The Band

So funny story. We were listening to "The Night they Drove Old Dixie Down" on youtube and I read the title of the music video and it read The Last Waltz - The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down. So I thought that there was a band called The Last Waltz and that they had covered The Band's song. I really enjoyed this so-called "cover" and I thought it was even better then the original... But when I typed it into iTunes and allmusic.com, all that came up was an album made by The Band. I was super confused, until I then realized the "cover" we watched was actually The Band singing THEIR song. I was kind of disappointed because I really liked the sound of this so-called "band," The Last Waltz. But it just means like The Bands sound.

One thing I really enjoy about The Band is I feel like their music isn't as harsh sounding as some rock artists during this time. I am a fan of rock, but when it gets too hard, it begins to sound like a jumble of loud music and I don't like it. My favorite song, by far is "The Night they Drove Old Dixie Down."

This is such a stellar performance made by The Band. It is very well rehearsed and everyone compliments each others sounds, creating great harmonies. That is one area I feel that The Band is really strong in. Their harmonies are on par with The Beatles' harmonies. It is as if these guys were made to sing together.

My one complaint is sometimes the lead vocalist sounds like he is straining to get that note out. Almost as if he is groaning, which isn't the most pleasant to listen to. But in some songs, where the notes don't go as high, it works out fine. The song I really noticed it in was "Jemima Surrender." He really has to push to get those words out.

On a good note, The Band has a nice little piece of country twang in it. I usually don't like country music, and I know Mr. A will hate that I don't like that genre because all music is related, but it just doesn't float my boat. Maybe it is because the only country I have heard is the new stuff that is all about love, getting drunk and trucks. They have really put a heavy accent on every single word and it is so annoying. But I do like the little hint that The Band puts into their songs. It adds a nice touch. Overall I do like The Band, and I think their songs are really well put together. AND I LOVE THEIR METHOD OF GETTING LYRICS! I think there should be a challenge among celebrity bands (or any band) to try producing lyrics this way. I think it would be really neat to see how they compare!

Lana Del Rey

Lana Del Rey is your typical American beauty queen - She has thick red hair, a good body, has American pride, she is gorgeous... The only difference is she can actually sing. Lana Del Rey's music has an alternative/pop sound with aspects that were seen in music around the 50's and 60's. She is like many other artists in the sense that she basically sings about whatever she wants, regardless if it is offensive, innapropriate, or down right disgusting. But she gets away with it and she does it well. Her voice is very smokey, though it isn't as harsh sounding as Adele's. She has a very vintage sound, different from most of the artists today. With every song, there is a different motive or idea - She never keeps things the same, which is part of the reason she keeps people's attention. One song might be about heartbreak and the next is about doing "things." As for her image, she comes off as a very strong and independent women, and unlike Janice Joplin, she doesn't need to scream all of her songs to prove it.

Her first major single was "Video Games," which was released in 2011.

My favorite song off her album Born to Die would probably be the song Born to Die. It has a great theme and the sound is irresistible. 

I also am in love with "Radio" off of this album.

Just earlier this November, Lana Del Rey released her new album called Paradise.

Ride is a great track off of her album.

American is also one of my favorites.

In one of her new songs off of Paradise, the song Body Electric had some really creative lyrics that I really enjoyed.



Elvis is my daddy,

Marilyn’s my mother,

Jesus is my bestest friend.

               ...

Whitman is my daddy,

Monaco’s my mother,

Diamonds are my bestest friend.

Heaven is my baby, suicide’s her father,

Opulence is the end.

I honestlly would recommend listening to all of her songs. She was the first artist who actually got my attention and kept it throughout the whole album. She is really talented and I can't wait to see what she does next.

Read more: LANA DEL REY - BODY ELECTRIC LYRICS

The White Album

I am really mad that the one day I was gone, we listened to The White Album by The Beatles. We had been listening to Cream and Jimi Hendrix and I thought we were going to continue listening to them, so I wasn't too mad that I had missed class. But when I found out I missed The White Album, I was really mad. I have waited for this album for so long. So many songs on it are so memorable and inspiring and I couldn't believe that I had missed it. I think this is the first album where they are actually somewhat normal again, at least John is. He really was the only one who was weird ever, but anyways. I feel like there is a lot of variety in the album, so it keeps you drawn in the whole time. I also love how long the album is. You can NEVER have to much of The Beatles.

They added more of George Harrison's songs onto this album than any other so far, which is good. At first, I didn't think I liked him, but I had never really heard him sing before. He was a killer guarist, but this was the first album that I really heard him sing and I really love him! My favorite of him is the song is "While my Guitar Gently Weeps." I think the song really captures his personality and talent really well.

Now that I think about it, the content of their songs have really changed. I know Mr. A has said this before, that once they met Bob Dylan, they really varied what their songs were about. They went from lover-boys to talking about things that affected the world, like the controversies between the whites and the negroes.

I don't know if John got off of drugs for this album or what, but he seems much more mature and adultish. He has slower songs, rather than the upbeat, cheery songs he usually has, but I feel like these sad, slower songs are much more meaningful. Like the one to his mother, "Julia." It is such a touching song and I really admire him for dedicating it to her.

The songs of this album relate to controversial issues all around the world. They are indirectly sending messages to the listeners and giving them views on the issues. If someone can write a song about a blackbird, but the actual meaning of the song be about the tensions arising between whites and negroes, they truly are talented.

The final song of the album, "Good Night," is a really touching song to me, even though it is very simple. Originally written as a lullaby for John's son Julian, it is the perfect closing for this album. It is very angelic-like with the various orchestrial instruments. The violin really adds to the songs dreaminess. I had no clue Ringo sang it, although I should have known. It is really great that they incorporated the whole band onto the album. It always feels a little empty whenever they don't have George or Ringo sing, even if they aren't as talented as John and Paul. They still put a lot into the band's success and I am glad to see that they got their own spotlight.

Overall this album was really a success. They incorperated a variety of things into their album, making it musically and culturally diverse. It isn't as wild as some of their other albums, but it accomplishes so much more by bringing important matters to the table.

Cream: There is not much I have to say

There is not much I want to say about Cream.

I don't like them as a band.

Why? Because the give off a feeling of deadness, like nobody in the band is alive. I swear I could go to sleep listening to their songs.The songs are boring, and lack originality. Most of their lyrics are pointless and don't make sense. In half the songs, the lead singer sounds like he is crying. And the guitar is always the same-- at least to me. And no one in the band particularly stands out as really talented or out of the box. They just seem generic.

Just like in their song "Blue Condition":

...No Variation

They just don't cut it for me. Sorry if you are a cream fan. I will give it to them that they improved from their first album to their second album.

Oh and one more thing. The song "Mother's Lament" is probably the best song on the album and that I have heard from Cream so far. I like it because it is different and it does make you perk up your ears, rather than drone the sound out.

Awolnation

        Awolnation is a band mostly known for their song, "Sail". It is an electronic-alternative song that incorperates synthetic instruments with natural and original instruments. Awolnation is an electronic-rock band consisting of five guys.
        When I first heard "Sail", I thought it was alright, definently catchy, but it wasn't my favorite. After a few more times, I fell in love with it. The intensity of the beginning really starts the song off on a good note. It keeps a heavy feeling throughout the whole song, but I don't think it is a bad thing. It is one of those
stress-reliever songs that you listen to driving home from a rough day at work. Or you could listen to it trying to get pumped up. I will tell you, I ride horses and for horse shows, we have to get up at four am and drive to the barn. This is the only song that really gets me awake and pumped for the show. For some reason, it is really motivating and it makes you (or just me) want to win and knock everyone out of my way.

       
        So back to my point, when I first heard it, I was so excited for their next album/single. But when it came, I was definently on the more disappointed side. The next song I heard from them was "Not Your Fault". The beginning is okay, not too impressive. But the chorus killed it for me. I really did not like it. It just sounded like they were half screaming/half talking with some autotune. I was so disappointed in it because "Sail" was so good. But after probably two months of hearing it, it started growing on me to a point where I actually don't mind it. There is one part I really love in this song. I think if they had revolved the song around the sound right at this moment it would be better.

This love found us
now I see it.
This love up down.
Please believe.

          So after hearing "Not Your Fault", I wasn't really into Awolnation anymore. Until I heard "Kill Your Heroes." When I first heard this song, I had no clue who it was. Then one day on iTunes, I was trying to find some new alternative songs I liked, and when I saw a song by Awolnation, I clicked on it. To my amazement, it was a song I had previously heard and really loved. The song has a really great flow and I love how they did the chorus. It was really suttle, the opposite of "Not Your Fault."

       
        So once again, Awolnation has my attention and I do look forward to some more of their songs. Whether they are good or bad, we will have to find out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmania.com/not_your_fault_lyrics_awolnation.html
All about Awolnation: http://www.musictory.com/music/Awolnation

"Your specimen has been processed."

Okay, I know I briefly talked about this in my previous "I am the Walrus" blog, but now that I rediscovered it, I can't stop listening to it. The song is "The Device has been Modified."

It is a really techno sounding song, which is something I really love. I have always loved songs that get you pumped up, but I feel like a lot of those songs these days contain dubstep, so it is nice that this one has no dubstep. It is super creepy, especially because it is a robot that says most of the lyrics. And I'm sure we have all had that idea or dream that one day robots/technology would take over the world--or maybe that is just me. Not to mention the lyrics are weird:

Please proceed into android hell.

What does that even mean? But that is what I like about the song. It is so different, and I had never heard a song that incorporates a robot type voice before this one.

This song reminds me of a cartoon character in a video game, running down a hallway, being chased by some technologic creature; if it can make it past a certain point, you win. If it is eaten by the robot, you die. It has that suspensful sound to it, the kind that could be played if you are trying to runaway/escape from something.

Overall, I think this song is definently worth getting checked out. Maybe it won't be your favorite. But I highly doubt you have ever heard anything like it before.

I am the Walrus

Wow. Honestly I don't even know how to respond to this song. Lets just say it is very unique. I think I like it, but I am not quite sure. I think John kind of sounds like a cartoon character. What comes to mind is the Teletubbies, but of course, he sounds NOTHING like them, but for some reason, when I first hear his voice, I immediately think teletubbies. Also, towards the end, when you hear all of those random sounds thrown together, it reminds me of technology. I guess because a lot of the sounds sound innovative and technilogical. Though I just restated myself, to give you a better sense, "I am the Walrus" sounds a lot like this song called "The Device has been Modified." I'm not exactly sure who sings it; it is either Portal or Victims of Science. Either way, in the beginning, when all the sounds are together, it sounds like the end of "I am the Walrus." Now that I listen to the song again, it reminds me how much I used to like it. Definently creepy, but worth listening to.

But back to "I am the Walrus." I like how in the song, it is always changing. They don't really follow one particular pattern. Though, they do have the chorus piece:

I am the eggman, they are the eggmen.
I am the walrus, goo goo g'joob.
Plus, that break type thing around two minutes is different and weird, but for some reason it works. Now that I mention the lyrics, I would just like to add how odd they are.

Yellow mother custard, dripping from a dead dog's eye.
Crabalocker fishwife, pornographic priestess,
Boy, you been a naughty girl you let your knickers down.
I mean really? What is that supposed to even mean? That said, it sounds awesome and it is neat that they incorperated "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" as well:

Mister city policeman sitting
Pretty little policemen in a row.
See how they fly like Lucy in the Sky, see how they run.

So I guess I do like the song. In a way, it is really addicting and once I start listening to it, I can't really stop. I like the length of the song. That is something I do like about moving into the late 60's - their songs are longer.

And the music video! By George, could it be any more random? They are in Hawaiian/royal type get up, there are people dressed as animals, there are people dressed in white that are connected to one another, John seems like he is on another planet, and over half the cast in the video is wearing swim caps. But as I said earlier it works. And it works really well. If there is one band that can pull this off and not be criticized, it is The Beatles.

One final note. On my last blog, I mentioned a group called The Eggmen that covered The Beatles songs. I finally understand their name. The eggmen is referenced in "I am the Walrus." Just thought I should tell you if you didn't catch on.

The Eggmen

The Eggmen are a Beatles tribute band. They are made up of 5 older men who formed in 1992. I think it is really neat that a band like this has been formed because it gives the younger generation an oppurtunity to still hear The Beatles songs in concert, even if they aren't as spectacular as The Beatles themselves. Now when you first hear them, they definently aren't as talented as The Beatles. Plus they are older, so their voices don't have as much ability as a younger person's would. But if you give them the benefit of the doubt, they do have some potential. Yes there are some notes that are off and could be perfected, but when they harmonize, they really shine. They do a very good job of balancing each other's voices. It is apparent that it is something they have practiced quite often because it is one of their better techniques. What I think is even cooler is the fact that they are a local band. I heard about them from a girl, who I was talking about The Beatles with and she said, "Oh, my sister loves The Beatles. She had the Eggmen play at her wedding." That was a couple weeks ago and I kept meaning to write a blog about them and I never got around to it. Anyways, as I said earlier, I think they do have potential as a group together. If they practice, practice, practice, I think they could really become something good. And I would definently consider checking them out. They are always performing around the city.

Here is A Hard Days Night:

Like I said, you can hear some rough spots, but it is overall a pretty good performance. I think this is one of their better covers.

Here is Twist and Shout. Overall a decent performance.

And finally here is Roll Over Beethoven:



Beatles: Old vs. New

        I know a lot of people like the newer songs made by The Beatles, but so far, I like the older ones. I do like some particular songs from their more recent albums, but I like the old albums more. Their old songs are good. Really good. But their new ones are much more meaningful and they have much more diversity. But saying this, these songs, the new good ones, are not as frequent as their old, okay ones. There is a whole album with a bunch of okay/good songs. Compared to three amazing songs out of 14 or so songs on their newer albums. If that makes sense. I know it sounds like a bunch of contradictive crap, but bear with me.
         I guess I like them more when they are younger and not as experienced because they were innocent. And it is not very often that rock bands are innocent. I get it. Their rebel personalities is what people love rock bands for. But I really admired them for being different and they still had the ability to sound good. They didn't have to be on drugs. Whenever I hear a song by John Lennon from their more recent albums, I just think he sounds like a kid singing to himself and making his voice sound funny. Which is sad, because I really admired him in some of his earlier songs with Paul McCartney. Now, I am not denying that drugs haven't made some of their songs even better. They have in a way. Their lyrics actually tell stories and talk about meaningful things.
        And maybe it is the girl inside of me that likes the sweet, cute-faced Paul McCartney more than the dirty, druggie that he is later in the 60's. Some of it is probably that because they do make some killer music on drugs, I just wish they could make music to the same degree of greatness while sober. Call me a freak. Or whatever. I know a lot of people would say that drugs are what make rock n roll. And maybe that is why I am not the biggest fan of it. I enjoy certain songs, but definently not all of them.

Here is what I love and miss. This was my first favorite Beatles song. I still am in love with it.




They look like really nice, well manecured boys who love their moms. Compared to this.




And I know I shouldn't just judge them on their looks; That I should judge them based on their sound. They do sound incredible. But today, images play a lot in things. You can say, 'Don't judge a book by its cover,' but people are going to judge THE DANG BOOK BY ITS COVER. And there is nothing you can do about it.