Holy 90s flashback, Kokua Festival, I bought a lot of music again

I'm going to try a new thing on this blog. I have a last.fm and it usually scrobbles what I listen to on a daily basis. I think some plays have been missed, but whatev. At the beginning, I've put up a screenshot of the 'Most Played Artists' of that week.

This week, it's been a bit of a nostalgic week. That explains the Stone Temple Pilots, The Offspring, Weezer, Oasis, Weird Al and Green Day. I really started getting into music, my own music, when I hit high school. 1995-1996, Freshman year. MTV was playing more of the alternative stuff then(broad term, I know), and that's what I started to latch onto. Oasis, as I've said before, was my big love. And I watched a lot of MTV and VH-1 trying to catch "Wonderwall" or "Champagne Supernova," and by the way I would catch songs like Smashing Pumpkins' "Bullet with Butterfly Wings," STP's "Big Bang Baby," and "Burden in my Hand" by Soundgarden. The Weird Al listening was limited pretty much to 'Alternative Polka' and 'Amish Paradise.'

It was a good time for me, and I miss it a lot for the music.

But looking at the rest of my top played, there was a definite Beatles resurgence, spurned on by my constant 'Traveling Wilburys' listening. There's a lot of 'While my Guitar Gently Weeps' listening there. Sigur Ros, is always lovely. I've been playing them as I drifted off to sleep. I've finally received my DVD of Heima, so I'll be watching that soon.

Yeasayer are just an incredible indie band. Quality each time. The Raveonettes are a band I always have love for. I've been behind, so I didn't realize they released a new album. When I get the chance I will definitely get that.

eMusic, how I love that website. I've just got Elliott Smith's "Either/Or" and Stars' "Set Yourself on Fire" and Mason Jennings's self-titled debut. Mason is coming to the Kokua Festival this year (and I'm going, woot!), so I'm doing a bit of musical research. Kokua is featuring Mason, Paula Fuga, Go Jimmy Go, DAVE MATTHEWS and Tim Reynolds, and of course, Jack Johnson.

I also bought 'Live at Radio City' by Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds. Ooh, I get to see 'Gravedigger' live. Sweeeeet.

Oh, and iTunes, I spent waaay too much in there this week! I can't justify using Limewire, so I bought a lot of singles off there during the 90s nostalgic phase. I also bought 'Poses' by Rufus Wainwright. Really, really lovely.

I think I have like 18 more downloads on eMusic for the month, but I think I will save that for Mason Jennings. We'll see.

Anyway. That's it for now. I've got a lot of music to report in on within the week, so laters. :)

Spring Cleaning in the iTunes + Bought stuff

I installed Mac OS 10.5 Leopard this past week. I had to back up all my music prior. I took a few screenshots. Almost 5915 songs worth:



And here's the Top 25:





And here's my iTunes completely stripped bare:




Whoa, nekkid iTunes!

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After uploading Leopard (and I might redo...I went for update OS X, instead of archive and install...that seemed a better option. I'd have done Erase and Install, but I didn't want to lose all my 3rd party apps)....I've started putting the music back, slowly.

1. Interpol
2. Oasis
3. Stellastarr

That was the initial order, I believe. I put some Radiohead in there, as well as Band of Horses, a band that I strongly recommend. I think I only have a gig and a half of stuff in there. I think this way I'll LISTEN to the music I have that I don't really listen to.

I'm also going to try to listen to the music "organically" not minding what gets played more than the other. In the past, "C'mere" by Interpol has been my most played. It might not be anymore, but I'm not going to purposely put it before others. Although, ironically, it was experiencing a bit of a resurgence. Right now Radiohead's Exit Music (for a film) is the top played, followed by The Strokes' "Reptilia," which is a HELL of a tune.

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Have had a bit of a guilty pleasure moment. Good Charlotte. I went to iTunes and downloaded "Young and the Hopeless," and the songs "Little Things" and "Motivation Proclamation." I know I'm of the musical philosophy of "If I like it, I like it, so screw your opinion.." but sometimes I get slightly embarrassed, haha. Fall Out Boy, Good Charlotte...yeah.

I bought other albums too:

1. Hvarf-Heim - Sigur Ros (I'm listening to it right now, and it's incredible)
2. some stuff by the Shout Out Louds
3. a song by Yeasayer
4. Free download by MGMT
5. Rabbit Fur Coat - Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins (I actually own this, but I'm legally buying it, haha. It's that good.)

On a whim, went on to Towers.com and ordered:

1. Heima - Sigur Ros (DVD)
2. Lord, Don't Slow Me Down - Oasis (DVD)
3. Loveless - My Bloody Valentine (CD)

Anyway, yeah. I suppose on a bit of a Sigur Ros kick. Check out Hoppipolla:



Here's a cover by We Are Scientists (a band I've been meaning to get into)

I do hope they play Hawaii again. I hear they've been here. Come again, pleaaaase!

Interpol - Our Love To Admire

Pretty happy at the moment. Just got my copy of Interpol's new album "Our Love To Admire" off of iTunes (I gave into the preorder because they offered a Ticketmaster password to get the first jump on Interpol tickets).

I'm about to to listen to it. It is now 2:30am (I just got off of work). I'll try to review each track as it comes along. Also, the iTunes store offers an extra track called, "Mind over Time." I hear good things about it.

Alright. The headphones are on. Let's get started, shall we?

o1. Pioneer to the Falls

I've heard this on that Kitchener bootleg.. Amazing opener. It's hypnotic. I feel as if I'm in a bit of a trance. The broader sound that was promised is really brought to full force here. When Paul Banks sings, "..and here comes the fall." The song carries you to another level. I'm getting images like when I listened to The Cure's "Pornography." Not depressing, but the music is so vibrant that it paints pictures.

o2. No I In Threesome

Paul's voice shows a more emotion, I notice. Not just monotone-ish shouting. His voice really rises and falls with the music, quite spectacular. "Maybe it's time we give something new a try."

o3. The Scale

Dang, I love that Daniel Kessler and his guitar riffs. And whoa...Paul did a high note? (I must sound the idiot) He's vocally more melodic.

o4. The Heinrich Maneuver

I've listened to this one a lot, but we'll give it time. :D Although, after seeing the music video for this one, I keep playing that image in my mind. I love the little guitar bit around (1:06). Paul sings "And today, my heart swings," and there's this little guitar bit that's deep and goes "vroom." Love it. I have to admit, when I heard the Kitchener tracks, it wasn't my favorite. Mammoth was. I love Heinrich a lot more now.

o5. Mammoth

Holy crap, I'm so excited for this one, it's been the one that I've looked forward to the most. It just...takes off. Like, just grabs you by the collar and takes you for the ride. Really rocking on this one! Paul's beginning vocals are lower than the bootleg version at the beginning...but it's still freaking massive. Bells and all, it's amazing. If I ever get to an Interpol show, this is the one I'll be anticipating the most.

o6. Pace Is The Trick

Ooh, halfway.

I'm trying to make sense of the words. I usually listen to music and how it makes me feel. This track seems pretty emotional and raw. Not at all distant. I really like this one, will grow on me, definitely.

o7. All Fired Up

I heard off a few Interpol interviews that Carlos' bass playing is less in the forefront and that Sam's drums are much louder. No kidding. It's like guitar, loud drums, keyboards. I hardly detect bass. This is a definitely Interpol, but new direction. Quality.

o8. Rest My Chemistry

Heard this, since it had leaked. A definite favorite. Starts with that little kind of piano box opening. Similar to the interval In the Rilo Kiley track "Spectacular Views." Same whimiscal mood. Then 20-or so seconds in, the bands kick in, and it's lovely, delicious groove into a Pixies-ish guitar lick. Lyrics relate the aftermath of too much partying...but I'm too busy moving with the groove to listen intently....

o9. Who Do You Think

I usually try to guess what the song might sound like by the beginning riff. I thought it a bit Jeff Buckley...then the song starts, sounds like U2 for a second when Paul starts singing, then it pauses, like it's switching gears and goes forward. A little pause here and there. Clever. This is growing on me for sure.

1o. Wrecking Ball

Sounds like it's heading toward the mood presented at the beginning. Really sounds sort of sad and full of regret, in a way. To me it does. The strings, bass drums, horns at the 3:30 mark make me think of some rain, and some Victorian image of a man walking away from a woman. Lyrics may suggest otherwise. I could be way off. :D


11. The Lighthouse

Last (album) track. What, already? Man.

Beginning sounds like a Spanish guitar strum bit. Like the sun is rising, or something like that. Paul's voice floats over as the guitar crests and falls. It's surreal. This is different...holy. (2:09) It's slowly building. I was going to say that the guitar riff is different for Interpol. Or, of what I expect anyway. A bit dreamlike, especially with the keyboards adding some orchestral background feel to it. Drums and everything else enters around (4:25), bringing closure to this track and to the album.

Amazing.

****

Mind Over Time (Bonus Track)

Okay. The extra track. I'm assuming it's going to be an instrumental...

(1:15) Oh nevermind, my bad. Haha. They're using some sound bytes...I thought some of it was in French. After those bytes, the band jumps in full force....before Paul brings back down...


*****

FINAL THOUGHTS

I don't think I ever have to worry about a lack of quality when it comes to Interpol. I'm never really disappointed. OLTA is closer to TOTBL in terms of mood in some places, but Antics shows itself as well. OLTA shows the evolution of Interpol's sound, into something bigger and broader. OLTA is it's own little animal (pardon the pun, considering the album art).

I have to give the album time to see how it grows on me, but it's got a good start. I recommend it. It's solid through and through and entirely cohesive from beginning to end. Maybe I'm biased, but it's the best I've heard this year. Arcade Fire probably second.

When you, dear reader, do get this album. Headphones are recommended. You want to get lost in this. :)