Wow I totally forgot I had this blog for a bit. I kept up with regular updates elsewhere, but slacked here. Nevermore. Okay maybe once in a while, but I'll be good for a while.
Today is apparently listen to Singles and Remixes day for me.
Metric - Help, I'm Alive
I got both the short radio edit version and the full album version while searching for the acoustic version. This is the first single from their to be released Fantasies, and if the whole thing sounds like this good. This song is a return to their sound from Static Anonymity EP, which is my favorite release of theirs. I love how the line "beating like a hammer" comes in with some reverb.
Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown
Yes, THAT Green Day. Granted this is only a demo version, but since I'm a lyrics guy mainly, I am cool with that. Sounds different than their past work, a sprinkling of American Idiot some older stuff, and as Greg from Bad Religion would say "oohs and aahs". Maybe the final edit will be better but it just sounds dated and trite as this point.
Metronomy - Gold Mine Gutted (Bright Eyes Remix)
I have to say that this is first Bright Eyes remix I have heard, which is kind of sad. That said, Digital Ash definitely lends itself to mixing and I would really enjoy a full album remix. After listening to this I had to compare it with the original, and I have to say the original wins, but just barely. Mogis knows what he is doing and the Metronomy version has the vocals a little too soft to really enjoy the song. The song tells a very powerful story and as such the vocals deserve to be loud. The Metronomy version does have the better beats, since it inspires more of the cartoon/Alice in Wonderland feel I that I sense in the song.
Conor Oberst and Gillian Welch - Lua
This one is from a compilation album benefiting AIDS, the type of stuff I am happy to part with my cash for. Besides this is worth it with exclusives from Conor Oberst, Bon Iver (two of 'em), Ben Gibbard, Decemberists, Iron and Wine, Sufjan Stevens, Spoon, Stuart Murdoch (Belle/Sebastian), Cat Power, Arcade Fire, and Andrew Bird...to name a few. Back to the song at hand, this is amazingly good. First of all it is one of my favorite Bright Eyes songs, second it has one of his best lines (second only to one from "Going for The Gold"): "I know you have a heavy heart, I can feel it when we kiss, so many men stronger than me, have thrown their backs out trying to lift" This line now in duet form is both haunting and epic.
Cursive - From The Hips
Classic Tim sound and lyricism. His cadence and rhyme here I would put against Robert Frost any day. In addition this is the most grandiose Cursive song I have heard thus far, brass abounds. Plus a genius opener: "I'm at my best when I'm at my worst/ I'm at my worst when it's not rehearsed" For the part about the cadence, listen to the second verse, which is the reverse of the opener....sort of.
Also I should note that I heard the new Black Eyed Peas single "Boom Boom Pow" and while the title was promising, the song it self is nothing special. Why does everything will.i.am works so hard towards have to be ruined by Fergie?
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
25 Albums that Changed My Life
Think of 25 albums that had such a profound effect on you they changed your life or the way you looked at it. They sucked you in and took you over for days, weeks, months, years. These are the albums that you can use to identify time, places, people, emotions. These are the albums that no matter what they were thought of musically shaped your world. When you finish, tag others, including me. Tag, you're it!
Note: I should note that most are not my favorite albums by these bands, instead many are the first I heard of them. I limited myself to one album per band (those who know me well know that 5 or so bands have 3+ albums I could not live without). Also, I did the list in a rough chronological order, since each influenced the next. And I left off all compilations (they were my true introduction to most of this, but too confusing for here)
1. Bad Religion - Process of Belief This was the first album I liked every single song on. It opened up my world, I did not know that was possible before this.
2. Good Riddance - A Comprehensive Guide to modern Rebellion I probably listened to this every day in 2D and 3D art, as well as through the halls sophomore year. This epitomizes my journey in raising a social conscious.
3. Dashboard Confessional - Places You Have Come to fear the most My first "emo" album, it opened a whole new genre to me.
4. Rise Against - Revolutions Per Minute I listened to this for basically an entire summer, their follow up was the first album I remember waiting to come out, and I followed every development for nearly a year. They only recently lost "favorite band status" but held it nearly 5 years
5. Anti-Flag - Mobilize This explains my politics better than words. To listen is to understand me.
6. Alkaline Trio - From Here To Infirmary Angst ridden, defines my "black period" of high school.
7. The Weakerthans - Left and Leaving Quite easily my favorite album of all time.
8. NOFX - War on Errorism Again explains my poltics, and my love of Chomsky and Zinn.
9. Propagandhi - Today's Empires Tomorrows Ashes Introduced me to a bunch of great books (through liner notes) and thinkers.
10. Justin Sane - Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Justice Got me through a lot, especially after I became the black sheep of my family. "We Found A Place" and "Thanks For the Letter" probably saved my life.
11. The Format - Interventions and Lullabies This help heal the wounds in my family, it was the first CD I could play in the car on trips and not worry about swearing.
12.Goldfinger - Open Your Eyes Only later did I realize how big an impact this had on me, along with a couple other things this led to my veganism.
13. Brand New - Deja Entendu When I went vegan, this was my soundtrack. I had health issues (palpitations, obesity) before and those first couple weeks I felt on top of the world. Even now, more than 5 years later I feel invincible. That feeling is why I never went back to meat or dairy.
14. The Rocket Summer - Calendar Days This became "our" album, by "our" band, with "our" song. He even agreed to sing a concert for us. As great as this one is (second best love album ever to Melee's Devils and Angels), I still can't listen to it without a pain in my heart, maybe that will pass one day.
15. Say Anything - ...Is a real boy I live my life by "Admit It!"
16. The Faint - Danse Macabre My introduction to dance punk. And dancing in general, thanks Ty.
17. Bright Eyes - Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground My introduction to the "boy wonder" and what truly great lyricism and orchestration can do.
18. Sage Francis - Sick of Waging War This showed me that hip-hop and rap are not interchangeable. Hip-hop still knew its roots.
19. Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlanticism Blame this one for getting me into more mellow Indie Rock, with smooth voices.
20. Bayside - The Walking Wounded I tried to make another mix of love songs and later realized that most of them were about her mental illness. Only after our breakup did this make sense to me, I was not happy and my subconscious was telling me. If only I had paid attention in February.
21. Silverstein - Arrivals and Departures I had a difficult go in the "after" period. Brand New's Your Favorite Weapon ain't got nothing on this as a break up album.
22. Motion City Soundtrack - Even If It Kills Me This album felt like it was written for me. Especially "Conversation".
23. Bloc Party - Intimacy My favorite electronic album. The only knock I have with this is the tracklist, it is THAT good.
24. The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound Amazingly I did not like this the first time, but after relisten (and 50 or so more), I have come to realize that this is among my all time favorites. Plus its just so damn nostalgic and beautiful.
25. Stars - In Our Bedroom After The War While I had heard this earlier it and loved it, it made the list due to my repeated listens while at the Inauguration. From now on when I think or hear about President Obama, this will be playing in my head.
Note: I should note that most are not my favorite albums by these bands, instead many are the first I heard of them. I limited myself to one album per band (those who know me well know that 5 or so bands have 3+ albums I could not live without). Also, I did the list in a rough chronological order, since each influenced the next. And I left off all compilations (they were my true introduction to most of this, but too confusing for here)
1. Bad Religion - Process of Belief This was the first album I liked every single song on. It opened up my world, I did not know that was possible before this.
2. Good Riddance - A Comprehensive Guide to modern Rebellion I probably listened to this every day in 2D and 3D art, as well as through the halls sophomore year. This epitomizes my journey in raising a social conscious.
3. Dashboard Confessional - Places You Have Come to fear the most My first "emo" album, it opened a whole new genre to me.
4. Rise Against - Revolutions Per Minute I listened to this for basically an entire summer, their follow up was the first album I remember waiting to come out, and I followed every development for nearly a year. They only recently lost "favorite band status" but held it nearly 5 years
5. Anti-Flag - Mobilize This explains my politics better than words. To listen is to understand me.
6. Alkaline Trio - From Here To Infirmary Angst ridden, defines my "black period" of high school.
7. The Weakerthans - Left and Leaving Quite easily my favorite album of all time.
8. NOFX - War on Errorism Again explains my poltics, and my love of Chomsky and Zinn.
9. Propagandhi - Today's Empires Tomorrows Ashes Introduced me to a bunch of great books (through liner notes) and thinkers.
10. Justin Sane - Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Justice Got me through a lot, especially after I became the black sheep of my family. "We Found A Place" and "Thanks For the Letter" probably saved my life.
11. The Format - Interventions and Lullabies This help heal the wounds in my family, it was the first CD I could play in the car on trips and not worry about swearing.
12.Goldfinger - Open Your Eyes Only later did I realize how big an impact this had on me, along with a couple other things this led to my veganism.
13. Brand New - Deja Entendu When I went vegan, this was my soundtrack. I had health issues (palpitations, obesity) before and those first couple weeks I felt on top of the world. Even now, more than 5 years later I feel invincible. That feeling is why I never went back to meat or dairy.
14. The Rocket Summer - Calendar Days This became "our" album, by "our" band, with "our" song. He even agreed to sing a concert for us. As great as this one is (second best love album ever to Melee's Devils and Angels), I still can't listen to it without a pain in my heart, maybe that will pass one day.
15. Say Anything - ...Is a real boy I live my life by "Admit It!"
16. The Faint - Danse Macabre My introduction to dance punk. And dancing in general, thanks Ty.
17. Bright Eyes - Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground My introduction to the "boy wonder" and what truly great lyricism and orchestration can do.
18. Sage Francis - Sick of Waging War This showed me that hip-hop and rap are not interchangeable. Hip-hop still knew its roots.
19. Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlanticism Blame this one for getting me into more mellow Indie Rock, with smooth voices.
20. Bayside - The Walking Wounded I tried to make another mix of love songs and later realized that most of them were about her mental illness. Only after our breakup did this make sense to me, I was not happy and my subconscious was telling me. If only I had paid attention in February.
21. Silverstein - Arrivals and Departures I had a difficult go in the "after" period. Brand New's Your Favorite Weapon ain't got nothing on this as a break up album.
22. Motion City Soundtrack - Even If It Kills Me This album felt like it was written for me. Especially "Conversation".
23. Bloc Party - Intimacy My favorite electronic album. The only knock I have with this is the tracklist, it is THAT good.
24. The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound Amazingly I did not like this the first time, but after relisten (and 50 or so more), I have come to realize that this is among my all time favorites. Plus its just so damn nostalgic and beautiful.
25. Stars - In Our Bedroom After The War While I had heard this earlier it and loved it, it made the list due to my repeated listens while at the Inauguration. From now on when I think or hear about President Obama, this will be playing in my head.
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