Sunday, 6 February 2011
Listener
i didn't expect to have my life changed today. A menial task, checking out a band because of obligation and replying to a friend for fear of drifting away. Two things so beautiful, how could i forget. Listener reminded me. i will remember this day, Sunday 6th February, that's when i first heard this band. Hours of my future are now inevitably and joyfully consumed by these songs. You see Listener's music build structures inside your body channeling your ears straight to your heart. And it's so clear from the vocals that you are listening to a man in touch with his own heart and not afraid to let that spill though his mouth with inhibitions left far behind. The lyrics are simply genius and you know he means every word, subsequently you feel every word. The music is the perfect backing track for everything going on. Beyond this words can not really explain. You'll just have to listen yourself.
Monday, 26 July 2010
My Epic / Yet
Being in a band I find the most annoying question when you tell people you are is "what sort of music do you play?" It's a natural and understandable question but a frustrating one to answer. I've messed around with many answers, some a string of genres, sometimes I say all sorts or just list bands that we listen too. If I'm tired I may just say heavy stuff which is certainly misleading. It seems that I've settled upon the conclusion that I'm pleased I can't describe it that easy, after all aren't genres just what's been done before? If we fit into a genre then where's our originality? But I understand, it's easier to fit everything in to neat little boxes and I naturally categorise bands in my head when I hear them. Just as words can be misleading so can categories and there's a danger in doing this that you might just judge a band based upon assumptions.
The first time I listened to the album "Yet" by My Epic I had a slightly different problem in that I was trying to fit them into a preconceived category and I just couldn't find one where they fitted, subsequently I couldn't make my mind up about them. Because I was generously given this album by a friend I had the opportunity to give it a good few listens, not only this but I felt an obligation too. Usually obligation is one of my least favorite words, on this occasion I am grateful for it. Make no mistakes "Yet" is an incredible album and deserves not to be categorised but as few albums do, stands alone. It seems ridiculous to try and describe them or say if you like this band, this genre listen to My Epic, all I can say is if you like music listen to My Epic and learn to love them.
Another problem I initially had was the outright bluntness of the Christianity in the lyrics. I love lyrics that are written for G-d and I think who better to inspire words, however I find so often that when the lyrics are blatantly "christian" there is a compromise of true art for the sake of an attempt to be holy. I am a sinner, often I am sad and it's natural and flows more freely to write about these things when I am, if all I wrote about was G-d's greatness then I am a liar, not because G-d is not great but because I am not and I sometimes I spend too long looking at myself. A closer lyrical examination shed light upon an answer to these fears, one that showed these fears to be entirely misplaced. Though all the lyrics in this album I believe to be glorifying to G-d there is a both an honesty and depth to them. He does not ignore nor hide struggles, but what an incredible group of guys as you can see a passion for G-d and a commitment to hold tight to Him in all they do and go through, how inspiring. The words they sing hold lessons to be learned, ones that go deeper each time, they are a vessel through which G-d speaks and to listen is a spiritual experience for sure.
Others who I've spoken to about My Epic seem to make a fuss about the song "Lower Still", it is a good song with even better lyrics, but I don't see it to stand above any other on the album, as a whole, as a unit this album is beautiful.
I like it more with each listen and I'm not quite sure how far that will go but it shows no sign of stopping soon. Who knows how deep I could end up falling in love with this band, I suggest it's a journey you set yourself upon too.
I shall leave you with the words I just read on their Myspace, they make mine seem rather worthless in comparison, but is not every little effort of mine worthless? I am worthless and so is all I give and "Yet" it's accepted, used and made worthy by The One who is most worthy of all. How wonderful is grace.
"The soundtrack of a hopeful youth shimmers inside the unassuming three piece that is My Epic.
Deliberately penning lyrics to subvert all basic human nature, My Epic have become the unforeseen antidote to apathy with song after song evoking raw emotion wrapped in a palpable tenderness.
Soaring refrains and dynamic vocals breeze in and out of carefully sculpted songs with alternated softness and exuberance.
The often heart rending melodies roll and rush around vocals that threaten to sweep you off your feet.
Lyrically stunning, vital and rebellious in the most captivating way, My Epic has staked their claim on Beauty as certainly as they have taken their stand against the unremarkable.
When inspiration comes from beauty the result is anything but ordinary, and for My Epic the results are unforgettable."
The first time I listened to the album "Yet" by My Epic I had a slightly different problem in that I was trying to fit them into a preconceived category and I just couldn't find one where they fitted, subsequently I couldn't make my mind up about them. Because I was generously given this album by a friend I had the opportunity to give it a good few listens, not only this but I felt an obligation too. Usually obligation is one of my least favorite words, on this occasion I am grateful for it. Make no mistakes "Yet" is an incredible album and deserves not to be categorised but as few albums do, stands alone. It seems ridiculous to try and describe them or say if you like this band, this genre listen to My Epic, all I can say is if you like music listen to My Epic and learn to love them.
Another problem I initially had was the outright bluntness of the Christianity in the lyrics. I love lyrics that are written for G-d and I think who better to inspire words, however I find so often that when the lyrics are blatantly "christian" there is a compromise of true art for the sake of an attempt to be holy. I am a sinner, often I am sad and it's natural and flows more freely to write about these things when I am, if all I wrote about was G-d's greatness then I am a liar, not because G-d is not great but because I am not and I sometimes I spend too long looking at myself. A closer lyrical examination shed light upon an answer to these fears, one that showed these fears to be entirely misplaced. Though all the lyrics in this album I believe to be glorifying to G-d there is a both an honesty and depth to them. He does not ignore nor hide struggles, but what an incredible group of guys as you can see a passion for G-d and a commitment to hold tight to Him in all they do and go through, how inspiring. The words they sing hold lessons to be learned, ones that go deeper each time, they are a vessel through which G-d speaks and to listen is a spiritual experience for sure.
Others who I've spoken to about My Epic seem to make a fuss about the song "Lower Still", it is a good song with even better lyrics, but I don't see it to stand above any other on the album, as a whole, as a unit this album is beautiful.
I like it more with each listen and I'm not quite sure how far that will go but it shows no sign of stopping soon. Who knows how deep I could end up falling in love with this band, I suggest it's a journey you set yourself upon too.
I shall leave you with the words I just read on their Myspace, they make mine seem rather worthless in comparison, but is not every little effort of mine worthless? I am worthless and so is all I give and "Yet" it's accepted, used and made worthy by The One who is most worthy of all. How wonderful is grace.
"The soundtrack of a hopeful youth shimmers inside the unassuming three piece that is My Epic.
Deliberately penning lyrics to subvert all basic human nature, My Epic have become the unforeseen antidote to apathy with song after song evoking raw emotion wrapped in a palpable tenderness.
Soaring refrains and dynamic vocals breeze in and out of carefully sculpted songs with alternated softness and exuberance.
The often heart rending melodies roll and rush around vocals that threaten to sweep you off your feet.
Lyrically stunning, vital and rebellious in the most captivating way, My Epic has staked their claim on Beauty as certainly as they have taken their stand against the unremarkable.
When inspiration comes from beauty the result is anything but ordinary, and for My Epic the results are unforgettable."
Saturday, 19 June 2010
Maylene and the Sons of Disaster
It's been a long time, too long, time for an album review.
Maylene and the Sons of Disaster - Self Titled.
I'd compare listening to this album to being kicked in the face and enjoying it! It's southern metal at it's purest containing everything I love about those southern US States. It's raw, it's gritty, it's dirty, it's powerful and in the strangest of ways it's so very beautiful.
It's one of a kind, an album that could never be made again, an album you can't ignore. I'm not trying to sell it, I just love it, after all what's the point in writing about it if I don't?
Fronted by Dallas Taylor formerly of Underoath, Maylene and the Sons of Disaster released their Self Titled album on Mono Vs Stereo records in 2005. I personally first heard about them from a friend who earlier had introduced me to Underoath, what a good friend. I first actually heard them only when I brought their album which I did while at spring harvest. I was more excited concerning the genre of the band that they were being sold at such a mainstream Christian festival and brought it solely for that reason rather than expectation of what it'd deliver. This made it's delivery knock me back that much further. The rest of that day was somewhat of an inconvenience to my emotions. In short, I split up with the girl I was currently with and subsequently not particularly in the mood for any music as heavy as Maylene deliver it. On the same day I brought an album by One Hundred Hours and it seemed more appropriate to let that consume any listening time I had. Feeling a need for a deliberate attempt to lift myself from the pit I'd dropped into I recalled the album purchased the day before and fished it out of the bag it was still in. Music dictates mood, I couldn't change my mood but I could change the music, so it went on. The scream, the guitars, the bass and the drums all hit instantly and simultaneously. I was listening and I wasn't about to turn it off. Bam! For the next 35 minutes and 21 seconds I banged my head, I tapped my foot, I air drummed, I played air guitar, I partook in a spot of solo moshing and I yelled, I yelled free of all inhibitions. When I stopped for breath I took the time to contemplate the lyrics. Contemplation became an important word, the album finishes in stark contrast to it's start on a soft note. Though the guitars still had that southern twang they drifted rather than jumped, the voice lost not an ounce of southernness either but it chose the whisper instead of the shout. The drums sat out till near the end where they added emphasis with a slow beat as things picked up a little. The melodic atmosphere didn't leave with the build but infact intensified. The lyrics spoke of suicide, the search for affection and approval and the concession that it wont be found. The exit was a drop, a necessary one. They'd took you on a journey, literally told you a story and left you with time to think about it and a mood where you wanted to think about it, Artistic manipulation, for me craftsmanship.
The story talks of brothers who are also a gang of criminals on the run. More specifically they talk about the legend of the Ma Baker gang, a criminal gang who were very famous in Dallas' hometown. At the heart of all this gang do is a need to work for approval from their mother, this fails. In the end one of the sons kills himself. The band retells the story of this gang each taking up the role as one of the brothers to act out the tale through music. Dallas while speaking about the purpose behind this used the phrase "what goes around comes around". He suggested that we will be held accountable for the actions of our lives and that in this life or the next consequences will be suffered. He states that "divine justice is unavoidable".
I didn't fully understand this without later research and after one listen, if I had it might have given me a little perspective on life and inspired a ferverance to live right before G-d despite emotions or circumstances. As it was it just provided a temporary distraction.
However deep you want to go, it's an incredible album!
Maylene and the Sons of Disaster - Self Titled.
I'd compare listening to this album to being kicked in the face and enjoying it! It's southern metal at it's purest containing everything I love about those southern US States. It's raw, it's gritty, it's dirty, it's powerful and in the strangest of ways it's so very beautiful.
It's one of a kind, an album that could never be made again, an album you can't ignore. I'm not trying to sell it, I just love it, after all what's the point in writing about it if I don't?
Fronted by Dallas Taylor formerly of Underoath, Maylene and the Sons of Disaster released their Self Titled album on Mono Vs Stereo records in 2005. I personally first heard about them from a friend who earlier had introduced me to Underoath, what a good friend. I first actually heard them only when I brought their album which I did while at spring harvest. I was more excited concerning the genre of the band that they were being sold at such a mainstream Christian festival and brought it solely for that reason rather than expectation of what it'd deliver. This made it's delivery knock me back that much further. The rest of that day was somewhat of an inconvenience to my emotions. In short, I split up with the girl I was currently with and subsequently not particularly in the mood for any music as heavy as Maylene deliver it. On the same day I brought an album by One Hundred Hours and it seemed more appropriate to let that consume any listening time I had. Feeling a need for a deliberate attempt to lift myself from the pit I'd dropped into I recalled the album purchased the day before and fished it out of the bag it was still in. Music dictates mood, I couldn't change my mood but I could change the music, so it went on. The scream, the guitars, the bass and the drums all hit instantly and simultaneously. I was listening and I wasn't about to turn it off. Bam! For the next 35 minutes and 21 seconds I banged my head, I tapped my foot, I air drummed, I played air guitar, I partook in a spot of solo moshing and I yelled, I yelled free of all inhibitions. When I stopped for breath I took the time to contemplate the lyrics. Contemplation became an important word, the album finishes in stark contrast to it's start on a soft note. Though the guitars still had that southern twang they drifted rather than jumped, the voice lost not an ounce of southernness either but it chose the whisper instead of the shout. The drums sat out till near the end where they added emphasis with a slow beat as things picked up a little. The melodic atmosphere didn't leave with the build but infact intensified. The lyrics spoke of suicide, the search for affection and approval and the concession that it wont be found. The exit was a drop, a necessary one. They'd took you on a journey, literally told you a story and left you with time to think about it and a mood where you wanted to think about it, Artistic manipulation, for me craftsmanship.
The story talks of brothers who are also a gang of criminals on the run. More specifically they talk about the legend of the Ma Baker gang, a criminal gang who were very famous in Dallas' hometown. At the heart of all this gang do is a need to work for approval from their mother, this fails. In the end one of the sons kills himself. The band retells the story of this gang each taking up the role as one of the brothers to act out the tale through music. Dallas while speaking about the purpose behind this used the phrase "what goes around comes around". He suggested that we will be held accountable for the actions of our lives and that in this life or the next consequences will be suffered. He states that "divine justice is unavoidable".
I didn't fully understand this without later research and after one listen, if I had it might have given me a little perspective on life and inspired a ferverance to live right before G-d despite emotions or circumstances. As it was it just provided a temporary distraction.
However deep you want to go, it's an incredible album!
Thursday, 8 October 2009
"mewithoutYou"
It was always going to be written at some point, why not now.
While I wrote about "Right Away, Great Captain" I listened to his music. I presumed that would be a trend that followed, rather strangely I find myself listening to "Bat For Lashes" while I write this, that will no dout be reflected.
mewithoutYou for me is all about letting go of attatchments. Those things that weigh heavy on us, and maybe at first they brought us joy, but in the end turned sour and all the while we hold on tight in the hope of reviving what was once. mewithoutYou's message is very simple, let go of everything that isn't G-d. There's a freedom in that to enjoy the things of this earth, we're no longer tied to them, but we can enjoy them while being free of their control, but most of all we're free to walk with G-d. The bible said he who wants to gain life must first lose it, this death can be painful and difficult, but it can also shape us and set us up to be who we're meant to be. Right now I'm trying to let go of people, I seem to rely on them, and when I'm cut off from them I feel lonely. So I'm cut off, not entirely of my own choice, but I think I see what G-d's doing. I've had a sore throat the last few days and haven't been attending work or social events, the first day was ok but today has been hard, but hopefully I'll grow through it.
This isn't about mewithoutYou atall, never mind, I guess I'll write about them another time after all.
While I wrote about "Right Away, Great Captain" I listened to his music. I presumed that would be a trend that followed, rather strangely I find myself listening to "Bat For Lashes" while I write this, that will no dout be reflected.
mewithoutYou for me is all about letting go of attatchments. Those things that weigh heavy on us, and maybe at first they brought us joy, but in the end turned sour and all the while we hold on tight in the hope of reviving what was once. mewithoutYou's message is very simple, let go of everything that isn't G-d. There's a freedom in that to enjoy the things of this earth, we're no longer tied to them, but we can enjoy them while being free of their control, but most of all we're free to walk with G-d. The bible said he who wants to gain life must first lose it, this death can be painful and difficult, but it can also shape us and set us up to be who we're meant to be. Right now I'm trying to let go of people, I seem to rely on them, and when I'm cut off from them I feel lonely. So I'm cut off, not entirely of my own choice, but I think I see what G-d's doing. I've had a sore throat the last few days and haven't been attending work or social events, the first day was ok but today has been hard, but hopefully I'll grow through it.
This isn't about mewithoutYou atall, never mind, I guess I'll write about them another time after all.
Friday, 2 October 2009
Right Away, Great Captain
It's strange how things get away from you, the planned regular posts in here was an idea and plan lost to the busyness of day to day life, but I'm back on here and will waste no more time, write I will.
My first exposure to Andy Hull was through Manchester Orchestra. One of my favourite bands Anathallo was supporting them at the Bodega Social Club. I thought in preperation I better check out the headlining act, what a pleasant suprise I was in for. They had me immediately, the music filled the room, changed the air, influenced the atmosphere. It left a dwelling mood for Andy to speak over and what a craftsman of the word he is, though he sings with such feeling that you could have no idea what he was talking about and still empaphise with him.
This is something he deffinitely carries through into his solo project - Right Away, Great Captain. Right Away, Great Captain is a musical project based around a story, a story fiction in of itself but I feel probably closely attatched to feelings and experiences Andy Hull has sitting inside him, this is his way to express them. I don't know if he feels any better from it, but he drags you right into the sadness with him, and yet leaving you thinking there's no place you'd rather be. The story is one of a sailor who finds his wife in an affair with his brother. It challenges many different feelings but it's this issue of travel and distance that interests me most. There's a sadness in distance, a solemn loneliness and yet the thought of leaving enters my mind every day, on the day I eventually do I feel Right Away, Great Captain would make the perfect soundtrack.
My first exposure to Andy Hull was through Manchester Orchestra. One of my favourite bands Anathallo was supporting them at the Bodega Social Club. I thought in preperation I better check out the headlining act, what a pleasant suprise I was in for. They had me immediately, the music filled the room, changed the air, influenced the atmosphere. It left a dwelling mood for Andy to speak over and what a craftsman of the word he is, though he sings with such feeling that you could have no idea what he was talking about and still empaphise with him.
This is something he deffinitely carries through into his solo project - Right Away, Great Captain. Right Away, Great Captain is a musical project based around a story, a story fiction in of itself but I feel probably closely attatched to feelings and experiences Andy Hull has sitting inside him, this is his way to express them. I don't know if he feels any better from it, but he drags you right into the sadness with him, and yet leaving you thinking there's no place you'd rather be. The story is one of a sailor who finds his wife in an affair with his brother. It challenges many different feelings but it's this issue of travel and distance that interests me most. There's a sadness in distance, a solemn loneliness and yet the thought of leaving enters my mind every day, on the day I eventually do I feel Right Away, Great Captain would make the perfect soundtrack.
Saturday, 12 September 2009
What is this?
I've been writing my "hope is but a fading dream" blog for years now without much consistency or flow so the birth of a new blog with an alternative motive seems strange. But this blog is created with a more specific purpose in mind, rather than random at times introspective ramblings this blog has reason and structure. I can't promise that will mean it will make more sense but not much does inside my mind.
So the purpose. I hear so much music that I love, I'm sure you do too, but when a riff smacks me in the face and leaves me stunned on the ground or a melody picks me up and carries me off to a place beyond what I believe music could do, to have this experience never seems quite enough. I want to share it with others. In the passing speed of day to day conversation I never seem to find the right words to express why I love so much the band that has just been brought up, but on here I can think things through more, choose my words more carefully, and that's what I intend to do.
This I hope is not just another review blog. You will find thousands of sites on here telling you about bands, their albums, their news etc. I want to share far more personal experiences than that with you, how the music effected me, how it spoke to me and why it's so precious to me. This has purpose in 2 ways, one, it's mine and no one else can tell you about it, secondly I am not telling you how you should look at the music, not forcing preconcieved ideas of interpretation on you, just sharing what it has the power to do, in the hope that you will lend an ear and more to it, allowing your own experiences to be born.
I intend to do one review a week, time and life permitting.
Hopefully first tomorrow.
Keep well.
Peace
Josh
So the purpose. I hear so much music that I love, I'm sure you do too, but when a riff smacks me in the face and leaves me stunned on the ground or a melody picks me up and carries me off to a place beyond what I believe music could do, to have this experience never seems quite enough. I want to share it with others. In the passing speed of day to day conversation I never seem to find the right words to express why I love so much the band that has just been brought up, but on here I can think things through more, choose my words more carefully, and that's what I intend to do.
This I hope is not just another review blog. You will find thousands of sites on here telling you about bands, their albums, their news etc. I want to share far more personal experiences than that with you, how the music effected me, how it spoke to me and why it's so precious to me. This has purpose in 2 ways, one, it's mine and no one else can tell you about it, secondly I am not telling you how you should look at the music, not forcing preconcieved ideas of interpretation on you, just sharing what it has the power to do, in the hope that you will lend an ear and more to it, allowing your own experiences to be born.
I intend to do one review a week, time and life permitting.
Hopefully first tomorrow.
Keep well.
Peace
Josh
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