Song Analysis Format

When completing a song analysis, detail the following information in this order:
  • Song Form
  • Instrumentation
  • Hierarchy of Instruments/Voice
  • Overall sound of ensemble
  • Additional effects
  • Lyrical content/meaning (how well do the lyrics fit the music?)
Album Review Sites: 

Chatacteristcs of Rock Music 

  • Straight drum and bass grooves with little syncopations
  • Amplified/Electric Sound, but raised levels of dissonance as compared to country and blues
  • Expresses fearless human emotions, often, through primal drumming and bass & guitar playing
  • Dramatic (even melodramatic-dramatic) storytelling both literal and metaphorical 
  • Standard voice, guitar, bass and drums with an occasional second guitar and/or piano 
  • Sparsely used raw vocal harmonies
  • Raised dynamic and aggression levels
  • Strong use of guitar riffs to structure the composition
  • Modest use of improvisation 
  • Singer down hierarchy firmly in place
The Rolling Stones- (1962) Brian Jones- guitar, harmonica; Ian Stewart- piano; Mick Jagger- lead vocals, harmonica; Keith Richards- guitar, vocals; Bill Wyman- bass; Charlie Watts- drums
Led Zeppelin- (late 60's) Jimmy Page- guitar; Robert Plant- Singer; John Paul Jones- bass, keyboards; John Bonham- drums 

Sgt. Peppers Assignment

Listen to Within You, Without You and Day in the Life from "Sgt. Peppers Lonely Heats Club Band". For each track, write a very short narrative describing your interpretation of the lyrics and what the music sounds like. What is unique about these songs? Be thorough in your response.

Album Information

  • Sessions began in 1966–Initial concept was an album thematically linked to their childhood
  • George Martin–producer.  Strawberry Fields Forever, When I'm Sixty-Four and Penny Lane
  • Released as a double sided single in 1967–after the release, they abandoned the childhood concept in favor of Sgt. Pepper
  • The alter-ego concept of Sgt. Pepper did not surface until halfway through the making of the album
  • Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band released June 1, 1967
  • New modular effects: wah-wah pedal, fuzzbox (distortion), running voices and instruments through a Leslie speaker,  ADT (automatic double tracking) and varispeeding
  • Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite! 
    Pablo Fanque's Circus Royal Poster
  • Within You, Without You: Sitar, Tambura, Tabla, Dilruba, Swarmandal
  • Heavy use of keyboard instruments: Electric piano, upright piano, Hammond organ, glockenspiel, grand piano (A Day in The Life), Lowrey organ (Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds), Harpsichord (Fixing a Hole), Harmonium (Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!)