20 feet from Stardom

From what I was able to see from the documentary, backup singers are under appreciated and over talented. The range, ability, and devotion of these singers often times surpasses the "artists" of today, specifically those who rely on autotune to support their feeble vocals. The fact that you know someone who has only had two people not need the assistance of autotuning signifies a greater issue with American pop culture, in that we are fed this bubblegum-pop-techno-no-talent-necessary music that passes for good when in reality it is merely catchy. That is not to say that the quality of music has declined, because there are plenty of artists that are more than qualified for praise. However the mainstream media shoves artists like Selena Gomez and Britney Spears and Flo Rida who aren't even good at singing or rapping or whatever they do, but they are famous and they can generate revenue and that's what really matters, right? The documentary really unearths the disconnect from melodic tracks and harmonies that the American public suffers today.

Ellie Goulding

So I went to this Ellie Goulding concert this past Saturday and it was phenomenal. It was such a fun concert to just GO to and be in this amazing atmosphere of excitement and genuine talent. Ellie has such an impressive range that makes her songs almost exclusively compatible with her voice. I love pretty much every song she has come out with, especially "Figure 8" and her cover of "Your Song" by Elton John. Heres a video from her concert!

Bombay Bicycle Club

Bombay Bicycle Club came out with a new album that I AM IN LOVE WITH. I listen to their album every time I study or read or just sit around. Their songs are a mix of indie-techno-alternative thats really captivating and soothing at the same time. I highly recommend this album in its entirety. And, since they're going to Lollapalooza, I am trying to find myself a ticket. Stay tuned.

This is my favorite song called "Feel" ^^^^^

The audio is better in this version!

Elvis Costello

We listened to Elvis Costello and I never realized the story behind his name. I think it takes a lot of confidence (and a little arrogance) to adopt the name of the King of Rock before his time has even remotely passed. Regardless, Elvis Costello has a distinct and identifying voice which is what, I think, really makes a standout artist.  My favorite songs by him are Alison, Radio Radio, and Watching the Detectives, and (What's So Funny 'bout) Peace, Love, & Understanding.

SXSW

Unfortunately I will be gone for SXSW but the good news is that I'll be here on Wednesday! Kendall and I heard Shelby talking in class about Tyler the Creator coming to the Mohawk Wednesday night, so we made definite plans to go. I come back Tuesday and leave Thursday so clearly it was fate. Regardless Kendall and I will be waiting for Tyler to come on Wednesday night because after we saw him at Jambalaya we made a deal to see him if he was ever in Austin again. I can't wait to see Tyler because we had to leave his other concert early and I will DEFINITELY be there the entire time. Videos to come...

Lorde

My friend invited me to the Lorde concert on Monday night, which was really exciting because I have loved her new album ever since it came out. Lorde is really unique artist and, although she is pretty mainstream now, I still love to listen to her. Sydney Zucker actually showed me Lorde's hit song "Royals" way back at the end of junior year, so I listened to her over the summer.

Lorde's unique voice has a low tone that can jump to a high range in the blink of an eye. Her image appeals to me in that she represents the teenagers of our time, and I feel like I can relate to her (she is 17 and has an IB diploma....sound familiar?). The lyrics of her songs apply to my own encounters throughout high school, something that has been hard for me to find lately in the artists I have been listening to. The simplicity of the instruments in her songs really showcases her voice and keeps me engaged throughout the entire 3-4 minutes, which is sometimes hard to do. I love her whole album top to bottom and particularly enjoy the song "World Alone" because of the subject matter and how relevant it is to my life now, in addition to the ability to make her voice soft, whiny, intense, and comforting all in one song. The use of a synthesizer (I think that's what it's called... we talked about it in class... the square drum-pad-thing?) is apparent throughout her album but is used in a supportive way, not in an annoying-techno-electronic sort of way.

Her show was incredible and simple, around 1 hour 15 minutes. It was the perfect length and her stage presence was supplemented by a keyboard and drum set, and that's all. This left the stage open for her to move around and dance (very strangely), but most importantly it emphasized her voice. She truly had an amazing show and thankfully omitted the annoying theatrics that many singers utilize on their tours.

I took some videos (the quality isn't that great because it was really dark)--

"White Teeth Teens"

"400 Lux" (another favorite)