I was skeptical when Watcha Clan‘s “world & bass” sound first crossed my path and their first show left me unimpressed (Deciphering Watcha Clan). But there was something there that kept me coming back: the musical goals were ambitious and sometimes sometimes it really worked. Then the second time I saw them it all came [...]
Short Takes: “Promised Land” — Michele Bachmann, politics & pop music (from History is Made at Night)
Another repost from the always insightful History is Made at Night blog. Promised Land Last week in Iowa, Michele Bachmann launched her bid to become the Republican candidate in the next US presidential election. On the Tea Party far right of American politics, she has a long, lamentable history of anti-gay and anti-abortion activism not to [...]
Short Takes: “Jackie Wilson’s Melisma – 20 notes for the word ‘for’” (from History is Made at Night)
Final repost (for now) from the always insightful History is Made at Night blog. Jackie Wilson’s Melisma – 20 notes for the word ‘for’ ‘The extent to which the music is integrated with the literal meaning in soul is apparent in some of its basic stylistic conventions, the call and response structure, for instance, where a [...]
“S.F.’s Cuban Cowboys flavor Latin grooves with punk power” (SF Weekly)
The Cuban Cowboys bring together rock ‘n’ roll and Latin beats with a punk sensibility that brings to mind such post-punk genre busters as The Pixies, Manu Chao, Jonathan Richman, and Moroccan cha’abi rockers Hoba Hoba Spirit. Musically promiscuous and lyrically inventive, head Cuban Cowboy, Jorge Navarro, has found the musical voice on their new album Diablo Mambo that was [...]
R.I.P. Cool Ruler — reggae legend Gregory Isaacs passes away at 59
The Cool Ruler, Gregory Isaacs, passed away today in London. Known as the master of ”lovers rock” — smooth vocals over cool grooves — Isaacs made his mark singing romantic songs. However, he also was an eloquent spokesperson for Jamaica’s poor, addressing social social problems in songs such as “A Riot” and “Village of the [...]
Blues Singer Petite Swanson — Crossing the Gender Line in 1940s Chicago
One of my research interests is the largely forgotten history of transgendered performers in American popular music. I thank Ray Astbury for bringing Petite Swanson to my attention, a blues singer in Chicago who recorded four sides for the Sunbeam record company in 1947 (Billboard reported her signing by Sunbeam in March 1947). At the time, Swanson [...]
Musical Subversion: “Glee” version of Dr Dre’s “Bitches Ain’t Shit”
Reposted from Sociological Images FINDING GLEE IN DR. DRE’S BITCHES AIN’T SHIT Sociologist Michael Kimmel passed along a fantastic and entertaining example of resistance. In the video below, a Columbia University a cappella group sings Dr. Dre’s Bitches Ain’t Shit. The appropriation of the song works on so many levels: the all-white, all-female group, the [...]
Reimagining the classics — Turtle Island String Quartet does Hendrix
After being exposed to Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin — a piteous collection of pop dreck — I reluctantly turned my attention to the Turtle Island String Quartet’s Have you ever been…? While the latter’s set of Hendrix covers has not received the level of acclaim that Wilson’s butchering of the songs of the Gershwin [...]
Fat Freddy's Drop: Live in San Francisco (@Afropop.org)
Here’s my review of the best live show I’ve seen this year — published on Afropop.org today. Fat Freddy’s Drop: Live in San Francisco Fat Freddy’s Drop tore up the Independent in San Francisco on Friday, June 25. Soul drenched vocals and reggae riddims mixed with electronic effects, club beats and a killer horn section [...]
Thawra — Another Taqwacore installment from Tales from Bradistan
Another installment in the excellent series on Taqwacore from my sadiqi at Tales from Bradistan. MONDAY, 26 JULY 2010 Al Thawra I am the revolution and you are the revolution In your spirit you have the power In your heart lies the secret From your lips spills the truth That the wine of power is in [...]
