Considering that my favorite new song of 2012 was from Pour Habit, I figured I better talk about the band a little.
I first saw Pour Habit as a warm-up act for the Bad Religion/NOFX double bill tour in 2009 where they blew NOFX away and held their own against BR, the Grandaddies of modern Punk Rock. Despite the fact that these guys had essentially no presence in Australia at the time, the crowd loved them; although it probably helped that Chuck Green lived up to his name during "Against Me":
Yes, that's actual footage from that night, I was there and it kicked arse. A bit later I picked up their first album, Suiticide (2008) and have been a fan ever since.
PH clearly have a metal influence, using a double-kick drum and complex guitar riffs in a lot of their work, as evidenced in the following song from their 2011 album, Got Your Back:
Pour Habit has attracted a lot of anger from Metalheads because of their use of these techniques, which I find endlessly funny. It is, of course, impossible and ridiculous for one genre of music to lay claim to a technique that anyone is physically capable of using.
Lyrically, Pour Habit isn't overly different from Bad Religion or NOFX, firing off rapid, politically-charged rants in short bursts and relying on pretty basic rhythmic structures. Still, Pour Habit is probably the best new Punk band to hit it big in the past few years, their live gigs are highly energetic and well worth checking out.
Take away my right to live and I will choose to fight! - Hat Guy
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Hat Guy's 2011 Top Ten
Ok, here it is, the big one. But first, some ground rules. Only songs that were released as singles in 2011 or on Albums in 2011 count. If a song was released as a Single in 2011, but the Album came out in 2010, it doesn't count. If a song was released as a Single in 2011, but the Album is yet to be released, it does count. Also, when reading this keep in mind that this is MY Top 10, not yours or somebody's, mine. I'm not saying that these are the best 10 songs of 2011, only that they are my personal favorites. If You don't agree, great! I want to know what other people listen to and how tastes vary. Life would be boring if we all listened to the same music, all I'm asking is that you give these 10 songs a try.
So anyway, on with it;
10. Smells Like Teen Spirit - The Muppet Barbershop Quartet (The Muppets OST)
No this does not break my "No Parody Songs" rule, and here's why: if you're a Nirvana fan, you have a love/hate relationship with Smells Like Teen Spirit. It's a classic song that encapsulates the Grunge movement and the power that Nirvana had, however, it has been killed by overplay and thousands of sub-par covers. Because of this, any version of 'Teen Spirit that makes the song tolerable again is well worth my time. This Barbershop version featuring Sam the Eagle and Beaker is both hilarious and a great departure from the original. The Muppets presented a series of great songs in the new film, this being the pinnacle of comedic reinterpretation. This being something of a parody though, it would never make any higher than 10 on this list, but still well worth checking out.
9. Words I Never Said - Lupe Fiasco Feat. Skylar Grey (Lasers)
I came home after a party one night, and as is my habit, turned on Rage for a few minutes before I went to bed. What came on was this song. I was blown away by the rapid-fire blasting of American Imperialism, Israeli Foreign Policy and Jihadist Terror groups by a young Muslim-American MC full of bile and possessed of fantastic flow. The rage flying around in the lyrics of this song is simply amazing, but sadly unfocused. It seems that Lupe hates a lot of things that he can't really keep his mind on and this has a detrimental effect on the song as a whole. Whilst Words I Never Said blew my mind the first time I heard it, replay has amplified the flaws and made it slip down this list a bit. I do, however, look forward to what Lupe Fiasco puts out in the future.
8. Arlandria - Foo Fighters (Wasting Light)
Before I really got into Punk Music, I was a Rocker from way back. Sadly, a solid Rock album is a rare thing these days, and when one does come along it always seems to involve Dave Grohl, not that this is a bad thing. Wasting Ling is probably one of the better Foo Fighters albums, it certainly was an unexpected musical gem in 2011, getting a heck of a lot of play on the work CD player. As is usual, the best song, Arlandria, is buried on the b-side of the album and has received almost no air-play. It's songs like this one that have made Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters a cornerstone of Rock for over a decade.
7. Blinded By Love - Jack Ladder (HURTSVILLE)
Jack Ladder has been a fixture of the Melbourne indy music scene for years, but finally broke through in 2011, enjoying some bigger live gigs and having a few of his songs featured on television. For those not in the know, Jack Ladder is the "less creepy" version of Nick Cave; deep voice, haunting vocals and clear Blues/Country influence. Blinded By Love is an epic of a love song, a winding ballad of loss, redemption and a deep and binding love. Every now and then you need something a little melancholy, and this song is a perfect catharsis when you're just a bit down.
6. Speed of Darkness - Flogging Molly (Speed of Darkness)
I was disappointed with Flogging Molly's latest album, it lacked the bile and rage of their previous releases, continuing the band's downward spiral into being just another Irish folk band. However, every cloud has a silver lining and Speed of Darkness has a gangbusters title track. Angry, loud and ready to punch you in the eardrum, Speed of Darkness is the kind of song to smash up a bar to, and it's good to hear that Flogging Molly has retained some of their zeal since the epic album Drunken Lullabies.
5. Ghost on the Dance Floor - Blink-182 (Neighborhoods)
What year is it? 1998? No, but for some reason I'm listening to Blink-182 and I love it. This song is the perfect blend of Cheshire Cat-era Blink-182 and Angels and Airwaves, talking about young, desperate love with soaring vocals and guitar. I was apprehensive about this album when it came out, but I was sold after the first track. Not much more to say about this one, just a really solid song.
4. Rum and Coca-Cola - Wanda Jackson (The Party Ain't Over)
Wanda Jackson has been know by many names over her career, The Female Elvis, the Queen of Rockabilly, she deserves them all. She is one of the greatest female vocalists of all time and this album was a ray of hope in sea of party anthems and hip-pop. Rum and Coca-Cola is a great Caribbean- inspired Rock and Roll number with themes of exploitation and American Imperialism thrown in for good measure. This is one of the best albums of the year, it was really hard to pick just one track to demonstrate why it's so good, but I think this one does it justice. A great album from an artist that has been great for decades, get it today.
3. Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win - The Beastie Boys Feat. Santigold (Hot Sauce Committee Part II)
In 2010, Devo released an album in the midst of hordes of pretenders attempting to emulate what they had done decades ago; with this Devo proved that they always have been and always will be the masters of their genre. In 2011 history repeated itself with the Beastie Boys coming back to lay the smack into the mountain of so-called "Rappers" clogging up the charts. I chose this song over Too Many Rappers because it truly demonstrates what made the Beasties great in the first place, their willingness to experiment and push the boundaries of the genre. This song is peppered with references to Bob Dylan, Public Enemy and other influential artists as well as blending the Beasties' unique flow with exotic horns. This is where Rap should be going, rather than stagnating.
2. Mind Your Manners - Chiddy Bang (Breakfast)
Last year I did Chiddy Bang a disservice by putting their Breakout single, Opposite of Adults, as number 10 on my list, it should have been much higher. It continually amazes me that Flo Rida and Soljahboy have huge rap careers, but Chiddy Bang remain unheard of. Chiddy Bang break the mold of current rap, focusing on success through merit, respecting one's peers and critics and never resorting to violence. This is my number 2 simply because I keep listening to it, it's a great song and I can't wait to get my hands on the album.
1. Tomahawk - Pour Habit (Got Your Back)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzweeW--MsY (freaking video wouldn't work for some reason)
At my core, I'm a Punk Rocker, and no song Punk Rocked harder in 2011 than Tomahawk. Pour Habit are a unique voice in the Punk Landscape, using two vocalists, a double kick drum and metal-inspired guitar riffs. If this song doesn't get your blood pumping and inspire you to tear down the establishment, nothing will. Catch these guys live for an experience you'll never forget.
So anyway, on with it;
10. Smells Like Teen Spirit - The Muppet Barbershop Quartet (The Muppets OST)
No this does not break my "No Parody Songs" rule, and here's why: if you're a Nirvana fan, you have a love/hate relationship with Smells Like Teen Spirit. It's a classic song that encapsulates the Grunge movement and the power that Nirvana had, however, it has been killed by overplay and thousands of sub-par covers. Because of this, any version of 'Teen Spirit that makes the song tolerable again is well worth my time. This Barbershop version featuring Sam the Eagle and Beaker is both hilarious and a great departure from the original. The Muppets presented a series of great songs in the new film, this being the pinnacle of comedic reinterpretation. This being something of a parody though, it would never make any higher than 10 on this list, but still well worth checking out.
9. Words I Never Said - Lupe Fiasco Feat. Skylar Grey (Lasers)
I came home after a party one night, and as is my habit, turned on Rage for a few minutes before I went to bed. What came on was this song. I was blown away by the rapid-fire blasting of American Imperialism, Israeli Foreign Policy and Jihadist Terror groups by a young Muslim-American MC full of bile and possessed of fantastic flow. The rage flying around in the lyrics of this song is simply amazing, but sadly unfocused. It seems that Lupe hates a lot of things that he can't really keep his mind on and this has a detrimental effect on the song as a whole. Whilst Words I Never Said blew my mind the first time I heard it, replay has amplified the flaws and made it slip down this list a bit. I do, however, look forward to what Lupe Fiasco puts out in the future.
8. Arlandria - Foo Fighters (Wasting Light)
Before I really got into Punk Music, I was a Rocker from way back. Sadly, a solid Rock album is a rare thing these days, and when one does come along it always seems to involve Dave Grohl, not that this is a bad thing. Wasting Ling is probably one of the better Foo Fighters albums, it certainly was an unexpected musical gem in 2011, getting a heck of a lot of play on the work CD player. As is usual, the best song, Arlandria, is buried on the b-side of the album and has received almost no air-play. It's songs like this one that have made Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters a cornerstone of Rock for over a decade.
7. Blinded By Love - Jack Ladder (HURTSVILLE)
Jack Ladder has been a fixture of the Melbourne indy music scene for years, but finally broke through in 2011, enjoying some bigger live gigs and having a few of his songs featured on television. For those not in the know, Jack Ladder is the "less creepy" version of Nick Cave; deep voice, haunting vocals and clear Blues/Country influence. Blinded By Love is an epic of a love song, a winding ballad of loss, redemption and a deep and binding love. Every now and then you need something a little melancholy, and this song is a perfect catharsis when you're just a bit down.
6. Speed of Darkness - Flogging Molly (Speed of Darkness)
I was disappointed with Flogging Molly's latest album, it lacked the bile and rage of their previous releases, continuing the band's downward spiral into being just another Irish folk band. However, every cloud has a silver lining and Speed of Darkness has a gangbusters title track. Angry, loud and ready to punch you in the eardrum, Speed of Darkness is the kind of song to smash up a bar to, and it's good to hear that Flogging Molly has retained some of their zeal since the epic album Drunken Lullabies.
5. Ghost on the Dance Floor - Blink-182 (Neighborhoods)
What year is it? 1998? No, but for some reason I'm listening to Blink-182 and I love it. This song is the perfect blend of Cheshire Cat-era Blink-182 and Angels and Airwaves, talking about young, desperate love with soaring vocals and guitar. I was apprehensive about this album when it came out, but I was sold after the first track. Not much more to say about this one, just a really solid song.
4. Rum and Coca-Cola - Wanda Jackson (The Party Ain't Over)
Wanda Jackson has been know by many names over her career, The Female Elvis, the Queen of Rockabilly, she deserves them all. She is one of the greatest female vocalists of all time and this album was a ray of hope in sea of party anthems and hip-pop. Rum and Coca-Cola is a great Caribbean- inspired Rock and Roll number with themes of exploitation and American Imperialism thrown in for good measure. This is one of the best albums of the year, it was really hard to pick just one track to demonstrate why it's so good, but I think this one does it justice. A great album from an artist that has been great for decades, get it today.
3. Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win - The Beastie Boys Feat. Santigold (Hot Sauce Committee Part II)
In 2010, Devo released an album in the midst of hordes of pretenders attempting to emulate what they had done decades ago; with this Devo proved that they always have been and always will be the masters of their genre. In 2011 history repeated itself with the Beastie Boys coming back to lay the smack into the mountain of so-called "Rappers" clogging up the charts. I chose this song over Too Many Rappers because it truly demonstrates what made the Beasties great in the first place, their willingness to experiment and push the boundaries of the genre. This song is peppered with references to Bob Dylan, Public Enemy and other influential artists as well as blending the Beasties' unique flow with exotic horns. This is where Rap should be going, rather than stagnating.
2. Mind Your Manners - Chiddy Bang (Breakfast)
Last year I did Chiddy Bang a disservice by putting their Breakout single, Opposite of Adults, as number 10 on my list, it should have been much higher. It continually amazes me that Flo Rida and Soljahboy have huge rap careers, but Chiddy Bang remain unheard of. Chiddy Bang break the mold of current rap, focusing on success through merit, respecting one's peers and critics and never resorting to violence. This is my number 2 simply because I keep listening to it, it's a great song and I can't wait to get my hands on the album.
1. Tomahawk - Pour Habit (Got Your Back)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzweeW--MsY (freaking video wouldn't work for some reason)
At my core, I'm a Punk Rocker, and no song Punk Rocked harder in 2011 than Tomahawk. Pour Habit are a unique voice in the Punk Landscape, using two vocalists, a double kick drum and metal-inspired guitar riffs. If this song doesn't get your blood pumping and inspire you to tear down the establishment, nothing will. Catch these guys live for an experience you'll never forget.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
2011 In Review: Dishonourable Mentions
Overall, 2011 produced some really good music (we'll see next week) and I was only disappointed with a couple of purchases I made. However, the bad music that was out there in 2011 was really bad. I now dread parties and other gatherings where I may be forced to listen to the same crap that everyone who doesn't know better than to listen to pop radio. So yeah, every rose grew in a pile of shit, so here's the pile of fertilizer that was dumped on us in 2011.
Against Me - Total Clarity
I really like Against Me!, I honestly think they're one of the better Punk bands out there. Also, I'm usually one of the first people to complain when an "indy" band starts to sound more mainstream, however, in the case of Against Me! the band really does sound better with more complex post-production. Both New Wave and White Crosses (their previous albums) are really solid albums that explore a variety of themes and push what can be done with Punk Rock. However, Total Clarity is a return to oldskool Against Me! with its screaming dunk narrowback vocals and "How the hell do I tune this thing?" guitar work, this album sounds like the kind of thing Against Me! was putting out in 2001. The band has grown over the past decade and it's not a crime to show it; just to demonstrate the dip in quality since the last album, here's the title track off White Crosses:
So yeah, Against Me!, disappointing. You can do better.
LMFAO
I'm not even putting up a video for this one, because we've all been forced to endure this "band" at least once in the past six months. Once I had heard that this Uncle/Nephew duo "just happened" to be related to one of the biggest Motown producers in history, I was concerned. Being fair minded I listened to Party Rock Anthem. When I was done vomiting, I decided that it was the worst song I had heard all year. Seriously. PARTY ROCK ANTHEM IS THE WORST SONG I HEARD ALL 2011. Worse than Friday, worse than Bieber. There is no chorus, only an annoying beeping, the song doesn't mean anything or try to convey any ideas. Some of my friends really enjoy this band, telling me that they like the theme of cutting lose and having fun because of the crushing weight of reality. Really? Andrew WK was doing this ten years ago! But wait! Apparently it's really just a parody! Apparently people don't know what parody means! Read some Jonathan Swift or watch some Mel Brooks (High Anxiety or Young Frankenstein for starters) and then tell me that LMFAO is clever and and topical. This "music" is so close to the lowest common denominator that I now go out of my way to avoid it. Shame on anyone who bought this shit. Here's some Andrew WK to show you damn kids what real party music sounds like:
Hipsters
This isn't the generic Hipster-bashing you're familiar with, but actually a legitimate complaint. Hipsters, I have no problem with you, just please stop appropriating the affectations of other Subcultures. If I run into one more Hipster at a Punk gig, I swear I'm going to murder it.
Next Week: The Top Ten!
Against Me - Total Clarity
I really like Against Me!, I honestly think they're one of the better Punk bands out there. Also, I'm usually one of the first people to complain when an "indy" band starts to sound more mainstream, however, in the case of Against Me! the band really does sound better with more complex post-production. Both New Wave and White Crosses (their previous albums) are really solid albums that explore a variety of themes and push what can be done with Punk Rock. However, Total Clarity is a return to oldskool Against Me! with its screaming dunk narrowback vocals and "How the hell do I tune this thing?" guitar work, this album sounds like the kind of thing Against Me! was putting out in 2001. The band has grown over the past decade and it's not a crime to show it; just to demonstrate the dip in quality since the last album, here's the title track off White Crosses:
So yeah, Against Me!, disappointing. You can do better.
LMFAO
I'm not even putting up a video for this one, because we've all been forced to endure this "band" at least once in the past six months. Once I had heard that this Uncle/Nephew duo "just happened" to be related to one of the biggest Motown producers in history, I was concerned. Being fair minded I listened to Party Rock Anthem. When I was done vomiting, I decided that it was the worst song I had heard all year. Seriously. PARTY ROCK ANTHEM IS THE WORST SONG I HEARD ALL 2011. Worse than Friday, worse than Bieber. There is no chorus, only an annoying beeping, the song doesn't mean anything or try to convey any ideas. Some of my friends really enjoy this band, telling me that they like the theme of cutting lose and having fun because of the crushing weight of reality. Really? Andrew WK was doing this ten years ago! But wait! Apparently it's really just a parody! Apparently people don't know what parody means! Read some Jonathan Swift or watch some Mel Brooks (High Anxiety or Young Frankenstein for starters) and then tell me that LMFAO is clever and and topical. This "music" is so close to the lowest common denominator that I now go out of my way to avoid it. Shame on anyone who bought this shit. Here's some Andrew WK to show you damn kids what real party music sounds like:
Hipsters
This isn't the generic Hipster-bashing you're familiar with, but actually a legitimate complaint. Hipsters, I have no problem with you, just please stop appropriating the affectations of other Subcultures. If I run into one more Hipster at a Punk gig, I swear I'm going to murder it.
Next Week: The Top Ten!
Monday, January 2, 2012
2011 In Review: Honourable Mentions
With 2011 behind us, it is time to look backwards and do the inevitable "Top 10" lists of the music that formed the soundtrack for the year. Before I dig my own grave with my own Top 10 of songs most people have never heard despite my talking about them at every party, lecture and funeral I've attended, I'm starting off with a couple of short articles.
I'm starting off with a couple of weeks focusing on some songs I haven't paid much attention to; some that need mention but weren't good enough to make my Top 10 and some that made me cringe.
So here they are, my Honourable Mentions for 2011:
Lady Gaga - Born This Way
When the Pop music world is saturated with bland, soulless party music week after week, a heartfelt song about Gender and Sexual equality making it onto the charts is simply amazing. Amittedly, I have problems with this song, the production is overdone and there's a lot of post-production effects on the track, and these stop me from really enjoying it, but it's worth a listen. Having a fair few Bi/Poly/Homosexual/Neuter/Transgender friends and aquaintces, it's good to hear a Musician with a lot of pulling power making a socially responsible stand for Human Rights.
The Lonely Island - Jack Sparrow
The reason this song isn't on my Top 10 is that I cannot take Parody/Joke songs seriously. It's not that I don't enjoy humorous songs, but you'll never see Weird Al or The Lonely Island grace lists of my favorite songs, I just don't like them in high rotation. The reason you see this song mentioned here is simple; I fucking hate Micheal Bolton. Seriously. This has to be the first song ever that features Bolton that I actually enjoy listening to, and that deserves recognition. Also the element of Club Dance Song parody in Jack Sparrow is highly enjoyable, given the continued prevalence of such songs on the Pop Charts.
The Rap Critic
(http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/teamt/rap-critic/rap-critic-reviews)
One of the many reviewers on the ThatGuyWithTheGlasses website, the Rap Critic is perhaps among the least well known, which is a damn shame. Whilst the more famous Todd in the Shadows injects more vitriol and humour into his reviews, The Rap Critic is technically brilliant, discussing wordplay, flow, influences and sampling when reviewing a Rap song. Also, unlike most internet reviewers, the Rap Critic is intimately familiar with his subject matter and is willing to talk about Songs that he likes, rather than just hating on things for a laugh. Whilst I'm on about ThatGuyWithTheGlasses, I recently learned that one of their Reviewers dissed on some friends of mine. I'm not responding to this in any way other than to mention that it happened.
R.E.M.
If I had to pick my 10 favorite bands of all time, R.E.M. would be on that list somewhere. Always ahead of the curve, willing to experiment and never letting themselves get pigeonholed musically, R.E.M. were a unique voice in the Musical landscape. That said, the last two R.E.M. albums were pretty poor. It's not that the songs were bad, it was just that they were kinda the same thing R.E.M. had been doing for years. In late 2011, R.E.M. called it quits after decades of great music. So well done R.E.M. for bowing out gracefully after an almost unparalleled career of awesomeness. Above is a video of Electron Blue (from the album Around The Sun) a truly beautiful song that I never tire of listening to.
Hat Guy - Mad props to my Level 3 homies...
Next Week: Bottom of the Barrel
I'm starting off with a couple of weeks focusing on some songs I haven't paid much attention to; some that need mention but weren't good enough to make my Top 10 and some that made me cringe.
So here they are, my Honourable Mentions for 2011:
Lady Gaga - Born This Way
When the Pop music world is saturated with bland, soulless party music week after week, a heartfelt song about Gender and Sexual equality making it onto the charts is simply amazing. Amittedly, I have problems with this song, the production is overdone and there's a lot of post-production effects on the track, and these stop me from really enjoying it, but it's worth a listen. Having a fair few Bi/Poly/Homosexual/Neuter/Transgender friends and aquaintces, it's good to hear a Musician with a lot of pulling power making a socially responsible stand for Human Rights.
The Lonely Island - Jack Sparrow
The reason this song isn't on my Top 10 is that I cannot take Parody/Joke songs seriously. It's not that I don't enjoy humorous songs, but you'll never see Weird Al or The Lonely Island grace lists of my favorite songs, I just don't like them in high rotation. The reason you see this song mentioned here is simple; I fucking hate Micheal Bolton. Seriously. This has to be the first song ever that features Bolton that I actually enjoy listening to, and that deserves recognition. Also the element of Club Dance Song parody in Jack Sparrow is highly enjoyable, given the continued prevalence of such songs on the Pop Charts.
The Rap Critic
(http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/teamt/rap-critic/rap-critic-reviews)
One of the many reviewers on the ThatGuyWithTheGlasses website, the Rap Critic is perhaps among the least well known, which is a damn shame. Whilst the more famous Todd in the Shadows injects more vitriol and humour into his reviews, The Rap Critic is technically brilliant, discussing wordplay, flow, influences and sampling when reviewing a Rap song. Also, unlike most internet reviewers, the Rap Critic is intimately familiar with his subject matter and is willing to talk about Songs that he likes, rather than just hating on things for a laugh. Whilst I'm on about ThatGuyWithTheGlasses, I recently learned that one of their Reviewers dissed on some friends of mine. I'm not responding to this in any way other than to mention that it happened.
R.E.M.
If I had to pick my 10 favorite bands of all time, R.E.M. would be on that list somewhere. Always ahead of the curve, willing to experiment and never letting themselves get pigeonholed musically, R.E.M. were a unique voice in the Musical landscape. That said, the last two R.E.M. albums were pretty poor. It's not that the songs were bad, it was just that they were kinda the same thing R.E.M. had been doing for years. In late 2011, R.E.M. called it quits after decades of great music. So well done R.E.M. for bowing out gracefully after an almost unparalleled career of awesomeness. Above is a video of Electron Blue (from the album Around The Sun) a truly beautiful song that I never tire of listening to.
Hat Guy - Mad props to my Level 3 homies...
Next Week: Bottom of the Barrel
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
X-Holiday Special
I don't have much time this week for anything other than work, so this update is just a quickie to tide you over.
5 X-mas Covers I'd like to see...
1. All I Want For Christmas - Nick Cave
Imagine if this tawdry Mariah Carey crap sounded like it was coming from a serial killer/rapist! What he really wants for xmas is your skin as a suit.
2. The Twelve Days of Christmas - William Shatner
I only want to hear this because with Kirk behind the song, it would probably go for about an hour.
3. Thank God It's Christmas - The Sex Pistols
Think of the irony in "God Save the Queen" and apply it to xmas.
4. Last Christmas - Alice Cooper
What can I say, I'm a sucker for a cheesey metal cover and Mr Cooper is the master.
5. Frosty the Snowman - Kanye West
Frosty, I'ma let you finish, but Rudolf is the best holiday icon ever!
Hat Guy - Sorry about the Kanye joke... I gotta get to work.
5 X-mas Covers I'd like to see...
1. All I Want For Christmas - Nick Cave
Imagine if this tawdry Mariah Carey crap sounded like it was coming from a serial killer/rapist! What he really wants for xmas is your skin as a suit.
2. The Twelve Days of Christmas - William Shatner
I only want to hear this because with Kirk behind the song, it would probably go for about an hour.
3. Thank God It's Christmas - The Sex Pistols
Think of the irony in "God Save the Queen" and apply it to xmas.
4. Last Christmas - Alice Cooper
What can I say, I'm a sucker for a cheesey metal cover and Mr Cooper is the master.
5. Frosty the Snowman - Kanye West
Frosty, I'ma let you finish, but Rudolf is the best holiday icon ever!
Hat Guy - Sorry about the Kanye joke... I gotta get to work.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Best Acts You Never Heard 1: Beduoin Soundclash
Welcome to the first in a series of looking at bands that never really seem to have hit for some reason. The first BAYNH is a group that I, honestly, believe is one of the best bands performing today; Bedouin Soundclash. Bedouin Soundclash are one of those bands that are a bit hard to classify, there's elements of Punk, Rasta, Reggae, folk and Jamaican Dancehall in their music, making for a unique and varied sound. I know for sure that the band are influenced by Bad Brains (look them up) because they cover BB songs at their live gigs. Whilst the biggest talk about BSC seems to be in Punk circles, I'm still reluctant to classify them as a Rasta Punk group because of their heavy Reggae sound. Just listen:
In fact, aside from Punks and Rastas, the biggest fan base for BSC seems to be Hipsters. This is probably due to the mistaken notion people have that Reggae is classed as "World Music" (as opposed to being one of the most influential musical styles of the 20th Century). What really gets to me about BSC is how obscure they are. When people ask me to recommend a band they haven't heard, BSC is pretty much at the top of my list. With their chilled-out sound and thoughtful lyrics I figured that they would at least appeal to the kind of folk-leaning trendy TripleJ fans that vote shit like Angus and Julia Stone to the top of the charts. On that note, here's the overplayed love song to tempt you in:
Yeah, I'm not a fan of this one, but most of the fair-weather-fans love it. In fact, when I saw BSC live, even they didn't want to play 12:59. That said, there are many bands that have to suffer through one of their own bland generic hits at every gig for the rest of their lives. I can't think of an example right now, but I'm sure one will come to me. Anyway, Reggae, Punk and just a bit Roots and Folksy. Check out Bedouin Soundclash sometime when you want to chill out. I'll leave you with my favourite song of theirs:
Hat Guy - Less Reggae, more Punk, not making a 'root' joke.
In fact, aside from Punks and Rastas, the biggest fan base for BSC seems to be Hipsters. This is probably due to the mistaken notion people have that Reggae is classed as "World Music" (as opposed to being one of the most influential musical styles of the 20th Century). What really gets to me about BSC is how obscure they are. When people ask me to recommend a band they haven't heard, BSC is pretty much at the top of my list. With their chilled-out sound and thoughtful lyrics I figured that they would at least appeal to the kind of folk-leaning trendy TripleJ fans that vote shit like Angus and Julia Stone to the top of the charts. On that note, here's the overplayed love song to tempt you in:
Yeah, I'm not a fan of this one, but most of the fair-weather-fans love it. In fact, when I saw BSC live, even they didn't want to play 12:59. That said, there are many bands that have to suffer through one of their own bland generic hits at every gig for the rest of their lives. I can't think of an example right now, but I'm sure one will come to me. Anyway, Reggae, Punk and just a bit Roots and Folksy. Check out Bedouin Soundclash sometime when you want to chill out. I'll leave you with my favourite song of theirs:
Hat Guy - Less Reggae, more Punk, not making a 'root' joke.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Help Me! I hate...
Pop Music
More than one person has told me, in visceral detail, just how much they hate Pop Music. What I find amusing about this is that the same people, if pressed, will sing the praises of the Beatles as groundbreaking artists. For those not in the know, the Beatles' chord and song structures form the basis of pretty much every Pop song written since. So yeah, the Beatles are responsible (albeit indirectly) for Katy Perry, Boy Bands and Adam Ant.
Another fact about Pop music that people tend to forget is that it goes away. Many a teenager (including myself once) can be heard to remark about "Today's" music is inferior to that of decades gone by. This phenomenon can be put down, at least somewhat, to flashback radio stations and compilation CDs, that keep all of the good Pop music of a given decade in rotation whilst dropping the crap off the radar.
With this knowledge under your belt, is it fair to say you hate Pop music? "But the Beatles are classic, you can't compare them to Lady Gaga!" I hear you cry. Also, there's no real challenge in getting people to enjoy the fruits of the British Invasion or Motown. So I'm going to pick five Pop songs from the past five years to see if I can't turn you around on this.
1. Matt & Kim - Daylight (2009)
It seems I'm constantly propping up this song, but there's a good reason for this... It's fucking awesome. Matt & Kim never really hit in Australia, but their drum kit/Keyboard combo creates a catchy beat that I think displays the real potential of Pop music. If this sounds somewhat familiar, it was used for a Mars advertisement for a number of years.
2. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Zero (2009)
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs have wavered between being Pop, Alternative, Punk and Grunge over the past decade, with varying success. After a couple of lackluster albums, they released It's Blitz! in 2009, demonstrating that they are a truly talented band worth paying attention to. The biggest (and perhaps best) song on the album was Zero, a frenzied dance track that is almost impossible to resist. Many label the Yeah Yeah Yeahs as "Alternative", but Zero is a Pop song inside and out.
3. Nothin' On You (Beautiful Girls) - B.O.B. feat. Bruno Mars (2010)
Regardless of your opinion on it, Hip Hop has ingratiated itself into Pop Music over the past decade, so it would be remiss of me to ignore the Hip Hop/Pop/Hip Pop style of song that tends to grace the Pop charts. Never mind that this is easily Bruno Mars' only palatable performance, or that B.O.B. is clearly the inheritor to Andre 3000, this song would be great without those outside influences propping it up. This is a true love song, the kind of which isn't really seen much these days. I just don't see how people could really hate on this... don't we all want to be loved?
4. Poker Face - Lady Gaga (2008)
I'm getting just a little bit sick of people hating on Lady Gaga. It's not like I'm a fan or anything, it's just not the kind of music I'm really into. However, when compared to the endless list of manufactured, auto-tuned, plastic Pop starlets, how can a Juliard-educated, piano prodigy who writes her own songs and refuses to be conventional not come off better? This clip is (in)famous for showing off Gaga's real talent and is well worth watching, especially if you claim to hate her.
5. Metric - Black Sheep (2008/2010)
This song, an Underground Pop hit from 2008, got a second life after being featured on the Scott Pilgrim Versus The World Soundtrack. Once again, this song can be considered more "Alternative", but I've included here because it does demonstrate the traditional Beatles-esque verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus structure. It's a Pop song through and through, and damn enjoyable one too.
There you have it, give Pop music another try, there's plenty of good stuff out there if you're prepared to look.
More than one person has told me, in visceral detail, just how much they hate Pop Music. What I find amusing about this is that the same people, if pressed, will sing the praises of the Beatles as groundbreaking artists. For those not in the know, the Beatles' chord and song structures form the basis of pretty much every Pop song written since. So yeah, the Beatles are responsible (albeit indirectly) for Katy Perry, Boy Bands and Adam Ant.
Another fact about Pop music that people tend to forget is that it goes away. Many a teenager (including myself once) can be heard to remark about "Today's" music is inferior to that of decades gone by. This phenomenon can be put down, at least somewhat, to flashback radio stations and compilation CDs, that keep all of the good Pop music of a given decade in rotation whilst dropping the crap off the radar.
With this knowledge under your belt, is it fair to say you hate Pop music? "But the Beatles are classic, you can't compare them to Lady Gaga!" I hear you cry. Also, there's no real challenge in getting people to enjoy the fruits of the British Invasion or Motown. So I'm going to pick five Pop songs from the past five years to see if I can't turn you around on this.
1. Matt & Kim - Daylight (2009)
It seems I'm constantly propping up this song, but there's a good reason for this... It's fucking awesome. Matt & Kim never really hit in Australia, but their drum kit/Keyboard combo creates a catchy beat that I think displays the real potential of Pop music. If this sounds somewhat familiar, it was used for a Mars advertisement for a number of years.
2. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Zero (2009)
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs have wavered between being Pop, Alternative, Punk and Grunge over the past decade, with varying success. After a couple of lackluster albums, they released It's Blitz! in 2009, demonstrating that they are a truly talented band worth paying attention to. The biggest (and perhaps best) song on the album was Zero, a frenzied dance track that is almost impossible to resist. Many label the Yeah Yeah Yeahs as "Alternative", but Zero is a Pop song inside and out.
3. Nothin' On You (Beautiful Girls) - B.O.B. feat. Bruno Mars (2010)
Regardless of your opinion on it, Hip Hop has ingratiated itself into Pop Music over the past decade, so it would be remiss of me to ignore the Hip Hop/Pop/Hip Pop style of song that tends to grace the Pop charts. Never mind that this is easily Bruno Mars' only palatable performance, or that B.O.B. is clearly the inheritor to Andre 3000, this song would be great without those outside influences propping it up. This is a true love song, the kind of which isn't really seen much these days. I just don't see how people could really hate on this... don't we all want to be loved?
4. Poker Face - Lady Gaga (2008)
I'm getting just a little bit sick of people hating on Lady Gaga. It's not like I'm a fan or anything, it's just not the kind of music I'm really into. However, when compared to the endless list of manufactured, auto-tuned, plastic Pop starlets, how can a Juliard-educated, piano prodigy who writes her own songs and refuses to be conventional not come off better? This clip is (in)famous for showing off Gaga's real talent and is well worth watching, especially if you claim to hate her.
5. Metric - Black Sheep (2008/2010)
This song, an Underground Pop hit from 2008, got a second life after being featured on the Scott Pilgrim Versus The World Soundtrack. Once again, this song can be considered more "Alternative", but I've included here because it does demonstrate the traditional Beatles-esque verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus structure. It's a Pop song through and through, and damn enjoyable one too.
There you have it, give Pop music another try, there's plenty of good stuff out there if you're prepared to look.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)