I've not been posting on here as much as I should do, for a lot of very different reasons (Netflix being only the reason why I didn't do anything yesterday - I just found out that we had it, and decided to watch the entire first series of Life On Mars in one go). That is not to say, however, that I haven't been listening to music. If I hadn't been listening to music, I would be dead.
I thought, so as to get back into the habit of posting, I would show you the songs that have been occupying my time recently. There's no particular theme running through them, but they're all songs that I think - if you're a regular reader of this blog (hahaha) you should check out - as with all music I post on here.
Fall Out Boy - Tiffany Blews
I am just all over the lyrics to this song, before you even get onto the sound, that's so very Folie A Deux (very under-appreciated album). Interesting fact: it's got Lil Wayne in it.
Duck Sauce - aNYway
I don't know, man, it's just awesome and really catchy.
Miike Snow - Paddling Out
I heard this song somewhere a while ago and thought it was great but forgot about it. Then I've been hearing it again because of the Budweiser ads, and looked it up.
Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams - Get Lucky
Because cool.
Friday 31 May 2013
Nobody Takes Vegas - No Respect (new EP)
You may or may not remember the band Nobody Takes Vegas, whom I wrote about a few months ago. It transpires that they've remembered me at least a little bit, because they've sent me their new (awesome) EP, No Respect, a little bit early so I can write about it.
It's not a record for lying down and meditating, that's for sure. In fact, you should probably do a little bit of a warm-up before listening, because you're going to be jumping all over the place, and once it starts it never stops for a second, fast and furious (but not too much so . . .). The melodic acoustic beginning of Floater - which is an ironic name, because it's probably my favourite song on the record - may lull you into a false sense of security, but not long passes until they return to the noise and drama that runs all the way through, right up until their end track - also titled No Respect;
It's not a massive change from their first album (self-titled), although it sounds like a more polished version, like they have more band EXP. The vocals really stand out to me in these songs, and it sounds less angsty too, although obviously that's not a decider of quality music. This stuff still packs a punch, but in a slightly different way to their earlier material. It's not something I can put my finger on, which gave me a bit of trouble with writing this, because I wanted to be able to better explain exactly what this EP sounds like. Really, though, you're just going to have to listen to it to find out.
It's not a record for lying down and meditating, that's for sure. In fact, you should probably do a little bit of a warm-up before listening, because you're going to be jumping all over the place, and once it starts it never stops for a second, fast and furious (but not too much so . . .). The melodic acoustic beginning of Floater - which is an ironic name, because it's probably my favourite song on the record - may lull you into a false sense of security, but not long passes until they return to the noise and drama that runs all the way through, right up until their end track - also titled No Respect;
It's not a massive change from their first album (self-titled), although it sounds like a more polished version, like they have more band EXP. The vocals really stand out to me in these songs, and it sounds less angsty too, although obviously that's not a decider of quality music. This stuff still packs a punch, but in a slightly different way to their earlier material. It's not something I can put my finger on, which gave me a bit of trouble with writing this, because I wanted to be able to better explain exactly what this EP sounds like. Really, though, you're just going to have to listen to it to find out.
Thursday 30 May 2013
Sunday 26 May 2013
Saturday 25 May 2013
Nobody Takes Vegas - No Respect
new video by Nobody Takes Vegas for their song No Respect. Awesome song, and I like the video too - the fact that, for once, it's actually treated like a weird thing that a band has broken into your house and is rocking out in the living room.
Wednesday 22 May 2013
The Deranged Hermit Student Exercise Playlist
Picture this. The sun is shining brightly outside, and the sky is clear for once. Kids run past, screaming wildly and kicking footballs. It's probably pretty warm out, even in the slight breeze.
But you wouldn't know. You're not outside. You're sat inside, on the sofa, where you've been since you got up at mid-day for nearly six hours straight. You haven't washed. You've given up on the usual Western traditional eating times and are eating meals that would look weird, even to the average pothead. Your pupils are dilated from sitting in half-darkness, staring at a screen and writing notes, or more likely drafting blog posts to keep you from actually getting anything done. You're refusing to pay attention to anything, lest you give in to the voice in your head that says you're definitely going to fail your exam tomorrow because you don't have enough examples of Judicial Reviews in action, and, to be honest, you don't even know what that is in the first place.
You need a break. A break from the procrastinating, a break from the sitting and stewing. You need to get something else done so that you use up enough energy to sleep tonight instead of sitting reading until 5 am. Hopefully this will help a bit.
Fall Out Boy - Rat A Tat (feat. Courtney Love)
My Chemical Romance - House of Wolves
Lostprophets - A Town Called Hypocrisy
Green Day - Basket Case
Pierce The Veil - Caraphernelia (feat. Jeremy McKinnon)
A Day To Remember - I'm Made Of Wax, Larry, What Are You Made Of?
Bring Me The Horizon - Chelsea Smile
Slipknot - Before I Forget
Heaven's Basement - I Am Electric
Muse - Supremacy
All Time Low - Weightless
The Blackout - The Fire
Sleeping With Sirens - Low
Florence + The Machine - You Got The Love
The Strokes - Reptilia
But you wouldn't know. You're not outside. You're sat inside, on the sofa, where you've been since you got up at mid-day for nearly six hours straight. You haven't washed. You've given up on the usual Western traditional eating times and are eating meals that would look weird, even to the average pothead. Your pupils are dilated from sitting in half-darkness, staring at a screen and writing notes, or more likely drafting blog posts to keep you from actually getting anything done. You're refusing to pay attention to anything, lest you give in to the voice in your head that says you're definitely going to fail your exam tomorrow because you don't have enough examples of Judicial Reviews in action, and, to be honest, you don't even know what that is in the first place.
You need a break. A break from the procrastinating, a break from the sitting and stewing. You need to get something else done so that you use up enough energy to sleep tonight instead of sitting reading until 5 am. Hopefully this will help a bit.
Fall Out Boy - Rat A Tat (feat. Courtney Love)
My Chemical Romance - House of Wolves
Lostprophets - A Town Called Hypocrisy
Green Day - Basket Case
Pierce The Veil - Caraphernelia (feat. Jeremy McKinnon)
A Day To Remember - I'm Made Of Wax, Larry, What Are You Made Of?
Bring Me The Horizon - Chelsea Smile
Slipknot - Before I Forget
Heaven's Basement - I Am Electric
Muse - Supremacy
All Time Low - Weightless
The Blackout - The Fire
Sleeping With Sirens - Low
Florence + The Machine - You Got The Love
The Strokes - Reptilia
Tuesday 21 May 2013
Sleeping With Sirens feat. MGK - Alone
I'm not quite sure what I think about this one yet. What's your opinion?
Look, A Band: Trogdolyte
With their creepy masks reminiscent of Slipknot, but somewhat darker, and prehistoric name, Missouri-based 'neandercore' (no, I've never heard of it before either) band Trogdolyte have a very intimidating appearance. The 'bigfoot-inspired' five-piece was founded in 2005, and cite Obituary and the famous anthropology professor Grover Krantz amongst their influences.
Death metal's not something I'm anywhere near an expert on, much less subgenres based around famous cryptids, but these guys sound alright. Fast and angry and aggressive, with short bursts of guitar and growling vocals, it's what I expected to hear, but it's still pretty good, and quite therapeutic for after a stressful day of work/revision/hunting down Big Foot, especially their song Mummified Yeti Hand - although the very sudden The Only Good Hippie . . . Is A Dead Hippie is a five second masterpiece, on their first album, Welcome To Boggy Creek. On their second, Don't Go In The Woods, which is available on their bandcamp, the Big Foot theme continues with songs like Murderous Bi-Pedal Hominid Rampage (Where Are My Legs?) which I am going to nominate for Best Song Title Ever at the imaginary music awards in my head, and Sasquatch Ocean.
It's a shame that death metal is something so new to me, because I don't have much to compare these guys to, unlike with other genres, but as a stand-alone band, what they do sounds pretty cool, and interesting enough that at some point I will check out some more similar music.
Facebook / Twitter / Website
Death metal's not something I'm anywhere near an expert on, much less subgenres based around famous cryptids, but these guys sound alright. Fast and angry and aggressive, with short bursts of guitar and growling vocals, it's what I expected to hear, but it's still pretty good, and quite therapeutic for after a stressful day of work/revision/hunting down Big Foot, especially their song Mummified Yeti Hand - although the very sudden The Only Good Hippie . . . Is A Dead Hippie is a five second masterpiece, on their first album, Welcome To Boggy Creek. On their second, Don't Go In The Woods, which is available on their bandcamp, the Big Foot theme continues with songs like Murderous Bi-Pedal Hominid Rampage (Where Are My Legs?) which I am going to nominate for Best Song Title Ever at the imaginary music awards in my head, and Sasquatch Ocean.
The Trap Is Set from the Don't Go In The Woods album
It's a shame that death metal is something so new to me, because I don't have much to compare these guys to, unlike with other genres, but as a stand-alone band, what they do sounds pretty cool, and interesting enough that at some point I will check out some more similar music.
Facebook / Twitter / Website
Monday 20 May 2013
Friday 17 May 2013
Ghost
Part of the reason that music is so great is that it's like this bizarre magic that can take thoughts and feelings from the abstract and turn them into physical things. I've heard music that's made me happy, made me sad, made me so angry I could wrestle a bear . . . but one thing I never expected to feel was fear. I mean, there's some creepy bands out there, but they don't scare me. Not so, Ghost. Clad in their black robes and make-up and playing their dark, religious songs, they scare the shit out of me. I mean they awaken a very deep, primeval part of me that wants me to run away and hide. As it is, their music reduces me to cackling madly and twitching a lot. It makes me feel like I'm being watched by things I can't see. This is something I've never experienced before, and I congratulate Ghost on their shattering of my ideas about what it was possible to do with music.
Hailing from Linköping in Sweden, the band - who are known as Ghost B.C. in the US for copyright reasons, but consider the 'B.C.' silent and want it removed - found their roots originally in 2006, when one of the Nameless Ghouls (what the very private band members refer to themselves as to avoid disclosing their identities - incidentally, an alternate name for the band is A Group Of Nameless Ghouls) wrote "probably the most heavy metal riff that has ever existed", which then became the riff in the song Stand By Him. The band formed, but because of having to write their music and organise their very clear image, it was two years before the announcement of their existence became official, and another two before the release of their debut Opus Eponymous.
The image is a very big part of what makes them so creepy. With five of the six band members as faceless hulking black-cloaked figures, more akin to the demons from Raven (or just think Dementors if you're not familiar with early 2000s' CBBC programming) than Catholic monks, each representing one of the natural elements and bearing the alchemic symbol, the focus is on Papa Emeritus II.
Papa Emeritus II is the 'star' of the band, the one the attention is supposed to be focused on, and with his cardinal's robes and skull facepaint - previously just a mask for Papa Emeritus - there's nothing else you can focus on. He draws the eye. Nobody's sure who he is behind the paint, and nobody's sure if Papa Emeritus and Papa Emeritus II (I don't feel right abbreviating the name) are different people or the same person as different incarnations of this character.
Then there's the music itself. Taking even more from the religious ideas that add to their image, with the Latin and the soaring choirs over the guitars and drums. I originally expected Papa Emeritus II's voice to be deep and gravelly and for him to growl a lot, as is somewhat stereotypical of the metal genre, but it's not. It's quite melodic, which makes the songs even weirder. Secular Haze - which is supposed to capture the feeling of drowning in a stormy sea - sounds like an evil circus on drugs, although that's apparently unintentional. The lyrics are crazy;
(as an aside: I just had a eureka moment - the 'surge of humanity' is 'oblivious to the divine bringingeth light' because they're in a Secular Haze). There's the Latin stuff as well, like the song title "Per Aspera Ad Inferi", which is "through hardship to Hell". Then, a little more obviously defining the whole Ghost ideology, are the lyrics from Year Zero, sung by a terrifying choir.
Their newest album, Infestissumam ("the most hostile", referring to, obviously, the Antichrist), was released earlier this year, although it suffered slight difficulties getting their album artwork done in the U.S. - although, really, what else can you expect when you confront such a conservative country with a band who tried to get their singer elected as Pope and who casually reference the Antichrist.
Hailing from Linköping in Sweden, the band - who are known as Ghost B.C. in the US for copyright reasons, but consider the 'B.C.' silent and want it removed - found their roots originally in 2006, when one of the Nameless Ghouls (what the very private band members refer to themselves as to avoid disclosing their identities - incidentally, an alternate name for the band is A Group Of Nameless Ghouls) wrote "probably the most heavy metal riff that has ever existed", which then became the riff in the song Stand By Him. The band formed, but because of having to write their music and organise their very clear image, it was two years before the announcement of their existence became official, and another two before the release of their debut Opus Eponymous.
The image is a very big part of what makes them so creepy. With five of the six band members as faceless hulking black-cloaked figures, more akin to the demons from Raven (or just think Dementors if you're not familiar with early 2000s' CBBC programming) than Catholic monks, each representing one of the natural elements and bearing the alchemic symbol, the focus is on Papa Emeritus II.
Papa Emeritus II is the 'star' of the band, the one the attention is supposed to be focused on, and with his cardinal's robes and skull facepaint - previously just a mask for Papa Emeritus - there's nothing else you can focus on. He draws the eye. Nobody's sure who he is behind the paint, and nobody's sure if Papa Emeritus and Papa Emeritus II (I don't feel right abbreviating the name) are different people or the same person as different incarnations of this character.
Then there's the music itself. Taking even more from the religious ideas that add to their image, with the Latin and the soaring choirs over the guitars and drums. I originally expected Papa Emeritus II's voice to be deep and gravelly and for him to growl a lot, as is somewhat stereotypical of the metal genre, but it's not. It's quite melodic, which makes the songs even weirder. Secular Haze - which is supposed to capture the feeling of drowning in a stormy sea - sounds like an evil circus on drugs, although that's apparently unintentional. The lyrics are crazy;
"The surge of humanity oblivious
To the divine bringingeth light
Let there be night"
"Belial, Behemoth, Beelzebub, Asmodeus, Satanas, Lucifer . . .
Hail Satan, Archangelo
Hail Satan, Welcome year zero
Hail Satan, Archangelo Hail Satan, Welcome year zero"
Hail Satan, Welcome year zero
Hail Satan, Archangelo Hail Satan, Welcome year zero"
For those of you not up on your Old Testament: the six names at the start are, respectively, a demon, a massive chaos monster, one of the seven princes of Hell, the demon of lust, erm . . . Satan, and early-days Satan. I'm not sure how much clearer things could possibly be at this point.
Anyway, I digress - but only because I find the thought that's gone into what Ghost does absolutely fascinating.
Their newest album, Infestissumam ("the most hostile", referring to, obviously, the Antichrist), was released earlier this year, although it suffered slight difficulties getting their album artwork done in the U.S. - although, really, what else can you expect when you confront such a conservative country with a band who tried to get their singer elected as Pope and who casually reference the Antichrist.
Really, though, they're terrifying, but brilliant. It brings to mind Ollivander from the Harry Potter books; "He did great things. Terrible, yes . . . but great." I can't stop trying to find people who I think I can get to listen to them. I really am not sure if they're just a group of very mysterious Swedish people or actually some kind of demon vanguard sent to organise some uprising amongst the human masses and open a pit to Hell. I can't even tell if the reason why I'm obsessing so much over them is purely because they're actually amazing, or because they've got someone singing "Kisum råv pök" in the background or something.
Listen to themmmmmmmm.
Thursday 16 May 2013
Wednesday 15 May 2013
5 Songs: H (MCR special
why a My Chemical Romance special? Because, considering that nobody ever gives me any bloody feedback or anything, even to say 'i dont like any of these lol', this blog is apparently purely for my own benefit so you can shut up and listen to the music.
My Chemical Romance - Hang 'Em High
My Chemical Romance - Honey, This Mirror Isn't Big Enough For The Two Of Us
My Chemical Romance - Heaven Help Us
My Chemical Romance - Headfirst For Halos
My Chemical Romance - Helena (So Long And Goodnight)
My Chemical Romance - Hang 'Em High
My Chemical Romance - Honey, This Mirror Isn't Big Enough For The Two Of Us
My Chemical Romance - Heaven Help Us
My Chemical Romance - Headfirst For Halos
My Chemical Romance - Helena (So Long And Goodnight)
Monday 13 May 2013
Sunday 12 May 2013
Saturday 11 May 2013
Friday 10 May 2013
5 Songs: D
this is all for my own amusement, none of you are that bothered really, are you? Or you'd actually comment
-_-
Justice - D.A.N.C.E.
Gram Rabbit - Dirty Horse
Fall Out Boy - Death Valley
Of Mice & Men - The Depths
My Chemical Romance - Desert Song
-_-
Justice - D.A.N.C.E.
Gram Rabbit - Dirty Horse
Fall Out Boy - Death Valley
Of Mice & Men - The Depths
My Chemical Romance - Desert Song
Thursday 9 May 2013
Wednesday 8 May 2013
5 Songs: B
Originally this thing was going to be ten songs but I could only find seven for A so I shortened it.
The Cribs - Back To The Bolthole
I just like this one because it's a really good song to make up your own words to and just kind of stamp angrily and flail your arms. Some would call that modern dance.
Panic! At The Disco - The Ballad Of Mona Lisa
So . . . so . . . scenekid . . . but I love them anyway. Panic! At The Disco's most recent album (not that recent really) Vices And Virtues didn't really set a foot wrong.
Leathermouth - Bodysnatchers 4 Ever
Obligatory Leathermouth because if you're not listening to them yet then you need to, and if you have and don't like them then GTFO. I don't like your kind here.
Bulls In The Bronx
In honour of their brand new video, and the fact that this is an awesome song with, actually, a very deep meaning that I won't go into here.
Butterfly With Bullet Wings
This song started my short-lived Smashing Pumpkins phase when I was 13, which kept up until I realised how annoying I find Billy Corgan's voice and the fact that 75% of my liking of them was really just drooling over the album artwork for Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness.
The Cribs - Back To The Bolthole
I just like this one because it's a really good song to make up your own words to and just kind of stamp angrily and flail your arms. Some would call that modern dance.
Panic! At The Disco - The Ballad Of Mona Lisa
So . . . so . . . scenekid . . . but I love them anyway. Panic! At The Disco's most recent album (not that recent really) Vices And Virtues didn't really set a foot wrong.
Leathermouth - Bodysnatchers 4 Ever
Obligatory Leathermouth because if you're not listening to them yet then you need to, and if you have and don't like them then GTFO. I don't like your kind here.
Bulls In The Bronx
In honour of their brand new video, and the fact that this is an awesome song with, actually, a very deep meaning that I won't go into here.
Butterfly With Bullet Wings
This song started my short-lived Smashing Pumpkins phase when I was 13, which kept up until I realised how annoying I find Billy Corgan's voice and the fact that 75% of my liking of them was really just drooling over the album artwork for Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness.
Tuesday 7 May 2013
5 Songs: A
I've decided, as a quick thing to fill time until I have enough spare time to write proper things for the blog again, I'm going to do this. Five songs for each letter of the alphabet. Today, obviously, is A.
Sleeping With Sirens - A Trophy Father's Trophy Son
It's, as is usual for SWS, one of those songs that you really want to sing along to, but can only do it justice if you can keep up with all the different parts of the chorus and Kellin's impressive vocal range.
The Killers - All These Things That I've Done
As with the rest of Hot Fuss, it's a beautiful song.
Fall Out Boy - America's Suitehearts
It's so over-the-top, but still manages to be quite clever about celebrity culture and somehow involves Patrick wearing a yellow top hat.
Deaf Havana - Anemophobia
I thought anemophobia would be something to do with blood (because in my head everything is to do with blood) because it sounds like anaemia, but I looked it up and apparently it's actually a phobia of wind. Technically, the song is actually a bit about wind.
My Chemical Romance - Ambulance
Off Conventional Weapons. It took me a while to let this one grow on me, because it sounds so different to their other stuff, and is terrifying when it randomly appears on shuffle, but I really like it now.
Sleeping With Sirens - A Trophy Father's Trophy Son
It's, as is usual for SWS, one of those songs that you really want to sing along to, but can only do it justice if you can keep up with all the different parts of the chorus and Kellin's impressive vocal range.
The Killers - All These Things That I've Done
As with the rest of Hot Fuss, it's a beautiful song.
Fall Out Boy - America's Suitehearts
It's so over-the-top, but still manages to be quite clever about celebrity culture and somehow involves Patrick wearing a yellow top hat.
Deaf Havana - Anemophobia
I thought anemophobia would be something to do with blood (because in my head everything is to do with blood) because it sounds like anaemia, but I looked it up and apparently it's actually a phobia of wind. Technically, the song is actually a bit about wind.
My Chemical Romance - Ambulance
Off Conventional Weapons. It took me a while to let this one grow on me, because it sounds so different to their other stuff, and is terrifying when it randomly appears on shuffle, but I really like it now.
Pierce The Veil - Bulls In The Bronx
It's them! Pierce The Veil, with their brand new (released today) video for Bulls In The Bronx, off their Collide With The Sky album. Muy bueno.
Friday 3 May 2013
Let's Shuffle
I needed to think of a post, and because I'm currently not exactly drowning in free time, I thought I'd do the age-old facebook/tumblr/insert other social network here pastime of putting my iPod on shuffle and giving you the first 25 songs that come up.
Feeder - Seven Days In The Sun
Deaf Havana - Little White Lies
System Of A Down - Deer Dance
Hole - Celebrity Skin
You Me At Six - Loverboy
The Killers - My List
Green Day - Pulling Teeth
The Cure - Last Dance
Rammstein - Sonne
Muse - Resistance
My Chemical Romance - The Only Hope For Me Is You
Fall Out Boy - Golden
Mark Ronson feat. Amy Winehouse - Valerie (Zutons cover)
The Cribs - Butterflies
My Chemical Romance - I Don't Love You
Pierce The Veil - I'm Low On Gas And You Need A Jacket
Arctic Monkeys - If You Were There, Beware
Pierce The Veil - Bulls In The Bronx
Funeral For A Friend - Bullet Theory
Flight Of The Conchords - You Don't Have To Be A Prostitute
Gorillaz - On Melancholy Hill
My Chemical Romance - Dead!
My Chemical Romance - Disenchanted
The Killers - Bones
Leathermouth - My Lovenote Has Gone Flat
Feeder - Seven Days In The Sun
Deaf Havana - Little White Lies
System Of A Down - Deer Dance
Hole - Celebrity Skin
You Me At Six - Loverboy
The Killers - My List
Green Day - Pulling Teeth
The Cure - Last Dance
Rammstein - Sonne
Muse - Resistance
My Chemical Romance - The Only Hope For Me Is You
Fall Out Boy - Golden
Mark Ronson feat. Amy Winehouse - Valerie (Zutons cover)
The Cribs - Butterflies
My Chemical Romance - I Don't Love You
Pierce The Veil - I'm Low On Gas And You Need A Jacket
Arctic Monkeys - If You Were There, Beware
Pierce The Veil - Bulls In The Bronx
Funeral For A Friend - Bullet Theory
Flight Of The Conchords - You Don't Have To Be A Prostitute
Gorillaz - On Melancholy Hill
My Chemical Romance - Dead!
My Chemical Romance - Disenchanted
The Killers - Bones
Leathermouth - My Lovenote Has Gone Flat
Wednesday 1 May 2013
Bring Me The Horizon Review
I wrote it and it is on the music website Louderthanwar.com, who got me into the concert. You can read the review here.
Fall Out Boy feat. Courtney Love - Rat A Tat
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