It has been just about 6 months since I have last made a post. The reason for this is because I haven't been inspired to do so, or to put frankly, I've been too lazy. I've abandoned a lot of things about myself and haven't been doing what should be good for me and instead have always been doing things more for someone else. Is this selfish? Maybe. But, maybe I've just been too selfless for too long. I haven't been very happy about a lot of things about myself lately, and what's even worse is that I haven't really done anything to change it. Perhaps it's time that I actually go through with something, fully commit to myself, maybe even do something outrageously spontaneous--or maybe I'll just take it one step at a time. More importantly, I shouldn't delay, procrastinate, nor abandon what I love doing the most. I cannot even think when was the last time I actually sat down and wrote a story, nor can I think the last time I produced a poem. Songs come and go in my head, but I never bother to write them down. This madness has to stop! I can't just waste away anymore. It's time I be about me more, instead of dwelling about me. For the first time in a long time, I've thought of a new short story that I want to write, and I'm very excited about it. I can't wait to actually start writing it. As much I want to rush into, I'm not. That's always been my mistake in the past, and for once, I'm not going to do it. For a while, I've thought I've abandoned this blog and thought that it was useless to begin with, but that just goes to show how much little I know. But, enough with this Soap Opera drama, lets talk tunes.
Every once in my job, we have chance to pick up free albums of artist of so many different genres. Some are just great picks and steals to have, while others are just not worth having, even if they are for free. A few days ago, I had the chance to pick up a few good ablums, while one was just about to blow me away in more ways than I can think to explain.
VAMPIRE WEEKEND
CONTRA
I was pretty excited when I picked up this album, considering how much I liked their debut self-title album and the first single, "Cousins" , released from this album. Turns out, Contra is not that impressive of an album. It has some songs on it, but it seems with this album that they are trying to turn a new direction with things and are sort of moving away from the riffs, like "A-Punk", that made this band so popular in the first place, that made them so energetic and so different to listen to. In Contra there are some songs like "Giving Up the Gun" that gives the album a more "pop-feel", not that there isn't wrong with that, but it's just not my "cup of tea" and sometimes almost completely turns me off to some bands. Regardless of that, the album is still very different and innovative, and I really enjoyed some of the songs like "White Sky". It's probably not an album that I would make my way to go out and buy, but I do enjoy the rough cut copy that I received for free.
PASSION PIT
MANNERS
I remember the first time I heard this band performing on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" about a year ago. From the opening sequence of "The Reeling" of which they performed on the show, I was immediately hooked and incredibly impressed. For the next few months I would occasionally go to their Myspace and listen to the given songs they would upload on the site--NOTE: this was before I knew that I could listen to full albums on Myspace. Soon, they would receive air play and hype from the local alternative radio here in KC (96.5 The Buzz) as they were due to come into town and perform at The Beaumont with Owl City. If you can recall, Passion Pit never perform at that show because of the Beaumont-Lighting-Rig-Almost-Falling-On-Passion-Pit's-Sound-Guy-Debacle. Regardless of that "event" Passion Pit eventually did come back to KC and performed much to everyone's delight--or so I heard. Out of the three albums, this was the first one I decided to listen to because of the songs that I heard before and the energy that emerges from their songs. The opening song "Make Light" was a great song to start off with, as you're hit with that energy and light of their music right away. I do understand that Passion Pit's material is not favored to the taste to everyone, just like Vampire Weekend--you either love 'em or hate 'em, but there is something about Passion Pit that just does it for me. The one thing that sort of pulled me away from the album was the fact that half of the songs were great and I could listen to over and over again, while the other half just seemed like fillers for the album. A lot of the music just seen to mesh in and in a way seemed repetitive, but that is what the "Next Track" button is for. Songs like "The Reeling", "Sleepyhead", and "Little Secrets" are just high energetic songs, in my view that I just can't help but turn that dial--or move my thumb in a clockwise circle if using an iPod--to hear every single note of those songs played. Would I go out and buy the album or buy it on iTunes? Maybe, but this is more likely worth a song-by-song purchase. I look to forward to hear more from these guys and surely hope they don't fade away.
MUMFORD AND SONS
SIGH NO MORE
I was very excited to start listening to this album because of how much I love their single "Little Lion Man". To be completely blunt, WOW, just WOW. I am in love with this album and it might be partially due to my growing love for folk-rock music like City and Colour and William Elliot Whitmore (who I great recommend you give a listen, because they are both great). I truly cannot get enough of these great songs, starting from the album-titled track that starts the album to the very last song. The only thing about Mumford and Sons is that they are differently a band that you have to be in the mood to listen to. It's like Nirvana or Classical Music for me. I'm not comparing these genres of music to someone like Mumford and Sons, but I say what I said because through the album there songs do not vary much. For a lot of people its a musical "turn-off"--as it is sometimes for me--but for this album I don't get that feeling. Some people will probably listen to this and think that a lot of the music just meshes together and I can understand that, but I urge that it is worth listening to. Coincidentally, Mumford and Sons are coming to KC to perform at the Record Bar next week; unfortunately, it's sold out. However, if you are awake and don't have to go to school and/or work like I do in the very early morning Wednesday June 16, you can see them perform an acoustic set at Firefly Lounge at Westport--I really wish I could go to both! In the foreseen future, I'm going to buy this album as the "free" one I have does not have the "Little Lion Man" single in it--and that song is a must have! If you have not listen to Sigh No More yet, I absolutely urge you to listen--you will love it!
I know that these albums have been out for a while and most people who read this--that is if anyone is reading what I have to say--will sigh, roll their eyes, and say, "Duh, Jarrad, I don't need you to reiterate what I already know," but in my view and as I have said before I'm just catching up with a lot of things, I've just buried myself with so much that I never bothered to get out of it, and a great way to dig yourself out of any depression, rut, or slump is a great sample of music to remind you about better, brighter times, maybe even reconnect a forgotten memory. If anyone hasn't listened to any of these albums, you should give them a listen. It feels so good to write in this blog again. It's hard to makes promises, but I will try to keep a promise to myself to never abandon writing, whether it's in my notebook, my computer, songwriting, or on this blog. Thanks for reading!
