Public Bass Bashing

So this is going public today, so I'm sure I'll be a lot more conscious of what I write. Especially since I live in a ministry house...I realize many of my beliefs vary strongly from what one would call "ministry" material but bear with me or I will stab you in the ear with a shoe horn. That being said welcome to my blog/virb page/flickr page/whatever you're looking at currently.

Now that that's out of the way I'd like to announce that I will be playing bass for the band currently known as "The Josh Williams Band," though there are rumors that the name is subject to change. I know the question on the public's collective mind is "Why?" Well I was tired of not playing in front of people really. And this way I can be slightly to the left. One thing I hate about playing as a front person or co-front person is the judgement. Most of the music I write is so intimate that I just have a hard time putting it out there to be judged by some snot-nosed kid rockin' a Hinder shirt. I mean what does this kid know about music? Now there's less judgement as I doubt we'll work on anything I've written, cause I mean I don't really want to.

And also this could possibly mean some intimate Restless-type coffee shop moments ever now and again. Sweet.

Just so you know I am currently listening to the new singles (which you can buy on iTunes) from Angels & Airwaves, Jimmy Eat World, Dropkick Murphys, and Coheed and Cambria.

I'll Do Part Six Sometime

I do not know how many professors I've had tell me not to post personal things on the internet. Considering I have only four currently...probably no more than four. Apparently everything I type in here is logged on a server somewhere. Have fun masturbating to my words. I mean what can one gleam from this? I was bored. I told everyone I was listening to the Butch Vig Remix of "White People For Peace."

So lets take a step back. I did say masturbate (now I've gone and said it twice). Big deal. If I ever fail to be hired because I once typed the word masturbate online I'm in the wrong profession (and have probably been lobotomized). Also did mention that I was listening to "White People For Peace." I guess that note will keep me form ever being a Republican candidate for president. And I so wanted to be.

But now that I think about it...I'd really like to run for president as a Republican someday, just because this would be the funniest fucking scandal ever. "Outrage in Washington today as a blog that presidential candidate Charles Waddell kept during his college years has been unearthed. No word on exactly what the blog contained but Senator Waddell has apologized to all parties involved and all supporters of the Republican party. Next up: Fighting the Frizzies."

Man...this is gonna be the biggest hoax ever.

One of The Greatest Bands You've Never Heard Of

That's right...I'm a snob. But I bet you've never listen to Swift. No, not the Swift, go back to your youth group by the way. I typed Swift. Call them hardcore, call them neo-metal, call them whatever you want, but this band is talented. Some of the best riffs I've heard ever. Period. Too bad they're no longer together and I'm listening to Hellogoodbye right now. Well that's it.

Part Five of My 285 Part Series: Better Know Your Bright Eyes

Tonight iTunes has randomly chosen "Emily, Sing Something Sweet" off of A Collection of Songs... This is (regrettably) one of the few Bright Eyes songs I've never given much attention.

The song starts off with some sparse acoustic strumming and then enters a louder more distorted part (playing the same progression). Conor sings the lines (this song has about four different lines) acapella, and unfortunately his voice just wasn't as endearing at this point in his career. As with any early Bright Eyes song, one may hear various background sounds, such as off-time drum hits and Conor's fingers squeaking across the strings. These sounds make the record seem all the more worthy of your time. The acoustic part is often accentuated with some low synth to add in bass and some off-time drumming (apparently just for the hell of it).

The words are rather easy to grasp. Conor wants some broad named Emily to sing him something sweet so he can feel the warmth inside her heart. I mean...who doesn't want that right?

The distorted acoustic reminds me a great deal of Neutral Milk Hotel and kind of hints at "Hot Knives." It's a decent enough song. It has more of a dark, snaky feel to it. I give it a three out of five. Put it on your "Songs To Listen To While Something Important Burns" playlist.

Melting

I was just listening to "Certain Tragedy" by Saves The Day and I swear Chris sang "But now we're melting iPhones.....Hardcore!"

This only proves my theory that this is a band way ahead of their time.

Part Four Of My 285 Part Series: Better Know Your Bright Eyes

Well, iTunes is being a pain tonight so I picked my own song. Since I am considerably under the influence at the moment I have chosen "Spent on Rainy Days" off of the Home Vol. 4 EP with Britt Daniel.

Wooo! (Hey that's what drunk people yell, right? Wooo!!!) [Honestly this is often misspelled by sober people "Whoooo!" but that's obviously just the sound owls make.] What a great fucking song. There's a little cymbal count off then Conor's voice and the rhythm guitar come in simultaneously. By the time the bass line comes in the listener knows what's going on here. And when the electric comes in with the full drumming pattern, it's as close to a party as Bright Eyes has ever come (read: not very.)

Of course one has to assume that this song is about weed and not Conor's usual crutch, alcohol. (Great line: "I think I'll print it in the personals that I'm looking for a match, Someone to light me up, someone to burn the proof of the things that I have done.) The first verse makes it evident that Conor is highly interested in getting stoned but the reason is not quite revealed. If the song ended with the first verse, one would assume that Conor is just bored ("Wish I'd saved up for rainy days..."), but the second verse clarifies his intent a bit.

The second verse makes it obvious that our stoned hero hasn't exactly been the perfect man. There is some real clever wording here, but its all pretty self-explanatory. Conor obviously thinks that the female in question in interested in him only so much as a child is interested in a toy. Temporarily and then set aside. The female obviously doesn't know his true worth. (He's fuckin "mint in the box!!!") In this verse Conor also touches on one of his oft mentioned subjects....traveling. He decides it would be easy to leave the town behind because of his treatment. He then sings that he'll be anything and goes through a few things that illustrate that he would like to comfort his young female companion.

This song kicks total ass. It has some attitude (which is actually a trait not too lacking in Bright Eyes songs if one looks deep enough). I give this song a five out of five. While its hard for me to declare it "Classic Bright Eyes," it is definitely one of Conor's best. I'd say if you're gonna put it on a playlist put it on your "Drinkin'" or "Smokin'" list.

Part Three of My 285 Part Series: Better Know Your Bright Eyes

Today iTunes has chosen "Gold Mine Gutted (Her Space Holiday Mix)" off of the Easy/Lucky/Free EP.

As much as this reviewer loves "Gold Mine Gutted" he must be honest, this remix is pure drivel. Regurgitated and uninspired. Her Space Holiday (whom I love) somehow took a great, deep song and made it a Bob Marley/U2 free for all. Maybe its the day I had at work or maybe its the fact that this is actually a crappy remix but this is as in-depth as this review gets. I'll review the actual song when iTunes says its time. Dammit!

I give this song two stars out of five. Don't put it on a playlist. Please.

Part Two of My 285 Series: Better Know Your Bright Eyes

Today the almighty iTunes has randomly chosen for me to review...."Going For The Gold" off of Oh Holy Fools - The Music of Son, Ambulance and Bright Eyes.

The first Bright Eyes track off of this 2001 split with Son, Ambulance, "Going For The Gold" starts off with some subdued finger-picking which is eventually joined by a majestic flute part. After the flute dies away Conor's voice enters and offers up another sad song. The first verse makes it seem as if the narrator has broken a heart (with the help of one of Conor's oft mentioned vices, alcohol). The narrator's lies have caused him to jump the next plane to get away from a "sentencing" of his realized guilt in the situation.

The second verse splays nicely as a group of people watch a deeply affecting drama and then go about there normal routine. This part of the song illustrates the contrast between the entertainment we enjoy and the doldrums of our daily lives, as the people in the theater watch a hero die and then go back to the office. Some of the people, inevitably, stop into a coffee shop where our focus switches to the artists dispensing their "wisdom" (i.e. sadness, pain) as if its "some kind of contest."

At this point Conor launches into what can only be seen as self-parody (and like-wise a poke at all sad songs) as he declares he is winning this contest and will be winning the gold medal, making him the deserving "champion of idiots." If the song ended here it would seem that Conor had completely renounced his shoe-gazing ways and declared songs about pain irrelevant. But, alas, the song goes on to tell the tale of a girl who cries whenever practicing violin because of the purity of the notes. When the narrator hears this "everything else just seems like a lie."

The musical structure of this songs consists mostly of the aforementioned finger-picking, but at various points the mood is accentuated with flutes, keyboards, some light electric guitar, and even a mellow horn part. All in all, it is a beautiful and meaningful song about the fact that, though our pain may sometimes seem trivial or even forced, it is important to recognize it and realize that it is a beautiful means to growth. Or at least that's what I got.

I give this song a five out of five. Put it on your "Classic Bright Eyes" playlist.

Part One Of My 285 Part Series: Better Know Your Bright Eyes

For part one of my ambitious 285 part series iTunes has randomly chosen "The Invisible Gardner" from A Collection of Songs...for me to interview.

The song opens with some dissonant, bass-heavy synth noise, then after a quick false start Conor starts up a rare Bright Eyes instrumental tune. His repetitive acoustic strums lay a nice rhythm track when coupled with the light (and equally repetitive) drumming. The melody is carried by a sole chirpy synth part. One can easily imagine Conor's voice commanding this song with quite the same melody. Another synth part can be heard somewhere in the background laying down a nice texture for the improvised melody line.

This song accomplishes two rare feats (1) it is a rare instrumental Bright Eyes tune (the only one if my memory serves me correctly) and (2) it is an instrumental that can actually hold the listener's attention. That said, I have to give this song four stars out of five, just because of the bouncy, fun mood (a Bright Eyes rarity in itself) and the melody line that snakes its way into your subconscious for hours. Put this one on your "Walk Through The Park" playlist.