A Rant About Good Ol Fashioned Music

November 12, 2009 at 12:56 am (music)
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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.

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Raditude. You need it.

November 3, 2009 at 1:15 am (music)
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I just got Weezer’s new album Raditude and have listened to it two times in its entirety already.  It’s so fucking good that I’m taking it upon myself to write a review and try to get as many people as possible to pick it up.  After the Red Album… and I guess Make Believe and Maladroit, I can understand why people have lost their faith in Weezer.  I’m personally a big fan throughout their discography, but it’s time people set aside anything they’ve known about Weezer and start fresh with Raditude.  Instead of all this indie music flooding my iTunes library (and just about everyone else’s), it’s so great to finally have some ROCK music in the house.  Even Erik and Joe, non-weezer fans, are digging this album hardcore.

The CD opens up with the single, “If You’re Wondering If I Want You To,” which really sets the mood for the rest of the awesomeness.  Here we have pretty formulaic rock blended with cathy lyrics, not so formulaic instrumentation, and damn good vocals.  And that’s Raditude’s greatest strength.  It lays on the rock with the perfect amount of pop hooks, great musicianship, and Rivers’ phenomenal voice leading it all.

The lyrics are a real joy to listen to.  Rivers’ way of talking so plainly is often times so endearing and terribly relatable.  You’d never think that the line, “I thought tonight would suck like any other night,” could sound so poetic.  There’s one song in particular that resonates scarily well with me which I’ll share the lyrics to at the end here.  It’s a tune called Tripping Down the Freeway.  And then the infamous new song with Lil Wayne, “Can’t Stop Partying” is oddly infectious and will have you singing immediately.  Actually, the whole friggin ALBUM is that way.  Even through the first listen we all caught on to the lyrics quickly and were singing along by the second chorus of almost every song.

One song in particular, “Love is the Answer” is almost surreal to listen to.  It takes Indian music to a level you didn’t know it could reach. If Slumdog Millionaire and the vibe it produces didn’t inspire this song, I’m not sure what did.  It’s not going to be for every one and I can already tell that fans + reviewers are going to shit all over it saying “What the hell is this?”  But it’s easily one of my favorites by far.  Then you’ve got “Let It All Hang Out” that easily could have reached number 1 during the 80s which seriously makes you want to “let it all hang out.”  The genuine rock vibe exploding out of Raditude has made me hop around the apartment like a bunny until my legs have gone sore and I definitely rocked out with my Guitar Hero guitar while clothed in nothing but a towel to “The Girl Got Hot.”

In short, you HAVE to get this album.  Weezer fan or not, it’s a breath of fresh air from anything else being released by a major label and in fact, I’ll go so far as to say even anything from an independent label.  I know I haven’t bought an album like this in a long time and it feels freaking good.  Even right now I’m so tired and need sleep and need to do homework, but all I wanna do instead is sit here listening to Weezer.

Now, as promised… here are the lyrics that touch me deep every time I listen to it.

no way, we ain’t gonna break up
we made a promise and our will won’t fade out
not just in ‘09 and ‘10
we’ll be together from now until the very end
you’ve got the Shirley Applebee look
i’m totally caught up on your hook
you know that we are gonna be ok
we’ll stick together as we’re tripping down the freeway

Also, click the following link to see the most delightful music video I’ve come across in ages. :)

Weezer : Now Playing : (If You’re Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To.

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Raditude.

August 18, 2009 at 6:10 pm (music)
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I love Weezer’s new single.  It can be found here.  I’ve been listening to it multiple times a day since discovering it and I think about it quite often.  The best thing about it is how Weezer’s image has slightly changed- they’ve clearly started turning into indie pop rock as opposed to powerpop/alternative.  The percussion is unlike any other Weezer song to date and the lyrics are very tongue-in-cheek humor almost like a Relient K song.  It’s basically what the Red album should have been.  The Red album saw Weezer taking themselves a little less seriously and just making music because clearly it’s supremely fun to everyone in the band… but the truth is the Red album wasn’t that great.  The songs felt uninspired and jammy, hardly any creativity felt present.  However, with their latest single, I’m confident in saying that the pure rock and fun-ness of the Green album meets the complexity of Make Believe and we’re presented with a sure winner.  Basically, if the next tune I hear from the new Weezer album is anything like this, I will be getting extremely excited.  And actually, after hearing a live version of, “Girl Got Hot” (?), I’m already starting to believe that we have an amazing new album to look forward to this October.

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Random Sharing

July 27, 2009 at 7:26 pm (Uncategorized)
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There are three things I’d like to share with you/write about.

First off: in the world of MOVIES, do yourself a favor and see: 500 Days of Summer and the Ugly Truth.  IGNORE the terrible reviews the Ugly Truth is getting.  It’s some of the most fun you’ll have at the movies this summer.

Secondly: in the world of MUSIC, go to NPR.org, search David Lynch, click the first link, and listen to the new album NOT COMING OUT called, “Dark Night of the Soul.”  It’s one of the most fulfilling albums you’ll ever hear.

Thirdly: again in the world of MUSIC, I just heard two new Weezer songs.  And it’s safe to say they’re hotter than today’s 85 degree weather.  Weezer is becoming definition college rock.  Put ‘em on in the background of a party and you’ll the party will rock all night.

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I Am Taller Than a Mountain

March 30, 2009 at 9:08 am (life)
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I’ve got about 10 minutes to kill before I leave for Sensaphonics with Joe and Erik… so I figured I’d write!  Yeah, yeah, I get that I’m writing a ridiculous amount.  But fuck- it’s fun for me!  I love just listening to music and letting my thoughts ramble.  Blogging IS a hobby for me.

It’s pretty much official, April 24th the Window Theatre will be performing with New Found Glory and the next day we’ll be here at the UC playing at a Battle of the Bands!  It’d be nice to a) make some profit from the tickets on NFG and also b) win the $250 cash prize from the UC BOTB.  

I’ve got so much stuff to do today, but once it’s done and once I complete Tuesday, it’ll be smooth sailing from here on out.  I’ve really learned to discipline myself as far as working hard and I can most assuredly keep it going for the rest of the semester I feel.

Started looking into classes for next semester…  I’m going to be done with my Gen-eds so quickly!  I decided that I’m going to finish all my gen-eds then start doing my minor.  When I visit with Benj this week to talk about my path as a student here at Columbia, I’ll ask him about what classes to take as far as pursuing a career in opening my recording studio.  I’m feeling very confident about my academics.  I just hope I did as well on my BAS test as I think I did…

Totes listening to Make Believe by Weezer right now.  Such a great album when you’re in the mood for it.

Looked into seeing Pacific Overtures and I think I’ll definitely be seeing it sooner than later con mi papa y Gabi.

I’m dying to drum.  I’m so sad I didn’t get a chance to before leaving back to school. :-/  So you can bet I’m pumped as hell for Saturday!  I’m really excited to get recording again.  I’ve got my two new songs I’m definitely going to do plus maybe a re-make of Crystals?  Been wanting to do that for a while now…  At the same time, I don’t want to go back to the past.  I want to keep treading forward.

But okay- gotta go!  Need to change/fill out a work order for my bathroom/deliver some mail.

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