Filed under: Music

First Listen: Adele "21": A handful of gems and whole lot of potential.

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With Rick Rubin Co-Producing along side Co-Producers & Co-Writers Paul "Phones" Epworth and Ryan "Apologize" Tedder you'd hope you'd be getting an edgy pop album... and the first two songs deliver on that promise, then the album quickly nose dives into pop blandness to only be subtly revived in the middle with the funk of "He Won't Go" and then sucked completely of all hope of recovery by the time you've reached the lifeless cover of The Cure's "Love Song" and the vanilla torch ballad and 2nd single "Someone Like You".  Don't get me wrong I really like Adele's voice but with that lineup in the booth and at the mix desk I was hoping for more.

On "Rolling in the Deep" Adele & Paul Epworth (Producer of Cee-lo Green, Florence & The Machine, Bloc Party & The Rapture) deliver the goods with a solid, edgy pop number, dare I say a classic, something that you'd expect to come from a glossy version of Beth Ditto. Or maybe that's just what's lacking, I hear a similar vocal quality as Beth Ditto just minus the experience, attitude and "Soul".

"Rumor has it" comes stomping in as song number two and owes as much to Soul revival as it does Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus". The slinky tune is filled with fantastic background vocal hooks and a smaltzy but effective breakdown and is produced by Ryan Tedder of One Republic and "Apologize" fame. He's produced & co-written for others including Beyonce, Leona Lewis and a bunch of other pop tarts you've already forgotten about, but really "Apologize" is his calling card.

The last song on "21" to catch my ear is "He Won't Go", Co-Written by Adele and Paul Epworth and produced by Rubin. This one barely made the cut, but as it hit the grove on the chorus it was undeniable. Like something from my early 80's top 40 radio listening youth, it takes me be back to something that I can't really articulate well, just to simply say it's something engrained on my DNA. Damn good groove.

Overall 3 out of 5 stars for the hopes that by her 3rd record she'll head in a more interesting direction and lay off the vanilla. Fingers Crossed.

Bonus clip of Adele playing "Rolling In The Deep" Live: 

 

 

 

It's a small and interconnected world out there...

So this morning I went to a customer who was referred to me by another customer of mine. He had a MacBook Pro and MacBook that had water damage and needed data recovered. No Problem, the drive's are still in pretty good shape. As I'm transferring data we get to talking. He's into music, me to. He's in to tech, Me to. He was a former CEO of AOL Canada... Um... I once had a song placed in a Nissan commercial? Doesn't quite match up, I know. He's Canadian, I'm going to Canada Tomorrow! We both read Bob Lefsetz! We both know some of the same people in the music industry. He's shifting out of the tech world and into the Music world; developing a Jam band and starting an All-in tech savvy management company, I'm shifting away from music (as a source of income) and more into the tech industry (as a source of income.) He dig's Drum and Bass, I made Drum and Bass. It goes on and on. None the less I get back to the office to enter his info in my address book and find a press release about him on line. The press release was written by the person who referred me to him. It sure is a small interconnected world at times.

 -Joe

New Radiohead track leaked? - These Are My Twisted Words

Another new Radiohead song emerged last night, this time mysteriously on http://www.ateaseweb.com/2009/08/13/new-radiohead-track-leaked/

Rumors are swirling... Is it from a new EP, possible titled 'Wall of ice', is it from the New Moon Twilight soundtrack, or is it just Thom and Johnny messing about? Who knows! Is it any good? I say yes, but not great or polished. It's a bit of a trance really and a little sloppy, similar to 'In Rainbows' in one way and you can also hear some influence form the last Portishead record, so I guess there's a bit of Krautrock in it as well. Listen for your self.

Video:

MP3:

(download)

-Joe

No More Radiohead Albums? - All Songs Considered Blog : NPR

It would seem the boys from Radiohead are getting board. Board with the Long Player Format and, for the time being, are embracing the singles format. I find this quite amusing, especially since they are one of maybe 5 groups or artist that I would consider the Long Player or Album format to be appropriate for. And, when they do make an Album I make it a point to listen to, as intended, front to back, No shuffling, at least for the 1st handful of listens, and will often go back and listen to in it's entirety from time to time.

What I find even more amusing is the conversation I have with my band mates about this same topic. John is an Album guy and Danny is mostly an Album guy but because he's a DJ he's also kinda a singles guy. Me, I'm the singles guy all the way. Only recently have I ventured into actively listening to Albums again, but most don't make it past the 1st two or three listens before I start isolating the "singles" or favorites and the "best" of that record ends up in shuffleland.

Personally I would prefer to hear to new material from Radiohead more often than every two years or so. Speaking from experience, it can be exhausting making a record. Laboring over the details and making a group of songs sound whole. I've seen John, the guy in our band who handles most of that work, corner himself many times and then start to wonder "Does this even sound good anymore?" It can be brutal, especially when you're not even sure on which direction the record is taking.

It's quite rewarding to finish a song, record it, mix it and release it in a short period of time and move on to the next. We did this with a couple of songs in 2007 and it was nice to be done with them and focusing on new business.

Another great thing about singles is they can be a way of test marketing. With singles you can try out different styles that you're interested in a see what works best for you and your audience. In the Dance and Electronic world you'll see this more often. Producers will make a B-side that's totally different from their Normal or Expected Style and that B-side might take off.

Same thing goes for a one off single that doesn't fit an Album. Aphex Twin hit us with "Come To Daddy" and "Windowlicker" which were two tracks released after a long cycle of Full Length releases and they paid off. They went further outside of his expected sound and pushed things a little more. then he disappeared for a number of years, but that's a different story.

Bottom, line I prefer Singles, EP's and a constant flow of material from my favorite artists. Hopefully Radiohead can keep it up.

-Joe

How'd I Miss this one... New: Thom Yorke - "All For The Best"

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It would appear that while I was busy prepping to get married Thom Yorke snuck out a new single for the "Ciao My Shinning Star: The Songs of Mark Mulchany" compilation. The album is a tribute to Mark Mulchany's wife and features an impressive line up indie favorites performing songs written by Mark and his band Miracle Legion.

The song "All For The Best" is a good balance of 'Eraser' influences, drum machines, darks pads, moaning, etc. with a strong percussive influence in the clacking of drum sticks and one-overhead-mic-in-the-room acoustic drums. Add a little screech of guitar distortion and you'll get the full picture. Check the Stereogum link above for more.

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