Lana Del Rey just released the title track from her upcoming album and it is a beautiful take on an ugly situation. Del Rey has a way with words that really sets her apart from not just other artists on the radio but just in general. "He hit me and it felt like a kiss...this is Ultraviolence, I can hear sirens" she sings like she is still lusting for this deranged love. It is classic Lana with its orchestral sound but you can definitely hear producer Dan Auerbach's imprint on the song with its woozy guitars and moody backdrop.
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Ultraviolence
Lana Del Rey just released the title track from her upcoming album and it is a beautiful take on an ugly situation. Del Rey has a way with words that really sets her apart from not just other artists on the radio but just in general. "He hit me and it felt like a kiss...this is Ultraviolence, I can hear sirens" she sings like she is still lusting for this deranged love. It is classic Lana with its orchestral sound but you can definitely hear producer Dan Auerbach's imprint on the song with its woozy guitars and moody backdrop.
Sunday, June 1, 2014
Jack White is Sorry (Kinda)
If you haven't been keeping up with the drama
surrounding Jack White here’s a little recap: Jack White's private letters were
released by lawyers in his divorce battle revealing some pretty harsh comments
about the Black Keys. He went even further to explain his distaste for
the duo the latest issue of Rolling Stone basically calling them copy cats and
accused them of riding on the coattails of his former band The White Stripes.
Here is the full quote from the article:
"There are kids at
school who dress like everybody else, because they don’t know what to do, and
there are musicians like that, too. I’ll hear TV commercials where the music’s
ripping off sounds of mine, to the point I think it’s me. Half the time, it’s
the Black Keys. The other half, it’s a sound-alike song because they couldn’t
license one of mine. There’s a whole world that’s totally fine with the
watered-down version of the original.
Some people will hear that
and say ’Oh, Jack White thinks he’s the first person to play the blues.’ But
certain acts open up a market for a certain style. Amy Winehouse: Did she
invent white soul? Wearing a beehive? No. But she did something brand new and
fresh, altogether as a package, and you see who’s in her wake, from the Duffys
to the Lana Del Reys. Adele selling 20 million records? That would not have
happened if Amy Winehouse was alive. The White Stripes did the same thing, and
in our absence, you’re gonna find someone to fill that. And you get a band like
the Black Keys, who said they never heard of the White Stripes? Sure."
Ouch. While I do think there are definitely some
similarities between the White Stripes and the Black Keys I think perhaps Jack
White needs to check his pride. Essentially all music is borrowed from
something or another, that is how music works. People create and are inspired
by genres and add something new to it. And clearly Jack White hasn't heard any
of the new Black Keys music because he would never create something as
commercial. Don't get me wrong, I am HUGE Jack White fan, but I think he
perhaps overstepped his boundaries. Apparently he thought so too (or maybe his
publicist panicked) because he just issued a long apology on his website. You
can read the apology HERE.
Did you read it? Okay good, now we're on the same
page. It is rather wordy so if you didn't read it he basically just wishes
every person he called out in the Rolling Stone interview (the Black Keys, Lana
Del Rey, Adele) all the success they can get and he feels no ill will towards
them. He ended the apology with "God
bless the Black Keys, Danger Mouse, Adele, Meg White, and anyone else I’ve
spoken about, and thank you for understanding. Good fortune to all of them, and
I’m sorry for my statements hurting anyone." Bullshit
Maybe it is just in my experience but when you
really don't like someone and don't want to deal with them, whenever you
say something like "I wish them all the success in the world"
or something vague like "I wish them love and happiness", it
really means "I just want to be done with the situation and for them
to not get in my way". Definitely some damage control going on. Both
White and the Black Keys are based in Nashville and I'm sure it was starting to
feel a little crowded with all the negativity surrounding them. I also find
it interesting White chose to bring up Lana Del Rey as a follower in
the article, who just so happens to have worked very closely with Black Keys' front
man Dan Auerbach on her new album. Could be something, could be nothing.
Regardless, I don't foresee a collaboration between the Black Keys and
White anytime soon. At least the "feud" has been to bed...for
now.
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