White girl dancing in front of your bathroom mirror at 1:00am | students’ music for The Groove The Hook The Sound
Led Zeppelin – Fool In The Rain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mws9rDmhePI
I really hope this falls into the Groove because this song make me want to dance forever even if that does mean I’ll break a foot.
D’Angelo – Sugah Daddy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPp6pTrNw44
Groove.
Solange – Losing You
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hy9W_mrY_Vk
Groove I think? Maybe even Sound if the 80s style backdrop counts for anything? Idk. I just want this to be played at my funeral as the people carrying my casket dance down the church aisle.
Tame Impala – Elephant
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0jqPvpn3sY&feature=youtu.be
Immediately when I think of groove, this song comes to mind. The rhythmics chug like a skipping record as you’re sent on a Technicolor-themed rollercoaster ride full of suspenseful climbs and thrilling drops. Throughout this experience I can’t help but realise that the characteristics of this song follow the same traits of a house or RnB progression. Is this the prime example of a rock version of ‘doof doof’? Should I be punched in the face for that suggestion? Probably.
Ed Sheeran & Passenger – No Diggity vs. Thrift Shop (Kygo Remix)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEQxWg92Ux4
Guys, I don’t want to alarm you; I’ve found a banger. I know how much you love mashups (I’m looking at you Everett) so have a geez. Guaranteed to induce white girl dancing in front of your bathroom mirror at 1:00am.
Stevie Wonder – Superstition
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CFuCYNx-1g
In relation to groove, I find this section from Daniel Levitin’s book This Is Your Brain On Music to always be a good reference. The writing may be a little musicological for this subject but still useful in helping define what exactly “groove” entails:
The beat Stevie plays on the high-hat is never exactly the same way twice; he throws in little extra taps, hits and rests. Moreover, every note he plays on the cymbal has a slightly different volume – nuances in his performance that add to the sense of tension… The genius of [Stevie Wonder’s] playing is that he keeps us on our mental toes by changing aspects of the pattern every time he plays it, holding just enough of it the same to keep us grounded and oriented.
Pond – Zond
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNnd-gl_U4w&list=PLuJLkYDW7tFo3jER27bJd-pfT9X2jJ1mk&index=44
I believe this fits into the hook category – the repetitive, “crunchy” synth riff draws you into the song and paired with the driving percussion and frantic, echoey Elvis-esque vocals, it’s almost impossible to get this song out of your head. For days. It just… won’t… stop…
Perfume Genius – Grid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfUzs4NDa64
In terms of sound, I ‘nominate’ ‘Grid’ by Perfume Genius. I wrote an article about the album on my blog (which you can see here: http://darcybowie.tumblr.com/tagged/review – shameless self-promotion. Sue me). In the article I write, speaking of sound – the song “employs an eclectic mixture of many different seemingly random musical elements. With a doo-wop song structure, a throbbing bassline, jungle-style percussion, ghostly backing vocals and even a minute or two of anguished screams, ‘Grid’ shouldn’t work… but it does.”
Mark Ronson – Uptown Funk ft. Bruno Mars
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPf0YbXqDm0
If we’re talking groove, I find it physically impossible to stay in my seat when I hear this bass line.
I’m going to have to second the nomination for ‘Uptown Funk’. Conveniently, I think it fits into all of this week’s requirements and I’m guilt to playing this one on repeat on multiple occasions. It’s one of those songs that you hear for the first time and you’re like nice but then before you know it you’re screaming it in your car and dancing to it in the shower and incorporating its lyrics into your day to day conversations. Don’t believe me? Just watch.
Hilltop Hoods – The Art Of The Handshake
https://soundcloud.com/hilltophoods/hilltop-hoods-the-art-of-the-handshake-walking-under-stars-leak
When thinking of groove, the first song that popped into my head was Hilltop Hoods ‘Cosby Sweater’. Then I thought “nah everyone’s sick of hearing that”. I then thought of the title track from their recent album Walking Under Stars. It’s chilled, it’s got a groove to it and I like the fact that you can hear the elements of piano and strings. It’s even a little bit jazzy.
In terms of sound, I thought of another Hoods track ‘The Art Of The Handshake’. I actually don’t even notice the lyrics, it’s all about the sound. It’s different to anything I’ve heard from them before – it sounds more Missy Elliot than Hilltop Hoods and that’s probably why I like it. That, and the fact that when I hear it, it’s impossible for me to not “get my freak on”.
Jai Paul – BTSTU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qteelq55Fj8
The overall sound of this song stood out to me and how densely produced it is. It’s a juxtaposition of sounds that include smooth sounding vocals that contrast the intense and almost angry or frustrated lyrics (“so don’t try and fuck me about, you’re waste and you’re on your way out”). It is then mixed with hard drums and sudden drops in the beat that mesh well with the layered, somewhat aggressive synths amongst other electronic sounds and samples. Add in an oddly placed saxophone outro (that still works) and the track feels and sounds soulful, almost James Blake-like.
My Morning Jacket – Wordless Chorus
http://youtu.be/VYWtyJGq4vo
To me, this is ‘sound’. Not because the timbre or tone of their instruments, but because of the incredible use of space within the song. My Morning Jacket consistently uses rhythm and structure in their songs to create a perfect balance between sound and space. They never overplay (and certainly never underplay!) anything and it certainly doesn’t hurt that their lead singer has the voice of an angel. Here’s Wordless Chorus, enjoy!
Darkside – Paper Trails
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwO5Z85n8Yw
Groove.
EDITOR’S PICK
Puscifer – Conditions Of My Parole
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKCMTS1bkC0&t=37
I can’t stop listening to this song at the moment. From the very start the acoustic riff hooks me in. I love that it’s repeated through the song with vocals and for the breakdown. I enjoy putting this song on my headphones and walking. The driving bass keeps me motivated and I can’t help but head bop a little…
