Kraftwerk

Kraftwerk is a very unique group. This is not only for the music that they have done, but the kind of image they portrayed. There was a minimalist concept always being put forth from the group. Their music used a lot of loops and layering of sounds, gradually, to build the song. Kraftwerk often used very simple lyrics as well, this can be for many reasons, but less means that it’s easier to remember making it easier to sing. The group always seems to be dressed up and looking quite sharp. Their hair never seems to be out of place and when they perform they literally just stand in one place and play. Some could argue that this makes for a very boring show, regardless of what else they could have going on, on stage. However, the group then depends on their music to put on a good show, and is that not how music got started? If it wasn’t for the actually music, why would a person go to a show in the first place? One of the most recognizable albums from Kraftwerk would have to be Autobahn. This was the group’s first concept album. The album featured one song with vocals and the rest of them were purely instrumental.  Also, this album was not entirely electronic. The use of real flutes, guitar, and even violins were also used during the recording. Another of the albums, Computer World, is known as a classic for the group. This was a very unique album, not only for Kraftwerk, but also as an album itself. It was released in multiple languages, as well as having multiple songs in multiple languages. It was also a very political and powerful album for the band. Kraftwerk, as a listener, leaves me wanting more out of them, not as a good thing. I feel that they are too minimalistic. There is too little going on to make it sound like there is truly a lot of musicianship going on. However, as a professional, I find the group to have pioneered and used some crazy types of equipment and MIDI gadgets and have really made some phenomenal songs with them.

Beach Boys Entry

Prior to the Beach Boys releasing Pet Sounds, the band was looked at in a very bubble gum light. All of the members were prim and pristine, and had the gimmick of being from the beach. They played very vocal oriented songs, primarily sing-a-longs for lots of folks. If there ever was an everyman for a band it was Brian Wilson. He was essentially the brain behind all of Pet Sounds. He stayed at home for months writing all of the songs. He would write lyrics and piano riffs, and get everything set up.  Brian had quit touring with the Beach Boys for a while. So while he wasn’t touring he spent all his time composing Pet Sounds. This really helped to put a lot of thought into this album. Seeing as Brian was the brainchild behind the band as it was, it does not seem so farfetched that he would dominate this album as well. The vocal harmonies help to set this album apart from many other recordings in the mid sixties. Each harmony was carefully crafted to fit the song as well as be incredible. The arrangements of the songs were not the common verse, chorus, verse, chorus as was heard before. The songs hand many more breaks and bridges. This made many of the songs seem as though the Beach boys are singing completely improvised and straight to the listener, which is truly an enchanting feeling. As a listener, I found that Pet Sounds really surprised me coming from the Beach Boys. There was not the common, simple sound I was accustomed to hearing. I found myself much more engaged in what I was listening because it was so interesting. From an industry professional’s point of view, to listen to the work of Phil Specter is always something fun to do. He had a very unique way of mixing and recording. This really brought the music to a different place, and I think helped to progress the image that the band had for it.

"Pet Sounds." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 11 Jan. 2011.        
"Brian Wilson Podcast by Chrispyspears on SoundCloud - Create, Record and Share Your Sounds for Free." SoundCloud on SoundCloud - Create, Record and Share Your Sounds for Free. Audible. Web. 11 Jan. 2011. 

Revolver Entry

The Beatles prior to releasing Revolver were much more a static bunch. The audience knew they would get a hit from these suited up hit men. However with the release of Revolver, that all changed. Mind opening drugs like LSD met up with the Beatles. This helped to create some of the crazy ideas behind the whole album. Many of the arrangements are very loose and often hypnotic. The riffs of the music tend to have a lot of effects on them. The vocals, particularly the harmonies really show a lot of this influence. The Beatles use many choir like harmonies, and deep, trippy lines. The lyrics were very deep and unique. Before this time, people didn’t see the Beatles having so much depth to lyrics. It was all very straight forward up beat do-wappy numbers. These songs had so much dynamics and interest to them. The listener could really tell that the boys really put their hearts into this music. The best example of all of the crazy things the Beatles did on the album is Tomorrow Never Knows. The song combines many incredible elements into one. The use of reversing on instruments brings a strange caught in time feel. The songs bring s very circular vibe of coming back to where you were, and traveling with the music. There is also an abundance of doubled vocals and instruments to really bring out instruments. As a listener, Revolver is one of my favorite albums. It brings a lot of different emotions and brings me on many different journeys. It blows me away every time I get a chance to sit down and listen to the album in its entirety. As an industry professional, I feel like this is the gold of it is age in recording. So many techniques were developed that are still used today. I have on more than one occasion asked how to make a sound from the revolver album, trying to recreate it myself.
"PRX » Piece » Everything Was Right: The Beatles' Revolver." Public Radio Exchange. Web. 11 Jan. 2011.

Welcome

Hi, I'm Andrew Mason. I am a student at Full Sail University. I am majoring in Recording Arts and really love what I do. I found that I barely have to try to get good grades, so I must have a passion for what I am doing. I have eclectic tastes when it comes to music, and I'm open about listening to new music. There are of course genres i'm not found of like Pop and Country. Personally, I feel both of the genres lack a lot musical talent. I am a musician and play multiple instruments: drums, guitar, bass, piano, ukulele, and hammered dulcimer. I love each one that I play, and always plan on learning more. When I graduate from Full Sail, I am still unsure of what I want to do. The way I see it, that is in today's society I will take what ever job I can get, and go wherever I'm needed.