Letlive- 'Muther'
I'm absolutely willing to admit that I was wrong about Letlive. The first time I heard them over a year ago I just didn't get it. I think I must have been played a bad song, because if I'd heard 'Muther' back then I would no doubt have all their albums in my possession by now. Frontman Jason Aalon Butler was recently voted by Kerrang! readers as the greatest rock star in the world, which I found very surprising, as I'm sure thousands of other people did flicking through the magazine. But this made me curious to hear more of Letlive. A friend played me this a few days ago and now I'm genuinely impressed with this bands' music.
Sunday, 25 September 2011
Sunday, 18 September 2011
Song Of The Week 18/11/11
Eddie Vedder- 'Goodbye'
'Ukulele Songs' is one of my favourite albums at the moment. Eddie Vedder is a rich, warm vocalist, and I've been a fan of his ever since I heard 'Ten' by Pearl Jam when I was first getting in to the whole Seattle grunge scene maybe 8 or 9 years ago. His voice is just so versatile; he can do raw and powerful, sweeping and soulful, as well as the taut and delicate tones that accompany his ukulele here.
On my first listen through of the album I wasn't entirely taken by the concept. After listening to Vedder singing with a full back-up of guitars and drums for so many years the sinuous, surprisingly haunting sound of the lone uke running beside the stripped back vocals came at odds with my expectations, and I thought that it could have done with more variety in feel and theme. It is an album that takes some dedication to prize out its subtleties, but it is worth the time. The song writing is deceptively deep and the sentiments are endearing.
I think 'Goodbye' would make a great break-up song. It is the sound of a clean, pure sadness expressed with real honesty. There's no schmaltz or melodrama to dull the melancholy in Vedder's lyrics, and it is all the more poignant because of it. I realise how emo that sounds, but give it a listen and I think you'll hear what I mean. I'm sure next week's will be a happier track!
'Ukulele Songs' is one of my favourite albums at the moment. Eddie Vedder is a rich, warm vocalist, and I've been a fan of his ever since I heard 'Ten' by Pearl Jam when I was first getting in to the whole Seattle grunge scene maybe 8 or 9 years ago. His voice is just so versatile; he can do raw and powerful, sweeping and soulful, as well as the taut and delicate tones that accompany his ukulele here.
On my first listen through of the album I wasn't entirely taken by the concept. After listening to Vedder singing with a full back-up of guitars and drums for so many years the sinuous, surprisingly haunting sound of the lone uke running beside the stripped back vocals came at odds with my expectations, and I thought that it could have done with more variety in feel and theme. It is an album that takes some dedication to prize out its subtleties, but it is worth the time. The song writing is deceptively deep and the sentiments are endearing.
I think 'Goodbye' would make a great break-up song. It is the sound of a clean, pure sadness expressed with real honesty. There's no schmaltz or melodrama to dull the melancholy in Vedder's lyrics, and it is all the more poignant because of it. I realise how emo that sounds, but give it a listen and I think you'll hear what I mean. I'm sure next week's will be a happier track!
Thursday, 8 September 2011
Song Of The Week 8/11/11
Blink 182- 'Up All Night'
Blink are back! I am very excited, especially if the rest of new album 'Neighborhoods' continues in the same vein as this track. I've always been a huge fan of Travis Barker; I've been trying to play some of his beats since the first time I ever picked up drum sticks, and I can still only just make it through 'First Date' without my arms flying off. So the first thing that jumps out at me on 'Up All Night' is the great drums, but it's also nice to hear Mark and Tom again, and to hear some Angels And Airwaves-influenced electronics in the mix. Tom has clearly taken comments about his nasally whine to heart and tried to tone them down, and there is defintely the impression on this song that the band as a whole are taking their music a bit more seriously. I'm definitely looking forward to hearing more from the album and picking it up when it's released (hopefully) on 26th September.
Blink are back! I am very excited, especially if the rest of new album 'Neighborhoods' continues in the same vein as this track. I've always been a huge fan of Travis Barker; I've been trying to play some of his beats since the first time I ever picked up drum sticks, and I can still only just make it through 'First Date' without my arms flying off. So the first thing that jumps out at me on 'Up All Night' is the great drums, but it's also nice to hear Mark and Tom again, and to hear some Angels And Airwaves-influenced electronics in the mix. Tom has clearly taken comments about his nasally whine to heart and tried to tone them down, and there is defintely the impression on this song that the band as a whole are taking their music a bit more seriously. I'm definitely looking forward to hearing more from the album and picking it up when it's released (hopefully) on 26th September.
Friday, 2 September 2011
Song Of The Week 2/9/11
Biffy Clyro- 'Whorses'
I'd be a bit of a hypocrite if I started complaining about how Biffy Clyro have sold out. If it weren't for their far more mainstream fourth album 'Puzzle' I might never have discovered them. I admit that I prefer their older material, particularly 'Blackened Sky' and 'The Vertigo Of Bliss', but I also think that their most recent release 'Only Revolutions' is bloody great. And I was never really a fan of 'Many Of Horror', so as far as I'm concerned Matt Cardle can have it, I don't really mind.
Anyway, 'Whorses' is my favourite track from 'Only Revolutions', if only for the collossal drop into the final third of the song, which remains as satisfying to listen to now as it did the first time. They can get as mainstream as they like, but chances are I'll still love them. Mon The Biff!
I'd be a bit of a hypocrite if I started complaining about how Biffy Clyro have sold out. If it weren't for their far more mainstream fourth album 'Puzzle' I might never have discovered them. I admit that I prefer their older material, particularly 'Blackened Sky' and 'The Vertigo Of Bliss', but I also think that their most recent release 'Only Revolutions' is bloody great. And I was never really a fan of 'Many Of Horror', so as far as I'm concerned Matt Cardle can have it, I don't really mind.
Anyway, 'Whorses' is my favourite track from 'Only Revolutions', if only for the collossal drop into the final third of the song, which remains as satisfying to listen to now as it did the first time. They can get as mainstream as they like, but chances are I'll still love them. Mon The Biff!
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