Sunday, December 31, 2017

About the Blog

I love at least some bands/artists in pretty much every genre/sub-genre. I'm all over the place. Eclectic tastes and I like variety, the spice of life.

You may link me a song or piece you'd like me to review in the comments. YouTube video links only. Any piece, song, track, soundtrack, theme ad-lib/freestyle, or other form of music unless it's multiple in a way (no whole albums or full concerts for instance, no time limit though as long as it's not something like that). Whether I've heard it before or not does not matter.

The genres I've delved the most into (I think, off the top of my head) are metal, rock, rap, electronic, and instrumental. I don't hate any kinds of music, I don't have a favorite above all else either. I look for lyrics I like, rhythm/beat, familiarity, novelty, and style.

I will post a review on every comment with a request and YouTube link, unless I get flooded with such (which is about 0.00000001% likelihood outside of spam (reposts)). Keep in mind also that you have to sign in to your Google account and can post a comment as anonymous. Make as many comments as you would like, but only one request per comment.

The process is my reaction to the title(s) and predictions (no predictions if familiar, just my reaction), then my reaction to the music (from the first listen), then my review broken down into pieces I choose and the genre(s) of music listed at the bottom.

I'm going to be out of commission for a bit and therefore don't have much to do (hard to sit down or lay, especially for more than a few minutes and can't really exercise or go out). I've had a set-up with my computer so I can stand and everything has been at the right level for a pretty long time now, don't have to sit.

IF I DELETE YOUR COMMENT ON THIS BLOG ENTRY, IT'S BECAUSE IT IS EITHER NOT A REQUEST OR MULTIPLE REQUESTS IN ONE COMMENT! NO REPLIES TO COMMENTS HERE EITHER, THEY WILL BE DELETED!

Entry originally posted on June 9th of 2017.

Sunday, July 9, 2017

Number 7: Bastille - Warmth

Warmth” by “Bastille
Requested by “Samuel Marlow”

Reaction to Name/Title and Predictions

Band/artist name sounds familiar-ish, predicting a song, on the slower side, and a band. Honestly, I doubt Sammy listens to metal, but it’d be a good name for a metal band or at least hard rock one. How many times am I going to say that? Keep posted to find out. Bastion would be another good one. I’ll guess it’s an electronic band/artist and modern music. Maybe about a loved one or fire.

Reaction from the first Listen

Video I watched (Live at Capitol Studios): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1idDZ3QHEPs

Hey, stringed instruments, that’s pretty gooOoOOd! Vocalist had a good voice, the instrument playing and vocals melded together very nicely for most of the track. Pleasant listening, not too fast or loud, but natural ups and downs in a conventional order. My favorite parts were the climax, middle region, and start in that order. Well, who doesn’t like a climax? My least favorite part was when the instruments almost drowned out the vocals earlier on. I understand the purpose though. I wasn’t paying too much attention to the meaning, but it seemed pretty simple. Wanting to be close to some person and engulfed in their warmth and how they realize what they’ve missed once it’s gone?

Review/Thoughts

Lyrics:

The lyrics kind of remind me of Christian bands/artists (not a compliment nor an insult, just an observation). Some of the lyrics could be talking about depression, “Feeling helpless, I look for distraction.” for instance. Could just be related to sadness and/or pain though (or just how cold the world is). There’s a lot of warmth in people we never see though, especially with strangers. Not much else to add besides what I said after my first listen.

Sound:

The singer had a good voice, not a bad range, but more importantly, he knows how to play with what he has. Range isn’t everything. Favorite instruments in the background were the violins, violas, and cello. Imagine if they added in double bass in place of percussion? Haha, I’m playing (I’d want to hear that though). Maybe not so much instruments in the background, the violins and violas came to the foreground a lot. I appreciated that and the moments where you heard the vocals clearly over the other instruments. The piano playing to accompany the vocals was great. Surprising, right? I never dislike piano playing. Is it bad if I say the ending is my favorite part? I don’t mean it like that. xD

I rate seven out of eleven, almost to heaven.

Monday, June 12, 2017

Number 6: Code Orange - Bleeding into the Blur

Bleeding into the Blur” by “Code Orange
Requested by “Dylan Depaula”

Reaction to Name/Title and Predictions

I like the name of what I predict is a song. I predict it’s a metal band, maybe heavy metal. I’ll say 00’s metal. I’ll say, fast paced song and heavy, maybe punk (even punk rock, probably alternative too).  

Reaction from the first Listen

More modern than I predicted, but otherwise I wasn't far off other than on pacing which switched between a little slow and moderate speed. Very enjoyable and loved the ending vocals/grunting and instrument playing.

Review/Thoughts

Lyrics:

The lyrics seem to be vague, which isn’t bad. Possibly something to do with the church, belief, or mainstream music? Maybe just about a person or character.

Sound:


Only thing I felt was lacking a little was the vocals by the lead vocalist, seemed slightly bland, not too much range or volume used. I liked all the instrument playing and have no complaints there. Nice segment with no vocals in there too. I liked the creepy feel right before you get midway through the song. I give it an eight out of eight, besides the lead vocalist’s vocals.

Number 5: The Bucketheads - The Bomb!

The Bomb!” by “The Bucketheads
Requested by “ForPat NJoe”

Reaction to Name/Title and Predictions

Band name sounds familiar, if a band, which I’ll predict it is. I’ll say a metal band and a song. Not a slow-paced song, moderate to fast pacing, I’m guessing. I’ll guess 70’s rock/metal. Not hard or heavy metal though. Not raising my hopes or expectations this time. Though, the band and song name don’t have great appeal to me anyway. Lyrics wise, I think it will be about the atomic bomb.

Reaction from the first Listen

I went with this video, as the one provided was no longer available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8iqZMEwDfk

Dope beat (no it was not on purpose) and very rhythmic. I loved it, the progression too. It’d be great in a rhythm game. Sound was clean-cut. I was wrong with all of my predictions other than the pacing which I chose a range for. I’m not the biggest fan of brass (compared to chamber and mostly string instruments, but also: percussion and woodwind instruments), but it wasn't bad here and is sometimes great

Review/Thoughts


Clean-cut sound, dope beat, and has nice progression. Pleasurable listening all the way through. Original is just as dope, not sure which I was supposed to listen to (did both). Not much difference though. I give it a “Hey, that’s pretty gooooood!!” out of “Hell yeah!”

Number 4: The Specials - Ghost Town

Ghost Town” by “The Specials
Requested by “ForPat NJoe”

Reaction to Name/Title and Predictions

Third time's the charm, even if I got it right the second time. Plus the band name sounds familiar. Predicting rock band and a song. I’ll guess 90’s rock. Slow pace, mellow and melancholic tone, maybe. I like the name of the song, in fact, I think I know of a song by the same name, a different one though. Lyrics wise I just predict it will have something to do with a ghost town. I’m so so insightful and observant, right? I really think outside of the box.

Reaction from the first Listen

Well then, that was unexpected, not even sure what to say. I’d say it was on the slower side, but not that slow. Definitely not rock, it is the band though. Alternative, it sounds, and lots of other things. Not even sure I enjoyed listening to it much. I guess I should say I’m not the biggest fan of reggae, but have heard reggae I really liked. I think the mash of so many genres was a contributor to my lack of enjoyment from listening to the song. I liked some parts, but it just didn’t seem to fit together to me, which can just be from unfamiliarity too. The start sounded like a track you’d hear at the movies. I think I expected more than I should have since I liked the name of the song as well as the band, which led to some disappointment.

Review/Thoughts

Lyrics:

A town that once had a community is now a ghost town.

Sound:


I’m not sure what instrument it was, probably an electronic one that I lied the sound of. I liked some of the vocals and some parts of the song for sure. I liked the beginning, end, and some of the in-between (through everything going on at those points). I give it a “huh?” out of okay.

Number 3: Rage Against the Machine - Killing in the Name of

Killing in the Name of” by “Rage Against the Machine
Requested by “ForPat NJoe”

Reaction to Name/Title and Predictions

“So you want me to review this song, huh? Well... Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me. FUCK YOU, I won’t do what you tell me! FUCK YOU! I WON’T DO WHAT YOU TELL MEEE!” -bad jokes brought to you by Taz, 2017. Yeah, I know the band and song. Classic, not literally though.

Reaction from the first Listen

Couldn’t tell you. It was ages ago.

Review/Thoughts

Lyrics:

As far as I can tell, it’s about the police force being zombies and some belonging to the Ku Klux Klan. If not the police force being zombies (and only taking orders from higher up command when a lot of what they do is not so moral at least in the USA and has been for a long time), than us listening to the government/police/authority.

Sound:


Inharmonious sound most of the time, of course, which is fitting for the message. Not a fan of the vocals, they get repetitive, not much variety and with repeated lines. Not much vocal range used and not too pleasing to listen to. It’s not displeasing to listen to either though. It could be said that it fits with the view of police which are similar to zombies, usually (soldiers as well). I give it a popular song out of mainstream music.

Saturday, June 10, 2017

Number 2: Headless Chickens - Juice

Juice” by “Headless Chickens
Requested by “ForPat NJoe”

Reaction to Name/Title and Predictions

As far as I know, I am unfamiliar with the band/artist and song/piece. I think they both might sound a little familiar though. My gut is still telling me rock band and song. If at once you fail, try again, right? I do also have a feeling it could be a rap artist, but I should only make one prediction. I’m going to guess this song came out in the 80’s. Headless Chickens is a pretty good title for a band though (if a band). I’ll say, a moderately popular song and band/artist.

Reaction from the first Listen

I went with this video, as the one provided was no longer available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zPCBN5Qbiw

Hey! I was right! A rock band (and a song). I wasn’t thinking it would be this low-key and mellow though. The vocalist has a pretty voice and the song seems to be about nostalgia, which could be appropriate, depending on who’s childhood (given the tone). I think it’s not as old of a song as I thought it would be, but it has that old-timey feel to it for the (I’m assuming) nostalgic narrative. I just realized I didn’t even think to try to predict the meaning in this and the last request before listening (nor how I thought this one would sound). A pretty simple and straightforward song, quite melodic as well at a lot of parts.

Review


The lyrics are straight to the point (I have watched TV Shows as a child I cannot recall as well). At one point in the lyrics, about waking up in the darkness. I’m not sure if that just means waking up early enough that the sun hasn’t rose yet or something darker, I’ll figure the former. I enjoyed the song, it was short and simple as well as slow-paced. The instrumental play in the background got pretty interesting at some points and overall was pretty interesting, doesn’t sound too familiar. I think the simplicity of the song, lyrics, and vocals are reflective of what the song is about. The discord in some of the music fits with the band name of headless chicken, how they still move after they are decapitated. I think that’s why I though something darker could have been going on, still unsure. I give the song a gala apple out of a banana, sweet and savory/juicy, but not my favorite fruit.