Sonics V
Friday, July 11, 2008
Sonics V
My latest find on the internet is also one of the most interesting bands I have encountered recently in the electronica community. Ratatat first attracted me with a very interesting name, and my love for the band gradually grew from there. The thing about a lot of electronica music out there, especially after you listen to it for some time, you pretty much know what you are going to expect from the album. Ratatat, however, has the ability to make an album that is both unpredictable and refreshing all at once. I cannot say that the technical aspect of the album is very unique, but they are definitely special in their own rights. You never quite know where the songs are going to lead you, and they are kind of like sitting at the dinner table and just waiting for the nine-course meal to be served. It is exciting to know what they are going to dish out next, and it certainly is a plus in my books. Ratatat is great for background music, when you are studying or just working out in the gym. It takes you to a place full of strange musical notes and awesome melodies. A great album to check out for all of you electronica geeks out there.
Ghost Rock by Nomo
Nomo should not be confused with the post-rock band, Mono. Nomo produces a completely different style of music from Mono, or any other kinds of music that I have heard of in the conventional music world. Honestly speaking, when I saw the word "jazz" listed as the genre for this album, I felt a little apprehended somehow. After all, my experiences with jazz haven't been a lot, and it was uncharted territory when I took the great leap of faith. However, Nomo is actually a jazz band with a big twist - they blend jazz elements with electronica. Now, this is not Zero 7 we are talking about, but a full blown jazz band that explodes out of the speakers with electronic sounds that are distinctively their own. I was pleasantly surprised at just how contemporary it felt as an album and yet, it still had a lot of roots in jazz and everything. The band seems to use a lot of horns in its music, capitalizing on the trumpets and the saxophones to achieve a very sexy and alluring tone. That is not to mention the different kinds of drums in the background, bringing the tempo of the album on an upward climb towards a musical orgasm. This whole album is just a great album to chill out or to groove to in my opinion, to blast it over the speakers at a party or alone in your bedroom. It kind of feels like a time capsule that has been to the past and the future, only to get stuck in the present for all of us to enjoy.
Where the Light Is by John Mayer
Albums by the band:
1. LP (2004)
2. New Tones (2006)
3. Ghost Rock (2008)
Where the Light Is by John Mayer
It is kind of frustrating sometimes to learn just how little people think of this great artiste after listening to his tracks on the radio. I mean, John Mayer is more than just his mainstream hits, but an all round artiste whose talents encompass that of being a lyricist, a musician, and as a guitarist. In this live DVD/CD collection, John Mayer displays three of his musical personas back to back to back, with the acoustic set at the beginning, the set with the John Mayer Trio, as well as his touring band in the third set. For the fans, this is as good as it gets. You can always trust albums that are recorded as a part of a live DVD, because the quality is almost always guaranteed, and everything is just better. The acoustic set of this album sends chills down your spine, especially his rendition of Tom Petty's Free Fallin', and not to mention the revival of the good old "In Your Atmosphere". The rest of the album is fully charged with his signature songs as well as blues tunes by his favorite artistes as well as the ones he wrote with the trio band. All and all, this live album is as flawless as it gets, no doubts about that. My only complaint is probably the excessive amount of cover tracks, and the fact that "Wheel" has been left out of this set list. John Mayer delivers yet another series of mind blowing solos as well as guitar riffs that is sure to convert even the greatest cynics out there. You only have to pop in this CD to know that he is a force to be reckon with, an artiste whom I am proud to be representing my generation.
Other albums by the artiste:
1. Room for Squares (2001)
2. Heavier Things (2003)
3. Try! [as John Mayer Trio] (2005)
4. Continuum (2006)
5. Where the Light Is: Live in Los Angeles (2008)
Gulag Orkestar by Beirut
Let's put it this way: if you are a fan of music, you have to listen to Beirut - no questions about that. Beirut is probably one of the most unique bands out there right now, drawing inspirations from various cultures from eastern Europe and incorporating it into his music. Zach Condon, an American singer/songwriter, utilizes very distinct and unique instruments from eastern europe, mixed it with a very haunting use of horns in the background, to create this album that is both mesmerizing and rich. You may not necessarily like the music that he makes, but you have to admit that you have never heard anything like this before. Beirut stands out from the crowd because it dares to experience, because it is different from all the other bands out there without being pretentious. Listening to Beirut is an experience, sort of like painting a picture somehow. Try listen to Beirut while you are taking the same boring train ride to work every morning, everything just becomes just a little bit more interesting somehow. Especially with the waltz-like arrangements in some of the songs, it is difficult to resist your body from getting yourself off the chair and start dancing in the middle of the crowd.
Albums by the band:
1. Lon Gisland [EP] (2006)
2. Gulag Orkestar (2006)
3. The Flying Cup Club (2007)
4. Elephant Gun (2007)
Art of Motion by Andy Mckee
There are guitarists out there who can play the Super Mario theme song, while others can play two electric guitars at the very same time. They are all very talented people, but at the epitome of talent is Andy Mckee, him and his ability to create the most beautiful music possible from a six-string guitar. Using his guitar as the main instrument as well as the percussion, Andy Mckee delivers some of the best melodies I have ever heard in my life coming out from a guitar, and you can't help but clench your fist in frustration at times as you listen to his music in awe and a tad bit of envy. Andy Mckee is amazing, if you don't already know about him from his little bit of YouTube fame. I used to think that Justin King is a good guitarist, but then his music becomes repetitive after some time. The same cannot be said about Andy Mckee, because he shows you so many different doors that can be opened in the realm of guitar, that you can't help but just stop whatever you are doing just to check him out. This is the type of music you'd want to be listening to while studying or just falling asleep late at night in a dimly lid room with candles. It is the perfect album, or any album by him for that matter.
Albums by the artiste:
1. Art of Motion (2006)
2. The Gates of Gnomeria (2007)
3. Dreamcatcher (2007)
4. The Thing That Came From Somewhere [with Don Ross] (2008)
Classics by Ratatat
Albums by the band:
1. Ratatat self-titled album (2004)
2. Classics (2006)
3. LP3 (2008)
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3:34 AM
For a (maybe more accurate) reference point to what Nomo is doing look into a (not-all-that-obscure) genre called Afrobeat. Fela, etc.