[Ryokan]

 

[robo24]

Song composed by Lennon/McCartney.

Rhiannon Giddens on the banjo.

Post Malone.


The Beyoncé album is predictable. Vocals mixed too far forward, like all of her
music. Some songs are okay, many are rap, a few sound a bit like country. The
musicians are talented, but Beyoncé sounds angry and swears a lot. Too bad
that Linda Martell, the first Black woman to perform at the Grand Ole Opry, was
relegated to a rap song. The Dion album is okay, has previous two were better.

It's the opposite of predictable and vocals aren't too forward at all. There is usually so much going on that if they were less forward they'd be lost. One is half rap and that song is specifically introduced as genre bending though consistent with Southern rap. She said specifically it's a Beyoncé album and not a country album, though it's obviously that too if an overall category must be chosen. First 1/3 is more older styles of country, middle is more current, and end is Beyoncé's version of country that is specifically more dance oriented and experimental to transition into Renaissance, which is all dance. Linda Martell wasn't relegated to anything and is on there twice not just for one rap song, but instead millions have learned about her and there have been many national press stories about her history. The whole thesis of the album, and very good reason for anger, is that nobody is going to tell her or other Black artists they're not country, after she was literally booed at, people yelled out "get that Black b*tch off the stage" and others walked out for performing at the CMAs in 2016 when country is a genre created by Black musicians literally using an African instrument like the banjo. The Grammy's refused to categorize her then most country song as country for awards consideration. Newest Kacey Musgraves is categorized as country as is everything by Shania Twain since her last country-pop album in 1997 despite being far less country than this album. The album is a repudiation of racist gatekeeping in country music and erasure of Black history, including Black contributions to popular music. It's not difficult to understand why 2 of the most universally famous white country artists are both on her album twice giving their blessing. It's utterly brilliant and not surprising it's getting the best reviews of the year and her career, and no well regarded reviewers are calling it predictable.

 

[Thomasr]

 

[RCBinTN]

It's the opposite of predictable and vocals aren't too forward at all. There is usually so much going on that if they were less forward they'd be lost. One is half rap and that song is specifically introduced as genre bending though consistent with Southern rap. She said specifically it's a Beyoncé album and not a country album, though it's obviously that too if an overall category must be chosen. First 1/3 is more older styles of country, middle is more current, and end is Beyoncé's version of country that is specifically more dance oriented and experimental to transition into Renaissance, which is all dance. Linda Martell wasn't relegated to anything and is on there twice not just for one rap song, but instead millions have learned about her and there have been many national press stories about her history. The whole thesis of the album, and very good reason for anger, is that nobody is going to tell her or other Black artists they're not country, after she was literally booed at, people yelled out "get that Black b*tch off the stage" and others walked out for performing at the CMAs in 2016 when country is a genre created by Black musicians literally using an African instrument like the banjo. The Grammy's refused to categorize her then most country song as country for awards consideration. Newest Kacey Musgraves is categorized as country as is everything by Shania Twain since her last country-pop album in 1997 despite being far less country than this album. The album is a repudiation of racist gatekeeping in country music and erasure of Black history, including Black contributions to popular music. It's not difficult to understand why 2 of the most universally famous white country artists are both on her album twice giving their blessing. It's utterly brilliant and not surprising it's getting the best reviews of the year and her career, and no well regarded reviewers are calling it predictable.

Thanks for your well-considered opinions. Spot-on, IMO. We live in Nashville in the midst of the music industry. It's simply near impossible for Black artists to "break in" to the country music machine. And machine is the right word for it. Beyoncé's album will do a lot to further deserving artists' chances to get recognized and to maybe get their chance. For that, I salute her.

ps. Your business looks uber-interesting. Hope it's going well for y'all. https://bananaramabakery.com/

 

[mm1962]

Coleman Hawkins and Neil Young today.

 

[robo24]

Thanks for your well-considered opinions. Spot-on, IMO. We live in Nashville in the midst of the music industry. It's simply near impossible for Black artists to "break in" to the country music machine. And machine is the right word for it. Beyoncé's album will do a lot to further deserving artists' chances to get recognized and to maybe get their chance. For that, I salute her.

Thanks for yours too and being open to mine. Yeah, it's very cool she features 4 somewhat new Black female country artists on Blackbiird, and they're getting press coverage and massive increases in streaming. Linda Martell's album even charted for the first time in decades (which I bought recently). I'd not heard of any of them and bought some music from each of them and really enjoying it all.

 

[zikarus]

 

[mystaiced]

Tool - Fear Inoculum


Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing


Death Cab for Cutie - An Arrow in the Wall


Throwing Muses - Not Too Soon


Silversun Pickups - Well Thought Out Twinkles


The Cars - Blue Tip


Elbow - Grounds for Divorce


Derek and the Dominos - Keep On Growing


Phish - Sand

 

[tiddlywinks]

Ali Akbar Khan - Indian Architexture

The Beatles - Beatles For Sale

Blackberry Smoke - Stoned

 

[RADI0HEAD]

 

[idairyou]

Slash - Oh Well Featuring Chris Stapleton

 

[Colin5619]

 

[Alexy]

Ploho - Закладка​

​

 

[Redcarmoose]

 

[rcoleman1]