Sufjan Stevens: Songs For Christmas

While you are celebrating Christmas and New Year's day with family and friends you might want to use Sufjan Steven's latest album as this year's holiday soundtrack. It was released at the end of November, and a frenzy of favorable reviews have followed, which is typical with Stevens' records; but I must admit that I am not sure about this one.

First of all let me say that I have only had the album for about a week and therefore have only listened to the record in its entirety 6 times or so--my point being that it may grow on me as Stevens' other records have. However, at this particular moment my reaction to the music is lukewarm. The songs are a collection of traditional Christmas songs and his own holiday-themed compositions ranging from lo-fi productions to the more elaborate arrangements that have made his previous work unique in today's music scene. Some of the lo-fi tracks, like "O Holy Night" on the third disc are solid and make the collection worth purchasing, but other tracks, like "Did I Make You Cry On Christmas Day? (Well, You Deserved It!)" are confusing; and "Jingle Bells" is just bad.

Stevens is a genuine artist whose clever ideas have intrigued many listeners, including this writer, and the sing along style of this production is a far cry from the over-produced wailing that we get from pop divas this time of year. So I am happy to see Stevens' approach to Christmas music which I think has been absent for too long. The sticker, tablature, and other goodies make it a fun purchase and well worth the twenty dollars it is sold for (we're talking 5 discs, mind you), but the execution seems sloppy to me, and on the whole the quality of the performances are mediocre.

Sufjan has produced such interesting, well-arranged, well-thought-out music before that anytime he falls a bit short of that awe-inspiring level some of us are taken a back. Or at least one of us has been. And this collection of songs almost, ALMOST, gives off the impression that he just wanted to get something out on the market to serve as a counterpoint to "That Creepy Christmas Feeling."

Merry Christmas

Wishing you and everyone you know a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday season- from the music worth hearing family

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P37xPiRz1sg

Shonen Knife

Shonen Knife is an all female j-rock trio that is worth checking out (J-rock is Japanese rock music). Some j-rockers try hard to appease the familiar tastes of the American palette, no doubt for fiscal stardom – but Shonen Knife stays true to their musical chi. They are three cool girls who want to rock, and in conjunction with their own musical tastes- sing and jam like an American alternative band. In a strange way there is something so pleasantly original and irresistible about these girls singing in broken English - in union with some animated guitar playing and bubbly drumming. Their gentile sounds are only a guise – when Naoko Yamano sings I hear a censored rock and roll rage that riles me up. I can’t get enough of their sound. Check them out first to pacify your own curiosity and second because they are good. I can’t compare them to any band I know- yet they remind me of every band I like. Enjoy.

Current repeat- “I am a cat”

Coming soon- A House

Nick

Beck: The Information

I am a fan of Beck. And so when I picked up 'The Information' a couple of months ago I was excited and expected to like much of the album immediately. However, as anyone who has followed this artist knows, you never know what Beck is going to throw at you.

'The Information' is a pop, folk, funk, psychedelic, hip-hop, infused creation with some baroque scales thrown in for good measure. I think that my response to this barrage of sounds was a standard one: "Whoa!" This is not to say that the record is a cacophony, there is just a lot to process.

Everytime Beck releases something new everyone makes a big deal about how he continues to defy anyone trying to pin him down. But in this album we see a lot of the same elements that he used in previous efforts, i.e. 'Guero,' 'Sea Change,' and 'Mutations' especially. So my first recommendation is if you enjoyed those albums you are going to enjoy bits of this one. In a sense, 'The Information' is just a continuation of the conversation that was started with those previous records. The harpsichords, harmonicas, and synthesizers are still there, Beck's absurdist lyrics are still there, he has just created a mixture that goes a slightly different direction.

My favorite tracks are 'Think I'm In Love,' an up beat song that has molded the 'Mutations' and 'Sea Change' albums perfectly, 'Nausea,' a punk rock track that harkens back to his days of lo-fi silliness, and 'Strange Apparition,' an acoustic guitar driven song that gets me singing along every time. The album is not very cohesive, but that is part of its attractiveness, reeling back at what appears to be a mess is your first reaction, but you soon find yourself listening to nothing else. Somehow, Beck is able to combine elements that no one would ever consider doing and miraculously make it sound good. This is a rare talent, and I suggest you give it a chance if you haven't already.

And as an extra, non-music-related bonus, the album comes with collectable stickers that you can decorate the blank CD case with, which entertained me for hours.

The Yeah Yeah Yeah's

I can’t stop listening to “Maps” by the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s. This is a great song. Great build-up- successful repetitions- active beats- and a sexy voice. The sounds of this New York City based trio- comprised of Karen O, Brian Chase, and Nick Zinner- can best be tagged as art punk- as if you combined the climate of the Velvet Underground with the raw emotion of the Strokes – fronted by Deborah Harry. Their 2006 release, Show Your Bones, does not disappoint. “Gold Lion” is a can’t-miss song- and the newest Yeah Yeah Yeah’s song I can’t get enough of. Karen O is eerily reminiscent of Kim Deal during the Pixie’s prime- and this band- in my opinion will follow in their footsteps.

They make you feel so many different things- all good. Check them out- they are for real.

Current repeat- “Gold Lion”

Coming Soon- Shonen Knife

Nick

Cut Chemist: Audience's Listening

Cut Chemist, the California based MC, released this well-crafted album in early July. I have listened to this album over and over again since I picked it up soon after it was released and like any good artistic creation, each time I discover another level to the music. I would not classify myself as a big DJ / MC / electronica enthusiast, and I am not even familiar enough with how these guys scratch and spin records to know whether or not Cut Chemist is a top quality scratcher, but there are some songs that really blow me away. The track "(My 1st) Big Break" is a good example of how fast this guy can scratch without making it sound like a mess. If you are a fan of this kind of skill you have to listen, and even if you aren't it is worth a listen (and I almost guarantee that you will press repeat).

The album has got some great sampling work, "The Garden" pumps up an already smooth sounding Astrud Gilberto song, "Berimbau" and in my opinion, anything with her velvety voice in it is a winner. Another track, "What's the Altitude" features the rapper Hymnal, is probably the most conventional song on the record, by which I mean you can at least sing along with a chorus--unlike most of the other songs.

If I owned a chic cafe I would definitely play this album in the background as it exudes that kind of groove. But that is not to say that it is a totally chill album, because most of the tracks are danceable and have certainly hit the club scene by now; but for those who avoid electronica because they consider it to be too in your face or hard to listen to I would recommend picking this album up. Yes, there is a lot of scratching, but there is also a lot of melodious material that most of us can enjoy.

Everyone Should Like Samba

Samba.

The pulse of Brazil.

Think velvety voices and intoxicating guitar strums.

Think attractive couples gliding across a dance floor in unison.

Think what you will, but everyone can find something to their liking in this genre of music.

Samba emerged as a distinctive genre in the early twentieth century in Brazil, developing from the traditional music of black immigrants from various African countries, but mainly Angola. By the 1930's samba schools existed in Brazil and the genre sprouting numerous variations including Bossa Nova.

It is the Bossa Nova style that most people are familiar with. It gained international popularity in the 1950's through the compositons of Joao Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and Stan Getz. Their have also been waves of popularity in the 1970's and 80's of different samba variants.

Most samba is percussion driven, filled with hand drums, tambourines, and different types of stringed instruments. If you ever spend time in Brazil during Carnival, or even watch clips on TV you will see samba groups, or 'sambistas,' playing the soundtrack to the celebration. And while sambas is the soul of Brazil, it is still immensely popular in all parts of the world including places like Japan and Germany--I know naming those two countries may seem rather arbitrary, but there's something funny, if not downright strange about it.

I think this speaks to samba's worth. If two nations as different as Germany and Japan can embrace samba music, then it has to tempt you at least a little bit! If you are already a fan of samba, then I hope this article reinforces your interest in the music, but if you have given up on samba, or have never bothered to give it a chance then I encourage you to do so.

You will not regret it.