Wednesday 21 July 2010

Summer Love for the Sub


This week has been especially summery and gorgeous, so the weather obviously reflects on my up-and-going iPod playlists. What has been cropping up again and again are songs from an album I recently downloaded, a tribute to the 'Greatest American Artists' around at the moment; something that's truly American; and embraces the inner American style.


The American lifestyle and summer is very in with Britain at the moment; and this brings me to one of my favourite little philosophies of life. I think one should embrace and talk, cherish and show the appreciation for (and this means every day!) the things that they really love; and if this so by means mentioning even a music label practically every time I post something on this blog, then so be it. So with the American lifestyle and the character and true feeling of a label like Sub-Pop, which I have to say is probably my favourite label ever, I have to pay homage to it for the kind of sun-kissed gorgeousness it is producing at the moment.


One of those bands frequently appearing on these Sub Pop playlists at the moment is the Foxes of .. the Fleet: Fleet Foxes.


They must have been around for quite a while now, but this true american heritage sound that has appeared on the music rounds lately has to feature them and their gorgeous single 'Mykonos', centerpiece of the the Sun Giant EP. From the name, this song itself is paying homage to the small Greek party island, although it doesn't sound what that description brings to mind. It's tribal chorus harmonies and beautiful swinging acoustics may make you sway away in the summer evening. Those softly pounding drums is something quite soothing, and it's a dose of relaxation I highly recommend. A Grecian relaxation treatment.


How do Sub Pop turn out this revolutionizing artists like it's natural?


Because it's Sub-Pop.


And it's probably the truest, most natural American Alternative Rock you will ever hear.



Next Post will hopefully be another Sub Pop band that is hitting the high times lately. That is, If I can get the whole music package on their part before it's the end of summer! The next band are a band I definitively believe in, and I do think they'll be even more successful by the end of summer.



HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Stay safe; and don't spend too long out in the sun listening to The Drums. Maybe a little Foxes wouldn't go amiss?

Sunday 11 July 2010

Guitar Lust... I mean, Love of course.

Okay, well today in Britain it is BOILING outside (obviously not as gorgeous as L.A or something like that, just another thing to complain about when you're on english turf), my iPod has run out of power and there's nothing I'd really like to do more than post on my blog. Just looking for some inspiration.

Today, is Pearl Jam day. Any
one? Okay, I made that up but some days- most days- I have a themed music day according to how I'm feeling. And if Pearl Jam floats your boat on a summer's day then Pearl Jam it is. Can't beat a bit of Eddie Vedder.

And that brings me back to what I want to write
about.
Recently I've been 'exploring' this site: www.gear4music.com and it's really amazing what you can find. But....
What seems like forever now I've been totally after a Fender Squier Venus that "Love" actually co-designed:


So, I guess, the closest I can get to this is Squier Model by Fender Bullet Stratocaster in Rosewood Daphne Blue, which I absolutely ADORE:
.... and is surprisingly cheap.

The Venus Model < is a mix of strat, squier and others...


It all makes for good Guitar Lust, but I'm
quite happy saving up for a beaut like the one below.


... all to fulfill the promise I keep telling mother when I have to borrow money: "Well, Mum, when I'm a rich and famous rock star with heaps of money... I'll buy you anything you want.. so for now.. a strat please?"

So.. while we're at it...

Shall we purchase a Fender Artist Billy Corgan Strat.... ?




In "Olympic White" .... ?

I could be so lucky.-
riotgrrrllives| x

Sunday 4 July 2010

I hate myself and want to have revenge on Seattle


Even knowing that every moment of forever I will love and cherish Nirvana and Kurt Cobain, there is no way in the world that anybody- myself included- will begin to understand the actual music technicality of Nirvana. How did Kurt write songs for a generation? How do we even begin to understand what any of the songs dark depths and actual meanings are? This is something that is starting to seriously evoke curiosity based on a post I read on the ‘Nirvana Formula’ on a pop theory website about song-writing. To even begin to understand is quite difficult but to question if this sculpturing that happened was on purpose or just the genius’ subconscious mind working is another thing. It talks of all the technical stuff, about how many of the chord transitions Kurt works are Minor 3rds and how the basis of his songwriting relies so much on supertonics. If you listen to the little extracts and read the post here:

http://www.midside.com/2007/02/18/nirvana_supertonic/

You may even start to understand a song writing world of a true genius. Kurt Cobain may have just fooled everyone with his way of music.

But to the interesting thing. Some see a description of patterns in songs and tastes in rock stars’ choices of power chords overly confusing, but with a visionary aid, I may seem to prove my point better.

I stumbled across this lovely thing by complete accident, and it filled me with complete joy. Maybe Kurt Cobain is just like any other song writer, not of ‘rock royalty’ or whatever, but paired with this complete formulaic love of power chords (mostly because they’re easy and it’s straight there, straight back) and his gorgeous voice, it was gonna happen that some die-hard fan is going to listen to these songs so much she does start to see similarities.

Check these two songs out. The choruses are particularly things to focus on. This world of his is clever, eh?

‘I Hate Myself and Want to Die’ is a song they specifically recorded for Beavis and Butthead- true 90’s cartoon heroes – and was going to be the title of Nirvana’s 3rd album for years, until others suggested to Kurt that perhaps it was a bit too bleak.

‘Frances Farmer will have her Revenge on Seattle’ is from In Utero, and it is one of Nirvana’s hidden gems of that particular discography.

If you were a world famous rock star by this time with a full-blown heroin addiction, I think you would start to recycle some chord/melody patterns. And THAT's what made that guy so special. Three cheers for Kurt! Oh, and it's the 4th of July, Three cheers for where I always am in my imagination- America! Hip hip hooray for Alternative Rock!

Peace, Love and Empathy,

riotgrrrllives|x