Talihina Sky

Just now, listening to this song, the words really stuck out to me.  Caleb talks about how tired he is of this small town.  Everyone is pretty much wasting their life away on booze and idiocy.  All he can talk about is wanting to go.  I thought this applied to me and my life pretty well.  Coming from a similar situation with my old home town, all I was focused on was getting out.  It didnt matter how or where I'd go, but all I knew was that I was tired of the same ole same ole.  People doing stupid shit and then looking down on you if you didnt quite feel the same way they did.  But I think something that isn't in the song is what I really take from it.  Recently, Kings of Leon called off the rest of their summer tour, citing Caleb's drinking issue and subsequent disfunction in the band as a major reason.  So, this song got me to thinking about me, and maybe how I will react to a new environment and that sort of thing.  I guess I should have appreciated the laid back lifestyle I could have there, as opposed to the busy, still awesome, lifestyle of Austin.  It makes me realize that I should never take what I've got for granted, but also, when I get where I want to go, I should be responsible with my choices so I can make the most out of my opportunity, and not be a fuck up that lets my life go to waste.  I hope KOL gets their shit straight, and comes out with more albums like Youth and Young Manhood.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXGodSE3opM

Kings of Leon's Top 10 songs

10. The End
9. On Call
8. Use Somebody
7. Day Old Blues
6. Rememo
5. Molly's Chamber
4. Closer
3. Red Morning Light
2. Talihina Sky
1. Sex on Fire

I was really torn with the top 2, but I think Sex on Fire is just perfect.  By far their best song.  I dont know why they played Use Somebody so much. I wouldn't even put it on my top 10 if it wasnt so popular, but even then I hardly ever listen to it.

Fleet Foxes-Helplessness Blues

Okay, so I'm not an avid Fleet Foxes fan.  But I have listened to a good bit of their songs.  I own two of their albums:  The self-titled Fleet Foxes and Helplessness Blues.  I guess you can consider it a sort of Indie bluegrass/folk sound.  Any way you look at it or listen to it, it's good music hands down.  Fleet Foxes recognizes their sound and sticks to it.  Their musical capabilities are pretty astounding, as they perfectly blend many instruments, beats, and harmonies.  I read a Rolling Stones article on them before their new album was released, and it pretty much attested to the perfectionism of Robin Pecknold, the lead vocalist.  The article spoke as to how he slaved over the new album, constantly scrapping and revising songs and sections.  I think the quality of the music is very good. And the lyrics have some pretty interesting meaning too.  The words to the song "Helplessness Blues" really stuck out to me.  He starts off telling about his childhood and how people always told him that he was special and "unique." He describes himself as "a snowflake, distinct among snowflakes."  However, no too snowflakes are the same, so this statement is pretty ironic.  He continues to rebel against the notion that he is unique saying that "[he]'d rather be/a functioning cog in some great machinery/serving something beyond me." He takes it from being unique to being a single part of a larger picture, where he would likely fade out of the big picture.  This offers up a stark contrast from the opening stanza.  Pecknold continues and seems to be talking to someone as he says, "I'll come back to you someday." This starts to reveal the broader picture of the song.  He is trying to get back to his love.  And, he will do anything to get to her.  The song ends with him saying, "if I had an orchard/I'd work til I'm raw/If I had an orchard/I'd work til I'm sore."  He will do anything for what he wants. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyP0DACgdgc

The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie

Alright, enough with my soap box.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers are back after nearly 5 years.  They just recently released a single off of their new album, I'm With You.  "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie" didn't click the first time I listened to it.  Maybe that was because I was sitting in the Jackson Airport waiting for a flight back to Austin, had frankly had other things on my mind.  Anyway, I listened to it a couple times more and that same old RHCP sound came through.  The song starts with a nice drum beat and steady bass line that is somewhat drowned out.  You aren't real sure where the guitar is until he strums in and the vocals start.  The first verse has those same crazy lyrics that we have become accustomed to from Anthony Kiedis.  Then they hit the chorus, which is really catchy and has a pretty good summer feel to it.  It's that type of chorus that will stay stuck in your head for the rest of the day.  But, what do I know.  Just listen to it.

The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie

Techno wave

I do not understand why I am consistently writing these blog posts minutes before it is due.  I guess I am just the worst procrastinator in the world.  Oh well, here it is.  So, I have talked about rock and country and what kind of impact it has on how people view the world.  Now, I want to touch on my understanding of what techno music means to people.  I feel like techno has no deep meaning or anything like that, but it is simply played for people in a club or at a party.  Maybe I just haven't heard the techno song that talks about life, but most of the songs don't have lyrics anyway so that does not seem to be the point of the genre.  Some people say they like the beats.  Some people just want to dance to it.  And some people listen to it to get pumped up.  From what I can tell about this type of music, it seems to serve the carefree attitude of the young people that listen to it.  There is really no philosophical meanings behind these songs, it seems.  And there is really nothing wrong with that because it really serves today's culture well.  Most teenagers aren't interested in deep stuff, or at least not at clubs or parties.  So, while I see the purpose of techno in the right circumstances, I do not understand why it is being over-played in everyday settings.  Can someone tell me why it is that whenever I am getting food from JCL, they have "Everyday I'm Shufflin'" playing?  Has techno become so big that it is acceptable in any situation, despite its like of meaning?  Why has this happened to music, which used to be an attempt to understand the crazy world we live in?  I guess people would rather not worry about the past or the future, rather live completely in the moment, but I do not think that is good for our society.

Let It Go

Now, I like country and by that I mean I can stand it.  When you grow up around it, my grandfather always has MISS103 playing on the radio in the shop, you learn to accept it for what it's worth.  However, that is not to say that I am a country fan.  With that said, I do not own nor listen to much new country.  In fact, the only country I own is Zac Brown Band, mainly for their ties to that rock sound I like.  So as much as I would like to pick two opposite country song to blog about, I'm stuck talking about more Zac Brown Band (plus the clock is ticking to get this in on time).
Anyway, "Let It Go" is a great song from his newest album You Get What You Give.  It starts off with an inviting guitar riff and easy bass-snare combo that pulls you into the song.  "Save your strength for things that you can change/ forget the ones you cant/ you gotta let it go."  A pretty good take on things I think.  Pretty much don't sweat the hard stuff but if you can handle something put everything you got into it.  It kinda runs with the same perspective as "Toes" but that's country music right?  Overall though, it's a pretty good song and I like the style of music Zac Brown has come up with.
Check out this "Devil Went Down to Georgia" cover.  Pretty sick guitar solo towards the end.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QVWQTDoMr4

Zac Brown Band

Zac Brown Band is a country band, which is often described as a more fusion-rock sound.  His song Toes is a great song with a great message.  Sit back, relax, and enjoy the little things in life.  He uses the example of sitting on the beach with the water lapping up against him.  This is a great use of imagery and is a great way to take advantage of his genre.  He talks about "not a worry in the world/ a cold beer in my hand/ life is good today." For many people and country stars, that's what its all about:  just having a good time and not worrying about all the stress in life that comes your way.  The song is a great representation of a beachside jam session.  With silky smooth guitar riffs and a steady jamming drum beat, is easy to be attached to this great song.  But I think what he says is right.  Why should people put so much stress on themselves, its only going to hurt them in the long run.  So just "prop up by the lake/ with not a worry in the world/ and a PBR on the way."

GPN

Another rock band that has been particularly influential to me is Grace Potter and the Nocturnals.  With the passing of my brother-in-law Lance, I was listening to the group's song, "Tiny Light."  The song is about death and how we as people deal with it.  "As we all fall down it's hard to see a brighter day but... I see a tiny light telling everyone to hold on tight."  This line really sticks out to me.  When tragedy strikes, its difficult to believe that things will get better.  And so many times, people can not deal with the loss of a loved one.  However, this song demonstrates how things will get better, and things will be "brighter" in time.  I like how she illustrates the light as a tiny one.  In times of hardship, people may see light through the darkness, but it will not be a bright light.  As people mourn death or whatever the tragedy may be, the good never comes immediately.  Often it is in a long ways away.  The final line is a good representation of how the good times take work as well.  "I see a tiny light but its not going to shine without a fight."  This is very true.  Happiness will not just happen after something tough hits your life, you have to work hard to move past what is hurting you and realize that, although it may seem so distant that you can barely see it, happiness and joy and peace will come back to you one day.

Come as you Are

No matter what genre of music you listen to, each one shares a common effect.  Music, in itself, attempts to understand the world we live in, regardless of whether country music is playing or hip hop music is playing.  Rock music strives for this understanding as well.  Nirvana was very influential to the grunge rock scene in the 1990s.  Their song Come as you Are, written by Kurt Cobain, was one of the band's most well-known works.  When I first heard the song, it really spoke to me.  The opening lyrics stood out most.  "Come/ As you are/ As you were."  Powerful words from a powerful band.  Cobain, here, is telling his listeners not to jump on the bandwagon, or to follow the crowd.  Instead, he tries to establish that as humans we are all different in our own way, and we should not be ashamed of who we are.  He wants us to be ourselves and not to worry with what other people think.  One line speaks to that idea specifically.  "And I swear/ that I don't have a gun."  Through this line, Cobain attempts comforting his listeners and assuring them that they will not be shot down for what they believe.  This piece of art tells me that I should not be afraid of who I am; that I should be who I want to be, and be happy with that.