Music criticism, news and views at Sketchy Details
The Library is a recurring feature here at Sketchy Details where I take an in-depth look at a song I think could fit in nicely with anyone’s music collection. Nickel Creek was an acoustic folk trio comprised of Chris Thile, Sara Watkins, and Sean Watkins. The group, sadly, disbanded in 2007 to pursue outside...
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One of the guests at MangaNEXT was Chipocrite (aka Paul Weinstein), a chip music artist. Chip music is an interesting and often misunderstood way of producing music. I avoid the term style for good reason: it’s not one. It’s more of a catchall term for a way of creating music. Hit and Run (CNB...
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How far down the rabbit hole have we gone if artists like Florence + The Machine are covering a song by Drake? A song that is adapted from a dance remix of a cover of a blues standard by Gil Scott-Heron? How about if the song has now spawned a new version where Gil...
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I have to give credit to the Grammys for one big thing: they tried this year. They really tried to make a fun and exciting ceremony for television. The telecast played like a concert, not an awards ceremony, and the approach mostly worked. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed with...
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There’s a reason Lil Wayne has been a big force in music the past few years. He’s a rapper who understands the need to balance entertainment with honesty. Sure, he’s released a few singles that are nothing more than sex metaphors, but even those wind up having a few clever lyrics that rise above...
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Almost a year ago, I wrote up a rather questionable song from Lil’ Kim slamming Nicki Minaj. Here’s what I said then: The problem is this: it’s not a well-done track. Her lyrics are predictable bites against someone else…It’s tired. There is nothing new lyrically in the song. Nicki Minaj has finally responded and...
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What happens when two very well-defined artists collaborate on a song? It depends on the artists. If they get along or the track plays to their strengths/lets them record separately and never see each other again, it can be great. If they get in each other’s way and fight over direction, it tends to...
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I mention it occasionally. When I’m not writing, I work as a music director/arranger for educational and community theater groups. Yesterday, the posts were lacking because I was working at a Shakespeare festival a local school puts on every year. This is the first time in a few years that I was able to...
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One of my favorite Grammy categories that doesn’t even make the telecast is Best Short Form Music Video. Isn’t that counter-intuitive? You put together a broadcast awards show and ignore the most visual category? But I digress. The award goes to the music video director, the producer, and the artist. The 54th Annual Grammy...
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When I interviewed Cynthia von Buhler back at NYCC, she mentioned something that really stuck with me. I asked her about the difference between art in Boston and art in NYC. Essentially, she said you just need to be a little weird to breakout in Boston where NYC is filled with weirdos. “Look around...
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