Just when I said I could never like a new emo/ scremo band because let's face it my usual musical diet consists of indie rock, undergroud hip hop and Korean pop I find a band that I actually wouldn't mind seeing...live. There I said it. They are an English band that has already made a name for themselves in the UK and here as well (at least with emo kids...) and yeah I like them! I surprise myself sometimes. They are no longer considered screamo (their earlier stuff contains more elements of that genre) although their newer stuff has more of a punk meets electronica element that I actually find quite interesting.
They just released a new album and may tour the US soon...and if they do I actually might go...although I have a feeling I would be one of the oldest people in the audience, and i don't want to feel like a mom...
Ok I seriously feel sorry for new school emo kids if this is what they endure to fit into their respective 'scene." What happened to the days when you could actually understand what the singer was saying and emo boys had sex appeal? Honestly I thought old school emo boys you know the ones who listened to Sunny Day Real Estate, The Get Up Kids, and Jawbreaker were extremely hot but after watching this new school emo band performed live...yeah...I'm think I'm turned off to emo for good. I honestly laughed half way through this thing, does anyone else think the emo/ screamo scene is getting a bit...err ridiculous? Or maybe I'm too old to understand it anymore I do realize that the demographic audience for these bands are in their early years of high school...but still...c'mon people.
So I took out the self titled debut album from Little Joy (Fabrizio Moretti's OTHER band) from my local public library and all I can say is it's one of the most boring records I have ever listened to. It's so boring that I didn't even remember anything significant about any of the songs...or how long I was listening to it for (I put it into windows media and it played about 3 or 4 times through before I even realized it was still on). It's kind of like elevator or super market music. It's not really there for musical enjoyment mostly just to keep your ears busy while you go shopping or are waiting for your floor. Little Joy's album just feels like eating empty calories, you are waiting for some substance...but it never comes.
It's UK pop punk (and no I don't mean pop punk as in "Simple Plan" I mean pop punk as in "The Cribs!" -- whom I'm going to see in January--and yes I'm pretty excited). I found them by accident while I was researching another band...but hey glad I did.
The Dharma are a relatively new indie band hailing from Leeds. They sound like a combination of the Editors and The Stone Roses, and although I enjoy different aspects of all their songs they are also frustrating to listen to. The Dharma do show great potential but they always seem to miss the mark a bit, some tracks start off strong but get dull, others never build. Among the singles I did enjoy on their MySpace were "Cinema" and the "sample" of "You Call Me."
They sort of sound like...dare I say it? A Scottish version of Three Doors Down, and I don't even like Three Doors Down but I really like Biffy. Maybe I just have a thing for Scottish/British/ Irish accents. Granted the lyrics are pretty cheesy "I am a mountain/ I am the sea" and honestly if it was an American or Canadian band singing the same song I probably wouldn't like it (I can be that honest with myself) but the song sounds so much more earnest with the hot Scottish accents!!
This guy has already made his mark in the UK making remixes and mash ups for BBC Radio 1 and NME radio's Friday and Saturday night shows. He has just dropped a new album of drum and bass and electronica inspired tracks check him OUT.
I've had this song stuck in my head for a while. BrakesBrakesBrakes are a UK band (located in Brighton) who make Stereophonics tinged indie rock. They have recently garnered media attention for having this song (Forever) featured in an episode of Gossip Girl (I don't tune in to the show). I am hooked anyways. Check out the boys' MySpace Page as well.
I actually like the song but I'm getting sick of seeing "vampires" in pop culture. As an avid Buffy fan I am tired of seeing Vampires elevated to the status of "unicorns" by pop culture and 13 year old girls. Besides that the song is pretty sick...I just wish the MV wasn't so ridiculously long! I am also growing more intrigued about "SoShy" who Timbaland features in the song and MV. Her MySpace Music page contains a pretty interesting collection of singles combining modern electronic and Rn'B beats with a 60s and even early 30s inspired soul sound.
Check her OUT my favorite song would have to be "Honest Liar" because of the SoShy's neat ability to twists lyrics and phrases.
Timbaland's album "Shock Value 2" drops December 8th.
I think I'm in love...seriously. This is the band of my indie kid wet dreams! And I mean that in the most non-sexual way possible of course... If The Stone Roses and Chairlift were to have a love child they may sound a bit like these guys.
I was tooling around on YourSceneSucks.com and was looking up the definition of "CrunkCore Poser" and they posted this video as an example of the genre...and yeah not only is it filled with constipated like screaming mingling with Auto-Tuned vocals but the lyrics make ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE. This has to be one of the worst if not THE worst song I have ever heard...seriously who listens to this crap?
Former front woman of Be Your Own Pet breaks out on her own with a spunky homage to people haters, and basically the sound track of my life in Buffalo.
Be Your Own Pet alums make rowdy garage rock that's "Arctic Monkeys" meets "New York Hipster" (although Be Your Own Pet originated in Nashville). It's nice to see how each of the previous members of BYOP have matured musically since the split. The only complaint I have about Jeff The Brotherhood is the lame music video! Seriously dudes with such an awesome song you need a better video!
Awesome girl noise group with a spunky edge. It's like the girl band of my dreams. I think every little girl at one point in their lives secretly has the fantasy of joining an awesome kick ass girl fronted band (at least I did...but I have no musical talent) so yeah I am now living my dream vicariously through playing air guitar to The Ettes.
Park Bom (of 2NE1 fame) has recently released her first solo single and it isn't half bad. In my opinion a lot of the pop coming out of South Korea right now is superior to our own, although obviously I'm in the minority because South Korean artists still have not found their niche in the American market.
I am not too big a fan of the song but there are some great one liners that made me crack up including the lines: "My attitude is celibate, I don't give a fuck" and "why don't you go practice safe sex and go fuck yourself." Honestly the track is worth listening to just for the one liners...although the Auto-Tune gets annoying. I also cannot stand when rappers like Fabolous make videos showcasing how "tough" they are, when you are a multi-millionaire living in a McMansion in Beverly Hills (this goes for you too 50!) why must you continue to make videos selling the "thug life" give me a break.
His third single off his solo album and the most experimental of any of his singles. For once I actually dig the music video even GD's outfit choices are cool (for once I semi approve of his wardrobe) but I really wish he would nix the guy liner!!! The song itself sounds very nineties-esque combing 90s RnB with electronic beats. I like the more fluid vibe as a opposed to the "male lady gaga" sound of his previously released tracks.
So I've had some men problems lately...basically I've been feeling suffocated. I really value my alone time and no one seems to understand that. Anyways when ever I'm stressed about relationship stuff I always seem to listen to El Perro Del Mar, she takes the "girl group" sound from the early sixties and revamps it in new and innovative ways.
I normally don't like remixes, but I can make exceptions for remixes of Maximo Park songs! Mark Ronson did a great job with a big band-esqe remix of "Apply Some Pressure" and this newest remix of "Let's get Clinical" rearranged into a strange danceabley catchy track by Tom Middleton, Hijack and dubstep producer Martyn are all top notch.
A new indie band based in the dynamic city of Toronto. I am intrigued by what I hear on their MySpace (the only problem is they have no FULL songs on their page yet!!! only samples). I am waiting in anticipation for their debut single, what I do hear I like!
They sort of sound like nails on a chalkboard....at first. And then something strange happens, I go from absolutely hating their songs to finding them whimsical and intriguing. It's astounding how well this band redeems itself, one minute I'm ready to stop the music and the next I'm hitting the replay button.
You either hate Charles Hamilton or love him. There doesn't seem to be an in between. I actually loved his last record, and he has now released "a trailer" announcing his return after a very quiet spring and summer. I can't really get a vibe for the new tunes through the clip below, but Hamilton likes to keep you in the dark until he's ready to ambush you from behind with a new batch of tracks. For now I still have "Brooklyn Girls" positioned on my mp3, I'll be content with that for a while.
So this new song which already has like 2 million hits on YouTube is basically a huge advertisement to all the women of the world to get impregnated by 50 Cent so they can become millionaires! Real classy son. Honestly the song is so terrible I almost feel disgusting listen to it. When you have a hook of "have a baby by me baby" you wonder who he's soliciting...yikes. Well so much for safe sex and Planned Parenthood.
On another none sexual note if 50 Cent's first baby mama is living in gross excess alreay (I researched it aren't I lame?), how can 50 Cent economically sustain another baby mama? Especially in this economy (and your records just aren't selling like they used to 50...I don't think you have much money left to find you "In Da Club" with).
So I think that we concluded from this baseless and pointless argument that 50 Cent should probably start practicing safe sex...seriously how many after school specials on unplanned pregnancy does it take to get the point across? Geez, not to mention STDs, god only knows how many he has already if he actually practices what he preaches. I would stay away...far away...
Number one he ruins a classic Ton Petty song...and I thought the only one who could ever disrespect "free falling" was John Mayer, guess I was wrong. However apparently this song is devoted to people like me "the haters" I always enjoy it when rappers dedicate songs to "their haters" because it only makes the insults more epic.
And no Chamillionaire we don't hate you "because we don't want you to be successful" and we don't care how much your damn suit costs or how many sad and lonely women you have slept with as showcased in the video...we just hate you because you make SHITTY music. Is that allowed? And above all else what's with stealing classic rock riffs and replacing a meaningful song about love and indifference with rap dialogue about "hating?" So please don't disrespect Tom Petty and we won't disrespect you. And if you could just stop "pretending" to be an artist all together we wouldn't mind either, from the video it looks like you wouldn't care as long as we gave you a new car, money, a McMansion and women every year to compensate for lack of talent. Deal? Deal.
They are German and yet they sound so British...hmmm. I can't say this is my favorite song but I do dig the inner dialog between the drums and the bass guitar. I do find the instrumental arrangements rather interesting, the vocals not so much.
This song is produced by Frankmusik, and I do like the experimental vibe, a lot. She isn't getting a lot of attention from music mags but I can see that changing very soon.
The lead singer's voice sounds a lot like Cyndi Lauper's. If Cyndi were keen on joining a three piece punk band of course...either way it's pretty awesome.
Some of her other songs are very experimental with minimal vocals. She really likes to experiment with different ways of playing the guitar, sometimes thumping and banging on the instrument. Even though this song is a bit more generic, I am really enjoying it.
They have an epic synthpop-y sound. And although they are an unsigned band, they still managed to attract NME's attention, so they must be doing something right.
More Brooklyn hipsters! But this time they come armed and dangerous with actual musical talent...well isn't that refreshing? An awesome experimental track, and you can download it for free! at http://www.amblingalp.com/. Pretty rad.
What is with Canadians and indie rock? They only have like 30 million people and the US has like 10 times that and yet Canada still manages to some what out do us with the amount of class indie rock musicians they produce. Jenn Grant is a singer/song writer residing in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and she makes some heart wrenching ballads.
Indie/ Synthpop "it" girl Little Boots is one of the big breakout female artists of 2009 (along with Florence and the Machine). Her stuff is a bit to Lady Gagaish for me...but it sure is catchy. I can't see her staying under the "indie" label for long though, her stuff is made more for the mainstream market. Her newest single "Earthquake" is like Kate Nash's "Foundations" set to an electropop back drop.
A latest guilty pleasure of mine. Tae Yang is from Big Bang and also is pursuing a solo project. This is his latest effort, and I am addicted. Songs like this could become successful on the US top 40 charts if Koreans knew how to market their music better in the West. However most of the big companies rely on American C Sides and producers to package their artists for Western "success" the result is sub par pop that gets almost no attention from the mainstream Western audience.
Another girl group that is definitely catering to people below the age of 15. I just wish their English wasn't so painful to listen to. They were created by one of the lesser known entertainment companies DSP (the big three are JYP, SM Town, and YP). I wonder who writes their songs...it's like one of the writers is a big fan of the show "Gossip Girl" so he wrote a song incorporating the phrase which has NOTHING to do with the show what so ever. And with lines like "I wanna gossip girl! I wanna gossip girl! I wanna gossip, feel sexy and pretty...." Yeah this song isn't exactly a winner. I have a feeling DSP is trying to market them as the next SNSD (Girls Generation) which also has about seven members, the difference between SNSD and Rainbow is that SNSD produce catchy songs...Rainbow not so much. I also am bothered by the fact that these girls probably range in age from 17 to about 23 and are packaged as sweet and cutesy...blehhhh.
The Cribs are one of my favorite bands (seriously I did a ton of posts on them earlier in my blogging career). Their newest album recently dropped (I think a month ago) and this is the first single. It's not as rowdy as their earlier stuff, and definitely takes the band in a new artistic direction, but I am warming up to it.
Not my favorite Clipse song but make no mistake his album is going to be huge. I honestly think he made this song because it's required that all rappers make a track about how much money and sex appeal they have. It does get old, however don't judge Clipse by this single alone, check out his other stuff as well, especially "Kinda a Bid Deal."
Am I the only one getting sick of this woman? I cringe every time I hear a new song from her because her music sounds so dated. It's the kind of stuff ten years from now that can be pin pointed to an exact place and time, like disco from the seventies and Cher's face. I am probably late about ranting about this song -- mostly because I do not listen to top 40 pop radio so I never catch this fluff when it is first debuting. I do like Lady GaGa's voice it's very powerful, I just hate how she abuses it by creating these cheesy disposable dance songs.
Can you guess what country they're from? If you answered the Southern United States who are a few miles off...more like the United Kingdom. Who knew the Brits could do such a stellar recreation of Southern Blues?
Ok forget all the stupid labels like goth pop, new hardcore, old hardcore, metalcore, screamo...blah blah blah. Apparently "noise punk" is the next big thing, because the critics love this shit. I have tried plenty of noise punk bands but quite honestly I don't get it. Just like critics are in love with Girls and Lovvers (two bands that I abhor as made clear by my various posts about them) noise punk is a genre that goes wayyy over my head. I am sure in a few years a new wave of artists will be listing bands from the "noise punk" era that they claimed influenced their music, however I am just not sophisticated enough to appreciate their "minimalist meets lofi" sound. This is probably because I enjoy listening to actual music and not people who mumble into distorted microphones over poorly performed instrumentals.
The noise of noise punk:
And last but not least my LEAST favorite band of the moment besides Girls...Lovvers!!! God I can't stand this crap...but just like every other indie rock trend if you say you hate it it's as good as saying you like to kill babies. Sometimes I wish people would take a step back and realize how ridiculous it is to endorse stuff like this. It's almost like the story of "The Emperor's New Clothes," People are pretending they are enjoying music they really can't stand just to attain a "cool factor" in order to be socially accepted in the indie/hipster community. Gimme a break.
Non music post here, I have had a very eventful week. My 20th birthday was on Monday and I had an ultimate freak out session. You see I never thought that I would ever have to return home after leaving for school at seventeen, and now that I am back I have no idea what I want to do anymore and that's scary. I hate being so directionless. I have spent the better part of five months figuring out what I'm going to do and then my 20th birthday comes around and it hit me...I should do what makes me happy, but I have no idea what that is yet. My life feels out of control at the moment, but I know have more stability then I perceive I do. I mean I have a roof over my head, two parents, food, a job, and I am still in school, but 20 is not quite as exciting as I imagined it would be. I miss my friends and that basic level of understanding I had with them, they are the closest things to "soul mates" I think I've ever found, and back in Buffalo that level of "understanding" is gone. I really have no stable "close" friend I can confide in, I have made some great new friends and that's awesome, and I hope that I can develop a strong ongoing relationship with them, however I still yearn for the people that are 2 hours North of me.
20 is just such a funny age, I'm not a teenager anymore, but I can't legally drink yet, and I still don't feel like an adult. I also am getting way more attention from men than I like. You see, I think I've mentioned this before but I was nerdy in high school, and then I had that stint with the mobile sperm donation center known as Mr. X, and now only after a week since I officially broke things off, I am being pulled in several directions by different guys. I am not sure I'm enjoying all the attention, on some levels I like being unpaired, a singleton. I have been alone for so long I get scared even when an offer is presented, I am afraid of suffocation and clingyness. Plus now there is this new intriguing older guy, he is a veracious reader and he's funny...however it still freaks me out to think that he was 11 when I was 1. I never thought I would be put into a position like this and nothing feels right, I'm just not comfortable in my own skin.
I do have a plan...or I promised myself that I would think of one. I want to be on a stable path--one that can get me out of Buffalo by 21. I want to be moving in a nice direction and eventually go somewhere cool, I think I owe it to myself. I need to stop being so negative and pessimistic that's the hard part...because it's practically in my genetic makeup. I just feel overwhelmed right now, but I think I'll eventually get my life under control again, I realized a long time ago that just because I'm back in Buffalo does not mean I have to hide who I am. I liked who I became in Toronto--the real me, and at this point I could care less about what old washed up classmates and the like think of my situation. I know they're talking and I understand why...but whatever screw them.
I'm done with this directionless whiny rant type of thing...I figure I'd end with a Playlist of songs I liked at various ages...
Age 11 I discovered the Clash and Bjork at age 11, I remember my best friend at the time thought there was something seriously wrong with me...oh well.
Age 12 Velvet Underground was always in my CD player as well as Death Cab For Cutie
Age 16 By 16 I was an all out annoying indie music snob. I hated high school so I retreated into my music collection, I was an honor roll student but couldn't stand almost anyone I shared the honor roll with except my friends Anh Thu and Elizabeth. My favorite groups were the Arctic Monkeys, Maximo Park, and The Shins.
Her real name is Anita Blay and she rocks! She's currently working on her debut with a little help from Peter and Bjorn from Peter Bjorn and John. She sounds like RnB and Soul with a beat transported from the 22nd century...its just good music.
Ok I don't usually like this type of hip hop...but I can make exceptions right? Kid Sister has been around for a little bit but hasn't seriously dropped a single yet. Although she is definitely mainstream, she kind of reminds of a more polished Rye Rye with some old Lil' Kim thrown in (you know before Lil' Kim decided she really want to look like Letoya Jackson). I also think I'm a bit biased, because the ratio of female to male MCs is really unequal and the most popular lady rapstars I could care less about. I really can't stand Trina, don't even get me started!
I actually discovered them through MySpace (back when Myspace was cool), in 11th grade. However I never listened to their third album in full "Friend and Foe" till I found it at the downtown public library (seriously they have an awesome selection of albums). They are one of the leading indie rock bands from Portland Oregon. Portland was once considered Seattle's more boring little cousin when it came to music scenes, however they have really blossomed into a place where indie artists can flourish.
Other projects associated with Menomena include the offshoot band Ramona Falls--a recent indie act that I am head over heals about. I have posted stuff from Ramona Falls before (in my august blog posts I believe) and I really think they are one of the best new indie bands of 2009.
Menomena:
Ramona Falls: Seriously I want this album so badly! Someone get it for me...please?
If The Roots Sage Francis, Immortal Technique and some Swedish pop artists got together to start a musical super group they may sound like these guys. The vocals are all hardcore and angry verses spit over a geeky "daft punk meets euro pop" beat. I like.
This track is so trippy, I really do wonder what they were on when they produced this...but hey it works. I don't want to endorse drug abuse but this song rocks. Although keep in mind it really isn't for everyone.
This track is pretty sick. I can see this blowing up, hopefully not too soon though I would like some time to enjoy it first. The hook is pretty nifty and XV is one of those rare MCs who can actually rap.
Just a few songs I haven't been able to get out my head.
Pictureplane - Goth Star Fleetwood Mac is pretty rad already however this strange (call it a remix I guess) of Seven Wonders is pretty awesome in a strange space age sort of way. It's like deconstructed electronica...if that makes any sense what's so ever.
Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson - Woodfriend This guy opened for TV On The Radio on a recent tour and you can tell why.
Dragonette - Pick Up The Phone Truthfully I have an addiction to this song...I have listened to it at least ten times today.
So this band has gotten so much press coverage lately from Spin, Nylon, Under The Radar...and I really do not like them. I guess if you really have a nostalgia for seventies disco nostalgia nights then this band is for you. However I am not an Abba fan. The unfortunate thing is the instrumentals are quite good, but the lead singers voice ruins everything for me.
Experimental but low key, edgy but mellow. A bit of Coldplay a bit of Pink Floyd, I really love how beautiful the music is. You may have been familiar with them from my November Playlist post...check that one out as well.
The last song is being featured in the movie trailer for Paris...and I really want to see this movie...
Super JuniorM-Super Girl This is the sub group of the super group..."Super Junior" (confusing right?). The "M" stands for Mandarin so this is the sub group of the 13 member Korean pop group that sings in Mandarin...get it? good. If all K-pop boy bands dressed like these guys I think we would all be better off. Super Junior seem to look really dapper lately choosing smart cut suits, vests and button downs over feathers and sparkle...THANK YOU GOD!
Lee Hyori - U Go Girl So there have been rumors about her getting double eyelid surgeries, nose jobs, boob jobs...basically the works. However and unfortunately this is now standard in K-pop culture. Regardless I still like the song in all its lameness and strange placements of English phrases that don't belong what so ever (including a very awkward dance routine involving the word "ok")...pshhh its all part of the fun.
Namie Amuro feat A.I. and Suite Chic - Uh...Uh... Namie Amuro is sort of like the Japanese version of Jennifer Lopez, except she also writes and produces her music as well as singing and acting. She also has a street style very similar to early J-lo and Destiny's Child.
Kurt Vile - Freeway A bit of trippy acid rock and some experimental folk vibes, but all and all it's just good music.
The Rifles - Repeat Offender This song came out in 2007...but it still rocks, I'm a sucker for brit pop revival acts. I also put it on the list because The Rifles are finally attracting attention after being caught up in the race for UK indie dominance. The scene has calmed down allowing the long distance runners--not the sprinters to get some much needed attention.
The Thrills - Midnight Choir Another band that needs more attention. I actually discovered them through the library, their album "Teenager" from 2007 caught my eye. It's still at the Downtown library if anyone is interested...
Diane Birch - Nothing but A Miracle A definite blast from the past, at first I thought it was Carole King. I love how 1960s and 70s soul is now starting to infiltrate music, eighties its time to step aside. I advise you pay close attention to her, she is gonna go places.
Vedera - Satisfy Slightly generic sounded I must confess, but edgy enough to garner a loyal fanbase and mainstream enough to go places commercially. I can see these guys blowing up on the MTV circuit...I also happen to be addicted to this song.
Ben L' Oncle Soul - Seven Nation Army The coolest cover of a White Stripes song I think I've ever heard.
Public Symphony - Rise and Shine This is by far my favorite track on this list. It's by a little known British band, I am definitely going to post more from them later in the month.
