Sunday, March 29, 2009

M. Ward



Rekindled love with this song. Great video from a great singer/songwriter.

Virgin Records



How many bands can you find in the picture? (link to larger picture here.)

i.e. blimp in sky=Led Zeppelin

Answers.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

...Music thoughts

As of recently I have been going through a lot of cynicism when it comes to music these days.

Sure, there are great bands out there, but the problem that confronts us is the undeniable fall of the music industry. Only in times like today can bands such as brokenCYDE and Hollywood Undead survive.

I'm not stubborn, I know the way we consume music(and all our media for that matter)has taken a turn down the digital age road, but it doesn't help the fact that I don't like where music is at or what it has become.

The days of playing shows to get noticed are long gone and I miss them...badly.

As venues go bankrupt and are forced to foreclose, there is surely another .com that spurts up in its place to further the online music business.

Yes downloading music is easy and convenient, but what's lost in the process is everything that is good about music, the Cd art, the intimacy and the ACTUAL sound of the song not being washed away and reduced to .mp3 format.

I sometimes find myself thinking back at my earlier years and all the great Cd's that I grew up listening to. I can tell you what the Cd art looked like, who the band members were, every lyric to every song and the overall lasting effect the music gave me.

On the other hand, I sometimes find myself thinking if there will be any Cd's that I can sit back and reminisce on in ten years.

Don't get me wrong, there are good bands out there, no, there are great bands still, but when you reduce yourself to the instant gratification of downloading music the art becomes lost in the process.

One song here, one song there. You know you've done it, downloaded that one song and neglected the possibility of the whole picture, the album. Sure, you'll make bad purchases, but you'll also find those albums that will be ingrained in you forever.

Think about it, what if you were to have just bought Led Zeppelin's single, "Whole Lotta Love"? There's no argue that this is a fantastic single, but in the process of the quick fix of music, we lose out on what was to become one of the best records of all time, "Led Zeppelin II"

The online music industry is great in theory, giving us means to discover new great bands, but at the same time it gives means for bands like 3oh!3 and Cobra Starship the chance to not only get heard, but actually make it in the industry.

There is nothing real and worthy about two skinny emo kids singing about, "doing the Helen Keller." Oh yeah, and I'm from Colorado, I've TRIED to like these guys, there's just nothing there at all.

There once was a day and an age where playing in a band started actually by picking up an instrument first. Today, starting your own band begins at your local Urban Outfitters where people learn to be in a band for the fame, not the art.

Maybe I'm old fashioned, I'd agree with you on this, but for me, I won't reduce myself to this kind of music, I can not and will not do so.

There are so many good bands out there for the bad ones to ruin it for everybody, so I beg you, buy a physical CD, give music a chance and find something real in one of the lost arts of our time, music.

Thursday Brings The Best of the Week

Zach Fraser

Assistant A&E Editor

Published: Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Thursday Common Existence

Thursday has either been loved or loathed by critics since their beginnings, some media hailing them as the pioneers of the post-hardcore genre and other’s treating them as nothing more than a musical scapegoat.

The band is no stranger to being accused of falling into the abyss by the shadow their successful breakthrough album “Full Collapse” cast, but Thursday looked to rid the “washed up” stigma that plagues the band once and for all with their most recent release.

“Common Existence” is the fifth-studio album from the New Jersey natives and one of the hardest hitting Thursday records since the bands beginnings.

Make sure to catch your breath before you take your first listen to “Common Existence" because the only breath of calamity you’ll find on this album is in the fractions of seconds between tracks.

The first song on the album, “Resuscitation of a Dead Man” opens like a bullet flying out of a .22. The song draws on up-beat drums, hard hitting guitars and guest vocals from Tim McIIrath of Rise Against.

Lyrics from the entire Thursday catalog never seize to draw connections to the deepest of human emotions, and “Common Existence” is no different when lead singer Geoff Rickley expresses his inner-struggles on “Last Call.”

“Everything we build,” sings Rickley, “It falls apart, and the architect abandons us."

The rest of “Common Existence” follows in the path of highly distorted guitars, deep bass lines and sonic keyboards with key tracks such as “Unintended Long Term Effects” and “You Were the Cancer,” keeping your pulse straight through the rough until the 11-song album concludes.
For a band that has struggled against harsh critics and fans for the last eight years, it seems that the light at the end of the tunnel is finally shining trough for Thursday.

Rickley, who knows the battle is far from over for Thursday, confesses on the album that their common existence has been revived and the future may be uncertain, but is surely on the horizon.

“Can you feel a pulse? It’s been gone for so long, can you start it? Can you feel a pulse? It’s been gone for so long, let’s restart it.”

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Neil Nathan - Do Ya

I recently stumbled upon Neil Nathan at the end of an episode on my new-favorite show, Californication.

Neil Nathan, a musician based out of New York City blends folk rock with an edgy new take on songwriting.

The song that immediately caught my eye was "Do Ya," a remake of the classic song by Electric Light Orchestra.

The song can be heard at the end of episode 5, in season 2, on the hit showtime series Californication.

Also, you can stream the mp3 right here at Neil Nathan's Myspace.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

More Blink :)

Mark Hoppus, bassist/singer of Blink-182, recently updated his twitter about the songs he is going to rehearse for the upcoming Blink tour. He explains that this is not a set list for the upcoming tour, but is just what he's rehearsing today.

Oh man, I can't help but look at the set list and get excited for what's to come from the tour, album, and whatever the future of the band entails.

Mark Hoppus Twitter

Here's the pic:

Photobucket

Friday, March 13, 2009

2009 - The Year of the Reunion


It seems that reuniting in 2009 is almost as trendy as auto-tune has become in every rap/R&B single as of late.

With bands like Blink-182, No Doubt, Phish, The Get Up Kids,(well, late 2008 carried into 2009) and Blur getting back together it seems that everyone is hopping on the band wagon.

The latest band to set aside past issues and decide to make music again is the members of emo/alternative Matchbook Romance.

The band which announced their indefinite hiatus in March of 2007 have posted a blog with details on their upcoming reunion shows.

Matchbook Romance released two albums and shared the stage with bands such as Chiodos, Yellowcard, and Sugarcult.

Haven't heard any of their music? Take a listen here on purevolume where you can download all 5 songs for free.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Fall Out Boy

I don't want to hear it.

Whatever line that you're going to throw out at the band or any of its members has already been said, so take it elsewhere, because I highly doubt you have accomplished anything that casts a shadow as close to the band's accolades.

People's bitterness towards Fall Out Boy has become so redundant and overdone that it actually sounds as if those criticizing the band believe they can do better than the band itself.

So for this blog, let's compare your accomplishments against the bands. Then, it really will be apparent how out of place your accusations are.

--Everyone Vs. Fall Out Boy--

"Their music sucks."

OK. I dare you to make ONE song that has the lasting value and catchiness of any of their songs, I dare you. You're probably to busy playing one show a month at the local bar that only alcoholics frequent, so let's take this argument and throw it in the waste basket, because if you don't have a catchy song, you don't have anything.

"They changed their sound when they made it big."

Have you listened to the bands releases before From Under The Cork tree? Because if you have, then you'd know the singles form Take This To Your Grave like, "Grand Theft Autumn" and "Dead on Arrival" sound strikingly similar, strikingly. Also, their first release Evening Out With Your Girlfriend sounds like most first records would sound on a D.I.Y. record label like Uprising Records, the band could only go up from here.

"Fall Out Boy didn't pay their dues"

The band has been touring since 2001. 2005 was the year they made their breakthrough album. Four years is a lot of time to be sleeping on friends floors and riding in broken down buses, please don't bring this argument around anymore.

--Everyone vs. Pete Wentz--

*Tours the entire country in one of the most successful bands of our generation
*Plays in a band that has gone platinum
*Wrote and published a book
*Started and runs highly successful Clandestine clothing company
*Maintains and has signed multiple bands that have sold thousands of records to, oh yeah, his own label
*Runs a film company
*Has his own bass model
*Runs a night club in NYC
*Opened his own art gallery
*Married Ashlee Simpson
*Acted on One Tree Hill
*Created one of the only shows on MTV that actuallyplays music.

OK now, if you have a fraction of these accomplishments then let's hear your argument, because otherwise, sorry to break the news to you, he's done all of this in eight years which is more than you're probably going to accomplish in your whole life.

Now that I've typed up all these accomplishments, I really can see why everyone is so bitter.

But, next time while you're bashing the band on some music thread in a common self pity moment, Fall Out Boy will probably care less what you think, because hey, they're playing a sold out show tonight on the other side of the world and you're still living in mom and dad's basement.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Weekly Recommendation - Lydia


Indie music attracts a certain brand of music consumers who love a raw and unique sound and loathe the instant gratification singles that are commonplace on the radio today.

Well, indie fans everywhere rejoice, for we have Lydia.

The Arizona natives have been stirring up quite a bit of commotion in the underground music scene for some while and are looking to leave their mark on the music industry.

A band that fuses reverberated guitars with a hypnotizing sound, Lydia takes pride in their chilling unpolished music.

Songs like, "This Is Twice Now" produce lyrics that ring spiteful when lead singer Leighton Antelman confesses, "It's never much when I sing about you."

Antelman's high-pitched voice is complemented by keyboardist Mindy White, who provides a harmonious tone that defines Lydia's distinctive sound.

Lydia, who released their sophomore album "Illuminate" early last year, looks to build off their loyal fan base on their first-ever headlining tour, "Illuminate Yourself."

Check out their website for upcoming tour dates in your area.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Upcoming Events - Spring Break (3/8-3/14)

If you're not retreating back home or to a tropical paradise for break, make sure to catch some great live music this upcoming week.

Sunday(3/8) Britney Spears
St. Pete Times Forum, 8:00 p.m.
$36.75/$52.25/$95/$125/$250/$375/$500/$750

Monday(3/9) - KRS-1
Jannus Landing, 7:00 p.m.
$18

Tuesday(3/10) - Less Than Jake & The Expendables, 7:00 p.m.
Jannus Landing
$20/$22

Wednesday(3/11) - Stephen Pearcy
State Theater, 7:00 p.m.
$14

Willie Nelson
Lakeland Center Youkey Theater, 8:00 p.m.
$36.50/$56.50/$66.50/$97

Thursday(3/12) - The Florida Orchestra
Progress Energy's Center's Mahaffey Theater, 11:00 a.m.
$26/$29/$34/$42

Mason Jennings
Orpheum, 7:00 p.m.
$16/$17

New Kids On The Block
Germain Arena (Estero, FL), 7:30 p.m.
$25/$35/$45/$65

Friday(3/13) - Craig Owens, Ace Enders, Gay Blades, Versa Emerge
Orpheum, 7:00 p.m.
$13.50/$15

Pat Green
The Dallas Bull, 7:00 p.m.
$9.95

Andy McKee
Jannus Landing, 8:00 p.m.
$12

Saturday(3/14)- David Allan Coe
State Theater, 7:00
$18

The Wholigans: A tribute to The Who, Sin City, Ascension
Jannus Landing, 7:00 p.m.
$16

The Lee Boys
Jannus Landing, 9:00 p.m.
$9