Music Spotlight

I've come across a few interesting albums that are underappreciated and overlooked. They might be on iTunes but apparently too many people skip over it so they can click on the latest flo-rida album :-( anyhow... There's three CDs everyone should at least listen to the previews on iTunes for. The first is called Tame Impala. It's got a very sixties sound and interesting psychedelic transitions with plenty of echo and reverb and electric guitar to keep you in the mood but with some very catchy riffs that will get stuck in your head even after you turn it off. They are mostly instrumental but they have a good handful of songs with echoed vocals. Songs to look for: Solitude is bliss, and Jeremy's Storm.

Next up is from the band Baths. Their latest album is titled: Cerulean and has a rather nice album cover. The sound is a more pop-esque version of flying lotus but maintains the same experimental click and pop beats with that instantly recognizable undulating bass sound. Other influences could be coming from experimentation similar to that of Prefuse 73 and maybe even a little bit of a Caribou sound to it. Vocals are quite unusual and take a bit getting used to but the beats and sounds are really a refreshing new sound. Listen to it at higher volumes to enjoy the little subtleties of the beats. Songs to look out for are: Lovely Bloodflow, <3, and Rain Smell.

Last but not least, there's Maps and Atlases with their new CD Perch Patchwork. This is a nice folky album with vocals similar to that of Dave Matthews Band and really just an overall slightly lo-fi rock sound. Again this album too is filled with catchy riffs and fun lyrics. It's a simpler more straightforward sound than the other two albums but still very well executed and shines in that fact. Songs to hear on this album would definitely be: Israeli Caves, and If This Is.

So give these CDs a chance. Timbaland might not have produced them (lol) but I guarantee that you can appreciate at least one of these albums. If I turned you on to any of them feel free to reply with your thoughts on any of them!

Ps bonus hw is to look up the new linkin park song-catalyst. I think this album has the potential to be better than minutes to midnight judging by this first release but I doubt it'll be as epic as meteora or hybrid theory. Anyhow, I'm still on the fence with the new song but let me know your opinions! Till next time...
Stay tuned for more posts!
-Rocky Raccoon

Woodstock Blues/ Let's Celebrate Anyways!

Because of this ridiculous recession, no one wants to front any money to Michael Lang for an epic Woodstock 40th Anniversary Concert. So if your as bummed about missing that experience as I am, do what I did! Immerse yourself in Woodstock literature! I am currently reading "The Road to Woodstock" By Michael Lang, the man himself! (Book review on that coming as soon as I finish the book) But Anyhow, the first book I bought was Back to the Garden By Pete Forntale (Which was named after a lyric by Crosby, Stills, & Nash in a song about Woodstock, A really MUST HEAR!). I must say that it was a great book. It gave you personal accounts of a variety of peoples' experiences of the festival. This "Canterbury Tales" story telling technique was what made the Woodstock Documentary Film so successful, (You Must Watch That Film!). Anyhow, the book follows through the accounts of Artists, Spectators, producers, and journalists, and it really makes you feel like you were there. It is a must read if you are fascinated by The Woodstock Nation. Other Woodstock celebrations to help you get in the sixties mood: There will be a free family Woodstock 40 Event at Peacock Park in Coconut Grove on Sat. Aug 15 from 5-11pm. (There will be a raffle to win an Autographed Santana Guitar!!!!) Also, Hippiefest at the Broward Performing Arts Center is on Aug 16, you can already purchase tickets on ticketmaster. And finally, Crosby, Stills, & Nash are having a concert on Aug. 20 in The Hard Rock. Tickets for that are also already on sale. So Happy 40th Everybody! And don't forget to celebrate & Show the world that Woodstock Nation is still very much alive!!! Hopefully we can have a real amazing concert for the 50th! :-)

Corb Gets Too Much Credit.

Taking a graduate level architecture history course, I have been exposed to a few thousand buildings throughout recent history. I have been learning a great deal of things from this class and have gotten a lot of inspiration from the many different theories, ideologies, manifestos, and explorations of these various architects. And I, being an avid lover of references, have been barraged with how each building and design references other buildings. This has proven to show how much a design can develop in many different ways from many different people who attach their own personal touch to the idea. But I have this issue. It's the little problem that I now cringe when I hear Corbusier's name. Do you know how many buildings have ribbon windows? A lot. Many of which have nothing to do with Corb or the Five Points of Architecture. Sure its a reference, but why does Corb always get the credit. For example, the smiley face is everywhere, its used in AIM emoticons, in Wal-Mart advertisements, key chains, and all sorts of pop culture items. But does anyone say, "Oh this emoticon references the original smiley face by Harvey Ball!" No. There are so many versions and interpretations and executions and uses for the smiley face. But its reached the point where its intuitive. You have no knowledge of Harvey Ball, or why he made it (Insurance company merger, made it to appease the employees) but now if you want to express happiness you simply show it. :) easy as that. No reference. Sure, Corb may have made it a rule. He may have created the idea in many of his projects. But I don't know if I could say that every ribbon window belongs to him. I think its a very efficient window. Why not create a long window to let in a lot of light and allow for a view without the expense of creating a floor to ceiling window. I know I may be sounding ignorant by expressing this. But its how I am feeling. I think Corb HAS influenced architecture very much and that he does deserve credit for being ahead of his time and designing all of these projects. But please, free the ribbon window. It is not slave to the Corb name. Years have passed and it has been used for completely different reasons. Anyhow, maybe its because I prefer Mies over Corb, who knows. It may just be the hysteria of hearing the name at least 500 times within a 6 week period. I might get over it but for now I just needed to express some uneasiness to regain some sanity. Stay tuned for new posts!