Snoop Dogg/Lion

Okay, I thought the documentary was interesting, but it seemed to drag on at times. Yes, I get it, he smokes a ton of weed. But what didn't occur to me was how interwoven that was with the music of Jamaica. I think Snoop Dogg really wanted to have that genuine Reggae sound, and did not do it for the publicity. His music seemed to really reflect the culture he was submerged in, and that impressed me and showed me his skills as an artist. I was glad that he was attempting to shift from the conventional rap consisting of murders, guns, and sex to love and unity. I feel like Snoop Dogg (or Lion or whatever I don't really care or understand the thought process behind the name change but oh well) is setting an example for the rest of the rappers that yes, you can still be a big-shot and create music that does not revolve around drugs. So, publicity stunt or not, some good came out of his Jamaican excursion. Perhaps Snoop Dogg was going through a self-reflection period, and wanted to make music that meant something (which is what I kind of gathered from the documentary), and for that I have newfound respect.

Concert

I saw Bombay Bicycle Club in concert the other day and it was amazing to say the least. They sounded so unified and deliberate with every note, and their harmonies were basically perfect. I am now partial to live music, just because the talent of the artists never cease to amaze me. The lights synchronized with the music so well that I felt like I was listening to their music for the first time. I love the use of guitar and repetition, because the repeated phrases never get old but instead evolve into a new chorus, a new verse, and a new section of the song. It's extremely impressive. Plus, the guest female vocalist on tour with Bombay Bicycle Club was extremely talented and had an impressive range, and seemed to supplement the lead singer's voice perfectly. Here is a video I took of one of the songs off their new album, "It's Alright Now" --

The Morning Benders

I found "The Morning Benders" on Spotify recently and I really like listening to them as I work or just sit at home. They have a soft rock sound that complements artists like Youth Lagoon, Tame Impala, and St. Vincent. Their sound is not overpowering but has a solid guitar foundation and alternates from loud to soft, keeping me interested. I really like the song "Promise" right now for the really cool harmonies and "Excuses" for the calming tone and interesting lyrics.

Acoustic Version of "Promises" (really good)

"Excuses"

Green Day

I really don't like Green Day on a regular basis, but after watching that documentary I have a newfound respect for the guy-liner-wearing artists. Billie Joe's lyrics were representative of the rebellious generation witnessing 9/11 and the constraints of suburbia, a theme that I haven't really seen or heard of in rock music until now. I'm familiar with the anti-war movements in rock and the songs reflecting hardships like the Great Depression, but I had never realized that opinions like those in the past can be translated to the present day. I really enjoyed watching Green Day's music on Broadway -- something I never expected beforehand-- and I thought Billie's star performance on stage was extremely impressive. I still don't like the screaming, super intense sound of some of Green Day's music, but I still appreciate the way he worked in his own life and current events into his music.

Jack Johnson

I have been listening to Jack Johnson a lot during IB testing. His music is extremely soothing and relaxing, especially songs like "Banana Pancakes" and "At Or With Me" and "You and Your Heart." Kendall and I listen to him a lot on car rides home when were both tired and not in the mood to sit through the never ending line leaving the Anderson parking lot.

Trojan Live

Today I went to Trojan Live during class and it was such a cool experience! Way better than last year (which to be honest was not the best). There was one girl who kept messing up her chords and couldn't seem to get started. Everyone in the audience started to clap and cheer her on. It was a really cool experience that I never expected, and kind of ironic due to the crackdown on bullying recently. Caleb and Zion did a great job and so did Olivia Waterman-- there are some talented kids at our school.

Broken Bells

I really really rEALLY love the Broken Bells right now and have been listening to their Spotify profile for a couple weeks. Due to the fact that it's made up of Danger Mouse and a member of the Shins, Broken Bell's credibility has skyrocketed (for me at least). Danger Mouse, the ingenious creator of the Grey Album, surprised me--- these are seemingly different genres and its nice to see the triangulation of certain contemporary artists. My favorite songs are "Holding On For Life" and "After the Disco." They just look so cool in this video I want to see them so badly.......