N2Notes.Com Music Reviews, News and More!

[Editorial note: Please welcome the newest contributing author to N2Notes.com, Howard. His bio is available on the Authors page and you can visit his personal website at www.thewebpen.net.]
If it’s true that everything runs in twenty-year cycles then The Bird And The Bee are jumping the 60’s-revival gun a bit on their [tag]debut[/tag] album, but that’s alright because in ten years they have the bragging rights to claim themselves as ‘[tag]pioneers[/tag]’. What really matters though is that these two, Inara George (the bird) and Greg Kurstin (the bee), have recorded one of the finest [tag]quirky[/tag]/[tag]psychedelic[/tag] pop albums in years. They are [tag]Portishead[/tag] filtered through an acid-trip in a late-60’s lounge. The entire album is a complete throw back and creates an atmosphere of [tag]groovy[/tag] daisies, bell bottoms and free love.

The hook here is Inara’s vocals which the band not only wisely bring to the forefront, but also use as an instrument with many la’s, bop’s and other nonsensical lyrics to round out the songs. This has the benefit of making the songs instantly [tag]singable[/tag] and even allows them to write a song called, “La La La”. There will be the inevitable comparisons to late-career [tag]Everything But The Girl[/tag], which are easily made; however, the difference here is mood. The Bird And The Bee sound happy even when Inara is lamenting she has a broken heart. You wouldn’t hear a French horn and other brass in an EBTG song.

However, The Bird And The Bee wouldn’t be complete without the bee. Greg’s instrumentation and choice of sounds really is the glue that keeps the songs together and the collection cohesive. Whether it’s the [tag]Zombies[/tag]-like keyboards in “La La La”, the tambourine sprinkled throughout or his obvious love of the harpsichord in “Again & Again”, “My Fair Lady” and “I Hate Camera”, he creates the perfect sound to showcase Inara’s light and [tag]airy[/tag] vocals.

Don’t worry though that this is nothing but a collection of songs right out of “Laugh-In”. There are plenty of modern influences to enjoy as well. The fat bass of “Preparedness” owes as much to the [tag]Human League[/tag] as it does to [tag]Timbaland[/tag]. “Fucking Boyfriend” lends itself easily to the club and even deservedly hit number one on the U.S. [tag]dance[/tag] charts last December. And don’t forget to catch the fantastic 8-bit Nintendo-game break in “I Hate Camera”. The Bird And The Bee is the culmination of two [tag]jazz[/tag] nerds playing around and having fun. That fun even shines through in the beautiful “Spark” which closes this debut. Listening to The Bird And The Bee is like slipping into go-go boots and dancing in a cage. It’s the feeling of enjoying the crowd while escaping into your own world.

[Editorial note: Please welcome the newest contributing author to N2Notes.com, Bianca. Her bio is available on the Authors page and you can visit her personal website at www.stirfrykitty.com.]

Rather than a traditional album review as my first post at N2Notes, I thought I might review a batch of songs to give you readers an idea of my musical taste as well as a picture of how I discover new music, because I think I might be at least a little unusual in both cases.

About a month ago I put together a mix CD of music that I’ve stumbled across over the last couple of years. These particular pieces have each held a place in my heavy rotation at one point or another, and it’s an eclectic enough mix that it will give you a broad spectrum musical experience.

1. The Jane Doe’s - Junkie –I pride myself on being current on internet fads, and even if I don’t actively participate in everything, I like to at least know what people are talking about. That being said, when it was discovered that lonelygirl15 was not, in fact, simply a young and popular vlogger, but instead an actress portraying a young and popular vlogger, and the blog/vlog community was up in arms about the betrayal, I figured I’d have to go watch a couple of webisodes just so that I would at least know what everyone was talking about. I watched the first half dozen or so webisodes for the sake of this research, and I stumbled across this particular song featured somewhere in the first few, and I loved it after just the first few chords. I kept watching lonelygirl15 for a while after that. Not because the show itself was any good. (It’s not.) But because they kept including interesting music that I had previously never heard, and I love finding new music. Eventually the good music petered out, and I stopped watching, but I managed to add a couple of gems to my collection because of this particular internet phenomenon.

2. Arling & Cameron - Multiplication Blues –I believe I stumbled across this particular song on one of the many music blogs that I follow. I don’t remember which, and I don’t remember when, but I know that this one one of the first bluesy type songs I have ever actually liked, so it made an impact.

3. Bettie Serveert - You’ve Changed –Another music blog find. I actually like her song Attagirl better, but it was too much a [tag]Grrrl[/tag] song, and at least half of my audience for the CD wasn’t women, so I included this instead.

4. Blonde Redhead - Messenger –I used to work at Borders Books and Music, and there was this sort of darkly hip girl named Amy who worked there. You know, the kind who had funky colors in her hair, who wore clothes she crafted herself out of finds from the Salvation Army, and who always, always had good taste in music. Well, she suggested Blonde Redhead for the overhead system, and it didn’t last long because it’s probably a bit too melancholy for the average Borders customer, but something about those minor chords and the singer’s aching voice caught my attention, and I bought the album (Misery Is a Butterfly) soon after. This is just one of many great songs on that album.

5. Butterfly Boucher - Life Is Short –If you’re a fan of Grey’s Anatomy, and you pay attention to the music featured on the show, then you probably remember this song. It’s [tag]peppy[/tag], without being [tag]cheesy[/tag], and captures the mood of the show perfectly for me.

6. Charlotte Hatherley - Behave –I wish I remembered where I ran across this song. Most likely a music blog. It’s got minor chords (are you noticing a theme yet?), and it’s a bit [tag]twangy[/tag], but not in a country music way.

7. Damone - Just What I Needed –There’s this goofy lesbian coming-of-age movie called But I’m a Cheerleader. I say goofy, because I think maybe you have to be a coming-of-age lesbian to get anything out of this movie (I’m too old to be coming-of-age anything, and I’m so heterosexual I think I defined it.), but it’s got a pretty decent soundtrack. This is a cover of the Cars original, and it’s bouncy and singy and Grrrly (and why did I bother censoring the Grrrly with Bettie Serveert when I ended up with so much [tag]Grrrl[/tag] stuff anyway).

8. The Matthew Show - Office Suite, Part I –This is another lonelygirl15 find. It’s kind of a spoken word rap, and reminds me a little bit of The Distance by Cake. To say this artist is [tag]obscure[/tag] is probably major understatement.

9. Tattle Tale - Glass Vase, Cello Case –There is a love scene in But I’m a Cheerleader between the main character and a girl who was previously a total bitch to her, and this song plays over the scene. It’s lovely, a little [tag]bittersweet[/tag], and it’s the kind of song that I would love to have someone write about making love to me. Because I think of my life in terms of soundtracks. And I’m a dork.

10. Kings of Convenience - I’d Rather Dance With You –Back when I was still a MySpace addict I would occasionally surf around to see what people my age in Tulsa were doing, what music they liked, what they liked to read, and to see if there was anyone interesting that I wanted to meet. I ran across this guy, and he was probably too cool to ever want to talk to me, but he had this song on his profile, and I figured I could at least steal that. I love how the singer holds his Ms and his NGs. This is also the only song I ever introduced to my former friend Daniel that he actually liked. He’s sort of a music snob. So I guess that says something.

11. G. Tom Mac - Half –This was at the end of an episode of Scrubs, and I think I liked it better a while back. Can music ungrow on you? I think this has. Anyway, it’s got cello, which I like.

12. Anjali - Misty Canyon –I think this was on an episode of Veronica Mars, but I won’t swear to it. Either way, it’s the sort of trip-hoppy, breathy type song you might like to hear when you’re sipping a martini while wearing your sexiest boots and something on top that shows off your assets and makes the cute guy at the end of the bar buy you your next cosmopolitan.

13. Deceptikon - Ashes of Shanghai –Another music blog find. What do you do with this song? You don’t sing to it, it has no words. You could maybe dance to it a little, I suppose. A sort of sway up against someone kind of dance. It’s too cool to be just background music. Unless, I guess, you’re in a bar somewhere that’s too cool even for itself. And then I guess you’re stuck buying martinis again.

14. Daft Punk - Technologic –Another one that I don’t know where it came from, but you’ve probably heard of Daft Punk before. This is sort of an unsong. It’s robotic, and would probably look great over a totally experimental artsy fartsy music video. It makes me want to drive fast when I listen to it in my car.

15. Chin Chin - Can’t Walk No More –A music blog find. It takes a moment to pick up, but then it’s another cool trip hoppy track, with a great, breathy voice.

16. AK-Momo - Time for the Muse –A music blog find. I don’t know why this feels like it should have come from a cop show from the 60s. It’s definitely taken a cue from early [tag]Portishead[/tag], and for that I love it.

So, there. That’s my totally schizophrenic mix CD for ya. If you’ve heard any of these and you love them, I’d love to know!

Vince Gill - These Days

Most artists rely almost exclusively on their past catalog when putting together a box set compilation. Not Vince Gill, he recently released a four disc set of new material that pairs him with some of the other great voices in [tag]country, rock, gospel[/tag], and [tag]bluegrass[/tag]. Each disc has a theme that highlights the styles that Vince has been running circles around and through for the past twenty five years. He’s got a beautiful tenor voice that is only just beginning to show signs of age. Additionally, I firmly believe that Vince is one of the best living [tag]guitar[/tag] players. There is a short list of guitarists that are instantly recognizable by their style, [tag]Joe Walsh, Eric Clapton, Eddie Van Halen[/tag], and Vince. Even if you aren’t necessarily a country music fan, I’m sure that you will find something in this set that will prove to you why this set made my list.

Dixie Chicks - Taking the Long Way

Perhaps I spoke too soon when I said I couldn’t pick a favorite from this year. I think it may be this incredible album from the [tag]Dixie Chicks[/tag]. It’s smart, sensitive, and blistering. Everyone knows the situation with the boycott, so I don’t want to dwell on that, but it is clear from the scathing “Not Ready to Make Nice” that the Chicks aren’t going to let us forget the shafting that they received. If you can listen to this song and not be emotionally engaged by the soaring bridge and climactic string crescendo, then you are a robotic sociopath. Yes, I said it. “Easy Silence,” “Baby Hold On,” and the super sweet “Lullaby” are my other favorite tracks on an album full of solid pop songs. Let country stations continue to boycott them, us pop lovers will welcome them with open arms.

Panic! At the Disco - A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out

Hot [tag]emo[/tag] boys in eyeliner + long rambling song titles that have nothing to do with the lyrical content + soaring anthems of angst = a puddle of Paul. While [tag]Panic! At the Disco[/tag] may not have invented the genre, they have certainly put a face and personality on emo rock. I’ve bought several albums this year that one could classify in the same general vein as this album, however when my iPod is shuffling, songs on this album stand out from the crowd and don’t require me to reach down and look to confirm the artist. I have my doubts that PATD will be able to follow up their success on their next album, but I have no doubts that they were among the best of this year.

Under the Influence of Giants - Self Titled

You’ll probably notice that my list does not include the [tag]Scissor Sisters[/tag]’ newest album Tah Dah. That’s because UTIOG did a much better job of writing the follow up to the Sister’s amazing self titled album of 2004. [tag]Under the Influence of Giants[/tag] took a hold of the 1977-meets-2010 sound and completely owned it this year. “Mama’s Room” is a brilliant Abba-esque song with [tag]dark[/tag] Oedipal undertones that is entirely hum-able. “In the Clouds,” “Got Nothing,” and “I Love You” are equally well written, [tag]danceable[/tag], and leave you with that happy feeling that only a coked up night at Studio 54 could provide in the past.

James Blunt - Back to Bedlam

With his crystal clear falsetto and his heart on his sleeve, [tag]James Blunt[/tag] hit the US with a virtually unstoppable single, “You’re Beautiful.” While I enjoy the song, and have been known to sing along, it suffers from one of my personal pet peeves. He changes his lyrical voice several times in the song… one moment he’s singing to the listener, the next to the girl he’s so forlorn over. Just my personal issue with songs that do that… but I digress. There are some really solid tracks on this album. My favorite being “Wisemen” with its [tag]hooky[/tag] chorus and tale of friendship. While there’s no Summer Anthem Rocker on here, if you are a fan of thought-provoking [tag]singer songwriters[/tag], you’ll want to spend some time with this album.

Since there was such a long hiatus on this site, I decided to include my picks for all of last year here. I originally posted this on my personal site.

So many magazines, television networks, and other bloggers have been busy touting their lists of the best music from this past year and I’ve been mostly disappointed by the choices. I buy somewhere around 15 albums a month and definitely form my own opinions.

Seems like all these reviewers want to show off their knowledge of some obscure group that no one has ever heard of, and they bestow high honors upon them. While I do listen to some music that most people don’t know anything about, I prefer to stick to [tag]popular[/tag] artists, or at least, artists that you have at least a chance of hearing on the [tag]radio[/tag] or catching on [tag]tour[/tag].

That being said, I’d like to offer up my opinions on some of the best work of the year. I’m offering these in no particular order, mostly because I have a hard time choosing between genres and styles. You can click on the following items to purchase them from Amazon.

Christina Aguilera - Back to Basics

I, Paul, am officially declaring here and now that any and all comparisons between [tag]Britney Spears[/tag] and [tag]Christina Aguilera[/tag] need to cease immediately. I can certainly understand why they started, with the similarity in ages, background, Disney start, and basically interchangeable first albums… however, where some people have gotten married and crowned queen of the trailer park, others have gotten married and put out an incredibly sexy mixture of modern pop and 1930’s extravagance. It’s[tag] smart, classy[/tag], and her voice has never been better.

The Fray - How to Save a Life

If you have been living in a cave without a television or radio, you’ve probably missed the title track on Grey’s Anatomy or commercials. Like most songs that get used in this way, you may be burned out by it. Do yourself a favor and listen to the rest of the album. “Over My Head (Cable Car),” “She Is,” and “All at Once” are three minute pop masterpieces. [tag]The Fray[/tag] took a formula from [tag]Keane[/tag] and added their own special ingredient to make something especially tasty.

Blue October - Foiled

Reminiscent of one of my personal favorites, [tag]Peter Gabriel[/tag], this sophomore major label release is at times [tag]dark, romantic, sweet,[/tag] and [tag]acidic[/tag]. “Hate Me” was the big hit over the summer. “X Amount of Words” and “Congratulations” are stand out tracks, and “Into the Ocean” is the current ring tone on my cell phone. This is one of the disks that got a lot of playtime on the iPod that is almost always attached to my hip.

KT Tunstall - Eye to the Telescope

Who’s cute, [tag]Scottish[/tag], a talented [tag]songwriter[/tag], and a tremendous live performer? It’s this year’s best [tag]debut[/tag] artist, [tag]KT Tunstall[/tag]. You couldn’t escape “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” this year, and frankly, why would you want to? It’s the perfect pop song, complete with borderline-nonsensical lyrics open to interpretation, a great dance beat, and a sing along chorus that will get caught in your head for days. The rest of the album is solid and shows a wide range of influences. My favorite track? Definitely “Suddenly I See.”

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium

What’s better than a new album by rock-funk veterans, [tag]Red Hot Chili Peppers[/tag]? That’s right, a DOUBLE album. There’s nothing especially new on this 28-song opus, but why fix something that isn’t broken? “Dani California,” “Snow (Hey Oh),” “Readymade,” and “Animal Bar” are standout tracks.

Elton John - The Captain and the Kid

While I am of the firm opinion that just about anything that [tag]Sir Elton[/tag] does is great, (even the admittedly [tag]schmaltzy[/tag] FM-Lite music of the past several years) this album proves why he will go down in history as one of the most important artists of modern times. This album was billed as the follow up to 1975’s Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, a [tag]concept album[/tag] about the oft-tumultuous relationship between [tag]Elton[/tag] and lyricist [tag]Bernie Taupin[/tag]. This newest release definitely sounds like it could have been released in 1977, picking up where they left off 30 years ago. If you’ve abandoned EJ since the “Circle of Life,” maybe it’s time to give him another chance.

I’ve only just scratched this list, I have more coming in the next post or two. What are some of your favorites?

What do you get when you cross [tag]Queen[/tag]’s Freddie Mercury with 1970’s era [tag]Elton John[/tag]? Besides a fantastic party complete with feather boas? You get Mika.

There is no question that Mika’s voice is outstanding. He wrote every song on this debut album that alternates between outrageously flamboyant and dark and brooding. Not bad for a 23 year old.

Life in Cartoon Motion is one of the most [tag]creative, spirited[/tag] and [tag]original[/tag] albums I have heard in a long time. I’m a sucker for a great melodic hook and high sing-a-long quotient. The tracks on this disc are one hook after another, and I promise that you will find yourself singing along with him at the top of your lungs. Good luck trying to match his falsetto note for note.

The production on this record is stellar. Layered instrumentation and synthesized sound effects never overpower the vocals. Tracks like “Love Today” and “Relax (Take It Easy)” cater to the club scene, reminiscent of [tag]The Scissor Sisters[/tag] or the disco kings, [tag]The Bee Gees[/tag]. Other tracks, like “Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)” are witty tongue-in-cheek homages to Queen songs. Mika even name checks Freddie in “Grace Kelly.”

He’s already a huge star in the UK, where corporate radio hasn’t tried to pigeon-hole every artist into a demographic. It will be a challenge for him to find big success in the US, not because he doesn’t deserve it, but because US audiences may never really get the chance to discover him.

Key Tracks:
• Grace Kelly
• Love Today
• Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)
• Relax (Take It Easy)

I’ve been anticipating the release of this disc. I was a big fan of Elliot’s when he was competing on [tag]American Idol[/tag]. While it is not the strongest [tag]debut[/tag] album I’ve heard by far, it is one that delivers exactly what you expect. A young and soulful R&B record made by a man who loves soulful R&B.

There are occasional moments where Elliot’s delivery seems a bit too controlled, and occasional moments of brilliance, like his cover of Donnie Hathaway’s “Song for You.”

My complaints about the disc are pointed directly at the record’s producers, of which several are credited. I have had my fair share of experience with record mixing and production, and there are tracks on this disc that make me want to shake whomever was behind the board. For instance, I was listening to “You Are The One.” For half the track I thought maybe my headphones were loose, but I realized that no, the generic string and electric piano tracks were completely overpowering the vocals. It sounded like it might be karaoke track with a “helpful” scratch vocal to help the not-so-good drunk guy keep his place in the song. It happens a few other times where Elliot is delivering a line with his trademark runs that get lost behind an inane beat and electronic pad.

There are some instances when burying the vocal a bit behind the track is effective. The Police used the technique often as a way to make the listener strain to understand the lyrics, therefore making them really pay attention the message of the song. But these songs aren’t lyrically exceptional.

When you have a talented singer who is know specifically for his VOICE why would you ever try to bury it?

Key Tracks:
• Movin’ On
• Train Wreck
• Alright
• Song for You

You might have noticed that it has been very quiet over here for a while.

When I started this site, I had great intentions, but not nearly enough time. Things have changed, and this site will be updated much more regularly.

I’ve revamped the site design, and will probably continue tweaking it over the next few weeks. Just one more reason to come back often!

Here are things that are upcoming on N2Notes.com:

• Additional Reviewers
• Guest Posts
• Interviews
• Featured Artist Pages
• Podcasts
• Music Samples
• and more!

If there’s anyone out there who is interested in becoming a guest reviewer, or would be interested in joining a review-circle music exchange, please drop me a line.

I have put off posting this review for a while. I’d like to be able to write about the album and not talk about the political commentary and messy situation involved. I’ve determined that it is impossible to extricate the two. This album is acidic, [tag]bold[/tag], forthright, outspoken, and quite frankly, [tag]brilliant[/tag].

Music reflects society and like it or not, celebrities have a unique position in which the masses listen to what they say. It’s not a perfect situation, but one that exists just the same. This album embodies all that is necessary and wonderful about having a soapbox.

So far, this is my best pick of the year. The first single “I’m Not Ready to Make Nice” hits the nail on the head about the tumultuous 2 years the Chicks have had. The crescendo of the string section in the bridge almost makes me burst into tears. How many of us have wanted to say

I’m not ready to make nice
I’m not ready to back down
I’m still mad as hell and I don’t have tiime to go round and round
It’s too late to make it right
I probably wouldn’t if I could?

And they tackle the hate mail and vile rhetoric from fans and the country music world:

It’s a sad sad story when a mother will teach her daughter
that she ought to hate a perfect stranger
and how in the world can the things that I said
send somebody so over the edge
that they would write me a letter
saying that I’d better shut up and sing or
my life will be over?

Amazing.

I fully support the country station’s right to not play the [tag]Dixie Chicks[/tag] music because of their beliefs, no matter how misguided. However, I think we rock and pop junkies need to support The Chicks. This isn’t the country you have come to expect from them.

Key tracks:

• I’m Not Ready to Make Nice
• Easy Silence
• Lullaby
• Baby Hold On

Looking for this summer’s Balls To The Wall hard rock album, chock-full-o hooks and plenty of scream-along-in-your-car moments? This is your album. This may be one of the best bands to come out of LA in the past 5 years.

There are some obvious influences by [tag]The Strokes[/tag] and [tag]The White Stripes[/tag], but what sets these guys apart is clean and melodic guitar riffs and intelligible lyrics.

Key Tracks:
• Who’s Gonna Take Us Alive?
• Starting Me Up Again (Diary of a Teenage Cutter)
• Tiara

It would be impossible to write a review of this album without using the words, [tag]unique, quirky, funky, trippy,[/tag] or [tag]unusual[/tag]. I have heard him referred to as a folk-techno troubadour and I think that’s a great description. Well produced with lots of ‘detail sounds’ that will allow you to hear something different with each spin. This disc is chock-full-o drug and sex references, disguised not so well in some truly inventive lyrics. For instance this excerpt from “Visine”:

Seal this note with my juicer; Use the liquid from your womb; Season to taste

and

Had a dream ’bout Joseph Stalin; Was his son haulin’ out of Moscow; On a jellybean with wheels

You can make some obvious comparisons of P.J. Olsson’s music with [tag]Beck[/tag]. Only with better lyrics. And melodies.

You’ve undoubtedly heard “The Whistle Song” on the Starburst commercials. It’s quite catchy. You’ll whistle along, then realize 3 hours later that you’ve been whistling that song non stop, your lips are dry, and your cubicle mate is threatening to give you a rectal with your own head.

Key Tracks
• Visine
• The Whistle Song
• Three Light Years and One Day
• Perfect