The Power of 'Dylanism' Today

During the Civil Rights Movement's in the United States during the 1960's to the 70's one of many artist but the one who made a significance in the musical scene at that time. Bob Dylan wasn't the most brilliant singer or musician but rather than that implied a fantastic participation to the political movements in his way of constructing fantastic songs. His musical talent and composing skills together with his advances political screenwriting has given the folk/rock singer/songwriter a status that have recalled him one of the best musicians of our time. Yet so few of Dylan's original recordings such as 'All Along The Watchtower' and the folk tune 'Knocking On Heaven's Door' have gained as much recognition from Hendrix and Guns N' Roses' versions of the songs. What Dylan created as a political activist during the 60's with records like 'The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan', 'Times They Are A-Changin' and 'Blonde on Blonde' is what came to signify the political folk. With him was for example singer/songwriter Joan Baez but what I would like to signify the style of Dylan's music would be the term 'Dylanism'.

 

During the 1990's the popularity of Dylan slowly died and with an uprise during the end of 90's and in the beginning of the new century with Greatest Hits Compaliations and tributes in forms of Martin Scorsese's 'No Direction Home' and the very artistic 'Not There' his popularity is yet at the status mark he once left it with. Last year Dylan released his album 'Tell Tale Signs' which is a collection of b-sides and demo's that have never been released by Dylan. When looking through the 1990's and looking back on the 60's we don't see the same categorizing as then but a much more severe political landscape with a new economical crisis and war in which the Dylanism have payed a visit to in new ways and through new voices. We have never reached the same theme but as the 90's has passed we have heard Bono U2 mantle the role as a political singer with 'How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb' and Springsteen through his political envolvement in the John Kerry campaign 2004 and now in new elected president Barrack Obama's campaign. The releasing of 'Working on A Dream' with the track 'Working on A Dream' as a political song we can clearly see the dylanism.

Through modern acts and against the last president of the United States we have seen artists like Pink perform 'Dear Mr. President' and really been involved in a political side of the former teen age punk/rock band Green Day with their 'American Idiot' featuring 'American Idiot', 'Jesus of Suburbia' and 'We Are the Waiting' with great political impact. These are just few of many who have involved in the better political approach people hope to see with President Obama and this signifies the power of dylanism into the main goal of achievement in our late 00's which Obama struggles for and encourage people to do; Social Change and Social Transformation into a better and safer society.

U2 - One, Greenday - American Idiot and Jesus of Suburbia, Bruce Springsteen - Working on a Dream, Pink - Dear Mr. President.

Truth about 'The Crying Light' by Anthony & The Johnson's

Truth spoken, 'The Crying Light' by the New York group Anthony & The Johnsons is a melodic tension settler. As I would like to call it, after two mellow, low density albums third time becomes a charm. 'The Crying Night' contain a tension of melodic calm and soft melodies mixed with thoughts and carefulness. It brings out a tension in ways of how you reflect over your personal thinking process and as the second week of February comes to its end I find this golden egg hidden by all what's bad.

Anthony & The Johnsons have yet again proved that they gain something to the musical industry in an independent universe that has outgrown itself. Lead singer Anthony delivers his emotional downward voice and uses his bands in this fantastic way of reading what I would call 'extreminism' poetry of high standards that deals with tensions of peoples regular lives. It gives the proportions of greateness and with this album more than ever, a terrific chamber pop experience as I would like to describe it.

In comparision to personal legends and musical geniuses like Rufus Wainwright and Jeff Buckley, Anthony creates an undertone and with songs like 'Epilepsy is Dancing' and 'Dust and Water' a great melodic tension is created that upholds the greatness of an album. Opening the album as soft as possible with a story sadness I think that Anthony & The Johnson's has created one of the year 2009's best albums, if not in the end definetly so far.

Other albums worth its attention, processesed over night: 'The Empyrian' by John Fruciante, 'Hold Time' by M.Ward and 'Merriweather Post Pavillon' by Animal Collective

Is Ryan Adams Sad Dracula? He Has to Be!

The rumors around the rather unknown band Sad Dracula have been circulating for quite a while now. People are sure and say that Sad Dracula is an underground project from the alternative country/rock singer Ryan Adams. Two unreleased albums 'Fasterpiece' and 'Let It B-Minus' is circulating the internet and on Adams Fan Archives people discuss the unknown artist and not only his connection with Ryan Adams but the fact that Sad Dracula is Ryan Adams.

The genre of Sad Dracula reminds of Adams a lot, in fact in many songs you can tell that this is Ryan Adams singing. By vistiting the artists myspace (...myspace.com/saddraculawarrenpeace) you don't get much more knowledgeable than you were before you entered more than this is something in the association to Adams and his band the Cardinals when sneaking through the images. No photos exist posted of the band together and no one know who either Sad Dracula or Warren Peace really is but we all take for granted when listening to the music that this is Ryan Adams.

On a blog called blowinthecoug.blogspot here on blogger.com the blogger writes in an article 'Ryan Adams is Sad Dracula' that Ryan Adams have posted songs under different new artist names on his website and this clearly backs up the fact that Sad Dracula is Ryan Adams and the blogger Barton Kensaw also writes that this might be released sessions that became one of Adams earlier albums 'Rock N' Roll'. 

The music on the albums 'Fasterpiece' and 'Let It B-Minus' is well produced and very good, it has the influences of country that Ryan Adams has evolved more during the past years and the records are very available and unfortunetly illegal downloading seems to be the only way to really get a hold of these albums. If you do I can tell you that it is good Adams rock of great caliber and that it is like adding two more Adams albums into your collection, but who knows maybe it isn't him after all. But I wouldn't bet a lot that he isn't.

The Killers Reaches the Main Stream Universe

It has become a well known phenomenon, that good music reaches through to the main stream music industry. This time it is the US Rock Group The Killers that reaches the international main room of music. I still remember my first experiences with the Las Vegas band that was one of the main songs on my graduation parties soon two years ago. Then it was songs like 'Smile Like You Mean It' and 'Mr. Brightside' from their 2003 Album 'Hot Fuss'. Since then the band have released three more albums. The genre is unique in many ways, as placed in a original style the Alt./New Wave/Punk/Rock band creates an energic atmosphere and their music has been a main structure in every party mix that I have composed since the first day they reached my ears. 

Through their new album 'Day & Age' (2008), The Killers reached a mass appeal and this through help with former Gwen Stefani and Madonna producer Stuart Price. With hits like 'Human' and 'Neon Tiger' critics called 'Day & Age' one of the best albums of 2008. With songs like 'When You Were Young' their second album 'Sam's Town' sold 700,000 copies and the future seems to promise more than that. 

With influences like The Cure and The Smiths the sound composed among the four members is new, it's original and the vocals of Brandon Flowers are clean and lean but yet powerful to the melodic, electronic/instrumental compositions of their songs. We should all be aware and enjoy the time of a great act in the main room of music main stream culture as it raises the quality of our main stream music industry. 

Highlights: 'Jenny Was a Friend of Mine', 'Mr. Brightside',  'Smile Like You Mean It' (Hot Fuss),  'When You Were Young', 'Read My Mind',  'Bones' (Sam's Town), 'Sweet Talk', 'Romeo & Juliet', 'Change Your Mind' (Sawdust), 'Human', 'Losing Touch', 'Neon Tiger' and 'Spaceman' (Day & Age)

Chris Cornell's Scream, A Terrible or Terrific One?

'An Awful Piece of Work' or 'The Biggest Disappointment of 2009', the comments depends on who you're asking. When speaking of Chris Cornell's new album 'Scream' people have shown furious emotions on the 45 year old Seattle grunge rocker. The legend of Soundgarden and later Audioslave has gained great respect and has a strong fan base but according to many fans this might be his defeat. As I said it depends on who you're asking. 

After listening through 'Scream' I don't hear what I should expect but rather something different that seriously if you listening carefully isn't terrible either. You can easily sense the participation of producer/artist Timbaland's evolvement in the production and the record is well produced but far, far away from anything that reminds his old fans of grunge. Already early in his solo career we haven't really seen anything of the past and the need for Chris to reinvent himself might bring him to a new audience that will enjoy his new work. Talking about the album itself it is nothing like his earlier mellow, cooled of ballads (listen to 'Euphoria Morning'  and 'Carry On').  

Scream opens up terrible and I can imagine the tensed level decreasing each second as the record plays along but when reaching the second track which is a great produced and well-done song 'Scream'. The following tracks of the album is an experimental pop record with some rocker singing and it is not an 'awful piece of work' it is a well done piece of work that got rythm and missing just the touches. Both 'Sweet Revenge' and 'Get Up' is perfect night clubs songs but they don't belong among grunge fans or Cornell fans it belongs at a new audience. 

This is sad since people have served their positive spirit for Cornell since his start or they have fallen in love with his art much more earlier than he found a relation to the general pop genre. This is another Chris Cornell with a new idea, new vision. Just like 'Chinese Democracy' never will become Guns N' Roses, 'Scream' will never become a Cornell album but for his career he has made a smart choice and actually a working concept that I dig, I just don't like the idea of musicians abandoning their love for money but I encourage the idea for experiments and if thats the case, then go on Chris because this Pop Album is far more better than any pop album in the main stream universe today. So the answer to question 'A Terrible or Terrific Scream?' it depends on who you're asking and if you're asking me, both yes and no.

Songs to listen to if you do find it pretty OK under the circumstances: 'Scream', 'Sweet Revenge', 'Get Up', 'Never Far Away' and 'Long Gone'.

The Last Year-Chronicle; Part I

I do would like to apologize for the delays, as it is for now I am probably only apologizing to myself. As well as this chronicle is suppose to sum up a past year in the area of one of the greatest passion i know, music it is also a welcome to all of those who probably will read and and enjoy my small but yet passionate opinions on music.

As we celebrate the start of a brand new music year with Bruce Springsteen’s new album release ‘Working On A Dream’ containing the Obamarama-Run song ‘Working On A Dream’ and the Golden Globe awarded ‘The Wrestler’ from the the movie with the same title. Before

we start talking of the future I would like to sum up what the past year had to give as well as the new year hopefully will swipe us off out feet.The year 2008 and had a lot to give in the independent genres, the alternative genre that has grown more larger in the portions of the 21st century had fantastic releases during the year. With ‘Evil Urges’ by  Morning Jacket and Death Cab For Cuties ‘Narrow Stairs’ we start the list of titles who were close but did not make it to the top ten. Swedish alternative singer Lykke Li had a terrific year with her ‘Youth N

ovel’ as well as the fantastic piano phenomenon Ron Sexsmith and a brilliant as well as magic

 ‘Exit Strategy Soul’. Josh Homme’s Eagles Of Death Metal released their ‘Heart On’ and our summer-got-to-enjoy-with sun Jack Johnson showed some spring emotions with the soft and beautiful ‘Sleep Through The Static’.

It is almost as possible as it is unfair to list musicians like they were priorities or athletics competing, but yet it give us chance to embrace those who deserve it, our idols and poets of modern time deserves their recognition among us. So to start of at the bottom we have one of my personal favourite artists and his [10. Cardinology by Ryan Adams & The Cardinals]. As a followup to the last years masterpiece ‘Easy Tiger’ Adams and his Cardinals seem to reach

 almost the expectation on their audience with the same spirit as past year. The opening ‘Born Into A Light’ reminds of an Neil Young in his earlier years, his ‘Harvest’ years. From second track ‘Go Easy’ the album flows natural almost perfect with track five ‘Cobwebs’ as the peak. Last track ‘Stop’ is a beautiful, calm piano ballad like so many before yet fantastic.

As we move up we get to a debut singer who took entire Europe with storm, yet not,unfortunately as well appreciated in the US [9. Rockferry by Duffy] is a fantastic achievement. The young British soul singer is one in a row close to major artists such as Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen. Duffy has an modern originality that reminds of Dusty Springfield and Petula Clark. The album itself speaks much for itself with powerful soul vocals showing great emotions to her words and content. The songs ‘Rockferry’, ‘Warwick Avenue’ and ‘Syrup and Honey’ next to hit ‘Mercy’ are the aces of this terrific journey that marks the start of an interesting career.

After the 1999 masterpiece ‘Magnolia’ by director Paul Thomas Anderson one of the parts in the movie who caught my mind was the bittersweet ‘Wise Up’. [8. Smilers by Aimee Mann] is a beautiful little thing piece of a pop singer songwriter with some what of a country touch. With the album ‘Smilers’ she gives a peaceful happy journey from track one ‘Freeway’ to the final closure as my favorite of the album ‘Ballantines’ lose the album that is a even happy face, smiling album. Get the tacky description, smiling!?

As the list moves closer to half way we found a fantastic live album at [7. Where The Light is: John Mayer Live in Los Angeles by John Mayer]. The act which was released as a music DVD is opened by a acoustic act with The John Mayer Trio. Through past acoustic top songs of Mayor’s set list he gives out soft and great versions of ‘Neon’ and ‘Daughters’ and also focuses into a a brilliant cover of Tom Petty’s ‘Free Fallin’. As the acoustic act is over John Mayer and his band deliver somewhat a nostalgic rewind of my past three years. With ‘God Love is One The Way’,‘Why Georgia, Why’ and Jimi Hendrix’s ‘Bold as Love’ the concert brings out a more blues-sided point of view which the

 fairly underrated guitarist clearly deserves to receive recognition for. The concert brings out a little more and prove that John Mayer (considered asshole and snob) is more than a spoiled pop rock artist for teenage girls but an artist of extremely high caliber.

At [6. Dig Out Your Soul by Oasis] and well deserved comeback if you can call it that. Their latest album actually brings out somewhat a little rougher and less organized Oasis which from my point of view works out perfectly fine. The somewhat stone rock kind of ish style brings works really well. ‘Bag It Up’ opens up this album that is one of their better albums as a whole. ‘To Be Where There’s Life’ is what I would like to call a real British styled song that reminds of the Beatles just as so many time before and even i the record contain tracks of great standard I have problem with finding a certain hit to my ears but the album works just as fine as long track where everything kind of belong to each other and as a whole piece the album reaches one of the best of this year.

I have never thought much of this artist, but [5. Amerykah Promise Part One (4th World War) by Erykah Badu] might change that. The queen of delta soul as I call it is brilliant and her album as well. I do not know how to put words on the album but when I thought through my list and thought about what albums caught me up the most Amerykah Promise came to my mind and reminded me of what a cool album it is. The song ‘American Promise’ is probably one of the most perfect opening songs an album can possibly have and ‘Solider’ as well as ‘Telephone’ are all favorites in this funky album that caught me up in Erykah Badu.

I do not really know what happened this y

ear but last year this album [4. Oracular Spectacular

 by MGMT] would probably had topped my list, I just couldn’t find a position for it closer to the top than where it is placed. The four first tracks of MGMT’s masterpiece as I would like to call it is breathtaking. ‘Time To Pretend’ opens up a perfect album and followed by songs like ‘Electric Feel’ and ‘4th Dimensional Transition’ this album is pure joy. Of alternative music MGMT has given rebirth the pop that should gain more promises and audience than it ha

s as an artist has creates something untouchable that I can only dream upon hearing this upcoming year or the next.

I just noticed that it probably would be more fair to call this an essay than somewhat of a chronicle. Albums like ‘Mellow Gold’ and ‘Midnight Vultures’ are great albums of their kind and especially considering ‘Mellow Gold’s’ golden egg ‘Loser’. [3. Modern Guilt by Beck] shows that it’s kind of re-done. I just read what I have written about opening tracks on this years list and some people may think that I only listen to the first song but opening song ‘Orphans’ is... great. This is one of those albums who are really great from track one to last track and even though it’s a short album ‘Modern Guilt’ contain its golden eggs just like mentioned with ‘Orphans’ such as ‘Gamma Ray’ and ‘Soul Of A Man’ I was touched with a smile on my face. Short of words might be the explained by me being a man of English as a second language. But I suppose it’s a progress in the making to express more detailed. Anyway, Modern Guilt beat the top over both Oasis and especially MGMT with something very well organized and clearly terrific.

As we reach on to the second on the top ten albums of the year I find it strange that [2. Dear Science by TV on the Radio] came in in week 51 of 2008 and swiped me of of my feet. Talking about well produced 21st Century Alt. Rock. I keep on reminding myself how much it reminds me of hearing Joy Division play with somewhat an Ian Curtis darkness on the vocals. ‘Red Dress’, ‘Halfway Home’, ‘Shout me Out’ and ‘Golden Age’ represent TV on the Radio perfectly well as one of the must see bands on my list of possible masters to actually be able to go see. 'Dear Science' has all that, all we might be looking for but never find, all that is gained and certainly entertainment for yours as well as my ears.

Reaching the final album I would like to proudly present this one with great love as a clear number one album. [1. Viva La Vida: Or Death And All His Friends by Coldplay] did not make me go see them. Rejected by a move to Los Angeles I missed my shots but it has been just as wonderful to be able to watch and listen to how the world engage onto start enjoying Coldplay. Even though it seemed to be their worst yet brilliant ‘Viva La Vida’ that reached it’s recognition as a hit on the radio this album was the stunning achievement of master class class this past year. An instrumental journey towards peaks of the peaks Chris Martin with band takes us on a fantastic journey filled with inspiration and emotional breakdowns. At track number four I do not know what is going happen but as ’42’ plays on and reaches a climax of a stone rock session I am silenced in my criticism on predictable albums such as masterpiece yet-not-until ‘Fix You’ achieved it’s peak on ‘X&Y’. ‘Lover’s in Japan - Reign of Love’ carries the album onto its finale of ‘Strawberry Swing’, ‘Death and All His Friends’ and ‘The Escapist’ prove that Coldplay is one of the world’s greatest acts for inspiration, art and poetry in the world of music’s force to us human. A divine and heavenly beautiful masterpiece.