Monday, March 19, 2007

Switchfoot

Amazing concert...amazing musicianship....great lyrics. And Jon Foreman has to be half crazy. No doubt this band knows how to get the audience wrapped up in a song. And Jon sings straight from the heart. It's fascinating to see someone's heart represented so clearly on stage with music that is genious.

So does it sound like I'm impressed with this band? Well, I definitely am. I'm looking forward to seeing them again this weekend in NC. I know that sounds so groupy like, but it's just fun to watch these guys and soak up all they throw out. Hoping to see an aftershow, but not sure if there will be one. I'll definitely be posting about it.

Current switchfoot faves:
4:12
Let Your Love Be Strong
American Dream
Stars (acoustic version)

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Mind control...aka the American Idol Machine

I’m just having a lot of trouble hearing the glowing praise heaped on Melinda Doolittle and Lakisha Jones EVERY week on American Idol. I love Lakisha’s drama and her expressive face when she sings, but is she MARKETABLE(i that word)? And with Melinda, I’ve listened to her several times without looking at her. Her vibrato is too wide at times, her tone color too heavy. In many ways, she seems too old (the biggest criticism that Taylor got last year was that he seemed so old).
Anyway, I think it’s fairly obvious what’s going on this year. AI is determined NOT to have another winner with backbone. Taylor had musical vision, something AI winners are NOT supposed to have. And from what I’ve been reading online, he was determined to do things HIS way, something that may in the end hurt his sales figures and his standing with the AI machine (there are worse fates in life, I’m sure) Melinda and Lakisha, this year’s “picks” are great vocalists, but neither seems to have much of a backbone…malleable, moldable, etc. Chris S. and Blake on the other hand are obviously MUSICIANS who pose a threat to TPTB. As long as those boys remain true to their own musical vision, they’ll die a slow on AI…and you can bet the judges will never praise them again like they did in Top 24. Then there is Jordin, who I believe is this year’s dark horse. Trainable, malleable, appealing, talented, but very very green. This is why she is getting great praise for performances that would get Gina slammed (another one who appears to have musical vision and a strong will).
Yes, America decides. But AI has learned to have a very tight grip on WHAT America gets to choose from. This year, it’s a limited line up for sure (grilled cheese or grilled cheez?)
If and when Chris S and Blake are voted off, I’m definitely done voting. And I may be done with AI for good. (it’s such a sick addiciton, though, I doubt I could ever be done with it. Ugh)