By "new" I mean that I didn't own them until Saturday morning. So I decided to make a list of all the ones I've listened to so far and arrange them into four catagories: LOVE IT, like it, hate it, want to like it/love it.Let's do it.
LOVE IT:
Classics: I Want You to Want Me - Cheap Trick (live version), American Pie - Don McLean, Several Elton John songs off of the album "Tumbleweed Connection."
New to me: I've fallen in love with so many new songs that it's just ridiculous.
Let's start with basically anything Brandi Carlile's put out, including her cover of Creep by Radiohead. This was a big move for me because I simply refused to listen to any modern country-like artists, and I had specifically said that I would never listen to Brandi Carlile because of her personal life. Several of the songs are about relationships with women, and I'm a Christian. However, the quality of her music is such that I just don't care. One of the songs is entitled "Josephine" and I love it. The harmonies are dead on; the vocals are smooth. It's just amazing.
I may be exaggerating a little bit, but the point is that it's good music.
Country is growing on me.
Moving on, another group I've fallen in love with is The Jonas Brothers. Say what you will, they're pretty good musicians. And in this case, they're all professing Christians and seem to be sticking to it. I'll stop there, because my brother will be too embarressed if I go on anymore. ;)
Billy Talent. I saw this band open for My Chemical Romance last year and haven't been able to get them out of my head. However, I only just bought some of their songs yesterday. Two of my favorites are "Surrender" and "Red Flag."
Quick comment: The difference between all three of these artists is incredible. Brandi Carlile: folk/rock, Jo Bros: teen/pop/rock, Billy Talent: rock/punk.
I love a little variety.
Beirut. My brother got me into this group. I only have two of their songs at the moment, but I love them. "Cliquot" and "Nantes." More of a mellowed out group which features some interesting sounds. They seem to use a lot of keyboard effects and piano, and they also have some good accordian, horn and drum usage. At first, I thought that the vocals were terrible, but after listening to them every time I see my brother, they've really grown on me.
Greenday's latest album "21st Century Breakdown." I love this album. "21 Guns" and "Viva la Gloria? (Little Girl)" are probably my favorites. It's Greenday, but they've grown up.Passion Pit. Awesome techno-ish group. Favorite song is "Sleepyhead" off of the "Chunk of Change" album. Enough said.
Eminem's new single "We Made You." Another sarcastic, stupid, arrogant, yet pointedly awesome song. However, the lyrics are incredibly controversial and at some points, simply disgusting. Not for the faint of heart, I suppose. Hmm... maybe I shouldn't put it in this post... Oh well!
The Ting Tings - "That's Not My Name." Love it.
Like it:
3OH!3 - "Trust Me." Okay, this is a terrible song. But some of the lyrics are just plain awesome. Plus it has a good beat. Think what you will.
The Kings of Leon. Specifically their new single "Sex on Fire" and... hmm... there's another one that I can't remember the name of. Sex on Fire has great flow and interest, but who knows whether the lyrics are appropriate or not? The other single is alright too, but not as good as a lot of other music out there.
(The early Kings of Leon stuff is great, though.)
Cobra Starship. New single has a great beat & a sweet tune, but a terrible message. Typical.
Asleep at the Wheel - album "Keepin' Me Up Nights." Not much to say about this, cause I haven't listened to it as much, plus I only just got into modernish country sounds, but I do like it. Vocals are awesome.
Want to like it:
Regina Spektor - "Laughing With." Off of the album "Far." Not quite sure whether this is actually a good song or not. Lyrics are either excellent or anger-inducing. If it is good, love it. If it isn't, I want to.The Indigo Girls. I only just discovered this duo, which apparently won some Grammys a few years back. I love the music and the sarcasm in the lyrics, but I can't love the entire sound because of the political crap. Both of the women in this group are lesbians and super-enviromentalists, which makes for some really irritating lyrics at times. Want to like it for sure, but just can't yet.
Some of Fall Out Boy's new songs such as "20 Dollar Nose Bleed" are written incredibly well, but the political stabs at George Bush and the War in Iraq just make me mad.
Hate it:
I don't have much to go here simply because I don't buy stuff I don't like. However, some of The Indigo Girl's stuff just makes me angry. Pretty much anything that insults the following will tick me off: Republicans, George W. Bush and/or Christians. Also, anything saying that we need to "save the planet" is a bunch of crap.
I know that musicians can and should write about whatever's affecting them, but that doesn't mean they should insult whomever our current President may be in the process. That includes interviews and stage talk. Sometimes, they really do need to shut up and sing.
But again, musicians can sing about what effects them and should because it makes for better music.
There you go, large post for my long absence.
