Perfect Tune for a Camp Bonfire

So, I don’t usually tell my readers how to read my blog, but trust me when I say to follow my instructions on this one. For now:  Play the Youtube clip above and listen.

…It’s pretty amazing, right?

Ok, so moving on. As I looked through my iTunes library this week for a new fabulous song to blog about I realized… there are quite a few songs I can no longer listen to. It’s not because I’m done loving them or that I’ve exhausted them on repeat to the point that I’m bored. I can’t play the damn songs because they seem to remind me too much of someone or some thing-- they either cause me to have someone stuck in my head that I don't want there, or they cause me to replay a situation over and over again.. when really I just wish to forget it.

But, it’s these songs, which mean something to me that make me truly appreciate the ones that are just fun and easy to listen to. They’re the ones that entertain your ears and almost cloud your mind from thinking about anyone or anything. That song for me is “Home” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes.

In my head, whenever I think about the late 1950’s/early 1960’s, I imagine society as being very “Pleasantville” esque. Back then, everyone was just happy with the simple things in life. Guys ‘pinned’ girls…(no, this is not a Blackberry reference. Guys literally gave girls their pins indicating that they were now a couple) and everyone just met at the local dance club on the weekends. It was a sweet way to live life.  
When listening to this song, it instantly teleports you back to this time period.

I think it’s the introduction of the whistling and the taps on the tambourine that throw you back and make you feel like you’re at your town’s high school dance. This vision really starts to come alive though when you hear the first verse of this lovey dovey duet shared by Edward Sharpe and Jade Castrinos. It’s lines like:
“I do love my mah and pah” and “Well holy, moly, me oh my, you’re the apple of my eye” that make you feel like you’ve entered a classic old school love story.

At 0:51, with their two voices colliding alongside the trumpet’s joyful blasts do you feel yourself falling into this content state; you can’t help but find yourself smiling from ear to ear while bopping your head and tapping your fingers on any hard surface you can find.

After the second “feel good” verse passes and we reach our second chorus at 2:29, there’s this aura that's connecting us to the song making us feel as though we wrote these words ourselves. And, with what sounds like an 1000 person part harmony we hear the chant: “Home, let me come home. Home is wherever I am with you.” This feeling of being in the song is only enhanced at 3:14 when we get to listen in on the romantic banter between Edward and Jane until finally, Edward confesses his love for her.

That moment where the break for conversation resorts back to the third chorus is the same moment that should make us want to restore our faith in love songs... that not all of them are to remind us of heartbreak and how our exes cheated. But rather, how some still promote this once upon a time bubble gum pop, fun type of love.

4:22 in to the song, we hear a unique yet different type of orgasm--- the horns are pumping in full force, the accordion’s sound is echoing with every inward thrust, and the tambourine is shaking rapidly while Edward and Jane cheer different parts of the song. You don’t necessarily feel the usual shiver or the overbearing heart beat. What you do feel is complete satisfaction as this joyful tune continues to cloud your head for just a few moments longer.

So how has this song changed my life? Please refer to paragraph three.

Now as fabulous of the studio recorded version was to listen to, it’s time to understand and see why this band is pretty close to perfection.

This live performance only shows us how alive people become through music. Every member in this performance is having the time of their life as they present the crowd with real, unrehearsed, authentic music. There is no stage. There is no sound mixer or any other fancy sound equipment there. There's just the instruments and the band, fully immersed in the crowd, making every fan feel as though they are vital part of the performance.

Watch the entire video…the second song is just as life changing as the first.

So bottom line:
1.    Edward Sharpe or Jane.. if either of you stumble upon this blog and want to get me a ticket to your sold out show this Friday in Toronto…that’d be cool.
2.    If the live performance doesn’t make you instantly happy... well then I don’t know what would.
3.    This song makes me wish I was Penny Lane living in the 60’s.
Oh and 4, listen to the song… it’ll change your life.

Words are Words...Interpret Them As You Please

I can only hope that this has happened to other music lovers out there…but, you know when you hear a song and immediately think to yourself: well oh my freaking god! This song was practically written for me that’s how much it relates to what I’m going through!

Whether it’s the chorus or a random verse in the song, you just love it to the point that it stays on replay for a week straight because it just speaks to you and the situation you’re in.

And then, like a week later you read a review or listen to the band talk about the song in an interview and realize: oh…oh okay. Yah… well shit, I was totally off on what this song was about!

Yeah…that happened to me when first hearing the truly fantastic song that is “Airplanes” by the Local Natives.

It’s fine though; it didn’t make me love the song any less. In fact, it only made me love it more. Besides, I truly believe that a musician would prefer I interpret his/her song according to my life and all it entails so that I can connect with it in my own personal way.

Like I said, I had this song on replay for about 1-2 weeks straight. Here’s why:

To put it simply…the song is straight up catchy. Not annoyingly catchy like a jingle on the radio… but the kind of catchy where you find yourself wanting to listen to it over and over because you just want that sound serenading your every thought and move. For example: whenever my ipod is on shuffle, I find myself having to skip over a dozen songs that I’m not in the mood to listen to. Yet, every time I hear this song’s intro of the keyboard and incessant drumbeat, my only reaction is to remove my hand from the button and place it on the volume, turning it up to its max and allowing it to completely hypnotize me. There is something about that initial melody that causes me to fall in love with it even before the words are heard.

But, when the words do arrive 0:33 in, everything just gets that much better. Maybe it’s the echo of the clattering percussion mixed with the strumming of Andy Hamm’s bass guitar. Or, maybe it’s the high pitched yet oh so delicate voice of Kelcey Ayer that causes me to reflect and enter such a deep sentimental state.

It’s at 1:02, the first chorus where we are shown the true greatness this song has to offer. For starters, anyone who reads this blog regularly knows that nothing gets me more than a good harmony. Well, this band is built on harmonies seeing as how they all share the position of front man. That’s right. There’s no lead singer. They individually spread their talent throughout each song and through every humble harmony.

So, not only is this chorus heavily packed with harmonies but it’s also bursting with true raw emotion.

 As the second verse (with its drum line type beat and memories as verses) slides into its chorus we hear mainly Kelcey’s fragile voice cry out:

“I love it all. So much I call

                  I want you back back back, you back.”

These lyrics are directed to his grandfather whom he never got a chance to meet. But in general, the song talks about loss. It’s a topic we can all relate to. And, let’s be honest with ourselves here… who hasn’t at some point or another wanted to cry aloud (with that much emotion) for something or someone to be back in our lives. We don’t actually do it, but this chorus manages to strike a chord in us, making us feel as though we are.

The musical interlude approaches at 2:18, which is when we get to listen intently to the heartfelt emotions that illuminate during the most intimate verse of the entire song:

          “It sounds like we would have had a great deal to say to each other

           I bet when I leave my body for the sky, it will be worth it.”

And then, without a moment of hesitation, the orgasm unexpectedly hits us as 3:02 as the music builds in sound and the yearning harmonies begin to rise with passion. The gorgeously truthful, heart-wrenching words fill our ears one more time

                        “I love it aaaaaaall. So much I caaaaaaaall,

                         I want you baaack baaaack baaaack, you baaaaaack”

All you can do at this point is feel you heart lose itself in emotion with the sound of the keyboard, percussion, and drums taking over absolutely every part of your body. And then, we are left with just a few short smacks on the drum, completing the song.

So why has this song changed my life? Well, the song is brilliant. For so many reasons. But, mainly it’s because this song has several faces to it. It’s a memoir for Kelcey Ayer. It’s a coping song for me and it’s probably so many other things for so many other people. I’m sure there are countless ways to interpret these words, but it’s just the best feeling knowing that they will always mean the most the way I see and understand them. This song in particular teaches us to not only open our eyes to these lyrics but to all the others that could be or are already so complex and multifaceted with deeper meaning.

I know… you’re all thinking to yourselves “Yikes, this girl is emo right now.” Maybe I am, maybe I’m not…

But bottom line?

1. These men wear skinny jeans, which means I’d be down to date all of them.
2. Don’t listen to the song once and say “yeah, its okay.” You must listen to it three or four times in a row to really get how freaking fabulous it is.
3. Julia B, I tried to make this post shorter… I’m workin on it! I swear!

Oh and 4, listen to the song… it’ll change your life.

Went to the Sound Academy to Visit Some Friends

A lot of us music lovers complain how the music conglomerates of today (i.e. Live Nation/Ticketmaster) are robbing our bank accounts with concert ticket fees, and so unless it’s our all time favourite band playing, we’ll sadly refrain from spending that kind of “moolah” on shows.
But, its shows like the one I saw this past weekend that make me realize how sometimes the genuine experience you get at a concert makes it worth every penny.  
I mean, its one thing when the main act you’re paying to see totally rocks their performance (which, in this case, Mumford and Sons did). But, it’s a huge bonus when the opening band, Cadillac Sky, gives a stunning performance as well, making you instantly addicted to them. That’s like a lucky “two-for-one” type deal right there. I was fortunate enough to be immersed in great live music for over three hours…which to me, is the perfect way to spend a Saturday night.

You know, it’s unfortunate… the way we have created a certain custom for ‘concerting’ which is: only get to the show in time for the main act. It’s as if we think the opening bands are not worthy of our ears or our time. But as I realized this weekend, it’s truly our loss seeing as how we are missing out on new music in its rawest most natural form.   
Hearing and seeing a band live for the first time (like I did with Cadillac Sky), you get this exclusive opportunity to not hear the electronically modified sounds, rhythms and voices that you would on an album; but rather you get to hear the heart and soul of each band member as they throw all that their voice can give into every song. You get to see the personality of the band as they chat with the crowd during song breaks. And, you get to see their true talent as they spontaneously break out in musical ‘jams.’ We get the chance to skip that first awkward encounter of when we know nothing about the band and just press play on their CD, hoping to quickly become acquainted with the music. Instead, we connect with the band and let their live performance take over to the point that after the first song, we feel like long time groupies; we find ourselves catching on to the lyrics and reciting each chorus while uncontrollably bouncing along to the various rhythms and harmonies.
It was Cadillac Sky’s “Trapped Under the Ice” that managed to catch my ear and give me this type of physical response throughout their setlist.

So yah, its an awesome song. Why?

We are introduced to an assortment of instruments (guitar, fiddle, banjo and bass) being strummed in short breaks, giving off this snap of the fingers, blues-ish type sound.
The beat continues this way until that traditional harmony that truly defines “folk” graces our presence 0:34 seconds in. It is at this first chorus that every instrument is now being strummed in full force, and the harmonized “ahhhs” are making our bodies flutter, that we get our first taste of their ever so classic bluegrass sound.

The second verse manages to combine two prominent instruments and have them both sound like they can’t function without the other. It’s the addition of the mandolin producing that good ole country vibe, and the fiddle, which gives the tune just the right amount of complexity. These two together take us back to that original blues beat.

It’s the second chorus that we can really hear the various genres of this song spin naturally into each other, having the blues and bluegrass sound interchange effortlessly. It’s at this moment in the song where we find ourselves tapping our feet on the ground while our bodies sink into relaxation mode, allowing this perfect harmony fill our heads.

At 1:26, the spotlight (metaphorically speaking ofcourse) shines on band member, David Mayfield as he initially takes control of the musical interlude by rocking out on his acoustic guitar. It is then quickly followed by the emerging sound of Matt Menefee’s banjo, which to me is one of the sweetest most pleasing sounds to the ear. And finally, Ross Holmes gives us one final stride on the fiddle, preparing us for what I like to call “audience participation.”

To me, audience participation is one of the key components to making a show a true success. It not only allows the audience to feel like they are a vital part of the performance but I can only assume that it feels great for a band to have their words be sung back to them.
And so, we have Bryan Simpson (now replaced by Levi Lowrey) sing:
        “I am a monkey in a cage..”
*If I found a clip of this performance on stage, you would hear the audience repeat:
“ I am a monkey in a cage.” with enthusiasm and energy.


…you guys get the picture I’m sure. 


Bryan’s voice then starts to rise and with the sudden bang on the drum, it officially commences the orgasm of the song at 2:26. Each band member is now emitting such intensity as they play the crap out of their instruments, and Bryan is battling with the power of it all, yelling the chorus, making it sink in more than either of the previous two.

And, in unison at 2:42 we are hit with the two final strums of each instrument and BOOM. It’s done. 


So why has this song changed my life? I walked into the Sound Academy venue only knowing that a band called Cadillac Sky existed. I walked out an instant fan of theirs. The fact that this song has the gift to make a listener love the song and the band in just 2 minutes and 48 seconds is astounding and in my opinion, life changing.

So bottom line?

1.    This question was posed to them on their website: Can you touch an audience with your music face-to-face on a nightly basis? I will answer for them--- Yes. Yes they can.
2.    The fact that Dave Mayfield looks identical to Zack Galifianakis can only be seen as a plus.
3.    If any of you know which movie my blogpost title originated from… well I’ll like you for that.
4.    These guys are finishing off their tour tonight… so I hope they made their last show a great one.
5.    Oh, listen to this song… it’ll change your life.

What a Drunken Night Can Do For Some

So, being the “music enthusiast” that I claim I am, I think it’s only necessary I start paying some respect to the lady lade singers of the world. I have a serious soft spot when it comes to female singers. I think it’s because I used to hear quotes like this in my History of Rock Music class: “A woman’s space in music has been in the bedroom as groupies to male love rock gods.” Not only have I disputed this statement since the day I read it, but the female singer I am about to introduce completely defies this generalization. The bar has been set quite high for other musical artists to reach since this gal has received some serious recognition from music critics around the world on her recently acclaimed album “Lungs.”

She’s British. She’s cool as hell. And, you will not find her amongst the Amy Winehouse’s and Lilly Allen’s who are splattered on Perez Hilton’s website due to their drug/drinking overdoses. No, she’s beyond that...she has talent. She has a voice that I had no idea someone was even capable of having AND she’s got a shade of red hair that I only wish I could pull off. She also sings one of my favourite songs, “Cosmic Love.” Who am I talking about? That’s right. Florence Welch, the lead singer of Florence and the Machine.

Like I just mentioned, I do have a soft spot for female singers… but I need to truly admire the female and her music if I’m going to spend my time blogging about her. Clearly, Florence passes the test. Part of the reason why I fell in love with this gingy and her music is because she literally breathes cool. Well that, and the fact that she writes ALL her music when she’s drunk or hung-over. When I drink I can barely string together proper sentences. Yet, somehow she manages to create songs that are so deep with meaning and focus on the important issues of love and pain. She was once quoted saying “I write songs when I’m drunk because it gives me the freedom to say what I’m thinking and it allows me to make feral music.” First, the word feral describes her music perfectly. Just so spot on. And second, Ms. Florence has now taught us all a valuable lesson--- if you or someone you know is running their mouth when they’re drunk (whether it’s telling someone off, or confessing their love) and they wake up the next morning excusing it as just ‘talking shit’…DON’T BELIEVE THEM! They said exactly what they had wanted to say but were too afraid to spew it out till that fun but dangerous beverage hit their lips.

Back on topic now… Cosmic Love. Why do I love it? And why should all of you love it? Here’s why:

Within 0:03 seconds of the song playing, you can tell it has all the makings of a fairytale like sound. The song introduces itself with a harp (which I love) and a piano playing… two sweet and pleasant sounds that would resemble an opening scene in a Disney movie. In those same 0:03 seconds we hear Florence’s electric, fiery voice belt out the first lyric.

The fact that her voice emerges so quickly into the song is genius. It gives us zero time to consider the sound and whether or not we like what we’re hearing. You are instantly captured at the first lyric because her voice just astounds you; it’s so different than what we usually hear coming from a female. She is not shy and she wants you to know it from the way that she right off the bat presents us with the power and dramatic vibe her voice can project.

After being whisked away into what feels like a dream by her one of a kind, almost gothic-like vocals, we approach the 0:30 second mark a.k.a the chorus. From this point on our hearts feel as though they are being electrically shocked every time the tribal drumbeat bombards our ears. It’s funny; I find most songs on the radio to be so damn bland and repetitive that by the second chorus I shut the radio off completely. But with this song, it lives for the chorus. It reaches this height of intensity as the drums bang in a stop- start rhythm and she yelllllls the words “the stars, the moon, they have all been blown out. You left me in the dark…” I mean literally yelling! It’s intimidating…but ridiculously beautiful all at the same time.

It’s at 0:57 seconds, when all the clashing sounds blend together, that we reach a state of ecstasy, which holds us over until the second chorus hits with more power and more rage than the first. During her own little version of a musical interlude at 1:51, we let her ooooh’s completely overwhelm our bodies as the anticipation grows. And then…only for a moment does she calm us, peacefully singing to the piano and harp that’s being strummed so gently until… we hear the final tap of the piano key and we are left with a dramatic pause that causes us to hold our breath and have our bodies sit completely still in preparation for what’s next.

Finally…

At 2:33, the 3rd chorus, the most perfect orgasm (or in other words, climax) takes over and kicks the shit out of us. The combination of all these sounds, and her voice make you want to either explode or completely lose yourself in what you’re hearing. I know all I can do at this point is get up and freaking rock out while banging on my fake set of drums. Going with this fairytale analogy, this particular sound resembles the final battle between the villain and hero. You know? It’s like in Beauty and the Beast where we just don’t know if Gaston or the beast will win, and you’re sitting on the edge of your chair dying to find out. Ya, this climax of the song gives me that same feeling.

And then, at 3:43 Florence leaves us the same way she welcomed us...with the harp and the piano playing, creating that “happily ever after” sound.

So why has this song changed my life? This is the first and I think only song that I never want to sing along to. I JUST want to listen to it in its entirety. Why? Well first because Florence’s voice is out of this world but second (and more importantly), none of us will ever sound like her when singing it … so why ruin the perfection that it is with our own less perfect voices. Just appreciate it

So bottom line:

1. As my new music obsessed buddy, Ms. Fain once said: “I’d turn lesbian for Florence Welch.” well, I couldn’t agree more.

2. Hopefully this blog will make Lindsay want me to play the entire Florence cd in my car.

3. Oh ya, listen to the song… it’ll change your life.

Headphones On, Volume Up!

This thought is probably the furthest thing from true, but I like to believe that there are certain songs that need to be listened to through a pair of headphones. I don’t know why, or what it is but these songs just sound better this way. I think it’s the fact that the music is going directly into my ears; it makes me feel like I can hear the music and lyrics better but also that my brain and body are feeeeeling the music as I listen.
Sometimes, music just gets lost through speakers. For example, when I am cleaning my room, I’m so preoccupied that the music playing from my IPOD falls into the background and I forget it’s even on. Or in the car, I’m so busy trying to get to where I need to be that I don’t realize my favourite song is playing on the radio.
But not with headphones. They allow you to feel the music, hear the words and have them BOTH rattle your brain… in a good way. The song “Not Out” by Greg Laswell must be heard through headphones in order to really appreciate its greatness.

I should mention that I’ve been a long time fan of Mr. Greg Laswell. I believe it was his spectacularly unique rendition of the classic “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” that captured my attention, and frankly, he’s managed to produce nothing but unique and meaningful music ever since. Aside from the fact that I think he’s adorable and has that sarcastic humour going for him on Twitter and at his concerts, he’s also just real. His lyrics are genuine, heartfelt and honest, which is truly refreshing when it comes to music these days.

Soooooo, why do I die for this specific song? I’ll tell you.

For starters, this song offers up two different but awesome music tempos, which in my opinion should have you people obsessed with the song right off the bat. We are introduced to the first tempo at the beginning of the song… the sweet and simple sound of the acoustic guitar. That, combined with his soothing voice creates an instant state of tranquility for the listener. The guitar riffs and the quick addition of the piano (0:26 in) make the song sound clean and intimate that it allows you to really focus on what the lyrics are saying and the emotions that are coupled with them.

It’s at the 1:03 mark that we get a hint of the second tempo, and we can hear Greg’s voice starting to rise passionately. This change of pace and the addition of the violin and electric guitar causes our auditory system to perk up and listen to every minute detail in the first chorus. He gives us that small taste of musical power (that we just know is coming) by ending the chorus with the emotionally significant words “I’m Not Out.”

Then, another gentle verse satisfies our ears, but this time he includes the main ingredient to any fabulous song…a harmony. More specifically, a subtle harmony. Trust me, you want to listen for it. This musical tool is the absolute key to my heart and the fact that he uses it in this song only enhances my love for it. Now, it’s at this second chorus that we really get to hear this “other tempo” in full force. This change in rhythm is made loud and clear as his voice starts to power up, the vocals get stronger, the violin chords are being drawn on faster and the piano is being slammed on a bit harder. It’s specifically at 2:10 that every word, every beat, and every musical note vibrates your entire body with a yearning for more. He once again repeats the words “I’m Not Out,” which at last, sparks that orgasm that is about to take over.  

Like I said before, this song is unique and a perfect way to prove that is by paying attention to the way that he skips the typical musical interlude. instead, he continues to sing the words  “I’m Not Out”  over and over again, in order to build momentum. It’s at the moment where the music starts to amplify that he lets us in on his most private, most ‘diary-like’ thoughts and feelings.

At 2:37,  we finally get to hear the reason why this song was made in the first place. It’s that initial bang on the drum and the smack of the tambourine that forces your heart to jump out of its routine beat. While at the same time, taking notice to how his low and sultry voice has gained so much rage and intensity. I don’t know about you, but it felt like there was a weight on my heart at this point; it was as if he was transferring the energy in these lyrics onto me, causing me to think about a sensitive subject of my own that I finally just wanted to freak the fuck out about

You can actually hear how worked up he is gets as his raw emotions are blasting into your ears and finally, FINALLY you get to experience the most truthful words I think I’ve ever heard.
    “And I’m sure that I am tangled up in things you’ve said out loud to me,
    so recklessly.
    And its easier to sing to the things that I wanna say to you, so I’ll sing…”

And now… for the ultimate climax of the entire song that causes even your bones to tremble:
     “you’re losing me, my love
     you’re losing me, my love
    are you losing me my love..”

I mean, fuck! It just doesn’t get any better than that, people!


So, how has this song changed my life? Well, it somehow managed to give me the exact words that I had been searching to say to a particular person in my life. Did I eventually end up saying them? No. No I did not. But the fact that I then knew what I wanted those words to be just made it better… Well that and the fact that I belted the shit out of them in my car on the daily.. that made me feel better too.

Come to think of it, I can only imagine how I looked to other drivers on the road as I gave my steering wheel a serious beating trying to unleash my fury while shouting those lines.

So bottom line:
1.    If I had to make a playlist of 5 songs to listen to for the rest of my life… this song would make the cut.
2.    I’m truly devastated that I missed his October 30th show considering my dear friend Tiffany told me he played this song.
3.    I would like to have a witty banter war with him
4. Oh, and listen to this song.. it'll change your life