Introductions: Leona Naess

Leona Naess is not the artist for those concerned with looking "tough" or "manly." Her music is straight-up girly, pretty, and has not a bit of edge. That's OK with me. If listening to Leona Naess makes me look like less of a man, it's a small price to pay for great songs.

Now, I don't mean to imply that there's something wrong with men who listen to music made by women. I do so all the time. I'm just saying that there are moments when I listen to Leona's music and say to myself "this music is really not meant for my ears." No matter the case, Leona Naess makes some wonderful music.

Leona Naess, 35 years of age, has a very diverse background to say the least. She is the daughter of a famous Norwegian businessman and mountain-climber (Arne Naess), was born in New York City and was raised in London. At one point, she was the step-daughter of Diana Ross. These connections are interesting, but not necessarily a large part of her story as a professional musician. She may not be a huge star (hence my writing of this introduction), but whatever fame she has earned has been earned through her own talents and hard work.

She came on the scene in 2000 with Comatised. This album introduced her special style of music - part folk, part rock, part pop and all Leona. The single "Charm Attack" put her on the map and smoothed the way for her second album, 2001's I Tried To Rock You But You Only Roll. That album found her reaching for her 1980s pop influences to create songs full of electronic textures and dance beats. However, she didn't totally abandon the sound of her first record. Songs like "Serenade" and "Promise To Try" brought back her singer-songwriter side.

2003 gave us her third, self-titled album. This was the one that was supposed to really break her through to the mainstream. However, mainstream success didn't quite happen. I've recently listened to that album (on the Myspace Music service) and I can see why it didn't stick around. It doesn't really have a particular sound like her second release, and the songs just aren't as strong as some on her previous albums. I think she was possibly trying too hard, which as we all know can backfire on an artist.

Things did not improve for Leona after that career letdown. Her father died the next year in a mountain climbing accident, and she was dropped from her label. She took some time off from being a recording artist to regroup and mourn her father's death. To get through the tough times, she started writing. And writing. And writing some more. She recorded what she wrote, often using the first take of a vocal. Her friends helped her out with instrument contributions, and she eventually came up with a reputed thirteen albums' worth of new material.

The result of all that new material was her latest release, 2008's Thirteens. Out of great tragedy came beautiful music, as this new album is possibly the strongest of Leona's career. It is full of gorgeous sounds and beautiful melodies and is the most honest and raw Leona Naess release to date. Personally, I can say that Thirteens renewed my interest in her and is currently one of my favorite albums in my large CD collection. It is really that good.

So how did I learn about Leona anyway? I first saw her on Sharon Osbourne's now-canceled talk show, most likely back in 2003 after the release of the Leona Naess album. I don't remember which song she performed, but she left enough of an impression to warrant my checking out her website. Impressively, Leona's website at the time allowed one to listen to all of her music for free. I took that opportunity and was absolutely hooked, especially on I Tried To Rock You. I really liked the dance-ability of the music, the bright pop sounds combined with Leona's sweet voice. Sometime in 2004, perhaps in the summer, I bought that album.

I enjoyed I Tried To Rock You But You Only Roll for a few months, and then moved on to other things. I didn't listen to it all that much over the next years, and I mostly forgot about Leona. I didn't bother buying her other albums. This disinterest didn't last forever, though - sometime in 2007 or 2008, I started listening to her CD again and remembered why I liked her in the first place.

Sometime in 2008, I found out she has released a brand-new album. I had no idea what happened to her in the interim, and I was saddened to learn about her father. I was intrigued by her new album, though. I listened to sound clips and was impressed. I put her album on my "to-buy someday" list. Early this year, I listened to Thirteens on the new Myspace Music service. Once again, I can listen to any Leona album in full. I was incredibly impressed! I fell in love with the acoustic, low-key production of the album and the utter rawness of Leona's vocals. I also like the ear-worm melodies that fill the album's songs. It didn't take me long to purchase Thirteens for myself, and I've been enjoying it ever since. I especially love the songs "Shiny On The Inside" and "The Lipstick Song." I feel that Thirteens is the album Leona had in her all along, and I can't wait to see what the next one sounds like.

Ok, that's how I became interested in Leona Naess. What is it I like about her? I think the first thing I like about her is her voice. It is tender, vulnerable, feminine, soft, and comforting. Yeah, comforting. Listening to Leona Naess sing is like wrapping yourself in a warm blanket on a cold, icy morning. Her voice can do some amazing things. It's not what I'd call a strong voice, but it works perfectly for the music she and her fellow musicians create and the songs she writes.

Leona prefers to surround her soft vocals with acoustic guitars, gentle pianos and poppy keyboards. I Tried To Rock You is a great album, but not really indicative of her sound. "Lazy Days" from her debut Comatised is a good song to give you some idea of what she's about. Leona herself plays acoustic guitar and some piano. Her album credits show that many of the instruments are played by others - she doesn't even play guitar on all her songs. I think she sees herself as a vocalist first, and there's nothing wrong with that.

Her music is deceptive. It makes you think you're hearing only a guitar or a piano and a voice. If you look at the album credits and really listen to the songs, you'll discover that she uses so many more instruments that you think. I believe that's because of the way her music speaks directly to your heart and soul. It just sounds like the kind of music that begs for simplicity. I think that's why I like listening to her - her music is simple, honest and direct.

Her music is also very pretty. Her melodies are like lullabies. You can easily fall asleep to some of Leona's songs. That relaxing beauty and grace is what makes her music worth listening to. Now, as I've said above, these are songs written, sung and performed from a female perspective. Men might not find much to identify with in Leona's music, but I hope more men can see her music for the beautiful stuff it is. She's not hugely famous, but I don't want her to be. I want her to be able to continue to create music, but I'm also fine with having her be known mostly to those of us who get her and get her music. I'm glad she came back after her third album, and I don't think she's the type to be a huge superstar musician anyway. She's just Leona, and I like that.

Songs To Hear:

"Leave Your Boyfriends Behind" (from Thirteens)
"Calling" (from Leona Naess)
"The Lipstick Song" (from Thirteens)
"Charm Attack" (from Comatised)
"Yes, It's Called Desire" (from Leona Naess)
"Home" (from Leona Naess)
"Lazy Days" (from Comatised)
"Ballerina" (from Leona Naess)
"Blue-Eyed Baby" (from I Tried To Rock You But You Only Roll)
"When Sharks Attack" (from Thirteens)
"Hurricane" (from I Tried To Rock You)
"Comatised" (from Comatised)
"Anything" (from Comatised)
"Shiny On The Inside" (from Thirteens)
"Ghosts In The Attic" (from Thirteens)
"Serenade" (from I Tried To Rock You)

Albums To Buy:

Start with either Comatised or Thirteens. Honestly, I'd recommend Thirteens over all the others. Then, buy I Tried To Rock You and/or Comatised. If you still like what you hear, go for Leona Naess but keep your expectations in check.

Final Thoughts:

I think I pretty much said everything. I did most of my research from Wikipedia, but if you find any mistakes, please let me know so I can correct them. Finally - go listen to Leona! Her music is on Myspace and probably iLike and other services, so you have no excuses.

Introductions: Robert Randolph and the Family Band

Robert Randolph and the Family Band are (left to right):

Danyel Morgan (bass, vocals)
Robert Randolph (pedal steel guitar, electric guitar, vocals)
Marcus Randolph (drums)
Jason Crosby (organ, piano)

Whenever someone asks me to describe the music of Robert Randolph and the Family Band, I never know what to say.

R&B?
Soul?
Funk?
Rock?
Gospel?

I think we need an entirely new genre to describe what Robert Randolph and his Family Band do.

RR&TFB (which is how I'll refer to them from this point on - they have a very long band name) would seem like any other modern funk/rock band, except for the instrument played by lead guitarist and bandleader Robert Randolph.

He plays pedal steel guitar.

RR&TFB may well be the first rock band led by pedal steel. The instrument differs from a regular guitar in many ways: It has 13 strings; it is played flat with a series of pedals for chord-changing; and the player uses a slide over the strings. It has roots in Hawaiian music and is typically used in country music and gives it that distinctive crying moan.

When Robert Randolph plays it, it becomes a whole other animal. Once you hear a RR&TFB song, you'd be hard pressed to identify the lead guitar as the same thing used in the Grand Ole Opry.

How did a guy from New Jersey end up playing a country instrument in a rock style? It all goes back to his church, the House Of God. This denomination uses pedal steel instead of the more typical organ. This style of playing is called Sacred Steel and it's what Robert Randolph grew up hearing and playing.

After growing up in the Sacred Steel tradition, it wasn't long before Robert had the desire to marry his pedal steel skills to contemporary rock and r&b. He recruited a couple cousins, Danyel and Marcus on bass and drums, to join him in a band. After original organist John Ginty joined, the band was complete and the buzz began to spread.

RR&TFB built a reputation through great musicianship and showmanship. Guitarists started to take notice of this guy playing pedal steel as a rock instrument. The Family Band eventually toured with the likes of Dave Matthews Band and Eric Clapton. 2002 brought their debut solo recording, Live At The Wetlands. Their infectious energy shown on this album brought further acclaim, and a couple years later they recorded their studio debut Unclassified. Life has been good to Robert, Danyel, Marcus and new organist Jason Crosby ever since.

I'll never forget the first time I heard RR&TFB. I must have heard the name Robert Randolph somewhere, because it sounded vaguely familiar. I was watching VH1 and saw the video for "Thrill Of It," the first single from their latest album Colorblind. Of course, that weird-looking guitar caught my interest. What really did it for me was the musicianship, how good the song sounded. "These guys are good," I told myself. Of course, I had to find out more. A trip or two to the internet later and I was hooked. In March 2007, I bought Unclassified and started my journey.

What's so great about Robert Randolph and the Family Band? How can one explain greatness? Let's start with the pedal steel. Most of the time, Robert plays it like it's an electric guitar. Let me tell you, he's a great guitar player, no matter what kind of guitar he's playing. He's been compared to the likes of Duane Allman and Jimi Hendrix, and I think he'll get close to living up to those comparisons. Of course, the pedal steel can be played in ways an electric guitar cannot. Robert uses the full potential of his instrument, making it growl, cry, scream, and even talk. Only a truly talented guitarist can make a guitar sing like a human voice. Hendrix could do it, and so can Robert Randolph.

I think the fact that Robert's music has church roots contributes to the fun factor of his music. A church musician must be able to get people in a frenzy. He or she has to play with emotions, bringing them up and down and finally releasing them. RR&TFB understand this dynamic. If you let go and allow the music to carry you, you'll be moved in ways you can't rationalize. Robert's music is a great stress-reliever.

The rhythm section of Danyel Morgan and Marcus Randolph anchors the emotional impact of Robert's guitar playing. Danyel plays a mean bass guitar, often bringing out the funkiness of the instrument. He's a fine singer too, adding falsetto to the emotional mix. His voice is almost the equivalent of Robert's pedal steel. Both sounds can take you higher. Marcus Randoph isn't a flashy drummer, but he plays steady and focused. He does a lot more with the beat than just keep it. He keeps your feet stomping and your hands clapping.

John Ginty and Jason Crosby are both fine organists, and they add to the church atmosphere. I think there is more organ present on The Family Band's first two albums compared to the last one. I missed the organ on the new album, and I hope they feature it more in their next project.

The Family Band's songs are usually very upbeat. The band packs many different tempos and styles in a song, if they're so inclined. The more funky, rocking tunes have roots in the band's jam ethic. Over the years, Robert has learned to contain his jams and structure them into songs. That structure doesn't diminish the fun, though. Sure, he performs fewer instrumentals, but he keeps the energy.

Some of their songs are performed in a slower, more vocal-oriented style. The band can display a whole lotta soul. A few of these songs aren't my thing, because I prefer the faster-paced rockers. It is good to know that Robert and his band aren't one-trick ponies, though. Robert is going to give you all the music he loves.

Songs to hear:

"Squeeze"
"Deliver Me"
"I Need More Love"
"Ain't Nothing Wrong With That"
"Soul Refreshing"
"The March"
"Thrill Of It"
"Going In The Right Direction"
"Jesus Is Just Alright"
"Ted's Jam"
"Run For Your Life"
"Nobody"
"Stronger"

Albums to buy:

Just get all of them. There are only three!

I'd recommend you buy them in the order I did.

Unclassified shows RR&TFB at their best. The songs are there, but they didn't forsake the heavy jamming that made them popular.

Colorblind takes things a step further. The extended jamming isn't there, but the songs certainly are. There is some good stuff here, but I think most people would prefer one album over the other. It depends on how much you love instrumental pedal steel. This one also has some great guest appearances from Eric Clapton ("Jesus Is Just Alright") and Dave Matthews ("Love Is The Only Way").

If you like what you hear from the above albums, move on to Live At The Wetlands. If you liked Unclassified, you'll especially love this one. Be forewarned, though, that lyrics are few and the songs are all over 8 minutes long. If that's going to bother you, wait for their next release. If you can hang with a lot of pedal steel jamming meant to get you on your feet, this is a good investment.

Final Thoughts: You have to give credit to Robert Randolph and the Family Band for doing something different musically. Not only do they blend different genres into one loud, dance-worthy soup, but they do it with an instrument you don't typically find with this kind of music. Robert Randolph is changing the game, and doing it with really fun, energetic songs. He's also bringing a positive message to the people. You can dance, let loose and have a good time without misogyny and criminal behavior. Robert Randolph and the Family Band show that modern urban music can be fun and clean at the same time. Sometimes his spiritual roots come out, as with the song "Blessed," but the music is good regardless of the message.

Robert Randolph and his band know how to play, and they feel the music very strongly. They want to make you feel it too, and I think they succeed. If you like guitars, you've never heard a guitar that sounds like this. It's new, it's hip, and it's going to change the way we look at instruments. Robert Randolph is an excellent guitarist, and he should not be missed.

Now you know. Go listen and enjoy.

Introductions: Los Lobos

Los Lobos are (left to right):

Conrad Lozano - Bass guitars, guitarron
Steve Berlin - Saxophones, harmonica, keyboards, etc.
Louie Perez - Drums, percussion, guitars, vocals, etc.
David Hidalgo - Lead vocals, guitar, accordion, fiddle, etc.
Cesar Rosas - Guitars, lead and background vocals, one cool pair of sunglasses

Los Lobos is one of America's finest bands, performing a mix of rock, country, folk and R&B, heavily flavored with the Mexican sounds the band members heard growing up. Unfortunately, most people know them for a cover of a Ritchie Valens song and little else.

The band started in the 1970s in East Los Angeles. "The Wolves" were friends in high school, and eventually formed a group performing traditional Mexican folk music. In the early 1980s, they electrified and expanded their sound to include influences from all the music they love. Steve Berlin joined the group as a saxophone player, and shortly thereafter Los Lobos were signed to Slash Records.

Their first recording, the E.P. ...And A Time To Dance, featured the Grammy-winning "Anselma." Their next project, 1984's How Will The Wolf Survive, was their first full-length album on a major label. It proved to be a success, gaining them many fans and establishing their presence on the music scene.

In 1987, the band was chosen to record songs for the soundtrack to the movie La Bamba, which told the story of Mexican-American rock and roll star Ritchie Valens. Los Lobos cut a cover of Valens' "La Bamba," a song that had its roots in Mexican folk music. The song was a huge hit, putting Los Lobos in the mainstream. "La Bamba" was an excellent performance, but perhaps too much of a good thing.

Since the breakthrough success of "La Bamba," Los Lobos has quietly built its reputation with genre-smashing albums and rousing, no-holds-barred live shows. The band has taken some chances in song material, but always seem to return to what they do best - rock with a Mexican twist.

I saw the band live in 2006 and was instantly smitten. The show was so much fun and I could tell that I was seeing a really good band. Los Lobos do everything with conviction. They have real playing chops. David Hidalgo is the best lead guitarist no one hears about. Steve Berlin adds the key ingredient - R&B sax. The group can really get in a groove, and they should after 30-plus years as a band. They're blessed with two great singers in Hidalgo and Cesar Rosas. Hidalgo has the more tender voice, filled with beauty and sensitivity. Rosas, on the other hand, brings the rock and roll cool with his smooth delivery and slick style.

What makes Los Lobos great is their ability to perform in nearly any genre. Rock songs, ballads, psychedelic experiments, country - they do it all. David Hidalgo also plays the accordion, and that adds to their diversity. His accordion can make a song sound like zydeco, polka, or cabaret. Of course, the band cannot ignore their latin influence. They bring a variety of Mexican sounds to their songs - cumbia, nortena, and traditional, acoustic sounds. They occasionally sing in Spanish, and they sound great when they do.

Songs To Hear:

"La Bamba" (of course)
"Don't Worry Baby"
"A Matter Of Time"
"The Road To Gila Bend"
"Set Me Free (Rosa Lee)"
"Will The Wolf Survive"
"Good Morning Aztlan"
"Dream In Blue"
"Our Last Night"
"One Time One Night"
"I Walk Alone"
"Hold On"
"Kiko And The Lavender Moon"
"Maria Christina"
"Little John Of God"
"Volver, Volver"
"Mas Y Mas"
"When The Circus Comes"

Albums To Buy:

How Will The Wolf Survive (start with this)
By The Light Of The Moon
La Bamba Soundtrack
Kiko
Good Morning Aztlan
Wolf Tracks: The Best Of Los Lobos

If you really want to get into them, there's a box set called Just Another Band From East L.A.

Final Thoughts: Los Lobos take so many types of real American music and pull them altogether into one beautiful mix. They don't do this to pander; it's authentic, because they truly enjoy what they play. No matter what sort of song they play, they play it like they mean it. They put a lot of emotion into their performance, both live and in the studio. Also, they know how to make you dance! When Los Lobos get in the pocket, there is no band more enjoyable.

A band this good should be a household name, but most people think of them as "the band that plays La Bamba." That's a crying shame. "La Bamba" is but one song in their lengthy catalog of great songs. Those other great songs should be better known, and Los Lobos should be mentioned with other great bands such as Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and The Band. I strongly urge you to check them out.

Where can you check them out? At their website, loslobos.org. You can listen to most of their albums there for free! That is an incredible privilege and I encourage my readers to take advantage of Los Lobos' generosity. You won't regret it.

Introduction to "Introductions"

While doing the dishes tonight, I had a great idea for a new blog feature. I'm calling it Introductions.

It occurred to me that I listen to many artists and bands that aren't very well-known or popular. They should be, but it's not so. I'm going to do my part to make these people famous by writing blog posts about them.

I'll talk about who they are, what they do, and why they're so great. I'll list some important songs and albums to listen to. Of course, I'll also link to the artists' websites.

I realize I'm lifting this idea from the A.V. Club's "Primer" series, but I'm calling it something different and I'll do it in my own style.

I'm going to cross-post the Introductions to my main blog and my last.fm blog. I'll try to do at least one per month.

Check back soon (could be tonight, could be tomorrow) for the first installment. It will feature the band that inspired me to start this new feature.