By Michael Pepin and JT Samart
Update: Nick Ottersbach, Chase Herron and Kolton Popp were all selected to Honorable Mention for Academic All-State in wrestling. Senior Terrence Kennedy has advanced to state competition by placing third in semi-state, the only one on the team to do so.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_nB8KsSR9o]
By JT Samart
New:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N17FXwRWEZs]
“Daylight” by Maroon 5 is quickly gaining popularity, proving Maroon 5 is still able to crank out hits. It is in synch with the rest of the group’s hit album, Overexposed. Much like most of Maroon 5’s songs, its impressive lyrical structure offers many levels of listening. The instrumental funk guitar and electro-pop mix was also pretty top notch.
Old:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iim6s8Ea_bE]
From February 1, 1964 to March 30: “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” by “The Beatles” was released on February 1, 1964 and was an instant hit. The song was not supposed to be played in America, and in an interview for The Beatles Anthology, George Martin, producer of “The Beatles”, said “Capital (Records) was forced to release “I Wanna Hold Your Hand,” though it was not specifically designed for the American market.”
In any case, it held its spot on the charts until March 30 of that year and has become one of the most popular songs by The Beatles.
Try It:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmZexg8sxyk]
MGMT
Genre: Psychedelic Rock
Labels: Cantora, Columbia, Sony, RED
Albums: Oracular Spectacular, Congratulations
Website: www.whoismgmt.com
Let me start by saying that that psychedelic does not begin to describe this band. They have a sound that is strange in melody and in lyrics. Their music has a very swirling tone and synthesized riffs. “MGMT” or “The Management” consists of Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser. Both met during their freshmen year at Wesleyan University and “started experimenting”. They a most noted for their strange music videos that have a very “trippy” feel. One of my favorite songs is “Electric Feel” because of the booming bass and the clever lyrics.
Enough:
Senior Claire Faith: “Some Nights” by Fun. and “Too Close” by Alex Clare
“They’re really good songs the first few times you hear them but then they’re played so much they just get old.”
Sophomore Kenzie Ross: “Scream & Shout” by Britney Spears & will.i.am
“It’s catchy, but they play it too often. Now it’s just annoying.”
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JZJFTgN0DQ]
As for me, I have had enough of “Thrift shop” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Wanz the Heist. It is really nothing inventive in anyway, but most can enjoy it for its sense of humor. The obnoxious saxophone solo is grading to the ears, and I would be alright if I never heard the song again.
By JT Samart, Bailey Hussung, Christian DiMartino, and Bryce Romig
By JT Samart, Keevin Sakai, and Noble Guyon
By JT Samart
Music is an ever-changing art, and what will become popular in the future might be completely different to what we listen to now. The possible combinations of notes are almost infinite and the growing amount of possibilities with different instruments is mind-blowing. So to celebrate these musical resonances is the biweekly N.O.T.E.
N.O.T.E is an acronym which is stands for N: New and Popular, O: Old, T: Try it, and E: Enough.
New and Popular will cover current popular hits or your radio hit. Old will cover the popular songs of the 1950’s and 1960’s. Try it is a section dedicated to an obscure or “indie” artist. Enough is a about the song we have all heard and just been sick of. It is the song you hear too often and it just gets annoying. I will ask one student or staff member their “Enough” song and let them share their opinion.
New and Popular:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-fA-gBCkj0]
This week’s billboard chart topper is Bruno Mars’ “Locked Out Of Heaven”. Mars has been on the appearing on the charts since his break out hits “Just The Way You Are” on his first album Doo-Wops & Hooligans. Now with this new album, “Unorthodox Jukebox,” Mars has brought another well done album with a more refined, atmospheric songs. “Locked out of Heaven” has a very familiar upbeat, bass-heavy sound that now has become ubiquitous with Mars’ non-ballad songs. The guitar and drums remind the listener of The Police and compliments Mars’ rhythmic voice. The reverberated echoes and voices add an interesting dynamic to the song.
Old:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDXT7wC9jrc]
From December 4, 1954 to January 21 of 1955: This number one hit was by a quartet by the name of The Chordettes and their song “Mr. Sandman.” “Mr. Sandman” has a skillfully done introduction with a “bum” coming from every single member to give a very capsulating sound. The tone is very nostalgic and very 1950’s.
Try It:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brZTvGIzeGg]
“Fleet Foxes”
Genre: Indie Folk
Label: Sub Pop records
Albums: Fleet foxes, Sun Giant (EP), Helplessness Blues
Website: fleetfoxes.com
One band that embodies indie folk is the Fleet Foxes. The Seattle- based band provides very deep lyrics with a chorus of voices and “these broad and open questions” as Robin Pecknold, lead singer and guitar player, put it in at 2011 Pitchfork Music Festival interview. All of their songs embrace an echoey feel and tend to have multiple parts. Their technique is extreme diverse each song has different instruments or different uses throughout each of their albums. My personal favorite song is “He Doesn’t Know Why” from their first album, Fleet Foxes, because of the expert lyricism, and its ability to pick me up when I am down.
Enough:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWA2pjMjpBs]
Rihanna disappoints in her hit single “Diamonds”. It has something about the tone of her voice and the repetitive nature of the lyrics. The instrumentation is uninspiring and really does not have anything extremely dynamic maybe except the brief breakdown. At least it was a change of pace.
That is all for this N.O.T.E. Join us next time to see what four Liverpool boys wanted to hold. Also, we will also try some indie psychedelic rock that has possibly the strangest music videos in the world.