Pick Your Poison: Monday 2-3-14

Since this is a music site and not a sports site, let’s talk for a quick minute about some things that happened this past Super Bowl Sunday that aren’t related to the big game. Though maybe I should mention that sports-wise I didn’t particularly care which team won the game considering I dislike both the Broncos and Seahawks. One has Peyton Manning and the other has Pete Carroll, neither of which are my favorite people. Still, congrats to the Seahawks on their blowout victory. But back to the things not so related to football. Let’s start with the halftime show. Bruno Mars is not my cup of tea, but he was entertaining enough that I didn’t want to change the channel when he was performing. Besides, I was more looking forward to seeing the Red Hot Chili Peppers get held to a single song (“Give It Away”) and pretend to play their clearly not plugged in instruments along with it. You could call that controversial, but the reality is that almost every single Super Bowl halftime performance is pre-recorded and features pantomimed instruments. Honestly if you think they can bring a huge stage out into the middle of a football field, plug everything in, soundcheck, and then perform a handful of songs all in a 20 minute span, that’s a pipe dream. I heard a few people were upset because Flea clearly didn’t have his bass hooked in and it took away from the “reality” of the performance. Sit back, relax, and enjoy seeing artists you like getting some good exposure with a semi-fake set. Beyond that halftime “controversy,” apparently some people are upset because American music icon Bob Dylan narrated and appeared in a Super Bowl commercial for Chrysler. He also allowed his song “I Want You” to be used in a yogurt commercial. The issue is that Dylan has pretty much always been an anti-establishment outsider, so now he’s apparently selling out. As a long-time Dylan fan, my reaction is twofold. First, he’s an elder statesman at this point, and has earned the right to do whatever the hell he wants. Second, I think that the more Bob Dylan that can be injected into popular culture, the better. The guy has an incredible catalogue, and if some kid hears his songs in a car or yogurt commercial and gets inspired, the world will be improved because of it. As much as he is a legend, he’s also felt like a secret that many don’t know or fail to fully appreciate. Whether he’s selling out or not, there is that notable upside. Anyways, that was my Super Bowl Sunday. Let’s talk Pick Your Poison Monday. Tracks worth your time in the set below come from Bart Davenport, Carl Creighton, Erik Hassle (ft. Vic Mensa), No Valley, Pony Boy and Zoo Brother. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream songs from Curtis Harding, Lakker, Major Lazer (ft. Pharrell), Yuck, Baio’s remix of Broken Bells and Hands’ remix of Vanaprasta.