One week of blogging down; I think I have a few more in me.
Let me first say thank you to everyone who has expressed their enjoyment in reading the Depository and let you know that I really appreciate all you guys reading. It is absolutely encouraging that others find my ridicuous thoughts entertaining. So, stick around everybody, I promise I'll keep em rollin.
Sadly, I have to inform everyone of some sad news. Due to a recent discovery that my blog is being followed by certain people, I have decided that when I finally get around to doing my first semester recap, I will have to refrain from mentioning that my chem lab assistant may have been rather attractive. I was looking forward to telling you stories of the young lady and her stunning looks, but I must refrain due to the awkwardness that may arise. (she's a subscriber, the preceeding paragraph is supposed to be funny)
If you are a regular reader or if this is your first time visiting, I encourage you to comment or let me know what you think in some other way....unless it's bad...then quickly purge it from your memory and never let me know that you didnt love it.
Music Stuff
2008 was a slow year, in my opinion, musically, especially within the genres that I have been listening to heavily over the last couple of years. The whole pop-punk/emo/powerpop/popmo/screamo/screampop genre is gettin a little redundant, and it's harder for me to enjoy every catchy album that comes out. For example :
2006 - Cute is What We Aim For - The Same Blood Rush With a New Touch -- the album was terribly written and musically simplistic, but I defy you to tell me it wasnt absurdly catchy.
2008 - Cute is What We Aim For - Rotation - In Rotation, Cute contnued with the same general pop-punk stuff you saw in their debut. The writing was better (it had to be) and they had grown musically a tiny, tiny bit. However, what had taken over both my iPod and brain two years prior had no staying power whatsoever this year.
I feel like this is happenign to a lot of bands/listeners within this sudgenre because of its sudden oversaturation. There are def great bands that have come out of the whole "Fueled By Ramen Generation" (interestingly enough...most of them arent on Fueled By Ramen), but the bulk of what is being done today in pop-punk music is terribly unoriginal. That said, I have been actively broadening my musical horizons over the last year and am proud to say that I am a listener of much more diverse music now. In addition to the classics (classic rock), I have begun to pursue contmeporary artists who are not really associated with the pop world. This all started after I fell madly and irreversibly in love with John Mayer's music about ten months ago. I realized that he was essentially a modern dya blues man with a singer/songwriter twist. I set out find some other artists who exemplified those sounds (blues/soul , contemp. singer /songwriter). Below are the names of some artists I highly reccomend who I found at some point over the last 9 months due to either complete chance or reccomendations.
Ernie Halter - must have album: Starting Over . excellent songs, amazing basslines on a couple tracks. sexy...period.
Justin Nozuka - must have album : Holly . asian guy kills it. beautiful voice and solid writing. Standout tracks are the very very different "Be Back Soon" and "Oh Momma"
Otis Redding - listen to every song he ever recorded. do it. now. he is one of the greates soul men in the history of American pop music and is without a doubt a key part of the development of rock. Be sure to listen to "I've Been Loving You Too Long" and " These Arms of Mine" asap.
Connor Oberst (Bright Eyes) - I dont have neough albums to call one the "key" album, but I would highly reccomend listening to I'm Wide Awake It's Morning. Oberst is an excellent songwriter and storyteller. I think he is absolutely required listening for anyone who values strong lyricism an
d does not mind simplistic instrumentation.
Sleepy
I feel like this blog has been a bit short, but I hope it's also usefull to the reader. I'm sure I'll post again soon concerning music news and you can expect another entry before the week runs out.
It's 3:11 AM and I just dont have the energy to go back and spell check or edit. I welcome you guys to go nuts and see who can find the most errors in my writing.
Shout outs : Andy Moore, Lauren Veid, Brendan Turner, Alexa Walrond, Darryl Mitchell, Dr. Adam C. English, Fubar, and F.S.U.
I kinda gotta pee,
Carl Teachey
i love reading this thing, it blows my mind!...in a good way
ReplyDeleteYou crack me up by far!
ReplyDeleteI think the thing I like the most about your blog is that you can absolutely see your personality come through in every one of your entries. Your blogs aren't forced... When I read this past blog I felt like I was back at crabtree walking around discussing this past years music. Genuine and opinionated.
I have to agree with you on the fact that 08 was a very very slow year musically. But the more I think about the fact that this year has been filled with hallow catchy albums I can't help to hope that just maybe the artists this year are having a sort of writers block that I happen upon EVERY semester. The one where you know you have to write a certain paper.. and the fact that next to zero inspiration is coming to mind so you drink a good extra-large coffee and let the caffeine put you on auto pilot. Once that caffeine kicks in at least you know that you'll turn in an assignment that meets the minimum word requirement. Sad, but true. Then the next time an assignment comes around I usually for some reason have, to an extent, too much zeal and inspiration that by the time I finish the paper and read it over.. I am like "Dang!" & I feel a since of pride in what I wrote. For the artists of 08 I am praying that this year was that uninspired assignment & the calm before the storm. My fingers are crossed that 09 will be a year overflowing with music that rings with a deeper tune than words that coincidentally rhyme.
anyways keep up the good work my friend!
popmo??? did not know that was even a thing to be....
ReplyDeleteoh fall out boys new cd??? your thoughts???
i swear they were good once
the justin nozuka album is definitely killer.
ReplyDeleteexcellent taste.