From the title, Heartkiller may sound like an "exciting" song, but in reality it barely passes "memorable". The Finnish band's seventh album Screamworks: Love In Theory and Practice is being released in the US on February 9. Heartkiller is the lead single, but it fails to do what a lead single should, make you want more. The single plays it safe in almost all ways. The vocals aren't pushing any boundaries and the music is bland except for the opening guitar riff. The bottom line is, if this is what the entire album is like, then you might not last the entire album. Especially with the overload of rock bands that flood the industry, HIM needs something extra to set them apart from everyone else. I would pass on this song. If you're a long-time fan, either download the song or wait for the album and see how it sounds, it's up to you. At least the album artwork stands out from the rest...
Lydia is a band, not a person. From their name, you might think that Lydia is some female pop or R&B singer. That would be incorrect. The band plays alternative or indie rock. I Woke Up Near The Sea is from their 2008 album Illuminate. Another deceiving factor is that they don't have a female lead singer. Strange how misleading a band's name can be. Now to get back to the music, the song itself is very unique. The instrumentation is unlike many songs of the same genre. The element that stands out the most is, by a long shot, the vocals. Their vocalist, Leighton Antelmen, has a very unique voice. He has a great vocal range, especially during the chorus. The chorus also happens to be the most exciting part of the song. It blasts out of now where after the soft verses. I would definitely check out this song if you like alternative rock that isn't too distorted. I Woke Up Near The Sea is a song to remember.
Nowadays, straight up metal is hard to come by. It seems that any new metal is from a band that has "screamo" vocals, or a band that is already established and have been making music for many years. Lady Killer is a song from the Canadian metal band, Priestess. The song is from their second album, Prior To The Fire. This is new metal. Not "nu-metal, but actual metal. The song sounds like an updated version of something that Iron Maiden or Megadeth would do. The drums, rhythm guitar, and solo are heavy. The vocals, on the other hand, aren't anything spectacular. It's easy to hear their influences in this song. In the end, even though I compared Priestess to such legendary metal bands, they still have a long way to go before they can compete with those bands. But with time, they may find success.
Orianthi is an upcoming guitarist and singer who released her album, Believe, late last year. But before her solo career, She was Michael Jackson's guitarist during the rehearsals for his This Is It tour. She has performed with huge names such as, Carlos Santana, Steve Vai, Carrie Underwood, and Adam Lambert. Although she has the guitar skills to play in the heaviest of bands, she chose to perform radio-friendly pop music. According To You is all you could ask for in a fun pop song. It has a solid chord structure, the "verse-chorus-verse" song format, and memorable, yet somewhat cheesy, lyrics. The one element that makes it recognizable from other similar songs, is the guitar. The song is filled with mini solo's and breakdowns. These small bits lead to an incredible tapping solo. The solo is reminiscent of a classic rock song. If you take out the guitar track, the song becomes kind of generic. After listening to the song, I wonder what would have happened if Orianthi had chosen a different musical route. In the end, the "Pop Star" road isn't for everyone.
The xx is an indie rock band from London, England. They released their debut album, xx, in the summer 2009. They quickly caught the attention of many major music publications and critics. Some sources (Pitchfork, NME) even put them towards the top of their "Best Of" lists. All this attention must mean they're something special, right? I listened to their song "Basic Space" to see for myself.
I believe this is my first blog post about a song of the classical genre. I felt I was obligated to talk about this song in particular. Andare is one of my favorite pieces from a contemporary composer. The song is written and performed by Ludovico Einaudi, an Italian composer and pianist. This song, which is from the album Divenire, contains a sole piano and minimal strings. It sounds as though there is a violin, viola, and a cello, maybe more. It's a lengthy piece, clocking in at over seven minutes. The piece isn't an overly complicated piano exercise with a full orchestra behind it. I think that's what makes it good. It's very modern in style, but it still has a lasting appeal. The emotional tone of the song changes frequently. At parts it sounds like anger, sorrow, and despair others motivation and maybe even relief. It captivated me the first time I heard it. After listening to it, you might be left in awe... or not. It all depends on if you're really listening.
30 Seconds To Mars - 30 Seconds To Mars
With the state of the music industry, artists are constantly trying to find new ways to distribute music. CD sales are down and digital downloads are up. Bands such as Nine Inch Nails and Radiohead have done the unthinkable. Radiohead had a "pay what you want" type promotion for their album "In Rainbows", while Nine Inch Nails released "The Slip" absolutely free. The Alt-Rock band, The Smashing Pumpkins, hope to evolve this technique to a new level with the release of "Teargarden By Kaleidyscope".
The Big Pink are a British indie/electro rock duo. Their debut album, A Brief History Of Love, was released in 2009. On the album was the song Dominos. This single has the soaring chorus of a pop song, along with a great beat. It's what I would expect if MGMT were British. The two bands sound very similar musically. Both use synths and huge beats. Once you hear the opening line "These girls fall like dominos, dominos." you know the song's going to be good. It's one of those songs that makes you sing along at the top of your lungs. Give it a listen if you like Passion Pit, Phoenix, Animal Collective, and the before mentioned MGMT. I would also recommend it if you need a song with just an overall uplifting-feel to it.
Creating a unique sound and image is hard to do today in today's music industry, but Vampire Weekend did just that. In 2008, they released their self-titled debut album. The LP was filled to the top with upbeat indie rock songs. The bouncy staccato tinge that they added to their music became their key to success. Contra continues that same sound, but adds new elements to many of the songs.
If you go back a couple of years to 2006 and turn on the radio, you'll probably hear Cascada's hit single, "Everytime We Touch". That was the song that kickstarted Cascada's career in the US. Currently, Cascada is climbing the charts with "Evacuate The Dancefloor". I find that this time around, Cascada's trying to grow off of Lady GaGa's success. Everyone knows Lady GaGa's hit "Just Dance", right. Well, "Evacuate The Dancefloor" sounds so similar that it's impossible not to notice. The songs lyrics and structure imitate "Just Dance" all the way to the sound-alike bridge. This may not ruin the song, but it sure is distracting. If Lady GaGa hadn't of dropped the entire "Fame, Fortune, and Party" image, "Evacuate The Dancefloor" wouldn't be as successful. The overall production of the song may be different, but the composition is the same. Unless your a crazed Cascada fan, I would skip this song and download "Just Dance" instead.
Muse - Absolution
Adam Lambert shocked the US with his debut live television performance. He performed the title song from his album, "For Your Entertainment". Many people thought the performance was too suggestive and not suitable for television. All of this negative attention took away from the fact that he was actually promoting his lead single. The song is very catchy and has great potential to be a mainstream radio hit. The song was co-written by writer/producer Dr. Luke. He's been known for working with the industry's top pop stars. That's exactly what this song could make Adam Lambert, a pop star. The songs chorus is comparable to those of many other popular dance and pop singers. Combine this with the in-and-out pulsing beat, and you have your hit. I would check out this song if you listen to artists such as Lady GaGa, Cascada, and the many other current dance/electro-pop artists. Caution, this song is extremely different from his American Idol performances. Don't expect a heartfelt ballad in "For Your Entertainment".
Norah Jones broke into the music industry with her 2001 single "Don't Know Why". The single was an instant hit and even gave her several Grammy Awards. She became known as a talented pianist and jazz vocalist. In October of 2009, Jones released "Chasing Pirates", the lead single to her fourth album "The Fall". This single was a major milestone in her career. It marked her transition from piano based jazz, to a more indie rock direction. While the song still has that signature calm and smooth "Norah Jones" feel to it, "Chasing Pirates" sounds more adventurous. It contains a certain sense of excitement. One new element for her music is the steady use of a drum beat. While some previous tracks contained jazz brush drumming, the beat stands out on this track. This new upbeat style is refreshing and renews her voice. On "Chasing Pirates", Norah Jones proves that she can continue to create new music of unique styles.
Many people have named her the best female artist of '09. She caught everyones attention last year. Her debut album, The Fame, spawned four top ten hits in the US. When word of a sophomore album came up, you had to think to yourself, "How can she top The Fame?". That's where The Fame Monster comes in. Released in November of '09, The Fame Monster has followed the footprints of The Fame.
Here's a look at some of this month's major album releases, along with a couple thoughts of my own. Leave a comment if I missed your favorite band's album. Also, tell me which album you're waiting for.
Vampire Weekend - Contra
