Music Musing #4

Yesterday I was in New York City to see my friend's acting showcase; he was great! Afterwards we went with his family to see his older brother's friend play at Arlene's Grocery. Unfortunately, it was kinda dead; we were pretty much the only people there. That means everyone who didn't go missed out! Joshua Sturm is one of the best guitarists I've ever heard in my life. His acoustic style is fantastic; often using his guitar as a percussion instrument and playing the guitar in ways you have never seen before. His voice is pretty good too; I got a CD of his and can't wait to get it on my iPod. Comment if you want a CD, he's selling them for $5, and I might be able to get people them if you want one! (Might, I have no clue what he's doing over the summer, but I might be able to get in touch with him through a friend)

The Hush Sound - Like Vines Review

I have a soft spot for this band; as keyboard and piano player, it's always nice to find a band that plays great music with a focus on the piano. Of course, The Hush Sound don't focus only on piano; they are much grander than that. The piano parts lay out the basework of each song on the album, and are the main focus of many of them. In every song, the piano is brilliant, Greta Salpeter's versatility allowing for beautiful and soft ballads such as Lighthouse, to the blues-y piano playing of A Dark Congregation. Salpeter's beautiful and pure voice leads several of her most complex piano pieces, (A Dark Congregation) an impressive feat as singing lead vocals while playing the piano, and the main instrument of the band for that matter, is extremely difficult. Greta's classical background in music coupled with Bob Morris's (co-founder of the band) rock background formulate into unique blend of sound. Darren Wilson's drumming also strays off the beaten path, often creating syncopated beats that gives The Hush Sound even more of a unique sound. It's hard to pick favorite songs off this album, since each song is fantastic. We Intertwined is a solid song all around, a great example of Morris' solid vocals, if not as beautiful as Salpeter's voice they are still great, and the use of horns and piano. Immediately following We Intertwined is the blues-y A Dark Congregation, mixing Salpeter's soothing vocals and piano with the rougher growl of Morris' guitar, pulling out a rocking solo a minute into the song. While not my favorite song, Sweet Tangerine has my favorite chorus on the album; it's just a really good change from the rest of the song. Lions Roar is the song you'd find the most on repeat on my iPod. The horns are used perfectly, and the whole song has an extremely catchy tune and chorus to it, it is easily one of my favorites. I would go on describing the rest of the songs, but they are all simply incredible. I truly reccomend this band to anyone looking for something off the beaten path, or something that rocks out, but with a piano and trumpet instead of heavy guitar riffs (but there are some of those in Like Vines as well!).

Bears Review

Bears are a really laid back, relaxing band to listen to.  Their guitars aren't biting and rocking, but, when electric, are often closer to a jazz guitar, that sounds almost like an organ, and when acoustic, they are quiet and relaxed.  Their album Simple Machinery is a great one, and one of my favorite albums entirely.  It's filled with great songs, most of which are fantastic to go to sleep to.  A couple of my favorite songs off the album are: Dolphins, So Go, What Makes Me Happy, and Everything I Need.  Dolphins is a acoustic song with decent pace, but not overwhelming.  This song intrigues me because it has a sad vibe and a happy vibe at the same time that creates an interesting mix.  So Go begins with an electriconic beat that turns into piano and acoustic guitar.  So Go features a great melody that is very relaxed and chill, telling the story of drifting lovers.  What Makes Me Happy is a bit louder, Bears' signature organ sound is the main feature of this track, in addition to good lyrics and a upbeat tempo that is a bit of relief to the rest of the album.  Everything I Need is the going to sleep song; quiet and based on soft, fluid vocals aided only by a xylophone and choral sound, this track is really pretty and a very nice song to lay down and close your eyes to.  A must for bedtime playlists.  The album can be a little repetitive in its sound, but its sound is individual enough that the similar sounds among the songs is acceptable. Bears provide a really chill album that is fun to listen to and relax to, and I suggest it to anyone looking for some good music.  

The Royal We

Rockin' the violin and guitars at the same time, The Royal We are a really cool band that puts out some awesome music.  The Royal We's title album is a really great one.  The guitar parts are catchy and fun, especially on songs like All the Rage, I Hate Rock N Roll (my personal favorite on the album), and French Legality.  The violin adds a unique sound that adds a lot to the guitar sound, creating a lighter vibe to the Royal We's songs.  On the track, That Ain't My Sweet Love, the violin practically makes the song.  The Royal We are a really solid band that have fun songs and a lot of promise.  I have to admit I'm sometimes not too impressed with the singer's voice; something about it just seems flimsy to me, though it's not at all bad (and you can have good songs even with a not so great voice, case and point Wreckless Ericl; check out his stuff with Amy Rigby.) The syncopated drums are also pretty cool on Three Is a Crowd.  The Royal We are a really fun band and I advise you! to check out their music; they've got a few more albums besides the title album that are also quite good.  

The Matches Review

So, the Matches are arguably one of my favorite bands.  I don't like too many punk bands, but the Matches are one of the exceptions, and what an exception!  Drummer Matt Whalen provides syncopated, styled beats that diverge from the typical punk rock path, and lead guitarist Jon Devoto plays guitar in a way not too dissimilar from the usual punk sounds, but he adds a unique style to it that sets the Matches apart from other punk bands.  Shawn Harris's voice makes the band, it's shining moments appearing in the string and piano ballads Darkness Rising and Salty Eyes.  Their debut album, E. Von Dahl Killed the Locals, Whalen's drums are a bit simpler, but the style of the album isn't as abrasive and violent the way the Offspring (who I really like!) can be. The Matches first album astonishes me: it is incredibly well put-together and composed for a debut album.  The professionalism the Matches bring to their debut album is remarkable.  I think the best tracks on this album are: Untitled, Audio Blood, and The Restless. Their next album, Decomposer, sounds a bit more like a punk rock album, with the obvious exception of the string track Salty Eyes.  Matt Whalen's drum parts become truly impressive, they become actual compositions rather than an accepted drum beat performed by many drummers.  In my opinion, the best tracks on Decomposer are: Papercut Skin, Clumsy Heart, Didi (My Doe Part 2), and the more abrasive Shoot Me In the Smile.  That brings us to the Matches latest album: A Band In Hope.  On this album, the Matches got a bit confused; went through an identity crisis if you will.  The songs are very different, some of them downright strange. However, there are still some good ones: Darkness Rising is a very cool ballad (I'm a fan of the piano) that has a great build up, To Build A Mountain is one of the stranger tracks on the album, but I've grown to enjoy it, and finally, Between Halloweens is a cool song.  I definitely reccomend the first two albums, and if you're feeling adventerous, the third album is good too! 

P.S. Keep on the lookout, I hear there's a new album due for release this year!

EXCITED Music Musing #3

Just got the chance to check out Modest Mouse's new song Satellite Skin on Youtube...not their best song...but it's a new Modest Mouse song!!!  Yaaaaaay!!!!!

Music Musings #2

Hey everybody!  Next time you're in Cambridge, MA, check out the record store Planet Records. The guy there is really cool, anything you're interested in he'll play for you if the shop isn't too full. Well, almost anything.  Here's the best part about Planet Records: the owner has this shelf stuffed with CD's that are all a dollar each...pretty awesome no?  He won't play them for you, the idea being: it's one dollar...take a chance!  But it's a great store, with tons of CD's and vinyls.  I actually discovered Super Furry Animals there, as well as a few other cool bands.  It's a fun store and has a really chill vibe, so if you're ever in the area, I suggest you check it out!

JF Robitaille Review

Ok, so JF Robitaille's EP The Blood In My Body is arguably the prettiest music I have ever heard in my life.  The whole album is acoustic and most of the album is in 3/4 which gives it a nice waltz quality.  Clocking in at a grand total of about 15 minutes, this album will do nothing but leave you wanting more and more and more of Robitaille's simplistic and beautiful acoustic guitar and voice. My favorite songs off this EP are the title track, The Blood In My Body, and Famous Blue Raincoat, with honorobal mention to the one *slightly* louder song, New York.  The Blood In My Body is a beautiful song, and unfortunately, it is also the shortest on the album, only lasting one minute and 48 seconds (but a beautiful and great one minute and 48 seconds!) Famous Blue Raincoat is a lovely, very personal ballad written originally by Leonard Cohen.  It's been covered multiple times, and without even hearing all the versions I can confidently tell you JF Robitaille does it the best. So if you're looking for some music to listen to as you go to sleep, or when you're sitting in bed with a book as it rains, or just really into beautiful acoustic music, check out JF Robitaille, and hope and hope for a full album soon like I do!  

Music Musing #1

Ok, so I've had it up to here *holds arrow sign above my head* with people ragging on indie bands for "selling out." Sure, sometimes they'll put out an album that's more accessible and will advertise it more, but come on people! Let them make some money! Enjoy the fact that they don't simply pump out mainstream music all the time, and be happy with that! Particularly upsetting to me was the response to Modest Mouse's We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank.  Everyone jumped on it, all "oh man I can't listen to this album...how could they sell out like that???" First of all, I personally think it's a less accessible album than Good News For People Who Love Bad News (man Modest Mouse has long album titles...but that's a ramble for another time.)  So, yea. Next time you feel like ragging on a band you like for selling out, think: "Is this music actually bad? No, it isn't, it's very good, just more people like it!" And there's nothing wrong with more people liking good music! You shouldn't ostracize people who don't like your indie music, you should pull them in, and introduce them to it and gain a new friend who understands your excitement when a new Modest Mouse album comes out!

The Kills Review

Ooooooh!  Very cool band; imagine a mix of Gorillaz and The White Stripes, only cut back and darker. The Kills are very minimalist and somber, but at the same time really interesting. With a heavy reliance on bass and drum beats, The Kills diverge from the standard of guitar solos and complex melodies in favor of a simplistic, darker and unique sound.  This usually heavy use of simply bass and drums does not mean that The Kills can't rock out though!  The song Hook and Line from their latest album, released in 2008, Midnight Boom, unleashes a gritty, fast-paced guitar melody.  The Kills have done good work in cutting down rock and roll, bringing their songs much closer to the blues roots they come from, similarly to the White Stripes, and this becomes very clear on their song Fuck the People, off their first album Keep on Your Mean Side (2003). The Kills' best songs so far come from the albums Midnight Boom and Now Wow (2005).  From Midnight Boom comes U.R.A. Fever, an example of The Kills' minimalist style utilizing almost completely bass, simple drum beats, and hand claps, with the occasional distorted guitar here and there.  Also from Midnight Boom is my favorite track by The Kills: Black Balloon.  Another cut down song, Black Balloon's true brilliance is revealed a minute and 36 seconds into the song, when the electric guitar starts.  Simple and basic, the melody is catchy and makes you bob your head to the music, making the simple guitar part sound brilliant.  The album No Wow offers more great songs; Ticket Man and the title track, No Wow.  The simple piano and even simpler percussion of Ticket Man will leave you marvelling at how such basic music could be so good, and while No Wow's gritty guitar chords might start a bit late in the song, they rock out loud and hard once they start!  

Blitzen Trapper Review

Blitzen Trapper is a great band who really found themselves in their latest album, Furr.  They draw from folk and country influences, incorporated with alternative rock.  Their 2007 album Wild Mountain Nation recieved much critical acclaim from various music magazines, and brought them forward as a band.  However, in my personal (and the Yeti's) opinion, much of Wild Mountain Nation is chaotic and frenzied.  In their 2008 album Furr, Blitzen Trapper found their true talent, and their music matured.  Their songs tell stories, such as the title track of the album Furr, which describes the story of a young man becoming an animal, letting himself fall into the hands of god and nature, until he reaches a certain age, and is drawn back in to the human world by a girl he falls in love with.  All the songs on this album are well put-together and complete, each one a work of art.  Furr also provides a moderate diversity of songs, ranging from the electric and wild-worded Fire & Fast Bullets, complete with guitar riffs, drum fills, and the tale of a blue coated wizard with a remote control for a weapon, to the art-folk sound of Black River Killer (one of my favorite tracks on the album), Furr, and Lady on the Water.  This album is very accesible to all listners; reminiscent of the Grateful Dead, older generations can appreciate the intelligent lyrics and reserved acoustic guitar that is present on this album, while younger generations can enjoy those same sounds that fit the ever-growing popularity of indie-folk, as well as the wilder tracks like Saturday Nite and God & Suicide.   

Super Furry Animals Review

The Super Furry Animals are a fantastic band.  To start off with, they are named after creatures such as the Yeti: super and furry.  Secondly, they have great music.  SFA brings massive variety and a unique sound to their music.  They draw upon numerous genres of music, creating ambitious and interesting songs.  A mix of neo-psychedelia, power-pop, progressive rock, a tint of punk, all mixed with the strangeness of Fridmann's Freaks.  SFA songs move from soft piano hymns like Download, to fast punk-sounding songs like Chupacabras.  A lot of talk in the reviews of this band on iTunes go crazy about their 2002 album Rings Around the World, and proclaim this year's 2009 album Dark Days/Light Years to be their best albums.  However, the 1997 album Radiator has been grossly underestimated by fans of this band.  Songs with catchy tunes like Demons that get you singing along to what are probably the easiest lyrics to understand by SFA and She's Got Spies' brilliantly soft then REALLY LOUD combo are the true genius of this band.  Not all songs on Radiator are great, but enough are better than anything else done by SFA that it makes the album one of the best.  A personal favorite of mine is about a friend of the Yeti: Chupacabras.  This song is amazing.  It is short, clocking in at only one minute and twenty-six seconds, but each second of that song is filled with fist-pumping, jump-in-the-air-grinning sound.  I first really enjoyed this song on a car ride to school.  I'd listened to it before, but I'd been so enraptured by Demons that I didn't pay Chupacabras it's deserved attention.  When I listened to it that day, it was on repeat for the next couple of hours.  I wanted to get up and start moshing with a giant grin on my face from the happiness the song exudes in the middle of the car; alas I could not do so.  This song makes the album complete, adding an element that if you were at a show, you'd just have a damn good time listening to this song!