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...and what better background music than dreamy, stoner rock?
I know you're probably thinking I'm writing this in honor of the 4/20 celebrations going on today. But that's actually just a coincidence.
I was actually sitting here thinking about the Mogwai show I'm attending next Friday at The Metro in Chicago, and then I created a playlist of all my favorite stoner rock jams. Then I remembered it's been almost two months since my last post. What a slacker!
Anyhow, here's what I want to say...with no regards to 4/20...
Sometimes the real world gets ugly. Sometimes you just want to get lost in the confines of your own imagination. And this is the kind of pleasant noise that can assist in achieving this lost dream world.
It's music like this that makes me want to be the woman in charge of compiling appropriate soundtrack music for movies. The crap they usually play is awful! I'm not normal, of course. I'm sure the first thing most people notice about a movie is the actor, or the storyline, maybe even the set location, or other typical elements. But me...I like the music to tell the story. And that's what I notice.
These particular tracks, I feel, would suit almost any movie scene that's dark, dirty, greasy, drug-related, sexual, emotionally charged, deadly, suspenceful. Of course, they're not limited to just those situations. But in my mind, that's what I see. Absolute hedonism.
On that note...I just wanna get drunk and stoned with my friends. And I think I'll do just that. Between now and the Mogwai show. And probably after that, too.
Disclaimer: Don't be ignorant. These are long, progressive tracks. Give the songs a chance. Sometimes they don't make sense until a few minutes into the track. If you hit the stop button before the song is over, do me a favor and block this website from your browser. I don't want assholes reading my blog.
Red Sparowes - Alone And Unaware, The Landscape Was Transformed In Front Of Our Eyes
Mogwai - You're Lionel Richie
Explosions in the Sky - Magic Hours
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I've recently been introduced to the musical stylings of Chico Mann. Not gonna lie, at first I wasn't impressed. I was bored. But the more I listened to his tracks, the more I envisioned myself blasting guns and robbing banks in a Guy Ritchie crime film.
As a matter of fact, I may take it upon myself to send Mr. Ritchie a personal note recommending he contact Chico when preparing the score for his next film.
I love the way Chico Mann plays up the funk in a modern way, drizzling some Afro-Cuban beats on top.
It seems that the most successful musicians these days have the ability to cunningly take from the past and spin the classics to fit in today's demented culture. Chico does it well.
So check out the tracks below, and let him write your soundtrack this Monday...
The most recent Minus the Bear album came out last summer, but the more I listen to it the more obsessed I become with it. Today, I want to write about musical progression and growth. You'd think experimentation would be more accepted these days, but people (especially die-hard fans of specific bands or genres) have become quite closed-minded. It's upsetting.
The track I'm posting today, "Animal Backwards" (which can be found on Minus the Bear's latest album Omni), brings out a lot of mixed emotions and reactions from Minus the Bear fans. If you're familiar with Minus the Bear, you'll notice right away that this song possesses a much different sound. They definitely experimented a bit on this one, and they steered away from their traditional sound. And while many fans think this is some sort of blasphemy, I commend the transition.
Sure, this song is a bit more electro-dance than any of their previous songs. Yea, it can be a bit repetitive. But that's the point. It was meant to be different. How talented really are bands that show no growth at all? You can throw on any album from any year, and they pretty much sound the same? Is that what you want? Not me.
Minus the Bear has always been a talented, multifaceted band. And yes, why fix what's not broken? But that doesn't mean stop growing, stop progressing, some learning, stop transforming. This track is a perfect example of musical progression. And I like it.
So the haters of the world that call themselves "fans" can shut up. Step out of that ignorant little hole you live in, and try something new!
The end.
Minus the Bear - Animal Backwards
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So I'm sitting here, with nothing to do. So I decide to continue organizing the music on my hard drive...an ongoing project that will probably never be complete. If you have an immense amount of music, though, I highly recommend attempting to clean it up and organize it. It helps you rediscover music you forgot about, haven't listened to in a while, or just neglected in the recent past.
Anyhow, so I'm sitting here organizing my music folders, and I begin another neglected task...creating a workout playlist! I haven't been to the gym in ages, and I keep blaming my lack of a "workout playlist" for my absence from the gym. Shame on me...
Basically...I need to get my $hit back in order! My music is in disarray, and my muscles are dwindling!
While I worked on these two projects simultaneously, I came across this track. Either I've been out of the house scene way too long, or house DJs just suck ass now. Someone please tell me which it is, because I just don't hear tracks like this anymore!
Check it out, let it warp your mind. And get back to me.
Chris Kaeser - Atomic Control
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Damn you Daylight Savings! I'm all sorts of backwards right now. What is the point anyway? Great, I see the sun earlier in the morning, and my drive home from work is black as hell. Wonderful. What a dumb system.
There's something about autumn and the changing of the season that makes me think a whole lot. I think about what's missing, rather than my blessings. Although I'm probably the happiest I've been in a long time, it still feels like something isn't right. And I know I'm not alone. I hear negativity all around me, just by listening to my friends talk or reading my friends' Facebook status messages and what not. The cold weather takes away our spirit, and we're left feeling unmotivated and uninspired.
So what does one do to snap out of this dismal mood? Just with almost anything else, I find solitude in music.
I downloaded the album Contraption by Beats Antique last night before I went to bed...solely because I heard one of the songs on Pandora yesterday afternoon and liked it. Well, I was in my usual gloomy morning mood as I drove to work this morning. Until...I played my new album and instantly that mood was reversed. Instantly, all the negative thoughts went away. Instead, my mind began circling around all the positivity in my life. And I began taking mental notes of all the things I want to do today, tomorrow, over the weekend, during the winter, etc.
It's so easy to get stuck in that winter depression, but I'm not going to let that happen. I'm far too perky and optimistic for that nonsense. And I was reminded of this as I danced all the way to work in my car.
Beats Antique - Mission
Beats Antique - She's Looking For Something
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