Category Archives: Review

Did You Hear That: Adele “21″ a brief review

From the first beat of “Rolling in the Deep,” the first track on Adele’s new album, “21”, it is clear that even at such a young age (all of 22 now), singer/songwriter Adele continues to be a force stronger than she may know. As “21” dips into the style of the country South with a rollicking and rocking propulsion, it highlights the strength of Adele’s voice as surely as it asserts the certainty of her dignity. It’s a little sad to hear stories of heartache and loss from such a young girl, but the strength of Adele’s talent is so clear, it almost negates the natural tendency to empathize. For while she laments being misunderstood and left behind, here she is, soaring ahead with her raspy and textured voice, beautiful and sure and stronger than heartbreak.

- Serena Hedison

Stream the entire lp at npr.com

U.S. release via Columbia on Feb. 22, 2011

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by Oldschool Brian on Feb 16, 2011 at 03:48 PM
Also posted in Pop, So Good It Hurts, streaming |

SO SAYETH PAM – Botany “Waterparker”

Botany - Waterparker

True story:  The other day I ordered Gary Wilson’s latest LP, Electric Endicott, directly from the label, Western Vinyl. A label employee emailed me saying my record had been shipped and to please enjoy a free mp3 download link while I waited for it.

The link included in the message, however, was not for the Gary Wilson album.  It turned out to be a five-song EP from a much younger, yet equally electronically inclined artist I had never heard before.

It was almost as though the universe was saying to me, “You think you wanna listen to some weird-ass, electro-funky pop. But what you really wanna listen to is chillwave.”

Botany, I have come to learn, is the moniker of a 22-year old Texan named Spencer Stephenson. He used to perform under the name Abacus. He also played drums for a Denton, TX band called Sleep Whale. His debut EP Feeling Today is the precursor to a full-length album due out sometime this Spring.

You could sit there and cringe while I use the same words others have used to describe the music he makes: lush, layered, dreamy, shimmery, blissed out. Bleh! Or you could just enjoy yourself and listen to it.

- Pam Torno

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by Oldschool Brian on Jan 21, 2011 at 03:23 PM
Also posted in Chill, Electro, Independent |

1st Listen- Beatles Stereo Remasters – Abbey Road

Wordmark of The Beatles, originally painted di...
Image via Wikipedia

I was fortunate enough to recently be gifted the Beatles stereo remasters boxset after hearing part of it at a friends house.  My parents had most of the the albums , Rubber Soul, Abbey Road, Revolver et al and played them while growing up, but if it wasn’t Hall&Oates, Prince or Duran Duran when I was kid I wasn’t trying to hear it.  I’ve only ever owned two Beatles album in my record collecting history.  Of course I’m familiar with all the hits and the classics same as the rest of the world, those songs are ubiquitous. But I am very excited to listen to the complete albums as they were intended to be heard (except for in stereo).

I’ve started with Abbey Road only because that was the album that came up 1st in itunes.  Already I’m overwhelmed with my familiarity to the music. I recall singing “Octopus’s Garden” with my hippie counsler’s on the way to day camp as a child. Inversely there are songs titles that given just the name I would be hard pressed to come up with the melody. At the same time the Beatles reach is so deep within  popular culture that this past summer I officiated a friends wedding and recited a quote  from “The End” I found on the internet. I don’t think I had ever actually heard that song until today.  “Mean Mr. Mustard” is a song that some tie-die wearing friends of my used to talk about ALL THE TIME in high school. Easy to overlook their opinions due to their fashion choices, but not a bad song.

From a song writing and production stand point by  1969 obviously the Beatles have co-opted the styles of many that have come before them. And that’s cool… that’s cool. But arguably EVERYONE who has written a pop/rock song since,  has bitten a little piece off the Beatles. It’s weird to me how much ” I Want You ( She’s So Heavy) ” would fit so well on the Black Keys – Brothers lp.

And of course all this has been said before, books have been written about it, college courses ( I’ve taken) have been taught  and people more learned than I have spoke about this, But my point,  is have you actually listened to this stuff LATELY?

I’m going to listen to the entire boxset, should I be inspired I will write about it. Up next Let It Be.

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by Oldschool Brian on Dec 16, 2010 at 03:47 PM
Also posted in Icons, Rants, So Good It Hurts |

Meet Eliza Doolittle

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You don’t fool me, Eliza Doolittle. Impeccable speech alone is not enough to
make you a genteel, high society lady. Just like a nice voice paired with a cute face is
not enough to make you an exceptionally talented musician.
Oh, alright. Maybe I’m being too harsh on Miss Doolittle. And I’m talking
about the young British singer-songwriter, not the fictional character.
Sure, her self-titled full-length debut album is as fun and sassy and sweet
and delightfully retro-modern as the press release makes it out to be. It’s not that
it’s bad it’s just that I’m not as thrilled as I used to be with the fresh, young Motown-inspired pop singer that the UK has been exporting for the past few years.”

I’m a little wary of a debut album that sounds this polished right out of the gate. It could use a little
more edge; maybe fuck up the production just a little. And a mild substance abuse
problem wouldn’t hurt either. Just ask Amy Winehouse.
Now that I got the bitchy stuff out of the way, there are a few highlights on
this album. Namely the singles, “Skinny Genes” and “Pack Up.” Both are undeniably
catchy from start to finish. And I do enjoy the clever sampling of “Come Softly to Me”
by the Fleetwoods on “Missing.” Definitely check those tracks, but I wouldn’t bother
with the rest of the album.

- Pam Torno

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by Oldschool Brian on Dec 03, 2010 at 04:06 PM
Also posted in Pop |

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