Before: I hear them on EQX radio sometimes- the rough voice of Eddie Vedder leading the way (right?) I like listening to him in duets with Jack Johnson (lightening the collective sound) and when he sang the wild, raw soundtrack for "Into the Wild". I hypothesize that I'll like Pearl Jam, but will enjoy a few songs over an album in one sitting.
After: It sounds like they have a job to do, and that job is to make an album that matters. That doesn't mean that I think it matters, necessarily- it's just the first thought that hit me upon their opening sounds.
I think a reason why I'm not taken to this music is because its structure is rather wobbly. There's a set beat, for sure, and a steady guitar to guide. But the singer's chords don't seem to fall into a rhythm.
Also, because his enunciation gets lost through his vibrato-laden voice, I end up hearing a lot of the same chords and sounds that sound cacophonous.
The extremely brief "Pry, To" is enjoyable mostly because of its brevity. I gravitate towards "quaint" things often because they achieve beauty in conciseness.
"Bugs" sounds like he's tripping.
"Stupidmop" is where it just gets weird. Right now in my life, I'm into that type of weird.
The acoustic/organ rendition of "Better Man" is my favorite track. Since my friend Chloe's learning the organ in college and introduced me, I have greater appreciation for it. In this song, it acts as a framework for the other sounds involved and I LOVE it. Well, "LOVE" is relative; it's my favorite on the album, but in reality I'd give it a play on the radio if it came on but would forget it soon after. If that.
They remind me a bit of Dave Matthews Band.
Gotta acknowledge that they were apparently the #1 American rock 'n roll band of the 90's. Not too shabby.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
486: Earth, Wind & Fire, "That's The Way Of The World"
Before: E,W, & F are legendary! They were the first artist I ever put on my little white iPod nano in sixth grade, eight years ago. I placed the headphones in my ears, laid down under a chair (didn't have many antisocial sitting options because it was my parents' dinner party or something), and let the crooning of the soulful fellows chilllllllll me out until I wasn't under that chair anymore. I was in FUNK LAND.
After: This is a group whose vocals smoothly slide along the scales. No sound comes near sounding off-key. Sometimes, their sound reminds me of upwardly rising corkscrews- the vibrato just evaporating once it's been let loose. They sound like they have total command of the music they're making. Or, on the complete opposite, perhaps they're letting the music take total control of them. Either way, it sounds masterfully crafted. It's quapital Q Quality music.
There's so much conviction in this music. The singers are confident in their roles, whether it be to generate supportive chords, enunciate spoken sections, or croon their hearts out. Actually, every single one of them does that.
It's so satisfying to listen to the singer in "All About Love". It's like when you're in between sleeping and being awake, drifting into and out of consciousness, hearing a conversation, catching parts of it, analyzing specific pieces that wouldn't necessarily resonate if you were awake. And you might repeat it over and over in your head- unconsciously, that is- because it sounds so nice. Or is that just something I do?
The final remark: They're REAL. The REAL DEAL. This is quality music, people!
After: This is a group whose vocals smoothly slide along the scales. No sound comes near sounding off-key. Sometimes, their sound reminds me of upwardly rising corkscrews- the vibrato just evaporating once it's been let loose. They sound like they have total command of the music they're making. Or, on the complete opposite, perhaps they're letting the music take total control of them. Either way, it sounds masterfully crafted. It's quapital Q Quality music.
There's so much conviction in this music. The singers are confident in their roles, whether it be to generate supportive chords, enunciate spoken sections, or croon their hearts out. Actually, every single one of them does that.
It's so satisfying to listen to the singer in "All About Love". It's like when you're in between sleeping and being awake, drifting into and out of consciousness, hearing a conversation, catching parts of it, analyzing specific pieces that wouldn't necessarily resonate if you were awake. And you might repeat it over and over in your head- unconsciously, that is- because it sounds so nice. Or is that just something I do?
The final remark: They're REAL. The REAL DEAL. This is quality music, people!
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