Tag: Music

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Music

On High School Music: Year 2

While I was still pretty heavy into Ska it was also when I started to run with a new group of friends. These dudes (and lady dudes) made up most of the people who were into lesser known music at CPHS. This more than anything started to transform my tastes from pop/punk/ska to more experimental, avant-garde, and indie. Music started to take a center stage in my life due in large part to these friends. I have to give a special shout out to Zack and Beth because those two, more than anybody exposed me to so much new music in high school. I still miss when we used to get together to trade music. This was also the year I watched FLCL and fell in love with the pillows. I still love those dudes. I am so glad I was actually able to see them live in the states. Anyway, here is the list of the top 5 albums of my sophomore year in no particular order.

The Postal Service – Give Up

The Flaming Lips – Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots

the pillows – Happy Bivouac

The Dismemberment Plan – Emergency and I

Weezer – Pinkerton

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Music

On Music I Like (Part 2 of Many)

11426-elephant-shell

Artist: Tokyo Police Club

Album: Elephant Shell

Release Date: 4/22/2008

I had to get this out there. I have been listening to it on repeat for the last three or four days. It is by no means a new album nor a groundbreaking one. It is, however, intoxicatingly catchy. Back in the day (2007-2008) when I worked at the Purdue Student Radio (Not the other nice radio stations at Purdue like Cary, this one was in the basement of the union with a soundboard that’s heyday was before I was in existence) we used to receive tons of pre-release and promo albums so they bands could try to get some airplay. Purdue Student Radio might not have been the place to send it as our station had such a limited range and the stream was broken for a while. I mean no disrespect to PSR as it was tons of fun, it was just in bad shape when I was there. Anyway, this post isn’t about PSR it’s about Elephant Shell. So, this album showed up in a stack one day and the band’s name intrigued me, so I gave it a play. On the first listen I was hooked. It has some of the best hooks and the songs have a quirky charm to them. Even now I find myself singing along to Centennial and The Harrowing Adventure Of… (Ouuurrrrrr Cen…Tenniallllll). The lead’s voice (Dave Monks)  is unique and suits the indie pop jams of Tokyo Police Club. As I said, it’s not Earth-shattering, but I just really have fallen in love with this album. Go check it out and tell me what you think.

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Music Personal

On Some of My Favorite Music (Part 1 of Many)

control

Artist: Pedro the Lion

Album: Control

Release Date: 4/16/2002

 

I was first turned on to this album in High School by a friend of mine during one of our music swap hangouts (Those were always so much fun, discovering tons of new music and always knowing whatever you were getting was going to be amazing). This album is brutal, and I mean that in the best possible way. Control is honest and blunt in a way most music can’t touch. Not new topics to Pedro the Lion or David Bazan (lead singer/songwriter), Control deals with infidelity, romance, and greed and does so with a sound that is entirely too fitting. When I say this album is honest, I don’t just mean honest in content, but honest in performance. Everything is saturated with pain and regret. Not to get too far removed from reality, but this is an immersive album. I am taken in every time I listen; it never fails to elicit an emotional response.  I can’t recommend this album enough. It is heartbreakingly honest and amazing even years after my first listen.