Week 05: Feb 5- Feb 12, 2013

+ Justin Timberlake releases cover art AND tracklist for his March release (March 19) album; 20/20 Experience. And if that's not enough, after the Grammys JT also released his first single off the album called 'Mirrors'. Obviously it's great. Obviously.

+ Gary Clark Jr. is launching his own music festival, "Maverick Music Festival". The festival will take place in GCJ's home state of Texas. It will feature local musicians during the day, and when the sun goes down you can look forward to performers like GCJ himself, as well as The Toadies, Girl in A Coma, Arum Rae, and Henry and the Invisibles. Gary Clark Jr also played 'Numb', and 'Ain't Messin' Around' on Kimmel this past week. He's so damn good.

+ New Queens of the Stone Age is described by Dave Grohl as "ridiculous". I assume in a good way. The album is going to feature major players in music including Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails), Jakes Shears (Scissor Sisters) and Elton John who claims to be a big fan.

+Jenny Lewis will be appearing on both new Postal Service tracks. Including: 'A Tattered Line of String' that was released this week.

+Phoenix owns the recording console used for Thriller (Michael Jackson) and is recording their new album on it. That there is some good juju.

+ With 'channel ORANGE' not even a year old Frank Ocean is riding his wave of success and will be heading back into the studio soon. He is currently in the creative stage, but hopes to be recording shortly.

+ The man with a million ideas, and stamina of a cocker spaniel on speed, Jack White, is back to work on his follow up to Blunderbuss. If that is not something to get excited in this cold winter, I don't know what is. White reportedly has about 20-25 tracks all in varying styles. He is not sure if the album will be released this year, and just wants to flow with his inspiration.

GRAMMYs

+Congrats to Gotye and Kimbra who took home a golden gramophone for Record of the Year AND Best Pop/Duo Performance {Somebody That I Used to Know}. The two were so gracious, so humble. Gotye also grabbed a Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album {Making Mirrors}.

+ Album of the Year went to Mumford and Sons!! {Babel} Well deserved. And, they also take home an award for Best Long Form Video with Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros and Old Crow Medicine Show for {Big Easy Express}. So thrilled to see Big Easy do well. Phenomenal.

+ fun. took home a Grammy for Song of the Year {We Are Young feat. Janelle Monae}. The group also won Best New Artist. Congrats!!

+ Adele took home Best Pop Solo Performance {Set Fire to the Rain}. Really though, that was a no-brainer. She deserves it.

+ The Black Keys did quite well taking home a Grammy for Best Rock Performance, Best Rock Song AND Best Rock Album {Lonely Boy/El Camino}. Dan Auerbach also wins Producer of the Year!

+ Best Urban Contemporary Album goes to Frank Ocean {channel ORANGE}

+ Best Jazz Vocal Album went to Esperanza Spalding! {Radio Music Society}

+ Dr. John takes home a golden grammy for Best Blues Album {Locked Down} !!

+ Best Folk Album went to Yo-Yo Ma, Chris Thile, Edgar Meyer, and Stuart Duncan deservingly {The Goat Rodeo Sessions}

+ Jimmy Cliff takes Best Reggae Album {Rebirth}

For the complete list of Grammy winners find out: here.

This years Grammy performances were ridiculous. I want to relive those performances over and over again.

Here is a list of my favorites from the night:

+ Elton John joins Ed Sheeran to play 'A Team'
+ fun. performs 'Carry On'
+ Justin Timberlakes big band performance of a few new tracks; 'Suit and Tie' with Jay-Z, and 'Pusher Girl'
+ Mumford & Sons perform 'I Will Wait'
+ The Black Keys get on stage with Dr. John and Preservation Hall Jazz Band to play 'Lonely Boy'
+ Try not dancing when Sting and Bruno Mars perform Mars' first single off Unorthodox Jukebox, accompanied by a Sting hit 'Locked Out of Heaven/Walking On the Moon'. Followed by a Bob Marley tribute with Damian and Ziggy Marley and Rihanna; 'Could You Be Loved'
+ Lumineers perform 'Ho Hey'
+ 'Love Interruption' and 'Freedom at 21' by Jack White and his two traveling bands.
+ Adam Levine and Alicia Keys, 'Girl on Fire'
+ I don't care much for Wiz Kahlifa, but Miguel performs and its great: 'Adorn'
+ Frank Ocean performs 'Forrest Gump'
+ LL Cool J, Chuck D, Tom Morello and Travis Barker pay tribute to MCA
+ Elton John, Mumford & Sons, Brittany Howard, Mavis Staples, and T Bone Burnett play tremendous tribute to The Bands' Levon Helm by playing 'The Weight'

*click the highlighted link to view video. Do it!

Week 04: Jan 29- Feb 5, 2013

+ K-Os' new album, Black on Blonde, dropped this past week. It's experimental, lengthy, and great. The Canadian rapper also has set dates for his Canada tour.

 + Macklemores hipsteresque rap song, Thrift Shop, is a Billboard chart topper! No surprises here. The song is clever and inventive. Not to mention beyond catchy. Could it be this years Call Me, Maybe? Maybe. This is fuck-ing awe-some.

+ Iron & Wine plans to release a new album, Ghost on Ghost, in April. Sam Beam seems to be all business as usual. The first single from Ghost on Ghost was released this week called 'Lovers Revolution'. It's jazzy in its big band style. A meritorious taste of what is to come.

+ Beck is in the works of creating a cover of David Bowie's 'Sound and Vision'. The cover will be created using 170 musicians. Beck is diving into the project and taking it on as his own. The quirky artist admits to probably never being able to work with this many artists at one time again, and is trying to cherish it to produce something inventive, while remaining authentic to Ziggy Stardust.

 + Jim James (of My Morning Jacket) performs on Fallon the night before his latest album debut; Regions of Light and Sound of God. The album, which dropped today, staying true to his indie folk sound dabbles in sounds of soul, and some chamber pop while experimenting with varying space rock sounds. Rad.

 + Fall Out Boy is back from their nearly 4 year hiatus. But, does anyone over the age of sixteen care? Patrick Stump should continue working solo. Soul Punk, Stumps 2011 solo effort was actually really good. Pete Wentz should stick to posting pictures of his junk online and being Ms. Simpsons baby daddy.

+ Vampire Weekend are doing big things this year, and I can't wait to experience them all. Their new album, titled 'Modern Vampires of the City' is set to be released May 7th. They have also signed on for countless North American shows.

+ The Sasquatch music festival lineup was released today. Headliners include The Lumineers, Mumford and Sons, The Postal Service.. the list goes. A fantastic lineup, trumping Coachella. Also, Atlanta has a new music festival called Shaky Knees Festival. It boasts an outstanding cast to start them off; Lumineers, Band of Horses, Jim James, Gary Clark Jr... I got butterflies looking at both set lists.

+ Super Bowl: Beyonce "killed" it. She was good. And more importantly, she didn't lip sync! Plus, who else was thrilled with Destinys Child? They could have sang a bit more though, really. I'm pretty sure Beyonce shut down the internet on Sunday night. Her performance overshadowed some pretty great performers that weekend. Including, Alicia Keys singing the national anthem, Gary Clark Jr., Stevie Wonder, and Justin Timberlake played the pre Super Bowl. Which you know was spectacular. Timberlake also played two new songs in big band style. Oh and, have we found the best use for Psy in America? Selling pistachios. Of course...

MY TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 2012

When the general manager at my work asked that all staff create a list of their ten favorite albums of 2012, I squirmed with excitement. Being an obsessive person, with obsessive person tendencies, this is the type of task that I thrive on.

It took me a long time to narrow the list down to just ten albums. Seriously, where do you start? After considering all of the variables, I think I crafted a pretty stellar list.

10. Foxy Shazam - The Church of Rock and Roll
Though hailing from college radio charts for some time Foxy Shazam had never really piqued my interest before this year. They are an indie glam band that belongs in the 70’s. Foxy Shazam released an album this year called The Church of Rock and Roll which was produced by The Darkness’ Justin Hawkins.

Hawkins influence is extremely noticeable. Not to mention the unparalleled resemblance to Freddy Mercury vocals and David Bowie stylings. The initial song that sparked my interest in the album was ‘I Like It’ with complete thanks to the thick guitar and Robert Plant-esque power vocals.

As a whole The Church of Rock and Roll is a theatrical, glam rock effort best enjoyed loud - maybe in a seedy bar. It’s jaunty, and memorable.

9. Tame Impala - Lonerism
Read this.

8. Gary Clark Jr. - Blak and Blu

Since the release of his EP almost two years ago, and after seeing Gary Clark Jr. live at Lollapalooza I was dying for more. It is a difficult time for the blues. Clark’s raw talent exceeds that of any other up and coming solo blues guitarist right now. Discovered by Eric Clapton and being compared to greats like Jimi Hendrix, and Stevie Ray Vaughn, GCJ has a big role to fill.

Blak and Blu portrays his obvious knack for blues style guitar, but the album as a whole can also be described as an R&B album. B&B is full of funk, blues and buttery grit and rhythm. It is clear that Clark is best when left to rip on his guitar though. His playing is down right dirty; all encompassing. And, while tracks like ‘Ain’t Messin’ Around’ are great, his talents are really laid out in ‘Please Come Home’ where we experience Clark’s falsetto which preceeds slick passionate guitar about 1:37 mins into the song.

Gary Clark Jr. is seemingly easy to overlook because of his overall humble demeanor - also not unlike the late great Jimi Hendrix. After taking a closer look it becomes apparent that his talent is unparalleled. Blak and Blu is to be celebrated by any modern day blues worshiper.

7. Yukon Blonde - Tiger Talk
Read this.

6. Bahamas - Barchords
Read this.

5. The Sheepdogs - The Sheepdogs
Read this.

4. Alabama Shakes - Boys & Girls
Though a newer band (formed in 2009) Alabama Shakes play like they have been creating together for decades. The Shakes depict a new kind of southern rock/blues/rock soul. Britany Howard, the voice fronting the blues based goodness, has a  soul infused voice that is reminiscent of another time. Her southern soul infusing into Alabama Shakes southern rock band is not unlike the great works of Janis Joplin or Tina Turner.

‘Be Mine’ is probably B&G’s stunner. Howards smoky rasp aside, the rest of the band are able to show off their bluesy guitar knack. The intensity displayed on ‘Be Mine’ is years matured, making it difficult to believe that this is only The Shakes first album.

The howls, tight guitar licks, rootsy take on the blues and soul rock music is not matched to any other group this year. I mean, no other group has Brittany Howard.

3. Jack White - Blunderbuss
In the same fashion the world spread the good word, ‘Clapton is God’, all over England in the 60’s, I wish to share the message ‘Jack White is Genius’. Spread the word. I’ve seen White three times live now - and I’m surprised not more. The first time with the White Stripes, the second with the Dead Weather and the third as a solo act (unfortunately never with the Raconteurs). This man is a genius. I don’t care who wants to dispute this, I won’t listen. It is fact in my mind. The sheer versatility, openness and musical master mind ability that Jack White possess is enough to leave you dumbfounded and hating yourself for not being a better… anything.

Blunderbuss made me nervous. I thought if this isn’t perfect, he’s screwed. Jack White has created a persona for himself, one that I have bought, and if that persona is at all altered in a negative way, he’s shot. Thankfully, Blunderbuss delivers. It is chalk full of inventive garage rock, dabbling with raw blues riffing. Being a multi-instumentalist himself, it is no wonder that the spotlight is shared with varying parts of the Blunderbuss outfit.

White’s Detroit music influence will forever be prevalent. But it is his Nashville impact that shines through on key tracks like ‘Love Interruption’. There are so many layers to Blunderbuss that well represent Jack White. In ways it can be viewed as a folk album, while parts sound country. As a whole it is perfection.

2. Mumford & Sons - Babel
Read this.

1. The Shins - Port of Morrow
Read this.

Blues

I am the product of abundant consummation of cheestrings and Barqs Root Beer, having read far too many Archie comics for my own good, and raised in middle class suburbia. I am not a grizzled, slightly above middle age, southern black man with a glaring story to tell. What constitutes my incessant worshiping of the blues? I could not tell you. If you happen to be of the few who not only know about this blog, but for some reason follow it as well (thank you), you may have come to realize that I feel a certain kinship to the blues. The raunchier, the dirtier, the rawer the better. I have a problem with calling just about everything the blues. "Oh, damn, that is a mean guitar riff... that's the blues", "Listen to the drawl in his voice, the longing and wantonness... so bluesy", or the worst "I love this song. It's so good.... I can't quite classify what it sounds like, but it sounds like the blues." I have a problem, I know this. Despite what it may seem like at times, I do know that not everysingle type of music is a certain form of the blues. I just love it, OK?

I've read many music analysis papers, and commentary and the overwhelming sense I get is that blues is dying.  Really, that is an absurd statement. I recently read that "[...] it is unfortunate that new blues cannot be created". I'm not entirely sure what that particular writer meant by that statement. While I am endowed with adoration for the classic blues, works of: Clapton, Howlin' Wolf, John Lee Hooker, The Jeff Beck Group, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, B.B King, I find that "new blues" are most prominent now than they have been in the past 10-15 years. Blues supergods will continue to create masterful pieces of work. But when I think "new blues", I think of artists who possibly weren't in their twenties in the 60's or 70's.

In response to the ignorance of non "new blues" believers, I wanted to share with you my three most recent favorite "new blues" albums:

Keep It Hid, Dan Auerbach

I will not, I refuse to go too much into my ramped love for the Black Keys, it is unfair to Dan Auerbach's solo endeavor. I will say though, that I am convinced that the Black Keys, are perfection, together and apart. Keep It Hid is fantastic. The first time I listened to this album was while riding the bus after work. The first song I listened to was Goin' Home. I remember feeling like I was on the verge of bawling my eyes dry. It wasn't necessarily the lyrics, it was because what I was listening to right then, amidst a crowd of smelly strangers was wholly beautiful and real. For a moment I developed a faith I never had before. I had found refuge in this song, in this album. Dan Auerbach is incredible- this album is incredible.

Gary Clark Jr., Gary Clark Jr.

In the latest issue of Rolling Stone a man named Gary Clark Jr. earned himself the title 'Best Young Gun'. Beneath the inscription read the words "This Texas hip-hop-head could be the future of the blues". I read the short blurb about Clark, and found out that Eric Clapton discovered this guy on youtube. Talk about credibility. Gary Clark Jr. has a very appealing voice, and the music he creates is smooth. This self-titled album has an added soulful feel to it. It is an outstanding venture into bluesdom.

Mission Bell, Amos Lee

The latest album from Amos Lee is honest. The authenticity of Mission Bell is undisputed. With the risk of sounding quite country at times, I am under the conviction that this is a blues album. It does not remind me of classic blues, but that isn't what we're talking about, we're talking about "new blues" and this is faultless, sensational new blues. {Amos Lee will also be playing at Bonnaroo!}