The Daily Vault – Page 43

18 Feb

Fame: The New Pop Commodity

JBEssaypop

Many would point to Britney Spears as the symbol of the End of Pop.Grossly unfair. Britney Spears is a classic pop icon: she can sing, in this interesting-sounding rasp which is frankly more nuanced and emotive than Christina Aguilera's Mulan-murdering aaaa-aaa-a-a-aaaa-aa-aa. Spears' concerts are fun to watch, and you can put down money for her albums and expect pop satisfaction, instead of feeling ripped-off and more determined than ever to support the filesharing masses. She also has good taste in choosing songs, more so than we can say for Jessica Simpson or (recently, alas) Mandy Moore, and please can we…

06 Dec

2003: The Year That Was

Sean McCarthyBest Of

Clear Channel, the Internet and the continued specialization of radio stations have done a great job of fracturing the music world. With the exception of 50 Cent's inescapable "In da Club," listeners could likely retreat into their own cocoons. This isolated specialization resulted in a good year in music. A very good year. But not spectacular. There were no jaw-dropping standard-setters like Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, Stankonia or OK Computer to take popular music in a new direction. Looking at the selections for 2003 was like trying to ascertain who were the better teams: Yankees or the Spurs? Brett Favre or…

06 Dec

2004: A Year In Review

Sean McCarthyBest Of

This10. Maroon 5 -- Songs about JaneGee, the first album and I'm already off to a bad start. Technically Songs About Jane came out in 2003, but this year led to the band being recognized. It's a great, funky pop album with a bit of an edge to it. I have high expectations for their next CD. 9. Elton John -- Peachtree RoadThis is an indulgence on my part. Elton John is one of my favorite artists, so I was naturally delighted when I heard Peachtree was going to be a country/gospel/rock type album reminiscent of his early 70's work.…

06 Dec

2004: The End

Paul HansonBest Of

Were there great releases in 2004? Certainly. I got acquainted with acronym bands LAW (Lazy American Workers) and MDC (Magnus Dominus Corpus) and I liked those releases a lot. I've been thinking about the concept that a great CD is one that lives in your CD player for months. It's one thing to say, "Led Zeppelin's IV release -- that's a great CD." It's another to live with that release in your CD changer for months on end. That's why this article only addresses a few official 2004 releases and then dips into the past. I'm basing this list solely…

06 Dec

2004: Cream Of The Crop And Cream Of The Slop

Chris HarlowBest Of

Realizing award lists should only be given to truly worthy albums -- err, CDs in today's terms -- I'm going to list the five releases from this year that have truly made a positive impact on me. I'll also grant other albums certain awards of note based off of my perception after giving them the necessary spins to warrant an opinion.5. Silver -- White Diary The only thing Silver did not do right in 2004 was to let their Scandinavian love-metaller neighbors H.I.M. get to the Hot Topic shelves first -- in an effort to generate the same major label…

05 Dec

2004: Duke’s Top Ten

Duke EgbertBest Of

10. Rig The Jig -- Passing ThroughIrish acoustic rockers Rig The Jig blew my speakers off with a tasty mix of traditional Irish music and American roots music. Where else could you hear a jig segue neatly into Leonard Cohen or Arlo Guthrie? This stuff is too cool. 9. Alan Parsons -- A Valid PathThe jury's still out from the fans; some love the longtime progressive rock producer's first foray into electronica, some just aren't sure. Put me in the love column; produced clear as crystal and performed magnificently, this is music that will both touch your mind and move…

05 Dec

2004: Jeff’s Top Ten Favorite Albums

Jeff ClutterbuckBest Of

This was the first year that I really realized that good music still exists, and didn't die out in 1976. It was a treat for me to discover new artists that impact me as much as my favorite older artists. It's ironic then, that the top spot in my list is occupied by one of the great minds of pop pretty much last seen 40 years ago. So, without further adieu, the list of my ten favorite albums to come out in 2004. 10. Maroon 5 -- Songs about JaneGee, the first album and I'm already off to a bad…

05 Dec

2004: Jason’s Music To Write Home About

dvadminBest Of

Two thousand and four was a year when you had to really pay attention to find the best music. Most of the stuff coming out of the major labels was eminently forgettable, with a handful of bright shiny exceptions. In one of those soul-numbing developments that seem to characterize the modern music scene, bands as good as Semisonic, Fastball and the Jayhawks found themselves on hiatus or playing clubs again, even as every belly-button-baring Britney wannabe and her sister got herself an album or two on the Target racks (please, God, tell me there aren't any more Simpson sisters... please?).…

04 Oct

Pixies Return — Moshing Optional

Sean McCarthyFeature

The sarcasm and cynicism that has defined Generation X is beginning to bite its members in the ass. Case example: the band reunion. In the '90s, the Rolling Stones, the Sex Pistols and even Fleetwood Mac were often the butt of jokes for cashing in on nostalgia by reuniting and going on $75-a-pop ticket tours.Well, now one of Gen-X's most beloved bands has reunited and is on one of the most successful tours of the year. What's an aging, jaded Gen-Xer to do? Make fun of one of the major founders of the modern alternative sound, or giddily jump in…

04 Oct

Marillion Breaks The “Seven Year Itch”

Christopher ThelenFeature

I have been attending concerts now for 20 years, and thought I saw everything there was to see.But when British rockers Marillion recently played in Chicago for the first time in seven years, the audience was not satisfied letting the band leave after the traditional encore -- or three, which is where I lost count. Even after the house lights were turned back on, the crowd refused to accept that the show was over -- and, five minutes later, the house lights were turned off again as the band returned for a final encore. Such an occurrence is indeed rare…