New Additions

I mentioned in the last post that my stranded island scenario had gotten me hooked on something new, but I said I would save that for another day. So here it is: Daft Punk.

My album collection consists mostly of the various genres of rock, with a pop album thrown in here and there (come on, who doesn't love Lady Gaga?). Electronica is probably not represented anywhere in there. But when posed the 5 album question, a friend of mine's first response was Discovery by Daft Punk. We talked a little about his choices, and I started reading up on them on Wikipedia. Then I started doing a little listening on youtube. I don't know how I feel about their first and third albums, but Discovery is great. What I found even more interesting was the Daft Punk created an anime called Interstella 5555. It has no dialogue. It's just the album played front to back. And it fits really well. I think it's an amazing concept. If you're curious, I would check it out. Anyway, I've ordered Discovery from Amazon, so it should be in sometime this week.

I went to McKays today. For those of you who actually stumble into this and don't live in the area, it's a huge warehouse that has used books, CDs, DVDs, and video games. I went CD browing today and came away with 4 albums: The Presidents of the United States of America (self-titled), Frances the Mute by The Mars Volta, Asleep in the Back by Elbow, and For(N)ever by Hoobastank.

Both the Elbow and the Hoobastank album were on my CD wishlist, but the other two were impulse buys. They were cheap and available. Sometimes, that's all you need...

The song I'll leave you with today is one that keeps getting stuck in my head. Can't wait for the album to come in. Also, apparently they played it during the USA-Canada game on the Olympics. Sweet.

Johnny Castaway and his 5 Albums

So considering that I'm supposed to be waking up for work in less than 4 hours, I really should be sleeping. But instead, I'm up blogging. Makes sense, eh?

Sometimes I really wish I knew more "old" songs. Any kind of "old." I like The Clash and The Sex Pistols. I have Foreigner's Greatest Hits and a box set of Genesis. Hell, even the 90s are considered "old" these days, and I really don't think that's even represented all too well in my album collection. I try to think of it from this point of view: this past decade, I've probably been more musically conscious than any other. So it only stands to reason that I'll have more albums from this era. And some day, future generations will look back on this time and consider it "old." This thought makes me feel a little better about my present-day music fetish. But I still wish I liked more "old" music.

Let me fill you in on a little bit of the inner monologue that's been occuring lately. Actually, you could call it dialogue since I've been arguing with myself. It was not a one-sided conversation. About a week ago, I set up a scenario for myself. Suppose someone strands me on a deserted island. They're kind enough to leave me a portable CD player and a lifetime's supply of batteries. But they say that I can only take 5 albums with me onto the island, and in an act of true cruelty, they say I can't have 2 by any one artist. Which albums would I choose? I added that last rule after the argument.

Originally, I said, "That's easy," and spit out 3 Muse albums and 2 Silverchair. The argument ensued, and that's when I implemented the new rule.

It took me a week to come up with this. I probably put way too much thought into it. Of course, this list could change as I discover new albums or re-discover old ones, but here's what I came up with:

1. Muse - Absolution
2. Silverchair - Neon Ballroom
3. Weezer - Blue Album
4. Radiohead - OK Computer
5. Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill

I've been asking this question to a lot of people lately. I love hearing their answers, and checking their answers for myself. I've discovered one new group I wasn't previously into, and I think I'll make that my next post.

I'll leave you with a song, as usual. This one is from the aforementioned Silverchair album, but it's a more recent live show. It's my favorite version of this song by far.

Know what grinds my gears?

I have an endless array of opinions at my disposal when it comes to my music. I don't feel that I look at music with a critical eye. I think I look at it with an interested eye. What's the difference? A critic voices their opinions and actually thinks that they matter. They try to take something subjective and mold it into something objective. I really feel that this canNOT be done with music. We all have our own musical fingerprint. The songs we listen to give us a feeling that is ours and ours alone. Now, we can have some overlap with others, but you'll probably never find someone else whose tastes match yours exactly. I love this. I love finding out what floats someone else's boat. You should never be ashamed of the music you like. It gives you a feeling like no other, and no one can take that away from you.

The music critic on the other hand, pretends that there are laws that music must adhere to. They want everyone to reinvent the wheel. I mean, it's great to hear someone come along and put a new spin on an established genre. That's how music evolves as it should. But who says we're not allowed to like the bands that spin the sounds of their favorite style through their own filter?

That being said, let me tell you about one of my biggest pet peeves in music. This not only applies to the majority of critics out there, but to a lot of my fellow music snobs as well. Somewhere along the line, the notion was born that once a band became popular and achieved any degree of mainstream success, they ceased to be any good. I loathe this idea. I hate it when people parade around the names of unheard-of bands like a badge of honor. Don't get me wrong. I'm glad you like the bands that have yet to see any major exposure. Hell, I've got a few in my repertoire as well. But that does not make your taste in music any better than mine. It just makes it yours.

A thought comes to mind. I keep thinking of "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." Some people say that's just something that ugly people say to make themselves feel better. I think some people liken what I'm saying about music here to that phrase. You know, that me saying "it doesn't matter what you like, just that you like it" is my way of trying to justify the popular music that I listen to. Maybe, but I don't think so. I don't think I really have anything to justify.

Anyway, that's just something I've been thinking about a lot lately. I thought I would share it. As always, I'm not entirely sure about how well I was able to take what's in my head and put it into words. But I think you get the gist. I'll leave you with a song. :) Until next time!

Just a little concert action...

Ok, so let's change the status of the blog from "daily" to "when I bloody well feel like it." Ha! Though I've gone a few months without posting certainly doesn't mean that my obsession has slowed down in any way.

To catch you up on all of my music news since the last post would be pointless, so let's skip straight to the present, shall we?

Caught a show last week. Headliner was Theory of a Deadman with Halestorm, Adelitas Way, and Taking Dawn opening. Now, for the rundown!

Taking Dawn was energetic, but really, just not my style of music. That definitely doesn't mean that they were painful to listen to. I liked them alright, I guess. I can't picture myself buying their album though.

Adelitas Way took the stage next. This was my third time seeing them, and I think it gets a little better for me every time. The first time I saw them, they were opening for 10 Years and had their debut album on the way, and I believe they hadn't even released their first single to rock radio yet. I liked them. Thought I'd look some into them a bit. Then their first single hit the local radio station, and I was able to see them again. Liked them even more. This third time sealed the deal though. Ordered their debut album, and it's on its way to my mailbox as we speak (or maybe it's there already...haven't checked today...). Check out their new single, "Last Stand!"



After AW, Halestorm rocked my world...yet again. It was my third time for them also. I think I've been in love with them since the first time I heard "I Get Off" on the radio. They could quite possibly be my favorite new band. Their whole album is amazing. Anyway, their shows are pretty similar, but somehow I don't get tired of it. They have a lot of energy on the stage, and Lzzy Hale's voice is JUST as amazing as it sounds on the album. If you get the chance to see them, I highly recommend taking it. They've also got a new single out. "It's Not You." Go give it a listen!

Ah, Theory of a Deadman. I liked them alright before. Only knew maybe 4 songs by them, and only really loved one of those. I had bought my ticket pretty much just to see Adelitas Way and Halestorm again. But I've always said that live is the best spice for music. Tyler Connoly's voice lacked a little something live, and I'm not sure if that's because he was having a rough night or because he's just not as good live. Either way, they still put on a great show despite that. Hearing their songs live and being introduced to the rest of their material shed a new light on them for me. I'll definitely be picking up their newest album, Scars and Souvenirs. They've released more singles than is usual off of that album, and they've got a new one out, too. "Little Smirk." Check it out!

Cage the Elephant is coming to town soon. I would love to go see them, especially since I missed them the last time they came through Knoxville. I really don't think my funds are gonna let me go though. I've got a trip to Atlanta coming up in April to go see A Day to Remember with some friends. Not a band that I know a lot about, but they were going, and it sounded like fun. Plus, I spent a small chunk on what could be the event of the year for me...

March 15th, 2010.

Nashville, TN.

Muse. In. Concert.

And I have a TICKET.