This was a CD that I very surprised to come by. My one friend told me that he started listening to a new band that he had found out about, and that I needed to give them a listen. I was hesitant to take his word because most of the bands he listens to have a very similar sound, and there is nothing very distinct to any of the bands' specific styles. Most of them sound the same as the other. However, I decided to give this new band, Attack Attack!, a listen. To my surprise, I was very impressed.
Attack Attack! is a very new band and all of the members are barely in their early twenties. What this band did with, "Someday Came Suddenly," was very interesting. This band is very heavily reliant on synthesizers. This is what makes Attack Attack! have the distinct sound that they have. The keyboard/synthesizer parts add a whole new element to the music. All of the clean vocals go through a voice processor (a synthesizer), and it gives Attack Attack! an original sound.
"Someday Came Suddenly" would fall under the hardcore/metal category, but it is much more than that. With the use of all the synthesizers, this CD turns into a new style of music. The with the synthesizers accompanying the heavy metal music, it is like techno meets metal. It is very interesting. There are songs that have a really heavy breakdown, but then break off into a techno-like song accompanied with vocals, guitars, bass, and drums. I view their style as a new style of techno. It is very strange to hear a heavy guitar part accompanied by a techno beat with synthesizers, but Attack Attack! definitely made it work.
This was a band that I was skeptical about listening to at first, but I'm really glad I gave them a chance. They opened my eyes to a new style of music that I would have never thought to have worked. I hope that they can go far with the product they have write, and continue to put out music that breaks boundaries. If you like hardcore/heavy metal and dig some techno beats and synthesizers, I would definitely check Attack Attack! out.
Recommended Tracks: "Party Foul," "Interlude," "Dr. Shavargo Pt. 3," "Catfish Soup," and "Stick Stickly."
Friday, February 20, 2009
CD Review: Blink 182 "Take Off Your Pants and Jacket"
This is going to be a step into the past. With the recent news of Blink 182 announcing that they are putting aside their differences and getting the band back together, it seems like this CD review goes along with all the news. Although "Take Off Your Pants and Jacket" wasn't the most recent CD released by the band, I felt like choosing to write a review on it because back in June 2001 I was a young kid who wasn't impressed by the CD. I was 11 at the time, and I thouhght that this CD wasn't who Blink 182 was. I felt like they had "sold-out," but with the recent news of the band reuniting, I decided to take a step into my childhood years and give their CDs another listen. In the action of this process, I was surprised how my opinion on the CD, "Take Off Your Pants and Jacket," had changed.
I gave "Take Off Your Pants and Jacket," and I felt like I had taken a step back into the past of when I was young kid who idolized this band. I was amazed at how much I liked this CD. The 8 years that had passed by since my last listen of the CD, were years that I grew as a musician and learned how to like music for what it was. Now I don't care whether a band has changed their sound or developed it. I think that if a band writes a good song or CD, it should be recognized. Just because of a band's past sound doesn't mean that they aren't allowed to evolve with time.
Under this new perspective, I gave "Take Off Your Pants and Jacket" another listen. I listened for the things that mattered to me now, and that is how well a song is written and put together. Once I had given the CD a listen from this view, I realized that this CD is very well put together product. People may see Blink 182 as a band that doesn't have a lot of talent, but this CD can easily prove all of these assumptions wrong. From beginning to end, each song is great. Each song is catchy and perfect for the radio. A lot of the songs are about being young and all the things that teenagers can relate to, there is also a serious side with tracks like, "Stay Together for the Kids."
Although this CD contradicts with the band's original releases that were more just in the fast punk genre, it can't be denied that this CD is a very good product. The performances for all the instruments are very good. It isn't to say that the parts for each instrument are very complicated, but they get the job done. The production of the CD is equally good. How every song is structured works perfectly. The songs' harmonies fit well in their parts, the background vocals add texture in the ends a songs' chorus, and they even add underlying piano parts in a few songs. Although this goes against what the original Blink 182 fans would probably want, I feel that this CD should be recognized for how well it was put together.
I think that it is kind of funny that I'm saying this. Back when I was 11, I would have never pictured me liking this CD, but becoming more educated in music changed how I listen to and view a product of music.
Recommended Tracks: "Anthem Pt. 2," "Online Songs," "Stay Together for the Kids," "Please Take Me Home," and "Hold On."
I gave "Take Off Your Pants and Jacket," and I felt like I had taken a step back into the past of when I was young kid who idolized this band. I was amazed at how much I liked this CD. The 8 years that had passed by since my last listen of the CD, were years that I grew as a musician and learned how to like music for what it was. Now I don't care whether a band has changed their sound or developed it. I think that if a band writes a good song or CD, it should be recognized. Just because of a band's past sound doesn't mean that they aren't allowed to evolve with time.
Under this new perspective, I gave "Take Off Your Pants and Jacket" another listen. I listened for the things that mattered to me now, and that is how well a song is written and put together. Once I had given the CD a listen from this view, I realized that this CD is very well put together product. People may see Blink 182 as a band that doesn't have a lot of talent, but this CD can easily prove all of these assumptions wrong. From beginning to end, each song is great. Each song is catchy and perfect for the radio. A lot of the songs are about being young and all the things that teenagers can relate to, there is also a serious side with tracks like, "Stay Together for the Kids."
Although this CD contradicts with the band's original releases that were more just in the fast punk genre, it can't be denied that this CD is a very good product. The performances for all the instruments are very good. It isn't to say that the parts for each instrument are very complicated, but they get the job done. The production of the CD is equally good. How every song is structured works perfectly. The songs' harmonies fit well in their parts, the background vocals add texture in the ends a songs' chorus, and they even add underlying piano parts in a few songs. Although this goes against what the original Blink 182 fans would probably want, I feel that this CD should be recognized for how well it was put together.
I think that it is kind of funny that I'm saying this. Back when I was 11, I would have never pictured me liking this CD, but becoming more educated in music changed how I listen to and view a product of music.
Recommended Tracks: "Anthem Pt. 2," "Online Songs," "Stay Together for the Kids," "Please Take Me Home," and "Hold On."
CD Review: A Day to Remember "Homesick"
A Day to Remember is a fairly new band in the world of music. They came out with their debut album, "For Those Who Have Heart," in 2008, and have been growing in popularity ever since. A Day to Remember has a unique style; they are not just the ordinary screamo/metal band. "For Those Who Have Heart" was a very good CD. It had its catchy songs, songs with heavy breakdowns, and was on the edge. However, unlike a majority of the hardcore/metal bands that are out there, A Day to Remember tries to put a mainstream style on the structure of their songs. This was done with their debut album, but is very noticeable with their new CD, "Homesick."
"Homesick" shows how the band has decided to progress with their style, and how the band has matured as writers. "Homesick" is very different from the band's debut album. The new CD is structured to be more radio friendly, and appeal to listeners who enjoy the simple verse/chorus format of a song. The opening track of "Homesick" stands out, and is a perfect opening song for the CD. It starts out with a very heavy guitar riff, but the chord progression that is chosen makes the song develop very quickly into a song that has a very bright and cheerful sound. Each song on the CD is very well put together. All the songs have a grabbing chorus, and the melodies of the lyrics for every song make it easy for the listener to memorize them.
It can be seen that "Homesick" has pointed A Day to Remember's style into a new direction. It is a CD with very catchy choruses that stand out, and follow the simple format of a song, which everyone is familiar with. The performances and production work for the CD is fantastic. Everything about this CD was put together very well. Although the band's first CD was more heavy and had more of a thrash metal and hardcore sound, the new sound of the band shows how a young band like this can develop their sound. "Homesick" is a hard rocking CD, but it is also very melodic and grabbing. This is definitely a CD I would pick up, and this is a band I would be on the look out for. Although they are not a popular radio band, they are making their presence established on the internet and in the music world.
"Homesick" shows how the band has decided to progress with their style, and how the band has matured as writers. "Homesick" is very different from the band's debut album. The new CD is structured to be more radio friendly, and appeal to listeners who enjoy the simple verse/chorus format of a song. The opening track of "Homesick" stands out, and is a perfect opening song for the CD. It starts out with a very heavy guitar riff, but the chord progression that is chosen makes the song develop very quickly into a song that has a very bright and cheerful sound. Each song on the CD is very well put together. All the songs have a grabbing chorus, and the melodies of the lyrics for every song make it easy for the listener to memorize them.
It can be seen that "Homesick" has pointed A Day to Remember's style into a new direction. It is a CD with very catchy choruses that stand out, and follow the simple format of a song, which everyone is familiar with. The performances and production work for the CD is fantastic. Everything about this CD was put together very well. Although the band's first CD was more heavy and had more of a thrash metal and hardcore sound, the new sound of the band shows how a young band like this can develop their sound. "Homesick" is a hard rocking CD, but it is also very melodic and grabbing. This is definitely a CD I would pick up, and this is a band I would be on the look out for. Although they are not a popular radio band, they are making their presence established on the internet and in the music world.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
CD Review: Framing Hanley "The Moment"
I came across this band a couple months ago. I heard their single, "Hear Me Now," on the radio, however I didn't catch the band name. I couple weeks later, I heard a cover of Lil Wayne's song, "Lollipop,"and the band doing the cover turned out to be this band. I decided to check out their MySpace to listen to their music, and every song on the page was good. I went on to iTunes immediately and bought the CD.
The CD blew me away. I was really surprised that this band had such a well written CD. I figured that they would be just like almost every other band that releases a cover song of a popular artist; they would be popular for that, release a decent single of their own, and disappear. However, once I listened to the CD, it changed my original opinion.
The CD turned out to very well-produced and every song was good. I really enjoyed listening to this CD, and I listened to it straight for a week. The CD has yet to get old for me, and overall I don't think it will. I can't get over how good the voice the lead singer, Nixon, has. His voice is very powerful and accompanies the music perfectly. If you like hard rock music that is melodic, but has a bit of an edge to it, I think that this is definitely a CD worth giving a listen to. Each track is good, and I think that this band definitely has potential to do very well.
The only thing that I see being a problem for this band is that they released a cover as their single. While I was on their MySpace, I noticed that the cover of Lil Wayne's, "Lollipop," had the most plays out of all of their songs. However, all of their original songs had a significantly lower number of plays. I think that people should give bands a chance, instead of just listening to their hit single. I think that this is a big problem now of days in the music business. There are a lot of bands that come out with a hit single, and they are never heard of again. I hope that doesn't happen to this band. Framing Hanley is a group of young musicians from Nashville, Tennessee, that are very skilled and can write some good music. This definitely a band that shouldn't be looked over.
Reccomended tracks: "Built for Sin," "23 Days," "Alone In This Bed", and "The Fold."
The CD blew me away. I was really surprised that this band had such a well written CD. I figured that they would be just like almost every other band that releases a cover song of a popular artist; they would be popular for that, release a decent single of their own, and disappear. However, once I listened to the CD, it changed my original opinion.
The CD turned out to very well-produced and every song was good. I really enjoyed listening to this CD, and I listened to it straight for a week. The CD has yet to get old for me, and overall I don't think it will. I can't get over how good the voice the lead singer, Nixon, has. His voice is very powerful and accompanies the music perfectly. If you like hard rock music that is melodic, but has a bit of an edge to it, I think that this is definitely a CD worth giving a listen to. Each track is good, and I think that this band definitely has potential to do very well.
The only thing that I see being a problem for this band is that they released a cover as their single. While I was on their MySpace, I noticed that the cover of Lil Wayne's, "Lollipop," had the most plays out of all of their songs. However, all of their original songs had a significantly lower number of plays. I think that people should give bands a chance, instead of just listening to their hit single. I think that this is a big problem now of days in the music business. There are a lot of bands that come out with a hit single, and they are never heard of again. I hope that doesn't happen to this band. Framing Hanley is a group of young musicians from Nashville, Tennessee, that are very skilled and can write some good music. This definitely a band that shouldn't be looked over.
Reccomended tracks: "Built for Sin," "23 Days," "Alone In This Bed", and "The Fold."
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Welcome
Welcome to "Today in Music." I'm developing this blog in hope of introducing people to new artists in music, and to explain the way the music industry has changed over the years. I will be writing CD reviews weekly, and the CD reviews will cover new and old music. I want to share my thoughts on music through this blog, and I want to hear feedback from the people who read what I write. I hope that everyone enjoys this blog. Music is a very important part of my life, and I want to share what I know and learn about music to others.
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