Archive for the ‘MusicGeek.org’ Category

From the archives: An interview with Sean and Christian of Monster Movie

Monster MovieThe following is an interview conducted with Christian Savill and Sean Hewson of Monster Movie from 2005. The interview is being resurfaced mostly because I think it’s interesting. Nothing in the interview — aside from formatting — has been changed, though multimedia content has been added in for user interest.

As a child, were you around music much?

Sean: Only when I got to school and started learning instruments. I think we’re just classic geeks and we spent a lot of time at home listening to music when we were teenagers because we didn’t know how to get girlfriends.

Christian: Not that much. My Dad didn’t even know who the Beatles were, he is a bit of an opera man. I was also hopeless at music at school. Aside from kids music like The Wombles, I remember hearing “Wuthering Heights” by Kate Bush when it first came out and being really interested in it, but not knowing why or what it was. After that I loved listening to the radio and taping the Top 40 singles charts every Sunday night. Those cassettes would literally get worn out. I didn’t get a guitar until I was about 16 or 17, my Dad bought me a right handed guitar, I’m left handed.

Monster Movie – “Letting You Know” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/lettingyouknow.mp3]

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Music Geek #11: Post-rock: reproducing in the back seat since the ’90s

From VerySmallArray.com From the chart attached — from VerySmallArray.com, a wonderful little site of charts and graphics and things by Dorothy Gambrell, creator of my favorite web comic, Cat and Girl — it’s clear that instrumental music is not very popular right now. If that wasn’t painfully obvious, though, I’m not sure what was. Sadly, not much post-rock hits the #1 spot on the charts, much to my bemusement. I’d rather like the music I enjoy to be enjoyed by many, many people!

Godspeed You! Black Emperor – “Dead Flag Blues (Intro)” | download (via official site)
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/godspeed_you_black_emperor-dead_flag_blues_intro.mp3]

I suppose I recognize that people are generally interested in music that’s catchy, especially lyrically and vocally. It’s rather hard to sing along with Godspeed You! Black Emperor, let alone Tortoise — this, I admit. And, if I’ve learned anything from people, it’s that they really, really like to sing along to things, for better or worse. (more…)

Politics and Music: Jon Crocker, ever-touring folk artist

Jon Crocker in Cedar City, UtahJon Crocker, the ever-touring folk artist, discusses his perspective on music and politics. This is the second in a series of interviews with musicians discussing political perspectives.

What role do politics play in your music?

Not a very large one … if I ever write topical songs, they’re usually about social or environmental issues as opposed to political ones, and even with those issues I don’t really write about the political sides.

What role do you think music should play in politics?

I think that should be up to the musicians. If someone wants to make political music, they should. I think songwriters should write about whatever they are passionate about.

Jon Crocker – “Six Day Sinners’ Son” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/jon-crocker-six-day-sinners-son.mp3]

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Concert Photos: The Stiletto Formal, Kinch perform at The Grind

The Stiletto Formal performed at The Grind Coffee House last night, supported by Kinch; both bands are from Phoenix, Ariz. Photos below and after the jump.

The Stiletto Formal

The Stiletto FormalThe Stiletto FormalThe Stiletto FormalThe Stiletto Formal

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Review: The Dead Science – Villainaire

The Dead Science - VillainaireThe Dead Science
Villainaire
Constellation, 2008

It’s clear from the first moment of a harp playing and the subsequent segue into eclectic bouts of staccato guitar and complex rhythmic patterns: Villainaire, a record that experiments with jazz-inflected progressive rock and is strewn with elements of post-punk and indie rock, is not an album that is easy to digest, instead taking thought and time to process into actual understanding.

The Dead Science – “Make Mine Marvel” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/thedeadscience-makeminemarvel.mp3]

With the rise in popularity of vaguely prog-rock outfits like The Mars Volta and Coheed and Cambria (not to imply this album sounds too much like either,) The Dead Science’s third full-length could see a reception that isn’t wholly unfavorable. Villainaire doesn’t really splay out its influences for listeners, but it does provide clues throughout. While some strains of progressive rock seem to be able to claim influence, the attribution can just as much rest with free jazz, experimental rock and a slew of other styles and genres. (more…)

Politics and Music: Jordan Olsen, guitarist with The Gorgeous Hussies

Jordan Olsen, guitarist with The Gorgeous Hussies, discusses politics and music from his perspective.Jordan Olsen, guitarist with The Gorgeous Hussies, discusses his perspective of music and politics. This is the first in a series of interviews with musicians discussing political perspectives.

What role do politics play in your music?

On the whole I don’t think mainstream politics, per se, play a significant role in how I write and perform music. There hasn’t been an issue I’ve been so passionate about that I’d be willing to use my music to preach about it. That’s just not my style. However, I have written a few songs that present a larger comment on society and how we treat each other, which, I guess, is the crux of politics. So in that aspect maybe I have?

On The Gorgeous Hussies’ first CD Oh! Hello I wrote a song called “Dangerously Similar.” It’s based on the Israeli/Hezbollah conflict in the summer of 2006. I was watching CNN and watched Israeli troops fighting with Hezbollah troops and I couldn’t tell who was who. I couldn’t help but think that beyond the politics and ethnic conflict these people were first and foremost fathers and mothers but how at that moment they were “dangerously similar”. It’s not really an anti-war song, rather a comment on people who at their core are very similar but find themselves trying to kill each other.

The Gorgeous Hussies – “Dangerously Similar”
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/track1_dangerously-similar.mp3]

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Review: Emiliana Torrini – Me and Armini

Emiliani Torrini - Me and ArminiEmiliana Torrini
Me and Armini
Rough Trade, September 9, 2008

On its face, Me and Armini could be just like a number of female-fronted pop records; Emiliana Torrini has a simultaneously marketable and enjoyable vocal style that wouldn’t bring any surprises if it reached mainstream success. Me and Armini, though, is much more than a simple throw-away pop release, and Torrini’s silky vocals are only the tip of a musical iceberg.

Emiliana Torrini – “Me and Armini” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/meandarmini_edit.mp3]

Torrini might be best known for performing “Gollum’s Song” from 2002’s The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, but Me and Armini could change her status from being a slight footnote in mainstream pop culture, whic she attained both for “Gollum’s Song” and for co-writing two tracks from Kylie Minogue’s Body Language. A footnote, though, doesn’t seem to be Torrini’s favorite option, so with Me and Armini she’s released a powerful, engaging picture of her musical talent of the Iceland native. (more…)

Live Review: The Gorgeous Hussies at The Grind

The Gorgeous Hussies, the band we’ve featured a few times in the last week here on MusicGeek.org, performed at The Grind Coffee House last night. Below are a few photos; more will be added in short time. Read more on their performance after the jump.

The Gorgeous HussiesThe Gorgeous HussiesThe Gorgeous HussiesThe Gorgeous Hussies

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