Contrary to what this title might lead you to believe, I am still living in Cleveland. However, I have moved sites! New blog posts (and a fancy new photo gallery) can be found here. I haven't bought the domain name just yet, but hopefully by the end of the year I will.
As always, thanks for reading and supporting me! Enjoy the new site.
Sunday, April 30, 2017
Thursday, April 20, 2017
Album Review: Pure Comedy, Father John Misty
On April 7th, Father John Misty's third studio album Pure Comedy was released. What truly makes this album is not the melodies themselves, but rather the lyrics. This album holds messages pertinent to today's society, especially when it comes to being human.
Pure Comedy may sound soft and ballad-y, but underneath tunes that seem gentle lie bombs of truth. Josh Tillman critiques today's society throughout each song, from political standpoints to the technology takeover. The album begins with the title track that sets the tone for the entire album: human existence is comedy. Suffering makes us feel alive; we take pleasure in things that harm us, but ultimately, we only have each other in the world.
What artists doesn't comment on what they know? Tillman does not leave out American politics and viewpoints when he wrote this album. "Two Widely Different Perspectives" comments on the differences of conservatives and liberals, labels that are becoming more and more relevant with each passing election. The increase in technology and probability of it one day becoming the only source of happiness as it takes us out of our own mundane lives is brought up in "Total Entertainment Forever". "The Memo" focuses on various issues in America, such as technology, social media and narcissism, and even how commercial boy bands have become.
Of course, this album is not just a statement on humanity as a whole. "Smoochie" is a sweet tune that explains how Tillman's wife helps him cope with his depression.
Compared to I Love You, Honeybear and Fear Fun, the album is much longer. I was not too keen on how long "Leaving LA" and "So I'm Growing Old on Magic Mountain" were. The chorus in "Magic Mountain"ended up feeling too repetitive, and "Leaving LA" used the same melody for nearly every verse; this made it feel as if I had those songs on repeat. Other than those, the song lengths were fine.
Rate: 7.5/10
Favorite tunes: "Things It Would Have Been Helpful to Know Before the Revolution", "In Twenty Years or So"
Pure Comedy may sound soft and ballad-y, but underneath tunes that seem gentle lie bombs of truth. Josh Tillman critiques today's society throughout each song, from political standpoints to the technology takeover. The album begins with the title track that sets the tone for the entire album: human existence is comedy. Suffering makes us feel alive; we take pleasure in things that harm us, but ultimately, we only have each other in the world.
What artists doesn't comment on what they know? Tillman does not leave out American politics and viewpoints when he wrote this album. "Two Widely Different Perspectives" comments on the differences of conservatives and liberals, labels that are becoming more and more relevant with each passing election. The increase in technology and probability of it one day becoming the only source of happiness as it takes us out of our own mundane lives is brought up in "Total Entertainment Forever". "The Memo" focuses on various issues in America, such as technology, social media and narcissism, and even how commercial boy bands have become.
Of course, this album is not just a statement on humanity as a whole. "Smoochie" is a sweet tune that explains how Tillman's wife helps him cope with his depression.
Compared to I Love You, Honeybear and Fear Fun, the album is much longer. I was not too keen on how long "Leaving LA" and "So I'm Growing Old on Magic Mountain" were. The chorus in "Magic Mountain"ended up feeling too repetitive, and "Leaving LA" used the same melody for nearly every verse; this made it feel as if I had those songs on repeat. Other than those, the song lengths were fine.
Rate: 7.5/10
Favorite tunes: "Things It Would Have Been Helpful to Know Before the Revolution", "In Twenty Years or So"
Monday, March 27, 2017
Album Review: Hot Thoughts, Spoon
Spoon's ninth studio album, Hot Thoughts, was released March 17th. I was initially excited to listen--their eighth album, They Want My Soul, is in my top 3 favorite albums by Spoon. Maybe it set the bar too high for Hot Thoughts, but as a whole this album doesn't cut it for me.
The title track, "Hot Thoughts", is a catchy and chill tune that blends seamlessly into the second track, "WhisperI'lllistentohearit". There's a definite tonal shift into "Pink Up", the nearly six-minute long song (that feels a bit too repetitive overall). However, the group switches back into an indie-pop feel with "Can I Sit Next to You". The last song, "Us", ends the album on the same tone as "Pink Up", and even mimics the same beat.
In a way, Hot Thoughts reminds me of The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour, with instrumentals mixed in among catchy-yet-trippy piano accented songs. I hear this specifically while listening to "Tear it Down", "Us", and "Pink Up".
Hot Thoughts isn't bad, per say. Simply put, it feels lackluster compared to the past albums Spoon has released. The songs sound too similar, and after a while I started getting bored listening to it. This one ain't the one for me.
Rating: 6/10
Favorite tunes: "Shotgun", "Do I Have to Talk You Into It"
The title track, "Hot Thoughts", is a catchy and chill tune that blends seamlessly into the second track, "WhisperI'lllistentohearit". There's a definite tonal shift into "Pink Up", the nearly six-minute long song (that feels a bit too repetitive overall). However, the group switches back into an indie-pop feel with "Can I Sit Next to You". The last song, "Us", ends the album on the same tone as "Pink Up", and even mimics the same beat.
In a way, Hot Thoughts reminds me of The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour, with instrumentals mixed in among catchy-yet-trippy piano accented songs. I hear this specifically while listening to "Tear it Down", "Us", and "Pink Up".
Hot Thoughts isn't bad, per say. Simply put, it feels lackluster compared to the past albums Spoon has released. The songs sound too similar, and after a while I started getting bored listening to it. This one ain't the one for me.
Rating: 6/10
Favorite tunes: "Shotgun", "Do I Have to Talk You Into It"
Monday, March 13, 2017
Album Review: Ripe Dreams, Pipe Dreams; Cameron Avery
My first experience seeing Cameron Avery live was hearing him play bass with the rest of Tame Impala back in June of 2015. Imagine my surprise to find this same man opening for The Last Shadow Puppets, presenting a completely different sound than the psychedelic band I'd seen the summer before. I wanted an album then and there, but it was well worth the wait.
Inspired by voices like Dean Martin and Etta James, Avery has given his songs that same vintage, crooner-esque feel. This album uses melodic notes and beautiful lyrics to tell stories of love, heartbreak, and lust. "A Time and Place" has a soft start to the album, while "C'est Toi" brings a sense of pure, whole love at the end. However, not every song sounds as romantic and smooth as these. "Dance With Me" has a vampy feel; it's a song you'd expect to hear being played in a dimly lit jazz club. "Whoever Said Gambling's For Suckers" sounds like it could be narrating a Tarantino film filled with blood, sex, and adventure.
The variety keeps listeners interested in the voices Avery has written. This album will make you feel like you're in a black and white film every time you put it on--why not give it a listen?
Rating: 7.5/10
Favorite tunes: "A Time and Place", "An Ever Jarring Moment"
Inspired by voices like Dean Martin and Etta James, Avery has given his songs that same vintage, crooner-esque feel. This album uses melodic notes and beautiful lyrics to tell stories of love, heartbreak, and lust. "A Time and Place" has a soft start to the album, while "C'est Toi" brings a sense of pure, whole love at the end. However, not every song sounds as romantic and smooth as these. "Dance With Me" has a vampy feel; it's a song you'd expect to hear being played in a dimly lit jazz club. "Whoever Said Gambling's For Suckers" sounds like it could be narrating a Tarantino film filled with blood, sex, and adventure.
The variety keeps listeners interested in the voices Avery has written. This album will make you feel like you're in a black and white film every time you put it on--why not give it a listen?
Rating: 7.5/10
Favorite tunes: "A Time and Place", "An Ever Jarring Moment"
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Album Review: How To Be A Human Being, Glass Animals
Forget pineapples, this album is in my head and has been since it was released August 26th of last year. The idea for Glass Animals' sophomore album, How to be a Human Being, began with stories frontman Dave Bayley had heard as the band toured around the world.
In an article on creativereview.co.uk, Bayley tells of how he would record tales people would tell him. "I sat back and listened to all of these stories and started thinking about the way that people tell stories and what that means about them as people; what they might have embellished, what they might have left out and what that says about their life." And thus, How to be a Human Being was born.
Mothers, stoners, young boys being seduced by older women--Glass Animals have given everyone a voice. The songs themselves reflect whoever is telling the story. "Season 2 Episode 3" sounds like a video game, with quirky sound effects accenting the other instruments, whereas "The Other Side of Paradise" conveys the heartbreak and bitterness of a girl who was left by her star basketball player boyfriend.
Though 11 stories are being told, they come together to create this unique album that shows just what it means to be a human being.
Rating: 8/10
Favorite tunes: "Season 2 Episode 3", "Take a Slice"
In an article on creativereview.co.uk, Bayley tells of how he would record tales people would tell him. "I sat back and listened to all of these stories and started thinking about the way that people tell stories and what that means about them as people; what they might have embellished, what they might have left out and what that says about their life." And thus, How to be a Human Being was born.
Mothers, stoners, young boys being seduced by older women--Glass Animals have given everyone a voice. The songs themselves reflect whoever is telling the story. "Season 2 Episode 3" sounds like a video game, with quirky sound effects accenting the other instruments, whereas "The Other Side of Paradise" conveys the heartbreak and bitterness of a girl who was left by her star basketball player boyfriend.
Though 11 stories are being told, they come together to create this unique album that shows just what it means to be a human being.
Rating: 8/10
Favorite tunes: "Season 2 Episode 3", "Take a Slice"
Monday, January 9, 2017
Album Review: Young Chasers, Circa Waves
Circa Waves' debut album, Young Chasers, is a great album to put on this time of year to beat the winter blues. Each of the 14 tracks could become part of your next summer soundtrack, with beachy vibes that make you think of the sun and waves.
The album starts off fast paced. The second track, "T-Shirt Weather", is sure to become the anthem of your summer after just one listen. Things begin to mellow out a bit with "My Love" and "Deserve This", but pick right back up with the title track "Young Chasers".
"Lost It" and "Good for Me" specifically remind me of Wavves and early Best Coast, so if you're a fan, give this album a spin.
The album has a good flow overall, up until the end. "Talking Out Loud" would be a better closer simply for the fact that it has an air of finality about it. Because of this, "100 Strangers" feels more like a bonus track and disrupts the flow of the album. As a whole, the album shows a promising start for Circa Waves. Let's wait and see what the future holds for them.
Rating: 6/10
Favorite tunes: "Stuck in my Teeth", "Fossils"
The album starts off fast paced. The second track, "T-Shirt Weather", is sure to become the anthem of your summer after just one listen. Things begin to mellow out a bit with "My Love" and "Deserve This", but pick right back up with the title track "Young Chasers".
"Lost It" and "Good for Me" specifically remind me of Wavves and early Best Coast, so if you're a fan, give this album a spin.
The album has a good flow overall, up until the end. "Talking Out Loud" would be a better closer simply for the fact that it has an air of finality about it. Because of this, "100 Strangers" feels more like a bonus track and disrupts the flow of the album. As a whole, the album shows a promising start for Circa Waves. Let's wait and see what the future holds for them.
Rating: 6/10
Favorite tunes: "Stuck in my Teeth", "Fossils"
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