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Written by Don Kowalewski
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Wednesday, 12 November 2008 13:42 |
 I feel like a kid, again. Although I recently turned 35, with my viewing of the MTV VMAs (that’s “Video Music Awards” for you out-of-touch 20-somethings, out there) a few months back, I realize I’m ‘hip’, once again.
Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers, Britney Spears, and horrible rap acts were everywhere more than a few Sundays ago. While I’m a huge hip-hop fan, the rap acts that play the MTV stage are rarely relevant the moment they walk off stage. Yes, Public Enemy, The Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, and Eminem have played past showw, but far more fall into the T-Pain and Li’L Wayne soon-to-be-obscure, category.
There have been moments over the past 5 years, as I emblazoned a trail into 30-something-land, that I felt out-of-touch. Trends and emerging artists I once enjoyed were replaced by High School Musical soundtracks and children’s CDs by Barenaked Ladies and They Might be Giants. Ice Cube and Martin Lawrence are making children’s movies and lending voices to cartoon characters. I knew full well Zack Efron and Miley Cyrus weren’t “cool”, but what else was I going to do? I’m a sucker for a catchy lyric and a pop beat, so I memorized their entire catalogs, as well as all 11 Wiggles CDs.
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Written by Kevin Miller
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Wednesday, 15 October 2008 14:00 |
 I know I talk about rap a lot, and there's good reason for that. But today I am going to give the whole rap thing a rest and tell you about something from the opposite end of the spectrum. I want to introduce you to a band that has recently seen a large number of plays on my iPod. The band is Iron & Wine. Great name, great sound, great beard. For real.
So Iron & Wine started out as just one guy, Samuel Beam, and an acoustic guitar. Sure, we've all heard a countless number of acoustic songs. Some guy at an open mic night or a hippie at a party or a bonfire or something lame like that. But Iron & Wine has evolved into more than just a man and a guitar. What started out as lo-fi indie music has snowballed into something completely different. It's produced, no long lo-fi, and features a full band adding to the sweet melodies of the acoustic guitar and amazing voice of Samuel Beam.
My favorite release has to be the Woman King EP. Every song is beautifully arranged, perfectly executed, and just well done all around. His voice is superb; it's beyond anything I've heard in recent years. Now everyone is using computer tricks and vocoders to alter their voice; not so in this case. He is truly talented. His voice alone, without any of the instruments to back it, is worth the listen. Add on the catchy, soulful instrumentation and you have an EP that never misses.
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