Artist background/information for Listening Guide

The Strokes is a garage/indie band from New York. They debut in 2001 with their highly successful album called Is This It. They are the one of the bands that started garage rock revival scene in early 2000s and bring it to mainstream as pop rock music especially in U.S. and U.K. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Strokes) This is one of the reasons why I really like them because it has ability to reach everyone to listen to their music and enjoy the music. Members in the band are Julian as a vocal, Nick on guitar, Albert on another guitar, Fabrizio on drums, and finally Nicolai on bass. First off, I would like to talk about the concept of garage/indie. The garage/indie is heavily influenced by 60’s punk rock and college bands. It has very catchy guitar riffs and play fast paced tempo. It has such a great energy in their songs. Their hooks and .They have very distinct sounds in their music. Such as, the vocal is very unique in a way that sometimes the voice seems tired and sounds like someone over the phone talking to you and very raspy when he sings high tone. But somehow it manages to catch the listeners’ ears with his slurring singing style. Perhaps it’s the raw voice of Julian and catchy guitar riffs make their music more complete as a raw garage band sound. 2 guitars make their music more layered in a way it’s very fulfilling and creates upbeats especially when they go back and forth on their guitar riffs; Also often times they throw in short solo guitar part that doesn’t have to too dynamic or fancy unlike Rock & Roll or metal music that heavily focus on the guitar solo, so it’s very easy even for listeners who are not used to long instrumental part could enjoy it. Also the drummer is able to produce creative catchy upbeat sounds and manage to speed up time to time in some verses or intro to keep listeners pay attention. The melody of bass line could be easily overshadowed by both two predominant electric guitars, but it’s very important element that makes up the sound of The Strokes. It’s really new for me to listen to some of songs that just pause in the middle of song and manages to come back in full throttle as if nothing ever happened. Their image of hipsters and retro also contribute popularity. It reminds me of Rolling Stones in their early careers like with the charisma. Since I only get to cover one song “The End has No End” for the listening guide, I would like to add 2 other songs from their both 1st and 2nd album that really gives you sense of what is the garage band is like and I hope you’ll enjoy them. The song, “Reptilia” starts with fast paced bass line with drum beats then followed by guitar riffs. I think combination of two guitar riffs and fast tempo of the song make this band more attractive and it’s indeed very addicting because the band’s ability to hook their distinct music to the audience. Another song is “Last Nite,” it starts with guitar solo and joined by drums then slowly builds the song into funky tune. I really like how this band could able to keep the fast beats without slowing down and change of one instrument like a guitar or drums when rest of the instruments keep play the main tune is brilliant and sometimes they take turn after guitar plays the different chords then it’s followed by drummer to change up the beats little bit then finally join back with rest of band for the main tune of the song.

*Note: this is 2 page long with double spaced format
http://youtube.com/watch?v=LFSYf-sgBIw “Reptilia”- The Strokes- Music Video-from 2nd album Room on Fire
http://youtube.com/watch?v=3tuvX_X7Rlw “Last Nite”- The Strokes- Music Video- from 1st album Is this it

OK Computer by Radiohead

Radiohead is known for their innovative sound album after album. Thom Yorke, vocal, and the brain of the band said he never listens to their previous albums after they are done recording. Which kind of gives you the idea of their work ethic to not to produce same sound album after album. I got to say I still haven’t disappointed by their works so far. The time they achieved the highest popularity is after album called OK Computer in 1997. This album won the best album of the year in Grammy Award. The album is considered as modern version of The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd. The reason behind is that they share same themes for their concept albums. For example, humans struggling to survive in modernized world and isolation. Not to mention, both of the bands are from England. It’s amazing how many English musicians have influenced the music industry from that small island. Anyways back to the Radiohead, the song I would like to talk about is “Karma Police.” This song may sound seem mellow, but the lyrics behind this song is indeed haunting. It talks about the how karma will return and you have to pay the cost. Starts with acoustic guitar and piano smoothly establish the main tune of this song. What I really like about this song is Thom’s high tone style of voice makes this song outstanding as if he’s trying to tell me something. Another track, I would like talk about is “No Surprises.” The theme of this song is about one doesn’t want any surprises. Life may be full of surprises, but it wears you down at some point and this is what it’s talking about. This song has cool sound effects to create dreamy sounds with its electric guitar riffs. Last song I would like to talk about is very interesting because there is no really singing. It’s called “Fitter happier,” it talks about conformity in the society and about the things what the media always tell us how to live our life.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9Ay699qcSb4 “Karma Police”- Radiohead- Music Video
http://youtube.com/watch?v=qqsyXdj_p_I “No Surprises”- Radiohead- Music Video
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8EoukRWQ-ec&feature=related“Fitter Happier”- Radiohead- Music Video made by fan

The lunatic is on the grass...

Pink Floyd is a psychedelic band from U.K. and active since 1968. They are known for their philosophical lyrics and for their art/progressive rock. Today I would like to talk about the album called The Dark Side of the Moon. This album is considered legend in the history of rock and their biggest hit in their career. It was released in 1973 and it is amazing concept album that dealing with modern life of humans in the civilized society, isolation, greedy, and ego. Interesting fact is that this album is mostly done by Roger Waters and David Gilmour which is first time for them to create music by themselves without help of their ex-leader, Syd Barrett who had the biggest influence in the group was kicked out due to his psychosis and drug abuses. Although the album stayed at top for brief moment, it still stayed in top 200 for 724 weeks! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Side_of_the_Moon) The song called “Time” starts with actual ticking sound of clock. It is brilliant idea because this song deals with how time seems to pass by fast as one age. The song goes on with ticking sounds with drum beats then breakthrough change of drum beats and guitar riffs. I really like the guitar solo part and organ sound is important key to create this unique sound of psychedelic also it harmonizes with the chorus. The song I would like to talk about is “Brain Damage,” it starts very calmly with guitar riffs that give you feeling of dreamy state then drums and chorus join in to build dynamic sound then goes back to guitar riffs and organ with interesting sampling of laughter that gives you the idea of maniac. Interesting topic, insanity that everyone has in their head but yet to admit they are one of them. It smoothly followed by “Eclipse” with simple lyrics and I like the heartbeat sounds to end the song just the way they start the first song on the album with the heartbeats. The song ends with interesting message; “There is no dark side of the moon, really. As a matter of fact, it's all dark. The only thing that makes it look light is the sun.”


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntm1YfehK7U “Time”- Pink Floyd- Live concert clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0VqTYrYncs&feature=related “Brain Damage/ Eclipse”- Pink Floyd- Music Video

"What's Going On"- Marivn Gaye

I like Marvin Gaye’s tunes; it’s really mellow with funk beats. “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)" was one of the tracks from album what’s going on in 1971. Marvin Gaye is truly legend when it comes down to Soul, R&B, and Funk music. Also he was under famous Motown Record Label when it was truly booming with Soul Music.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Gaye)
It’s about how living in the ghetto side of America just makes him to holler at someone. Song starts out with piano and drum beats at the same time then funky drum beats keeps it going along with Marvin Gaye’s soul touching mellow voice. Another track is “What’s Going On,” which was at #2 and #1 on R&B and Pop the chart during that time. It talks about social issues around him It has definitely has jazzy side where you could find it out from the way Marvin plays the piano while bong type of drum keeps the beats that remind me of improvising in the jazz bar. The song starts out content tone with saxophone opens the song and I like how song ends quietly piano tunes and bongo drums decreases while Marvin singing “What’s happening?” repeatedly.



http://youtube.com/watch?v=qDckI2P_DPA “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)”- Music Video by Marvin Gaye
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Y9KC7uhMY9s&feature=related “What’s Going On”- Marvin Gaye, live version

Revolver

The reason why The Beatles is consider the most influential figure in the music is that they always try new things and involve through with their new music. This song “Eleanor Rigby” included in the album Revolver which was released in 1967. They use orchestra to make the contrast and emphasis with it. By while one instrument playing the main tune, another instrument makes different sound to create harmonized, but contrast sounds. The string instruments are four violins, two cellos, and two violas. It is the method of double up, string quarters with two instruments playing each part in the quarters. I like how every time I hear it, I hear different instruments being played at the same time and manages to harmonized.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleanor_Rigby) Paul is the lead vocal and John joins in as a backup vocal without any chorus. The song itself is very live and fast played. Orchestra is good to create the sound of up and down. Building the tension then it goes down then again. Another song is “Yellow Submarine” from same album, Revolver. Interesting about this song is that lead vocal is Ringo Starr who is a drummer of the band and often argued as least talented member in the band. He doesn’t have strong vocal but it’s very mellow and easy listening voice calms the listeners. They are many sound effects and samplings are used to create noisy background. It gives you idea that as if you are in the Yellow Submarine. Ocean wave sound, then trumpet is playing and people are talking and laughing in the background. There are many sounds that makes listener as if yellow submarine is departing. In the result, this song is very playful and innovated

http://youtube.com/watch?v=FxyJLxV0_-8&feature=related “Eleanor Rigby”- The Beatles
http://youtube.com/watch?v=mdeHYlfnd_g “Yellow Submarine”-The Beatles, music video