Early 1990s R&B

The early 1990s saw a burst of activity in disposable rhythm and blues (R&B) based pop. Existing alongside of more serious acts, these radio-friendly songs feature catchy electronic hooks, interchangable band members, and a shift of focus away from lyricism.  While much of it is justifiably forgotten, some songs from that era maintain their worth. (On a personal note, Dr. J's band director made his students practice marching to this song, and no other song,  for hours at a time. Its every note is permanently embossed onto Dr. J's cerebral cortex.) 

Texas Drinking Songs

Drinking songs are a worldwide cultural universal, celebrating humans' love for music and altered states of consciousness.  Texas's cultural heritage is reflected in its drinking songs. . David Allen Coe's hit and a clever-ish recording by Garth Brooks are also favorites. One of the saddest Texas drinking songs was recorded by George Jones, and one of the most fun by George Strait. But the most important Texas drinking song is the relatively recent "Deep in the Heart of Texas" . Don't forget to clap along! 

The Cure

The Cure was a 1980s rock band. During Dr. J's youth, they and their fans were often regarded as mopey, effeminite weirdos, far inferior to subsequent artists. But in retrospect, their combination of uptemop guitar-driven synth-pop, heartfelt and clever lyrics, and surprising moments of happiness  make those subsequent artists look...well, kind of bad. Let's hear some more!

Ratatat

Ratatat is an instrumental duo popular around 2007. Their largely wordless, guitar-driven electronica is distinguished by its focus on melody. Their shows combine live performance, prerecorded samples, and psychedelic-era lights. (One of these shows was among the best things Dr. J. saw during his postdoc.) And some of the intrinsic limitations of their "instrumental duo" format are overcome in their recent collaborations with Kid Cudi.

Disco

The short-lived, much-reviled phenomenon of discotheque music had its heyday in the mid 1970s. Popularly associated with homosexuality, Europe, European homosexuals, and John Travolta, disco's distinctive beat had a major influence on contemporary music, as well as modern DJ culture and electronic dance music. Disco's combination of silliness and catchiness  is perhaps best appreciated by first watching this video from the Bee Gees, followed by this video from the robotics company Boston Dynamics. 

Lil Jon

Atlanta rapper, producer, and family man Lil Jon's style is equal parts "catchiness" and "yelling". And he is very, very, very good at it. 

Loop pedals

The digital loop pedal links improvisational and sampled musical techniques. Users record, loop, and layer their instrument in real time.  Guitar, bass, cello, drumset+keyboards, and even solo human voice can give fully realized improvisational performances. It is to the 21st century what the pianoforte was to the 18th century: a technological advance allowing a single musician to create a complex piece on the fly. 

Bluegrass and Bill Monroe

In the 1930s, bluegrass brought grassroots (草根) American music to radio. Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys pioneered the style. Monroe's combination of mandolin, guitar, fiddle, banjo, bass, and multiple voices defined a bluegrass standard notable for its exceptions as well as its adherents. His commercial success fed the careers of band mates and others. Bluegrass's high, anguished harmonies and stories of travel and loss let it speak to migrants around the world.

Sun Ra

Sun Ra was one of the most American musicians. The fact that he would have vigorously disputed that characterization cements his case. Purportedly born "Herman Poole Blount", the child prodigy changed his name to that of an Egyptian god after a spiritual / psychotic trip to Saturn sometime between 1936 and 1952. Funny, serious, cartoonish, preposterous, and polemical, Sun Ra's career spanned jazz styles from big bands through free jazz to early electronica. 

Elvis

Elvis Presley was a central figure in 20th century American pop music. He was one of the main figures bringing "race music" to white America. His lip-synching to "Hound Dog" on the Ed Sullivan Show, an early television program, was a major boost to early "rock-and-roll". Presley's career provides an archetype for American pop artists, from sexy "Young Elvis", to a problematic Hollywood career, to cultural irrelevance in Las Vegas and a David Carradine-level death. However, his best work retains a power and emotional resonance that can be felt today. 

Introduction

Dr. J grew up in the American suburbs, and has been in several bad-to-mediocre bands. Dr. Li grew up in rural Anhui province, PRC, and has no background in American pop music. This blog provides that introduction.