Classic

So I got my dad a Looney Tunes 2-disc set for Christmas, and we just watched 14 of the cartoons in sequence. And I've remembered how much I love Looney Tunes--the best cartoons ever, I swear.

This one stuck out in particular. It's all there--the color palette, the matching of sound to motion, the exaggerated facial expressions, the insane violence. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pccO1RBJZL8

Ronald Jenkees

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O2aH4XLbto

Not a Christmas song, but merry Christmas nonetheless.

Boo!

(It's high time I actually make a contribution to this blog, so here's something I've been ruminating on for the past couple months...)

For the most part, a "good" horror film is hard to come by. When I say good, I mean a film that stands on its own two feet as being artistically credible; whether it actually elicits jumps or shrieks from the audience, is a different matter.

But I think we ought to differentiate between "horror" and "shock". Mind you, I scarcely ever watch "horror" films, but of the ones I have seen, I've discerned kind of two working categories.
1.) Films that startle you, but which you really can't admit are that great.
2.) Films that really leave an impression, regardless of how startling they are.

The first example of horror that I always come to is Ridley Scott's Alien (1979). The movie is nerve-racking the first time you see it, but in all honesty, the startling moments have lost their touch after the second or third screening.

The thing that gets me about the Alien (and its sequel, Aliens [1986]) is the sense of dread. The music over the opening titles is evocative of something solemn and ancient and the slow pan of black space, tiny stars, and an alien planet establishes a sense of isolation. You know there's something out there, and that it's been waiting for hundreds, thousands of years. It will stop at nothing to kill you, and there's nothing you can possibly do to kill it. Even if you don't encounter it personally yourself, the knowledge that it exists and that you may cross paths with it, is unsettling. It undermines a basic sense of security.

This atmosphere is replicated in The Shining (1980), by the bizarre music throughout, the foreboding titles, and the isolation conveyed through the cold cinematography and the sets of the hotel. It's not the shocking encounters--it's the dread leading up to them.

Another thing that's spooky about Alien is the feral nature of the alien and its utter disregard for human life. It has no motive and no objective--it just wants to kill. The same is true of the shark from Jaws (1975), only this critter eats you. Just think: how much would it suck to be eaten? For the shark, you are no more meaningful than a meal; for the alien, you are no more meaningful than a repository for an alien embryo.

I also found this same effect during the opening credits of Werner Herzog's Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979), which features footage of South American mummies against a foreboding score (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxE4yITfRLo). While these images don't pertain to the story, they set the mood rather nicely.

I've mentioned opening titles twice, but seriously, it's often the case that opening titles tell you volumes about the film to come.

Favorite Christmas Songs

Traditional, cliché, or nostalgic.

Post 'em.

Mellowstep?

Assuming both genres and sub-genres are real, here's a mellowstep track: http://www.salacioussongs.com/audio/Clare%20Maguire%20-%20Aint%20Nobody%20(Breakage%20Remix).mp3

Yes, the beat is still of a dubstep pattern. However, this is a pretty chill song, without any crazy drops or wobbles. Furthermore, I really enjoy the vocals, although I think they're much better in the second half of the song.

Fixed Link? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8TbZvy2msQ

It's going to be OK.

My favorite Simon and Garfunkel song. Of all times.



Lyrics:
April come she will
When streams are ripe and swelled with rain;
May, she will stay,
Resting in my arms again

June, she´ll change her tune,
In restless walks she´ll prowl the night;
July, she will fly
And give no warning to her flight.

August, die she must,
The autumn winds blow chilly and cold;
September I´ll remember.
A love once new has now grown old.

Some DM

I hardly ever listen to metal anymore, but when I do Death (yes, that's a band name) is one of the first bands I turn to.

Death - Bite the Pain

Listening To Rap For The First Time, With A Book Critic

Whether you sympathize with this guy or not, this article is an interesting read.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2010/11/04/131063935/listening-to-the-anthology-of-rap

Duplicity 'Kipster Remix' by Silent Descent {NEW SONG ONLINE!}

Trance metal: Is this even a thing?

Duplicity 'Kipster Remix' by Silent Descent {NEW SONG ONLINE!}

RCRD LBL - lots of free interesting downloads.

Check out this blog. It's legit.

http://rcrdlbl.com/

-Jacob

Hardcore

I'm aware this might not go over well, but this song acquaints us with another style of music we haven't really heard this year or last. This sound is usually genre-lized (I know Dave, your favorite) as "hardcore." It's usually characterized by short, heavy-hitting songs with emotive, almost tortured vocals and "do-it-yourself" production. The song I'll post here is a fairly good example of all of these characteristics. A couple of things to notice: the aggression in the music/vocals, the brevity of the song (what's the point?), and the "build-up" dynamic evident in the song (does it make the "heavier" sections even "heavier"?).

Or you might just hate it.

When you click on the link it will take you to the last.fm page for the song. On the page it will say "Play direct from Departures (2:09)" with a play sign to the left of that. Click it.

Departures - Weak Before Winter

The French Horn

Sometimes one instrument can make all the difference. See if you can tell where in this piece: Finlandia by Finnish composer Jean Sibelius.

Genres

I am almost completely convinced that 90% of all genre-lization is bogus. It seems to me that if you just keep going with the mentality of the whole category/sub-category method of defining, you end up naming genres after individual bands (which just seems silly). I'm not trying to say that most bands don't have a unique sound, because they do, but I really don't think they'd mind if they were grouped more generally.

Am I wrong?

Dubstep even Nathan might like.

http://soundcloud.com/kickshifta/rule-the-world

This track has an interesting vibe to it. There's some pretty sweet bassy sections, but I really like the underlying keys.

-Jacob

So much fun

this is for you Dave

Contrast: Majesty vs. Subtlety

Music can give me goosebumps in at least two instances: 1) when a soaring melody builds and resolves in a powerful final chord and 2) the opposite: when a soft, sacred melody is laid to rest, or let float up.

Piece #1: Toccata from Widor's Symphony No. 5 for Organ; possibly the most famous organ work...ever. You should be familiar with it.

Piece #2: "Rejoice, O Virgin" (From Rachmaninoff's All Night Vigil); I will be posting more from All Night Vigil, on account of it being one of my favorite works of all times.

Music comes in a diversity of flavors. I hope we can appreciate both the overwhelming power and the subtle beauty of it.

The Social Network Soundtrack

If you can, buy it (after seeing the movie of course). It rules. Here's one of my favorite songs from the album:

In Motion

Dance Music

I love the lyrics to this song. It might be difficult to get used to his voice, but try to focus on the words. The music is simplistic folk, just an acoustic guitar and a piano, but it seems to highlight the name of the song. It's also interesting to compare the bouncy rhythm/feel of the music to the somewhat depressing story told in the lyrics.

Another thing: should music be used for an escape? John Darnielle (vocalist/lyricist/catalyst of The Mountain Goats) sure thinks so.

Song here

Lyrics here

Finally, post stuff.

I Know, I Know

Another one I know, but I had to share this absolute goodness that I found today:

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis "Life is Cinema"

I don't know how to use this thang.

So here we have it: the music blog. This is a basic basic basic basic beginning, because I really have no idea how to set this up. But here it is. And I suppose I'll start it off with a song:

click here for the song fools

My fascination with hip-hop developed over the summer, partly due to Matthew Warren and partly due to sputnikmusic.com (go there and immerse yourself). Couple of things to listen for on this song: the simply superb lyricism, especially the fact that must of it rhymes or alliterates. The second verse highlights these aspects the best. Also notice how the emcee in the third verse (after the harmonica) keeps the same beat but simply adds more syllables within the constraint of the beat.

Finally, if anyone knows how to make it so any of you can post on the blog tell me, b/c I have no clue.