Critic-at-Last

I've been meaning to start my critic-at-large blog since the dawn of the blogosphere. Here it is at last. And my first item of criticism isn't criticism at all -- more like evangelism. It is the song "People Say" by The Meters. It simply doesn't get any funkier. I could rave about the bass line or the fantastic vocals, but what puts the funk in the funk is the syncopation. Reminds me of my days as a young aspiring drummer working through Ted Reed's classic "Progressive Steps to Syncopation for the Modern Drummer." If you're not sure what syncopation is, Wikipedia defines it as "the stressing of a normally unstressed beat in a bar or the failure to sound a tone on an accented beat." Another fantastic example of syncopation is the drumming on the first track of Herbie Hancock's "Head Hunters." It's all about playing the note you don't expect and not playing the note you do expect. The result is always fresh to the ears, and inspiring to the feet.

Anyhow, check out the 30-second snippet from the "People Say" link, then go buy it. It's one of those songs that compels the listener to move some part of their body, preferrably several parts in a coordinated effort. And if you don't already own "Head Hunters," well, get a move on.