After gaining a cult following for their transcendent album
“Fluorescent Adolescents,” indie-punk band Arctic Monkey’s fifth studio release
AM lives up to the band’s rising
expectations, while evolving into something more meaningful than previous
albums.
Though harboring a fan base that can easily be labeled as
“leather-jacket,” lead singer Alex Turner’s lyrical turn-of-phrase often results
in something more evocative than his song titles might suggest. Much of what AM is built off of is not only Turner’s
tactful though impulsive songwriting, but the emotional barriers he sometimes
neglected in previous albums. Take this line from AM’s lead single Do I Wanna
Know?, “Maybe I’m too busy being yours too fall for somebody new.” This
brand of more sensitive songwriting is not exhibited in previous albums,
accounting for a lot of the album’s commercial and critical achievements as
well as improving on the band’s value itself. What separates AM from its predecessors is the
emotional undercurrent seamlessly woven into the greaser-style sound Turner
spends most of his time working on. And along with their classically
indie-strummed guitar solos, Turner’s diverse (and nonetheless beautiful) vocal
range and the band’s innovative song structure that’s kept listeners rapt for
over a decade, AM proves to be the
most haunting yet of the Monkeys’ albums.
Though some might say it clashes altogether with their
slicked-back and stolid personality, the depth in which AM is built upon actually improves on the punk-rockers’ individualized
sound, and with the angsty spirit that the band is renowned for playing live, there
is no stopping Arctic Monkeys.
Renowned
for their chart-topping single “Two Weeks,” Indie-atmospheric band Grizzly Bear
released their fourth studio album Shields
in September 2012, and earlier this year released the albums B-sides. While Shields did well to live up to
post-Veckatimest expectations, their B-sides release took a different approach
to exploring the band’s musical complexities.
While
their previous albums were experimental in terms of musicality, their B-sides
explore the other component of the band’s attention-grabbing euphony. The
vagrant instrumental echoes and influential sound still manages to work well
for them but were it not for the as-yet-unheard lyrics nothing would be too
valuable about this release. Take this line of Will Calls: “oily hands, slippery slope, pointed fangs without scope.” Compared to the
chart-stealing qualities of the band’s upbeat lyrics Grizzly Bear brings an
element of seriousness to the table. Defiant of their palpable indie-impressed
songwriting, their B-sides are progressive in their nature and, combined with
the ever-haunting vocals of lead singer Edward Droste, put together another satisfactory
8-track album.
Contradictory
in nature and theme to their ubiquitous though interchangeable sound, Grizzly
Bear’s B-side release of their widely acclaimed Shields does just as well in approaching atmosphere and human
qualities through their eerie melodies and excess eloquence.
Grizzly Bear is playing at the Falls Festival, Sydney, December 28, 29 and 31
I am a sufferer of some very sad obsessions. These are generally trivial wastes of time so I would say 'don't judge' but that would sound too hipstery.
1. Labelling someone as a hipster.
Pretty self-explanatory - hipsters are pretty fun to point out and ridicule. Nicely. Sort of.
Whenever someone says that they 'liked them before they were cool' or that 'don't be mainstream, be indie!' or 'yolo swag indie don't judge luvin lyf hipster instagram' I am gripped by an undying urge to pummel their face into a hipster triangle. It's so silly, being 'indie' because everyone else is. And being selfish and keeping brilliant bands to yourself. Which I do, because then everyone else will be like 'what are you listening to this is crap omg it's not famous because it shouldn't be you're listening to this cos you want to be indie you have no swag you nerdy geek'.
It's so fun to point out these poor people. Especially when they say that they themselves hate hipsters.
Beware those who drink coffee with soy milk and wear tights with shorts and beanies and scarves and claim to be part of geeky fandoms and listen to completely unknown bands with names that sound like they were based on a drunk text.
Then label them a hipster. Expect a lashing out in some sophisticated English or some exotic language.
2. Jedward.
These guys are the most ridiculous boys ever - John Paul Henry Daniel Richard and Edward Peter Anthony Kevin Patrick Grimes. Their hair is like a blond Jimmy Neutron's and their dancing is HILARIOUS. They're so bad they're brilliant. And not to mention their fake American accents and cockiness and I'm sorry I just can't stop laughing.
I was watching their X-Factor audition and cringing the whole way through...:
LOOK AT THAT HAIR.
I am laughing so hard right now I feel a six pack coming on harder than their hair when it's gelled.
They're so cliché and stupid that I want them as little singing pets. sorry, boys.
For some odd reason or other I am obsessed with them. Their odd demeanour and plain idiocy leaves little to the imagination but they would be the best comedy act.
I wonder if they're smart.
The funniest video EVER. It's like Gangnam Style except where the boys look like vampire zombies wearing hipster glasses and those weird spiky numbers.
And the odd pseudo-talking at the end. Very odd indeed. Although you couldn't expect much when these boys directed the video.
And for some odd reason I can't get enough of them. I think that these boys might be the big one.
3. Ke$ha.
Even with a dollar sign in her name, even with a name like Kesha, even with her trashy identity, I am obsessed with Ke$ha. I'm not sure whether it's because she's pretty or she can write really catchy songs or just because she looked like she was discovered living in a dumpster with Russell Brand but I am hooked.
Her songs are so catchy. Seriously. They're boring and generic but they tend to just stick in your head with such a vigilant stubborness that I've learnt to accept that once you hear a Ke$ha song, it's stuck in your head until you hear the next Ke$ha song. The songs are so annoying and such earworms, though, that I may just want to die young.
Her image is so pathetic - it's like wet dog meets sleazy rapper meets blonde child of the ghetto meets hobo. It's rather disgusting, if anything.
I think it's just the catchy songs. Somehow my brain equates 'catchy' to 'good' so I tend to hear Ke$ha in my head quite a lot. Save me. I can't stop brushing my teeth with Jack.
This is the weirdest video I have ever seen. Cutting your solar plexus open with a pen knife so that glitter can pour out and shower the people you just met make complete sense, ladies and gentlemen.
I think that's about all my sad obsessions for now - I can't remember any others (yet). Stay tuned for updates or maybe #2 and #3, depending on whether I can get a life or not.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh Folly and The Hunter have a new album! It's called Tragic Care but it is anything but tragic. Hehe. That was horrible.
Anyway I have fallen in love with these guys and finally overcome my dislike of Canadian music. Justin Bieber and Alanis Morrisette kind of spoiled it for me.
They're this fresh indie folk band but it all works so perfectly and their new album is as great as their debut although the cover art of the debut is spectacular.
Haven't bought the album as it's not on iTunes yet because of some ungodly glitch. Also because I don't have utorrent with me ;)
Standout is Moth In The Porch Light. It sounds so Dorian. It reminds me of Teardrop by José González. I love it.
Buy the album on iTunes when the glitch is resolved or listen on YouTube or Spotify or whatever you listen to music on. Yay.
And their band name is pretty awesome. Anything that has Folly in it is awesome.
Folly and The Hunter: Moth In The Porchlight. Thank me later.
Extra: Thankyou to the three people who have left comments on my posts so far! First person ran a blog that sold, uh, 'manly enhancements.' Ugh.
Second and third, however, claimed to know me in real life and to be an occasional stalker reporting for duty.
Thanks so much guys for commenting. It makes me happy.
But PLEASEEEE subscribe or follow or just read all my posts. I love my blog and hope you guys can share the love. Ugh love is overrated.
It just happens that some amazing stuff has been released this month (SEMPITERNAL!!!!!) and I've been really excited about the epicness of it all.
Here's the Top Three songs I'm listening to right now (excluding the Song of the Week):
1. Can You Feel My Heart - Bring Me The Horizon
This album has been the most exciting thing of this month. Sempiternal has exceeded all expectations and although their sound has changed heaps, I love it. It's much less heavy and to hear Oli sing has made my life complete. I wouldn't say it's Bring Me The Dubstep, but new guy Jordan Fish on keyboard has probably thrown in those little bleep bloops.
These guys are from Adelaide, Australia and you can check them out at triple j unearthed.
This track starts with a simple bass line (listen with headphones to hear it more clearly) and when the guitar is added on top, you're hooked. The guitar does some pretty solid stuff with a few solos and fillers. The chorus is refreshingly upbeat and it's just an awesome song.
As they're a local act maybe hit them up at a gig or something - support new Aussie talent!
3. Works Better On Paper - Let's Buy Happiness
These guys are dreamy indie pop from England, and their vocalist is amazing. Her voice and the guitars just float around, while the bass and drums keep it grounded. It's such a great song to listen to when you're taking it easy - it's so calming yet still actually has substance. It does get a little repetitive but I find it so catchy.
