Marketing Pop Culture

Listening Post: Shrine for the Black Madonna--"Mona Lisa"

As many of you know, over at Bold As Love, I'm chronicling what I see as the cultural shift that, I believe, is making it possible for Black rock to move from the fringes towards the mainstream.  To further support this, I wanted to make sure that I'm sharing music from this growing niche.

So, this week's offering is "Mona Lisa" by Shrine for the Black Madonna.  The song was taken from the "Paradise" portion of their double album "Paradise/Inferno".  You may recall them from the crowdsourced list of the Best Black rock releases of 2007, since several people, including Vernon Reid, shouted them out.  Enjoy!


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Listening Post: Edit's "Battling Go-Go Yubari in Downtown LA"

 

photo credit: Nolan Rudi

Edward Ma, also known as edIT, drops a can't-front-on-it banger from his recently released "Certified Air Raid Material."  I'd heard of him through the advertising the his label, LA's Alpha Pup Records, took out in XLR8R.  But it wasn't until I got to check out a track on the sampler that comes with each issue (a subscriber-only benefit), that I became completely open.  As, I think, you will, too.

edIT's MySpace page

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Listening Post: The Smyrk

 

This is one my favorite up-and-coming bands.  The musicians--Ari Sadowitz, Chris Barone and Nick Logan--set up a wall of sound that's what a young rock band should sound like: attention-getting, urgent, and impossible to ignore.  But the secret sauce is vocalist Doron Flake.  I've said it before but it's worth repeating: If John Legend ever decided to make a rock record, he might sound as good as Doron.

They're on a national tour now, promoting their "New Fiction" EP, which was produced by Incubus bassist Ben Kenney.

If they hit your area, do yourself a favor and see their show.

The Smyrk's MySpace page.

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Listening Post: Rodrigo y Gabriela

A Mexican guitar duo is discovered while busking on the streets of Dublin, Ireland.  Great story, right?  The most important thing is that the talent, and the album, back up the buzz on these two.  What's great to hear is that all of the sound, all of the energy you hear on every song is produced by their percussive guitar style.  Lots of great tracks on the album, including their version of "Stairway to Heaven".  Wanna hear it?  Buy the album.  If you do, you'll also get a bonus DVD featuring interviews, live performances and, for you guitarists out there, instrumental tutorials.

Check out their site here.  In the meantime, enjoy "Diablo Rojo".

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Listening Post: Robin Thicke

 

If you haven’t yet heard of singer Robin Thicke—son of actor Alan Thicke—that might change in short order.  This week, his album “The Evolution of Robin Thicke” jumped to number 16 from 35 on Billboard’s Top 200 albums chart and to number 2 on the R&B/Hip hop charts.  With tracks like “Would That Make U Love Me” and the current single “Lost Without You,” Thicke is certainly giving Justin Timberlake a run for his money in the falsetto singing, blue-eyed soul category.  The grooves have a light touch that underscores the message that he’s a sensitive guy.  In fact, the strongest tracks on the album tend to be the ones that are spare, quiet and give his voice plenty of room.  The the previous single, "Wanna Love U Girl" featuring Busta Rhymes, was a misstep.  It was a crass way to introduce a singer: pair him with a rapper.  On top of everything, the track is whack. 

All that said, the killer head nod comes from “Got 2 Be Down”, which features Faith Evans.  Only problem is, I doubt this will ever be released.  The song is structured in such a way that Robin is really only singing the hooks on this song.  So, if you were to poll listeners, they’d probably be talking about “that new Faith Evans”.  Not helpful if you’re trying to establish a singer, particularly if he’s a man.

Anyway, it’s in heavy rotation on my Zen Vision:M.  Give it a listen.


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Music that moves me

Many of you know that one of my passions is music.  Not only do I like discovering great music, but I also like to share it, which explains my return--albeit a sporadic one--to DJing.

I've also been inspired several blogs that have music sharing as a key part of their content mix.  They're a varied bunch: Fred Wilson; Stone and Jerome; and Fraser Bresnahan, to name three.

It's time for me to take the plunge, too.  Starting today, you can expect to periodically see/hear what's in heavy rotation on the old Creative Zen.

Currently, the track that's getting worn out is the song that's used in the "300" trailer, "Just As You Imagined" by Nine Inch Nails.  Now, I can't say that I"ve followed Trent Reznor and his band closely, other than to note that he's Cleveland, Ohio (my hometown) is one of the places he calls home.

This song, all attitude and adrenaline, is off "The Fragile" (1999).  Check it at your local music retailer or your favorite online music shop.

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