There are few things in life that I enjoy more than live music and this week I had the opportunity to see three of my favorite artists.
First was William Elliott Whitmore again. (third time in a year and a half I think) He was absolutely outstanding. It's hard to believe that someone can sound as good as he does live. I think my favorite part of his shows is how he doesn't make a setlist, but rather relies on his audience's knowledge of his music. When he finished one, the Majestic theater would erupt with calls of different songs. He spent a large time of this last show playing songs from Animals in the Dark and it was amazing. I can't wait for him to come back.
Finding new artists that I love and want to see live is always fun, but sometimes you need a little nostalgia in your life. Taking Back Sunday and Bayside touring together was that for me. And it made me realize some interesting trends of the people who attend these shows.
"Back in the day" (aka about eight years ago) seeing rock shows was an interesting experience. Kids would show up to a venue ready to look like an individual and lo and behold everyone looked the same. The same swooping hair, often died black with blonde streak, placing me in a sea of skunk-headed people. And that's just the start of the similarities, the tall lanky guys (guilty as charged) were everywhere at these shows, Vans and Chuck Taylors on your feet, and god-forbid you would wear a shirt of the band you were seeing.
Not only were clothes and hair an identity, but so was knowing the opening band. If I heard a band I liked was touring near me I would either immediately research and download the openers or I would look at who the headliner was to see if it was worth going. If you didn't know the opening band you were not going to fit in with the "scene kids." (which looking back, why would you want to?) They always thought they were better than everyone else because they knew the opener and that they knew the band before they were popular.
Going to see Taking Back Sunday now (possibly the seventh time maybe more I've seen them) was an even more interesting experience this time around. First of all they were going to play their first album Tell All Your Friends from beginning to end, something we as fans have been wanting to hear for a long time. This time around instead of lanky guys and "skunky" hair the crowd was (mostly) diverse. There were still the "scene kids" and of course the hipsters, but there were "bros" in flat-brimmed hats, the tall lanky guys "filled out" (read as got fat), and then there were the regular people wearing clothes that fit and just having a great time.
Not only were the people different, but their attitudes were different as well. Instead of being jerks pushing and shoving through the crowd, everyone was polite and said excuse me. It was confusing at first, but then I thought about it a little more and realized that we all used to have to deal with jerk-fans who would push through and step on your feet and just not care. So somewhere along the line of aging we, as a whole, learned to be nice to each other and just enjoy the music.
And enjoy the music I did. Seeing the passion in the singer's face and body language as he yelped out those lyrics from songs written when he was just out of high school. The hatred he had for a girl back then has now become hatred for some of his lyrics. It was cool to see that he outgrew the meaning of the lyrics just like many of us as fans did.
Some things never change. The mosh pits, the screaming every word of every song, and the feeling of compression in your chest from other fans pushing behind you; all the things I've always loved about this kind of show. I never considered a show to be fun for me unless I walked out drenched from head to toe in sweat. Both mine and everyone else's around me. It may sound disgusting, but it's not everyday you get to be within the first five rows of a mosh pit. Not one person this close minds the pushing and shoving here because we're all there to hear the music. It seems that when the band starts playing their set the audience goes into his or her own world and we're brought back only when the last chord of the last song is played and the band leaves the stage.
Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
For those of you who haven't heard of the new white rapper this post will be a huge favor for you, assuming you enjoy rap and hip-hop. I know quite a few people who still oppose it because it's vile, vulgar, and inappropriate.
However Macklemore's lyrics on his debut album The Heist are some of the smartest and often most inspirational lyrics I've ever heard. And combining these lyrics with production from Ryan Lewis and you'll have a hit album for awhile. Every song is fun to listen to and has intriguing lyrics.
Some I will definitely have to pick up on after a few more listens due to the speed of his rhymes. Most college students have probably already heard one of the first singles: "Thrift Shop." It's about exactly what it sounds like and it pokes fun at people who need to buy designer clothes when many people go to secondhand stores and find their own style through different "come-ups." But it's so catchy that you'll be singing it all the time.
The next song many have heard is "Same Love." This is a great song for the time it is written in. It is preaching that love is love is love, no matter who it's with. And not only that, but it draws out other problems in our society.
One of my favorite things about Macklemore's songs are that oftentimes the backing instruments sound like samples from other songs, in "Same Love" it sounds like "Waiting on the World to Change" by John Mayer and in one of his older songs "Vipassana" it is "Empire State of Mind." Whether these are intentional or not, the different genres of backing instrumentation makes this a versatile yet cohesive album.
If you're a fan of intelligent lyrics over catchy beats and instruments you'll enjoy this album a lot. Check it out when you can! Also check out my favorite song (not from The Heist) "Contradiction" here.
9/10
Friday, May 11, 2012
What's in a song?
Music has been ever shifting in this country and across the globe. What makes something popular? Why do songs made for no other reason than to "brainwash" America to bad music become popular? Why do we accept it? Because oftentimes this popular music is "okay" to listen to. It's neutral. It more often than not, does not offend people. And tries to keep popular music focused on superficiality.
Popular music in the 1960s ranged from the Beatles, to Creedence Clearwater Revival, and to Bob Dylan. Three artists, among many others, who wrote great songs that were popular. The songs they wrote focused on events at time. Their music had passion and lyrics that actually meant something. The Beatles wrote about love and peace, CCR wrote many political songs about being anti-war, and Bob Dylan captured the folk heart of America and politicized it. At a time I wish I could have lived, I could have seen these artists in their prime. Been in the front row singing along to all the popular music of the time.
A lot of things have changed since then that change how music becomes popular. The biggest thing now is the internet. There are countless ways to download music, whether legally or illegally. iTunes, BitTorrent, and YouTube have all become ways to download music. Then there's the streaming services like Spotify and Pandora, allowing you to access pretty much any music you want anywhere you go. And of course there's still the simplest form of just sharing your music with your friends. Whether that's through Mojo, external hard drives, or Lion OS' Air Drop feature, getting new music has become extremely easy if you're willing to look for it.
I'm devoting this to a few songs that I don't like for different reasons. Some are just because I hear them to much ("Call Me, Maybe"). Another is because the video is weird and no one wants to see a strange-toothed naked Aussie be painted awkwardly while singing ("Somebody That I Used To Know"). And finally, a song I just don't get how people can like ("Pumped Up Kicks").
"Call Me, Maybe". Yeah it's kind of catchy, but when you hear it at every single bar, party, and place around Madison, every time you go out it gets old. Fast. I was sick of this song within the first week people "discovered" it. I'm by no means saying this is a bad song, but hearing it too often really kills the song for me. I'll give it the fact that it is catchy almost like a Ke$ha song, but has lyrics that actually sort of mean something...
"Somebody That I Used To Know". How? Why? What is the sudden obsession with this song. I litrally (said like Chris from Parks & Rec) enjoy every single other version of this song and cannot listen to the original. The first time a lot of people, myself included, heard this song was this video from January of this year. It was genius! This group has done a few covers and they are all awesome. And for those of you who love to go to shows, they're playing Summerfest this year on June 29th. The other cover that stands out to me is the Pentatonix (of The Sing-Off fame) version. Watch them sing it here. Incredible. From their use of dynamics to the range in singing throughout. A five person group, but they make it sound like a full band singing. Fantastic.
Finally "Pumped Up Kicks" by Foster the People. Again, sort of catchy, but overall this could have been written by five-year-olds. And in fact it was written in five hours by the lead singer. How can people listen to a song that's soooooo repetitive? It's a song written about similar tragedies to Columbine in 1999. So yeah the lyrics might mean something, but in the end it's a song that sounds like it will never end and I don't understand how the world has been listening to it over and over again. This band has much better songs on their album and those are the songs people should be listening to.
My professor for one of my classes told us that the best way to be a critic is to talk about the things you like, not the things you don't like. This was one post about things I don't like and I did sort of enjoy it, but I could probably talk about songs that I don't like for awhile. There's just so much crap on the radio nowadays. So go out and discover your own music, don't just let the radio pump you full of these terrible songs.
Popular music in the 1960s ranged from the Beatles, to Creedence Clearwater Revival, and to Bob Dylan. Three artists, among many others, who wrote great songs that were popular. The songs they wrote focused on events at time. Their music had passion and lyrics that actually meant something. The Beatles wrote about love and peace, CCR wrote many political songs about being anti-war, and Bob Dylan captured the folk heart of America and politicized it. At a time I wish I could have lived, I could have seen these artists in their prime. Been in the front row singing along to all the popular music of the time.
A lot of things have changed since then that change how music becomes popular. The biggest thing now is the internet. There are countless ways to download music, whether legally or illegally. iTunes, BitTorrent, and YouTube have all become ways to download music. Then there's the streaming services like Spotify and Pandora, allowing you to access pretty much any music you want anywhere you go. And of course there's still the simplest form of just sharing your music with your friends. Whether that's through Mojo, external hard drives, or Lion OS' Air Drop feature, getting new music has become extremely easy if you're willing to look for it.
I'm devoting this to a few songs that I don't like for different reasons. Some are just because I hear them to much ("Call Me, Maybe"). Another is because the video is weird and no one wants to see a strange-toothed naked Aussie be painted awkwardly while singing ("Somebody That I Used To Know"). And finally, a song I just don't get how people can like ("Pumped Up Kicks").
"Call Me, Maybe". Yeah it's kind of catchy, but when you hear it at every single bar, party, and place around Madison, every time you go out it gets old. Fast. I was sick of this song within the first week people "discovered" it. I'm by no means saying this is a bad song, but hearing it too often really kills the song for me. I'll give it the fact that it is catchy almost like a Ke$ha song, but has lyrics that actually sort of mean something...
"Somebody That I Used To Know". How? Why? What is the sudden obsession with this song. I litrally (said like Chris from Parks & Rec) enjoy every single other version of this song and cannot listen to the original. The first time a lot of people, myself included, heard this song was this video from January of this year. It was genius! This group has done a few covers and they are all awesome. And for those of you who love to go to shows, they're playing Summerfest this year on June 29th. The other cover that stands out to me is the Pentatonix (of The Sing-Off fame) version. Watch them sing it here. Incredible. From their use of dynamics to the range in singing throughout. A five person group, but they make it sound like a full band singing. Fantastic.
Finally "Pumped Up Kicks" by Foster the People. Again, sort of catchy, but overall this could have been written by five-year-olds. And in fact it was written in five hours by the lead singer. How can people listen to a song that's soooooo repetitive? It's a song written about similar tragedies to Columbine in 1999. So yeah the lyrics might mean something, but in the end it's a song that sounds like it will never end and I don't understand how the world has been listening to it over and over again. This band has much better songs on their album and those are the songs people should be listening to.
My professor for one of my classes told us that the best way to be a critic is to talk about the things you like, not the things you don't like. This was one post about things I don't like and I did sort of enjoy it, but I could probably talk about songs that I don't like for awhile. There's just so much crap on the radio nowadays. So go out and discover your own music, don't just let the radio pump you full of these terrible songs.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Protest the Hero
My taste in music is always changing and with the addition of more country to my music library, I think I can finally say that I listen to every genre of music. I say listen because some people have a lot of music, but haven't listened to all of it. I have. I did it last year and will embark on the journey of listening to every song on my iTunes this summer.
Anyways. In contrast to my previous post about a very popular genre in America, the band for today, Protest the Hero, is held in a genre that comes with a stigma of aggression, violence, and screaming (among other things), and with a much smaller fan base than country. I'm talking of course about metal. There are many different kinds of metal just like there are many different genres of rock. They have similarities and differences, but in the end they can all be held under the umbrella of metal.
Protest the Hero, a "progressive metal" band hailing from Canadia (Yes. That is what I call Canada. Deal with it. It's one of my favorite countries). My love for Canadia has something to do with my love of this band and may even be the reason I started listening to them in the first place. I had seen shirts for the band when I was in Canadia when I was 11 and when I started hearing about them in America I had to listen to them.
The one thing I will say about this band that may get them more listeners is that it sounds very similar to dubstep music, except for one HUGE difference. It's made by actual instruments and actual musicians. And yes there is real singing, not just screaming. Not just people who get bored and put some electronic sounds together to make music. I'm not bashing dubstep (because I really like that genre of music too), I'm just saying that a DJ is not the same as a musician in my mind. Yes the bass might not drop as much as it does in a dubstep song, but that's because it's too busy pounding into your brain. It may not sound pleasant, but give it a shot!
This was the first "metal" band that I had really given a chance and I'm glad I did. The intricacies and aggressive guitar playing on their first album Kezia are incredible. As a debut album this was released in America in 2006 and I fell in love with it. It's a concept album about a woman (Kezia) in prison who is sentenced to death. The story is told through three different perspectives, the priest presiding over her execution, a prison guard (who will do the executing), and Kezia. Each character gets three songs on the album and the tenth song ties it all together.
Outstandingly fun to listen and dance to Kezia has some stand out tracks. However, my favorite song on the album is "Turn Soonest To The Sea." (Video with lyrics underneath here) I put the lyrics in with this because until you've heard the song many times you really can't understand a lot of what they say. That's not even what makes this song great. It's the cool, intricate, technically accurate, and at times face-melting guitars throughout the entire song.
The second album they released, Fortress, is more deafening and exciting than the first one! For some that may be a huge turn off from the band immediately. But I assure you the onslaught of drums, guitars, and vocals and the combinations of notes and rhythms they come up with are unbelievable. I don't know how they play them as well as they do.
This album follows the pattern of a three act structure of the first album, this time with piano interludes between the three acts. It's an incredible album as a whole following themes of goddess worship. It "degenders" the lord and savior and follows some Irish myths. Intricate guitars and awesome, albeit strange lyrics lace this album with intensity. The first single and video off this album is "Bloodmeat" (view it here). And the second one is "Sequoia Throne" and is here. The thing that got me the first time I saw a video of them is that most of not all of the band members do not have huge beard. A staple in many metal bands.
I haven't listend to their newest album Scurrilous much yet, but from what I have listened to it is more of what they are known for, but the lyrics became more personal than they were ever before. Still aggressive and fun to listen to. They mess with time signatures way more than on previous albums. And it's fantastic! Listen to "C'est La Vie" the first single and video here! It's a fun one!
A lot of people overlook metal music, but if you give it a chance and really listen to it you may be surprised by what you hear.
Anyways. In contrast to my previous post about a very popular genre in America, the band for today, Protest the Hero, is held in a genre that comes with a stigma of aggression, violence, and screaming (among other things), and with a much smaller fan base than country. I'm talking of course about metal. There are many different kinds of metal just like there are many different genres of rock. They have similarities and differences, but in the end they can all be held under the umbrella of metal.
Protest the Hero, a "progressive metal" band hailing from Canadia (Yes. That is what I call Canada. Deal with it. It's one of my favorite countries). My love for Canadia has something to do with my love of this band and may even be the reason I started listening to them in the first place. I had seen shirts for the band when I was in Canadia when I was 11 and when I started hearing about them in America I had to listen to them.
The one thing I will say about this band that may get them more listeners is that it sounds very similar to dubstep music, except for one HUGE difference. It's made by actual instruments and actual musicians. And yes there is real singing, not just screaming. Not just people who get bored and put some electronic sounds together to make music. I'm not bashing dubstep (because I really like that genre of music too), I'm just saying that a DJ is not the same as a musician in my mind. Yes the bass might not drop as much as it does in a dubstep song, but that's because it's too busy pounding into your brain. It may not sound pleasant, but give it a shot!
This was the first "metal" band that I had really given a chance and I'm glad I did. The intricacies and aggressive guitar playing on their first album Kezia are incredible. As a debut album this was released in America in 2006 and I fell in love with it. It's a concept album about a woman (Kezia) in prison who is sentenced to death. The story is told through three different perspectives, the priest presiding over her execution, a prison guard (who will do the executing), and Kezia. Each character gets three songs on the album and the tenth song ties it all together.
Outstandingly fun to listen and dance to Kezia has some stand out tracks. However, my favorite song on the album is "Turn Soonest To The Sea." (Video with lyrics underneath here) I put the lyrics in with this because until you've heard the song many times you really can't understand a lot of what they say. That's not even what makes this song great. It's the cool, intricate, technically accurate, and at times face-melting guitars throughout the entire song.
The second album they released, Fortress, is more deafening and exciting than the first one! For some that may be a huge turn off from the band immediately. But I assure you the onslaught of drums, guitars, and vocals and the combinations of notes and rhythms they come up with are unbelievable. I don't know how they play them as well as they do.
This album follows the pattern of a three act structure of the first album, this time with piano interludes between the three acts. It's an incredible album as a whole following themes of goddess worship. It "degenders" the lord and savior and follows some Irish myths. Intricate guitars and awesome, albeit strange lyrics lace this album with intensity. The first single and video off this album is "Bloodmeat" (view it here). And the second one is "Sequoia Throne" and is here. The thing that got me the first time I saw a video of them is that most of not all of the band members do not have huge beard. A staple in many metal bands.
A lot of people overlook metal music, but if you give it a chance and really listen to it you may be surprised by what you hear.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Eli Young Band
For a long time I have been firmly anti-country music. I really liked only one country singer: Willie Nelson. The only reason for that was because I was listening to him since I was very young thanks to my mom. I do have to admit to a guilty pleasure of mine, the Dixie Chicks. But aside from those two country artists I hadn't really thought of diving into this genre of music.
Mainly because of the stereotypes: all country songs are about losing either a job, a lover, or a pet (most often a horse or dog). Who wants to listen to songs like that constantly? Apparently a lot of America.
But a friend of mine showed me one song off the Eli Young Band's newest album: Life At Best and I was hooked. Whether it was because of the simple beginning to the song or because of the lyrics the first 30 seconds enthralled me and made me excited to hear the rest of the album.
"Even If It Breaks Your Heart" is the opening track (video here) and the one that started to change my mind about country music. The harmonies they hit at 30 seconds into the song are perfect for this song. The power behind this chorus stays for the rest of the song. But the lyrics were what really drew me in. The opening lyrics remind me of why I love music so much. It was very reminiscent to me because it's a similar feeling I've always had about music.
Mainly because of the stereotypes: all country songs are about losing either a job, a lover, or a pet (most often a horse or dog). Who wants to listen to songs like that constantly? Apparently a lot of America.
But a friend of mine showed me one song off the Eli Young Band's newest album: Life At Best and I was hooked. Whether it was because of the simple beginning to the song or because of the lyrics the first 30 seconds enthralled me and made me excited to hear the rest of the album.
"Way back on the radio dial
A fire got lit inside a bright eyed child
Every note just wrapped around his soul
From steel guitars to Memphis all the way to rock n roll"
I realize it may not be a typical country song, but something about it just touched me. From the opening lyrics to the chorus, reminding the listener to "keep on dreaming even if it breaks your heart." A great, but very simple, beginning to a fantastic album.
The first single off the album was "Crazy Girl" (video here) and to be honest it took a few listens to actually appreciate this song. I don't listen to the radio so I wasn't aware this was a radio song. Another simple song, this chorus finally worked for me once I noticed that they change the meaning of the phrase: Crazy Girl. It goes from meaning a girl who is crazy to how much the lead singer Mike Eli loves this girl: like crazy, girl.
I have two more favorite songs off of this album. The first one is "Every Other Memory." I would have posted another link, but I couldn't find a link to the actual album version. Every link I found was sped up and messed with my head because I didn't remember it being that fast. Either way it's another great song. This one is about losing someone you love a stereotype the Eli Young Band doesn't fall into as often as other country bands these days.
My last favorite song on this album is "War On A Desperate Man" (best video I could find here). Unfortunately the video I linked to isn't the full Eli Young Band, but is just Mike Eli. Not that it's not good, it's just missing the harmonies present on the album. This song's lyrics are incredible and fitting of anyone who's ever been down or been in tough times. Ending the war on a desperate man by taking a stand and fixing your problems however you see fit. It may be one of the slower songs on the album, but it's an outstanding one!
Overall Life At Best is an album about life. How it can be a struggle, but rewarding at the same time. It reminds the listener to live through the ups and downs and appreciate everything around you. Definitely check it out! And when you're done listening to this check out the rest of Eli Young Band's music because it's all awesome! (Even though it's country)
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
The Dear Hunter (Acts I, II, & III)
Another band that doesn't get the recognition it should is The Dear Hunter. It's a band that, in my opinion, cannot fit into one genre. Yes it's a rock band, but there are influences of every type of rock you can think of: folk rock, dance rock, pop rock, rock ballads, among others. The Dear Hunter also seems unafraid to delve into other types of music too, shown in The Color Spectrum series of EPs.
What started as a side project for Casey Crescenzo's music that didn't fit with his band at the time The Receiving End of Sirens, ended up becoming a full time duty for him. He had originally planned not to really pursue it until he released his self-recorded demos and people loved it.
When he knew he had fan support he recorded an EP, which turned out to be the first act of his six album story, entitled Act I: The Lake South, The River North. The idea for this story was that it would follow the birth, life, and abrupt death of a boy known only as The Dear Hunter.
In Act I we are presented with the conception and birth of the main character to a prostitute named Ms. Terri. Some notable songs on this first act are "The Inquiry of Ms. Terri," "The Pimp and the Priest," and "His Hands Matched His Tongue." Each one lasts about six minutes and vary in the tempos and themes of the song. The last of the three is probably my favorite because it exemplifies one of my favorite things about this band, Casey's incredible vocals. His voice is smooth, but has a big range. Click here to listen.
In Act II: The Meaning of, and All Things Regarding Ms. Leading the main character's mother, Ms. Terri, dies and he goes in search of information on his mother. He goes to a bordello and falls in love with a prostitute Ms. Leading, but they fall out of love. Another great part of this story are the names of the characters. Ms. Terri is an obvious mystery to our hero and Ms. Leading is a misleading character for our hero.
This act has an incredible amount of good songs to the point that I couldn't pick out even just three that are my favorite. So for that reason I'll pick the most famous song they have: "Red Hands." It starts off slow, but picks up by the end and is another awesome example of Casey's voice. This time not staying smooth the entire time when he stretches to the outskirts of his range. It's a fun song to listen to and just jam out to. Listen here.
Entitled Act III: Life and Death, the most critically acclaimed and probably most diverse album yet has a very interesting story that can only be pulled out after listening to it many times. Here goes my best interpretation. We find our hero has become a soldier and is fighting in a war. He finds his father while he is telling stories of his time in the bordello to other soldiers. Then he gets saved by an unnamed soldier who turns out to be his step-brother. His step-brother gets killed and his father shows no remorse. So, our hero poisons his father to try and take his step-brother's place with his step-mother. In the end our hero reflects on what has happened in his life and he questions whether or not he'll be able to love again.
Act III, like the second act, is outstanding. I think Act III stands out simply because it is so diverse. Beginning with a purely (for most of it) acapella track leading into a smashing of guitars and strong drumming in the background. It's a great opening to a record. One of my favorite things about this record is the fact that it starts out quiet and slow and ends quiet and slow, but throughout the middle we get piano rock, heavy rock, and awesome harmonies throughout. Two of my favorite songs are "He Said He Had A Story" (here) and "The Beautiful Life" (here). The first of the two is the story of our hero's time in the bordello with Ms. Leading from Act II. It's a funny story and very well thought out. Backing vocals provide the soldiers responses to "The Dear Hunter's" story. "The Beautiful Life" is another fantastic song with great vocals and interesting lyrics and a fantastic tempo change in the middle it's a fun song to sing-along to in the car or wherever really.
This band is very fun to listen to and I try and tell everyone I know about them. I try and get everyone to listen to them and help spread the word. It seems to be working, but who knows, maybe my friends are just appeasing me and agreeing with me so I stop telling them to listen to this band. Since this already is really long. I'm doing another post about them sometime about The Color Spectrum series and about the first time I saw them live.
What started as a side project for Casey Crescenzo's music that didn't fit with his band at the time The Receiving End of Sirens, ended up becoming a full time duty for him. He had originally planned not to really pursue it until he released his self-recorded demos and people loved it.
When he knew he had fan support he recorded an EP, which turned out to be the first act of his six album story, entitled Act I: The Lake South, The River North. The idea for this story was that it would follow the birth, life, and abrupt death of a boy known only as The Dear Hunter.
In Act I we are presented with the conception and birth of the main character to a prostitute named Ms. Terri. Some notable songs on this first act are "The Inquiry of Ms. Terri," "The Pimp and the Priest," and "His Hands Matched His Tongue." Each one lasts about six minutes and vary in the tempos and themes of the song. The last of the three is probably my favorite because it exemplifies one of my favorite things about this band, Casey's incredible vocals. His voice is smooth, but has a big range. Click here to listen.
In Act II: The Meaning of, and All Things Regarding Ms. Leading the main character's mother, Ms. Terri, dies and he goes in search of information on his mother. He goes to a bordello and falls in love with a prostitute Ms. Leading, but they fall out of love. Another great part of this story are the names of the characters. Ms. Terri is an obvious mystery to our hero and Ms. Leading is a misleading character for our hero.
This act has an incredible amount of good songs to the point that I couldn't pick out even just three that are my favorite. So for that reason I'll pick the most famous song they have: "Red Hands." It starts off slow, but picks up by the end and is another awesome example of Casey's voice. This time not staying smooth the entire time when he stretches to the outskirts of his range. It's a fun song to listen to and just jam out to. Listen here.
Entitled Act III: Life and Death, the most critically acclaimed and probably most diverse album yet has a very interesting story that can only be pulled out after listening to it many times. Here goes my best interpretation. We find our hero has become a soldier and is fighting in a war. He finds his father while he is telling stories of his time in the bordello to other soldiers. Then he gets saved by an unnamed soldier who turns out to be his step-brother. His step-brother gets killed and his father shows no remorse. So, our hero poisons his father to try and take his step-brother's place with his step-mother. In the end our hero reflects on what has happened in his life and he questions whether or not he'll be able to love again.
Act III, like the second act, is outstanding. I think Act III stands out simply because it is so diverse. Beginning with a purely (for most of it) acapella track leading into a smashing of guitars and strong drumming in the background. It's a great opening to a record. One of my favorite things about this record is the fact that it starts out quiet and slow and ends quiet and slow, but throughout the middle we get piano rock, heavy rock, and awesome harmonies throughout. Two of my favorite songs are "He Said He Had A Story" (here) and "The Beautiful Life" (here). The first of the two is the story of our hero's time in the bordello with Ms. Leading from Act II. It's a funny story and very well thought out. Backing vocals provide the soldiers responses to "The Dear Hunter's" story. "The Beautiful Life" is another fantastic song with great vocals and interesting lyrics and a fantastic tempo change in the middle it's a fun song to sing-along to in the car or wherever really.
This band is very fun to listen to and I try and tell everyone I know about them. I try and get everyone to listen to them and help spread the word. It seems to be working, but who knows, maybe my friends are just appeasing me and agreeing with me so I stop telling them to listen to this band. Since this already is really long. I'm doing another post about them sometime about The Color Spectrum series and about the first time I saw them live.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Jukebox The Ghost
This Monday's band comes from Washington D.C. and is Jukebox the Ghost. They actually have a new record being released on June 12th of this year. They're just a fun group. Writing songs ranging from themes of love to science fiction (aliens and things) and nearly everything in between.
I originally discovered them after their first album Live and Let Ghosts was released in 2008. I only found out about them because I went to see Ben Folds at the Rave in Milwaukee. They were the opening band and they were incredible performers! I found myself tapping my feet, eventually turning into jumping and dancing to the music even though I didn't know the individual songs.
Seemingly just another pop punk band, Jukebox the Ghost proves to be much more than just that stereotype. They write catchy songs, with memorable lyrics and great storytelling. Songs like "Victoria" and "Hold It In", are signatures of theirs. Both are pretty straightforward songs both with catchy piano riffs and hooks and enjoyable lyrics. In "Hold It In" there are some great lines: "There's a couple with a baby and it's no secret why, neither one was able to hold it in. Hold it in." Lyrics like this always make me smile. While they may be straightforward, both songs play with tempo and rhythm. Keeping you guessing as to where the song may actually end up.
These two songs sit closer to the "poppy" edge of this band's sound, while we get songs like "My Heart's the Same," a nice slow piano song gives the album some balance from all the fun "dancy" songs on the rest of the album. This song flows seamlessly into one of my favorite songs on the album "Lighting Myself on Fire," one of the songs sitting closest to the rock/punk side of this band. I love it. I've been listening to this album all day long and am going to move onto their other album released in 2010 Everything Under The Sun later today.
Everything Under The Sun is a great album as well! The band didn't change their sound much, which plagues many bands going from their first album to a sophomore attempt. Sometimes it works for bands, but more often than not fans get mad and trash that album. Look to Taking Back Sunday as a prime example. Not necessarily of first to second albums, but when they moved to a new label many fans stopped listening to them. Primarily because they felt that TBS had "sold out." I stuck with them and they've made some of their best music in years. Thankfully Jukebox the Ghost didn't have a problem with their sophomore record.
This is a band who deserves more recognition than they are getting currently so please give them a listen! They're definitely worth your time in my opinion!
From Live and Let Ghosts
Hold It In
From Everything Under the Sun
Half Crazy
And from their album coming out on June 12th. Just released on April 9th:
Somebody
Give them a listen and brighten your day with some good piano rock!
I originally discovered them after their first album Live and Let Ghosts was released in 2008. I only found out about them because I went to see Ben Folds at the Rave in Milwaukee. They were the opening band and they were incredible performers! I found myself tapping my feet, eventually turning into jumping and dancing to the music even though I didn't know the individual songs.
These two songs sit closer to the "poppy" edge of this band's sound, while we get songs like "My Heart's the Same," a nice slow piano song gives the album some balance from all the fun "dancy" songs on the rest of the album. This song flows seamlessly into one of my favorite songs on the album "Lighting Myself on Fire," one of the songs sitting closest to the rock/punk side of this band. I love it. I've been listening to this album all day long and am going to move onto their other album released in 2010 Everything Under The Sun later today.
Everything Under The Sun is a great album as well! The band didn't change their sound much, which plagues many bands going from their first album to a sophomore attempt. Sometimes it works for bands, but more often than not fans get mad and trash that album. Look to Taking Back Sunday as a prime example. Not necessarily of first to second albums, but when they moved to a new label many fans stopped listening to them. Primarily because they felt that TBS had "sold out." I stuck with them and they've made some of their best music in years. Thankfully Jukebox the Ghost didn't have a problem with their sophomore record.
This is a band who deserves more recognition than they are getting currently so please give them a listen! They're definitely worth your time in my opinion!
From Live and Let Ghosts
Hold It In
From Everything Under the Sun
Half Crazy
And from their album coming out on June 12th. Just released on April 9th:
Somebody
Give them a listen and brighten your day with some good piano rock!
Monday, April 16, 2012
Music Monday
I listen to any and every kind of music, yes now that even includes (some, very limited) country, but ranges from heavy metal to pop rock to rap and hip-hop and in an ever changing world of music there are always new bands and new music emerging. Though lately I've been in a Kanye West kind of mood. I don't really know why. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, his most recent solo album was absolutely incredible. Genius lyrics, catchy samples, and great beats, it's an album I can listen to on repeat.
But since then I decided to go back and listen to all his other music and rediscovered his first album, 2004s The College Dropout. I forgot how good his lyrics are on this album, one of my favorites coming from "All Falls Down": 'She couldn't afford a car so she named her daughter Alexis.' It's lyrics like those that make this album such a fun one to listen to. His various pop culture references throughout the album are another one of my favorite things about College Dropout.
It's also a great album to listen to because of the way he taunts everyone who thought he wouldn't make it, from record labels, producers, teachers, even his boss at the Gap. And the prevalent themes, ranging from organized religion to personal struggles to self-consciousness he touches on something that can fit into anyone's life. And though I may not be religious and am not a big fan of when people try and force their beliefs upon you, I have to say "Jesus Walks" is a great song, acting as commentary on the hip-hop scene in general. Lyrics like:
"They say you can rap about anything except for Jesus
That means guns, sex, lies, video tapes
But if I talk about God my record won't get played Huh?"
Show how the "gangsta" persona of hip-hop (still prevalent from the time the album was first being written, in 1999), is changing the norms in music and not necessarily for the better. Not only that, but West goes on to force this record to be played on the radio and gets a rap song about Jesus played quite a bit on the radio. Just another taunt to those who said he couldn't do it.
If you like smart lyrics and catchy hooks go back and give this album another listen, or maybe even a first listen. Bring back some memories or make some new ones. You'll notice different lyrics now that it's eight years later.
And if you're waiting on some new Kanye, he released a track last week first titled "Theraflu" after the cold medicine, but retitled it to "Way Too Cold."
Listen to it and read more about it here:
http://www.kanyewest.org/2012/04/14/news-kanye-changes-name-of-theraflu-track/
And if you're waiting on some new Kanye, he released a track last week first titled "Theraflu" after the cold medicine, but retitled it to "Way Too Cold."
Listen to it and read more about it here:
http://www.kanyewest.org/2012/04/14/news-kanye-changes-name-of-theraflu-track/
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Vinyl
Recently I began collecting vinyl records, just like the "good-ol'-days.' It has been quite the experience. Going through old record bins is one of my favorite things to do now and even finding new albums on vinyl has been a blast. The most interesting thing to me is how many vinyls it takes to fit one album.
Take something like "Rumors" by Fleetwood Mac, this album is only one vinyl side A and B. Then we move up to one of my favorite bands and albums, The Dear Hunter's "Act III: Life and Death," which is two vinyls sides A, B, C, and D. And the largest one I have is "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" at three records.
For those who don't know, when one side is done you have to flip the record by hand and when both sides are done you have to put the next one on the player. This may cause many annoyances for some people, but I really like it. I'll put a record on when I need to do some homework or reading and it gives me a pretty well timed-out break between everything. Not only that, but they are some great collector's items. Especially when you get them signed by the artists, like I did with William Elliott Whitmore.
I love music and I love the technology that has been developed in the past few years, but there's just some allure to the idea of vinyl. It's nostalgic...to a time that I wasn't alive, but is just a really cool piece of technology. I received a record player for my birthday and have been collecting records ever since. I went through my parents' old records and found some gems, like the Beatles' "White Album" and "Sergeant Peppers Lonely Club Hearts Band," Pink Floyd's masterpieces "The Wall" and "Dark Side of the Moon," Fleetwood Mac's "Rumors," and many others as well.
The biggest downside to buying records is how expensive they are, but I think it's well worth the expense. It makes for a great time for everyone and is a great way to keep the music industry afloat in struggling times.
Take something like "Rumors" by Fleetwood Mac, this album is only one vinyl side A and B. Then we move up to one of my favorite bands and albums, The Dear Hunter's "Act III: Life and Death," which is two vinyls sides A, B, C, and D. And the largest one I have is "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" at three records.
For those who don't know, when one side is done you have to flip the record by hand and when both sides are done you have to put the next one on the player. This may cause many annoyances for some people, but I really like it. I'll put a record on when I need to do some homework or reading and it gives me a pretty well timed-out break between everything. Not only that, but they are some great collector's items. Especially when you get them signed by the artists, like I did with William Elliott Whitmore.
I love music and I love the technology that has been developed in the past few years, but there's just some allure to the idea of vinyl. It's nostalgic...to a time that I wasn't alive, but is just a really cool piece of technology. I received a record player for my birthday and have been collecting records ever since. I went through my parents' old records and found some gems, like the Beatles' "White Album" and "Sergeant Peppers Lonely Club Hearts Band," Pink Floyd's masterpieces "The Wall" and "Dark Side of the Moon," Fleetwood Mac's "Rumors," and many others as well.
The biggest downside to buying records is how expensive they are, but I think it's well worth the expense. It makes for a great time for everyone and is a great way to keep the music industry afloat in struggling times.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
William Elliott Whitmore
Last Thursday night I had the pleasure of seeing one of my absolute favorite musicians of all time, William Elliott Whitmore, for the second time. Not only did I get to see him in concert, but I got to meet him and have him sign a shirt I bought that night, and all five of his records I own. I talked with him for probably around 30 minutes and learned a lot. He's one of the most down to earth people I've ever met.
Growing up in Iowa and living there too he lives on his farm and started playing music for fun. He sings old field songs, spirituals, and original songs and due to his smoking and whisky drinking many people who first hear him think he's a 60 year old black man. He may not be 60 or black, but he is certainly an old soul.
He played many of my favorite songs from my, and coincidentally his, favorite album: Animals in the Dark a political charged album with wit, soul, and powerful songs. Playing songs ranging from his fast paced "Johnnie Law," based on a true story of him getting wrongfully arrested to a slower favorite of mine "Take It On The Chin," a song reminding you to take what life throws your way and learn from your mistakes. I actually requested this song from him by yelling out the song title when he took a small break between songs. And my absolute favorite song he's ever written is "Hell or High Water." One of his most soulful records with incredibly compelling lyrics I could listen to it all day every day.
I was very happy to finally get to meet him. I hugged him, talked with him, shook his hand, and even bought him a shot, fittingly of whiskey.
If you like folk/soul music please do him the favor of listening to his music. He'll be making a return visit to Madison in the fall as a headliner so I'll definitely be seeing him again! And you should too!
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