Pop Music In Practice Craig Robertson

Sunday 14 June 2009

50's Rock And Roll

Genre Information

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_and_roll

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockabilly

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_rock

Essential Listening

Rocket 88 by Jackie Brenston

Bill Haley's Rock Around the Clock

That's All Right Mama Elvis Presley

Big Joe Turner Shake, Rattle & Roll

Thursday 28 May 2009

Motown records was founded in 1959 by Berry Gordy under it's original title, Tamla Records. This was significant at that time because Berry Gordy was the first African American to own a record label. Consequently Motown employed lots of African American’s. These musician ability to play was astounding and this is recognised by the fact that Motown’s recording were done in one take with a live band, this establishing Motown’s sound. This well produced music even went on to change the white’s conception of the African American music scene. Famous musician Stevie Wonder signed on to Motown records at the age of just 12, Stevie was a well talented pianist and musician and that still remains today. In America Stevie has achieved 9 number one hits and has sold worldwide over one hundred million albums. Despite the fact Stevie lacks sight he still has the musical ability to play other instruments such as the harmonica and the drums.
Also the famous artists the Jackson 5 were signed to Motown records, the biggest role in Motown’s sound was the Funk Brothers, this was a tight group of working musicians known for their ability to play to an exceptional standard. The Funk Brothers performed as the instrumentalists on most of the Motowns recordings. A few of the Funk Brothers were, Earl Van Dyke, Joe Messina, Benny Benjamin and James Jameson.
The Motown sound drew influence from the gospel music in America at the time.
Motown has went on to influence genres such as funk, soul and disco. This is apparent as the guitar riffs and structures are similar.

Tuesday 31 March 2009

Funk

The sound of Funk consists of four on the floor bass drums, 16 hi hats, up stroked guitars and walking bass lines. Funk was heavenly influenced by blues and soul, which contributed to this sound. It originated in the 60’s but was most prominent in the 70’s with artists such as James Brown, Sly and the Family Stone and Tower Of Power.
James Brown was the most influential musician in Funk, with his own style of the downbeat, adding emphasis to the first beat in each bar. Although funk was mainly in the 70’s James Browns first hit single was “Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag” released in 1965. His biggest political song was “Say It Loud (Black And Proud)” this was a track that black people could relate to.
James said “The song is obsolete now... But it was necessary to teach pride then, and I think the song did a lot of good for a lot of people... People called "Black and Proud" militant and angry - maybe because of the line about dying on your feet instead of living on your knees. But really, if you listen to it, it sounds like a children's song. That's why I had children in it, so children who heard it could grow up feeling pride... The song cost me a lot of my crossover audience. The racial makeup at my concerts was mostly black after that. I don't regret it, though, even if it was misunderstood.” (1)
This song was a main part in the civil rights movement, James Brown was a key factor in the revolution in black and white relations.
Funk has went on to influence modern Rhythm and Blues artists, Disco and even Punk.

Some Famous FUnk Tracks :

References :
1. Brown, James, with Bruce Tucker. James Brown: The Godfather of Soul (New York: Macmillan Publishing Company,1986), 200.

Tuesday 3 February 2009

Two Tone/ SKA Revival

SKA came in three waves. The first wave was a fusion of rock steady and jamiacan reggae in the '50's. It had had the ubeat element of punk with the happy feel of reggae which went on the influence the second wave, whic came in the late 70's/80's and came from mostly london but also from birmingham and coventry and the 3rd wave of SKA revival was in the 1990's mostly located in america with artists such as Reel Big Fish.
The sound of SKA consist's of off beat guitars, upbeat rythm with lots of brass parts

The lyrical content of SKA was varied as bands such as The Specials had more political content whereas a band like Madness had more fun lyrics which people could relate to.

Fashion of SKA/Two Tone, was popularly Black and white suits, this came from the Rude Boys from Jamaica to make fun og the higher class society. Some people say it also represents racial unity which bands like the specials made a powerful staement at the time by having a multi-racial band.

Also the keyboardist from The Specials went on to create Two Tone records.

Important Albums/ Singles

The Specials - A Message To You Rudy

The Specials -Too Much Too Young

The Beat - Stand Down Margarat

Madness - House Of Fun

Bad Manners - Lip Up Fatty

I reasearched my material from www.wikipedia.org

Tuesday 18 November 2008

Black Metal

Lyrical Content - The lyrical content of black metal music is generally misanthropic, aimed towards other religions coming from the point of view from the paganistic roots. The lyrics are sung with high pitched screaming vocals, contrast to the low, guttural vocals of death metal. Personally i prefer the death metal vocal style, however i find the black metal style almost chilling and i can appreciate talent it would take to pull off such a harsh vocal technique.

Significant Artists - Black metal's first influence was from newcastle "extreme metal" band Venom, who went on to influence the german thrash scene with bands such as, Sodom, Kreator and Destruction, also Celtic Frost and Bathory. Tomas Forsberg (Quorthon)

of Bathory was the first to use the high pitched shriek on the vocals, which would later on define the genre. (1)

The "Second Wave" of black metal arose from the Norwegian area with bands such as Mayhem, Burzum, Darkthrone, and Immortal.

Black metal has went on to influence some sub genre's, such as "Melodic black metal" and "Blackened Death Metal". In my opinion the second wave of black metal is more to my taste, as venom in my opinion weren't really black metal, they just influenced it.

Important Albums/Singles -

Venom - Black Metal (1982)

Celtic Frost - Morbid Tales (1984)

Burzum - Burzum (1992)

Darkthrone - Transylvanian Hunger (1994)

Immortal - Battles In The North (1995)

Some of my favourite black metal tracks -

Fashion/Image Of Black Metal - Black metal artists would commonly wear dark/black clothing with boots, generally accessorized with spiked belts/wristbands. The most defining fashion with black metal was the corpse paint, this is black and white make-up sometimes with real/fake blood. It is said that this can be related to the "Oskorei" part of old Norse Mythology.

Music and Society At the Time - At the time Scandanavia was a christian area, however norway had its religious roots in paganism. Black metal was a kind of statement of anti-chrisitanity, this lead in some extreme casses to the burning of wooden churches. Other acts of violence that came from the black metal genre were several murders, one of the main murders in my opinion would've been when Varg Vikernes (Count Grishnackh - Burzum) murdered Oystein Aerseth (Euronymous - Mayhem), Oystein was found murdered outside his apartment with 23 cut wounds, 16 to the back, 5 to the neck and 2 to the head. Varg is currently serving his 21 year prison sentence for his crime. Another important death i think would be Jon Nodtveidt's suicide in 2006, he was the lead guitarist and vocalist in swedish black metal band "Dissection", i think this is important as Dissection are one of my favourite black metal bands.

References - I researched my material from

http://www.wikipedia.org/

Also from the notes i took in the lecture on Black metal.

Other useful websites would be -

http://www.experiancefestival.com/a/Black_metal_-_History/id/617584

Tuesday 16 September 2008

Alexisonfire

Alexisonfire, (pronounced Alexis-on-fire) is a post hardcore band, formed in Ontario, Canada in 2001. The band members are; George Pettit (lead vocals), Dallas Green (rhythm guitar/vocals), Wade MacNeil (guitar/vocals), Chris Steele (bass guitar)and Jordan Hastings (drums).

They released their first EP in 2002 named "Math Sheet Demos", named accordingly because the CD itself was wrapped in the drummers maths homework. (1) It was at this time that Greg Below and Mitch Joel heard Alexisonfire and coincidently were setting up a record label named "Distort Entertainment" and needed bands.

Below was working with EMI at the same time, so used this to record the band and lend them a co-publishing and distribution deal. (2)

Their first album, self-titled "Alexisonfire", was released on September 9, 2002. The album cover was two catholic school girls in a knife fight, which was inspired by how the band describe their music. The band then toured to support this album crossing canada twice and started into the American and European scenes, playing with bands like, Billy Talent, GWAR, Juliana Theory, Godsmack and Glassjaw.

In 2004, when the band had considerable attention from major record companies, they decided to stay independent as it would give them a better chance of deciding their direction. (3) So they stayed with Distort Entertainment to record their next album "Watch Out!" which was released on June 29 of that year and was instantly successful, it achieved gold certification in Canada, in just twelve weeks.(4)

On August 22, 2006, Alexisonfire released their third album "Crisis", which Allmusic considered their best to date. (5) There was an album release party in which the band played on a boat in London.

Alexisonfire have released a number of singles during their career, this is their first "Pulmonary Archery", which was released in 2002 from their debut album "Alexisonfire.

Their next single was "Counterparts and Number Them" from the same album.

After "Counterparts" the next single was "Waterwings", this video was based on the 1979 film The Warriors and from the album Alexisonfire.

"Accidents" was the first song and single from Alexisonfire's 2004 album "Watch Out!". This song is one of my favourite by Alexisonfire.

"No Transitory" was the second single from "Watch Out!". This song is noted for being the first of the bands singles to have Dallas Green on lead vocals.