Episode #5: New Rock and Roll

Every now and then you just need to ROCK! So that’s the theme for this episode: New Rock and Roll. Of course Rock takes many forms. You’ve got Roots Rock, Garage Rock, Alt Rock, Art Rock, the list goes on. The first song in this episode from Dawes sounds a lot like Neil Young at the beginning, and then sounds like Jackson Browne when the vocals kick in. We’ve got some Roots Rock from Alabama Shakes, a new band that’s getting a lot of buzz. Garage Rock from The Black Keys. Meat and Potatoes Macho Rock from Queens of the Stone Age. And finally Art Rock from Arcade Fire. But ultimately, those are just a bunch of labels. Listen for yourself and see if you like them. That’s all that matters.

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Dawes

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The Black Keys

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Alabama Shakes

                

 

 

 

 

Songs in this Episode

Dawes – If I needed Someone, Alabama Shakes – Hold On, The Black Keys – Gold on the Ceiling, Queens of the Stone Age – Make it Wit Chu, Arcade Fire – Ready to Start

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Episode #4: Songs from Movie Soundtracks

Sometimes a good soundtrack is the difference between a good movie and a great movie. Here are some of the songs that made that difference for me. You’ll hear songs from movies such as Stealing Beauty, Silver Linings Playbook, Pulp Fiction, Harold and Maude, and The Bourne Identity. Some songs were written specifically for a movie, while others are classic songs picked by directors to create a certain mood for a scene. And one is a closing credits song that stays with you long after you’ve left the theater.

What’s your favorite movie song?

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Songs in this Episode

Hooverphonic – Too Wicky, Stevie Wonder – Don’t You Worry Bout a Thing, Dusty Springfield – Son of a Preacher Man, Cat Stevens – If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out, Moby – Extreme Ways

Episode #3: Unlikely Partners – Songs made by artists from different styles

Don’t you love it when two musicians that you really like decide to work together? You already have music from both artists, and then one day you discover that your musical tastes are cross-pollinating into something new. That’s how I felt when I heard that Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris had made an album together a few years ago. More recently I heard that James Mercer of The Shins had made an album with Danger Mouse of Gnarls Barkley. Their new project, Broken Bells, brings together the best elements of each artist. Other partnerships in this episode include Robert Plant and Alison Kraus, Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach, and finally Willie Nelson and Toots Hibbert. What’s your favorite unlikely partnership? Share it with me.

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Knopfler &  Harris                   James Mercer & Danger Mouse            Willie Nelson & Toots

Songs in this Episode:

Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris: Beachcombing, Broken Bells: The High Road, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss: Please Read The Letter, Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach: Toledo, Toots Hibbert & Willie Nelson: Still is Still Moving to Me

Episode #2: Songs with a Good Bass Intro

As I discover new music that I like, I’m trying to keep track of elements in the songs that appeal to me. I recently heard a great new track called “Killing Switch” by a band from Sweden called Last Lynx. It starts out with a spare bass beat that gets your head bopping and then builds gradually with piano and then vocals until it gains more and more energy and expands into a full blown pop song.

So I realize I like a song with a good bass intro. So that’s the theme for this episode. I put my iPod on Shuffle and started to listen to my song library and selected some other songs with the same bass elements. I’ve got songs from Death Cab for Cutie, Cake, The White Stripes, and The Clash. An eclectic mix to be sure but then my musical tastes are varied. But the closer I listen the more I start to hear the commonalities. Have a listen. Let me know what you think. Add a comment to start the conversation.

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Last Lynx                          Death Cab For Cutie                        Cake

Songs in this Episode:

Last Lynx: Killing Switch, Death Cab For Cutie: I Will Possess Your Heart, Cake: Short Skirt, Long Jacket, The White Stripes: Seven Nation Army, The Clash: The Magnificent Seven

<a href=”http://www.hypersmash.com”>HyperSmash</a&gt;

Episode #1: The Marriage of Hip Hop and R&B

Welcome to Hedsongs, a new music podcast that focuses on different themes in every episode. In this episode I will look at the combination of Hip Hop and R&B in current music. We will hear some new music from Cody Chesnutt and Frank Ocean. Both of these musicians stradle the line between Hip Hop and R&B and I will share songs that have both elements in the same song. The mix of these styles in one song can sometimes be very powerful. We’ll also hear a John Legend song that shows some influence from Jimi Hendrix and Jeff Buckley. A strange combination you say? We’ll, have a listen and see (hear) what you think.

Click the link below to listen to the podcast. Tell me what you think by leaving a comment below. Thanks for listening.

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Cody Chesnutt                   Frank Ocean             John Legend

Songs in this Episode:

Cody Chesnutt: Till I Met Thee, The Roots (featuring Cody Chesnutt): The Seed (2.0), Frank Ocean: Super Rich Kids, Frank Ocean: Bad Religion, John Legend: Show Me

Frank Ocean singing “Bad Religion” on the Jimmy Fallon Show