Tag Archives: JT Samart

A&E, JT Samart, Weekly Playlist

NOTE: Fall Out Boy, The Temptations, Cayucas

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By JT Samart

New and Popular:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkIWmsP3c_s]

Fall Out Boy has been a part of our musical scene since the early 2000’s. Their recent “indefinite break” caused many to wonder if they would return. Well, they are back with a new and gritty single. In “Fall Out Boy” fashion the title is a mouthful, but the song has a great amount of energy. It is heavier than their other tunes, like “Dance, Dance” or “Sugar We’re Going Down” but then again the song is about arson. Either way it is nice to have “Fall Out Boy” back.

Old:

[yotube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltRwmgYEUr8]

The Motown sound has become legendary and will forever stick in the mind of those who hear it. “My Girl” is a song that is crafted to be forever engraved in our subconscious. From the catchy guitar lick to the vocal harmonies, this love song was written by Smokey Robinson for his wife Claudette Robinson. Soon “The Temptations” turned it into their number one hit and became one of the many legends of Motown.

Try It:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io8PqddrRIs]

Cayucas

Genre: Indie Surf-Rock

Label: Secretly Canadian

Album: Bigfoot (release date: April 30, 2013)

Website: http://cayucas.com

Surf rock was developed by the Beach Boys to give a tropical atmosphere to music. Cayucas has given the genre a slight twist and brought the genre back to life. Cayucas’ sound is based on the rhythm of each song. The bass riffs and drums usually are the catchy parts of the songs. The full album has not been released yet but my favorite song is “Cayucos”. It has a sound that will make you want to go to the beach and surf.

Enough:

Junior Olivia Horesly: “Feel Again” by OneRepublic

“The song repeats twice and is not original in anyway.”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghb6eDopW8I]

“Little Talks” by “Of Monsters And Men” is one of those songs are great to hear for the first time. It is fun and follows the newly accepted rule that a chorus can have random “yeahs”, “ooos”, or “heys”. Yet again the radio overplays the song and ruins it. There is not a problem with it but I am sick of it.

A&E, JT Samart, Weekly Playlist

N.O.T.E: Vampire Weekend, Bee Gees, Justin Timberlake

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By: JT Samart

New and Popular:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KReoTOZK9W8]

“Suit & Tie” by Justin Timberlake

With New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys touring again, it would only make sense to welcome back Justin Timberlake to the charts. After taking up acting in movies and TV, he returns triumphantly with a new single “Suit & Tie.” “Suit & Tie” is smooth, suave, and classy. It has a very slow introduction then a quick crescendo to a swinging verse and chorus. A Jay-Z rap is added for good measure and you have one song that is worth suiting up for.

Old:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpjQs0WZEC4]

1978 “Stayin’ Alive” by Bee Gees

From February fourth to March third this song was playing in every discotheque, nightclub and roller rink. Saturday Night Fever was on and disco was the way of life. “The Hustle,” “The Bump,” and “The Robot” were new dances that matched the new fun atmosphere. This song with its falsetto vocals and jiving riffs, made everyone want to strut down streets in their new bell-bottom jeans.

Try it:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTjwXwl_be8]

Vampire Weekend

Genre: Afro-Pop, indie rock

Labels: XL, DGC

Albums: Vampire Weekend, Contra, Modern Vampires of the City (release date: May 6, 2013)

Fusing rock, African-pop, and classical music seems like a very daunting task, but Vampire Weekend accomplishes it with class. Meeting as student in Columbia University, they have developed a sound that is unique and unmistakable. The variety of compositions is outstanding and the use of classical elements is superlative. Their songs tend to have a preppy jump to them and come with a seemingly random, but relative set of lyrics. One of my favorite songs is “M79” because of its orchestrated introduction and varied parts.

Enough:

“Try” by P!nk

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTCDVfMz15M]

There is a plethora of well done songs that have the message to “carry on” and “it will get better.” “Try” is not one of them. From the first time I heard it I was just amazed at how instantly bored I was. I zoned out after hearing the first verse and forgot about it.

Senior Katie Harrison:

Rihanna ft. Mikky Ekko- “Stay”

“I personally do not like it because it sounds whinny and the lyrics make her sound like she is complaining.”

Junior Alex Taylor

Psy-“Gangnam Style”

“It’s repetitive and the radio plays it too much”

A&E, JT Samart, Weekly Playlist

NOTE: Maroon 5, The Beatles, Macklemore

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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.

A&E, Columns, JT Samart, Weekly Playlist

N.O.T.E: Fleet Foxes, Rihanna

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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.