tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-355694762024-03-13T07:52:03.555-04:00One Note AheadWelcome to One Note Ahead. From October of 2006 through April of 2010, I used this space to bring you a variety of writings and videos pertaining to music and the music industry. I've kept the blog online since discontinuing new posts, but in August of 2014, I had to close comments because of a barrage of spam comments. Sorry, but I hope you enjoy the blog anyway.Shaheen J. Dibaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18176225916977840677noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35569476.post-11547626169979981962010-04-20T21:03:00.004-04:002010-04-20T22:21:34.058-04:00Farewell.<span style="font-family:arial;">You may very well have seen this coming. Then again, maybe not. In the <a href="http://onenoteahead.blogspot.com/2009/12/ona-year-in-review-2009.html">2009 Year In Review</a>, I discussed the tough year One Note Ahead had, explaining that after reaching a peak of popularity in 2008, ONA slipped in '09 -- and powerful forces seemed to be working against it. But I ended by saying, "</span><span style="font-family:arial;">As long as people are reading and I have the time, I'll keep ONA going."<br /><br />About that....<br /><br />Since last July, I've been trying various methods of attracting and maintaining interest and visibility, and I've been paying close attention to the results. There have been some signs of promise here and there, but it seems that overall, the long-term trend has been a definite decline in both interest and visibility. Readership was not the only key component of this blog to suffer. There have also been too many instances in which I haven't even been able to find new artists to write about -- and too many instances in which it no longer made sense to write about the same artists, either because getting reviewed on ONA no longer mattered to their careers or because my relationships with those artists had reached a point where writing about them would not have been appropriate.<br /><br />As for time, well, I'm not so sure I have it anymore. Posting on ONA has become a chore: "SJ, remember to put something up on One Note Ahead this month," operating on the premise that posting at least once a month would help to keep readers on board. But since the end of last year, my work as a music publicist has reached exciting, and sometimes exhausting, new levels, and posts on ONA have become rather perfunctory: "Okay, let me just review this so I can get back to work." I truly feel that the quality of my posts has suffered this year, both because of the time factor and the shortage of artists to write about. The new "Top 5 of the Moment" series does not represent the kind of blog One Note Ahead should be.<br /><br />So after three years and seven months, I am ending One Note Ahead while it still has some dignity. It will remain online for now. You can take this time to look through posts you might have missed. Most of them are good or even great -- and even the ones I'm not proud of are still not bad!<br /><br />I'd like to take a moment to spotlight the artists who, when all was said and done, gave One Note Ahead its own special character. Not the artists I wrote about once or twice and never mentioned again, talented though they all were, and not the classic artists who have received plenty of coverage elsewhere. I'm talking about the contemporary artists who made a lasting impression to the end of the blog's lifespan and whose music really represents what One Note Ahead did best: championing, often pioneering, great new sounds from artists who lived outside of the proverbial box. In order according to their first ONA appearances, they are:<br /><br />Matt Duke<br /><br />SuperJimenez (R.I.P. -- "Rock In Perpetuity," as Artie Wayne would say)<br /><br />Andrew Lipke<br /><br />Laura Cheadle<br /><br />Downtown Harvest<br /><br />The Swimmers<br /><br />The Idles<br /><br />Jim Boggia<br /><br />Nicole Atkins<br /><br />Ingrid Michaelson<br /><br />Jake Snider (don't forget to support him in the <a href="http://onenoteahead.blogspot.com/2010/04/top-5-of-moment-41710.html">College Battle of the Bands</a>!)<br /><br />April Smith<br /><br />The Guggenheim Grotto (new song just released: <a href="http://www.guggenheimgrotto.com/wisdom/">http://www.guggenheimgrotto.com/wisdom/</a>)<br /><br />Tim McGlone<br /><br />Diane Birch<br /><br />Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles<br /><br />Sharon Little<br /><br />The Bacon Brothers<br /><br />Panic Years<br /><br /><br />Honorable mention to these artists who might've become ONA essentials if they'd only had time:<br /><br />Butterfly Boucher<br /><br />Reality Stricken (now known as The Escape)<br /><br />Tippy Canoe<br /><br />Chris Bruni<br /><br /><br />In truth, I must thank all of the artists I've ever covered in any way here because they all gave me something to write about. And I sincerely thank you, the readers, for being an audience and for giving me feedback and support through the years. One Note Ahead has been a pretty amazing journey in itself, but now it is time to travel new roads. Happy trails to you, until we meet again.<br /><br />Oh, and....rock on!<br /><br />Copyright © 2010 S.J. Dibai. All rights reserved.<br />_<br /></span>Shaheen J. Dibaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18176225916977840677noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35569476.post-52489589679595153662010-04-17T21:27:00.003-04:002010-04-17T22:56:10.471-04:00Top 5 of the Moment - 4/17/10<span style="font-family:arial;">I was not expecting to do a second installment in this new series so soon after the first, but hey, the times call for it!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. Jake Snider heading towards the big time?</span><br /><br />I told you in <a href="http://onenoteahead.blogspot.com/2010/01/album-review-ultimate-jake.html">January</a> that our buddy <a href="http://www.snidercreative.com/">Jake Snider</a> is in college in NYC but still comes back home to the Philly area when he gets a chance. That's all still true, but what's also true is that out of thousands of submissions, Jake Snider will be one of a mere three acts representing the New York area in the College Battle of the Bands -- sponsored by AT&T and Gibson! The NY battle happens on the 29th; the winner goes on to the North Semi-Finals in May, whose winner plays the Grand Finale in Las Vegas in June! BUT if you know anything about Battles of the Bands, you know that you need to help the artist advance. In this case, you can go vote for Jake and rate his ONA-favored track "All You Need" here: <a href="http://www.collegebattleofthebands.com/Jake_Snider/">http://www.collegebattleofthebands.com/Jake_Snider/</a><br /><br />More info is available on that page as well.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. Thom McCarthy</span><br /><br />Quickly becoming a celebrity on the Philly music scene, this guy is not your average singer/songwriter. Proof? His brand-new EP is called <span style="font-style: italic;">I Lost Half My Album & My Favorite Hat in the '92 Flood</span>. It's like someone mixed folk, soul, and showtunes that are not at all ready for Broadway but will be appreciated someday by future generations. Except these tunes are being appreciated NOW by a growing number of Philly music fans, as demonstrated by the crowd's raucous singing along at Thom's EP release earlier this month. Yeah, I was there, wailing right along with everyone else, and you might be doing the same thing if you ever make it to one of his shows. Just don't talk loudly while he's playing....he doesn't like that.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/thommccarthy">http://www.myspace.com/thommccarthy</a><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/thommccarthy">http://www.facebook.com/thommccarthy</a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. Dani Mari</span><br /><br />If you read One Note Ahead enough, you know how I feel about Jersey Girls. Especially Jersey Girls who can sing. For about three years, I've watched and listened as this Jersey Girl shared her fascinating songcraft and developed into a hell of a singer, bringing an endearing quirky jazz slant to her pop-sensible folk-rock. And she always seems to be organizing events or hosting Open Mic's, so if you're trying to avoid her....good luck. She's got a big music video and an album in the pipeline, but meanwhile, enjoy the catchy and haunting single "Vampire," which you can find on iTunes.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/danimarirock">http://www.myspace.com/danimarirock</a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. So you wanna make money in the music business?</span><br /><br />World Cafe sent this out through Facebook yesterday. Some artists say they make more money from selling CDs at shows than they do from online record sales, but I never realized just how true that could be: <a href="http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2010/04/chart-of-the-day-4.html#more">http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2010/04/chart-of-the-day-4.html#more</a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5. The mysterious Mr. Gibson revealed!</span><br /><br />I started with a Battle of the Bands sponsored by Gibson, so I'll end with a musician named Gibson. Years ago, I picked up an oldies CD of questionable legitimacy which contained a mysterious instrumental entitled "Midnight," the artist identified as "Johnny Gibson." I had no idea who he was, but the instrumental, fast-paced beat and dramatic orchestration aside, was simple, basic rhythm & blues. Or so I thought until I tried to play it by ear and realized it was a lot more complex than it seemed. But who was Johnny Gibson? All I could find was that he was an R&B pianist and that "Midnight" was a minor hit in 1962. And I couldn't find a clean copy of that track to save my life.<br /><br />Well, there is a clean copy available on iTunes now, on <span style="font-style: italic;">Twirl Records Story Volume 3</span>. (There is also an entire Johnny Gibson comp on iTunes, but "Midnight" is a scratchy vinyl dub on that one.) And there is now a bio of Johnny Gibson which has me intrigued enough to want to check out his other recordings.<br /><br />Here's "Midnight" for the uninitiated:<br /><br /><object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uUGFG_VVw7g&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uUGFG_VVw7g&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />And here is the informative bio: <a href="http://home.comcast.net/%7Etwirlrecords/johnnygibson.html">http://home.comcast.net/~twirlrecords/johnnygibson.html</a><br /><br />And that's my Top 5 of the Moment!<br /><br />Text copyright © 2010 S.J. Dibai. All rights reserved.<br />_<br /></span>Shaheen J. Dibaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18176225916977840677noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35569476.post-56752026967086742872010-03-29T22:01:00.006-04:002010-03-29T23:09:56.197-04:00Top 5 of the Moment - 3/29/10<span style="font-family:arial;">As much as I love the "One Video Ahead" and "Now Hear This!" series, I must say they can be a bit constricting. So while those series will continue, I've decided to start a new one to share whatever I happen to be into at the moment, as long as it's relevant to music.<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">1. <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Liam and Me - "Say It Out Loud"<br /><br /></span></span>It seems as though everyone I know in the music business already loves this band. Maybe I just know a lot of people with good taste. I haven't seen Liam and Me in person yet, and so far they only have one single out -- but what a single! "Say It Out Loud" sure is some snappy, melodic pop-rock with sly lyrics; it's got "hit" written all over it. Also, you know that I rarely enjoy music videos, but I genuinely like this one!<br /><br /><object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VE5OCKTEYgA&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&hd=1&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VE5OCKTEYgA&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&hd=1&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">2. "Somewhere" in '60s pop music<br /><br /></span>So how great is <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">West Side Story</span>, anyway? Well, I don't know.....I've never seen a dancing, singing gang in real life.....but how about those songs? "Somewhere" has long been one of my favorite tunes of all time, and lately I've been thinking about two rather quirky hit versions from the 1960s. The best-known to American audiences, as well as the easiest for us in the US to find, is by <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Len Barry</span>, done in a stomping Motownish style with some downright odd vocal acrobatics and....recognize that horn riff in the intro? It's one of those records that shouldn't work, but does.<br /><br /><object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QeLeTsQJ7S8&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QeLeTsQJ7S8&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object><br /><br />And then there's <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">P.J. Proby</span>'s version, a minor hit in the US but a sensation in the UK. I could go to the trouble of describing just how he came up with this interpretation, but those would be mere words, and mere words cannot do it justice. It just has to be heard to be believed:<br /><br /><object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BcWIUTBjvJo&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&hd=1&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BcWIUTBjvJo&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&hd=1&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object><br /><br />There's also a very good, albeit much less quirky, version by <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">The 4 Seasons</span>, from their <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Entertain You</span> album. Any other '60s pop versions I should know about?<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">3. Birdie Busch<br /><br /></span>She's a favorite on the Philly music scene, and I've recently come to understand why. This delicate-voiced young woman excels at writing songs that are intelligent without being pretentious, and can she ever play some rootsy guitar. And as if her <a href="http://www.myspace.com/birdiebusch">musical talents</a> weren't enough, she keeps us both entertained and enlightened with her fascinating musings on her blog: <a href="http://birdiebusch.blogspot.com/">http://birdiebusch.blogspot.com/</a> I must admit to being a late-comer to her fan base, but better late than never, right?<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">4. Ringooooo!!!!!<br /><br /></span>Ringo Starr's solo work seems to be extremely polarizing; just look at the comments below any of his online videos. Okay, so his solo talents don't quite measure up to those of his former bandmates, but he has come up with some charming and even moving material over the years. "Walk With You," the lead single from his new album <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Y Not</span>, has received a lot of attention for featuring a prominent harmony vocal from <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Paul McCartney</span>. That's all well and good, but if you ask me, it deserves to be recognized as a genuinely good song, too! Its message about the triumph of love and friendship is just what we need in these times of bitter discord. To hear two old friends, who happen to be the only surviving members of the Fab Four, sing it together just adds an extra layer of poignancy. Yes, these guys are truly survivors, and it's comforting to hear two of The Beatles' voices together again.<br /><br />I don't have the whole album as of yet, but Ringo recently did a great World Cafe interview about it: <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123380813">http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123380813</a><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"></span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"></span><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">5. Makes no difference if the man in the mirror is black or white.<br /><br /></span>The question that has puzzled us for decades: did <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Michael Jackson </span>really have a skin disorder or did he deliberately make his skin lighter? The answer to both questions is: yes. If you haven't heard the news, check it out: <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100327/ap_on_en_mu/us_michael_jackson_investigation">http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100327/ap_on_en_mu/us_michael_jackson_investigation</a><br /><br />While you're at it, compare that article to this one. I don't remember how or when I found it, but it really makes you think: <a href="http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20090716f1.html">http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20090716f1.html</a><br /><br />And that is today's Top 5 of the Moment!<br /><br />Text copyright © 2010 S.J. Dibai. All rights reserved.<br />__</span>Shaheen J. Dibaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18176225916977840677noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35569476.post-13467604035903198092010-03-22T22:04:00.004-04:002010-03-29T22:49:43.922-04:00EP Review: The Panic Is On!<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-style: italic;">"And all I want is to go farther than my mouth will let me." </span>(from "Farther")<br /><br />If we think of life and its soundtrack as part of a continuum, the past few months in the One Note Ahead universe have made perfect sense. For example, at the <a href="http://onenoteahead.blogspot.com/2009/12/ona-year-in-review-2009.html">end of 2009</a>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Panic Years</span>' self-titled debut and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Reality Stricken</span>'s <span style="font-style: italic;">Signal Fire</span> ran neck-and-neck in the "EP of the Year" stakes, with <span style="font-style: italic;">Panic Years</span> getting the nod. Here I am three months later, now Reality Stricken's publicist, beginning another phase of campaigning on their behalf but taking a little time out to review Panic Years' second EP.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Finally, Today Is Tomorrow</span> is not a radical departure from the first EP. Yes, the band's influences are somewhat more pronounced this time around, Foo Fighters and Silversun Pickups in particular, but Panic Years still don't really sound like anyone else to my ears. The basic elements that made the band so special in the first place are still here: fluid-but-driving guitars, complex drumming patterns, raw vocals, and the juxtaposition of beautiful melodies with downbeat lyrics.<br /><br />However, <span style="font-style: italic;">Finally</span> is not a mere retread of the eponymous debut. <span style="font-style: italic;">Finally</span> has a more straightforward rock sound overall, with a greater focus on electric guitars and drums presented more aggressively in the mix. Considering what singer Ed Everett does to his voice, it's a wonder he even has one left, but on this EP he explores new dimensions of it: from soft near-whispering to throaty growling to shouting like Mick Jagger, as well as the pained screaming we so loved on the first record. There is also a higher level of complexity to the song structures and arrangements, although this seems a natural progression given that the songs and arrangements on <span style="font-style: italic;">Panic Years</span> were hardly simple.<br /><br />EPs are proving to be an ideal medium for this band, with two strong five-song collections that have their own identities and personalities. It'll be interesting to see where Panic Years go next artistically, but meanwhile they will be literally going a few places to celebrate tomorrow's release of <span style="font-style: italic;">Finally, Today Is Tomorrow</span>. Catch them on <a href="http://www.voltaradio.com/">Volta Radio</a> tomorrow night, March 23rd, at 7:30 PM (EDT) and on <a href="http://www.radio1045.com/main.html">Radio 104.5</a> Friday, March 26th, at 5 PM (EDT). If you're free that night, at least 21, and can get there and back home, consider their CD release show at <a href="http://northstarbar.com/index.php/shows">North Star</a> in Philly.<br /><br />For music and more info: <a href="http://www.myspace.com/panicyears">http://www.myspace.com/panicyears</a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Panic Years</span> EP review: <a href="http://onenoteahead.blogspot.com/2009/08/spotlight-on-panic-years.html">http://onenoteahead.blogspot.com/2009/08/spotlight-on-panic-years.html</a><br /><br />Copyright © 2010 S.J. Dibai. All rights reserved.<br />__<br /></span>Shaheen J. Dibaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18176225916977840677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35569476.post-17550127000714140342010-02-05T20:31:00.004-05:002010-02-05T21:11:18.612-05:00Album Review: Bruni Is "Here"<span style="font-family:arial;">In a blog entry on MySpace last year, Philly singer/songwriter Chris Bruni wrote: "Just a reminder, I've posted yet another song from my new album for you to take a listen. This song is called 'Use It.' I suppose it's somewhat political, but not necessarily. Take it however you'd like to, I just hope you like it."<span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />That laid-back vibe pretty much dominates on Chris' second album, <span style="font-style: italic;">I've Been Here</span>, though you'd hardly know it from the work he put into this thing. It's an increasingly familiar storyline for recording artists these days: he and his label parted ways, and he turned to his fans to fund the recording and manufacturing of his next album, getting some local heavy-hitters to help him bring his musical vision to life. The finished product sounds great; I've previously praised Tim Sonnefeld's skills as a producer and I'm not about to stop now.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />I've Been Here</span> presents Chris as a soul-influenced folk-rock singer/songwriter with a touch of David Gray in his voice and a knack for writing lyrics that paint pictures in your mind but are also open to interpretation. It's a pretty mellow affair by Chris' own admission, so don't go running to this album if you're looking to rock out; personally, it's helped me to wind down a bit during some hectic times in my work life! Some of the highlights for me so far are as follows: "Too Late," with downbeat lyrics and exquisite cello from our friend Krista Nielsen -- you know, Andrew Lipke's cellist; "Bobby Run," a moody, rootsy story-song in the finest folk tradition; the romantic drama "Standing By Your Room," superbly performed as a duet with local fave <a href="http://www.myspace.com/laurashay">Laura Shay</a>; and the uptempo "4th of July," with Chris' rhythmic vocal delivery.<br /><br />For music and more:<br /><a href="http://chrisbrunimusic.com/">http://chrisbrunimusic.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/chrisbruni">http://www.myspace.com/chrisbruni</a><br /><a href="http://www.sonicbids.com/chrisbruni">http://www.sonicbids.com/chrisbruni</a><br /><br />Copyright © 2010 S.J. Dibai. All rights reserved.<br />_<br /></span></span>Shaheen J. Dibaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18176225916977840677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35569476.post-21187314083974662382010-01-30T22:46:00.006-05:002011-05-19T20:49:25.554-04:00Now Hear This! - Vol. 4<span style="font-family:arial;">It's been a few months since I've compiled a list of earworms for you, but let's get to it! As always, these are not exactly chart-toppers, and as always, I'll choose at least three newer ones and just as many older ones. These tracks can all be downloaded legally -- or at least streamed on an authorized website.<br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-style: italic;">Newer</span> </strong><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Tell Me What I Have To Do," The Bacon Brothers</span> (available on <span style="font-style: italic;">New Year's Day</span>)<br /><br />Remember how I reviewed The Bacon Brothers' <a href="http://onenoteahead.blogspot.com/2009/07/xponential-function-part-two.html">XPN festival performance</a> last year and how I included an entire TV program of same in my <a href="http://onenoteahead.blogspot.com/2009/12/one-video-ahead-2009-time-capsule.html">2009 Video Time Capsule</a>, yet I never once spotlighted any of their songs in particular? Uuuuhhhhh......my bad. For my Philly peeps, the title track to the Bacons' latest album is a wonderful celebration of a local tradition, but the rest of y'all out there probably have no clue what a Mummer is, so I'm choosing a more universal song that I also can't get out of my head. "Tell Me What I Have To Do" is an aggressive-yet-gentle folk-rocker in which Michael Bacon mumbles his way through some off-the-wall musings about unrequited love. Great harmonies and tasty harmonica round out the package.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Balboa," Downtown Harvest </span>(available on <span style="font-style: italic;">Discovering Dinosaurs</span>)<br /><br />Taking care of more unfinished business from 2009, you might recall a few news updates about DTH's new album. Oddly, a PR rep for the band told me that Valentine's Day is its official release date, but check your favorite digital music store and you'll probably find it now. There are a few "earworms" on this one, including the album's opener, "Balboa." Adroit vocal trade-offs, a funky jazz-rock sound, and lyrics that are either sexy or criminal (perhaps both) make this track a must-hear.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Don't Let Me Forget," Charlotte O'Connor</span> (availability details below)<br /><br />My friend Katie recently spotlighted this artist on <a href="http://katiemdr.blogspot.com/2010/01/and-missing-piece-of-me-i-can-find-in.html">her blog</a> and even picked this song as a winner, so I had to hear what all the fuss was about. This young British singer/songwriter has a major label deal and is working on her first album, but she has already built up quite a following and played many shows. And yes, Katie is right: "Don't Let Me Forget" is a gem. Breezy mainstream pop, yes, but good breezy mainstream pop with heartfelt lyrics and some nice vocal moments. It just works, but you can't get a copy of it yet: you'll have to listen on <a href="http://www.myspace.com/charlottesoul">Charlotte's MySpace</a>. Incidentally, if you go to her <a href="http://www.charlotteoconnor.com/">website</a> and register, you get a free download; hoping to get "Don't Let Me Forget," I was offered "Move On" instead. Not a bad song, but "Forget" is gold.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Older</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Stranger With A Black Dove," Peter and Gordon</span> (available on <span style="font-style: italic;">Peter and Gordon </span>[1966])<br /><br />More unfinished business from 2009! Remember how, when Gordon Waller <a href="http://onenoteahead.blogspot.com/2009/07/one-video-ahead-so-long-gordon.html">passed away</a>, I named this "sublimely abstract" song as a prime example of Peter and Gordon's songwriting talent? Well, it's not my fault that it took so long to get onto iTunes! It was actually intended as the A-side of the single, but got flipped over with "There's No Living Without Your Loving" taking top honors. Pity, because "Black Dove" is one of those 1960s folk-pop songs with strangely mystical lyrics that make you remember just why the '60s were such a special decade for popular music. On a personal note, I'm thrilled that I no longer have to listen to my scratchy vinyl copy -- or anyone else's!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Help Me Find A Way (To Say I Love You)," Little Anthony & The Imperials</span> (available on <span style="font-style: italic;">The Best of Little Anthony & The Imperials</span> [Capitol Records - not the Rhino label comp])<br /><br />I've spent half my life as a fan of Little Anthony & The Imperials -- an unusual thing for a 28-year-old to say, but it's true! However, I only recently discovered this minor hit from 1970 which hasn't always made it onto the group's greatest hits compilations. Here in Philly, Thom Bell worked soul magic with vocal bands that weren't necessarily heavy on talent, but Little Anthony & The Imperials sure could sing. And they were veterans by this time, having been on the charts every now and then since 1958. The assured professionalism of the group, combined with the elegant touch of Thom Bell, made for a great overlooked Philly soul record. Anthony really hammed it up with his lead vocal, but in so doing he brought a lot of depth out of a song that was pretty simple on its surface.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"The Dedication Song," Freddy Cannon </span>(available on <span style="font-style: italic;">Boom Boom Rock 'n' Roll - The Best of Freddy Cannon</span>)<br /><br />They should prescribe Freddy Cannon's records as antidepressants! His specialty was and still is loud and proud all-American rock 'n' roll, and he had his biggest hits at times when America sure needed them: the period of 1959-1963, when rock 'n' roll had been beaten into submission thanks to the payola scandals and other unfortunate developments; and 1964-65, when the British Invasion was knocking many American artists off the charts. But by 1966, the Boom Boom Man was falling out of fashion as well, and the rowdy "Dedication Song" stalled just outside of the <span style="font-style: italic;">Billboard</span> Top 40. It was Freddy's last Hot 100 hit until 1981, but what a way to go out: a crazed, hyperactive arrangement and ol' Freddy's typically raw vocals delivering a tune that paid homage to the rock 'n' roll deejays who made dedications for their teen listeners. This Russ Regan composition is a timely song now that radio deejays just ain't what they used to be.....<br /><br /><br />Freddy Cannon fans, check out this recent, extraordinary retrospective and interview with Ronnie Allen: <a href="http://www.jerseygirlssing.com/RonnieRadioPage.html#Freddy%20Cannon">http://www.jerseygirlssing.com/RonnieRadioPage.html#Freddy%20Cannon</a><br /><br /><br />Text copyright © 2010 S.J. Dibai. All rights reserved.<br />_<br /></span>Shaheen J. Dibaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18176225916977840677noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35569476.post-57305263588445179112010-01-17T21:12:00.005-05:002010-01-20T18:47:42.431-05:00EP Review: Definitely Not "Idle"<span style="font-family:arial;"><em>"The rain is comin' down to clean the streets / Wash away the liars, wash away the cheats"</em> (from "The Surge")</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Way back in <a href="http://onenoteahead.blogspot.com/2008/03/spotlight-on-idles.html">March of 2008</a>, I introduced you to a self-described "dirty rock 'n' roll" band out of Liverpool called <strong>The Idles</strong>. These days, The Idles are still turning out music for those who like their rock 'n' roll loud, raw, and unpretentious. Their new EP, <em>Arrogance Through Ignorance </em>(Forty Six Records), is a professional studio effort with all the requisite sonic polish, but while many bands would sound watered down in such a context, The Idles sound brash and powerful. New member Aaron Sawyer's drums are particularly forceful in these mixes, while the fluidity of Matthew Freeman's rhythm guitar takes on new significance. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">"Powder" is an excellent example of the band's tremendous playing, while Ben Hartland's soulful, raspy vocals are best displayed on "Changing Faces." This song is similar musically to "Rock 'n' Roll Room Service" from their demo EP <em>Dirty Rock 'n' Roll</em>, but while "Room Service" was badass and snotty, "Changing Faces" accomplishes the more impressive feat of being tender while still rocking. As for </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">"Everyday I'm A Rockstar," which the band previewed online last year, its double-edged lyrics will keep you amused for months. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Most bands need to grow or expand stylistically so they don't become stale, so it's nice to hear The Idles change things up with "The Surge," a moody, bluesy shuffle with vivid lyrical imagery.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">The release of <em>Arrogance Through Ignorance </em>was delayed twice, but you can find it now on iTunes and Amazon. Get it while the getting's good.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">For music and more info: <a href="http://www.myspace.com/theidlesrocknroll">http://www.myspace.com/theidlesrocknroll</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">[revised January 20, 2010]<br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Copyright © 2010 S.J. Dibai. All rights reserved.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">_</span>Shaheen J. Dibaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18176225916977840677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35569476.post-15586545613841021372010-01-14T21:11:00.004-05:002010-01-14T21:47:54.253-05:00One Video Ahead: Teddy and Bobby (Not Kennedy)<span style="font-family:arial;">Our first "One Video Ahead" of 2010 is yet another poignant entry in the series, and remember that the volume varies on these clips and they might not be available forever. That said</span><span style="font-family:arial;">, you may have heard the news by now: two of the greats of R&B just passed away, and neither one of them should be sent off without some major props for their contributions.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">In the realm of Philly soul, <strong>Teddy Pendergrass</strong> was one of the tops. Sure, the group that made him famous was called Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, and he was not their first lead singer or their last. But his voice, with a little help from Gamble and Huff, propelled the Blue Notes to their greatest heights:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/W7Ni7LGXW7g&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/W7Ni7LGXW7g&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object><br /><br />Pendergrass went on to have a successful solo career, but a horrible car accident in 1982 left him paralyzed from the waist down. What always struck me about him was that as he continued to perform post-injury, he still had an obvious love of performing:<br /><br /><object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GD_WRafl3LE&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GD_WRafl3LE&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object><br /><br />If you are interested in learning more, here's a good two-part feature on Teddy and his spinal cord injury from 2007: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSE6QQUHUME&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSE6QQUHUME&feature=related</a> (Part One) <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cUXHyQTHHo&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cUXHyQTHHo&feature=related</a> (Part Two)<br /><br />We've also just lost Robert Charles Guidry, better known as <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Bobby Charles</span>. Either of his names seems ubiquitous when looking through the history of Louisiana music. A reclusive, somewhat mysterious singer and songwriter, Charles recorded the original version of his composition "See You Later, Alligator," which became a hit when Bill Haley and His Comets covered it in a rock 'n' roll style. Charles went on to write more classics of the early rock 'n' roll era and later worked with luminaries like The Band and Dr. John. Here are some of his greatest hits:<br /><br />Bobby Charles - "See You Later, Alligator"<br /><br /><object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7K3n0bodrV4&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7K3n0bodrV4&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object><br /><br />Bill Haley - "See You Later, Alligator"<br /><br /><object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fEiiLZdA3Sg&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fEiiLZdA3Sg&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object><br /><br />Fats Domino - "Walkin' To New Orleans"<br /><br /><object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DdHG8wnkUuQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DdHG8wnkUuQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object><br /><br />Clarence "Frogman" Henry - "(I Don't Know Why) But I Do"<br /><br /><object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ijBCfYrRkDI&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ijBCfYrRkDI&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object><br /><br />For more on Bobby Charles, check out this excellent article: <a href="http://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2010/01/bobby_charles_louisiana_songwr.html">http://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2010/01/bobby_charles_louisiana_songwr.html</a><br /><br />Rock on, Bobby and Teddy. Rock on!<br /><br /><br />Text copyright © 2010 S.J. Dibai. All rights reserved.<br />_</span>Shaheen J. Dibaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18176225916977840677noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35569476.post-9510348363889520172010-01-10T17:56:00.011-05:002010-01-11T22:25:06.278-05:00Album Review: Ultimate Jake<span style="font-family:arial;">I first reviewed Jake Snider in <a href="http://onenoteahead.blogspot.com/2008/09/cd-review-snider-gives-green-light.html">September of 2008</a>, and if you've been following One Note Ahead since then, you might be a tad confused by the release of an ostensibly new Jake Snider album featuring a lot of familiar song titles. I'll clear it all up for you, but first let me say that if you're new to Jake Snider, you should check out his eponymous full-length. Here's a young singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who most definitely does not fit the bland teenybopper profile that dominates the radio these days. The<span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"> Jake Snider </span>album showcases his jazz, soul, piano pop, and classical influences at their best, with lyrics that are intelligent without being pretentious. Go to enough Jake Snider shows and you'll see a frequent supporting cast including sax-playing brother Cary Snider, bass picker and drum basher Jeff Berman, harmony queen Emily Bach, and bass jam-master Ben Berry; they're all on this album, as is Eric Bazilian. Yes, you read right.<br /><br />What about this album's specific contents?<br /><br />=> Two tracks on <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Jake Snider</span>, "How?" and "Prisoner of the Alley," appeared previously on Jake's debut EP <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Green Lights For Granted</span>. These songs contain some of Jake's darkest lyrics -- for example, "Alley" features lines like "Call me slave of the street, but I don't want no more sympathy; sympathy just makes me lonely." <a href="http://onenoteahead.blogspot.com/2008/09/cd-review-snider-gives-green-light.html">Back in the day</a>, I wrote that "</span><span style="font-family:arial;">the glorious 'How?' needs little adornment to cement its position as a sublime slice of jazz-pop</span><span style="font-family:arial;">," and I still stand by that. A third title, "To the Ocean," sure looks familiar but don't be fooled: the version featured on <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Green Lights </span>was a polished studio recording, whereas the version on <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Jake Snider</span> is Jake's original rough demo. I can't really say which one is better; it's the first Jake Snider song I really fell for, so I'll probably be a sucker for it in any form.<br /><br />=> "All You Need," "The Seven," "The Day I Got Old," "Headmasters of the Past," and the instrumental "King's Cross" first appeared on a limited-release EP called <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">The Seven</span>. Though I <a href="http://onenoteahead.blogspot.com/2009/10/now-hear-this-vol-3.html">announced last October</a> that the EP would get a large-scale release, it was handed out at certain shows and that's all. Jake described it as being influenced by <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows</span>. I'm no <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Harry Potter</span> buff, but "Headmasters of the Past" certainly relies on a J.K. Rowling connection, and I'll guess that "The Seven" does, too. The others can be enjoyed absent any literary context. This goes especially for the amazing "All You Need," whose elaborate structure and arrangement complement, rather than overshadow, the song's message: "And we stand, you know love is a mountain, the higher you climb, the slower time is taken away."<br /><br />=> Completely new to this album are the songs "City Blues," "Something Beautiful," "Rewind," and "Moment In Yours." "Something Beautiful" and "Rewind" exemplify the magic that takes place when Jake combines his mood-shifting compositions with Jeff's jazzy drumming and Emily's warm voice. </span><span style="font-family:arial;">I want so badly to write off "Moment In Yours" as piano lounge mush, but I can't; it's just too sincere in its delicate beauty. </span><span style="font-family:arial;">"City Blues" is a moody, funky masterpiece, with Cary's scat-like sax technique used to satisfying effect.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />=> Three worthy songs still available on <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Green Lights For Granted</span> are not here: "Early Morning Somewhere," "Mr. Hemingway," and "Say Farewell." Your life will go on.<br /><br />Jake Snider is in college in New York City these days, but he comes back home to the Philly area when he gets a chance. So if you live in or near either of those places, keep your eyes out for him because he is well worth seeing in person. Meanwhile, the <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Jake Snider</span> album is available on CD Baby and iTunes.<br /><br />For music and more information: <a href="http://www.snidercreative.com/">http://www.snidercreative.com/</a> or <a href="http://www.myspace.com/jakesnidermusic">http://www.myspace.com/jakesnidermusic</a> </span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />Copyright © 2010 S.J. Dibai. All rights reserved.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">_</span>Shaheen J. Dibaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18176225916977840677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35569476.post-69145802107055460752009-12-11T23:35:00.003-05:002009-12-18T10:56:41.714-05:00ONA Year In Review: 2009<span style="font-family:Arial;"><a href="http://onenoteahead.blogspot.com/2009/12/one-video-ahead-2009-time-capsule.html">Click here for the 2009 Video Time Capsule.</a></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Sometimes you have to hit bottom in order to learn what's really important to you. And did One Note Ahead ever hit bottom in 2009! Since ONA's inception in October of '06, I'd used <a href="http://www.myspace.com/onenoteahead">MySpace</a> to promote it. There were occasional problems with MS, but they were short-lived. Then during the first 3 or 4 months of 2009, ONA suffered a two-sided indignity: MS blocked all links to ONA, redirecting users to a page claiming that ONA was "very naughty" and was most likely a spamming, phishing, or virus website. (In truth, the problem was that certain other sites on this webhost were allegedly problematic, leading MySpace to block the entire domain -- this problem still exists on occasion.) </span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /><br />While the content and readership of ONA in 2008 were solid, I'd lost sight of the diversity that used to characterize the blog. As a result, I lost a lot of the diversity in my readership. Without realizing this, I just so happened to start reintroducing diversity into the blog -- but there wasn't necessarily an audience for it. I had to find a diverse readership once again, and I had to do so by deliberately posting more material that would interest different kinds of people. </span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /><br />I tried new methods of promoting ONA and tracking its visibility. Some of them worked, but jumping on yet another social networking bandwagon didn't do much good. Yes, One Note Ahead's <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/One-Note-Ahead/100944017133">Facebook page</a> got a nice little group of "fans" including some ONA musicians, but it hasn't gone viral as I'd hoped. Despite the woes of MySpace, people apparently prefer it for keeping up with ONA.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I never wanted to give up One Note Ahead, but in July I decided that if it didn't appear to be back on the upswing by October, I'd end it before the year was out. The year is nearly over now; One Note Ahead isn't.</span> <span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /><br />And now, some of the highs and lows of 2009.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>My favorite ONA lines from 2009:</strong></span> <strong style="FONT-FAMILY: arial"></strong><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />[about <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">SuperJimenez</span>] Then there's "Rescue Remedy," in which drummer Daz Coen lays down a subtle trip-hop beat and lead singer Ronan Cunningham comes in crooning a Dido-ish melody; this shouldn't work, but it does. (from <a href="http://onenoteahead.blogspot.com/2009/04/album-review-jimenez-most-super.html">Album Review: A Jimenez Most Super</a>)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">[about <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Bojibian</span>] Incidentally, they're named in honor of rock legends Bo Diddley and Jibi Hendrix. Not buying that? Okay, fine: they're actually named after Armenian financier A. Randolph Bojibian, who funded their first recording session. Okay, fine! In truth, "Bojibian" doesn't mean anything. (from <a href="http://onenoteahead.blogspot.com/2009/07/now-hear-this-vol-2.html">Now Hear This! - Vol. 2</a>)</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />[about <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Matt Duke</span> at the XPN festival, with <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Tim McGlone</span> in his band] He also turned the lead spotlight over to Tim for one song, McGlone's catchy "Hollywood." During this number, a friend of mine was grooving along but nevertheless leaned over to me and said, "Not as good as Duke!" Well.....who is? (from <a href="http://onenoteahead.blogspot.com/2009/07/xponential-function-part-one.html">XPoNential Function, Part One</a>)</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />[about <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles</span> at the XPN festival]</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">Meeting them afterwards, I found them to be every bit as fun and funny as they were on stage. Smart, too: Sarah had introduced a slowish number by saying that slow songs are a great way to get to know the person next to you, if you get her drift. Maybe so, but it was actually during a fast number that I found a new dancing partner, and I told Sarah as much after the show. "Did you meet someone?" asked Sarah with a surprising amount of enthusiasm, to which I replied, "I did! During 'Stop and Think It Over,' I believe." After getting over her enthusiasm, Sarah admonished, tongue somewhat in cheek, "Well: Stop! And think it over before you do anything." (from <a href="http://onenoteahead.blogspot.com/2009/07/xponential-function-part-one.html">XPoNential Function, Part One</a>)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">[about <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Illinois</span> at the XPN festival] </span><span style="font-family:arial;">My XPN member newsletter refers to them as "indie-rockers." Oh, really? At the festival, they played a stompin' folk-rock raveup, then a number with hip-hop beats and heavy synthesizers, then a piano ballad; their last song was a funky thang with a banjo and ear-splitting electric guitars. This ain't no <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">indie-rock</span> band. (from <a href="http://onenoteahead.blogspot.com/2009/07/xponential-function-part-two.html">XPoNential Function, Part Two</a>)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Michael is an extremely prolific film and TV composer. Kevin is a movie star. So are <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">The Bacon Brothers </span>any good or are they just trading on their success in other endeavors? Well........they're actually good! (from <a href="http://onenoteahead.blogspot.com/2009/07/xponential-function-part-two.html">XPoNential Function, Part Two</a>)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><span style="font-family:arial;">Norristown, PA, a scenic train ride from Philadelphia, is home to an up-and-coming bunch of rockers known as <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Reality Stricken</span>. The title of their latest EP, <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Signal Fire</span>, is fitting because.....this stuff is hot! (from <a href="http://onenoteahead.blogspot.com/2009/09/ep-review-get-stricken.html">EP Review: Get Stricken!</a>)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">And the "Please don't ever die again!" award goes to:</span> (drumroll, please)<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"> </span>Michael Jackson</span>. A lot of people have complained that MJ was sent off too positively: many of his fans let him off the hook for things they'd hold against anyone else, and some in the media suddenly stopped treating him as a sideshow and started treating him as a saint just because he was dead. All true, but in my circle, the problem was not that people sent him off too positively; the most outspoken actually acted as if he never did anything good in his life, acknowledging his talent reluctantly if at all. One needn't approve of his personal behavior to feel a sense of loss now that he's dead; Frank Sinatra and James Brown didn't have the cleanest hands, but they were damn good (and extremely significant) artists -- their deaths affected me on that level. Though Michael Jackson reached a previously unseen level of public bizarreness, I can only judge him so much; I never even met the guy, and I really cannot know all the details of what happened in his personal life. I was appalled that normally reasonable people who were in the same boat nevertheless tore into MJ and anyone who stood up for his right to have an artistic legacy. I don't care whether MJ's detractors <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">intended</span> to take their anger out on appreciators of his talent; bottom line is, a lot of them did. The so-called debates that raged in the first 24 hours following MJ's death were good only for turning friends into enemies and complete strangers into instant adversaries -- I literally lost my appetite. One such "debate" started immediately after MJ's death had been confirmed, when one of my Facebook friends posted a status update which read: "One more child molester off the street." In response, ONA-approved<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"> Jim Boggia </span>made the only worthwhile contribution that anyone (myself included) ended up making to the ensuing comment thread: "It was <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Off The Wall</span>. Know your history."<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">EP of the Year: </span>Eligible EP's are contemporary releases which I own and gave full reviews or referred to repeatedly on ONA in 2009: Tim Laigaie's <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Out of Focus</span>, Jake Snider's <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">The Seven</span>, Panic Years' eponymous debut, and Reality Stricken's <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Signal Fire</span>. These are all good, but the two strongest contenders are <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Panic Years</span> and <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Signal Fire</span><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">.</span> <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Signal Fire</span> is simply a mind-blowing rock EP, a non-stop wild rush of face-melting mania with sophisticated songwriting and excellent production. Then again, <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Panic Years</span> presents a sound that's hard to describe and even harder to forget: derivative in theory, distinctive in practice; raw and crude on the surface, beautiful and delicate at heart. Both releases are all killer, no filler affairs whose songs reveal more and more depth with every listen, and anyone who wants proof that some of today's best rock music can be found in Philly needs to hear these EP's. That said, I'm gonna risk my hide and give the nod to <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Panic Years</span>. Incorporating a wider range of influences than <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Signal Fire</span>, <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Panic Years</span> is more representative of what I've actively sought to embrace with ONA this year, namely the synthesis of diverse elements into one complex-yet-accessible whole.<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Album of the Year: </span>Same eligibility criteria as EP of the Year. Candidates are The Guggenheim Grotto's <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Happy The Man</span>, SuperJimenez's <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">BANG</span>, Butterfly Boucher's <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Scary Fragile</span>, Tim McGlone's <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Street Sounds</span>, Diane Birch's <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Bible Belt</span>, Tippy Canoe & the Paddlemen's <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Parasols & Pekingese</span>, and The Swimmers' <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">People Are Soft</span>. Wow, a lot of interesting albums here, and a lot of fascinating stories surrounding them, but this award must go to <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Happy The Man</span>. Unless you're a close friend of mine, you have no idea how miserable I was in January. Then I listened to <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Happy The Man</span>, and for a young man going through (cliche coming in three...two...one...) a major existential crisis, it was a life-changing experience. It didn't answer all my questions, nor was it alone in helping me come to better understandings about life, but it did give me quite a lot to think about and it soothed my wounds while I was thinking. Besides, it really is a consistently great album; to my ears, there are no throwaway tracks. While I can say the same thing about <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Scary Fragile</span> and <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">People Are Soft</span>, <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Happy The Man</span> gets the edge because of its profundity and, like the <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Panic Years</span> EP, its effortless synthesis of surprisingly diverse musical elements.<br /><br />That said, I am extremely happy that my <a href="http://onenoteahead.blogspot.com/2009/05/album-review-chasing-butterfly.html"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Scary Fragile</span> review</a> was quoted in a Butterfly Boucher <a href="http://www.msopr.com/?q=node/4799">press release</a> (although as of this date, typing in onenoteahead.com will only get you here indirectly -- but it's the thought that counts!).<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Must-Hear Track of the Year: </span>"Breakdown" by Tim McGlone. This was the first track I raved about in the <a href="http://onenoteahead.blogspot.com/2009/06/now-hear-this-vol-1.html">Now Hear This!</a> series, and with damn good reason! While I'm at it...<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Live Moment of the Year: </span>Tim McGlone and The Turn were performing at <a href="http://www.worldcafelive.com/">World Cafe Live</a>'s Beta Hi-Fi Festival. Going from memory, I'd say the date was August 17th. Audience members voted for their nightly favorites, and Tim and the Turn won. Not surprising considering the level of showmanship: for the dramatic reprise on his closing song "Confidence," Tim slung his guitar behind his back, grabbed his mic from out of the stand, stepped onto a vacant chair in front of the stage, then stepped onto the vacant table in front of that chair, leaned back, and shouted: "Yeah, yeah, yeah, I GOT this WAY with CON-fidence!" He sure did.<br /><br />2009 has been a rough year, but we sure have had some excellent music to talk about here! I thank you all for either standing by One Note Ahead, coming back to it, or getting into it this year and I hope you'll stick around for next year. As long as people are reading and I have the time, I'll keep ONA going. All the best for whatever holidays you're celebrating and as always, stay tuned -- you never know what'll be on One Note Ahead next!<br /><br />Copyright © 2009 S.J. Dibai. All rights reserved.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/onenoteahead">S.J. Dibai on MySpace</a> - <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/One-Note-Ahead/100944017133">One Note Ahead on Facebook</a></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span>Shaheen J. Dibaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18176225916977840677noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35569476.post-48697663130609889202009-12-11T22:10:00.006-05:002009-12-11T23:36:24.877-05:00One Video Ahead: 2009 Time Capsule<span style="font-family:arial;">As previously announced, I decided not to do One Note Ahead Live this year, but I did decide to make a video time capsule with a mix of videos. Not all of these videos are from 2009, but they are all about artists I've featured here in 2009. Not every ONA artist from this year will be included; basically, these are current artists who interest me most and/or have the best relevant videos online.<br /><br />Let's start with two from last year's holiday season:<br /><br />Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles previewing "Do It For Free"<br /><object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hu7ufUXlD6g&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hu7ufUXlD6g&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object><br /><br />Sharon Little (and Scot Sax) performing "Follow That Sound"<span style="font-style: italic;"> -</span>- <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4649951n">http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4649951n</a><br /><br />Now that we've got you in the holiday spirit, let's move on...<br /><br />Panic Years profile and performance (I was there when this live footage was shot)<br /><object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/88Yw1DSPEjM&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/88Yw1DSPEjM&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object><br /><br />The Guggenheim Grotto performing "Her Beautiful Ideas"<br /><object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cuvvEb8qHww&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cuvvEb8qHww&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object><br /><br />The Swimmers performing "A Hundred Hearts"<br /><object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NolGe6oaU_I&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NolGe6oaU_I&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object><br /><br />Tim McGlone and The Turn performing "Breakdown" -- <a href="http://www.vimeo.com/5008389">http://www.vimeo.com/5008389</a><br /><br />Butterfly Boucher performing "Gun For A Tongue" -- <a href="http://vimeo.com/5614051">http://vimeo.com/5614051</a><br /><br />And to close, two particularly interesting pieces.<br /><br />Tippy Canoe in the super-cool music video for "Mass Transmissions"<br /><object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YjYTO-iTqec&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YjYTO-iTqec&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object><br /><br />And finally, some of The Bacon Brothers' XPN festival set was packaged as an episode of the PBS TV series <span style="font-style: italic;">On Canvas</span>. If you watch this episode, look towards the bottom right-hand corner during the performance segments....see if you can spot a certain dancing machine wtih a 'fro and a striped shirt.....(ahem) -- <a href="http://video.whyy.org/video/1316777670/">http://video.whyy.org/video/1316777670/</a><br /><br /><a href="http://onenoteahead.blogspot.com/2009/12/ona-year-in-review-2009.html">Continue to the Year In Review</a>.<br /><br />Text copyright © 2009 S.J. Dibai. All rights reserved.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/onenoteahead">S.J. Dibai on MySpace</a> - <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/One-Note-Ahead/100944017133">One Note Ahead on Facebook</a><br /><br /></span>Shaheen J. Dibaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18176225916977840677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35569476.post-42163746737150376652009-11-25T14:37:00.013-05:002009-11-25T19:05:31.819-05:00Big News: 3 ONA Favorites<div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">Just when I thought there was no news left to publish, huge news came my way from three One Note Ahead mainstays. Ready?<br /><br />=> On an uplifting note, <b style="font-family: arial;">The Idles</b> are gearing up to release their new EP, <span style="font-style: italic;">Arrogance Through Ignorance</span>, and you can get a taste in advance<span style="font-style: italic;">. </span>The official statement from the band's MySpace bulletin:<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" >Its been a while, but we've been well and truly busy finishing the EP and getting it just right. We've put a sneak peek for you, so head to our </span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/theidlesrocknroll"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" >MySpace page</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" > for a listen. Let us know what you think.<br /><br />The full EP is out for release on iTunes and all other digital providers online on the 14th December, with the official launch party in Liverpool at the Masque on the 12th, everyone's invited so come along and bring your friends, you don't wanna miss it.<br /></span><br />So all my Liverpool readers, mark your calendars! For all of you in the rest of the world, the MySpace preview consists of snippets of the new tracks. I know The Idles are up for a review, so I expect the EP to be one of the first releases I review in 2010.<br /><br />=> You know how big a supporter I've been of Drexel University's <span style="font-weight: bold;">MAD Dragon Records</span>. I even had the pleasure of working in conjunction with MDR as a publicist last fall (</span><a href="http://dibaipr.blogspot.com/2009/04/absolute-zeros-pr-so-far.html"><span style="font-family:arial;">click here</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> for details). And with MDR being one of the most buzzed-about labels on the Philly scene, you'd think this next news item would be getting more attention. As it was, it went right over my head and I needed some actual MDR folks to point it out to me. From <span style="font-style: italic;">Philadelphia City Paper</span>, issue dated November 12, 2009:<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" >Major stuff: [</span><a href="http://www.ropeadope.com/"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" >Ropeadope Records</span></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" > founder<b style="font-family:lucida grande;"> <span style="font-family:arial;">Andy Hurwitz</span></b>] — Baby Loves Disco-tech, Temple U teacher, Piazza at NoLibs booker/broker — left those latter two jobs up north (but never the 'Dopey) for points west: He'll start a gig teaching at Drexel and running <b style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Mad Dragon</span></b> records, home of <b style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-family:arial;">The Swimmers</span></b>, <b style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Andrew Lipke</span></b>, etc. This all means that mad <b style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Terry Tompkins</span></b> was let go from the Dragon but stays on as professor at DU.<br />(</span><a href="http://citypaper.net/articles/2009/11/12/icepack"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" >http://citypaper.net/articles/2009/11/12/icepack</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" >)<br /></span><br />This almost coincides with a vague statement on </span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/maddragonrecords"><span style="font-family:arial;">MDR's MySpace page</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">, dated September 5, 2009: <span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:arial;">As the summer draws to an end, we at MDR are keeping busy supporting our artists and staying on top of label business. We are also saying goodbye to a few dear staff members...</span><br /></span></span><br />What is the ultimate meaning of all this? Good question. The rumor mill is already grinding away, and I'm not about to contribute to it. But having an inside track to MDR, I can say that the label's going through a major transitional period. The end of Terry Tompkins' reign as President of MAD Dragon's record division signifies the end of an era from an ONA-centric perspective. From </span><a href="http://onenoteahead.blogspot.com/2006/10/winter-child-for-all-seasons.html"><span style="font-family:arial;">the first Matt Duke feature</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> over three years ago, Terry was a big part of the label and even set up a couple of ONA reviews himself. But then again, certain other people who were also part of the label in 2006 are still part of the label today, and they're still committed to supporting real talent that deserves more exposure. Given Ropeadope's reputation as a cutting-edge label, and Andy Hurwitz's involvement in innovative endeavors, it's difficult to predict what direction MAD Dragon Records will take next. But I can't imagine it'll be boring. Meanwhile, don't forget the Dragon! </span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/helloswimmers"><span style="font-family:arial;">The Swimmers</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">' excellent <span style="font-style: italic;">People Are Soft</span> is the label's latest release.<br /><br />=> Reaching back to 2006 for another longtime ONA favorite, I'm afraid I have some sad news: <span style="font-weight: bold;">SuperJimenez </span>have called it quits. The news came rather abruptly through </span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/superjimenez"><span style="font-family:arial;">MySpace</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> via frontman Ronan Cunningham:<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><strong>Su</strong><span style="font-weight: bold;">perjimenez are no more</span><br /><br /></span></span></div><div class="blogSubject" style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" ></span></div><div id="pBlogBody_519899794" class="blogContent"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" >Thanks to everyone who said something nice.<br />Thanks to DJ's and fans that played and sang our songs.<br />Thanks to promoters and festivals for giving us stage time.<br />Thanks for the good reviews.<br /><br />To the begrudgers...fuck you all.<br /><br />Music is a tough business. To everyone who ever picks up a guitar or writes a song in search of fame, glory or whatever reason, I wish you all the luck in the world.<br /><br />No regrets, I may be back myself at some stage.<br /></span><div style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="blogSubject"></div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I think I sometimes oversold the band, but when they were at their best, I thought they made brilliant pop/rock and I thought they deserved to find an audience beyond Ireland. But Ronan is right: music is a tough business. Remember, these guys went through hell just to get one album made, dealing with record label issues and having to fight the Irish government for nine months to get their Australian lead guitarist back. So not every last track in their small catalogue is the stuff of legend; they still leave behind a lot of wonderful tunes that should not pass into obscurity. Get thee to iTunes while the goods are still there.<br /><br />Well, this news bulletin has been dramatic! Unless some more big updates come a-knockin', here's what I have planned for the rest of 2009:<br /><br />There will be no One Note Ahead Live this year. I'd love to do it, but I'm not pleased with most of the relevant live videos.<br /><br />There will be a big year-end wrap-up, possibly in two parts.<br /><br />There will be no more new reviews in 2009, but there may be new entries in the "Now Hear This!" and "One Video Ahead" series.<br /><br />I'm really looking forward to wrapping up 2009 in high style and kicking off 2010 in even higher style. Thank you for reading and stay tuned!<br /><br />Copyright © 2009 S.J. Dibai. All rights reserved.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/onenoteahead"><span style="font-family:arial;">S.J. Dibai on MySpace</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> - </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/One-Note-Ahead/100944017133"><span style="font-family:arial;">One Note Ahead on Facebook</span></a><br /><br /></div><div class="blogContent"> </div>Shaheen J. Dibaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18176225916977840677noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35569476.post-25069568370820504402009-11-09T22:53:00.002-05:002009-11-10T00:04:39.201-05:00One Note Ahead Update #3<span style="font-family:arial;">It's time once again for updates on some of our favorites.<br /><br />=> I <a href="http://onenoteahead.blogspot.com/2009/10/one-video-ahead-new-swimmers.html">announced last month</a> that <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Swimmers</span>' second album, <span style="font-style: italic;">People Are Soft,</span> would drop on November 3rd. Now I have it and I cannot stop listening to it! As enjoyable and well-received as their first album was, they could have just made a carbon copy for their second. Instead, The Swimmers opted to break loose, crafting intense songs about human vulnerability and performing them with remarkable gusto amidst fascinating sonic landscapes. <span style="font-style: italic;">People Are Soft</span> is truly an album-length statement, and best appreciated as such. I've run out of profound things to say about the album, so......just give it a chance, eh?<br /><br />=> Our good friend <span style="font-weight: bold;">Matt Duke</span> is not doing so well; he's fractured his right hand and has had to stop performing for the time being. He's updated us on <a href="http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=11700094&blogId=517527787">his blog</a>, but in the meantime, I hope all of us in the One Note Ahead family wish him the best. I know I do.<br /><br />=> On a brighter note, remember how <span style="font-weight: bold;">April Smith</span> <a href="http://onenoteahead.blogspot.com/2009/07/april-smith-needs-you.html">asked for your help</a> in funding her next record? Well, she exceeded her goal and is currently working on the album! Congrats, April.<br /><br />=> In our <a href="http://onenoteahead.blogspot.com/2009/06/one-note-ahead-update-2.html">last update</a>, I said that <span style="font-weight: bold;">Downtown Harvest</span> had a new album in the works. It's out now, and it's called <span style="font-style: italic;">Discovering Dinosaurs</span>. It's been a long gestation period, with the forthcoming release announced at times as an album called <span style="font-style: italic;">Taco Hospital</span> (greatest album title ever rejected), an EP called <span style="font-style: italic;">Shimmy</span>, and an album called <span style="font-style: italic;">More Than Friends</span> -- maybe not in that exact order, but I know everything else I said is correct! At any rate, <span style="font-style: italic;">Discovering Dinosaurs</span> is available at all DTH shows and will hit iTunes next month. I don't even have my copy yet, but I hope to change that soon. If you're in the same boat, check <a href="http://www.myspace.com/downtownharvest">MySpace</a> for some new tunes.<br /><br />=> Finally, I'm trying to keep up with <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nicole Atkins</span>.....I really am......but it's difficult these days. After two EPs and one album, she and Columbia Records have parted ways; she's now looking to move to a smaller label. She's out on the road trying out new songs on her live audiences, and plans to record her next album this coming winter. If you've been missing her in person (I have), live performances of her new songs keep showing up on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=nicole+atkins&search_type=&aq=f">YouTube</a>; so many, in fact, that I'm waaaaayyyy behind in checking them all out! You can also listen to a live audio recording of her new song "The Tower" on <a href="http://www.myspace.com/nicoleatkins">MySpace</a>.<br /><br />And that is all for now!<br /><br />Copyright © 2009 S.J. Dibai. All rights reserved.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/onenoteahead">S.J. Dibai on MySpace</a> - <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/One-Note-Ahead/100944017133">One Note Ahead on Facebook</a><br /><br /></span>Shaheen J. Dibaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18176225916977840677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35569476.post-45157699139568321302009-10-24T01:34:00.003-04:002009-10-31T23:02:40.628-04:00Now Hear This! - Vol. 3<span style="font-family:arial;">You know how this goes by now: a bunch of earworms that you might've missed out on</span><span style="font-family:arial;">, some of which are oldies, others more recent. I try to make sure you can find them all as individual tracks online, and I tell you which albums they're on if you want more than one song. Songs from albums or EP's I've already reviewed on One Note Ahead are not eligible.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Let's do this</span>!<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"><em>Newer</em></span></strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">"Polite Society," Maia Sharp</span> (available on <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Echo</span>)<br /><br />I found out about this artist because she was supposed to open for The Guggenheim Grotto here in Philly. That ultimately didn't happen, but I did get to discover this fantastic slab of impossibly sweet-sounding angry rock 'n' roll. The biting lyrics ("The greater good you go on about has been redefined to keep everyone out") are offset by smooth vocals and a melody that could've come out of the Brill Building. A must-hear for fans of female singer/songwriters, but it has great potential to appeal to a much wider audience.<br /><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">"Lost and Found," Victor Victor Band</span> (available on <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Chatterbox</span>)<br /><br />Like The White Stripes but better. Hyperbole? Damning with faint praise? Check out Philly-based couple Jamie and Danielle Victor and decide for yourself. Personally, I'll reconsider my opinion when Meg White can play keys and drums at the same time like Danielle does. I honestly cannot explain why this particular track from their current album stands out to me. I just know that I can't get it out of my head. And hey, ONA loyalists, did I mention that Andrew Lipke produced it?<br /><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">"Once Was Love," Ingrid Michaelson</span> (available on <em>Everybody</em>)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br />You might recall that Ingrid was a major ONA darling last year. Of all the songs on her new album, "Maybe" was chosen as the lead single, "Soldier" became the opening track, "Everybody" lent its title to the album, and "The Chain" seems to be the pick hit in my circle -- at least among the ladies! All those songs have their merits, but "Once Was Love" leapt out at me like no other track on the album: a hypnotic, slightly sharp-tongued ode to love gone cold, with Ms. Michaelson doing some unusual vocal acrobatics over an arrangement that at times sounds like it was copied from the Philly soul playbook. Ingrid, if you're reading, you might want to consider this as a single.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">And now, a bonus: I told you that ONA favorite <strong>Jake Snider</strong> was releasing a new EP called <em>The Seven</em>. It's been available at his shows and is supposed to get an online release later this fall, but if you can't wait, check out the amazing "All You Need," a standout track which is streaming on <a href="http://www.myspace.com/jakesnidermusic">Jake's MySpace page</a> now.<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong><em>Older</em></strong></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">"You Won't Forget Me," Jackie De Shannon</span> (available on <em>What The World Needs Now Is...Jackie De Shannon - The Definitive Collection</em>)<br /><br />Jackie De Shannon sure had a lot going against her, writing and singing serious pop, folk-rock, and soul songs at a time when white female singers weren't supposed to write their own material, sing serious music, or sing soul music. And folk-rock wasn't a recognized style, either. Think I'm exaggerating? Perhaps a bit, but Jackie sure was a trailblazer. Take "You Won't Forget Me," a sophisticated pop composition in which the female protagonist takes an empowered stance against her cheating lover. Powerful stuff for 1962 -- too powerful, probably, for radio at the time.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">"Little By Little," Dusty Springfield</span> (available on <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Dusty Springfield Gold</span>)<br /><br />Well, I had to go from one trailblazing woman to another! Dusty was so influenced by American music that it's easy to forget she was from the UK, where she had much more chart success than she did here. For example, "Little By Little" was stuck on a B-side in the US, while her UK label recognized it as hit material and released it as an A-side. It's a bouncy Motownish number with a great melody, but let's remember that Dusty was a great <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">interpreter</span> of song. In this case, she injected the lyrics with a lot of fire while also retaining the cool, understated feel the melody demanded. A delicate balance, to be sure, but she nailed it.<br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">"Turn Up Your Radio," The Masters Apprentices</span> (available on <em>Fully Qualified - The Choicest Cuts</em>)<br /><br />Though it is under-recognized worldwide, Australia has a colorful rock 'n' roll history of its own. The Masters Apprentices were one of the top Aussie rock acts of all time, and "Turn Up Your Radio" was one of their most beloved hits. The 1960s were turning into the 1970s, and rock was getting louder and heavier. These Apprentices edged into near-metal territory with a song whose lyrics paid homage to early rock 'n' roll of the 1950s! Somehow, it worked. Loud, raunchy, crude, and brilliant, this song reminds us all that no matter how the music changes, rock 'n' roll is still rock 'n' roll.<br /><br /><br />I hope these earworms keep you entertained for now.<br /><br />Copyright © 2009 S.J. Dibai. All rights reserved.<br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/onenoteahead">S.J. Dibai on MySpace</a> - <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/One-Note-Ahead/100944017133">One Note Ahead on Facebook</a><br /></span>Shaheen J. Dibaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18176225916977840677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35569476.post-81666434128303733282009-10-24T01:14:00.006-04:002009-10-24T01:29:16.755-04:00One Video Ahead: Oh, Diane!<span style="font-family:arial;">So a few months ago, I spotlighted "Fools" by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Diane Birch</span> in my <a href="http://onenoteahead.blogspot.com/2009/07/now-hear-this-vol-2.html">Now Hear This!</a> series. I was trying to demonstrate that she has more good songs besides the ubiquitous "Nothing But A Miracle," a point which I would have preferred to drive home with good live videos of her performing such songs. But I wasn't pleased with what was out there.....until recently.<br /><br />Here are a couple of songs she performed for Spinner's <span style="font-style: italic;">The Interface</span>. First, let's go with "Fools."<br /><br /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/10032373001?isVid=1&publisherID=1612833736" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="@videoPlayer=36426949001&playerID=10032373001&domain=embed&linkBaseURL=http://www.spinner.com/interface/diane-birch" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" swliveconnect="true" allowscriptaccess="always" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" width="400" height="356"></embed> <br /><br /><br />Now another favorite of mine, "Valentino."<br /><br /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/10032373001?isVid=1&publisherID=1612833736" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="@videoPlayer=36435376001&playerID=10032373001&domain=embed&linkBaseURL=http://www.spinner.com/interface/diane-birch" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" swliveconnect="true" allowscriptaccess="always" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" width="400" height="356"></embed> <br /><br /><br />I haven't even had time to watch it all, but there is more where that came from: <a href="http://www.spinner.com/interface/diane-birch">http://www.spinner.com/interface/diane-birch</a><br /><br />Text copyright © 2009 S.J. Dibai. All rights reserved.<br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/onenoteahead">S.J. Dibai on MySpace</a> - <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/One-Note-Ahead/100944017133">One Note Ahead on Facebook</a><br /><br /></span>Shaheen J. Dibaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18176225916977840677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35569476.post-25891075202097606172009-10-16T23:44:00.004-04:002009-10-24T01:26:47.659-04:00One Video Ahead: Exclusive Michael!<span style="font-family:arial;">I know I've spent a lot of time avoiding the volatile subject of <strong>Michael Jackson</strong>, but the new "This Is It" song and movie are not the only lost MJ treasures finally being unearthed. I've gotten ahold of exclusive video of a previously unaired, unreleased interview with and performance by The King of Pop himself, and whether you're a fan of his or not, you have to see this!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CJW_yTbYGoI&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CJW_yTbYGoI&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Okay, okay, sorry about that. But I really think the subject of MJ needs a little good-natured humor now and then. That was actually Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry back in 1990 on their BBC sketch comedy series <em>A Bit of Fry and Laurie</em>. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Here's another one for you, featuring Steve Martin and Jay Thomas in 1984 on the short-lived NBC sketch comedy series <em>The New Show</em>.</span><br /><br /><object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bBS6r2qkU90&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bBS6r2qkU90&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">And that's about all for now.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Text copyright © 2009 S.J. Dibai. All rights reserved.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/onenoteahead">S.J. Dibai on MySpace</a> - <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/One-Note-Ahead/100944017133">One Note Ahead on Facebook</a><br /><br /></span>Shaheen J. Dibaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18176225916977840677noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35569476.post-18268398493246900702009-10-11T21:41:00.005-04:002009-10-11T23:40:38.201-04:00In the interest of disclosure.<span style="font-family:arial;">The Federal Trade Commission recently issued <a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9139193/Bloggers_beware_the_FTC_is_watching">new guidelines</a> to remove the veil of secrecy from bloggers' faces. The FTC wants us to disclose whether we are getting freebies or kickbacks in exchange for our reviews. I haven't yet made up my mind whether this is merely well-intentioned government action to protect consumers or an attempt on the part of our government to discredit bloggers. Either way, I've got nothing to hide.<br /><br />I have at times reviewed products I paid for. But if I can get free a CD or DVD in exchange for my review, I might just take advantage. "Might" -- I have standards when it comes to what I review for One Note Ahead.<br /><br />Take the DVD set <a href="http://onenoteahead.blogspot.com/2007/01/dvd-review-elvis-on-sullivan.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Elvis: The Ed Sullivan Shows</span></a>. A marketing company contacted me about posting a press release or review on ONA. I wasn't going to post a press release and merely advertise a product I had no connection with. However, I did some research on the product and decided that I would most likely be able to write a review that was both favorable and honest, so I agreed to review it. The marketing company sent me a copy of the DVD set, and the rest was history. I still have the DVDs; incidentally, <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/news/FTC-Bloggers-testimonials-apf-468964868.html?x=0">this article</a> claims that traditional journalistic venues (as opposed to blogs) typically must return products they receive for review, but I really haven't known this to be the norm in music journalism. And bear in mind that I have worked as both a music journalist and a music publicist.<br /><br />There have been plenty of instances in which artists, bands, and their representatives offered me a complimentary copy of an album or EP for review. I accept the offer only if I believe I can write a review that is (here it comes again) both favorable and honest. I don't review artists or products I don't like; it serves no one's purpose and it wastes my time.<br /><br />Now, there have also been times when I've offered to review an artist or band and they (or a representative thereof) accepted my offer and gave me a free copy of whatever they wanted me to review. This is just the way things work, people! But I always operate on this principle: if I offer to review an album, EP, or DVD and get a free copy only to decide I don't want to review it, I will pay for it. I will not review it just to avoid having to pay for it.<br /><br />I have <span style="font-weight: bold;">NEVER</span> requested or accepted payment for my reviews. If someone puts me on the guest list to a show or does me some other favor because they like my review, fine -- I don't expect it or demand it, but it's a nice gesture when it happens. But no monetary bribes or rewards! I refuse to play that game as a reviewer and as a publicist because the moment I do, there goes my integrity and thus my credibility. One Note Ahead has never been a money-making endeavor. Why do you think it takes a backseat whenever I'm otherwise occupied? I never wanted One Note Ahead to be bound up with the need to make money because as a music journalist I had gotten so concerned with making money that I began to devote less consideration to the music. I always wanted ONA to be pure in that sense, but that means I need to make money elsewhere and the blog must become a secondary or tertiary priority when my income-generating work leaves me little to no blogging time.<br /><br />In closing, I will add the following: I no longer make a habit of reviewing albums, EPs, or DVDs I paid for. I might do it occasionally, but most of the products reviewed on ONA from 2008 onward were freebies. If someone gives me a freebie and asks for nothing in return, I may or may not review it. That said, the "Now Hear This!" series is open anything that's available to the general public, whether I paid for it or not. I've only ever reviewed <a href="http://onenoteahead.blogspot.com/2006/12/book-review-house-on-fire.html">one book</a> on ONA; it was a book I read because someone in the music business recommended it and I happened to find interesting enough to review.<br /><br />Any questions?<br /><br />Copyright © 2009 S.J. Dibai. All rights reserved.<br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/onenoteahead">S.J. Dibai on MySpace</a> - <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/One-Note-Ahead/100944017133">One Note Ahead on Facebook</a><br /><br /></span>Shaheen J. Dibaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18176225916977840677noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35569476.post-8487124698952938652009-10-04T16:49:00.001-04:002010-03-27T23:05:42.018-04:00Album Review: Tippy Canoe (but no Tyler)<span style="font-family:arial;">On one song, it's jaunty country-rock. On another, it's '80s power pop. '60s girl-group styles dominate elsewhere, leaving Vaudeville, Tin Pan Alley, and Latin motifs to be explored on still other tracks.<br /><br />And that's just the <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">sound</span> of this album.<br /><br />Tippy Canoe & the Paddlemen are not exactly your typical indie-pop band. <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Parasols & Pekingese</span> (Late Bloomers Works) is not exactly your typical indie-pop album.<br /><br />Aside from the Randy Newman-ish "Monday Night Man," on which guitarist Mikie Lee Prasad takes the lead, the focal point of this record is girl-with-ukulele (were you expecting "guitar"?) Michele Kappel-Stone -- that's Tippy Canoe to you, thank you very much! Her songwriting is multifaceted, to say the least. She delves into the rich history of popular music with glee, but displays a thoroughly contemporary attitude with songs like "Mood-ish Me," whose lyrics include "Did I conjure you to saw me in half?" and "Kick my ass for my own sake."<br /><br />I have to stop and let you digest that one.<br /><br />Tippy is quite good at taking unexpected left turns and juxtaposing seemingly contradictory moods. "Champs-Elysees" has a bouncy melody and paints cheerful pictures of gumdrops falling on the street, yet it climaxes on a snarky "Ha ha joke's on you!" refrain. "Sleep, Sleep My Dear" is a chilling, macabre lullaby, but she sounds undeniably sexy dragging out its syllables in that robust voice of hers: "Sleeeeeeep, sleeeeeeep, my dee-heeeeeeeeeeeear......"<br /><br />That voice is a captivating instrument, with an almost operatic lilt and a sweetness offset by Ms. Canoe's tendency to hit the notes ever-so-imperfectly. Instead of making her sound like a clueless <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">American Idol</span> hopeful, her natural imprecision brings nuances out of the notes, each tonal variation contributing to the memorability of the performances.<br /><br />There's only one real complaint I have about the album, which is that the recording quality could stand improvement. I try to be forgiving of such things when it comes to independent and small-label releases because they are often made on a shoestring budget (if even that much). But at certain points on <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Parasols</span>, Tippy's voice is somewhat buried in the mix and one must listen especially carefully to make out her lyrics. This is particularly true on "Mass Transmissions," an otherwise solid commentary on the culture wars we wage every day: "We hold so dear our warring contradictions, and often times they're just two sides of the same coin."<br /><br />Michele is from Baltimore and is now based in Oakland, keeping a busy tour schedule when she can. Having seen her when she swung through Philly recently, I can tell you that she is a delight live and she plays a mean ukulele. If you get <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Parasols and Pekingese</span>, be prepared for one of the most unusual -- and most interesting -- pop albums you've ever heard.<br /><br />For music and more information: <a href="http://www.myspace.com/tippycanoe">http://www.myspace.com/tippycanoe</a><br /><br />Copyright © 2009 S.J. Dibai. All rights reserved.<br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/onenoteahead">S.J. Dibai on MySpace</a> - <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/One-Note-Ahead/100944017133">One Note Ahead on Facebook</a></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /></span>Shaheen J. Dibaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18176225916977840677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35569476.post-90429645387618729942009-10-04T16:27:00.002-04:002009-10-04T16:46:00.433-04:00One Video Ahead: New Swimmers<span style="font-family:arial;">Remember <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Swimmers</span>? They're baaaa-aaaack! And their new album, <span style="font-style: italic;">People Are Soft</span>, promises to be a lot darker and heavier than their debut <a href="http://onenoteahead.blogspot.com/2008/03/album-review-swimming-into-trees.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Fighting Trees</span></a>. The Swimmers are previewing tracks on their <a href="http://www.theswimmers.com/">website</a> and <a href="http://www.myspace.com/helloswimmers">MySpace</a> right now, and they've also got a video for the song "What This World Is Coming To."<br /><br />Yes, I know: I share video clips of live performances and interviews, but rarely do I share music videos. I'm not usually a fan of music videos, but this is one of the most striking pieces of audiovisual art I've seen in a long time. And take note: among its directors are Swimmers frontman Steve Yutzy-Burkey and <a href="http://www.myspace.com/jonahdelso">Jonah Delso</a>, not only a talented solo artist but also ONA-approved <a href="http://www.myspace.com/timmcglone">Tim McGlone</a>'s funky bass player. What a small world the Philly music scene is.<br /><br /><object width="400" height="225"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6665875&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6665875&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/6665875">What This World Is Coming To</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user2325787">the swimmers</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">People Are Soft</span> is due from MAD Dragon Records on November 3rd.<br /><br />Text copyright © 2009 S.J. Dibai. All rights reserved.<br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/onenoteahead">S.J. Dibai on MySpace</a> - <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/One-Note-Ahead/100944017133">One Note Ahead on Facebook</a><br /><br /></span>Shaheen J. Dibaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18176225916977840677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35569476.post-48908819805831240572009-09-27T20:40:00.004-04:002009-09-27T21:54:52.360-04:00EP Review: Get Stricken!<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-style: italic;">"I'm the surefire cure to the angst you endure / So take me in without warning and call the doctor in the morning"</span> (from "Stitches")<br /><br />Norristown, PA, a scenic train ride from Philadelphia, is home to an up-and-coming bunch of rockers known as Reality Stricken. The title of their latest EP, <span style="font-style: italic;">Signal Fire</span>, is fitting because.....this stuff is hot!<br /><br />Every track on this EP leaps out of the speakers with enough force to blow down an entire block of rowhomes. This is the real rock sound of today, with big, loud riffs and chords, massive drums, and huge walls of shouted vocals. These guys are clearly in it for the love of music; nowhere on this EP will you find them watering down their style with poppy hooks and mundane lyrics just to get a hit. Instead, all of these songs are intricately constructed and arranged, with lyrics that challenge you to think without beating you over the head. Lead singer Steve Angello has an edge about his voice which is hard to describe and even harder to ignore. He gives an already powerful band an even more distinctive character. The songs on this EP are not only well-chosen, they're impeccably well-produced and recorded thanks to Chris Badami.<br /><br />There is simply not a dull moment on this record, and by the time it's over you'll be cheering for more. All you can do is hit "Play" again. With releases this good, it's about damn time that the Philly-area rock scene got its due.<br /><br />For music and more information: <a href="http://www.myspace.com/realitystricken">http://www.myspace.com/realitystricken</a><br /><br />Copyright © 2009 S.J. Dibai. All rights reserved.<br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/onenoteahead">S.J. Dibai on MySpace</a> - <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/One-Note-Ahead/100944017133">One Note Ahead on Facebook</a><br /><br /></span>Shaheen J. Dibaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18176225916977840677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35569476.post-19288347010805956102009-09-16T00:23:00.003-04:002009-09-16T17:56:53.580-04:00Beatlemania Remastered - Part Two<span style="font-family:Arial;">See <a href="http://onenoteahead.blogspot.com/2009/09/beatlemania-remastered.html">Part One</a> for the introduction. And now, the individual reviews:</span><br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"><em>Please Please Me</em></span></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Abbey Road had four-track recording capabilities, but all The Beatles were allowed to use was lousy two-track -- hence the binaural stereo soundscape. And some of the selections on this album were intended only as singles when the Fab Four laid them down in the studio: recorded in two-track to get a good balance on the <strong>mono</strong> mix used for the singles. In those days, recordings intended for singles would often be mixed and mastered in mono and then the multi-track session tapes required to make a stereo mix would be reused, discarded, lost, or destroyed. If the time came for those singles to reappear on a stereo album, the stereo pressings of the album would use alternate takes, fake stereo versions, or true stereo mixes that were somehow pieced together from whatever tapes remained. The Beatles were not immune to this! Thus, the stereo edition of their first album included fake stereo versions of the songs from their first EMI single, "Love Me Do" and "P.S. I Love You." Mercifully, the new CD includes these tracks in mono. But the album's title track was not spared. Mind you, the song "Please Please Me" does not appear in a fake stereo mix. It's true stereo, alright, but based on an inferior alternate take (in which there is a painfully obvious lyrical flub), with the harmonica passages cut-and-pasted from the mono version into the right channel. This is the atrocity I used to hear on oldies radio and I couldn't stand it as a teenager! I haven't grown any fonder of it now; if you want the correct version (the mono!) in clear sound quality, it's most readily available on the mono box set or the ubiquitous <em>1962-1966</em> CD comp from 1993.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Another issue with the <em>Please Please Me</em> album is that most of it was recorded in a marathon style throughout a single day. The remastering makes it clear just how raw The Beatles' voices were during these sessions, and did I mention that John had a bad cold? On the remaster of "Twist and Shout," you can hear how much John struggled, both because of his cold and because it was the last song they recorded that day. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">So is this remaster too much of a good thing? Not entirely. Primitive though the mixes may be, the level of detail in the sound allows you to hear just how skilled these guys were as musicians even in this early stage. And the rawness is strangely charming, like you're at a show and these guys have been singing and playing non-stop all night long. Also, these mixes have not been soaked in echo like a lot of the US releases of the early Beatles, so they're crisper than what many of us Americans are used to hearing. You get to hear that less really is more on "There's A Place," and you can appreciate just how hard Ringo could rock (even as a singer!) on "Boys." "P.S. I Love You" is simply a revelation, with the distinct percussion parts finally being discernible from each other (Ringo was left to shake maracas while session man Andy White took over the drums).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>The final analysis:</strong> If you love the early Beatles, you should get this remaster. If the middle or later Beatles are more your bag, you might not even like this album, so hearing it in remastered form probably won't change your feelings.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong><em>A Hard Day's Night</em></strong></span><br /><strong><em></em></strong><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Well, this is the ultimate Beatlemania album, isn't it? But does the remaster do it justice? Let me see if I can answer that question in a classy, dignified manner.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">HELLLLL YEEEEEAAAAAH!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Okay, I tried to contain my enthusiasm, but this remaster really is that good. The 1987 CD version sounded lifeless, and even the good stereo remasters of certain tracks on <em>1962-1966</em> didn't bring those tunes to life as much as this new CD does. The boys were now recording on four-track and could make more sophisticated records with more careful overdubs and more nuanced stereo mixes -- no binaural here. Listen to John and Paul's thoughtfully-layered vocals on the title track; Ringo's swinging drumming on "Can't Buy Me Love"; George's textured guitar playing on practically every selection. These cuts happened to be well-recorded by the standards of the time; while this remastered version does expose a few inherent flaws (the guitars on "I'll Be Back" never did sound right anyway), it mostly brings out the best in this album. "Tell Me Why," "Any Time At All," and "Things We Said Today" just leap out of the speakers, with both the fun and drama of those songs brought to the fore. And I never realized just how funky "You Can't Do That" was until I heard it here.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I should note that the stereo version of the album is materially different from the mono. You'll notice that the opening harmonica passage on the stereo "I Should Have Known Better" is not as smoothly played as it is on the mono (although it's a great song and recording either way). "If I Fell" has differences in the vocals and if you ask me, the vocals on the mono version are superior, though in both versions Paul's voice breaks on the word "vain" (if McCartney had a hard time hitting that note, you know it's a tough note to hit!). If you're trying to be a completist, you'll need the mono version of this album as well as the stereo.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>The final analysis: </strong>You're reading this because you like The Beatles, right? Anyone who likes The Beatles should own this CD.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong><em>Beatles For Sale</em></strong></span><br /><strong><em></em></strong><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">This is probably The Beatles' most maligned album, and it's true that no amount of remastering will make "I Don't Want To Spoil The Party" less depressing or turn Ringo's butchering of "Honey Don't" into a tour de force. But it's still a Beatles album, so it still contains some classics and the 1987 reissue didn't present them in the best light.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Sometimes the stereo mixes on this album are just not as thoughtful as they were on <em>A Hard Day's Night</em>. It's clear in many cases that their main objective with four-track was to have more flexibility in the recording and mixing processes, not to create balanced stereo mixes. Still, hearing "No Reply" in crystal-clear stereo really brings out the darkness of the arrangement, the morbid piano chords and cymbal crashes jumping at you with dramatic intent. "I'll Follow The Sun" sounds warm and spacious, while a seeming throwaway like "Mr. Moonlight" becomes a multi-dimensional listening experience.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">"Eight Days A Week" is a delight here. Squashed and warped on the 1987 reissue, it has unprecedented breathing room on this remaster, allowing you to hear how closely twined John and Paul's voices are on this brilliant co-lead vocal.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Then again, "I'm A Loser" just sounds too clean and, as a result, soft. I'm not about to lay down the cash for that mono box set, so the 1987 mono will have to suffice -- it's listenable and unlike the stereo remaster, it has teeth. "Every Little Thing" is also too pristinely remastered, to the point that the vocals hit me right in the head, and not in a good way. The stereo version on <em>The Capitol Albums, Vol. 2</em> has minor flaws, but it's easier on my ears.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>The final analysis:</strong> Since it is one of their least celebrated albums, you have to really like it (or at least some of it) in order to consider this remaster a worthwhile purchase. It's worth buying if you really do care that deeply about the content of this album; otherwise, you can live without it.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">If you have any comments about these or the other new Beatle remasters, please share them -- but please be civil. Thank you.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Copyright © 2009 S.J. Dibai. All rights reserved.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">The best way to follow ONA: become a fan of the new <a href="http://http//www.facebook.com/pages/One-Note-Ahead/100944017133">Facebook page</a>.</span>Shaheen J. Dibaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18176225916977840677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35569476.post-2141229652563987892009-09-14T21:47:00.011-04:002009-09-16T00:30:11.860-04:00Beatlemania Remastered - Part One<div><span style="font-family:arial;">You've seen and heard the fuss by now: The Beatles' catalog has been remastered and reissued! But what's the significance of this? Basically, all of The Beatles' original UK albums, plus the US <em>Magical Mystery Tour</em> album, were released on CD in 1987. The first four albums were released in mono and the remainder in stereo. The CD era was young then, and the sound quality on the 1987 reissues has left many Beatle collectors wanting remasters. There has also been some dissatisfaction with the sound on the two <em>Past Masters</em> compilations of non-LP tracks. Finally, the albums and the <em>Past Masters</em> comps have been remastered.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">But are they worth the money, especially in this recession?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Let's consider the facts: <em>Past Masters</em> is now a 2-CD set. The new reissues of the individual albums all feature the stereo versions of the albums. They do not feature new remixes; the <em>Help!</em> and <em>Rubber Soul</em> albums are presented in their 1987 remixes, the others in their original mixes. So you get familiar mixes, but they're supposed to sound clearer and livelier than before. For a limited time, the individual CDs contain mini-documentaries that you can view if you have the right computer equipment and software. There is also a stereo box set and a mono box set -- the latter also includes the original stereo mixes of <em>Help!</em> and <em>Rubber Soul</em>. Confused yet?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Personally, I wasn't convinced that I had to replace all of my Beatles CDs with these new remasters. I need to spend my money more practically, anyway. But I've been a good boy with my dough lately, so I could find room in the budget for three of these remasters in particular: <em>Please Please Me</em>, <em>A Hard Day's Night</em>, and <em>Beatles For Sale</em>. On the 1987 reissues of these albums, the sound quality was often muffled, flat, and one-dimensional. Some tracks on those CDs had at least passable sound, but there was a lot to be unhappy with. And they were in mono. Sometimes I prefer mono to stereo, but I like to have the choice.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I will review the new CDs individually, but some general comments first. Sometimes when oldies are remastered, they actually sound worse. Recording technology in the 1960s was nowhere near as sophisticated as it is now, and there are a lot of inherent defects in the sound of recordings from that era. And let us remember that Abbey Road Studios liked to reserve their best recording equipment for easy listening and orchestral recordings; thus, The Beatles and other "beat groups" did not get to make the best-sounding recordings they could make until they were powerful enough to convince Abbey Road to give up the goods. That said, remasters often do have the desired effect of making recordings sound better than ever before, and these Beatles albums both benefit and suffer from remastering.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Since these albums are short in length, EMI and Apple Corps could have included the mono and stereo mixes of each album on each individual CD; instead, one must buy the mono box set. That's simply unfair. And the mini-documentaries are nothing to write home about. Visually, each has a montage of photographs and old film clips. Vintage concert footage is haphazardly synched to studio recordings. You hear the individual Beatles and George Martin reflect on the making of these albums, but you need to rely on your own ears to tell who's who. These docs don't provide much insight that knowledgeable Beatles fans didn't already have. In addition to the original album notes, each CD comes with new liner notes, which are informative but you still have to look elsewhere if you want to dig deep. The packaging is nice, folding out into three parts and ostensibly eco-friendly -- much more pleasing than the original reissues.<br /><br />See <a href="http://onenoteahead.blogspot.com/2009/09/beatlemania-remastered-part-two.html">Part Two</a> for the individual reviews. And if you have any general comments about the new Beatles remasters, please share them -- but please be civil. Thank you.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Copyright © 2009 S.J. Dibai. All rights reserved.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">The best way to follow ONA: become a fan of the new <a href="http://http//www.facebook.com/pages/One-Note-Ahead/100944017133">Facebook page</a>.</span></div>Shaheen J. Dibaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18176225916977840677noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35569476.post-15276981760350346452009-09-03T18:31:00.003-04:002009-09-03T18:55:34.765-04:00A Round of Tributes<span style="font-family:arial;">This has been a summer of losses in the entertainment industry, and I'm not talking about dollars. A lot of great artists have passed on recently, and I've tried to pay tribute to some of them, but I am only one man!<br /><br />Last week, fans of classic pop music lost two folks who might not have been household names, but there music sure was widely known. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ellie Greenwich</span> wrote and produced some of the most beloved pop hits of all time. Don't believe me? <a href="http://www.elliegreenwich.com/musicography.htm">Take a look</a>. I've mentioned <span style="font-weight: bold;">Artie Wayne</span> here <a href="http://onenoteahead.blogspot.com/2007/09/ozzy-osbourne-60s-pop-star.html">before</a> and recommended his blog; well, his Ellie Greenwich tribute has attracted comments from many music business giants who knew her. Check out Artie's thoughts and the responses: <a href="http://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2009/08/28/ellie-greenwich-r-i-p-rock-in-perpetuity/">http://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2009/08/28/ellie-greenwich-r-i-p-rock-in-perpetuity/</a><br /><br />While you're at it, take a look at Artie's tribute to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Larry Knechtel</span>, not only a member of Bread but also one of the most prolific session musicians of all time: <a href="http://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2009/08/28/larry-knechtel-r-i-p-rock-in-perpetuity/">http://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2009/08/28/larry-knechtel-r-i-p-rock-in-perpetuity/</a><br /><br />If you know me, you know I've been largely avoiding the subject of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Michael Jackson</span> on One Note Ahead because, well, you've seen and perhaps been involved in the controversy. I dove headfirst into it myself right after he died and <span style="font-style: italic;">that</span> was a mistake! But today is the date of his burial, which has me thinking about a blog posted in June by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Boy Wonder</span>, one of the big names on the Philly music scene. So he incorrectly identified Michael's cause of death; I still think this is one of the more intelligent fan tributes I've seen. And note how he lists "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" twice among Michael's greatest compositions; I'd like to think that's not a mistake. <a href="http://boywonderrocks.blogspot.com/2009/06/boy-wonder-professional-musician-107.html">http://boywonderrocks.blogspot.com/2009/06/boy-wonder-professional-musician-107.html</a><br /><br />Of course, there are plenty of other MJ tributes out there (including <a href="http://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2009/06/">Artie's</a>), but I wanted to share that one in particular.<br /><br />That's all for now. Stay tuned.<br /><br />Copyright © 2009 S.J. Dibai. All rights reserved.<br />The best way to follow ONA: become a fan of the new <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/One-Note-Ahead/100944017133">Facebook page</a>.<br /></span>Shaheen J. Dibaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18176225916977840677noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35569476.post-74315723552383612022009-08-18T22:50:00.004-04:002009-08-18T23:41:28.150-04:00One Video Ahead: A Les Paul Tribute<span style="font-family:arial;">I'm not a guitarist. I've never been. Even when I used to be a musician, I found the keyboards perfectly suited to my linear way of thinking while the guitar bewildered me. Maybe this is a good thing, for if I had ever seriously attempted to play the guitar, at some point I would have gotten hip to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Les Paul</span>. And I would have tried to play like him. And I would have failed miserably and given up the axe in shame.<br /><br />Before giving up the instrument, I might've read how he built one of the first solid-body electric guitars and that the Gibson Les Paul became a favorite model of such rock giants as Keith Richards, Pete Townshend, and Jimmy Page. And I might've tried to invent my own innovative model, which of course would have led to nothing.<br /><br />But wait! There's more! Multi-tracking is a recording technique that's long been near and dear to my heart. As a 14-year-old, I was fascinated and inspired that Gene Pitney transcended the limitations of early-1960s recording technology to multi-track himself into a full band. Little did I realize that Les Paul had pioneered that very technique more than a decade earlier!<br /><br />See, I knew the name. I knew he was a big deal. But I didn't realize <span style="font-style: italic;">how</span> big a deal he was until after he died last week at the age of 94. Let everyone else deliver the umpteenth story about that <span style="font-style: italic;">other </span>great musical talent who passed away this summer; One Note Ahead will now present three Les Paul videos for your viewing and listening pleasure. Remember that the volume varies on these and that they might not be available forever.<br /><br />Les Paul and his then-wife and partner Mary Ford demonstrate multi-tracking on "Omnibus" with Alistair Cooke, October 23, 1953. The techniques and Paul's playing are way ahead of their time.<br /><br /><object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0YA_RINQySU&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0YA_RINQySU&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />I don't know the date on this one, but this is another demonstration: the Les Pulverizer!<br /><br /><object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/foXSXOAfB4U&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/foXSXOAfB4U&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />Les Paul at 90, still going strong. From the documentary <span style="font-style: italic;">Les Paul: Chasing Sound!<br /><br /></span><object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-Uue8Dpih3k&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-Uue8Dpih3k&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />Text copyright © 2009 S.J. Dibai. All rights reserved.<br />The best way to follow ONA: become a fan of the new <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/One-Note-Ahead/100944017133">Facebook page</a>.<br /></span>Shaheen J. Dibaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18176225916977840677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35569476.post-20867142879169904962009-08-10T17:47:00.004-04:002009-08-10T21:40:26.339-04:00Spotlight On: Panic Years<span style="font-family:arial;">Let's not even try to come up with a label to pin on Panic Years; any label we could place on them wouldn't do them justice. And let's not begin with a list of their influences, for even when they are obviously influenced by another act, they still sound like Panic Years. Let's just say that if you're into recent or contemporary rock music, keep reading.<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Panic Years began in Virginia Beach with singer Ed Everett and guitarist/keyboardist Amy Miller. With the assistance of Mark Padgett and Rob Sweitzer, the pair recorded the excellent <span style="font-style: italic;">Panic Years EP</span>. Intricately-crafted melodies and complex drumming patterns provide a surprisingly sophisticated setting for the band's raw, angry lyrics -- and Ed's equally raw, angry vocals. Amy's fluid guitar work adds a bit of sheen to the proceedings while still providing the driving rhythms that keep the songs anchored. The music is aggressive, but it's also undeniably beautiful, transcending the narrow appeal of rock's subgenres to create something more universal.<br /><br />Amy and Ed moved to Philadelphia last year, seeing the specialness in my fair city that so many Philly artists don't even see. They've since fleshed out Panic Years with new members to become a much beloved local act. I've yet to experience them in person, but the EP is one of the more engaging releases I've reviewed, and I recommend grabbing a copy online if you can't make it to the band's shows. If you can and do attend a show soon, maybe you'll see me there.<br /><br />For music and more information: <a href="http://www.myspace.com/panicyears">http://www.myspace.com/panicyears</a><br /><br />Copyright © 2009 S.J. Dibai. All rights reserved.<br />Keep up with ONA and help spread the word. Become a fan on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/One-Note-Ahead/100944017133">Facebook</a>.<br /></span>Shaheen J. Dibaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18176225916977840677noreply@blogger.com0