Interesting Music Related Links.

[ewok20t3]

I thought it might be a good idea to have a topic to post music links that may not be worthy of their own topic, but some may still find interesting.

This one certainly caught me off guard. http://www.buzzgrinder.com/2010/rufus-wainwright-on-50-cent-i-know-hes-gay/

[ewok20t3]

Or this one of Conan O'Brien covering Radiohead. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HxKHJXT7Ps&feature=player_embedded

You get the idea...

[murlough23]

Or this one of Conan O'Brien covering Radiohead. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HxKHJXT7Ps&feature=player_embedded

You get the idea...

Wow. That was pretty awful.

[RedcoatJones]

Awesome and awful at the same time:

Creed Sings New Marlins Theme Song

I swear it sounds like he's singing, "With a little faith and luck, you will suck."

[murlough23]

I swear it sounds like he's singing, "With a little faith and luck, you will suck."

This is the same guy who sang, "Can you and me just be slime?" when he meant to sing "sublime", so I'm not surprised.

[plvarona]

I swear it sounds like he's singing, "With a little faith and luck, you will suck."

I heard the same thing too, and couldn't help but laugh.

Then again, given the Marlins' record as of late, he might be right.   

[ewok20t3]

An extremely in-depth "tour guide" to Anberlin's Cities album. http://mattmetzler.wordpress.com/2010/03/30/a-tour-guide-to-anberlins-cities/

[murlough23]

An extremely in-depth "tour guide" to Anberlin's Cities album. http://mattmetzler.wordpress.com/2010/03/30/a-tour-guide-to-anberlins-cities/

<spock>Fascinating!</spock>

On December 26, 2006, the band released the Godspeed EP via iTunes, giving fans their first taste of the album.  It featured the lead single Godspeed and The Haunting, a b-side which Stephen had originally intended for his solo project Anchor & Braille until the rest of the band swayed him to record it as an Anberlin song.

I'm really glad for this. "The Haunting" is one of my favorite Anberlin songs, and for him to do it as Anchor & Braille likely would have sucked most of the intensity out of it.

I think Cities was more of a guinea pig experiment to see how invested the fans were into Anberlin.  It just seemed like before people were just waiting for the hook.  That’s why, in A Whisper & A Clamor, there’s a line about being so tired of writing songs that people hear but no one listens to, no one hears what’s really being said.

I was just listening to that song the other day, and wondering if that lyric had arisen from frustration with people not really listening for much beyond the simple hook. I remember later on when New Surrender came out, some critics treated it like a return to the band's former glory after Cities, which to them was an indistinct and hookless album. It's certainly a darker album, and it did take me longer to figure out my favorites on Cities, but I'm surprised that people would have reacted to it this way. To me, it has massive hook value, more so than either of the albums before it.

So it feels like it’s time that this whisper becomes an actual clamor; instead of just whispering about it, just something under our breath, it actually needs to be something that’s shouted from the rooftops.  We need to solve problems, we need to go out there and stop just talking about doing it, we actually need to put some action behind it.

Interesting. I hadn't really thought more deeply about the meaning of "A Whisper & a Clamor" until the other day. It occurred to me that the idea was all of the rumor-mongering going on about a band whose lyrics Christian fans don't understand and whether they are even a "Christian band" may seem innocuous, but with enough people doing it, it can start to seem really loud and overbearing. They'd rather hear simplistic CCM song choruses, hence "Clap your hands, all ye children", which I'm sure must refer to something that I once heard in Sunday school in a tongue-in-cheek manner. Except it doesn't. I was way off on this one.

I was also way off on "The Unwinding Cable Car". That's probably my favorite song on the album.

The American Dream is completely comfort.  If you want that, if that’s what you’re striving to get, this America is completely conducive.  But what do you want?  Do you want to make a change in this world or not?  And that’s what you have to face.  Every day you have to look in the mirror and go, ‘Is there more to living, or is this it?  Am I content right here? Is this what I wanted?'

Ha. So I was totally right when I pegged "Alexithymia" as a Switchfoot song! (Not to knock the song. It's one of my favorites. I'm just sayin'.)

"Reclusion was the song I didn’t want on the record.  I wanted it as a b-side, hidden away on some random internet website that everybody hears about but nobody ever sees."

This sort of thing is probably why a lot of the squeaky-clean Christian music fans don't seem to get Anberlin. It doesn't compute for them that someone could write a song admitting "I sometimes feel this way" without actually endorsing/encouraging that feeling or behavior. It always made sense to me. I didn't think Stephen was actually on the verge of becoming a serial killer or anything.

"But later in life I realized I needed to stop looking at Christians to see Christ. I wrestled with God, and he won."

Excellent summation of "(*Fin)". I more or less got that impression from the song. If more Christian songwriters could focus on this less and less about bragging that they're gonna be goodie-two-shoes for the rest of their lives, maybe more of the folks who hear Christian music would be able to take it seriously.

[ewok20t3]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQBbgXm4W1E&feature=player_embedded

The new Sleeping At Last video for "Unmade". I know there's some fans here, so I thought I'd post this.

[murlough23]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQBbgXm4W1E&feature=player_embedded

The new Sleeping At Last video for "Unmade". I know there's some fans here, so I thought I'd post this.

Very well done. It fits the song, though I'll admit I didn't expect a video for such a laid-back song to be so sad.

[ewok20t3]

If anyone is feeling like experimenting, you can listen to one of the favorites to be my album of the year this year. It's Carry Ourselves by Continuance. Most of you probably won't like the vocals, but if you can get past it and hear how great the music is there's a good chance you might enjoy it. The vocals take a little time to grow on you.
http://www.absolutepunk.net/artists/showlink.php?do=showdetails&l=28382

[bloop]

I pride myself in being able to taking my share of harsh vocals, so I'm game (but I'd rather listen and be able to move around w/ my iPod).

np:  PJ Harvey - "Ecstasy"

[ewok20t3]

I pride myself in being able to taking my share of harsh vocals, so I'm game (but I'd rather listen and be able to move around w/ my iPod).

That's very understandable. Plus, if you're computer speakers are anything like mine, it's hard to hear everything that's going on in hardcore and metal music on them.

[Wildcatblue7]

I remember later on when New Surrender came out, some critics treated it like a return to the band's former glory after Cities, which to them was an indistinct and hookless album. It's certainly a darker album, and it did take me longer to figure out my favorites on Cities, but I'm surprised that people would have reacted to it this way. To me, it has massive hook value, more so than either of the albums before it.

Wait, really?!  Cities hooked me immediately.  Like, first listen.  I felt like it was the hookiest thing the band had done.

Granted, that's the only Anberlin album I listen to at this point (minus "Dance Dance, Christa Paffgen," which is my jam) and I haven't heard anything else after Cities.

[murlough23]

New Surrender is poppier and arguably hookier. Also more lyrically straightforward. I actually feel that the album suffers a bit for it, but that's not to say they didn't experiment here and there (see the spooky final track "Miserabile Visu"), or that there aren't any solid rockers. If nothing else, go listen to "The Resistance". I think that one could be your jam as well.

[ewok20t3]

New Surrender is poppier and arguably hookier. Also more lyrically straightforward. I actually feel that the album suffers a bit for it

I agree. I love Anberlin, but I just really thought this album was average. The poppiness and less introspective lyrics made this album feel generic. I blame the producer, as well, though. He's known for his work with Fall Out Boy and Yellowcard, so I don't think he was pushing them towards anything people over 20 would enjoy.

[bloop]

OK, on the Continuance album . . . I think I may have found my outer limits.  Hardcore as performed by Grover.

[murlough23]

OK, on the Continuance album . . . I think I may have found my outer limits.  Hardcore as performed by Grover.

I used to call those kinds of vocalists Cookie Monster.

[ewok20t3]

OK, on the Continuance album . . . I think I may have found my outer limits.  Hardcore as performed by Grover.

Haha, I'm glad you gave it a shot! The vocals are strange, even for hardcore. It's more of a passionate yell or a shout than a scream or a growl. It took some getting used to for me, when I first heard this band, and I listen to hardcore or metal 50% of the time! Did you enjoy the music at all? I think the guitar parts are beautiful and I think they blend so well with the passion that the vocalist exudes (although it may not be the most tuneful).

[bloop]

Yeah, I did like the other instruments.

[ewok20t3]

Hardcore

Let me add, I like that you properly classified the album. I know people who listen to nothing but "heavy" music and can't tell the difference between hardcore and metal, and therefore they classify everything as metal by default.

[ewok20t3]

For any Evanescence fans out there, here is the original band members, minus Amy Lee, plus some girl that was on American Idol.
http://www.myspace.com/wearethefallen

[murlough23]

For any Evanescence fans out there, here is the original band members, minus Amy Lee, plus some girl that was on American Idol.
http://www.myspace.com/wearethefallen

I heard about that. This feels like the SonicFlood drama all over again.

[ewok20t3]

I heard about that. This feels like the SonicFlood drama all over again.

Yeah, I've heard Amy Lee is quite the Diva. I hope she comes begging for all of her band members back.

I'm not really much of an Evanescence fan, but I am a fan of Rocky Gray who is in We Are The Fallen and formerly in Evanescence, so I try to at least support him.

[murlough23]

Yeah, I've heard Amy Lee is quite the Diva. I hope she comes begging for all of her band members back.

She will be hard to replace, vocally speaking. In the studio, anyway. In a live setting, anyone would be an improvement who could, you know, stand still while singing.

[ewok20t3]

A cool and cheap way to display you records. I may give this a shot at some point.
http://analogapartment.com/blog/2010/4/16/display-vinyl-for-around-5-record.html

[ewok20t3]

A message from Dustin Kensrue of Thrice and his father. Sounds like they're in need of prayer.
http://www.thrice.net/?p=528

[ewok20t3]

This article talks about "embarrassing" early music careers of rock and pop stars. Includes Bjork, Trent Reznor, and Katy Perry (I'm sure most are familiar with her story).
http://www.spinner.com/2010/04/22/embarrassing-songs/

[murlough23]

The future Mrs. Russell Brand, the woman who gave the world dirty-mouthed hits like 'UR So Gay' and 'I Kissed a Girl,' could once have been described as "wholesome." Yes, believe it or not, catty bad girl Katy Perry was once angelic Christian recording artist Katy Hudson. Released in 2001 (when she was only 16 years old), her self-titled gospel-rock debut made exactly zero references to masturbation, bi-curious make-out sessions or waking up in Las Vegas.

And this makes her old work more embarrassing than her current work HOW???

I mean, sure, her CCM stuff was cheesy, but it's nowhere near as bad as she is now.

NP: "At Least I'm Not as Sad (as I Used to Be)", fun.

[bloop]

I fail to see how Bjork's early career is all that embarrassing.  Sounds like a little girl singing the Beatles to me.

Katy Perry's is embarrassing whether one wants to play morality police or not.

[murlough23]

Katy Perry's is embarrassing whether one wants to play morality police or not.

Maybe so; I just find it funny that someone would consider it embarrassing specifically because she was not trying to play the bad girl.

[Brenden]

Maybe so; I just find it funny that someone would consider it embarrassing specifically because she was not trying to play the bad girl.

She didn't have ONE song about masturbating? What kind of a respectable artist DOESN'T have a song about that?

[bloop]

The Divinyls?  No, no.  Cyndi Lauper?  Doh!  Radiohead?  GAH!  It'll come to me, just wait a sec!

[RedcoatJones]

Phorum fav Vienna Teng performs "Stray Italian Greyhound" live for Paste:

Live at Paste: Vienna Teng

[murlough23]

I would kill to find live footage of Vienna performing "Radio". But I don't think she's attempted it yet.

EDIT: Whoa, I didn't realize there were further performances after "Stray Italian Greyhound". Nice to finally hear a live rendition of "Augustine".

[murlough23]

M.I.A. makes a video that she knows will get censored, so she can gripe about it. (This link is to an article about it, not the actual video, which I haven't watched.)

http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Music/04/27/mia.music.video/index.html?eref=igoogle_cnn

Hey look, I'm all for artistic expression, and I even think I get the message she's trying to convey here. It's shocking because it's supposed to be. That said, if a site prohibits the posting of nudity and graphic violence, you don't get to act like you're an exception to the rules. Even if it has a good message, there are certain things that people don't want to see, and a site like YouTube gets to determine what types of content they will and won't allow. Host it on your own site and Tweet/Facebook/otherwise advertise the hell out of it. I'm sure folks will check it out.

[ewok20t3]

M.I.A. makes a video that she knows will get censored, so she can gripe about it. (This link is to an article about it, not the actual video, which I haven't watched.)

http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Music/04/27/mia.music.video/index.html?eref=igoogle_cnn

Hey look, I'm all for artistic expression, and I even think I get the message she's trying to convey here. It's shocking because it's supposed to be. That said, if a site prohibits the posting of nudity and graphic violence, you don't get to act like you're an exception to the rules. Even if it has a good message, there are certain things that people don't want to see, and a site like YouTube gets to determine what types of content they will and won't allow. Host it on your own site and Tweet/Facebook/otherwise advertise the hell out of it. I'm sure folks will check it out.

I wonder if the majority of her reasoning for making this video is to make a statement or for her own publicity. I like M.I.A., but she strikes me as an attention whore who hides it under the disguise of art. Just the impression I've gotten from her.

[murlough23]

I wonder if the majority of her reasoning for making this video is to make a statement or for her own publicity. I like M.I.A., but she strikes me as an attention whore who hides it under the disguise of art. Just the impression I've gotten from her.

I don't know her well enough to get an impression either way, so I have to give her the benefit of the doubt here. That said, when I see something like "OMG they pulled my video from teh Utubez!", I have to ask, "Well gee, what were you expecting?" They're not going out of their way to personally clamp a hand over your mouth, silly, they're just abiding by a policy they've put in place to keep people from seeing things that will very likely offend (or at least turn the stomachs of) many of them. I'm sure they would do similar if the copyright holders for The Passion of the Christ or Schindler's List wanted to post the most graphic scenes from those films.

[bloop]

I think Youtube has a system in place for this sort of artistic, but adult, content.  There is enough on Youtube, though, that I can understand some confusion in what it allows and what it doesn't.

The video itself is rather good, as is the song, and that's really all I care about.

[ewok20t3]

I don't know her well enough to get an impression either way, so I have to give her the benefit of the doubt here.

Yeah, I really probably shouldn't judge her motives. Just because I've heard someone's songs numerous times and read articles and news about them, certainly doesn't qualify me to make any kind of judgment.

The video itself is rather good, as is the song, and that's really all I care about.

Good point.