Art is the music we make from the bewildered cry of being alive. ~Maria Popova
27 Apr 2013 Leave a comment
in On a Lighter Note Tags: rappers
(Source: BuzzFeed)
26 Apr 2013 Leave a comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: ave maria, libera
Libera: “Ave Maria” (2001)
Next time you want to slow your heartbeat down and find a quiet, reflective–dare I say prayerful–moment, you could do much worse for background music than London boy choir Libera.
Although some tracks are overlaid with electronic effects that would horrify classical purists (I too think they detract rather than adding to the music’s appeal) when the focus is on the sublime vocals and instrumentation is kept to a minimum the results can be spectacular. Such is the case with their rendition of Franz Schubert’s “Ave Maria”.
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2012/09/29/songs-you-may-have-missed-183/
26 Apr 2013 2 Comments
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: don mclean, empty chairs
Don McLean: “Empty Chairs” (1971)
Having one gigantic hit song can be a mixed blessing for an artist.
It pains me to hear stories of drunken “fans” badgering Don McLean throughout his live concerts for the only song they came to hear, uber-anthem “American Pie”.
This guy was a gifted writer, capable of spinning a set full of thoughtful, diverse and colorful tunes for the patient listener. Trouble is, “American Pie” is the ultimate dive bar sing-along, and it must come at or near the end, otherwise McLean would play the rest of his set to a lot of…empty chairs.
If you like his hit single “Vincent”, this one should find favor with you too.
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2012/04/05/songs-you-may-have-missed-69/
See also: Songs You May Have Missed #702 | Every Moment Has A Song (edcyphers.com)
25 Apr 2013 Leave a comment
in General Posts Tags: beat it, free bird, isolated guitar tracks, love spreads, lynyrd skynyrd, michael jackson, red hot chili peppers, stone roses, the beatles, under the bridge, while my guitar gently weeps
(Source: NME)
It’s undoubtedly one of the greatest guitar performances of all time: the late Allen Collins ripping through the monster-sized solo from Lynryrd Skynyrd’s ‘Free Bird’. And you thought it was hard to play on Guitar Hero…
Here’s Eddie Van Halen solo-ing on Michael Jackson’s ‘Beat It’. Steve Lukather of Toto playing the iconic riff, also available isolated on YouTube – just one reason why Gibson Guitar Corporation named him among the top 10 session guitarists of all time.
If you were in any doubt that John Squire is up there with the greatest British guitarists, listen to this incredible isolated guitar part from ‘Love Spreads’. You can find the other instruments isolated on YouTube too, meaning if you’re incredibly bored you can open all of them at the same time and pretend you’re with them in the recording studio.
It’s not as cleanly isolated as some of the others, but the sound of ol’ slow hands Eric Clapton guesting on George Harrison’s ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’ is that of a master at work. He really starts to make it wail at about two minutes in.
Stunningly intricate guitar-work from John Frusciante on this: more fragile than you might imagine.
24 Apr 2013 2 Comments
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: presents, via audio
Via Audio: “Presents” (2007)
New York-based (by way of Boston) indie pop quartet Via Audio are distinguished by rich harmonies and a willingness to experiment with a variety of textures and rhythms. The kind of band, in other words, that doesn’t start to wear out their welcome over the course of a full album.
There are lots of better-known acts of whom the same cannot be said.
Every Moment Has A Song 