Best reference to Hungarian composer Franz Liszt, and proof that pretension can rock:
The Parisian rock band Phoenix turns to its schoolbooks for the opening
song on “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix,” which references the hysteria that
greeted Liszt in the 1800s. But you needn’t have paid attention in
college to enjoy the upbeat, synth-rock rush of the tune. “From the
mess to the masses,” Thomas Mars sings in “Lisztomania,” as cheerful
electronic and organic sounds deftly split the difference between art
and arena rock. (TM) Photo: Getty Images
Best celebrity fannishness:
Everyone knows that U2 runs with the rich and famous (as well as the
Nobel-winning and the house-arrested), so the many Hollywood types in
the crowd at the band’s triumphant Rose Bowl show in October were not a
surprise. I was, however, slightly startled to see Zachary Quinto,
stocking cap pulled down but booty fully shaking, dancing for the
entire opening set by the Black Eyed Peas. He even pumped his fist.
Spock, you are so 3008! (AP) Photo: Paramount Pictures
Best example that early exposure to Disney classics is a good thing:
Annie Clark, who records as St. Vincent, is a merciless guitarist,
splitting, slicing and deconstructing brief bursts of guitar noise
throughout her sophomore effort, “Actor.” But she’s not interested in
rocking out. Her early 2009 release is a collection of mini-symphonies,
an expansive array of digitally constructed orchestra sounds. Fantastic
strings, backward guitars and dizzying harmonies can be found each of
the 11 cuts on “Actor.” If it weren’t for the sometimes brutal lyrics,
one might think Clark was composing for a sequel to “Sleeping Beauty.”
(TM) Photo: Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times
Best mind-bending video intersection of alternative musical universes: At first, you can’t help but suspect that clever video editing is responsible for this YouTube video
of James Brown and Luciano Pavarotti teaming up on Brown’s R&B
masterpiece “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World.” But sure enough, they
really were onstage together, and odder than that, this duet marrying
two of the greatest, if most disparate, voices of the 20th century
works brilliantly. (Randy Lewis) Photo: Getty Images
Best reedited movie trailer proving that music matters: Film aficionados Chris Rule and Nick Eckert created this alternative promo reel
for “Mary Poppins” accompanied by music more befitting something from
the “Nightmare on Elm Street” franchise. They dubbed it “Scary Mary”
and it’s guaranteed to induce a whole new level of appreciation for the
power of film music composers. It’s gotten almost 10 million YouTube
hits. (RL) Photo: YouTube
Worst country song about life’s minor travails:
Darryl Worley, the guy who sang the 2003 hit “Have You Forgotten?” and
had the audacity to rhyme “Bin Laden” with “forgotten,” came up with
another gem this year in “Sounds Like Life to Me,” which he wrote with
two collaborators. The song’s narrator chastises a buddy for whining
about insignificant little irritants of daily life, like the clunker
car that conked out, the washer that went on the fritz, and, oh yeah,
“We had to put momma in the nursing home.” Here’s hoping Worley’s kids
inherit his sensitivity. (RL) Photo: Associated Press
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The 42 most memorable pop music moments of 2009: Part IV
The 42 most memorable pop music moments of 2009: Part III
The 42 most memorable pop music moments of 2009: Part II
The 42 most memorable pop music moments of 2009: Part I
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