Gary Clark, Jr. is a blues musician from Austin, TX, a city with a rich history of blues musicians including the legendary Stevie Ray Vaughan. SRV's brother, Jimmie Vaughan, helped Clark gain traction and exposure in the Austin and Texas blues scene. I recently saw him at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in mid-April along with a huge crowd of amazed onlookers. He absolutely destroyed it and was one of the best acts I saw all weekend. Clark has won the Austin Musician for Best Blues and Electric Guitarist three different times and May 3 is the official Gary Clark, Jr. Day in Austin. Recently, he appeared with B.B. King, Mick Jagger, Jeff Beck, and Buddy Guy in the Red, White, and Blues event at the White House. Tabbed as a savior of blues, a genre that hasn't got much press lately and mainly dominated by white musicians for the past 40 years, the videos below show why he's so special...
Kristian Matsson, aka The Tallest Man On Earth, is a Swedish singer-songwriter. He's recorded two fantastic albums Shallow Grave (2008) and The Wild Hunt (2010) and is set to release a third album sometime this year. He easily compares to Bob Dylan in vocal-style and songwriting ability, but he's a much better guitar player than Dylan ever was. Themes of his songs are typical of singer-songwriters - life, love, relationships, etc. - but he pens fantastic metaphors to keep things interesting and fresh.
Here's a track off Miike Snow's Happy To You, the Swedish band's second album. Released this week on iTunes (worldwide on 3/27), it's a strong second effort from the band. It's the track is the best I've heard this year so far.
Landmark album for a band who has created so much over their long career. This one made national headlines, not so much for the music within, but for the initial cost of the release....nothing or whatever you want to pay. It was a clever move by a band who could have sold it for $9.99 in a digital download from iTunes. A big F-U to the major record labels, who have struggled to end the file sharing explosion since the turn of the century and failed to adapt their business model to the internet age. Rather than prosecute, Radiohead chose to embrace the file sharing concept and released the album themselves. Surprisingly, the band had strong sales even though users could download it for nothing. I initially downloaded it for 5 pounds, but subsequently bought it on CD and vinyl. One of the few albums I have in all three formats.
Aside from the way it was initially distributed, the album itself is breathtaking and the strongest effort of Radiohead's career. There's not one dull moment, but tracks 3-8 could be the best sequence of songs ever recorded by any band. Just unbelievable songwriting and instrumentation, these songs still amaze after 5 years of listening to them. It's easily my favorite album of the past decade.
Beginning in 2006, Frightened Rabbit, a Scottish quintet, has quietly made a string of fantastic albums - Sing The Greys (2006), The Midnight Organ Fight (2008), The Winter of Mixed Drinks (2010). They're slated to release their fourth album in August, and I'm looking forward to their next effort. The Midnight Organ Fight is their strongest record and one of my favorites of the last decade. It's a fresh take on the classic break-up album with the frighteningly amazing metaphors and emotional lyrics written by frontman Scott Hutchinson. Hutchinson sings in a thick Scottish voice which takes a little while to get accustomed to, but it grows on you given the passionate delivery and the backing instrumentation is unbelievable. A classic rock band with a lot more to say, and hopefully in 2012 they'll have even more people discover this talented band from across the pond.
Coachella is one of the premier music festivals in the world. 100s of bands pack the stages over three blistering hot days in the Mojave Desert outside of Indio, CA. In 2007, I camped here for the festival which featured Arcade Fire, Bjork, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage Against the Machine, Kings of Leon, The Arctic Monkeys, and many other great bands. This year we're renting a house to beat the heat and sleep past 7 a.m. Here's the bands I'm most looking forward to seeing....
Radiohead
Legends. Known for their amazing live shows, this is the main reason why I'm packing my bags and heading out to the desert. I've seen them only once live, and it will be cool to see them at a festival with 70,000 other fans.
Bon Iver
Fresh off their Grammy for Best New Artist (the Grammy's really need to do their research, 2008 anyone?), Justin Vernon and company are setting out for another extensive tour this year in support of their amazing self-titled, sophomore album. They've proven they can handle the big stage with a blistering set at Glastonbury a couple of years ago. Can't wait.
m83
After a huge 2011, m83 is back for another tour in support of their album of the year, Hurry Up We're Dreaming. I've never seen them live, although I've heard they don't disappoint.
Frank Ocean
This guy proved he has some serious star potential in 2011 with the release of a great mix-tape. He's slated to provide us with his debut album in the spring, and I'm eager to hear how he performs live. If this video is any indication, it should be spectacular minus the singing fans in the background.
The Weeknd
Looking forward to seeing this sensational R&B artist. He took the Internet by storm, releasing 3 mix-tapes without the assistance of a major label. The one thing that makes me apprehensive about his performance is that his music is heavily sampled and beat oriented which probably won't translate well to a live setting.
Dr. Dre and Snoop
They aren't the main reason why I'm going because rappers aren't known for their live performances (with the exception of Jay-Z). But I can't help being just a little excited for the legendary gangsta rap duo. It'll bring back many memories of the middle/high school days.
The Black Keys
While I've seen them many times, they never get old. The Friday headliners will not disappoint with their arsenal of amazing tracks. In 2007, they played a small tent and I didn't get a chance to see them. Now their headlining. It's what makes these festivals so great.
Feist
I've never seen her live, so this will be a real treat. She's one of my favorite female vocalists and musicians, so it will be nice to see her in person.
Explosions in the Sky
Unbelievable. Easily one of my favorite sets of Coachella 2007. They played in the middle afternoon on the main stage, and it was nice to just chill on the grass and listen to these masters of post-rock perform. Hopefully they'll play the main stage again as the sun sets, as a warm up for the highly energetic sets of m83, Arctic Monkeys, and the Black Keys.
Miike Snow
Caught the end of Miike Snow's set at Bonnaroo in 2010 and wished I was there for the whole thing. They really had the crowd rolling, and I'm anxious to hear their new material.
Girl Talk
By the time Sunday comes around, I hope I'll have enough energy to keep up with this guy. He's a master at mixing and sampling while putting on a fantastic live show.
The Arctic Monkeys
This is another band I saw when I went to Coachella in 2007. It was an amazing set, and these guys are no strangers to the main stage. While they've expanded their sound since then, to my disliking, they'll still pack a mean punch on Friday night.
After buying The Beatles' Love soundtrack on DVD audio, an excellent recording and a must listen for any Beatles fan, I felt inspired to list my favorite songs by the band. There's no question that this is the best band to ever exist, and without them, music today wouldn't be the same. Their work is truly timeless.
10. "Strawberry Fields Forever"
09. "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds"
08. "Hey Jude"
07. "In My Life"
06. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"
05. "Yesterday"
04. "Something"
George Harrison's masterpiece. A very underrated Beatle, if there is such a thing.
03. "Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End Medley"
02. "A Day In The Life"
One of the best songs ever written and closing track on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, it's rock's first real epic. Lennon and McCartney pulled together a 40 piece orchestra to create the song and each sang verses with different themes.
01. "Tomorrow Never Knows"
This is my favorite track by the band. I can't imagine being alive in 1966 and hearing this for the first time. It's way out there when compared to the rest of Revolver, but eerily relevant even today. Unbelievable track and way, way, way ahead of its time.
"In a fast German (Japanese) car, I'm amazed that I survived, An airbag saved my life"
What a fitting song for my experience last night. A head on collision from a Chevy Tahoe could have done me in. A couple of paces to the right, and she would have smashed the driver's side door, likely causing life-threatening injuries. Luckily, I walked with barely a scratch. At first, I thought of the other people involved and if they were okay. Then, it was "shit, now I have to make car payments again." It's taken a little while to sink in, but it could have been much, much worse. Glad to be alive today with the rest of the people I love and care about.
Bon Iver took the stage on SNL last night and didn't disappoint. Playing "Holocene" and "Beth/Rest" off their grammy-nominated, self-titled record, the guys looked the part and seemed really comfortable up there. SNL's stage is notorious for watering down acoustics, but it was hardly noticeable last night. Bravo Vernon and co. for nailing the performance.
Delta Spirit hails from San Diego, CA and formed in 2005. Their rock, northern soul sound is fairly unique, but their strengths lie in great song writing and well-developed instrumentalism. With two good albums, the band has gained a strong following and are known for performing well in a live setting. Ode to Sunshine, their first effort, is the strongest of the two records, but History From Below holds their best track, "Devil Knows You're Dead". The song was featured in the closing scene of the equally amazing show, Friday Night Lights. Delta Spirit is back in the studio recording their third album, and I'm anxious to hear what they'll bring in 2012.
I know I've blogged about him earlier this year, but I keep listening to his fantastic mixtape Nostalgia.ULTRA. He's set to release his debut album through Def Jam Record in the spring. If the mixtape is any indication, the guy will be a star very soon. He reminds me a lot of John Legend armed with an equally amazing voice. He's a little rougher around the edges than Legend and doesn't have the same prowess on the keys. Ocean has collaborated with many established artists including an appearance on two of the best tracks off Jay-z and Kanye West's Watch the Throne. Watch out. (and I know I said Lana Del Rey would be a star - I take that back)
This man needs no introduction. The Godfather of Soul was instrumental in music history, influencing many genres and musicians alike. Without this guy, there would be no Michael Jackson, Prince, or any other R&B, funk, disco, or rap artist. Sam Cooke and Otis Redding might have been better singers, but they didn't have the complete package that James had. A year ago at my friend's 30th birthday party, we played Mr. Brown's Greatest Hits straight through, and I can't remember a better time dancing to the soul great. His music is truly timeless.
This is the second album of the Swedish sisters, Klara and Johanna Soderberg, who became an internet sensation in 2008 after covering Fleet Foxes' "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song". In 2010, the duo recorded their debut album which was well-received but fell flat to some listeners given its one-dimensional and incomplete songwriting. However, this release shatters all doubts about the Soderbergs and is a big step in the right direction. Much like the Fleet Foxes, the hallmark of their folky sound is rich, well-developed harmonies akin to the past folk greats. The girls have also matured lyrically, and producer Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes, Jenny Lewis) has layered this effort with more varied instrumentation and tighter song structures. Bright Eyes frontman and label-mate, Conor Oberst, appears on the closing track in fine form to end a fantastic album and early favorite of 2012.
Radiohead is one of my favorite bands. They are as close to the Beatles of our generation, and they've released many landmark albums over their career. While obviously not as popular as their older counterparts, Radiohead has pushed boundaries with every album much like their friends from across the pond. These are tracks that didn't make the cut, but they're all noteworthy and a must-listen for any Radiohead fan.
Here are my favorite songs of 2011. A lot of people thought that 2011 was a down music year and I agree to some extent, but there are always gems out there. These aren't in any particular order, but the tracks by m83 are #1 and #2. Hurry Up We're Dreaming was a really special album.
"Lotus Flower" - Radiohead
"Midnight City" - m83
"Steve McQueen" - m83
"Baby's Arms" - Kurt Vile
"Postcard from 1952" - Explosions in the Sky
"It's Real" - Real Estate
"Cannons" - Youth Lagoon
"Over My Dead Body" - Drake
"Gold on the Ceiling" - The Black Keys
"Novacane" - Frank Ocean
"Cruel" - St. Vincent
"Vomit" - Girls
"Baby Missiles" - War on Drugs
"Holocene" - Bon Iver
"Beth/Rest" - Bon Iver
"Circuital" - My Morning Jacket
"Grown Ocean" - Fleet Foxes
"Need You Now" - Cut Copy
"Surfer's Hymn" - Panda Bear
"Whirring" - The Joy Formidable
"The Morning" - The Weeknd
Covers:
Bon Iver - "I Can't Make You Love Me (Bonnie Raitt)"
