(no subject)
A long time ago I wrote a little entry about the ten most influential albums in my life. (It's here if you're interested: moosatcows.livejournal.com/1606.html ) Lately, though, I've been trying to think about albums in recent years that have affected me the same way. My friend princessleia04 recently had a very moving musical experience that she's only begun to put into words, Adam Lambert's album is due out in a few weeks, and I've been putting together a playlist for my novel, REFUGE. All of these things put me exactly in the frame of mind to talk about the music that has touched my life in the past few years. I'll recommend a few songs or even a whole CD and seriously, run over to iTunes and invest a few bucks. I promise you, you won't regret it.
Sigur Ros
The little post-rock band from Iceland that makes me believe in God. No joke, when I listen to them, I get the feeling that I am listening to something that is beyond time itself, beyond this world, beyond music. They are all the beauty and power and sadness in the world put into music. I recommend any album. Really. Any album. Takk... is exceptional, as is Med Sud i Eyrum and ( ). Takk... would be my first rec. No, Med Sud. No. Seriously, I don't know. As for songs, Glisoli is just breathtaking. I actually listened to this while I was reading Chapter 34 of Deathly Hallows, so it has a really deep meaning to me. Ara Batur is so mind-blowingly gorgeous that by the end of the song, when the choir comes in with a full orchestra, you will break down and weep. Illgresi is the perfect example of the singer, Jonsi's spectacular voice. Untitled 6 and 8 and 4 will break your heart.
Angels & Airwaves
I am really not fond of Blink 182, so it surprised the hell out of me that AVA was really just Blink 182's lineup with a few replacements. The music has clearly been influenced by U2, but it has an energy and an edge to it that U2 has never achieved. Their drummer is just a genius, and he lays a foundation for the band that drives all of their music forward. The guitar punches out this running line that races to catch up while the bass holds down all of it and makes it solid. Their lyrics are just genius. They cut right to the chase without any flowery metaphor and embrace tough subjects like the loss of innocence, disappointment, loneliness, young love, and the feeling of completion you have when you're with the right person. I can't decide between I-Empire or We Don't Need to Whisper, but I will say that my favorite songs are Start the Machine, The Adventure, The Gift, Secret Crowds, and Do It For Me Now. Download one now. If you like one, you'll like them all.
My Chemical Romance
Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge. I can't help it. I like it better than Black Parade. I really love Black Parade and I deeply appreciate what they tried to do with that album.But Three Cheers was amazing to me. A student recommended it to me and I totally put it on my iPod thinking that this was just another watered down, emo imitation of punk and I'd hate it. I LOVED IT. Every song. Helena and Ghost of You were epic. Cemetery Drive made me feel like a teenager in love again. I'm Not Okay was my angry jam. The energy and angst and pure awesome chaos of this album seriously impressed me and I will forever love the Way boys and their partners in crime.
Arcade Fire
Okay, did you read what I said about Sigur Ros up there? You did? Good. Now take that feeling that you're listening to God and just put awesome lyrics to it. (Don't get me wrong, Sigur Ros has great lyrics too. But they're in Icelandic. So... really, it just sounds like nonsense.)
Well, that's not completely true. Arcade Fire is less like God and more like every single bittersweet memory you have about childhood and being a teenager and growing up and not wanting to grow up - in musical form. There's something incredibly nostalgic about The Funeral, because it's like looking back on your life through the lens of knowledge and experience; insightful yet naive and innocent all at once. AF has a really raw sound to them. The singer is sometimes drowned out by the clanging of the giant band in the background, but it's so good that way. SO GOOD. It enhances the emotion.
Ray LaMontagne
Anyone who knows me knows that I can't stand the typical Jack Johnson, guy with a guitar kind of sound. And don't even get me started on John Mayer. Yuck. But every once in a while, a man with a guitar comes along with a genuinely raw sound. Simple guitar licks with backing strings, heart-wrenching lyrics, and a soulful voice. I found that with Damien Rice years ago. Sometimes Connor Oberst weaves that magic. Paolo Nutini has got it when he wants it (and when he doesn't, he's still got the coolest sound I've ever heard), but the one who sticks out most in my mind is Ray LaMontagne. His voice is like a whisper; the sound of hope breaking through the darkness. I don't know what to really say about him except that his music is haunting and you will feel it long after you've stopped listening to it. He has a way of saying things that bring out the beauty of every situation, even the most hurtful ones. It absolutely works its way into your mind and heart and takes up residence there permanently, so that no matter how many times you listen to them and no matter how long it's been since you heard them last, each time is like new. The images he paints in the songs are forever burned into your mind.
He has a lot of CDs, so I'll just mention a few of my favorite songs: Empty (my favorite), Can I Stay, Hold You In My Arms, Trouble, Shelter, Burn, Jolene, All the Wild Horses.
I have a lot that could be honorable mentions, a lot that are a lot less mainstream but no less affecting, but I'm going to stick to these 5 for now. If there's interest I might make another list sometime, but really, I think these 5 in particular have been the most changing for me. If I look at my playlists, these 5 are sprinkled everywhere. No matter what the subject or mood, their music speaks to me, and I hope it speaks to you too.
Sigur Ros
The little post-rock band from Iceland that makes me believe in God. No joke, when I listen to them, I get the feeling that I am listening to something that is beyond time itself, beyond this world, beyond music. They are all the beauty and power and sadness in the world put into music. I recommend any album. Really. Any album. Takk... is exceptional, as is Med Sud i Eyrum and ( ). Takk... would be my first rec. No, Med Sud. No. Seriously, I don't know. As for songs, Glisoli is just breathtaking. I actually listened to this while I was reading Chapter 34 of Deathly Hallows, so it has a really deep meaning to me. Ara Batur is so mind-blowingly gorgeous that by the end of the song, when the choir comes in with a full orchestra, you will break down and weep. Illgresi is the perfect example of the singer, Jonsi's spectacular voice. Untitled 6 and 8 and 4 will break your heart.
Angels & Airwaves
I am really not fond of Blink 182, so it surprised the hell out of me that AVA was really just Blink 182's lineup with a few replacements. The music has clearly been influenced by U2, but it has an energy and an edge to it that U2 has never achieved. Their drummer is just a genius, and he lays a foundation for the band that drives all of their music forward. The guitar punches out this running line that races to catch up while the bass holds down all of it and makes it solid. Their lyrics are just genius. They cut right to the chase without any flowery metaphor and embrace tough subjects like the loss of innocence, disappointment, loneliness, young love, and the feeling of completion you have when you're with the right person. I can't decide between I-Empire or We Don't Need to Whisper, but I will say that my favorite songs are Start the Machine, The Adventure, The Gift, Secret Crowds, and Do It For Me Now. Download one now. If you like one, you'll like them all.
My Chemical Romance
Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge. I can't help it. I like it better than Black Parade. I really love Black Parade and I deeply appreciate what they tried to do with that album.But Three Cheers was amazing to me. A student recommended it to me and I totally put it on my iPod thinking that this was just another watered down, emo imitation of punk and I'd hate it. I LOVED IT. Every song. Helena and Ghost of You were epic. Cemetery Drive made me feel like a teenager in love again. I'm Not Okay was my angry jam. The energy and angst and pure awesome chaos of this album seriously impressed me and I will forever love the Way boys and their partners in crime.
Arcade Fire
Okay, did you read what I said about Sigur Ros up there? You did? Good. Now take that feeling that you're listening to God and just put awesome lyrics to it. (Don't get me wrong, Sigur Ros has great lyrics too. But they're in Icelandic. So... really, it just sounds like nonsense.)
Well, that's not completely true. Arcade Fire is less like God and more like every single bittersweet memory you have about childhood and being a teenager and growing up and not wanting to grow up - in musical form. There's something incredibly nostalgic about The Funeral, because it's like looking back on your life through the lens of knowledge and experience; insightful yet naive and innocent all at once. AF has a really raw sound to them. The singer is sometimes drowned out by the clanging of the giant band in the background, but it's so good that way. SO GOOD. It enhances the emotion.
Ray LaMontagne
Anyone who knows me knows that I can't stand the typical Jack Johnson, guy with a guitar kind of sound. And don't even get me started on John Mayer. Yuck. But every once in a while, a man with a guitar comes along with a genuinely raw sound. Simple guitar licks with backing strings, heart-wrenching lyrics, and a soulful voice. I found that with Damien Rice years ago. Sometimes Connor Oberst weaves that magic. Paolo Nutini has got it when he wants it (and when he doesn't, he's still got the coolest sound I've ever heard), but the one who sticks out most in my mind is Ray LaMontagne. His voice is like a whisper; the sound of hope breaking through the darkness. I don't know what to really say about him except that his music is haunting and you will feel it long after you've stopped listening to it. He has a way of saying things that bring out the beauty of every situation, even the most hurtful ones. It absolutely works its way into your mind and heart and takes up residence there permanently, so that no matter how many times you listen to them and no matter how long it's been since you heard them last, each time is like new. The images he paints in the songs are forever burned into your mind.
He has a lot of CDs, so I'll just mention a few of my favorite songs: Empty (my favorite), Can I Stay, Hold You In My Arms, Trouble, Shelter, Burn, Jolene, All the Wild Horses.
I have a lot that could be honorable mentions, a lot that are a lot less mainstream but no less affecting, but I'm going to stick to these 5 for now. If there's interest I might make another list sometime, but really, I think these 5 in particular have been the most changing for me. If I look at my playlists, these 5 are sprinkled everywhere. No matter what the subject or mood, their music speaks to me, and I hope it speaks to you too.