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.......

Lucius

The beginning of "Turn It Around" by Lucius starts very slowly, with the beat kicking in around 30 seconds (a little long if you ask me). She reminds me of St. Vincent in terms of pitch of voice (slightly lower than usual) and has a really interesting vibe. Lucius comes off as techno indie, but as I listen to more of her music she (wait I just realized there are two girls, so THEY) have a quiet side as well. Their album Wildewoman contains an assortment of moods and seems like a dynamic experience.

Concert

Last night I saw Vampire Weekend (for the third time) in concert and it was absolutely amazing. I really love how each of the band members play independently but in sync at the same time. Ezra Koenig (lead singer) was hilarious and interacted with the crowd so much more than he did previously, due to the fact that the concert was held at Stubbs and therefore was a smaller venue. Their set list was flawless-- it was so great just being in the atmosphere of it all. My favorite part of this band is the guitar and how playful // folky it sounds without being full-blown folk music. Here a video I took of their song "Walcott" --

ACL Lineup

The ACL lineup this year is much  better than last year in my opinion. The masterminds behind the scenes did a good job of ensuring there would be a variety of genres, from Skrillex to Pearl Jam. Eminem is a huge headliner that left plenty of people over the moon, however I will more than likely skip that concert. If time allows/if there are no other bands playing at the moment I would love to see Pearl Jam, just because I know they can play and have the years of skill and raw talent to back it up (plus I just enjoy their old rocker vibe). I am SO extremely excited to see Beck because I have been a longtime fan of his older grunge albums in addition to his brand new mellow songs.
Say Goodbye -- Beck (one of my favorite of his new ones)

In addition to Beck, I am probably most excited for Spoon. Spoon has been a favorite of mine for so long and I absolutely cannot WAIT to see them live again. Major Lazer would be cool if there is nothing else to see. I also want to see the Avett Brothers, The Head and The Heart, Broken Bells (for sure), maybe Childish Gambino, Chvrches, St. Vincent, Phantogram, Fitz and the Tantrums, and more.

Youth Lagoon

The song "Canons" by Youth Lagoon has been hanging around my Spotify for the last couple of weeks and I realized that it is my favorite song to do homework to, especially when writing essays. I haven't exactly explored Youth Lagoon in depth but, based off this song, I would like to hear more. "Canons" has cool guitar chords that persist throughout the song, and it has a voice overlay that makes everything sound retro, almost from a distance. Youth Lagoon is a one man band composed of Trevor Powers, and in this live rendition of "Canons" he proves to be a proficient piano player as well. This acoustic version is really pure and innocent, but I'll include the studio version too so you can hear the overlay I'm referring to...

Nirvana... (again)

I know I already blogged about Nirvana back in October, but watching their Unplugged MTV performance really made me appreciate their actual musical abilities more so than before. Kurt Cobain's voice has such a raw pull to it, one of the reasons why they were such a successful band. The songs have such a strong connotation to each and every one of them, breaking the fourth wall and really connecting with the audience. Nirvana has a hardcore/grunge reputation that causes random "rebellious teens" to adopt their music simply for its rebellious and alternative qualities, not for the message or delivery. This isn't really an issue, but it certainly bothers me (and I'm sure other people as well) to see random girls/people in general walking around in Nirvana merchandise purely for the namesake and without any regard to the actual music they are advertising. Nevertheless, Nevermind is an extraordinary album with a ridiculous amount of hit songs, all maintaining their own unique message and feel while having an undertone that ties the album tracks together. After watching Unplugged in class, I decided that "Dumb" was my favorite song of the show....

St. Vincent

I started listening to St. Vincent after you showed us in class one time, and I really like her stuff. The one word I can think of describing her is "unique," because I have honestly never heard anything quite like her music. My favorite song is "Digital Witness," but I enjoy "Cruel" and "Rattlesnake." Now I regret not seeing her at SXSW (granted, I was out of town, but still). Her music has a cool edge and all around interesting aspect that drew me in from the beginning.

U2

I love listening to U2. After watching the documentary a while ago about The Edge, Jack White, and Jimmy Page, I formed a newfound respect for The Edge and his contribution to the band. I like how U2's sound is rock but with a slight electronic feel that incorporates technology without changing the entire vibe. The constant renovations that The Edge makes to U2's sound, in part with the rest of the band of course, emphasizes the message they try to get across. U2 has embedded war protests and fights against diseases into their albums, which (I believe) is one of the reasons why they are such a highly regarded band. They could have very well stuck to traditional chords and lyrics that generated revenue and fame, but they chose to adopt a well-deserved cause, which I believe is admirable. My favorite songs are Ordinary People, Beautiful Day, Vertigo, City of Blinding Lights, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Get on Your Boots, Miracle Drug, All Because of You.

Voxtrot

I just heard the song "The Start of Something" by Voxtrot yesterday and really really enjoy it. I found it through my spotify radio and began to like it due to its similarity to The Smiths and The Strokes. They have a retro sound that stands out among the artists of today AND they're from Austin. Which makes them even better. I have only heard one song so far but I definitely plan on looking up their discography in its entirety. Their career was very short lived, for they released their first self-titled album in 2007 and broke up in 2010. In a way, this is good for me because it means I won't drop $40 on yet another concert ticket, but it also means that I don't get to hear them live. Which is sad. Anyway, I really like this band and recommend that you listen to this song! Yay fellow Austinites.

Hair Metal

The other day was Hair Metal day, and it was strange to say the least. I was ignorant to the level of androgynous men that were prominent in rock bands throughout the 80s. They were certainly not afraid to experiment with their clothing/actions, especially in Kiss, Twisted Sister, and Warrant. There were man times where I was surprised after a band member turned around and showed himself to be a boy with excellent hair, not a girl. It seems paradoxical to me to have these male rock members achieve this grunge-rebellion-edgy image through feminine qualities (clothing, hair, the pitch of their singing...). I knew how Kiss painted their faces and wore ridiculous clothing but the largely androgynous cloud over this rock era was news to me. It is also strange in that people were far less accepting of gay rights and homosexuality than today, and yet (as many people pointed out in class) they were contradicting what many people considered heterosexuality. It all seems strange to me. I would not have liked to live in this time period... it sounds scary.

20 feet from Stardom

From what I was able to see from the documentary, backup singers are under appreciated and over talented. The range, ability, and devotion of these singers often times surpasses the "artists" of today, specifically those who rely on autotune to support their feeble vocals. The fact that you know someone who has only had two people not need the assistance of autotuning signifies a greater issue with American pop culture, in that we are fed this bubblegum-pop-techno-no-talent-necessary music that passes for good when in reality it is merely catchy. That is not to say that the quality of music has declined, because there are plenty of artists that are more than qualified for praise. However the mainstream media shoves artists like Selena Gomez and Britney Spears and Flo Rida who aren't even good at singing or rapping or whatever they do, but they are famous and they can generate revenue and that's what really matters, right? The documentary really unearths the disconnect from melodic tracks and harmonies that the American public suffers today.

Ellie Goulding

So I went to this Ellie Goulding concert this past Saturday and it was phenomenal. It was such a fun concert to just GO to and be in this amazing atmosphere of excitement and genuine talent. Ellie has such an impressive range that makes her songs almost exclusively compatible with her voice. I love pretty much every song she has come out with, especially "Figure 8" and her cover of "Your Song" by Elton John. Heres a video from her concert!

Bombay Bicycle Club

Bombay Bicycle Club came out with a new album that I AM IN LOVE WITH. I listen to their album every time I study or read or just sit around. Their songs are a mix of indie-techno-alternative thats really captivating and soothing at the same time. I highly recommend this album in its entirety. And, since they're going to Lollapalooza, I am trying to find myself a ticket. Stay tuned.

This is my favorite song called "Feel" ^^^^^

The audio is better in this version!

Elvis Costello

We listened to Elvis Costello and I never realized the story behind his name. I think it takes a lot of confidence (and a little arrogance) to adopt the name of the King of Rock before his time has even remotely passed. Regardless, Elvis Costello has a distinct and identifying voice which is what, I think, really makes a standout artist.  My favorite songs by him are Alison, Radio Radio, and Watching the Detectives, and (What's So Funny 'bout) Peace, Love, & Understanding.