Category Archives: Music Musings

I know this is mainly a political blog, but I love to write about music too. This wouldn’t be my blog if I didn’t.

Music Musings

Music Musings: ‘Unbreakable’ Janet Jackson

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Janet Jackson is back.

It’s a statement that can still seem more fiction than fact.  Even for someone that finally experienced the star in live format earlier this week via the Unbreakable Tour, I watched in disbelief as Miss Jackson defied conventional wisdom by sailing through her massive string of hits while executing dance moves far better than her younger imitators.  Indeed for those brave enough to go see the pop star this year, the Unbreakable tour is likely to exceed expectations of the most discriminating fans.

That’s the tour, and  today we get to hear what she’s working so hard to promote.  After a summer of rumors and anticipation, Unbreakable has arrived.  I don’t know if I can call this a review, but maybe some informed observations from a good fan?  A ‘first view’?  Well whatever you want to call it, here are my thoughts after spending Day One with Unbreakable.

2015 finds a Janet with ‘lots to talk about’, and most notably going to some places that we didn’t expect from her previous catalog. After a career spent trying to establish her own sound in contrast to others of the surname, finally we see Jackson lean in, even embrace the legendary influence of her brothers.  The album’s title track, Dream Maker/ Euphoria and closer Gon’ B Alright find the songstress  delivering vocal stylings inspired by The Jackson 5.  As Jimmy Jam stated in an interview with the BBC, vocals on the latter may leave listeners wondering if Janet herself is singing all parts on the track. Much to our surprise, everything is her.  Dream Maker/ Euphoria is a soul-tastic fantasy world where sweeping Motown-esque samples  at the opening exuviate into Janet’s sultry vocal over a crucial bass.  It’s a resplendent journey for sure.

Another highlight is BURN IT UP!- an infectious club thumper built on beautiful and mysterious arabic dance music. The culture clash definitely doesn’t seem by accident, as Jackson has already offered a deep appreciation to the traditions of her current home country.  The end result shows that the legendary pop team knows how to get the world moving no matter what hemisphere they’re in.

After a fun club tune, Dammn Baby offers another romp into “current” pop trends– well kind of.  As Jam, Lewis and Jackson are well aware, so much of today’s musical sound is rooted firmly in elements first heard in the 80s— heavy synth over intricate rhythmic and colorful instrumental texture.  As a result, it’s kind of unfair to claim these musical legends as imitators.  But inspired by the sounds of radio today, they recognize that the pendulum has swung “forward” in their favor.  Oh, they’re able to speak the 2015 language much better than several of their “younger” counterparts.  Let’s hope this song gets some love from the radio spotlight.

On Shoulda Known Better, Jackson explores themes of her socially-conscious past.  It’s a conversation between the 23-year old Rhythm Nation superstar and her more experienced self in 2015, realizing that the only way we can hope to achieve a better world is by first coming together and seeing our common humanity.

It’s never the critic that counts
Cause critics only wanna talk
While enlightened minds and open hearts
Together make this world a better place

[…]

I had this great epiphany
And rhythm nation was the dream
I guess next time I’ll know better

Other highlights include the EDM/Minneapolis/ jazz piano collaboration on Night, the quiet storm classic and current RnB chart-topper No Sleeep and a poignant tribute to brother Michael in Broken Hearts Heal.  In the latter, Jackson shares the album’s most deeply personal lyrics, wrapped in a light, breezy aura of faithful optimism. And yes, your ears are not deceiving you– a quote to Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough aerates through the track.

There’s a lot more to discover in this quality body of work.  At this stage in their careers, Jackson, Jam and Lewis have every right to sit back, reminisce and be proud of their historic accomplishments.  But perhaps the greatest beauty of Unbreakable is that it serves as a reminder of how special artistic expression is to the human experience.  As critical as the air we breathe, the need of all people have to communicate, connect, converse and feel never subsides.  A goal that is definitely achieved in this album.

So those are my impressions, but check out what the actual music critics are saying too.  Here’s Complex Music UK, Vulture and The Atlantic to get started.  Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments.

 

Janet

Photo Credit:  YuTsai

 

And BTW…

2015 marks the 33rd year since Janet Jackson became a solo artist. Check out the 16-year old Janet performing her first ever single, the aptly-titled Young Love on Soul Train.

 

UPDATE  October 12th 2015:

Unbreakable is officially a hit!!  Janet Jackson’s new album makes a Number 1 debut on the Billboard charts.  With the impressive seventh album to reach the top, Jackson now earns the historic distinction of holding number 1 albums across 4 decades– the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s.

As Ms. Jackson might say herself, it’s fait accompli.  Congratulations Janet!!

Janet Jackson2

Music Musings

Music Musings: Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar ‘Bad Blood’

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Say whatever you want about the one and only Taylor Swift.  No seriously go ahead, because she’s probably heard it all before.

At the definitive age of 25, the pop star has become a music industry titan to rival that of the very best in record sales, fan armies influence and almost every other metric.  Though she first hit the main stage in the Country genre, Taylor Swift has managed a crossover so successful that it can only be compared to those with last names like Jackson, Carey, or… Swift.

With all these facts out there, I still have to make a confession… I’m not the biggest Taylor Swift fan.  Though I have respect for her songwriting skills, her albums are generally not my kind of music. You’re probably not going to find me screaming “I’m feeling twenty-twooooo” at the concert.

So how you ask does Taylor Swift land a fair-weather fan like me??  By landing epic rap phenom Kendrick Lamar as a feature on the song Bad Blood.   Again, there’s those uncanny song construction skills on full display.  Take a great hook, and combine it with one of the best rappers in music today?  You get summer jam that pleases every audience.

After all the Bad Blood spilled in yesterday’s first GOP Primary debate, the song seems especially appropriate.  So yeah, I’m gonna let this jam on my summer playlist.

Bad Blood

 

 

Music Musings

Music Musings: Tori Kelly For REAL

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So much of the contemporary debate in pop music revolves around issues of authenticity.  The industry relies on many of the same sampled, re-sampled and

For all the folks out there that are looking for a genuine, original artist to support, look no further than the incredible Tori Kelly. Even from her very first YouTube videos at age 14 (singing a JAZZ arrangement of Go Tell It On The Mountain!!), it was abundantly clear that Kelly was charting a path all her own to a successful music career.

And yes… she for real did this at the age of 14….

From that raw talent as a young teenager to today, Tori Kelly is one artist that is ready to take the world by storm.  Her debut album Unbreakable Smile is just starting to get noticed.  But if talent and good quality music count for anything, the effort should soon be a worldwide smash on par with the likes of Adele’s 21 or Justin Timberlake’s 20/20 Experience.  Having purchased Unbreakable Smile and listened to it top to bottom, I can say without hesitation that it’s one of best pop albums of the year.  If you have any doubts of this, then take 3 minutes and 28 seconds to hear Kelly’s song ‘Expensive’ (my personal favorite track from the album), and put those doubts out to pasture.

While Kelly excels at big brazen tracks like ‘Expensive’, her gifts are equally apparent in live performance.  The gifted singer, songwriter and guitar player has the uncanny ability to draw audiences to their feet even when performing solo.  Check out this recent performance of her new single ‘Should’ve Been Us’ from ABC’s The View…

It’s clear that Tori Kelly has all the elements to become the next big thing in music.   I for one am looking forward to more great things from this artist.  Let’s all hope that she continues to get the recognition that she deserves.

Music Musings

Music Musings: Mariah Carey Celebrates 25 Years In Music

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It’s a special league of artists that make a major music industry impact.  The radio may seem flooded with budding young stars, but in reality, those that reach the airwaves represent a precious few among the throngs which would quickly take their place.  In today’s climate, even a single hit record is truly an accomplishment.

To have more than one hit?  That’s an honor reserved for only the most incredibly gifted, dedicated, enduring and (let’s face it) lucky persons in the world.  Music industry stardom really is an anomaly… everything has to fall together at the right place and in the right time.

However in the case of Mariah Carey, the whole world is fortunate that those stars aligned on this date 25 years ago.  June 12th, 1990 was the release date of Carey’s self-titled debut album, and the beginning of one of the greatest careers the pop music industry will ever know.

Here’s more on the milestone from Billboard.com….

Despite a particularly saturated female pop landscape in 1990 — recall, this is the era that saw Whitney, Janet and Madonna at their peaks — Carey carved a place among them at an astonishing rate. After arriving late to the party, Carey would surpass them all by the decade’s end, collecting more No. 1s than any female artist (a record she still holds.)

Yet for all the hits, Mariah Carey does little in the way of introducing the world to the woman behind the seismic scales and piercing high notes. It’s much more focused on the hit-making, but to the album’s credit, it succeeded to a remarkable degree. Despite entering the charts at a modest No. 80, the set eventually spent 11 weeks atop the Billboard 200, launched four (!) No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, and set the singer up to win a best new artist Grammy.

Right from the start, Carey was able to achieve feats nearly unknown to other artists of the time.  But as fans would later learn throughout the 1990s, Mariah Carey was merely the start of the singer’s dominance.

To celebrate this legendary artist, here’s one of her smash hits from that debut album… the dance jam Someday.

After a huge start with the self-titled debut, Carey went on to sell an astonishing 200 million records worldwide.  And she’s not done yet, with the recent release of her latest effort #1 To Infinity and a sold out residency in Las Vegas, the mega-music mogul is still going strong.  But on this day, it’s important to take a look back at how one of music’s greatest artists started down that path.  Congratulations to Mariah Carey on an unparalleled 25 years leading in the music industry.

Houston, Music Musings

Drake Hosts HAW2- Houston Appreciation Weekend

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If you’re from the city of Houston, no one has to tell you how awesome of a place it is.  But did you know that the Bayou City has some major international fans like superstar rapper Drake?  Here’s the run-down from Zach Frydenlund at Complex Music…

Drake and the OVO crew are heading back down to Texas this weekend for the second annual “Houston Appreciation Weekend,” or “HAW.” This year, Drake is turning Memorial Day Weekend into a full series of events, with a tribute to Bun B, charity softball game, performances from Future, Fetty Wap, and Boosie Badazz, and then the first stop of Drake’s “Jungle Tour” to cap the weekend.

Drake and OVO will use the weekend to raise awareness and money for a variety of charities in the Houston area, with tickets for the softball game available here. Additionally, OVO just released Eric Dingus‘ new HAW2 mixtape, which you can find below along with the full schedule of events for the weekend.

This is the second such Houston Appreciation Weekend that the Canadian-American rapper has hosted.

The Bun B tribute was hosted last night… a star-studded affair that included the likes of Houston Mayor Annise Parker, several City Council members and other elected officials, as well as other music industry movers and shakers.

But the weekend is just getting started.  Tonight, Drake hosts a Celebrity Softball Game over at the University of Houston’s Cougar Field, and performs to a sell-out crowd at Toyota Center Sunday night, with lots of high profile appearances in between.  Also is it pure coincidence that in the midst of Drake showing some major love for the Third Coast that a mysterious collaboration with Houston native Beyoncé leaked online to a swarm of social media attention.  The tracks also features vocals from OVO crew collaborator Sal Houdini. “Can we” have more of this, please??

If you’re around town, be on the lookout for some serious star power, and be safe this Memorial Day Weekend.

Music Musings

Music Musings: Erik Hassle ‘No Words’

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They haven’t exactly burned up the charts, but make no mistake… the music industry has yet to give up its attempt at reviving Disco.

Some projects have been more successful than others.  Daft Punk, Pharrell and Nile Rodgers struck disco gold with 2013’s Get Lucky, while DJ Cassidy’s attempts at a full-blown disco album seem to be stalled out.

Despite copious pitfalls, new artists still see value in this electrified genre.  Bursting on to the scene comes Swedish Singer Erik Hassle, and his fresh mid-tempo jam No Words. To this point, Hassle hasn’t been well known outside of his native land or other parts of Continental Europe, but this latest tune could be the song that elevates the singer past his regional fan base.  As Idolator notes, Disco is a significant departure from Hassle’s previous musical endeavors.  But thankfully, the result is a sound that fits well for his voice and R&B vibe.

It’s kind of tough to describe, but have a listen to No Words by Erik Hassle.  Let me know your thoughts in the comments section.  If you’re a Neo-Disco fan, this is a tune not to miss, and it could be the one to break through.

 

Erik Hassle

 

 

Music Musings

Music Musings: Charli XCX ft. Rita Ora “Doing It”

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As the 2010s roll on through the 2nd half of the decade, many in the pop music world have begun to look for the sounds and trends which define this decade.  Will the 2010s be nothing more than a re-hash of the 1980s?  Will Disco make a triumphant return?

The answer is still unclear, but if there is one artist that seems to have her finger on the most definitive sounds of today, British pop sensation Charli XCX seems a likely candidate.

A master co-writer of Millennial anthems like Icona Pop’s Mega-Hit I Love It and Iggy Azalea’s Fancy, XCX is now creating a stir with her new solo effort Sucker… named the Best Pop Album of 2014 by Rolling Stone Magazine.  Here’s an excerpt from that publication’s rave review…

Charli runs the album’s rock & roll guitars and attitude through enough distressed digital production and thumb-type vernacular to make this the first fully updated iteration of punk pop in ages. It’s also a fitting cap to a music year often defined by powerful young women. Aitchison understands that the difference between a big dumb song and an awesome big dumb song is often just a tiny bit more groove and musk.

That electricity thoughout XCX’s Sucker is well-evidenced in the jam Doing It featuring fellow English pop star Rita Ora.  A careful concoction of throwback feel and cutting-edge clarity, Doing It is a girl power anthem with potential to power up any dance floor.

Check out the video for Doing It below, and be on the lookout for more Charli XCX.