Regardless of the listener’s level of music knowledge, it is always fun to hear a new beat or a song that has not been heard in a while during a short music break during studying. Whatever the reason for listening to music, this week’s music spotlight features several artists of varying rates of obscurity, all of which can be found on YouTube or other popular sites.
The music of Sam Beam, better known as the motivating force behind Iron & Wine, is known for its soft beauty and constant reinvention. Over the last decade Iron & Wine has moved from acoustic lo-fi recordings to full band pop songs. As with any musical progression, the hope is that while fidelity may increase, the heart behind the songs might remain the same.
I have observed an interesting phenomenon. It seems that people occasionally define their musical tastes in terms of what genres they avoid. On more than one occasion I’ve heard the words “anything except rap, pop, country… etc.” spoken as though the speaker were proselytizing.
Utilizing a catchy synthesizer, two keyboardists, a bass guitar, drums, and vocals by Michael Angelakos; Passion Pit has released one full studio album and one EP. Ranging from very light and swift to very mellow and slow paced, Passion Pit brings electronica to a more popular and broad style that allows for many people who are into different genres of music to enjoy variety ranging from rock to rap, even to choir music. The band’s newest album, labeled Manners, uses all previously stated genres to create a symphony of unique sounds. Manners came out in 2009 and has been widely successful for the group from Cambridge, Massachusetts. This album consists of eleven original tracks along with three extended songs which in total last about forty-five minutes. The album garnered positive response from a variety of reviewers and The Rolling Stone Magazine. Clash Magazine even gave the album a 9/10.
Some have called it a phenomenon; others claim they’re nothing more than a buzz band. In any case, the dramatic rise to the national scene by Denver-based Tennis is worth a second glance. Their story is classic (if not overly romantic): a young couple with no money took to the sea on a ship named Cape Dory. Over the course of their adventures they were married and inspired to share their stories in the form of a few songs.
This week’s music review goes across the pond to Sign No More by the British group Mumford & Sons. A well-delivered collection of original songs that has steadily gained international popularity,Sign No More has established itself as one of the top albums available within the United States. It presents a folksy, upbeat style of music, utilizing purely acoustic instruments, yet avoids the typical “feel good” folk band. The combination of many of the songs’ subtle minor chord progressions and the deep, thought-provoking lyrics generate a much more complex and enticing sound; undoubtedly one of the prominent reasons for the album’s success. The audience is left with the impression that the members of Mumford & Sons are not merely trying to entertain the world, but to deal with heavy, real life problems, which in turn catapults the substance of Sigh No More to a higher level within the listener’s mind.
Music styles vary all across the Colorado School of Mines campus. Many students listen to the basic types such as hip-hop, country, metal, rap, oldies, and rock. However, DJ song mixing and techno is beginning to take over many iPods and CD players around campus. Bassnectar is an entertaining and exciting DJ and songwriter that has recently become very popular.
A few albums do not age well. Boston, by Boston, on the other hand, has gotten nothing but better in the 34 years since it debuted. Unlike other bands such as Journey, who recently received a huge boost in sales due to popular media using their songs, Boston appears to have remained somewhere in the lead, despite having only been in a few games and shows. So why does this album stand out? For one, each song on the album carries itself and can stand alone.
There are a lot of music-collective groups bouncing around Colorado these days (so many, in fact, it’s hard to keep track of them all). In my opinion, creating a culture that fosters cooperation and collaboration truly speaks volumes about the local music community. Case-in-point: Act So Big Forest Compilation Vol. 1: TRITON. A broad range of acts from all-over the Front Range constitute the 20 bands featured on the compilation curated by Jonathan Alonzo (who is a member of at least 5 groups on the ASBF label).
Bombs have hit the shelves! Hurry up and save your ears by picking up an Incubus album. Lead by vocalist Brandon Boyd, Incubus has had multi-platinum success. DJ Kilmore, who runs the turn table, gives Incubus their unique, alternative, funky rock style, while drummer Jose Pasillas, lead guitarist Mike Einziger, and bassist Alex Katunich all add important elements to that unique sound. The band has been together since 1991 and launched six studio albums. A great feature to Incubus’ style is that each album is different from the other and Incubus transforms their style periodically. Incubus’s newest album is a greatest hits album called Monuments and Melodies.