13 OPINION

The Unknown Spohn

Anyone else getting extremely sick of the folksy vibes? Im talking Mumford & Sons, The Lumineers, the sound-alikes, the lookalikes, the absurd amount of bands suddenly identifying with the folk genre. Pop folk, rock folk, pop rock folk, I cant even keep track anymore. Its not that I actually have anything against a good old foot-stomping song. Sure throw a banjo in there, too Its that not every band could or should be folk. Its overplayed, and, frankly, overrated. I want some grit of soul. I want some angry screams of rock n roll. Hell, I just want to see anyone without skinny jeans, a beard and a banjo under the spotlight. Again, if youre reading this, sitting cross-legged in your cuffed Levis, stroking your beard with one hand, I dont hate you. Im just ready for the next music trend.

Nov. 11 - 24, 2013 www.lcc.edu/lookout

Folk it over already

like Marcus Mumford? Or are they just trying to impersonate, mesh or identify their sounds with something thats currently successful? Even the same can be said for girls. Ive never been a fan of chick music, and I know I am a girl. But honestly, dont get me started with my deep hatred for a girl whose name may or may not rhyme with Shmaylor Twift. Same girl, still getting dumped, same crappy songs. Im a fan of music, and Im not going to lie for one second and say I can sing. If you can sing, dont try and alter your voice to sound like a popular pick. Use your grit, use your soul, use your raw talent to your advantage. Make it on your own. Dont conform to todays strange trend. Go against the grain. Enter any other clich motivational phrase here. Bottom line, I dont know what the big deal is for folks sake.

Lou Reeds long legacy

Rock n roll lost one of its most innovative and influential artists on Oct. 27, 2013,. Lou Reed once said his goal was to write the Great American Novel in the form of a record. I think it is safe to say his legacy leaves a whole library of albums that achieve this level of greatness. Reed was the founding member of rock n rolls anomaly The Velvet Underground. The band was formed in 1967. In the late 60s, hits like The Monkeys Im a Believer and The Turtles Happy Together were songs being played on the radio. When most artists were singing about the Flower Power hippie movement, Lou Reed was rubbing elbows with the eccentric artist Andy Warhol and the German actress Nico, working on what would become The Velvet Undergrounds first album. The Velvet Underground Recording artist Brian Eno said The Velvet Undergrounds first record may have only sold 30,000 records in its first year, but all of those people would end up starting a band. The 80s found Reed showing off his softer side, largely due to his marriage to Sylvia Morales. He wrote such love songs as How Do You Speak to an Angel? and Love is Here to Stay during this period. The 90s saw The Velvet Underground elected into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as well as reunited for a tour. Many artists have been influenced by Reeds work, including David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Patti Smith, The Pixies, R.E.M, Nirvana and Weezer. After Reeds passing, these artists took to social media outlets to say their good-byes. Reeds passing left those who loved his contribution to music in a state of Sunday mourning.

The Kohn Effect

Honestly, Ive never been really aware of music trends within the industry. The last fad I can remember was probably the pop punk of Blink 182, Yellowcard and Jimmy Eat World songs of the early 2000s. Some might even argue Im still stuck in the seventh grade version of myself when it comes to playlists composed of immature teen angst songs. Adolescent records aside, another reason I have yet to jump wholeheartedly on the V.W. Folkswagon is because many of the bands sound the same. Is it a coincidence that nearly a third of American men ages 17 to 34 sound

& Nico is a dark and enchanting record. Reed is the master of his own brooding domain, touching on such taboo subjects as drug abuse on Heroin and sadomasochism with Venus in Furs. The album isnt entirely melancholy; the albums opening song Sunday Morning shows the band was just as capable of writing cheerful ballads, too. While the record never garnered any commercial success, it would later become a cult classic. It is held in high regard as a catalyst for the new wave and punk movement that would follow in the 70s and 80s.

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