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.

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.

Number 1: Camel - Ice

“Ice” by “Camel”

Requested by “Trevor De Vries”

Reaction to Name/Title and Predictions

Not sure if I’ve ever heard of the band, not sure if I’ve heard the song. It sounds like it could have been a popular song. I’m predicting it’s a song and not a piece as you could probably tell. I’d say, it looks like it could be a rock band, maybe in the 90’s, that’s my guess. Not a fast-moving song, I predict. Let’s see if my gut or my deductive reasoning are correct. I don’t have high hopes, I’m often off the mark with such things. Not that it matters if I am correct or not as long as I try.

Reaction from the first Listen

I went with this video, as no link was provided: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K66ukoS5DEs

I could tell it was an instrumental pretty quickly. Anyway, it starts out very slow and calming, it’s nice hearing each string picked at without any effort. I would say it was quite melodious. Sounded like a band but maybe further back than the 90’s, possibly by just one or two decades. It got pretty climactic near the end and sped up as well as layered in more instruments. I liked the progression, it felt smooth which fits the soothing feel of the entirety of the piece.

Review/Thoughts

Well, there’s no lyrics as it is only instrumental. So, I can skip analyzing the lyrics. It was a pleasant listen, a little slower than what I normally listen to, at least recently. in that way it was a nice change of pace. It’s a rather emotion filled piece. I give it a thumbs up out of… my pollicis muscles. Hopefully I can elaborate more in the future in reviews and/or my thoughts on instrumentals I don’t know of (or instrumentals period).