Month: April 2017

Song Challenge – Day 1

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Favorite Songs3 Comments

I’ve been nominated for a Daily Song Challenge by fellow blogger and friend Lisa Amaya, whose wonderful blog Life of an El Paso Woman I strongly recommend my readers check out (if they don’t already, as Lisa’s pretty popular).

The rules of the challenge are:

Post a song a day for five consecutive days.

Include the name of the song and a video.

Post what the lyrics mean to you. (Optional)

Nominate 1 or 2 bloggers each day of the challenge.

My pick for the first day is “No Such Thing” by John Mayer. The song was his first break-out hit, in the summer of 2002 when I had a milestone high school reunion. Not only is he a fantastic guitarist, John always writes deeply compelling lyrics, and for “No Such Thing,” he takes a hard appraisal of high school with a bit of cynicism but also hope. He wasn’t defined by high school, and acknowledges that his best years are ahead of him, and the song lyrics really resonated with me on a personal level, especially since it was getting a lot of radio play at the time my reunion took place. I was never all that popular in high school, being a bit of a dork and lacking confidence, and didn’t go to the junior or senior proms, nor associate with any of the cool kids. It wasn’t until after high school, when I started working and attending college, and meeting a whole new set of friends, that I “blossomed” into a more confident, interesting guy lol!

Here’s a sampling of the song’s lyrics that hit home for me:

Well I never lived the dream of the prom kings and the drama queens.
I’d like to think the best of me is still hiding up my sleeve.
They love to tell you stay inside the lines
But something’s better on the other side
I wanna run through the halls of my high school
I wanna scream at the top of my lungs
I just found out there’s no such thing as a real world
Just a line you got to rise above.

Today I nominate Hope, who has a great music blog LIVELIFETHRUMUSIC, where she interviews up and coming artists and reviews their music.

Top 20 Songs for April 16-22, 2017

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's3 Comments

1. ON HOLD – The xx (1)
2. LOVE ON THE BRAIN – Rihanna (2)
3. HOT THOUGHTS – Spoon (6)
4. LOVE IS MYSTICAL – Cold War Kids (5)
5. HEAVYDIRTYSOUL – twenty øne piløts (3)
6. HOW DID YOU LOVE – Shinedown (7)
7. HUMAN – Rag’n’Bone Man (4)
8. WOLVES – Wide Eyed Boy (9)
9. BELIEVER – Imagine Dragons (11)
10. SHAPE OF YOU – Ed Sheeran (8)
11. LOST ON YOU – LP (13)
12. BLAME – Bastille (15)
13. GREEN LIGHT – Lorde (16)
14. SIGN OF THE TIMES – Harry Styles (N)
15. THAT’S WHAT I LIKE – Bruno Mars (12)
16. COLD COLD COLD – Cage the Elephant (18)
17. RUST TO GOLD – Council (10)
18. SOMETHING JUST LIKE THIS – The Chainsmokers, Coldplay (20)
19. MIDDLE FINGERS – MISSIO (N)
20. I NEED A LIGHT – Run With It (14)

Artist Spotlight – COLD REVIVE

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Artist Spotlight, Reviews4 Comments

Cold Revive is on a roll. Over the past few months, the Fresno, California-based rock band released two songs and have been interviewed on two radio programs (one local and another in Chicago) to promote their music. Now they’re back in the studio working on new songs, which they’ll be releasing soon. I had the good fortune of discovering them when they followed me on Twitter, and quickly became a big fan – not only because of their great music, but also because I was impressed by the band members themselves. Despite their badass rocker image, they’re actually genuine, down-to-earth guys. If the kindness they’ve shown me is any indication, it’s clear they appreciate and support their fans, which is a significant part of being a successful band at the end of the day. One of their main goals is to connect even more with their fans – to touch their lives in a positive way with their music.

Cold Revive

Cold Revive consists of Brent Stevens (vocals), Jason Fischer (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Gentky Vang (lead guitar, backing vocals) and Chase Hagerman (drums, keyboards, backing vocals).  All are seasoned musicians who’ve been previously involved with other bands and music projects. Jason and Brent actually met on Craigslist when each was interested in connecting with other musicians who might be interested in forming a band. Inspired by bands they both loved such as Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Hinder, Three Days Grace, Buckcherry and Korn, they joined forces in early 2016 and formed Cold Revive. Subsequently, Gentky and Chase came on board to complete the band lineup.

Like many hard rock bands these days, Cold Revive’s hard rock sound draws from alt-rock, punk, metal and grunge influences. Brent is especially fond of Halloween, horror films and such, so his dark lyrics reflect that.

The band’s first single “Sik’ Hellish Us,” is a dark and brooding hard rock song about being trapped in a toxic relationship you’re unable to break free of. Sinister guitars and heavy bass set an ominous tone, then a slow, thunderous drumbeat adds tremendous power to the track, which rises in intensity as the song progresses. Brent’s gritty vocals are delivered with a menacing vulnerability as he snarls “I’ve made my bed in hell, now I need to lie in it, ’cause it serves me well. As you held me there, my heart’s not escaping.”

“Diary” is an even darker song about finding a significant other’s diary after their suicide, and discovering how much your actions hurt them. The lyrics are gut-wrenching: “What I read on that page, tore me down I saw my own mistakes. All the pain I caused you is insane…   Suicide drove our love to an end. Those words killed us, was I always to blame? I’m so sorry!” The song has a Buckcherry vibe in both music and tone. Brent’s raw, heartfelt vocals match the emotional intensity of the gnashing guitars and aggressive percussion, making for an emotionally-charged song.

Here’s a live acoustic performance of “Diary” that isn’t quite as intense or sorrowful.

Cold Revive will be releasing their two new singles “Twisted Fright” and “Cold Dark Coma” in the next month or so. In the meantime, connect with them on Facebook and  Twitter, and stream their music on Reverbnation.  Subscribe to their YouTube channel for their videos and band updates.

Their music is not yet available for purchase, but I will update this post when it is.

Album Review: MUDD – “Look What I Found in Your Mom’s Top Drawer”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn ReviewsLeave a comment

MUDD is a young pop-punk rock band from Kingston, Ontario, Canada. And by ‘young’ I mean young! The three band members are all just 16 years old and still in high school. They are:  Seth Hunt on lead vocals & guitar, Reilly Clark on bass & backing vocals, and Devin Pierce on drums & backing vocals. And even at their young ages, the guys already have a long history with music. According to their bio, Seth has been playing guitar since he was seven, Reilly started playing bass at the age of ten, and Devin has hit the drums since the age of seven. They formed as the band MUDD in 2014, and released their first full-length self-produced album on Bandcamp this past February.

MUDD

They recently approached me about reviewing their album and, upon seeing its title – Look What I Found In Your Mom’s Top Drawer – I had to say yes! Besides, I was impressed by their earnest belief in themselves, plus the fact they produced their own album and put themselves out there. The album features nine zany tracks that incorporate elements of punk, pop and garage rock into a wild stew of fun and crazy tunes about girls, sex and teenage angst that one would expect from 16-year-olds. The tracks are unmastered, so have a raw, unfinished quality that makes them sound essentially like live recordings, and it’s clear the guys had a blast recording them.

On tracks like “Twitch,” “SOB,” the electronic “Interlude (Not Today TM),” “Going Nowhere Fast” and “I Don’t Wanna Go Home,” the guys show off their skills on their respective instruments. Lots of shredded guitars and frantic drumming are on display, making for some real head bangers guaranteed to get the party started and keep the energy flowing at high speed. Their vocals are a bit weak, but I think that’s mostly due to their young age. Their voices haven’t yet fully developed, and will likely improve as they grow, both in age and experience.

Some of their lyrics are hilarious. On “Interlude (Not Today TM),” Seth sings “This unicorn fell upon me, as it raced toward me with its horn, driving it towards my anus. I clenched my anus as I blocked the horn and I said ‘Not today.’ And then, I took out my sword of Avalon once again…” On “Japananoque,” the guys seem to just be fooling around, laying down some frenetic riffs as they sing “The women are fine, the women are fine, the women are fine everywhere.  They are not greasy, they’re very pretty. Japananoque. Suck on my cockque.”

The guys can get serious too. “Where Are You” speaks to missing a lost love after a broken relationship. “I toss and turn, thinking about you sleeping in my bed. Old memories return and pictures they burn, except for the evidence of you in my bed. Where are you, and why can’t I see clearly now?”

MUDD’s songs are only available on Bandcamp at this time, and they don’t yet have any YouTube videos.  They’re currently in the process of recording a new EP with the provocative title No Peeing In The Pool. It should be another head banger! Connect with MUDD on Facebook and stream or download their EP on Bandcamp.

EP Review: ALL TAKEN – “Accept This”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews2 Comments

All Taken is a two-piece alternative rock band based in Los Angeles. Comprised of long-time friends Daniel Daghlarian and Avo Karapetyan, the duo formed in late 2015 and released a strong debut single “Burning Red” in 2016. The guys have now followed up with Accept This, a five-track EP which dropped on March 18, 2017.

All Taken meld electronic and hard rock components, along with a bit of 90s grunge, to create their infectious alt-rock sound. Daniel plays guitar and sings lead vocals, and Avo pounds the drums and sings backup. Listening to Accept This, the thing that stands out the most for me is their exceptional musicianship. Daniel lays down some fine, nimble guitar work, and Avo’s drums are right on point. Also, the guys have written melodies that are both compelling and overflowing with irresistible hooks.

All Taken

“House of Wolves” kicks off the EP with some really terrific riffs, set to a catchy, start-and-stop beat put down by Avo’s hammering drums and a generous dose of crashing cymbals. The song seems to be about having a nightmare: “The house of wolves, they call your name. They’re baring their fangs at you.”  The great second track “Hollow” opens with a nice strummed guitar, then aggressive shredded guitars and strong percussion take over. The song’s melodic beat at times reminds me of “No One Knows” by Queens of the Stone Age.  The song’s lyrics speak of someone who’s a shell of their former self: “Remember me for who I was. Not as I am – Hollow.”

“Rather Not” has a mellow, almost acoustic vibe (albeit done with gentle electric guitar) until, at the bridge, Daniel unleashes an awesome blistering guitar solo before the slow acoustic vibe returns to close out the song. The change-up creates tension that fits the lyrics: “Shadows in an empty room Why would you leave so soon? Do you feel uneasy? My vision is hazy.”

“Secret” is loaded with hooks and more awesome guitar work, and the guys harmonize especially well on this track. The song’s about not being able to escape the person you really are: “Running from your secrets, whisper words they are the sweetest. The words you confessed are now regrets. You can run, you can hide, but you can’t change what’s inside.” The final track “Restless Nights” has a bit of a psychedelic feel, courtesy of the slow, distorted guitar that’s overlain by shredded riffs, buzzing bass and muscular drums.

All Taken have produced a very good debut EP that showcases their solid songwriting and impressive music skills. Check it out here.

Connect with All Taken:   Facebook / Twitter /  Instagram

Purchase Accept This on iTunes and Bandcamp

Top 20 Songs for April 9-15, 2017

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's5 Comments

The gorgeous “On Hold” by The xx knocks Rag’n’Bone Man’s “Human” off the #1 spot after a 3-week run. Rihanna climbs to #2 with her magnificent soulful throwback song “Love on the Brain.” “Heavydirtysoul” is in the Top 20 two years after “Tear In My Heart” made it’s debut, showing the astonishing staying power of twenty øne piløts’ brilliant album Blurryface. Run With It’s “I Need a Light” spends its 15th week in the Top 20, the longest-running song on this list. And the collaboration “Something Just Like This” by The Chainsmokers and Coldplay debuts at #20.

1. ON HOLD – The xx (3)
2. LOVE ON THE BRAIN – Rihanna (5)
3. HEAVYDIRTYSOUL – twenty øne piløts (4)
4. HUMAN – Rag’n’Bone Man (1)
5. LOVE IS MYSTICAL – Cold War Kids (6)
6. HOT THOUGHTS – Spoon (9)
7. HOW DID YOU LOVE – Shinedown (8)
8. SHAPE OF YOU – Ed Sheeran (2)
9. WOLVES – Wide Eyed Boy (10)
10. RUST TO GOLD – Council (7)
11. BELIEVER – Imagine Dragons (11)
12. THAT’S WHAT I LIKE – Bruno Mars (14)
13. LOST ON YOU – LP (19)
14. I NEED A LIGHT – Run With It (15)
15. BLAME – Bastille (17)
16. GREEN LIGHT – Lorde (18)
17. 7 – Catfish and the Bottlemen (12)
18. COLD COLD COLD – Cage the Elephant (20)
19. SHINE – Mondo Cozmo (13)
20. SOMETHING JUST LIKE THIS – The Chainsmokers & Coldplay (N)

EP Review: RUN WITH IT – “How to Start a Fire”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews2 Comments

Run With It is one of the hardest-working bands I know. The Kansas City three-piece has been touring and gigging throughout the Midwest, East Coast and Southern U.S. nearly non-stop since Summer 2016 – even playing a concert at Doha Air Force Base in Qatar! – yet somehow managed to also record a superb new EP How to Start a Fire, which dropped on March 24. I’ve been following them for quite a while, and featured them on this blog in February 2016. The band recently signed with the Southern Valley Record label, and I’m thrilled to see their star grow.

Making the music are Miguel Caraballo on Lead Vocals and Guitar, Ben Byard on Bass and Backing Vocals, and Daniel Cole on Drums. (Ben replaced Clint Velazquez who left the band last September to devote his full attention to his Base Academy of Music.) They play accessible pop-rock that draws influences from rock’n’roll, alternative rock, R&B, folk and even a bit of blues. Their song lyrics touch on oft-covered themes of life, love, and relationships, as well as the struggle to find one’s own truth and way in the world.

Run With It
Photo by Chris Mullins Photography

The EP opens strong with the gorgeous rock song “I Need a Light,” which was released as the first single. The track’s arrangement and production values are perfect, and together the dynamic instrumentals and strong vocals create an incredibly tight, compelling song. Musically, the song begins with a lovely piano riff that continues on and off throughout the track, then heavy bass, thunderous percussion and dreamlike synths take over, accompanied by intricate guitar work. Miguel’s impassioned vocals rise and fall with the music’s intensity, and the powerful guitar solo toward the end gives me goosebumps every time.

The emotionally hard-hitting lyrics speak to feeling lost and alone, in search of a path forward and someone who can be counted on: “I need a light so bright that the sun seems dim. I need something that will not fade. Held tight like the hand of a friend. I need someone that won’t runaway.”

I love this song, which has spent 15 consecutive weeks on my Weekly Top 20 Chart.

On the pleasing track “Don’t Waste My Time,” the guys skillfully mesh delicate circular piano movements with a lovely guitar riff.  I’m impressed by the generous use of the piano in their music, giving it a fuller, highly melodic sound. Also, some of their songs have an anthemic quality, with complex, layered instrumentals and soaring choruses. A good example is “Time,” a track with beautiful music that contrasts with biting lyrics about how the passage of time can be cruel: “Time, she’s a liar, a thief. Her teeth in my flesh, How do I get free. Blood, the taste in my mouth. Her bloody fist, gonna knock me out.” Another is “One More Fight,” an uplifting song with a sweeping melody and some terrific bluesy guitar riffs, not to mention Miguel’s heartfelt vocals.

“Move On” speaks to letting go of a failed relationship and moving on. Again, beguiling piano, layered guitars and just the right amount of percussion make this a great track.  The infectiously upbeat “On Your Own” has a bit of a folk-rock vibe, with robust acoustic and electric guitars, and Miguel’s earnest vocals expressing the hopeful lyrics: “There’s a song deep in your heart. It’s like a raging lion is gonna tear you apart.”

How to Start a Fire is a well-crafted EP with six solid tracks, and I look forward to hearing more from these busy guys. They’ve already begun working on new music for us fans to enjoy.

To learn more about Run With It, check out their website and follow on Twitter /  Facebook /  Instagram. Watch their videos and vlogs on their YouTube channel.

Stream How to Start a Fire on Spotify and purchase on iTunes.

EP Review : FUTURE THEORY – “Fool’s Dream”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews7 Comments

To prepare for writing a music review, I start by immersing myself in the artist or band’s music in order to fully understand and evaluate the various elements of the lyrics, instrumentals, vocals and production values. In most cases, I come to more greatly appreciate the music the more I listen. And every now and then, I find myself falling deeper in love with the music each time I hear it. Such is the case with the incredibly talented UK band Future Theory. Last October, 2016, the foursome dropped their debut EP Fool’s Dream, and it’s nothing short of spectacular.

Future Theory is made up of Max Sander on rhythm guitar and vocals, Chris Moore on lead guitar, Rex Helley on bass (although Jake Scarbro was bassist at the time the EP was recorded), and Rohan Parrett on drums. Taking inspiration from such bands as Radiohead, Pink Floyd, Audioslave, Queens of the Stone Age and The Verve, the Lincolnshire collective have developed a lavish sound built on elements of alternative rock, shoegaze, psychedelia and funk. Furthermore, their skillful musicianship and intelligent songwriting are all the more striking given their youth (I believe they’re all under the age of 21).

Future Theory

Fool’s Dream starts off with “Eye of the Storm,” a dynamic and beautiful track overflowing with intricate, jangly guitars, sharp percussion and soaring melodies. Sander’s mesmerizing vocals have a sultry vulnerability as he sings the lyrics “Here I stand upon the sands. Stranded here in no mans land. Said I’m through with lies, but now I see.”  The track closes with a scorching guitar solo and a brief flourish of distorted guitar at the very end that conjures up images of a storm that has finally spent itself.

Now is a good time to state flat out that Sander’s sensuous and startlingly mature-sounding vocals are a thing of wonder and, to my mind, a defining element of Future Theory’s sound. It’s astonishing that a man of his young age could vocalize with such nuanced emotional intensity. When combined with the band’s dazzling instrumentals, his captivating vocals result in songs of exceptional caliber.

The title track “Fool’s Dream” is an achingly gorgeous song about realizing that your love interest isn’t quite what you’d hoped, thus shattering your dreams. Sander moans “Why is the glass always half empty when you’re around? Sense of frustration now, stretching my mind. Oh I feel all down.” The swirling guitars and crystalline synths are, well…dreamy.

The guys lay down some terrific psychedelic grooves on “Horses.” Shredded and distorted guitars duel with thumping bass, crashing cymbals and glittery synths, creating tension as Sander seductively croons “See the horses, they’re the only ones who know motive. / Another scene, another slaughter, when enemies hold their line. / Woah oh oh oh horses, why won’t you take me away.” They funk things up on “Listen Closely,” with lots of jangly guitars layered over funky bass and a driving beat. The guitars on this track are so good!

The final track “Horses (Koncide Remix)” is a spellbinding EDM/techno re-imagining of “Horses.” Gone are the layered guitars, and in their place are complex, multi-textured synths that create a dramatic, yet dreamy, soundscape. It’s the perfect ending for a fool’s dream.

Connect with Future Theory:  Facebook /  Twitter /  Instagram

Stream their music:  Soundcloud /  Spotify /  Google Play /  YouTube

Purchase on:  iTunes /  Bandcamp

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – ‘Flying Microtonal Banana’ – Album Review

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Guest Posts1 Comment

Sharing this excellent review by fellow blogger 2Loud2OldMusic of King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard’s new album “Flying Microtonal Banana.”

2loud2oldmusic's avatar2 Loud 2 Old Music

For those that follow my blog, they might remember one of my first Music Challenges where I listened to an album based off the band’s name, album cover or name of the album.  I picked King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard’s album strictly because of their band name.  And to my surprise, I really loved the album.  When I saw they had a new album out, I naturally gravitated toward it and gave it a spin…a lot of spins.

Their new album is called ‘Flying Microtonal Banana’ and is their 9th studio album since 2012..that is right…9th!!  They also are planning on releasing not one, not two, but FIVE albums this year. Pretty ambitious and we will wait and see if they actually able to achieve said goal.

The band is out of Australia and actually has seven members.

  • Stu Mackenzie – lead vocals
  • Ambrose Kenny Smith – keyboards/synthesizer

View original post 1,000 more words

Featured Song & Video: CRYSTAL CITIES – “Who’s Gonna Save Us Now”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Artist Spotlight, Reviews3 Comments

Every once in a while you hear a song for the first time and it’s instant love. That was my reaction upon first hearing the breathtaking new single “Who’s Gonna Save Us Now” by Australian band Crystal Cities. Musically and lyrically, the song is absolutely stunning, and it’s arrangement and production are flawless.

Based in Sydney, Crystal Cities is Geoff Rana on vocals & guitars, Jared King on bass & backing vocals and Daniel Conte on drums. The guys call their music “Dream Rock that sounds like Death Cab For Cutie had a War On Drugs with The Beatles.” It’s a perfect description of their music style.

Crystal Cities

The beautiful video was directed by Vittoria Merlino-Dentice and, as explained in notes for the video, is “set in the 1940’s, [and] follows the journey of two young child compadres as they escape from their well-to-do life, exploring the Australian countryside, and searching for truth from a perspective of innocence and vulnerability.”

Connect with Crystal Cities:  Twitter /  Facebook /  Instagram

Stream their music:  Soundcloud /  Spotify /  YouTube

Purchase:  Bandcamp /  iTunes