For those of you who are looking for some solid music and willing to support a good cause, I'd like to recommend the Hope For Haiti Now album, which is available on iTunes for the very low price of $7.99. It's worth supporting a good cause and will net you twenty songs by various artists. Though there's a mix of artists, the song content is focused exactly on what Haiti needs and what we should be about: hope. "The emergency situation in Haiti brought together international superstars of music for one of the biggest events in broadcast history. Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief took place on Friday, January 22".
But the best part is that 100 percent of the proceeds is going straight to supporting Haiti relief efforts. Not half, but all of it goes directly to those in need.
You can also go to their website and donate directly:
https://hopeforhaitinow.org/Default.asp
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Massive Attack : Heligoland
This new release (February 8th, 2010) is, the previously on hiatus, Massive Attack's fifth recorded album. Anticipated greatly by fans, and followers of the trip-hop sound, the album is said to be a throw-back to their earliest sound. Massive Attack, along with Portishead, is known for pioneering the trip-hop sound in the mid-1990's. Trip-hop itself is a sound particular for it rhythmic bass beats and hypnotic vocals, bridging the gap between Hip-hop and Electronica.
Last week we received this album in our campus radio station mailbox. I've listened to it quite a bit since than, and its everything a trip-hop/Massive Attack fan would be looking for. The only single from the album, "Splitting the Atom," follows their 1997 "Mezzanine" sound flawlessly. They brought back the vocalist's Grant Marshall and Robert Del Naja to emulate this earlier sound, following in particular patterns utilizing hypnotic beats, drugged out instrumental and vocals, and slow rap lyrics. This style is exactly what fans, like myself, were searching for since their hiatus back in 2004. I would highly recommend this album for those that are dedicated fans, but for those that do not know the band/trip-hop sound listen to the album, "Mezzanine," first.
Last week we received this album in our campus radio station mailbox. I've listened to it quite a bit since than, and its everything a trip-hop/Massive Attack fan would be looking for. The only single from the album, "Splitting the Atom," follows their 1997 "Mezzanine" sound flawlessly. They brought back the vocalist's Grant Marshall and Robert Del Naja to emulate this earlier sound, following in particular patterns utilizing hypnotic beats, drugged out instrumental and vocals, and slow rap lyrics. This style is exactly what fans, like myself, were searching for since their hiatus back in 2004. I would highly recommend this album for those that are dedicated fans, but for those that do not know the band/trip-hop sound listen to the album, "Mezzanine," first.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Current top song on iTunes- Imma Be
Folks, it's a surprise to see an 8-month old song rise back to the top-selling single on iTunes. I guess this attests to the fact that the Black Eyed Peas are bringing in new fans every day. Props to them.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Tik Tok : An Unfortunate Example of Modern "Music"
This song has been the most popular song on campus for the past few weeks. Its basic premise is to look good, party, drink, dance, party more... oh did i say look good too? There is seemingly no other point in life besides doing the latter stated activities. For "Tik Tok" goes the clock on the amount of time we have to do these things in one day, than do them all over again. Family, relationships and love mean nothing in this idealized lifestyle for they are insignificant in meaning to a fun life. Its frustrating as a musician that a song like this, with a catchy beat and nonsense lyrics, can be popular because it obviously has no significant meaning (partying thus not being meaningful). It is an unfortunate example of that which is popular modern music.
The music video relates what i said above. Check it out.
The music video relates what i said above. Check it out.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Top song on iTunes is... country?
So I was browsing through iTunes the other day, and was surprised to see that the current #1 song is country. It's called "Need You Now" and is performed by a band called Lady Antebellum. Now I'm not really a big fan of country, and don't really enjoy this song that much, but it goes to show how the South comprises such a larger part of the American demographic, even though Seattle is a wee bit different.
My favorite line? "It's a quarter after one/ I'm a little drunk and I need you now."
Check it out below:
-Josiah
My favorite line? "It's a quarter after one/ I'm a little drunk and I need you now."
Check it out below:
-Josiah
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Jack Johnson- Sleep Through the Static
Sleep Through the Static is Jack Johnson's fourth studio album. It was released around two years ago, February 2008, so it's not the most recent release, but I wanted to do a Jack Johnson review at some point. So now's as good a time as any.
For those of you familiar with Jack Johnson (and I'm assuming that most would be), you can expect a lot of classic "Jack" in this album. You can still find his soft acoustic tunes and his down to earth topics, but look for significantly more instrumental mixture in within this album. In addition to acoustic guitar, piano, and drums, listen for some horns, flutes, synth, a stronger focus on electric guitar, among others. Variety is often a good thing, but it seems that the best keep the instrumental simple and clean, giving focus to the content of the words.
Johnson keeps with his set array of down to earth topics: love, life, and war. As in the past, he manages to create a couple nuggets in each category. "If I had eyes" gives an upbeat ballad of chasing love. "Angel" slows the pace down, trims down to acoustics, and sets a mellow tune to speak of a valued relationship. "Sleep Through the Static", the title song, gets to American values. The chorus especially, gets to his point: "Who needs to see what we've done?/ Who needs 'please' when we've got guns?" Whether this song may be found a little too preachy to some, I applaud Jack for speaking his mind and heart in his songs. You can tell his hearts in every song, and I find that very refreshing. A song near the end of the Album, "Go On", is really his reflection to his kids, slowly growing up before his eyes.
So final verdict? Some of the songs I loved, notables being those that I mentioned. But some astonished me with strange instrumental choices and an awkward blend of tones. This is not a thoroughly brilliant album, but it has pockets of quality. I'd recommend listening to the better parts of it, but only such.
-Josiah
For those of you familiar with Jack Johnson (and I'm assuming that most would be), you can expect a lot of classic "Jack" in this album. You can still find his soft acoustic tunes and his down to earth topics, but look for significantly more instrumental mixture in within this album. In addition to acoustic guitar, piano, and drums, listen for some horns, flutes, synth, a stronger focus on electric guitar, among others. Variety is often a good thing, but it seems that the best keep the instrumental simple and clean, giving focus to the content of the words.
Johnson keeps with his set array of down to earth topics: love, life, and war. As in the past, he manages to create a couple nuggets in each category. "If I had eyes" gives an upbeat ballad of chasing love. "Angel" slows the pace down, trims down to acoustics, and sets a mellow tune to speak of a valued relationship. "Sleep Through the Static", the title song, gets to American values. The chorus especially, gets to his point: "Who needs to see what we've done?/ Who needs 'please' when we've got guns?" Whether this song may be found a little too preachy to some, I applaud Jack for speaking his mind and heart in his songs. You can tell his hearts in every song, and I find that very refreshing. A song near the end of the Album, "Go On", is really his reflection to his kids, slowly growing up before his eyes.
So final verdict? Some of the songs I loved, notables being those that I mentioned. But some astonished me with strange instrumental choices and an awkward blend of tones. This is not a thoroughly brilliant album, but it has pockets of quality. I'd recommend listening to the better parts of it, but only such.
-Josiah
Saturday, January 23, 2010
The Temper Trap : Conditions
The album "Conditions," by The Temper Trap, is fairly popular on my floor right now. The songs "Love Lost," and "Sweet Disposition," have been playing 24/7 and has thus inspired me to write my next review.
Having been recently introduced to the band, i have quickly gained an appreciation and addiction to the sound they embody. Falsetto is a big part of their sound and what seems to be their band's inspiration, U2. They copy the sounds of U2 in a sense that they have inspiring and sing-screaming vocals, a rhythmic drum beat, and the accompanying repetitive guitar riffs. In fact the only difference seems to be Temper Trap's addition of synth riffs. This may make them seem unoriginal but this difference alone creates an entirely unique sound, in which a new wave of bands has been reproducing. Bands like Empire of the Sun, Friendly Fires, and Passion Pit have picked up on the use of synth either in a genre of electronic dance or electronic rock.
The song "Sweet Disposition" is the band's only released single, and is their most successful song as of yet. It peaked Australia's music charts at #6 and has stayed in the US Top 40 since its release late last year. Its immense popularity has made it a hit for movie soundtracks, and tv commercials throughout the globe. Most notably it was used in the preview for the indie movie hit, "500 Days of Summer."
Personally I can see the reasons for the song's immense and sudden success; for I can't get the catchy and repetitive chorus out of my head,
"a moment, a love
a dream, a laugh
a kiss, a cry
our rights, our wrongs
a moment, a love
a dream, a laugh
a moment, a love
a dream, a laugh."
The repetition and lyrics themselves highlight the title "Sweet Disposition," because they repeat what the song is truly about, love, dreams, the moment, the rights, the wrongs, and life itself. The band is trying to tell humanity to enjoy what they have and to understand that even if life takes you down different paths to love, laugh, dream, kiss, cry, and live in and for the moment. It is a very inspiring message which along with the pulsing beat and soulful singing one can't help but enjoy life in the moment, just as the band tries to make you.
This band has a promising future if they stay close to their roots, and I'll be looking forward to the next release!
Well that's a wrap,
Tom
Oh and here's a little taste of the music itself, enjoy!
Having been recently introduced to the band, i have quickly gained an appreciation and addiction to the sound they embody. Falsetto is a big part of their sound and what seems to be their band's inspiration, U2. They copy the sounds of U2 in a sense that they have inspiring and sing-screaming vocals, a rhythmic drum beat, and the accompanying repetitive guitar riffs. In fact the only difference seems to be Temper Trap's addition of synth riffs. This may make them seem unoriginal but this difference alone creates an entirely unique sound, in which a new wave of bands has been reproducing. Bands like Empire of the Sun, Friendly Fires, and Passion Pit have picked up on the use of synth either in a genre of electronic dance or electronic rock.
The song "Sweet Disposition" is the band's only released single, and is their most successful song as of yet. It peaked Australia's music charts at #6 and has stayed in the US Top 40 since its release late last year. Its immense popularity has made it a hit for movie soundtracks, and tv commercials throughout the globe. Most notably it was used in the preview for the indie movie hit, "500 Days of Summer."
Personally I can see the reasons for the song's immense and sudden success; for I can't get the catchy and repetitive chorus out of my head,
"a moment, a love
a dream, a laugh
a kiss, a cry
our rights, our wrongs
a moment, a love
a dream, a laugh
a moment, a love
a dream, a laugh."
The repetition and lyrics themselves highlight the title "Sweet Disposition," because they repeat what the song is truly about, love, dreams, the moment, the rights, the wrongs, and life itself. The band is trying to tell humanity to enjoy what they have and to understand that even if life takes you down different paths to love, laugh, dream, kiss, cry, and live in and for the moment. It is a very inspiring message which along with the pulsing beat and soulful singing one can't help but enjoy life in the moment, just as the band tries to make you.
This band has a promising future if they stay close to their roots, and I'll be looking forward to the next release!
Well that's a wrap,
Tom
Oh and here's a little taste of the music itself, enjoy!
The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition (Music Video) from Moop Jaw on Vimeo.
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