Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Milo Greene

RIYL: Of Monsters & Men, The Temper Trap The Shins, The XX
I'm not posting about an electronic group! Whaaatttt

I just discovered Milo Greene and I am in love. It's that mainstream pop-y folk sound which I'm pretty sure you hate, but I don't even care. This is what I like and I AM NOT ASHAMED. Milo Greene's music is perfect easy summer listening. The vocals have male and female harmonization, and both voices are soft yet so fluid. The music is very acoustic/ simply based, but I like that so I can focus more heavily on the harmonies and lyrics

Here is their most popular hit, "1957"



It's so good. I just can't.


"Don't You Give Up on Me"

This one focuses more heavily on the male vocals. The music is a bit stronger in this one, the sound reminds me a lot of Temper Trap.

"What's The Matter"



This one is a bit tripper in the beginning, with some irregular instruments and such. This one is what gave me the XX vibe with the guitar rhythm.


This is probably the fastest I have ever fell in love with a band, I usually have to warm up to a new artist. Maybe it's because this music is suited to my mainstream ears? I'm not sure. All I know is that I am a happy listener.

Monday, May 27, 2013

Neon Indian

RIYL: Pretty much all of the other electronic artists I have posted about

Neon Indian has been around for a while, and I had heard people talking about them, but I have never given them a listen until this past month. My Dad refuses technology and iTunes, and instead goes onto amazon and buys himself a new CD once a month or so to be his soundtrack for his drives to work and what not. Right now he is jammin to Daft Punk's new album and Phoenix's 'Bankrupt!", so he gave me his Neon Indian CD "Era Extrana" now that he's thoroughly soaked it in.

So, I think I like them. Some of their music gets a little out there and I lose focus and interest, but overall I am a fan.


My fav, and their most popular hit, "Polish Girl"


A catchy, repetitive little techno beat, a smooth voice, what's not to like.



This track is not on "Era Extrana", but it's also a fave.



Once again, there are the funky techno notes. Very passion pit- esque, which I love love love.

And my other favorite is "Fallout"


This track is a little slower with a slightly different sound, which I dig because without versatility I get real tired of bands, real fast.


So, I'm not in love with Neon Indian, but I hope to follow their work and keep listening for more.

Green Day Dookie

Green Day reminds me of my middle school angst days, complemented by the soundtracks of Lincoln Park and Blink 182.

I'm sorry, but this album really doesn't do a lot for me. The only songs I had heard previously were "Basket Case" and "When I Come Around", which I will admit that I like and find catchy, but they are not tracks I would listen to on my own time.

I think this album majorly lacks versatility: Although the songs may have different titles, lyrics, etc., I find they ultimately end up at the same chord progression and loud singing/ drum combo that makes me glad I'm not in my angst phase anymore. Dookie was their 3rd album or so too, correct? I would hope that by now they would be at least slightly branching out to different sounds.

My favorite Green Day album overall was American Idiot.

Oh hello Boulevard of Broken Dreams



I definitely know every single lyric to that song. It's catchy, relatable, just angsty enough to be a huge hit.


I think that overtime, Green Day definitely progressed and got that hint of diversity it need to keep their music interesting, but all in all, not a significant band for me.

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Kavinsky

RIYL: Justice, Daft Punk, Crystal Castles

So, in short, Kavinsky is slower techno-y music. The album "Nightcall" is like thriller gone techno, there's like some horror elements in it and it's real weird but I like it.



That was good right? However, this is a mix of that song that I like even better.



This version has a bit more of a pop-vibe to it, I think it's faster and more upbeat, which is a common trend I find in songs that I like.

Okay, this one is so daft-y, I love it


Kavinsky's most famous track, "Nightcall" itself, it's good but once again, slow for my taste



I'm not in love with Kavinsky by any means, but hey, I'm exploring and trying to find new artists. Kavinsky fits my stereotypical techno-based music preference, but there's nothing absolutely groundbreaking about Kavinksy's sound. I would be interested to see Kavinsky add some vocal tracks or some sort of lyrics into later albums. That would be something new.

Massive Attack

This is the most unsure I think I have ever been on a genre of music ever. There are some elements of this trip-hop business that I really like, but then other parts are like what.

Okay, I suppose I do like it a lot. In regards to Massive Attack specifically, I really like the female lead's voice, it's high yet a bit raspy, which I find very unique and alluring. I also really like a majority of the basic beats to the songs. However, I feel like they drag and they make me feel like I am moving in slow motion. But, I also am not under the influence of any drugs presently, so I guess it's all in the ears of the listener.

I don't think we listened to this track in class, but I diggin "Paradise Circus"


This track has a strong focus on the vocals, which I am in to, as I previously stated. It's a bit slow, but still catchy.

Angel is a great one



I remember being really mesmerized when we listened to this track with the visual audio synthesizer or whatever that digital firework machine is called. This song has a lot of variety within itself, or I feel like it is almost several songs that kind of blur into one.


Okay, but I also hate this song kind of.



This song is basically just noise to me. I'm also not a huge fun of the male vocals in this track. It's like overly-mixed middle eastern music and I'm not into it.

So, in conclusion, I think I like Massive Attack, but I am also scared by it. This is a classic Die Antwoord situation, I'm afraid yet so intrigued.

Friday, May 10, 2013

WU TANG SUCKA

I like the Wu Tang Clan, but I fear I'm far too white and sheltered to appreciate them fully. This isn't really music I would listen to during my free time. I find their music focuses too much on their lyrics for me. Although I can acknowledge they are lyrical geniuses and can spit fire, I enjoy my music with a strong beat or something to at least sway/ dance to. This is more of a head-bobber.


I didn't know Wu Tang Clan very well before we listened to them in class, but one thing I noticed was a TON of samples I recognize from other hip hop songs/ mash ups


The piano riff in this song I've def heard a million times before.



Def heard this refrain before


And this is the only song I recognize as it's own work/ have heard before as a whole



I want to like this! I really do! It is just so slow and different from most hip hop.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

D.veloped

RIYL: Girl Talk, Supermash Bros


Mashups: Ya love em or you hate em. I, personally, am a lover. I think it roots from my Music ADD, I typically have about 8 songs stuck in my head at any given moment.

D.Veloped is a mashup DJ who samples a lot of very current/ pop-y tracks and allows them to blend harmoniously. I am a die hard Girl Talk fan, so while I do think Girl Talk is a better DJ/ puts out higher quality tracks, D.veloped isn't half bad. The main difference in their sounds, in my opinion is that girl talk does a better job of actually overlapping the tracks, while D.veloped sometimes just does individual snippets of songs and plays them back to back. Both are good, it's just personal preference.


Here's a video link to the full album "Work Party", its 39 minutes and although it's divided into separate tracks, they all blend into one big track.



AND HERE'S THE BEAUTY OF THIS POST:

If you like "D.veloped" on facebook, you can download this album for free. That's right, everyone, I'M DIRECTING YOU TO FREE MUSIC. Damn, I am such a good person.

Here are some more individual links if you want to do more listening:





Also, quick aside, not thrilled with ACL Line up. All great bands-- that I have already seen perform at ACL in previous years. Lil' cranky. That is all.

Friday, May 3, 2013

RHCP

If we're being real, I really wasn't a huge fan of this album. I'm not that into heavy rock, and I feel like RHCP became a lot more soft and well, pop-y as the developed further on which is why I am a fan of their later work.

The only songs I really like are Give it Away and Under the Bridge





These songs I think could be defined as RHCP Classics, they are both have memorable refrains and relatable lyrics, which makes them so well loved. Give it Away is significantly faster and harder than Under the Bridge, but I think it still is less harsh and less-screamy than some of their other songs on the album. In contrast to almost the entire album, Under the Bridge is a nice, slower song about heart break and loss, who wouldn't eat that up?


As for the rest of the album... Sorry not sorry, I am a pop princess now & forever, that's just the way I am.

ALAS, no fear, I have not given up on RHCP,

The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie is actually in my top 10 favorite songs



First of all, HELLO COWBELL. Love that. Secondly, very catchy, upbeat tune; not as in your face as their old stuff. There's also more actual singing on this track than the loud talking/ yelling on their old tracks.

More all time faves:







All of these songs are their softer works...coincidence? I think not.

In Conclusion, I love RHCP, but not during the Blood Sugar, Sex, Magik phase.




New Phoenix Album

Phoenix released a new album this past month, and I've just now gotten the chance to listen to it all the way through. The album definitely has several break out hits, I will give a quick sampler of my favorite tracks.

Entertainment is the first track on the Album, and it starts the album off with a bang



It's got a Japanese theme to it, the real music video was long and weird so I didn't post it. Anyways, this song is catchy AF with a repetitive, funky keyboard Asian melody. The lyrics don't seem to be largely significant or impact the song's appeal.

SOS in Bel Air is great, I can't find a link that's not a horribly-filmed fan video from a concert. Sorry. Listen to that one on your own time, partner.

Here is a link to "Trying to Be Cool" and "Drakkar Noir"



Trying to Be Cool has a real Passion Pit vibe to it, lot's of funky keyboard/ techno transitions. This song emphasizes the lyrics a lot more than Entertainment, and man I love the lead's voice.

Fitting to the true spirit of an album, I think Drakkar Noir sounds extremely similar to Trying to Be Cool. Same kind of steady beat and funky keyboard track. While I think it's important for artists to maintain a distinguishable sound, I could see others arguing that their music all sounds the same.

Bankrupt! (the song the album was named for) is almost entirely instrumental, or vocals don't come in until around minute 5. I'm very cranky that I can't find a link to this online yet, the album is still so new that I guess no links have been legally posted. Dammit internet.


Anyways, overall, I love the album. Phoenix has a real soothing, easy listening sound that I can listen to whenever and wherever.