So something not about sickness and death

[crankyoldman]

How about some commentary on some of the newer albums I've gotten recently? Good music makes me happy and since I can focus on writing text again (hey, sleeping all day clearly helped somewhat!). I'd work on my poem, but eh, not coming to me. Need happy boost.

So on with the show.


Tori Amos, American Doll Posse

I know, this has been out for a while, but I just got it not too long ago. XD

I'm always a tad shy when an artist describes a concept album as "political". I don't know what it is about that, but that usually is a deal breaker with me and music. It tends towards the hokey and obvious. Sure, a lot of my favorite artists have political songs within their discography, and that's fine. But this is Tori Amos, and generally, she can pull some random shit. So I gave it a try.

Oh god, it was good.

Even the little device where it's basically different aspects of herself singing, basically. It worked! The whole "the political is personal" thing came out very well, without being preachy... it was like, "there is something that unsettles me about what I see, here, let me show it to you". Even the "warrior woman" songs were abrasive, but personally so, in a way that made you empathize more than be annoyed. The instrumentation was a real surprise too, as I was used to Tori's kind of spare girl-and-piano style, and I have to say, I like what she's moving towards.

Examples:
Body and Soul
Dark Side of the Sun


Jake Shimabukuro, Gently Weeps

UKULELE! I've had one song of his for a while, but I finally got the entire album. He's got FAST FINGERS omg. I love instruments being used in atypical ways. Like hard rock violin and the like. This is just a fun album full of awesome ukelele.

Example:
Grandma's Groove


Blonde Redhead, Misery is a Butterfly

So I got curious about this group because of the movie Hard Candy, and their song "Elephant Woman" is in the credit music. The album isn't really actually entirely depressing as it may seem, it's kind of... quirkily morbid in places, and full of strange dream images. Apparently it was written dealing with the fact that one of the singers (the female one) almost got trampled by a horse.

Well, crazy shit like that makes for interesting music. It alternates between a girl and a guy singer, and they both have odd voices that actually work, in my opinion. Especially the girl's, it's such a frail and haunting voice.

Example:
Melody


She & Him, Volume One

I mentioned this little duet before, but I'd only had one song and listened to a couple others. It's very... old school. Kind of Nancy Sinatra and Rosemary Clooney feeling. Which is kind of awesome. I love Zooey Deschanel's voice, and M. Ward provided accompaniments that really suited her style. I only wish all the songs weren't about love, but this is a first effort. It's like how a lot of poets start out. And she does make it sound lovely.

Example:
I Was Made For You


Sneaker Pimps, Bloodsport

I know, I should have had this album years ago. I was a little stuck on Sneaker Pimps with chick, but I think this is actually my favorite overall. I've had a few of the songs from this, but the way it OPENS to the song "The Fuel" which makes me want to write REALLY CRAZYFUCK FICTION... I love love love it. There's nothing more I can really say.

Example:
Small Town Witch


Venetian Snares, Detrimentalist!

So much fun. From this crazy Canadian that has a full beard and knows his breaks. Lord does he know his breaks. I love it when unusual time signatures are used, since I'm kind of into jazz and all. But that's where the comparison stops. This is mostly really geeky sounding stuff you play when you're imaging fight scenes while walking to class. Really.

Example:
Circle Pit (SUPER NINJA)

Comments

[first-seventhe.livejournal.com]

Nothing will ever live up to Sneaker Pimps With Chick, but I am glad to find someone else who liked Bloodsport.

[venefica-aura.livejournal.com]

I don't know, I almost like Bloodsport better. I'm weird like that. XD I'm also one of the few people that doesn't particularly like the song "Spin Spin Sugar"... the buildup took too long for me.

~Cendri

[(Anonymous)]

I don't like that one, either. There are two songs on that album that I skip, and that's one (I have to look at the names to tell you the other one; I know them all by heart to the point where I could transcribe them musically, but I can't remember names! Way to fail, memory).

I should listen to Bloodsport again, actually. I haven't heard that album in a while.

[first-seventhe.livejournal.com]

OBVIOUSLY THAT WAS ME

[venefica-aura.livejournal.com]

THE RANDOM LJ LOGOUT THING HIT YOU, DIDN'T IT?

I hate that. XD

And yeah, I define good albums by how little I want to skip.

~Cendri

[ambienteye.livejournal.com]

Venetian Snares, awesome. I like that.

I should probably check out some Blonde Redhead finally.

[venefica-aura.livejournal.com]

Blonde Redhead's really an unusual group, but the really off-kilter vocals work. It's kind of surprising, since I have a problem with certain types of voices (why I can't listen to Maroon 5 or Fallout Boy, actually, something about their vocals grates me).

~Cendri

[firefly99.livejournal.com]

Damn. I'm the same way.

My father had me download an album by The Feeling thinking I'd like it. I thought it was instrumentally fine but couldn't stand the singer's voice, because he had that - tone - but with a British accent which only served to underline how grating it was.

[venefica-aura.livejournal.com]

And it's funny, because certain voices SHOULD be grating, but I don't find them so. Like the main singer of Placebo. I think maybe it's a combination and how they use it or something.

[katmillia.livejournal.com]

You have awesome musical tastes and find stuff I would never have stumbled upon, so I'm super glad you posted some samples here. I totally dig everything you put up like whoa. :)

[venefica-aura.livejournal.com]

I'm a part of enough music comms now, and if something looks interesting, I always go for it. Sometimes it turns out AWFUL, but sometimes it's pretty badass. XD

Plus, my sister has good taste, and we exchange a lot.

[drakonlily.livejournal.com]

Omg yay more soundtrack fodder. This makes me horribly happy!! I agree with the above mention of Bloodsport, the whole name is even amazing

[venefica-aura.livejournal.com]

I'm posting a part II up today. Old favorites. Like what I listened to in junior high.

~Cendri