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!