Here I go again... waiting too long to write and forgetting to log all the bands and songs I'm obsessed with. It's been a little more difficult to keep tabs of new music since I moved. I listen to the radio all day at work and since I moved I can't turn the music up as loud as before. Oh well...
In any case, I've been purchasing lots of new vinyl. And when I say new, I mean vinyl from new/current bands. I just recently upgrade my record player to one that you can convert vinyl to MP3's! Totally awesome! So screw iTunes... I might as well by the vinyl and then convert it to MP3's! More bang for my buck :) So a few new albums I purchased I've been so excited about! Bass Drum of Death is one of them. Of course, I heard then one day listening to xmu and can't get enough. Finally I gave in and purchased their album. Man is it good, especially on vinyl! They are a cross between Ty Segall and Waaves... which are both bands that I love. Incredible garage rock with lots of raw beats. I think this band is from Mississippi or somewhere in the south and you can totally hear the southern 70's garage rock influence. I think these guys are really going to blow up. They played a show in Atlanta a few weeks ago but I didn't make it out.... I'm sure I will regret it in 3 months when they start to get some buzz.
Another album that I've been obsessing over is the new Kurt Vile. Unfortunately, I only purchased the MP3... I can only imagine how good it would sound on vinyl. I think the reason why this album is so good is the flow of each song into the next and the beautiful piano in each song. This album is pretty folky and sort of Wilco-ish. More acoustic and piano driven than I'm used to hearing from him. Each song is written so well with so much meaning in the lyrics and you can really hear it. Listening to the album all the way through, I find myself feeling so many different emotions and reactions. Some songs make me reminiscent of college, others incredibly happy, but there's one that makes me cry, "On Tour". I think this song sums up how I'm feeling right now in my life. I know I'm totally interpretting the song in my own way, but that's the magic of music. Sometimes a song meaning is what you make of it. Who cares what the song really means, what matters is how it makes you feel and react. I think that's why music means so much to me. Whenever I'm having trouble admitting to myself how good or bad my life is, all I need to do is listen to music, get lost in the beats, and let the feelings and emotions flow through...
Monday, May 9, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Well Hi ole' friend
Hi again... I'm back. I've missed you. A lot has happened since I last wrote. Lots of life changes. I moved from Austin, TX to Atlanta, GA... big change. Luckily, I left Austin with a bang and got to enjoy SXSW 1 more time as an Austinite.
This years festival was like no other from years past... so many people, more free shows than official ones, and too many rowdy drunks for that city. I think I did it right though and posted up at a few places rather than run around to different venues and try to make every show that I wanted to see.
I didn't see as much as I should have, but that's ok. The beauty of music festivals is, you'll see the bands you missed another time. So I have a few festival favorites, and here they are
-Atlas Sound: (a.k.a Bradford Cox of Deerhunter, a.k.a. my music idol). This show was unbelievable... I walked away feeling like a better person after seeing first hand Braddy work his magic on stage. Every time I listen to him I always wonder how that dude can create such magical harmonies and beats. Atlas Sound is completely different than Deerhunter, but in a good way. It's Bradford at his best, by himself with just a guitar, some weird foot petal thing, and a harmonica. This show really gave me a sense of how he creates his music. Several times during this set he would stand up (while the back beats were going), run off to the drums in the back of the stage (which weren't even his), and just start banging on them. UGH... I could really go on forever about him, but I should stop.
-Small Black: These guys are GREAT! Dance/chill wave music by definition. Prior to seeing them live I wondered how they could perform live... like did they use real instruments or was the band like Washed Out, a guy with his computer singing. Well Small Black was a band, with lots of impressive instruments and they put on a great show. You could tell they were having fun.
-Summer Camp: One of my fav radio bloggers, Gorilla vs Bear, was having a SXSW day party and Summer Camp was there. I heard this band a few months ago on blog radio and really hadn't heard anything like them before. It's hard to describe their sound... Dance/poppy with soul. The band is just a girl singing and playing some weird keyboard and a guy with a guitar. The girl has an incredible voice and they sound even better live. They are awesome and if you don't have their stuff, GET IT.
The Soft Moon: I can't get enough of new wave and it makes me happy when bands these days do it right... and The Soft Moon is one of those bands. There music is complex, instrumental, and they really get it. You can definitely tell they were influenced by Joy Division and I can't help but get lost in the beats when I listen to them. I'm so glad I got to see them at the Gorilla vs Bear party because I would have been disappointed in myself if I didn't. I have to say I wasn't expecting these guys to look the way they did... a bit older than you'd expect for a band that is just now starting out, but it makes perfect sense given their sound. In any case, they were great and I can't get enough of their sound. It's dark, industrial, and chaotic.
Even though I didn't see as many bands this year, the shows I saw were great and the goods shows I was able to get close enough to the stage to see, which is important. Now that I'm not in Austin all I can think about is the next band I get to see live. And I can't wait!
This years festival was like no other from years past... so many people, more free shows than official ones, and too many rowdy drunks for that city. I think I did it right though and posted up at a few places rather than run around to different venues and try to make every show that I wanted to see.
I didn't see as much as I should have, but that's ok. The beauty of music festivals is, you'll see the bands you missed another time. So I have a few festival favorites, and here they are
-Atlas Sound: (a.k.a Bradford Cox of Deerhunter, a.k.a. my music idol). This show was unbelievable... I walked away feeling like a better person after seeing first hand Braddy work his magic on stage. Every time I listen to him I always wonder how that dude can create such magical harmonies and beats. Atlas Sound is completely different than Deerhunter, but in a good way. It's Bradford at his best, by himself with just a guitar, some weird foot petal thing, and a harmonica. This show really gave me a sense of how he creates his music. Several times during this set he would stand up (while the back beats were going), run off to the drums in the back of the stage (which weren't even his), and just start banging on them. UGH... I could really go on forever about him, but I should stop.
-Small Black: These guys are GREAT! Dance/chill wave music by definition. Prior to seeing them live I wondered how they could perform live... like did they use real instruments or was the band like Washed Out, a guy with his computer singing. Well Small Black was a band, with lots of impressive instruments and they put on a great show. You could tell they were having fun.
-Summer Camp: One of my fav radio bloggers, Gorilla vs Bear, was having a SXSW day party and Summer Camp was there. I heard this band a few months ago on blog radio and really hadn't heard anything like them before. It's hard to describe their sound... Dance/poppy with soul. The band is just a girl singing and playing some weird keyboard and a guy with a guitar. The girl has an incredible voice and they sound even better live. They are awesome and if you don't have their stuff, GET IT.
The Soft Moon: I can't get enough of new wave and it makes me happy when bands these days do it right... and The Soft Moon is one of those bands. There music is complex, instrumental, and they really get it. You can definitely tell they were influenced by Joy Division and I can't help but get lost in the beats when I listen to them. I'm so glad I got to see them at the Gorilla vs Bear party because I would have been disappointed in myself if I didn't. I have to say I wasn't expecting these guys to look the way they did... a bit older than you'd expect for a band that is just now starting out, but it makes perfect sense given their sound. In any case, they were great and I can't get enough of their sound. It's dark, industrial, and chaotic.
Even though I didn't see as many bands this year, the shows I saw were great and the goods shows I was able to get close enough to the stage to see, which is important. Now that I'm not in Austin all I can think about is the next band I get to see live. And I can't wait!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Sometimes it's better the second time...
So Deerhunter is definitely one of my favorite bands, I think I've dedicated more blogs about them than any other band. When I saw the line up for FFFest 2010 I about fell over in my chair when I saw they were on the line-up. Every single album they have is solid; packed with beautifully written songs and amazing instrumental parts. I think this is why I like them so much... the beautiful lyrics (and voice) and the songs that end with minute long instrumental parts. It's so easy to get lost in them. In any case, back to the point... I saw them at FFFest and wasn't necessarily disappointed in their performance, I think I was just hoping for more. I probably put too many hopes in the experience. Maybe I thought after seeing them live (for the first time) I'd walk away feeling more spiratually connected to them or something. But that didn't happen. And I honestly don't know that I've ever felt that way after seeing a band at a festival.
So a few weeks went by after the festival and I kept wishing for more. Frankly praying for another chance to see them, and soon. But it didn't happen. I just had to accept it and wait until they came to Austin again. But then, I got word that my potential move to Atlanta (aka their home town) was official thus making my prayers come true. OF COURSE I'll see them again, either at a live show OR (fingers crossed) sitting next to me at a bar. Who knows, maybe they read my blog and think "ohh, we gotta meet THAT girl."
Anyways, I checked out the pitchfork website yesterday and there was a post that Deerhunter recorded a live show at an Apple Store in NYC. Kinda random, but cool. I've heard the live version of Helicopter and well let's just say, it's way better live than on the album. Well today I finally downloaded the 8 song EP and wow, it is GREAT. It really and truly sounds EXACTLY like their set at FFFest (minus the cheers from people at the apple store... lucky jerks). So listening to these live songs makes me really happy, and makes me appreciate the FFFest show. Even if it didn't give me the feeling I wanted, it was still great and listening to this live recorded album makes me appreciate that show even more. Even if I could barely see them through the lights and smoke, I sure did hear them... And that was well worth the wait.
So at the end of the day, hearing this live concert recording of Deerhunter not only makes me happy, but makes me think of all those other bands that I gave up on after seeing a live show that I didn't particularly like. Maybe "sometimes it's better the second time..."
So a few weeks went by after the festival and I kept wishing for more. Frankly praying for another chance to see them, and soon. But it didn't happen. I just had to accept it and wait until they came to Austin again. But then, I got word that my potential move to Atlanta (aka their home town) was official thus making my prayers come true. OF COURSE I'll see them again, either at a live show OR (fingers crossed) sitting next to me at a bar. Who knows, maybe they read my blog and think "ohh, we gotta meet THAT girl."
Anyways, I checked out the pitchfork website yesterday and there was a post that Deerhunter recorded a live show at an Apple Store in NYC. Kinda random, but cool. I've heard the live version of Helicopter and well let's just say, it's way better live than on the album. Well today I finally downloaded the 8 song EP and wow, it is GREAT. It really and truly sounds EXACTLY like their set at FFFest (minus the cheers from people at the apple store... lucky jerks). So listening to these live songs makes me really happy, and makes me appreciate the FFFest show. Even if it didn't give me the feeling I wanted, it was still great and listening to this live recorded album makes me appreciate that show even more. Even if I could barely see them through the lights and smoke, I sure did hear them... And that was well worth the wait.
So at the end of the day, hearing this live concert recording of Deerhunter not only makes me happy, but makes me think of all those other bands that I gave up on after seeing a live show that I didn't particularly like. Maybe "sometimes it's better the second time..."
Friday, February 4, 2011
Big happenings...
Saw the first show of 2011 last week... Wavves and Best Coast at Emos. I was pretty excited to see them. After FFFest I needed to see them again up close because both of their albums were on my repeat playlists last year. I absolutely hated that they were playing at Emo's, because everytime I see a show there I question myself as to why wasted my money/time. But this time I figured I'd give Emo's one last chance to change my mind. Well, sadly I'll never go to Emo's again... Even if it's a great band. I'll just suffer and wait to see them elsewhere. It's unfortunate that so many great bands are booked there instead of the Mohawk (because the hawk is by far the best live music venue in Austin). It's incredibly hard to hear anything at Emos', even standing right next to the speaker. It sucks... spending $20 to see a band you LOVE and walking away being disappointed, not by the performance of the band, but by the sound quality. Anyways, even though the Emo's show sucked, I'm still glad I got to see Wavves and Best Coast. In my opinion, Wavves put on a better show. Maybe because they play music that you can pump your fists to and yell/sing. Even though I'm still a little disappointed in the show, sometimes it's not about that... sometimes it's about the overall experience. Because afterall if you are at a show with a great group of friends and have a great time, that's really all that matters. And I certainly had A GREAT TIME.
And speaking of bands I LOVE... My fav band of 2k10, Wild Nothing, is FINALLY playing in Austin. I just can't believe it took so long for me to see them. I am in love with their dreamy/synth/pop sound and I still listen to their records on repeat... just listening to them over and over. Everytime I listen to them I feel like I'm floating on a cloud, it's so dreamy. You just have NO idea how much I love this band. Luckily they are NOT playing at Emo's, otherwise I'd cry. In any case, they are the only band that I love that I haven't seen yet... actually take that back, I still haven't seen The Drums :( Wild Nothing is playing tonight at Red 7, which is a bit weird considering that place usually has metal bands play. It should be interesting... I'm going to geek out when they play.
In other BIG news, I visited Atlanta this week and found the local college radio station. They played some Weekend, Wild Nothing, AND every other song was either Deerhunter or Atlas Sound (they are from ATL). It makes me very happy that the indie college station was playing some Bradford Cox. I always wondered if the local indie folks that live in ATL actually appreciated him, and apparently they do!!
Well, that's all I got today. Super excited about the show tonight. Hopefully they don't cancel, considering it snowed here last night (which has the city in a panic because it never snows).
Until next time, K-spot is snowed in.
And speaking of bands I LOVE... My fav band of 2k10, Wild Nothing, is FINALLY playing in Austin. I just can't believe it took so long for me to see them. I am in love with their dreamy/synth/pop sound and I still listen to their records on repeat... just listening to them over and over. Everytime I listen to them I feel like I'm floating on a cloud, it's so dreamy. You just have NO idea how much I love this band. Luckily they are NOT playing at Emo's, otherwise I'd cry. In any case, they are the only band that I love that I haven't seen yet... actually take that back, I still haven't seen The Drums :( Wild Nothing is playing tonight at Red 7, which is a bit weird considering that place usually has metal bands play. It should be interesting... I'm going to geek out when they play.
Wild Nothing - Chinatown from Jack Tatum on Vimeo.
In other BIG news, I visited Atlanta this week and found the local college radio station. They played some Weekend, Wild Nothing, AND every other song was either Deerhunter or Atlas Sound (they are from ATL). It makes me very happy that the indie college station was playing some Bradford Cox. I always wondered if the local indie folks that live in ATL actually appreciated him, and apparently they do!!
Well, that's all I got today. Super excited about the show tonight. Hopefully they don't cancel, considering it snowed here last night (which has the city in a panic because it never snows).
Until next time, K-spot is snowed in.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Riding the wave into 2011
Hello blogosphere, I've missed you... it's been a while since I last posted. This year has started off a bit crazy, and I've been a little unmotivated to write anything. Maybe because I haven't been inspired or found any good new music worth writing about. Well, I finally found something pretty great.
For those who know me, I am constantly listening to xmu and each day for about 2 hours they have a different "blog radio" DJ. These bloggers play whatever they want to, and I usually find myself making notes of "music to download". I'd certainly like to take created for a lot of the new bands I write about, but mostly I hear them first from blog radio.
Anyways, the other day one of the bloggers played this song called "Knock Out" by Air Waves. For a few days I couldn't get this song out of my head. I kept going to iTunes and would think about DLing the whole album, but didn't want to waste $9.99 on an album with only 1 good song. Finally, I went for it. And let me tell you, completely worth it. I can't really describe the sound of the band nor try to compare them to another band. All I can say is I love their sound... incredible lead singer voice, heavy bass, and flirty guitar sound. The lead singer's voice is a mix between Beach House and Lower Dens... deeper female voice, unique and great. Apparently they might be located in Austin?!? Check em out below:
Of course, they played a show last night and I missed it. BUT they will probably be back for SXSW, which will be better because I can see them doing a set alone. I can't get enough of them, their album is great and I highly recommend getting it.
That's all I got for now. There are a few other bands I'm excited about, but Air Waves tops my list. Great way to start the year.
Until next time-
KSpot out!
For those who know me, I am constantly listening to xmu and each day for about 2 hours they have a different "blog radio" DJ. These bloggers play whatever they want to, and I usually find myself making notes of "music to download". I'd certainly like to take created for a lot of the new bands I write about, but mostly I hear them first from blog radio.
Anyways, the other day one of the bloggers played this song called "Knock Out" by Air Waves. For a few days I couldn't get this song out of my head. I kept going to iTunes and would think about DLing the whole album, but didn't want to waste $9.99 on an album with only 1 good song. Finally, I went for it. And let me tell you, completely worth it. I can't really describe the sound of the band nor try to compare them to another band. All I can say is I love their sound... incredible lead singer voice, heavy bass, and flirty guitar sound. The lead singer's voice is a mix between Beach House and Lower Dens... deeper female voice, unique and great. Apparently they might be located in Austin?!? Check em out below:
Of course, they played a show last night and I missed it. BUT they will probably be back for SXSW, which will be better because I can see them doing a set alone. I can't get enough of them, their album is great and I highly recommend getting it.
That's all I got for now. There are a few other bands I'm excited about, but Air Waves tops my list. Great way to start the year.
Until next time-
KSpot out!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
My favorites of 2010
Wow, how can I possibly summarize what all my favorite bands/shows/albums of the year? This year was full of incredible new music and unforgettable live shows. I can only imagine what 2011 has in store.
So here it is... K-Spot's 2010 Year End Review-
Favorite Live Shows:
-Local Natives at SXSW... These guys have amazing chemistry with each other while they play and this performance definitely solidified them as a breakout band for SXSW. My favorite thing about Local Natives is how they switch instruments during a set and how they have such a gift for making each singers voice complement the other. "Gorilla Manor" is definitely one of my favorite albums this year.
-Spoon at SXSW and FFFFest... I totally geeked out to the max at both of these shows. Their performance at FFFFest was, well... I already wrote about it how much I was blown away by this show. Freaking idolize Spoon. And their 2010 album, Transferrence, is pretty darn close to my favorite Spoon album ever. Awesome awesome awesome.
-Beach Fossils at SXSW and again at Emos... amazing peformances both times, but I have to say I like the SXSW show better because I think there was only a few other people at the show that knew who BF was. And with that said, they are my FAVORITE BAND OF 2010. Yes... I could go on and on about how much I love them, but I won't because it might come off as annoying or dorky. I just can't help but obsess over how much I am in love with their sound. I have listened to all of their songs on repeat this entire year and I never get tired of it. Such a great band.
-Beach House at ACL... they decided to add a few extra members to the band and I have to say, it really made a difference. The addition of these new members really created a different sound for them. Their album Teen Dream, released this year is so beautiful and great.
-Millionyoung... the PERFECT show to end a year full of greatness. Gosh, these guys are amazing. I'm still so impressed by the fact that the frontman recorded everything by himself, but then on tour had a full band playing the songs that were artifically made on a computer. Incredible...
Favorite NEW bands of 2010:
-Wild Nothing (still waiting to see them)... SECOND FAVORITE BAND OF 2010. Yes, again just like Beach Fossils, I have been listening to their songs obsessively all year. Their sound is unique and liquid. I still can't comprehend how they come up with the different elements and effects in each song. Wild Nothing has an amazing ability to intertwine the drums, synth, and guitar... it's stupid awesome. I just love them.
-The Drums (haven't seen them yet)... 2010 was the year for subgenres of indie rock (aka chill wave, lo-fi, etc.). So many bands came out that were lumped into "indie rock", yet all sounded different. One of my favorite bands to make this statement is The Drums (even though I'm still trying to put a sub-genre on them, but can't seem to place it). The lead singers voice is incredibly beautiful and makes my knees go weak.
-Best Coast (saw them at FFF)... finally some good chick rock that's not Rilo Kiley. She has such a pretty, un-annoying voice. Very simple guitar, but it's all about her voice and the perfection of Cali-rock!
-Lower Dens (saw them with Future Islands twice).... BEST new band this year (Even though Beach Fossils are my fav band this year, Lower Dens is my favorite NEW band this year). Their album, Twin Hand Movement, is incredible. Lo-wave to the max!
-Twin Shadow... wow, beautiful song writer and perfect 80's dance party magic.
-Palmbomen... I wonder if these guys will ever come to Texas? If they did, I'd drop everything I was doing to see them. Perfect Dance Party music.
Favorite albums of 2010:
-Deerhunter "Halcyon Digest"... I really could go on and on about Deerhunter, but I think I already have in another post. I can't tell you how much I like this album and how much I love them.
-Future Islands "In Evening Air"... this band actually goes into all 3 categories for my 2010 favorites. Whenever I'm having a bad day, all I need to do is listen to this album and I will completely forget whatever was bothering me. Best stage presence out of any show I've seen this year. Such great dance beats.
-Girls "Broken Drums Club"... beautiful. Completely in love with Christopher Owens and his lyrics.
-Harlem "Hippies"... saw them twice this year, the first time was weird, real weird. The second time was good, even if some dude stage dove on top of me. In any case, this album is incredible and they are super talented. Such good garage rock.
2010 really was a great year for new music, great music festivals, and memorable shows. I only wish that I would have started this blog in January 2010 so I could remember everything better! With all the craziness of this year and all the stresses that life brought, the music of 2010 sure did help me great through some tough moments. It's amazing to think that 1 song can make everything better and make you think differently about something. I guess that's why music continues to evolve and change and why people are continuing to make music... because it will forever carry on and will continue make an impact on someone's life.
Until next year, K-Spot out.
So here it is... K-Spot's 2010 Year End Review-
Favorite Live Shows:
-Local Natives at SXSW... These guys have amazing chemistry with each other while they play and this performance definitely solidified them as a breakout band for SXSW. My favorite thing about Local Natives is how they switch instruments during a set and how they have such a gift for making each singers voice complement the other. "Gorilla Manor" is definitely one of my favorite albums this year.
-Spoon at SXSW and FFFFest... I totally geeked out to the max at both of these shows. Their performance at FFFFest was, well... I already wrote about it how much I was blown away by this show. Freaking idolize Spoon. And their 2010 album, Transferrence, is pretty darn close to my favorite Spoon album ever. Awesome awesome awesome.
-Beach Fossils at SXSW and again at Emos... amazing peformances both times, but I have to say I like the SXSW show better because I think there was only a few other people at the show that knew who BF was. And with that said, they are my FAVORITE BAND OF 2010. Yes... I could go on and on about how much I love them, but I won't because it might come off as annoying or dorky. I just can't help but obsess over how much I am in love with their sound. I have listened to all of their songs on repeat this entire year and I never get tired of it. Such a great band.
-Beach House at ACL... they decided to add a few extra members to the band and I have to say, it really made a difference. The addition of these new members really created a different sound for them. Their album Teen Dream, released this year is so beautiful and great.
-Millionyoung... the PERFECT show to end a year full of greatness. Gosh, these guys are amazing. I'm still so impressed by the fact that the frontman recorded everything by himself, but then on tour had a full band playing the songs that were artifically made on a computer. Incredible...
Favorite NEW bands of 2010:
-Wild Nothing (still waiting to see them)... SECOND FAVORITE BAND OF 2010. Yes, again just like Beach Fossils, I have been listening to their songs obsessively all year. Their sound is unique and liquid. I still can't comprehend how they come up with the different elements and effects in each song. Wild Nothing has an amazing ability to intertwine the drums, synth, and guitar... it's stupid awesome. I just love them.
-The Drums (haven't seen them yet)... 2010 was the year for subgenres of indie rock (aka chill wave, lo-fi, etc.). So many bands came out that were lumped into "indie rock", yet all sounded different. One of my favorite bands to make this statement is The Drums (even though I'm still trying to put a sub-genre on them, but can't seem to place it). The lead singers voice is incredibly beautiful and makes my knees go weak.
-Best Coast (saw them at FFF)... finally some good chick rock that's not Rilo Kiley. She has such a pretty, un-annoying voice. Very simple guitar, but it's all about her voice and the perfection of Cali-rock!
-Lower Dens (saw them with Future Islands twice).... BEST new band this year (Even though Beach Fossils are my fav band this year, Lower Dens is my favorite NEW band this year). Their album, Twin Hand Movement, is incredible. Lo-wave to the max!
-Twin Shadow... wow, beautiful song writer and perfect 80's dance party magic.
-Palmbomen... I wonder if these guys will ever come to Texas? If they did, I'd drop everything I was doing to see them. Perfect Dance Party music.
Favorite albums of 2010:
-Deerhunter "Halcyon Digest"... I really could go on and on about Deerhunter, but I think I already have in another post. I can't tell you how much I like this album and how much I love them.
-Future Islands "In Evening Air"... this band actually goes into all 3 categories for my 2010 favorites. Whenever I'm having a bad day, all I need to do is listen to this album and I will completely forget whatever was bothering me. Best stage presence out of any show I've seen this year. Such great dance beats.
-Girls "Broken Drums Club"... beautiful. Completely in love with Christopher Owens and his lyrics.
-Harlem "Hippies"... saw them twice this year, the first time was weird, real weird. The second time was good, even if some dude stage dove on top of me. In any case, this album is incredible and they are super talented. Such good garage rock.
2010 really was a great year for new music, great music festivals, and memorable shows. I only wish that I would have started this blog in January 2010 so I could remember everything better! With all the craziness of this year and all the stresses that life brought, the music of 2010 sure did help me great through some tough moments. It's amazing to think that 1 song can make everything better and make you think differently about something. I guess that's why music continues to evolve and change and why people are continuing to make music... because it will forever carry on and will continue make an impact on someone's life.
Until next year, K-Spot out.
Monday, December 6, 2010
My "iTunes waste of money list" 2010
Nothing is worse than spending $9.99 for an entire album on iTunes, listening to it, then realizing you just made a HUGE mistake. This happens more than it should... you hear a few songs from a band, and think "Hey, I'll buy the whole album. Surely all the songs are good." It's so easy to spend money on iTunes. With 1 click, you've just spent 3 beers worth of money and didn't even have to sign a receipt. Wasting $10 on an entire album that sucks, sucks.
So, rather than start my year end reviews with my "Top 2010 list", I've decided to come up with my "iTunes Waste of Money List" first. Don't get me wrong, the list below is not bashing the bands nor discrediting their muscial abilities... I obvisiously liked them enough to buy the album. This list merely represents the albums I should have thought twice about and only bought the songs I KNEW were good.
Here is it... K-Spots "iTunes Waste of Money 2010 List":
1. Bear in Heaven "Beast Rest Forth Mouth"- Alright, alright. I know it's a somewhat good album, but total waste of iTunes funds. I think I bought this after seeing them at SXSW this year because I was on a high from seeing them. Don't get me wrong, they were great live... but I just don't REALLY like this album enough to burn to a cd and listen in my car OR suggestion to someone. I tried real hard to get into this album, but just never did.
2. Broken Bells "Broken Bells"- completely dissappointed. I DO like about 4 songs on the album, they are pretty catchy BUT there is no really consistency in their sound and quite frankly I could do without it. By the time SXSW came this year, I was already over them and had no desire to see them. I almost want to delete it completely from my library, but just can't do it.
3. The Dead Weather "Horehound"- Not enough rock for me. I expected WAY more from a Jack White/The Kills side project. Huge bummer.
4. Fang Island "Fang Island"- Pitchfork gave them a great write up and rating so I was very hopeful that this album would be good, but I don't really get it. Fang Island is more of an instrumental band, but this album sounds more pro-rock than anything. There is only 1 good track: Absolute Place, which is a Yeasayer Remix.
5. Chromatics "In the City"- So I heard a few songs from them on blog radio, and thought this would be another group to add on my "Dance Party in my Head" list.... saddly, this album didn't hold up to it. A few songs are totally worth downloading, but not the whole album. Actually, now that I think about it... after listening to the album a few times, it got a little annoying. The beats are all the same in every song, except 1 which is weirdly enough a super slow ballad. Oh well.
6. Diamond Rings "Special Affections"- I just can't seem to like the guy's voice. I try. But there's just something that turns me off about his voice. I can't seem to get past it and focus on the music. Sorry DR.
7. and by far the biggest mistake... Broken Social Scene "Forgiveness Rock Record"- I'm not even sure I can really talk about how disappointed I am in this album. I know it did make a few "best new music" lists, but it sucks. NOTHING at all like what I was expecting. Terrible.
I could go on, but to be true to the title of this list, these are all the albums I purchased that I wish I wouldn't have. Feel free to add... if there is anyone out there reading this lame blog.
More to come on year end lists!
K-Spot out... and not downloading anything else this year!
So, rather than start my year end reviews with my "Top 2010 list", I've decided to come up with my "iTunes Waste of Money List" first. Don't get me wrong, the list below is not bashing the bands nor discrediting their muscial abilities... I obvisiously liked them enough to buy the album. This list merely represents the albums I should have thought twice about and only bought the songs I KNEW were good.
Here is it... K-Spots "iTunes Waste of Money 2010 List":
1. Bear in Heaven "Beast Rest Forth Mouth"- Alright, alright. I know it's a somewhat good album, but total waste of iTunes funds. I think I bought this after seeing them at SXSW this year because I was on a high from seeing them. Don't get me wrong, they were great live... but I just don't REALLY like this album enough to burn to a cd and listen in my car OR suggestion to someone. I tried real hard to get into this album, but just never did.
2. Broken Bells "Broken Bells"- completely dissappointed. I DO like about 4 songs on the album, they are pretty catchy BUT there is no really consistency in their sound and quite frankly I could do without it. By the time SXSW came this year, I was already over them and had no desire to see them. I almost want to delete it completely from my library, but just can't do it.
3. The Dead Weather "Horehound"- Not enough rock for me. I expected WAY more from a Jack White/The Kills side project. Huge bummer.
4. Fang Island "Fang Island"- Pitchfork gave them a great write up and rating so I was very hopeful that this album would be good, but I don't really get it. Fang Island is more of an instrumental band, but this album sounds more pro-rock than anything. There is only 1 good track: Absolute Place, which is a Yeasayer Remix.
5. Chromatics "In the City"- So I heard a few songs from them on blog radio, and thought this would be another group to add on my "Dance Party in my Head" list.... saddly, this album didn't hold up to it. A few songs are totally worth downloading, but not the whole album. Actually, now that I think about it... after listening to the album a few times, it got a little annoying. The beats are all the same in every song, except 1 which is weirdly enough a super slow ballad. Oh well.
6. Diamond Rings "Special Affections"- I just can't seem to like the guy's voice. I try. But there's just something that turns me off about his voice. I can't seem to get past it and focus on the music. Sorry DR.
7. and by far the biggest mistake... Broken Social Scene "Forgiveness Rock Record"- I'm not even sure I can really talk about how disappointed I am in this album. I know it did make a few "best new music" lists, but it sucks. NOTHING at all like what I was expecting. Terrible.
I could go on, but to be true to the title of this list, these are all the albums I purchased that I wish I wouldn't have. Feel free to add... if there is anyone out there reading this lame blog.
More to come on year end lists!
K-Spot out... and not downloading anything else this year!
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