Music Commentary

by Rachel Close

One of my favorite hobbies in everyday life, as well as in quarantine, has been collecting records. The pandemic had caused independent record stores across the country to temporarily shut down, therefore losing out on the regular income that normally sustains their business. To continue supporting our favorite record stores, my boyfriend and I have taken advantage of the website Discogs, which allows independent record stores to sell albums to anyone across the country. Since our collection has grown so much during the pandemic, in great part due to our amazing finds from independent record stores, I wanted to share my favorite recent record purchases, whether the album was released this year or is forty years old.

5. The Grateful Dead’s Europe Live ’72, 1972

I’ve been listening to the Grateful Dead since I was literally in the womb. They’re one of the most iconic bands of the 1960’s counterculture movement, being a defining symbol for that era of the U.S. This live album epitomizes their epic, sprawling live concerts, full of improvisational jam sessions that could last anywhere from fifteen to forty-five minutes. Every single song is one that defined their career and the movement they were apart of. This concert occurred at the peak of their popularity (at least in their early years) and is highly representative of what their concerts meant to their fans of this era. When my boyfriend found this three-LP original pressing of the Europe Live ’72 album at our favorite shop in Sloan, NY, it was impossible to pass up this album that defined a period of my life and a period of U.S. music as well as an original pressing with all three discs. How could we let that go?

4. The Black Keys’ Let’s Rock!, 2019

Although this is a newer release, coming out in the summer of 2019, the Black Keys have defined alternative and folk-rock music for years and are one of the most recognizable names of 2010’s indie scene. This album is a perfect example of the sound they’ve executed flawlessly for the past ten years—soulful, electrifying, and catchy folk/alt-rock. I obtained a limited edition pressing of the album with a holographic foil cover, with about 7,500 of them released worldwide. This record was yet again found at our most trustworthy and reliable independent shop and was too cool to pass up.

3. Harry Styles, 2016

Harry Styles had always stood out to me as the most talented and passionate member of the uber-successful boyband One Direction. When he released his solo debut in 2016, I was nothing short of floored. Harry Styles’s self-titled release encapsulates the pure essence of grimy, gritty, and raw seventies soul and classic rock. Reminiscent of acts such as Led Zeppelin, Simon and Garfunkel, David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, and other seventies rock powerhouses, Harry Styles self-titled is nothing short of magnificent. I had been waiting (for some reason) for years to find a copy on vinyl, and for our anniversary, my boyfriend surprised me with one. I’ve wanted to hear Styles’ impressive debut on vinyl since it was first released, and four years later this dream finally came true!

2. Rina Sawayama’s Sawayama, 2020

This album was released in the summer of 2020 to amazing critical reviews. One of our close friends introduced us to it, and we were blown away. The unique, powerful blend of heavy metal, electronic, and pop music is enchanting. Every song on the album is exceptional, blending elements from each distinct genre. Sawayama’s powerful and enigmatic voice enthralls you straight through to the end. The album was released on vinyl as either a clear disc or a dirty gold disc. I purchased this album in the gold version for my boyfriend for his birthday, and it has been a treat not just for him, but for me and our friend alike.

1. Gorillaz’ Song Machine Season 1, 2020

The Gorillaz are one of my ultimate all-time favorite bands. Started by musician Damon Albarn and cartoonist Jamie Hewlett in 2001, Gorillaz is a classic band that just keeps getting better. This album was released at the end of October 2020, making it the most recent release in my lineup. This album has many features since a focus on collaboration has always been a big part of their sound. One of the band’s main focuses has always been featuring sounds from around the world as well as artists and sounds of their home countries. This album stands out as one of the most diverse collaboration projects of the band’s career. This album goes from the classic Gorillaz sound to modern rap, to jazz, soul, funk, salsa, J-pop, and more. I could go on forever about why I love this album, but getting the deluxe edition on the day of its release, including a CD and twelve posters, was a dream come true, and I suggest everyone take a listen to this masterpiece.

 

Rachel Close is a senior communications major with a minor in writing at Pitt-Bradford. Rachel has passions for music and vinyl record collecting, and she likes to incorporate those passions into her writing as often as possible. Rachel hopes to be able to write about music as part of her future career. She also writes poems, one of which will be featured in the upcoming issue of Baily’s Beads.

by Rachel Close

Travis Scott, the uber-popular rapper who has risen higher and higher to fame every time he opens his mouth, just released a song with the electro-pop legend M.I.A. This track is filled with classic Travis Scott flair, dreamy pop-psychedelic beats, smooth flowing catchy raps, and even an appearance from frequent collaborator Young Thug. However, for some reason, despite the fact that it was a near-perfect Travis song, fans were outraged at the appearance of pop legend M.I.A.

The fans of Travis Scott all come from a generation that worships mumble rap and SoundCloud rappers. Nothing is wrong with this on a surface level, at least not to me, a music fan who can find enjoyment in those genres. But what is wrong is to disrespect a legendary musician because her work doesn’t fit into the Gen Z formula of internet rap music.

The majority of the crowd that comes for Travis Scott’s music is too young to know or appreciate the artistry of M.I.A. and the ground that she broke throughout her career. She was one of the first artists to kickstart her career on the internet, something that Travis Scott also did. That fact alone suggests how she was not only an inspiration to his work but also to how he rose to relevancy.

The disrespect towards M.I.A.’s expansive body of work when young Travis Scott fans overlook it is overwhelming. M.I.A.’s legendary career spans nearly twenty years, touching on topics like political violence, poverty, revolution, gender, sexual stereotypes, and war—all topics that she experienced firsthand growing up in war-torn Sri Lanka. Not only has her music given a voice to those who didn’t have one in popular culture, she’s been nominated for an Academy Award, Grammy, Brit Award, and Mercury Prize among others for her body of work. The influence that she has had upon the culture and the electro-pop-rap world is immeasurable, and the young people with something to say about her ten-second verse in a Travis Scott song obviously do not understand that.

Along with the disrespect towards M.I.A. herself comes disrespect for Travis’s vision for his work. Since the beginning of his career, he has cited M.I.A. as one of his top influences. Vocally disliking her verse completely contradicts being a fan of Travis in the first place, because the influence she has had on the pure sound of his music is obvious if you listen to both. Scott even has a song on his first mixtape Owl Pharaoh titled “MIA.”

All the comments that kids leave reduce M.I.A. to someone who is “just a feature on a Travis Scott song,” which is completely ridiculously rude and disrespectful to her legendary career. One comment reads, “how much did M.I.A. pay him to be on his song?” which is funny because, according to Travis, he invited her after he participated in her new album. In the same interview, Travis says she’s one of his “biggest inspirations” and “favorite humans.”

If these young kids who worship Travis want to understand his work better, understand how his ideas and sounds are shaped, and respect him as an artist, they would take the time to research his inspirations. Maybe then they’d realize how much M.I.A. brings to this track, and how just because something sounds “different” doesn’t mean that it ruins a song. Most of the time, when it’s someone as legendary as M.I.A., it makes the track better.

 

Rachel Close is a senior communications major with a minor in writing at Pitt-Bradford. Rachel has passions for music and vinyl record collecting, and she likes to incorporate those passions into her writing as often as possible. Rachel hopes to be able to write about music as part of her future career. She also writes poems, one of which will be featured in the upcoming issue of Baily’s Beads.

 

by Hannah Ruttan

5. Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, 2004

Three Cheers is an amazing album, but it is not a huge departure from MCR’s first record. The band was still in the process of finding their sound here, though they did include many amazing songs. “I’m Not Okay (I Promise)” is a staple in the emo and alternative scenes, being one of the songs that pushed the culture into the mainstream. “You Know What They Do to Guys Like Us in Prison” features Bert McCracken, lead singer of emo rock band The Used, who provides howling and pained backing vocals, taking the role of the cellmate of Gerard Way, the lead singer. I don’t come back to this album as much as I should, as it doesn’t hold a huge personal meaning for me, though I still love it. It’s a staple in multiple rock and alternative scenes, and it was my first introduction to the band in the early 2000s. My emotional attachment is just significantly lower here.

4. I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love, 2002

This is my favorite album from the band. Raw and gritty, it explores the ideas of vampires and mental illness, as well as featuring the song that launched the band, “Skylines and Turnstiles.” That emotional track discusses lead singer Gerard’s feelings about 9/11 after watching the towers fall from his office in New York City. “Headfirst for Halos” is about the thought of suicide and the band’s attempt at convincing the narrator of the song not to follow through on it. The repeating mantra at the end of the song had enough impact on me to have it tattooed on my arm forever: “think happy thoughts.” My favorite song, “Drowning Lessons,” makes me tear up by the end, and for years it has been the song I blare when I am angry or upset. Most of the songs on this album are better for headbanging and driving than prompting huge emotional connections, which is why I might like it so much.

3. The Black Parade, 2006

Perhaps the band’s most well-known record, The Black Parade, is where they hit their mainstream peak following the release of their popular single “Welcome to the Black Parade.” People have dared to call the song our generation’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and I am inclined to agree. The album tells the story of The Patient, who has cancer and is going to join the Black Parade once he passes. The band does not use too many features across their works, but Liza Minnelli features in the song “Mama,” playing The Patient’s mother. I come back to this record often, finding more layers and more depth each time. Some of the tracks have become a staple in my life, I’ve often joked about tattooing all of the lyrics of “Welcome to the Black Parade” on my body. “Famous Last Words” has the most meaning to me out of any of the tracks, being the one that helped me out of my longest depressive episodes. The album’s story may not have the greatest emotional effect on me, but the thought and power behind the songs does.

2. Conventional Weapons, 2012-2013

Though not considered an album, rather a compilation of unreleased songs, Conventional Weapons was intended to be MCR’s fourth and final album before being scrapped. Instead, after the release of Danger Days, the band decided to release five two-song EPs. With these selections came “The World is Ugly,” a song the band said would only release if they were going to break up; “Boy Division,” a song reminiscent of punk music from the ’90s; and “Burn Bright,” a tune that showcases the musical ability of every member in the band, and that was the final song released by the band until their greatest hits album in 2014. Also the last release before their break-up, these songs hold a lot of personal meaning for me. I started looking into my mental health in 2012 and 2013, and these songs helped me push through that time. “Ambulance” holds the most meaning for me. Though sad songs like “The World is Ugly” and “The Light Behind Your Eyes” gave me something to cry to, “Ambulance” provided a bright light for me.

1. Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, 2010

The band’s second “true” concept album, following the story of the titular Killjoys, a rebel group facing off against the evil Better Living Industries, this album holds a higher ranking because of the sentimental value I have for it, its clean production, and its impressive story. Spoken interludes are strewn throughout the album, helping to tell the story of the band’s characters and their friends, starting with “Look Alive, Sunshine” and ending with “Goodnite, Dr. Death,” both of which are narrated by Steve Montano of Mindless Self Indulgence. This record came at a very strange time in my life. Many of my friends were leaving my small Catholic school, I was starting to learn more about my family, and I was coping with the bullying I had endured. This album reminded me of the things that were important and the things that made me feel sane and okay. “The Kids from Yesterday” still makes me tear up, as it reminds me of the friendships I once had, the friendships I still have, and the amazing memories I’ve made over the years. “Summertime,” though a love song, reminds me of my best friend, who I only see in the summers when we are out of school. I made numerous friends in the band’s fandom during this era, and, even if I do not talk to them anymore, I am grateful for the interactions I had and the bonds we shared. This album holds the most meaning to me, and it makes me feel at home.

 

Hannah Ruttan is a senior writing major and music minor from Bradford. She was the editor of the 2021 issue of Baily’s Beads. Hannah began writing at age six and hasn’t stopped since, working on a young adult novel outside of classes and work. Some of her hobbies include collecting records and K-pop albums as well as spending too much time on her Nintendo Switch.

by Hannah Ruttan

If you find yourself in a crowd full of jumping and screaming ginormous bearded men, you are likely at a metal concert. I have been surrounded by sweaty twenty-and thirty-year-old men too many times to count, singing along to the same songs and bouncing around to the same music. Like some metal heads, I once thought that what I was listening to was superior to everything else.

I changed my tune during COVID quarantine after popular music reviewer Anthony Fantano tweeted a photo of himself listening to a song called “Dalla Dalla.” This track was my greatest turning point in accepting and listening to new music. Until then, I had been invested in metal and its subgenres and other genres that reminded me of it, like emo rap.

In the past, I had struggled immensely to listen to other music and accept other tastes beyond what I ordinarily prefer. Music has always been one of my biggest passions, yet I fell into the trap of thinking that other music wasn’t as passionate or didn’t have as much meaning. “Dalla Dalla” represented a big shift in my musical taste, and it represented a big shift in how I felt about music. I realized that there was a lot of good music I was missing out on because of my inability to expand my taste.

The largest subset of Korean music is K-pop. In other Eastern countries, you may find other genres that are popular, but K-pop seems to be the reigning champion. In recent years, K-pop has taken other parts of the world by storm, mainly due to the popularity of boy group BTS and girl group Blackpink.

One thing that drew me to “Dalla Dalla” and the girl group behind it, Itzy, was, ironically, its meaning. The song is about loving yourself, and it features creative choreography and lyrics that have a lot of passion. Rock music, in comparison, often discusses heavy and important topics, but rarely are rock songs as positive as the bright, bubbly themes you hear in K-pop.

Outside of the anthemic positive songs, you can find plenty of songs based on love and summer and pieces that sound like ballads or EDM music. Unlike what I thought for years, many songs in different genres had some sort of meaning, even if those meanings were something Younger Me would have disregarded.

Another thing that caught me by surprise as I dove deeper into the K-pop world was how different it was from Western music. Even if rock or EDM are not the biggest genres right now, they always hold a place on the chart. The way solo artists and groups form and promote are completely different from K-pop. In K-pop, entertainment agencies recruit performers and train them until they are ready to be placed into a group and make a debut. This is incredibly weird to most Westerners, including me at first, as we’re used to multiple bands forming every day to try to become the next big thing. A lot of my feelings were based in my own biases toward my genres and my elitist feelings when being recommended songs outside of my norm.

When I discovered K-pop, instead of finding myself surrounded by heavily tattooed people in all-black clothing, I found myself surrounded by people of all genders making compilation videos and dance covers and building an entire huge community around one genre. I can still find groups that will allow me to be surrounded by metalheads again, like J-rock groups BAND-MAID and One Ok Rock, or the rock influenced K-pop group Dreamcatcher. Finding groups that were influenced by rock and metal gave me more to love about this genre I had just discovered.

Discovering this genre broke me out of my shell completely, showing me a whole different side of music I was completely unaware of. It showed me how narrow-minded I had been about a topic I held close to my heart, and how I still have room to grow as a person trying to learn about other cultures.

 

Hannah Ruttan is a senior writing major and music minor from Bradford. She was the editor of the 2021 issue of Baily’s Beads. Hannah began writing at age six and hasn’t stopped since, working on a young adult novel outside of classes and work. Some of her hobbies include collecting records and K-pop albums as well as spending too much time on her Nintendo Switch.