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."
Monday, 26 July 2010
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!
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