Tag: 2010s

Vulfpeck | Outro

Another suggestion from R&B/funk fan Aaron Martin: From Jambands.com‘s review of the keyboard-driven funk quartet, Vulfpeck: the Ann Arbor, Michigan group features “a rhythm section in the vein of The Meters…without much in the way of press or blog buzz, the band has built a growing cult thanks to hook-driven, toe-tapping, laid back jams recorded with an analog sheen and performed by a band that is, as one commenter put it, ‘so deep in the pocket, they just found your grandfather’s watch.'”

Hard to say if the many modulations on 2014’s “Outro” were created by the musicians, recording engineers, or a combination, but we can’t argue with the result. One thing’s for sure: this is the best-sounding spinet piano in recent history.

Zedd + Kehlani | Good Thing

American singer, songwriter, and dancer Kehlani is a familiar fixture on the US R&B and HipHop charts. In 2016, she was nominated for the Best Urban Contemporary Album Grammy for You Should Be Here. Her 2019 track, “Good Thing,” a collaboration with German/Russian producer Zedd, charted worldwide, including Australia, Canada, Belgium, Singapore, and the US.

Built around a relentless 12/8, the tune modulates after a grand pause between 3:40 to 3:50. The music in the video starts at 0:45.

Jacob Collier | All Night Long

Vocalist/arranger/multi-instrumentalist and overall musical wunderkind Jacob Collier released a cover of Lionel Richie‘s 1983 hit “All Night Long” this month, featuring a cappella legends TAKE 6 and the cutting-edge Metropole Orkest.

Starting in F major, a bridge at 3:16 lands us in Ab major at 3:54; lastly, we transition to A major at 5:58. But modulation is really the very least of the special effects here. The rollercoaster bridge, saturated with quick key-of-the-moment progressions and exotic harmonic tensions, illustrates Collier’s any tone/any time practice (not just those in a diatonic scale). The sheer variety of the lush arrangement is striking — and worth every second of this seven-minute listen.

Beyonce and Dixie Chicks | Daddy Lessons

Here’s Dixie Chicks and Beyoncé collaborating on a live performance of Beyonce’s “Daddy Lessons” at the 2016 CMA Country Music Awards. The track is from the 2016 Lemonade album. Rolling Stone reports that “according to a story by the AP, Beyoncé submitted ‘Daddy Lessons’ for nomination in the (Grammy) country category, but the Academy’s country-music committee shunned the song.”

Starting in A minor, the tune shifts to D major for a bridge at 4:00, then back to A minor at 4:35.

Fever | Josh Turner (feat. Allison Young)

From MotD regular Paul Steckler comes this update on a 1959 pop classic:

“Everyone knows the famous version of ‘Fever’ by Peggy Lee. She added lyrics to the original release, performed by Little Willie John in 1956. In 2019, we have a guitar-and-voice version by Josh Turner and Allison Young.”

Josh’s bio states that he “started playing at 13, when his PlayStation 2 was confiscated.”

Modulations at 1:35 and 2:11.

Dirty Loops | Lost In You

Dirty Loops‘ “Lost In You” was released on their 2014 album Loopified. The whole song is a total bop, but the key change at 3:04 is definitely a highlight.

From AllMusic’s review of the album, executive produced by David Foster: “…one part jazz fusion trio, one part electronic dance outfit, and one part contemporary pop act. Dirty Loops certainly have chops to spare and layer each track with enough jazz-informed chord progressions, arpeggiated six-string basslines, frenetic drum fills, and melismatic vocal breakdowns to fill any number of Stevie Wonder albums (to name-drop an obvious influence). Thankfully, they also don’t forget to bring the pop melody…”