A music statement that became a rant

 had a customer tell me once that rock music was body music, hypnotic in rhythm and not much about substance. While I don't agree completely with the statement it made me think about how much we actually listen to lyrics in a song. A lot of times I think we look at music in parts, we get lost in the beat and don't really listen to what these people are singing about. I often get told the music I listen to has no merit, no value, that it's just noise and no substance. Listening to what is considered "popular" music on the radio and such, I really challenge some of those naysayers to listen to the lyrics and try to tell me the that again. I've been listening to a lot of punk and lately I laugh at how dismissive people are of a genre about thinking for yourself, not bowing down to government or even peer pressure, of being what you want to be in spite of societal pressure. Bands like NoFx, Bad Religion, Authority Zero, The Offspring, etc. Instead I am told that this is crap and that current music with lyrics about dancing in a club, having sex with total strangers or being a whore, partying every weekend from people like Ke$ha, Katy Perry, and Kanye West has more substance. I say, you can dislike my music but you cannot dismiss it, listen to those lyrics and realize they sing about real and relevant things. Bands like TooL, Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails, etc are actually singing about something real instead of arrogant, self-centered bullshit. I too have my guilty pleasure music and freely admit there are bands that lyrically are ridiculous but have catchy riffs or whatever. But I recognize that fact and don't try to say I am somehow better than you because of my tastes. Go back and listen to all those classic songs, see how much actual substance is in the music we consider to be some of the all time greatest songs. I bet you would be surprised and perhaps listening to lyrics in music might change your mind about music you dismiss as "childish".

Top Five Albums I could listen to all the way through

Just a list of five fantastic albums that I realized I can listen all the way through without skipping a song. I had to really think about it a few times because even some of my favorite albums have songs that I don't care to listen to so I had to cut a lot of albums. Sometimes I'll want to listen to certain songs from an album but taken as a whole I find that I never skip a song but just let the album play. So here are five that I know I can always just start from the beginning and just let them play through. This is by no means a list of my favorite albums of all time nor does it mean only these albums are ones I listen through.

Nevermind by Nirvana- Some people call this the obvious choice, the "mainstream" choice of Nirvana albums but I'll tell you right now it's popular for a reason. Every song has hooks that dig deep and drag you into it's sound, an album that helped define part of my generation. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" still has one of the most iconic beginning riffs in music history, "Lounge Act" remains one of my favorite Nirvana songs, and "Polly" was the song that taught me power chords on guitar. Every song just seems to fit, to push Nirvana's sound, and give you a piece of the anger, despair, hopelessness, and genuine humanity of Kurt himself.

The Bitter End by Right Away, Great Captain- It's not just that this album is a story told sequentially through each of it's song. It's the feeling of the album itself that carries me through to the end. As much as I love Manchester Orchestra there is something to Andy Hull's side project that really connects with me. The low-fi sound of a sailor pouring his heart out, of wrestling with his feelings over his wife cheating on him with his own brother, of the war brewing in his mind on wether to kill himself or them. You get the sense that the album was written as a whole, that Andy carefully considered how each song was going to be in the context of the others and what results is akin to a musical journey. I let this album run simply because it seems so natural to do so and every song fits together like a puzzle, yet still remains listenable on it's own as well.

Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume I: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness by Coheed and Cambria- Not only did this album produce one of my favorite solos and just general rock songs in the excellent "Welcome Home" but to me is their best album pound for pound. Here Claudio takes the story to ever crazier depths by pulling back and introducing the concept of The Writer to his story. Fantastic rock hooks, an excellent flow from song to song, and the best of the song cycles The Willing Well make me just listen to the album start to finish rocking out the whole time. "Ten Speed of God's Blood and Burial" alone gets my heart pumping then he brings it down with "The Willing Well Part IV: The Final Cut" which directly pays homage to the influence of Pink Floyd and also brings genuine emotion as I realize what the song is really about. This will always define Coheed and Cambria for me and be first among their albums in my opinion.

The Wall by Pink Floyd- To me this is the quintessential concept album and my favorite Pink Floyd album as well. I can listen to parts one and two over and over again, getting something new out of it each time. It's such a personal album and you can feel that with each and every song. There is so much depth and meaning in every lyric and it's backed up by excellent musicianship. Again another album that people will say is the "mainstream" choice and I will argue that there is nothing wrong with liking the best a band ever produced. I can always come back to this album and dive into the story contained within.

A Flair for the Dramatic by Pierce the Veil- I remember when I first discovered this band at Warped Tour. I was just walking by the stage where they were playing a set and their music just stopped me in my tracks. The energy, the passion, and the combination of screamo, dance, and electronica influence was something I didn't even know I was looking for. I ended buying this album after hearing one song and fell in love with it. From the lyrics that seem to be speaking to me at times to the frenetic, manic, energy in the music I could not stop listening to it. It hooked me pretty well and I still like to just put that album on and let it just wash over me. A band that is just as good live as they are on their album they impressed me with just one song and this album remains one of my favorites.

Stasticity is what you bring..

Oddly haven't really been in one of my moods for specific genres of music. Kinda been all over the place as far as what i've been listening to lately. Mostly Modest Mouse's album "We Were Dead Before the Ship even Sank" which is fantastic. It's one of those rare cases where i actually prefer their new stuff as opposed to their old albums. It's got some great pop hooks but still holds to the kookiness of that they display throughout all their albums. When Modest Mouse get's weird they get really weird but i like that about them. They definitely remain unique in a world where music is getting more and more rote. Even the lead singers lisp adds something to their music, enhancing their identity and making them stand out. I highly recommend their music.

Other then that it's been more Manchester Orchestra, Right Away Great Captain, Kevin Devine, Nirvana, and Nine Inch Nails. Really just a lot of putting my iTunes on random and letting it just run. I think i'm going to try and see what i want to do to put more content on here and perhaps continue to evolve this blog. For now I'll just keep this post short and work on ideas for next week.

Underoath and Thursday, yay!

Well today is more about the concert i went to on Friday which was freaking amazing! I had bought the tickets two months before because i had the money and Underoath always puts on a good show. So finally the day arrived and i headed down to the Knitting Factory to attend. The place had a pretty good turnout actually, even if most of the kids were too young to drink. Sadly it brings out all the little emo kids but oh well, you deal with it to see good bands.

First up was A Skylit Drive who I had never really listened to till this concert. A post-hardcore band with a sing/scream dynamic like Underoath but not quite as polished or charismatic. I enjoyed any song they stated as being "Their new stuff" but honestly didn't have much interest in them. They just sounded a little generic to me and nothing really hooked me, i couldn't even tell you what songs they played. The crowd wasn't too thrilled either and they even got heckled a bit which was really sad. I mean i hate when Boise is represented like that because even a band your not interested in deserves some respect. Somebody even threw something at them after their song and they called the kid out. It was bad and not a very good set for sure.

Next was a wildcard not even on the ticket, the bands name was Animals as Leaders. They are an instrumental rock band that focuses mostly on freaking sweet guitar work. Both guitarists were amazing and even the drummer was doing things i didn't even think were possible. It was hilarious to see the people around me because most of the crowd were stunned and confused. It definitely didn't fit with the other bands but honestly they were so amazing i didn't care. It's the kind of technical guitar work that inspires me to play guitar myself and i was mesmerized. I don't think i would get their album but i would love to watch them live again.

Then it was time for Thursday, the first of the headlines and man did they get the crowd pumped. It's the tenth anniversary of their album "Full Collapse" and they played it in it's entirety. I have to say hearing that album live was actually better then the recording, they really put their all into the songs. I've always liked Thursday but they have been on the backburner but this concert really upped my opinion of their talent. They had a stage presence, they played their songs better then they were on the album, and really go the crowd pumped. An excellent excellent set!

Finally Underoath was on and it was worth the wait. It was the first time i had since them since Aaron Gillespie had left the band and they were mostly intact. I felt something missing on their older songs since Aaron was a big part of their sound but anything new they played showed that the band had found a new groove with it's members. it reminded me of Haste the Day in that way, rising from the ashes of the old into something new and still good. They were definitely on top of most of the songs though, the best set of the night for sure and played most of the songs you would want to hear. I still love watching Underoath play as they have an amazing stage presence and really work to get the crowd involved.

All in all it was a fantastic show and a great cap to a good week that i have. Now i've got Thursday and Underoath in my rotation for music alongside a renewed interest in Kevin Devine and A Perfect Circle. Definitely missed going to concerts and can't wait till summer when more shows start coming.

Oh what a joy it is to be free.

So it's been a lot of singer/songwriters lately for me thanks to Kevin Devine's album Brother's Blood. That turned out to be an excellent purchase and i really want to dive into more of his catalogue. He does a lot with finger picked chords and subtle shift and hammers in his music while also giving deep and though provoking lyrics. Especially the song "All of Everything, Erased", which I immediately set to learning and can play the basic shape of it if not all the little flourishes he adds as he plays. He has a very Death Cab feel to him and it definitely resonates with me.

Like I said i dived into a lot of singer/songerwriters due to that purchase and i forgot how good John Mayer is. His first album is actually pretty smartly written with catchy riffs and some very simple but heartful lyrics. He is a better guitar player then people give him credit for and his voice is strong. I haven't really listened to his other albums but i still gotta give him props as that first album is good stuff and i am willing to admit that.

Of course more Right Away, Great Captain and Manchester Orchestra as I love music from the brain of Andy Hull. He has become one of my favorite musicians with his gift of simple yet powerful songs and very insightful lyrics. His range is amazing and his guitar work is another benchmark i aspire to in my own playing and could see him influencing me from here on out. If you like bands like Brand New, Death Cab for Cutie, and Dashboard Confessional you should give either Right Away, Great Captain or Manchester Orchestra a listen to as it seems like the evolution of such bands.

Luke Pickett also makes his way back into my rotation, someone my brother got me into. He has an amazing voice and when paired with his guitar style brings a lot of emotion to the table. Strong strong hooks in his songs and some of the most poignant lyrics i've heard in a long time. If you didn't know better you would almost think you were listening to a girl but it's just his huge range and no one backing him up. I keep looking around for more of his music and encourage anyone else to do the same.

Also Iron & Wine is a unique and awesome singer/songwriter as well. With a very distinct voice and simple melody style he easily gets into your head. A breathy almost whispery voice gives his words some emotion and have definitely been a compliment to my pensive or contemplative moves. He can also hit you with some very catchy riffs as well and it's a treat when he incorporates the banjo into his more upbeat songs. Another artist to watch as he continually puts out great music.

Those are the ones I think stand out as far as the smattering i've been listening to. Damien Rice, Bob Dylan, Bad Books, and a few others have also been in the rotation. Also picked up the Mass Effect 2 And Enslaved soundtracks as well. I highly recommend both as not only are they fantastic games but are also scored well. I like that video game soundtracks have the same production values as movie soundtracks and evoke the same feelings. A piece of music can easily bring to mind a particular scene, character, or set piece in a game just as it would in a movie. Enslaved in particular is great as it marries Eastern Orchestral work with Wester digital beats in a very interesting way. And that about sums up my music listening for now, we shall see where they wander to next time.

"I think i'll go to Boston...think I'll start a new life"

Well this week i started out by continuing the trend of last week. A lot of old school Green Day for one, I forgot just how good Nimrod is. It was such a great follow up to Dookie and I can listen to it all the way through over and over again. Catchy hooks, actually more mature lyrics on some songs, and that typical Green Day swagger pulls it all together. It's just another reminder of how ridiculous their new rock opera persona is, especially when this is worlds better then anything they have produced recently.

Also still diving into 00's revival of garage rock with The White Stripes, The Hives, The Vines, Jet, and a little bit of the The Strokes. I still love that crunchy guitar sound with simple power chords and fusing that with Beatles-esque lyrics and simple song structures. It's just a good time with these kinds of bands and that really reels me into their kind of music.

Then i diverged a bit and dove into some Augustana. I don't know what really prompted me to start listening to them but all of a sudden i couldn't stop. Both of their albums are great and they have great songwriting abilities. It's weird because unlike a lot of music that talks about relationships, love, and life in general these have a hopeful edge rather then downturn other artists take. They are still heartfelt, soulful, and really reach into you but you get the sense that they can be overcome and worked though. Also the band puts on a great live show, they have a pretty good presence and definitely sound like their albums. I look forward to further albums from this band and are easily one of my top bands ever.

Also been playing Jimmy Eat World's first album Bleed American. Another album from my youth that stands up today. Really good pop-rock with some very in depth lyrics and a fantastic lead singer. This album is another one I can listen all the way through and enjoy every minute of it. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for decent rock music as it delivers the goods time and time again. Oddly i haven't jumped into their other albums as well, probably due to my penchant of usually preferring a bands debut album.

That pretty much brings me to the close of this week, I just recently discovered Ken Devine's solo stuff and i am starting to dig into that as it's really good acoustic music. I may report more on that next week, we'll see where my listening tastes take me.

Got internet...will write

Missed a week due to not having internet in my place but as you can see that issue has been rectified and now I can blog again. Got two weeks worth of music to talk about now and i've been listening to a lot of it. Probably cause it's so quiet in my new place living by myself so i've been listening to music to keep from going crazy. The big one on the list right has been the Tron: Legacy soundtrack by Daft Punk cause it's freaking awesome. I don't know how they will use the music in the movie yet but honestly this stuff is so good it doesn't really matter. There are some orchestral songs in the mix and even those are great, it definitely makes me excited for the movie. Daft Punk continues to deliver the beats and be one of the few bands that has me listening to techno and enjoying it.

Also been listening to a lot of garage rock, at least bands that revived the style in the 00's. White Stripes, The Vines, The Hives, Jet, Von Bondies, even a tiny bit of The Strokes though i like very few of their songs. I love that crunchy rock sound that feels like the band is jamming and having fun. It's not about crazy solos, heavy lyrics, or teenage angst it's about simple power chords, songs about being friends and drinking, and just plain good times. An interesting blend of the 70's rock like Beatles, Rolling Stones, etc and the alternative sound of the 90's.

Jumped into some From Autumn to Ashes as well, listened to their album Holding the Wolf by the Ears. It's actually pretty good, not their best but there are some really good songs on it and makes me sad they aren't together anymore. I've always liked From Autumn To Ashes melodic metal style of scream/sing switching. They were more emo them some of their contemporaries but the writing is top notch and good for getting some feelings out.

Also got into some of the back catalogue of Green Day after listening to The 20th Century Breakdown. I still love their old stuff, Dookie and Nimrod are great albums. Definitely one of the big bands of the 90's pop-punk movement. Going through their albums it makes me more disappointed with their new stuff. I feel like they lost their charm with this new rock-opera persona of theirs, like they forgot what made them good. I can't identify as much with their politically charged albums as opposed to albums about wasting time and being a loser.

Lastly been listening to some Richard Cheese cause that guy is hilarious. He definitely has Wierd Al like chops, taking popular songs and turning them into lounge music. If you want good parodies he definitely delivers and it's surprisingly listenable. That's pretty much it these last two weeks, be back next week with more! Now i'm gonna go listen to the new Jimmy Eat World album.