Modern: Rhythm 6/10

Actually I didn't even know Wildbirds & Peacedrums existed until today (about four hours ago to be exact).

First question: What genre is this?
My first impression was...psychedelic...mystical...witch pop.  Yes I just made that up.

The constant layering of syncopated beats.  The occasionally chant-like, occasionally whispering, but mostly soothing vocals.  This contrast gives the whole album a vibe that leans towards ritual.  It's an  experience to listen to, but at times can seem randomly or sloppily put together.  At the same time, this band sounds like the pop version of Philip Glass - I do love the distinction between layers of sound, whether rushing drum beats or vocal distortions.

One shout-out to that last song on the album: Everything All the Time.  It makes you feel like you're being haunted or chased, and once it cuts off, leaves you breathless.

Also, this duo is fronted by a woman called "Mariam the Believer".
(I can respect that)

Favorite song? The Unreal Vs. The Real

Judge the whole thing for yourself here.

Classics: Thick As A Brick 9/10

It's been a while.
I've mostly been listening to some old vinyl I bought for pretty cheap but never really knew too much about.  This isn't one of them (I'd listened to the song all the way through a few times before, and I'd definitely listened to Jethro Tull) - but I still found it on vinyl for a $4.99. Not bad, eh?

For a 43:46 minute long song, this captivates extremely well.  There is not one part of this entire song I dislike.  The entire piece keeps throbbing and pulsing for the whole album - the song itself feels alive.  I especially love how it has variations to keep you interested, but it keeps returning to one main theme - no change in the song is ever random or unnecessary.  It is still one whole song as opposed to a compilation of different ones played in a row (as some unmentioned longer songs sometimes feel).

Give it a listen, PLEASE.  It's really a beautiful piece as a whole (Although it's not possible to listen to it all the way through on vinyl.  The record has to be flipped over at some point.  I still recommend trying to hear the whole thing all the way through, if you can possibly sit still for that long).

(Is this an album or a song review?)

An Update

Just a tiny update on the life of Lyra.

I've been really busy lately (start of a new quarter and I'm taking way more classes, I'm sure the students out there feel it too), but I have a lot of big plans for the blog.

A few albums that recently came out that I've been meaning to get around to:

aaaaand something that may interest you SoCal readers here.


I've been getting a lot of emails commenting on the blog or asking me to listen to a band or artist.  I want to say: thank you!! It's great to hear from people, and I love hearing new music always.  So,  please keep emailing me and letting me know what you think!

The twitter has been working well too: thank you to all my followers and people shooting tweets to me.

In essence, I'm really glad with the way the blog has progressed, considering how recently I started it.  So I just want to say thanks to my readers.  You are all appreciated.

Modern: We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace and Magic 7/10

Foxygen experiments.

This is the sentence I have come up with to fully describe them.

I have a deep love for The Velvet Underground - and Foxygen sounds sufficiently similar, especially with No Destruction.  This entire album is a throwback to that simple kind of music with the easy guitar chords and relaxed vocals (it never sounds like the singer is trying too hard or straining his voice, he's just singing as it comes).  The occasional shift in melody, key and style that occurs in songs like Shuggie is surprising, but fitting (especially the backing chorus).  They may be heavily influenced by bands we all know and recognize, but still throw in a few twists.

This album is nostalgic, but not so much so that it is unoriginal.  Foxygen's experimental sound combined with their classic rock influences entirely satisfies my musical taste. (They're also from the valley area, where I grew up so I just have a soft spot for them. Don't hate on the 818!)

I'm just going to throw this in here: I honestly think No Destruction is a 10/10.  If you listen to only one song on the album, let it be this one.  It's been looping through my head for the last two weeks.


Listen to it here before the CD comes out tomorrow!

Modern: Tell A Friend EP 8/10

Wow.

I don't really know what I expected when I first listened to this EP, but I LIKE WHAT I HEAR.

Third Smoke only has three songs on this too short EP, but every single one satisfies.  Especially for music nowadays, I'm impressed.  Each one becomes easy to get lost in - if you're going to listen to this EP or any one song off it, set some time aside.  You can not multitask while listening because each song is so captivating.  I have a feeling they'd be an amazing band to see live, because just their recorded songs can charge up listeners; I'd love to see the audience connection/reaction at a concert.

They are able to convey a similar attitude in their music to that of The White Stripes or The Black Keys (the Grey Third Smoke? Eh? EH?  ...ignore me.), but their sound is entirely their own.  For example, Dog Rough Dancing, with the backing up chorus singing "hey man, what you gonna do?", the minor harmonies, and the building up at the end of the song where the song slowly starts growing and rushing and then drops to the last line of the song; it all comes together and hits the listener hard and directly.  I especially love closing it off with Sticks and Stones, which contrasts with the relaxed vibe of Metaphysics, and ends with an explosion of energy that leaves you in silence.

I have one qualm (and this is more of an artist review, than specifically for this EP): they should stop doing covers of other bands like Bon Iver and Foster the People, because they have a unique, great sound that they should take advantage of because not every band can say they have that.

Original, raw and powerful, I look forward to more Third Smoke in the future.

Modern: Fall Back 7/10

Not going to lie, my first listen around I kind of couldn't follow it.  But second time around, listening to it with headphones in while biking, the experience got pretty intense.

There isn't too much progression for an eight and a half minute song, but with Fall Back, there doesn't need to be.  The spoken parts overlapping the constant unchanging beat make for a pretty mentally stimulating experience; it's hard to focus on anything else while listening.  And a song this long that can do that is pretty impressive.  So thank you, Factory Floor, and I'll be looking out for your new album in May.

Modern: 13.0.0.0.0 6/10

Really excited to see This Town Needs Guns's tweet that the stream of 13.0.0.0.0 came out and so I listened to it immediately.

Much anticipated...and definitely good.  But I feel like this album was the slightest bit overrated.

Don't get me wrong, I definitely have fun listening to it.  But nothing completely sticks out to me.  Each song is yes, touching, soft, etc. etc. but that was the same for all of them.  No one song seemed to me to be too memorable.

Again, don't get me wrong.  There are high and low points of the album, and it really shows how well This Town Needs Guns works together as a band - there is never one part where I feel like each musician's skill wasn't displayed to its' full effect.  And it uses quirky riffs in a bittersweet way, like in A Different Kind of Tall (small).  I especially loved Nice Riff, Clichard, with the overlapping and the juxtaposition of fast and slow, and 13.0.0.0.1, which wraps up the album and leaves a slight taste of despair, like in the aftermath of the apocalypse (as referenced in the title).

Listen to the free stream here before the CD comes out January 22.