Back.N.The Swing!

SO. It's basically been ages since i've posted here. hopefully, that'll change! although honestly, i can't promise anything, considering i'll be headed off to college in a couple days. if they work me so hard i barely have time to breathe, chances are i'll spend my limited free time doing things more productive than writing on the internet about amazing new music i've found. but then again. perhaps i'll spend my free time on here..

anyways. music. i've been out of the swing of this, so i don't have a whole slew of organized things to say to you. in fact, all of this is pretty much spur of the moment. that being said..

over the summer i've been listening to a few bands in particular that you should at least check out the myspace's of:

Passion Pit! http://www.myspace.com/passionpitjams
Owl City! http://www.myspace.com/owlcity
And Then There Were None! http://www.myspace.com/andthentherewerenone

Yupyup. None of these bands are totally obscure.. i'm actually scouring the internet now looking for some new hot tunes.

Yup. There most certainly is a God.

Vampire Weekend + Ra Ra Riot = Discovery

Whoa! Prepare to have your minds blown folks. I've found some stunning music. Check THESE guys out.

Not quite sure what words to use. Uhh. Amazin'? I could see these songs being played in an Indie Dance Club. And people dancing and acting crazy while these beats are being laid down.

Well HERE is a place you can download a couple free songs. And who doesn't like free music?

Joel->out

Hmm. Am I becoming a vblogger? nah. but i HAVE been stumbling across quite a few interesting vids the past few days...

okie dokie. here's a vid I found using stumble upon a few days ago.
the band = the Animal Collective
the song = My Girls
the album = Merriweather Post Pavillion

Honestly. This is one of the most creative videos I've ever stumbled upon. I've only recently become aquainted with this band, but I could tell from my first listen that I had found something that I'll be coming back to listen to time and time again. The music is... funky. It's dancable, soothing, eclectic, and different at the same time. Give it a listen. Or at least check the video out...

ips.heart of fire. vid.

i love this band. i love this vid.

and i've got reasons for both. i love the band because i think they're creative and original. i love this video because i think it's creative and original. i know what it takes to make a great vid. and these guys have it. well. enough of the me talking. just watch it. tell me whatcha think.

m.u.t.e. math <<>>

So.
It's been a while.
I've been trying to decide what to post for a while, and finally settled upon something today.
I'm trying something different. Instead of writing a review for an album, band, or song, I picked a band, listened to them, and picked a bunch of "tags" that I think fit the band.

Okay. So the band = Mute Math
The album I listened to = Mute Math
The Tags =

// synthish // cool // different // great intros //

// RIFF ROCK // a n a l o g u e s y n t h // TIGHT d r u m s // guitar solos // clean vocals //

// radiohead-esque // funky // crisp // heavenly // dancyriffyparty //

// experimental // /distortion // soaring vocals // produced // smooth //

// bass // catchy // Musey // New Orleans //

electro rock // interesting rock //

Oh Em Gee - My Goodness Gracious!

It's been a full month since I've last posted! Time has this funny way of continuing on without me realizing it. Lately I've been quite caught up with school... But then again, I suppose I should be used to that by now, huh?

Enough with the nonsense though.

Let's start with a list of my most played artists for the last few weeks:

1) Radiohead (surprise!)

2) Van Morrison

3) Ben Folds

4) Feather Drug

5) The Postal Service

6) Killswitch Engage

7) Joy Division

8) Sigur Ros

9) Nirvana

10) David Bowie

I'll go ahead and give you a brief rundown on each band/artist. I promise. I'll limit it to one sentence.

Radiohead - Considering my last post, you guys probably don't want to hear about these guys anymore, I'll just say that they get better the CLOSER you listen to them, when you really analyze their songs.

Van Morrison - This guy is certainly one of the greatest songwriters of the 20th Century, possibly ever.

Ben Folds - What can I say, I'm a piano player, anyone who features the piano as their main  instrument captures my attention, listen to his song 'Hiroshima', epic.

Feather Drug - Here's a gem I found on Jamendo, great instrumental music.

The Postal Service - Any act associated with Ben Gibbard is gold, this one's platinum.

Killswitch Engage - When you just wunna blast some loud music, here's your guys, but they're still one of the most talented metal bands out there.

Joy Division - These guys were cool long before you were, check 'em out.

Sigur Ros - Wow, this here is some of the most soothing music you'll ever experiece, an iTunes review I read said it sounds like it's "straight out of heaven", and they're right, so chill.

Nirvana - Do I really have to write about Nirvana?

David Bowie - Do I really have to write about Bowie?

Hmm. I think that'll wrap up this post folks! I've got stuff to do. You've got stuff to do.

Go do that stuff.

Perhaps a stream of consciousness?

Any of you ever heard of style of writing called stream of consciousness? Perhaps you've read some? In essence, it's when the writer jots down whatever comes to his head and lays all of his thoughts out on paper with a minimum of editing. I think I might try it now.

2008 was a wonderful year for me. I learned about a lot of new music. I recorded some stuff with some friends and they showed me new music and my musical interests were broadened by many different factors. Recently, I've really gotten into some of the great 60's and 70's music, along with searching deeper for the roots of more modern alternative rock. I've been listening to David Bowie, the Grateful Dead, The Guess Who, Van Morrison and The Who. Along with My Bloody Valentine, Sonic Youth, Nirvana, and U2. I've gotten into loads of great indie bands/labels. One of my favorite being Sub Pop. Those guys are incredible! Fleet Foxes..The Shins..Iron and Wine..The Postal Service. Let me just say that The Postal Service is amazing, if you've never heard the song Such Great Heights, I suggest you look it up RIGHT NOW and give it a good listen. It'll blow your mind away.

I'm trying to think of the direction that I want to go in this post.. and haven't really come up with one. I suppose that's part of the deal with the whole stream of consciousness idea. I could get into this.

Radiohead Radiohead Radiohead. Say it a million times. Say it a million more times. And what is the word you've just said two million times? RADIOHEAD. Over the past year I've come to conclusion that these guys are incredible. They're creative. They're musical. They're innovative.. and they're just plain good. I bought their CD 'In Rainbows' at Starbucks right before driving out to Colorado this past March. I remember listening to it on the way out there.. just soaking in the musical goodness of the CD. And then I got OK Computer. I remember reading somewhere that there are certain CDs that really make an impact on you, CDs that are so good that you remember what you were doing, where you were sitting, and what you were wearing the first time you listen to them. OK Computer was certainly one of those CDs for me. I remember reading the reviews on iTunes.. people declaring that it was "The best CD of the decade.. and perhaps the best of the century!". "Umm" I was thinking.. "I'll decide that for myself..". So I downloaded the album, took a seat on my coach, and listened to the whole thing. I'm pretty sure I didn't speak for about a week  afterwords, I was that blown away. That last sentence was a lie, but that CD WAS good! Now, whenever I listen to Radiohead, for some reason, I don't feel as if I'm listening to a band sing songs. I feel as if I'm listening to more. Like I'm listening to an artist paint a masterpiece. Perhaps you're scratching your head wondering how that all makes sense... Well. Go get a Radiohead CD (preferably Kid A or OK Computer... but they'll all do) listen to it. And THEN you'll understand.

Hmm. I've been talking for quite some time now, and even though it would be quite easy for me to continue on about music, I'll spare you. So now I've got an assignment for you. It's really easy. Go out there, and listen to some great music! Who knows, maybe 09 will be the best year ever!