Sara Bareilles - Between the Lines
Song Name: Between the Lines
Artist: Sara Bareilles
Album: Little Voice
Why This Song?:
Sara Bareilles has gained national attention from her song from a TV commercial. Much like Yael Naim’s “New Soul” for the MacBook Air commercial, Sara’s “Love Song” has become synonomous with Rhapsody.
However, despite becoming well-known based on a commercial (which seems likely to end in a very short career), this chick isn’t just a one-hit wonder in the vein of Natasha Bedingfield, who I doubt will have anything relevant again following “Unwritten.” If I’m wrong, then I’m wrong, but I think that chick about as much talent as the members of Good Charlotte combined. A multiplication of zero is still zero.
Sara’s album “Little Voice” is filled with potential hits. Although, it might not be ground-breaking it is easy to listen to and is undoubtedly memorable.
By far, the best track on the album is the slow-paced, piano-ballad “Between the Lines.” Her voice sounds great, the piano sounds beautiful, and the song sounds like it’s something I can listen to quite a few times through.
I have a lot of hope for Sara and really would like for have some staying power. That’s more than I can say for most women singer-songwriters, especially ones that have had any type of radio success. Hopefully she’s more Alanis Morisette than Meredith Brooks, Natasha Bedingfield, Natalie Imbruglia, Joan Osbourne or [ insert your own choice of female singer-songwriter one hit wonder here ].
Dustin Kensrue - Please Come Home
Song Name: I Knew You Before
Artist: Dustin Kensrue
Album: Please Come Home
Why This Song?:
Most will know Dustin more for his screaming than his singing. Others will be even more shocked that Dustin went from working on a band like Thrice to a solo project that sounds closer to Nashville than the mosh pit.
For many fans of Thrice, it doesn’t really matter what type of music Dustin makes. All that matters is that he is an extremely talented musician. It’s nice for a fan base to recognize that it’s not always about sticking to a genre, to a specific sound, or what they think a band should sound like. Most fan bases throw some serious temper tantrums in the face of such musicial exploration, but most fans of Thrice that I know are just very impressed at the many facets of Mr. Kensrue. The backlash is almost non-existent and the addition of different sounds into Thrice’s current reprotoire seem to be more welcomed than pushed aside.
Dustin’s short, but excellent and inspiring solo album, is a complete departure from anything he had previously done before. A clash of country, folk, and soft rock fill the short playing time with an unexpectedly light and refreshing sound. Granted, some times the lyrics are extremely heavy handed and a bit too gospel for my taste, it is still something that is worthy of respect.
This isn’t your empty, run of the mill, country record. Dustin takes his time to talk about matters that are important to him - spirituality, loss of innocence, depression, and redemption. Though you can tell many songs are inspired by other artists (”Blood & Wine” sounds like it could be straight out of Johnny Cash’s collection), none seem to be cookie-cutter knock offs and each hold their own against those that helped shape his style.
“I Knew You Before” and its poignant, well-written tale of lost focus, friendship, and purity, is without a doubt my favorite track on the album. Its scatching animonsity towards everything that our generation holds so dear (MTV, magazines, media) would seem more likely written by someone twenty years older. It’s truly admirable, though, to see a younger musician not give in to the cliché, society-molded mindset of most artists his age. These aren’t just empty words though, he demonstrates his belief in them in everything he does - from his willingness to take chances that assuredly make record labels cringe to his lyrics that have far more depth than almost anything being released, let alone bought today.
Dustin is definitely one of the best, most ambitious young talents in the industry. His willingness to take chances has yielded unexpected, yet interesting results on every project he has worked on. I highly recommend that any fan of music check out anything and everything that Dustin has his hands on.
The Dear Hunter - The Lake and the River
Song Name: The Lake and the River
Artist: The Dear Hunter
Album: Act II - The Meaning of, and All Things Regarding Ms. Leading
Why This Song?:
I first was introduced to The Dear Hunter when I saw their live show when opening for the Format in Hackensack, New Jersey. Instantly I was struck by their At The Drive In style eccentric antics. Vocally, Casey Crescenzo, belted out the songs as the rest of the group manically played their respective parts.
I instantly thought that this wasn’t going to be a band for everyone, especially for the crowd filled with teenage girls expecting the pop-goodness of the Format. Clearly, this is a band that will be devisive for many. Some will hate it, while others think it’s genius. Some call their albums masterpieces, while others consider it utter garbage. It’s just the nature of the experimentation beast.
After watching their set I was informed that this was the same guy that was in The Receiving End of Sirens. Not surprisingly they sound very similar. However, The Dear Hunter is a touch more experimental, original, and prog-rock / indie.
Listening to their first album was a very interesting experience. It is definitely an album that takes time to let grow on you. Most concept albums / bands - in this case, a band telling the story of the Dear Hunter’s birth, life, and death over the course of a number of albums - usually don’t have the most instantly catchy brand of tunes.
However, after a few listens I was intrigued to see what this obviously talented guy would come up with next. He basically constructed the first album by himself, with some help from his brother and his mother of all things.
With the release of Act II, I feel they have maintained a nice mixture of experimentation, originality, and interesting storytelling that made them an unique and engaging band to begin with.
This song to me is really what this band is all about. Nice changes of pace, a variety of instruments and styles, and an almost chain-gang / western vibe. Oh yeah, and a whopping 9 and a half minute run time. However, with so much going on it hardly seems nearly that long.
The album, like this song, is chock full of material. Reportedly originally recorded was over 2 hours of music that got trimmed down to a measly 70 minute plus album run time.
Forget that their name is sorta cheesy. Take your time. Let it sink in. It might not be your thing, but then again, it just might.
Harvey Danger - Radio Silence
Song Name: Radio Silence
Artist: Harvey Danger
Album: Where Have All The Merrymakers Gone?
Why This Song?:
There are quite a few songs that get me really worked up. These songs don’t even have to be particularly heavy and/or crazy. Some songs like “Degausser” by Brand New and “Radio Silence” by Harvey Danger just get me so worked up I can barely contain myself. This results in friends giving me strange looks for convulsing wildly in the air, but the songs are just so good I could care less.
The last two minutes of Radio Silence do that for me. From the time I hear “just enough knowledge to know i don’t know anything, anything, anything, I don’t know, nobody likes what I like thats how I like it” to the closing cry of “it’s radioooo silence” don’t even bother talking to me because I won’t be listening. I’m fully engulfed in my song world. It’s not that the last two minutes contain any deep truth or compelling sounds. It’s pretty much just repeating “It’s radio silence.” But there is something about it that won’t let me stop listening and I would probably listen to the same thing over and over again even if it went on for another two minutes.
In “Radio Silence,” the beginning of the song is so solid and lyrically intriguing, even without Harvey Danger’s signature ironic, tongue-in-cheek, I’m so clever songwriting in the forefront, that it makes the bombast ending all the more electrifying.
I think the almost straight-forward lyrical approach actually adds to the song since the album is almost entirely drenched with witty one-liners and ironic anecdotes. At times Harvey Danger’s neverending sardonic statements can be overdone, so to have a little break from this is a bit refreshing.
Not to say that I don’t enjoy Harvey’s other work, as a matter of a fact, it is among some of my most listened to music, but this one tops my Harvey Danger collection. Most would probably go for “Flagpole Sitta” for pure catchy awesomeness, and it’s hard to disagree with them, but for me, this song is the bee’s knees. Yes, I just said bee’s knees. Don’t worry, it won’t happen again.
Augie March - The Cold Acre
Song Name: The Cold Acre
Artist: Augie March
Album: Moo, You Bloody Choir
Why This Song?:
For the triumphant return of Song of the Week, I have decided to go down under with my musical selection. This is all thanks to the heads up from my brother, Ryan, to watch the video for Augie March’s single “One Crowded Hour.” After watching the video, I was interested to see what else Augie had to offer.
After listening to Moo, You Bloody Choir for a couple minutes, it was easy to see why this band was one of the most critically and commercially successful bands in Australia.
Augie March isn’t your typical “rock” band. They are much more than that. From insightful, poetic songwriting to beautifully constructed arrangements, there is something special and ambitious about Augie March.
I have heard some people say that the music seems bland. While I can understand their feeling, I couldn’t disagree more. While not typical or in the least upbeat, Augie March’s Moo is genuinely interesting, thought-provoking, and deliberately paced.
This song isn’t a fun song. It has a soaring chorus that seems like it should make you happy, but it still feels cold as its apt title suggests. It fits perfectly with the bleakness of winter. While listening, it’s hard not to imagine walking by yourself on a grey, gloomy day encompassed by mountains filled with leafless, lifeless trees while deep cold penetrates every ounce of your body.
‘There’s a place I’ve been told, and when I grow old I may go there / I’ve been told that my family’s bones may lie under the snow there / And with my little bag, and with my little dog / Who sleeps on my chest when he can’t find a hole in a log / And when I go, my dog will know to leave his old fellow and find a new pillow, / far from the chill of the cold acre.’
For me, it’s hard not to feel almost entirely saddended by the song. It’s so poignant, it almost burrows a hole into my stomach. It brings up feelings of complete loneliness. It brings up feelings of how short life is, how sometimes it can feel empty when not looked at from the right perspective, and how sometimes, it is so hard to fight those feelings.
This weekend I was in my basement cleaning out some things and found notebooks filled with tenant information written from the early 40’s. Payments were recorded and tracked, filling up years worth of pages. No doubt, all the tenants who lived here before are long gone and buried, some remembered by their family, others not.
To me, this song is flipping through antique pictures and notebooks seeing parents who loved their children, children who loved their parents and siblings, and children who had to see their parents die, and unfortunatley, sometimes the other way around. This song is realizing that no matter how much information we think we can gather from these images and pages, there is nothing that could truly convey the real feelings of that time, place, and people that were there. When I listen to this song, it’s that type of deep, unrelenting sadness that oozes out.
Though the true meaning of the lyrics may not even come close to resemble what I get out of them, that is how the song resonates with me. Whether the song is about literal death, futility, absurdity, the need to feel a connection to anything we possibly can, or anything else in between, there is one thing for certain - this is a band that doesn’t make empty, simple, or generic music. No, this is a band that deserves a chance to make you think.
The Format - Give It Up
Song Name: Give It Up
Artist: The Format
Album: Interventions & Lullabies
Why This Song?: Who doesn’t love a great song that causes that bitter-sweet nostalgic feeling? Sometimes the song just hits you because it is a song you grew up with or was playing at a specific point in your life, sometimes the music itself reminds you of something, and then there are songs like this that are written with lyrics that are almost straight out of your life.
When I listen to this song I’m brought back to high school. It was a up and down time in my life, as it is with most people. While I love the friends I was with, my lifestyle was questionable at best. However, I was able to clean up my life by leaving town and loosening the ties I had with my hometown. That’s not to say I abandoned everything, but I started a new course in life - one that involved being slightly more responsible and one that didn’t involve recreational pursuits 24/7.
This is in no way unique. This is growing up and a good amount of kids do it once they get into the “real world.” The struggles of escaping and the fact that getting away doesn’t necessarily remove our problems is what this song is about, at least when I apply it to my life.
It’s sort of funny that the names in the song are names of some of my best friends in high school. Now if there was only a Sean in there, it would have been even more eerie.
As for Joe / Oh I’ve seen him around / Then there’s Adam / He’s afraid to go out / I don’t blame him, I just wanted to go out to eat / Then there’s Mark / *** ****, I wish him the best / We were kids back then, as if we could progress / Sometimes I, I just can’t sleep / Thinking of everything we could have been
Joe and Adam were two of my best friends in high school, and the funny thing is I’ve seen Adam around, but as for Joey, I heard he’s overseas and comes back every once in awhile. I would love to see the kid. He’s one of my favorite people ever, and I heard he is doing well. Roca, Cook, or Dwyer, you gotta hit me up with a phone call next time he is up.
Staying stuck in that period is a hard thing to escape. There are so many good memories (’His eyes light up when we talk about the past’) and when talking to the friends that I have talked to since graduation, it has usually consisted of reminiscing of such times. There are just so many memories, memories that you can’t really compare with once you are forced to grow up. That’s not to say that our new moments aren’t equally rewarding, but there is a lot to say about care-free youth.
As far as progression, that is hard to measure. The definition is personal for each one of us. How I have deemed progression might seem like regression to others. That doesn’t change the fact of how we long for the past even if it wasn’t the best situation, how we think of how relations have evolved or devolved, how we are so happy for the kids who have made positive changes in their lives, how we feel for those who haven’t, and, regardless of situations, how we wish the best to all the people we love, even if we don’t see them as much as we thought we would.
The fact that a song can make me think about all this makes me realize why I love music as much as I do. Something that can conjure up such emotion, whether it be sad, angry, heartwarming, or depressing, is an incredible thing.
This is an album full of such songs and this is a band that is one of the best at creating them. Songs like “On Your Porch,” “A Mess to Be Made,” “I’m Ready, I Am” and “If Work Permits” are all up on my list for songs that bring out a lot of emotion in me for various reasons. Please, check these guys out. They are one of the most promising bands out there and one that I wish much success to.
Alright, I’m done with this introspective sissiness. It’s time for me to change my skirt and put on some metal.
Categories
- Anime
- Apple
- Ask the geeks
- Best and worst
- Development
- Dirty Dozen
- Elsewhere
- Featured
- Games
- Gear grinders
- General
- Movies
- Music
- Photos
- Podcasts
- Readable Blogs
- Retro
- Reviews
- Space
- Sports
- Television
- TUG Radio
- Weight log
- Windows
Related sites
Recent features
Coheed and Cambria - The Velorium Camper II: Backend Of Forever
Leah Andreone - Break Your Fall
The Format - Give It Up
Song of the week
Sara Bareilles - Between the Lines
Sara Bareilles' "Between the Lines" is the Song of the Week for April 20 to 26.
Warning: main(images/faq.php) [function.main]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/.eastwood/cdevroe/theubergeeks.net/wp-content/themes/clockworkorange/sidebar.php on line 119
Warning: main(images/faq.php) [function.main]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/.eastwood/cdevroe/theubergeeks.net/wp-content/themes/clockworkorange/sidebar.php on line 119
Warning: main() [function.include]: Failed opening 'images/faq.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/.eastwood/cdevroe/theubergeeks.net/wp-content/themes/clockworkorange/sidebar.php on line 119