No.8 Blink-182: Very 90s

Look I'm not going to pretend that I remember the 90s but I've seen American Pie and at least four series of Friends so give me a break. A lot of the people who claim that they do remember the decade are probably lying and let's be honest, it was basically the same as the last ten years just with slightly baggier T-shirts and lots of centre-parting hairstyles. Oh yeah, the music was quite a lot better as well.

Bands often go through dramatic changes throughout their career; some to satisfy the public or a particular record label, others just to test themselves... or because they've discovered Jesus. Blink 182 are perhaps unique then in that they have kept true to their 90s punk image and genre, more importantly however is that the style of the music they produce hasn't varied a great deal in 20 years. Although it is often disputed whether this is a good thing or not, I personally believe it is a nice thing to see in the music industry with so many big-name artists succumbing to the popularity of electronic based crap which all sounds roughly the same. Despite perhaps looking like a trio of convicts standing trial for armed robbery, they are an excellent group and one of the leading faces of the pop-punk era. Again, I won't bore you with their history other than that they were revolutionary in the 1990s pop-punk scene alongside acts such as Green day and Sum-41 combining two previously separate musical genres. As an example of this, the greatest hits album released in 2005 shows how little the style of their music has changed with the obvious favorites of What's my age again and I miss you alongside each other in terms of similarity despite a 5 year gap between their releases. There are many more racy images of the band available on the internet but I'll let you browse for them yourselves (just remember to turn safe search off). Headlining at Reading festival this year, this is the band performing I miss you, be sure to listen to Blink 182 and other suggested bands.

No.7 Owl City- All Very Twinkly

Layers. That's the most prominent feature obvious at a glance (although frankly it's pretty hard to glance with your ears) in the music of Owl City. The whole image created by Adam Young originated from the sleepless nights of an insomniac while living with his parents in 2007, the music used as a diversion to sleeping. Obviously these diversions were much better than Young ever realised as when he eventually uploaded the finished products to Myspace, they attracted an almost surprising amount of attention leading to a record deal with Universal bursting on to the Techno scene in the same year.

As is often the case, many people only ever know the most popular music and since Owl City have only broken into the Pop charts with Fireflies and Good Time, these are the songs always quoted by those unacquainted with the artist. For me, these are not representations of his work as a whole; I personally prefer his older work like Maybe I'm Dreaming. While more recent works are much more wide ranging (both vocally as well as instrumentally) and technical featuring collaborations with artists such as Mark Hoppus from Blink-182, this record is much more stripped back to the very twinkly basics. There is little variation in vocal range and the tranquil, whispering tones of Young stand as a stark contrast to his more modern work.
Some may see this as lack of imagination however I think it shows good diversity between this and newer albums such as The Midsummer Station with West Coast Friendship a particular highlight for me.

I urge you to delve deeper into the works of Owl City, beyond the likes of Fireflies and Good Time as these barely scratch the surface. Don't be that bigot who claims that "All that techno bollocks is the same, all they do is sit there at the computer tapping away". It's much more complicated than you may think.
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No.6 English Idiot

I'm not really what you'd call a punk. I don't own a wardrobe full of black, my clothes are rarely adorned with chains and my hair is neither black nor completely shaved save a three-foot Mohawk which could easily be considered a safety hazard. Not for me or indeed anyone for around twenty years. Punk as a lifestyle as well as a musical genre has been subjected to gross stereotyping in the 21st century with the very word springing the images above into the minds of the public and music aficionados alike. This is wrong. The images set by bands like The Ramones in the 70s and 80s have long been faded out punk culture and all views likening modern day punk fans to those images are vastly outdated. Many groups in more recent years have diversified the punk genre with modern pop-rock and the result: Blink 182, Panic! At The Disco and the like. Oh and one other....

By some distance my favourite group of all time, Green day formed in Oakley; California in 1987 comprising of lead guitarist and vocalist Billie-Joe Armstrong, bassist Mark Dirnt and drummer Tré Cool. I won't bore you anymore with their history with the availability of Wikipedia etc. Instead let me get straight down to the most iconic punk-rock album of the 21st century: American Idiot.

The seventh studio album produced by the band, American Idiot saw Green day really rocket back into the Punk genre limelight since records such as Dookie in the early 1990s topping the charts in 19 countries worldwide and selling almost 5 million copies in the UK alone.
     The album, for me, is more than simply a collection of songs, but it tells the story of the past lives of the band members with "The Jesus of Suburbia" the alter ego to Armstrong mentioned throughout. The rock opera encompasses the adolescent views on society growing up in 70s California while expressing the anti-establishment views more commonly associated with punk groups. Each song has genuine feeling with massive world issues such as Iraq and corrupt governments condemned in every lyric. Believe me, if I was starting an anarchy enthused riot it would be done to "Holiday" or "Jesus of Suburbia" while "Wake me up when September ends" gives justice to Armstrong's father and all other Soldiers fighting to protect the livelihoods of their countrymen. I have seen firsthand their exceptional live performances and ability to create intimacy with stadium-filling crowds so I strongly suggest buying the album first or watch the powerful "Wake me up when September ends" music video.

No.5 All Time Low: Nothing Personal- So Indie it's disgusting

I despise the word Indie. I'm not really sure what it means, not that anyone really does since there's more meanings for it than the number of songs that I've listened to in my life.... There's a lot OK! Urban dictionary defines it as  An obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself. It is a group renowned for their elitism, peculiar clothing but most of all, their unique music. Indeed, it it one of the few genres to have spanned the generations with their standing and more importantly their sound still intact since the term Indie was adopted in the 80's from "Independent artists". Nowadays Indie is more of a description rather than a status but that doesn't concern me.

What does is the album "Nothing Personal" by Indie Punk/Pop group All Time Low which I recently discovered after watching them support Green Day at a concert. Released in 2009, this energizing album saw the quartet shoot to the top of the Alternative scene in the UK and US. The album expresses love, heartbreak and teen-spirit in a mass of melodic guitar and soft vocals from Alex Gaskarth all conforming to create a perfectly engineered sound. All Time Low are unique in there versatility despite remaining true to the Emo-Indie genre with hit singles Weightless and Break your little heart a stark contrast to the sobering tone of Therapy. Their smart acoustic performances boosted their popularity within the US and they are now beginning to grow in stature throughout Europe. They are a major up and coming band in world music let alone the genre so have a gander at some of their stuff on YouTube.

So if I like this music, what does that make me.... an Indian? If so, I'll happily declare myself so.

Sorry I haven't posted for such a long time, I've had exams and been generally busy. I will resume more regular posting from now onwards. safe  

No.4 Skillet - Isn't that a frying pan?

For most people, if they hear the phrase "Christian music" used in any form of positive sentence, they proceed to, firstly, ask if you're joking before regarding you as if you are a particularly obese slug with acne and halitosis. I have been one of those people... So you can imagine the horror of my friends and family when I revealed my passion for a certain band by the name of Skillet. If you research them, all the signs pointing to their religious beliefs are there: Met at a Christian communion, signed to a christian record label, tour with bands with names like "Disciple". It's all there. Despite this, their music is more suited to a Call Of Duty montage rather than a Sunday congregation with a unique and well-mastered sound. Hallelujah!

They have a deeply classical sound similar to that of Mozart or Bach; deeply violin based with touches of Beethoven... Or that is what you might think after listening to the opening 10 seconds of Comatose, before the heavy bass and aggressive guitar kick in. The single is fantastic and I could listen to it over and over again, each time liking it even more. The vocals of John Cooper are gruff yet perfectly in tune and harmonize well with drummer, Jen Ledger and lead guitarist Seth Morrison making this song a must-buy for modern rock lovers. Here's the single Comatose. Until next time. Amen

Just a side note, If you are a football follower read my new blog "More than Just a Game". Different style of writing, more narrative.

No.3 The Killers - Battle Born

Afternoon, welcome to the second in my list of "Proper Music" Today it's the new Killers album  Battle born.

The Killers, Battle born, Miss Atomic Bomb, it all sounds very macho doesn't it? That's probably to account for the frankly unfortunately girly name of enigmatic lead vocalist Brandon Flowers. Or did he choose that name? Either way, it's a contrast to say the least with band's fifth album released at the end of last year. OK, let's get down to some reviewing.

     Battle Born, for me, marks the completion of a significant change of sound for the band since the rocky feel of Hot Fuss and Sam's Town to a more electronically based pop-orientated one. The purists will be fuming, claiming that the band went back on their roots simply to sell more records but let's face it: their job is to sell as many albums as possible. Although I agree with this somewhat,  I feel the Las Vegas formed band have pulled it off creating some absolute bangers. They've nailed it especially with The Way It Was and From Here On Out with powerful yet elegant vocals from Mr Flowers and faultless guitar from Mr Keuning. The harmonies are always on point along with clever lyrics and calming melodies making this a top album. If you're unfamiliar with their sound, check out the new single Miss Atomic Bomb. 

That's all from me, see you next time.

No.2 Mumford and Sons - A great removals firm

   It is of course, the award winning Babel by British based folk rock band Mumford and Sons. Those of you with eyes will notice that there are four members,

After the release of Sigh No More in 2009, the band, led by gruff-voiced front man Marcus Mumford, the debut album shot to number one, receiving "Best British Album" at the Brits. They must have been as shocked as I was. "What is this, they won the award with a bloody bango" I recall cursing. After listening to the record, these were replaced with "Fair enough..".The new album then, was under extreme pressure to live up to their lofty standards set three years previous with Babel released in autumn 2012. The album for me, fulfills all expected of it. They have varied their sound without drifting away from their roots as a folk rock band. The rock influence is strong and shines through in Broken Crown and Hopeless Wanderer while the string based folk is always present especially so in Ghosts That We Knew and Holland road. However, the obvious highlights are the singles I Will Wait and Lover Of The Light. The harmonies, perhaps my favourite feature, are perfect giving a very natural feel to every one of their songs.

You're always going to have that ignorant idiot who shouts "The songs all sound the same" but the distinct difference is easy to notice once you engage your lobes. The one issue I have is that some of the songs are very quiet and you will need good headphones to get the full "Mumford effect" as I call it. Check them out performing I will wait live at the Red Rocks ampitheatre. 

That's all for now. I'll be back soon reviewing more filthy tunes, until then I'll be off. Tell your friends.  .

No.1 In the beginning...

"One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain" I'm sorry Bob, sometimes that's simply isn't the case. The vast majority of modern POP causes me to physically stoop where i stand into hideous fits of coughing. Or am I just asthmatic? The charts no longer bare any relevance and are filled with either manufactured franchise or ridiculous dance crazes... or a mixture of both. All the same, Simon Cowell hoards a little more every day and I'm still coming out in rashes. 
     Therefore, I have taken it as my personal duty to remind whoever will listen about what real music actually sounds like. Don't worry, I'm not one of those old bigots who remembers the "golden age" and refuses point blank to let anything written after 1978 reach their ear drums; I'm still waking up in cold sweats since my dad took me to an open mic night at his local. Nor am I a hardcore death metal fan who wears greasy Metallica t-shirts and has a fear of the sun. By all means live like that it's just... not my style. OK, back to my duty, I will be delving into the murky depths of my Ipod to share with you some of my favourite "Proper Music" as I will call it. You will see reviews from alternative rock to country, grunge to electronic, metal to 80's club classics. No i'm Joking, there's no metal. It'll be a long journey but I hope you'll stick with me and read about the artists you know and like. Alright then, let's kick this bad boy off.