Perception- My Venture Into Ableton Live 9 And What I've Learned

Perception in music is such a strange thing just because of how many angles they are. You could be a person who listens to music all the time, or just a causal listener. Maybe a fan, or a musician. Each person is lead to perceive music differently, and that's great. This discussion of sorts is based on my recent ventures into Ableton Live 9, a popular Digital Audio Workstation which I am learning in order to create drum beats for my music since I do not have the space for drums due to location and literal space, and because I wanted to learn the software. As I used the software more and more, I started thinking about how I perceive guitar, bass, drums and the like in a musical sense. My mind wondered to artists who create their own music using an instrument, and those that use a computer.

Take for example three very different, yet accomplished musicians. David Grohl of the Foo Fighters, Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, and Deadmau5. David Grohl played drums for Nirvana and would later on found the Foo Fighters. Throughout all of that, he never used a computer to make his music or play his parts. He find that music should be played by humans because it both feels and sounds more natural and well... Human. Trent on the other hand makes industrial rock music and welcomes the use of computers in both the creative and producing processes. He is a very capable and accomplished multi-instrumentalist outside of the computer, but he uses the computer to further his music making capabilities. The last example is Electronic Dance Music musician Deadmau5. He exclusively uses computers to make his music. There is nothing wrong with the way that the music is made, but it makes me wonder as to how we as people perceive music.

I take lessons at a music school and spoke to my instructor about drums. Everything from where to place a fill, and how one should go about making one, to pushing the best or keeping it laid back. I also analyzed the drum beats he played and tried to tab out how it would sound in Ableton in my head. It was during this that my initial curiosity in perception started to ferment.

I was looking at drums as a means to an end if you will. Songs need drums, at least 99% of them do, and I don't have a way to learn drums, record them, or pay someone else to do them. In my early analysis of drums, a instrument I paid little attention to, I sought out the basic patterns and the core fundamentals of it all. Of course I didn't have to worry about stick control or proper toe to heel positioning on the bass drum pedal, but I was still interested in the subtle placement of a kick drum in a Brad Wilk beat, or the placement of a fill that Bonham used.

Because of all of this, I viewed drums differently than my other drummer friends did, mainly because I wasn't a drummer. I showed my drummer friend my basic rock beat and asked her help for a fill. She gave me a fill that would work, and it sounded familiar, but odd. I've heard used it other songs before, but when I wrote it out, it sounded odd. But to the drummer, it correct, good even. That's so strange to me. David Grohl discussed his approach to writing guitar lines for his band and he stated that a lot of his guitar parts sort of act as drum part. He synchronizes some of the guitar parts to the kick drum, and others to the snare. Of course, he is not the first musician to do this, there have been countless others, but it was interesting for him to actually explain it and state it all. But even then I find it odd. It didn’t make much sense to me until I really looked at how it was made. Another example would be the way that progressive rock bands such as Protest The Hero make music. I recently heard the drummer from Protest The Hero record his playing on their song “Drumhead Trial”. The beat at its core was very basic, fast, but basic. The guitars that were layered on top of it though were doing completely different things that worked with the song, but didn’t sound like it should  have. On paper, it may not have sounded good, but in practice it did.

It was through this entire analysis of music and perception that I came to the realization that…well… that’s what makes music so cool to me. That David Grohl could write a guitar riff based on one idea, but if he explained the idea to say, Josh Homme or Tom Morello, it could be perceived completely differently and then played differently. Perception is such an odd thing in music.

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Protest The Hero- Volition Album Review

I've only been a Protest the Hero fan for a short while, probably a year or so, but I fell in love with the band. Their lyrics have a lot of value and they are fantastic musicians in their own right. When I heard that they had a new album coming out, I simply HAD to get it and write a review about it. This is the first album that I have listened to that made me want to listen to the full album. It gripped me like an action thriller and it took every fiber in me to hit stop and go to sleep. It should also be noted that Protest the Hero parted ways with their drummer Moe Carlson who was the original drummer of the band. The band have found a new drummer Mike Ieradi, but Lamb of God drummer Chris Adler is the session drummer for this album. Without further ado, onto the fantastic album that is Volition.

1.      Clarity- This track practically pulls you into the musical insanity that is Protest the Hero, and shows you what they really are made of. The intro riff really appeals to me and the progression of the drums is flawless. They beat flows so smoothly and the bass and guitar lock right in. What always appealed to me about Protest the Hero was that they had a second guitar that plays a funky rhythm over a progression. This track does not have a lot of screaming in it, but in this case it makes the song sound even better. The song overall is a consistent barrage of sound and it sounds beautiful and well arranged. 8/10

2.      Drumhead Trial- One of my favorite things about Protest The Hero are their 'broken' up intros. They play a quick little riff, then rest, then play the next part of the riff. It just sounds so badass and awesome to me. The song flows extremely well, especially with the tempo change at 1:34. It took me by surprise, but I was happily surprised to hear the song flow just as well as it did before. The song takes a turn for the softer side about three quarters through the song featuring guest vocalist Kayla Howran, a country vocalist who I have never heard of. Let me say this, she KILLED it. Her vocal range was spectacular and her voice fit the song perfectly. 8/10

3.      Tilting Against Windmills- This song is an immensely "heavy" song. The drums really push this song forward and vocalist Rody Walker really gets time to shine on this track, as well as bassist Arif Mirabdolbaghi. The breakdown at the end of the song is one of the heaviest breakdowns I have heard in a long time. The song really makes me want to get up and break shit. It's that heavy of a track. The guitar solo in the album changes moods quite well, using the broke intro concept I mentioned in "Drumhead trial" With that being said, it is kind of similar to the opening track Clarity in some aspects. 6.75/10

4.      Without Prejudice- The song starts off with a trumpet sound that sounds like it came from an old 80's movie when the protagonist has caught the villain mid crime. With that being said, this is one of my favorite tracks off of the album. It has a lot of energy going for it, and the second half of the song is quite inspiring. What makes this song so amazing to me is the bass line in the midst of the third verse. It is signature Arif with his crazy bass lines, but the accents he used on the notes he hit were what really blew me away. The guitars eventually start following the bass line, as opposed to the bass line following the guitar parts. The bass leads the song for a full minute before the guitar takes over "control" of the song. Rody is flaunting his vocal range in this song, hitting high notes with ease and accentuating the song all the more. The composition and the execution of this song are simply mind blowing, and dare I say, flawless. 9.5/10  

5.      Yellow Teeth- Something about this song throws me off. I think it may have been the quiet part of the song, or maybe it was the overall progression of the song. The song does have a badass riff in with really cool licks and mini solos in it. The guitars really help the song transition from section to section within the song. With all of that being said, the song does not stand out at all in this album. It has flair, but it kind of blends into the album. There is nothing special about this song, but the song itself does sound good. Great even. I feel it could have been a little bit more dynamic though. 6/10

6.      Plato's Tripartite- Half way through the album! I feel that at this point the album, the songs really change and stand out more. Plato's Tripartite is a perfect example of this. The chorus and the verse are very distinct, and don't fade in and out of each other like the previous songs. This is not to say that it is a bad thing, but it very nice to see the variety in the song. The breakdown in the song is very dynamic and to top it all off, the band even adds an acoustic guitar outro for fifty five seconds in which Rody and Kayla overlay their vocals to create beautiful harmonies with a simple acoustic guitar in the background. I'd overall rate this song an 8/10.

7.      A Life Embossed- This song really means a lot to me. A friend of mine is very passionate about the BSL law that is discussed in this song and is doing everything she can to get it overturned. The song essentially talks about the law that is practically committing a genocide on Pitbulls. With that taken care of, this song musically is feels like something that could have been on Fortress. It has quite a bit of screaming and the drums and guitar work are simply stunning like always. The bass works really well in this song and compliments the drums and guitars quite well. 7.5/10

8.      Mist- This song is very upbeat. I can't tell if it is due to Rody's voice or the guitar section and the bright notes used, but it sounds very uplifting. In comparison to other songs, this one sounds very simple in terms of the composition of the song, but it works very well. They do add a very nice violin ending to it followed by an acoustic outro that bears no resemblance to the outro of Plato's Tripartite. This outro is fully decked out with piano, backup acoustic guitar and a lead acoustic guitar that plays a very interesting melody. The piano was a very nice touch to this song and adds to the beauty of this song. 7/10

9.      Underbite- This song pokes fun at the generic bands and artists that tour and become sellouts and record generic material to please the crowd. The song has a bunch of tempo changes and time signature making it very complex piece in all. My personal favorite was the second change that introduced the backup vocals around the three minute mark because the bass really shines and shows how layered it can really get. 7.5/10

10.  Animal Bones- This is, in my opinion, the heaviest song on the record. The double bass pounds away as Rody screams some of the heaviest screams I have heard from him. There aren't as many changes in this song in comparison to Underbite or Without Prejudice, but that doesn't change the fact that the song is still pretty good. The one thing I didn't like about this song was that they faded out. I felt they could have ended the song on the ending riff they used without having to fade out. Kind of ruined the feel of the song for me, but not by much. 6.5/10

11.  Skies- This song really has a lot going for it. It has a few soft parts where the bass takes the lead and Rody is able to show he does have a tender side to his voice, and then it has other sections where the guitar is ruling the song with some heavy riffs and insane shredding. Lyrics were strong and as passionate as the rest of the album and everyone was able to stand out musically without getting muddled and overplayed. The song overall was a great way to end the album. 8/10

Album Overall: This album is my favorite album of the year. It has a lot going for it and each song is very distinct and unique. The female vocalist Kayla Howran does a fantastic job in "Drumhead Trial". There's are large amount of guest musicians on this record as well, such as Jadea Kelly, a female folk vocalist who is practically a staple for back vocals for Protest the Hero, as well as various other vocalists and guitarists. The riffs are all memorable and very solid. Both lead guitarist Luke Hoskin and rhythm guitarist Tim Millar are stunning guitarists and have great chemistry as musicians. They are both very skilled and complement each other's strong suits very nicely. Bassist Arif remains as technical as always with his tapping bass sections and stunning slap technique. He is able to accent the guitar parts quite nicely, and he works with the intense drum parts that Chris Adler lays down on the album. Adler is a monster drummer and does a great job on this record as a studio drummer. His fills are amazing and he fits with the band quite well, despite the fact he only played drums on the album, and not live. The album overall is fantastic and I can't wait to hear more from them.

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Mayday Parade- Monsters in the Closet Album Review

I only found out about this album three months when I saw the band post information about it on their Facebook page. If they hadn't done that, I wouldn't have even heard about it. I checked out the lyric video for their first single and thought it was a really good song. Right then and there, I decided that this would have to be an album that I check out. Mayday Parade's past three albums have all been unique in their own special way, so without further ado, let's get on with the review.

In Depth Review:

1.      Ghosts- This was the first of two singles they released from this album. It has a really soft intro, but it picks up within after the first 30 seconds. The first thing I heard was the guitar in the background. It was doing a lot more movement than I expected, but I'll admit I like it. It isn't like Hail to the King by Avenged Sevenfold where the intricate part stood out and tarnished the song to a certain extent, but a subtle guitar part that gets its time to shine for the quick solo in the song. The song in itself is very dynamic and has a lot of tempo changes as well as a good mix of highs and lows. Another plus is that I can hear the bass really well in this track which is always good since the bassist gets a little time to shine as well. This is overall a really good opener, I'd give it a 8/10

2.      Girls- This is the second single off the album that was released a couple of weeks ago. This song sounds very pop-punk, but in a good way. The drums are really punchy and push the song forward a lot. The song has a nice guitar riff going for it and the vocals are stunning. Towards the end of the song, it slows down a lot, but they were able to keep tempo and maintain the integrity of the song. Overall, I'd give this song a 7/10. I felt there was something missing in the song, something that could have made it ten times better, but it is still a great track.

3.      Last Night for a Table of Two- The introduction to this is song is amazing! The guitar has a very Middle Eastern feel to it. This song is really technical in comparison to Mayday Parade's previous material. There are a lot of held notes, and there is an insane guitar solo filled with shreddy goodness. The vocalists Derek Sanders and Jake Bundrick have really nice vocal tradeoffs and they fit really well together on the vocal department.  The bass and drums are really tight on this track and the track overall is a really rock oriented track. I did not expect this type of track to be on the album; it surprised me in a good way. 9/10

4.      12 Through 15- This track is the type of track I was expecting to be on the record, and it doesn't disappoint. The track opens up with an audio clip from a movie. The track overall is very soft and laid back The bass is playing a very slow, but moving progression while the guitars play a nice percussive chord progression. The band really focuses on the vocals and set their goals to accentuate the vocals in this song. The song really picks up towards the second half, and it really shows off Derek's vocals. 8/10

5.      The Torment of Existence Weighed Against the Horror of Nonbeing- The intro is a big band "la-la-la" intro, but I wasn't too fond of it. I can see it being used in a live set extensively, but I wasn't a fan of the record version. With that aside, the song is really cool to listen to. The bass does some really cool stuff in the verse, and the vocals are stunning in the chorus. Jason and Derek get to show off their vocal abilities. The second guitar and piano in the second verse add nice accents in the song without overshadowing the song as a whole. The bridge and the buildup to the final chorus are amazing and I absolutely love this song. My only other issue with this song is that the end of the song has a violin section that feels out of place. With that aside, the album seems to get better the longer you listen to it. I'd give this track a 7/10

6.      Even Robots Need Blankets- This is yet another soft rock track. It starts off with a piano, and throughout the course of the song, goes back to focus on it since it is the main component of the song. The song gets slightly heavier, but it doesn't really change much. There are no interesting dynamic changes, nor a fun moving bassline. What really threw me off was the end of the song that seemed to have ended on a bad note. The song also initially end in an abrupt manner before going to the piano to end it. I'd give this song a 5/10. It feels very unpolished and incomplete.

7.      Repent and Repeat-  From the fade in to the very end, this track had me hooked. The drums are stellar and it is very pop-punk like. It has a great feel to it and I really like the song lyrically. The song flows really well and always stay up beat. It is personally one of my favorite songs off of the record so far. It is just so consistent and powerful. Plus the song is really catchy and the chorus is already stuck in my head after one listen. 9.5/10.

8.      Demons- This is another one of Mayday Parade's powerhouse tracks; a pop-punk track. This song would stand out if it was placed on one of their older records, but in an album filled with lots of fast upbeat tracks, it doesn't shine like it should Demons is a great track and one of my first thoughts about this song was that the intro is very Boys Like Girls like. It is reminiscent of their style, but in a good way.The track doesn't stand out terribly well in the album, but it is all in all a good track. 6.5/10

9.      Sorry, Not Sorry- I had two simultaneous impressions of this song when I first heard it. The first expression is that this song sounds like something off of their debut full length album, A Lesson in Romantics. The second was that the phrasing of the song is really awkward in various parts such as the intro. It didn't quite ruin the song for me, but it did bother me a little bit.  The song overall was good and I'd give it a 7.5/10

10.  Nothing You Can Live Without, Nothing You Can Do About- Something about this song strikes a chord with me. I don't know why, but I feel that I really relate to this song. With the personal feelings aside, this song is amazing. It feels like something that would have made it onto their second album, Anywhere But Here. It fits the theme of that album quite well, but it fits this one just as well. It is a really nice track and I would give it a solid 8/10

11.  Hold Onto Me- This is probably their most powerful song on the album. It is a soft rock track, very similar to Lifehouse in that sense. The track is a soft track and is a nice way to reach the ending of this album. Derek is belting out all he has vocally and is clearly putting some passion and soul into his work. I liked this track quite a bit. 710

12.  Angels- The album digresses from its hard hitting intros and triplets on the bass drum to end with yet another soft track. The album built up and digressed in a nice even manner. As for the song Angels, it reminds me a lot of Miserable at Best, a song they released on their debut album A Lesson in Romantics. The song is a nice soft ending to fantastic album. 7/10

The Album Overall:

WOW. Let me start with that. This album was amazing. I will definitely be listening to this album again and again for quite some time. The album has a things going for it and it was mixed really well. The lyrical content is no different than any of their other records, so I didn't focus on it as much. What really blew me away for this record was the instrumentals and the musicality. It is unlike any other Mayday Parade record I have ever heard and it is amazing. Id' give the album as a whole a solid 8.5/10. There are some really stellar songs in this album and I can happily say in my opinion that there are no bad tracks on this album. Nothing stood out like a sore thumb in a negative manner, and nothing sounded terrible. The album was well mixed, well made, and in my opinion, it will be well received. 

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Band of the Week #11- Pierce The Veil

History:

Pierce the Veil is a post hardcore band from Sand Diego, California that was formed by lead singer Vic Fuentes and his brother Mike Fuentes in 2007. They left their prior band "Before Today" and they recorded their first album together under the moniker Pierce the Veil with their old record label Equal Vision Records. Their first album, A Flair for the Dramatic, was released on June 26, 2007 with Mike Fuentes on drums and backing vocals and Vic Fuentes on bass guitar, electric guitars and vocals.  Prior to touring this album for the next year and a half, the brothers found guitar player Tony Perry, and bass player Jaime Preciado to take up the open positions in the band. The band then went on to go back to the studio for their second album Selfish Machines. It released in 2010 around the same time as their first album from three years ago. It featured their hit single "Caraphernelia" featuring Jeremy McKinnon from pop punk/ post-hardcore band A Day To Remember, as well as songs such as "Bulletproof Love", and
"I Don't Care If You're Contagious". Like most post- hardcore bands, they toured this album with various Warped Tour dates. They also accompanied various of their label mates on the Alternative Press Tour.

The band switched labels from Equal Vision Records to Fearless Records prior to their third album Collide with the Sky which was announced in 2011. The band was recording material while on their various tours and released the album on July 17, 2012. It's first single King for a Day featured Kellin Quinn from the post hardcore band Sleeping with Sirens, and was a great hit with the fans. Their second single Bulls on the Bronx received similar reception. The band continues to tour that album up until the present day, and they are going to be releasing a DVD soon of their first world tour.

My Thoughts:

I originally heard of Pierce the Veil when I got a hold of Punk Goes Pop Vol. 4 and heard their cover of "Just The Way You Are". I really liked their interpretation of the song and it made me want to listen to more of their material. I then starting listening to " Caraphernelia" and their more recent material such as "King for a Day". What really drew me to the band were the vocals and the guitar work. It really stood out to me and made them unique in comparison to other bands in the same music scene. I really recommend them for anyone who is interested in rock with a tad bit of heaviness since Vic also tends to do unclean vocals. I really recommend their most recent effort, Collide With The Sky, because it is their most versatile album to date and it is a joy to listen to. Vic's voice is very different, it has a certain grittiness to it that makes Pierce the Veil fun to listen to vocally The drums really push their songs forward in a good way and I can't wait to watch their DVD when it releases! 

Caraphernelia- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN-dRCGh-ME

First Punch- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Twp8XL0xzr0

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Band of the Week #8- Avenged Sevenfold

History:

The band formed in 1999 in Huntington Beach California by Matt Shadows, Zacky Vengeance, The Rev, and Matt Wendt, who would be later replaced by Justin Sane. Lead guitarist Synyster Gates would join the band at the end of 1999, making the metalcore band a five piece. They recorded their debut album Sounding the Seventh Trumpet in 2001 and toured with it up until Justin Sane attempted suicide via cough syrup. He was placed in a mental ward and was replaced by Johnny Christ. They would go on to release their next record Waking the Fallen in 2003, an album that sounded much more mature and refined than their debut record. Songs such as Chapter Four and Unholy Confessions greatly stood out in this record. The band would soon be signed to Warner Bros. Records.

In 2005, they released City of Evil. This album differed greatly from their other previous two records on a lot of levels. For one, the songs were much longer than before, plus there is no screaming on this record. Instead, Matt decided to obtain a grittier voice, while still maintaining the core 'sound' of the band. The album was a mainstream success and it really put the band on the map. They toured the album for two years, and then use that very same momentum to release their self titled album in 2007. It garnered great reviews and the fans enjoyed the record as well, but the enjoyment would slowly turn into sadness on December 28th, 2009 when Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan died of a drug overdose. The band faltered for a bit thereafter, but released their fifth album dedicated to the Rev, entitled Nightmare. The record was a very emotional one for both the fans and the band since they were all one big family. Mike Portnoy, Ex- Dream Theater drummer played drums on this record, and even toured with them for the subsequent tour. The band did work with Activision and their Call of Duty Series for the next three years. In 2013, they released their most recent effort, Hail To The King, a old school metal album featuring their new drummer Arin Illejay from the metalcore band Confide.

My Thoughts:

I got into Avenged Sevenfold around my sophomore year of high school, which would be around four yers ago. I got hooked onto the band because of their hard hitting tracks like Bat Country, Unholy Confessions, Crossroads, MIA, Brompton Cocktail, and Chapter Four, all stunning tracks in their own right. The band has always kept a fresh sound, thus keeping them moving and advancing musically. Zacky Vengeance and Synyster Gates are a fantastic guitar duo, and Shadows' vocals are fantastic, very unique and distinct. Johnny Christ is a good bassist, and connected well with The Rev, an insanely talented and energetic drummer in his own right. I can't wait for the band's next album!

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Band of the Week #6- Rage Against The Machine

History:
The band was originally formed in 1991 when Tom Morello was in a club, and heard Zack De La Roche freestyle rapping on stage. Morello asked him after his set if he wanted to be in a band, and Zack agreed. They drafted Brad Wilk to play drums, a drummer who had auditioned for Tom Morello's previous band Lock Up, and Zack asked his childhood friend Tim Commerford to play bass. They recorded a rough demo of their album and put it in a 12 track cassette tape and passed it around to record labels. After playing a couple of shows, various labels took interest in the band, but they agreed to sign to Epic Records since the label would give the band creative freedom and wouldn't restrict them. They went to Sound City and recorded their debut self titled album that would eventually go Triple Platinum. It was because of this album that RATM could perform at Lollapalooza in 1993. The album had fantastic tracks such as "Killing in the Name of" "Take The Power Back", "Know Your Enemy", and "Freedom". They toured extensively with this album, and later in 1996, they would record their second album; Evil Empire

 

RATM in the early days!

Evil Empire featured great tracks like "Bulls on Parade", "Tire Me", and "Down Rodeo". The album got them to the number one spot at the Billboard 200 and garnered them more fame. They were able to tour more with better acts such as Limp Bizkit, Wu Tang Clan, and more. They would later go on to release two more records, "The Battle of Los Angeles" in 1999, and their cover album "Renegades" in 2000. Both of these albums had great tracks, but they did not meet with as much success as their predecessors did.

My Thoughts:
It should be noted that Rage Against the Machine is my favorite band of all time, and that their self titled debut is my favorite album of all time, plus it's the album that influences me the most as a musician. I feel it has really powerful tracks and loud ones at that. Loud in the sense that there is only one guitarist, one bassist, one drummer, one vocalist, and a tad bit of guitar overdubs. Otherwise, the album is very raw and hard hitting. Although I was never a huge fan of rap or rap lyrics in general, Zack De La Roche fits the band amazingly and raps on important social topics, as well as political ones. Their later works such as "Evil Empire", and "Battle of Los Angeles" are great records as well. What draws me to the band the most is the groove that the bassist incorporates into the tracks. It keeps the songs moving and he fits in great with Brad Wilk, the drummer of the band. Tom Morello's crazy guitar effects, and heavy riffs never cease to amaze me, and I simply cannot wait to hear more of his solo work or work with Street Sweeper Social Club. It should also be noted that although "Battle of Los Angeles" did not get as much attention as their self titled debut, the album still has one of my favorite Rage tracks of all time, "War Within a Breath". The band overall is a strong act, and although they might not be everyone's cup of tea, no one can deny that they are a powerful band and stood out in the 90's for their heavy, but groovy riffs, tight rhythm section, and its controversial vocals.

Take The Power Back- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-l01lOKj3k

Killing in the Name Of- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxk3c_SbWMg

War Within a Breath- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY5vTcLBnNk

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Band of the Week #5- System of a Down

History:
System of a Down got together after singer Serj Tankian and guitar player/ backing vocalist Daron Malakian formed a band called Soil, which was later revamped to create System of a Down. Shavo Odadjian, the band's bass player, was originally the band's rhythm guitar player up until he switched. The band also went through a drummer or two until they found John Dolmayan. The name itself was originally "Victim of a Down", but Shavo thought that changing their Victim to System would be better for fans to find their music since they'd be closer to their musical idols such as Slayer.

The band released a few demo tapes that got popularity as the internet age went on. They played shows in popular clubs and bars, which eventually garnered them the attention of Rick Rubin and with him; they were able to record their debut self titled album, as well as getting signed to American Records. They had decent success, but their second album "Toxicity" gained insane amounts of success, getting them to #1 on the Billboards. Songs that stood out were Deer Dance and Toxicity, as well as Chop Suey, due to its release around 9/11. Despite all of this, they still received massive airplay on MTV and VH1. Their third album "Steal This Album!", was actually leaked on the internet prior to its release. Unfinished versions of the songs were leaked, and the band released a statement, saying that they weren't the final versions of the songs. They subsequently released the album once all the tracks were finished. Their fourth album and fifth albums were double albums that were released six months apart from each other. They were "Mesmerize" and "Hypnotize" respectively, and they released in the year 2004. Mesmerize yielded tracks like "BYOB" and "Cigaro", while Hypnotize yielded "Lonely Day" and "Vicinity  of Obscenity". Both of these albums were great in their own right, and they put themselves up there with the Beatles and Guns N Roses for releasing two albums within the same year. After extensive touring for each one of their albums, they announced a hiatus which they have yet to completely come off of.

My Thoughts:

System of a Down is a pretty controversial band. They're lyrics discuss political issues like America, the Armenian Genocide, and what politicians are doing, as well as sexual topics, drugs, and a lot of other controversial matters. With that being said, they are great musicians and I love their musicianship. Serj has a one of a kind voice, Daron does great guitar playing and has a distinctive voice for backing vocals, Shavo is monster bass player and I love his playing style, and John hits really damn hard while maintaining great grooves. I know of a lot of people that don't necessarily like SOAD for things that they've done and sang about, but to me it's not as controversial. I really like SOAD for what they sing about and how the music is made, it's really simple at times, and really in your face at other moments. Songs like "Deer Dance", "Lonely Day", and "Chop Suey" exemplify that, as well as some of their older material like "Sugar", and "Shimmy"

Fun Fact: Serj, Daron, and Shavo all went to school together at Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School, but since they were all different ages, they never all met until later on life.

Sugar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vBGOrI6yBk

Deer Dance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkkOQjK71Ss

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Band of The Week #3 - Atreyu

Orange County’s Atreyu is this week’s band of the week. They formed in 1998 and released their EP Fractures in the Façade of Your Porcelain Beauty with the underground label Tribunal Records. In 2001, they were quickly signed to Victory Records where, in my opinion, they released some of their best work. Their debut album Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses released in 2002, followed by their 2004 release of The Curse. It is probably my favorite album by them and it has a lot of great tracks such as Demonology and Heartache, This Flesh A Tomb, and The Crimson. The album introduced their drummer Brandon Saller as the clean vocalist while their lead singer/ screamer Alex Varkatzas did the unclean vocals/ screams as he had done on their debut album. This album definitely garnered them a lot of attention with metalcore fans all around. Their third album A Deathgrip On Yesterday reached just as much popularity as their sophomore record. At this point in their career, they had their songs in video games and a couple of movie soundtracks, thus getting them more attention. Possibly their most well known release is their fourth studio album Lead Sails and Paper Anchors. It was also the first album under their two new record labels Roadrunner and Hollywood Records. This album relied more on the clean vocals than then the unclean vocals, but Alex’s parts were still quite memorable. Songs such as Becoming the Bull, Two Become One, and Falling Down became instant hits with the fans. Their song Falling Down was even included in Guitar Hero: On Tour “Modern Hits”. Their fifth album Congregation of the Damned, is their most recent album that released in 2009. They received lots of attention for this record, but their fans also considering this album to be a complete sellout in comparison to their older material

The first song I heard by Atreyu was Becoming the Bull. It was such a hard rock track and it always got me pumped to play video games when I was younger. I listened to other tracks of Lead Sails and Paper Anchors, but I didn’t really listen to their other stuff because at the time I didn’t like unclean vocals. As time went on, I got into unclean vocals and went back to listen to their older material such as The Curse and A Deathgrip on Yesterday. I was completely floored by how good these tracks were and the overall presentation of the album. To me, they were a band that was able to combine the grittiness of unclean vocals and the melody of cleans vocals in such an interesting fashion that it made me want to listen to more of their work. Dan Jacobs on guitar is no joke either with a tight rhythm section and blistering solos and licks in between. Some people didn’t like the idea of Brandon on clean vocals because they wanted Atreyu to remain “heavy”, but I felt it was a good change and it added a lot of new dynamics to the band. It gave them a wider audience and it showed how far they could push themselves as musicians

They are one of my favorite metalcore bands and they have immense talent, it was sad to see them go on hiatus, but I guess every band needs to take time off to recuperate from all the touring and music production. With that being said, there is news that they might record a new track for the fans as a way to thank them for all of their love and support and that the song would sound like something that would have been released on their second album The Curse.

Falling Down: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nf256Pbo88A

Demonology And Heartache: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBIpreLNtpg

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Rise Against's New B Side Album "Long Forgotten Songs"

Yesterday, Punk rock band Rise Against released news about their latest musical endeavor “Forgotten Songs”. This is essentially a compilation of all the band’s “B-Side” tracks that may have only been released in certain countries, or were just scattered across various compilation albums such as “Rock Against Bush” or movie soundtracks. I think this is a really cool idea, because I feel that a lot of B sides songs are amazing and should have actually made it on the album they were a part of. Tracks by Rise Against such as “Generation Lost” or “Death Blossoms” stood out to me a lot when I first heard them. They sound really raw, but still powerful and holding lyrical and instrumental value.

I hope a lot of bands start doing this, because this is a really smart way to satiate the want of “new material” from the fans. Chances are that not every fan has heard every B-side track, and it could give the band some extra time to get material for the next record. As the band also stated, this is a good way to see how the band changed and progressed over the years, as well as viewing how far they can stretch themselves. Rise Against did a track called “Making Christmas” for the compilation “Nightmare Revisited” CD that was released by Walt Disney. What was really cool about this track was that the band tried to follow the original score as opposed to doing a typical punk rock version of the song. A track such as this shows how creative a band can get.

Overall, I’m looking forward to this record and all it has to offer. It may not necessarily be new material, but it will satiate my Rise Against cravings for a good month or two! The album releases September 10^th I believe, mark your calendars!

Here is the link to Rise Against talking about the B Side album!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBw4A3F_MyQ

Here is the link to Making Christmas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCET4j8W_fU

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Band of the Week #2 - Rise Against

History:
Chicago’s Punk Rock band Rise Against is this week’s band of the week! They released their debut album, The Unraveling, in 2001 and got signed to Fat Wreck Chords. I would say they got their first big break with their follow up release in 2003, Revolutions Per Minute. This album definitely put them in a good position to gain exposure in the underground punk rock scene they were part of. It is a good record and it shows what they were made of. RPM got the attention of DreamWorks Records, a major label who signed them in late 2003. After a record label takeover on Universal Music Group, Rise Against was signed to Geffen Records and released their first album on a major label in 2004, Siren Songs Of The Counter Culture. With an immensely heavy opening track like State of the Union and supporting tracks such as Life Less Frightening and Paper Wings, Siren Songs Of The Counter Culture quickly became a hit, although it wasn’t as heavy and chunky as RPM was for fans. They thought Rise Against was changing for the worst, but their follow up albums The Sufferer and the Witness, and Appeal To Reason, and Endgame  show that they are able to blend the punk rock feel that old Rise Against fans fell in love with, and blend in melody and harmonies that make Rise Against such a fantastic band.

My Thoughts:

The first song I heard by them was “The Strength to Go On”, but the first memory I have of Rise Against is listening to Paper Wings and hearing the bridge. The song overall was so fast but the lead guitar played a riff that fit perfectly over the punk track, while still maintaining originality. I checked out some more of their songs such as Life Less Frightening, Drones, Behind Closed Doors, and Audience of One. All the tracks were amazing and inspiring in their own way. I picked up their discography from a friend and never looked back. To me, Rise Against has always been a band that stands up for what they believe in and sound amazing doing it. 

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Band Of the Week #1 - The Story So Far

The Story So Far:

This week’s band of the week is pop-punk outfit the Story So Far. Hailing from Walnut Creek, California. They had been an independent band for a long time during which they released a plethora of EP, but quickly gained fame and exposure when their 2011 debut record Under Soil and Dirt released. Songs such as “Roam” and “High Regard” quickly became fan favorites. I personally found this band when a friend of mine posted a link to their single “Roam”. I was simply blown away by it. The singer, Parker Cannon, has a really unique sounding voice and their backup singer and guitar player, Kevin Geyer, also has a good voice and blends well with Parker’s. What struck me was how the bass was mixed into the song itself, it was very punchy, but at the same time, it could be heard and it stands out as its own part as opposed to following the root notes of the guitar. This was a really cool to hear because I don’t really hear bands putting emphasis on the bass as much as they do on the guitar or the drums. Another cool factor is the way the lyrics are written. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but the way the lyrics are written and the choice of words is very intricate, and it shows that they didn’t want to put as much thought as they possibly could in every factor of their music.

In their 2013 release, What You Don’t See was just as hard hitting as their debut album, with tracks standing out such as “Stifled” as well as “Face Value”. The overall production of this album is great and they have an amazing live stage presence from what I have seen on Youtube videos and have heard from friends who have seen them live. The rhythms are insane in this record and the drummer knows how to keep a tight groove. It can easily be seen that this band has put a lot of effort into their music and it shows when one hears the overall production of their records. Check out their single Roam and a personal favorite track of mine, Stifled, below!

Roam- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_iHep06jqk

Stifled- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2r8gqoDykFQ

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A Degree in Heavy Metal

Today I read an article concerning New College in Nottingham, England and one of their academic programs. An article on "Ultimate Guitar.com" talked about the New College's latest degree, Heavy Metal. They say the degree will have its inception at the college this upcoming Fall school year. I delved a little into this topic, and I would like to provide what information I have found, as well as my thoughts on it.

As far as I know, this is pretty new for a college. I have never heard of a college having a degree for heavy metal, which to me, is a huge step in the genre as a whole as well as music. To obtain the degree it will take two years. The first year basically introduces heavy metal and all of its aspects. The classes go through the history of heavy metal, as well as their relations to religion and philosophy. The first year sound amazingly interesting to me. Regardless of whether it is analyzing the lyrics of a Black Sabbath song, or the background and meaning of a Metallica song, the first year sounds like a fantastic time. I feel that heavy metal was, and currently is, one of the most lyrically intense genres to date. They stray from extensively singing about love, or heart break or other topics that are popular in popular, rock n' roll, blues music etc. Instead, metal bands (I'm thinking old school 80's and 90's) chose to sing about religion or philosophy and other topics, which is what the course also covers. In the second year of the degree, the musicians write music together and are provided gigs to play and perform in. They tour Britain, a nation known for its music ever since the 60's, and basically play as many shows as they can.

I am having mixed feelings about this degree currently. Although I think it is a breakthrough in music and pushing boundaries, one can only wonder the credibility of this degree and how far it can take them. My position on music has always been use what you have, and get out there and do it. If you have a guitar or bass guitar, learn technique, rhythm, and most importantly, music theory. Music theory is the fiber that holds all the music together, and is the essential basis as to why music sounds like it does, and why some notes or chords sound good together and why others do not. It's as simple as that. If you are a drummer, practice drum rudiments, technique, learning how to utilize your kit of whatever size to its fullest potential. Singer? Practice how to harmonize and stay on pitch and try expanding your vocal range and try to project more. Whatever the instrument, one should practice it and practice and play with others and just get out there. Play crappy gigs at a club for five people, play your younger sister's sweet sixteen, play the benefit show for breast cancer. Get out there and take the opportunities that are just waiting to be taken. Save your lunch money to buy a better amplifier, or get a job to fund your band's demo along with the rest of the members. Make friends with other local bands to make playing shows all the more fun, hell book shows together if you want. Get out there.

I feel that a degree in heavy metal just prolongs that beautiful process. It does not matter if the degree is for heavy metal, folk music, country, rock n' roll, blues, jazz or whatever, I personally feel it restricts people. When I think of people going to college, I assume they are going to obtain a degree which will lead them to their career. How serious will a company or an employer take an applicant that has a heavy metal degree? Sadly, not very seriously. This is not to say the degree is useless, and one will never have a successful career in heavy metal, but it will not amaze other employers. I feel musicians should jam out, get together, work their asses off and get where they want to go through seizing opportunities and pushing themselves, just like anyone else would do for their dream job.

This is also not to say that nothing fruitful will come out of this venture. With all musicians, connections are important. They basically create the web of interaction that gets a musician on their feet and out there. In the video link provided at the bottom, Kurt mentions that he obtained a lot of connections through his time in Berklee, and how he still maintains contact with them to this day. Bands should run around selling their EP's and demos and get their name to record labels and get a manager. One can also put to test how much theory they know and utilize in creative manners with other musicians who are just as energetic and willing to make music. But if one is truly motivated to make it in the music business, they will find different chord progressions that make them stand out, different arpeggiations or different rhythms. They'll paint their musical canvases with deep intricate colors that paint a mellow picture or a somber scene or whatever they chose. These heavy metal musicians want to play some god damn heavy metal, and if that is what they truly want to do, they should get out there and do it. A two year course is not going to put them on the map, they won't start touring with huge heavy metal acts like Iron Maiden or Led Zeppelin, they'll tour with their 'classmates' and other heavy metal bands in Britain. Although they will make fantastic connections, they won't leave the college with a successful band and a career with a ten year contract and a four album record deal with hundreds of hours of studio time and sponsors. They'll end up with a piece of paper that says that obtained a two year degree in heavy metal. This degree is amazing, the breakthroughs in the education of heavy metal will be huge, but in the end, how much will it really help?

Link:http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QjN4K3KutV4 

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Innovation

I wish I knew what happened to innovation in music. What happened to pushing the envelope and completely revolutionizing music like what Miles Davis or Jimi Hendrix or Randy Rhoads did during their time as musicians? They tried to advance musically and do things that other musicians weren't doing. Miles was so influenced by Jimi and what he was doing in music, that in his live album "Live-Evil", Miles used an electric trumpet and a wah-wah pedal. That's a god damn Jazz musician getting out of his comfort zone of Bebop and Cool Jazz and Hard Bop and trying to do something different, something that no one else is doing at that moment in time. When I listened to that record, I thought he was playing a guitar and it sounded amazing. Hell Jimi is still regarded as one of the best guitarists of his time and of all time because of what he did with guitar. Being a left player and mixing rhythm guitar playing with lead guitar playing was just so different for his time. Hearing Purple Haze, or All Along the Watchtower or Hey Joe just shows his abilities as a musician and how creative and innovative he could be. These musicians did not conform to the concept of making their music simple, they made it different, they made it technical and soulful. The second Hendrix bends a note or Davis starts to play a melody you can hear everything one has ever wanted to hear in music. One can hear emotions and thoughts, practically conversation in the music.

I feel like musicians nowadays do not try to be different. They might change a few things here or there, but there is nothing revolutionary or amazing about them. I mean bands like Muse and Lostprophets push the envelope with the creativity and ingenuity. Muse's guitarist Bellamy uses a Khaoss pad on his guitar to get different sounds, and the band as a whole are super creative and innovative in their music. No two albums of theirs sounds alike. They are always doing something different, something new, they are the Miles Davis of the modern era in rock/ progressive music. I may not be biggest fan of Muse vocally, but they are fantastic instrumentally. Bands like these guys just don't seem to exist nearly as much as they did during the 60's and 70's and 80's and 90's. I feel that more musicians are trying to just get famous and not try anything new or different that can redefine them as bands. They stick to the same power chords and root notes and trite solos and try to make a living off of it. 

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Soul of Music

One of the things I cannot stand is when people play music without any feel at all. Music is an art, and art is passion. I remember hearing an interview with Paul Gilbert, guitarist for Racer X, Mr. Big, and his own solo work, saying that he didn't really feel anything when he places some of the music he has written. As a fellow musician, I cannot understand that. I cannot understand how someone can write something and not feel anything. Not the beauty of the arpeggios, the gut wrenching tug of notes and tones tied together in harmony creating a beautiful melody, the anger in heavy palm muted down strokes etc. This is not to attack Gilbert in any way, I merely used him as an example, but I have heard other local musicians say that they too do not feel anything when they play their music. This is not to say that one should just not listen to musicians that do not 'feel' their music, but to me personally it adds more flavor and zest to it all. They don't have to get into like Steve Vai, Joe Satriani or even Daron Malakian from System of a Down and make faces and whatnot, but at least show you care about the music you made and enjoy it. 

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Paramore- Album Review

This is my first album review, ever. I hope to have a better finalized format for reviews very soon.

Paramore has finally come back with a full album since Brand New Eyes in 2009. Their self titled album is the first album without the Farro brothers (Zac and Josh Farro were the guitarist/backing vocalist and drummer respectively for Paramore before they left the band). Let me preface my review by saying that I have been waiting for this album to come out for a while now, and I am sincerely excited to hear these songs. I didn't know what to expect with the album because of Paramore stated this album won't sound like Riot! and that is something I saw coming because all bands change and grow musically. As far as the review goes, I shall review each song individually, and then the album as a whole at the end.

1. Fast in my car-The drums on this track sound very loud and prominent. Lyrically, this song is a song for the fans, telling them that Paramore has changed and that they want a new sound, which is what this album is. "We've got our riot gear on, but we just want to have fun." It shows that they want to enjoy their music and make sure it doesn't become a monotonous process. (I recall reading an interview where Hailey said that the band for the previous three albums followed a formula of sorts, and they wanted to deviate from that and make the music writing process seem new and vibrant. I personally really like this track, especially as an opener. I'd give it a 7/10.

2. Now- This song was released as the first single of the album. I like the arrangement of the song. I will admit that when I heard this song the first time, I didn't like it. It didn't sound like the Paramore I adored during the Riot! album or the Brand New eyes era. I really liked the feel of this song as time went on. It is very clear that this is the single, based on the radio feel it gives off. It sounds like something that would come on the local rock station or something of the sort. Regardless, I give this song a 6/10. It has a nice feel to it, but at the same time it isn't my favorite track on the album. It sounds really over produced, but then again it's just a radio single, the rest of the album is what matters!  

3. Grow Up- This track sounds very 311-like. The rhythm section in this song really makes it sound ten times better. It has a decent groove to it, and the lyrics flow really well on the track. I give this track a 7/10. I really like the bridge in this song and it transitions into the next part of the song very nicely. There isn't much to say about this track, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

4. Daydreaming- The beginning of this song reminds of something that would be on the Foo Fighter's most recent album, Wasting Light. The reason for this is that the drums get loud and everything sounds so heavy, but then they back off to develop suspense. The chorus has a very upbeat feel to it, and makes me want to move around. The bridge has an amazing build up, and the keys really add to it in a positive manner. The bass line in this song is really prominent and I like the sound of it. Lyrically the song is alright. 6.5/ 10

5. Interlude: Moving On- The first of three interludes. The mandolin gives this song a very Train- like feel to it. It feels weird to describe it this way, but I can kind of feel Hailey smiling as she sings this song. I like the chord pattern to this short interlude. It sounds so much more upbeat and cheery for some reason. 8/10

6. Ain't it fun- This is quite possibly one of my favorite tracks on the album. It has an insane groove to it and very Michael Jackson like. The way she places emphasis on the words is very reminiscent of the King of Pop himself. The chorus kicks in, and they sound like they sound like the good ol' Paramore I remember, but at the same time, they don't. Their style for this song is completely different and it makes them, and the track stand out. The choir in the bridge and outro is fantastic touch and it fit the song perfectly. The guitar solo fit perfectly under the choir in the outro without interfering or taking away from the choir. 9/10

7. Part II- The intro guitar part sounds a little bit muddled with the effects, but the bass makes up for it. I know I sound like a person who is only looking for the bass in these tracks, but it's because it's there. This album placed a lot more emphasis on the bass to keep the groove and feel of the song going. The chorus kicks in and the track sounds like something that should have came out of Riot! It sounds like the second half of "Let the Flames begin" from Riot! Hailey's vocals remind me of the lead vocalist of the band Fireflight, and that is definitely a good thing. The drum work in the bridge for Part II blew me away. It is so fast, yet so clean. Again, this is another one of the tracks that stands out. 9/10

8. Last Hope- This song is decently motivational, a song about let things happen, let the chips fall where they will kinda song. Nothing stands out about this song, but if a station played this song, I wouldn't switch it. 6/10

9. Still into you- This song sounds like something that would be on Brand New Eyes. The chorus is seriously catchy, and is currently stuck in my head. I like the fast strumming pattern that is in the background, it fills in the gaps for the bridge. This sounds really close to what Paramore was known for in terms of sounds and vocals. Hailey has strong vocals on this track.  7/10

10. Anklebiters- This track is purely driven by the bass and the bass drum. It pushes the song forward and make sure it stays on time. Lyrically, I really like this song. Hailey sings about being yourself and loving yourself, because you're all you've got in the world. Minus the keys, it sounds very punk rock like, especially for Paramore. The keys kind of grounded it, but at the same time added a new depth to the song, which really fit with the track as a whole. 8/10

11. Holiday (Interlude)- This interlude is just like the first interlude, mandolin with a bass track to back it up

12. Proof- In the chorus of the song, Hailey sounds a little bit country. Overall though, the track is very good musically and lyrically. The way the words are sung, the pattern essentially, is very different then other songs on this album, and other material that Paramore has released. I have listened to this track four times in a row so far, and it sounds a little bit better each time because I always hear something new. 6.5 / 10

13. Hate to see your heart break- Lyrically I really like this song. I like the message, and how Hailey gets it across and how she relates to people in similar situations. With that being said, I don't like the musical arrangement for this song, or how it was put together. I feel it would have been better as an acoustic song with piano and a soft drum beat in the back. Lyrically 8/10, musically 4/10

14. (One of those) Crazy Girls- I love the way the song is arranged. The soft, acoustic intro, followed by a brief pause, and then it just comes in with the full band. Lyrically the song is alright. Essentially talks about how she couldn't get over a guy she was with. I really like the way the song sounds though! It's just something about it, it's difficult to describe. 7/10

15. I'm not Angry anymore (Interlude)- My least favorite interlude. Strictly vocals and mandolin, which is never a bad thing. I just don't like it lyrically, in comparison to the other two interludes that is. /10

16. Be alone- A great rock track. The drums in the bridge are amazing and really shows off his ability as a drummer. I personally like the guitar riff a lot in this song for some reason, maybe cause it sounds a little bit like Coheed and Cambria. The keys in the last chorus really fill out the highs in the song. I really like this song! 8/10

17. Future- The Final track! Took a lot longer than I thought it would to get to the end of this record. I like the natural feel of this record, such as the beginning where York and Hailey are talking. The build up for this song seems really natural and well laid out. It builds up with a fade in around the halfway mark. After listening to the full song, I don't quite understand why the faded out, just to fade back in. Either way it sounds very full and just in your face. 6/10

Full album review:

17 tracks. 63 minutes and 58 seconds of music. I honestly would rate this album a 6/10. Paramore came back from a four year hiatus, and I knew they wouldn't be the same band that left. Things had to have changed, both musically, structurally and physically. This album personally wasn't for me, but that doesn't mean it isn't for everyone else. I'm not really used to experimental music where everything changes for every song. I also don't like the lyrical content for a lot of the songs, which discussed how they were getting back together after their hiatus and talking about how they were going to change. In my opinion, it's cool to sing about that for two or three songs, but come on. It's been roughly three to four years since their last album, the lyrical content couldn't have changed. Nothing song- worthy happened in the last four years?

Although this album has a few rock/ pop rock tracks, it has something for everyone. There's a funk-ish track, a blues track, acoustic track, pop rock tracks etc. Overall, the album had its ups as well as its downs, but practically every album has that. I can't say that I would go back to listen to this album in full again in the near future, but I do like certain tracks like "Fast in my car", "Part II" and "Ain't It Fun" . and "Hate to see your heart break". The reason I compared Paramore and their songs to numerous other bands is because they said they found their sound, that this is what Paramore will sound like, and what they think the sound of Paramore is. I compared them to the bands because it makes it easier for the reader to get a gist as too what the song can sound like, or be similar to if they know of the the band being referenced. Also compared because the album is very experimental and varies across numerous genres, so it is tough to pinpoint what their "sound" is. 

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Music's Image

Why does music have to have an image? Why do musicians have to look or act a certain way to get a record label? What is with the stereotypes that rock stars have to do drugs, and have lots of sex, or the stigma that all country artists wear cowboy hats and the whole cowboy, lone ranger shebang? This concept is one of the most annoying things I see when I see how record labels sign artists; by their "image."

Musicians should be judged based on their merits. How well they can play, not just as band, but as individuals. How well the drummer can play his beat, or how well the guitar or bass players play when a string snaps. They should be judged on how well they play it, and how much energy or a crowd they can draw. If a local band is drawing a huge crowd of people that want to watch them, why should it matter how they look? Why should it matter if they look like the belong in Led Zeppelin or Avenged Sevenfold? Last time I checked, people like good music, music that they are interested in or that they can relate to, looks should come second. I understand that if a musician looks good, a fan might be more drawn to the band, but that should not play a large factor if the person like the act or not.

I know bands that look like they do not belong in the "scene" they claim they are part of, but they sound amazing and sure as hell belong in that "scene". Those bands, those groups of people writing music in someone's basement or in a big recording space, those are really people. We were always told as kids to not judge a book by its cover, why should we do so when it comes to bands and signing then. I thought it was the content of the book that mattered, not the pretty looking digitally remastered cover that was done with Photoshop. I remember hearing how record labels signed bands, and maybe they still do it this way... I recall hearing how record labels would send out a representative into a club where they had local bands playing. They would dress how they chose, whether it be casual or professional. Then they would watch the full set, all the bands and groups that performed. If they liked what they see, they might go to another show or two of the bands of interests, and then if they still like what they hear, they will give them card as an offer and from there it is up to band. Why can they not do things like that anymore, listen to the music, feel the energy, hear the crowd signing these local songs as loud as they can.

Music is something that should be limited to how one looks. I look like a guy that listens to post hardcore or "emo" music (kind of), but I fucking love Rage Against the Machine, System of a Down, 311, Paramore, Foo Fighters etc with every fiber in my body and would kill to see any of these bands live. It just seems really stupid and illogical to judge a band by their looks, and not by what they are creating and making. Labels should be more focused on the sound of the music, and how both the artist and the label could benefit from such a partnership, and not how the lead singer's hair looks, or how "brutal" the band looks. Image shouldn't be a credential for a band, and damn the person who first thought it should. 

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