In the thread about John Mayer’s song daughters, I commented that the fact that the melody sounds like a “70s folk/soul song” makes it less intolerably naive. However, I admittedly have no clue what that “sound” really is, and upon reflection, suppose 70s “soul” really doesn’t have the “sound” I’m looking for, perhaps (Except maybe it does? I’m so confused.)
Part of what I’m looking for is a combination of “key” feeling sort of unique to the 70s, which makes it sound like it was written in a key more major than major. This effect is acheived by having a voice sing a note maybe a bit below the central tone, then hit it exactly, then JUMP up almost an octave! It comes off as being very light rockish and breezy.
Part of it is also the acoustic guitar perhaps accompanied by a little synth. It adds to the light rockishness of the whole thing and makes it even more twee.
Two other things I associate with the style of music: the singer sometimes sings in a semi-growl/swallow. If you’ve heard the Simpsons parody of the Schoolhouse Rock song when the amendment sings “and I’m hoping that they’ll ratify meeeee…”, when he sings “ratify” he nails that type of singing right there.
Oddly enough, I also associate the sound in general with Elvis Costello’s Brutal Youth with this “genre”. Although it doesnt have the last two and only a bit of the first, it makes up for it in wahwah guitar.
Basically, a sort of folk-rock/acoustic/artsy/funky mix of music, but I don’t even know if the style has a name!
Examples of the genre:
Paul Simon
Daughters
Brutal Youth
most of Wood/Water by the Promise Ring.