This Week

Basically this week I have been listening to nothing in particular, just a ton of songs on shuffle. On Spotify I found a playlist called "Hot Alternative" that was by Spotify itself, and has artists like Cage the Elephant (who I love), CHVRCHES, Grouplove, Portugal. The Man, Thao & The Get Down Stay Downs (who we talked about in class!!), Wavves, Jake Bugg, Atoms for Peace, Bastille, etc. I am really excited to listen to this playlist, which sounds weird because I'm listening to it right now, but I love becoming familiar with playlists and discovering which songs are my favorites. This is a really great playlist and if you have a Spotify (and if you don't, get one), then you should follow it. So far I really like everything on this playlist, especially
"Purple Yellow Red and Blue" by Portugal. the Man (which I think we watched in class a couple weeks ago?),
"Recover" by CHVRCHES
"Fall In Love" by Phantogram
"Black Sheep" by Gin Wingmore

Abbey Road

I really enjoyed listening to Abbey Road last class. The songs before the 14 minute melody were all extremely good; I knew pretty much all of the first half of the album already, and I didn't even know it. But regardless it was one of the best albums so far, in addition to Revolver and the made-up combination album of Sgt. Pepper's and Magical Mystery Tour. The beginning of the second half of Abbey Road was really cool, and I liked how it turned into a "super song" essentially. I noticed in one of the songs (Mean Mr. Mustard) they referenced "Pam" and then in the next song it centered around Pam (I think it was called "Polythene Pam") which was really interesting. The medley was a little long for me, so I kind of lost focus at the end. However the very fact that they were able to compose a 14 minute song that all flowed together and retained a melody throughout is super impressive. Overall, it was a great album. And now I am inspired to look up the history of the ever so famous album cover....

So apparently the photographer only had 10 minutes to take the picture while policemen stopped traffic. There was a Volkswagen Beetle car parked in the picture, belonging to someone who lived in the flats nearby, and after the album was released, the license plate (LMW 281F) was stolen repeatedly. It's hilarious. The car was sold for a ton of money and is now in a German museum. The bystander in the picture was an American tourist who didn't even know he was in the photo until after the album was released. There is a webcam pointed straight at the Abbey Road crossing, apparently, and I want to see if it actually works...

UPDATE: IT'S REAL. http://www.abbeyroad.com/crossing 

Covers

Yesterday on YouTube I spent about 20 minutes downloading different covers onto my phone. I found BBC Radio Live Lounge channel and discovered tons of different artists of today covering popular songs out now. My favorites are when they adapt the song into a completely different tempo and feeling. Bastille covered Miley Cyrus' song "We Can't Stop" and it sounds like another song entirely (I didn't like the song to begin with-- only Bastille's version). The Arctic Monkey's cover Drake, The 1975 covers One Direction (their adaptation is super unique), HAIM covers Miley Cyrus, the Kings of Leon cover Robyn, and so much more. This is the most exciting thing that has happened to me all week so here are some of many:

The Arctic Monkeys -- "Hold On, We're Going Home"

Queens of the Stone Age -- "Blurred Lines"

The 1975 -- "What Makes You Beautiful"

Led Zeppelin

Before we listened to Zed I in class, I had a very vague idea of what Led Zeppelin really sounded like. I assume hard rock. Overall, they were very rock oriented with some softer songs that I did not expect. The drumming of John Bonham and guitar skills of Jimmy Page were obviously exploited throughout the album. To be honest, I could have done without the lengthy solos that never seemed to end. Short ones are exciting and entertaining, but I simply cannot commit that much to a single improv-session. I am interested to hear more about their history in general (not just musically but socioculturally), and will probably research that in a few minutes........

Also, I thought Jimmy Page looked like a 19th century composer in the video we watched about Page, White, and The Edge. He had the hair and the frilly sleeves. It was meant to be.

Tune-Yards

So I've been listening to this song "Gangsta" by the Tune-Yards for a little while now. It's a really cool twist on pop-electronic-rock that is like nothing I have ever heard before. I'm not quite sure how to explain their sound, so I'm just going to embed a video. Fun fact: I thought the singer was a boy until just now...

Jack White

After watching that video in class today, I really wish I had played guitar... Jack White, The Edge, and James Page are all so different and have completely different approaches to music and guitar, yet the ability for these amazing musicians to come together is really amazing. When the three got together and played it sounded like something that shouldn't work, but it did anyway (if that makes sense). My favorite out of the three guitarists was Jack White. I've mostly listened to his solo work, but I am a fan of The White Stripes as well. I really like the way he plays the guitar with such a raw sound, hitting the frame and playing it with feeling. It makes his music sound unique and honest. Some of my favorites by Jack White are "Steady As She Goes" when he was with the Raconteurs, "Freedom at 21," "Love Interruption," "Dead Leaves and The Dirty Ground," "Seven Nation Army," "Icky Thump," and "Blunderbuss."

"Love Interruption" --

"Seven Nation Army" (starts around 3:00 mins) --

xxyyxx

I've been listening to the xxyyxx on and off since we talked about them coming to FunFunFun Fest (which I really wish I went to... it sounds like a mini music festival). I like the song "Fields" a lot and really enjoy listening to this band while I'm doing homework.

My favorite part about this band is that he/she (is it one person...?) incorporates a bunch of different songs throughout the album; Beyoncé's song "End of Time" appears in the xxyyxx's "About You." In the xxyxx's song "Good Enough" he samples "No Scrubs" by TLC which I thought was pretty funny....but he manages it to make it sound so good and effortless (by the way I found out xxyxx is actually a guy from Florida named Marcel).

This is a band I will definitely keep listening to. I am starting to listen to this type of music more, the electronic/remix type, and especially the slower ones that are not super pop-oriented. The xxyxx is a chill and unique band that I think you may enjoy! I think "Fields" is one of his best that you should definitely take a look at.

Stage Dives

In honor of our stage dive conversation in class, I've found some crazy examples:

Here's Steve Aoki...

Lead singer of "The Darkness"...

Tyler the Creator...

Cage the Elephant... (I love "Ain't No Rest for the Wicked")

Escape the Fate... backwards jump!! 

Boy Hits Car... This one is crazy. 68 FEET!!

Pet Sounds

I was really excited to listen to "Pet Sounds" in class, but when we actually heard it, I was slightly disappointed. I really appreciate that the album sounds so current considering being made in 1966, a fact that is truly a feat in itself. However, a lot of the songs sounded the same to me. They were all about loss or love, like you said, but I really couldn't tell the difference from one song to the next. Additionally, at some points the slow crescendo and sharpness of the harmonies kind of creeped me out, to be honest. I did like some songs-- "Wouldn't It Be Nice," parts of "God Only Knows," and "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times" (a little). Overall, I was disappointed but intrigued by this album. I think it is important in terms of the influence "Pet Sounds" has had on music leading up to today. I do have the whole album on my computer and will not give up on this album just yet!

Danger Mouse

So I got the Grey Album from your library yesterday, and I listened to it in the car on the way home. I really like it-- the mix of the Beatles plus Jay Z is one I would have never imagined on my own. The way Danger Mouse starts off pretty much each song with some sort of Beatles song, then manipulates it into a rap/hip-hop song takes a lot of talent. I haven't listened to the CD enough yet, but so far I enjoy "Encore." What makes this album even better is that EMI tried to stop the distribution of it (according to Wikipedia) because Danger Mouse used unauthorized cuts of Beatles songs, whereas Jay Z released acapella versions of his songs for the purpose of mixes and mash-ups.

I found The Grey Video which is a music video promoting "Encore"; it's really interesting the way Danger Mouse collaborated and took clips form A Hard Day's Night (which we watched in class so I'm pretty much an expert at this point right).

Also the video is in BLACK and WHITE.... get it?

I also got a quote from Danger Mouse about his work on the album and I think it's really interesting to hear his process:

"A lot of people just assume I took some Beatles and, you know, threw some Jay-Z on top of it or mixed it up or looped it around, but it's really a deconstruction. It's not an easy thing to do. I was obsessed with the whole project, that's all I was trying to do, see if I could do this. Once I got into it, I didn't think about anything but finishing it. I stuck to those two because I thought it would be more challenging and more fun and more of a statement to what you could do with sample alone. It is an art form. It is music. You can do different things, it doesn't have to be just what some people call stealing. It can be a lot more than that."

Free Will vs. Destiny

I believe in the spectrum. I am not a religious person, and the conversation in class greatly described my position. I believe we may or may not have an overall destiny -- that part I am not so sure about. But I do believe in free will, I believe in people's choice and the choices we make shape our future. I like the idea that the choices make with our own free will lead to different paths that all result in the same destiny. So, in the end, we do have a destiny, yet our free will shapes how we get there. Again, destiny is an all encompassing term that does not accurately account for everything we do; the idea of a higher power that has control over everything does not appeal to me because of all the hardships and horrors in the world. It makes no sense to me why those things would be created if we do have someone responsible for the world.

The thought of this confuses me. My opinion may not be very clear or may not make very much sense, but it's as far as I have come to dissecting this question of free will vs. destiny. In any case, I think that this quote by a German philosopher is helpful in realizing the ambiguity of this question. Plus I kind of like it anyway.

“A man can do what he wants, but not want what he wants.” 

― Arthur Schopenhauer

Henrietta

I've been listening to "Harlem" by The Fratellis a lot lately. This is the first time I've listened to/heard of The Fratellis and I really want to look up more of their songs. I like the incorporation of trumpets in the background  in addition to the guitar; my favorite part is the very beginning sequence plus the build up to around 0:50 where everything kind of ties together. The lyrics are fun and very different than what I've listened to in the past. My favorite lines are "give us a kiss and maybe we can go out /it's hard to miss you when you follow us about /buy us some shoes and maybe take us for cola." I'm not entirely sure what the song is talking about -- I think it's about a girl who follows the band around...? Regardless, it's a really fun song that I don't get tired of listening to! I also really like when they say "cleaner than fine china." It sounds super cool. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gpMlAiqcjU&sns=em 

Impossible Germany

"Impossible Germany" by Wilco has been on repeat for the past week. My dad showed me the live version not too long ago and I became obsessed with it. I am beyond sad that I missed them at ACL and their show the following Friday at the Moody Theater, but I am determined to see them once they come back to Austin. I'm pretty sure I wrote about Wilco already, but I left this song out and you should definitely give it a listen. The guitar is some of the greatest I have heard when it comes to this soft rock genre, and it has been stuck in my head forever. The guitar solo is so good and it comes in around 4:08. It sounds like two guitars harmonizing; its not too loud or too intense or too in-your-face, its the right amount of volume and perfectly shows off the skill needed to execute this sort of level of playing. It's just really awesome. I'm using the school computer so I can't embed a youtube link, but feel free to give it a shot!

"Help"

We watched the "Help!" Beatles movie in class, and I was confused to say the least. It was extremely hard to follow (for me anyway) but was funny when I was able to decipher the humor. My favorite part was when Paul shrunk down to a tiny little person and just sat in a bowl as the two mad scientists rampaged their home. It was pretty great. After we addressed the Beatles' fascination with India in class, it became apparent that this movie was made in the primal stages of their interest. The different locations and settings during the movie were varied and kept me attentive. Looking back, I probably would have enjoyed it a little more if someone was there to explain it all to me! Nevertheless I can understand how the movie was a huge influence on the people of that time period, considering the never-ending special effects and multiple changes in scenery.

 

I really liked this scene where everyone had to serenade the "man eating" tiger with Beethoven's 9th symphony (or something like that)  in order to save Ringo's life. 

I didn't really follow the skiing scene, but I thought it was funny when someone accidentally won a gold medal. 

This website has a lot of cool stills from the movie!

http://popculturesafari.blogspot.com/2010/07/beatles-help-movie-stills.html 

The Rolling Stones..?!??!

So, I anticipated much more during our investigation of the Rolling Stones. I can't name their songs by heart, but due to their big name and historical image I expected to be at least partially engaged. Following the Beatles is an impossible task, so I think that had some say in conventional hatred amongst our class. However there is still a small sliver of hope left-- my soccer coach is a huge, HUGE Stones fan, and he said he would make me a CD of the "best". This my own effort at appreciating their music, for I have a feeling their first album was not an accurate representation of their entire career. It seemed messy, loud, garage-band-y... not what I would expect from England's Newest Hitmakers. I'm listening to them now, and I feel like their later music becomes more purposeful and articulate. I remain optimistic in my pursuit of the Stones. "Gimme Shelter" is good so far....!!

Lenny Kravitz

I recently have been revisiting a lot of the music I used to listen to in elementary school. This means my music library consisted of whatever my dad was playing in the car, therefore I was exposed to various Rock N Roll, R&B, soft rock, etc. One song that evokes a particular feeling of nostalgia is "Are You Gonna Go My Way" by Lenny Kravitz. It was super great just driving in my car and listening to this song with the volume up. It's not chock full of symbolism or allusions to times of great struggle. Really it is a catchy song with an awesome guitar solo at 3:09, which was the coolest thing ever when I was in fourth grade. What makes this song one of my favorites is the layered guitar sound throughout the whole piece. Kravitz has a unique voice that I think meshes perfectly with the rock n roll genre. I like a couple of his other songs, but in no way do I consider myself a Lenny Kravitz expert. That said, I still think he's a pretty cool guy (he's Jewish and Christian, kind of, and African American and Bahamian with Ukrainian descent).

I chose this video because their outfits and hair are absolutely ridiculous. Oh 1993....

The Wombats/Nirvana

I've been listening to a lot of The Wombats recently, after listening to their song "Tokyo -- Vampires & Wolves" on repeat last year, I finally dove into more of their work. Personally, I would classify them as indie-rock because of the hard sound from the electric guitar and drums, added to the slight indie vibe from the lyrics and heavy accent of the lead vocals. I think you should give them a try, because I really like them as a form of simple but fun entertainment. This is a band I would definitely see if they came to Austin:

My favorite song by them is called "Let's Dance To Joy Division"

Another band I've been listening to a lot recently is Nirvana. I really like the hardcore "rock" sound (even though we said you can't really define rock, that's one of my top bands that encompass the stereotypical rock type) and the guitar in most of their songs. I like the classic "Smells Like Teen Spirit" but I also like "Heart-Shaped Box," "Come As You Are," "In Bloom," and "Lithium." I don't know the entire life story of the band but I do want to listen to more of their songs and see if they change over time.

What is Rock?

Rock to me can be highlighted by its rebellious idea, but overall cannot be simply characterized. I agree with you for the most part, because you can't define rock by the usage of an electric guitar. Some rock is rock with only piano, drums, and a revolutionary idea. Rock can't really be defined by specific instruments, or anything really-- music works because of its ambiguity, its ability to adapt to any person and mold to their personality. Rock is just an element of that, a form of entertainment that you can tailor to your own needs. I see not only rock but music as a form of therapy, of enjoyment, a form that cannot be universally defined because we cannot be universally defined. People are not confined to a single adjective or category, so why should music be? Music can be happy, sad, breathtaking, exhilarating, calming, just like a person can be. If people are able to live as diverse, intricate, complex beings, I believe that music can do the same.

Videos

This is my last ACL post, I promise. I just want to show you all of the cool videos I took over the weekend (at least I think they're cool...). Some of these bands I've already talked about, but I'll show them anyway.

I was front row for Vampire Weekend which was so worth the 6 hour wait (I had to sit through Asleep at the Wheel so naturally I had the right to be compensated with entertaining music). Here's a video of "Diane Young" which was really cool because he had the device that distorted his voice as he sang the chorus. Plus I was front row (did I say that already?) which made everything better.

Next came Walk The Moon, which is SUCH a good band. You should really check them out, they had an amazing show. They had a rock-alternative-electro sound going on that is really interesting, plus their songs are catchy, especially the ones with good keyboard sections. This song is called "Anna Sun" 

Chicago

So today in class we had a brief and extremely rare deviation from topic where we discussed Chicago. There are a lot of things I love about Chicago-- particularly the food. I can't really name anything specific (sorry), but I do remember eating everything in sight when I was there, so something must have been decent. Anyway, my mom decided we should take a look at Northwestern University while we had the chance. This was the first college visit where I actually became excited about my academic future. Northwestern is super hard to get into, so I was hoping that I wouldn't like it as much. Needless to say, that didn't happen (I'm applying-- cross your fingers). I loved everything about it, from the mascot to the location to the academic enthusiasm to the random quirks that make it so unique and weird and special. I would love to go there; the access to downtown Chicago is extremely tempting and could yield so many opportunities for me, its insane. Also, I get really into talking about colleges when I actually enjoy them, so I'll try to spare you and show you pictures that I took along the way:

I had to take a cliche "bean" picture. I had to. 

We went to the Aquarium which was actually really interesting. We took a ferry across and this was taken as we pulled away. Artsy right.

Wilco

I cannot WAIT for Wilco on Saturday. (This is a combination of my in-class post/whatever I want post, because Wilco rocks). Again, this is one of the bands I grew up listening to, so I'm familiar with the older stuff. I absolutely love the soft rock, calming sound they have. I listen to Wilco when doing homework, sleeping, and driving-- practically anything that can be done while listening to music. I really like how their songs can be cheerful and randomly about Heavy Metal Drummers, then about Jesus. I assume you already know more about them than I do, but regardless, I'll show you some of my all time favorites:

"Heavy Metal Drummer"

"I'm the Man Who Loves You"

"Jesus Etc."

"You and I"

ACL ACL ACL ACL

After last class, I am very upset that I can't see Thao & the Get Down Stay Down. I loved them in class and am listening to them right now! The indie/Asian/banjo sound is really unique but I can't abandon my spot in front of the AMD stage. Yes, I'm waiting for Vampire Weekend all day. Yes, I've seen them twice before. It's fine. However, staying at the AMD stage means I get to see the Court Yard Hounds, which will be pretty great. They're super chill and even though you may have some reservations, I'm excited. I really like them because I grew up with the Dixie Chicks (yes, I do like their cover of "Landslide" don't kill me). After that comes Fun. I really have no desire to see Fun. but since I'll be there anyway, I may as well make the most of it, right? Next comes Vampire Weekend, and no matter how many times I hear them I will never get tired of it. I first heard "A-Punk" when my dad showed me early on, and I've been an avid fan ever since. The new album has some really great tracks that add a fresh twist to their old sound. After Vampire Weekend I will sprint to the Arctic Monkeys, who I really like and I'm so sad that I'm missing them, but I can still catch the last 30 minutes. All will be well. They have a cool British rock sound that I think you'll like, here are some of my favorites:

"Do I Wanna Know?"

"Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?" (this one rocks; it's my favorite so far)

"I Bet That You Look Good On The Dance Floor"

here's a live version, since I know you like those---

After the Arctic Monkeys I'll stop by Purity Ring. They have a really cool song called Fineshrine

here it is live-- he has this table thing that looks awesome...

Franz Ferdinand

So I don't know the entire history of Franz Ferdinand, but I always think of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of the Austria-Hungarian Empire and how people claim that his assassination was the cause of World War I, which is false. (we just did our WWI unit in history so I decided to throw this in here...) I'm sure you know but it was cause by a tangle of alliances and militarism and all that. Anyway, the song "Take Me Out" is special to me in a way. When I was a kid my dad would always drive my sister and I out to eat, playing Spoon or Jack Johnson or Beck. Basically I grew up with some really great bands under my belt. "Take Me Out" was one that my dad and I both love and would play in the car continuously. I always remember our head-banging self-proclaimed jam sessions on the way to soccer practice. For the past two years my dad has been commuting to College Station where he works for Texas A&M, so needless to say our 'jam sessions' are cut short. I like to turn this song on and remember my childhood, in both a cheesy and legitimately sentimental sort of way. It's a great song regardless of any personal affiliation-- my favorite part is at 0:54 when the beat slows to a steady base drum rhythm. It's such a dynamic song with the change of tempo and iconic guitar that makes me want to learn how to play. I can't wait to see them at ACL; I'll have to embarrass my dad in front of his friends and make him watch them with me.

Also I was just listening to this song in the background while writing this and didn't really watch the music video. But from what I did see...it looks kinda weird. You be the judge.

Tyler the Creator

Today in class we were talking about how the hip-hop/rap genre has evolved from songs that were relatively innocent when it comes to topic-- like you said in class, they rapped about Adidas shoes. Run DMC discarded the flashy/glam look of previous hip-hop artists connected to the disco era and moved towards a fusion of rock and hip-hop. Fast forward 28 years and you will find Tyler the Creator's first album, Bastard. Today's rap is overrun with repetitive, monotonous choruses that, no matter how hard you try, get stuck in your head all day. Trust me,  I've been a victim of shallow and stupid rap music finding home in my mind, and needless to say I wanted to bash my head against the wall. Repeatedly. "Don't Drop That Thun Thun Thun" should be erased from the planet immediately.

Regardless of the consistently overplayed mainstream music on the radio, the music industry decided to incorporate a new kind of rap. Tyler the Creator is different from any rap I've heard before. Most of my hip-hop knowledge was composed 2 Chainz, Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, etc., who all have a relatively similar sound. Tyler stood out to me, which is what drew me to him the most. The content isn't revolutionary or inspirational, but the songs keep me interested and sometimes even laughing (the song "Tamale" cracked me up the first time I listened to it). Tyler's music is almost a conversation and his use of stereotypical hip-hop/rap subjects with a twist is something I really enjoy. His songs are funny, catchy, interesting, and just sound pretty awesome to me. Plus Tyler has such an iconic and distinctive voice, giving the songs an interesting-yet-badass edge. I was fortunate enough to go to Jambalaya at Austin Music Hall earlier in the year and waited EIGHT HOURS to see him (along with Taco and Earl Sweatshirt) live. They were so good and Tyler was hilarious.

Tyler alone is a hilarious guy who does whatever he wants, whenever he wants. Tyler and some other members of Odd Future have their own show called "Loiter Squad." I've only seen one or two episodes but basically they do really random/funny things on camera. You should check it out. And the clothing line for Odd Future is really cool; it's just so impressive how they have a whole enterprise centered around their group in what I believe is a short period of time (I could be wrong; Wikipedia did not really give me all the answers. Shocker...). I really want one of their sweatshirts. Anyway what I'm trying to say is that Tyler has a distinct sound which I love, funny/different songs which I love, a hilarious and carefree personality which I love, and some cool merchandise which I also love. He's a very cool guy.  I'd love to meet him someday.

Here is some video I took at Jambalaya:

"Nightmare"

"We Got Bitches" (P.S. look how close Taco came to mE AT THE END HE IS SO CLOSE)

P.P.S. G-Eazy was there too and he was awesome okay bye

Subtle....

Today we were talking about subtle humor and I immediately thought of John Krasinski form "The Office." He is one of the funniest people, in my opinion. The way that he could just look at the camera during an episode and explain what everyone was feeling with a raised eyebrow is pretty incredible. His constant banter with Dwight or Michael made the show bearable and kept me laughing throughout the entire 30 minutes. I don't know if you watch it, or if you just think its dumb or juvenile. But you have to give the guy credit.

Also I just love him. So. There's that.

The 1975

So Katherine Kykta showed me a song called "Chocolate" by the 1975 at the beginning of summer. It was pretty good. Catchy, kind of annoying, but I liked it. The lead singer's British accent leaked through which gave it a super cool edge that I enjoyed. About a month ago I decided to look up their new album right when it came out, and I fell in love. They were all SO GOOD. SO SO GOOD.  They have an indie edge but a soft rock/british sound that makes me want to drink coffee. I listen to them all the time now, and annoy Kendall during carpool with the amount of times I play the song "Sex" (one of my favorites). I'm not sure about your stance on the more indie (am I even using this word correctly?)/British bands, but give it a listen. I really love these next few songs.

They're doing a show in Milwaukee for $18, does anyone want to fly me up there?

Also, I was planning on showing you a couple songs but I may very well end up putting them all up. Oops.

"Sex"

"Chocolate"

"Girls"

"Menswear" -- this one has a really cool intro that I love to listen to while doing homework. 

"Pressure" -- this one is so good its been stuck in my head for D A Y S

Even if you don't like them, lie to me and tell me you do. 

The Beatles

I have been familiar with The Beatles for a while as it turns out. I really liked them in middle school, when I followed all the trends and decided that I would give The Beatles a shot. I ended up really liking a few of their songs like Eleanor Rigby, Penny Lane, Love Me Do, Yellow Submarine, but never really got into their music as a whole. I know more of their music than I remember, which is really cool. I would love to listen to the White Album, it sounds worthwhile and I miss listening to their classic hits. The way four people were able to influence the world of music is so cool and I only wish I could have lived during the 1960's and experienced "Beatlemania" firsthand. They seem timeless to me, and I will definitely set some time aside to listen to their albums. Also, I think I'm going to ask for that Beatles book you emailed me about for my birthday (on Sunday), it would be a great book for me to read in what little spare time I have. There's so much history and detail when it comes to the band that I can't help but want to know it all.

Wolf Gang

So in the car today Kendall and I were using the "Discover" section of Spotify and I found a band called Wolf Gang. I got so excited because I had gone to the Coldplay concert July 2011 and saw them as the opening act. I loved their sound, but when I came home and looked them up online I couldn't find them ANYWHERE (I must have been either really tired or extremely incompetent at the time because that actually makes zero sense). I was very upset to say the least. Anyway, I re-discovered this band and cried tears of joy as I listened to them again. They have a super cool indie-rock sound, a hint of electronic with the guitar and drums of rock, that reminds me of Walk The Moon, Grouplove, Lorde, etc. Maybe even MGMT. Nevertheless, I cannot wait to listen to their album, its gonna be so gooooooooood.

One of the songs that I really like (so far) is called Back To Back:

Fun Fact: After the Coldplay concert I was waiting across the street for my dad to pick me up (I was a sophomore so yes, I relied on parental transportation) and actually SAW Wolf Gang at the hotel right next to me. There were a couple fans that went up and got pictures but I got too scared and wimped out. I super regret it, in case you couldn't tell. 

VMA's

The Video Music Awards were, in a word, scarring. It was so weird watching Miley Cyrus act like a perverted 14-year-old boy on stage... all in all I was uncomfortable. I remember that I was watching with my friend Cecily and we just sat on the couch staring wide-eyed at the TV. You would think that after all of the social media and celebrity gossip we're exposed to that I would be used to this sort of stunt-pulling by now. But no, I was still extremely shocked and felt super violated. Honestly. It was gross. She has changed so much since Hannah Montana aka my childhood TV show. I think the reason she is so famous and publicized and really the only reason she was on the VMAs was because, like we said in class, America loves to see our celebrities fall. We need to have a constant form of entertainment, a person who is willing to keep American on the edge of their seats, wondering what in the world they will do next. Miley Cyrus is definitely falling, I think we can all come to an agreement on that one. At first I was like yeah, she's different. That's cool, you go Miley (even though I think I was more emotionally attached to her hair after she cut it than she was). When the weird twerking thing started, I was creeped out but still okay with it (mostly). Then came the strange outfits and the weird hair and the gross faces and I was done... sorry Miley. I really tried. But nonetheless I find myself interested in her failures, her falls from grace, her constant and frequent embarrassing moments. The music video that first put me off was her "We Can't Stop" video. I don't like the song, but heard the music video was so weird that I couldn't resist. I'm not sure if you have seen it, but if you want to ruin Hannah Montana for yourself forever, take a look:

The Mowgli's

One band that I have been listening to a lot recently is The Mowgli's. They are a Southern California group made up of 8 members. I classify this band as a really cool Indie-Alternative-Rock sound with a vocal chorus that gives them a unique edge. It's crazy to think that a band can be made up of 8 singers, it seems so big to me. But The Mowgli's really make it work. They look like a group of awkward college kids you would find hanging around outside a coffee shop.

They have a really interesting variety of songs, and they're coming to ACL which makes me 10000 times more excited to go! One of my favorites is called San Francisco. It's a short song but is incredibly catchy, and the music video fits really nicely. I like the animations and everything because it ties into the whole "love" theme that they're going for. It's also cool because I feel like this is a band I would see playing downtown-- they have a very Austin vibe to me. I like it.

My friend who lives in Chicago sent me a video Wednesday night of the Mowgli's playing in Millennium Park. Apparently they had an impromptu set in the park and almost got arrested, screaming "What about our rights?!" to the police. Afterwards, the whole band stayed to meet everyone. It seems so incredible that a band would go through all of that and still wants to meet the fans. That's something I really admire, along with their awesome music. Here's another great song called Slowly, Slowly

"The Great Divide" is another good one, with a lot of emphasis on the chorus of voices. Pretty neat music video too.

Coldplay

You should know right off the bat that Coldplay is my favorite band. I know some people think they are overdramatic or not remotely in tune, but I disagree. I love their music, their message, their style. The high notes in "Up in Flames" send shivers down my spine. Coldplay songs cause me to think about myself and evaluate how I am living my life, something no other music has compelled me to do before.
I went to Dallas for their concert (I got tickets for my birthday, by far the best present I have received) and it truly was a great experience. The reason I know Coldplay is my favorite band is because my seats weren't first or fourth or tenth row. I wasn't even on the floor. I was in the middle section, back on the right side of the stage, a little far up, and loved every second. It was as if I had been close enough to reach out and touch Chris Martin.
What I love the most about their music is the real messages they convey through the lyrics. Chris sings about soaring love, soul-crushing loss, and wanting to help so badly but not knowing how. I know every word to every song and just embrace the way the music is so applicable to my life. When I'm sad or happy or confused or concerned or stressed-on-the-verge-of-a-mental-breakdown, I turn on Coldplay. "Fix You" has made me cry multiple times, "Parachutes" is a mere 45 second song that is arguably my favorite, and "Green Eyes" remains one of the prettiest songs I have ever heard.
I introduced them to my best friend last year and brought her to the concert with me, and this really showed me something about myself. I started to become so protective of Coldplay, as if they were my own personal iPod that people had to ask permission to use. It was strange, and a bit unhealthy, but I had to control myself before I could enjoy myself. Besides, sharing my favorite music with the world brings me more joy in the end, right?

"The King"

In class we discuss Rock and Roll of the 1950s, and the artist I was most familiar with was Elvis. For some reason, whenever someone mentions Elvis I think of this documentary we watched last year in IB History that discussed the effects of his music on American culture of the period. I remember thinking how extraordinary it was that a single person could create such a movement in the adolescents of America, a nationwide phenomenon. He is always deemed the "King," and while I know he is not Mr. A's personal king of rock, the effect he had on the citizens of America was pretty incredible. From his haircut to his dance moves to the increasing demand for radios in homes, he really had a lasting impact on our society. It's nice to think that one person could create such a movement that unified the teenagers of their time. The world today is so broken, today's culture is so scattered among different groups that it's hard to imagine a unified country. Political parties constantly clawing at each other's throats don't really provide the most peaceful environment for progress. Elvis' music created a way for teens to express their desires in a way that brought them together. Now because we constantly judge each other based on music taste or clothing or hair or makeup or friends (the list goes on) that reaching that common ground seems virtually impossible. I know that there is not one artist that every student at Anderson can agree is the greatest, but considering the fact that America at one point had a similar idol ignites a feeble flame of hope that one day we can go back to that same sense of unity that Elvis gave our country.

Music in My Life

Music plays a very dynamic role in my life. It offers a shoulder to lean on, a hand to take, a form of expression. I love bonding with my friends over new artists, singing along to blaring music in car rides, screaming at concerts downtown. Music wakes me up in the morning and puts me to sleep at night, it helps me focus while writing an essay, it helps me connect with my sister and father, it helps me pass the time. Most of all, it offers me an alternate reality of some sorts. Sometimes I like to sit on my couch with my headphones in, watching the leaves fall and the world pass by. It sounds cheesy but sometimes music is the perfect remedy for a bad school day or stressful week. Music, while we can technically live without it, gets me through the day. Silent car rides to school or soccer would never suffice. Music brings the people I love together, and that's something I would never trade the world for.

Recently, I have been listening to The Neighbourhood, a sort of alternative band I suppose. But their music is very teen-angst to say the least, and while I like to think that I am above that sort of "teenager music," I can't say that I am... I'm going to their concert on September 27th at Emo's East and am so excited!

When thinking of bands we discussed in class, the one I remember is Beck. Beck is, in a word, awesome. His sound is so unique and raw that I can't help but feel like he sits in the studio saying "yeah, this is my music. If you like it, great. If you don't, too bad." I'd love to have a conversation with the man. But anyway, I've been listening to him with my dad for as long as I can remember, along with bands like Wilco, Spoon, Jack Johnson, and Pearl Jam.