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.

Modern: Leeway 9/10

Just heard this song and I instantly knew I had to share it with the world.

Can we all just take a moment to appreciate that this might be the most adorable song ever written?

I'm usually not a huge fan of this type of pop, but I can't stop listening to this song.  The only word I think I can use to completely describe it is charming.  It completely 100% overwhelms you with it's good manners and social skills.  It wants to be your friend, it wants to brighten your day, and you should absolutely let it.

Will definitely be watching out for more We Were Evergreen in the future.

Modern: Zeros 7/10

The video for Die Life was just released and brought my attention back to The Soft Moon.

Each song in this album almost sounds like it could be used for the soundtrack to a chase scene in an indie movie where a teenage girl runs away from authority figures for reasons explainable only to herself.  There's a controlled chaos in their music - it's experimental enough to make you feel paranoid and take a second look at your surroundings while listening (That guy reading the newspaper at the table over from you at Starbucks? Might want to check again.), but not enough that you have to work to keep track of what's going on in each song.  It's actually impressive how just listening to this album makes you tense up the slightest bit, and as each song ends and another begins a tiny shiver goes down your spine.  I really can't get over the impact it has on you on your first listen.

You may need to be in a certain mood or running a mile to fully appreciate it, but I love how the album packages frenzy and sells it to you by the box. (or CD.)

Listen to it here.

Modern: Where Are We Now? 9/10

THIS.

Bowie comes out with a new single celebrating his 66th birthday.

Yes. I did just say that.

Happy goddamn birthday, David Bowie, and thank you so much.

This song is the definition of classic Bowie; that same bittersweet melody, that same characteristic voice we've all grown up with and loved forever.  It is so impressive to see an artist performing with the same talent that he did years and years ago (as so many try and fail to do so today).  With "Where Are We Now?", David Bowie proves he (and his music) is timeless.
Once again, Bowie delivers. (For the first time in a decade, should I add?  We don't know what else he's been doing, but he definitely hasn't lost his touch in any way at all.)

Eagerly awaiting The Next Day, available March 8, 2013 (or the 12th in the U.S.).

Show Review: Fear of Missing Out 2013

First Friday of 2013?  Might as well go to a concert.  And why not Fear of Missing Out 2013 at The Echo/Echoplex?

I had only heard of a few of the bands in FOMO's lineup and didn't really know what to expect but I mean, $8 concert, hey, sounds good to me.

I saw at least some parts of every band's set - I liked how the set times were organized so that one could do that.  However, only two of the sets really stood out to me: James Supercave, and (of course) The ABIGAILS.

James Supercave

Not only is their music pretty original, their performance was great too.  The frontman and keyboardist kept the audience entertained - both danced throughout the entire set, and made me wish I could get into music they way they do.  Watching them actually put a smile on my face.  Not even kidding right now, it's awesome to see someone really feeling the music they're playing (unlike most of the other bands that night, where the musicians would just stand in one place and stare blankly...not mentioning any names here).   The only qualm I had was how the frontman seemed to be the only person on the stage - the drummer (also skilled and deserving some spotlight) was far back and in the dark, the keyboardist was way off to one side, and the second guitarist and bassist were on the other side crammed together and almost couldn't be seen behind equipment and speakers.  Not saying the frontman was bad or anything - he has a great vocal range AND stage presence, but I felt like each member deserved a bit more recognition.  After all, they worked well together as an entire band and each person was obviously skilled.  Still, probably the best set of the night, if not tied with

The ABIGAILS

Yes, I know I've been blogging about them a bit much recently, but they're music has really grown on me.  They were the only other band with any stage presence, and the only band with any notable audience interaction.  Frontman Warren Thomas was obviously drunk and therefore rude, loud, and getting off topic instead of playing - but somehow this just added to The ABIGAILS' weird charm.  He downed drinks on stage then threw the empty cans over the audience, and even poured beer straight into an audience member's mouth, but he never overdoes it.  It was the best (and only) interaction with the audience I saw, and everyone loved it.  They even played an encore song, and I didn't see one person who wasn't swaying at least a bit throughout their set.  I also found their drummer very impressive - The ABIGAILS' music doesn't have hard drum parts, but her style is enthralling.  It's almost surgical, every movement she makes is so precise.  She also just has a really interesting and darkly beautiful look to her, but that's beside the point.

Modern: War Grounds 8/10

What do you do when you're too jetlagged to fall asleep? Listen to music, of course! and then write about it.  So here's what I listened to in the wee hours of the morning.

For a debut album especially, this is amazing.  Halona King has such a low and well-controlled voice that works so nicely with the slow, bittersweet background.  She shows such talent in knowing when to sing softly and gently, and when to build up with the instrumental.  Each song is a different gem, each one stays with the listener long after it has stopped playing, but it never sounds like she is trying too hard.  She doesn't need to: every song strikes deep naturally without sounding worn-out or cliche.  All I can say now is: wow.  Just wow.  Halona King starts her career off strong with War Grounds and I hope to hear so much more from her soon (and I can safely say I plan on listening to this album over and over in the meanwhile).

Let her change your life here. (The download's even free!  Get it now!)

A Year in Review

Honestly, I am unimpressed.
BUT that's not to say there weren't some highlights! First time going to Coachella, Swedish House Mafia's final tour, and these albums definitely helped make it a great year, and one that won't be easily forgotten:

10. 

Gothic Tropic - Awesome Problems

9.

The ABIGAILS - Songs of Love and Despair

8.

Passion Pit - Gossamer

7. 

The Shins - Port of Morrow

6. 

Walk the Moon - Walk the Moon

5. 

Father John Misty - Fear Fun

4. 

Tame Impala - Lonerism

3. 

The XX - Coexist

2.

Minus the Bear - Infinity Overhead

1. 

Grimes - Visions

In One Year...

...and right out the other.

Happy New Year!

Sorry for the slight hiatus, been on vacation, but I promise more reviews are on their way (especially the obligatory "Best Albums of 2012")!

Got alotta new albums coming out pretty soon, like 13.0.0.0.0 (This Town Needs Guns) and Holy Fire (Foals), and a TON of old ones to listen to (spent way too much time at the record store this break...is that even possible?), plus concerts! Hopefully there'll be a concert review up within the next few days (if plans go well).

So get excited, take it easy, and stay classy.