Viva la Vida-Coldplay

Okay, as everyone well knows, Coldplay's highly anticipated fourth record Viva la Vida was just released, and frankly, I'm not too big of a fan of it. I mean, it's good, but a lot of hype was lead up to this, and it was a flop, frankly. 

Okay, first of all, Coldplay is not the greatest band on Earth, and I need to base that down to begin with, especially because Coldplay has turned into the High School students' "Dave Matthews Band" fad. Everyone listens to them, and everyone's an expert on them. Which is a sad truth when it all boils down.

I'm definitely not saying that Coldplay sucks either. Chris Martin masters the falseto style of singing, and the addition of the mellow music of guitar mixing with a piano just makes the band what they really are. But that's all about the band itself that I'm going to say before this review turns bias.

First, to start off, one of the cons of this record, is that it starts out with a pure instrumental, that honestly, bores the living Hell out of you. I mean, it is upbeat and everything, but it's repetitive. Also, I, frankly, cannot STAND the song Viva la Vida because of how famous it's become. I mean, it still is good, but it doesn't deserve the attention it has got.

Now, I will give it the satisfaction of having three very good songs, and the band all together, writes very deep and meaningful lyrics and sings it well for the most part, and I'm talking about near-great songs. These songs are Cemeteries of London, Yes (despite the deep vocals at the beginning) and Death and All His Friends (for the soul purpose of the line "Cycle recycled revenge" even though it was not come up with by the band, rather their producer.)

It good. I will at least give them that. But it just sounds like X&Y, which as well all know (if you actually know music) was not that great of a record. Coldplay has just turned into a repetitive band, and that's a hard habit to change, because when you start writing songs and singing them one way, then you're told that you have to completely change that, it's hard to do. I guess I'd tell you to buy it, I did. Don't rip them off. It is kind of worth it, but much better records have been released. I give it three stars.

Top Ten Songs in Modern Music

Top Ten Songs in Modern Music
1. Belt Loops-The Films-Don’t Dance Rattlesnake
Okay, we all know how I feel about most pop-music in general, and although this song has a mild, pop to quazi-pop attitude about it, it’s still got a balance of good solid lyrics, “in-your-face” guitar and bass (how ironic that that actually rhymed), and a solid vocalist make this somewhat of an unofficial anthem for my generation because it is the story of overcoming a failed relationship, and that pretty much speaks for itself.

2. Colorful Revolution-The Redwalls-Universal Blues
This is the “MTV Generations” Revolution. And not just because of the similarity in the name. Overall, it addresses the problems in our society through somewhat of a figurative way (although plenty of the song’s meaning is just straightforward and easy to interpret.) It addresses the war, and the inflation, and everything else our society is famous for, despite how political it really is. The difference between the Green Day kind of politics and the Redwalls kind of politics is that the Redwalls’ is not opinionated, but rather straightforward facts. And I, for one, will step right up and start a colorful revolution.

3. In the Mouth of the Whale-The Stock Market Crash-Geology
I know most people have never EVER heard of this band. Little local diddy from here in Okie. There is just one line, that I think sums up our generations views on relationships and love. “It’s a full time job/To be a part-time lover.” How damn truthful that really is, and not so much the job part being full time, but rather that all we can look forward to is a bunch of “One Night Stands” or “Two-Week Relationships” that we, for the most part, have forgot all about the love factor that goes into a relationship, that could then lead to marriage.

4. Naïve-The Kooks-Inside In/Inside Out
Good Lord! What an amazing song. Speaks out for how dumb all of us can really be, when especially when we see things we really want (or at least think we want) right in front of our face, and we just let them take advantage of us and use us, and not just love in this situation, but rather anything one could think of, whether it be alcohol, friendship, or even religion for Christ-sake (no pun intended). The song just fits us so perfectly because of the lyrics. And not only that it’s an all around amazing song.

5. Politik-Coldplay-A Rush of Blood to the Head
Now, I’m not going to lay down a bunch of crap hailing Coldplay as the “greatest band to grace God’s Green Earth” because frankly, they’re not. I love their music, but they’re repetitive and overall are afraid of change, but this song is just so beautifully written, and performed so. I’m not quite sure what it is about the song, but if I had to give one thing about it that makes it stand out from every other Coldplay song, it would be the lyrics. They’re just so…yeah. Words, in no way, can describe it.

6. Saint John-Cold War Kids-Robbers & Cowards
This song isn’t even brilliant lyrically. This song just tells an amazing story of a man waiting on death row for killing a man with a brick in defense of his sister as she was being raped. It just really captures a lot about my own views on the death penalty, as if Nathan Willett (lead singer) has actually spent time waiting on death row. The music for it really captures a lot of the mood, as it starts with a low, sad three chord bass line, that is basically repeated throughout the song.

7. Electric Feel-MGMT-Oracular Spectacular
This song just puts you in a dancing mood, as gay as that actually sounds. It can’t even be classified as any type of music really. I mean, maybe electronica, because of its sound, but all I know is that this is a great song. Not even lyrically again, but just kind of a “feel good” kind of ballad that has kind of a Daft Punk feel to it. Just carefree, not worrying about anything kind of mood to it.

8. Yeah Yeah Yeah Song-The Flaming Lips-At War With the Mystics
Not what you would really expect from the Flaming Lips (of course I am referring to it’s meaning) that being kind of an anti-war ballad. It is a political piece again, but not in a horrible way, and Wayne Coyne (lead singer) kind of clears it up at in concert by breaking it down line-by-line, and explaining it (which was one, if not the, best concerts I’ve ever seen.) It does have to do quite a bit about President Bush, but I’m so out-of-it politically, I could really careless, and it’s also not as extreme as SOME bands (Green Day, System of a Down.) But definitely a great, and powerful song.

9. Crescendolls-Daft Punk-Discovery
You know, robot rock is so sweet. I mean, Daft Punk has got to be one of the most influential and different (to say the least) bands of all time based souly on the fact that they are the founders of Robot Rock. I just chose this song because it’s my favorite Daft Punk song, and it’s just a song that pumps me up. There isn’t any lyrical meaning to it, and I honestly cannot explain how I love it so much, or Daft Punk for that matter.

10. Hard Sun-Eddie Vedder-Into the Wild OST
What an amazing song this is, especially for a movie soundtrack. My brother really got me into this song this summer. It just is such a beautiful song. I mean, lots of symbolism lyrically, really easy but still remarkable guitar, and good vocals all back this song up. This actually is some of Vedder’s best work (including his stuff with Pearl Jam). Just good, easy listening music.

Now, all of these songs are available for download (for a short time) and if anyone has any objections to any of these songs being posted, please let me know and I'll remove them and apologize immediately. So the link to get all ten of these songs is
http://savefile.com/projects/808652848
Enjoy!

Kevin

My Views on Modern Music...

Okay, so even more different now. I'm going to blog as to why I think the popular "music" of today...sucks. Now, by popular music, one should know that I'm not talking about your Coldplays, and Jack Johnsons, but rather, your Fallout Boys, Panic! At the Discos, and so on and so fourth.

First of all, to get this out and on to the table, if you tie politics into your music, then you are selling out to one of the most recent fads that are involved in today's music "scene" (or lack-there-of) and yeah, I am fully aware of how preachy this sounds, and this will be the only blog like this that I do. Back on task though. I concur, President Bush may not be one of the greatest guys to ever be put into office, but Hell, we all voted him in there (or atleast the majority as you can blatantly see). Just because a guy makes mistakes when he's in office though, he gets a whole music fad after him? Honestly, if they weren't such crappy bands (Green Day, System of a Down) I would be partially honored. But now these bands are taking what Bob Dylan and John Lennon did best, and commercializing it for personal fame? That just doesn't seem right to me, that the two best song writers to ever grace God's Green Earth are being mocked by what are basically rich kids who think Bush sucks because CNN or MSNBC says that Bush sucks, they feel that that's a way to get a great cheer out of the audience.

I was recently talking to a friend of mine named Paul Snyder, and we discussed this topic quite a bit. He put it very blatantly and straight-forward by saying that these guys are like "Hey, we suck at playing music...but Bush sucks!" And the crowd eats up every bit of it and cheers right along with a ceremonial "Hoo-rah" against the American government, and the sad part is, most of this happens OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTRY. 

I just hate knowing that pompous rich boys like the three malcontents in Green Day are ruling the music industry, when people who are far superior in vocals, straight up music talent, and lyrics are struggling to make money off of their record because it's also become uncool to buy music, so iTunes and old time record stores (half of the people my age don't even know what that is...sadly) are down, while free sites/applications like LimeWire and RapidShare are sky-rocketing in numbers.

Also, the fact that crappy emo boy outfits like that of Fallout Boy and Panic! At the Disco, and Cobra Starship (Sorry Taylor) can whine their hearts out on a record and play God-Awful music, that girls that are my age, just because of their hair or T-Shirt line, or shoes, or whatever BS it may be, will still end up eating it all up, and it becomes then "An Industry of Cool" and not about what we (my humble readers) love so much about music. The sad SAD truth is that if rock n' roll, and I mean real rock n' roll, not this stuff that I'm talking about stays the way it is, has a good seven years left before it goes belly up, and then we'll be left with rappers and country artists, and thanks to emo and political music, real music will finally rest in peace, just like Mr. Don McClean predicted it would.

The Raconteurs-Consolers of the Lonely

Okay, I don't know what to even call this thing anymore. Let's just call a music source, with articles and reviews. (God, I really need a new hobby and a smaller vocabulary.) If you couldn't read in between the lines (if anyone is reading this at all) I'm back with another review, and this is of Consolers of the Lonely by the Raconteurs.

Again, little background information. Formed in 2005, the Raconteurs consist of Brendan Benson, Patrick Keeler, Jack Lawrence, and the legendary Jack White (who I still hold as my generation's Jimi Hendrix.) And, they're not bad, but can't touch the original workings of Jack and Meg White as The White Strips, where most of the classic music of my generation actually has come from.

Now, this record started off with a big band that kind of left you wanting more after the first song of Consoler of the Lonely. Then, it goes into Track 2 on the record Salute Your Solution, which still isn't a bad song, but no where near the magnitude of the primary track of the record.

I will give them one thing, the guitar through out the entire record is strong, and that is also a key point to why this record doesn't completely suck. It just takes a while to get into, and after about five or six songs, you just start to get bored of everything, and go find something else to do.

It's not even that the remaining songs on the record suck. It's just that they're so repetitive, and it just all sounds like it's one, long, never-ending song. It just drags on and on, until you get to Track 12, which is my favorite on the record (Rich Kid Blues). I mean, I like the 1st, and the 12th track? That's not what a good, solid record is supposed to be like. That part of it, is mediocre at best.

I honestly do think that Jack White makes much better and lasting and stronger music when he plays with Meg White as the White Stripes. I think he is just better as a solo act with drums, because when you mix him in with a rhythm guitarist, then you just take away from that man's God-given talent of being able to absolutely destroy a guitar. So, I give three and a half stars.

De Nova-The Redwalls

Yes, although I'm back with yet another review, mainly because I'm working with a few bands right now, still in the interviewing stage, but will have articles up very soon if all things go to plan, but I just want to review what is perhaps one of my favorite records. De Nova by the Redwalls.

 

I mean, Logan Baren sounds (almost effortlessly) flawlessly alike to Bob Dylan. Although that might be a bad thing according to some people. The thing is though, Logan Baren sounds more like the legendary Dylan, then Dylan's own son Jakob (especially in songs like Glory of War and Front Page which both ironically have a Dylan-esque theme to them of anti-war).

This record is not to go without it's flaws though. There is a little too much harmony in some songs (as if I could actually find myself saying that with my love of the sound of harmony). I mean, it's not completely over-the-top, but it isn't even that much of a harmony sound, as it is Logan and Justin Baren singing the same piece of music in the same key. It just gets to be a little too much because it all seems to get mashed together.

Also, and I just have to get this out there on the table. This whole record is almost flawless with the exception of one song. Love Her. It's not good. The record was a little lengthy to being with, but that was just a waste of a song, in my opinion. Besides  that, it's almost hard to point out any sort of flaw in the entire record.

Now to the strong points of the record. For those of you who grew up during the 1960's/1970's or are a fan of the music of that era, this sounds like the good ol' fashion music from then. The guitar sound just sounds like it's raw, and original, and not messed with by new age pedals or effects. 

The one, key point to this record (and band for that matter) is the lead singer's (Logan Baren) voice. You just don't get people who sing like that anymore. It's carefree, and just original sounding, and to me, that's what makes this band really stand out above the rest of the bands in the music industry (if you can even call it an industry anymore).

I'd give it a good four stars, and it'd be four and a half, if it wasn't for Love Her. It's good. Pick it up if you get a chance. It's worth 9 or 10 dollars.

The Kooks-Konk

Once again, I'm back with a review. This one is a little tough to do too, because one thing you have to remember is that no matter how much you like a band, you have to be brutally honest and overall, unmerciful. So, Konk, by the Kooks is on the chopping block for this post.

 

Konk, first of all, was named after the studio that recorded the record. That's just a little background information. This was the Kooks sophomore record (succeeding Inside In/Inside Out which could be considered as one of the best records of this decade thus far) and it had a lot of hype to live up to, due to the success of Inside In/Inside Out. 

Now, I'm not going to say that this was a bad record. This record had a lot of solid building blocks in it. The guitar throughout the entire record was impressive to say the least, and thank Kooks' guitarist Hugh Harris for that. The guitar work really stands out, especially in the song Gap and as well as See The Sun (cleverly related to the blog name.) A lot of the guitar stands out though, not because of swill solos, but rather eccentric hammer ons and slides that give it an extra pizzaz, rather then over-the-top solos that drag the songs out.

 

Now, I have to bring up the lyrics that Luke Pritchard wrote for this record. Now, I'm definitely not saying that the lyrics sucked, but compared to that of Matchbox (From Inside In/Inside Out) and other examples from that record and various EP's they released. I mean, Inside In/Inside Out was just far superior lyrically, because on Konk, Luke wrote songs like Do You Wanna which was a great guitar song, but the incredibly repetitive chorus of "Do you wanna/Do you wanna/Do you wanna make love to me?" It just gets hard to listen to after a minute and a half of the same fourteen words over and over again.

 

I do actually suggest buying this record. But, I'd get a better feel for the Kooks prior to doing so, because I didn't really think this was the Kooks. I give this three and a half stars, based souly on the lack of deepness in the lyrics. So, if your at the record store or BestBuy or whatever it may be, get Inside In/Inside Out first, and if you own it, get Konk, but get it with special bonus disk Rak because it has songs on it that are like the ones on the freshman record (such as Watching the Ships Roll In).

Kevin

Jakob Dylan-Seeing Things

Although, yes, I usually do straight-edged articles that are accurate, legitimate interview articles, I decided that I would do a review. Also, although this record has not been released quite yet, I have heard it. I have to say, not quite Jakob Dylan anymore. Nevertheless, it's not too bad of a record.

 

He started out playing with a small time band...kind of, called the Wallflowers as their lead singer. You know, he doesn't sound anywhere near what his dad (the one and only Bob Dylan) did/does. And if that man can sing is a very debatable topic. There is common ground between father and son. The deepness of their lyrics. They both were masters of the pen, and were able to take nothing in a song, and turn it into something.

Voice-wise, Jakob does sound the same. I think giving up and flying solo made him start writing considerable deeper lyrics, and although to be a successful musician, you have to be able to back those lyrics up with a good voice, he has turned into a good and solid solo musician. Meaning that the lyrics he wrote has to be able to balance out with the voice, to stick in the mind of the listeners, so that they can see what the artist was trying to accomplish with this song, or that verse, or that stanza. So on and so fourth.

It wasn't a very disappointing record, but if you're a big Wallflowers' fan for Jakob, then you may be just a little bit disappointed. It's good, but not great. There's small blotches in song placement, and the record does get a little bit repetitive at some points. It is a record though, that you can just sit down and listen to, and really ponder on the lyrics this guy writes.

Interview with lo/fi pioneer...Chicago soul/jazz outfit

Some say that true, real inspiration comes in many forms, whether it be through a piece of art, something you read in a book, a great speech from an idol of your's...but for Aryk of lo/fi pioneer, inspiration comes from the things around him, including music. "My musical influences come from everywhere in life, they don't even need to be directly related to music" said Aryk. It's not what he listens to that inspires his music, rather, it's plainly what he hears that invokes his great sense of music. Much of what inspires him comes from other musicians playing in the clubs of the Chicago scene, that wrack his brain and inspire him to create and write. Chicago has helped him develop musically because it's a great scene to see many artists that are fairly popular. Growing up he listened to classic rock and country music. "...although the country was not by choice." Growing up he said that he listened to Aerosmith a lot, and they shaped the way he viewed rock music. In his teen years, he grew into the hip-hop stage, listening to Roots and Rage Against the Machine. None of these shaped his music life like the music of James Brown, the Godfather of Soul, when he borrowed a CD of his music when he was 17 or 18 year's old. According to him, "It opened the door to just about everything funky...I was also diggin more live hip-hop and neo-soul." Listening to artists like Nick Drake, Duncan Sheik, and James Taylor. "But it was those funk and R&B records that really inspired me to change the way I write music, sing, and play guitar" He said. That must be why he loves playing live so much. That is his favorite experience about music, because "It's great to have a good record and all, but it doesn't hold a candle to playing that music live. How did lo/fi pioneer get started though? Well they started out with a rotating group of people up until 2006, and were struggling to find the perfect fit of a bassist. Finally, after putting up ads in Craiglist, they came to their bassist Kevin, who, according to Aryk, "Knew where he wanted to be musically and didn't fake the funk." He said that it seemed that the others that he tried just seem to artifical and fake, and didn't really show his particular love for the music. After going through a first drummer, Russell, whom he met at open-mic nights at a Southside Chicago club every monday, they met TY, who is the drummer for the group now because Russell had a "falling out" and introduced them to Russell. According to Aryk, "That must have been a sign...playing with TY has been nothing short of amazing." The best thing about this band, is that the music is real. Nothing is filler, and nothing is fake. All of the music on their latest record "Solid State 2007" is real. It's about true relationships, conversations, and experiences that were worth writing about. They have a true, unbreakable passion for playing their music, and it's just something you do. "It's your fix... I think for most musicians it starts along the path of  you beg your parents for an instrument until they cave in, you learn the instrument, you learn how to write songs and starts from there.  For some of us it we press on until the dreams of becoming a rock star turn into reality, for others it becomes another hobby" said Aryk. That is why this band is different, and that is why this band is successful. It's not all about being what a rock-star is labeled to be. It's all about the passion for music, and knowing that the people you play your music for have a passion for it just as much as you do.

Interview with Scott Monaghan...aka Mr. Pitiful

Chicago, Illinois. Birthplace of the Baby-Back Rib, mass transit and public transportation, and most importantly…jazz. It is here that in 2005 Scott Monaghan decided that it was time to sit down and get serious about his love for music that he had since he was a kid. It was time to perfect his music the way he wanted, and get it the way he wanted it to sound.

                This extravagant "new-jazz" sound that Scott invents and perfects comes from the Soul artist Otis Redding, which is also how he got his name of Mr. Pitiful, coming from the famous song of Redding's that is known by many jazz fans today.

                His feelings on music reflect those that are of every true music fan. The thing he loves most about music, he says, is the way it makes him feel. He says, "It's like nothing else. It takes me to a place where I can't get any other way. I guess you could say I'm a music addict. Maybe I need an intervention."

               Some say that in order to make good music, the music has to have a meaning and a purpose. Music has to have a certain flavor and beat to make it just right for the listener. Scott's songs have this kind of meaning in them, such as in his song "The Wedding Song" because it is a soulful and meaningful song, that at the same time has a catchy slow-tune, that relates directly to him and his life.  "[It] was written for my wife when we got married. I performed it for the first time as a surprise on our wedding day."

                What could one classify this type of music as though? "Some people call it soul, some people call it country, some people call it folk. I just try to write songs that people will like. Classic pop music." That's what makes good music. The fact that you play for your audience and for yourself, and not for a record company just for the money.

                Overall music is about individuality and being different.  What separates on from other artists then is important in today's music business. So what exactly is it that separates Scott from other artists today? "From my point of view, the biggest difference is that I'm me and other artists are someone else.  I see myself from the inside out and other artists from the outside in."

                Look out for Mr. Pitiful's latest record on iTunes, and his website which can be found through his MySpace.