Danielle's Mix Tape

End of the Year Slashup

2011-12-30T09:57:00.000-08:00

(note: this has nothing to do with Slash. It just worked with the title, and he is funny looking)

Well, I haven't been very attentive nor involved with my blog. It really saddens me, actually. But here goes a new year, with new hopes of continuing to write about music. Here is my 2011 slash-up meltdown, a.k.a the songs that grabbed me by the ears this year.

1.) Rush- Freewill. My new-found love for this band was pivotal this year.

2.) The Ergs!- Saturday Night Crap-o-Rama.

3.) Martin Sloveig ft. Dragonette- Hello

4.) Nicki Minaj- Superbass. (How could you not?)

5.) Toto- Hold the Line (A revisit...best played at inappropriately loud volume)

6.) Leo Dan- Desencadenda Mi Corazon (for so many reasons)

7.) Curtis Mayfield- Move on Up

8.) Judas Priest- Victim of Changes

9.) Nazareth- Miss Misery

10.) Ini Kamoze- Here Comes the Hotstepper

Don't Bring Me Down..

2011-06-23T16:17:00.000-07:00

I have entered a dangerous affair after a long hiatus… an affair with the Electric Light Orchestra. Everyone has heard one of their songs… Mr. Blue Sky, Don’t Bring Me Down etc etc. I never really paid attention, to be honest with you, until I heard this salty little tune called “Strange Magic”. Suddenly, the 1970’s were brought to life for me…in some ‘strange’ way (heh).

Sure, I’ve heard plenty of music from the 70’s…so I like to think I have some idea of how they operated. But then “ Strange Magic” came on…

Suddenly all of the cheesiness, all of the backrooms with shag rugs and mood lighting, all of the bearded nonsense, became a reality to me through this song.

Pure Gold: everything from the dramatic orchestration intro to the high-pitched male harmonies. Add soft electric guitar, steady piano backing and a soaring chorus…and last, but not least, lyrical content that is completely uncalled for…and you have some very strange magic. That I can’t stop listening to. It’s like road kill for the ears.

I dare you to listen to this song…and not feel some kind of strange magic yourself.

Psychobitches Outta Hell

2010-12-20T10:16:00.000-08:00

It seemed wrong to end this affair without mentioning the newest leading lady of Rockabilly: Patricia Day of the HorrorPops. Not only does she croon with similar vocal talents of female Rockies past, but she has helped to upgrade the style. Clad with tattoos and hair that the bride of Frankenstein would envy, Day sways the bad girl vibe of Rockabilly into a new, delightfully haunting era. This psychobitch outta hell has also lended her distinct vocals to other underground psycho bands such as Mad Sin. On top of those great feats, Day has got some serious skills on the upright bass, a rare quality in a female rocker. This woman has led the band, with help of psychobilly king/husband Kim Nekroman, to underground stardom. The band has released three albums filled with counter culture joy, and they even landed themselves a spot on the Vans' Warped Tour. With go-go dancers in tow, the HorrorPops continue to take the cake on the modern Rockabilly/psychobilly scene.

HorrorPops-Thelma and Louise

Enjoy!

Love,
Danielle

I...Fall...To Pieces

2010-12-12T13:44:00.000-08:00

As my musical affair with the females of Rockabilly continued, it was only natural that I would be led to the realm of country. Not only are the sounds of these genres closely linked, but a lot of the female Rockabilly artists are labeled as country crossover artists. As we saw previously with Janis Martin, she often kicked it slow with country-esque songs. Today, I give you the talents of an artist who crossed over the boundaries of pop and country, and later became known as one of the most influential female voices of the country crossover genre(s).

Patsy Cline, whose heartbreaking music is enough to give anyone serious heart problems (well, hopefully not real heart problems... but you know... problems with yknow... Facebook relationships or whatever suits your fancy). If you want 'twang', Cline is happy to oblige. With achingly slow and passionate songs, this artist connected with fans through the art of the blues, and she kicked @$$ at it. Her song titles range from "I Fall to Pieces" to "She's Got You", demonstrating that this woman clearly had some issues with love in her time. Not only did she survive an almost fatal and life changing car accident, but she consistently topped the country and pop charts. When you hear her music, you feel for her. Most of us have been in the heartbreak situation before, and the drawn out slide guitar drags your heart on the pavement and puts it back in your chest.

Occasionally a piano will accompany, providing an extra sense of longing and desire. To top off these beautiful songs, Cline's voice is deep, and she seems constantly on the verge of tears. Even in her upbeat songs, such as "Lovesick Blues", she is overwhelmingly depressed about lost love, and the listener can only feel sympathetic to her troubles. Of course, she is associated most often with the tear-jerking ballad "Crazy", the champion of all love sick songs.

Patsy Cline- Walkin' After Midnight

If you've recently had your heart broken, or know someone who has, prescribe them with a strong dose of Patsy Cline. Or keep yourself (or them) away from her entirely. It all depends on how you take heartbreak. Stay tuned for next time with a *MIXTAPE MELTDOWN* followed by a complete 180 degree switch to Neo-Thrash!

Love,
Danielle

Blues Keep Callin'

2010-11-08T15:21:00.000-08:00

If you haven't already had the pleasure of hearing this talent, I'd like to introduce you to Janis Martin. Her crooning voice is enough to break your heart and make you fall in love all over again. She also has that edge that makes Rockabilly so unique, and she frequently lets her feminine growl out. In her catchy song, "Drugstore Rock 'N' Roll", Martin portrays that perfect image of the good ole days; y'know, the days of soda pop, milkshakes and a good steady rockin' beat (or so we're led to believe...). While I believe Wanda Jackson is the queen of Rockabilly, Janis Martin was given the honorary title of "female Elvis" by RCA. This woman had attitude, and it shows through her edgy, upbeat music. Martin even went so far as to name her act "Janis Martin and Her Boyfriends". Her powerful voice shines through on her slower country songs as well, setting her apart from the Patsy Cline country types (not that that type is a bad thing...I'll be dealing with Patsy next time). Without further adieu, I encourage you all to give this rockin' woman a good listen.

Drugstore Rock 'N'Roll

Bang Bang

Love,
Danielle

Shake, Rattle and Roll

2010-10-02T07:34:00.000-07:00

Well it has certainly been a long time since I've gotten into an affair. It's pretty easy to slip into that nasty habit of continually listening to the shuffle of your iPod...

After exhausting the FM radio at work, I found myself longing for new love. In this case, I am revisiting an old affair with a twist: the women of Rockabilly (I capitalize 'Rockabilly' because I have diagnosed this genre as being infuential). Beyond Elvis, Buddy Holly and the works, there lay hidden a minority of female Rockabilly artists. While I have always loved Wanda Jackson, I never really took the time to open my ears to the other female artists of this genre. Most of the songs are covers, but they sound brand new with this subgenre.

All it took was the Wanda Jackson station on Pandora (which I listened to on a whim), to realize that this was what I had been craving: attitude, bluesy guitar solos, galloping upright slap bass, a a classic country sound gone electric...all complimenting the twang of these unique voices. Nowadays, voices are so altered by recording technology that it's hard to tell if anyone can reeeally sing anymore.

The females of Rockabilly have brought my technologically exhausted ears back down to Earth with the pure raw power of early rock n' roll.

Wanda Jackson-Let's Have a Party

Jackie DeShannon-Trouble

Stay tuned for next time!

Love,
Danielle

MIXTAPE MELTDOWN

2010-08-13T22:34:00.000-07:00

Phew... well I am so ready to be done with this genre... so I am. Here's the mixtape meltdown for pop music! I also snuck some 90's fun in there...enjoy!

POP MUSIC MELTDOWN

1.) Ciara-Oh
2.) Lady Gaga- Monster
3.) Black Eyed Peas- Imma Be
4.) Travie McCoy featuring Bruno Mars-Billionare
5.) Ace of Bass-The Sign
6.) Usher featuring will.i.am-OMG
7.) Rihanna-Rude Boy
8.) Pink-You Make Me Sick
9.) Justice featuring Uffie-Ttheee Ppaaartty
10.) Enrique Iglesias featuring Pitbull-I Like It

Love,
Danielle

(Z)OMG!

2010-07-31T10:49:00.000-07:00

Usher has a pretty long history with popular music, and his latest album shows his evolution into the newer pop playing field. His single featuring will.i.am, "OMG", at first seems amateur and completely cheesy, but as the song progresses, you can really hear a unique sound. Again, a lot of pop artists are incorporating a house dancing sound into their songs, creating the ultimate dance groove. When I hear this Usher song, it makes me wanna dance, therefore I believe the song has created a successful atmosphere.

Usher-OMG (Oh My Gosh)

Honestly, my affair with this genre has been difficult. The radio has gotten to a point where it beats a dead horse into the ground via the number one song (cough Katy Perry California Girls Blasphemy cough), until it's no longer number one and everyone wants to harf every time they hear the song. Artists come and go as quickly a plate of cookies, and anything that has a unique sound will probably not last long on the radio. Alas, AM/FM radio, rest in peace, you shall be missed by all who enjoyed you at your prime.

Stay tuned for next time for a *MIXTAPE MELTDOWN*

Love,
Danielle

Pop the Glock

2010-07-21T13:23:00.000-07:00

No matter what, there will always be some form of "Popular Music": the mainstream jams, the chart toppers. This music usually consists of simple melodies, uncomplicated lyrics and a danceable beat that does not require a great deal of thought or intellectual involvement. After spending yeaaaars battling against the popular brand, I find myself experiencing a pop music genre affair. This affair most likely results from the fact that I have to deal with the radio while I'm at work, and I like to flip through commercials so I can actually hear music. So, recently I left the station on "Hot 99.5" while I was watering flowers, and a slew of songs came on that actually caught my attention. A whole new generation of pop has emerged, creating a melting pot between house music, hip-hop and just plain old pop.

I also realized that to love music, you really have to give it all a chance. What I think is dumb, trendy and unappealing could mean a lot to another person. That's when I had to take a step back and think; all of these years I've struggled to have people understand metal. The typical non-metal fan will call it just "screaming" or "angry", which always used to piss me off, and still does. Now I realize I did the exact same thing with pop music.

Aside from new Eminem and Jay-Z albums, forgotten artists such as Usher are back on the music scene with fresh tracks that sound as if they are right out of the proverbial club. Left in the wake of 1990's and early 2000's pop, I feel like we were all waiting for the genre to evolve to the next thing. Then, of course, there are two little words that have completely caught the pop world off-guard: Lady Gaga. Sure, she's just like Madonna...only better. She has pushed the pop envelope to the point of near combustion, and you either love her or hate her. Personally, I hated her when she came out with "Just Dance", but the more songs she releases, the more I love her. Not to mention, her videos are wildly creative, artistic and stylized, adding to her already wacky demeanor.

Stay tuned for more pop music in the coming days!

Lady Gaga-Alejandro

Love,
Danielle

MIXTAPE MELTDOWN

2010-07-10T11:59:00.000-07:00

Time to wake up and smell the coffee, 'cause it's time for the dream pop meltdown! Hope you enjoy these other ten tracks from the genre, and stay tuned for the next genre!

DREAM POP MELTDOWN
(no specific order)

1.) MGMT-Someone's Missing
2.) Mazzy Star- Be My Angel
3.) Broadcast-Tears in the Typing Pool
4.) Beach House-Used to Be
5.) Chapterhouse-Pearl
6.) Galaxie 500-Fourth of July
7.) The Flaming Lips-Race for the Prize (remix)
8.) Mazzy Star-I'm Sailin
9.) MGMT-It's Working
10.) Pale Saints-The Way the World Is

Love,
Danielle

Picture: Saturn Devouring His Children by Francisco Goya

Infinite Dreams: Mazzy Star and Beach House!

2010-07-08T06:24:00.001-07:00

Good day to all! I still find myself daydreaming, so without further adieu, enjoy Mazzy Star and Beach House!
---------------------------
Mazzy Star is one of those bands that has perfected this fantastic, hopelessly romantic sound. I first heard them about five years ago on a college radio station, and I have been hooked ever since. The soft acoustic guitar with a hint of country-influenced electric guitar is just the right recipe for 1990's alternative magic. Oh, not to mention, Hope Sandoval's voice is something of legend and glory; she sings so clearly and with a certain force, but her voice remains soft and almost innocent. Their use of tambourine and slow drum beats only enhance the feeling of unrequited love: dying roses and unanswered letters. Or at least that's how I react to the image Mazzy Star presents. Their album "She Hangs Brightly" really shows Mazzy Star at their alternative finest.

Beach House is an entirely different story, and really the only thing they have in common with Mazzy Star is a stellar female vocalist. While still holding true to the dream pop concept, Beach House also utilizes the new wave electronica to create a rather daring sound (A.K.A, this duo is so hip it hurts; just look at their pictures sometime... they are poster children for "indie darlings"). Vocalist/keyboardist Victoria Legrand has one of the most incredible voices I have heard in the alternative genre. She really brings a soulful perspective to dream pop and indie, complimented nicely by guitarist Alex Scally's shoegaze riffs and spacious electronic sounds. The pre-recorded drums are just fine with me, creating a unique harmony between electronica and genuine vocals. Watch out, Nico.

My Picks:
Mazzy Star- Halah
Beach House-10 Mile Stereo

Love,
Danielle

picture: "Dream Caused by the Flight of the Bee" by Salvador Dali

Dreeeeeaam, Dream, Dream, Dream

2010-06-29T00:10:00.000-07:00

Hello all!

Time to start countin' sheep, 'cause I'm going into dream pop now. This genre, which I consider to be a pretty obvious subset of the whole indie ordeal, is very ear-pleasing; artists tend to initiate a sound that floats you down the mental lazy river...(hence the name of the genre, heh). It turns out I have been listening to "dream pop" for a long time, but I just recently came across this very fitting alias.

I'm going to start with the album "In Ribbons" by the Pale Saints, a lovely British band that broke onto the scene in the late 1980's/early 1990's (wikiwikiwikipedia!). I sort of feel like I understand better now the roots of the alternative genre that influenced Pablo Honey-era Radiohead. The Pale Saints mastered the alt sound through their proper execution of pedal-enhanced guitar work, crooning male and female vocals, and prominent bass lines, all of which are complimented by satisfying drum beats.

The interchanging between male and female vocals also adds a nice diversity to their song line ups. They also do not hold back from presenting long musical interludes, which only enhance the feel of the album. For example, the second track on the album, "Ordeal", only has about one minutes of vocals that lead the listener into a haven of instrumentality that absolutely paved the way for shoegaze.

Each song on the album has something unique about it, although it all ties together to create the sound associated with this band. If you close your eyes, you can really picture some kind of warped dream world. The Pale Saints found the right formula for taking dreamlike concepts and turning them into really decent, texturally interesting music.

My Picks by the Pale Saints:
Babymaker from "In Ribbons"
Ordeal from "In Ribbons"

Stay tuned next time for Mazzy Star, Beach House and more!

Love,
Danielle

photo cred:
http://www.eso-garden.com/index.php?/weblog/C37/

MIXTAPE MELTDOWN

2010-06-26T06:52:00.000-07:00

It's that time again! MIXTAPE MELTDOWN! Here's some songs I didn't talk about that you guys may enjoy! ^_^

PSYCHEDELIC POP MELTDOWN
(no specific order)

1.) Animal Collective- My Girls
2.) Of Montreal- Oslo in the Summertime
3.) The Skygreen Leopards- Johnny's Theme
4.) A Band of Bees- These are the Ghosts
5.) Talkdemonic-Andean Twilight
6.) Discovery- Osaka Loop Line
7.) Populous- Canoe canoa
8.) The Octopus Project- Malaria Codes
9.) Pink Floyd- Bike
10.) Black Moth Super Rainbow- Lollipopsichord

Love,
Danielle

Black Moth Super WHAT?!

2010-06-24T14:16:00.000-07:00

Psychedelic pop continues today with a special on Black Moth Super Rainbow (BMSR)!

In terms of experimental, psychedelic pop, this Pittsburgh based band has got their sound down to a tee. Their use of synthesizers and sound manipulation allow for a fresh twist on the classic music of the first-generation bands mentioned in the last post. Their album, "Dandelion Gum" (2007), especially stands out as a galloping mix of chill tunes and distorted experimental anthems. My two picks from this album are "Rollerdisco" and "Melt Me", two examples of the contrast between their softer jams and mind-blowing psychedelic tracks.

"Rollerdisco" really sets that exact mood; you can easily imagine people rolling around on old school skates clad in brightly colored outfits. Hell, it makes you WANT to roll around in a brightly colored outfit. I like it when songs portray an image in their music, and this particular track most certainly does that.

"Melt Me" breaks into upbeat psychedelia immediately; there is no need for build-up in this song, because BMSR keeps the tension and excitement going through the song through use of manipulated synthesizers and a vocoder.

Venturing forward in time, 2009's "Eating Us" shows that BMSR has crafted and honed their peculiar sound. The drums are more distinct, and the synthesizers show us that this band is capable of creating some great songs. My pick from this one, "Twin of Myself" is a soft, pleasant psychedelic ballad, quite different from the earlier albums.

I have rarely heard something quite as interesting and different in the psychedelic genre. I love this band, and after the initial psychedelic punch in the face, I think you all will love it too.

Stay tuned for next time!

Rollerdisco by Black Moth Super Rainbow

Melt Me by Black Moth Super Rainbow

Twin of Myself by Black Moth Super Rainbow

Love,
Danielle

Bubblegum Blastoff: Psychedellic Pop

2010-06-20T20:28:00.000-07:00

You don't need any mind-altering drugs to enjoy the sounds of psychedelic pop. The songs are (usually, there are always exceptions) catchy and irresistibly groovy, giving you a little slice of freedom and happiness in the proverbial sunshine.

There is a difference, no matter how small, between psychedelic rock and psychedelic pop. What I am currently romancing with is psychedelic pop.

So let's start with a little dissection. You've got your 1960's psychedelic pop, and you've got your neo-psychedelic. While I am more curious about the neo stuff recently, I felt it appropriate to include at least two good songs from two good bands/artists of the 1960's psychedelic era just to give some basis for where this neo sound is evolving from. Or copying. Your choice.

My first 1960's pick is "Scarlett and Gold" by the 13th Floor Elevators. In this jam, you can really hear that influential drum beat that frequents the neo era. Add in some off-kilter reverberated vocals and guitar, and you've got the perfect equation for psychedelic success.

My second 1960's pick is Donovan's "Sunshine Superman". Sure, this guy has been called an Irish Bob Dylan rip off many times, even by me, and he most certainly is, on later albums. But what is often overlooked is his catchy 60's psych, which is absolutely enjoyable, and shows that he had a relatively distinct sound before he jumped on the Dylan folk wagon.

Tune in next time for neo psychedelic!

Scarlett and Gold by the 13th Floor Elevators
Sunshine Superman by Donovan

Love,
Danielle

MIXTAPE MELTDOWN

2010-06-20T06:11:00.000-07:00

So I've decided to try out this nifty little thang called a "Mixtape Meltdown". Basically, every time I shift genres, I will provide a list of notable songs I came across. That way, you guys can check out some of the stuff I didn't share with you.

NU GAZE MELTDOWN
(no specific order)

1.) Papercuts-The Wolf
2.) Deerhunter-Agoraphobia
3.) Atlas Sound with Noah Lennox- Walkabout
4.) Silversun Pickups-Lazy Eye
5.) Relay-Driver
6.) She, Sir- The Clandestine
7.) Sigur Ros- Svefn-g-englar
8.) Mew-Comforting Sounds
9.) Gregor Samsa-Untitled #2 (recommendation courtesy of Kyle W)
10.) Deaf Scene- Where Only We Exist (recommendation of Kelly S)

Love,
Danielle
(;,;)

Still Checkin Out My Shoes

2010-06-19T00:26:00.000-07:00

Ah, blog post two of my lovely little affair with "Nu Gaze", but I like calling it Post-Radiohead better.

Justification: even though Radiohead is still dishing out fantastic albums, I feel like their sound has influenced a whole new generation of alternative/indie rock.

Today, I present Caribou, the one man band consisting of Daniel Victor Snaith (smooches, Wikipedia >_>). As I continue to explore bands related to Post Radi...I mean Nu Gaze, I keep running into a wall of psychedelic pop. I feel like Caribou creates a beautiful little noise rock sundae, with a psychedelic cherry on top and a electronic chocolate topping (work with me here, people). I downloaded the album "Andorra" which has an overall wonderful sound; everything flows nicely together and each song maintains a relatively ambient attitude. I especially enjoy his incorporation of flutes into songs, as well as more experimental noises.

The Bottom Line:
If you're looking for some great background tunes to start relaxin' like a Saxon to, Caribou is a good place to go.

My Pick for Caribou
"Melody Day"

Love,
Danielle

P.S. Tune in next time for PSYCHEDELIC POP

Look Down and What Do You See?

2010-06-16T20:35:00.000-07:00

Shoegazing is a term that is completely new to me; I had seen the genre title bouncing around, but never fully understood what it meant. One day, someone sat me down and said, "Danielle, shoegazing is when musicians are gazing at their shoes constantly because they are executing so many effects on their guitar pedals!" The sentence may not have been structured quite that formally, but it was something along those lines.

Nu Gaze, or "the new wave of shoegaze" (thanks, Wikipedia! You'll always be my friend^_^), is my most current musical infatuation.

As soon as I heard distortion followed by guitar licks that sounds like they were made underwater, I was sold. Add in a steady, simple drum beat and higher pitched indiscernable male vocals, and I could no longer resist. I can't get enough of this noise, but as with all of my genre affairs, some albums or artists stand out more than others.

So without further adieu, I present to you my first recommendation for this genre: Deerhunter.

Start with the album "Microcastle" (2008). Some of you may have heard it, some of you may have not. Regardless of who you are, if you have ever enjoyed Radiohead, consider giving Deerhunter a thorough listen. In fact, that's how I feel about most of this "shoegazing" genre: Post-Radiohead.

The bottom line is, this album is pure ambient guitar licks, experimental sounds and a variety of tempos (all cradling Bradford Cox's crooning vocals). The other Deerhunter album I happened to download was the earlier "Cryptograms", which is far more experimental and less structured than Deerhunter's later endeavors, but still worth a listen to see the progression of the band.

Here's my Deerhunter pick:
"Never Stops" from Microcastle

Love,
Danielle

OK Go

2010-06-16T07:56:00.001-07:00

Music, in my humble opinion, is one of the greatest forms of social communication; people relate to one another through their musical preferences, and a song or artist can greatly affect a person's day to day life.

Now that all of the philosophical jazz is out of the way, what I would like to accomplish with this blog is sharing all of my various genre affairs with you: my potentially loyal reader. Not only will I be exploring new artists of these genres, but I will also revisit the albums or songs that made said genre what it is today.

I feel like there is so much new music constantly chucked into our lives that we tend to forget about a lot of music. There are so many notable albums, songs and artists that quickly get put under the radar or are simply forgot about.

So, welcome to my genre affairs, where you will see things you may have forgotten about and hopefully learn about things you never knew about.