Turn It Up - Believing In Frank Ocean

Last week, rising R&B star Frank Ocean poignantly announced to the world that his first love was a man. Since then, Ocean has made huge headlines, prompting the early release of his debut album Channel Orange. 

Critics have positively reviewed the new album, and while I enjoyed it too, an earlier single not from Channel Orange still stands out as Ocean's best work.

Give "We All Try" a listen, and then see what you think of Channel Orange.

Turn It Up - MJ's Never Can Say Goodbye

Michael Jackson died three years ago today, leaving behind an unparalleled trail of music, images, and controversy.

But, forget the glove, the moonwalk, the chimpanzee, and look past the skin, the nose, and the pomade hair.

Move beyond the ranch, the trial, and the prescription pills, and silence the hype, the drama, and the media circus.

When everything else falls away, there was just a boy and his powerful voice.

Turn It Up - Happy Birthday Paul McCartney

Sir Paul McCartney turns 70 today.

Hard to believe it's been more than fifty years since Paul and John started the Beatles. I enjoy their music enough, but what brings memories of my early 1970s childhood crashing back are the songs of Paul McCartney & Wings.

In recognition of Paul's birthday today, I hope you'll accept this gift I've made you.

10 Reasons To Watch the "Silly Love Songs" Video All The Way Through

1. Young Paul was kind of a hottie.
2. There aren't enough horns and strings in today's pop music.
3. You've forgotten how airports looked in the 70s.
4. Hella big afros.
5. You need a good excuse to tap your feet for five and a half minutes.
6. You miss the David Cassidy rocker-mullet (in men's and ladies' styles).
7. You feel sorry for poor Paul and hope viewing this adds to his royalties.
8. Good harmony is so hard to come by these days.
9. Work blows; this is better.
10. Some people wanna fill the world with silly love songs.                          (and what's wrong with that)

Mister Rogers and Gotye - Two of a Kind

Move over Gotye. With a little auto-tuning, Mister Rogers sounds damn fresh too.

Auto-tune works wonders with the human voice. You don't have to sing on key, in fact, you don't have to sing at all - just speak your lyrics like Mister Rogers.

It's no wonder there are so many contemporary musicians who sound good in the studio, but can't carry a tune in a bucket when you see them live. With the magic of technology, all you need is decent biceps and a pretty face, and you can be a pop sensation too.

Having said all that...when used for good and not evil, like in the Mister Rogers song below, auto-tune is really cool.

Turn Up the Sound - Remembering Bob Marley

Today we celebrate the life of reggae singer Bob Marley, who died of cancer on this date in 1981 at just thirty-six years of age. When Marley was buried a few days later, the final eulogy at his funeral was given by the Jamaican Prime Minister, Edward Seaga, who said this:

"His voice was an omnipresent cry in our electronic world. His sharp features, majestic looks, and prancing style a vivid etching on the landscape of our minds. Bob Marley was never seen. He was an experience which left an indelible imprint with each encounter. Such a man cannot be erased from the mind."

The track "Is This Love" is among the more well-known Marley classics. I particularly enjoy this Sesame Street-esque video for the song, which features footage of Marley smiling and dancing and frolicking with happy children.

Turn Up the Sound - Tequila, Pee Wee Style

In honor of Cinco de Mayo, I present you with this extraordinary piece of cinema.

Truthfully, other than the song name, this clip is completely unrelated to Mexico. But hey, it's high art, and if a gang of skeptical bikers can get into it, who are we to judge?

Bonus Trivia - Do you know who directed Pee Wee's Big Adventure way back in 1985? If not, find out here.

Turn of Phrase - Dramatic Testimony In the Joyless Case of John Edwards

Cheri Young
Wife of ex-aide to Edwards
Photo: dailymail.co.uk

"I felt like everything had been dumped in my lap. Everybody was on board but me. ... I didn't want the campaign to explode and for it to be my fault. I ultimately decided to live with a lie."

- From the tearful testimony of Cheri Young, wife of a former John Edwards campaign aide, explaining why she lied to cover up Edwards' 2008 mid-primary extramarital affair. 

Young and her husband Andrew have admitted to conspiring with Edwards to misappropriate about $1 million in campaign donations, much of which the couple used to support Edwards' pregnant mistress.

Edwards' trial is underway in North Carolina, and the former senator faces six charges related to campaign-finance violations. He has entered a plea of not-guilty on all counts.

Few contemporary political figures have suffered as monumental a downfall as John Edwards, and the fact that his saga has been brought about by his own shameful actions makes it only slightly less tragic. 

The prominent Democrat's epic slide from legit presidential contender to philanderer to liar to criminal has all occurred in the span of a few short years. Throw his wife Elizabeth's death from cancer into the mix, and even the most vicious and hard-hearted Republican (Dick Cheney's current role) would have to feel a sense of pity for Edwards. 

If convicted, Edwards faces up to 30 years in prison and $1.5 million in fines. That $400 haircut doesn't seem like such a big deal now, does it?

Turn Up the Sound - Greg Laswell's Landline

Indy singer-songwriter Greg Laswell

The work of indie singer-songwriter Greg Laswell is my personal favorite musical discovery of the past decade.

Laswell's poignant and personal lyrics, laid down next to haunting piano and acoustic guitar melodies, create the kind of melancholy marriage made in heaven that stirs both my heart and head.

The best songs from his first few records, tunes like "High and Low" and "Marquee," are intense and brutally sad, reportedly coming on the heels of a viciously difficult breakup. On Landline, Laswell's new album which was released on Tuesday, things seem to be looking up a bit for the musician. There are more up-beats, heavier synthesizers, and less blunt force musical trauma.

Landline features several notable offerings, not the least of which is the title track, on which Laswell shares vocal duties with the lovely and talented Ingrid Michaelson. Laswell's voice is filled with yearning and depth, and Michaelson's is...utterly different, but pensive and somber just the same. When they sing alternate verses, their voices are perfect complements to each other, and when they sing together, they produce a harmony that is sweet and comfortable.

In the event that Greg Laswell's music, or my description of it, has left you with the impression that he is an artist who spends most of his days weeping alone in a corner contemplating sharp objects, be sure to check out this witty and entertaining "making of" video clip he made with Michaelson about their recording of Landline.

Turn Up the Sound - Manilow Reminisces About American Bandstand Theme Song

Dick Clark, 1929-2012

With the passing of entertainment icon Dick Clark today, there will be televised tributes-a-plenty. I wanted to acknowledge Clark's passing, but I also wanted to offer something you might not see anyplace else. This Barry Manilow "Bandstand Boogie" video should do the trick.

In the clip, Manilow tells the story of how he came to write and record his own memorable version of the American Bandstand theme song. He also shows off incredible energy as he sings, dances, and repeatedly opens his eyes extraordinarily wide (must be a show biz thing).

I hope you enjoy Barry's story, his song, his modified David Cassidy hair, and his impressively high heels. (And, RIP Mr. Dick Clark.)

Turn Up the Sound - Gotye Reinvents Pop

Photo: Courtesy of Gotye.com

Reinvent (verb): To create anew. To replace with an entirely new version.

**Start the video below now.

Continue reading.**

Gotye, pronounced like Gaultier the French designer, is the professional name of Wally DeBacker, a 31 year-old musician born in Belgium and raised in Australia, whose third album Making Mirrors is dazzling the pop music world and raising the quality bar dramatically.

If you've already heard Gotye's hit single "Somebody That I Used To Know," and chances are you have, you probably initially wondered when Sting reunited with his former bandmates Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers to record a new Police song.

Comparisons between Gotye and The Police are fair and accurate, particularly on tracks like "Somebody" when Gotye sings at the top of his vocal register, but happily, the similarity is just a glimmer on the surface of a deep well of inspired and imaginative pop music.

"Somebody" is firmly entrenched in the 80s, but if you give a listen to Making Mirrors in its entirety, you'll quickly find yourself immersed in a sea of diverse styles and sounds. "State of the Art" blends reggae beats and electronica seamlessly, while at several moments on the track "I Feel Better," the only thing needed to round out the 60's Motown sound is a backup vocal loop from Martha and the Vandellas.

Make no mistake though - Gotye isn't mimicking the past, he is reinventing it.

As you make your way through Making Mirrors, you discover tracks that are simultaneously innovative and familiar, a host of songs rife with recognizable threads sewn together in ways you never imagined. Gotye is like a boy genius who has locked himself in his mother's attic for weeks on end, only to eventually emerge with a stunning original work of art fashioned from boxes of old photos and forgotten family heirlooms.

In a fascinating online documentary short, Gotye described his musical process as stumbling upon the "fortuitous meeting of sounds" that were somehow "meant for each other." Making Mirrors is proof that he has mastered the imagination, instruments, and technology needed to marry those sounds together with awe-inspiring artistry.

With songs that are sometimes reminiscent of so much other music, it might seem that Gotye has stolen something from the music that came before him. If that were true, he didn't steal something - he stole everything. I would make the case, instead, that Gotye has stolen nothing. He has absorbed sounds from the past, allowed them to ricochet and resonate inside his mind, and given them back to us - sometimes as musical cousins of pop music we recognize, and sometimes as something strange and beautiful we've never heard before. Regardless, each track on Making Mirrors is unique and worthwhile.

Don't believe me? Try another.

If you're reading this on Saturday April 14, the day I published this post, you can see more Gotye on television tonight, when he appears as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live.

You can buy Gotye music everywhere, and you can get addicted, as I have, to a wide array of Gotye songs and videos here on his YouTube page.

Turn Up the Sound - Happy Birthday Chaka Khan

10-time Grammy winner Chaka Kahn turns 59 years-old today. Here's what she was doing when she was 30 years-old.

What were you doing in 1984?

Turn Up the Sound - Shaking The Tree for Women's Day

In recognition of International Women's Day, I wanted to share my favorite song about the empowerment of women. It's Peter Gabriel and Youssou N'Dour - Shaking the Tree.

Turn up the sound and enjoy! (If you want to, that is - not trying to tell you what to do or anything. It's just nice to listen to it loud and proud - but of course, only if that works for you. Really, it's whatever you want. Okay, I'll just shut up now.)

"Find your sisters and brothers who can hear all the truth in what you say, they can support you when you're on your way, it's your day - woman's day."

Turn Up the Sound - Coltrane For All Times

Is it raining outside? Do you have a special someone in your life? If not now, have you ever been in love? Is it late at night? Is it Sunday morning? Want to have a brandy? Sipping on your morning coffee? Got the covers pulled up around your ears? Sitting in your favorite chair? Is the sun just setting? Is the day just dawning? Do you feel a little lonely? Is your baby coming home? Are you content? Do you think music changes us? Are you relaxed? Do you want to be?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, this song is for you.

Turn Up the Sound - Springsteen Representin'

In light of the negative attention garnered by their Governor's veto of a gay marriage bill today, I decided to end the blogging week with some musical love for the people in the Garden State.

Bruce Springsteen, New Jersey's most popular son, is scheduled to release his new album Wrecking Ball on March 6. The first single released from the album is "We Take Care of Our Own."

Note to Governor Christie: Some of "our own" that Bruce refers to are gay folks. The boss can school you on respecting people who aren't like you if you need some assistance.

Turn Up the Sound - Here Come The Smiths

With the recent release of The Smiths' Complete Works boxed set, we have to close out this week with a raucous Smiths' classic. Oh the sweet and tortured gyrations of Morrissey - how I miss the  80s.

"So what difference does it make? It makes none...."

Turn Up the Sound - Bittersweet and Beautiful

Singer-songwriter Mike Cavanaugh

I recently received a note through Facebook from an indie singer-songwriter named Mike Cavanaugh who was promoting his music. The email piqued my curiosity mostly because it referenced my appreciation for alt-country/rock musician Ryan Adams, and so I decided to listen to a few tracks from Mike's Facebook page.

What I discovered were beautifully sweet and lonely rhythms, mostly piano and acoustic guitar driven, and whispery melancholy vocals that are indeed reminiscent of the quieter moments on a Ryan Adams album. I listened to several songs on Facebook and on ReverbNation, but found myself repeatedly returning to one particular track.

I had just finished reading two internet news articles about Eric James Borges, a 19 year-old Californian who is the most recent victim in a string of horrible and unnecessary gay teen suicides. As I read about EricJames (as he liked to be called), I was left feeling angry and distraught, and particularly vulnerable to a beautifully sad song like Mike Cavanaugh's Hold On. Make no mistake though, this bittersweet and haunting piano ballad stands tall on its own merits.

It's a soft, simple, and honest song that I've listened to about ten times this afternoon. I'm including a YouTube version below, so give it a listen, share it if you like it, and maybe pop over to iTunes to buy a copy for yourself. I did.

Turn Up the Sound - Christmas Time Is Here

If you missed them on NBC's The Sing Off, Afro Blue is an astounding jazz a capella singing group from Howard University.

Their upbeat rendition of Christmas Time Is Here is so cheerful and lush that I totally forget there are no instruments playing - except for the magical blend of their voices. 

Settle in with your gift wrapping and eggnog and give Afro Blue a listen!

Turn Up the Sound - Moved By the Spirit

I'm feeling quite spiritual today, not because it's the week before Christmas, but because I buried a friend this morning.

I've been thinking about how to pay tribute to my friend, and I decided to start by sharing a song to honor his memory.

As I was listening to iTunes and thinking about which song to choose, I read on the internet that San Francisco businessman and philanthropist Warren Hellman had also died. Hellman, among other ventures, founded the free Hardly Strictly Bluegrass concert which takes place in Golden Gate Park each year. 

I found a song that perfectly fits my spiritual mood, pays tribute to Hellman's commitment to bluegrass music, and most importantly, honors my friend. 

The song is "Down to the River to Pray" and this version, performed beautifully by bluegrass chanteuse Alison Krauss, was featured in the film "O' Brother Where Art Thou."

I am not a religious man, but if I were, we'd sing songs like this at my church. 

This one is for Scott.

Turn Up the Sound - Where Don McLean Really Wrote and First Sang American Pie

American Pie Album Cover Art

Last weekend Don McLean debunked a couple of decades old myths about where the song American Pie was actually written and where it was first performed.

Popular folklore has it that American Pie was written at a bar called the Tin & Lint in Saratoga Springs, NY, but according to McLean, he penned the lyrics to the epic ballad in 1970 in Cold Springs, NY and Philadelphia. McLean also said that, despite rumors to the contrary, he first performed the song at Temple University.

Reading about American Pie made me want to hear the song again, so in case you're now yearning for it too, I'm linking a YouTube clip below that has the song and a photo montage that does a nice job of speculating about the meaning of the lyrics. I didn't think I'd stick around for the whole 9 minutes of the video, but the images are like a cultural history lesson. Besides, once I hit the chorus a couple of times, I was in it until the end.

Try not to tap your feet and sing along - I dare you.

Viewing Tip: Click the title bar at the top of the clip to view in a larger window.

Turn Up the Sound - Quiet Times with Wilco

Wilco

I was reading and writing this afternoon and simultanesouly looking for a musical piece to wrap up the blogging week.

I happened on this Wilco tune, One Sunday Morning, that had been featured recently on NPR. I've always wanted to be a bigger Wilco fan than I am, so I decided to give the track a listen.

I was a little leery at first because of its above average play time, but I clicked the button anyway, and with One Sunday Morning playing in the background, I went about my business of reading internet news. Twelve minutes later, I decided to count myself officially as a Wilco fan.

One Sunday Morning is quiet and intimate and satisfying. It's acoustic guitar and piano, a simple but beautiful melody, and a soft whispery vocal that fits the song like the last piece of a puzzle.

I'm glad I found One Sunday Morning by Wilco, and I think you might be too. Turn up the sound, and give it a shot.