Beautiful Boy

      It seems like every time musical icons are brought up, or a definitive artist of the 21st century is decided upon, it is John Lennon (or maybe Bob Dylan).  Yet it seems very little is known of his work outside The Beatles, which is really a separate, unique entity.  He is revered as a martyred peace-pushing romantic idealist, with modern transmutations reaching into Apple computer's advertising and the Obama election campaign.  I am not trying to disavow Lennon of his message or be anti-humanitarian for questioning it, but I just think that perhaps we act like we know more about him than we do.  I don't think most people can name another solo Lennon song other than Imagine, but that might not necessarily be bad, because the lack of specificity boils down his persona into one of optimism and progress, which gets most people on board (thus making for an effective campaigning platform).

    I am still trying to dig into Lennon through his music, but I would say that everyone should know this one other song:

      To analyze the gravity of The Beatles is a daunting task, oft attempted, which really requires an examination of their full catalog, all relative to the course of history.  Their music is something that is so generally accepted that it considered treason if you cannot appreciate some part of it.  It is my belief that they are the most important band ever.  It is worth learning about for reasons beyond the music because, whether you like it or not, it really carved a path for the world in many different ways.
      However, just as the whole is more than the sum of its parts, they all began with and developed their own individual musical talent.  Their talent as a group was contagious and expansive, and when they went about their own way they had honed their own skills.  I am still getting around to John Lennon, and believe that what he is remembered for may not be precise, and exaggerated in lieu of this evidence, but basically true.  I will leave that with one more clip which provides a glimpse into the iconoclast (feat. Harrison in studio), which to me exemplifies just a brilliant, beautiful sounding musician if nothing else.

Wor

Django Django are a kind of psychedelic outfit from those UK parts (Scotland).  Their album hasn't dropped here in the West yet, but I expect they will make a splash considering there hasn't been a consistently good psych-rock group to clamor for in the wake of MGMT and more recently, Foster the People.

There are elements of surf-rock, dance beats, and a seemingly uptempo spirit tinged by unease, blanketed with a psychedelic glaze.  The singer sounds as though Simon & Garfunkel had been trained by Ziggy Stardust in space and jammed with the Talking Heads.  In other words, pretty unique.  The self-titled album is like a mashing of Meddle and Smile and is certainly worth listening outside the scope of the trippy visuals.

Stop Breakin' Down

1937! That's a pretty long time ago, and that's when Robert Johnson, musical embarrassment-turned-guitar virtuoso, recorded this tune.  Over 60 years later the White Stripes gave it new life on their earthquake of a debut album (self-titled).

 

The Stripes also did a live version for BBC that is more true to the original bluesy version and worth checking out. 

Robert Johnson was a major force for rock and roll and has a sketchy legacy, not unlike many other blues musicians at the time, and also due to having a greater reputation after he died.  Was he more important than Hendrix?  Maybe, but without a self-sustaining memory/estate, people don't know.  Well, at least the White Stripes know and are willing to share.