THoAM Blog

“Lava lamp” from songs4u by Cuco

Important humans: omar banos
Date released: january 28 2017
Genre: lofi, hip hop
2016-present
Interesting facts: he started playing when he was 8 and was discovered through twitter.
Quote:“I made you feel special and i should have felt the same”

0 Comments

SlSoD #2: Shania H. on Tuesday 3.19

3/19/2019

Panic! At the Disco “High Hopes” Pray For The Wicked – 2018

Origin: Las Vegas, NV
Years Active: 2004 - present
Genre:
synth-rock, pop-rock, pop-punk, alternative rock
Important Humans:
- Brendon Urie
Interesting Fact(s):
- Fashion style called “Vaudevillian pop punk”
- Influenced by The Beatles, The Zombies, and The Beach Boys
Quote(s):
- “I may never sleep tonight, as long as you’re still burning bright”

0 Comments

SlSoD #1: Tatiana M. on Monday 3.18

3/19/2019

Sam Smith Ft. Logic “Pray” The Thrill Of it All - March 29, 2018

Important humans: Sam Smith, Logic
Years active: October 2012-present
Genres: Contemporary R&B, Pop
- Instruments used: Piano, Guitar, Ukulele
- He is a English singer-songwriter, was born in the UK
- He performed this song at the Grammy Awards in 2018.
- He is gay & also catholic. He came out to his parents at the age of 10. He was taught that his sexuality was a sin.
- In a strange way he does believe in god.

Quote: “ I wanted to write about how I’m now starting to open my eyes, at age 25 to what is going on in the rest of the world and that it’s not always pretty.”

0 Comments

Thursday 3.14 - Stevie Wonder

3/14/2019

Stevie Wonder "I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)" from Talking Book - 1972

Origin: Saginaw / Detroit, Michigan
Genre: soul, R&B, funk, jazz, pop
Years Active: 1961 - present
Interesting Facts:
- Real Name - Stevland Hardaway Morris Judkins
- Child Prodigy: sings, keyboards, harmonica, drums,
- Tamla / Motown record label @ age 11
- blind since shortly after birth
- 30 Top 10 hits
- 25 Grammy Awards
- political and social activists
Quotes:
- Vince Aletti called Talking Book "ambitious" and "richly-textured", writing that "even at its dreamiest, the music has a glowing vibrancy ... Altogether, an exceptional, exciting album, the work of a now quite matured genius".
- Here is my music. It is all I have to tell you how I feel. Know that your love keeps my love strong. — Stevie

1 Comment

Wednesday 3.13 - Flying Lotus Feat. Kendrick Lamar

3/13/2019

Flying Lotus “Never Catch Me” feat. Kendrick Lamar from You’re Dead!

Genre: Experimental, Hip Hop, Electronic, IDM, Wonky
Years Active: 2005-Present
Origin: LA
Important Humans: Steven Ellison
Interesting Facts:
- produced most of the bumper music on Adult Swim
- produced and directed 5 films
- founded his own record label, Brainfeeder
- about the actual process of death for the listener
Quote:
- “Every decision that I made was because of the concept. There’s no loose ends in this record. There’s no like, ‘Oh, I’m just gonna put this on the album because it sounds dope.’ There were a lot of tracks I could have put on there – like club tracks, bangers, whatever – but they didn’t fit conceptually so there was no point. I’m not gonna call the album You’re Dead! and be like pop singles …wobble bass and whatever.” - Ellison

4 Comments

Monday 3.11 - Victor Wooten

3/13/2019

3 Comments

Victor Wooten "Amazing Grace" from Live At the Quick

Years Active: 1980 - present
Genres: jazz, junk, jazz fusion
Origin: Idaho
Instruments Played: electric and upright bass, fiddle, cello and banjo
Interesting Facts:
- 5 Grammy awards
- Bass Player of the Year numerous times

3 Comments

Friday 3.8 - The Roaches

3/8/2019

6 Comments

The Roches "Hammond Song" from The Roches- 1979

Genre: Folk and Folk Rock
Years Active: 1973 - 2017
Origin: Park Ridge, New Jersey
Important Humans:
- Maggie, Terre, and Suzzy Roche
Interesting Facts:
- Irish-Americans
- "unusual and rich harmonies"
- interesting and weird lyrics
- comedic stage performances
- big break as backup singers on Paul Simon's There Goes Rhymin' Simon
- debut album / produced by Robert Fripp of King Crimson [he also plays the guitar solo]
Quote(s):
- a "mischievous and highly original folk blend" - Allmusic.com
- "The sound of three fairly soft voices and three acoustic guitars, with songs about waitress jobs, commuter trains and longing to be accepted by your parents, issued forth into the 1970s climate of disco fever like a drop of powerful medicine into a compromised bloodstream. Fripp, in an interview, put forth that people don’t realize gentle music can be revolutionary." - Terry Roches via NYTimes

6 Comments

Thursday 3.7 - Rush

3/8/2019

6 Comments

Rush "2112" from 2112 - 1976

Origin: Toronto, Canada
Genre: Heavy Metal / Progressive "Prog" Rock
Years Active: 1968 - 2018
Interesting Facts:
- The Holy Triumvirate
  - only 3 members:
    - Alex Lifeson (guitar)
    - Neal Peart (percussion)
    - Geddy Lee (bass guitar, keybord synth and lead singer!)
      - largest percussion set ever?
- arguably one of the greatest drummers of all time
- concept album
  - based on Ayn Rand philosophy (specifically Anthem)
- Lee's parents met in a Nazi concentration camp, were separated and then reunited! powerful stuff there
Quote: "We don't want to change what people think about rock and roll, we just want to show them what we think about it." Alex Lifeson

6 Comments

Monday 3.4 - Fleet Foxes

3/4/2019

Fleet Foxes “The Shrine / An Argument” from Helplessness Blues from 2011

from Seattle, Washington
genre: indie folk, baroque pop
label: Sub Pop
Group met over a shared love for Bob Dylan and Neil Young
- influenced heavily by Brian Wilson
  - Robin Pecknold: lead vocals, guitar
  - Skyler Skjelset: lead guitar, mandolin
  - Christian Wargo: bass guitar, vocals
  - Casey Wescott: keyboards, mandolin, vocals
  - Joshua Tillman: drums, vocals, arrangements
  - Morgan Henderson: multi-instrumentalist, arrangements

5 Comments

Thursday 2.28 - Wintergatan

2/28/2019

7 Comments

Wintergatan “Marble Machine” from 2014 to 2016

Origin: Gothenburg, Sweden
Years Active: 2016 – present
Genres: Folktronica, experimental pop
Important Humans:
- Martin Molin - specializes in the vibraphone & electronic instruments
- Evelina Hägglund - specializes in keyboard
- David Zandén - specializes in bass
- Marcus Sjöberg - specializes in drums
Interesting Facts:
- Means “Milky Way”
- The machine is powered by hand, and works by raising steel marbles through the machine into multiple feeder tubes, where they are then released from height via programmable release gates, falling and striking a musical instrument below. Instruments played by marbles striking them include a vibraphone, bass guitar, cymbal, and emulated kick drum, high hat and snare drum sounds using contact microphones. The music score is stored on two programmable wheels that utilize Lego Technic beams and stud connectors to trigger armatures to release the marbles.
Want to know how this was created?
- part 1
- part 2

7 Comments

Wednesday 2.27 - Silverchair

2/27/2019

Silverchair “Tomorrow” from Frogstomp - 1995

Origin:
- Newcastle, NSW, Australia
Years Active:
- 1992 – 2011 with hiatus
Genre:
- grunge rock
Important Humans:
- Daniel Johns
Interesting Facts:
- Signed from a battle of the bands @ 15!
- Lead singer struggled with stage fright, alcoholism and anorexia

5 Comments

Tuesday 2.26 - Vanilla Fudge

2/27/2019

2 Comments

Vanilla Fudge “You Keep Me Hanging On” Vanilla Fudge - 1967

Cover: The Supremes from Motown
Written by Holland-Dozier-Holland
Diana Ross and the Funk Brothers
Genre: Psychedelic Rock
Origin: New York
Interesting Facts:
- Recorded in one take
- Too long for radio
- Double bass drummer – influences Jon Bonham
- Link from psychedelica to heavy metal

2 Comments

Monday 2.25 - Francis & The Lights

2/25/2019

Francis & The Lights “Like A Dream” from Like A Dream - 2013

From: New York City
Francis Farewell Starlite
Genre: ?
Interesting Facts:
- Features two drummers and drum machine
- Hip-Hop connections
- Covered Kanye’s
- “Can’t Tell Me Nothing”
- Associations with Drake
- Opened for MGMT
- Bon Iver collaboration
- Struggling artist social media

4 Comments

Wednesday 2.20 - Maggie Bjorklund

2/25/2019

Maggie Bjorklund “Missing At Sea” Shaken - 2014

Origin: Denmark
Years Active: 1991- present
Genre:
Indie rock, psychedelia, alt-country, desert noir
Interesting Facts:
- Played with Calexico
- Plays with Jack White (Peacocks)
- Uses steel guitar / pedal steel
- Just started in 2010
- Album influence: death of her mother

4 Comments

Tuesday 2.19 - Air

2/20/2019

Air “How Does it Make You Feel” from 10,000 Hz Legend - 2001

Origins: Versailles, France
Important Humans:
- Nicolas Godin and
- Jean-Beniot Dunckel
Interesting Facts:
- architect and mathematician
- Name comes from Amour, Imagination, Rêve / Love, Imagination, and Dream
Years Active: 1995 to present
Genres: electronica, ambient, New Wave, trip hop
Discography:
- 1997: Premiers Symptômes
- 1998: Moon Safari
- 2000: The Virgin Suicides
- 2001: 10 000 Hz Legend
- 2002: Everybody Hertz
- 2004: Talkie Walkie
- 2006: Late Night Tales
- 2007: Pocket Symphony
- 2009: Love 2

4 Comments

Thursday 1.24 - Car Seat Headrest

1/25/2019

Car Seat Headrest “Drunk Drivers / Killer Whales” from Teens of Denial – from 2016

Genre: indie rock / lo-fi
Years Active: 2010 – present
Origin: Leesburg, Virginia / Seattle
Important Humans: Will Toledo
Interesting Facts:
- Free album on Bandcamp
- Teens of Denial is a live album
- Large online cult following
- Name comes from writing most of his early songs in the backseat of his car
- DIY ethic

1 Comment

Wednesday 1.23 - Don McLean

1/25/2019

Don McLean "American Pie" - '72
American Pie" is a song by American singer and songwriter Don McLean. Recorded and released on the American Pie album in 1971, the single was the number-one US hit for four weeks in 1972 and also topped the charts in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
The repeatedly mentioned phrase "the day the music died" refers to the plane crash in 1959 which killed early rock and roll performers Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens. (The crash was not known by that name until after McLean's song became a hit.) The meaning of the other lyrics has long been debated, and for decades, McLean declined to explain the symbolism behind the many characters and events mentioned. However, the overall theme of the song is the loss of innocence of the early rock and roll generation as symbolized by the plane crash which claimed the lives of three of its heroes. - wikipedia.com

1 Comment

Tuesday 1.22 - Chris Stapleton

1/25/2019

Chris Stapleton “I Was Wrong” & “Midnight Train to Memphis”

Genre: outlaw country, bluegrass, blues, southern rock
Years active: 2001 to present [40 years old]
Origin: Nashville, Tennessee (from Kentucky)
Interesting Facts:
- (co)written over 170 songs
- Bluegrass band The SteelDrivers / The Jompson Brothers
- 5 Grammy Awards, 7 ACMs, and 10 CMAs
- Comes from a family of coal miners
- Solo Albums: Traveler, From A Room: Volume 1 and 2
Great Quote:
- Los Angeles Times' writer Randy Lewis opined his singing recalls "the note-bending style of country that traces to Merle Haggard and Lefty Frizzell and the gut-wrenching expressionism of blues and R&B perfected by Ray Charles", while his guitar performances elicits "memories of Texas blues rocker Stevie Ray Vaughan."

1 Comment

Thursday 1.10 - Tower of Power

1/25/2019

Tower of Power “On the Soul Side of Town,” “So Hard to Go,” and “What is Hip?” from NPR Tiny Desk Concert - 2018

Genre: soul, funk, R&B, Jazz, Jazz-Funk
Years Active: 1968 – present
Origin: Oakland
Interesting Facts:
- 8 songs on Billboard Hot 100
- Originally called the Motowns
- Drummer and bassist hit by train in 2017
- 60 members in 50 years!
- Performed with:
  - Otis Redding, Aaron Neville, Aerosmith, Bonnie Raitt, David Sanborn, Elton John, Huey Lewis, Little Feat, Heart, Michelle Shocked, Paula Abdul, Santana, The Monkees, Grateful Dead, Carlos Santana, Journey, Elkie Brooks, Cat Stevens, Luis Miguel, Linda Lewis, Jermaine Jackson, John Lee Hooker, Helen Reddy, Rufus, Rod Stewart, Jefferson Starship, Mickey Hart, Heart, Damn Yankees, Frankie Valli, Spyro Gyra, KMFDM, Lyle Lovett, Poison, Phish, Toto, Pharoahe Monch, Brothers Johnson, and Sam The Band, among many other acts.

1 Comment

Wednesday 1.9 - Third Coast Percussion

1/9/2019

Third Coast Percussion “Niagara” from Paddle to the Sea - 2018

Years Active: 2004 - Present
Genres: Percussion
Origin: Chicago
Interesting Facts:
- The classic children’s book and Academy Award-nominated film, Paddle to the Sea, is the focus of a new project that looks at our relationship to the bodies of water that connect our lives...tells the story of a Native Canadian boy who carves a wooden figure called Paddle-to-the-Sea and sets him on a journey through all five Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence River, and finally to the Atlantic Ocean.
- Met at Northwestern University
- concerts and residency projects with engineers at the University of Notre Dame, architects at the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture, astronomers at the Adler Planetarium
“Arresting and enjoyable” - – Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News
“Third Coast Percussion’s acutely sensitive approach to sound yields a work that glides effortlessly and subtly between animated rhythmic sections and moments of serene, tranquil reflection.” – Pwyll ap Siôn, Gramophone

5 Comments

Tuesday 1.8 - Shakey Graves

1/9/2019

Shakey Graves “Excuses” from Can’t Wake Up - 2018

Important Humans: Alejandro Rose-Garcia
Years Active: 2007 – 2018
Genres: Americana
Origin: Austin, Texas
Interesting Facts:
- Rose-Garcia received his stage name at Old Settler's Music Festival in 2007 after he and his friends jokingly gave each other Indian guide names over a campfire. After an inspired night of playing music, he decided to keep the name.
- Acted in Friday Night Lights and Spy Kids
- A one-man band!
Discography:
- Roll the Bones (2011)
- Donor Blues EP (2012)
- And the War Came (Dualtone, 2014)
- Nobody's Fool (Dualtone, 2015)
- The Sleep EP (2018)
- Can't Wake Up (Dualtone, 2018)

5 Comments

Monday 12.3 - Steely Dan

12/3/2018

Steely Dan “Aja” from Aja - 1977

Genres: Jazz Rock
Origin: New York USA
Years Active: 1972-1981 and 1993 to present
Important Human: Donald Fagan and Walter Becker (died last year)
Interesting Facts:
- Blend jazz, traditional pop, R&B, and sophisticated studio production with cryptic and ironic lyrics
- “The Perfect musical antiheroes for the Seventies
- Sold more than 40 million albums
- Member of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame / RS’s 100 Greatest Artists of All Time
- Considered an audiophile recording!

0 Comments

Friday 11.30 - Father John Misty

12/3/2018

Father John Misty “Pure Comedy” from Pure Comedy

Released: 2017
Important Humans: Josh Tillman
Years Active: 2004 – present
Genre(s): indie folk, indie rock, baroque pop, orchestral folk
Interesting Facts:
- Sings, plays guitar, piano, drums/percussion, harmonica and bass
- Previous solo career
- Drummer on Fleet Foxes 1st record Helplessness Blues in 2011
Discography
- Fear Fun (2012)
- I Love You, Honeybear (2015)
- Pure Comedy (2017)
- God's Favorite Customer (2018)

1 Comment

Tuesday 11.27 - Cat Power

11/28/2018