Blogcritics Author: Lado B

Announcement: Short-content feeds

Phillip Winn — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EDT

Sunday, August 26, 2007, marks the switch of all Blogcritics.org article feeds from full-content to short-content. This is the result of several converging factors, and is unfortunately a permanent decision (as permanent as any decision can be on the web, that is). We are aware of all of the reasons that this is a Bad Idea, and we are aware that some of you will be quite upset about having to click on something to read the free content, and we're sorry. Unfortunately, despite great effort, full-content feeds are not currently economically viable. Two other factors are involved: full-content feeds have resulted in an unprecedented level of content theft, with BC content appearing on many websites, usually spam sites, without attribution or permission. This duplicate content causes a cascading set of problems, not the least of which is that search engines generally aren't favorable to duplicate content, and don't always guess correctly. Finally, our RSS advertising partner is strongly in favor of short-content feeds. We hope that you'll continue to subscribe to BC via RSS, and when an article grabs your eye, it's only a click away, still free on the BC website. Thank you for your understanding.

Music Review: The Zutons - "It's The Little Things We Do"

Lado B — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 13:34:08 EST

What would it take for The Zutons to break into the mainstream? My guess is, not much. However, since mainstream usually means breaking into the American market (at the very least the college charts), it is even money. The Zutons have made themselves present in the alternative scene since 2001, where they have carved a niche as an accomplished indie/soul kind of band. This Liverpudlian band has enjoyed the advise of such prominent producers as Ian Broudie (of Lightning Seeds fame). Currently they are touring the UK. Their latest single "It's The Little Things We Do" (the fourth from their album Tired of Hanging Around) is a song that pokes fun at extreme partying. The music is perky enough, with a soulful interpretation of such lines as "so i get up and go down the stairs and try to make a sandwich / but the ham and cheese, margarine they speak an evil language". I heartily recommend this song. Their musical style at times reminds me of what the Heartless Bastards are doing on the other side of the Atlantic. Their performance has enough intensity, with good backing vocals. At times it is like a throwback to the big bands of the fifties. Other elements I find engaging about this song are the bass line and use of brass winds, which gives the song much of its style. Like its predecessor "Valerie", this track makes excellent use of backing vocals.As a matter of fact, I find the Zutons to be an extremely talented band. The problems they might run into (tantamount to those the Heartless Bastards will face) is the changing musical tastes of the current teenage market. I have noticed for some time now that the eighties (God!, why?) are making a comeback in music. This could lead us to believe that we could once more be looking at a more synth-oriented preference in the public. I hope that will not be the case. Indie music has done so much to incorporate guitar sound (especially jingle jangle) into music again that it would be a shame if bands like this get left on the side of the road. Hopefully their tour dates with The Killers will give them some exposure.

Lado B currently heads the Industrial Engineering Department at Universidad Iberoamericana in Torre�n, México. His interests include alternative music, science, and football. He is married to the most wonderful woman on the planet and is also the proud parent of Ignacio (little Lado B).

The Sounds: Long Live the New Flesh

Lado B — Sun, 15 Oct 2006 09:20:42 EDT

Lado B has been working for some years now on a theory. The greatest rock band of all time is yet to come because, when it comes, it will be recognized by the fact that its members are female. Ludicrous as this may sound, there are many bands featuring women that support my theory. From Nico (of Velvet Underground fame) to Karen O (from that other NY great the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs) there have been a sizable number of rockin' ladies that have had a tremendous impact on the music scene. When the punk movement finally broke into the public conscience two incredibly different women spearheaded this. One of them was Patti Smith, the great poet/punk singer that already has assured a place among rock's greatest. The other (and this really blows my mind) is fellow CBGB's performer Deborah Harry, better known as the frontwoman of Blondie. Blondie has been labeled as New Wave, setting them aside from the punk bands with harsher attitude like The Ramones or Richard Hell. A closer study of them would reveal that, although their music was hip and trendy, they had a knack for turning up a good punk song.As I was scanning Pandora I came across a band that finally vindicates Blondie's claim to punk fatherhood (or is it motherhood?). This band is called The Sounds and is fronted by (who else?) a blond girl. Maja Ivarsson sings with the kind of pent-up anger that makes rock such a great outlet for callow youth. The music is dead on the mark, mixing digestible pop tunes with a good punk framework (also, the fact of having a Swedish babe prancing up and down the stage braless gives them some extra points). If somebody hadn't told me that they have been on the Warped Tour for at least two years, I would have guessed it was Roxette on speed. That is, a high energy pop band.You will notice right away, even though it is certainly a "happy" punk song, it does have the kind of night club quality that makes it an excellent party mix addition. I believe it will stand out of the Warp Tour cast and will probably reach commercial success by next year. So far their biggest score apparently is being featured in the soundtrack of EA's FIFA 2005 videogame with the song "Seven Days a Week". Well, you have to start someplace, don't you think?