Week 2: "Runaway Baby", "Violin"

I have never purchased an entire album on iTunes before I came across Bruno Mars’ new album, but Doo-Wops & Hooligans made a believer of me. Surprisingly, it wasn’t the smash hit “Grenade” or even “Just the Way You Are” that pulled me in. Rather, I was enticed by tracks like “The Lazy Song” (a song as relaxing as its title implies) and “The Other Side” (a song with smooth vocals from Mars and Cee-Lo Green, and a rap verse courtesy of B.O.B). However, there was one track that caught my eye that wasn’t the biggest hit and doesn’t even have its own video; that track is “Runaway Baby”.

Upon hearing it for the first time, I just thought “funky, what a funky song!” the bass just rings out and makes itself known with a tight riff. The guitar and bass work in tandem to lay down a slick verse and a solid chorus, and I love how they drive the beat of the song. Meanwhile, Bruno Mars sings with an inflection reflecting the sly and charismatic lady-killer character described in the lyrics.

The bassline was so infectious that I knew I would want to learn it the moment I heard it. For the main riff and second verse I used the tab by “rbnbass” on Ultimate-Guitar.com. It is a solid tab, especially since he (or she if it is a “she”) claims it as his first; however, the chorus didn’t really suit me. It was a pretty simple progression so I came up with it myself (it’s simply B, B♭, E♭, A♭). The riff itself wasn’t entirely complex either; it is a funky line that with a little practice can sound very well-done.

As for the video, I added some effects to make things interesting and I had to really play out the low notes so the microphone could pick it up. The name of the game is improvement from the week before and I think I accomplished at least that much.

Review

I have been paying particular attention to iTunes’s Discovery Download this week: “Violin” by Amos Lee. It is a folksy tune, and something about the bluesy-country instrumentals and the haunting echoes pulls me into this one. It is also notable to point out that his album reached #1 in iTunes album sales (and still sits there as of Friday the 28^th). Speaking of albums, check out Talib Kweli’s new CD, Gutter Rainbows if you’re tired of garbage hip-hop. Many people I talk to have never heard of him and I wish they’d give him a listen! It’s the kind of music that makes you think, and that is exactly what hip-hop today needs.

Week 1: "Animal", "Keep Your Head Up"

Brief Introduction: Since I started playing the electric bass three years ago, I have gained a new appreciation for different kinds of music. I played in a blues-rock garage band (known affectionately as Jekkyl & Hyde) and I currently play at Penn State University basketball games with the pep band, Pride of the Lions. I have a passion for discovering music from various genres and occasionally learning to play them on the bass. With this blog I hope to share in my exploration of music through the perspective of a developing bass player and all-around music lover. I expect to post a new video of myself each week playing all or part of a song I love. Also, I will give a brief review of a song or music video I have been enjoying, especially if it is an iTunes free song of the week since we should all find ways to enjoy free music legally.

With most music I hear, I naturally cannot pinpoint the moment I first heard it. However, once in a while I will find that a song gets lodged in my brain from out of nowhere and I won’t be able to get it unstuck until I discover the title of the song and inevitably add it to my collection. This was the situation in which I found myself one fall afternoon as I meandered about my dorm incessantly whilst humming the catchy chorus to a song whose precise origin I was unaware of. With a little bit of research, I finally discovered “Animal” by Neon trees and I have been listening to it ever since. What I love about this song are the driving beats, infectious vocals, and, of course, catchy hand-claps (who doesn’t like a well-executed hand-clap?). On top of that, I am a total sucker for lyrics such as these, which confront the trepidation of expressing love (“I kinda want to be more than friends… I’m afraid I won’t get out alive… I just wanna run and hide”) and turn it into firm determination (“I won’t be denied by you the Animal inside of you”). As for the bass line, I found it pretty simple and quick to grasp; it is a straight forward driving line that doesn’t deviate from a steady beat. I used a pretty spot-on tab, compliments of an unregistered user on Ultimate-Guitar.com. Although I followed it with unquestioning loyalty in my video, I would have made a couple changes for anyone who would like to play this song for themself. In the chorus, the second time at the eighth fret of the E string (a second octave C) should be moved up an octave to the tenth fret on the D string (a third octave C); also, there is some work that could be done with the bridge. However, it is a good, clean tab that I would surely recommend.  As for the video, I am still experimenting with the new video software, and there should be serious improvement each week (apologies on the sound drop-off around the chorus).

Review

                Last week’s iTunes free video of the week was called “Keep Your Head Up” by new pop soloist Andy Grammer.  The video is pretty random, but it is quirky and has character (as well as a guest appearance by The Office’s Rainn Wilson). As for the song, I simply cannot get enough of it; the lyrics are cheerfully optimistic without being syrupy-sweet and unrealistic. Although the video is not free anymore, I would highly recommend this upbeat tune.

Since I’d like to at least offer up a good currently free song, check out the free single and free video of the week on iTunes. I enjoyed both the live hip-hop track “Gone” by Donnis (but if you are willing to pay, get the studio version) and the alternative teen punk video “I Just Wanna Run” by The Downtown Fiction.