Elliptical Siren

If you're not familiar with Imogen Heap, and your musical taste knows no boundaries then run as quick as you can to buy her new album "Ellipse".

Imogen is a classically trained musician and vocalist who has been creating some of the most interesting and beautiful music for years. Some of you may know her work from the movie "Garden State" ... she was in a group named "Frou Frou" and co-wrote/performed a song on that soundtrack called "Let Go".

I have been patiently waiting for her latest album for a while. My excitement grew when I read an article about the process of creating this album.
She actually recorded the entire album in her childhood home which she purchased strictly for this purpose. Imogen turned her old room into a studio and did all of the arrangements and vocals in the modified space. She mixed everything right there in the same room. It's an amazing piece of work that is truly inspiring.

In particular you must listen to a song called "Earth". This song utilizes only her vocals as instruments and is just amazing to dissect. The song contains over 100 tracks of vocals recorded....it's simply amazing.


I have found myself playing one of my favorite games with this album. When I purchase full albums on ITunes I will let them go in to my library in alphabetical order (without track numbers). Then (being the total geek that I am) I will attempt to arrange the songs in the order I think they should appear on the released CD.
It not only gives me a little to study regarding music, but it matches my wits against the real pros out there. Rarely do I get more than 4 or 5 correct, but still it's a learning process.

Do yourself a favor..give a listen.

State of Main

"Oh please...please...please don't come back up to the booth and ask for 'Stanky Leg' again. Maybe if I look focused, head down in my mixer....ear goggles on, she'll get tired of waiting and leave. Crap. She's only getting more persistent with her steady alcohol intake. Why? Why would anyone request 'Stanky Leg' at a wedding...ok...I'm going to be nice and give her the standard DJ Bleggi (newkindofdj.com) answer 'I will do my best to get to it, the bride and groom have a lot to get to in the next hour but I'll try to squeeze it in somewhere' " (translation - No way in hell I'm playing that song and will continue to stall until you get pissed at me and complain to everyone here about the horrible job I'm doing)

I know it sounds like I'm the old crotchety Phill, but I assure you I'm not. DJ Bleggi is completely different and puts his own musical snobbery aside for the benefit of the event. I understand what is needed and I can certainly appreciate certain requests IF they fit in the framework of the event.

That being said the state of main stream music has been suffering for some time.
Every week I receive a CD of music from a subscription service that supplies radio stations and program directors with the latest "guaranteed" hits.
I've got to tell you, these disks are very informative...they contain everything from adult contemporary to country to "urban"(as they choose to call it...what's wrong with "rap"?). Anyway, I'm always amazed when the disks come in....usually I'm like a kid who got a new toy. I want to listen to them right away. I crack them open drop them in the computer and get ready for disappointment. Usually I'll get my folders ready to copy files if I think some have potential...but most of the time I usually just sit, drool, and often whine (sorry honey). It's beyond me how some promoters will actually back some of these artists and expects airplay.
I'm always on the lookout for new artists or those that I have never heard, but when the titles come across before the music starts...well I tend to get cynical....very quickly. I will already give the song a strike if I think the name is just awful....for instance...this week's disk contained a performer by the name of "Derty" featuring "Lil Boosie"(dammit spell check is going to kill me on that one). Anyway, immediately upon seeing "f" I thought to myself "this is gonna suck". I know that's not fair, but seriously I think if these performers (still avoiding calling them artists) would put half the amount of work in their music as they do with their jacked up names they might make a decent record. I wonder if past DJ generations thought the same of "Klymaxx", "Devo", or "kajagoogoo"?

I've had many conversations lately regarding the current state of music with a variety of people and a large cross-section of cultures. Everyone agreed that the current state is not good. However, I must admit...we might have seen the bottom already. As we come out of the over "Emo" metro sexual sound or even the droning bass of southern "Crunk"...there is a new generation of musicians making their name known...slowly.

Rap is starting to turn around again (if they can get away from the Vocoder....omg you're killing me with that crap.....STILL). With a new release from "Chevelle", the good old hard rock genre will also continue to have some life support this year.
Of course with desktop music publishing getting easier and easier, that can only mean that we will have more "Souljaboy" music to deal with...please save your ears and give someone like "N.A.S.A." a try (they're genius).

The bottom line here...expect more from the people producing the music. Make them raise the standard. Right now - music makes it to market way too quick, with very little criticism.

Adorable Adele

Last night my wife and I had the privilege to see a 2009 dual grammy winning artist perform in Dallas. With very little fanfare Adele performed at the Granada. I remember when I first heard her velvet voice and thinking to myself "watch this girl".

The show did not disappoint.

"The Script" from Dublin opened the show with a thirty minute set, and thank god that's all it was. They performed well and appeared to have fun but I'm just not a fan of their music. In particular they performed a song called "Rusty Halo"...which, as I mentioned to the wife, sounded as if it were from a bad action movie that went straight to DVD. Ah visions of Lou Gossett Jr.....Iron Eagle V!!!!!!

Anyway….

After waiting about forty-five minutes for the sound crew to figure out the technical issues with the main microphone...Adele finally took the stage. Her skittish walk turned to a quick jog to get to the front of the stage. As she approached the microphone the diverse crowd wailed, causing her to blush and throw a shoulder up in the air and duck away. Finally squaring to the audience, she grinned from ear to ear with what looked like pure enthusiasm.

I was in awe of how someone so young could carry herself so well, given her recent success. She seemed very appreciative of the crowd's praise, sheepish at times to acknowledge that everyone was there to hear her.

One disappointment was the small crowd that had not heard of her until the grammys. In particular the wife and I had the pleasure of standing next to a pair of older couples in their 60's. One woman dancing way too close to us (who had more plastic surgery than Joan Rivers) even made the comment that she had never heard of her. The only reason I say this was a disappointment was because I bought my tickets long before the grammys and I fear that someone who really wanted to see the performance didn't get to because of this drunken mess of a high maintenance mall rat ended up buying the last of the tickets (the show sold out quickly after the grammys).

That being said we didn't let that interrupt us enjoying Adele.
While she belted out her songs she would try to pause and waive to almost everyone in the audience....literally. She would let out this beaming smile and waive...and then....move to the person one seat over. Between her willingness to engage the audience on such a personal level and her humble body language...it just made for a nice show. This girl truly appreciates the gift she has and the adoration placed on her.

The performance was flawless and clearly underestimated by many, but I considered it a treat. With all the train wrecks and huge productions on tour...this show was just the reassurance in music that I needed.

It Just Works!

I'm always intrigued when a director or creator takes a greater than average risk when choosing a soundtrack for a movie. Anyone could take the dark visuals of "The Matrix" or "Max Payne" and realize that NIN or Manson would be a natural fit. That's a no-brainer. It always makes me wonder if the creators always had the soundtrack in their head or if they just discovered it by accident. "A Knight's Tale" comes to mind with its classic rock mix; however, that soundtrack felt really obvious and forced at the same time. Wasn't for me, it came off extra cheesy.

You ever hear a song that you would have never expected in a movie or show and it just works with perfection? I recently got sucked in to the movie "Marie Antoinette" partially because of Kirsten Dunst, but primarily because of the soundtrack. One scene in particular where they play New Order's "Ceremony" really caught my eyes and ears.


I was just taken aback at how well it worked. I know the movie is a few years old but I never paid much attention to it.

I am sometimes faced with creating a soundscape for a visual performance. The fashion shows were my favorite last year simply because I was allowed to choose all of the music. Since the visual arts portion of my brain is completely dead, this is the only chance I get to exercise it. At a recent gig, I was given the creative freedom to choose the music for most of the event with the exception of scheduled performances by gymnasts and cheerleaders. After the athletes entered the floor, in front of an audience of over a thousand people, I was to play something kind of upbeat while the athletes took their turn at random acts of gymnastery (lol). There are plenty of obvious songs out there that would have fit perfectly - I think the crowd expected it and would have been okay with anything. In rehearsals I had something up my sleeve that I wasn't going to leak to anyone. I wasn't given much time to prepare for the event but they did give me a sample DVD of previous year's performances. I used the dvd for a few hours trying to find what tempo worked best. Given that the focus would be the athletes I didn't want to use one of those obvious, loud, obnoxious, overplayed "Y'all Ready For This" techno songs. I thought that would just be sensory overload (especially given the amount of equipment I packed in there...I had to use my earplugs for the first time at an event).

Instead, while they were tumbling and flipping all over the place for the first five minutes I went with a Norah Jones remix (Things You Don't Have to Do - Sunrise Remix). The song has a really strong feeling of tension but never releases, and that's when I slide in to a heavy faster beat current electronic song. The Nora Jones song (as a long intro)...worked...and worked very well. Give it a listen and tell me if you can picture it:

http://mp3.rhapsody.com/player?type=track&id=tra.8684952&remote=false&page=&pageregion=&guid=&from=&hasrhapx=false&__pcode=

I'm so happy mad!

I couldn't be angrier with myself, but I'm still happy. I've rekindled another relationship- well not really. I have found an artist that I ignored for many years and he has allowed me to purchase his music. Is that really a relationship?

This appears to be a common occurence with me. I like an album from a band that for one reason or another doesn't survive, then I never check in with them again.
Usually when the band breaks up I write them off. "You're dead to me". There have been a few bands that I've actually taken the time to research the other projects they were involved in, because I was interested. Unfortunately I rarely get hooked on their newer projects.

Every year I come across at least two or three artists that I completely neglected to keep up with and then find out they have been more than active in the music community. It makes me angry that I haven't given the effort to keep up with them but oh so excited when I find they have a respectable discography I have never heard.

The really frustrating part of that relationship is that it's not that I've ignored the song or album that got me hooked in the first place. In fact, I usually break out the dusty albums a few times a year....reminisce...then get back to my busy life. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Usually what happens is I listen to an album and maybe I look up the band and find out they have broken up right after an album or two, and I give up or get distracted. No excuse. I should pay more attention to you, I'm so sorry. Here you are pouring your heart in to your music and I'm off listening to some, mediocre at best "new sound". Will you ever forgive me?

One such event happened this week.

This week is one of my "lucky" weeks where I can actually treat myself to new music. Not a client's, not a recommendation...but music that I've sought out and found. I love music hunting and hitting the gold mine.
In recent searches I've come across new artists like Jamie Leonhart (who is a marvelous musician out of the NY) and reconnected with one of my favorite folk artists Leona Naess.

But last night I came across a name I have not heard in at least 10 years - Mike Doughty (also out of the NY).

Mr. Doughty was in a band called Soul Coughing...one of their great songs named "Super Bon Bon" is frequently played in my vehicle. The entire album "irresistible bliss", released in 96, is one of those that I break out often enough to refresh the words in my head. Everytime I listen to it...I think "too bad they broke up", and like a schmuck I put it right back up on the shelf without following up.

Well last night upon music shopping I came across M. Doughty's discography and boy was I embarrassed. When I saw all of the music he has released over the past ten years my shoulders sank. I wanted to kick myself without even hearing any of it...I know I messed up, I'm sorry. It won't happen again. I was apologizing to him under my breath, while cussing myself. Sound unheard - I made the snap decision to purchase everything available (not just his latest "Golden Delicious" released early 2008). I knew I wouldn't be dissappointed because I knew this was a guy who would produce quality.

I don't know how many of you take recommendations or if anyone even reads my drivel, but let me suggest you give him a chance. In today's mash of over processed, vocoder induced, empty lyric vocals....it's so flippin nice to come across someone who has no issue sticking with what works. If you're not familiar with his work....at the very least give "Looking At the World from the Bottom of a Well" a listen. I promise, you won't be disappointed.

Sorry Mike, I'm an idiot...won't happen again.