EVERETT JAMES

GLORY DAYS

On August 26th everyone’s favorite 90’s scandalous tummy showing teen released her ninth studio album Glory.

Let me not lie. There are some classic Britney sounds on the album and some fun jams we will all be throwing up over in a year because of how outdated they sound making me think our pop princess may be trying to hard to relive her glory days.

Not to mention her now resident show in Vegas, which is never a good sign for performing artists. Vegas is where artists go to die…and not from heat exhaustion.

I miss the 90’s and early 2000’s Britney who had every mom gaping in offense and “Regina George” moms putting on their Juicy Sweat Suits trying desperately to be young again.

I miss the early Britney songs that didn’t all sound like a RuPaul production or the theme for every drag show.

The origins of this post spawned from her 20 minute set at the iHeart radio festival just a few days ago. The performance was a damn mess with gooey and sticky dance breaks that should have been crisp and fresh. As always there were plenty of lights, flashy costumes and lazy strip routines that were all meant to make up for songs that no longer translate well on stage.

Toxic yielded some slight original stage presence by being introduced with the Yael Naim cover giving the set a little something new. Otherwise the songs performed sounded exactly as they do on the album, which made for a rather boring performance and no valid proof of musicianship. Instead the iHeart performance looked like a long karaoke show.

Her body may still be bomb but her dancing has gotten sloppy and still thinks she’s fooling us with that mic. Lose it girl everyone knows you’ve been lip singing since the Baby One More Time tour.

But now that I’m thinking about it…. have any of us actually ever heard Britney sing live? Actually live…like… with an actual mic that works? A mic that actually captures the sound coming out of her vocal chords?

If anyone has the janky youtube video of such a performance please cough it up. And if the only one you can find is her performance of Everytime in 1997 then let’s all give up now because that performance says it all.

It may be Britney b*tch but let’s be real

PREDICTING THE INDUSTRY OF MUSIC

Dylan said it best when he sang “Oh the times they are a changing.” And changing they are in the world of music.

Since 2009 Next Big Sound: Analytics and Insights of the Music Industry has been looking at the online world and collecting data to gain insight on musicians and their fans.

Next Big Sound has created unique algorithms to individualize and better suit the artists experience when using both sights. They have created charts based on the listeners activity providing results for upcoming artists on what tracks and competing artists do well.

Next Big Sound has created three charts: Pandora Trendsetters, Pandora Top Spins and Pandora Predictions.

Pandora Trendsetters is based on the top 20 artists entered by listeners. Artist Kiiara has been 01. for 12 weeks running. This comes as no surprise as her hit song Gold offers a fragmented vocal experience on the chorus combined with an infecting verse. The reverbing metronome, providing the beat, compliments the chopped up vocals captivating listeners with its controlled experimentation.

The music that is most successful has simple melodies and choruses that are repetitive, keeping the attention of the listener. When listeners can experience something unique, while still retaining organization and pop qualities, it will no doubt be a favorable sound sought after in other artists.

These are reasons why songs, such as This is What I Came For by Calvin Harris ft. Rihanna do so well and currently sit on the .01 spot on Pandora’s second list Pandora Top Spins which are generated by the weeks most listened to songs. The song provides an amped up beat, easy lyrics, and everyone’s favorite bad girl.

Pandora’s last chart is the most impressive. Pandora’s Predictions uses the algorithm to hypothesize which artists will make the top of any Billboard chart and continue on into mainstream success. .02 on the Pandora Predictions list, for 19 weeks, is artist Christine and the Queens, whose music video for Saint Claude has reached over 18 million views. With an outfit reminiscent of Michael Jackson and smooth dance moves the Saint Claude video is something new and appealing. The subtlety and mix of both her French and English lyrics make for a fresh texture along with her alto range voice.  

As well as Pandora, Spotify’s relationship provides the ability to be included in Next Big Sound’s field of data.

The Internet has allowed artists to spread themselves over a wide variety of platforms including Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and SoundCloud. Next Big Sound’s mission is to use all these to the artists advantage by using likes, comments, posts, shares, pictures, tags and hashtags to provide supported “intel”.

Though not the only company of its kind Next Big Sound is paving the way for an entire new market in the music industry. Soundscan, Next Big Sound’s competitor, is of less convenience and its service is not free.

TESS HENLEY – WONDERLAND and HIGH HEELS AND SNEAKERS

JOONIE - CONTRAST Timeless Love and Amazing

BEYONCE – LEMONADE

MAYER HAWTHORNE – HOW DO YOU DO The Walk

LEMONADE

Find it and download it fast because as my roommate says “Beyonce gets Pentagon with her files”. AKA it’s going to disappear tomorrow when her secret police find her album littered all over the internet.

Beyonce’s album is out and delivers the power and strength we always expect when the Queen drops new tracks.

You’ll be surprised to see she shares a few spots on her album with other artists but no one who could upstage her, of course. Her collaborations give the album a diverse sound and ultimately allow Beyonce to show she can sing just about any genre. In the past she has covered classical rep like the world famous Ave Maria but in her new song Don’t Hurt Yourself, featuring Jack White, she ventures out into White’s darker and more harsh rock approach. Beyonce quickly turns into the more scraggly rocker sound White is known for and gives the album a song with raw vocals and grit.

Among White The Weekend, James Blake and Kendrick Lamar are all featured on the album spanning several different genres and moods.

LEMONADE has it all. Rock, R&B, a soft pop ballade heard in Sandcastles, reggae beats coming out in Hold Up, rap in Freedom, New Orleans Jazz and a splash of country in Daddy Lessons, new experimental ideas and of course lots of Crazy in Love strut attitude.

This album is just another reminder: there is one Queen right now and no one is taking the throne anytime soon.

1989: MY TAYLOR SWIFT CONFESSION

Erina and Paige this blog post is for you as you’ve asked several times for a review on America’s current sweetheart Taylor Swift. Unfortunately I think you may be a little disappointed by the angle I’m about to take…

That’s right I am on the Swift bandwagon and never thought it would happen. For the record I believe there is nothing profound about Taylor and I would agree with my professor Dr. Clemmons when he says she’s a “musical light-weight”. But there is something about the simple tunes and lyrics that are a great time and 1989 is no exception.

I saw a commercial for the 1989 tour video, which was released on Apple Music exclusively for its members as a move in the ensuing battle waged against Tidal, and because I love watching musicians live performances I was intrigued. So naturally I did what any resourceful college student does, when he should be studying, and began hunting on the internet for a boot-leg website that would let me watch the tour for free. Sure enough, within a very few short minutes I’d found it.

It was a Tuesday night and I was procrastinating on doing homework, like I always do, so I decided to sit down and give Tay the time of day. Going into viewing the tour video I had pretty low expectations as I have never liked her weak dance routine attempts and her fairly crappy live vocals in her recent 180 turn from country girl to glam pop star. Though her dancing was still flimsy and a little awkward at times, which I understand is her shtick, she commanded the stage and put on a spectacular show. Not only has she seemed to improve greatly in stage presence her vocals were on point.

Taylor knows something about herself; she does not have the voice or moves of Beyonce or any current and past diva pop stars nor will she tell you she does. Because she knows this about herself she works with what she has and keeps her dancing and vocals simple with occasional belts and dramatic moves but nothing crazy. You won’t find Swifter trying to do crazy runs or Sasha fierce moves because she knows she can’t and in the end that’s not who she is.

To know who you are and what you’ve been given, then making the best of it, is the mark of a true artist and a talented musician.

1989 is a tour to be praised for many of its production qualities but mostly for Taylor’s idea to host guests through out her shows from all areas of entertainment other than music. Yes this of course has happened on stages before but nothing to this caliber. Taylor brought models, actors, comedians and musicians to her stage simply to have a good time and add excitement to her show. Guests like Mick Jagger, Ellen DeGeneres and Candice Swanepoel graced the stage for one of the best marketing schemes of the year. Though honestly I think Taylor just really wanted to make the tour as fun as possible and invited all of her favorite people to enjoy the experience of music’s endless possibilities.

Music can be many things and a fun time is just as honorable as someone who is more serious and dense in content. When I think of Radiohead I think of revolutionary music that pushes boundaries and provides a much more in depth side of musicality. But would I go to their concert and dance around and have an uplifting dance sesh? No I’d be intensely listening to Greenwood’s latest sequence, that is bizarre and other-worldly, and questioning the meaning of life while driving myself crazy trying to analyze and figure out his music. These are important qualities to find in music but sometimes I just want to think about nothing and have a silly time. Sometimes I just want to bop around to some watered down beat and sing pretty mediocre lyrics that help me blow off a little steam.

We need both. We need artists like Johnny Greenwood to keep us thinking but we also need stars like Taylor to give us a fun time and relate to us on a much simpler level.

2016 HALFTIME PREDICTION

Every year when they release the full set list for the Super Bowl halftime you always know someone is not listed so when they appear on stage we are taken by storm and the show is that much more mind blowing. And like every year rumors fly all around as to who the surprise guests will be.

Pepsi is pulling all the stops today for the 50th Super Bowl by bringing Bruno Mars and Beyonce back to the stage, not even within four years of doing their own solo shows. Coldplay is already a powerhouse and is sure to give us a show to remember.

However I can’t help but think we may be graced by not only Bruno and the Queen B. Rihanna is about to kick off her next big tour, Anti, and conveniently dropped her album a little over a week ago. But what’s even more coincidental is her appearance and role in the Super Bowl promo featuring Stephen Colbert and NFL Sportscasters Jim Nantz, James Brown and Phil Simmons. The promo ends with a coin toss, Super Bowl 50 on one side and the iconic gramophone on the other, favoring this afternoon’s game. The results are then followed by Rihanna’s punchy line “I’m worth the wait.”

Naturally we are supposed to think this all eludes to the Grammy’s next week and a performance by the dynamic party girl RiRi. But I can’t help think Rihanna may be 2016’s Missy Elliot and Destiny’s Child.

Rihanna is not the only rumored guest people are buzzing about. A name scandalous to the Super Bowl is being thrown about and I take this time to warn the ladies on stage today because Justin Timberlake may have been given a second chance. Need I say more?  

NATALIE EMMONS

When Western pop meets J-pop you’re bound to see a good show with a fresh sound. In a culture where more music is being made than ever before it can be very difficult to find a sound like Natalie Emmons. Among her fresher moments was when Natalie pulled up an accordion giving the show some intrigue and originality. Sometimes it takes leaving our over saturated shores and heading for some different air and Natalie Emmons is a perfect example of someone who has adopted many Japanese pop culture qualities but still gives hints of her So Cal roots.

Natalie Emmons began her show at Soma Saturday night with her catchy anthem Call of the Wild later followed by one of her more heavily Japanese influenced songs N.E.1, which she sings partially in Japanese and bounces along a classic J-pop beat.

NOT anti ANTI 

In case you didn’t know, after months of teases and false release dates, Rihanna dropped her album unexpectedly this past Thursday night. Though Tidal claims the release was an accident we all know this is a common excuse for a more drama filled release. I mean let’s not dress up a rice cake, a company like Tidal doesn't just accidentally upload one of the most anticipated albums of 2016. 

Regardless of how stupid Tidal thinks we all are, which unfortunately the majority of America is, the album is a triumph. Her usual crowd may be a little bummed but the true fans will praise Rihanna for releasing an album that proves her ability to perform and execute many different styles without losing herself.

The album features great cinematic sounds of both the new and old, as seen in her songs Desperado and Higher. Simultaneously she provides us with Close to You which is very much reminiscent of Stay from her previous album Unapologetic. But have no fear fans who think they got ripped off without any of Rihanna’s ratchetness and sometimes reggae inspired beats, take a listen to Pose and Consideration.

Lastly, it should come as no surprise that Rihanna smokes a lot of weed which has taken a toll on her voice, but if you’re like me you will love the raspy Sia strain it yields.

2015 BILLBOARDS OVERVIEW

You know it’s been a bad year for music when Fall Out Boy performs a song about Uma Thurman, the Pulp Fiction tribute saved their ass, and it stands to be one of the better ones of the evening

The Billboard Music Awards for 2015 were held last night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas to celebrate the music of the year based on America’s fan based votes. Naturally because of this the Billboards say nothing about talent but continues the cycle of elevating those who win the popular vote.

Taylor Swift walked away with eight awards last night including the Top Hot 100 Artist and this year’s Prom Queen… I mean Top Artist of the Year Award. And as per usual Swift pulled her “I’m a humble, quirky fun girl who had no idea I was so popular” stunt. Tay don’t act surprised.

Of course the more genuine and actually talented deliveries of last night will go un-noticed and forgotten. Among these was Tori Kelley who slayed her performance not only vocally but visually. She dressed to the occasion and kept her performance classy and on point.  

But the two most shining moments of the night, by far, were Kendall and Kylie Jenner getting booed as they introduced their new brother in law Kanye West who followed up with an utterly ridiculous performance with so much smoke you couldn’t even see him and more than 90% on mute because of language.

Overall the performances last night were all very disappointing. Mariah Carey struggled during her first performance on the Awards in 14 years and though she hit some good belters she barely made it on her last note, can’t blame the weather Mariah you were indoors this time. Meanwhile Nicki Minaj looked like she forgot she wasn’t at RuPaul’s drag race while she performed her song about being a stay at home wife who likes to cook in the kitchen and do all the dirty things her man asks her to do, and I don’t mean cleaning the dishes. Aw Nikki you are such a feminist.

G-Eazy 

TORO Y MOI

The phrase “fun and funky” means exactly what you think it means. But for everyone that means something different. For me “fun and funky” is something or someone that is a good time with quirky qualities standing out with a spice and twist.

Toro y Moi is an indie chillwave band from South Carolina, brought together by their lead singer and keyboardist Chaz Bundick. Chaz’s stiff but peculiar demeanor lived up to his awkward expectations and his show at the Observatory San Diego was nothing less than “fun and funky”. With 90’s teen movie vibes Toro y Moi also gave a new little spin on funk. The combination of the two gives Toro y Moi their flavorful sound.

Chaz Bundick is no doubt a talented musician who has gained popularity by his incredibly awkward music videos and his all around “fun and funky” music. However as far as a show goes it in no way blew me away. After a concert I want to be even more excited about the musician than I was before, then go straight home to re-live every moment.  On top of providing a rather lackluster performance Toro y Moi played only an hour set and provided little variety among songs. It was clear from hearing his music that he has found two or three unique little formulas to achieve his style and in no way develops or makes it new. Though he has written some good sequences he repetitively writes all his songs using the same formula.

His music was not the only component that made the show stagnant. There was no movement or interaction between the band members with the exception of the base player’s solo jamm sessions in the corner and Chaz’s short two step journey from the keyboard to his guitar.

Music Review: Vacationer 

I don’t know about you but as the summer draws closer my Summer 2015 playlist is already collecting new music material. But even when looking for the newest band or singer it’s always good to look back and add those songs you loved years ago, or in our exhilarated pace of a life just a few months.

For those who are looking for those smooth, cinematic summer sounds, and are that music lover who continually hunts down the least known artist you can find so you can claim your originality and independence, I would highly suggest the band Vacationer. Getting their start in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Brooklyn NY the band collaborated and released their first album Gone in 2012. Shortly after they toured the album with the Asteroids Galaxy Tour, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Naked and Famous and several other well know groups.

I first saw Vacationer my senior of high school when I went to the Naked and Famous concert at the Crystal Ballroom in Portland OR. Vacationer opened and I was immediately taken by their fresh sound, the unique but strangely basic vocals of the lead singer Kenny Vasoli, and the whimsical and sometimes eastern/tropical feel to their music. Living most of the year in the rain and darkness of the PNW it was a breath of fresh air to feel like I had been transported to a warm Southern California beach during their show.

Gone is the perfect album to get ready for summer as its lyrical content is mostly about relaxing, dreaming and love. The music itself is sometimes slothful but mostly lyrical, with occasional up-beat tempos while still remaining very subtle, soothing and passionate.

Their newest and second album, Relief, which was released in June of 2014, is very reminiscent of Gone continuing the theme of throwing in occasional eastern sequences, mixed with a little island sway, giving it that distant experience but still providing that relatable western indie sound.

Vacationer drives their inspirations from past and current musicians who have combined electronic and rock n roll, hence Vasoli’s love for Radiohead who were the most iconic pioneers of this genre. Yet sometimes there is a quick glimpse of Bob Dylan, especially in Vacationer’s song Paradise Waiting which reflects similarities to Dylan’s The Man in Me. By fusing different genres together Vacationer has added their own twist and style coining their own original genre called Nu-hula, named after their tropical-inspired beats. Though Nu- hula seems to have been coined by the group Vasoli shared in an interview, with East of 8TH, that he “doesn’t think Vacationer has defined a genre.” In the same interview he explained this thought further saying, “people call us chill-wave… but I think it’s more dimensional than that, genres in general can be a little bit blurry.”

Blurry though the lines may be Vasoli has defined and established for himself an original sound and a uniqueness that makes him stand out amongst other indie musicians and is well worth the listen.