Musical roots. How lovely they are. No matter where I go in my life, there will always be “classics” that got me on the musical road I currently travel. And as technology evolves, so does music, blending electronics ever so intensely with classic instruments. While this evolution is cool, I long for music that is simple. That’s why the Foo Fighters kick so much ass- they rep the bass, drums, guitar sound that will always win me over harder than percussion manipulation and soaring synth parts. That’s why Raditude owned me so much- it was downhome rock with no strings attached. That’s why while listening to Flogging Molly right now, I got inspired to write this blog.
Look at David Gray- his biggest hit, Please Forgive Me, was as simple as bass, drums, vocals, and piano. Yet as music evolved and he started adding more strings and stuff to his music, his popularity has assuredly gone down. Did you even know he released a new album?
Look at Keane- as they got more experimental and added more layers to their sound, they certainly lost their fame. Hopes & Fears, their most raw album, was the best selling and certainly most successful.
Even look at blink- when they got more experimental, the untitled album became the least popular release of theirs among fans.
While I do love Under the Iron Sea by Keane and the Untitled album is my second favorite blink album, I’m trying to write this objectively and just say… classical instrumentation is where it’s at. Let’s see… here are a random list of albums that could fall under classical instrumentation that kick super hardcore ass: The Everglow by Mae, The Love of Life by Watashi Wa, Enema of the State by blink-182, Crisis by Alexisonfire, In Between Dreams by Jack Johnson, Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not by the Arctic Monkeys, There’s Nothing Left To Lose by the Foo Fighters, Maladroit by Weezer, A Rush of Blood to the Head by Coldplay- shall I keep going?
I don’t know what I’m trying to achieve with this rant- it’s mostly just because I can’t sleep. But seriously now- go back and check out the bands that don’t need electronic sounds or manipulation to sound awesome. Up above are albums that can be played live and sound exactly the same because they’re good ol fashioned rock albums.
Anyways, I be done. Need to try and sleep.
Goooooodnight.
p.s.- If I Ever Leave This World Alive by Flogging Molly. If you don’t have it, get it. It’s a musical library necessity.
