HSM 3

The high octane teemy bopper sensation High School Musical 3 led musical Oscar nods with 11. I am not surprised at all. The thing I am wondering is if the HSM movies are this generations Grease. I have never looked at Grease as the same way as I did the corny HSM movies.
I have only seen the first two movies. (and yes television was very slow on those days)

I knew that the Grease movies were a sensation back in their time, but will Zach Efron become the next Travolta? Travolta is in some terrible movies, but he is an A-lister. The HSM musical movies have made tons and tons of money.

Killers or Kill Me?

I get the progression of rock and the need to create something new with your pieces to be known or respected among others. Yet, I still do not get the fascination of the Killers. There latest single, Human, does not do it for me personally. It is a sad attempt to stretch into new venues of creativity that a band like Panic at the Disco did a lot better on there first CD, "A Fever You Can't Sweat Out."
I am open to all facets of music, but it doesn't mean I have to like it and in the Killers situation, I don't. All of their music is a poppy sensation that a town like Las Vegas would generate. A place, where they are from, that isn't known for much more than strippers and gambling. I know Paul McCartney was at recent stop in Europe and is respectable, but maybe that it isn't enough for me. Respectable is an understatement, maybe I am not getting what is making them great.The fact that McCartney showed up to a show, makes them better than most. Apparently, I am missing something, but some people dont know that the Fogerty brother, from CCR, are from California and not the South. If Jimi or Jim Morrision and I were hanging out I guarantee that we wouldn't be listening to the Killers.
All I know is that the recent Brad Pitt Rollingstone magazine has more on the Killers. It seems every edition has something to say about the Killers. I would honestly want to hear what Tom Petty or Elton John is using as toilet paper. Whether or not they are using double strength or something so cool," I don't even know about yet," to quote Frank the Tank from the movie "Old School." I love Rolling Stone, for all the bad and good, and read it religiously. After the past year of Jonas Bros. and "the Hills," cover stories; it is hard. Please, lets make like a greek mythology and put the "muse" back in music.

Prince and the Pauper

It seems that Prince is going to get back on the wagon. I know he has the reputation of being an overly sensitive and cocky guy. All the characteristics fit the part, but the fact of the matter is that he deserves all the praise and if music genius depends on the criticism of personal imperfections than more people are deserving of the criticism than him.
He recently did a show showcasing four new songs according to www.rollingstone.com. Once again Prince has chosen the road less traveled by not choosing to use a label after his last effort "Planet Earth," was hindered by the use of a label. I think it is a smart move on his part and if more artists could get away with it they would. The music market is changing, as my previous blog states, but it is a hard road if a band is not a marquee act . Good thing for Prince is that he is a principal act in music. You may remember his halftime performance two years ago at the Superbowl. You can watch a backstage look at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PD-rcjiV1fs. It is an awesome look into what it takes to be a legend.
This is over the last 20 years, Prince has been able to change the aspect of soul and mix of rock'n'roll music. He gets a reputation of making radio friendly music, but it is none of the sort. Prince is one of the most underrated guitar players around. Real guitarists send him praise, yet his reputation still hinders his consideration among artists. I think his progressive look on the music industry is what has made him into what he is today. It makes him the cocky and sometimes considered condescending person. I feel that you can watch or listen at to any Prince stream or Youtube and be fully impressed by the demanding sound that he puts into your aural senses.

Who are You?

After VH1 gave them a ceremonial "rock honors" concert in August, which was tributed by several bands including: Foo Fighters, Incubus, the Flaming Lips, Tenacious D, Pearl Jam and the Who, it's nice to see the legendary band still in the spot light. Their present spot light is accepting their award for the Kennedy Center Awards. Article can be read at www.kennedy-center.org/programs/specialevents/honors.
At the 31st annual event, the awards are given out to performers who have largely contributed to American arts. Other recipients include Morgan Freeman and Barbara Streisand. I am glad to see that people continue to appreciate everything that the Who has given to music and the influences they have on the generations. I am still peeved that Roger Daltrey was ranked 61st on Rolling Stones 100 greatest singers. That is too low for a guy with his range and lead singer performances. All-in-all the british born Who deserve all things that are given to them. Pete Townsend is one of the most charasmatic guitarists ever to grace the stage and still performs with the same vigor and strength as he did when he was 18.
Jack Black introduced and spoke for the Who at the event, which is cool and they had pretty good performers tribute the band. Foo Fighters and Soundgarden's Chris Cornell were among others.
It's too bad that the Who doesn't get any radio play in Omaha. Stations might play Baba O'Reilly or My Generation, but even those are far and in between. It would be great to hear them as much as you hear Aerosmith or AC/DC is Omaha. It would be good for the kids too.

Ticket Stubs

Ticketmaster has announced that they are going to follow the lead of Live Nation and not only supply concert tickets, but sign artists and promote them through their own company. As CD prices continue to fall lower and lower it makes sense for artists to go a head and split ways with their respected labels. Live Nation started this trend when they decided that they would sell their own tickets to concerts; they previously went through Ticketmaster. They are also going to sell albums and merchandise for the artists. Sounds great, but isn’t that kind of a developing monopoly? The decision is explained thoroughly at www.rollingstone.com/news/story/24617374/ticket_battle_shakes_music_biz.
I understand why a company would want to do this. In these financially difficult times it makes sense to cut all middle men. If Ticketmaster or Live Nation can own all aspects, then they can save some money that they are losing. My question is where does this leave the major labels. CD sales have dropped 17 percent since 2000.
What about the internet? It seems that bands are starting to figure out that they can promote their own music on their own websites. They can also sell them lower than the outrageous prices the labels have been pushing for years. I think this is the beginning of the end for record companies. Just like vinyl’s dieing days; technology makes certain things obsolete. If I was in a band that was going to get signed why would I sign a contract with a company that really won’t give me the freedom to do as I please. They are going to pick your singles, make big decisions for you and take control of the rights of your music. It just illogical to believe that bands will want to do this anymore.
On one hand it does sound good that artists could have more creative control, but it never works out that way. These companies like Live Nation and Ticketmaster will undoubtedly construct a plan that leads them down the same road as the record companies. The difference is that they will have a super control over all aspects of a musicians career that even the labels somewhat lacked. The addition of tickets can only lead to more greed and money spending. It doesn’t have to be this way, but music is a business. It will inevitably become just as superficial and “pop” as everything else has in music.

Don't Worry Baby

Rivers Cuomo is the delightfully dorky lead man from garage bandish Weezer. They have built a career on writing well written, simple, organized, and catchy music for almost 20 years. Rivers has written songs about playing Dungeons and Dragons in the garage, being a square on 60's America, and smoking pot.
Rivers has released a solo song, while the band is on tour promoting their last album called the Red Album. The song is called "Don't Worry Baby" and can be listened to for free at http://www.last.fm/music/Rivers+Cuomo/_/Don. This follows the enjoyable and pleasant sound that Rivers has become so adequate at duplicating. It has a late 50's and 60's band feel by addding harmonic vocals and simple guitar transitions. Like all Weezer music, Rivers is able to add radical guitar solo's to make it his own and adds the punk feel that most of his music has. Rivers is able to cut through the clutter of his guitar pedals and produce an upbeat piece of work. A perfect median between pop disasters and inadequate metal of the music industry.

It's a bright and new Obama day

After California made gay marriages legal in the state they then made it illegal again with proposition 8. It seems unfair especially in a state that has so many liberal places and what some people consider the gay capital of the world, San Fransisco.

A few of Hollywood's comedians have taken in upon themselves to make a statement about the unequal rights proposition with "Prop 8: The Musical" found at www.funnyordie.com. It stars an array of stars including: Jack Black, John C. Reilly, Sarah Chalke, Andy Richter, Margaret Cho and Maya Rudolph to name a few. It pins John C. Reilly and his colleagues against a gay proponent group. They want to change the constitution to make it align with the bible and Christianity.

The great part comes with Jack Black playing Jesus Christ. Who argues that the bible cannot be taken so seriously because it says that people in the bible sell their daughters and own their wives. Jesus believes in the seperation of church and state.

After the preaching of Jesus the conservative group thinks about all the money they can make on gay marriage and everyone is now for the repel of proposition 8. People will allow anything if they can make money off it.

This short clip is a light hearted approach to the very serious problem that faces California. Some pro-homosexual marriage members even refuse to pay their taxes until proposition 8 is changed. It's good to see people who have the outlets to stand-up say something actually are. It's inevitable that one day gay marriage is going to be legal everywhere and I don't get fighting it. If your against it than people are going to make you look like a bigot and they are going to use all their resources until they are allowed the freedoms of everyone else.

It's not social or cultural revolution, it's ethical evolution.

The Future

It's kind of interesting to see how video games have taken off in the last 15 years. They used to be much simpler, but now you can play games with people in Japan. The phenomenon of Guitar Hero took off around parties and homes since I have been in college and has to spin-offs like RockBand.
Although the games are fun and a good way to be social, what cost is it coming at? I look around my neighborhood that is full of kids and no one is ever outside playing. If a kid can get all of his physical exercice sitting at a game console than I am sadly mistaken, but the truth is they can't. Eventually people are going to look at this as a problem.
I can't really say that much because I don't know what it's like to raise kids and I am not going to tell people how to do it, but sitting at a high-def screen 24/7 can have certain effects.
If kids can just sit at a television or in the back of a minivan and play pretend instruments on gaming consoles will they ever learn to play the real ones.
I just saw on VH1 a show that was hosted by Sebastian Bach and Alice Cooper called Rock Band 2. New shows are shown every Wednesday. Clips can be see at http://www.vh1.com/shows/series/rock_band_2_the_stars/?source=globalnav. It is a contest to see who can play Rock Band the best. Rock Band is the game equipped with a mic, drums, guitar, and bass. This is suppose to be a music video television station. I know that meaning has been skewed since the advent of reality television, but this is rediculous.
Artificial music playing? That is hard to swallow. I guess one positive is that they play good bands on the game like the Who, Rage Against the Machine and Motorhead. It's just different to be a kid these days. When I was younger, which was not that long ago, we used to listen to albums and teach ourselves songs on the guitar. At lot has changed over the last decade or so.

False Start

Reading a portion of an interview of Incubus lead singer Brandon Boyd given by Angel Greenham in SUBvert Magazine last week was quite interesting. Greenham was interested in the creative process that takes Boyd to the next level as an artist of painting, drawing, writing and music. The full interview is found at www.SUBvertmagazine.com . SUBvert only supplies the first half of the interview, but the portion is enlightening and under superficial.

As a gifted artist, Boyd has produced two books of work called White Fluffy Clouds and From the Murks of the Sultry Abyss. I have both and they are amazing drawings, painting, photos and explanations of Boyd’s wide and often unusual artistic ability. Examples of his last gallery “Ectoplasm,” can be seen on YouTube, by entering "Brandon Boyd Ectoplasm." Sorry I don't have a direct sight, but it would not allow me in this blog.

Musically, I was impressed with the non-chalantness of Mr. Boyd’s words and motives. He concerns himself with always being able to be creative, not famous. An important factor when supplying the world with artistic endeavors. He says that the road to success for his band and himself is a long one and if one chooses to skip this constructive road than they should write pop songs or make a sex tape. This puts into perspective what real musical artists think of pop radio and pop culture. He doesn’t speak for all, but I am sure it is for a majority. Boyd is convinced that people are intrinsically built with the capabilities of creating. All people have the ability it’s just whether or not they procrastinate or get a “false start.” He explains there is too much influence around everyone, not to generate some sort of artistic craft.

In the band, the group never hoped or set goals for immense celebrity or super stardom. But more so, the ability to create for the rest of their lives. It ‘s this contriving soul that could have led them to a poorer life, which would have only allowed certain pleasures, but Boyd explained he would have been happy just going to shows and surfing forever. Incubus is a band, in my mind, will be around way longer than the members of the band are alive. There influence is worldly and strong. They are not the prototypical rock and roll MTV band, but there uniqueness calls to a generation of people looking for the contriving spirit. More information on the band can be found at www.incubusonline.com and www.enjoyincubus.com.

Rock'n'Whine

I was reading the “Smoking Section” of www.rollingstone.com. After being arrested for getting into another violent conflict, professional loser, Kid Rock was sentenced to 80 hours of community service. He then went on to do shows for the troops over in Iraq. This is a great gesture for troops risking their lives in war. Nothing says America like the Rebel Flag saluting Kid Rock. It is almost embarrassing that he is a representative of America over in other countries. No wonder so many people have spiteful opinions of this country.
The Atlanta judge decided that these trips and performances were not warranted as community service. In my mind they weren’t. Rock wasn’t performing acts of community service in the areas where he was arrested and charged. It’s great that Rock went and raised money for a local community, but he still has responsibilities to uphold.
Rock rants to fans at www.kidrock.com and writes that it is a slap in the face to America. A real slap in the face to America occurs every time someone puts a rebel flag sticker, license plate, or belt buckle on. I get that Rock thinks that he has done good deeds and that he has paid for his mistakes. Maybe he has, but one judge thinks he should do something out of the spot light of the camera. If that spot light never turns back on for Kid Rock, so be it.

Britwurst

The last day of November proved to be a normal, boring and timid day. Nothing proved this more than the Britney Spears biographical account of the last three months or so. It may sound counter productive to watch a documentary with the intentions of tearing it apart, but that was not the intent. I am actually apathetic to “Queen of Pop.”

Every person in every corner of the world judges this woman. I hardly call her an artist, whom she referred to herself several times, but she has found a way to make other people money and is involved in the music industry. She is paid extremely well for her career, but at what price. She can’t even walk outside without a thousand cameras snapping a picture of her.

The one thing I do not get is her gullibility. Her past problems, because of the way she explained herself, are a product of how she was thrust into the spotlight at such an early age that she never had the time to make mistakes and grow up. The realization should alone motivate her towards a simpler life. Her record company and promoters are throwing her into the same fire that they did when she was a young girl. The all-American look, only this time they are using sympathy instead of youth.

I understand there is a lot of money to be made of Britney Spears, but one would think that her family and friends would step in and deter these reoccurring events. Ms. Spears is the one paying the price in the end and it seems she has yet to really to come to terms with herself. If she did, she would be really trying new things in music and not doing the public image campaign her label is pushing on her and all of us. She is on every magazine and pop music website.

The video clips from the show can be seen at www.mtv.com, she is the cover at www.rollingstones.com, and www.blender.com has open blogs on various Spears’ topics.