New music

Over the past few weeks, I've been exposed to some new and interesting music.  (Well, "new" in the sense that I hadn't heard it or paid attention to it before.  One of the songs is actually about ten years old.)  Therefore, I shall write reviews of five songs that, for whatever reason, have particularly caught my attention.  Not all music is created equal, and none of these songs would make it to a top 10 list of my favorites, but each is good enough to warrant a second listen and an analysis.



A Praise Chorus, by Jimmy Eat World


Linkage.

This song is from the album Bleed American, which contains several outstanding songs (the most famous being The Middle, and the best being The Authority Song).  Musically, I think this song is a step down from the others that I am familiar with.  One of my favorite parts of the rest of the album is its level of musical complexity.  Guitar parts are varied, sound is layered, and vocal harmonies are incorporated into much or even all of the song.  Here, there is little to distinguish the song, musically, from any other band's style.  The lyrics, on the other hand, are the main reason that this song has caught my attention, mostly because they resonate with my feelings right now.  The beginning of the second verse states the song's message clearly:  "Are you gonna live your life standing in the back looking around?  Are you gonna waste your time?  Gotta make a move or you'll miss out."  Also, in keeping with the band's tendencies, the song makes reference to not one, nor two, but SEVEN well-known songs listed here on Wikipedia.


Good?  Definitely.  Worth obsessing over?  Probably not.



One Day Too Late, by Skillet


Linkage.

Last week, on the way to Idaho for Thanksgiving, I was listening to the radio and was informed that a Skillet song would be on next.  Out of curiosity, I kept listening, fully expecting something depressing or angry to drive me away after a few seconds.  Instead, I was surprised--the music was definitely Skillet, but the song was actually positive!  The guitar part is still loud and the singer's voice is still raw, but rather than singing of hopelessness, he sings about hope.  I thought I'd hear a song about how an opportunity had passed and today was one day too late, but instead I heard a song about how today is the time to act, because tomorrow might be too late.

This isn't enough to convince me to look further into Skillet's latest album, but it does prove that they aren't completely limited to depressing music.



Sigh No More, by Mumford and Sons


Linkage.

I discovered Mumford and Sons fairly recently, so when an answer to a question on The 100 Hour Board mentioned one of their songs, I happily looked it up.  It's slightly different in style from Roll Away Your Stone, my favorite Mumford and Sons song, but it is still very good.  It's upbeat and energetic, and its lyrics quote Shakespeare while explaining the nature of love.

All in all, very good.



The Only Moment We Were Alone, by Explosions in the Sky


Linkage.

My brother briefly introduced me to Explosions in the Sky shortly before he left on his mission.  The band is fairly unique in that it has no vocalist and its songs have no lyrics.  Emotion is conveyed entirely through the music itself.  This song lasts over ten minutes (Wikipedia tells me that the album, The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place, lasts 45 minutes but contains only five tracks.)  I honestly can't properly describe the song's mood to someone who hasn't heard it.  The first two thirds or so is fairly subdued, and the end is loud and powerful, but passion is present throughout.  Still, I feel like I'm really missing out by hearing a recording rather than attending a live show.

And... as I am about to finish this blog entry, I discover a recording of a live show.  It is that recording that I use in the link, while the review is based on the studio version.  The sound isn't quite as good, but the performance is actually worth watching.

This song itself is not that exceptional, but the band impresses me.



It Was a Dark and Stormy Night, by Five Iron Frenzy


Linkage.

They're back!  After eight years of absence, Five Iron Frenzy is recording music together once again, and this song is not a disappointment.  The song can be listened to (and, apparently, downloaded for free) on the band's web site.  It's a loud, energetic explosion of ska, and its lyrics are fitting for a band recently reunited (their web site describes them as "an undead band from Denver, CO").  The sudden, brief moment of peace and quiet near the end seems completely out of place and probably should have either had a bit more of a transition or been left out altogether, but apart from that, I like the song, and I'm excited to see what's in store.

Hearing this song made me happy.  Five Iron Frenzy is too good to be left dead.