ONE OK ROCK & 5 Seconds of Summer and Junkie XL
Hey everyone! I know it's been a while since I last posted. Lots of things going on, some moving around, trying to get some time to write. And I am starting up again with some music for you from Japan. ONE OK ROCK is a rock band (go figure) out of Tokyo, and was recently on tour. Now I only recently started listening to their music, and it took me back to my rock roots. I will say ,ONE OK ROCK tends to take a little bit more of a punk sound with this song, but it really works for them.
One of the things I really have to appreciate about ONE OK ROCK, is that each album sounds different. The band is not afraid of trying out new sounds and vibes each time they put out an album, and I respect that both as a listener and as a musician. You can also really tell who has influenced the band. Some albums are almost like an homage to ONE OK ROCK's favorite and most inspiring bands, but they are still able to make each album sound like their own. Now the album which this song comes from is their latest album. Some criticize it for being too Westernized while others are absolutely enamored with it. I would have to say I fall into the latter category. I really enjoyed this, from the first time around. So many little elements that make rock so irresistible to me are found in this song, which is why I was so excited when I heard this for the first time.
The track also features 5 Seconds of Summer, and while I usually think of them as a pop-rock band, I got to hear a different side of them in this song. ONE OK ROCK and 5 Seconds of Summer together have a very dynamic and energetic sound, one that is able to capture some of the best moments of grungey punk rock. Having the two bands come together lets us hear influences from two spheres of music, while also allowing for greater sound and movement because there are twice as many people performing. The lead singer of ONE OK ROCK, Taka Moriuchi, and the lead singer of 5 Seconds of Summer, Luke Hemmings, have incredible vocal charisma. On their own, each vocalist has immense talent, and together, they are able to bring us something that is fueled with power and energy and feeling.
The song starts out with Taka Moriuchi singing the first verse in Japanese. This is a nice change of pace and is oddly very soothing and calming. There is a slight vulnerability we hear with the Japanese verse, as it is flanked by drums and guitar work. Taka Moriuchi then starts to crescendo and we get this explosive chorus, filled with group vocals, loud guitars, and heavy drum work. What is nice though, is that everything is balanced nicely so it feels like a grunge-filled punk song. Luke Hemmings comes in for the second verse, and his voice takes on the style of some of the most popular punk singers. There is a special and specific vocal quality which is attributed to that musical style, something Luke Hemmings provides. There is grit and softness at the same time. We get additional vocal performances from other members of the band, with a couple of screams thrown in there, one of them performed by Taka Moriuchi. Those are just a couple of things that make up some of my favorite parts about rock. Not only do we get incredible vocal rock across bands, but we get to hear some solid and gritty lines with just a hint of a scream.
The song's use of guitars and drums is also fantastic. Nothing too complicated from the guitar end of things, but it is well-crafted. During the verses, we get to hear more bass guitar work, and during the chorus, we get this wall of guitar sound which fills the soundscape nicely. The drums play an important part throughout the song. They provide a tempo check but also molds the dynamic rhythm we hear in the song. The rhythmic patterns found in the first half of the song are different from the second half. That may come from having two bands come together, but it works really really well for this song. I have to say, I am thoroughly impressed, and I would love to hear more collaboration between the two bands. There is incredible charisma in their music and lots of power.
Today's instrumental song is by a lesser-known composer known as Junkie XL. He has done a lot of work with other composers and is responsible for some of the most epic tracks we have heard in movies like Mad Max to Wonderwoman to 300. That should kind of give you an idea as to what his forte is. He is all about modern and chaotically epic scores. Electric guitars and drums galore, this is a guy who knows how to make the best rock soundtracks for a film. This one, in particular, has some mad drum work and a huge rock influence. I hope you enjoy the music and please feel free to comment!
One of the things I really have to appreciate about ONE OK ROCK, is that each album sounds different. The band is not afraid of trying out new sounds and vibes each time they put out an album, and I respect that both as a listener and as a musician. You can also really tell who has influenced the band. Some albums are almost like an homage to ONE OK ROCK's favorite and most inspiring bands, but they are still able to make each album sound like their own. Now the album which this song comes from is their latest album. Some criticize it for being too Westernized while others are absolutely enamored with it. I would have to say I fall into the latter category. I really enjoyed this, from the first time around. So many little elements that make rock so irresistible to me are found in this song, which is why I was so excited when I heard this for the first time.
The track also features 5 Seconds of Summer, and while I usually think of them as a pop-rock band, I got to hear a different side of them in this song. ONE OK ROCK and 5 Seconds of Summer together have a very dynamic and energetic sound, one that is able to capture some of the best moments of grungey punk rock. Having the two bands come together lets us hear influences from two spheres of music, while also allowing for greater sound and movement because there are twice as many people performing. The lead singer of ONE OK ROCK, Taka Moriuchi, and the lead singer of 5 Seconds of Summer, Luke Hemmings, have incredible vocal charisma. On their own, each vocalist has immense talent, and together, they are able to bring us something that is fueled with power and energy and feeling.
The song starts out with Taka Moriuchi singing the first verse in Japanese. This is a nice change of pace and is oddly very soothing and calming. There is a slight vulnerability we hear with the Japanese verse, as it is flanked by drums and guitar work. Taka Moriuchi then starts to crescendo and we get this explosive chorus, filled with group vocals, loud guitars, and heavy drum work. What is nice though, is that everything is balanced nicely so it feels like a grunge-filled punk song. Luke Hemmings comes in for the second verse, and his voice takes on the style of some of the most popular punk singers. There is a special and specific vocal quality which is attributed to that musical style, something Luke Hemmings provides. There is grit and softness at the same time. We get additional vocal performances from other members of the band, with a couple of screams thrown in there, one of them performed by Taka Moriuchi. Those are just a couple of things that make up some of my favorite parts about rock. Not only do we get incredible vocal rock across bands, but we get to hear some solid and gritty lines with just a hint of a scream.
The song's use of guitars and drums is also fantastic. Nothing too complicated from the guitar end of things, but it is well-crafted. During the verses, we get to hear more bass guitar work, and during the chorus, we get this wall of guitar sound which fills the soundscape nicely. The drums play an important part throughout the song. They provide a tempo check but also molds the dynamic rhythm we hear in the song. The rhythmic patterns found in the first half of the song are different from the second half. That may come from having two bands come together, but it works really really well for this song. I have to say, I am thoroughly impressed, and I would love to hear more collaboration between the two bands. There is incredible charisma in their music and lots of power.
Today's instrumental song is by a lesser-known composer known as Junkie XL. He has done a lot of work with other composers and is responsible for some of the most epic tracks we have heard in movies like Mad Max to Wonderwoman to 300. That should kind of give you an idea as to what his forte is. He is all about modern and chaotically epic scores. Electric guitars and drums galore, this is a guy who knows how to make the best rock soundtracks for a film. This one, in particular, has some mad drum work and a huge rock influence. I hope you enjoy the music and please feel free to comment!
Comments
Post a Comment