mcgriz Productions

The State of Music Today

2011-04-21T13:26:00.002-04:00

This is an excerpt from a longer essay that I thought would be suitable here, the rest of which is available at my other blog:

Music, as well, has hit a period of stagnancy. Though many argue that there are groups out there creating sounds that are both good and fresh, such music is not being heard by or broadcast to the mass market for the most part. Even if it was being put out there, there is a huge portion of the listening audience that prefers to hear the same songs and artists that have already been on the radio for many years. Of the list of the top 25 highest grossing tours of 2010, eleven of those acts have been performing for over twenty years (two more, the Dave Matthews Band and Tim McGraw, are also close to that mark, with the former having been formed in 1991 and the latter releasing his debut album in 1992). There are only four artists on the list who’ve debuted within the last three years:
Lady Gaga coming in at number 4 on the list, Taylor Swift at 15th, Justin Bieber at 19th, and Miley Cyrus at 22nd. That said, those four are hardly groundbreaking artists musically, with the majority of their material derived from rehashing previously successful pop and country music. Even Lady Gaga’s performance art antics are all homages to other performers of years gone by.

What it comes down to is that people know they’re going to like something that they’ve heard or seen before and already liked; by extension, the film, television, and music industries play to that concept. Unless someone has already been extremely successful with a prior project, in order to push something new, a person or group needs to come out and demonstrate that they can generate their own buzz and following. Otherwise, producers and studio executives feel far more comfortable pushing a product already known to have appeal. In the music community especially, as a result of the combination of that attitude trickling down from the top and the transparent desires of the listening community as a whole, many new artists will move in a direction that will lead toward success as opposed to innovation (a.k.a.”selling out”). It takes something truly extraordinary, bold, and fortuitous at this point to break through that pressure barrier.

To return to the matter at the heart of this, people have come to take for granted that if they want to hear something again, they just click on the song and listen. In a sense, it’s related to the old adage that “absence makes the heart grow fonder”. When something’s not always around, you grow to appreciate it more while it’s there. Conversely, the more commonplace and accessible something is, the more you begin to take it for granted. Music, at this point, has become abstracted into an ever-present background to life, and there’s no need to experience anything new if you don’t desire to do so: each person is solely in charge of the music that they take in. Services like Pandora and Last.fm have made great strides in exposing people to new music that they never would have encountered otherwise, yet they still pander to that concept that people like what they’ve already heard, with each service carefully engineered to match the next song with the listener’s sensibilities. In a very real way, the wealth of music that’s available at all times is hurting the creative ebb and flow of music as an art form by not challenging the public to experience new sounds, as well as by cultivating a lack of appreciation for the actual beauty and intricacy of what is being heard. After all, a note on its own is much like that picture of a sunset: it can be beautiful to a certain extent, but its real beauty and power is derived from the context in which one finds it.

February Shiver

2011-02-20T10:26:00.000-05:00

I, for one, am sick and tired of being surrounded by snow. The plus side to being stuck at home all the time, however, is lots of new material at JohnnyMac Music. In addition to the tracks online, there are a wealth of potential rap backing tracks being compiled and prepared for collaborative efforts, anyone interested can feel free to contact me about hearing some samples. At this point, I'm going back to writing, waiting for this stuff to melt already, and contemplating a move to Chile. Average annual precipitation of 14mm? Yes, please.

The Space

2011-02-08T10:11:00.030-05:00

Lots of exciting changes are going on at one of my favorite local CT venues, The Space. Aside from their snazzy new website, there's the brand new Outer Space venue, officially open this month. This second venue is right next door to the original Space, and boasts a beautiful sounding, intimate venue complete with a brand new bar. Their heralded open mic night has been transferred to the new venue as well, and now occurs every Wednesday night concurrent with a regular show at the other venue. It's nice to be able to move back and forth from one venue to the other and check out such a wide variety of talent in one night. So if you haven't been down to The Space in a while, you owe it to yourself to come check out the new set of twin venues.

Mr. Boston Debut/Blue Plate Christmas Party

2010-12-15T11:42:00.000-05:00

Come see the debut of Mr. Boston, featuring members of Braving Dawn, Jo(h)n Squared & the Codeman himself! They'll be playing the best songs of the past few decades with a lot of surprises!

There are a bunch of drink specials going on at the Blue Plate this year and we can guarantee that you will eat, drink and be merry as we rock the face off of Christmas!

Josh A. EP Release - December 10th at Billings Forge

2010-11-11T22:14:00.000-05:00

This December, local Hartford based artist Josh A. will be releasing his very first EP featuring some exciting new music. These brand new tracks bubble over with the creative energy and unique style that has become indicative of Josh's music, and are a treat for ears of all ages. Rich vocal harmonies drift hauntingly back and forth against an alluring backdrop of compelling synth soundscapes, though within each piece there is a clear central message of hope driving it forward. Preview the tracks now at http://josha.bandcamp.com/, then come out to hear them live and get your free copy on December 10th; just bring a flash drive or iPod with you and the EP is yours for free.

October 23rd and other stuff

2010-10-08T13:56:00.001-04:00

I'm happy to announce that the first official mcgriz Productions show will be taking place October 23rd at The Blue Plate in Plainville, CT. The show will be featuring a variety of talented performers, and the night will be capped off by a very special reunion show by The Logan Groovers in honor of Fairfield U's alumni weekend. More details to follow shortly once the lineup is finalized.

In other news, this band is extremely worth checking out. They're a uk band known as Foals and they're my latest musical obsession.

Another Quickie

2010-09-03T21:08:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since a blues band has really caught my ear, but Dudley Taft seriously made me sit up and take note. The guitar work is really stellar, and the vocals are delivered in a deep, scratchy voice that sounds like the vocal chords producing it were designed expressly for singing the blues. If you have 4 minutes available and any interest whatsoever in blues rock, listen to Long Way Down.

Quickie

2010-08-31T12:52:00.000-04:00

Things are still a bit crazy, but I just stumbled across this and thoroughly enjoy it. Well produced, interesting hip-hop out of Atlanta, GA courtesy of REHAB. The flow is fantastic, the beats and instrumentals are deeply engaging, and the vocal harmonies are pure sugar for the ear. Suggested Listening: Graffiti the World.

AFK, in a Good Way

2010-08-16T10:48:00.000-04:00

My apologies on being conspicuously absent for a few weeks, the "Weekly ReverbNation Sweep" might as well be termed Monthly instead at this point. However, it's been a productive absence, and there's a lot of wonderful new music happening.

Tomorrow night at Cafe Nine in New Haven will be a great show featuring Matt Thomas, Kyla Pitruzzello, and a new project known only as Them Moving Giants.
Saturday night at The Rock Cafe in Rocky Hill will be another performance by Kyla Pitruzzello, possibly featuring a few surprises along the way.
New music up at JohnnyMac Music, and also be sure to check out my collaboration with the fantastic FloMotive, featured on his page. Much more is in the works and soon to be seen, be sure to check back for some fresh collaborations and new beats.
There is an Event in the planning stages right now for sometime in mid-October, a rather large music festival of sorts with a possible pre-Halloween theme. If you'd like to get involved in some way, please e-mail me. We're also still booking bands as of now, but we'll be looking to get a lineup set by early September so that we can start promoting, so if you're interested in playing let me know as soon as possible. We have a location but we're still settling on a date; I'll post both as soon as it's all confirmed.

ReverbNation Sweep #2

2010-07-24T01:56:00.007-04:00

Cole Stacey
Suggested Track: "Walk to Midnight"

Upon first listening to "Walk to Midnight," I was struck by the range of expression that Cole Stacey achieves with his voice. He shifts effortlessly from a low, subtle half-whisper to a full-bodied tenor vibrating with emotion and back again over a backdrop of interlaced guitar, piano, and vocal harmony. It all serves to create a very visual musical experience, and in turn each song seems to tap directly into the listener's imagination. Relaxing, fascinating, and deep: this is just great music to listen to, plain and simple.

51/50s
Suggested Track: "Lies"

This music is downright Fun, the kind of sound that would pull me in off the street if I were walking by, and it's no accident. Each song is a wonderfully crafted, high-energy thrill ride propelled on a wave of soaring guitar, undulating bass, driving drums, and thick backing vocals that compels the listener to sing along, and dance while they're at it. The more I listen to these songs, the more I hope there's a US tour in store for these guys sometime in the near future.

CT MUSIC SPOTLIGHT:
Rod Washburn
Suggested Track: "Might Turn Around"

As many of those who know me are aware of, I am traditionally not a fan of country music. However, every now and then a particular artist will catch my ear and turn that opinion around for little while; Rod Washburn happens to be one of those artists. His voice is rich and passionate, and it meshes easily with beautiful guitar melodies and a variety of accompanying instruments. Harmonies come wafting up in just the right places, and the songs balance delicately between an overlying sense of down to earth simplicity and a substructure of finely crafted complexity.

Tales from the Studio

2010-07-21T20:49:00.006-04:00

mcgriz Productions is excited to be in the studio today with Kyla Pitruzzello working on a few tracks for her forthcoming debut CD. As long as we've got her here, we figured we'd learn a little more about this dynamic singer/songwriter.

mP: So Kyla, when did you first get started playing music?

KP: Well I played saxophone all through elementary school and middle school, but I started playing guitar at 15 or 16. I found a guitar in a closet, it was my mom's old guitar, but I wasn't really serious about it, I just kinda messed around with it here and there. I probably became addicted to playing guitar when I started living by myself. I needed to occupy my time in some way. Living alone made me realize I think about stuff way too much, playing music was like my therapy, so to speak.

mP: What would you say inspires you to write your songs?

KP: Life... I think there is inspiration in everything. A lot of times someone says something and it sparks a chain of random thoughts in my brain that just keeps going. Or I'll see a certain quote, maybe even read a fortune cookie, anything can do it. Sometimes it's just something that happened that day that I needed to vent about. I tend to write in a journal when I feel like I need to de-stress or gather the excessive thoughts that occupy my brain. But honestly most of the songs I write come spontaneously. I'll just be playing my guitar, some sort of rhythm, and I'll just be humming along and some sort of word or phrase will come out and from there, an idea for a song is born. My songs are usually birthed from an event, something that's going on in my life that I transpose into a more universal idea, so to speak. A lot of my songs are the way they are because that particular sound came out of my guitar at that point in my life, they just kind of come together. I feel like most of my songs happen by mistake, but then again I did write a song preaching that there are no mistakes.

mP: How about a particular example of how one of your songs was born.

KP: "What's My Name" actually came together out of a text message conversation that I had with a friend of mine. I had these 3 random verses that I wrote in my journal that went with this melody I was playing at the time, so I put them together, but the song made no sense. It had no shape, no purpose until, well, the Yankees were playing the Red Sox and my friend texted me a message that said something like, "I just want the Yanks to win," and I texted her back and said, "To be the winner you only need to be the one who did not lose, but you know the score doesn't know how to measure pain," and she replied back, "bla bla bla whatever." She also forgot my name one day at a bar and I had known her for several years, hence the name of the song. That's how that song was born, just kinda happened, all the pieces fell together so to speak. You just go with it, I guess.

mP: Top 5 most personally influential artists you can think of right now... annnd go.

KP: Dave Matthews, Ani DiFranco, Melissa Etheridge, Alanis Morissette, part of me wants to say Coldplay, part of me wants to say the Indigo Girls. Six. Well, throw Coldplay in. And then there's Jack Johnson. Can we just say seven?

mP: I've heard you have some pretty famous dance moves when you're playing. Any comments on that?

KP: I like to dance. I play guitar better when I dance, I think actually. I don't know, it's fun. I think my favorite guitar playing dancer is Dave Matthews: at a show I recall him saying, "You know the reason I dance is because I like to dance, not because I’m good at it,” or something like that. I remember the very first time I ever played in front of somebody, her first comment was, "You dance," and I actually got all self conscious about it for a while but people say they like it, and well, it's better than just standing there. The only down side of it I can think of is when I bang my guitar into the microphone. I'm working on trying to not do that. (laughs)

mP: What's your favorite venue that you've played at so far?

KP: The Space. I like the way the room sounds and it's very comfortable. It's a music venue: people are there to listen to you, not to drink beer or whatever, if you know what I mean? And it was the very first place I ever played. I guess it's got that whole sentimental thing with it. I like what that place represents, what it stands for.

mP: Is there a song that you particularly enjoy performing live?

KP: It seems like I enjoy playing "A Lie," probably because most people tend to say they like it best, but I personally like ‘Collide.” Yeah, probably "Collide" or "A Lie". I think it's just cause those are the ones I feel most comfortable playing. "No Mistakes" too, that was the very first song I ever played out. But I guess If I had to pick just one, I'd say "Collide." I wrote that song the very first day I got an amp.

mP: Before we get back to work, any other comments for your fans out there?

KP: I don't know, I guess hopefully someday I'll have a CD for you all. If I can get my butt in gear. My mom tells me I'm a procrastinator, maybe that's my problem. Honestly, I think the problem is that I’m a perfectionist. I think being a perfectionist makes it hard to be happy with what you're doing. I'm never satisfied. I think that makes me better but at the same time it kind of holds me back a little bit, because I don't know how to just let it go and be okay with it not being perfect.

mP: Well the CD is underway at least, so whenever it's deemed perfect enough it'll be available. In the meantime be sure to catch Kyla live this summer, dates and locations are listed below.

ReverbNation Sweep #1

2010-07-13T09:46:00.129-04:00

Flo Motive Beats

Suggested Track: "American Beauty"

Based out of Tappahannock, VA, Flo Motive Beats provides intoxicatingly intricate beats paired with some fantastic ambient backdrops. His style is unique to be sure, and his songs constantly shift and evolve from one section to the next. Just brilliant composition and enjoyable music overall. His remixes also deserve special note and are definitely worth a listen, it's very interesting to hear the way in which he infuses his own particular style into each track.

Axel Weiss

Suggested Tracks: "FlowRaw", "Precious Energy"

As I was sifting through the thousands upon thousands of artists on ReverbNation, this page caught my eye. Artist, painter, jazz guitarist: this could either be really cool or completely horrible. Gladly, this fell heavily into the cool side of the spectrum. Many other unfortunate forays into this genre of music seem at times to be nothing more than a series of notes randomly flung against the listener's eardrums to see what sticks. Weiss's music, on the other hand, feels like a living, breathing organism seeping through the speakers. Each piece has a deep sense of meaning and direction to it, and it's sensational to sit back and let it whirl around you and draw you in.

CT MUSIC SPOTLIGHT:

Political Animals

Suggested Track: "Wannabeez"

This dynamic rap trio out of Naugatuck, CT boasts an unbelievably rich and full sound. I was at least halfway through listening to Wannabeez before I realized that the whole track is just bass, drums, and vocals. They break hiphop down to its most basic and crucial elements, and the music suffers nothing for its simplicity. Instead, the sound comes across as refreshingly bold against the backdrop of a genre increasingly obsessed with autotune, recycled beats, and heavily compressed tracks often overlayered into insensibility. The best part? They sound just as good live, and they're consistently playing dates all over CT.

The 20 Most Influential Albums of My Life - Tino

2010-06-04T17:23:00.013-04:00

#1 Led Zeppelin II - Led Zeppelin
Key Track: Bring it on Home
This album choice needs little explaining. Led Zeppelin was my first CD, the first tracks I ever memorized on an instrument, and generally my favorite.

#2 In the Slot - Tower of Power
Key Tracks: Ebony Jam, In the Slot
Tower of Power picked up in Chicago with their full horn section and outrageously syncopated grooves. Rocco Prestia is one of my earliest memorable bass influences, and his work with Dave Garibaldi on drums is delicious.
#3 Jaco - Jaco Pastorius
Key Tracks: (Used to Be A) Cha Cha, Portrait of Tracy
So few bass players can match Jaco's beautiful, expressive nature and his incredible talent. He really brought the bass guitar to the front of the band and changed its role in music permanently.

#4 Songs in the Key of Life - Stevie Wonder
Key Tracks: Contusion, Have a Talk with God
Stevie Wonder's music is filled with serious emotion and passion, not to mention some astonishing skill on every instrument in the recordings, courtesy of Stevie himself. A masterful work with a song for every mood.
#5 Ratatat - Ratatat
Key Track: Seventeen Years
The first time I heard Seventeen Years I nearly shat my pants. This is another duo, making their thick, layered guitar riffs and catchy beats even more awesome.
#6 Gratitude - Earth Wind and Fire
Key Track: Sing a Song
EWF (also known as Elements of the Universe, or Elements) has always been one of the more well-known funk and R&B groups, and this particular album was #1 in the US. Sing a Song has one of the most danceable grooves I've ever heard, and the vocals of Maurice White and Philip Bailey compliment each other masterfully. Verdine White is also one of the most solid bass players around, not to mention funky as hell.
#7 Cross - Justice
Key Tracks: Stress, One Minute to Midnight
Before I went to college I had never really even understood what electronic music was. Thankfully I was dropped right into the heart of New York's music scene, which really woke me up to what an amazing genre this really is. The variations are literally endless, and the idea of a band is totally rethought. No exception, Justice is composed of two french guys who happen to make some of the heaviest electronic jams ever.
#8 Revelations - Audioslave
Key Track: Jewel of the Summertime
Audioslave is just so good. Tom Morello's compositional work and Chris Cornell's voice make this group something that cannot be missed. There are a very few albums that I can listen to over and over again, and this is definitely one.
#9 A Show of Hands - Victor Wooten
Key Tracks: Me and My Bass Guitar, Justice
This album is, in my opinion, Vic's most definitive work. Each piece shows off his dazzling technical skills as well as his talent for songwriting. If you're a bass player and you haven't checked out Victor Wooten, throw on a pair of Depends and listen to this bad boy.
#10 Dookie - Green Day
Key Tracks: Longview, Welcome to Paradise
There are not enough popular bands that showcase their bass player. Songs like the above key tracks do just that, and on a punk album no less. It reminds me of my earlier days playing punk with New York band Michael Jordan, in which thrashing was the all-important factor. Few genres of music offer up this kind of release, and punk more or less demands it.
#11 Make Yourself - Incubus
Key Track: Battlestar Scralatchtica
Incubus is definitely one of my all time favorite contemporary groups, and it was actually really difficult for me to choose an album out of their awesome discography. Make Yourself is chock full of alternative goodness, and Battlestar Scralatchtica has a bassline and hits that can't be beat.
#12 Thonk - Michael Manring
Key Track: My Three Moons
Michael Manring is a phenomenal fretless bass player with a bit of personal flair. In My Three Moons, he often calls up two audience members to hold two of his basses flat across their arms while he has another two on shoulder straps. He then proceeds to play all four basses at once. FOUR BASSES AT ONCE?!?!? My mind is still boggled.
#13 Time Out - The Dave Brubeck Quartet
Key Track: Blue Rondo a la Turk
I had read Johnny's list midway through writing mine only to discover he had the same album listed but for a different song. Blue Rondo shows Brubeck's versatility with time, changing tempos several times, and also exhibits his unique phrasing and jazz infused chord progressions.
#14 Hocus Pocus Live - Gary Hoey
Key Tracks: Blast, Hocus Pocus
This guy is a ludicrously nasty guitar player who loves to do covers, Christmas songs, and surf rock jams. A virtuoso to the hardcore extreme, His solos are loaded with aggressive scales, arpeggios, and wicked guitar harmonies. The best part of listening to Gary Hoey is that he tours with other similarly talented musicians, meaning his live show melts people's faces right off.
#15 Synkronized - Jamiroquai
Key Track: Black Capricorn Day
Jamiroquai has fantasic musicians and some of the best funk hooks ever. It's hard not to bob your head when listening to his works, and Synkronised stands out for its phenomenal songwriting.
#16 Untouchables - KoRn
Key Track: Here to Stay
Yep, I went there. This album came out my sophomore year in high school, and I listened to it religiously. Fieldy, the bass player, is a percussive master on bass guitar, not to mention his actual instrument is awesome. I doubt that I could listen as endlessly as in my youth, particularly because of the music's dark flavor, but it still has some amazing transitions and interesting riffs.
#17 A-sides – Soundgarden
Key Track: Burden in my Hand
I suppose it's slightly cliché to include a “best of” album for a top 20 choice, but for me this fits perfectly. It has all of my favorite Soundgarden songs showing off Chris Cornell's vocal athletics, not to mention some really solid music.
#18 Greenwich Mean – Wayne Krantz
Key Track: Infinity Split
Krantz is an extremely talented guitarist with the smoothest guitar licks. His music is essentially funky, syncopated jams which give him the chance to display his skill
#19 Purple Onion – Les Claypool's Flying Frog Brigade
Key Track: Cosmic Highway
Les Claypool is a particularly well-renowned bass player who writes some seriously strange and demented music, which I can't get enough of. There is literally nothing else that sounds like this.
#20 The Cat Empire – The Cat Empire
Key Tracks: Manifesto, Hello
This music makes me want to dance. No, need to dance. As my college roommate eloquently said, “It's music for people who like....music.”

The 20 Most Influential Albums of My Life - JohnnyMac

2010-05-29T10:22:00.004-04:00

1. ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead – Worlds Apart

Key Track: "Would You Smile Again for Me"

This album warrants repeated listening in a major way. I’ve always been a fan of albums that are written to work as one large piece of music, and this is one of the best in that category. Themes develop and recur throughout, and the way each song fits into the bigger arc of the record is masterful.

2. Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin IV/ZOSO
Key track: "When the Levee Breaks"

I heard the first side of this album on vinyl repeatedly in my childhood, and the first time I heard the opening to Black Dog at the age of 5 or so, it was a life changing experience. However, when I finally wound up listening to the rest of the album in earnest years later, the epic nature of When the Levee Breaks and its bone quivering backbeat captured me entirely.

3. Clutch – Pure Rock Fury
Key track: "Red Horse Rainbow"

Clutch took a bit of openmindedness to get into, but once I did I was hooked, largely due to the incredible and unique style of drummer Jean-Paul Gaster. Playing along to and learning the songs on this album opened doors to me as a drummer that I never knew existed at the time.

4. Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich – Compact Jazz
Key track: "Duet"

This was the first CD I got after I started playing drumset, and its influences on me are immesurable. Duet features Gene Krupa in one speaker and Buddy Rich in the other, and it’s absolutely incredible. These guys were the two main pioneers of modern drumming, and to hear them together is an experience like no other.

5. Dave Brubeck Quartet – Time Out
Key tracks: "Take Five"

This album taught me just about everything I ever needed to know about playing in odd time signatures, and totally enraptured me at first listen. Take Five has become somewhat of an iconic song over time, but with each listen it still brings me back to the first time I heard that silky smooth sax riff and those deliciously quirky drum fills.

6. The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Are You Experienced?

Key track: "Are You Experienced?"

This album was a staple of my childhood, and Mitch Mitchell’s style had a serious formative impact on my own drumming over the years. The track Are You Experienced? was to me a sonic landscape that I often let myself get lost in, the first such song I had come across at that point in my life.

7. Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon
Key Track: All

I cannot listen to any song off of this album without wanting to hear the whole thing start to finish. This is the apex of album craftsmanship for me, and truly exists in my mind more as one complete piece than as a collection of songs.

8. Mutemath – Mutemath
Key Track: "Break the Same"

I once went on a trip and this was the only album I had to listen to. I hadn’t really listened to it all that closely before and figured I’d make it through once or maybe twice before I switched to the radio. I wound up listening to it the entire time, and left the CD in my car for weeks afterward. Once again, I was drawn in by the complexity of the drumming, but my attention was held by the richness of the atmospheric melodies and backgrounds.

9. Muse – Absolution
Key Track: "Stockholm Syndrome"

The first time I heard this album, it floored me completely. It’s yet another record that fits together beautifully, where each song sounds good on its own but reaches a whole new level when heard in context.(the song Blackout is a good example). If you’ve never heard pre-Black Holes and Revelations Muse, this album, and Stockholm Syndrome in particular, is required listening.

10. Third Eye Blind – Third Eye Blind
Key Track: "God of Wine"

More often than not, when I listen to music I tend to focus automatically on the instrumentals. Half the time I couldn’t even tell you what the lyrics are, even if the song is a favorite of mine. This album, however, is one of the exceptions to that rule, and I find that I can’t help but sing along to every fantastically biting, acidic, woeful, spiteful, sarcastic line every time I listen to it.

11. Rage Against the Machine – Evil Empire
Key Track: "Roll Right"

There’s a lot of bands that I need to be in a certain mood to enjoy, but this is not one of them. For whatever reason, I’m always ready to listen to a little Rage. I love the raw quality of this album in particular, at times it tends to feel almost as if Zack is about to come barreling right through your speakers.

12. Queens of the Stone Age – Songs for the Deaf
Key Track: "Song for the Dead"

The key to this album for me is the intoxicating mixture of extremely heavy instrumentals with vocals that range from the punishingly brutal to the shockingly melodic. These songs are full of intriguing twists and turns and are often surprisingly catchy.

13. Radiohead – In Rainbows (2CD version)
Key Tracks: "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi", "Reckoner"

This is my desert island record, placed at number 13 for my birthdate. I’ve listened to this countless times, and I can see myself continuing to listen to it indefinitely. It’s filled with surprising, diverse, and downright beautiful melodies and rhythms, and is best heard while driving on the highway past brightly lit cities in the middle of a rainy night.

14. Jeff Buckley – Grace: Legacy Edition
Key Track: "Forget Her"

Much has been said and speculated about Jeff Buckley over the years, but for me the thing that puts this album head and shoulders above so many others is its incredible range. Few musical experiences in my life have been as stunning as hearing Corpus Christi Carol and Eternal Life back to back.

15. Pendulum – Hold Your Colour
Key Track: "Tarantula"

At times, I find myself in the mood for some good drum and bass club music. When I do, this is my go-to album The songs all vary stylistically yet flow seamlessly into each other, and the drums are fantastic throughout.

16. At the Drive-In – Relationship of Command
Key Tracks: "One-Armed Scissor, Quarantined"

While those two songs stand out to me as favorites, this album falls into the same category as Absolution. The music follows a definite arc throughout the record, and each song is made even better by the material around it. The trifecta of Arcarsenal, Pattern Against User, and One-Armed Scissor is also one of my two favorite beginnings to an album.

17. The Mars Volta – De-Loused in the Comatorium
Key Track: All

This album has my other favorite beginning, again with a trio of incredible songs. However, I usually can't stop there and wind up feeling compelled to listen to the entire record. The individual pieces flow masterfully into one another, and the dynamic range and usage of space on this album is amazing. Incidentally, this is also my current favorite album to drum along to.

18. The Roots – Do You Want More?!!!??!
Key Tracks: "Mellow My Man", "Essaywhuman?!!!??!"

I bought this on cassette and played it till the tape started to wear out, and wound up eventually buying it on CD as well. As is the case with Rage Against the Machine, rap over live instrumentals just does it for me.

19. Ben Folds – Fear of Pop: Vol. 1
Key Track: "Avery M. Powers Memorial Beltway"

This album is downright strange, and I love every minute of it. Ben Folds departed from his usual pop sensibilities for this record and delivered something truly extraordinary. This is the kind of record I love to sit back and lose myself in.

20. William Shatner – Has Been
Key Track: "It Hasn’t Happened Yet"

Yes, William Shatner. I’m actually a big fan of the way in which the record was created. Shatner wrote a series of reminiscences, gave the texts to Ben Folds, and he wrote musical backdrops to complement each one. The result is a testament to Folds's talent as a composer, and many of the songs are strangely compelling soundscapes.

The 20 Most Influential Albums of My Life - Jon

2010-05-28T14:47:00.007-04:00

In no particular order...

1. "Yourself or Someone Like You" - Matchbox Twenty
Essential track - "Hang"
You know all the hits, but the heart of this record lies in the last track, a ballad that could be a throwaway track, if not for the haunting lyrics. Fun fact: First CD I ever owned.

2. "Full House" - The J. Geils Band
Essential track - "Musta Got Lost"
Before its "Love Stinks" glory days, The J. Geils Band was a bluesy powerhouse that could blow the tops off of arenas. I listened to this over and over again on my dad's turntable.

3. "Pulse" - Pink Floyd
Essential track - "Shine On You Crazy Diamond"
The best live record I've ever heard, especially without one of Floyd's founding members - Roger Waters. This two-disc masterpiece includes a spot-on run-through of Dark Side of the Moon...all of it. Live. Suck on it Roger.

4. "Making Movies" - Dire Straits
Essential track - "Tunnel of Love"
Say what you want, but this is magnificent ballad writing. Screw "Money For Nothing."

5. "Room For Squares" - John Mayer
Essential track - "No Such Thing"
I still remember when I first heard "No Such Thing." VH1 at 2:30 a.m. Bought the record the next day.

6. "Australia" - Howie Day
Essential tracks - "Disco" & "Sorry, So Sorry"
Although Howie's looping is what garnered him attention, his first major studio release is an absolute triumph of melodramatic songwriting.

7. "Beneath These Fireworks" - Matt Nathanson
Essential track - "I Saw" & "Angel"
"It's amazing, with a look in your eyes like you could save me, but you won't even try."

8. "Bringing Down the Horse" - The Wallflowers
Essential track - "Sixth Avenue Heartache"
Jakob Dylan is better than his dad. There...I said it. Whew.

9. "Out of the Vein" - Third Eye Blind
Essential track - "Faster" & "Blinded"
An ex-girlfriend gave me a copy of this record after I claimed that there's no way Third Eye Blind did anything worth a damn after the disaster that was "Never Let You Go." Boy, was I wrong. This CD defines horny summers.

10. "Dizzy Up the Girl" - Goo Goo Dolls
Essential track - "Black Balloon"
Come on - this is pure radio gold.

11. "Welcome Interstate Managers" - Fountains of Wayne
Essential tracks - "Mexican Wine" & "Bright Future in Sales"
No other record combines my love of pop-rock with my hatred of blue-collar more.

12. "There is Nothing Left to Lose" - Foo Fighters
Essential track - "Learn to Fly"
I'm glad Nirvana ended as soon as it did so that we can all enjoy the spoils of more than a decade of Dave Grohl's unstoppable, unconditional hard rockin'.

13. "O" - Damien Rice
Essential track - "Volcano"
The first notes of "Delicate" to the last notes of Lisa Hannigan's "Silent Night" are totally unforgettable. Not a weak link in this folk troubadour's armor.

14. "The Last Waltz OST" - The Band
Essential track - All of 'em.
It's The Band. No explanation necessary.

15. "Closer" - Better Than Ezra
Essential tracks - "Closer" & "A Lifetime"
Much like Fountains of Wayne, Better Than Ezra makes unabashed pop rock. I first heard the song "Closer" in Amanda Leas' car in Southington, CT during my high school years. Totally mind-blowing.

16. "One Last Century" - The Damnwells
Essential track - "WWXII"
Easily the best totally, no-strings attached free record I've ever heard. Alex Dezen and his revolving group of studio geniuses crafted a gem with this one.

17. "Sugar" - Tonic
Essential track - "You Wanted More"
"You Wanted More" is the most underrated single of the 90's. Oh yeah, and one of the best videos as well.

18. "Absolution" - Muse
Essential track - "Sing For Absolution"
Gigantic, gorgeous stadium rock. Matt Bellamy can play the shit out of a guitar and sing like no one else.

19. "Purple Rain" - Prince
Essential track - All of 'em.
One of the most perfect records ever. Best ballad ever and best song about a girl masturbating...all in one!

20. "Monsters on Maple Street" - The Smyrk
Essential tracks - "Sweeter Cyanide" & "Monsters on Maple Street"
The best band you've never heard of. Proof that Connecticut can produce amazing musicianship...sometimes.

The 20 Most Influential Albums in My Life - Teig

2010-05-26T14:25:00.033-04:00

1. Matthew Good Band - Beautiful Midnight

Key Track: All

This album is front to back alternative rock masterpiece. From the intricate melodies to the lyrics (that have never been bettered), this is a lost classic.

2. The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds

Key Track: "Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder)"

Before Pet Sounds, there wasn't anything like this in music, save Beethoven and Mozart. After it, there wouldn't be anything else to compare again. This invented modern pop.

3. The Replacements - Let It Be

Key Tracks: ALL

This band showed me that music was fun, and loose, and full of attitude and passion, and that even if it doesn't sound perfect, it can Be perfect.

4. Nick Drake - Pink Moon

Key Track: "Pink Moon"

This album is desolate, but it illustrates the strength in exposing vulnerability, and the power of the soul. Just a man and a guitar for a half hour of perfection.

5. My Bloody Valentine - Loveless

Key Track: "To Here Knows When"

This is a rare album in that absolutely nothing has come close to touching the level of chaos and beauty contained within. A truly claustrophobic experience; grab a pair of headphones and close your eyes. Makes "Dark Side of the Moon" look like "Oops I Did It Again".

6. MC5 - Kick Out The Jams

Key Track: "Rocket Reducer No. 62"

This is revolution. Four white guys with afros, affiliated with the Black Panthers, screaming about "rock and roll, dope, and fucking in the streets". This is the most rebellious rock music ever made.

7. Crowded House - Woodface

Key Track: "Fall At Your Feet"

This band was supposed to be the next Beatles. But they came from Australia, and the US largely ignored them. Forget about "Don't Dream, It's Over" - this is their masterpiece.

8. Big Star - #1 Record

Key Track: "Thirteen"

This is the band that made me want to pick up a guitar. Not to be a rock star... but to do something timeless.

9. Bright Eyes - Lifted, etc.

Key Track: "Method Acting"

This album showed that you don't need a major label or money to make a large symphony of sound. You just needed a few creative friends and the piss and vinegar.

10. Neil Young - After The Gold Rush

Key Track: "Southern Man"

People claim Hendrix is the greatest guitar player ever. I tend to disagree. Something about a nearly destroyed Les Paul, an amp on the verge of explosion, old rusty strings, and Neil's voicings send me into guitar heaven.

11. Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain

Key Track: "Gold Soundz"

This band played incredibly melodic music with almost nonsensical lyrics... and that was the point. You follow the muse where it takes you, and have fun with it. Pavement was great at that, and we're a better world to have them back.

12. Broken Social Scene - You Forgot It In People

Key Track: "Almost Crimes"

This is ten people, playing completely different parts, yet finding a harmonious and joyous sound together. This album is front-to-back thrilling and the entire argument for music's evolution and future.

13. U2 - The Unforgettable Fire

Key Track: "A Sort of Homecoming"

If there's a heaven, then The Edge will provide the glorious soundtrack.

14. David Gray - White Ladder

Key Track: "Please Forgive Me"

Recorded entirely on his own with a drum machine, some acoustic guitars and a sampler. Without a record deal, he made this album for his own pleasure. Luckily, we all got to hear it.

15. Deftones - White Pony

Key Track: "Feiticeira"

This album proves that hard rock/metal does not need to follow any formula whatsoever. This is the ONLY metal album I will listen to. The guitars play more like a string section than riffage, and Chino Moreno's voice is still the most enigmatic sound in rock and roll.

16. DJ Shadow - ...Endtroducing

Key Track: "Midnight in a Perfect World"

This album revealed to me, like a puzzle, the patchwork nature of music. You can identify all the parts that come together in this sampled masterpiece, but alone they mean almost nothing. Shadow is a genius if only for this album. An album that will one day be compared to classical symphonies.

17. Fleetwood Mac - Rumors

Key Track: "Dreams"

An unabashedly pop band, they could write songs that you don't even know you know by heart. Take "Dreams" - the song is pure magic and is entirely comprised of two notes.

18. Jimmy Eat World - Clarity

Key Track: "For Me, This is Heaven"

This band showed that guitar rock can have a heart and touch yours as well. The intertwined guitar parts on this album are truly moving.

19. Wilco - Summerteeth

Key Track: "She's a Jar"

Jeff Tweedy shows us that sometimes its okay to embrace the darkest thoughts of the human soul and to bring them to the surface, so long as its in the interests of music. When Jeff sang about how "she begged me not to hit her", we all too sharp notice. And then examined ourselves.

20. Burial - Untrue

Key Tracks: ALL

This album is at the bottom because its the least known and newest record. That said, this album is amongst the most influential on my own music. This is the sound of walking through a city at 3am in the rain, looking down dark alleyways and jaywalking through abandoned streets. This is not easy listening, but its breathtaking.

And awaaaay we go

2010-05-25T10:46:00.002-04:00

Today marks the beginning of something new and exciting, the official launch of mcgriz Productions! The site will feature samples of music from the artists we're working with and information about upcoming events and performances. For some information about what exactly we do, check out the What is mcgriz? tab.

We'll also be featuring posts and discussions about music and other topics near and dear to our hearts led by our talented staff writers Teig and Jon.

If you're interested in recording or if you want more information about us, please feel free to contact us (mcgriz@mcgrizproductions.com) or e-mail any of our members.