May was a rather uneventful music month. There are only a few new additions to my list, with many of these songs carrying over in the same spot from last month's list. However, the few new additions are awesome, claiming high ranks in this month's top ten!
1. Shut Up and Dance - Walk the Moon - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JCLY0Rlx6Q
Another dance party song in the Ramson household! I love the fact that this song uses instruments, rather then electronic equipment. It goes to show that you can still create upbeat, catchy tunes using guitars, drums, and bass. Actually, all three of those instruments stick to basic principles in this song, yet they still combine to create an amazing single.
2. Boldly I Approach - Rend Collective - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QDnVD7gu5Y
Much like a few other songs I have been focusing on, this one also relies on a guitar riff to drive the song forward. With a chorus/reverb effect, the picking fills the space of the song nicely, and contributes directly to the dynamics. Picking also allows for a transition into strumming, as well as for changes in the volume of the notes, which also contributes to a nice smooth build within the song.
3. Youtopia - Armin van Buuren feat. Adam Young - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTgh-QwvyVo
My brother turned me onto this song, and I immediately had to buy it to relisten to over and over again. I'm not a huge fan of electronic dance music, as many people already know, but whenever Adam Young, or Owl City as he's better know, releases a new song, I'm always interested. He seems to connect himself with catchy songs constantly.
4. Baby I Need You - Kim Taylor - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxxhALen93E
One aspect of my musical practice that I have been focusing on is acoustic guitar picking such as the one in this song. Having that style in a song adds rhythm, and a sense of uniqueness. It also allows for dynamics to play a factor in the song, especially when the song is a ballad, again like this one. The picking in the song seems to rely on hitting the root bass note, and then playing a pattern between two or three treble notes.
5. Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8AWFf7EAc4
As I mentioned last month, the amount of covers of this song is staggering. And, as much as I like the original, I do like some covers more. One would be Jason Castro's soulful version from American Idol. Another would be Lincoln Brewster's Christian take, titled Another Hallelujah. The test of a real classic is the amount, and the quality of the covers that follow in the years after its release.
6. Where Can't I Find You - Sky Terminal - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-em44bgX-o
I prefer acoustic slow songs over fast rock songs, but this is quickly becoming one of my favourite songs. Not only is the music driving, and upbeat, the lyrics are great as well. I cannot rave enough about this band. Their career is one I will be closely following for many years to come.
7. She Looks So Perfect - Five Seconds of Summer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2BYmmTI04I
I've been working on a cover for this song, and while researching other covers, I've realized that I enjoy the song more with an acoustic sound. With the right voice, an acoustic guitar, and a cajun, this song is opened up to a really cool vibe, and some interesting interpretations. Even Five Seconds of Summer's own acoustic version sounds better then the original!
8. Where Are U Now - Skrillex and Diplo feat. Justin Bieber - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKS1xjqEv8o
I know a lot of people really dislike Justin Bieber, and to a certain degree I agree with them. However, as I continually say, the fact is that he has real talent. I recently watched a video of him just singing in a car (with James Corben I believe), and he hits every note perfectly (even though they are his own songs). I personally believe that he doesn't need to rely on electronics to make his voice sound great, it is naturally a good voice.
9. Hideaway - Kiesza - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D70UT2wUnoM
This past month, the YouTube official video for Hideaway went past 230 million views. That's an amazing accomplishment, especially for the video only being online for about a year. Surprisingly, there is also a video online of Kiesza playing the song acoustically. It sounds really weird, yet she's able to pull it off because of her vocal power.
10. Thinking Out Loud - Ed Sheeran - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpyfrixXBqU
Almost fell off the list for this month, but still this song halfway through the year, is number one for song of the year. It continues to be a massive hit on radios, and on iTunes, and with Ed Sheeran constantly in the news, it seems it won't be falling down any time soon.
Thursday 28 May 2015
Friday 8 May 2015
NEEDTOBREATHE's The Outsiders Album Review
Rating: 9.0/10
Website: http://www.needtobreathe.com/?frontpage=true
Purchase: http://www.amazon.ca/The-Outsiders-Needtobreathe/dp/B0029O09TC
NEEDTOBREATHE is quite frankly an amazingly unique band. Not only do they attempt to work against the status quo of the current popular music industry, they do so with flair. Sticking with classic band instruments like guitars and drum, rather than the popular electronic equipment dominating today, NEEDTOBREATHE have crafted a sound that they can call their own, spearheaded by vocal specialist Bear Rinehart.
This might be one of the best albums I have ever heard, from one of the best bands out there. The record is filled with hits, and even the lesser songs are extremely good. For me, the highlights are Let Us Love, Something Beautiful, The Outsiders, and A Girl Named Tennessee. However, the other songs are really quite something as well. All the songs hold true to NEEDTOBREATHE's crafted sound, with a folky kind of feel to it. The band makes perfect use of a basis of guitars, drums, and then filters through some extras like banjos, extra percussion, e.t.c. The sound created works for both fast and slower paced songs, and is extremely catchy, yet motivating as well.
Another surprising aspect of this record is the emphasis placed on the lyrical content. Almost every single one of these songs contain meaningful lyrics. There is no mumble jumble, with every song created for a specific purpose. That purpose is served by a combining effort through the music and vocals.
Website: http://www.needtobreathe.com/?frontpage=true
Purchase: http://www.amazon.ca/The-Outsiders-Needtobreathe/dp/B0029O09TC
NEEDTOBREATHE is quite frankly an amazingly unique band. Not only do they attempt to work against the status quo of the current popular music industry, they do so with flair. Sticking with classic band instruments like guitars and drum, rather than the popular electronic equipment dominating today, NEEDTOBREATHE have crafted a sound that they can call their own, spearheaded by vocal specialist Bear Rinehart.
This might be one of the best albums I have ever heard, from one of the best bands out there. The record is filled with hits, and even the lesser songs are extremely good. For me, the highlights are Let Us Love, Something Beautiful, The Outsiders, and A Girl Named Tennessee. However, the other songs are really quite something as well. All the songs hold true to NEEDTOBREATHE's crafted sound, with a folky kind of feel to it. The band makes perfect use of a basis of guitars, drums, and then filters through some extras like banjos, extra percussion, e.t.c. The sound created works for both fast and slower paced songs, and is extremely catchy, yet motivating as well.
Another surprising aspect of this record is the emphasis placed on the lyrical content. Almost every single one of these songs contain meaningful lyrics. There is no mumble jumble, with every song created for a specific purpose. That purpose is served by a combining effort through the music and vocals.
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