Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Eli (class of 2024) and features tracks by the indie folk/rock band Mt. Joy.
Mt. Joy
Indie rock band Mt. Joy is both an international sensation and an underrated group. If you are a fan of alternative, indie, or rock music, give the group a listen. Here are some of their greatest hits.
Editor’s note:Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.
As a girl whose father crafted her music taste, you would think my favorites would be The Beatles or The Eagles, Jimi Hendrix, or even Led Zeppelin. Instead, my father decided to raise a young girl who only listened to melodramatic psychedelic rock music like Janis Joplin.
Sitting in the back of my dad’s car, he slipped his Pearl CD into the player and told me, “This is what good music is, so, listen closely.”
The raspy and powerful voice of Janis shook my world, and I couldn’t get enough. We listened to the entire album and I knew Janis was the perfect artist for me. I even started dressing like her. I had just gotten glasses and was admittedly embarrassed, but once I saw the funky big frames Janis had, I got myself a pair and didn’t feel as worried about how I looked.
The last song my dad showed me was “Mercedez Benz.” The song was a stark difference from everything else on the album-it seemed more casual, and it was a cappella; every other song had a backing band.
After the song was over, my dad told me the horrid news: Janis died of a heroin overdose three days after this first and only recording of “Mercedez Benz.” Three months after her death, her album Pearl was released, her second solo album.
Despite the unfinished nature of the album, it does not even begin to sound that way. Her confidence and remarkable songwriting skills take her far in the album.
The opening of the album “Move Over” is a funky welcome to the album but fits the band (the Full Tilt Boogie Band) and Janis well. The song may be about a breakup but it’s also a song of female empowerment, she’s taking back the reins of her own romantic life.
One of my other favorites on this album is “Cry Baby.” It’s dramatic and passionate and just shows off her voice so well. The song is loud and head-banging at times, but it’s also sorrowful. That’s the power of Janis, she may be the queen of rock, but she’s also the queen of the blues.
Pearl and Janis Joplin’s Greatest Hits are both available as CDs in Parsons Music Library. I highly recommend picking up both as her Greatest Hits also includes music from her first two albums with Big Brother & The Holding Company.
Editor’s note:Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.
When analyzing each of the Beatles independently, their lives, and their careers, I often always associate each of the members with each other. I find comfort in coming back to their time as the Beatles. I rarely step out of the Beatles discography and engage with the solo art of each of the four. If you are an avid music listener, this is where you can place your condemnation upon me. Because, I must admit, I have missed out on a lot of music by these four. All four Beatles had taken solo careers and were highly successful. Although I knew this to be true, I still could not bring myself to actually listen. I have no doubt heard some of the famous songs written by one of the four, but never chose to immerse myself in their entire discography.
It was only very recently that I had heard a song by Paul McCartney in his solo career that I had never heard that made me want to scour the internet and find as much as I could about these four men and the masterpieces they put together outside of their time with the Beatles. Stylistically, I assumed a lot of their music would end up being similar to the songs they released while together. Going back to my original thought, that song was “Live and Let Die” by Paul and his band Wings, made to be the theme in the James Bond film of the same name. I had heard the song at 5:00 am over spring break on the radio, waiting in the car for my Amtrak to arrive and take me back to the University of Richmond. And afterward, instead of playing the next song, there was a bit of a discussion by the radio DJ about the song. Usually, I am not a fan of these, which is why I typically just connect my Spotify account and play accordingly, but, I am glad I listened. In it, the DJ said that McCartney needed only 15 minutes to come up with the main structure of the song. That absolutely blew me away. If McCartney can create one of the most iconic movie songs in the history of cinematic production in just fifteen minutes, then I could only imagine how many other songs he had the potential to release.
McCartney was fun and I had my short fix on his music with Wings, but I really wanted to then see the works of George Harrison, whose music constantly became underappreciated and one-upped by Paul and John during their tenure with the Beatles. I knew he must have had a lot of pent up music that he wanted to have released with the Beatles that was passed up on. This music surely had to be released during his solo career.
And, if I am being completely honest, although I believed this, I never actually listened to any of his albums. The only non-Beatles engagement I had with him was “Got My Mind Set On You” from his album Cloud Nine, and the songs that were released by The Traveling Wilburys. The Traveling Wilburys are a fascinating story, and probably worthy to have their own post another day. So, I decided randomly that I would pick an album that was earlier in his solo career. The winner was All Things Must Pass, George’s first album after the breakup of the Beatles.
All Things Must Pass, released in 1970, was unapologetically George. As mentioned earlier, a lot of George’s music was not really put into Beatles works and the other members were not 100% sold on his abilities as a writer. His role was ultimately to play the guitar and act as backup vocals. Years of beautiful work were ultimately kept to himself, as he was not going to release these songs alone while in the studio with the Beatles. I for one actually like George’s songs the most. And so, his style and his writing were way more pleasing to my ears than the other songs of the quartet.
The album is a long one, so I will recommend to be ready. It has a run time of 106 minutes long (1 hour and 46 minutes), and features six sides that were later transformed into two discs. One of the more interesting artists that joined forces with George on the album was Eric Clapton. The relationship between the two has generated some extremely powerful and good music. One of my favorite Beatles songs, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” features Eric Clapton’s guitar prominently, creating an elegant sound that creates a weeping noise.
All in all, I do not want to spoil much of the beauty that comes through in this album, and I would advise having a listen. If you want a physical CD copy, come to the Parsons Music Library on the third floor of the Modlin Center (second floor of Booker Hall) and check it out today.
George Harrison photographed at Friar Park, 1970 – poster insert for original release of All Things Must Pass
Editor’s note:Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.
Parsons Music Library has the album The Black Parade available for anyone to come listen to it. It has my top favorite songs which are “I Don’t Love You” and “Famous Last Words.” If you are looking to enter the Punk/Rock world, MCR is the place to go.
Editor’s note:Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.
The early 2010s gave rise to a multitude of alternative-rock bands: Panic! at the Disco, Fall Out Boy, and Cage the Elephant, just to name a few. I, like most other middle/high schoolers at the time, was obsessed with these bands. Twenty One Pilots was no exception. The duo from Columbus, Ohio, exploded into the alternative-rock scene with their 2015 album, Blurryface. Their songs “Stressed Out”, “Tear in My Heart”, and “Ride” were all hits, with “Ride” making the top 5 on The US Billboard 100. The band went on to win the 2017 Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. Bandmates Tyler Joseph and Joshua Dun accepted the award without their pants, as a tribute to the way they were watching the Grammys a few years prior to their breakout.
In his speech, Joseph concluded that “anyone from anywhere can do anything,” which aligns with the overarching message they convey through their music and performances. The duo often sings of mental hardships and social constructs, but have always weaved a positive narrative into their music. Their two most recent albums, Trench (2018) and Scaled and Icy (2021), have intricate story lines that show how perseverance can outstand even the toughest circumstances. Each song plays a different role and serves as a world-building tool. “Dema” is a fictional land that is guarded by several bishops, each representing an inner demon or fear. Throughout several videos, Joesph and Dun befriend the weird creatures and strange rebels in order to escape. These are just a few examples of how Twenty One Pilots uses creative techniques to express raw and difficult emotions and experiences.
Although I didn’t understand how relatable these lyrics were at the time, my 8th grade-self fell in love with the intricate bass lines and vibrant drum solos. Since then, my fondness for this band has grown exponentially. While some have outgrown the duo, I have continued to follow their musical journey. Twenty One Pilots is currently on their third world tour and came to the DMV last month. I’ve seen three of their shows over the past six years and have yet to be disappointed. Their stage presence and interaction with the fan base is incredible and truly a unique experience.
If you’re ready to start an emotional roadshow, come check out Blurryface and other related CDs in Parsons Music Library!
Editor’s note:Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.
Throughout my years in college, I have tried to expand my musical taste by asking friends to introduce me to some of their favorite artists. Along the way, a good friend of mine introduced me to Amy Winehouse, one of the best things in my life. My favorite song of hers has to be “You Know I’m No Good” and “Back to Black.” Her Back to Black album was on repeat for a long time in 2021 as I began to discover more of her work.
If people are interested in discovering new artists and songs, I recommend asking a friend or coming to the Parsons Music Library where there is a large collection of CDs and LPs to look through.
Editor’s note:Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.
Elton John is one of the most successful and influential musicians of all time, known for his expressive outfits and electrifying performances. In 1973, John released Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, a 17-song album that would go on to sell over 30 million copies worldwide. The album, with lyrics written by Bernie Taupin and produced by Gus Dudgeon, is known as one of John’s best works. Some of the best songs on the album include “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” “Candle in the Wind,” and “Bennie and the Jets”.
Ever since I had to analyze Goodbye Yellow Brick Road for a school project, the title track is one of my favorite songs. On the surface, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” contains rich vocal harmonies, dreamy piano chords, and a crisp drum beat to create a contemplative atmosphere for John to reflect on his life of fame. As a child, I remember my parents singing along to “Bennie and the Jets” on the radio, another personal favorite song of mine from the album. The song has an instantly recognizable introduction and a spectacular piano solo that displays John’s genius piano and composition skills.
Though John struggled with addiction at the height of his fame, he managed to quit his substance abuse and create his own charity, the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Despite his personal struggles, Elton John is one of the most successful musicians of all time, selling over 300 million records and producing many timeless hits that will live on long after his career is over.
Editor’s note:Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.
Referred to as the most renowned unreleased album in pop music history, Smile was supposed to be the 12th studio album by the American band the Beach Boys, projected to be released after their album Pet Sounds. However, they did not officially release the album, potentially because of legality issues with Capitol Records and the producer and composer of the album – Brian Wilson’s – rocky emotional state.
The album had fully completed musical tracks, but only a few of the songs have vocal recordings. Potentially because of his fear of ridicule, Brian Wilson refused to finish the album, but when bootleg versions of the album became popular among the Beach Boys’ audience in the 80s, Capitol Records released a portion of the album to the public in the 90s.
Wilson drew inspiration from astrology, numerology, and the occult when composing Smile. He also became fascinated with religion, even adopting meditation and vegetarianism. Wilson wanted this album to be a “teenage symphony to God.” The group named the album Smile because it focused on good thought and happiness.
You can find the Beach Boys Smile album at the Parsons Music Library. The box set includes 40 tracks, many of which are unfinished but include parts of the structure of the original Smile album. The box also includes a small book of notes from Wilson and photos from the recording sessions.
Editor’s note:Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.
Green Day is a band that many are fans of and many have heard of. I remember going to my local dentist and waiting to be attended to when their infamous song “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” begins to play. Without fail, every year I would step into this dentist and the song would start playing on the radio. As time went on, I discovered the name of the song and eventually got into listening to the band and have since fallen in love with many of their songs. And I wonder, was this song such a prominent part of other people’s lives just as it was to me, or was I just exposed to it too consistently in that dentist room?
While this music may not be to everyone’s taste, it is certainly a genre that can allow one to feel free and youthful. Green Day was known as a band that empowered the youth and was not scared to point out the faults of today’s society. They are the type of band one listens to when trying to de-stress and feel that sense of freedom many young adults crave.
Currently, the Pearsons Music Library has a copy of American Idiot and other notable albums such as 21st-Century Breakdown (2009) and Dookie, which are available for loans or to simply listen to in our study rooms. If at any moment in the semester you feel like decompressing with some pop-punk, try giving Green Day a listen!
Editor’s note:Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.
I See the Nightbirds by A New Dawn Fades is a new album released by Cherub Records. The title song’s polyrhythmic beat, complimentary guitar and bass lines, and attractive transitions converge to create a distinctive musical picture. The gradual accumulation of tension yet unrushed nature of the piece is what results in the captivating arch shape drawn throughout the song.
Cherub Records, founded by PJ Sykes in 2001, is an outlet through which Sykes and his friends communicate their music to the rest of the world. Though originally located in Lynchburg, VA, Cherub Records has now moved to the city of Richmond where they document and release music of numerous bands. Their curious exploration of music conveyed through improvised pieces has been one of the defining traits of this band. Furthermore, they are known for blurring the line drawn between the audience and performers by interacting with the crowd during their live performances.
Because Richmond is known for its unique sense of community, supporting our local musicians is significant in allowing the local music scene to grow and thrive. It gives us the opportunity to experience new music specific to our area and builds mutual support between the musicians and ourselves. I assure you, I See the Nightbirds will make you reflect on the vast range of what music encompasses and what makes it truly special.
