That’s A Wrap: The Year In Music Quotes

Image: M Sullivan via Flickr CC

2013 was an awesome year for music. Punk trends returned with fervor, and pop music experienced nuances and edginess like it hasn’t in years. Newer genres emerged or were solidified in the contemporary music canon, thanks to artists like Big Freedia, Frank Ocean, and Flying Lotus. It’s hard to sum up a year of music in one post, so here to do it for me are some of the biggest names in the industry.

This year, musicians dished on happiness, punk, integrity, and “making it” in music; here is a recap of 2013, in quotes:

“I stand by everything I’ve ever said, apologies included.” ~ Singer/songwriter Fiona Apple

“My idea of punk is not being interested in what other people think of punk.” ~ Bradford Cox of Deerhunter

“In this day and age ‘punk ideals’ are totally irrelevant. Not that it isn’t cool to have them, but times have changed, man.” ~ Kurt Vile

“When you look at the way that people make decisions in their lives, whether they’re in art or music or industry, they forget that being unique is the answer – becoming yourself and finding an idea. People who make a good first record and then make a shitty second record are scared, they want to have money and security. But the people I look up to don’t give a shit about any of that. They just care about the people around them and about searching.” ~ Bon Iver/ Volcano Choir’s Justin Vernon

“If what makes you happy is getting good reviews, or how many people like your music, then you really have no control over your happiness. But if you love writing, recording, and making songs that you really care about, then you’ll always be happy, because it’s in your hands.” ~ Katie Crutchfield of Waxahatchee

“I never understood the theory of moving to New York or L.A. to make it – if you want to be noticed as a drop of water, why would you move to the ocean?” ~ Neko Case

“At their best, record labels are supposed to be about the exploration of music. We felt like that was our responsibility.” ~ Jonathan Poneman, Sub Pop co-founder

Happy New Year everyone! 

My Favorite Holiday Tunes

These days, you’d be hard pressed to walk into a grocery, retail, or drug store and not hear holiday tunes blaring from the rafters. Turn on the radio and it’s you’ll find much of the same – nonstop holiday and Christmas songs playing over and over. Even after Thanksgiving and Black Friday, it never feels quite like the holidays without the perpetual barrage of Christmas tunes. Famous musicians have dedicated entire songs and even albums to the holidays, and there are dozens of beloved American holiday songs that fill our hearts and heads each year.

I’ve made a playlist of some of the greatest holiday tunes, full of nostalgic classics and a few newer songs, with one or two “guilty pleasures.” A handful of these songs might even be more obscure than what you’ll typically find playing at the department store! Use them at your office party, in the car, or while you’re working out, anywhere!

Miss Mayfield’s Holiday Playlist

1. Bing Crosby & David Bowie “The Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth”

      2. John Lennon “Happy Christmas (War is Over)

3    3. The Beach Boys “Little Saint Nick”

4    4. Chuck Berry “Run Rudolph Run”

5    5. Booker T & The MG’s “Jingle Bells”

6    6. Bing Crosby “White Christmas” (Bing Crosby on this list twice? I know, I know, he's just great!)

      7. Jose Feliciano “Feliz Navidad”

8    8. Elvis Presley “Blue Christmas”

      9. Louis Prima “What Will Santa Claus Say (When He Finds Everybody Swingin’)”

     10. U2 “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”

     11. Vince Guaraldi Trio “Christmas Time is Here”

1   12. Andy Williams “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year’

1   13. The Ramones “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)”

     14. Ella Fitzgerald “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”

1   15. Frank Sinatra “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”

1   16. Mariah Carey “All I want for Christmas is You”

What are some of your favorite holiday tunes?

Image: Chiot's Run via Flickr CC

Rolling Stone’s Picks for the Best Albums of 2013

Image: vampireweekend.com

As the calendar year nears its end, it’s enjoyable to reflect back on the last twelve months of music. 2013 was a wild year for the music industry; new stars rose, old acts revitalized themselves, and well, Miley did her thing. Rolling Stone Magazine recently released its picks for the “50 Best Albums of 2013,” a diverse list of talent that spans many genres. Here are some of the highlights from the list:

#50: Beck’s Song Reader. Beck was at it again in 2013, this time releasing a decidedly “old school” album of sheet music. Song Reader showcased a collection of folky songs, with quirky twist that only Beck could inject. This album was unexpected, enjoyable, and something we haven’t heard yet from the artist.

Image: MIAMatangi via Instagram

#47: M.I.A.’s Matangi. Radical, dance-beat heavy and powerfully melodic M.I.A. was constantly on the radar in 2013; if not for record label drama, for her outstanding live performances and leaked documentary. Matangi is just what you’d expect from this rebellious musician, and that’s a good thing.

#44: Valerie June’s Pushin’ Against a Stone. This record was definitely deserving of “Best-Of” praise. Rolling Stone describes June as having “mixed blues, soul, country, string-band folk and gospel while the Black Keys’ Dan Auerback added old-school ambience. It’s the sound of a rookie doing her own thing like no retro-soul singer since Amy Winehouse.”

bscbscbsc via Instagram

#35: Best Coast’s Fade Away (EP). It’s pretty remarkable that a seven song EP made the list, but after listening to Fade Away, you’ll understand why. Bethany Cosentino has graduated from surf pop stoner rocker to bona fide songwriter, and this EP is her most mature work yet.

#19: Nine Inch Nails’ Hesitation Marks. The first album from Nine Inch Nails in five years, the magazine calls Hesitation Marks “a dance party at the edge of oblivion.” Trent Reznor combined the band’s iconic sound with newer techniques that elevated the impact of the record while still paying homage to the band’s legacy.

#1: Vampire Weekend’s Modern Vampires of the City. Vampire Weekend snags the number one spot with their 2013 studio effort. It’s catchy, elevated, carries musical depth, and also shows the evolution of a band that garnered early fame for their indie pop sound. Right behind them were Kanye West, Daft Punk, Paul McCartney, and Arcade Fire.

What do you think of these honorees? What surprises do you think 2014 holds for the world of music? 

Experience John Lennon Like Never Before With ‘The Bermuda Tapes’

Only the most diehard fans know about John Lennon’s 1980 sailing trip to Bermuda, and subsequent release of Double Fantasy, an album he created collaboratively with wife Yoko Ono. The music on this album was truly different from his former work; it was for a new kind of generation, and was inspired by Lennon’s travels and his adult life. Sadly, Double Fantasy and its impact were deeply overshadowed by the musician’s murder, which happened only three weeks after the record was released. Now, thirty-three years after John Lennon’s tragic death, fans can celebrate the life and music of the late artist in a whole new way.

John Lennon: The Bermuda Tapes is an interactive music app for iPads and iPhones that chronicles the making of Double Fantasy and the journey that inspired Lennon to record those songs. “Integrating excerpts of Lennon’s demo tapes recorded in Bermuda with innovative game play and intimate documentary storytelling, John Lennon: The Bermuda Tapes is a thrilling, unprecedented experience for music and technology fans alike,” explains the app’s creators.

The app is directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Michael Epstein and digital artist Mark Thompson, and produced by Andrew Banks. It was also made possible with the help of Yoko Ono, who says, “Writing Double Fantasy was a very exciting time creatively for both John and me. I think the album captures the sense of discovery and the artistic dialogue that John and I shared at that time and provides a new way to help us imagine a world without hunger,” of the recording of the original record.  

John Lennon: The Bermuda Tapes is an app that you can feel really good about purchasing, as all net proceeds from the project will go towards the nonprofit WhyHunger and its campaign to end childhood hunger and global poverty. Learn more at lennonbermudatapes.com. 

Exposing the Power of Radical Social Change through Music

MTV isn’t particularly known for producing meaningful television shows, rich with profound experiences and dialogue. In the reality TV era, programming such as “Teen Mom” has edged out other shows like the groundbreaking “True Life” documentary series. Hopefully, that’s all about to change with the addition of “Rebel Music” to MTV’s affiliate network, MTVU.

According to MTV, “Rebel Music is a powerful new six-part series that looks into the lives of young people who are using art and music to ignite change around the world.” Each episode will feature the stories of courageous, “rebellious” youth who are fighting injustices with fervent creativity. The show was designed to expose viewers to the experiences of young people in Egypt, Mali, Israel/Palestine, Afghanistan, Mexico, and India, who are faced with social, cultural, and political injustices that they protest against using art and music. “Rebel Music is a portrait of those risking their lives today in the pursuit of a better tomorrow,” explains the popular television network.

The series is executive produced by graphic and street artist Shepard Fairey, whose rebellious works have received critical acclaim. In this series, young people from many cultures are presented as bold, powerful, and rebellious, as well as passionately involved in the arts. It’s definitely an edgier, more radical take on the lives of young people around the world, and a welcomed departure from the beer-guzzling, intellectually devoid, bratty American youth that MTV seems so fond of portraying.

The first episode aired on November 18^th, but it’s still unclear whether or not “Rebel Music” will be successful, and some critics are incredulous. “As compelling as these stories are, it’s unclear whether MTVU’s audience of 9 million U.S. college students will be ready to receive them,” explains Lydia Dishman of the Fast Company, who is skeptical about the show’s more captivating intent. It’s certainly a far cry from the alcohol-fueled, messy antics of most of the network’s “reality”-based programming; here’s to hoping this the show’s success will inspire MTV to produce more genuine, groundbreaking television for young people.

Go to www.rebelmusic.com to learn more. 

Images: rebelmusicdoc via Instagram

Alanis Morissette’s ‘Jagged Little Pill’ to Take Center Stage

If you were anywhere between the ages of 13 and 25 in 1995, and identified heavily with the angst-ridden, broken-hearted jadedness of Alanis Morissette’s debut album, you better brace yourself for what I’m about to say next. Pretty soon you’ll be able to relive all of those tormented moments with the Queen of 90s angst herself in a theater adaptation of Jagged Little Pill. That’s right, Alanis Morissette is heading to Broadway.

Much to the delight of many adoring fans, playbill.com recently reported that the singer will be adapting her quintessential 1995 record Jagged Little Pill into a Broadway musical of the same name. The musical will feature all of the most beloved songs from that album, including “You Oughta Know,” “Hand in My Pocket,” “You Learn,” and “Ironic,” as well as newer material and songs written specifically for the production. Reportedly, Morissette is collaborating with Tony Award-winner Tom Kitt to bring the album to life on stage.

According to playbill.com, Jagged Little Pill, which was co-written by Morissette and producer Glen Ballard, “is still the best-selling debut release by a female artist in the U.S. and the highest-selling debut album worldwide in music history.” With the album’s formidable reputation, critics and fans of Morissette are expecting the theater adaptation to be incredibly popular. The Grammy Award-winning musician is very excited about the project; in a recent statement she said, “I look forward to taking the heart of ‘Jagged Little Pill’ and expanding its story, fleshing it out into ever deeper layers of emotionality, specificity, humanity, power, physicality, spirit, and fabulism.”

Those who fell in love with the singer in 1995 will enjoy a reworking of her debut album when Jagged Little Pill hits the Broadway stage. Stay posted for more information about the musical! 

Image Credit: morissette via Instagram

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YouTube Celebrates its First-Ever Music Awards Show

Lady Gaga on the Red Carpet

If quirky, entertaining, and downright bizarre are what you might have expected of the first ever YouTube Music Awards, the event, which streamed live on Sunday evening, did not disappoint. Much like any other time spent hopping from YouTube video to YouTube video, the awards show was a fantastic mash-up of music, improvisational MC-ing, and eccentric performances.

According to Noisey, “Depending on what time you clicked on, you either saw [hosts] Jason Schwartzman and Reggie Watts holding up crying babies or you saw M.I.A. swinging LED hula hoops through a crowd of screaming people. At times, the off-the-cuff nature of the show worked. Other times, it created some situations that were, uh...weird,” of the jumbled, albeit entertaining, evening. The publication also describes the event as spontaneous and intentionally avant-garde, per director Spike Jonze.

The New York Times wasn’t so kind in its review of the live event, describing it as “a show of essentially no importance,” but admitting to enjoying some of the unconventional approaches to imitating other more established awards shows. There was comedy, and music, and a live audience with live audience energy, after all. Oh, and there were awards too, of course.

M.I.A. backstage at the show

Fans voted for each of the awards categories, honoring rapper Eminem for “Artist of the Year,” and pop group Girls’ Generation for "Video of the Year.” The “YouTube Breakthrough” award went to Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, and the “YouTube Phenomenon” award was given to Taylor Swift. Notable performances included the haphazard hosting efforts of actor Jason Schwartzman and comedian Reggie Watts, as well as Arcade Fire, Lady Gaga, and Earl Sweatshirt.

Jon Caramanica writes for The New York Times, “like any number of artists with a webcam, a dream and a bit of hubris, YouTube was entitled to screw up in full view of everyone. And after this bizarre but comforting experiment, it’s earned the right to try again next year.” What did you think about the first-ever YouTube Music Awards? 

Images: youtube via Instagram

The Passing of “Punk’s Godfather,” Lou Reed

A disbelieving silence seemed to fall over countless fans, musicians, and loved ones as news of Lou Reed’s death was shared on October 27^th. The iconic musician reportedly died from liver disease at his home in Southampton, New York.

It isn’t hard to understand why fans and fellow artists are deeply mourning the loss of Lou Reed, as he was undoubtedly one of music’s contemporary legends. His work spanned the genres of rock and roll, experimental art rock, avant-garde, and glam rock, and he is considered to be instrumental in sparking the entire punk movement.

As writer Andrew O’hehir explains, “Everything about him was deceptive and impossible to pin down, including the fact that this central figure of the 1960s avant-garde and godfather of the punk movement, this force of disorder, negation and subversion, was in many ways the product of an earlier era.” Reed influenced countless artists and musical movements, both as a member of the iconic band The Velvet Underground, and as a solo artist. His style and attitude continue to inspire innumerable emerging and established musicians.

One of Reed’s contemporaries, artist Patti Smith said, “Lou was a very special poet – a New York writer in the way that Walt Whitman was a New York poet…So many of us have benefited from the work he has done. We all owe him a debt. Most of us that owe a debt are not very happy to own up to it. Sometimes you like to imagine that you did everything on your own. But I think with Lou that everyone will stand in line to say thank you, in their own way,” of the way that he influenced her and other artists over time.

Acclaimed director and writer Mary Harron says of his death, “I’m devastated. I always thought he would live forever. Without Lou Reed and the Velvets, would there have been a CBGB’s, a New York punk, any kind of New York underground rock or art scene? Maybe but it would have had a completely different DNA…”

During his career, Lou Reed managed to make an incredible mark on the culture of music like few others have managed to do. His death will continue to be mourned all around the world. 

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Independent Versus Major Record Labels

"I like to think that what we get from being on a record label is, number one, smart people. Everyone who works there is really cool and professional, and not druggy party people like so many people in the industry.” 

–Brian Oblivion of Cults  

What Oblivion was discussing is an issue that almost everyone in the music industry has an opinion about: major versus indie record labels. In a somewhat controversial move, indie rock band Cults signed on with major corporate label Columbia when the group’s star began to rise. At this point, Oblivion had seen both sides of the industry; knowing that corporate labels don’t always give their smaller bands the most attention, signing with Columbia still seemed to be a more professional move for the musician.

Here are some of the basic differences between independent and major record labels, broken down in pros and cons:

Some independent record label pros include:

Artists get the rights to their music.

Close relationships are forged between producers, musicians, and label representatives.

Bands feel really advocated for by the label that signed them.

Some cons to signing with an indie label include:

There can often be a sense of disorganization.

A smaller label means fewer opportunities for the artist.

Smaller labels often have limited funds in which to support their bands.

Some major label pros:

Unlike indie labels, major labels often have an excessive amount of funds.

Size and reputation can take emerging bands really far in a discerning industry.

The connections bands can make within a major label are invaluable to their career.

Major record label cons include:

Bands must fight for attention, and a hierarchy is easily established.

Just because the label has funds, that doesn’t mean they’ll use them for lesser-known bands.

Major labels are corporate; they are a business. This can mean less of a personalized approach to producing music.

What do you think some of the major pros and cons are of indie and corporate record labels?

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