I seem to have several un-published posts. That's fine.
Today I have been listening to music that always seems to alter my perspective on what music is and can be. It all started when I grabbed Sufjan Stevens' Age of ADZ. The standard listen to this album is that I listen to the entire thing at least once, then skip back to track ten and loop it until my voice is horse. I will be the first to admit that of all the songs to sing along to, I sure did pick the closest to being a 2004-core emo set. I think I just enjoy the range jumps in that song and how it ALWAYS seems to be accessible to my limited range. There is also something therapeutic about singing "I want to be well" in a rhythmic round to then be followed by yelling "I'm not fucking around.." a billion* times in a row. The other thing about that song is how impossible it would be to recreate live without having two-thousand* people on stage with you. I would also like to take this moment to point out how the drums in the crescendo are lame and weak.
*May be a hyperbole.
The second album I sat through in its entirety today was A Silver Mount Zion's he has left us alone but shafts of light sometimes grace the corner of our rooms. This will probably always remain as one of my top post-rock AND classical albums of all time. The movements are beautifully timed, the layers are perfectly separated... AHHHH I could go on for days. The thing that happens when I am listening to this album is that I get completely enveloped into the music and I can't seem to concentrate on anything else going on around me. Though haunting, I never find it depressing. Though beautiful, I never find myself stumbling. It is just completely what it is. I can't say that I know to many albums that I can say that about.
Last but not least is Sigur Ros with their album (). This album has a tendency to bring me to tears when I'm (not?) in the right frame of mind. Everything I said about ASMZ? Make it so, then double it. If you have ever seen the videos they released around that album, then you know exactly what to feel. It's claustrophobic, restrictive, degrading and fucking amazing. Untitled Track 8 has broken me down on several occasions just because of the several minute build to the most intense explosion of cacophony I can think of ever to be created by men. Fuck. I can never think of an album that has moved me more in my existence than that one has. It has shaped me as a person and has changed me as a musician and all without saying a coherent word. Quite literally. The album is written in the fictional "Vonlenska/Hopelandic" because the singer was sick of people trying to figure out what he way trying to say. If there was an album I could hear just before I lost every last frequency from my hearing, it would be this one. I think I have (at least tried) to share this album with every person in my life so far. I really do have to thank Johnny for getting me into them back when I was in grade 10. If he had any clue how much this album has meant to me, he would probably rub it in my face for ever doubting him.
Well that turned into a gush fest. I don't think I realized how much I enjoyed that album until I started writing this.
As I mentioned, I have a few posts that I never posted either because they are incomplete, or they were just not good. They are all full of something neat, so maybe I'll just combine them and GIANT-BLOG.
-J
Wednesday 28 August 2013
Sunday 18 August 2013
I may have set the bar a bit high....
Welcome to my 20th post! Well, number 20 that I keep up, anyway. I did remove a few of the more boring posts. As well as some that were far too related to things that were life based.
I made mention around a week ago that I was going to do a top albums list. This is still the plan, but it will be postponed for quite some time. I realized that in order for me to do this properly, I would first need to go through ever album I own and figure out what ones mattered. This is not as daunting as I was initially thinking it would be (took me only a few hours to do about a quarter), but it has been far too busy to get finished. I'm also breaking everything into categories so I'm not keeping important albums off a list because I listen to them less. For instance, I listen to Animals as Leaders far more than Godspeed You, Black Emperor! but I would easily put F# A# Infinity on my top lists.
The next big question is what lists and guidelines should I use when selecting the music? Should I make "Top EP's" a thing and keep EP's off the rest of the charts? Should I be putting a brief explanation why I love every album, or just the number ones? Should I be linking videos or tracks when available? Should I be doing a list a week at the end of other updates, or just spam out something huge when completed? So many questions for such a huge project!
While these questions remain in speculation, here are a few things that I either picked up or rediscovered over the last couple of weeks.
Classic album! Anyone who knows me, knows that I harbour much love for this British duo. Songs From the Big Chair is still one of my favourite albums of all time and Sewing the Seeds of Love is one of the earliest memories I have. I blame this band for my love of industrial music and for keeping my mind open to so many different ideas of where music can go. Are they cheesy? Hell yes! They get away with it through being so genuine in everything that they did for most of their career. I still hold that the original version of Mad World puts Gary Jules to shame, though I will admit he understood the underlaying tones of what that song was trying to say. For a debut album, it screams potential and great imagination. If you have a soft spot for eighties music and works of art, I would put this on your "must find" list. I picked it up a while ago on vinyl from a shop in Waterloo and haven't stopped playing it when I'm in my room since.
This is one of those albums where I listen to it, then don't touch my drums for a week because I am not worthy. Though still very metal, this album closer resembles a jazz composition. No bass, just two eight string guitars and a drummer who doesn't let up. I tend to not remember any one part of this album because I get so lost in the many layers and rhythms. Very few albums leave me feeling absorbed and yet still a spectator. Still one of my favourite albums to drive late at night to; the groove is a great soundtrack to a night sky. When I say the term groove, I do not use it lightly. Every song, no matter how complicated, falls on a groove that anyone can find. It is what keeps this band different from most of the other progressive instrumental metal that has come out before it. The only thing that keeps this from being my favourite of the AaL albums is the lack of a 10 minute long song. I do loves me some unnecessarily long tunes!
This is more of a rediscovery than a new procurement. This week, we had a copy of Marriage come through my fascinating. It is one of my favourite Canadian albums, but this tops it in every way, minus the punk way. I still find it fascinating that a band that has such a punk/hard core root can grow up to be such a great folk outfit. I have my suspicions that this band will never reconvene; they have all had great success doing other things. This album is their swan song. Such beautiful ideas, songs, and lyrics. There is very little to talk about because it all seems so simple in my eyes. I'm sure there are a million nuances that my little brain can not figure out, but I honestly do not wish to. It will remain a great pop/folk album in my mind and I am really okay with that.
Here is the single off of the album. It's less folk and more pop rock, but still awesome.
Well, that is all I have for now. I hope the upcoming week is awesome and I hope that you are all doing well.
If you have some recommendations on how I could go about my list, please don't hesitate to comment below or shoot my an e-mail in some capacity.
-J
I made mention around a week ago that I was going to do a top albums list. This is still the plan, but it will be postponed for quite some time. I realized that in order for me to do this properly, I would first need to go through ever album I own and figure out what ones mattered. This is not as daunting as I was initially thinking it would be (took me only a few hours to do about a quarter), but it has been far too busy to get finished. I'm also breaking everything into categories so I'm not keeping important albums off a list because I listen to them less. For instance, I listen to Animals as Leaders far more than Godspeed You, Black Emperor! but I would easily put F# A# Infinity on my top lists.
The next big question is what lists and guidelines should I use when selecting the music? Should I make "Top EP's" a thing and keep EP's off the rest of the charts? Should I be putting a brief explanation why I love every album, or just the number ones? Should I be linking videos or tracks when available? Should I be doing a list a week at the end of other updates, or just spam out something huge when completed? So many questions for such a huge project!
While these questions remain in speculation, here are a few things that I either picked up or rediscovered over the last couple of weeks.
Tears for Fears - The Hurting.
Classic album! Anyone who knows me, knows that I harbour much love for this British duo. Songs From the Big Chair is still one of my favourite albums of all time and Sewing the Seeds of Love is one of the earliest memories I have. I blame this band for my love of industrial music and for keeping my mind open to so many different ideas of where music can go. Are they cheesy? Hell yes! They get away with it through being so genuine in everything that they did for most of their career. I still hold that the original version of Mad World puts Gary Jules to shame, though I will admit he understood the underlaying tones of what that song was trying to say. For a debut album, it screams potential and great imagination. If you have a soft spot for eighties music and works of art, I would put this on your "must find" list. I picked it up a while ago on vinyl from a shop in Waterloo and haven't stopped playing it when I'm in my room since.
Animals as Leaders - Weightless
This is one of those albums where I listen to it, then don't touch my drums for a week because I am not worthy. Though still very metal, this album closer resembles a jazz composition. No bass, just two eight string guitars and a drummer who doesn't let up. I tend to not remember any one part of this album because I get so lost in the many layers and rhythms. Very few albums leave me feeling absorbed and yet still a spectator. Still one of my favourite albums to drive late at night to; the groove is a great soundtrack to a night sky. When I say the term groove, I do not use it lightly. Every song, no matter how complicated, falls on a groove that anyone can find. It is what keeps this band different from most of the other progressive instrumental metal that has come out before it. The only thing that keeps this from being my favourite of the AaL albums is the lack of a 10 minute long song. I do loves me some unnecessarily long tunes!
Attack In Black - Years (By One Thousand Fingertips)
This is more of a rediscovery than a new procurement. This week, we had a copy of Marriage come through my fascinating. It is one of my favourite Canadian albums, but this tops it in every way, minus the punk way. I still find it fascinating that a band that has such a punk/hard core root can grow up to be such a great folk outfit. I have my suspicions that this band will never reconvene; they have all had great success doing other things. This album is their swan song. Such beautiful ideas, songs, and lyrics. There is very little to talk about because it all seems so simple in my eyes. I'm sure there are a million nuances that my little brain can not figure out, but I honestly do not wish to. It will remain a great pop/folk album in my mind and I am really okay with that.
Here is the single off of the album. It's less folk and more pop rock, but still awesome.
Well, that is all I have for now. I hope the upcoming week is awesome and I hope that you are all doing well.
If you have some recommendations on how I could go about my list, please don't hesitate to comment below or shoot my an e-mail in some capacity.
-J
Friday 9 August 2013
O' God, The Aftershow
SO. MUCH. PAIN.
But not as much as I was actually expecting.
Yesterday, Luka and I went to check out the summer slaughter tour. I will start this "review" with the statement that I am NOT a festival guy. Though I like the idea of paying one price to see several of my favourite bands, I get bored. Especially something like the Summers Laughter Tour where it starts loud and just stays loud for the entire time.
I will not be going too far in depth with talking about it. I will say that Cattle Decapitation, Norma Jean, Periphery, Animals as Leaders and The Dillinger Escape Plan make for an amazing tour just them alone. In fact, if I had known when they were playing, it would have been worth the $25 to show up when that lineup started. The first bunch of bands were a grab bag of not bad to really good. Norma Jean played it safe by spending most of the set playing "O' God, The Aftermath" and "Bless the Martyr & Kiss the Child." I am not complaining: it meant I was singing along during the only band I danced in the pit for. Dillinger played a good selection and I might have blown my voice screaming along with 43% Burnt. Periphery and Cattle Decapitation were the two bands I had never seen before that night that I was most excited for. Neither band disappointed, but I feel like I may be the only person around who DOESN'T CARE about Periphery's second album.
Animals as Leaders has changed their drummer since last I saw them. I quit music forever.
Seriously! It was not even fair to watch. It did not sound or even LOOK humanly possible. Fuck.
To anyone with Steam: Add me!
I say that because I now have a mouse that is pushing me to play more online games because Left 4 Dead. Yep. Also Borderlands 2.
I did mention how I have this week off, correct? I have nothing else to mention. I will try to have a full review or something awesome for next week. Maybe I'll do an 80's thing. That would be awesome.
Reminders: I am at this on Monday. Come say hi. The 'Rents are awesome.
I have a Twitter where I bitch about things. Usually boredom related.
The comment section is a great way to yell at me for something publicly. Please feel free to do so. If it is about my grammar, I know already. If it was financially viable, I would pay for an editor.
Special Thank you to Jacob and Nate for noticing spelling errors within the first fifteen minutes of launch. For that, they get this sentence.
But not as much as I was actually expecting.
Yesterday, Luka and I went to check out the summer slaughter tour. I will start this "review" with the statement that I am NOT a festival guy. Though I like the idea of paying one price to see several of my favourite bands, I get bored. Especially something like the Summers Laughter Tour where it starts loud and just stays loud for the entire time.
I will not be going too far in depth with talking about it. I will say that Cattle Decapitation, Norma Jean, Periphery, Animals as Leaders and The Dillinger Escape Plan make for an amazing tour just them alone. In fact, if I had known when they were playing, it would have been worth the $25 to show up when that lineup started. The first bunch of bands were a grab bag of not bad to really good. Norma Jean played it safe by spending most of the set playing "O' God, The Aftermath" and "Bless the Martyr & Kiss the Child." I am not complaining: it meant I was singing along during the only band I danced in the pit for. Dillinger played a good selection and I might have blown my voice screaming along with 43% Burnt. Periphery and Cattle Decapitation were the two bands I had never seen before that night that I was most excited for. Neither band disappointed, but I feel like I may be the only person around who DOESN'T CARE about Periphery's second album.
Animals as Leaders has changed their drummer since last I saw them. I quit music forever.
Seriously! It was not even fair to watch. It did not sound or even LOOK humanly possible. Fuck.
To anyone with Steam: Add me!
I say that because I now have a mouse that is pushing me to play more online games because Left 4 Dead. Yep. Also Borderlands 2.
I did mention how I have this week off, correct? I have nothing else to mention. I will try to have a full review or something awesome for next week. Maybe I'll do an 80's thing. That would be awesome.
Reminders: I am at this on Monday. Come say hi. The 'Rents are awesome.
I have a Twitter where I bitch about things. Usually boredom related.
The comment section is a great way to yell at me for something publicly. Please feel free to do so. If it is about my grammar, I know already. If it was financially viable, I would pay for an editor.
Special Thank you to Jacob and Nate for noticing spelling errors within the first fifteen minutes of launch. For that, they get this sentence.
Monday 5 August 2013
QUICK UPDATE!
I still don't have much to say seeing as this week has been a pretty personal self-exploration kind of week. I DO have new songs, though!
FINALLY I can share what I have been up to for the last year! Jeff, Steve and I recorded this a month or so ago at the Church of the Nazarene in Preston. The tracks were engineered and mixed by Ryan Prasad, who is a fantastic man and I would recommend that everyone says hi to him if you get the opportunity. The recording was done with two M-Audio mic's in an X shape placed infront (mildly on top) of my kick drum facing towards the pews. Everything was live off the floor and each song had about 5 takes. I was not present for the mixing of the tracks, but it worked beautifully.
In other news, I have short hair and a beard. What the hell, right? Let me know what you think of the beard, if you have seen it. Please give some feelings on the tracks. My two personal favourites are Weird Science and First Day of Fall.
Go listen to more Cursive.
FINALLY I can share what I have been up to for the last year! Jeff, Steve and I recorded this a month or so ago at the Church of the Nazarene in Preston. The tracks were engineered and mixed by Ryan Prasad, who is a fantastic man and I would recommend that everyone says hi to him if you get the opportunity. The recording was done with two M-Audio mic's in an X shape placed infront (mildly on top) of my kick drum facing towards the pews. Everything was live off the floor and each song had about 5 takes. I was not present for the mixing of the tracks, but it worked beautifully.
In other news, I have short hair and a beard. What the hell, right? Let me know what you think of the beard, if you have seen it. Please give some feelings on the tracks. My two personal favourites are Weird Science and First Day of Fall.
Go listen to more Cursive.
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