7 months ago
This band attended the same school I did. In fact, I think the lead singer was in my grade, though I didn’t know her personally. I’ve been to only one of their shows. It was good but they’re not really my type of music. But whenever I hear about them there is this feeling that I should promote them because they are quite unique and I think they are a super hard-working band.
Also everything they just talked about in this interview is nice and familiar. Like going to Hogwild Records and putting in orders for music or browsing the records. I spent a good amount of money in there. I may still have a lot of flyers for shows I probably never ended up going to.
And also all the cool times at Thomas Jefferson High School. I’m one of those people who is not nostalgic of the high school years AT ALL but I’m really grateful that I went to a really creative school (back when it was a fine arts magnet) and that it was this classic yet inner-city school. So I saw the pretty and the ugly within those four years. I’m very happy I never went to school in the suburbs or had to be around not-so-working-class people. I think amazing things come out of places like where I’m from. Places like San Antonio.
So if there’s anyone out there who’s into a Sleater-Kinney/the Smiths type of thing, you should check them out. They seem to have retained all the positivity and humbleness despite the many successes and changes that come from being in a band. Good on them!
Girl in a Coma SA Current Interview (by sacurrent)
10 months ago
Kimbra - Settle Down
Nothing else is important. I want to know who Kimbra is and I want her album. NOW.
(Source: youtube.com)
11 months ago
a performance by Patina Miller singing Random Black Girl. It’s about how new musicals all just so happen to include a soulful, sassy, big-voiced, big-bottomed black girl in the ensemble…
I hate being sick but at least I’m catching up on all the fun internet stuff I hardly have time for anymore. And blogging like a nerd. That’s good for illness.
Anyways, this video is so funny and SO true. Maybe this is why I hate Glee or why I wasn’t crazy about many musicals we did during my 4 years at an arts magnet high school. You don’t see many of us up there unless we’re being sassy, fat and loud. This is also something that drives me crazy about Adele. I have mixed feeling about her, but she is incredible live and her ballads are pretty strong. But why are we surprised that she sings well? And why aren’t we influenced by her to listen to soul musicians who have been around longer? Why is she OK to put on the radio? Because of her skin? I never hear Erykah Badu, Janelle Monáe or Res on the radio. And I definitely never hear black girls who are in rooted in any other music besides pop on the radio. This is not just an Adele issue; this could be said of Amy Winehouse, Justin Timberlake, or Duffy. They should sing Soul & R&B if they want to, but we should have the choice not to sing it if we don’t want to. And what the heck happened to Fefe Dobson?!
I grew up listening to everything from pop to country to R&B to jazz. And some kids would make me feel like I wasn’t “black enough” just because I owned a Blink-182 album or because I really loved Loretta Lynn. Well, I’m sorry I don’t own every rap album ever and yes, The O, Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack is one of my absolute favorites. On the site listed above, a commenter put that a girl gave a performance on American Idol and sang a country song. The judges said she did good but she should have sang an R&B song instead. Why? There’s something wrong with this thinking. I love seeing my sisters in Punk bands. I love seeing us sing folk music. Soul means many things and it’s not just R&B.
Maybe this is why I think the Afro-Punk Festival is such a positive thing and I hope it brings out many people of many shades to experience it. Even though I may not go, I’m excited about it. It’s time to open people’s eyes and let them see we all aren’t Beyonce or some random black girl singing sass in a musical.
But you know, with Fela doing so well on Broadway, The Color Purple being so awesome when I saw it in NYC a couple of years ago, here’s to the hope that there will be a lot more awesome musicals with us in it and the hope that the Random Black Girl can be any Black Girl she chooses to be.
(Source: thesmithian)
via thesmithian
11 months ago
Woot, woot! Santagold (She still ain’t Santi to me) is coming back! Now if I could just get me some Ebony Bones! up in here!
1 year ago
When I was younger, for some reason I did not like all-girl rock bands. I liked 60s girl groups and a lot of solo female acts but there was something about every girl band I came across that ended up irritating me. Maybe because they tried too hard or, with girls as the lead of an all-guys band, they thought they had to be super tough or super sexy to be taken seriously. They couldn’t just be themselves and it was a weird thing to see especially within punk music. But then my buddy Leya introduced me to The Slits as well as other groups with ladies in them (X-Ray Spex, Elastica, Thee Headcoatees), and I knew that great girl bands exist. All I had to do was search deeper. Since then I’ve found out about New Bloods, Land of Talk, Delta 5 and others on my own.
I say all this because I’m sure Ari Up was an inspiration to or was in the same league as many of these bands. She had her own special kind of energy and it is something I wish I could have experienced live. Alas, she has passed at the young age of 48 on this day. I think listening to music like The Slits always made me wish that I was a young person during that time, living in London or New York because it always felt like that was a time where big things were happening. But I listen to this music today and compare it to what’s out there and remember that big things are always happening, and not just in big cities. People will always have something to say through music. I guess I listen to “Typical Girls” and think it’s an anthem for a movement. But these anthems are being made everyday. I think Ari Up is a key figure in making that happen.
Celebrity deaths are like any other deaths really. It’s very sad but it happens and there is no curse going around. Death just happens. But when you see and experience someone who makes art for a living, you know a part of them lives on. And I think it’s nice to stop and take a listen to what they dedicated themselves to. It gives you some sort of hope that this can and will always continue. R.I.P. Ari Up. Thanks for the tunes!
2 years ago
I <3 you WAS «
I know I’m a complete hypocrite in saying that I’m mad Barbara leaked, because I’ve listened to it all day, but whoever leaked it sucks. :(
So out of solidarity, I’m going to privately listen to it without blogging all over the place about how great it is. I mean, I probably would have gotten it early anyway to review it for Popwreckoning, because that’s one of the perks of technically being press, so this way I have more time to take it all in and write a good review.
And in all honesty, if anyone should be able to hear Barbara early, it’s all of us Sci-Cave faithfuls. We didn’t leak it. We’re just being web-savvy.
And plus, I’m gonna buy it anyway. And tell lots of people to buy it.
I love you Keith. I love you Chris. I love you my WAS friends.
I totally felt the same. In fact, I felt worse when I actually scrobbled it on last.fm. Especially considering they are doing it on their own. But I think with this album, I’m going to try to go to lots of shows even if they are way out of town. I also want a physical copy of it (not just MP3) and I’ll definitely want that shirt, Bass Your Life on Chris. So I feel like the support is there for them in so many other ways.
I think the only other leaked album I’ve listened to in my life was Kings of Leon’s Only By the Night but that’s because I was afraid of the change they would (unfortunately) take. Whenever an album got leaked, I have been very good at ignoring it until the actual release or if a band puts it up on Myspace for a listen. But I think Barbara is a big deal so I just had to. It’s funny, I’ve never said I’m proud of a band because I don’t know band members or their lives to act like everything they’ve accomplished is something to take as my own. But I honestly, deep down in my heart, feel proud of the WAS guys and all that they’ve done. They’re so great and I have such a huge respect for what they do.
They’re totally living the dream and I want to support that. :)
via abbigshmail
2 years ago
worldofcelebrity-deactivated201 asked: I definitely see your point about the music industry. You have valid points. I totally get that not everyone has to be like Lady Gaga totally. Gaga is amazing but sometimes i definitely think she loses track of her actually singing and goes into too much shock value. I see that. I love Kelis and Janelle Monae and Christina. They are all amazing. I certainly love them for showing their voice, which is amazing. I am not even necessarly saying that I am not sick of lady gaga. she gets too ridiculous at times. i am just not a huge fan of techno in general haha. anywho, just wanted to say that. I appreciate the argument with good backed up facts :) usually arguments i get arent backed up at all. Please do know that I am not a hater! :)
Oh no, you’re totally not. And I hope you didn’t deactivate your account on behalf of my opinion. Keep doing your thang. I think the internet can be a rude place where we’re quick to shut folks down (nasty trolls) instead of just giving good advice & facts and that’s all I was trying to do. I enjoy the occasional Gaga too but it comes from knowing that I like artists who came before her. In fact, I’ve always liked that she respects her predecessors and honors them, I just wish her fans did it sometimes too.
This brings me to a totally new rant but hey, I’m in a write-y mood. I’m going to admit to the public I’m not a Beatles fan. (Don’t throw things at me!). Really, I’ve only loved George Harrison’s solo work and few songs from the Fab Four. I am now an outcast to you all, right? The point I’m making however is that I really like Arctic Monkeys. So how can I go out and say Arctic Monkeys are the best thing ever, so original and all these other English rock quartets are a bunch of copycats. I could never do that especially knowing that a band like the Beatles paved the way for a band like that. They paved a way for MANY bands. That’s something that I always try to recognize when I get into an artist. When it comes to Janelle Monáe, I could never put James Brown on the back burner. If I like a Carrie Underwood song, I should totally realize that Dolly Parton is kind of a big deal too. If I obsess over Interpol, how can I not know of Joy Division? You don’t have to instantly fall in love with the predecessors but you should always note their importance.
My love for music runs deep. Sometimes it can be maddening. Not owning every album, EP, single out there. Not having enough money for an iTunes purchase. An album that’s only sold across the pond. That band not coming anywhere near your town AGAIN. The thought of my record collection burning up in a fire. It’s awful! But I know one thing that can be just as awful and that is not knowing the Blues artists who set forth the way for Rock & Roll artists. The Queens of the Disco who set forth the way for today’s glamorous pop stars. And all the world music that helped Vampire Weekend and Paul Simon sell all those albums. I don’t love those artists any less but I know where they come from and I think true blue music lovers do to. Most importantly, if they don’t, it’s good that there are folks around who love music enough to share it. Don’t you just hate when people start disliking a band just because they’re popular now? My feeling is share the wealth! If they start making crap music down the road because of the popularity, oh well. But the ones who stick to their guns, were meant to be classics no matter what. Swelling popularity, or a bunch of no-names, you see who the true artists are in the end.
And that is that. I do appreciate the message. Just know my first response wasn’t an attack. I wish you the best. I’m going to bed now…really I am! :)
2 years ago
I am SO sick of the lack of creativeness in the music industry. Yes, I understand that people are really like futuristic and techno, I like that kind of music too. I am just so sick of the lack of creativity. It is so unbelievable. A person can sing whatever they want to in the music industry. They do not have to be such robot copies. Lady GaGa is brilliant. Amazing. Wonderful. She changed the music industry and brought it back to life. I’m SO sick of people copying her, though. Christina Aguilera, Janelle Monae, and Kelis all have nearly identitical album covers as Lady GaGa’s debut album, The Fame. Don’t get me wrong. I am not being a hater. I am really excited for all three of these records. I just think that the industry needs to realize not everyone can be Lady GaGa and everyone be creative and be themselves!
I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be offensive but that is the most ridiculous argument I’ve heard. First, although I’ve enjoyed Gaga songs, she is the biggest copy cat of all time. Freddie Mercury, Grace Jones, etc have all done it before and honestly, her sound doesn’t match up with her looks. When I first saw a Lady Gaga picture I thought this chick must have the sound of a punky glam rock star with hints of Portishead thrown in. Instead she sounds like any blond-haired, blue-eyed girl who comes on the scene. You could have given her songs to Britney or Gwen Stefani, you wouldn’t know the difference. I’m not saying she doesn’t have lasting power but right now she’s a gimmick and I don’t believe she’s making the kind of music her style portrays.
Second, the only reason I wanted to respond was for Janelle Monáe who has been in the game since ‘03. The Archandroid is a continuation of her first album which features the story of a female android. It’s been the ongoing concept she’s been using. Her debut was released in August of ‘07, Gaga’s debut was a year later. And if anything Monáe’s album cover depicts her wearing an African headdress, nothing like Gaga’s cover album. Might I also note that Monáe’s sound is original in today’s pop world. She’s punky, soulful, and theatrical. Her contemporaries would most likely be Shingai of the Noisettes and Andre 3000. She’s not the type to put out the usual love sick pop songs that Gaga has been known to. I don’t really have an argument on behalf of Christina as she was a fad with me but I do feel Kelis has been doing the avant-garde since the beginning. She didn’t even have mainstream success until “Milkshake” but her previous albums have always been different. A mix of hip-hop, electronica, and R&B is what she’s been and I don’t think she’s stopping now.
Third, you say that Gaga has brought the music industry back to life. If by that you mean she’s got folks talking about what is art and talent, then yes. People are running around and asking what’s the big deal. There is no big deal. She hit the pop scene hard just like Beyoncé did with her first solo work, Amy Winehouse with hers, and Britney did eons before her. These artists came out, folks either lost their mind over it, or shrugged their shoulders. The music industry is not how it used to be and a mixtape can bring as much attention to an artist as a debut on a major label can. Gaga cannot be looked at as the most amazing thing that hit the scene these past two years.
I believe you when you say you’re not a hater. I just don’t believe you have all the facts about any of these artists. No one’s asking you to dig up the dirt on every musician out there because if you like something better, that’s how it is. But don’t believe something is an original when it clearly isn’t and don’t put other artists on blast who have been doing it longer and probably better. You’ve got to back it up. Not mad at what you’re trying to do as I rarely do rebuttals to stuff I see on Tumblr. Not everyone can be Lady Gaga but not everyone wants to be. These artists, and a whole host of others, are just doing what they love and are having no trouble pumping out the creativity.
P.S. I might end up looking dumb here for ranting on over Pop music. I enjoy the sounds of Punk, “Indie” rock (whatever that means), and Soul. But I’m also not afraid to like to listen to what the masses are being fed. I’ve always wondered if they call it Pop because of popcorn. Doesn’t take a whole lot of effort to make, easy for the masses to digest but, at the end of the day, not filling. It’s still fun though. So who cares? Have a handful every now and then.
2 years ago
Makeover Inspiration, Pt. 1
So I really, REALLY want a makeover. I look like a slob for the most part and I often think that because of where I live, the job I work at, and the people that I know that comfort is the way to go. Jeans and t shirts, dirty Chucks. Also, I’m pear-shaped so even though I’m very fashion-forward, I often think a style won’t look good on me. I always know the color, the fit, the season, whatever but I just can’t work it. But now it’s time to look past that. The thing I hear most often about doing a total makeover is to find your style icon and go for that. Cut out pictures in magazines, look at your favorite musicians and singers and ask yourself, is that what you want to look like? So I did just that. With last nights season finale of “Project Runway” I thought it’s time for me to stop being just a fan of fashion and actually be fashionable. Here’s a list of fashion-heroes so far (UPDATE):
