The Truth About Music

"What's hot, what's not, and whats next in pop music"

The Truth About This Is It

By Harris posted November 09, 2009 at 11:09

After listening to Paul Gongaware, John Meglen and Randy Phillips speak at the Billboard Touring conference this week about “This Is It” I was determined to check out the movie this weekend. Going into the movie I new what to expect. The three AEG Live executives who were integral in both the planning of the concerts and the decision to create the film painted a picture of emotion and life leaving death to the media. The film consisted of clips from the rehearsals Michael Jackson was holding inside LA’s Staples Center. What was on screen was incredible. People are able to see inside the mind of a musical genius as he works through arrangements, choreography and more with the talented performers he surrounded himself with. There are moments that stand out above others. A scene in which Jackson is testing out a “cherry picker” as they call it in the [...] Continue...
The Urgency Perform Tight (Recorded) Set at Crash Mansion

By Harris posted November 07, 2009 at 01:31

After reviewing the self titled debut album, I waited four months before arriving at Crash Mansion to witness a live performance. Packed into the very trendy, very underground club on Bowery in New York City was a collection of family, friends and business associates. They were all in attendance to cheer on the band during a filmed performance for Fearless Music, an online television network that broadcasts live performances of small bands, primarily in New York. Being filmed had it’s advantages and disadvantages as an audience member seeing the group for the first time. On the positive side, the songs were performed perfectly and the sound was impeccable. The other side of the coin featured things such as a drum shield to isolate the sound coming off the loudest instrument and stanchions which did not allow for the audience to actually get up as close as they would of liked [...] Continue...
2009 Billboard Touring Conference

By Harris posted November 04, 2009 at 22:02

This week I decided that instead of going to class I would head to New York City and go to the Billboard Music Touring and Concert Awards Conference. Held at the Roosevelt Hotel next to Grand Central, the conference puts the biggest names in the industry under one roof for two days. The leadoff panel for the conference was a collection of concert greats including Jon Cohen from Cornerstone and Harvey Leeds of Live Nation. In a yearly contest, the panel lead by moderator Liana Farnham of Madison Square Garden, picks the bands they think will make the largest jump in ticket sales for the next year. Some of last years picks included We The Kings, The Cab and Fleetfoxes. This year’s picks were very ranged and I thought it would be fun to get other peoples thoughts on this. The rules stipulate that the band can currently be playing [...] Continue...
Album of the Moment: A Guide To Love, Loss and Desperation

By Harris posted November 03, 2009 at 18:44

After glazing over this album when it was first released in 2008 I came back for seconds and was totally blown away with what I had missed. The Wombats first release in the United States “A Guide To Love, Loss and Desperation” is a true gem of british music. A flurry of fast paced tracks stack up quicker than Manchester United victories and do a great job of winning the listener over. Among my favorite songs are: “Kill The Director” “School Uniforms” “Backfire at the Disco” Anyone who listens to other European artists such as The Fratellis, Scouting For Girls or Arctic Monkey’s are sure to enjoy this album from first beat to last. Continue...
Music Video of the Week: "Boom Boom Pow," by The Black Eyed Peas

By Harris posted November 02, 2009 at 15:18

For longer than I care to remember I have loved “Boom Boom Pow” and most everything from “The END” the bands summer 2009 release. It took a trip to Texas for me to finally see the music video. A bar in Austin, TX runs music videos alongside each track that is played and it was there that I saw the video. As weird as it was to hear a song like this from The Black Eyed Peas, it was even more odd to them in this futuristic techno style music video. What did make sense was the relationship between the song and the video. What makes the song work is the same exact thing that makes the video fit perfectly. Check out the music video for “Boom Boom Pow” on YouTube. Continue...
Harris’ Album of the Month: Mind Chaos by Hockey

By Harris posted November 01, 2009 at 10:47

A few weeks ago I received an album in the mail and after an initial run through I decided it was not for me. There were singles that stood out to me but at first glance it did not seem like the complete package. I was wrong. Hockey’s latest album “Mind Chaos” is a brilliant blend of sounds and styles spanning almost every decade since recorded music has been popular. The album gives a very interesting journey through genres and begins with the first single “Too Fake.” “Too Fake” is the theoretical modern day within the album, with a very electro-rock feel reminding me of MGMT. Second up on the album is my favorite song on the album and one that I have written extensively about in the past, “3am Spanish.” Defying an era the song is simply a brilliant blend of vocals and backbeats with the lyrics sitting right [...] Continue...
Top Six Songs of the Week: 10/25/09-10/31/09

By Harris posted October 31, 2009 at 09:40

With Halloween festivities getting underway tonight it’s time to break out my playlist of my favorite scary themed songs for this night of frights!! “Tubular Bells” by Mike Oldfield: For me no song is more terrifying than this classic from “The Exorcist.” If you want to scare people on the 31st have this song playing outside your house. “Time Warp” by Rocky Horror Actors: For me nothing beats the crunchy vocals and beautiful chorus provided in the original recording of this classic party song. “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr: Weather you consider this a Halloween song or not, it’s one of my favorites and for some reason it always comes on around this time of the year. “This Is Halloween” by Panic at the Disco: Although both Fall Out Boy and Panic at the Disco have covered songs from “Nightmare Before Christmas” Brandon Urie’s voice lends itself to being scary [...] Continue...
Fall Out Boy’s Epic Fail

By Harris posted October 30, 2009 at 09:20

In one of the most interesting progressions of my music listening life, the dial is finally starting to turn the other way. After hating Fall Out Boy originally my opinion them finally changed sometime after “From Under The Cork Tree” and continued on through their next album. When the band released “Folie a Deux” my view on them began a downward tumble and seeing the band perform live a few months ago furthered this drop. At that time I laid out a Fall Out Boy recovery plan and from what I can tell it has not been followed (see “Advice for Fall Out Boy from May, 2009). With that in mind the band is now set to release a greatest hit’s album titled “Believers Never Die: Greatest Hits.” The album features almost every single from the bands four major releases and a brand new single “Alpha Dog.” I have two [...] Continue...
Harris’ Song of the Week: United States of Eurasia by Muse

By Harris posted October 29, 2009 at 15:42

Paying tribute to one of the better albums of the fall, my song of the week is a tribute to two great bands. Although Muse is credited with the writing and performing of “United States of Eurasia” a lot of credit must be passed to the band that clearly inspired this song. Weather it is written or not this song draws directly on the style that Queen used to write some of the great rock songs of the ’70s. This song, which spans over five minutes long, is a journey through the minds of both Muse and Queen as we hear many different sounds. The opening riff reminds you of the opening to one of the bands many ballads and as you hit the chorus you would swear you were listening to “We Are The Champions.” You quickly realize that the sound is in fact Muse, but the amazing blend [...] Continue...
Deep In The Heart Of Texas: Music in Austin

By Harris posted October 28, 2009 at 23:27

Sitting in the lobby the evening after arriving in Texas and I’m somewhat overwhelmed. Venturing outside our hotel this morning we walked down 6th Street and were immediately surrounded by bars, restaurants, clubs and live music venues (sometimes all combined into one). The amount of live music venues was astonishing. All pounded inside one single street that was about ten Manhattan blocks long, were venue after venue. What made it all the more interesting was that inside each one was a band. These were not places that ever go quiet. On a relatively quite, rainy night in Austin each club had a band residing inside, playing music that ranged from country to jazz to classic rock covers. For someone who has never explored much music outside the east coast, I am really enjoying the fact that music seems to surround everything here. Aside from music I am completely in love [...] Continue...