"The Harder They Come"

“The Harder They Come” – soundtrack - 1972

“The Harder they Come” is a classic film directed by Jamaican Perry Henzell. It was the first film to come out of Jamaica, and it is the vehicle that propelled singer Jimmy Cliff to stardom. The soundtrack, chronologically with the film, reveals the story of a young musician (Ivan), played by Cliff, who comes to the city in hopes of becoming a reggae star. It features three unforgettable songs from Cliff -“Many Rivers to Cross,” “You Can Get It If You Really Want it,” and “the Harder They Come.”

Cliff has a matchless gallantry in his voice, pooled with an unstoppable- old-school reggae off- beat that nets any audience. He is someone you should listen to. It’s not the sophisticated doo-wop of Bob Marley, or the fashionable hardcore dancehall sounds of Sean Paul. This is a different kind of reggae more familiar with Jamaicans and Europeans. Imagine yourself in a brand-new white linen suit- you are walking through the streets of Kingston- noises all around- cold red-stripe in your hand- it’s a warm night- perfect temperature-you don’t know where you’re going- you step into a beachside hall- moonlight reflecting off the disco ball- beautiful women dancing like only they can. This is the feeling racing through me- when I listen to Cliff.

The disc also features songs from other reggae greats- Toots and the Maytals, and Desmond Decker. “Pressure Drop” (Toots and the Maytals) is a consummate reggae song. It has the beats, the sensation, and the unpolluted sounds. 007 (Desmond Decker) introduces the sounds of “the rude boys” to Jamaica. A reggae hero in Jamaica before the rise of Marley, Decker perfects the use of back-up singers, and is the voice of the underground.

Check out this soundtrack. It is unquestionably one of the greatest reggae compilations ever produced.

My current repeat- 007

Coming Soon- the Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Nick

Tom Petty: The Ironman of Rock

A few days ago I was driving when the local rock station played "Saving Grace" a single from Tom Petty's 2006 album "Highway Companion." I had never heard the song before, I didn't even know that Petty had recorded an album lately, but I instantly recognized his no nonsense, four-chord rock.

Tom Petty has been cranking out his brand of timeless rock-n-roll for thirty years now and has written songs like "American Girl," "Free Fallin,'" "Into the Great Wide Open," & "Mary Jane's Last Dance." These four songs still get regular airtime on many U.S. rock radio stations, and his opera includes countless other songs that most people can sing by heart.

So why is it in this age of one hit wonders and now-you-see-them-now-you-don't artists that Petty can continue to churn out songs that are popular? Why do so many artists get only 90 days of airtime when Petty's music can be heard everyday on classic rock stations, alternative rock stations, and even pop stations?

Some may say that it is due to the fact that Petty long ago established his fan base and therefore he is going to garner a substantial amount of attention for whatever he does. There may be something to this, but it is easy to point to a number of bands emerging in the late 70's that were tremendously popular and have fallen off the face of the earth since. No, I believe that it is something else that keeps Petty on the charts, it is the fact that he is one of the few artists today that writes fantastic rock songs.

It would be fair, I think, to label Petty as a purist. His music is a traditional type of rock that doesn't go out of style--that is the source of his longevity. When one listens to "Highway Companion" there is a certain familiarity in the music that makes it attractive. You can hear riffs and chord progressions that are similar to old Petty tunes, but they are just fresh enough to make one want to listen to the songs over and over again. His music is not repetitive or boring. Petty has a musical language of his own and when you understand it, you are hooked, and even if you don't understand it you know it when you hear it.

This is largely because his music is completely his. There is no over-production on Petty's records. He found his niche in rock and has continued to produce enjoyable records. There is a lesson here for musicians: Find your voice and develop it; there is no need to reinvent yourself with every record just to stay fresh. Petty's work ethic and contributions to rock are admirable and his numerous Grammy nominations, and Hollywood Walk of Fame Star, among other rewards are a testament to this.

I hope he can find it in him to make music for the next thirty years.

Golem: Fresh Off Boat

Golem is an explosive neo-klezmer band at the forefront of a thriving NYC Eastern European-Punk scene. The group's superb musicianship, linguistic virtuosity, and tremendous energy are an incredible treat. I have to admit that when I first heard of Golem and the klezmer-folk-punk genre I was confused and ready to write it off without giving it much of a chance. However, this music grabs ahold of you from the first accordion note and refuses to let go.

Listening to this record is an indoctrinating experience. It is an introduction to a culture's rich musical history, as the group researches old klezmer music for their albums, but by revamping and rocking out Golem dispells anyone tempted to criticize covering traditional music. The performances are delightfully over the top, and if you do not catch yourself trying to sing along with the foreign lyrics then you are unbelieveably BORING!

The track "Golem Hora" is a good example of the melding of traditional melodies with a modern twist. The famous Jewish melody's new lyrics are "Have a tequila, Have a tequila, Have a tequila. JUST ONE MORE" Another track, which is featured above, tells the story of a man who heads to Warsaw but ends up back in his own village.

The stories told have a timeless quality and the overall listening experience is indescribeable. It is only topped by Golem's live show, which has included wedding themed concerts, and to celebrate this record, they had a concert on a boat that sailed around NYC.

Check out their website at: www.golemrocks.com

Gecko Turner: Guapapasea!

This album has been out since early this year, so many of you may already know of it, BUT if you have not heard of Gecko Turner, check it out.

'Guapapasea' is a smooth sounding record blending Afro-Cuban percussion, Samba & Flamenco guitars, reggae and even some hip hop elements. Do not expect to be blown away: Turner never comes right out and sings, but kind of speaks in a melodic half-whisper akin to Lou Reed. In fact the title of the album can be translated as "Beauty Walking" and it never really breaks out beyond the rhythm of a casual stroll.

I listen to this album to and from the beach, as I think it is the perfect soundtrack to days filled with surfing and relaxing on the sand. My favorite tracks are "Subterranean Homesick Blues," a Bob Dylan cover that Turner completely reconfigures by singing it in Spanish with a Samba groove, "Te Estas Equivocando," which is a playful, reggae-tinged gem, and "Rainbow Country," the Bob Marley classic performed fairly true to the original with a bit of Flamenco strumming thrown in for fun.

The album is overall a chilled-out, casual mix of songs. When you listen through it almost feels like a bunch of talented friends got together one afternoon and recorded some impromptu jams. This loose feel to the record might get annoying to some who refuse to sit back and let the music soak in, but I think most listeners will be hypnotized by Turner's grooves after 5 songs or so.

Check out Turner's web site at: www.geckoturner.com

In the Begining: The Who, What, Where, When & Why of Music Worth Hearing

WHY? & WHAT?

We are starting this blog with the hope that we will be able to bring some attention to music that we think should be listened to. We intend to spark some friendly discussion of bands, concerts, instruments, songs, genres of music--anything musical is fair game here. We love music, and want to share that with our readers. This blog does not intend to search out unknown bands and pedantically preach about how the rest of the world should listen to them instead of Justin Timberlake (currently #1 on the Billboard Hot 100), although occasionally we may run across an indie group that we recommend. And ACTUALLY, we may even recommend a Justin Timberlake tune once in a while. Beethoven once said, "Music should strike fire from the heart of man, and bring tears from the eyes of woman." We at Music Worth Hearing (MWH) believe that all musical genres have the potential to move us and our readers will therefore find us discussing all kinds of artists.

The bottom line is that while some people get excited about collecting stamps, and others play sports religiously, our love is music, and we wish to share it with you.

Hopefully we will touch on a subject that interests you, and we are always willing to learn from our readers, as there is a lot of music to listen to out there.

WHEN?

We're going to try to post as much as possible. What does that mean? Let's say at least once a week from both of us, and hopefully more. However, please remember that drafting articles of a decent quality can take time . . . and we like to put some serious thought into what we say.

WHO?

We are first and foremost music lovers.

We are also students, & musicians. If you're really interested in more about us check out our profiles.

WHERE?

On the world wide web, of course!