Author: Vodka

Dumpstaphunk – Meanwhile

 Born out of the blues, rhythm and blues and funk, Dumpstaphunk is a force of it’s own-one that you should stand up and take notice of. Here they perform Meanwhile which talks about how the world moved on while those in New Orleans suffered in their post hurricane Katrina world. There’s no need in me blabbing on and on about the music. You can feel it in your gut-in your toes. In short, it will speak, you just have to listen. You can find a little…

Read More

July Music Musings

Remembering Independence Tomorrow is the 4th of July, and on a decidedly non-musical note, I’d like to remind everyone that as we celebrate our Independence Day in the US, that we should remember all of those who continue to fight and die for our independence every day in the US Military.  It’s not a profession that I would choose for myself-besides I’m too old and grumpy-but it is a very honorable profession and if you are reading this and are from any branch of the military, thank you for your service. Music blog successes As the number of posts draws closer to the 100…

Read More

Old Abram Brown – Novelty Prize

 New Hampshire indie rockers, Old Abram Brown, have a way of integrating the past into seams of their musical prose. Enter Novelty from their second full-length, Restless Ghosts.  Old Abram Brown marches forward deliberately here. The lyric guitar, and piano push the down-beat in each measure.  Note how the guitar is used more for rhythm than the drum, which adds only texture to the mix, until the bridge and remaining verses where the drums become the driving force. The drums at this…

Read More

Clara C – The Camel Song

 I ran across Clara C while trying to fill a spot for folk or Americana on the blog. It isn’t what I was looking for, but it is bright, infectious and simple.  Clara C, has a full range of vocal abilities as heard in this mix of The Camel Song, a wistful love song about sharing life’s experiences with the one you love. Yes, I know, nothing very original in that and I almost passed this song by until the chorus…

Read More

Xylos – Not Enough

 In pop music, the melody and how it is executed by the band or artist seems to me to be one of the most important things. Can you remember it? Does it echo in your head in a way that makes you want to sing it or hear it again?  Both are true when you are listening to tunes by the pop foursome, Xylos.  A great example is 2010’s Not Enough, which has sweeping vocal harmonies throughout. Xylos are not much for releasing information…

Read More