues to Zydeco to Big Band to straight up pop. If you have any breadth in your music tastes, it's an incedible place to go, chill, and listen to great music. Not only that, but the Cajun dishes are absolutely incredible down there. I think Teddy and I tried almost every food imaginable from Crawfish Etoufees to Muffaletas to Pheasant Gumbo to fried pickles. All of the food was very tasty, and we really enjoyed everything that we tried washed down with some Louisiana-brewed Abita beers.

On to the music. Teddy and I tried to get a taste of all the music genres available, and I think that we did a pretty good job. We saw a 40 person gospel choir belting out tunes that made you want to get up and clap your hands. We saw an old blues guitarist called Po Henry and his ridiculous harmonica player Tookie play some blues standards and traditional delta blues. We saw a Zydeco band that played everything from washboards to fiddles to accordions and guitars. We saw a Dixie band where all the members had to be 65+ year olds wearing straw hats just like you would expect. Wa saw a bit of Stephen Marley playing mostly his father's hits. We caught New Orleans funk band Galactic making the entire crowd bounce during their set. We saw the Allman Brothers still goin strong. And we saw some more pop-oriented acts like Better Than Ezra, Counting Crows, and John Mayer take the stage. Overall, it was an unforgettable musical and culinary experience.

Below are a few songs from bands that really impressed us. One is the Gangbe Brass Band from West Africa. These guys play an afrobeat style of brass band music that got a lot of the crown dancing. They sang some arabic and some indistiguishable African languages over a few songs, while all of the intruments also had their own solo time. Each player was incredibly talented, and there is a reason that the Gangbe Brass Band tours the world with great success. The song posted, 'Remember Fela' really showcases how all of the instruments fit together. There is a great layering element over the distinct afro-beat.



The other was ancient blues guitarist Snooks Eaglin. Two people had to walk him out, set him in a chair, and put the guitar in his hands. However, once he got his guitar....let me tell you, he was damn good. He played a style of blues that incorporated an organ and kept things a bit more uptempo. His recorded songs just showcase him, alone, with an acoustic, and they are a great blues primer if you haven't listened to much blues. The first tune, 'Walking Blues' is a real traditional blues tune with a drawling voice, repeating bars, and a sad feel. The other, 'Lookin for a Woman' lets Snooks go a bit. He seems a bit happier when singin this tune, and it makes you want to tap your feet just as you can hear him doing the same. These recordings feel quite intimate, like he just set up a mic and went....which is pretty neat. Enjoy!