MGMT with the ‘Kids’

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concerts, MGMT, music, shows

Yesterday I donned my college sweatshirt and strutted across campus like I owned the place for the first time since I graduated last May. I wasn’t at my own alma mater, however, but rather a nearby university that was hosting a concert including the headlining MGMT.

Allowing myself to sink back into a collegiate atmosphere was a little bit too much of the smell of pot and nicotine and man sweat for my taste. In such close conditions – everyone standing hip to hip on bleachers to fight for a view – it was inevitable. So I ignored the hidden flasks and joints (when they weren’t so glaringly obvious) and screamed for the reason I came: music.

I’m not sure what I expected to see at an MGMT concert, but it certainly didn’t disappoint: a security guard dancing along (or attempting to stay warm – who knows!) and a drunk guy running from security after doing a victory dance in the empty, authorized area of the stadium and then taking off his shirt just for added effect.

In some ways, watching the audience was a highlight of the show. It’s not that I wasn’t digging the music. Because I was. There were just people around me digging it more, and it was entertaining to watch their revelry.

The band itself put on a fantastic show, and I mean that in the very literal sense of fantastic. Behind the band was a huge screen from where psychedelic images matched the lulls and chaos of the music. It was as much a concert of color as it was a musical performance.

And while the music was great, it felt like the band wasn’t into their own music. I’m trying not to compare to other bands and part of it could’ve been the distance I was from the stage, but the band looked pretty static in their movements even as the music boomed. The friend I went with suggested that this might just be a product of their genre of music, and I’m trying to consider this too.

But their inactivity is partially why I spent so much time looking at the screen – and maybe that’s the reason for it too. The images projected certainly took the foreground of the stage despite being behind the band.

It’s also why I spent so much time looking at the audience, allowing me to witness the dancing security guard and rogue drunk boy. But I also was watching reactions. It seemed like MGMT’s hits were really hits – cheers were louder, waves of movement harsher, hands extended out in what I’ve come to recognize as dancing more prominent. But in between those hits… the audience looked just as still as the band.

A college student upon whom I eavesdropped after the show suggested that the audience was too sober. I’m still debating whether or not I agree.

Cabin Fever: In Which Music Heals

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It was a different life When we were boys and girls Not just a different time It was a different …

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Listen Up! – Feelings About Darren’s Tour

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Darren Criss

It’s been an emotional week for many of us, and I’ve been sympathizing with fans around the world unable to make it to Darren’s show, who don’t have the money, or who got screwed over by the VIP site crashing or Ticketmaster (or wherever else) sending error messages.

I say sympathize and not empathize for a reason.

I was completely in a daze, so I’m not sure how I did it. But I did – I managed to secure myself one ticket to Darren’s Silver Spring show and a regular VIP package.  One of my friends came over to double my chances and he had the VIP (the big kahuna) ready for the cart when the Adventures in Wonderland site crashed, and his never came back up.

Mine did. After getting my ticket, I bullied my way through a dying Adventures in Wonderland and bought the regular package. The whole process was relatively easy – a bit frustrating, but much easier for me than what everyone else was suggesting.

And how am I planning on paying for this? Bingo money I won a week ago.

When is the show taking place? My birthday eve.

It felt like the gears of fate were sliding into place for me, and while I did feel bad for the people missing out for the reasons mentioned above, my euphoria was and is uncontrollable. Even now I am consumed with a giddiness that can’t be quelled. I know I am incredibly lucky, but is it so wrong to be excited for myself?

In the two seconds I’m going to have with Darren, I might be able to ask about my scarf. That is if can manage to keep myself breathing long enough and as long as word vomit doesn’t come out instead.

In what mind did my mind think I’d be okay seeing Darren on my own (oh god)?

Anyone who’s kept up with my blog here knows how much finding out about this scarf will matter to me. For those of you who might be newer –this is something my soul has literally ached for since the summer of 2011. I’ve seen Darren twice already, and I’m incredibly grateful for that. And while every performance is special in its own way, the opportunity to actually meet him and ask about this scarf is on a different level entirely.

I’m not sure I can handle it. Word vomit might come out instead. Especially since there will be only a few seconds of time with him. The good news is that I have 65 days to steel myself for this moment. The bad news is that I have 65 days to steel myself for this moment. And in the next two months my entire being is going to be a bundle of nerves and excitement and anxiety and worry and gratefulness.

But mostly excitement, I think.

Fantasia on a Theme of Childhood Memories

Yesterday afternoon, I went to the orchestra.

This isn’t new; I’m a huge fan of classical and instrumental music. My mom’s boss occasionally would give us his tickets for tier seats, literally right above the orchestra and so close that if I were a less upstanding individual, I could lean over and touch the wires.

This time, we didn’t get tickets because my mom’s boss gave them to us, but because we felt we needed  to go, as the program they had planned was one not to be missed, especially for Disney fans. Because what were they performing?

The music of Fantasia.

What a brilliant masterpiece. I used to love that movie with everything I had, and now that I am older I still get a thrill like no other when I see Mickey wearing a wizard’s hat or when I hear one of the musical compositions used in the film.

Waiting for the show to start.

Whenever I can get tier seats. I do – as my luck always puts me behind a tall or large necked person if I sit in orchestra (floor) seating. Our seats for the Fantasia show were two rocks back in the Right Tier. When we got there the orchestra was warming up for the first half of the program. Suspended above the orchestra was a large screen displaying the Fantasia logo.

As I approach the one year anniversary of my graduation from college, the day of my sudden inclusion in the adult world, it seems my brain is stuck on recapturing my youth.

Only two weeks ago I had another, very similar experience with the music of my youth and a performance that brought tears to my eyes. Somewhere along the lines, my love of Disney movies, reading, and musical theater led me to the stage production of Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby, and I the DVD entered my collection of pick-me-ups.  And this is the performance I saw live for the first time last month, getting the honor to meet Cathy Rigby in the process.

If you’re not familiar with the musical, I’ll just say that the beginning is a little slow but only because you’re waiting on the edge of your seat for Peter to arrive. I think for many people, this is the moment the magic starts, but for me it was different.

Intermission backdrop

It’s probably my least favorite song of the musical, and on the DVD it appears  a little cheesy, but as the children and Peter sing “I’m Flying,” the bedroom set opens up to reveal a backdrop of glimmering stars. The children fly one way as Peter flies in the other, letting pixie dust descend from his hands. It was in this moment that I started crying, because it was such a beautiful image. It was the moment I felt myself sinking completely into the adventure and thought to myself ‘oh my god I’m going to watch Peter Pan.’

I didn’t have the emotional capacity to prepare myself for meeting Cathy Rigby, so by the time I was at the front of the line I was completely star-struck with a thousand words stuck in my throat.  She personalized my pre-signed window-card, at which point my admirations came tumbling out (hopefully eloquently enough that I didn’t sound like a fool). At the end of the night I had a signed poster, playbill, and ticket, as well as a couple of pictures and a large pinch of pixie dust, for remembering the evening.

 

All you need is faith, trust, and pixie dust…

 

Those tears were of sheer happiness and overwhelming excitement, but Fantasia’s were more than that. I’d seen the movies a thousand times, but there was something special about watching the movie with a live orchestra.

It started with Beethoven’s 5^th accompanied by the sequence of abstract butterflies (fluttering triangles), and ended with the finale of Fantasia 2000, featuring the sprite of spring and her companion elk fleeing from the destruction of an exploding volcano as Stravinsky’s  Firebird Suite plays. Talk about poignant moments -the despair of the sprite as she looks out at the ash and fire that consumed her work was unbearably powerful with the large screen. From where we sat, the brass was particularly booming, making the extremes of the piece more distant and therefore more effective.

So, yeah, I cried.

I was more excited for the pieces after intermission –cartoonist Al Hirschfeld-inspired Rhapsody in Blue, and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. During the end of intermission as the orchestra started filling in the seats again, I could hear bits and pieces of both of these compositions, as well as the threads of Pomp and Circumstance for the Noah’s ark story featuring Daisy and Donald Duck and Pines of Rome featuring CG flying whales.

Although The Sorcerer’s Apprentice meant the most to me out of all the sequences, I cried again during a different part entirely – namely, when Donald and Daisy can’t find each other on the Ark. Again, the richness of the sound and size of the screen made for phenomenal story-telling.

Other pieces included in the program were The Pastoral Symphony, which painted a world of Greek mythology; The Nutcracker Suite, featuring dancing flowers, mushrooms, and fish; Claire de lune, originally released in the 1996 restoration and detailing two herons finding each other beneath the moonlight, and an encore performance of a jazz-y Flight of the Bumblebee, conceptualized but featured in neither of the Fantasia films.

Fantasia and Peter Pan are two very different endeavors, but both are a testament to the emotional capacity of musical and visual arts. Every form of entertainment – a poetry reading, a concert, a comedy skit, or a sports game – is taken to a new level when experienced live. For me, the emotions are always so heightened that it’s impossible not to perceive concerts and shows as those ‘remember for a life-time’ moments.

I don’t think it could ever get old.

[*Please note, the photographs of the performances were taken at low quality during intermission or before the show began and adhere to the rules of the performance halls with respect to performers and surrounding audience members. These images are for personal use only.]

Reflection of All That Echoes

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all that echoes, covers, falling slowly, josh groban, music, she moved through the fair

When I wrapped up 2012 in music, I mentioned that “Brave,” the newest single from Josh Groban, revealed great things for his 2013 release of his sixth studio album, All That Echoes. Although this was not the first album released this year, it was the first one on my immediate radar, and I purchased it promptly on February 5.

Just as “Brave” introduced us to Josh’s new music, it opens the album as the first track. With intensifying big sound and an uplifting message, it harkens back to the hits from his other albums, namely, “You Raise Me Up,” “You Are Loved,” and “Hidden Away.” I would say “Brave” is right at home among these great singles, and it will certainly be one of the album’s most successful tracks.

Despite the booming introduction of “Brave,” All That Echoes is more of an intimate collection of songs, rather than an album of powerhouses. I mean this in a good way. After “Brave” the hits are not so obvious, but I think all of the songs are crafted with the ability to form connections with an open audience. It’s just a matter of which ones are able to impact you.

The highlights for me were “Falling Slowly” and “She Moved Through the Fair,” both early tracks on the album, which paint the image of Ireland that has always called to me.  ”Falling Slowly”  is modern Irish tune written by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova during the time that the musical, Once, in which the song appears, was in production. It is a simple, but very powerful song that speaks of the hope in failing relationships.

It was made famous as a duet, and for that reason alone, the arrangement on All That Echoes stands out. It’s certainly not the first time it has been performed that way, but Josh Groban’s is arguably one of the strongest versions of the song to date. To me, it’s bigger than the versions that came before it simply because of the strength of Josh’s voice, and his superb control over the song’s intricacies. And, like most Josh songs, the accompanying instrumentation only helps build, but never smothers the vocals. This makes for a strong re-inventing of what many already consider a classic.

In comparison, “She Moved Through the Fair” is one of those traditional Irish songs that was inspired by an even older Irish traditional song. Since it’s composition in 1909, it has been covered, altered, and rearranged many times by many artists. The song, despite its surface romantic notions, is a tragedy. The death of the speaker’s love is most clearly explained in the third verse, which many artists (including Josh) have chosen to eliminate.  In many cases, it doesn’t need to be explained explicitly because the tradition from which the song comes as well as the instrumentation and the musical cues of the arrangement make it obvious. The whine of the Uilleann pipes, a traditional instrument of Ireland, and Josh’s abundant vibrato effectively exaggerate the heartbreak of the song in this version.

I was never a fan of “She Moved Through the Fair” until this moment, and trust me, I’ve heard plenty of versions. It’s to Josh’s credit that he is able to make the song so new and accessible without straying too far from the Irish roots that birthed it.

I tend to like dark imagery I’ve noticed, so “Hollow Tall”, which builds on the original by the Choir of Young Believers, is another favorite because the music perfectly matches the resonant images. I am also fond of the writing in “False Alarms,” even though the actual song is bigger than its dark undertones; it’s still a beautiful song.

In complete contrast to that, “Below the Line” has the hands-down happiest instrumentation on the album, despite the song’s exploration of poverty. And it manages to find its way into your head despite everything.

Of the language songs – the phrase I use to refer to the songs sung in languages other than English – my favorite is “E Ti Prometteró,” featuring Laura Pausini. I’m usually not one for soaring ballads or laments, much preferring the upbeat in this case, but the way the two voices blend in this track was so interesting to me, and I love how they sound together. It helps that I also love the sound of the Italian language.

There’s also a lot to be said the the bonus tracks, which are available if you purchase the album from Target. “Changing Colors” is one of my favorites on the whole album, let alone the bonus materials. I always encourage people to get the extended versions of albums if they are available – not just for Josh Groban, but for any artist. There’s a lot of good stuff there.

The only problem I personally seem to have with the album as a whole is that I am so passionate about the songs appearing at the beginning of the album that the second half  feels thin. That’s not to say that I think the second half is bad – because Josh Groban is never bad - but that first few songs affect me the most and, therefore, feel superior.

There’s plenty more to talk about with this album: there are more songs, and there’s definitely the subject of Josh’s song writing. But I would never be able to talk about all of it. Like all good albums, there’s always something new to discover and discuss, and I think this one will be talked about for a long time.

For now, I ask: What did you think of All That Echoes?  Is it your favorite Josh album, and if not, which album is? (Mine’s Awake!)

Freelance Whales Concert – 1/31/13

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abbey bar, appalachian brewing company, concerts, Freelance Whales

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Some Not-So Annoying Concert Behaviors

So Rolling Stone posted this compilation of 10 things not to do at a show, and I just had to comment on it as a fan who disagrees with a few things. For the most part, I think he is spot on if you want to generalize the concert experience. But how do we apply this advice to smaller artists?

1. Taking pictures the entire show

No, Rolling Stone. I don’t want to take pictures to show all my friends on Facebook. I want to take pictures for myself. It’s not about bragging about “going to a cool concert.” It’s about having the memories to treasure because that is what music is for. Because looking through pictures can bring back thousands of memories of that night. Because having a picture of an artist that you treasure – a picture that is solely yours – is one of the most special feelings in the world. And yes, I still look through mine one and half years later. And no – they aren’t terrible because I have a good camera. And yes, I enjoyed every second of the show. Thank you very much.

So I’ll take my 77+ pictures if I damn well want to.

And most people won’t because they’ll be taking pictures too as they share my opinion, but if someone were to ask me to lower my camera, I would adjust as long as they asked with a lot less sass. Because I want their night to be special too.

9. Filming the entire show on your iPhone.
Okay, so much wrong with this one. I use a Flip Recorder, so I guess I don’t apply. Hmm? Regardless, I come from a group of fans that thrive on the videos people take at shows because the artist we love is a thrilling live performer with few studio versions of his songs. International fans who wish terribly to be able to see a show and can’t because of distance are able to partake in a similar joy.  New covers and intricacies of songs can be shared with the general populace. And, like with pictures, videos allow you to relive the show that meant so much to you. I also think that Rolling Stone might severely be underestimating technology.

So let’s recap. Nothing is like the live experience, but pictures and video help rekindle the emotions of that day. Videos are a generous gift fans give their other fans; they are what brings us together.  Pictures are never “bad” if they were taken with passion.

But I do have some suggestions about these things.

1) Follow the rules of the venue. If they say “no pictures,” then take no pictures out of respect. It’s not worth getting kicked out.

2) If you can, avoid using flash in order to not distract the performer. Sometimes flash just takes a better picture, and that’s fine. But be smart about when you use it.

3) If you’re there with a friend, alternate. Rolling Stone was partly right in arguing that you sometimes can’t enjoy the show if you’re too worried about making it last forever. So, share a camera with your trusted friends and alternate who takes the pictures. This will lessen  the amount of cameras flashing in the air. Alternate who films the show. Have your friend film your favorite song, and offer to film your friend’s favorite song.

4) Don’t forget that you can capture snapshots from the movie you record!

5) Get to know the people around you before the show, and help create a friendly atmosphere. Offer to take their picture with the stage in the background – It’ll mean a lot to them!

At the end of all this, if music really means as much to you as it does me, this night is your night too. It’s your time to be happy. Don’t let anyone ruin that elation for you, but do what you can to make everything run smoothly.

Happy concert-going!

K. Gavin.

My Music of 2012

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2012, animal love, babel, brave, ceremonials, charlene kaye, Diluvia, florence + the machine, Freelance Whales, gotye, imagine dragons, josh groban, mumford & sons, music, music of 2012, somebody that i used to know, walk the moon

Hello, all!

I hope the holidays treated you well. My new years resolution: blog consistently.  Wish me luck. You know how this goes. As always, you can follow my tumblr for daily tunes. Often tumblr is where I make sense of the ideas that show up on my blog  later.

2012 was a quick year for me. I feel like I graduated yesterday. This is not actually the case. Currently, I am working as the shipping manager for a publishing company in my hometown. I am also an editor and there should be two books coming out within the next few months with my name included.

But, I am still making time for my first love – music. I’m still seeing Rovers shows, still making playlists and and trying to get accustomed to iTunes updates, still finding new music (and with the iTunes gift cards I received for Christmas, this is much more fun), still trying to make my way to more concerts.

But before 2013 really gets started, here is my 2012 in review. Musically.

Ceremonials – Florence + the Machine Although this album came out in 2011, I didn’t purchase it until 2012.  Immediate highlights for me were the opening “Only If For a Night”, followed by “Shake it Off”  and “Seven Devils.” Though, I am still finding new things each listen. I also have some new favorites because there’s not a single song on this album I consider weak.

Making Mirrors – Gotye - First discovered Gotye when Theo Katzman (whose summery 2011 Romance Without Finance I continued to jam to throughout the year)  tweeted the video for “Somebody That I Used to Know” with high praise. I didn’t get it the first time, or the second. And then I did, and I bought the album with great respect for Gotye’s bold style of musical experimentation.

Trespassing – Adam Lambert My best friend and I had high expectations for this album, making it a large topic of discussion throughout the year. We listen to new things differently. She will repeat an album until she picks up on all the nuances of each song within a week or two, and, while I do the same thing, I do it at a much slower pace, waiting for the music to come to me. I might listen to a full CD over and over and then single out the songs over a period of months. Certain songs will mean something immediately, others will take awhile. So when my best friend would say, “You know that moment in ‘Nirvana’…”, I would have a reason to let the song stand alone. 

In any case, we both rave about this album to this day. Adam is as talented and poignant as ever.

Animal Love - Charlene Kaye I had been looking forward to this album for ages. Seeing her sing her songs live at her opening for the Starkid’s Apocalyptour in June was one of the best experiences of 2012 for me. Her stage presence is amazing, and her music is both meaningful and fun – upbeat most of the time, but incredibly moving when necessary. I was impressed with her set.

Her album contains a lot of songs which I could now consider her top hits. Artistically, the music is certainly not something to be missed.

Continued Silence EP – Imagine Dragons Fandom friends encouraged me to check out this album, long before Darren Criss covered it on Glee. I fell in love with their music and purchased the EP immediately, followed by Night Visions when it came out in September. I’d go so far as to argue that “It’s Time” is my favorite song of the year after “Somebody That I Used to Know.” It seems this band took everyone by storm, myself included! 

Diluvia – Freelance Whales I looked forward to no album more than this one, which came out on October 9. I predicted what themes might be present from the title, I was glued to my computer for every release about the music, and I wrote about my experience listening to the album when all was said and done. For long time Freelance Whales fans, I think this album will portray the growth of their sound. New Freelance Whales fans might find Weathervanes more accessible musically. But I think Diluvia is much richer and elaborately woven. Although I love songs off both albums, I consider Diluvia a step forward holistically, and I can’t wait to see how things develop next for them.

So so so looking forward to seeing them live at the end of this month. I’m going to the Harrisburg show. Any one else going?

Human Again – Ingrid Michaelson I’ve always been a fan of Ingrid Michaelson through singles; I’ve never bought a full album. This was my first, and while I thought it was worth buying, I loved it through the tracks and not as a entity in itself. In any case, this album was a big part of the fall of 2012, waiting for it and listening to it.

Walk the Moon – Walk the Moon Another fandom encouraged purchase. It took a second listen for me to fully appreciate the music, but I am so glad I made the effort to do so. Favorites included “Tightrope” and “Iscariot.” I purchased this album at the same time I purchased Torches – Foster the People (2011), so I often listen to them together. I do think they complement each other nicely, but I like them on their own too.

Babel – Mumford & Sons Actually a late discovery for me, though I knew certain singles long before – I don’t live under a rock. I bought the album recently (with my Christmas iTunes money), but had been playing the songs on Spotify for a few weeks. With Babel, also came Sigh No More, so I consider them both albums of 2012 for me. I think they are amazing: Love the lyrics, love the banjo. Currently, “Thistle & Weeds” from Sigh No More is my favorite song.

“Brave” – Josh Groban First single released for Josh Groban’s new album, and I already can’t stop listening! This will certainly be a highlight of my 2013, but for now, the song stands alone beautifully. It carries the same theme as most of Josh Groban’s hit singles, but it is just as good (if not better) than those tunes. I encourage a listen or two at least because Josh is seriously talented.

Other Albums: Some Nights – fun.; The Hobbit Soundtrack – Howard Shore, Picture Show – Neon Trees, Away from the World – Dave Matthews Band, Battle Born – The Killers, As the Dark Against My Halo – The Cruxshadows

Shows: Darren Criss in How to Succeed in Business, Apocalyptour featuring Charlene Kaye, various Rovers’ gigs including the Annapolis Irish Festival

Loved Tracks

Here’s to a music-filled 2013! Always keep the conversation going. Don’t hesitate to send me a message.

I love hearing from you all, but I’m afraid I have to cut this short. I can feel a migraine coming on – the bad kind – but I wanted to get this posted for you guys. Hope it brightens up your Monday.

What was your song of the year?

 

Christmas Tunes!

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christmas, christmas albums, christmas carols, christmas songs, holiday, music

So has this been as insane a holiday season for you as it’s been for me? Are any of you tired of Christmas music yet? I hope not, because I am finally writing up my holiday entry.

Normally, the Christmas season comes early for me – my parents and I start listening to the holiday classics sometime before Thanksgiving; we put up our trees and decorate them on the earliest weekend free, knowing that the future ones will be full of shopping; we pick the first warm weekend after Thanksgiving to put up our outside lights; and slowly the house becomes more decorated as Christmas gets closer.

And yes, I still eat the candies out of the Advent calender, except nowadays I have more self-control and am able to resist the following day’s chocolate-y treat.

For some reason, though, I just wasn’t able to get into the holiday spirit this year, and I think a lot of it was because I was tired of hearing the same music selection over and over. I’ve already expressed my hatred of Elvis’ “Blue Christmas” (sorry, but no), but I also found myself rolling my eyes at the Christmas Canon – a song I had absolutely loved last Christmas.

And so, I began thinking about how Christmas music can’t be about what the radio stations deem to be the Christmas songs, but what songs make you feel spirit of the season the most. If those turn out to be what the radio plays, then cheers to you; your shopping experience must be 1,000x more pleasant than the rest of ours.

I certainly don’t think my selections are in any way better than others, but I’ve created a playlist of Christmas songs that reflects my favorites. I hope you enjoy my holiday tunes – the traditional, and the deviant!

The Tunes

1. “Christmas Canon” -TSO Since I already mentioned this song, I figured it would be a nice place to start. I include it in my favorites because I truly do love this song – the children’s choir that reminds me of the young smiles of the season, the clever lyrics added to the most known/popular classical pieces of all time “Pachelbel’s Canon,” and the musical round that always manages to move me. Just don’t over play it, you’ll hear it enough!
2. “Anmi’s Christmas” – The Cruxshadows This is a band I’ve learned to love recently because of their beautifully written lyrics about classic mythology. Their song “Elissa” pushed me through my thesis on Virgil, and the song itself is lovely modern adaptation to the classic love story of Aeneas and Dido. That aside, I love a band that’s very open with their fans, and the Cruxshadows are a wonderful example. This Christmas song was written for a beautiful little girl, a story revealed here. I hope you like it.

3. “Baby It’s Cold Outside” – Glee Cast (Darren Criss and Chris Colfer) As a fan of Darren and the Blaine-Kurt relationship, this song is a classic. For those who aren’t familiar with Glee, Blaine and Kurt sing a Christmas duet every year, and this is the song that started the tradition. Before this version came along, I was not a fan of the song. I didn’t like the back and forth of the lyrics, and it did nothing to move me. But seeing two boys, clearly attracted to each other and singing this on live television at an 8:00 time slot was a big thing for American television. And Darren and Chris kill the song and it’s flirty undertones.

4. “Carol of the Bells” – Trace Bundy Self-proclaimed acoustic guitar lover here, but Trace Bundy’s version of this song is a must-listen for anyone who appreciates musical talent.

5. “The Christmas Can-Can” and “12 Days of Christmas”-Straight No Chaser The first for its accuracy, the second for its clever combination of holiday melodies and humor, and both for a cappella awesomesauce. No, seriously, their whole Christmas album is probably amazing, but I haven’t gotten a chance to listen to it yet. It’s on the to-do list.

6. “Little Drummer Boy” This was my favorite Christmas song when I was little because I killed the stop motion animated film when I was younger. I have a few versions that I love or once loved:

• The Three Tenors – Before I knew it was a tradition, this was the first time I heard my favorite song interwoven with the lilting melody of “Peace on Earth.” I am not as into the operatic sounds anymore, but I absolutely loved everything about this version when I was in late middle-early high school.
• Josh Groban – I am totally going to mention his album later, but I have to highlight his version of this song, which includes another of my favorite guitarists, Andy McKee. The guitar adds a wonderful dimension to the normally very percussive song.
• Apocalyptica – A dark arrangement that I like simply because it’s so unexpected. Don’t let the cellos fool you, Apocalyptica is a metal band and their version of the holiday classic is no exception.
• Johnny Cash – My man Johnny. It’s kind of a no-brainer.

7. “Where Are You Christmas?” – Faith Hill Because The Grinch is one of my favorite Christmas movies and Faith Hill reminds me of growing up with country music. And because it’s a very beautiful song.

8. “Everything’s Gonna Be Better Next Year – The Rescues If there’s one band I want you to look up, and I mean this seriously, it’s the Rescues. I can’t emphasize enough how much of their music I’ve listened to and loved this year. I discovered this song on a Noistrade download, and I’ve been listening to it ever since. A New Years song, more than a Christmas song, “Everything’s Gonna Be Better Next Year” is sure to get stuck in your head, but in a good way!

9. Corelli’s Christmas Concerto - Used in the movie, Master and Commander (seriously beautiful soundtrack), the Christmas Concerto is one of my favorites for the season because it’s so relaxing. I do listen to classical or instrumental music a lot in my free time, though, so this isn’t uncommon. Simply, I love string instruments and I love this song.

The Albums

1. Noel – Josh Groban  I really feel like Josh Groban has one of the most gorgeous voices in existence, and it lends itself to Christmas music wonderfully, as if it was made for it. What I really like about his album is that it includes a lot of my favorite carols, but he sings them traditionally with instrumentation being the thing that makes them stand out. There’s nothing I hate more than a cover of a Christmas song in which the melodies are compromised. But Josh does justice to the original melodies, and still manages to showcase his abilities.

2. Spirit of the Season Volumes I and II – The O’Neill Brothers These are piano albums. Sometimes, I don’t want vocals, I just want to hear relaxing tunes that make me feel the season. They’re great background albums, but I don’t think this makes them any less amazing than the others mentons. In fact, I’d argue that no other song or album included in this list makes me feel like it’s Christmas more than the piano kissed version of my favorite songs included here.

3. Christmas – Michael Buble  Wouldn’t you know, I jumped on this bandwagon only this year? This was my one Christmas album purchase of the year, and it was such a good choice! There are so many songs I love off the album, and Michael Buble is another singer whose voice lends itself to Christmas carols as if made for them. I was very surprised to hear Shania Twain on the album too, as I remember bouncing around to “Honey I’m Home” when I was like…six. Truly love her.

4. Everything Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) Especially the instrumentals. I don’t really listen to the vocals much, but the albums are still so great. I would love to see them one day.

5. Christmas Extraordinaire and Christmas Celebration – Mannheim Steamroller I do prefer Mannheim Steamroller over TSO simply because I listened to them longer, and these are the two albums that we play all the time in my household. I love their arrangements of my favorite songs. Actually, I distinctly remember a time when I still ice-skated, and the Senior Precision team’s program was to a song from one of the albums. I recognized it immediately and wished, more than anything, that I was on the older team because their music was better than ours.

As always, I’ve made a youtube playlist of the songs I could find, and I added a few others as well. I might add to the list because there are so many more great songs, but we’ll see. I also highly recommend Paste Magazine’s Holiday Sampler (Including the Rescues’ “Everything’s Gonna Be Better Next Year”) which you can download for FREE here, just remember to tip for the album or support the individual artists. Information on the O’Neill Brothers, whose music is not on youtube, can be found here.

And there you have it – and that’s not even going into the vinyl. My mom has tons of holiday records that we play all the time. Unfortunately, it’s the end of the world today and I need to wrap this up, you know?

Seriously, though, I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday. I appreciate all of you tremendously; my internet family is very special. Please, let me know what your holiday tunes are if you have the time! I’d love to listen.

55th Grammy Nominations

Tags

Adele, florence + the machine, fun., gotye, Grammy's, mumford & sons, music, Newsies, Once

I think I’ve made it known that I really don’t listen to the radio – I listen to what manages to find its way to me. As a result, I only have vague notions of what is “popular” and I avoid the unfortunate instance where a song I like is overplayed to the extent that I lose interest. Honestly, my music is always about it’s ability to affect – popular or otherwise. That said, I do not live under a rock so I had to make a post on the recent announcement of Grammy Nominees.

It’s been a pretty good year for music, I think, and I am excited to see the results. The following are not my predictions, but who I hope will win based on how the music affected me this year. Feel free to agree/disagree in the comments! I’d love to hear what you have to say.

Record of the Year:
“Lonely Boys” – The Black Keys
“Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” – Kelly Clarkson
“We Are Young” – Fun. w/ Janelle Monae
“Somebody That I Used to Know” – Gotye w/ Kimbra
“Thinkin Bout You” – Frank Ocean
“We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” – Taylor Swift

My choice: I have to go with “Somebody That I Used to Know” for this one. Despite how big it got as quickly as it did, this song was the only one in this list to hit me, mainly because of how closely I identified with the lyrics. I’d also be happy with “We Are Young,” but that is, by no means, my favorite Fun. song off that album. For me, the Kelly Clarkson and Taylor swift nominees are too generic, basic, and cliche to warrant winning Record of the Year. I also think that Gotye’s personal experimentation with music is more worthy of recognition than the teams that make the other nominees popular. There’s a lot to be said for an indie artist getting mainstream recognition, despite making an album without that intention. It’s all about the music, and I appreciate that.

Album of the Year
El Camino – The Black Keys
Some Nights – Fun.
Babel – Mumford & Sons
Channel Orange – Frank Ocean
Blunderbuss – Jack White

My choice: Going with Babel for this one. I greatly admire the way folk has adapted itself for the mainstream and I think it would be beautiful for a folk-rock band to come out on top of many of the other greats of the year. Mumford & Sons is a wonderfully lyric oriented group, and Babel is a great example of this. I really dig their music, and this is the only album in the ones listed that I can listen to all the way through without a skip song. That said, Some Nights was also an amazing album.

Song of the Year
“The A Team” – Ed Sheeran
“Adorn” – Miquel Pimentel
“Call Me Maybe” – Tavish Crowe, Carly Rae Jepsen, Josh Ramsay
“Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” - Jörgen Elofsson, David Gamson, Greg Kurstin & Ali    Tamposi
“We Are Young” - Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost & Nate Ruess

My choice: With the added note that this award goes to the songwriter(s) in particular and not to the performer, I am even more resistant to the cliche and overdone. “Call Me Maybe” and “Stronger” are definitely not on my list for this. I am actually feeling either “The A Team” or “We Are Young,” both of which were written (in part, at least) by the original performers.

Best New Artist
Alabama Shakes
Fun.
Hunter Hayes
The Lumineers
Frank Ocean

My choice: I am hoping for either the Lumineers for the same reason as Mumford & Sons – my appreciation for folk. But I think Fun. is very deserving as well and I would be thrilled if they pulled this one out. I’m sure the others are wonderful in their respective genres, but these two are definitely my favorites of the “new” artists.

Best Pop Solo Performance

Set Fire To The Rain (Live) – Adele
Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) – Kelly Clarkson
Call Me Maybe – Carly Rae Jepsen
Wide Awake – Katy Perry
Where Have You Been – Rihanna

My choice: Adele. Hands down, Adele.

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
“Shake It Out” - Florence + the Machine
“We Are Young” – Fun. w/ Janelle Monae
“Somebody That I Used to Know” – Gotye w/ Kimbra
“Sexy and I Know It” – LMFAO
“Payphone” – Maroon 5 w/ Wiz Khalifa

My choice: “Shake It Out” for sure. Though based on my previous comments, I’m sure you’ve figured out that I would be fine with a Fun. win or a Gotye win too.

Best Pop Vocal Album
Stronger – Kelly Clarkson
Ceremonials – Florence + the Machine
Some Nights – Fun.
Overexposed – Maroon 5
The Truth About Love – P!nk

My choice: I would absolutely love if Florence + the Machine walked away with this one – I loved every second of Ceremonials.

Best Musical Theater Album
Follies
The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess
Newsies
Nice Work If You Can Get It
Once: A New Musical

My choice: I desperately want Once to win this and not just because of “Falling Slowly.” I think this is an absolutely beautiful album.  Otherwise Newsies.

So those are my hopes and dreams for the Grammy’s. Obviously, I picked out a few key categories, but I am interested to see the results of many more than just those. I am looking forward to the categories on soundtracks and music videos, as well as many of the genre-based distinctions. For a full list of Grammy Nominees, go here. Don’t forget to let me know your thoughts, and make sure to tune into the show on February 10th.