Honorable Mentions [PT 1 of 5]

Edison Glass

People who have listened to this band are probably wondering why they weren’t mentioned in the top 10.  My reasoning behind not putting them up there is mainly because there are only 10 spaces and I honestly forgot about them.  Edison Glass has a vocalist with a very unique sound and guitar parts that boggle the mind and the fingers.  While the songs seem like of short lyrics wise, you still get definite bang for your buck, these guys are definitely one of the most musically talented bands I’ve heard in a while.  “Hallelujah”, for a great modern band.

Top 2 songs:  When All We Have Is Taken/Comfort and Forever

Until I get to part 2!
Bob

Who Dat? [PT 2]

5. Search the City

While Detroit was built on secrets, this band clearly isn’t.  With clear vocal and guitarist magic…and what’s this???  The drummer is amazing?  Yes…the percussion within this group is quite astounding for the type of music they produce.  Also, while lyrics are typically better with the groups like Search the City, they excel far beyond what is expected for themselves.  With hooks that will reel you in, percussion, and guitar wonders, Search the City should be your next iTunes purchase.

Top 2 songs:  Detroit Was Build on Secrets and Bigger Scars Make Better Stories

4. Lucky Boys Confusion

While some thought that punk rock was drawing close to it’s grave, Lucky Boys revives an artform that slowly shifted from punk to alternative.  While they are an older band, don’t let this fool you, they rock.  All things considered, they’re lyrics are incredibly strong for a punk group, maybe dare I say worthy to tango with the likes of Green Day (I’m not saying they would necessarily win though).  While the guitars in most of  the songs are pretty straight forward punk, it’s fun to play.  Percussion also seems to be nothing special, just a rock beat.  But punk rock wasn’t built on 20 minute solos and being a conformist, it’s about playing 3-5 chords in a song and singing about what nags at your inner most being.  Lucky Boys Confusion brings good lyrics and classic punk rock styling to an almost dying genre.

Top 2 songs:  Closer to Our Graves and Slip

3. Rocky Votolato

While I won’t listen to country, Rocky Votolato is as close as I come to the stuff.  With a soft voice and beautiful acoustic guitar to go with it, Rocky gives you a calm you won’t soon forget.  While much like Lucky Boys, Rocky’s music isn’t overly complicated, sometimes it’s unnecessary to over complicate things.  After you get pasted this, what else is there?  While Rocky is simplistic in his sound, his lyrics tell wonderful stories and have a certain something everyone can relate to.  “Maybe you can turn it around you say, “shut up, you’re crazy, you can’t go back in time” I know but the rain it haunts my mind, if you knew what it meant to keep your heart the same.”  Not only is Rocky poetic, but he’s wonderfully simple.

Top 2 songs: Goldfield and Postcard from Kentucky

2. Mae

Be ready and waiting to fall when you hear this wonder that is Mae.  Mae has a vocalist with lightness to his voice, guitars that make the mind wonder…”How did they get the delay on the intro to Painless to work??!”  While some recent releases haven’t lived up as highly as they should have, I still feel Mae has a superb musical presents.  How you ask?  Two words:  The Everglow.  Both albums surrounding The Everglow seem pretty good; however, The Everglow stands out beyond Mae’s other works.  While mediocre words cannot explain what kind of adventure you will have if you buy The Everglow, you should serisouly consider listening to them.  Make sure you give all their stuff a listen and a fair chance, some of their older and newer stuff is really good as well.

Top 2 songs: It’s a 4 way tie!!!  The Everglow was way too good.

• Suspension
• Ready and Waiting to Fall
• Someone Else’s Arms
• Mistakes We Knew We Were Making

AND

1.  The Classic Crime

Why is The Classic Crime #1?  Because they encompass everything that the other artists that I have on this list do.  They’ve made wonderful albums, rock in concert, they’re poetic, and they make some songs complicated while others  are simple.  It would be a crime not to listen to this band.  With lyrical depth and semi-rash sounding vocals the lead singer is one of the best I’ve heard in concert, he’s intense when he need be and soft on acoustic songs.  While this band may be generally a hard rock band, they actually have an acoustic EP that is just wonderful.  While I may be just a man, I know a great band when I see one.

Top 2 songs: Just A Man or Medisin (tie) and Headlights or Who Needs Air (tie)

The Bob Challenge!:  Listen to at least one song from each artist on the top 10 (probably one I have suggested) and feel free to either comment about the music or send me stuff via Facebook.

The next blog will be honourable mention for groups that were good but didn’t quite make the cream of the crop (only 5ish or so groups).

Until next time…which could be a while…

Bob

Who dat? [PT 1]

Although I completely intended to do some sort of blog on Glenn Beck, I have decided other wise.

Instead, lets stick with something more on the simple side.

The Top 10 bands you’ve probably never heard of, but you should have heard of.

10. Capital Lights

After a long afternoon of searching for something new and different, my head was turned by awkwardly familiar sound with lyrics worth of looking up and reading.  Capital Lights has the “catchiness” of bands like Relient K and Anberlin, but with a vocalist who sounds more like the lead singer of The Cab (not quite as girly as that dude).  Why should you check these guys out?  While they don’t have a “new sound”, they bring lyrics that are intelligent and catchy.

Top 2 songs:  Outrage and Frank Morris

9. Lovedrug

This is a truly unique band.  If you listen to them and hate them, I completely understand.  Their vocalist is one you must either get used to or just love from the start.  Lovedrug is eccentric at best, with lyrics like:  “Don’t go home it’s tip toe time.” (Everything Starts Where it Ends)  After listening to a few of their songs you will either fall in love with this new piano-rock sound or you’ll run screaming.  Along with uniqueness they also have lyrics that draw you in.  Will you be Lovedrug?

Top 2 songs:  Pretend that You’re Alive and Thieving

8. Dropping Daylight

With complex piano parts and excellent vocals in toe, Dropping Daylight is an interesting twist to a hard rock band.  The lead singer of Dropping Daylight playing guitar and piano while belting out some nice vocals, you can’t help but respect someone who can multitask to the extreme and be good at it.  After listening to them in concert up at ISU I couldn’t help but buy they’re album.  I almost forgot to mention that the lead singer also doesn’t excellent piano parts as well, not just average boring melodies.

Top 2 songs:  Brace Yourself and Lucy

7.  Bayside

With wailing guitar, Bayside is good enough to rock into this spot.  Bayside’s lead singer brings a fresh and strange sound to the mic.  Along with this, awkwardly great lyric plague a good portion of Bayside’s songs.  If that won’t quench your thirst…then listen to the soloing done within the songs.  The tapping guitar parts will make guitarists and listeners alike smile.

Top 2 songs:  Waking Wounded and Blame it on Bad Luck

6. Ludo

Listeners of Ludo already love them cancerously and so should you.  Ludo puts on quite the show in concert and is how I became interested in them.  With their nerdy/awkward lead singer Ludo sings about things about life…like getting kidnapped by pirates!  Ludo is an overall fun band, interesting songs, and immensely fun to watch in concert.

Top 2 songs:  Drunken Lament and Love Me Dead or Hum Along (tie!)

Stay tuned for PT 2, up relatively soon!

Until I feel like finishing this crap,
Bob

Short Test Blog

 

While I fully plan on putting this link on Facebook, this is more or less a simple test blog.  I’m curious to how the German test will be tomorrow…hopefully I don’t fail too miserably.  I’m single again, whoopie!  I hope to get some interesting blog topics going.  To give a preview to anyone who is interested or accidentally stumbled upon this page.  Drum roll please… … …:  Glen Beck is the last true American willing to speak his mind.  I know, I’m a conservative, but the man is intelligent and logical.  I hope you enjoyed this preview.

Until the next time interval in which I can type something relevant,

Bob