For some reason, I began to be into post-rock at the moment. Post-rock is an amazing genre where bands use rock instrumentations with a non-rock purposes. Some of the bands can make songs which last up till 21 minutes! It's really, really groovy srsly. Downloaded 2 albums last week. (I'm still waiting for my new Coldplay to finish downloading)
Giants - They, the Undeserving
Very, very intense band. Every song is filled with great crescendos and intense buildups. Recommended for people who loves other music for a change.
Another post-rock band that I was so eager to listen to since last year. I couldn't manage to get their album until yesterday. Thank you Google! Before I review, I must say the band name is great. Samuel L. Jackson + The Jackson Five = The Samuel Jackson Five. Anyway, their sound is kinda unique even their genre is normally characterize as repetitive and long-winded. Imagine instrumental jazz with some attitude. I like the most was that one of the songs had a climatic buildup till the middle when I thought I know where they are about to go, the sound abruptly stopped and changes its tone.
A few weeks ago, there was an event in my school called International Food Fiesta (A more classy way of saying "Hari Kantin"). There were many activities and when there's an event, there will be music. SOOO, I jokingly said to my friend "Next year I'm going to be the DJ and play better music than that". She replied "But not all people like indie" and I gave her the o_O face.
Before I start my rant, I really want to know why do people love to use phrases when they don't even know the exact meaning of it? It's not groovy at all.
Okay, like I wrote in the title..indie is not a genre. Indie is independent in long form. So, indie music means independent music. What is independent music? Musicians who are signed to independent music labels. Let's get to the root of this thing. A musician needs something to promote and distribute their music so music labels are formed. There are two types of labels, the mainstream labels and independent labels.
The mainstream labels comprised of the Big 4 "EMI, Universal, Warner Bros., Capitol" and artists that are signed to them are those can always be found getting airplayed like hell in MTV and radio stations. IMO, these companies are evil. Their main goal is to earn profits, thus making music as a product not as an art. Those who signed into those companies too have little control over their creative input to their music. The only reason I feel musicians signed into these are they either want to spread their music or just want to get rich.
But, musicians who are signed into independent labels have more creative control and are able to get more royalties. However, they won't have as much publicity as mainstream musicians. What I like about independent music is that there are so many kinds of music to listen to. From peaceful, melodic instrumental Post-Rock to harsh, crazy noise rock there are limitless genres of music in the indie stage.
Nothing beats free music. I'm giving away five songs that I have been listening a lot for this past week. The genres are kinda narrow but the songs imo can fit in any mood or situation.
The Appleseed Cast - Santa Maria Wolf Parade - Modern World The Unicorns - Les Os Islands - Don't Call Me Whitney, Bobby Moscow Olympics - Second Trace link
In other news, Death Cab was rumoured to come to KL. Guess what? They're going to our southern neighbours. D= My whole dream was tarnished when I heard the news. It was going to be my first concert. Dear Singapore, you got Broken Social Scene, HORSE the Band, Travis and hell, The Rapture why can't you let us have Death Cab? Yes, we have Explosions in the Sky but you will and always will have great gigs coming to your place. Why can't you spare us this time? T_T
Ugh, can't see it properly but it says I got 20.8 GB in my music folder with 3.8k songs and I guess around 250 albums. Pretty groovy, indeed. And sadly, all of them I got it without purchasing them. D=
Anyway, great recommendation from me once again. A band simply called Stars is one of my favourite pop rock bands and they are simply amazing. The "call and respond" technique which can be heard in some songs is really good with the male and female vocalist doing it. Pretty melancholic but somehow, joyful after finish listening to them.
Saying 'Malaysia' and 'live concert' in a same sentence and you will think "The Click Five" and "Backstreet Boys". Fear not, this year imo was one of the best years for great gigs. We had popular post-rock band, Explosions in the Sky coming to here and many indie kids scream their lungs out. Next month we going to have another 2 post rock bands coming to KL.
MONO Mono is a band where epic music comes to mind. The songs, all of which are instrumental, are usually focused on layered guitar melodies. Strings and pianos are often found in some of their songs. They are also known for their powerful live shows (ZING!) and their complex guitar work. Too bad I can't go since there are so many barriers that make me not see them. =/ July 5th, Zouk.
Mono - Yearning TOE Another post rock band from Japan. I haven't heard of them but from what I have heard, they're good live. We'll see about that when they are here on Aug 3rd.
In other news, there is a rumour saying Death Cab For Cutie will be coming to KL around August. Hopefully the rumour will be true. =O
One of the best pop albums this year, IMO. Melodic and aggressive at the same time...it's fun for the whole family! I have been listening to the album repeatedly this weekend and I still haven't got bored with it. A++
Great band from Iceland. Haven't finish listening to their album yet but so far is kinda good. I dislike the first track the most among the first 4 tracks I listened. I'll update this more when I finish listening to it. Here's the link to listen to their whole album. I'm busy figuring out how to fking embed the player into the blog.
"OMG! This song is so emo!" "This song by xxx is emo. I would listen to it when I'm down" "That's emo? This is moooore emo! *recommends some RnB artists*"
Minus the good English and you will find these very familiar. ;-) Many people have been abusing this term ever since the explosion of pop punk with every single one of them labelled emo. Below is an example.
"Hey I started a pop punk band!" "OMG, you're so emo!"
Many people wondered what does emo stands for and after realizing it's emotional, they came to an agreement that any song that makes you feel sad is emo. It's a big slap to any artist when they got this label as it really deteriorates their name.
Let get this straight. Emo is not songs which are sad. Let us begin our history class.
EMO IS A STYLE OF HARDCORE PUNK (yes, hardcore). I know many of you will be like "Wtf? How can hardcore be emo?". Well, early emo is actually screamo. The angsty lyrics with screaming vocals make them look emotional, thus the genre emo.
After a decade, emo's sound has change quite drastically with new wave of alternative rock bands that includes some emo characteristics. The angsty lyrics were still there BUT the vocals have been toned down and it's more melodic. In this era, emo was like: - Very personal lyrics with great metaphoric lines in them - Loud but clean guitar riffs - Melodic vocals (Little screaming some times)
This wave was the beginning of the evolution of pop punk. As the genre grew more popular, people began using the term more widely and thus folks are using this term mindlessly without actually knowing the origin of the term.
Sunny Day Real Estate - Tearing in my Heart 1:55~2:18 Tearing in my heart, a mistake from the start And it's almost too hard Tarry in my mind, I'll repay you another time When it's all said and done
A great example of an emo-influenced indie rock band.
The Appleseed Cast - Fishing the Sky
Reaching ocean. Walked for days. Reaching ocean. You were mine. The falling skyline. Is touching haze This empty notions. You were mine.
Fishing the sky Fishing the sky
I love the lyrics in the song. One of the good examples of emo lyrics. Apparently, the lyrics is based on the motion of the waves. The band 'twisted' them and make it into a wonderful lyric.
TOP 3 WORST NAMES 3. Does It Offend You, Yeah? Ugh, boring sound band that tries to sound original in an already tired genre. Overpretentious band name. When I first saw the band's name, I swear to you that the ', Yeah?' was a typo or something because it doesn't even make any sense. Does It Offend You? sounds logic but after adding the ', Yeah?' my mind is blown.
2. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin I really like this band but the name...it was doomed to fail. I can't see anyone bring a conversation bout this band. "Hey! This band sounds so cool!" "What is it called?" "Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin" "Urm, like seriously" "Ya rly" "/facepalm"
Which also brings me to number 1.
1. Natalie Portman's Shaved Head I would like to have some of what they're taking. Srsly, were they high or something while naming the band? Makes a bad impression to everyone imo.
HONOROBLE MENTION - My penis is made of dogshit -I Write Haikus About Cannibalism in Yourl Yearbook -Pirates of the Sea (pic below for pure badassness)
Top 3 Best Names 3. Circle Takes the Square I think it's a Hollywood Squares but the name really sounds so cool. Anything that has 2 totally opposite objects that has a connection between them in a name is cool to me. Like "The Six Parts Seven" but never listen to them before so no listing.
2. God is an Astronaut This band sounds very atmospheric and the name really suits with the sound. Plus, the connection of the two nouns are really clever and kinda sensical to me (God = space, Astronaut = space).
1. Sigur Rós A band from Iceland.When I listen to any of their songs in my ipod, I would imagine the name and then the beautiful land of Iceland. There's something with the name that spellbinds me to mesmerize Iceland for some reason. I don't know why. It could be the letter ó or maybe it's meaning (They got the name from the singer's sister's name which means "Victory Rose"). Their sound is pretty unique and atmospheric like GiaA. Pretty, amirite?
HONORABLE MENTION - 65daysofstatic - You Say Party! We Say Die! - This Will Destroy You - Death From Above 1979 - Explosions in the Sky - Broken Social Scene
NP: Islands - Where There's A Will There's A Whalebone
This band freaking rocks. A band from the Philippines and it isn't rivermaya or wtv it's name was (I'm talking bout the pinoy band that has a big airplay in MTV). All their songs are so dreamy and pretty. Good to have these type of band in this region. Major props to them!
I freaking love the part where a girl screams at 3:09. Shows how great they are at playing live and 2:25-2:40 was the part where I was sold to this band.
