WEEK 4 - LAKE STREET DIVE

Last week, I gave you a group of musicians driven mostly by instrumentalists. This week, I am introducing a band with a lead singer that will forever change your preconceptions about the capabilities of the human voice. 

Her name is Rachel Price, and she is the lead singer and front woman for the band Lake Street Dive. I will try to hold off on gushing about her incredible talent until I’ve written a bit more about the band and given the other members some well deserved credit, but I just want you to know that I’m currently more excited than a young beagle sharing a crate with lassie. Is that a weird comparison?

Apart from the lead singer, Lake Street Dive consists of Mike Olson, who plays trumpet and guitar, Bridget Kearney, who plays the upright bass, and Mike Calabrese, the drummer. The members met at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, so they know a thing or two about how to make awesome tunes. According to the band, their biggest influences are classic jazz, soul, R&B, and the Beatles. Based on their music, I would say that list is quite accurate. Songs range in style from upbeat jazzy hits to slow, darker blues ballads. Each individual’s contributions to the overall sound of Lake Street Dive are quite impressive. Mike Olson can lay down catchy guitar riffs to back up the vocals, or he can soar into a fantastic trumpet solo unexpectedly. Bridget Kearney’s upright bass playing never disappoints; those walking baselines form the backbone of every song. Finally, Mike Calabrese creates drum beats that work wonderfully with the rest of the parts while providing stellar backing vocals for Rachel Price.

Which brings me to Rachel Price! Born in Hendersonville, Tennessee, Price gained recognition as an impressive vocalist at a young age. When she was eighteen, she received honorable mention at an international jazz vocal competition, and two years later she was a semi-finalist as the youngest competitor in the history of the Thelonious Monk Institute Vocal Competition. Perhaps she reached the zenith of her career when she appeared on House of Cards, season 6, episode 2, singing the national anthem next to Kevin Spacey. Maybe…

To appreciate how amazing she is, you really need to listen for yourself. A video of her singing one of Lake Street Dive’s songs, “What I’m Doing Here,” at a recording session in one perfect take might convince you. Her voice has tremendous depth and power that can even make the band’s more straightforward fun songs sound like musical masterpieces. You can listen to the same song again and again and still be blown away by her voice each time. The woman has a gift.

Lake Street Dive released their newest album, Side Pony, today (2/19/16), so buying the album is a great way to start exploring their music. The band debuted a song off the album called, “Call Off your Dogs,” on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and their performance wowed the audience. Secure your socks before listening to any of their music.

WEEK 3 - SNARKY PUPPY

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“It’s really pretty good.” - Nathan Graham

AND COUNTLESS MORE!

This week, I’m bringing you the funkiest band in the world. They’re about to blow up, and they are more deserving of their coming fame than any other band out there today. By the end of 2016, they are on track to release ten albums in ten years. These guys are incredibly hard working musicians, and the quality of their music will also prove their talent. Being that you will soon be hearing about this band all over the internet and television as they gain popularity, it’s best you learn who they are now.

Snarky Puppy is a fusion band from Brooklyn, New York. That may be the most hipsterish sounding sentence ever written, but this music ain’t no home-brewed coffee house playlist. They have been described as one of the most advanced bands in modern music. They even won a grammy in 2014 for best R&B performance! Reviewers commend their blend of improv and groove, and listeners love their interestingly structured compositions that are equally pleasing for the ear as they are for the mind.

The band itself centers around the bassist and composer of the music, Michael League. League is an accomplished musician with his own record label, of which Snarky Puppy belongs. In addition, eight to ten other core members flesh out the horn and rhythm sections of the band. On top of that, about thirty to forty guest musicians come together to create the massive sound that defines Snarky Puppy’s innovative music. Instruments include brass, strings, electric guitars, keyboards, synthesizers, percussion, drum set, and vocals. Every song utilizes the depth of the group differently, creating a diverse listening experience within single albums.

A look at Snarky Puppy’s two most recent albums can best explain why they have gone from an underground jazz group to a heavy-weight, industry game-changer today. The analysis is simple: the albums are REALLY good. In 2014, We Like it Here blew its audience away with powerful horn hooks and truly modern soundscapes. Songs like “What About Me?” and “Tio Macaco” can satisfy sharp-eared music critics and casual lovers of great music alike. In 2015, Sylva proved Snarky Puppy’s unprecedented ability to surprise the music world with its adaptability. The album features the Metropole Orkest from the Netherlands, and the combination of a full orchestra with the jazz group allows for some truly mind-bogglingly amazing music.

Here’s the best news: Snarky Puppy released a brand new album TODAY. Buy Family Dinner Volume II and enjoy! As a palette wetter watch this performance of “What About Me?” from We Like it Here. I cannot speak more enthusiastically on behalf of this band. Please give them a listen; I know you will love their incredible talent. 

WEEK 2 - SIGUR RÓS

I am particularly excited about sharing this week’s band, as their music will blow you away, guaranteed. If you have already heard of Sigur Rós, please pat yourself on the back. Despite the fact that this band actually has quite a large global fan-base, in some places, especially America, they don’t get much exposure. But now you know they exist! And it’s currently my task to make you listen. 

Sigur Rós hails from the capital of Iceland, Reykjavík (pronounced reɪkjəˌvik, duh), and released their debut album in 1994. The band is still currently active. Being that all the members are Icelandic, the song lyrics are in Icelandic too, so you will probably become fluent in the language after listening to an album or so. 

Now, allow me to attempt to describe Sigur Rós’s music. Just like last  week, I absolutely do not want to put this group into a box by comparing it to other artists or mashing together a turducken of genres to convey its sound. The word that most strongly comes to mind when I think of their music is beautiful. It is capable of evoking the strongest emotional responses of any music I’ve listened to. Certain compositions (I will not refer to them as mere songs!) will make you want to cry, others will fill you with bliss, and still others will make your chest swell with some indescribable sensation of oneness with the world that only great art can achieve.

Alright, so I’ve made this stuff sound pretty darn great so far, but what does it actually sound like? For most of the albums, the band is comprised of four central members with a full orchestra in accompaniment. The frontman, Jónsi Birgisson, sings and plays guitar. Now that may seem cliché, but there’s more! He sings in a beautiful falsetto voice, and he plays his guitar with a cello bow. Additionally, he is openly gay and blind in one eye. Cliché now? Nope. They have a drummer, a bassist, a pianist/flute/oboe/vibraphone player, and, usually, an orchestra. You can imagine those elements create an extremely unique sonic blend. The pianist composes most of the string and brass parts for the pieces, and he has serious talent. 

The music typically incorporates a wide range of moods and dynamics, creating very interesting soundscapes. Jónsi’s falsetto voice and bowed guitar create a thick, enchanting foundation for the rest of the ensemble to build on. The bassist and drummer lay down heavy, driving rhythms,  often very untraditional to the types found in rock or pop music. The real magic comes from the pianist and his compositions, which always shock and awe. One signature theme of Sigur Rós’s music is building on a simple motif for an entire song, creating intricate variations until blasting it all away with a massive orchestral finish. It will certainly be some of the most original music you ever get the privilege of hearing.

The one song I have selected as your introduction to the band is called “Hoppípolla,” which translates to, “hopping in puddles” in english. It’s one of their most uplifting songs, so if you’re into the dark stuff, keep exploring, they will not disappoint you. You can watch a live performance the band gave outdoors in Iceland here. Enjoy the incredible talent of Sigur Rós!