Musical Arcania Is Back!

Ok, last year was tough. Lost two musical inspirations, health problems, life crap. You know, the same stuff we all experience. I just stopped writing about music and immersed myself in my tunes and in politics. One was a joy and brought me peace; the other turned into a can of rusty, stale sardines. You guess which was which. Anyway, I'm getting back to my blog with a little political commentary that I will start with a little ditty from Ani DiFranco that sums up, well you can fill in the names -- https://youtu.be/rqGnIBlbkUY - Napoleon -- Ani has brought me much laughter and joy over the last 25 years, and this song is both timelY and still amusing to me. Next is an old Eagles tune about global and environmental issues that I am proud to say CA has never shied away from and at this very moment is showing real courage and world leadership. Last Resort by The Eagles --    https://youtu.be/-8sgV7a1G8g.  Another oldie that is more relevant now than when first written 45 years ago -- https://youtu.be/EbZYRZpNc64 -- What's Going On by the inimitable Marvin Gaye. Finally, Roger Waters says it best (at least for me) in Pigs (Three Different Ones) -- https://youtu.be/QWLBtMz5OuY.

Now to end on a cheery note, two of my fave clips of two musical giants. First is Prince at a sound check playing Gershwin. -- https://youtu.be/Zy444L6PJjw -- and the second is Bowie at his most relaxed and happy while signing a truly uplifting song, Heroes -- https://youtu.be/bsYp9q3QNaQ.

Enjoy!!

A Little Taste of The Raspberries - Sweet Tunes

I started writing this blog after a few years of sending Wednesday text messages to my daughters in my vain effort to "expand" their musical appreciation. Who knows if I did anything, but we had fun with it, and they encouraged me to write this blog. So going back to the roots of this whole thing, I want to turn my kids on to an early '70s band that mixed a little rock, a lot of pop, and just a smidge of grit - The Raspberries led by Eric Carmen.  I heard The Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack and was reminded of my first time hearing this band and how fun and infectious their sound was "Go All The Way" - http://youtu.be/7wT_NpsYdes (live version) or http://youtu.be/jfgnc6Ey0q0 (live over tape so you hear those sweet backing vocals). The Rasberries were not a one hit wonder - they had three strong years, two really good albums, and more hits, like "I Wanna Be With You" - http://youtu.be/5mFUYm5QFUE - and "Let's Pretend" - http://youtu.be/tjzwcx3ie24. They had three strong elements: good musicians, a great frontman, and songs focused on getting chicks to stay the night with them. Pure Gold in the early '70s for aspiring pop rockers. Let me wrap up with the craziest, self-indulgent version I could find of Eric Carmen's first solo hit, which I have always loved, but this live version from the Midnight Special (best rock show on TV ever!) takes it "to 11" without a doubt - http://youtu.be/EzoazPPC7b8. Love that over-the-top piano piece he crammed in just to let you know he was more than a Teen Beat pin-up artist. Love it! Finally, let me end with a little nugget from John Lennon's favorite artist and his best drinking pal, Harry Nillson and "Without You" - http://youtu.be/_bQGRRolrg0. Harry was a super talent who first ruined his voice, then lost his life to a decades long battle with alcoholism. A sad genius. Enjoy!

Rocking the Bass - The Heart of All Great Music

I love the bass guitar -- I mean stop what I'm doing or saying to enjoy and call out a great riff or line -- and I have desperately tried to impart, if not my love then at least an appreciation, to my daughters how trascendant a great bass line can be and how transformative to a song a solid, unique bass line can be. Wow, I love the bass. And my children know it, and they are largely tolerant of my obsession. So, who are great bassists? I know whatever I say will be controversial, but here goes. First I must give a nod to John Entwhistle of The Who. He did not play rhythm bass; he played lead bass. He was playing lines, solos and riffs that played off Townsend's guitars and Moon's drums, but he never sat back and just played a backbeat. Check this out - http://youtu.be/g_SWP3qI7Rg - Pete's histrionics, Roger's machismo, Keith's madness -- nothing can keep The Ox from taking over this iconic song. Next, I have to defend a great bassist who is oft maligned or simply neglected in this conversation. Sir Paul McCartney. Ever want to learn how complex his bass lines are? Just play Rock Band on your gaming device and try, just try, to keep up with Paul on even the medium setting; forget about expert because he just blows you away. Proof? Come Together is a nice song, but all its grit and edge come not from John's sarcasm and anger in his vocals - no, no, no, it is Paul's sinister bass line -- http://youtu.be/DEZ4TChR7JI.  I will acknowledge the massive talents of Chris Squire of Yes, and the legendary Jack Bruce of Cream. But someone who transcended time and genres is Bootsy Collins. He started with the highly regimented sound of the James Brown Band; then he went Afro-psychedelic with Parliament Funkadelic; and he created his own sound as a solo artist and much in demand session player. Check this gem - http://youtu.be/m_84x4wFaoE - Bootsy laying it down with Snoop in an homage to a family favorite film, Undercover Brother. Listen to Bootsy killing it behind Snoop's buttery smooth rap. Bliss. Finally, let's end by going back 50 years to a bassist who played on over 50% of ALL the top 10 hits in the '60s, including all Beach Boys, Byrds, and Mamas and Papas hit songs, and that is the inimitable Carol Kaye of The Wrecking Crew - the baddest mother of all session musicians. Dig this - http://youtu.be/BI09eh020hE. Yep, she created so much of the music that so many others took credit for during that seminal time for rock music. Finally, let's groove to a personal fave, John McVie. Yeah, I know this will bug some folks, but he rocks! http://youtu.be/lpVCL00fPAc. John and Mick are seamless and timeless. So, next time you put on a favorite song, do me a favor and check out the bass in the background and Enjoy!

Lindsay Buckingham and His Guitar - 'Nuff Said

My daughters have had to endure my love of Fleetwood Mac all their lives, but they really start to get antsy (and, at times, hostile) when I dig into Lindsay Buckingham's catalogue. They don't get his songs; they writhe at his indulgent, endless guitar solos; and they join my wife in reaching their limit when he breaks into a screaming, repetitious, and seemingly-endless conclusion to a song. Granted, that is all true. But, dang it, his guitar skills are so masterful; his songwriting so poignant and perceptive; and his passion for music so enthralling, that I forgive him his relatively minor "sins" in favor of his transcending musical gifts. I have to start with a song that I played for Cerissa as we went to our Ripped classes on Saturday mornings - a song I feel an identity with, once it was stripped of its silly electronic fluff from the album version and reduced to a brilliant acoustic guitar masterpiece - "Go Insane" (http://youtu.be/cHqtUKEC1O8). Continuing with this acoustic vibe, I want to share a little known song that has deep meaning for Mac fans because of the sweetness and tenderness of the lyrics by Lindsay, the performance he shares with Stevie Nicks and, of course, his virtuoso guitar playing - "Say Goodbye" (http://youtu.be/CwKGE5fPe5M). Finally, let's just enjoy Lindsay doing everything I noted above as his so-called failings, but which work to perfection in "I'm So Afraid" (http://youtu.be/TDwg28bSjoI). As I like to do, let me sign off with a little nugget, which this time is another of those super-creepy songs that I heard recently and, when I really digested the lyrics, it seems that the singer is preparing to abduct a young girl and engage in statutory rape, all in the name of love? Yuck - as a father of daughters, this song sent a chill down my spine, so I shall share it with you, my friends - "Into the Night" by Benny Mardones (http://youtu.be/wyUUIUjdDRE). Enjoy, once you shower off Benny's creepiness.

Katy Perry + Super Bowl = Pure Fun, Tribute to Missy Elliott and Shout Out to Jessie J

Music Wed - Now that the Super Bowl hype and extravaganza have finished, I have two music related thoughts. First, Katy Perry's show was GREAT! The Super Bowl is no longer a game, but a highly staged, intricately choreographed, entertainment spectacle, and Katy Perry's show dialed it up to 11. I loved every weird, over-the-top, disjointed moment. Second was my surprise and total love of seeing my self-declared Queen of Hip Hop, Missy Elliott. Jenelle had the best reaction - for years she has wondered why I have nearly 100 songs on my iTunes library featuring Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, but she has never really listened to her, and certainly has never seen her. When I told her that Missy was performing, her jaw dropped (hopefully because she was loving the music!). I understand that Twitter blew up with people loving the "new" performer featured in Ms. Perry's show - I understand Missy E loved that. She was an innovator whose music still sounds fresher than almost anything else coming out of hip hop right now, including Nicky Minaj and many other pretenders to Missy's throne. Here are a few examples of both her visual and musical styles, both of which were heavily influenced by Timbaland who was just making a name for himself before he hooked up with JT and became a household name. Her videos are trippy, weird spectacles that captured the dark and dense songs she and Timbaland were creating in their Hip Hop Frankenstein Lab. To prove the point, check out "Get Ur Freak On" (http://youtu.be/Ow3O2vIpeGU), "Work Out" (http://youtu.be/zm28EEeyLek), and "Lose Control" (http://youtu.be/jD_k7Ni1btU). She still is the best. As a parting shot, I do want to concede my guilty pleasure - I love Jessie J's collaboration with Ariana Grande and the undeniable, irrepressible Nicky Minaj (while she is not up to Missy's level, she is an amazing performer), "Bang Bang" (http://youtu.be/0HDdjwpPM3Y). Cotton candy? Sure, but it still is fun and tastes oh, so, good. Enjoy!

What If We Lived In An Alternative Universe Where Everyone Admitted That The Eagles Are A Great Band?

Music Wed - I has become accepted to say the Eagles suck; or that the Eagle are corporate sell-outs; or that the Eagles were homogenized, pasteurized, everything-that-is-not-wild-free-and-original-about-rock-and-roll hacks.  In my view, this is not only unfair, but it is simply untrue. The Eagles are great - skilled musicians with angelic voices that can harmonize in a way only the Beach Boys can perhaps (and I stress the "perhaps") approach.  Let me present a number of choice cuts which show the range and dynamics of this band. I am focusing on live cuts to show that they are genuine artists, not studio creations. These guys were and are the real deal. And each time they made a personnel change, they seemed to trade up, such as replacing Randy Meisner with Timothy B. Schmitt, or replacing Bernie Leadon with Joe Walsh. The only sin I can't forgive them for is booting Don Felder from the band. Yes, Don was a pain in the butt, but life with Don Henley and Glenn Frey for 25+ years might make anyone a little testy. The Eagles are, in my view, incomplete without Don Felder. That grievance aside, here are my picks for the best Eagles songs (in no particular order). I have to start with a sentimental favorite, "Lyin' Eyes", which is probably the song that really made me sit up and start to dig into this band, way back in the early '70s as a young music lover sitting in my room reading liner notes (http://youtu.be/WeNBspJGVko). As you will see, their music can be sweet and easy, but their lyrics can bite. Here is an oldies double shot, "Already Gone" (http://youtu.be/MONuZiC6yPI), and "Peaceful Easy Feelin'" (http://youtu.be/pl5nUDIFSS8). Their first Top 10 hit was "Take It Easy" which was a Jackson Browne song that Jackson admittedly states was finished and made better once Glenn Frey added a verse and about girls checking him out in Winslow, AZ (http://youtu.be/eFYXfeoTOLU). I also love their later works, like "Last Resort" (http://youtu.be/LxhngMm4hqs), "Wasted Time" (http://youtu.be/3KrsASHrcgI), and one of my favorite Joe Walsh songs for the band, "Pretty Maids All In A Row" (http://youtu.be/pRSUBH5JFf4). This post has been pretty music heavy, but I feel I need to defend these guys from years of abuse, so I will end with one old song ("Best Of My Love - http://youtu.be/vAoNKK32FiU), one iconic and unforgettable song ("Hotel California - http://youtu.be/_p4JbbcfmX8 - the original version, although I love their acoustic take on this mega-hit), and one tribute song (http://youtu.be/EJfje5A3PUU - as performed by the long-time Eagles collaborator and friend, J.D. Souther, who sounds and plays like "the missing Eagle"). Enjoy!

Lovin' the Brothers Gibb Before There Are None Left To Thank For All The Great Songs!

Music Wed - I love the Bee Gees - ok, I came out and said it. I love their early, melancholy songs; I love their 70's era disco masterpieces; and, yes, I love the schmaltzy '80s songs they wrote for others when no one was buying their music (but secretly were when they bought Barbra Streisand, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton and other '80s era hit makers who took Bee Gee penned gems and made people love this band a third go-round). Here are some of my highlights. First, I dig the old stuff which often featured Robin's warbly tenor voice which I find so expressive. First, a pairing of "I Started a Joke" (http://youtu.be/0QTQdAKUZmA), followed by "Lonely Days" (http://youtu.be/7Nr9lTS61O0) - wow, still dig these songs. Next, let's not just dip a toe, but take a full plunge into Disco with these tasty morsels: "You Should Be Dancin'" (http://youtu.be/_JoZS6LgqYI) - you will notice Andy joins the brothers for this video! - followed by "Night Fever" (http://youtu.be/-ihs-vT9T3Q) - I picked a version with the lyrics, which are so silly and fun - and ending with their disco ballad, "How Deep Is Your Love" (http://youtu.be/XpqqjU7u5Yc - also with lyrics as a bonus). Let's end with an example of one of the Bee Gees hidden hits from the '80s, as sung by the masters themselves - "Islands in the Stream" made famous by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, but never sung better than by the Brothers Gibb (http://youtu.be/OcsW9pdSKMs), and "Guilty" as performed by Barry and Olivia Newton John, both sounding pretty good in their 60s (http://youtu.be/oT0G5aFR7pE).  Quick bonus cut - "Too Much Heaven" - just too much goodness to leave off this list (http://youtu.be/nREV8bQJ1MA). Enjoy!