Song Review - "The Young Influentials"

Not many blogs that I know of do really extended and kind-of in-depth song reviews, but tend to stick to reviews of albums, histories of bands, progressions of styles and genres, etc. and etc. Individual songs deserve special attention and that is why I'd like to review and share some of my favorite songs. So it goes.

Literally This is the Way it Goes and Goes and Goes the first album (out of two) by my favorite band of all time - Juno - holds this posts' song review. The album as a whole is essentially an anthology - a collection - since the songs on this release are so diverse in style, structure and, what intrigues me so often, the way in which the individual song developed.

If there were to be a lead single off of Juno's debut effort, it would have to be "The Young Influentials". Essentially a pop song, "The Young Influentials" pulls on the emotional strings heavily, from its heavy, pulling guitar passages, to Arlie Cartens' incredibly dense sounding talk-sung vocals, to the drifting but demanding organ/synth intro. Juno's song structures are almost instantly understandable but are based on what seems to be entirely sonic texture and not song writing in most contemporary senses. There are no chorus-es,verses or bridges in Juno's music, and "The Young Influentials" is a perfect example of such song-styling.

The sonic web of Juno is only half of it's equation. Lyrics and lyrical phrasing specifically, and not vocal melody, are an essential part of Juno's music. I have never heard a musical act with such unique emphasis (or lack thereof) on vocal phrasings. As you listen, pay attention to the way in which lyrics are rhymed and set within the context of the song it's really something else.

The lyrics of "The Young Influentials" are at times quite clear/memorable/catching/ essentially relatable or at least intelligent or clever-sounding. The actual meaning of the song is hard to pinpoint, but that is the point of many songs - the point of art - to be introspective/ critically self-reflective. However, "The Young Influentials" has some clear themes. Love, hurt, recovery, interpretation of life after trauma, pain set in the past and the constant, beating, edging feeling of life in limbo. With the lyrics bare, taken out of the beautiful, drifting, backing instrumentals, I could interpret the song to be about rape - a tough subject, even, maybe, though possibly not quite, for Juno. Take a look for yourself, though: http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/75020/

"The Young Influentials" for me is inspiring and powerful. In ways it has sex appeal - I mean just listen to that organ in the beginning and those delayed and reverb-drenched guitars - but when paired with the hypothesized subject matter, this may seem a tad narrow. Instrumentally, it moves, drives, is aggressive and tender at the same moments. It's dense, where it takes you - who knows but that's just the way it goes and goes and goes...

Download song. (I hope this works)

*For fans of anything. Honestly.

Hey Mercedes - EP

Hey Mercedes formed out of the ashes of the great indie/emo/post-hardcore band, Braid, to to create an absolutely fantastic first album and debut EP. Fronted by Bob Nanna (guitar and vocals), Hey Mercedes molds incredibly dynamic hooks and melodic phrases with enough pop sensibility to make their songs instantly accessible and enjoyable. Hey Mercedes relies on intense and intricate song structures by using simple guitar, drums, bass and vocals with hardly any over dubs or effects. Such density by simplicity is almost unbelievable - but after hearing the way in which Bob Nanna's first band Braid developed, this type of writing and song development must have come entirely natural.

Their debut EP opens with the less than chiming "Bells", as thick guitars set the background for Nanna's unique voice and clever, intelligent lyrics - handclaps, bell hits, and harmonic sweeps are all overtly apparent. The next track "St. James St." follows a similar formula of heavy guitars, including an emphasized stop start rhythm, with the vocals changing emphasis constantly to stray from the repetitive, though well established backing instruments. "The House Shook" is possibly the best song on the EP simply because it sounds the most like Hey Mercedes (i.e. something that was to be considered new to fans of the old Braid, i.e. a new progression). The production on "The House Shook" is especially refined, guitar one and two split in stereo and propel the song in a completely unique way - honestly I have never heard guitars force a song along in such a way. I would not be surprised if J.Robbins of Jawbox, Burning Airlines and Channels fame sat at the boards for this record."Stay Six", the closer, is the "ballad" of the record. "Stay Six" speaks something of compassion and the comprehension of personal growth - pretty passionate stuff. The instruments are essentially untouched in terms of tone on this final track, without some of their complexity, but are assembled in such a way as to leave Nanna's lyrics wide-open.

There is much to be appreciated in the EP's sixteen minute running time - much more than many full length releases of today's age. Songs with such a well oriented structure and meticulously detail are not commonplace, and finding a collection such as this debut EP is a challenge in itself. Without synths, keys, strings, blipps and beeps, brass, etc., etc., Hey Mercedes shake up and destroy most folks current idea of what constitutes "Indie Rock". Hey Mercedes is a pure breed.

Generally, most of Bob Nanna's work (with Braid, Hey Mercedes, The City on Film) seems to embrace being young, creative, brainy, and heartfelt. It's graceful and moving and fills a context that many tend to ignore. It's legit. Listen to it:

* I really wanted to listen and review the National's new album, but I haven't gotten it on my hands yet. I'm somewhat of an amateur when it comes to the National, but I'll try to give their new record a review based on their development and context within the world of rock/ independent music.

Hey Mercedes - EP for fans of Braid, The Promise Ring, Pennines, Monument, Everyone Everywhere, Longitude, bands like that, etc., etc. etc.

Everyone Everywhere - S/T

Choosing which album would be my first to be reviewed was actually kind of a challenge. I didn't know whether to go with a favorite of mine, a well known classic or a brand-new release because I don't know (and still don't know) which direction this blog will take. After a couple of posts/ reviews I'll get the hang of what I intend to do. So it goes:

Everyone Everywhere's debut album is packed with good times. The Philadelphia based Indie/Emo band keep their songs dynamic, endearing and honest without plaguing them with over-contemplated and unnecessary effects, lyrics or production. While the music isn't overtly technical, there are plenty of riffs and fills to keep repeated listens enjoyable. Everyone Everywhere are a humble basement/ backyard band - they want everyone to have a good time, but they don't want to demand enjoyment, nor do they want to sing about worthless things, they rather muse about life's little struggles and situations.

Interestingly, Everyone Everywhere "released" their album through what they call an BlogTour. Essentially, every song on their album was released on a different blog over a period of a week and a half. Even though the BlogTour has ended, Everyone Everywhere won't chop your head off for downloading their album. You can buy it here: http://www.tinyengines.net/ or stream it at here: http://www.punknews.org/bands/everyoneeverywhere Check iTunes too.

Everyone Everywhere also has a 4 song EP All These Weird People Standing Around out from last year, which is fantastic as well.

It's pointless until you hear them:

http://www.myspace.com/everyoneeverywhere

http://www.everyoneeverywheremusic.com/ (their blog)

*For fans of: Hey Mercedes, Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start, Monument, The Promise Ring, Weezer, etc.

Beginnings.

I've always wanted to write a blog. I mean, ever since I first knew about them. Music blogs were the first blogs I read and still make up the majority of my blogging reading. I'll start, safely, diving in music first.

I like to write and share. I think I'll blog. Here goes: