I get extremely frustrated when I can't find a YouTube or streaming link to a song I want to post. Case in point is Moneen's "I Have Never Done Anything For Anyone That Was Not For Me As Well" and "How To Live With The Thought That Sometimes Life Ends" (and yes they capitalize all words in their titles). Arguably, I should be posting that whole damn album (Are We Really Happy With Who We Are? 'cause it's all I can listen to this week. I love Moneen. They're so full and melodic and wonderful, I love their dynamic shifts and I think their lyrics are just bitingly emo enough. When I get my keyboard back I want to figure out the piano part for "I Have Never Done Anything..."
I am keeping a constant eye out for any New York tour dates for lots of groups lately--want to take advantage of being here and seeing the acts I want while I can. Fortunately, the summer is offering up plenty in the form of good concerts. I plan to hit up Central Park shows featuring Explosions in the Sky, Constantines and Josh Ritter-- money and schedule permitting (though the Josh Ritter one is free, I think, and he'll be performing with the New York Pops! Exciting stuff. June 12th.) Any or all of those are first on my list. Crystal Method and Diesel Boy both have dates coming up, so if I feel like getting shitfaced and dancing my ass off I might do something like that.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
4/21/09
Umm dream festival?
After a quick peek at the Lollapalooza lineup, I think I have a concert road trip to save up for....seems like a great bunch of acts. I've wanted to see Tool live for years, and if I can get The Killers, Lou Reed, The Decemberists, Fleet Foxes, Neko Case, Constantines, Depeche Mode and Ben Folds at the same time? Sold. I know I know, it's a crime that I lived in upstate NY for 20 years and still haven't seen Ben Folds.
Seeing Jane's Addiction there would be awesome. Can't say I've ever actually listened to a record, but I believe they were one of the original first Lollapalooza acts, and I'm curious to see any rock band that's making a comeback of sorts.
A lot of the others are the same groups that have been showing up everywhere lately, many of whom I'm sick of hearing about considering it's a bunch of who-gives-a-flying-fuck indie turned Grade A Hipster iPod fodder (no offense to the bands themselves, I'm just impossible to please). Regardless, since I'm turning 21 shortly, I feel like it's finally time to hit up a big name music festival, get wasted and rock out....have I blogged that yet? ;)
After a quick peek at the Lollapalooza lineup, I think I have a concert road trip to save up for....seems like a great bunch of acts. I've wanted to see Tool live for years, and if I can get The Killers, Lou Reed, The Decemberists, Fleet Foxes, Neko Case, Constantines, Depeche Mode and Ben Folds at the same time? Sold. I know I know, it's a crime that I lived in upstate NY for 20 years and still haven't seen Ben Folds.
Seeing Jane's Addiction there would be awesome. Can't say I've ever actually listened to a record, but I believe they were one of the original first Lollapalooza acts, and I'm curious to see any rock band that's making a comeback of sorts.
A lot of the others are the same groups that have been showing up everywhere lately, many of whom I'm sick of hearing about considering it's a bunch of who-gives-a-flying-fuck indie turned Grade A Hipster iPod fodder (no offense to the bands themselves, I'm just impossible to please). Regardless, since I'm turning 21 shortly, I feel like it's finally time to hit up a big name music festival, get wasted and rock out....have I blogged that yet? ;)
Saturday, April 18, 2009
4/18/09
I'm a little obsessed with this song at the moment. Dueting lead vocalists, a trio, weird stoner rock style lyrics with Southern rock chords and rhythms, sweet look/vibe/style and rehearsal footage that sounds exactly like the album. w00t!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
4/14/09
Yesterday, a Facebook post from Straylight Run with a clip of a new song made my day. It had been a really bad day, so to hear new material from one of my all-time favorite groups was just the ticket.
Today, I stumbled across their self-titled first record during an afternoon listening session, and I remembered how much I loved it. I think it really captures the spirit, emotion and ideals of a lot of early 2000s groups. It's eloquent and soft, but not so soft that it doesn't flood you with emotional prowess after a full-length listen. Also, it's a really great sing-along record once you know all the words. Choruses in "The Tension and the Terror," "Mistakes We Knew We Were Making," and "Your Name Here" were made to belted out--and from the sound of the clip I heard yesterday, John Nolan continues to belt like no other. Praise the gods.
And of course, who could forget "Existentialism on Prom Night?" Songs like that (and titles like that) shaped the the blogging tastemakers who we're taking advice from.
If you listen to their newer songs, they've got the same sound as the band's earlier material. Soaring, catchy choruses, Nolan's scratching, clawing desperation, and creative, precise rhyming and word emphasis. Unfortunately, I don't know how successful all this is seen in the eyes of critics. True fans of the band's vibe and sound will love it, 'cause it's simply more from Straylight Run. The once "it," indie cool guys don't get the same recognition they used to because their sound hasn't given into fads. It's a tale as old as pop music itself, I imagine, but it doesn't get less sad with time. Its hard to tell how bands with true songwriting chops like SR that fit into a scene will survive after that scene evolves into something else.
I could go on for hours about this concept and it still would probably make no sense.
Unfortunately, not all music from the early aughts was as sweet as SR. The generational hipsters are seeking god know's what in indie-ville, and the orchestral electro dance generation seems to be pushing aside those influenced by more traditional, alternative pop rock songwriting. I feel like it's getting harder and harder for me to find new bands to gel with, unless I'm delving into new genres. 'Cause to look under "indie" these days is not what it used to be.
Still, I am constantly on the lookout for new music, to write about and spread the word about in one medium or another. I've learned this--nothing new can feel as good as your favorite records on a hard day...music remains my mental medicine, time hasn't seemed to change that.
Sidenote: 100th blog post! Congratulate me?
Today, I stumbled across their self-titled first record during an afternoon listening session, and I remembered how much I loved it. I think it really captures the spirit, emotion and ideals of a lot of early 2000s groups. It's eloquent and soft, but not so soft that it doesn't flood you with emotional prowess after a full-length listen. Also, it's a really great sing-along record once you know all the words. Choruses in "The Tension and the Terror," "Mistakes We Knew We Were Making," and "Your Name Here" were made to belted out--and from the sound of the clip I heard yesterday, John Nolan continues to belt like no other. Praise the gods.
And of course, who could forget "Existentialism on Prom Night?" Songs like that (and titles like that) shaped the the blogging tastemakers who we're taking advice from.
If you listen to their newer songs, they've got the same sound as the band's earlier material. Soaring, catchy choruses, Nolan's scratching, clawing desperation, and creative, precise rhyming and word emphasis. Unfortunately, I don't know how successful all this is seen in the eyes of critics. True fans of the band's vibe and sound will love it, 'cause it's simply more from Straylight Run. The once "it," indie cool guys don't get the same recognition they used to because their sound hasn't given into fads. It's a tale as old as pop music itself, I imagine, but it doesn't get less sad with time. Its hard to tell how bands with true songwriting chops like SR that fit into a scene will survive after that scene evolves into something else.
I could go on for hours about this concept and it still would probably make no sense.
Unfortunately, not all music from the early aughts was as sweet as SR. The generational hipsters are seeking god know's what in indie-ville, and the orchestral electro dance generation seems to be pushing aside those influenced by more traditional, alternative pop rock songwriting. I feel like it's getting harder and harder for me to find new bands to gel with, unless I'm delving into new genres. 'Cause to look under "indie" these days is not what it used to be.
Still, I am constantly on the lookout for new music, to write about and spread the word about in one medium or another. I've learned this--nothing new can feel as good as your favorite records on a hard day...music remains my mental medicine, time hasn't seemed to change that.
Sidenote: 100th blog post! Congratulate me?
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