Much, Much Longer

You keep looking for it, find it,
then you move on to the next;
if they try to take it from you,
then you'll break their goddamn necks.
Keep waiting for an answer,
but the truth's eluding you;
it's alluding to the problem
that you don't know what to do.

So the moment keeps you waiting,
much, much longer than it should,
and you wait - for much too, much too long.

Attempt to train your focus,
on the new life that you've found,
but demons haunt your past that
can't be shed by changing towns.
The future haunts you always,
a bright white beacon in your mind.
You mutter to yourself,
"I have the now and that is mine."

So the moment keeps you waiting,
much, much longer than it should,
and you wait - for much too, much too long.

Optimism finds you,
but it fucks you in the end.
See, you got your hopes up,
now you lost your only friend.
You held it for a moment,
so close that you could touch;
you ask for only what was promised,
but it's much too, much too, much.

You only held it in your hand
so you could feel it crush,
and you wait - for much too, much too long.

Intimacy and the Power of Three

Before today's post, a brief aside.

Technically, this still falls within the "post-a-week" paramaters because my last one was on the 11th, so since this is the next Saturday, I'm safe from all you critics and disbelievers.

As always, tracks are at the bottom of this post, in case you don't feel like reading and would rather get to the good stuff.

Now, on with the post!

So our boys from across the pond, Bloc Party, released their third album today: "Intimacy". Having listened to it while I was at work, I can't say I was paying very close attention it, but I feel that I got the jist of it enough to give a semi-decent review.

The album starts off with Ares, immediately setting the tone of the album. We are reminded very much of raw, gritty sound of "Silent Alarm" from the guitar, which also seemed to allude to The Chemical Brothers somehow (or maybe I'm just listening to them too much lately). However, it is a tone that seems to be somewhat of a new direction of the band, employing many electronic techniques. In fact, there was a time that I had to re-check the song on my iPod just to make sure that I wasn't listening to a remix.

A similar style is found on the next track, Mercury, and is heard immediately on the track when Okereke's voice is split. This is the single, so I'm sure you've all heard it before. If not, see below.

On Bico, I was reminded a lot of Waiting For the 7.18 from "A Weekend in the City". So much, that I had to re-check the song on my iPod just to make sure that I....well, you get it. Certainly a departure from the rest of the album.

Better Than Heaven is a great song that pops out in my recollection, and I remember when I listened to it, I loved the way the guitar gave much of what was expected from Ares: grit and roughness. It was like the aural equivalent of my face after a day without shaving. But in a good way. (Ed: that was retarded). I don't know, it was just really upbeat and seemed more in-your-face than the previous tracks on the record.

I've heard complaints that some fans of older Bloc Party don't like this newer stuff because of the new, more electronic sound is so different. I find it interesting that this is being brought up now, being the third album and whatnot. I find with a lot of bands, their sound as a band becomes recognizably-unique and apart from other bands in their genre. "Oh, it's totally The Flaming Lips!", rather than "Are you sure Nickelback and Three Doors Down aren't the same?" I mean, think about it: "Led Zeppelin III", "OK! Computer", "Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Vol. 1: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness", the list goes on. All third albums, all albums that definied what made Led Zeppelin, Radiohead, and Coheed & Cambria the bands they are today (Ed: I mean the music. I am aware that John Bonham is dead).

Could "Intimacy" be Bloc Party's definitive record? If so, the old fans might stop listening, but they'd be missing out. Bloc Party has proved with this record that they can still innovate on an already unique take on post-punk indie music, and a force to be reckoned with.

Hate it or love it, it's worth a listen at least.

Bloc Party - Better Than Heaven

Bloc Party - Mercury





*Disclaimer* I do not encourage the illegal distribution of music. I post these in the hopes that people will enjoy the track enough to purchase the full album. If anyone has a problem with these, don't hesitate to bring it to my attention and I will remove the links immediately.

Should Be Studying...

...but I'm not.

Woodhands - Can't See Straight

Takka Takka - Everybody Say

Four Tet - Ringer





*Disclaimer* I do not encourage the illegal distribution of music. I post these in the hopes that people will enjoy the track enough to purchase the full album. If anyone has a problem with these, don't hesitate to bring it to my attention and I will remove the links immediately.

PineappLoL Express

I know this is my second post this week, which is twice as much as I had planned on, but I wanted to just throw this out there before I forgot about it.

I saw Pineapple Express last night with Seth Rogen and James Franco....hilarious. I especially liked the part when Rogen's character was explaining to his girlfriend about his worries about her developing new tastes in music when she goes away to college. Specifically, she'll "start getting into Godspeed You! Black Emperor and The Shins". These of course are two bands that I got into when I went to school. Rogen is a genius. If you haven't seen it yet, you're missing out.





*Disclaimer* I do not encourage the illegal distribution of music. I post these in the hopes that people will enjoy the track enough to purchase the full album. If anyone has a problem with these, don't hesitate to bring it to my attention and I will remove the links immediately.

Art For Art's Sake

I've been thinking a lot about the ethics of downloading music, and, frankly, I don't understand what the debate is about. Artists create so that their art can be shared with the world, so shouldn't musicians be grateful that I want to listen to their music?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a Communist; I have nothing against people making money. The record companies saw a need and built a business to fulfill it. That's how Capitalism works, the Free Market in action. People wanted good music, and needed people to select, produce, and distribute it, and record companies provided this service at a fair cost.

However, with the advent and subsequent popularization of the internet, this service is no longer necessary. Musicians can promote themselves, and distribute their music online for free. Music fans have access to a virtually unlimited supply of new music everyday. Record companies are now providing, at a cost, what you can otherwise get for free. This is stupid. Almost as stupid as selling water, but people still pay $3 a bottle.

That's the thing. Record companies and musicians still make money. For whatever reason, be it out of convenience, or sheer charity, people continue to pay for music. It's a wonderful thing to be paid to do something you love. I myself do work that I would continue to do regardless of pay. And, although I've never made a dime off it, I continue to produce and create music. Music will not cease to exist just because selling records is no longer a viable business. Any musician who protests free distribution of their music doesn't deserve to make money.

The whole music industry monopoly stems from our society's worship of expertise. Whether it's singing on American Idol, dancing on So You Think You Can Dance, or even standing-and-looking-pretty on America's Next Top Model, people only want to see the best. They begin to believe that they shouldn't partake in something solely because they aren't an expert. I constantly hear people say, "Oh no, I can't sing." How ridiculous is that? That's like saying "Oh no, I can't laugh." The world is filled with beautiful things, and people should appreciate them for what they are, rather than trying to squeeze out every last penny.

Would you give up sex just because you're not an expert at it? "No thanks," she said, in response to my advances, "I'm not very good at sex. But I never miss an episode of So You Think You Can Fuck."

Back from Hiatus; Conor Oberst and The Black Ghosts

Yes, it's been forever since any one of us has blogged here. I don't know why. Summer fun I suppose. I have since decided, however, that it is time to break the silence and share my thoughts on a couple of new albums that have been released recently.

First, the much anticipated self-titled solo album from Conor Oberst releases tomorrow. Even though it's not cool to like Bright Eyes any more, a lot of people still appreciate his work, so I have a feeling this album is going to do quite well. I was lucky enough to snag a copy a few days early and have gave it a few listens, and I've decided I like it, but it's nothing to really say 'wow' about. Basically, he does the same sort of songs we heard on last year's Cassadega, but with less instrumental depth. That is to say, the songs seem more simple in a way, with more focus on the lyrics and guitar. However, none of the guitar hooks really jump out at you as memorable, and the lyrics seem to be getting somewhat more pretentious and overly-complicated just for the sake of 'art'. Or maybe I'm just not smart enough to understand his poetry. That being said, if you're a fan of Conor, you'll probably like this album. Just pretend it's New Zealand: don't expect too much, and you'll love it.

Next, changing our genres completely, I've discovered a new indie dance pop band called The Black Ghosts. They released a self-titled album last month, and it's pretty decent. I'm in love with the opening track (below) for some reason. The driving string section evokes a certain ambiance usually found in trip hop songs (which I'm a big fan of). Not quite the same but similar. In fact, the beat reminds me of a certain El-P song that I can't quite place my finger on. They also remind me of MGMT for some reason; there's a certain similarity between 'Weekend Wars' and 'Full Moon'...maybe it's the voice. Also, look for Diplo's remix of the single 'Repetition Kills You'.

Mike out.

Conor Oberst - Get Well Cards

The Black Ghosts - Some Way Through This





*Disclaimer* I do not encourage the illegal distribution of music. I post these in the hopes that people will enjoy the track enough to purchase the full album. If anyone has a problem with these, don't hesitate to bring it to my attention and I will remove the links immediately.