Throwback Thursday: Backstreet Boys, “Millennium”

Throwback Thursday: Backstreet Boys, “Millennium”

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On this day in 1999, iconic 90’s boy band, the Backstreet Boys, released their third, and most successful, studio album, “Millennium,” which featured the singles “Larger than Life,” “Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely,” and “I Want It That Way.” “I Want It That Way” eventually became the Orlando based group’s biggest hit to date. On the day of the album’s release, the group appeared on MTV’s Total Request Live (RIP) in front of hundreds of screaming fans. “Millennium” became the best selling album of 1999, selling 9,445,732 albums. Of those albums, nearly 500,000 in the US were sold on the first day alone. Although the boy band craze of the 90’s died with the Beanie Baby, the Backstreet Boys are still making music and are set to release their ninth studio album this year. On top of that, the group recently began a four month Las Vegas residency at Planet Hollywood called “Backstreet Boys: Larger Than Life.”

Music Review: Father John Misty, “Pure Comedy”

Music Review: Father John Misty, “Pure Comedy”

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On April 7, singer-songwriter and former drummer for “Fleet Foxes,” Josh Tillman, who began singing as his Father John Misty persona in 2012, released his third studio album, “Pure Comedy,” a sprawling, 75-minute exploration of capitalism, pop culture, technology, humanity, politics, cynicism, revolution, and everything in between. “Pure Comedy” is both beautiful and tortuous, exemplified by the album’s mainstay, “Leaving LA,” a 13-minute, autobiographical narrative that, at times, is both haughty and humble. Today’s political climate (and climate change) provides the cynical Misty with a generous amount of source material, so much so, that much of the beautiful orchestral arrangement of the album gets swallowed by the lyrics, or simply feels out of place. That’s not to say Misty’s melodies fall flat entirely, but the most successful songs on the album are the few where the songwriter’s poeticism engages with the swells of his supporting orchestra, such as on the album’s self-titled opener, “Pure Comedy,” the utopian “Things It Would Have Been Helpful to Know Before the Revolution,” and the sarcastic “Ballad of the Dying Man.” Misty’s doomsday aesthetic, although challenging to the listener, resonates auspiciously in 2017. As Pitchfork Staff writer, Jazz Monroe wrote in his review of the album: “Josh Tillman…excels at tormenting those unlucky souls who enjoy his music.”

 

Throwback Thursday: Saying Goodbye to Music Icon Bob Marley

Throwback Thursday: Saying Goodbye to Music Icon Bob Marley

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On this day in 1981, Jamaican reggae musician, Bob Marley, died in a Miami hospital from complications caused by skin cancer. With hits like “One Love,” “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” and “Buffalo Soldier,” Marley popularized reggae music across the world, and is best known for his mellow sound and messages of peace and acceptance. To this day, Marley is still seen as an icon for anti-racism. In 1994, Marley was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in 2001, he was bestowed a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. His dying words, spoken to his son, Ziggy, were: “Money can’t buy life.”

Music Review: “Big Little Lies” Soundtrack

Music Review: “Big Little Lies” Soundtrack

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The smash-hit HBO limited series, “Big Little Lies,” directed by Jean-Marc Valleé and based on the novel of the same name by Liane Moriarty, came to a close on April 2. The seven-episode drama, starring a powerhouse ensemble (Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern, Shailene Woodley, Zoë Kravitz, Alexander Skarsgård, and Adam Scott) tells the story of three mothers of young children and their seemingly perfect lives that begin to unravel. Set in the picturesque, seaside town of Monterey, California, audiences were enthralled, not just from the idyllic scenery from which the story takes place, or even the colossal, looming question of “who murders who?” But rather, what stuck with the audience after the series ended was it’s masterfully curated soundtrack. Music has always been a tool that elevates film and television, but never before has it so skillfully been used to help define a setting, set the tone, and offer insight into the psyche of a story’s characters. From the series’ opening title sequence featuring Michael Kiwanuka’s epic “Cold Little Heart,” to six year-old Chloe’s savant taste in music (seriously, how does a first grader even know of Fleetwood Mac, or comprehend the lyrics to Leon Bridges’ “River?”) music serves as a central thread that unites the characters, provides context to their distinct points-of-view, and – to the tune of Ituana’s cover of “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” – ultimately, solidifies their bond.

 

 

Throwback Thursday: “May the fourth be with you!”

Throwback Thursday: “May the fourth be with you!”

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May the fourth be with you!” On this day in 2011, the first organized celebration of “Star Wars Day” was held in Toronto, Canada. This day was chosen to celebrate the Star Wars franchise, created by George Lucas, because of it’s pun with the Jedi phrase “May the force be with you.” Since the “unofficial” holiday’s founding in 2011, Star Wars fans across the galaxy use this day to show off their Jedi pride by dressing up as their favorite character, going to trivia events, and of course, re-watching all the Star Wars films (but maybe skipping Episode I. Sorry Jar Jar…) The music for the immediately recognizable Star Wars theme song was written by legendary composer John Williams. Find a droid, grab your lightsaber, and listen below.