Music Archives - The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit

Sep142012 by Chris HolmesNo Comments

Vintage College Football Sheet Music (1890s – 1930s)

While most of my Football Friday posts focus on the National Football League, I don't want to forget the college game. After all, that's where American football got its start -- and where it was most popular up until about the mid 20th century. So for something a little different, I've pulled together a gallery of vintage college football sheet music covers, most of which feature timeless school fight songs. Why sheet music, you ask? Honestly, I have no idea. But you know I love old ephemera, so that's all the reason I need really. "The Victors" is the fight song of the University of Michigan. "On Iowa" is one of three fight songs currently used by the University of Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band, along with "Iowa Fight Song" and "Roll Along Iowa." ...

Mar22012 by Chris HolmesNo Comments

Graphicity: What Makes Van Halen Great?

Funny Stuff, Music

I've been listening to A Different Kind of Truth regularly since it came out. Despite being an excellent album, I still read a lot of griping from Van Halen fans about how it's not really Van Halen because Michael Anthony's not there. I can see where they're coming from, but I think that's stretching things a bit. But really, people have been arguing about Van Halen for years. If it's not Michael Anthony, it's the vocalists. So I decided to go through the Van Halen catalog and perform a scientific analysis of their sound. I wanted to know -- what really makes Van Halen tick? What, more than anything else, really makes a Van Halen record sound like Van Halen? Is it Mikey's signature background vocals? Eddie's guitar pyrotechnics? Alex Van Halen's thunderous drumming? David Lee Roth's ...

Nov42011 by Chris HolmesNo Comments

People holding their headphones while listening to music

Photography

And now, for absolutely no reason, here's a stock photo image gallery of people holding their headphones while listening to music. Because apparently this is the universal way to represent people enjoying music. Closing your eyes is optional, but it seems to be the way to go based on the majority of these pictures.

Sep52011 by Chris Holmes1 Comment

Happy 65th birthday Freddie Mercury

People

You have been and always will be missed, Farrokh Bulsara (aka Freddie Mercury). Has it really been almost twenty -- that's 20 -- years since you left us? Well thanks to awesome tributes like the latest Google doodle -- featuring the Queen classic "Don't Stop Me Now" from the Jazz record -- you will also always be remembered. This is so cool I won't even quibble over the fact that Freddie didn't sport a mustache when this song was released, and therefore the part with him riding the tiger is incorrect. Aren't you glad I didn't bring that up? On a more serious note, please take a minute today to at least stop by the website for the Mercury Phoenix Trust -- helping in the fight against AIDS. Related articles Remembering Freddie Mercury: 5 Videos to Celebrate His 65th Birthda...

Aug242011 by Chris Holmes1 Comment

Listening Booth — Peter Gabriel at Rock Werchter, 1983

Listening Booth, Music

Another day, another listening booth, another great concert for your listening enjoyment. Today I offer up a recording of Peter Gabriel at the seventh annual Rock Werchter festival in Belgium. Gabriel took the stage on July 3 with four solo albums behind him, most recently 1982's Peter Gabriel (aka Security in America). Gabriel was already popular in his native Britain after his time as the lead singer of Genesis, but was just now on the verge of stardom in America thanks to the "Shock the Monkey" single. Remember, although everyone loves "Solsbury Hill" now it wasn't a hit when it was released in 1977. Gabriel and his band are in excellent form here, and the mixture of songs from the first four LPs is great. We even get a preview of "We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37)," which wasn...

Jul272011 by Chris HolmesNo Comments

Listening booth — Mastodon, “Black Tongue”

Listening Booth, Music

I really should know better by now than to predict how much I'll like an album based off one song. I was certain Mastodon's last album, Crack the Skye, would be a total face-melter, but I was sadly wrong. But I do have renewed hope for their upcoming LP, The Hunter. Why? Check out the first single, "Black Tongue." Aw yeah! This sounds like the Mastodon I love - heavy and vengeful, but still melodic. The Hunter is out September 27. Related articles New Mastodon! "Black Tongue!" Full Song! Listen Now, You Fools!!! (metalsucks.net) Mastodon Roar Back With Monster Metal Anthem (spin.com) Mastodon's B-Sides Are Better Than Most Bands A-Sides. (popblerd.com) Mastodon Releases New Song, Forgets They're Mastodon (allmetalresource.com)

Jul262011 by Chris HolmesNo Comments

Listening booth — Trombone Shorty, “Encore” (feat. Warren Haynes)

Listening Booth, Music

Hot off the presses (or whatever the music equivalent of that is), it's the lead single from Trombone Shorty's upcoming album, For True. Here's "Encore", co-written by Trombone Shorty and the legendary Lamont Dozier, and featuring Warren Haynes (Allman Brothers Band, Gov't Mule) on guitar. Encore by knitstitchmedia For True (Verve Forecast) drops September 13. Here's hoping it's every bit as awesome as Backatown was. Related articles Trombone Shorty: New Album in Sept (jambase.com) Trombone Shorty rocks the Cistern (charlestoncitypaper.com) Another Day, Another Trombone Flamethrower (geekologie.com) Warren Haynes: Sept. Tour (jambase.com)

Jul142011 by Chris Holmes2 Comments

And now a few thoughts about Spotify

Internet, Music

I've been hearing about Spotify, one of the seemingly endless number of music listening applications and sites out there, for months. But as it was not available in the U.S. I didn't pay it much mind. But that all changed today, as Spotify is now available to us here in the good ol' U.S. of A. And like every other service I've ever used, Spotify promises to change the way we listen to music. Just like their nifty little promo video says: Sounds good huh? I decided to take the plunge and download Spotify, so I could see just how much my world would be rocked. For reference, I already use the following services to one degree or another: Last.fm Rhapsody Slacker All of those services have their good and bad points, and between the three of them I pretty much get what I ne...

Jun232011 by blerd2 Comments

Why the Hell Should I Like… post-‘Thriller’ Michael Jackson?

Music

“Why the hell should I like… ?” is an experiment of sorts between Popblerd and The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit. What we’re going to attempt to do is to pick 10 songs from our favorite artists — one for which the other has professed dislike or disinterest — and show them why they’re wrong. On June 25th, 2009, the world lost one of the greatest entertainers of all time -- Michael Jackson. Although recent history had not been kind to Michael, after his passing it seemed like a light switch went on in the collective mind of the American public and they began to view him with respect again. Because let's face it, despite his obvious issues, the man was a one-of-a-kind talent. A fantastic singer, a great dancer, a solid songwriter and producer, and, if you look over the current pop mu...