Halloween! - A Nightmare to Remember

It's Halloween and wanted to share this song. A Nightmare to Remember is by Dream Theater, from their newest album that was released this past June, Black Clouds and Silver Linings. This is the first track on the album and it has a very eery halloween kind of feel to it, so I thought it'd be perfect to talk about today. Enjoy. Give yourself some time to listen to it. It's 15 minutes long, as one would expect from a classic Dream Theater track. If you like this song you should check out the rest of their album. I would highly recommend it.

Album Pick: Blackfield II

This album is the second produced by Blackield, and it's an amazing piece of work. If you've never heard of them before, Blackfield is a side project of Steven Wilson from Porcupine Tree and Israeli singer Aviv Geffen. The pair both play vocals and guitar and collaborate while writing the songs.

Wikipedia classifies their music as "art rock," which I think means it's hard to categorize it. It can fall under a lot of genres, but it's pretty experimental music with a lot of progressive influences. Pink Floyd fans will love this music. Every track on this album (and their 1st ablum for that matter) is different and they're all amazing. I don't know what else to say about it other than let the music speak for itself. Take a listen and get ahold of this album if you can!

Guns N' Roses Coming to London!

In case you haven't heard, Guns N' Roses is coming to London!  On January 25th, 2010, you'll have a chance to see this legendary band live at the John Labatt Centre for their Chinese Democracy tour.  Tickets won't be cheap and they'll probably run out fast, so get one before you miss out on your chance.  I'm not even a huge fan of them, but you can't miss out on an oppurtunity to see them play their hits.  Here's a bit of a reminder...

Covers by KevinMac - Willow Tree

I recorded this a couple weeks ago with my roomate just for fun.  It's a cover of a really great song by Mickey Newbury called Willow Tree.  Give it a listen and let me know what you think!  Keep in mind this wasn't a serious attempt or anything.  We were fooling around, but I think it sounds kool.  Enjoy!

Here is the original.  It's pretty different from my version.  I can't sing like he does.  This really is a great song, so enjoy both versions!

Open Mic in London

If you like to play music but need an audience, there are plenty of places in London that host open mic nights.  I still haven't had the chance to do one myself because of school, but I hope to do one this week.  These are the places that I know about.  If you know any others feel free to share!

Taps on Talbot: Hopefully a great place to play some tunes and drink on Wednesday nights.  Haven't been there yet but when I do I'll be sure to write about it.

110 Dundas St. - (519) 645 2929

London Music Club: Come here on Friday nights for their Acoustyle Open mics at 9pm.  If you play blues music you're also welcome to come in on Thursdays for Blues Jams nights.  Of course, you don't have to be able to play, you can just enjoy the local talent and become inspired to play yourself.

470 Colborne St. - (519) 640 6996

The Spoke at UWO: Saturday nights, come and watch your peers get sloshed and play their hearts out.  I'll be doing just that this weekend, maybe not the getting sloshed part, but it wouldn't hurt.  

UCC Main Level, UWO - (519) 661-3590

Album Pick: Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness

Time to go back to progressive rock this week.  Out of their 4 studio albums, Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV, Volume 1: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness, is arguably Coheed and Cambria's best work.  The lyrics are based on the comic book series entitled "The Amory Wars," written by lead singer Claudio Sanchez, which is a sci-fi space story following the son of the characters Coheed and Cambria.  GAIBS Volume 1 is their third album in the saga.

I can't say too much about the story, because I have yet to read the comics, but much of the content is based on Claudio Sanchez's life experiences.  While writing this album, he had recently been dumped by his girlfriend, so you'll notice the lyrics are very dark and angry, since he kills the love interest of the main character in his story.  Whether you like angry lyrics or not, you should give this album a listen just for the quality of the music.

The hardest thing to get used to is the vocals.  Claudio Sanchez has a very high voice which some people might find unappealing.  It took me a while before I really started to enjoy Coheed's music, but you eventually develop a taste for the expressiveness of his voice.  He does an amazing job of making you feel the emotion of the song.  Before you know it, you'll be screaming along with Claudio as you listen to the music.  You also learn to appreciate the talent this guy has when you realize that he's playing lead guitar while he is singing during live performances.

The instrumental side of this band is also worth mentioning.  There are two guitarists, one of them being Claudio and the other being Travis Stever.  The 2 guitars play a key role in the music, and they blend together very well to make for some really interesting riffs.  There's nothing really complicated going on, but it sounds amazing.  The drums and bass don't stand out very often, but they do a good job of supporting the vocals and guitar.  The vocals give a pop feel, while the guitar uses a metal sound, and the riffs are very progressive, so there is something for everyone in this band.

There isn't a single weak track on this album.  It is a really great piece of work and a good album to start with if you are interested in listening to Coheed and Cambria.  Check them out!

The Dodos Concert Review

Last night I went to Lee's Palace in Toronto to see The Dodos play live.  I didn't know their music very well when I went to see them, but it didn't matter.  These guys put on an amazing show that I won't soon forget!

 

Meric Long (left) performed the lead vocals and guitar, while Logan Kroeber performed on drums.  Their newest member of the band, Keaton Snyder, was in the back playing the vibraphone, which is essentially an aluminum version of the xylaphone.  Each of these musicians used their instruments in very unique ways to create that "psychedelic" feeling to their music.  Meric Long spent most of the show using a finger-picking technique to play his guitar, but during an instrumental section, he put his guitar on the ground, grabbed a pair of drumsticks and used them to play the guitar.  It made a really cool slide guitar/screeching sound.  Keaton Snyder at one point used a cello bow to play the edges of the vibraphone, which made another unique sound.  I, however, spent most of my time watching Logan Kroeber on the drums.  

Instead of playing the bass drum with his foot, he played the bass drum with a drum stick, while tapping his foot with a tambourine attached to it.  I found the drum patterns he did in their songs very creative, and I couldn't keep from watching him play as quickly as he did while doing so many things at the same time. 

One of the hardest working bands I've ever seen on stage, these guys really put on a sweat, and I really enjoyed the show.  Check out their myspace, listen to some of their tunes, and keep an eye out for when they return to Toronto, or maybe even London!

Off-Topic: OUTFOXED Response

This is an off topic blog post for my blogging class at UWO.  If you would like to stay on topic while you read this, scroll down and play some songs that I’ve posted to keep the music vibe going.

In class we watched the documentary “Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch’s War on Journalism.”  The film heavily criticizes Fox News and the effect they have on American Society.  Being a student in media, I was already aware of certain things we see in the media such as agenda-setting and sensationalism, but I was shocked to see it happen to such a large extent on Fox News.  The documentary featured media experts such as Jeff Cohen and Bob McChesney (Free Press), as well as former Fox employees who talked of how they were forced to push a right wing agenda to avoid the risk of losing their jobs.

I find it pretty disappointing that such a large news network would engage in agenda setting and sensationalism, because they are a strong voice in the American public, which means they have a responsibility to be truthful and provide the information that will allow viewers to make up their own minds about what they see.  Instead they create the perception that they are biased, when they are clearly pushing a particular opinion on the viewers.  The one interview between Bill O’Reilly and Jeremy Glick I found particularly disturbing.  O’Reilly immediately treats him as though he is wrong and as if he is crazy because of his particular opinion.  He accused him of dishonoring his dead father and kicked him out of the interview before giving him a chance to respond.  This kind of thing should not be allowed in a “debate” between two people.

Private broadcasting is a big problem, because it only aims for profit.  When profit becomes the measure of success, stories and truth become sensationalized and molded in order to bring in more viewers.  I think the public voice should be held accountable by law if they intentionally withhold information to support their own arguments.  The public has a right to information so they can make their own decisions.  News media has a responsibility to the public, not to their shareholders. 

Thinking About Learning Guitar?

I've been playing guitar for about a year now.  By no means am I a professional musician yet, but I think I've progressed well after playing for 13 months, even though I am 20 years old and I am a university student.  I'm not trying to sound pretentious or anything, I just think it's worth mentioning because it proves that you don't have to start playing an instrument at a very young age in order to get good at it.  If you think you want to learn an instrument like guitar (or anything else for that matter), it's very easy to achieve.  All you have to do is this:

1) Pick your instrument: I chose guitar, but there are plenty of choices out there.  Some require more time and effort, as well as money.  Decide what you're willing to put into it before you make your choice.

2) Find a teacher: Some people can learn by ear, but that's a rare gift to have.  These days it's pretty easy to learn off internet tutorials.  I find them useful sometimes but prefer having a person teach me face to face.  I was lucky to have a roomate who is a great guitarist.  You'll find most people are happy to teach you how to play their instrument, so find someone and don't be afraid to ask.

3) Set Goals: If you think you're going to be shredding and doing complicated solos in a month, then you probably won't get very far.  I've been playing for a year and have only started to learn lead parts.  You have to set a list of goals and work on them one at a time.  For guitar, it's good to start with open chords, then move on to bar chords.  The only song I knew after the first couple weeks of playing was "Time of Your Life" by Green Day.  Once I could do that, I moved on to more challenging songs.  Take your time!

4) Practice: If you want to pursue an instrument and get good at it, it takes time and practice.  It's not a secret.  The best-known musicians are the ones who have spent hours a day for years perfecting their craft.  Plan your time, practice every day, and challenge yourself.  Eventually you'll find yourself playing an instrument and you'll ask yourself: "When did this happen?"

Album Pick: Time to Die

The past few bands I've talk about have all been of the progressive rock genre, but if you're in Toronto this weekend, on October 17th, you'll have a chance to see some psychedelic folk rock music at Lee's Palace.  They will be hosting The Dodos at 9 o'clock.  Tickets are still on sale!

If you've never heard of The Dodos, now is a great time to give their music a listen.  This 3 member band consists of Meric Long and Logan Kroeber, along with their newest member Keaton Snyder, who joined them before releasing their third full length album entitled “Time to Die” just a couple weeks ago.   

I like the Dodos for the way they use their instruments.  It feels like you are listening to a pop/folk song, but if you pay attention to the instrumentals there is something interesting going on there.  Logan Kroeber plays drums without a bass drum, frequently uses the rim of the drums more than the drums themselves, and tapes a tambourine to his shoe.  The percussion definitely stands out and to me is what makes this band unique.  I find the guitar playing pretty standard for folk music, but it’s written in such a way that it blends perfectly with the drumming.  Snyder has joined the band to play on the vibraphone, which is similar to a xylophone but uses aluminum bars rather than wooden ones.  The vocals are just right for this genre and are undoubtedly the centre piece of their music. 

Give these guys a listen.  They play this style well, and I think there’s something that caters to everyone’s taste.  Here’s some of their songs.  If you like it, buy a ticket for their concert in Toronto!

These two tracks are off their previous album "Beware of the Maniacs"

Album Pick: The End is Begun

This week I want to recommend an album which I think is a great piece of work, but I don't know very many people who know about this band.  The album "The End is Begun" is the fifth album released by 3, and I think it's their best one to date.  

If you've never heard 3's music, I would recommend it to anyone who is thinking about getting into progressive metal music.  There are metal elements but they don't have a really strong presence compared to some other bands such as Dream Theater or Coheed and Cambria.  Joey Eppard has a very unique guitar style which combines flamenco/slap techniques.  It makes for a different sound that I haven't heard from anyone else.  He is also the lead singer of the band.  His voice sometimes reminds me of a boy band singer, which is why some of their older music makes me think I'm listening to rock covers of the Backstreet Boys.  It doesn't bother me though, since he is a really good singer and it adds a mainstream kind of sound to their music.  Check them out.  It'll be a good use of your time.

London Venues - London Music Club

I've been researching good places in London to enjoy local music, and I found the London Music Club.  This is a great venue because there is a different act going on every night here.  Thursdays are Electric Blues Jam night, and Fridays are Open Mic Acoustyle night.  Tomorrow night is a chance to see "Said the Whale," who describe their music as indie without the indie edge.  I listened to a couple of their tracks on their myspace page and I think they sound pretty good.  Definitely worth checking out if you're in London this Wednesday and are looking for some good tunes.  

Album Pick: Metropolis Pt.2 - Scenes from a Memory

This week I'm going to talk about Dream Theater, and their 5th studio album entitled Metropolis Part 2: Scenes from a Memory.  If you've heard of this band, but don't know where to start, this album represents Dream Theater really well.  There are progressive and heavy metal influences in all their music, but I think this album balances the two perfectly.  The album also tells a story of a character named Nicholas, and his past life as someone named Victoria Page.  If you like metal or progressive rock, this album is a must. 

Check out this track off the album:

Porcupine Tree Concert Review

I think I can say this is one of the best concerts I've ever been to.  Hands down.  They played last night at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on the CNE grounds in Toronto.  The sound was perfectly balanced between each instrument, so well that you felt like you were listening to a reproduction of the actual recording.  Steve Wilson sounds great live, especially with the second guitarist John Wesley doing backing vocals.  Projected on the background were images fitted to each song.  I found them interesting, but spent most of my time watching the musicians.

They performed both songs I included in my previous post (Lazarus and Trains), as well as the 55 min title track off their new album "The Incident."  They also played other hit songs including Anesthetize, The Start of Something Beautiful, and The Sound of Musak.

A professional performance done to perfection.  I can't imagine how they could have made it any better.  Porcupine Tree plans on coming back to Canada this coming Spring.  If you get the chance, get a ticket.  You won't regret it.