I Want You To Change… Again
Should other artists follow Bob Dylan’s ever changing musical steps?
When Bob Dylan sang ‘I Want You’ all the way back in 1966 on ‘Blonde On Blonde,’ certainly one of his best albums, it was just brilliant proof of yet another of the musical (and vocal) changes he is going to take on in his career.
Those changes not only reflected his ever-changing musical concept(s) but possibly, his ever-changing thinking. Along the way, he just kept producing some of the greatest modern music. Yet, is this concept something other artists/musicians should undertake to stay new, fresh and inventive?
Possibly, but the question remains whether that is something that will suit every one of them, surely not, after all, not all of them would be able to do so anyway. Every and each one of them should have their own concept that will ensure that they keep on coming up with good music.
Spencer Cullum - Kingdom Weather
Guitarist/composer/vocalist Spencer Cullum showed with his initial solo album ‘Spencer Cullum’s Coin Collection’ that not only he can change styles on one (coin) collection, but that he can do that even within one song. With ‘Kingdom Weather’ he announces his follow-up but also the same approach, which, thankfully, works quite well for him.
Pozi - Slight Shaking Cells
Pozi seems to be a band (trio actually) that like their pop both well-shaken and stirred, some would call it weirdo pop. Yet, there is nothing weirdo about coming up with a somewhat unusual take on pop, mainly if it sounds good.
Pigsx7 - Mr Medicine
The name is actually Pigs, repeated seven times, and they seem to like repeating that fuzz guitar sound that was the big thing when psych rock was at its height in the sixties. Well, maybe they are repeating things, but who cares if it sounds good?
Maggie Cubillos - Old Shoes
Cubillos is a graduate of Berklee School of Music, and the shoes she wears might be old, ie. presenting that ‘old’ singer-songwriter music concept, but it is certainly her own take, and it sounds quite good, so we can just call those shoes well worn instead of old.
Edda Hayes - Rise Up
Now, this is definitely not the usual singer-songwriter stuff, more like a combination of it with Portishead-style trip-hop with the symphonic orchestra in full swing. No wonder Hayes was chosen to play League Of Legends World Championships Opening Ceremony.
Stars - Christmas Anyway
Christmas season without a seasonal song? No way. Actually, anyway, the Canadian pop stalwarts bring in a welcome change to the standard seasonal stuff we have heard so many times.
Sammy Rae & The Friends - Believe
Whatever you think of Cher, you can’t deny that she had great vocal capabilities. So it might be a bit of a daunting task to take on one of her songs and try to outmatch her vocals. Yet, somehow, Sammy Rae and her friends are able to at least get very close to this modern dance version.
Elk City - Apology Song
Elk City has been around for a while and became critics’ darlings but never got the full attention of the wider audience they truly deserve. But that seems to often be the case with artists presenting their take on sophisticated pop - it either catches on or… it takes a bit of time to do so.
Boy & Bear - Just To Be Kind
It just might e a repeat story as with Elk City, but Dave Hosking and the band just keep bringing goodies for their take on Americana, this time around with an excellent acoustic guitar and piano take.
Danielson & Sufjan Stevens - Worried Shoes
Late Daniel Johnston was one of those maverick talents that possessed an endearing fragile voice and some incredible songwriting, something both Danielson and Sufjan Stevens both do, as they take on this Johnston gem.