Posts Tagged ‘Rock N Roll’

By: Caitlin Hoffman
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

The guitar hit me. I think that’s why I had to write about them. That sweet riff came in, strings blazing, and I was hooked.

Not to say the rest of the band isn’t great. Nay, Fallen Riviera has a lot of talent backing its name. This little blossom of beauty was born in L.A., and instead of seeing their dreams crushed under Hollywood hostility, they found indie clubs and a loyal fan base. Of this I am most glad. I’d hate to see these guys fall into the ever-towering pile of broken dreams.

I like this band. Mostly because they volunteer a genuine connection to their audience. They were out there garnering support and getting to know the crowds before they released their first EP. That’s dedication. That’s legitimacy.

Their lyrics swim somewhere between the surreal and the tangible. Every bar is sung, played, drummed and strummed with heartbreaking precision.

Yes, I like this.
　
　

By: Caitlin Hoffman
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

If you look at it logically, we have the power. We’ve got the majority of the vote, the more manpower, and the most potential. The working class, the bourgeois, even the proletarians have been cited again and again as the untapped resource of the world, the key to social revolution. So how come every cubicle boy with his briefcase and every cleaning lady with her hairnet feel nothing but demoralized and degraded?

Where did the power go?

When I was growing up, everyone wanted to be doctors, teachers, firefighters, charity workers. As children, we had our priorities figured out! We wanted to embrace careers that helped people, careers that involved exploration and creativity.

So how come we grew up, got saddled with a shit-storm of a desk job and forgot about those ideals we used to so proudly hold? How did we go from idolizing teachers and nurses to coveting the lives of businessmen and billionaires?

It’s the formula, kids. The formula that keeps us working class ‘where we belong’.

Oh, you don’t know the formula? The formula is a time-honoured concoction pushed forth by the top one percentile to ensure that the majority will never revolt and make society their own.

It is applied as follows:

Step One. Go to school. Distract yourself with games and gossip, socialization and alienation.

Step Five. Die before you have a chance to make a change.

This is the Game of Life for the working class, and the Top Five are intent on us keeping our pieces on the board. If we stray away, they freak. When we explore art, protests, activism, charity work or fighting against the status quo, it upsets the balance of our carefully crafted depression. But not to worry: that’s what prisons are for.

So, why does the formula work? That’s easy. It’s a potent combination of sedatives, diversions, and dwindling dreams. The number one percentile erases our socially-oriented goals and replaces them with less positive, more selfishly driven ideals. (Thank the profit motive for that, I guess.)

We replace the weekends at a dog shelter or soup kitchen with playing video games or going to the bar. We give up on being a playwright and get a job writing for a fashion magazine instead. The Top Five knows it’s exhausting to fight against their current of commercialism, and they know that we’re going to give up.

They know we’re going to shuffle through our mediocre lives, content with being discontented. They know we’ll keep pushing, secretly hoping that all those dreams they’re selling us are going to come true.

Humans used to depend on the struggle to survive. We had to be constantly out-thinking predators and outsmarting competition in order to thrive. Now, there is no need for such struggle. The only toil we have is found in maintaining our pay-cheques and keeping our taxes in tow. Everything else is automatic, instant, delivered. We have fast food and ‘for a limited time only’ sales promotions. We don’t know how to wait, and we don’t know how to work towards something better.

If someone’s handing me a greasy slab of dead cow for only a dollar, why should I waste time growing veggies in my backyard? If the company that tests on animals gets me the shine I like on my lips for less money, why waste time finding an organic, cruelty-free company?

I get it. We’re tired. They’ve swamped us with unattainable desires. We see nothing but cars we can’t afford, bodies we’ll never have, and holidays we don’t have time to take. They’ve got us chasing our shadow, and worst of all, they’ve got us liking it.

But we can’t stay stuck in the formula. We have to take the power back.

The best way to rip yourself from the status quo? Get thinking. Get talking. Look up articles, immerse yourself in politics, buy from thrift stores, learn to bake, learn a different language, seek out an alternate opinion. Start running. Walk dogs. Read labels. Bring up controversial issues. Look over the leaflet before you throw it away. Stare at the stars. Stay up late. Get up early. Find a job you actually enjoy.

We need to learn to embrace our fear. Maybe it’s easy living inside the formula, but life gets a whole lot better if you try stepping out of it.

Maybe if we harnessed our power, someone would fucking listen.

And I wouldn’t just be some irate little girl ranting to the computer at two o’clock in the morning. Maybe I’d actually be a part of something.

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Angels and Airwaves have released their second single, Surrender, off of the band’s upcoming album, Love Part II, due out on November 11th. This alternative rock super group is led by Blink 182 guitarist/vocalist Tom DeLonge, along with guitarist David Kennedy from Boxcar Racer, bassist Matt Wachter from 30 Seconds to Mars,and brand new drummer, Ilan Rubin, known for his work with Nine Inch Nails and Lostprophets.

I’m really digging the feel on this track. It’s the free single of the week over on iTunes, so grab it while it’s hot!

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

BTB favorites, The Black Keys, have dropped their amazing lead single and even more amazing lead video for Lonely Boy, off of their upcoming El Camino release. For those who no hablo espanol, that would translate to “The Road”. The album is due out in stores on December 6th.

Simply put, I adore this track. It’s tremendously catchy, but also nonchalantly harmonious and misleadingly compound.

Check it.

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

One of my favorite alternative rock duos, The Kills, are back with a smashing new single entitled Baby Says. This is by far one of the strongest tracks off of their fourth album release, Blood Pressures. Not to focus on the whole album, but it is indeed a fine work in a progressive discography.

There is just something about The Kills’ Jamie Hince and Alison Mosshart that gets my heart pounding. In order for a two piece band to work, there has to be a certain magic between the two performers and these two certainly get a passing mark.

Check out this rare acoustic performance of Baby Says below.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

The Horrors recently hit up BBC Radio 1, covering Beyonce’s Best Thing I Never Had. The arrangement mixed with frontman Faris Badwan’s vocals sends the breakup anthem into a disheveled indie rock state of mind.

It’s random, bizarre and unexpected, and that’s what makes it so cool.

I dig.

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Foster the People aren’t the only ones getting their kicks pumped. Weezer has recently been covering Pumped Up Kicks on tour, and it’s worth sharing with the world. As if the stratosphere of their instantaneous success wasn’t cool enough, the most tangible proof of their certifiable fame comes in the form of the ultimate authentication: being covered by one of the world’s most famous rock bands.

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

This is just too damn awesome not to share. Joining the Black Lips on stage this past weekend for their Do You Wanna Dance? number was Deerhunter/Atlas Sound frontman Bradford Cox, who posed as Joey Ramone, complete with long black wig and black leather jacket.

Halloween is still a month out, but this is the best damn disguise I’ve seen in quite some time.

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

BTB favorites, The Parlor Mob, are back after a long hiatus with a new record called Dogs, due out on October 11th. Produced, engineered and mixed by Matt Radosevich (30 Seconds To Mars, The Hives, Taking Back Sunday), Dogs is the follow up to their acclaimed debut album And You Were Crow. The boys have been streaming four tracks on their website, including lead single Into the Sun. Coming from a girl who is a hardcore Mob fan, this is it.

If you are not familiar with The Parlor Mob, they are that piece you’ve been missing to your musical puzzle. This is a real, raw, rock and roll band in a category all their own. The Parlor Mob, a name the band took from the notorious 19th century gang, is comprised of Mark Melicia (vocals), David Rosen (guitar), Paul Ritchie (guitar), Anthony Chick (bass), and Sam Bey (drums).

I asked David (guitar) to describe the album in his own words: “If you ask me, Dogs is the sound of us being upset and kicked around, basically. That breeds anger, sadness, yearning, despair, resolve, loyalty, determination. Things like that. Parts of it are far heavier, parts are softer; it’s simultaneously pop-ier and more experimental than our last record. But then again, to even compare it to the last record is like comparing a recent photo of yourself to your yearbook photo. That was old. This is new. Dogs is who we are now. We’re the same band, but we live different lives than we used to, so these are different songs.”

I am not here to proclaim my love for them, for I have done that once before. I am here to send you a verbal and musical save the date, October 11th. Please RSVP.

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Los Angeles; where dreamers belong. Talent is produced like toys, including a new Californian quintet/indie powerhouse, Grouplove. Single Colours off of their just-released album, Never Trust a Happy Song, will get them on the musical map to somewhere. Full of giddiness and eagerness, it’s concurrently insubordinate, childish, and promptly appealing. Who doesn’t want to throw up that rebellious middle finger every once in a while?

I just picked up the full length so I could spin the lead single to death (although I don’t regret playing it out, for it molded a characterization of Grouplove for me, and how they have a real knack for animated pop jaunts). So far, so damn good. I taste songs with a zest for life, and despite the title of this record, it is hard not to trust the bright melodies of these happy songs.

Exploring new musical territory, bon voyage.

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

I recently stumbled across a new group called The Horrible Crows, and their single Go Tell Everybody. With vocals from Brian Fallon of The Gaslight Anthem, this side project was quickly brought to the center of my attention (for being a Gaslight fan, and a fan of soul-rock jams in general). The catchy tune is free on iTunes this week, comprised of tambourines, keys, and a whole lot of swag. I’m currently striving to learn more about the not-so-Horrible Crows.

Let me get mine, you get yours.

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

If you recently tuned in to the oh-so-raving 2011 VMA’s, you may have seen this fabulous fivesome called Young the Giant. Currently touring the world with Incubus (in which I will be in attendance for three shows this week), they have a raw energy that I have not seen in quite some time.

The Irvine California natives are an indie group you want to jump on board with. Their self-titled album is compacted with incredibly attractive melodies, complex yet simple guitar lines, plus grooving drum and bass licks. Their unified sound resonates with a huge range of listeners, for its very agreeable music.

From what my eyes have witnessed on video, Young the Giant has an intense live set, and I cannot wait to experience it firsthand. It’s an incredible feeling when songs can dictate the tone of your day; be prepared for a good one.

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Sometimes original isn’t so cool. So why not try something fresh? Rock posse Puddle of Mudd has been on the road promoting their new CD compacted of re-done classics entitled Re:(Disc)overed. The captivating part of this record is they stay completely true to the original songs yet add a distinct, funky twist to make each their own. Trust me, I’m not sitting here saying this is the best thing Puddle of Mudd has ever done nor anything close to it (I do not think that was the purpose of this release), but regardless, it’s fun to watch bands go off in different directions, showing off their musical makeup.

Here you can find tracks from Led Zeppelin, The Steve Miller Band, The Beatles, and many more. After all, these are the classic rock songs/bands that are accountable for making Puddle of Mudd want to become musicians in the first place. They have taken the songs and covered them in a way only they could, bringing them newfangled life while wholly respecting their original prodigy. In some words of their own: “It wasn’t our plan to do an album of cover tunes. We were on a bit of a break, during which time some touring offers came in. We didn’t want to go out there without something new, and one day the idea of a covers album came up, and the whole thing seemed very exciting.”

I just saw them live on the road, and indeed, their idea was legit, with an incredible expanded lineup any Puddle of Mudd fan would appreciate. Pick up a copy now and sing along.

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

I can’t help but get a little giddy when the Artic Monkeys release new swags, so fresh and oh so brilliant. The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala has such a compacted title in itself, I almost don’t have to listen to the song to enjoy it; but I will anyway. This is the latest single off of their June release Suck It and See (and it’s a damn good choice indeed), that incessantly outlines their shape and frame of contemporary British rock’ n’ roll.

I cannot classify this group; they seem drawn on some kind of classic influences, yet they’re wholly innovative at the same time. Maybe it’s the complete mystery I enjoy. This track, along with the album as a whole, sends shivers through my spine, with that slight added touch of pop goodness. Some fans may think this album has lead The Artic Monkeys into a new direction, but it’s apparent they want us to follow them along their path.

Enjoy.

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

A band that is dominating my radar right now goes by the name of White Rabbits. One track in particular, Percussion Gun, has been stuck in my head as if it was covered in glue, shooting off musical bullets that will hit you right in your ears. With wild switching instruments and unbelievable energy, these White Rabbits are holding down the term ‘fresh music’. If you can catch them on the road this summer, do so.

Check it out below.