The Current Soundtrack of my Life
So as promised this next journal is going to be about music. Jengaship (Wild Stuff!) had inquired as to what tunes I've been groovin' too lately. There has been a good mix of local and non-local as of late. Honestly most of the music I listen these days are from bands that have done shows for us or will be doing shows. And honestly the genres are expansive enough to give a good mix. First and foremost let me get some truth to my music off my chest. I random my iTunes ALOT. The vast majority of the time I shuffle away, especially since my iPod was stolen last year. I miss it but don't have funds to replace it. I've resorted back to playing CD's in my car and unless I burn music from my computer this leaves me listening to older albums for the most part (as I now buy Vinyl with download codes). I'm going to just throw you a couple local acts & non-local for now. I'll also ramble off a small list of the most recent stuff I've purchased online. I feel that would be beneficial to this journal the most. So starting with a couple local bands here in Iowa. The last show we did was for a guy named Keith Lynch. He is a one man band which goes by the name of Unknown Component. He is a very hard working guy and although he is in it more for a profession than for the music itself it seems most of the time...he's really good. If he isn't playing with a laptop which has full band tracks he recorded and laid down all by himself he's keeping is simple and going acoustic only. The guy has put out 9 albums, had videos done by random folks throughout the globe...and he sounds like Bob Dylan. His a philosophy major so his songs are all over but the he produces is quite amazing, especially when you know he does it all on his own. His latest album is titled, "The Infinite Definitive". Another local band I dig is Nuclear Rodeo. These guys come out of Ames, IA. They are a great group of very down to earth nice guys. They fall into the pop/indie rock genre with a bit of witty humor included. Campbell who is the lead vocalist really writes some fun stuff which will leave you tapping your foot one minute the turning to the person next to you laughing the next. Songs about Shawn Johnson, fucked up holidays, a lucky softball or becoming a capitalist man. They can really throw down when needed, amaze you with an acoustic show the next or Campbell can break out the piano and go Ben Folds on you. Always fun to check these guys out. Unfortunately they are a busy bunch so don't do a ton of shows. Their album is called "Revenge". Going national/international now I'm going to cover two bands I've had shows a while back and are now personal favorites of mine. Sarah Satruday/Gardening, Not Architecture recently released the album "Saboteur" with the help of Kickstarter campaign for funds. She went into the studio with Steven Choi of RX Bandits fame and came out with another great series of songs. Changing up from her previous album which relied more upon electronic tracks she's leaned more towards using a real band sounds with a heavy organ use to boot. I loved the result. Her catchy beats get you hooked pretty quickly and her voice rolls out lyrics which most anyone will find the means to identify with on some level. She is currently doing her first full band tour on the east coast so keep an eye you people! Well worth it. Another Kickstarter user whom I've mentioned before and I love for many reasons is next. Living with Lions. These reasons include they are Canadian, they are great guys to party with, we have a great Vancouver/Chicago NHL rivalry against one another and the seriously are one of the best punk rock bands around these days. Their latest album, "Holy Shit" drew tons of media attention as the Canadian Government made the threat to force them to remove art from their album or repay the loaned funds they received from the government (as Canadian bands all get loans to record). Living with Lions decided to give the money back. A Kickstart campaign was launched to then pay off the debt that would come from this. The band made their goal of $7,400 in less than 24 hours. They ended up with $9,606, the extra funds they donated to an art museum. Other than supporting freedom of speech/expression they just rock. The sound and energy they bring reminds me of bands such as Sick of it All, Madball or H2O. Though they aren't afraid to say they have some pop-punk in their style as well. Last 10 Downloaded/Purchased Albums but in no Particular Order Black Keys - El Camino Allen Stone - S/T Rise Against - Endgame Transistors - Shortwave Land of Blood & Sunshine - Into the Mystery AM Taxi - We Don't Stand a Chance Bon Iver - S/T Architects - The Hard Way Gardening, Not Architecture - Saboteur Unknown Component - The Infinite Definitive |
|
|
