Musical Thoughts: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Let’s not pretend that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is important or that reputable. It’s lost a lot of it’s luster over the years and is mostly known for trotting out the past for one more big show. In an age of widespread information, people are given the choice to choose their idols and they’re usually not ones that a group of stuffy people in the industry are pimping out for one more go around. The hall has been criticized for focusing on name value/commercial success over influence, generally picking from the magic decades, 60’s and 70’s, and ignoring the more youth oriented areas like punk, dance, and rap. Who gets inducted is seemingly irrelevant, influence will always be influential, it’s just nice for some names to be honored. So here are the nominees for this year and my thoughts on who will go in.

For Sures: Pearl Jam and Tupac are definitely getting in! Pearl Jam is our generation’s “Who.”

Pearl Jam is going to be the headliner, the final act of the night. I may not be a gigantic fan anymore, but, realistically, Pearl Jam is still a big stadium band. They will be this year’s “Red Hot Chili Pepper” pick, a band that is still relevant on a day-to-day basis. As for Tupac, there is no way that the hall isn’t going to pass on that moment when Tupac’s family goes on stage to give their remembrances, followed by rappers, old and new, paying tribute.

Joe Tex- Although it’s detrimental for my ego to admit this, I’m not familiar with Joe Tex. After a quick Wikipedia search, I see he was pretty successful after a period of disappointment. I also listened to some of his songs on Spotify and wasn’t super impressed. It’s hard to judge his chances because I have no reference for his influence or what he meant at his height and he hasn’t been referenced in popular culture in a significant way in a while. Given that he isn’t too well known right now, either he’s a lost gem or being held up by the old timers on the committee.

Bad Brains: I would love it if the Bad Brains were inducted. They were very important for the development of hardcore punk music, melding together different genres and breaking the racial barrier that sometimes inhibited punk. The committee usually don’t induct punk acts (they just started taking rap serious), so I’d say their induction is a long shot. Most diehards would love them to be picked, but probably won’t.

Chic: It is amazing how many times they have been nominated. 10 times they have been passed over and seeing how packed the pool is this time, I don’t see them getting the nod. However, I will say this, I think they absolutely deserve it. Disco is usually looked down on, mostly seen as cheesy flashes to the past, when, in reality, I hear so much of it’s influence in today’s music. A lot of indie music is less rock’n’roll and dance nowadays. Plus, Rapper’s Delight, amiright?

Depeche Mode: While Depeche Mode has had a lot of mainstream success, I don’t believe that they should make it in before some of their peers. Their influence is felt, but I think it’s more secondhand than anything they originated. This is me speaking as a fan, by the way. Black Celebration is one of my most treasured vinyl. I just think they were more popular than influential and more deserving 80’s bands should have gotten the slot, such as, The Smiths, Joy Division, or The Cure. Commercial success and the ability to sell out a show, however, is very important to the presentation of the inductions, so I could see them being picked as crowd pleasers.

Jane’s Addiction: Very influential for alternative music, especially when it came to putting eyes on the emerging genre. Also, still able to put on a good show. Dave Navarro is still recognizable and Perry Farrell has really boosted his profile by starting Lollapalooza. What they have working against them, they only put out two good album and I doubt they have the same influence as, say, The Sex Pistols, where they had one album but the one album was exceptional.

Joan Baez: I love Joan Baez. Her brand of folk is right up my alley. Her version of Farewell Angelina will continue to be one of my favorite covers of all time. I doubt she will be inducted. She would really stick out as a sore thumb with headliners Pearl Jam and Tupac, along with big alternative/dance/rock names. I don’t see her being a big enough name to contend with the personalities that are presented in this group.

Yes: Not a big Prog fan, so throws hands in the air. I could see them going in, from what I’ve read they’ve done a lot.

MC5: I would be shocked to see them go in. Let’s be honest, outside of the people who are in that circle, they aren’t household names. Seeing them “kicking out the jams” onstage, would be cool, just not likely.

Kraftwerk: Personally, outside of the headliners, nobody on the list deserves to go in more than Kraftwerk. Electronica is such a huge component of music today, from hip-hop to alternative to techno, it’s a baseline for it all. Kraftwerk were real innovators and without a doubt should go in. Hell, the whole 80’s were based around them! It would be legitimately bizarre if they weren’t picked.

Buffer picks: A buffer pick is an inductee that was popular back in the day, a few hits, fun, someone deserving of the honor, yet not big enough to take away attention and will allow the audience to breath before a more notable person takes the stage. These picks are more aimed at the older crowd, lacking the cool factor. Kinda crass of me to say, but, hey, not everyone that goes in are A+ artists. If they were, we’d run out of headliners.

            For this year, these picks are: The Cars, Chaka Khan, Electric Light Orchestra, The J. Geils Band, Journey, Steppenwolf, and The Zombies. The Cars were very influential in the new wave genre and produced lots of hits, probably the the leading choice in this group. The hall hasn’t inducted a diva since Donna Summer in 2013, making Chaka Khan a possibility. Journey would be fun in the bar sing-a-long way, same for Steppenwolf, who would appease the dads in the audience. Personally, I would love if The Zombies were inducted. Odessey and Oracle is amazing (at least one half of it is). The only thing I see holding them back is that they stopped at the height of their popularity and never had that many big songs to warrant buzz. If I had to take a guess, I’d say The Cars, Journey, or Steppenwolf.

The New Year part 2: Charles Bradley, Bleached, Ras G & Koreatown Oddity, M. Ward, Frankie Cosmos

Charles Bradley- Changes

            Charles Bradley will always be seen as a story of struggle and triumph. His life story is everything film executives want in a prestige picture. Bradley, abandoned at 8 months, homeless at 14, 20 years of blue collar jobs, almost dying from an allergic reaction, murdered brother, becoming a James impersonator after seeing him at the Apollo Theater, discovered at a local show and releasing an album in 2011, goes on to have amazing success until being stricken with cancer. What a rollercoaster of a life he has had! It takes unparalleled strength to keep going after such a hard upbringing and long journey, but throughout it all, in interviews or in song, he has never sounded defeated. I’d say just the story alone should prompt a listen just to hear all those hardships be absolved through a miraculously strong voice.

            On to the actual album though, Changes is a powerful album. Invoking the vocal stylings of James Brown, Bradley screams, croons, and yelps songs that have time-traveled from the age of funk. A place I imagine is filled with men wearing white suits and oozing sex appeal, both admonishing sin and consuming it. As in the tradition of funk, a lot of the songs reference love and the things that it does to you, pining for some mysteries sweet thing. In some ways, that is characteristic of the man singing the songs. He is someone that gives out love and begs for it to be returned to mixed results. Another theme apparent is that of change, obviously. In one particularly powerful song, Change for the World, he talks about how everyone has to “change your love” in order to live in a peaceful world.

            Songs to Listen to: Changes (amazing cover of a Black Sabbath classic), Ain’t it a Sin, Change for the World.

            Rating: For those seeking modern funk and seeking a honey, 7/10

Bleached- Welcome the Worms

            The first thing that comes to my mind when listening to Welcome the Worms is how appropriate it would be if I was fast forward running through a mall, riding the miniature train in the lobby area, and being chased out by security. This is bubblegum punk at it’s finest. Bubblegum punk meaning the fast, visceral form of punk without the sharp corners meant to pierce your fingers. The songs don’t ease off from their heavy riffing and sing songy vocal performance, making it hard not to imagine yourself bobbing your head left and right like a carefree tween. I would imagine that old timers from the 80’s would look at each other and say, “this is like a mix of Joan Jett and Josie Cotton.” Milliennials be like, “lets invent a dance for this.” The themes run the gauntlet of young people problems, from heartache to finding yourself. In some ways, this is a simple album of pop punk, but, in other ways, it’s a very expertly structured set of catchy earworms.

            Songs to Listen To: Sour Candy (One of my favorite 2016 songs-a Carl’s Pick), Wednesday Night Melody, Chemical Air.

            Rating: Great for those that want a fun collection of mildly rebellious songs that will be stuck in your head for weeks. 6/10

Ras G & Koreatown Oddity- 5 Chuckles: In the Wrld

            When was the last time there was an album that seemed specifically made for smoking weed and taking shrooms….I’m sure a lot, but this one is pretty dope. Most of the album is about smoking weed, which is kind of a nice detour from the ultra serious albums I listen to. The album is punctuated with spoken word clips between the rapping, showing that Ras G and Koreatown are more comfortable being producers than rappers. The production is the real focal point. Not to say the rapping is sub-par, obviously. One of the biggest misconceptions of rap is that rappers have to rap fast to be considered masters of their craft, but there is so much more to the technique. The vocals on this album perfectly match the subject matter and give the album credibility.

            Songs to listen to: Honestly, they all kind of go together.

            Rating: 5/10

M. Ward- More Rain

            M. Ward was one of the first indie artists that I really enjoyed (along with The Hold Steady and Neutral Milk Hotel), having been entranced by his album Hold Time. Something about him was unique but retro, lending me an opportunity to somehow feel connected to the past, yet present, at the same time. I collected all his cds (yes, cds…sigh) and patiently waited until he came to town. He didn’t until just a few months, which I had to miss, but that’s besides the point. Meditative, rockabilly, intimate; M. Ward was my version of listening to one of those coffee house happenings in 1960’s Greenwich or sitting on the front porch of a desolate farmhouse as the sun drops down towards the wheat.

            However, recently, I feel as though there has been a complacency to his music that errs more in the direction of settling than purposeful allusions to a simpler time. His previous effort, A Wasteland Companion, failed to impress me and his collaboration with Zooey Deschanel has devolved into cover and holiday albums. Easygoing is one thing, but, having albums that are so relaxed will only lead to listeners going away easy (eh, good enough).

            With all that said, this album is what it was intended to be, an album to put on during a rainy day. The hallmarks of every M. Ward album is here: background vocals, expert, even underrated, guitar work, and Ward’s unmistakable voice. This is a very tranquil album, even when it revs up. Listening to this album is akin to watching a veteran musician do what he does best on a small stage in a local bar. There isn’t a large crowd, but you better believe those few that showed up are getting what they expected.

            Songs to Listen to: Girl From Conejo Valley, You’re so Good to Me.

            M. Ward albums to check out: Transfiguration of Vincent, Transistor Radio, Post-War

            Rating: Relaxing album for those days you just want to stay inside, 4/10

Frankie Cosmos- Next Thing

            Personal preference, I almost can’t stand this Frankie Cosmos album. On it’s arrival, Next Thing was given great reviews, very strong reviews. There was a healthy amount of buzz surrounding her based on her previous efforts and impressive singles. However, despite being a fan of her album Zentropy, I don’t get the hype. Maybe I’ve outgrown twee. I’d rather listen to something a bit more affected, like, Laura Gibson, or seamless, like, Courtney Barnett. I’ve listened to my fair share of Talulah Gosh, Aislers Set, and, to this day, Belle and Sebastian, but something about this album doesn’t strike me as motivated. Many of the songs sound alike, the vocals are pretty but lazy, and languish towards the end of the album. I can see why people would enjoy the album, and I still recommend a listen, it just isn’t for me. Critics have obviously championed it, meaning there is value in it. I’m a vinyl buyer, maybe the idea of a 28 minute album is repelling me.

            Songs to listen to: Sinister, Is it Possible/Sleep Song, If I Had a Dog

            Rating: Short, pleasant, to the point songs from a 21 year old thinking through life. 5/10

The New Year part 1: Cloud Cult, Sunflower Bean, Walter Martin, Lavender Flu, Mavis Staples

One thing that I have always stressed to music listeners is to try out new music, even the music that isn’t going to necessarily change someone’s life or become someone’s favorite new album. I’m an advocate for keeping up with the music scene. There is so much going on in music that goes unlistened to because it’s not being broadcasted everywhere or widely distributed amongst listeners. Thanks to the oversaturation of the market, people need to be wowed. Thanks to the radio, the same music is circulated for years; my mind is boggled when people cling to music from 10 years ago because it’s easier to stick to the reliables rather than going outside their comfort zone and recognizing that today’s scene has something for everyone, whether it be a song or a whole album. It legit saddens me when someone tells me their favorite band is Fort Minor. Like, wtf.

            So, as I try to reestablish my writing chops and apply for jobs, I will be writing a few different series of posts in the coming weeks. This one, that I have hastily thrown together, will focus on album releases from this year, with the intention being that others will read, maybe even just read of the titles of the albums, my thoughts and ratings of these albums and look them up. I’m usually a more “overall” kind of music consumer, so I’ll focus on things like, where does this album fit in 2016, what it sounds like, who it sounds like, general themes, and choice songs to check out. I’m a pretty open listener of different genres, but, I’ll mainly focus on alternative, rap, punk, global, and a few odds and ends. 5 albums will be talked about, with one getting more attention than the others. I take no responsibility for offending anyone by making fun of their taste with off-hand comments about artists.

Cloud Cult- The Seekers

            The story of Cloud Cult is a pretty well known one for those that even remotely know them. It’s a story that defines their music so much. The lead singer, Craig Minowa, lost his son tragically in 2002, and to try and recover from the loss, he has written album after album trying to comprehend it, resulting in some of the most beautiful albums one can listen to. While Advice from the Happy Hippopotamus may be their money album, Light Chasers and Love are personal favorites of mine.

            Their sound is perfectly crafted by an army of 8 band members wielding a small orchestra of horns, strings, and “the standards.” Going from mania to somber to achingly touching, Cloud Cult have the power to energize and move an audience. Even if they don’t get too much attention, the earnestness of their work I’m sure makes an indelible mark on their listeners. They record on an eco friendly farm, so the planet is not harmed in any way during recording, which is nice to know.

            The Seekers is an appropriate album title for the album and almost a summation of what the band is all about. Cloud Cult always seems to be searching, searching for recovery, for understanding, through tornadoes, through the mind, through the universe and every single galaxy, they are searching. Each album they send out this signal of love and hope with everything they can muster that it reaches its destination, most likely to his son if the lyrics in Come Home are anything to go on (asking his baby to come home). This is an album of someone struggling with accepting the past, of trying to cope with the horrid nature of existence and move on. Nothing drives the emotion more than Minowa’s vocals that both convey fragility and resonation. Twinkling piano, sweeping violin, and an uplifting mood follow.

No song on the album touched me more than the song, Time Machine Invention. In it, he expresses his wish of wanting to go back in time and change it. Not just to correct a wrong, but to avoid “chasing the tail” and spending so much time worrying and forgetting to live. God, that’s something we all can relate to. Sure, horrible things happen, but the things I regret the most are spending so much time wallowing instead of taking the necessary steps to recuperate.

The Seekers is an essential 2016 listen because, while it’s not a commercial product, it shows that the music scene still has heart, honest to god heart that isn’t overproduced or manufactured, but pulled from somewhere real and painful.

Listen to: Come Home, Days to Remember, Time Machine Invention.

            Rating: 7/10. Perfect album for someone who has lost someone.

Sunflower Bean- Human Ceremony

            For those that like their psychedelic sunny and light, Sunflower Bean is for you. They write songs that are ready made for the radio but don’t sound like you’d be a douche for listening to them. You cannot listen to Come On without feeling a little bit cool. That driving drum and playful guitar begs you to put a pair of sunglasses on. The alternating female/male vocal dynamic is really refreshing in these songs, in that neither overpower each other and create this perfect balance. His vocals are very scuzzy, while hers are overwhelmingly pleasant (check out Oh, I Just Don’t Know for the contrast). These guys are a band that is situated in that lower middle tier of the indie listening ladder, meaning that you’ll probably hear them on college radio, but are obscure enough to impress your friends about this cool band you know. Check out if you are a fan of The Vasolines.

            Listen to: Come On, Oh, I Just Don’t Know, 2013

            Rating: 6/10 Could turn into the next IT band with a strong follow up. Sunny, breezy, easy to like.

Walter Martin- Arts & Leisure

           Listening to the former band member of The Walkmen’s new album is like going over to a friend you haven’t seen in forever’s house and having a sententious conversation over espresso. As the album title alludes to, the album brings up art, travel, and self deprecation a lot. It’s such an easy going album that he mostly restricts the sound to that of a guitar, spare drum, and his voice. I’m not kidding when I say it’s like talking to a friend. He talks about the shitty jobs he had before he became rich, talks about where he went in Amsterdam, wishing he was Michelangelo, and the usual topic of conversation, “man, I’m getting real old.” In all honesty, it’s a very inconsequential but fun listen. His last album was a children’s album that was accompanied with a few choice guests. Martin doesn’t seem to want to reinvent the wheel anymore; The Walkmen have provided him with enough rock’n’roll living and he’s content with entertaining the family he has accumulated with novel stories, chat a little, and I’m personally happy to hang out.

            Songs to listen to: Jobs I Had Before I Got Rich and Famous, Old as Hell, Charles   Rennie Mackintosh.

            Rating: 4/10 Inconsequential but very pleasant and friendly.

The Lavender Flu- Heavy Air

            Man, this album took a solid day to get through! Not because it was bad, but because it’s a 30 song album and isn’t a very easy listen, which is oddly rewarding for a hardcore music listener. This is a freaky kind of album. Lavender Flu is a group that is centered around the ex guitarist of The Hunches, an underground garage rock band from the early 2000’s, Chris Gunn. The group and album are actually pretty hard to get background on, but, all I know, is that Chris Gunn is considered a heralded obscure guitarist, an omnipresent element throughout the album. It’s a very guitar heavy, dark album that is punctuated with instrumental tracks that range from screechy to enlightening. In fact, I’d say that although this sounds like a group of friends getting together for a very high level jam session, Heavy Air is a refreshing, maybe inspirational, listen. It’s almost as if the album constantly tries to suffocate the listener than letting them breath and see the sun for a few tracks so they remember how reinvigorating the fresh air can be. I’m going to throw out some buzz words to describe it since it goes through so much in it’s long runtime: technically proficient, distortion, overlapping vocals, weird, Dinosaur Jr, strangely beautiful, like seeing a flower bloom in a drug den.

            Songs to listen to: My Time (one of the my favorite songs of 2016!), The Lawn, Those That Bend

            Rating: Super hard to rate. I personally loved it, but can’t see a lot of people giving it a chance. Long listen, but perfect for those that love that lo-fi Bevis Frond era of noise music and wish you could be there for it when it grew up. 7/10

Mavis Staples- Livin’ On a High Note

            Mavis Staples has been around for a long time. As part of the Staple Sisters, she made her debut in 1967, becoming both one of the most celebrated popular gospel groups of that time period and the soundtrack for the civil rights movement. After the separation of the sisters, she went on to have a successful solo career that has averaged out at least two albums a decade since the 60’s. With so much so mileage on her career, you would think an album in 2016 would be that dark introspective release that many older artists put out at this age. However, that is not the case. Staples has never sounded more vibrant and blessed in her entire life! Every song exudes positivity and a gratefulness for still being able to do something she loves. Each song has been written specifically for her by some very notable artists, such as, Justin Vernon, Benjamin Booker, and Nick Cave. This is truly a community effort and a great show of respect for a subtle icon.

            Also, side note, she was proposed to by Bob Dylan and turned down. Hey Bob, that Nobel Prize is a pretty neat silver medal, right?

            Songs to Listen to: High Note, If It’s a Light, Jesus Lay Down Besides Me

            Rating: 6/10 Very positive, lovely album that is propelled higher due to my insistence that one shouldn’t always be cynical.