Sunday, January 29, 2017

Circa Survive - On Letting Go


January 29th, 2017
Circa Survive - On Letting Go

Circa Survive is one of my favorite bands for many different reasons. I remember jamming out to Pandora back in my punk skater days and a song from Juturna came on. It was the first time I had heard Circa and I fell in love. I am choosing to review On Letting Go, because they are currently on tour where they will play it in its entirety. I love this album, the artwork, the songs, and the production it's all perfect. I would sit in study hall when I was in high school and just listen to this album on my iPod. The ambient guitar and Anthony's voice would just soothe me. That's one thing I've always loved about Circa is the spacey floaty ambient sound of their instruments. This album starts off so strong. with Living Together, In The Morning And Amazing, and The Greatest Lie. The song In The Morning And Amazing there is a line "I can not sleep without the radio on and how could anyone." That lyric right there always related to me. I can't sleep without music now I don't know if that's what Anthony meant or not, but it was what stood out to me the most. The next three songs are The Difference Between Medicine and Poison Is The Dose, Mandala, and Travel Hymn. The Difference being their most popular song off the album I remember watching the music video for that song on Fuse TV when I was younger. Mandala is in my opinion one of the strongest songs on this album when it comes to instruments. The drums in the song are impeccable. Travel Hymn comes in as one of the strongest songs lyrically in my opinion and its the song right after Mandala. Next comes two of my favorite songs on the album. Semi Constructive Criticism, and Kicking Your Crosses Down. Semi is a vocal powerhouse Anthony just unleashes it all out. I show that song to anyone I am trying to get to like the band. Kicking is the complete opposite of Semi I think. It is a slow melodic song that just puts you in a trance almost. On Letting go is the song up next. The title track its status quo when it comes to what this album is. It continues the sound of the ambient space feeling. It's simple when it comes to instruments, but the lyrics is how it makes its impression. The last three songs are a different feel. These songs sound like the belong on some of their newer albums. Carry Us Away and Close Your Eyes To See sounds like it should be off their album Blue Sky Noise based on the instruments and flow of the song. Your Friends Are Gone is a great song for it to end on. It has a very strange intro, but once you get through that the song comes out and practically hits you in the face. The song changes so much in the course of the time it commands. This song has it all, the instrumentals, the lyrics, the vocal melody, and the future sound. It really wraps the album up nicely. I recommend everyone goes out and listens to this album! I give this album 🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈 out of five! Extravagant!

Favorite Tracks!
  1. Your Friends Are Gone
  2. Semi Constructive Criticism
  3.  In The Morning And Amazing

I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to Circa Survive, and Equal Vision Records.



Friday, January 27, 2017

Noah Gundersen - Brand New World


January 27, 2017
Noah Gundersen - Brand New World

In a massive late night music overhaul I scoured the vast web that is Spotify's "Related Artist" tabs and found Noah. I first listened to some of his most popular songs and liked enough to give him a follow. It wasn't until I saw a video for "Girl from the North Country" that he and David Ramirez had done on youtube that I started to really listen to him. I started with his newer stuff and bleh. It's not that it is bad, but being linked to David Ramirez I was expecting more of a folk guitar sound. I looked further and found it! This album matches it all! It's a mix of Death Cab For Cutie, Pedro the Lion, and Ryan Adams to me! I love this album. It's deep, its sad, and it is raw. I love the guitar work and of course Noah's vocals. Having Noah's sister Abby also adds a great touch to this album. The opening song on this record starts it off the way you would want it to! It hits you with a nice acoustic folk feel that tells you "hey this is going to be a folk record!) Noah's vocals follow it up with a hushed shy tone mixed with universal deep lyrics. Moss On A Rolling Stone is more of an upbeat song, but yet it matches the feel of the album. This song is more a chordal song and less of a finger picking jam. The song sounds upbeat, but it is also a deep meaning song. Burning Fences gets back to the folk roots while adding in Abby's soft sad violin sound. The song continues to hit you in the feel box with the lyrics "If you want to take me home baby tonight, I will go willingly, or if you like these city lights baby tonight I will go walking with you." I don't know if you feel the same way I do when that line hits, but it just gets to me. It is also the line the damn starts to so you know this song is going to be great. The First Song seems to be a song about a love that you have to leave or has left you. You can't seem to just rid yourself of it yet you have to go. More tugging on the heart strings. If the music you listen to doesn't make you feel then whats the point in listening? Winter by far has the best instrumentals in it. It isn't a slouch when it comes to the lyric department either. A song that seems to be about change, or death, or both. Something everyone has to go through at least a few times in life. The last song which is The Current State of Things seems to be about dreams and aspirations. Striving to want something more from life. What you need to and want to accomplish. A strive for for something better. This album all in all is fantastic. It hits you in the gut and makes you think. People always tell me "Ty, the music you listen to is almost always sad." I can't help it. The music I listen to is made from real people, real things. It's not made to rave to and to overlook. I like to feel connected to the artist and to feel connected to myself. I believe all the music I listen to and make accomplishes that. So with all that being said I give this song 🌅🌅🌅🌅🌅 out of five! Extravagant!

Favorite Tracks!
  1. Burning Fences
  2. Winter
  3. Brand New World

I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to Noah Gundersen.



Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Coheed and Cambria - Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV Volume One: From Fear Through The Eyes Of Madness


January 25, 2017
Coheed and Cambria - Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV

Good freaking Apollo. One of the most recognizable albums from my favorites over in Coheed, but no where near their best. I was not planning on reviewing this album at all. Like I said in my previous Coheed review since they are my favorite I am very picky on how I review them. Although in light of them announcing their Neverender tour for this album I just had to review it! This album will be the album non Coheed fans can tell you a little about. It has Welcome Home on it which is by far their most popular song. Welcome Home has been on video games, movies, and TV shows so it's understandable that it is the most recognizable one. On top of Welcome Home it also has The Suffering which to this point has been another one of their most popular songs. Those songs are great, but still are not the best in my opinion. So for this review I am going to try a little different of a format so please forgive me if it gets a little jumbled. This album starts of with a nice little intro song with Keeping The Blade with just sounds that leads to a soft acoustic sounding song Always & Never to accommodate the intro song. You then hit the first wave of impeccable songs. You get Welcome Home and Ten Speed which are both pretty punchy tunes. You get about three great hold over songs after those two that keep you wanting more, but nothing the masses would really love(Crossing The Frame, The Writing Writer, and Once Upon Your Dead Body.) You get the second wave of top notch songs up next with Wake Up, and The Suffering. Wake Up being a love song that is both happy and sad. The Suffering is a nice bouncy head bobbing tune that helps lead into the last stretch of the album. The next two songs are filler songs that help build up the ending of the album. You have The Lying Lies & Dirty Secrets Of Miss Eric Court, and Mother May I. Both are up and down runny songs with great fills and lyrics that keep up the feel of the album to this point. Finally we hit the last run. These last four songs are the greatest on the album in my opinion. All four Willing Well songs are long songs that have so many different changes in them and posses such power and meaning behind them. Fuel For The Feeding End is the first one. If you base if you are going to listen to this song or not on the first couple of seconds then you are going to be disappointed. It starts with a computer sounding noisy intro, but quickly picks up if you stick around. It turns into a great one two punch song with punchy guitar and bass runs followed with clean drum sounds with insane lyrics. From Fear Through The Eyes Of Madness is a great continuation of the first Willing Well. It to starts with a computer sounding intro. This one is not near as "heavy" instrument wise at least. The real kicker on this song is the vocal melody that Claudio uses. It all seems to match the upbeat up and down guitar sounds and deep drums while being a beast all on its own. The last two Willing Wells are some of the deepest meaning songs to me at least. First is my favorite song off of the album. The Telling Truth. It is practically the same song as the Writing Writer except there is about two minutes of added content and some of the lyrics are slightly changed. Other than that it is essentially the same. Same instrumentals and such. Like the other Willing Wells it keeps the computer sounding intro that leads into the great instruments. It utilizes a nice running guitar riff that continues throughout the song that seems to sound like it is something you would hear in a movie of a guy running through a woods(at least to me ahaha.) The lyrics on this song are some of the best off of the whole album I think. There is a lot of lyrics in the song first off, but they are also deep and thought provoking. The last song and the last Willing Well is a doozy. If you have girl troubles I recommend you listen to this song.... I won't say much more than that and ruin it, but just listen to it. As in actual lyrics on this song it doesn't last much longer than two minutes. After the two minutes or so of lyrics you get to enjoy a few minutes of great guitar solos and riffs until it hits this upbeat folk guitar riff to end the song. All in all this album is fantastic and worth the listen. I hope my new review format wasn't too shitty I just wanted to try to get more of a "review" format. I give this album Ⅳ Ⅳ Ⅳ Ⅳ Ⅳ out of five! Extravagant!

Favorite Tracks!
  1. The Telling Truth
  2. Wake Up
  3. Ten Speed (Of God's Blood & Burial)
I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to Coheed and Cambria, and Columbia Records.



Sunday, January 22, 2017

Wilco - NPR Tiny Desk Oct 2011


January 22, 2017
Wilco - NPR Tiny Desk Oct 2011

I am going to try something different. I am going to do a review on a video. A concert video to be exact. I figured this would be fun to do, because it's different. So with that said lets start the review! I love Wilco.... Correction. I love Jeff Tweedy. Wilco is great, but they have some songs that I just think are kinda "so-so" I still think they are great. This video is great in every way. I really love all of NPR's Tiny Desk concerts. They always seem to have great singer songwriters and folk artists on there. This is no exception. I knew Wilco just from knowing the folk music scene, but I didn't really know them until my friend told me about Uncle Tupelo which is Jeff Tweedy's old band with Jay Farrar. I didn't really like Uncle Tupelo... I liked them I just love Jeff Tweedy. I love Tweedy's charisma and personality. I love his songwriting ability and his voice too. So I didn't like Uncle Tupelo, because it was all Jay Farrar really. anyway this Tiny Desk concert has four songs on it. Three which were on their most recent album at the time "The Whole Love". The first three songs Dawned On Me, Whole Love, and Born Alone were all from that album. War on War is the last song in this video and it is from an older album. The Whole love is so far my favorite Wilco album so of course I love this video. What I like the most about NPR's Tiny Desk concerts is that most of the time the songs are stripped down to a minimalist fashion. The way its just basic and simple appeals to me. I recommend you go watch this video! I give this video/concert 🚬🚬🚬🚬🚬 out of five! Extravagant!

I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to Wilco, NPR, and dBpm Records.




Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank


January 18, 2017
Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank

This album is important in the development of my music independence. I remember coming home from school when I was in junior high and turning on the countdown of alt rock on Fuse. This songs music video showed up and I fell in love with the song after that. I saved up enough money to finally buy the album this being on of the first albums I ever bought with my own money. Isaac Brock is such an odd character and his music style is rough. That's one of the reasons I like him and the band so much. They don't seem to give a fuck if you like them or not and I so happen to like them. Does that make me just as "weird" as them? What I love most about this album is what it has brought me. several of my best friends also love this band and this album. You're not weird when you surround yourself with like minded characters. This album gives me a personality. Not just this album, but what this album and many others started for me. This in my opinion was one of the best Modest Mouse albums, but it was also one of their most produced and "easy on the ears" album. It still has the rough, gritty, and unfiltered quality that all of Modest Mouse's music has. This band certainly is one that doesn't seem to sell out. This album and band are a unique flavor and isn't for everyone, but I encourage everyone to at least give it a try. I promise you'll find at least a line or part of the song you like or can relate to. I say no matter what you need to listen to this album. So do it! I give this album 🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭 out of five! Extravagant!

Favorite Tracks!
  1. Steam Engenius 
  2. We've Got Everything
  3. March Into The Sea
I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to Modest Mouse, and Epic Records.



Sunday, January 15, 2017

City and Colour - Little Hell


January 15, 2017
City and Colour - Little Hell

I figured it was time to do this review. Like the Coheed and Cambria one I was waiting to do this one till the time was right. City and Colour are close to being my favorite music group. Nobody beats Coheed, but this band is very high up on my list. This album was the first full album from City and Colour I ever purchased. Although the very first songs I heard from City and Colour were "Love Don't live Here Anymore" and "What Makes a Man" from the Myspace Transmission album. My friend from high school showed me those two songs one day and I instantly fell in love with this band. I knew of Dallas Green just from me liking Alexisonfire which was a band Dallas played guitar and provided backup vocals for. I didn't know he had his own solo stuff until my friend showed me. I jumped right into all of his solo music. Finding the gem that is Sometimes; his first album he released. Dallas has a way to just hit you right in the feels. He writes about some of the most emotionally shattering things while delivering them with a soothing guitar and melodic voice. In my opinion Dallas is the modern day Bob Dylan with a better voice a way better voice.... Dallas tends to have a folky feel to him which plays right down my alley. Dallas' guitar work in theory is simple, but try to play his songs and you'll find that it can sometimes get the best of you. Dallas incorporates many weird strum patterns and embellishments in his guitar work. Not only will you find it difficult to play his songs on guitar you will also find it difficult to sing his songs. Dallas has a deceptively vast range when it comes to his voice. He can easily switch to a high stressed voice to a low rumble. Little Hell showcases a lot of his skill and talents. Little Hell is more a "full band" project meaning he has more drums and bass. In most of his previous albums and songs it was mainly him and just an acoustic guitar. I personally prefer the stripped down versions, but it all is so great regardless. In Little Hell Dallas sings about stuff almost any person can relate to. He wrote a song called "O' Sister" which was a song about his sisters anxiety disorder. He also wrote a song called "Grand Optimist" which was a song about his parents. Of course there are a few songs about his wife on there as well. A lot of his songs have concrete meanings, but are made in a way you can fit them to your own life and let them mean whatever you want to relate them to. Which is why I believe this album is so great. You can fit them to whatever you need them to fit to. I will without a doubt do more City and Colour album reviews, because you know he is one of my favorites. So stay in tune with that! I give this album 🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦 out of five! Extravagant!

Favorite Tracks!
  1. Silver and Gold
  2. Northern Wind
  3. Natural Disasters 
I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to City and Colour and Dine Alone Records



Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Lucero - Rebels, Rogues & Sworn Brothers


January 11, 2017
Lucero - Rebels, Rogues & Sworn Brothers

I learned about Lucero from one of my best friends. He showed me the song "My Best Girl" which is a song about a guitar. I instantly fell in love so I searched for a lot of their other music. Lucero is very rough, gritty, and raw. Although they are so unpolished they are fantastic in some way. The lyrics and songwriting are just so flawless and real that you can't help but love it. When you hear Ben's voice you would expect it to come from some down and dirty old guy but instead its from a skinny middle aged man. There is so much power behind his gravely unique chops you have to at least stop and listen for a minute. I will be honest, this is the only Lucero album I have listened to fully through and it is great in my opinion. This album is less country and more rock so I am anxious to listen to their other albums. This album starts out really "punky" and "gritty" but towards the back end of the album it gets softer. Regardless of how "soft" the album ends up getting it is always going to still be somewhat gritty just because of Nichols' voice. You can tell when the instrumentals start to shift to a softer mellow tone. I think I actually like it more when it gets softer just because it lets Nichols' vocals shine more. My good friend that loves Lucero told me that when Lucero first started the songs were suppose to only be made with a few simple chords, because that's all they knew. I don't know if its true or not (I have no reason to believe its false. It seems like the guitar is somewhat simple.) If it is true then that makes me love the band even more that they can make great songs with little technical skill it makes you relate to them more. If you like folk alt country music then this will be down your alley. After you get used to Ben's voice you can really start to appreciate the voice and the music much more. I give this album 🌉🌉🌉🌉🌉 out of five. Extravagant!

Favorite Tracks!
  1. She Wakes When She Dreams
  2. San Francisco 
  3. Sing Me No Hymns
I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to Lucero, and Liberty & Lament records.



Sunday, January 8, 2017

Future Thieves - Horizon Line


January 8, 2017
Future Thieves - Horizon Line

I just found out about these guys a few days ago when they followed me on Instagram. I immediately checked their music out and I was pleasantly surprised. They are so good they have a good mix of alt rock, and folk. They have such a good flow to all their music. Elliot Collett's voice is deep and powerful and you can hear it on this record. His voice matches the good groove of the band. I really enjoy the songwriting on this album the lyrics to all their songs are relatable. These guys are fairly new at least to me. This is their only album that I know of but this is so well done it makes you want a second album! If you like solid grooves and catchy lyrics you need to give these guys a listen. I guarantee that at least a few songs will creep into your playlist. I give this album a 💎💎💎💎💎 out of five! Extravagant!

Favorite Track!
  1. Golden State
  2. Nightmares
  3. On Fire
I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to Future Thieves.



Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Keaton Henson - Birthdays


January 4, 2017
Keaton Henson - Birthdays

ANOTHER BLOG YOU SAY? Yeah get over it! I heard this guy on NPR's Tiny Desk concert and I loved it! He is so fragile and open that you can just connect to it. His music is phenomenal and personal. He sings about everything that everyday people deal with and that's mainly heartbreak. Maybe not everyone deals with it, but the music I listen to it sounds like all of them do. It makes sense. The heart is fragile, the heart is frail, and the heart is vulnerable. What is it? It gets exposed and shown. You give people it's life in hopes they don't crush it sometimes they do; not always on purpose, but also sometimes on purpose. Why? Are they sad too? Is their heart open, exposed, and hurt too so they don't know what to do with someone else's? I don't know and that is the greatest mystery. All I do know is that from heartbreak comes some of the most powerful and greatest music of all time. It's easy to make that music. As long as you are willing to be open with it. Keaton is, at least I believe he is. He says he only started to play music to mend a broken heart. Music can do just that. It can also break your heart more. It's such a fine line; this crazy thing we call music. Even with all the possibility of the negative I wouldn't trade music for the world. It's kept me sane and its kept me alive. I believe Keaton would tell you the same thing and you get that feel from this album more than I have with any album I have ever heard. So many of these songs are soft, hushed, and raw. If you listen to this album and don't feel anything I urge you to turn the lights off, put on headphones, and just melt into it. I promise you it won't feel or sound the same as it did the first time you heard it. Music is always better and more emotional late at night. When you are on the border of the subconscious. It's dark, its alone, its just you, and the music. Enough of this sappy crap and let me rate this album! Listen to this please my goodness please! I give this album every single emoji I can give it! 💙💚💛💜💔 out of five! Extravagant! 

Favorite Tracks!
  1. Lying To You
  2. If I Don't Have To
  3. Sweetheart, What Have You Done To Us


I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to Keaton Henson, and Anti- Records.

http://www.keatonhenson.com/
http://www.anti.com/

Coheed and Cambria - In Keeping Secrets Of Silent Earth: 3


January 4, 2017
Coheed and Cambria - In Keeping Secrets Of Silent Earth: 3

Welcome everyone to the beginning of my music obsession. My all time favorite album in the entire world is this one right here. When I try to think of an album that changed me and my life this is the only one I can think of. I have put off reviewing this album just because it is my all time favorite. This is the first album I actually sought out myself and listened to when I was finding my musical identity. After listening to this album Coheed quickly became my favorite band. This album and band have helped me through so many things in my life. Every time something amazing happens in my life I listen to this album and every time I have negativity I listen to this album. I listen to this album at least once a week. I might have a slight obsession with Coheed but I am not ashamed. The musical genius that is this band and album is out of this world. The comics that follow the bands albums to the stories told in the music you just can't deny the originality. Everything about this album and band are unique. Claudio's voice, the punchy guitar, the deep bass, and the pounding melodic organized chaos that is Josh Eppard's drumming. In my honest opinion I think this is one of the most iconic albums of my lifetime thus far. I know every word to every song on this album. Since this album has been blessed upon my ears I have bought every Coheed album that followed (and even the one before it) also seeing them in Indianapolis, Indiana and Grand Rapids, Michigan. Every time I see them live it is easily the greatest day of my life. I know so much about the band and its members. Claudio has solo music as does Travis and Josh. Claudio has Prize Fighter Inferno, Travis has/had Davenport Cabinet and Fire Deuce, and Josh has Weerd Science. I also love every side project each member is a part of. Most of my favorite Coheed songs of all time originate from this album alone. If I was only allowed to listen to one album for the rest of my life I would easily choose this one without a doubt. So I highly suggest each and everyone of you go listen to this album if you already haven't. I promise you won't be disappointed. If you don't like it you'll at least find it interesting! I give this album 🌙🌙🌙🌙🌙 out of five! Extravagant!

Favorite Tracks!
  1. The Camper Velourium II: Backend Of Forever 
  2. Cuts Marked In The March Of Men
  3. The Camper Velourium I: Faint Of Hearts
I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to Coheed and Cambria, and Equal Vision Records.



Sunday, January 1, 2017

2016 Recap - Top Ten

January 1, 2017


10. Lincoln Durham - Revelations Of A Mind Unraveling


I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to Lincoln Durham, and Droog Records.



9. Mandolin Orange - Blindfaller


I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to Mandolin Orange, and Yep Roc Records.



8. Childish Gambino - "Awaken My Love"


I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to Childish Gambino, and Glassnote Records.



7. Anthony Green - Pixie Queen


I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to Anthony Green, and Memory Music.



6. Saosin - Along The Shadow


I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to Saosin, and Epitaph Records.



5. Patrick - Monsters In A Monte Carlo 


I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to Patrick.



4. Eric Clapton - I Still Do


I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to Eric Clapton, and Surfdog Records.



3. NOFX - First Ditch Effort


I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to NOFX, and Fat Wreck Records. 



2. Jim James - Eternally Even


I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to Jim James, and Capitol Records. 



1. Emarosa - 131


I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to Emarosa, and Hopeless Records. 


There we have it! The full 2016 recap. Here's to a fantastic 2017 in music, and life!

Extravagant!
































2016 Recap - Bottom Ten

January 1, 2017

20. Ray LaMontagne - Ouroboros


I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to Ray LaMontagne, and RCA Records.



19. Drake - Views


I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to Drake, and Cash Money Records.



18. Chance The Rapper - Coloring Book


I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to Chance The Rapper.



17. Glass Animals - How To Be A Human Being


I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to Glass Animals, and Harvest Records.



16. Miike Snow - iii 



I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to Miike Snow, Downtown Records, and Atlantic Records.



15. Red Hot Chili Peppers - The Getaway 


I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Warner Bros. Records.



14. Band Of Horses - Why Are You Ok


I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to Band Of Horses, KIDinaKORNER Records, and Interscope Records.



13. Deftones - Gore


I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to Deftones, and Reprise Records.



12. AJJ - The Bible 2


I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to AJJ, and SideOneDummy Records.



11. Sum 41 - 13 Voices


I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to Sum 41, and Hopeless Records.


EXTRAVAGANT!