A breath of fresh air

Hi guys, how are we ?
Well here, things are pretty strange and tense ... I don't know if it's this financial crisis or people get irritated for nothing but pressure seems to be the word in display now ... But whenever time get like this, great sounds appear and dazzle our world ... It's like these two acid jazz pearls that I've found in my CD shelf ...
As we know acid jazz is a sub-genre to the main R&B genre and we know that it is very hard to like it unless we have a taste for different kinds of groove and a flavour for exposed hard tempoed bass playing ... But for these 2 records I'm going to recommend you, no need for that kind of expertise ... You just need to have good taste in your dancing habits ... Both are extremly nice produced sounds with twists of the 70's, arabic/latin/caribbean music and gospel singing ... Both are pioneers in the genre, mixing every influence they get and every nationality found in their respective band formations ... For the first record, I recommend the espectacular "Brooklyn Funk Essentials" and their 2008's " Watcha Playin' " record ... Problably one of their finest recordings in their career, " Watcha Playin' " shows a different and amazing range of solutions for an excellent dance night ... From a typical jamaican reggae to an amazing hard tempoed arabic riff based groove, BFE dazzle you with their precise rythym section and amazing singing ... Pay attention to 3 excelent songs on the CD : "Dance-free Night", an excellent 80's based groove with psychodelical guitar riffs ; "My Jamaican Girl", a really good reggae based groove with a different approach to the ragga-steady style, and last but not least, "The Day Before Adidi", the best song on the record mixing arabic percussion and horns added to an almost rap/gospel singing, pure entretainment ...
For the second record, I recommend the also espectacular "Brand New Heavies" and their 2006's "Get It Over" CD ... This british quartet show in this record how to make a perfect progression while passing through this 12-tracked album ... Perfect laid back jams with punctual guitar and horn solos ... N'Dea Davenport, the lead singer, amazes us with her voice and her precise singing ... 3 songs to pay attention in this record: "We've Got", a smooth, cool and precise groove with hints of soul searching from N'Dea's singing ; "Sex God", a perfect and sophisticated groove evoking sexuality and sensuality, and last, but again not least, "All Fired Up", excelent fast tempo bass based soul song which every R&B band should inspire themselves in it ... "Gots-to-have" CDs in your personal collections ...
These are my tips of the week and a breath of fresh air in a almost rock'n'roll blog ...
Cheers and get it on, lads ...

Music ... Why is it such a passionate subject ?

Hi Lads, how are we feeling this week ? Me ? Well ... I guess I'm holding up ...
Last night, I had a huge fight about different musical genres and I felt bad because I thought I had a good and broad vision about the subject ... But at the end of my little predicament, I noticed, first of all, how stupid I was to argue about such a delicate matter and then that I was very mad at me for not being able
to accept my ignorance about new musical genres and its peculiarities ...
But two questions popped into my mind while discussing it: "Is music evolving to minimal beats and more complex electronic montages and am I stuck in time and cherishing a genre (rock'n'roll, in my case) which is practicly dead ?"
Well, I guess there's not a correct answer to the questions but there's a way to understand what kind of moral problem I've stepped into yesterday ... And the person with whom I was arguing opened my eyes to it ...
The thing with music is that no matter which genre or even who's singing or producing what, it has moods, messages and the most important thing, a time to get into your skin and mind ... And that's a major point when I'm listening to the electronic music because I guess (and now after thinking about it, I'm pretty sure) that I'm not ready to find the beauty and the refinements that this genre needs while processing it ... And this person made me understand that while we were talking about it yesterday ... Most of people do that while making their personal musical choices ... They pay attention to every little exquisite hidden pleasures that a specific genre will give to them ... Like the fun, diverse, grooving beats in electronic music for some people ...
In my case, I pay more attention to the rock'n'roll genre because I know every little nuance and corner of its musical and moral construction ... And also because it's my music genre of affection ... I feel cousy with it ... I feel fulfilled by it .... It makes me feel bigger than life ... To sum it up: no matter what you're going to feel, write or even choose as a musical genre, it doesn't care because it's a very private choice and those kind of decisions shouldn't be the most complicated ones ...
I guess what I'm trying to say to this person now is sorry and she's right about her feelings towards new musical frontiers ... I've completly forgotten this side of music and maybe this is what new music mean to people nowadays ...
And come to think of it, making decisions is hard enough on your knees ...
Imagine people criticizing your personal choices such as music, movies, people you love and so many other stuff all the time ... It's too complicated and annoying ... But it's worth living and understanding it ...
Like with music and my girlfriend for me, for instance ...
Cheers and rock on, Guys ...

A new old brand of Country/Rock star

Hello my dear bloggers, how are we today?
In my quest for a good artist to fill my musical needs (and bad temper), I've found a precious jewel called Ryan Adams. Bad boy, drug and drink addict, he has all the characteristics of a true rock'n'roll troublemaker but he's the opposite of it in his self-destructive behaviour.
Turns out that in all confusion, brought by his addictions, he finds himself in his magnificent Dylan/Cash songwriting.
Amazing composer, he seduces you with his heartbreaking voice in heartfelt rock inspired ballads.
But the true quality of Ryan Adams is his consistence in every work as a true portrait and ode to his feelings, loneliness and his lost soul.

In our days, the troubadour's image such as Jeff Buckley, Bob Dylan and so many others, are relegated to a second plan in the music business (which is a pity). Adams, however, manages to avoid that oblivion and to be recognized for his music composing skills. And he does that effortlessly in little pearls throughout his discography till now.
For instance, in the latest record "Cardinology", with his band called The Cardinals, Ryan shows us how his newfound focus (after getting sober from drinking habits) brings us a collection of catching hits such as "Fix it" and "Go easy" exposed in great dashing melodies. Extremely recommended for those who love Dylan’s early stage. But that's not his only contribution, I'd advise you to go for four great previous albums as well: "Demolition", "Gold", "Cold Roses" and "Love is Hell".
Every album has its terrific touch of moderated happiness mixed with personal angst. A song like "Desire", a beautiful and powerful ballad, is the picture portrait of what I'm telling you, guys. Go for it, you won't be disappointed if you're looking for an extremely soulful country/rock star.
As always, have fun, enjoy the ride and cheers all the way, lads.

A new year coming, a new old perspective of rock'n'roll ...

Hi Guys ! Missed me ? I guess not ... If not, you would pour out my mailbox with comments ...
The thing is I've been meditating about music and its roots ... Specially Rock'n'Roll ... I've been revisting some new sounds that appeared on this year of 2008 ... Some stuff was close to perfection and other stuff, well, not so much ... For instance, one of the best issues of 2008 was the excellent AC/DC's "Black Ice", defined in 3 words: dirty, catching and simple rock'n'roll ...
A reunion of great riffs by Malcolm and Angus Young , heavyweight drums and scratching vocals by Brian Johnson ... What else do you need ? Maybe the closest sound recording to the unbelievable "Back in black"...
But the two positve surprises of the past year were two new bands that flert with common simple rock music mentioned before ...
The first one is more influenced by a southern flavour ... You can feel in the vocalist's outrageous singing, real close to a Lynyrd Skynyrd's heartfelt, deepthroat shout by Ronnie
Van Zandt ... The "Only by night" record put out by Kings of Leon is probably one of the most reliable, simple and straight rock'n'roll album you can find nowadays, recommended in any mood swing you may have ....
The second release is more up-to-date and bit more elaborated and more selected for youngsters but, still, a very good compilation of songs ... "Folie à deux", Fall Out Boy's new album, is a good mixture of rock, theatre and emotional reckings compressed in 13 songs about teenagerhood and its adventures ... Not as good their rivals Panic at the Disco!, but still a very surprising result and a good record to play when you're driving ...
As I said it before and will always say, music should be simple in every step of the way, if not it's bullshit ... For example, 2008 showed some stupid attempts of coming back, such as the one man's band (because of Axl's incapacity of keeping the great sound that had in his hands, even singing overweight in the Rock'n'Rio, five years ago) Guns'n'Roses ... "Chinese Democracy" is a disappointment from the cover to what's inside of it, in this case, its music ... Axl is an unbelievable singer but his capacity to screw things up is compatible with his trademark shoutings and melodies ... Sorry, there's a moment in time that you should stop or keep your ego to the minimum ... Well for Axl, it's now ... He's not the only one with some guilt in his head, Queen should do some therapy and rethink the hiring of Paul Rodgers, excelent in southern rock singing such in Bad Company and Free, but excruciating in a operatic heartfelt rock such as Queen ... Freddy don't twist yourself in the grave ... George Michael and now Paul Rodgers ... What were they thinking ?!
Well, there you got it my review of the year ...
Let's enjoy this newfound year and rock/party on ...
Cheers, maties ...

I'm back ... Still feeling alive and kicking ...

Hi fellas !!
I know I've been absent for a long time but, for your disappointement and dispair, I was working ...
But the important part is that I'm back and ready to talk
about music ...
More specificly about rock'n'roll music ... Is it me or we don't see any good bands lately ?
Not that I'm complaining about all the genres that are emerging from mixtures of cultures ...
For instance, latin people love to mix elements of percussion into rock, turning it into a more dynamic rock as Carlos Santana, Soda Stereo and Charly Garcia do to thier compositions ...
But if you look in the other side of the spectrum, you'll see bands who prefer to turn their heads into classical streams as Evanescence or Lacuna Coil ... (Beware guys !! If you do it wrongly, you'll listen to endless hours of musical masturbation as in some orchestral versions of rock songs) ...
But, getting back to my first initial discussion, criativity in music is fading or some beaten old fomulas are repeating themselves ... OK, I'll grant that The Strokes and The Vines are new good bands ... But where are all the other bands that used to surprise us with some new great sound or element in their music ?
Post me and give me the honor of searching and listen to new good stuff ...
Maybe it's just a dispointment of mine but I need to believe that music is recuparating some of its magic and charm towards us ...
Bye ... Missed ya, folks ... Remember, always have fun and enjoy the ride ....

Rock Singers : are they in extinction or migrating to Pop ?

Hi Fellas, how are ya ?
From time to time, I dig into the net in search for a great unknown rock singer that would blow my mind with a great performance. But lately, nothing seems to catch up my ear or even my eyes.
Even in mainstream talent shows such as American Idol, rock singers seems to be fading or even singing pop songs to attract an easy mellow crowd and their easy buying concert money.
Few are the examples of reaching out with the common audience but then going back to a more independent scene. Singers like Storm Large (mentioned in an early post), Mick Jagger, Iggy Pop are a dying breed.
Not that I dislike other pop singers but it's a shame that inspired performers are loosing their edge and going mainstream, loosing their creativity, just to sell records of no expression.
Here's a list of great new (old) timers that, maybe, will shake your mind:
- Iggy Pop, outstanding Punk/Rock icon ("the Iguana" of this genre), check out for his excellent greatest hits CD "Nude & Rude";
- David Bowie, Glam Rock icon and an inspiration to all genres of Rock'n'Roll, he's a "must have" artist in you CD collection, look out for the "Let's dance" album with appereances of the great long lost Stevie Ray Vaughan ;
- Storm Large, underground rocker from Portland already mentioned here, any album from her last 3 bands (Storm Inc., Storm and her dirty mouth, The Balls) are really good ;
- Mick Jagger, as the leading of the genious band Rolling Stones or even in his solo records, he can bring the most amazing heartfelt performances, search for the new Stones movie "Shine a light" soundtrack , unbelievable peformances for this amazing performer in his late 60's.
Just for the record, there are so many other performers/singers and those whom I've mentioned here, are those whom I appreciate the most.
Cheers and enjoy the ride.

High Fidelity's legacy - Top 5 albums to inspire exceptional moments

Hi lads, how are we doing now ?
Last days, I've been revisiting stuff I wrote here and I felt like something was missing.
May sound strange after only 10 scraps but when you think of it, this blog is supposed to inspire people commenting and telling their musical preferences, despite the genre we're disucussing or exposing at that particular post.
So, I've pretty much decided to start a new segment that helpfully people will relate to.
It's our High Fidelity moment, our personal top 5 about everything and nothing at the same time.
I'm starting with my top 5 favourite albums of all time.
Here they come:
- The Rolling Stones "Exile on Main Street",
- Jeff Buckley "Grace",
- Dave Matthews Band "Before These Crowded Streets",
- Led Zeppelin "Houses of Holy",
- Stevie Ray Vaughan "Texas Flood".
Any other suggestions, comment this post.
Always remember, listen to music and enjoy the ride.