Just alright, fairly unremarkable. That is how I would describe this CD. White Light Riot is a local Minneapolis band that somehow got onto Ross's radar. I'm not quite sure why. Their music is ok but nothing spectacular. They are an alternative band with a similar sound to the Alarmists, another local band, but I like the Alarmists better, don't ask me why. I just felt like this was nothing I hadn't heard before. I didn't hate the music but it wasn't very memorable either. My favorite song was the first song called "Charlatan." It's a pretty catchy tune as you can hear below.
I am not sure why Ross bought this CD. I know he bought it at the same time that he bought the Alarmists CD. They both had pretty big buzz a couple of years ago and were playing out and about a lot. We saw the Alarmists live but I know I never saw White Light Riot. Maybe he saw them live and liked what he saw or maybe he heard something on the radio that intrigued him. This one was just a curious CD for me. I couldn't see him really liking this that much. I am not keeping this one. I know I haven't really talked it up much but I am sure there are people who would like this one. I just don't need it for my collection.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
The Essentials by The Meters
So now I have moved on from Celtic punk to American funk. The Meters are an old school funk band based in New Orleans. This is a greatest hits CD, as you may gather from the title, "The Essentials". Many of their songs are instrumentals with the standouts in the songs being the keyboard and the funky guitar and bass. The music is groovy and the beats are righteous.
My favorite songs from this CD are "Cissy Strut" and "Hand Clapping Song". The first one is all instrumental and was pretty familiar to me even though I had never heard of The Meters. It is a groove that is very recognizable and you can easily get down to. The latter song, "Hand Clapping Song," has vocals but not a lot. The song consists mostly of the band singing "clap your hands now, people clap your hands" over and over again as well as lots of hand clapping. It's a pretty simplistic song but it gets the job done. You can't help but sing along and clap your hands.
Who knows why Ross bought this CD but I know why he liked it. It is right up his alley: the funky grooves, the riffs that go off for awhile and don't really have an ending, and the fact that you could just listen to this all day long and never get tired of it. I'm sure he was almost tempted sometimes to put on a polyester leisure suit and boogie when he listened to it. I can't give this CD away. It is just another one of those classics I feel I need to add to my collection. Like I have said before, I feel like I am receiving my musical education posthumously. Slowly, I am beginning to recognize when a CD is something that must be treasured because the music on it was important to the era from whence it came. It is music that has meaning and has lasted the test of time.
My favorite songs from this CD are "Cissy Strut" and "Hand Clapping Song". The first one is all instrumental and was pretty familiar to me even though I had never heard of The Meters. It is a groove that is very recognizable and you can easily get down to. The latter song, "Hand Clapping Song," has vocals but not a lot. The song consists mostly of the band singing "clap your hands now, people clap your hands" over and over again as well as lots of hand clapping. It's a pretty simplistic song but it gets the job done. You can't help but sing along and clap your hands.
Who knows why Ross bought this CD but I know why he liked it. It is right up his alley: the funky grooves, the riffs that go off for awhile and don't really have an ending, and the fact that you could just listen to this all day long and never get tired of it. I'm sure he was almost tempted sometimes to put on a polyester leisure suit and boogie when he listened to it. I can't give this CD away. It is just another one of those classics I feel I need to add to my collection. Like I have said before, I feel like I am receiving my musical education posthumously. Slowly, I am beginning to recognize when a CD is something that must be treasured because the music on it was important to the era from whence it came. It is music that has meaning and has lasted the test of time.
Monday, August 3, 2009
The Meanest of Times by Dropkick Murphys.
When I first put this CD in my ears said, "Ouch, why are they shouting?" Then I realized they weren't mad about anything, it was just the Dropkick Murphys' way. I had heard their song "Shipping Off to Boston" because it is in the movie "The Departed." It's a great song and a great movie. I highly recommend both. But I digress. After listening to John Coltrane's jazz CD, this jolted me in another way.
The Dropkick Murphys are described as an Irish-American Celtic punk band. This is a surprisingly accurate description of them. Their songs have a definite Irish sound to them with the bagpipes sometimes but mostly it is just the melody to the songs that make it sound Irish. This ain't no wimpy Irish band though. They scream (or pretty close to it) their lyrics and the guitars and drums are pretty strong and thrashing. This is not a CD for the meek or weak of heart.
Even though they are a punk band I was really struck by the words to their songs and the topics are serious ones about death and loss. My favorite songs are "Echoes on "A" Street" and "Surrender." "Echoes on "A" Street" is about how thankful they are for their families being showing them support even though they are gone for long periods of time touring. I love the words:
"And she'll wait by your side,
you're the one thing that matters in her life,
as she waits patiently by the window,
she knows you'll be coming home soon."
I love the beat in "Surrender." It's starts out fast and seems like it gets faster the longer the song goes on, finally reaching a crescendo at the end. It's a great mosh pit song. The words in this song really hit home for me though too:
"I was at my weakest state
and you kept me pushing on
you gave me something to believe in
and it keeps me standing strong
these lessons that I've learned
these things I'll carry on
and when you're gone I'll honor you
each day, however long."
Wow, that's pretty profound for a punk rock band. I have a feeling they have seen lots of loss in their lives and it hasn't been good. They also have songs about a woman who was on drugs and had her family taken away from her and a family who lost all their sons from different horrible things: alcohol, war, suicide, and guns. These guys don't take the easy road but it seems as though they are writing what they know about.
Ross loved the song "Shipping Off to Boston" so I am pretty sure he bought this CD after he bought that song. It's a good CD, not really my taste, but then I am beginning to wonder how I would define my tastes anymore. When I first listened to this CD I wanted to shut it off, but as I listened to the words and heard that Irish melody in the background, I got drawn in. I have ended up liking this CD but it isn't something I need to keep, so if anyone wants a kick ass CD, this is it. I am giving it away.
I think the more I listen to all of Ross's CDs the more I appreciate all kinds of music. Isn't that the goal here?
The Dropkick Murphys are described as an Irish-American Celtic punk band. This is a surprisingly accurate description of them. Their songs have a definite Irish sound to them with the bagpipes sometimes but mostly it is just the melody to the songs that make it sound Irish. This ain't no wimpy Irish band though. They scream (or pretty close to it) their lyrics and the guitars and drums are pretty strong and thrashing. This is not a CD for the meek or weak of heart.
Even though they are a punk band I was really struck by the words to their songs and the topics are serious ones about death and loss. My favorite songs are "Echoes on "A" Street" and "Surrender." "Echoes on "A" Street" is about how thankful they are for their families being showing them support even though they are gone for long periods of time touring. I love the words:
"And she'll wait by your side,
you're the one thing that matters in her life,
as she waits patiently by the window,
she knows you'll be coming home soon."
I love the beat in "Surrender." It's starts out fast and seems like it gets faster the longer the song goes on, finally reaching a crescendo at the end. It's a great mosh pit song. The words in this song really hit home for me though too:
"I was at my weakest state
and you kept me pushing on
you gave me something to believe in
and it keeps me standing strong
these lessons that I've learned
these things I'll carry on
and when you're gone I'll honor you
each day, however long."
Wow, that's pretty profound for a punk rock band. I have a feeling they have seen lots of loss in their lives and it hasn't been good. They also have songs about a woman who was on drugs and had her family taken away from her and a family who lost all their sons from different horrible things: alcohol, war, suicide, and guns. These guys don't take the easy road but it seems as though they are writing what they know about.
Ross loved the song "Shipping Off to Boston" so I am pretty sure he bought this CD after he bought that song. It's a good CD, not really my taste, but then I am beginning to wonder how I would define my tastes anymore. When I first listened to this CD I wanted to shut it off, but as I listened to the words and heard that Irish melody in the background, I got drawn in. I have ended up liking this CD but it isn't something I need to keep, so if anyone wants a kick ass CD, this is it. I am giving it away.
I think the more I listen to all of Ross's CDs the more I appreciate all kinds of music. Isn't that the goal here?
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