Keeping It Fresh

 Today I have music for you by a band called She Wants Revenge. Now I won't lie, this was not a band I was familiar with until recently, but man was I impressed and jamming to this introductory song. This is a song that has a lot of grit and is a little rough around the edges. The guitar takes on a much edgier sound, which is something we are really missing from rock music today. This is a song that takes me back to the grungier times, the early 2000s style of rock. I mean when I listen to this song, it makes me feel like I am someone who strut down the hallway of some huge corporate office, and have everyone know that I am definitely someone important. This song oozes that kind of suave danger and I like that. It isn't too tame and has a prowess to it that makes the song something of a mischievous one. She Wants Revenge reminds me a little of The Black Keys. It is a two man band with the music consisting of a drummer/percussionist and a guitarist. But there is also a lot of co...

Today I have some Bollywood music for you since it has been entirely too long. This is a really moving song for a few different reasons. First, the way Papon sings this is saturated with emotion and longing. The basic lyrical translation of the song reflects a story of someone who has lost another. What is beautiful about this song is that it applies to any situation of loss. Whether it is someone who has moved away or has passed, this song is heart wrenchingly relatable. In the context of the movie, this song is for someone who's love has gone to another country. We can feel that pain and strife and the roller coaster of emotions with this song, and I love that so much. The multitude of emotions one can feel in the flash of a moment is well represented with this song. Which brings me to the second reason why I found this song so moving. A lot of times, Bollywood tends to favor slower and softer songs when it comes to emotional outpourings like this. However, every once in a while ...

Today I have some really old music for you, by a band that was extremely popular about 8 years ago. The Maine was a band that everyone would listen to, along with the other punk rock bands of that age. Bands like Forever the Sickest Kids and Blink-182 are similar to The Maine, that same kind of angsty punk and alternative pop. However, I was a huge fan of that when I was at that age in my life, and music is music for the sake of loving music. But I have to say, out of all the work The Maine has done, this song is possibly my favorite. It is not at all like the rest of their music. This song takes a much more acoustic and romantic sound. There is not that rough vocalization nor is there that singing style that these kinds of bands have. The long drawn out voice that is supposed to sound a bit nonchalant but also kind of young.With this song, I feel like we really get to hear the lead singer of the band. There aren't any fancy things he is trying to do with his voice, just simple sin...

Today I have some music for you that falls on the sad and melancholy side of things. Today's song is by one of my favorite vocalists, Andrew Belle. As a solo artist, Andrew Belle has a style that is completely his own and falls into the group of lesser known, more underground artists. It is a shame that artists like this are not more prominent because songs like this are some of the most beautiful. Andrew Belle has a simplicity in his music which makes it even more powerful and moving. He sings with so much passion and soul, but has a slightly gravelly voice which is to die for. It gives this song a more vulnerable sound to it. I got chills listening to this song because it has an ethereal background while also having something that is so grounding. The lyrics of the song are so beautiful and sad and even romantic. The chorus line, the question he asks, it is emotional and meaningful. The vocals Andrew Belle provides adds so much to the meaning of this song because he does sound so...

Today I have some music for you which comes from the world of a Capella. I haven't posted much about a Capella in general, and today I wasn't able to get enough of one of my favorite a Capella groups. Chai Town is based in Urbana-Champagne, and is a fusion a Capella group. What I love about this group is that their a Capella isn't limited to just English and Hindi. There are other Indian languages which are thrown in, and other styles of music as well from famous Disney songs to some club bangers. But somehow Chai Town seems to make these all work, and sweetly and deftly creates mashups which are irresistible. Chai Town also does an awesome job of incorporating songs that aren't necessarily recent or current. A lot of the mashups and renditions we hear, are of songs that have been out for a while and even a bit classic. For example, with today's mashup, the English song is one that is reminiscent of my childhood. This was such a classic while growing up, and is stil...

Today I have some music for you by a solo artist who goes by Big Black Delta. There are so many things to enjoy about this song, from the melody to the lyrics to the music video. This song oozes classy jazz and creativity in all aspects. I like to classify this song as something that is like indie jazz. There are so many elements of this song that make it a jazzy piece. The assortment of brass and woodwind instruments kind of gives that one away. What I think is kind of cool though is that we can hear elements of a group that he used to be a part of shine through the song a bit. Big Black Delta's Jonathan Bates was a former touring member of the band M83. Now seeing how M83 likes to make sounds that are both instrument heavy and electronic heavy, I think it is safe to compare the two artists a bit. Big Black Delta likes to expand the horizons of his instrumental usage. He looks beyond the conventional band instruments like drums and guitars, and opts for more synth, keyboard, and i...

Today I have some new music for you by an artist by the name SOHN. This song is such a great example of how to blend alternative sounds with synth work. The subtleties for how the two styles intricately work together is just amazing. SOHN does an amazing job of creating a sound that is oddly 80's but with a modern twist. SOHN takes us down a nice and groovy path with his music. There is a smooth flow to the way the soundscape is presented to us. Even the percussion and rhythms are malleable, fitting into whatever beat is needed for the moment. This gives the song a strangely good dance vibe as well. Not your typical kind of dance song, but one that will definitely keep your head bopping. What is really cool about this song, is that the heavy and knocking drum sound is what carries this song ahead. Settling on top comes our synth lines which are more simplistic. This adds quite a bit to the song though because it serves as this really nice and powerful bass line. In this case, ...