Sex Pistols

The Sex Pistols are definitely not the most talented band around. They have almost no harmonies and are very far from being polished performers. The music they produce is raw and uncut and illustrates a level of hatred. The difference between the Sex Pistols/other British punk bands and American punk bands is that the British punk bands are mad about something. They are protesting their society and bands like the Sex Pistols are just angered by political and economic disruptions. Basically what makes the Sex Pistols important in the scope of music history is that they were there at the right place at the right time. This band produced music that mirrored what the audiences wanted at the specific time. The Sex Pistols capture this youthful rebellious moment in British history. During this time, there was serious depression in Britain and the consumer empathized with this rebellious attitude.  The Sex Pistols created the sound of the poor and embodied the classic punk look and sound. They were not introspective and were obviously composed of pure hatred. Because of this, a lot of people connected with their message and music. While they only made one album, the Sex Pistols were successful and impactful at their time.

The Sex Pistols did not last long, however. After producing one album, they kind of went by the wayside as music forever transitioned to new material. Two of their major songs were “God Save the Queen” and “Anarchy in the U.K.” and these two songs, I think, are enough to get a general vibe of the type of music that they produced. 

“God Save the Queen” is an energizing classic rock/punk sound that is crazed and wild. I think the lack of control and insaneness that this song brings is what a lot of punk centered around. While some people may think this music sounds rather unorganized, I actually kind of liked it because it allowed me as a listener to somewhat cut loose in a fury of rebellion. In comparison to other music that preceded it, this song by the Sex Pistols makes a tune that is just made to rock out. They have no real underlying messages in their lyrics and their harmonies aren’t strong at all. Despite this, I actually find myself enjoying the music they produced.  They are able to match an intense rock sound with their very negative opinions and lyrics. While their lyrics are rather full of hatred, it’s not like I can even understand it anyway. The vocals are so impure that I think it takes away the depth that lyrics could even bring.

By their second song I’ve listened to, “Anarchy in the U.K.”, I decided that the vocals are pretty horrible, especially in this song. I find myself just trying to look past the vocals because they are so screechy and lack any sort of talent at all. While this embodies the individuality attitude of punk, I still don’t think it’s an excuse to produce bad vocals. That has definitely been a trend throughout this time period. I don’t know what happened to all the great vocalists after the 60s. Even though they are pretty bad at singing (and I feel that the lead is being strangled at time) they have that same greasy sound as the Ramones. This sound is derived from an insane guitar part that dominates and drives the song. I tend to enjoy the guitar so that is why I am able to tolerate such music of the time.

Even just looking at this band, you get a vibe of poverty. Their look embodied what the lower class of England was going through at the time and this is what made them so successful in the brief amount of time they performed. Compared to other punk bands such as the Clash or Elvis Costello, they take on the poorer end of the population. Bands like the Clash represented a more business, middle class, look. Although the Sex Pistols were a flash-in-the-pan band, they still made a great impact on the music scene. Overall, all these punk bands loved to just challenge the society they lived in and I think this enabled the great shaping of modern society. Artists like Elvis Costello directly copied specifics of the King of Rock, Elvis Presley, even before he was dead! The Residents also even directly parodied a Beatles old album cover. This poking fun of past music illustrates a changing of the music scene and a breaking away from past rock and moving on to other rebellious things. This is what made seemingly raw music such as the Sex Pistols appeal to the masses.

Patti Smith - Horses

It’s hard to exactly pinpoint an opinion about Patti Smith’s voice because she changes it so much as her songs evolve. She has a certain edge to her voice that aids in effective vocal fluctuations. A lot of the time, though, it seems a little crazed in a bad way. I feel like she has too many random outbursts throughout her songs that seem to stand out like a sore thumb. She relies heavily on her voice and uses it to construe a particular sound but I frequently feel that this takes away from the appeal of the song. Overall, the countermelody (from the introduction to the end of her songs) is relatively strong and full of enthusiasm. While I would venture to say that she also possesses this excitement in her vocals, her voice has a certain raspy quality that detracts from the musical fabric created. Her sound is similar to the Ramones in the fact that she has the energy and wildness of the song yet doesn’t quite possess the talent of other non-punk artists. While her voice seems unappealing, it somehow meshes with the song and works. Her songs are so strange in their entirety that her voice fits right in.

Despite her unique voice, lyrically, Patti Smith excels. I can see how she was an aspiring poet in her life because it definitely has influenced her music and songs. While at times I cannot tell what she is actually singing because of her blurry voice, when I read the lyrics I feel a deeper and powerful message being portrayed. I’m really enamored with her voice because it acts as such a barrier for me to get over to enjoy her music. Everything else falls into place so nicely, but I can’t quite place what’s wrong with her voice: if it’s just blurry or a serious lack of enunciation. But with very careful listening, I can understand the lyrics and they are pretty amazing to say the least. While they don’t always address worldly issues and concerns such as Bob Dylan, she utilizes language that illustrates exactly what she wants to portray. For example, in “Redondo Beach”, she says “Down by the ocean it was so dismal, Women all standing with a shock on their faces.” I love the power that shines through in this lyric and song.

Another issue that I have failed to cover is her extremely long song. I feel like she just keeps singing and going until she just physically cannot anymore. The third track on Horses, “Birdland”, is over 9 minutes! I highly dislike songs that are this long because I feel like they just drag on and take the listener through a dreary soup of monotony. Also, in “Birdland”, Patti Smith shows her weird side in which she throws in a vast assortment of (not so good) vocals and funkier punk sounds. In “Kimberly” she also has a pretty awesome beat at the introduction of the song that extends throughout its entirety. Because I’m a percussionist, this great beat made the song pretty enjoyable. But just barely. I feel one of the only things going for Smith is the lyrical poem that she is able to establish through her music. While her countermelody is always strong and her beats are simple yet appealing, they don’t quite match up to the instrumentals of even other bands of the time (such as the Ramones). She definitely has more complexity than the one-sided Ramones, but I felt that their music was a little more enjoyable than Patti Smith’s. Maybe if her voice was a little different I would say otherwise.

By the sixth track of the album, I think Patti Smith might have begun to hit her stride with “Break It Up”. This is the first song that I heard on the album that really meshed together between her voice and an advanced countermelody. It all kind of coagulated together into a successful single. If all her songs were like this, I might have enjoyed the album a little more than I did. Crazy electric guitar chords, nice rhythms and beats, along with decent harmonies and vocal fluctuations made this high-energy one of the few bearable ones. Check it out:

Another song that I enjoyed somewhat on the album was “Redondo Beach”. This one I appreciated less for its sound and more for its lyrics. As shown above, I cited a verse from this single but listen below to get the full experience. As I listen to this song again, though, I kind of like the reggae feel that it oozes. Make your own opinion. Check it out:

Punk and The Ramones

As we cruise deeper into the 70s music, we hit a time period in which punk is quickly on the rise. Punk is a very interesting genre to contemplate because its development is the complete opposite of that of rock and rap. Through history, rock and rap started off all the same and rather innocent and throughout the years it diverged into more wild forms. Rock grew from innocent Beatles to Stones to Led Zeppelin until all of a sudden; we’re in the middle of Black Sabbath! On the contrary, punk started off as a group of different artists that sounded very different but the press merely grouped them all together under the key word “punk”. I feel that punk is similar to rock in that it is not any particular sound but rather an idea of individuality and rebellion. Punk was the idea that you can do anything and I think this message is interestingly displayed through this type of music. This is shown by a bunch of artists that were not necessarily the most talented but were out there doing what they love. This music environment is one that produced very wild music with a great message.

A great example of classic punk art is the band Ramones. The Ramones are at the heart of 70s punk and represent a sound that is completely insane and in-your-face.  Unlike many, I have mixed feelings about the Ramones. The music that they churn out seems like it would be best for passive listening without much thought from the listener. On the whole, their music seems almost greasy (to give a food metaphor for lack of better description). Their songs are rather repetitive and monotonous for in depth analysis. While it sounds like a mess, they have some pretty crazy guitar vibes. Overall, though, I can’t really bring myself to write a lot of positive things about this music because it goes against everything that I have trained my ears to search for in music. Honestly, the vocals sound like they have a mild speech impediment and the music lacks so much versatility that it’s hard to listen to. I feel like throughout their entire first album, “Ramones”, it was constantly in my face and I couldn’t escape the steady blaring of punk sounds. Their heavy accents also act as a blockade to the point where I wouldn’t know if they were good lyricists even if they were.

In their second album, “Rocket to Russia”, I feel that they had grown and developed at least a little in their musical ability. But not by much. I feel that the songs that the Ramones churn out are similar to the modern day songs that I called ‘pump up’ songs in one of my previous blogs. All they are to me is a louder and more in-your-face version of the Beach Boys. There is little substance to their music but it is definitely catchy. In modern day, pump up songs are crazy and wild like this and somehow appeals to the listener despite having limited musical talent at best. I think I would also enjoy listening to this band in smaller doses with singles rather than complete albums because of the sameness that dominates the albums. In smaller doses, I could appreciate more that harder sound and catchiness of the beat without being beaten into a monotony of punk rock (and focus too much on their general lack of talent).

Despite my criticism of the band, I also can appreciate the talent that goes on in the background. While some may argue that this band is absolutely horrible, I think they definitely have some musical capabilities that make them capable of rocking out. True, their lyrics and vocals are non-existent and their countermelodies are constantly loud and obnoxious. But, their wild guitars and blaring bass and insane beats meshes together into a conglomeration of noise that somehow works in a way. Once again, observing as a passive listener, for once, this high-energy music invigorates the listener. Overall, while not even coming in the same universe as other artists we’ve listened to (like Stevie Wonder or the Beatles), the Ramones definitely made their mark on the history of music. While they might not sound good today, they definitely had major influences on the music that followed their time all the way up to present day.

If you want to check out some classic Ramones, listen to some of the songs below:
 

Stevie Wonder: Talking Book

To summarize what I think about Stevie Wonder I’d like to use a single word: amazing. Although I had heard some of his songs before, I didn’t realize that it was him. From his first album, Talking Book, I was astounded at his constant talent and versatility. He kept surprising me at how far he could take music. By this time in the class, I feel as if I have heard a lot of artists that have covered almost every type of sound. Stevie Wonder is capable of once again forming a little niche in his realm of music and blow everybody else out of the water. I found it amazing that he was signed to a Motown record label at age 11! While he started out as a harmonica player, he quickly expanded his repertoire of instruments and quickly developed into a star. Oh, and I forgot to mention that he’s BLIND! Blindness offers so many challenges on a daily basis and Stevie Wonder seemed to merely ignore this disability and brush it aside as if it weren’t even there. Throughout his album, he continually impressed me with his musical finesse to the point where I forgot that he was doing all of this without his eyes. I’m not even that musically talented and I have all five senses! This perseverance through obstacles aided in his success as an artist.

Besides his blindness, Stevie Wonder offered so much to the musical realm. He proved himself as a very versatile artist. This versatility is illustrated in two main methods throughout the album. Looking at the album as a whole piece of work, Stevie Wonder almost formulaically alternates between slower and funky songs. This keeps the album listening entertaining. He mixes up lively pop sounds with slow ballads with wild funky Motown. While he maintains certain aspects that connect them together, this alternating allows for a break from each type of music and gives the listener an appreciation for each respective song. I personally get bored if an artist can only churn out music that all sounds the same. Stevie Wonder excellently avoids this.

His versatility is also shown through individual songs. If you were passively listening to his music, you would miss the underlying fact that for a lot of the songs, he played almost ALL the instruments. He puts together tracks in the recording studio that sound like a whole group of artists are performing, but it’s only one guy! And he’s blind! He was able to greatly expand his musical talent from merely a harmonica to a lovely singer and guitarist and bassists and drummer and… (Well, you get the picture).

Stevie Wonder is able to combine the soul of earlier Motown artists with the much appreciated funk sound of the 70s that ultimately distinguishes himself as an amazing artist. He acted as the bridge between Detroit and LA style Motown and his diversity makes him appealing to a variety of people and listeners. Getting into the more technical appeals, Stevie Wonder has a nice baritone voice that complements the wholesome sound of his occasional duet partner. In the songs they sing together like “You are the Sunshine of My Life”, they develop a fabric of vocals that ultimately adds to the whole jazzy pop vibe of the countermelody. Throughout the album, he also throws in some crazy bass lines and introductions that foreshadow the tone of the entire piece.

While there are so many hits to choose from on this album, I’ll only be able to post a couple on this blog that I really liked. Among my favorites include “Maybe Your Baby”, “You’ve Got It Bad Girl”, and of course “Superstition”! “Maybe Your Baby” gives you the funky side of Stevie Wonder with a wildly fluctuating bass line. “You’ve Got it Bad Girl” gives you the slower ballad style of Stevie Wonder and “Superstition” is just a phenomenal song. Check them out below:   

Led Zeppelin Concert Video

After listening to Led Zeppelin’s first album, I felt that I had gained a complete understanding of everything that Led Zeppelin represented. They were versatile rockers that were not the best lyricists. Despite my initial judgments of the band, after viewing a concert video of the band, I feel that I have gained a greater understanding into how they have attained such a high level of success. The video I watched exposes the other side to their music: the actual performance. When listening to just the album, you cannot grasp the craziness and how amazing their performances are. They took their music to another level by showing they know how to not only play music but also know how to entertain.

I also appreciated that it exposed how a classic 70s concert would run. From the dim lighting and single spotlights on the center of the stage to the wild dress and hair, these concerts bleed the classic rocker vibe. The 70s were such a distinct time period in music and while it was only ten years of music, it symbolizes a whole era of change in rock. This is why it is interesting to view the concert because it provides deeper insight to the music scene of the time. This video also must have covered a later part of Led Zeppelin’s musical career because I sense a little harder rock vibe going on which contrasts from some of their original bluesy songs.

Like I said above, I noticed still in the concert that Led Zeppelin does not have the best lyricists in the world. This doesn’t change the overall rebellious mood and tone of their concerts/music. The visual expression of their concerts simply accentuates the “wild” factor of their music. All of Led Zeppelin’s music blends together when they perform into one giant mush of seemingly continuous sound. Their music is so strongly charged that the few silences between the songs seem deafening. I have always been astounded at the amount of space that Led Zeppelin is capable of filling with their music and their commanding stage presence simply adds to this insanity.

I was also impressed by the relatively large amount of chaos in their concerts. While this doesn’t nearly compare to raves of future eras, I think that their music (which has shifted a little harder rock) induces a level of craziness. And it isn’t chaos in a negative way, either. They are able to somehow control the seemingly utter chaos and wield it as a beneficial way to rally their crowd of listeners and followers. The video that I watched also periodically showed up close shots of the guitarists. They hit unimaginable notes and perform insane stunts such as playing a guitar with a bow! I wouldn’t even know how to begin to do that! This simply emphasizes the pure talent that this band has and why they can put on an amazing show.

While I enjoyed several aspects of the concert, it seemed to last fairly long. Because each song flowed directly into the next, I felt like I was listening to one extremely long and monotonous tune. Also, there were periods of time where vocals were obsolete which made certain parts boring. I think most of these complaints though are an effect of my little experience in the concert environment and I think the “wild” factor of the music spiced it up enough to give me a lively representation of Led Zeppelin. Overall, I fairly enjoyed listening to a complete concert because it allowed me to contrast it to modern day and observer how music has evolved since the 70s.

Bobby Womack – Understanding

Bobby Womack is a fairly interesting character and artist. He exposes a style of African American music that was beginning to take a stronghold during the early 70s. Possessing a lot of the same sounds as Marvin Gaye, there are definitely a variety of different musical aspects that distinguish Womack as a completely different and versatile artist, who has his own niche in the genre of soul. While Gaye had predominantly smooth and calm music, Womack focuses on a slightly more energetic end of soul that simply oozes out of him. Womack creates songs that are not just Motown or soul. He is a classic example of the convergence that occurs in rock, because I hear a variety of aspects from all kinds of genres. While, for the most part, his songs are relatively smooth and suave, he also throws in wild things such as electric guitar and screams. This benefits his music because it gives his songs an alternative dynamic and edge that distinguishes himself as an artist as well as his songs from one another.

Womack has a lot of classic R&B sounds that makes a perfect fabric of jazzy beats, bass, and vocals. While Womack doesn’t nearly have the level of funk and vast variety of instruments as Curtis Mayfield, he definitely holds his ground to comparison. The success in his music is a combination of his vocal talent and countermelodies. His countermelodies are full of heavy beats and crazy bass vibes. As a guitarist, Womack knows how to create a great countermelody! In a lot of his songs, he shows this talent with the heavy use of bass. This goes on to influence other music of the time as well. Womack’s reliance on bass mixed with insane beats makes the listener want to nod their head or tap their foot to the rhythm. Even after listening to a little bit of Curtis Mayfield, I can hear influences of Womack and his countermelodies.

This advanced countermelody contrasts fairly nicely to his complex voice. Womack’s voice is as complex as a Rubik’s cube. It has so many different sides to it that it is hard to fully analyze and articulate just how his voice should be classified. He is able to change it to add versatility throughout the album depending on the tone/mood of the song. While Womack has a vast range of singing, he doesn’t have the purity of other artists. It doesn’t sound so smooth as to the point that his voice is a separate instrument, yet it is still very effective for this genre. Although his voice is capable of sounding very suave at times, whenever he screams in the middle of the song, I feel like I’m listening to gravel in a blender. This takes me to another point. Seemingly periodically, Womack would throw in wild screaming in the middle of his songs. Despite adding flavor to otherwise lulling parts and waking me up, I don’t think that Womack needs to do this. I tend to associate yelling with a lack of musical talent and “talentless” is one adjective I would NOT use for Bobby Womack!

I’d also like to take a minute to discuss the whole genre of soul. It is very foreign and confusing to me but I feel it growing on me. It encompasses such a wide variety of music that it is fun to listen to what soul/R&B artists are capable of creating with their passionate voices and funky countermelodies. In a single album, Womack is able to evolve from a jazzy rock feel to a more country gospel sound towards the end of the album. This versatility is very interesting and shows how complex the genre is as well as the artist. By mixing wild sounds with soft vibes, it keeps Womack’s music intriguing all the time.

 A great example of this would be Womack’s cover of the Beatles’ “And I Love Her”. Usually covering the Beatles is very shaky ground. Womack, however, makes this song his own and puts his own unique blend/spin. He makes the Beatles sound Motown and full of soul. I wouldn’t even recognize these songs if put next to each other because of the stark contrast and spin he has put on this jam. He seemed to have modernized it for his time period and it works into the beautiful fabric of the album. Check it out:

Another song that I really liked from Womack’s album Understanding is the song “A Woman's Gotta Have It”. It also illustrates Womack's versatility. This song sounds like the quintessential 70s jam with an EXTREME bass line! Unfortunately, I can't find any YouTube videos that do the bass laine justice. But you’ve still gotta hear “A Woman's Gotta Have It”!

Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On

This album was created during the rise of the civil rights movement, in which many strides were being taken to reform society. This album is a concept album that is told from the point of view from a Vietnam War Veteran who returns and sees a society that is plagued by injustice. I find this concept very interesting and powerful. Gaye is able to send a powerful message and he created his music for just reasons. This adds a level of passion and depth to his music that I find very respectable.

His actual music has a very smooth sound and funky vibe at times. It is hard to describe other than “smooth”. His voice matches almost perfectly into the perfect network of jazzy sounds that his songs create. Listening to his music is refreshing and provides a break from the wild pop music that is so dominant today and disco/funk of the rest of the 70s. A lot of his songs sound similar to each other but I feel this enables a flow to occur throughout the entire album. This provides a level of fluidness that connects his music together under one piece. Like I said in an earlier blog, very few artists are able to create a connected and united album. Gaye proves he is one of those few.

Honestly, I don’t even listen to much jazz or Motown. I am fairly lacking in this genre, so it is interesting to hear such quality of music representing the genre as a whole. I would classify Gaye’s music as easy listening. Listening to the album with the lights off was so calming that I felt like I was transported to a different world. It definitely contrasts starkly from previous things I’ve listened to, but overall, I rather enjoyed the music.

Because I was so stunned by the smoothness of this album, I failed at first to hear the true talent of Gaye’s voice. He is capable of hitting pure harmonies and high notes that some female artists today can’t even hit. He seems to have such control over his vocals and can fluctuate at ease. He has a lot of soul in his voice and his passion for music bleeds through with every new note. I love how effortless he makes singing seem. He sure makes me look bad.

In addition to having a jazzy and catchy beat along with countermelodies that make me want to sway back and forth, Gaye’s music covers societal issues. He is almost like the Motown version of Bob Dylan (except Gaye actually can sing). His songs deal with serious issues such as war and equality during a time where these were prominent headlines/issues. He brings up concerns and I feel inspired people for change. I think this album would be a classic example of how music helped influenced change in society. And what a great way to talk about societal concerns than through a jazzy, smooth Motown album!

It’s time for you to get a feel about the music that Marvin Gaye has made. There is really only so much I can do, however, because the album is best digested in its entirety. If you can, I highly suggest grabbing something to eat, turning off the lights, getting in you favorite recliner and relaxing for a steady half an hour. But, if like me, you don’t seem to have that kind of time, I’ll give you a little sampler below. The first and title single of the album, “What’s Going On”, introduces the main idea of the concept album. There is a mix between rhythmic talking and catchy beat towards the beginning, but this turns into the calming voice of Marvin Gaye. I don’t know why I have such a hard time pinpointing how these songs appeal to me but they just come together so nicely. You really have to hear it to know what I’m talking about:

Flawlessly, the album then flows right into the next song, “What’s Happening Brother”. This song sounds even smoother than the song before it! He takes on a softer tone that maintains the signature jazzy vibe but alters the mood of the song enough for variation. The song also experiments with different sounds and harmonies that spice up the countermelody. While it ends rather abruptly for my taste, overall, Marvin Gaye illustrates his pure musical talent as usual; proving himself one of the great Motown artists. Check it out:

Beyonce

Although, I have not heard a lot from Beyonce in recent years, I feel as if she is currently undergoing a resurgence. Beyonce has seemed to have been a staple in modern music and her music career has dominated popular culture for the past decade plus. Becoming active in the music business form 1997, I feel that Beyonce has been very well known. With hugely successful hits such as “Single Ladies” and others, Beyonce has rocked the socks of off R&B, hip hop, and pop music for years. Although lately I seemed to have felt a slowing of her music career, I think this is just my shift in tastes. Beyonce has become a household name (well not literally, but you know what I mean). Not just anyone can be called by their first name and be recognized for their fame. Beyonce is amongst a group of select musicians such as Cher and Madonna that are easily recognizable by a simple word.

So how has Beyonce become so successful? Personally, I think her musical success lies in three main categories: her powerful voice, her insane stage presence, and her versatility. These three aspects combine into one amazing female artist of our time.

Let’s start with the vocals. Her voice is so powerful and strong that it simply carries her songs all the way through. Even if she has hip beats and sounds peppering the background, her voice is the centerpiece of her music. She is capable of throwing in insane vocal ticks and fluctuations and create with her voice. While not nearly as in control of her voice as, say, Joni Mitchell was, Beyonce has sheer passion and power in her voice. I also sense a lot of the times, especially in her pop/hip hop hits, a level of attitude. A great example of this attitude shining through would be “Single Ladies”. This is such a well known song, that I’m not even going to bother posting it on the blog. Starkly contrasting this attitude, however, she is able to meld her voice into a fabric of purity. A great example of this would be when she sung at the Presidential Inauguration. While there was speculation and criticism about lip synching, I still think that her voice is outstanding and moving. She sang the national anthem better than I’ve heard it performed in a long time. Feast your ears on the following:

Now, this takes us to our next major aspect: her versatility. After such a heart-felt and passionate song, Beyonce is able to (seemingly in the next breath) go to a much more “attitude filled” music set. She is able to sing a soft R&B vibe, our national anthem, or even a crazy hip-hop tune. No matter what she does, she is capable of bringing it to life with her outstanding vocals. Compare the above video to the following, which was her performance at the Super Bowl. Her songs are so drastically different that its hard to remember that it’s the same artist! Check it out:

Now after just watching a few minutes of this, you get to see how much stage presence she has. Beyond the extravagant light show, wild get-ups, and dancers, Beyonce ultimately brings it all together into one commanding performance. She has learned the ability, not only to sing, but to entertain. I feel that this is vital for present day audiences because, otherwise, they will become bored. She brings a fiery punch to her music that awakens the audience and makes them want to hear her music. I think this commanding stage presence enables her to ability to rock out! While she might’ve overdone the risqué outfit a little, her ability to grab people’s attention and use her attitude to hold it is pretty fascinating.

Beyonce has proven herself as a very successful artist. She has made a significant impact on music by adapting to an ever changing musical society.