Rock Around The World: Part One (Mexico, France, Japan, Australia)

I'm back! Sorry about the lack of posts these last few weeks, but I've been really busy organising a band night at my college! I would post more details, but I don't want to inadvertently give away the name of my Sixth Form... let's just say that the concert took a LOT of planning; it went ahead the other day and it was fantastic! And now that it's over, I have a bit more time on my hands to write articles here. So without any further ado, here's an article that I've been thinking about writing for a while now...

Everyone knows that the biggest rock and metal bands are generally from Britain and America. There are exceptions, of course - Rammstein, Nightwish and Sabaton are a few that come to mind. But on the whole, music from countries outside of the UK/America gets ignored by radio stations, magazines and other forms of music media. Here's my contribution to reversing that trend. Welcome to the first part (of two) of my 'Rock Around The World' feature, in which I review tracks by artists from all 7 continents of the globe.

#1 - Mexico, North America

First off, we're in Mexico, where the post-hardcore band Words can be found. Their track 'We Are The Coldest' was released last year, and quite frankly it's awesome. The band blends killer guitar riffs, screaming, melodic singing and powerful metal drumming effortlessly, creating material that seems like it would sound perfect on a live stage. Like all good metal tracks, 'We Are The Coldest' has a heavy and powerful pulse throughout which makes headbanging irresistible, and mosh pitting highly likely! If you're a fan of bands like Rise to Remain, (early) We Are The Ocean and Bullet For My Valentine then you should definitely give these guys a listen.

You can check them out at www.youtube.com/user/wordstheband and www.facebook.com/wordstheband

#2 - France, Europe

And now we travel about 5,700 miles to France; the home nation of singer Florent Mothe. You probably won't have heard of him if you live outside of France, but he has quite a following in his home country. He started his career by composing and playing his own rock and metal tracks, before becoming famous for appearing in the musical Mozart l'Opera Rock. More recently he has released his electro-pop debut solo single 'Je Ne Sais Pas' from the album 'Rock In Chair', which is due to be released next month. His career spans many genres - metal fans should check out his early songs 'Goodbye' and 'Walk The Line', in which his voice sounds similar to those of classic metal singers like Bruce Dickinson, but with the unique edge that has made his career such a success to date. Fans of musicals definitely need to listen to 'Le Bien Qui Fait Mal' and 'Vivre à en Crever' from Mozart l'Opera Rock, because they are powerful, passionate and catchy as heck! And more mainstream pop fans should have a listen to his latest single - 'Je Ne Sais Pas' is one of those songs that you'll listen to once, and then you'll be singing it in your head for the next two weeks.

In fact, here it is, embedded into the blog so you can listen to it right here and right now! Be prepared, this song is as addictive as 'Gangnam Style'...



#3 - Japan, Asia

And now for another metal group; this time from Japan. Lynch. is a five-piece metal band, who have released 6 albums and 11 singles (the first of which is entitled 'A Grateful Shit'... I'll let you come to your own conclusions on what that song is about...) since their formation in 2004. One of those tracks is 'Liberation Chord' - a two-minute-and-fifty-second romp through basically every aspect of the metal genre. There are quiet moments, with acoustic guitars and solemn singing. There are loud, aggressive moments with screaming vocals, screaming guitars and drums that have been hit as hard as Europe was by the recession. There are moments that sit comfortably between these two polar opposites. And even better, all of these sounds work together; the song sounds completely connected throughout, connected by a single thread, the single sound that makes Lynch. unique. The only problem with this track is that the end comes much too soon; but you can't blame Lynch. for purposely leaving their fans wanting more.

#4 - Australia, Oceania

Single artwork, © Silverchair

 Scrolling through a playlist of songs by Australian artists, something about 'Straight Lines' by the chart-topping alternative rockers 'Silverchair' (who are now on hiatus, sadly) caught my attention. I can't really put my finger on why - maybe it's the singer's very individual, androgynous and above all talented voice. Maybe it's the band's genre mash-up - their music is slightly reminiscent of Coldplay, as they take elements of indie music in the general laid-back feel of 'Straight Lines', elements of classic rock in their guitar tones and elements of electronica in their use of keyboards throughout. There's even something funk-like about the basic but complex-sounding rhythms played by their drummer. Whatever it is, I like 'Silverchair's sound. It's easy to listen to, relaxed and above all it just sounds new - and that's why 'Straight Lines' made me stop and listen. It sounds fresh.

'Straight Lines' is available to listen to on the band's Myspace page, over at www.myspace.com/silverchair

Stay tuned to the blog, because soon I'll be posting Rock Around The World: Part Two, in which I'll review material from South America, Africa and Antarctica! Until then, check out Words, Florent Mothe, Lynch. and Silverchair, and leave a comment on my blog saying what you think of them!

Rock on,
PsyD

Alive in the Superunknown #9 - Skyfall by Adele

Just last week, pop legend Adele won the Golden Globe award for best original song with her track 'Skyfall' - the theme to the James Bond film of the same name. Now, I haven't seen the film 'Skyfall' (I know, I know, it's apparently a really good film. I just haven't got around to seeing it yet...), so I can't comment on the song in relation to the plot or production of the film, but I've been listening to it nonstop for several months now so I'm in a very good position to review it as a standalone song!

James Bond films always have had legendary, award-winning soundtracks. Chris Cornell's 'You Know My Name', which featured on 'Casino Royale', won a Satellite Award and a World Soundtrack Award, and was nominated for a Grammy. Shirley Bassey's songs 'Diamonds are Forever' and 'Goldfinger' have gone down in music history, with the latter being inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008. Adele's song is no different - in fact, I'd go as far as to say that 'Skyfall' is not just on par with other James Bond themes - it entirely surpasses its predecessors. 

Here's a breakdown of just what makes this song so awesome...

Atmosphere: 'Skyfall' creates an atmosphere that just screams 'James Bond' - it sounds suave, sophisticated and mysterious just like 007 himself! Melodically, it shares some similarities with past Bond themes, especially 'Goldfinger' and 'You Know My Name', and this means that if you were living in a cave and somehow didn't know that 'Skyfall' is the new Bond theme, you'd be able to identify it as part of the series from its sound alone.

Lyrics: The lyrics of 'Skyfall' can be summed up in one word: Epic. With such phrases as "This is the end / Hold your breath and count to ten / Feel the earth move and then / Hear my heart burst again / For this is the end.", Adele brings to mind chilling images and creates powerful emotions which make listening to this track a real experience.

Production: Adele's voice sounds absolutely beautiful on this track, and it's not just down to her personal talent - the mixing and production of the song is second-to-none. Nowadays, so many producers overdo their effects, but 'Skyfall' proves that a song doesn't need heavy autotune and excessive synthesizers in order to be a hit. Adele's voice sounds real, and it contains a class of raw, human emotion that is too often destroyed by computer effects in the songs of many other singers.

Instrumentation: Another remarkable feature of 'Skyfall' is the use of traditional, orchestral instruments (especially strings and brass), and the blending of these sounds with relatively new musical technologies (electric guitars, percussion and electric bass, for example). Just as the production of Adele's singing adds to the emotion and the overall honest feel of the track, the use of real instruments, not computer imitations, is what makes this song sound as fantastic and as long-lasting as it does.

'Skyfall' isn't a throwaway, 15-minutes-of-fame pop track. It's an unforgettable masterpiece, and a song which I feel will be remembered for many years to come, even when the hype surrounding the film itself has died down. 
                 Adele: Your track is golden. It deserves its Golden Globe.

You Know You're Only In It 'Cause It's Hot Right Now: December 2012

It's that time again - time for a review of my favourite tracks this month! Today's blog post will, as always, showcase a real mixture of different tracks from different genres, so no matter what you're into, you should discover something that you like! Keep reading for short, snappy reviews of an acoustic remix, a French song from a French musical, a little-known (at least in the UK) cover of a famous hit, a piece of electronic-rock awesomeness and a YouTuber's musical video response to a vlog by another famous YouTuber (Basically, YouTube-ception!) ...Erm, yeah. I told you that there was going to be a real mixture of music!

#1 - 'Everlong (Acoustic)' by Foo Fighters

If you're looking for a song to relax to, then look no further! This acoustic rearrangement of the high-octane, loud and heavy hit 'Everlong' couldn't be further in tone from the original. With calm vocals, softly strummed chords and a quiet, consistent bassline, this track is more relaxing than a holiday in The Bahamas. Probably. In fact, I prefer this version to the original - the tender, serene sound of it fits the romantic lyrics a lot better than the all-guns-blazing single, and it sounds a lot different to anything else that Foo Fighters have produced, showcasing a rarely seen aspect of the band's sound.

#2 - 'Pour la Peine' - 1789 Les Amants de la Bastille 

As someone who's more than a bit obsessed with the French Revolution, I could barely contain my excitement when I discovered that a new musical has been taking France by storm, based on that very subject! I've spent the last couple of weeks listening to the soundtrack from this musical nonstop, and I can definitely understand the hype that surrounds it across the Channel in France! 'Pour la Peine' is a fantastic example of what makes this musical so great - with a beautiful instrumental arrangement combining old and new sounds, perfect vocal harmonies and uplifting lyrics like "In the name of our free thinkers...We must be able / To change history", the track portrays the emotions and beliefs of 1789's revolutionaries perfectly, and it's a fantastic (and catchy) song that you can listen to again and again! (And feel free to use this blog to do so, as the song is embedded below!)



#3 - 'Video Games' - Louis Delort

A good cover is one that takes a song, and combines the feel of the original version with the individual sound of the cover artist. A great cover is one that makes you like a song that you never liked before. Louis Delort's cover of 'Video Games' does both of these things. I've never been a fan of Lana Del Ray's music, but when I heard Delort's cover of her hit single 'Video Games' I instantly fell in love with it! Delort's singing style is absolutely unique (and it's unsurprising that he managed to become a finalist on France's TV singing show 'The Voice: la plus belle voix') - there is a beautiful tone to his voice, and he sings every word, especially on this cover, as if he completely means it. His laid-back but emotional style captivates audiences and sounds completely unique. His cover of 'Video Games' shows his potential, and I have no doubt that the UK will be hearing from Louis Delort soon!

#4 - 'Professional Griefers' - Deadmau5 ft. Gerard Way

Everybody knows that moment when you hear a song on the radio, and you just HAVE to find out its name and listen to it again. And again. Well, that is exactly what happened when I first heard this phenomenal track from Deadmau5 on Radio 1 on Christmas Day. The song presents a blend of the high-octane party vibes found on the latest studio album of Gerard Way's famous rock band My Chemical Romance, with the cutting-edge electronic sounds pioneered by Deadmau5. The result? 4 minutes of electro-rock heaven.

#5 - 'Do It Anyway' - Liam Dryden

And on the topic of YouTube, I'm sure that many of you will remember the video posted by YouTube superstar charlieissocoollike a month ago, in which he told his audience of over 1,700,000 subscribers how much pressure he feels to create good content. This video, with the simple and honest title 'I'm Scared', has received literally hundreds of supportive video responses from other YouTubers. One of these responses was from littleradge (a.k.a. Liam Dryden), and was his cover of 'Do It Anyway' by Ben Folds Five. I love this song for two reasons. Firstly, it is musically amazing. Completely a cappella, Dryden's arrangement consists of up to nine videos of himself singing different parts of the song, layered on top of each other. The immense amount of meticulous planning, recording and editing that must have taken place to create this song is just mind-boggling. And the message of the song is even more inspiring. The lyrics appear to be based on the poem, also called 'Do It Anyway', by nun legend Mother Theresa, and they tell the listener to express themselves freely despite what others may think of them. My favourite lyric, and one which I think sums up the message of the song, is "You might put your love and trust on the line / It's risky, people love to tear that down but let 'em try / Do it anyway / Risk it anyway". And if you have any doubts at all about the awesomeness of this song, you can listen to it anyway, right here... (See what I did there?)

 
What tracks are 'Hot Right Now' in your world? Leave a comment below with your current top 5 and I may review some of them on this blog in the future!

PsyD

P.S. Huge thanks to everybody who has read this blog in 2012, and especially to the bands that have posted links to my reviews on Twitter, Facebook and other websites. It's great to see that people are enjoying reading my posts as much as I am writing them! I'll be back in 2013 with more reviews and articles on everything musical. Until then, have an awesome New Year, and thanks again for all of your support!

http://lyricstranslate.com

http://lyricstranslate.com