This past week I was sifting through a box of assorted junk in my closet in an attempt to find a flash drive, and I stumbled upon one of the best movies that I have ever forgotten about. For those of you who haven't seen the movie, it's the Cohen brothers depression era adaptation of the The Odyssey. George Clooney gives an outstanding performance and is surrounded by great co-stars in John Turturro and Tim Blake Nelson. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who considers themselves true fans of cinema.
I remember that for years after it came out, it was a staple of the Pierce family Thanksgiving celebrations. It filled in those strange couple hours that exist between the end of the meal and the inevitable tryptophan induced coma. Watching this movie again took me back to the golden days before everyone grew up and went their own ways.
However, I haven't chosen to be a movie blogger for my project, so I'll talk about the soundtrack for this movie.
This is one of those soundtracks that makes a movie. I'm sure that even with a completely different lineup of songs, the Cohen brothers would've still created an amazing film, but it would've had a completely different character. The directors pulled together gospel, bluegrass, southern folk and old timey blues songs that are completely indicative of the culture of the southern depression era. From songs like "Man of Constant Sorrow" to "Down to the River" and "I'll fly away" the tone of the movie isn't merely set by the soundtrack, it's raised to the upper eschelons of cinematic beauty.
Again, I highly recommend this movie to anyone who is a fan of the Cohen brothers. It takes a couple times watching it, but eventually you'll begin to realize the importance that the soundtrack plays in the overall effectiveness of the movie. Here's a couple of my favorite songs from the album.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Thursday, October 13, 2011
The Avett Brothers
At the ripe old age of 18, I was bitten by the bluegrass bug. I fell hard and fast for the genre and I haven't looked back since.
As I sat down to write this post, I got to thinking about exactly when I became a fan of bluegrass. Admittedly, I'd been a bit of a musical nomad for most of my life. I was constantly changing my mind as to what I liked best. One week I'd be rolling down Cherry Road bumping to "Get Buck" by Young Buck and the next I'd be sitting on the roof of my house, staring at the sky and listening to YoYo Ma play Bach's Suite for Solo Cello No. 1 in G Major. No doubt this general lack of direction was completely indicative of the high school search for one's self, but I digress. I think that my musical tastes began to take serious roots in blues and rock when I was a freshmen in college, living in Byrnes 10D6 with Jeff Zimmerman. Then, all of a sudden, Jeff's sister was driving us home for fall break. We'd gotten through all of the obligatory conversation that is required between a senior girl and the two freshmen guys in the back seat, so she decided to play some music. What burst forth from the speakers of that mid 90's Jeep Grand Cherokee was the most interesting sounding music I'd ever heard. It sounded like country, but more real; more visceral. I didn't know it at the time, but I was listening to the song "November Blue" by the Avett Brothers.
The Avett Brothers are one of those unique bands that can, on an album, seamlessly go from a ballad about bygone romances to a wailing, foot stomping ode to the joys of country life. The Concord, NC natives are also renowned for putting on some of the most electrifying live performances around these days. They have a great sound. It's like the alternative country of the early 90's like Drive By Truckers, Son Volt and Whiskeytown fused with renaissance string bands like Old Crow Medicine Show and Yonder Mountain String Band. The great thing about the Avett Brothers is that they've got a song for any mood that you're in. Go ahead, try me. Melancholy? Try "I and Love and You." Whimsical? Give "Kick Drum Heart" a listen. Feeling philosophical? "Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise" is for you.
I sat down and listened to the album "Country Was." This ultimately led to me sitting around and listening to several other albums including "I and Love and You" and "Emotionalism." It'd be folly for me to attempt to provide one favorite song, so I'll give you a few.
As I sat down to write this post, I got to thinking about exactly when I became a fan of bluegrass. Admittedly, I'd been a bit of a musical nomad for most of my life. I was constantly changing my mind as to what I liked best. One week I'd be rolling down Cherry Road bumping to "Get Buck" by Young Buck and the next I'd be sitting on the roof of my house, staring at the sky and listening to YoYo Ma play Bach's Suite for Solo Cello No. 1 in G Major. No doubt this general lack of direction was completely indicative of the high school search for one's self, but I digress. I think that my musical tastes began to take serious roots in blues and rock when I was a freshmen in college, living in Byrnes 10D6 with Jeff Zimmerman. Then, all of a sudden, Jeff's sister was driving us home for fall break. We'd gotten through all of the obligatory conversation that is required between a senior girl and the two freshmen guys in the back seat, so she decided to play some music. What burst forth from the speakers of that mid 90's Jeep Grand Cherokee was the most interesting sounding music I'd ever heard. It sounded like country, but more real; more visceral. I didn't know it at the time, but I was listening to the song "November Blue" by the Avett Brothers.
The Avett Brothers are one of those unique bands that can, on an album, seamlessly go from a ballad about bygone romances to a wailing, foot stomping ode to the joys of country life. The Concord, NC natives are also renowned for putting on some of the most electrifying live performances around these days. They have a great sound. It's like the alternative country of the early 90's like Drive By Truckers, Son Volt and Whiskeytown fused with renaissance string bands like Old Crow Medicine Show and Yonder Mountain String Band. The great thing about the Avett Brothers is that they've got a song for any mood that you're in. Go ahead, try me. Melancholy? Try "I and Love and You." Whimsical? Give "Kick Drum Heart" a listen. Feeling philosophical? "Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise" is for you.
I sat down and listened to the album "Country Was." This ultimately led to me sitting around and listening to several other albums including "I and Love and You" and "Emotionalism." It'd be folly for me to attempt to provide one favorite song, so I'll give you a few.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
The Dead Weather
This week, I decided to check out a side project of one of my favorite musicians, Jack White.
I'm sure everyone's heard of Jack White, the front man for the Detroit based "White Stripes" and "Raconteurs." As the drummer of The Dead Weather, White gets to take his group into a more artsy direction that his other two bands which are both marked by White's bluesy guitar riffs and yelping vocals.
I only recently heard of the Dead Weather via the documentary "It Might Get Loud" which discusses the sounds and influence of the electric guitar through the eyes of Jimmy Page (of Led Zeppelin), Jack White (of the White Stripes) and The Edge (of U2). For anyone who is a genuine fan of music, you should definitely check out this documentary on Netflix.
The Dead Weather is rounded out by lead vocalist Alison Mosshart of The Kills, basist Jack Lawrence of the Greenhornes and guitarist Dean Fertita of the Queens of the Stone Age. The group has taken a very bare bones approach to rock and roll. Their sound is raw, bluesy and..well, raw. It's not a huge departure from the type of sound Jack White's other projects have yielded. Sure, he's not playing the guitar or providing lead vocals, but his influence in the overall sound of the group is undeniable. I think my favorite aspect of this group is the fact that Jack White made the conscious decision to take a backseat position in the band and play the drums despite his history being the front man of the other groups he's played with in the recent past. It's certainly the case in almost every band that's every played that the drummer sets the beat for the band but it's not overly common for the drummer to set the tone. White brings his raw, almost confrontational style evident in his guitar playing to the drum kit.
I'll leave you with a great tune from the album "Sea of Cowards"
I'm sure everyone's heard of Jack White, the front man for the Detroit based "White Stripes" and "Raconteurs." As the drummer of The Dead Weather, White gets to take his group into a more artsy direction that his other two bands which are both marked by White's bluesy guitar riffs and yelping vocals.
I only recently heard of the Dead Weather via the documentary "It Might Get Loud" which discusses the sounds and influence of the electric guitar through the eyes of Jimmy Page (of Led Zeppelin), Jack White (of the White Stripes) and The Edge (of U2). For anyone who is a genuine fan of music, you should definitely check out this documentary on Netflix.
The Dead Weather is rounded out by lead vocalist Alison Mosshart of The Kills, basist Jack Lawrence of the Greenhornes and guitarist Dean Fertita of the Queens of the Stone Age. The group has taken a very bare bones approach to rock and roll. Their sound is raw, bluesy and..well, raw. It's not a huge departure from the type of sound Jack White's other projects have yielded. Sure, he's not playing the guitar or providing lead vocals, but his influence in the overall sound of the group is undeniable. I think my favorite aspect of this group is the fact that Jack White made the conscious decision to take a backseat position in the band and play the drums despite his history being the front man of the other groups he's played with in the recent past. It's certainly the case in almost every band that's every played that the drummer sets the beat for the band but it's not overly common for the drummer to set the tone. White brings his raw, almost confrontational style evident in his guitar playing to the drum kit.
I'll leave you with a great tune from the album "Sea of Cowards"
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