Posts Tagged: The Thinking Man

Covers / Feature / MP3 / Music — 21 Comments
6
Jan 09

The Thinking Man’s Take On: Covers

I’ve long been a fan of cover songs, and I’m proud of it. I guess it stems from my embarrassing roots as a pseudo-hardcore Dave Matthews Band fan.  It began, most likely sometime in during those awkward, braces + flannel + voice-crack Middle School years, when “Dave” personally introduced me to Lyle Lovett (If I Had A Boat), Willie Nelson (Ain’t It Funny How Time Slips Away), and the great Johnny Cash (Ring Of Fire). As shameful as admitting to once being a Dave Matthews fan can be, if it led to me loving covers I’m willing to do it.  Hi my name is Chris, and I love covers.

There’s something about a good cover song that is just perfect – and difficult to capture. Some people hate covers with a passion, while others hunt them down like it’s their job. Some uphold them as worthy endeavors, others bemoan them as commercial pandering. Covers, like remixes, provide upstart musicians with a chance to prove their mettle in the context of a familiar tune. On the flip side, they allow established artists to take a step back, mess around in the studio one day, and release a song that is held under a smaller magnifying glass than usual. They exist on the fringe of the sphere of music criticism, and often seem more frivolously hobby-ish than painstakingly business-like.

Which is, of course, probably why we like them. Covers capture the essence of making music – the first time you hummed a tune that you heard on the radio, the strumming of some Nirvana chords on your first acoustic guitar, the complete freedom to do whatever you want with a song. But as with all good things, there is a method to the madness. Not all covers are created equal, and some suck pretty majorly. In my mind, here are the dos and don’ts of making a great cover:

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Feature / MP3 / Music — 12 Comments
23
Dec 08

The Thinking Man’s Take On: Making A Mixtape

Twas two days before Christmas

And all through the house

Not a creature was stirring

Except for one certain person who forgot to get Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa Presents for the whole family!

What’s a music lover to do? We’ve all been there before – days, hours, minutes before an occasion – empty-handed and in need of a gift. Well, lucky for you, the Thinking Man is here with some Holiday support. Whether you’re in need of a last minute gift for weird Aunt Cathy or just want something a little more personal than usual for that sister who you never really got along with until she moved out of the house, a Mixtape is the perfect gift.

I know what you’re thinking. It’s December 23rd, you don’t have studio space available, and Lil Wayne’s not answering his cell. Rest easy – it’s not that type of mixtape. Although an album-length recorded mixtape of your own music would be a great gift (google: Passion Pit Valentine), the one we’re talking requires a bit less creativity, time, effort, talent, etc.

But don’t be fooled, future mixtapers of America, making the perfect mix is no easy task. Many have underestimated the time and effort needed to craft a smooth and personalized mix. So to aid those of us who need a little jumpstart on the giving spirit and like to follow recipes/directions/orders, here are 6 Easy Steps to crafting the perfect mixape. Bonus points if you sing the Steps in a cover of Daft Punk’s “Technologic”.

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Feature / MP3 / Music — 11 Comments
16
Dec 08

The Thinking Man’s Take On: Christmas Songs

The Thinking Mans Take On: Christmas Songs feature

What is it about Christmas music? 75% of us love it, 23% of us adamantly hate it, and 2% of us listen to “8 Crazy Nights” on repeat this time of year. Christmas songs are a December fixture, and they’re some of my favorite things in the world.

Note, a passionate love of Christmas music doesn’t mean you have to love Christmas. You don’t even have to be Christian. You just have to have a soft spot in your heart for hearing the same songs year after year after year (after year after year) – in shopping malls, on the radio, in youtube spoofs, and in your roommate’s terrible singing voice.

My love of Christmas songs has been tested this year. I’m a few commercial jingles to the tune of “Deck The Halls” away from throwing electronic appliances out of windows. If I hear another Punk Rock Christmas Carol, I might have a violent reaction. Two weeks ago, I was subjected to a full half hour of Theremin Christmas Songs by a guy named Spaceman Dan. For reals.

But every time I get frustrated with Christmas tunes, I crank up Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas”, curl up by my “Amish Style” Electric Fireplace, and relax as Bing’s sweet pipes lull me into a happy bliss. There are few things more comforting in the world.

There remain a number of questions in my mind about Christmas songs. Some of them are answerable by a voyage to the great Wikipedia, others are more rhetorical in nature, and some revolve around constantly shifting opinions. These 10 questions, in my opinion, define the crux of the riddle of the Christmas song. I pose them to you below, along with my musings for substance. Continue reading →

Feature / MP3 / Music — 15 Comments
9
Dec 08

The Thinking Man’s Take On: Pitchfork Media

The Thinking Mans Take On: Pitchfork Media feature

There has been a lot said, both positive and negative, about the influence of PitchforkMedia.com on music. Pitchfork proponents hail it as a one-stop-shop for trustworthy opinions on music that don’t pander to the masses. A brain-trust of witty, insightful writers combine to make a whole lot of music available to the masses. A favorable review from the King of Hipster Media can vault an unknown band into the spotlight (see: Broken Social Scene, Arcade Fire, Titus Andronicus), giving opportunities to bands without huge advertising budgets, savvy managers, or more than a few great tracks. Pitchfork wades through the crap so you don’t have to, finding the diamonds in the roughest of the rough. Through good writing and exhaustive coverage, Pitchfork has metamorphosed from a twinkle in Ryan Schreiber’s eye into the biggest website in indie music, getting almost a quarter of a million hits per day.

The detractors are eager to contest, however, and they have some good ground to stand on. Pitchfork relies on individual reviewers, they argue, whose opinion often carries a gargantuan weight. A dismissal from the ‘fork means months of writing and recording practically down the drain, hindering careers just as often (or more) than it helps those small-time artists. Equally, Pitchfork lives to create buzz, latching onto the newest trend in indie music to bring it to the forefront. When Justin Timberlake came out with FutureSex/Lovesounds in 2006, Pitchfork hyped it up and it was all of a sudden cool to like pop again. In 2007, Feist and Regina Spektor got good reviews and it was suddenly the Year of the Female Vocalist. Fleet Foxes and Beach House hit in 2008, and lo-fi choral groups were back in style. And Pitchfork was there through it all. Critics are quick to point out that being in Pitchfork’s buzz-genre of the moment is a definite point (literally, 1 point out of ten sometimes) in your favor.

In perhaps the best overall summary of Pitchfork, the band The Airborne Toxic Event took umbrage with the site’s review in the form of a public letter. Citing their own respect – nay, love – for Pitchfork, they also say, “We love indie rock and we know full well that Pitchfork doesn’t so much critique bands as critique a band’s ability to match a certain indie rock aesthetic.” While that is certainly a simplification, it’s a viewpoint that isn’t rare.

But I’m getting side-tracked. I didn’t come here to discuss whether Pitchfork is Good, Bad, or Indifferent – the answer to all of those is a resounding “Maybe”. Instead, I wanted to share a realization I had.

Pitchfork Media is the Google of music.

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Feature — 15 Comments
5
Dec 08

The Thinking Man’s Take On: The 2008 GRAMMY Nominations

The Thinking Mans Take On: The 2008 GRAMMY Nominations feature

Well, the 2008 Grammy Nominations were released yesterday, and now begins the not-so-tense waiting period until we remember one of the following:

a) the Grammys are on February 8, 2009.

b) the Grammys were on February 8, 2009.

c) Grammy’s birthday is in March.

Quick, name the only artist to ever win the “Big Four” Grammy Award in the same year – Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist. If you guessed Christopher Cross, you’re right! And you should go outside or something because you probably don’t get out enough. In fact, if you can name any songs by Christopher Cross (best known for his contribution to the Arthur soundtrack), you should be about 50% proud and 50% embarrassed.

FACTBOMB: Lenny Kravitz once won 4 consecutive Grammys for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance

The point is that historically The Grammys have been out of touch, behind the times, or generally irrelevant. Like really out of touch. Like didn’t nominate a hip hop artist for best album until 1997 out of touch. Like Tonic was nominated for Best Rock Album in 2003 out of touch. Like U2’s “How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb” won Album, Song, Rock Song, and Rock Performance of the year in 2006 out of touch. That last one, if you’re counting, is four (4) more award than U2 deserved that year.

My personal experience with the Grammys, for most of my life, has consisted of this: “Ladies and Gentlemen, here to sing our national anthem…Columbia Recording Artist…and 8 time GRAMMY AWARD WINNER….Doug McDoogle!” Or something generally along those lines. While the Grammys (which are handed out by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences) are supposedly the Oscars of Music, they don’t pack quite the same punch.

FACTBOMB: Three 6 Mafia won an Oscar. They are Academy Award winners.

The Thinking Mans Take On: The 2008 GRAMMY Nominations feature

What was I saying? Oh yes, the Grammys haven’t historically been as classy and distinguished as the Oscars. But they’re slowly catching up to the times. While the Grammy nomination process probably originally resembled the selection of a new pope – that is to say, old white dudes shrouded in secrecy – it now probably is less archaic. It’s probably more like old white dudes shrouded in secrecy with a couple people nearby saying things like “Those Jonas Brothers sure are popular with my 12 year old” and “Don’t forget to include some country music!”

Let’s check out this selection process in action, as we look at the 51st Annual Grammy Nominations for albums that were released between Oct. 1, 2006 and Sept. 30, 2007, applauding the National Recording Academy of Science of Recordings Academy for good selections, mocking them for poor choices, and pointing out missed opportunities where I see fit.

As you may know, there are a whopping 110 categories in this year’s Grammys (yes, seriously) so I’m going to randomly pick and choose categories I like and nominations that are noteworthy.

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Feature — 37 Comments
2
Dec 08

The Thinking Man’s Take On: Year-End Lists

The Thinking Mans Take On: Year End Lists feature

OMG. Can you believe that [X Magazine] didn’t include [underrated album Y] on their 11/12ths-of-the-Year-End List of the best 142 albums?

Does In Rainbows count for Best of 2008 lists? What about Oracular Spectacular? Can they be on Best of 2007 AND Best of 2008 lists? Who makes the rules for these year-end spectaculars? Is it the Web Sherriff?

Is making a Best-Of-2008 list in November like selling 2009 car models in the spring of ’08?

How can Paste Magazine’s top two albums – the best two records produced in the last year – not even merit mention in Blender’s top thirty-three? (Sidenote: the explanation for this is that Paste is crazy)

Is the Pitchfork 500 a NASCAR race?

All these questions have been bouncing around in my head over the past month, and I think it’s time to let them go free. After picking on The Hype Machine last week, I think it’s only right to look at another trend that fits the mold of Things (I Love) That Are Wrong With Music.

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE year-end lists. Love them. In fact, I love lists in general – grocery lists, places I want to travel lists, Franz Liszt – all of them. There’s something very satisfying about looking back at what just happened and saying, “Hey! That was great!”. But for me, Year-End Best-Of Music Lists are like those little candy corn pumpkin things. I’m addicted to them, even though something inside tells me they’re wrong.

And they are wrong. Or rather, they’re done wrong. Everyone and their mother does Year-End Music Lists wrong. Here is how, in my fantasy universe, music lists would work:

The Thinking Man’s Commandments for Making Best-Of Music Lists: Continue reading →

Feature — 35 Comments
25
Nov 08

The Thinking Man’s Take On: The Hype Machine

The Thinking Mans Take On: The Hype Machine feature

Let’s get the facts out of the way at the beginning. The Hype Machine is a 4-year old music blog aggregator that links to mp3 blogs around the interwebs. Tracks are available for preview on hypem.com, available for purchase on partner sites like amazon and e-music, and available for free just a hyperlink away. And – depending on who you talk to – The Hype Machine is either saving the music industry or killing music.

From here on out, it’s pretty much a gray area. Is Hypem simply a website-based Napster connecting peers for the purpose of capital-‘s’ Stealing files? Or is it the web 2.0 equivalent of your cool friend’s older brother who listens to that Sublime album with the dirty words and lets you burn copies of his CDs so you can listen to them on your discman on the bus to 8th grade? Can it be both? Wouldn’t that be awesome?

There are a thousand different questions revolving around the legality of HypeM, but I’ll leave those for the lawyer-types. (Although if you want to bend your brain a bit, consider some light reading on the BetaMax principle and some much heavier documents from the MGM v. Grokster P2P case). I’m more fascinated by the effects of Hypem on music and its increasingly more amorphous industry. If music is the lake and The Hype Machine is the rock, what are the ripples? If Hype Machine is the butterfly, where are the tornadoes? If Hype Machine is [insert action here] what is [insert equal and opposite reaction here]?

Since gray areas don’t really sell, let’s break it down to the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Or, assuming the Ugly is the legal mumbo-jumbo, let’s break it down to the Good and the Bad. And since no one really wants to read a boring article praising the Hype Machine, let’s just skip to the Bad (and maybe throw some Good in from time to time). Without further ado, here are the Deadliest Sins of the Hype Machine: Continue reading →

Feature — 36 Comments
18
Nov 08

The Thinking Man’s Take On: Hipster Runoff

The Thinking Mans Take On: Hipster Runoff feature

Words By: Chris Barth

There are typically two types of music blogs around in this here blogosphere – those that tell you what they like and those that tell you what you should like. And then there’s Hipster Runoff (aka hipsterrunoff/HRO/OMGZHRO/Carles). Authored by “Carles”, The Runoff alternates between hating on the things you like and hating on the things you don’t like, leaving an ambiguously nonexistent center – the inability to be authentically ‘alt’.

American Apparel ads litter the sidebar, flanked by animated gifs defining personal brands and bloghouse genres. The writing alternates between insightful prose and coarse post-racism, centering on image, culture, and the blog-house scene. “You” and “u” are interchangeable, “to” and “2” live side-by-side, and seriously is always spelled “srsly”. Quotation marks are applied liberally, and capitalization is reckless. Rare is the post that actually talks about music.

So maybe it’s not a music blog, per se. But it’s certainly a musically associated blog, with ties to the image of music, its fans, and its stereotypes. HRO takes people, the music they make, and the tunes they listen to, and treats them as a single entity. Its “lifestyle brand” is lifestyle branding. Continue reading →

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