The Strokes

I have loved The Strokes for a long time and regret not seeing them in concert when they traveled to Austin two years ago. Mostly, I love the way some of their songs change from a softer rock song like "Someday" to the elevated guitar-heavy songs like "Juicebox." They have such a distinct sound that is unlike any other rock band I've heard, better than the generic talk-singing of the early-20s rock bands that have been popular in the past. Listening to them in the car on the way to school certainly wakes me up and helps me focus before soccer games. I like most of their older material, just because it's what I have been comfortable with for the past years of my life. Here are some of the songs that I've enjoyed the most:

"You Only Live Once"

"Reptilia"

"Someday"

"Is This It" -- Julian Casablancas (the lead singer) looks stoned the whole time but....... its a great song

Downtown

We discussed the changing aspects of Austin and its infrastructure last class period, with most of the class residing in Northwest Hills. During this conversation, I kept thinking about how glad I was that I lived downtown. I am right off the 35th street exit on Mopac, and have a 3 minute drive to UT campus. Attending school at Anderson really makes me appreciate my location. There are countless coffee shops, small restaurants, bookstores, thrift shops, grocery stores, etc. that are exclusive to downtown. I can't go to a small place to study or just read when I drive past Anderson Lane. That's why I love downtown-- the food is amazing, the concerts are endless, and the atmosphere is one of a kind. I can't count on one hand the amount of concerts I've been to downtown that were preceded by an amazing meal, whether it be via restaurant or food truck. If I end up going anywhere besides UT, the environment will be what I miss the most. Of course, family and friends and all that. But really, there is no other city that has the alternative feel that Austin downtown does. I have been lucky to experience living in such a thriving part of the city that many of my classmates do not. It's something that I will cherish for the rest of my life!

Two Door Cinema Club

Two Door Cinema Club came to Austin a couple months ago and my friend tried to convince me to go, but I turned it down due to the fact that I rarely listened to them. Of course, now after they have left Austin, I love listening to them. Their new song "Changing of Seasons" has a really cool electronic-rock vibe that, combined with the lead singer's unique Irish voice, creates an interesting sound. Their other hits consist of "Come Back Home," "I Can Talk," "Something Good Can Work," and "What You Know" and never seem to get old for me....

"What You Know"

"I Can Talk"

"Something Good Can Work"

"

Big Star

We listened to part of a Big Star song on Thursday, and unfortunately I was not in class on Wednesday to watch the documentary, so I am not very familiar with this band. I decided to look up some of their  music when I got home the other day and discovered this song, called "Kangaroo." This definitely falls into the "really sad and dark" phase of their career that you described to me. I would try and describe the way this song sounds, but I feel like the indie music website Stereogum does a much better job --

"The most bracing and outsized measure taken on an album of profoundly avant gestures, 'Kangaroo' is the musical centerpiece and a culmination of Chilton’s ever more radical vision for Big Star’s final album. Over the course of it’s cathartic three minutes and 46 seconds, Chilton sings in a pleading, plaintive tone to a would-be paramour — sounding deeply disoriented and not a little strung out. As the weirdest of all love songs unfolds amidst a sea of buzzing feedback and distortion, Stephens’s drums drop in and out unexpectedly, and Chilton’s guitar sounds nearly Eastern at times. The melody is lovely but elliptical and difficult to pinpoint, the overall effect not so much a pop song as a man simply unloading his addled head onto the tape. “Kangaroo” is as beautifully damaged as rock and roll gets, and sets a template for the experimentation of countless great pop acts going forward."

I plan on watching the documentary on Netflix on my own time, one day...... but for now, I will be enjoying this song:

Gray Area

Because my stupid Spotify app isn't loading, which supplies my entire music library, I have been listening to my own music less than I am used to. Despite this setback, I have started to listen to more 80's music (that is, more than I previously have), mostly because I'm watching two shows that are set in the 80's and are chock full of great music. I am currently digging into Hall & Oats after having You Make My Dreams" stuck in my head for weeks on end. As of now, I am enjoying "Out of Touch." I like the different sound of Hall & Oats, and their use of the keyboard and saxophone in "Maneater" is subtle but iconic. The techno sound combined with the rock and roll overall feeling creates something that I really like to listen to. Here are some of my favorites:

"Maneater"

"You Make My Dreams" (my all time favorite)

"Out of Touch"

Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young

I really loved listening to Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young in class, and realized I knew way more of their songs than previously thought. I've heard "Our House" many times, plus "Teach Your Children" and "Carry On." My favorite aspect of this group is definitely the four part harmony. It's incredibly impressive how they are able to synchronize their voices in such a unique way. Without the harmonies, I probably would not have enjoyed this band, because they seem to have an old-folk-sometimes-country sound that isn't exactly appealing to me. However, the harmonies keep me interested and appreciative. Their songs come up in lots of movies as well and I never realized it was CSNY until now! Here is "Our House" live in 1974 (The hair in this video is a bonus).

Winter Break

We talked about winter break in class the other day, and I spent part of my time in Washington D.C. While I was there I found this bookstore that my dad used to go to all the time when he was working in the Senator's office. It was a really unique and interesting experience walking around where my dad spent his years fresh out of law school. The bookstore had two levels, a coffee bar, and a space for author's signings. Hearing me describe it doesn't do it justice, because it felt like home to me. Like someone could just walk inside, sit down, and feel like they had lived there all their life. It certainly happened to me. I found a book full of short stories, with one page written in English and the opposite in Spanish. I am hoping that this catalyzes my goal of fluency in the Spanish language, although I am well aware I have a long way to go in that respect. When my dad comes home from his business trip, I'll post a link to their website. It is definitely a cool place you should check out if you ever happen to find yourself in Washington D.C.!

The Smiths

I have been listening to some of "The Smiths" lately after watching a movie that featured them in their soundtrack. I really like their retro sound and the thickness of the lead singer's accent. I feel like it emphasizes the feeling he is trying to communicate, especially in songs like "Asleep" (my personal favorite of theirs). I haven't exactly investigated them thoroughly, but a quote on Wikipedia states that "The BBC described The Smiths as 'the band that inspired deeper devotion than any British group since The Beatles,'" which I thought was especially relevant to our class studies. It's interesting to me to see just how many of the most popular bands in the world are British. It seems that Britain and the US have always been in tune (ha ha) in terms of the music industry, for each country continually produces groundbreaking bands as time goes on. It makes me wonder if there ever was a struggle between the two, or a battle to see who could rival the other's major band/artist at the time. (Was America jealous of the Beatles British success ...) Anyway, here are some of the songs I really like by The Smiths, I hope you like them:


I'm not sure why the video explores a graveyard the entire time, but here is "Asleep" --

"There Is A Light That Never Goes Out"

"This Charming Man"

"How Soon Is Now"