Oh, These Boys Can Bring It Down

I have to say, I was warned. I mean, I knew System Of A Down definitely wasn't John Mayer or Coldplay, but wow, this is one loud album.

To say if I liked it or not would be way too simple. Well, that and I can't say for sure if I really do like it. I can say for sure, however, that there are a lot of things I could write about this band, but I'll only note a few.

For one, lead singer Serj Tankian has got one kick-ass voice. Not only can he go from singing to screaming in a click, but he's got this awesome accent that I can't place!!! He's Armenian (the whole band is), but it sounds like a mix of New Jersey and Israel, so if you can imagine what that sounds like, you see what I mean.

Also, SOAD's (as they are often called) lead guitarist, Daron Malakian is crazy talented. I don't too often listen to hard rock (and I have low tolerance for screamo) but in the guitar idea of it, this guy has got mad skills. I can especially hear it when I listen to one of the album key tracks, "Toxicity."

I'm not sure what the word on the street is about this band, but I'd like to know. Are they hard rock? Metal? Emo? Screamo? All of the above? I personally say they're a lovely mix of all four. They scream, yes, but they also sing, though the lyrics don't always make sense. Like the song "Bounce". Some of the lyrics are kind of...different. Example- "Unannounced twister games. All players with no names. They lined up double quick. With just one pogo stick. Everyone gets to play."

But, in a way, they're good. Raivynn doesn't care for hard rock too much herself, but I found it growing on me with every listen. This album strangely reminded me of pop music, because it was kind of infectious. I found myself tapping my feet as a song of theirs played in my head over and over again (my mind is a never endless jukebox, at all times there is a song in my head).

With that being said, it's time for favorites! Raivynn was really digging "Forest" track eight on the album. I think she was really drawn to the lyrics and the melody of the song. I could not choose between two songs- "Jet Pilot" the fourth song, and "Toxicity" the twelfth song. "Toxicity" just pulled me in, and I didn't actually start liking it until listening to the album for the third time. "Jet Pilot" has these crazy amusing lyrics and the guy's accent (I know, I can't get over this) was so prominent, I loved it. I'm smiling while I type this, that's how much I love his voice!

I think for a person who hasn't heard a lot of hard rock, this was a good introduction. Who knows, maybe you'll see me in the middle of a mosh pit one day.

-Whitni

Oh, and heads up. Raivynn and I may not be blogging for a little while. We'll be out of town a few weeks, but we'll try to get one or two in here or there.

Beats, Lyrics, Ego, Kanye

Warning: This album had been listened to before this project, and may create some unintended bias, though I doubt that will happen.

Graduation was the third studio album to be released by Kanye West, and I believe it was one of his best. It's the third in his 'schooling' chronicles, the first being The College Dropout, and the second Late Registration. Before I talk about the album though, I'm going to pull a Whitni, and talk about Kanye himself.

I actually like Kanye West (for the most part). I'm personally not a big fan of ego, but that's not why I listen to his music. I listen to Kanye West because he is an original. He has been since he started back in 1996, and hasn't stopped for anybody. Since the latter part of the 2000s, rap music started sounding a lot different. You would a hear a great beat one month, and three months later, hear that exact same beat being spun by a different artist. Or, rappers started taking old songs and "re-vamping" them. This is great sometimes, but shouldn't be overdone, like it is now. West has his own distinct sound, he creates his own beats. He brings in sounds from other genres like techno, r&b, pop, and even rock. He experiments, he goes outside his comfort zone. Another thing about Kanye. He is a great rapper and an excellent musician. And he knows this. So many Kanye songs have been attributed to the fact that he talks about how great he is, how all the girls want him, how the haters hate him (and why they shouldn't). And even though you initially roll your eyes and say 'Yeah right', after a few listens you realize one of these two things:

1) He's telling the truth. I mean, honestly, how many other rappers out there are really like Kanye? I would put him right up there with Jay-Z; this guy has talent for spinning records, and he knows it. So shouldn't you know it too? Or...

2) He's knows it, but he's messing around. Remember that previous post by Whit talking about rap music (if you don't, check it out. It's very good). Remember the part where she talked about Luda, and how he used to poke fun at himself and his music? I think that Kanye does this too. Example? I was listening to track eight, 'Drunk and Hot Girls'. The whole song is silly, not worth a listen. So, I skipped it. Maybe Kanye is saying, 'Yeah, this shit is pretty stupid, but the real question is, are you gonna dance your ass off to it anyways?' Maybe I'm wrong, but I like to say that he is a mix between Luda and Common. Why? Because he possess the silliness of Luda, but, also, the seriousness of Common. A lot of his songs talk about real problems, concerns, or just thank somebody (track 13, 'Big Brother'). Those songs make more sense than some of his others, and show a side of Kanye many people don't ever see. Now, back to the music!!

No two songs sound alike, and if you listen to Graduation you'll hear that. The first song, the intro, is aptly named 'Good Morning'. The next five songs of the album really illuminate Kanye's talent, with songs like 'Stronger', 'Can't Tell Me Nothing', 'Good Life', and, my personally favorite, 'I Wonder'. Whitni's favorite song was 'Homecoming', which was a kind of duet with Chris Martin of Coldplay. That's another aspect of young Kanye, he makes songs with all kinds of musicians, from Lil Wayne, to John Mayer, to Dwele. He uses inspiration from musicians like U2, Elton John, Michael Jackson, and Public Enemy, and has said his favorite musical groups include The Killers and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. This guy has been around the block a few times.

Anyway, back to Graduation. It's a great album, placed well on the Rolling Stone's chart (40 something?). I didn't like tracks seven (Barry Bonds), eight, and eleven (The Glory). Tracks you might overlook include 'Everything I Am' and 'Champion', but overall, this album in definitely one of a kind. Like...a bright light in a dark hole of crap. Eww.

-Rai

P.S- No, I will not talk about any of Kanye's controversial outbursts or recent actions involving two young, talented women, a music video, and an badly abused microphone.

A Music Lover's Five Best Friends

This is exactly what it sounds like, the five things you should definitely know about and use if you have the guts to call yourself a true music lover. These are in no particular order, meaning one is just as important as the others!

1. The Internet

Let's face it, without the internet artists like Ok Go, Vampire Weekend and Arnel Pineda (who is now the lead singer of Journey) might have never gotten their start. The internet has changed the world of music, both in a good way and a bad. On one side, small town musicians and starving college students with hopes and dreams, but no money have the opportunity to make it in the music world. From getting a MySpace or Facebook page, to putting their stuff on Itunes and shoving their music down people's virtual throats, getting online for many is the key to getting on a record and, who knows, on a Grammy stage. But (and there's always a but)the internet can take away from musicians as well. We music lovers and listeners have gotten into the bad habit of downloading illegal music. While it's free for us (which is awesome) it takes away from that band you love so much (which isn't so awesome).



2. The Public Library

I know what you're thinking, I'm such a geek. But I can tell you with no shame that the public library is a music lovers paradise. An seemingly endless array of cds, audio recordings, books on music and video recordings of your favorite musicians in concert, you really can't go wrong whipping out that library card. Even more important than the selection of all this is the price- free! Well, kind of. Taxes fund the library, but when you're checking out that stack of cds and you're not pulling out your credit card, life feels pretty good.



3. The Ipod

There aren't too many people I know, especially my age, who don't own one of these. Ipods have become the beginning and the end in music, making Apple one wealthy company. I don't like to attach myself to labels very much, but for Apple, I make an exception. I love Ipods. The ability to carry my music in my pocket and show it to my friends, that's something I can't complain about. Itunes, well, that's another story. Itunes gets on my f***king nerves sometimes. But when I weigh the occasional screw-ups of Itunes versus the fact that my Ipod is still going strong after almost five years of heavy use, you can see why I stick by Apple.



And yes, this is what my Ipod looks like. Raivynn's got an Ipod Touch, lucky girl.

4. The Record Store

An interesting add on to the list, but just as necessary. Not nearly enough people recognize the importance of their local record store. Here in Cincinnati our two biggest are Everybody's Records in Pleasant Ridge and Shake It Records in Northside. I've been to them, and while I can vouch for both, I especially love Everybody's. From four dollars cds (I myself picked up Coldplay's "A Rush Of Blood To The Head") to vinyls and posters, that place really makes you feel like a true music lover. Most importantly, record stores are on this list because of the fact that they are the best place to pick up cds from local bands. My only complaint is that I can't seem to find any cds from my favorite local band, Shayna Zaid and the Catch, anywhere.



5. The Friends You Make

I discussed this a little bit in an earlier post, but sharing music with friends is not only super fun, but it helps you expand your own listening. Different people have different styles and preferences, so they listen to different music. As long as you're open minded to at least trying your friends music, who knows what might happen. Raivynn got turned onto The Beatles by a former friend of hers, and even though they don't talk much today she will forever credit him for the love she has for them. By the way, thanks to all my musical friends who have given me the gift of finding new music.



No, I have no idea who these chicks are, I just needed a picture of kids listening to music. That one kid looks pretty happy though. The other, I'm not so sure...

If all is right in the world, Raivynn will blog about the next album today and I will follow shortly thereafter. We're taking a little trip soon, so I'm trying to get through some more albums. Hope you guys are liking the blog so far, because I sure do. Don't forget to tell your own music friends all about this!

-Whitni

JT's One Night Stand With Music

Warning- I had already heard almost half of songs on this album and therefore I may be slightly biased when it comes to the review. I think it'll turn out okay though.

Justin Timberlake. Just hearing that name brings me way back, before "Sexyback" and "Cry Me A River", all the way to, gasp, NSYNC. Justin was a boy band member, raiding the charts with hit after hit. But all somewhat bearable things come to an end, and NSYNC found themselves s.o.l (Google it).

But Justin got lucky. As NSYNC failed, he rose. First came Justified (I know, what a title, right!?), which did well. It got two Grammy's and was very clear in expressing to the music world- "I'm not a cutesy little teenage pop star anymore."

He got burnt out though, and needed a break from the music world. Justin started golfing and chilling on the weekends, something that really helped him find prospective. He acted for a while before diving back into music back in 2005. Then, messing around in the studios with Timbaland, a prominent music producer, the first draft of one of the hits off of FutureSex/LoveSounds, "What Goes Around, Comes Around." I have to say, I love this song. It takes a break from the sex-obsessed, oh-my-god-that-girl-is-smokin'-let's-write-every-song-about-hot-girls, idea of most his songs seem to inhibit.

"What Goes Around, Comes Around" isn't the only song JT put his soul into. As acclaimed as it's been, "Sexyback" was the blowup of the album. Taking the charts by storm, I still hear that song on the radio!

But, why have I bothered to go through Justin Timberlake history in Hollywood? The best way to understand this sophomore album is to know where JT came from. Coming from a boy band, he truly deliberated over these songs, trying to create his own distinct style. Personally, I think he succeeded.

Future Sex/Love Sounds is the kind of album you'd love to hate. The popish beat and freak-a-dink lyrics would mentally kill a good number of music lovers I know, myself included. I like to keep an open mind though, so I listened closer, and that's how I really heard this album. Those popish beats, those are supposed to be there. Music wasn't meant to be contained to one genre, and Justin fully exploits that. Even though this album is primarily pop/r&b, you can feel him grasping for rock, blues, even gangsta rap.

You can even note the transition of the songs. The first half, the FutureSex, explores the suggestive and sometimes explicit themes of sex("I'll let you whip me if I misbehave." from Sexyback). Songs on that half include "FutureSex/LoveSounds", "My Love" and "Sexy Ladies/ Let Me Talk To You." The second half, the LoveSounds, gives more credit to the lovey-dovey part of Justin, with songs like "Until The End Of Time", "Summer Love/Set The Mood", and "Losing My Way." That brings me to favorites. I was really digging "Until The End Of Time" on this album. The groovy beat mixed with the Justin's heart pulling voice on this song as he aches for some girl got to me. The song really set with me that, although people may not think of him as so, Justin Timberlake is a serious musician. Raivynn really like one of the many hits off that album, "LoveStoned/I Think She Knows (Interlude)", a sexy sounding catchy tune that leaves room in the last two minutes to transition you from catchy beat to a slow mo surf of serenading sound.

JT may never make another album and if he didn't, I'd be okay. Not because he's a bad artist, but because he found his sound, something I think every artist longs to find. Good job kid.

-Whitni

Oh, and I think it's important to note that Raivynn and I can rap TI's part on "My Love." We are very proud of it :).I did it for the first time in front of some friends a couple weeks ago and my friends we're blown out of the water. I guess they were thinking, how can this chick who likes The Beatles, Coldplay and The White Stripes spit a beat? Huh, isn't musical diversity amazing?