Music is Stupid

Anorak: a British slang term for someone obsessively interested in niche subjects

[proxyanorak]

One, two, three, fuckin’-A.

Perfect for frustrated belting and screaming emotional upheaval, Plts is ideal for clearing the mind and the soul with late 90’s guitar and a stomping backbeat. Schedule a play anytime today!

This song needs to be the Zika of music. The beat and brooding lyrics are already so infectious, all it needs to be transmittable disease worthy is mass media consumption and radio play. Yet, as we all know, those are the fucking travesties that are only accessible to the classics and the deplorables (I’m looking at you Rihanna and Trump).

Backing off shitheap of the political spectrum, Plts is a blooming punk-rock band with 4 bangin’ tracks out. For me, every single one is a hit so far, but ‘On & On’ happens to be the most head-leaching song so far. With a sound that will make you want to cruise down the PCH or grab a bike to ride furiously down the quiet suburb roads that you don’t quite fit into, ‘On & On’ gives off an air of fight. It’s like an old friend whispering words of wisdom into your ear, telling you that you can do anything, probably pushing you to do far too much.

[proxyanorak]

Damn this fucking song. 

The build up always has me growling, when it hits its peak I am doing much more than just singing along to the damn thing. Let me tell you, it may involve banging my hand against the steering wheel and committing the ultimate sin of closing my eyes while driving and jamming to the marvelous guitar work that I just wish I could work out for my own practice.

‘Cold Feet Killer’ was my initiation drug to My Goodness, and oh my goodness has it just been getting better. Starting with this bitchin’ song I decided to start with introducing you guys to, the flow is just so good and the vocals have just the right amount of in-your face attitude. The song itself has an odd juxtaposition of what I find to be light riffs and vocals but a heavy theme and quick pacing. All of these unique little bits combine to really form a song that is emotionally recharging.

Even if the song is just typical for a star-crossed lovers theme, My Goodness approaches the subject in a way that feels like a new beginning. Check out the music video if you have time as well, but this song is just one of the many ones I personally have fallen for, with no intention to stop this affair anytime soon.

[proxyanorak]

For an indie band, this is one hot-rod album jam packed with rhythmic noise. 

“Forgettable” is anything but what the name would lead you to believe, the New Hampshire based quartet packs unique patterns and twangy instruments with self-depreciating lyrics that are ideal for the angst ridden teenager. Combined with the sounds of classics like Fall Out Boy and early Panic! At The Disco, you have yourself the perfect playlist for a lonely midnight ride back home after your first god-awful date.

Backing off of what I find to be ironically humorous lyrics, Sorority Noise has built up a set-list of simple tunes with some backbone thrown in. Songs like ‘Dirty Ickes’ and ‘Blonde Hair, Black Lungs’ are on the top of my plays for their catchy chorus’ and fun, nonchalant vibes. In the rest of the album you have several more high points with items like ‘Mediocre at Best’, but like even the greatest albums you must taint high energy excitement with some slow ballads and long drawn out questions in song format. Everything in here seems fairly relatable for the younger crowd and might be the perfect intro song to your sappy indie romance short-film.

“Forgettable” is a generally good listen. Whether you need background music to relive terribly tragic high school memories or just something to scream when your sister refuses to get out of the goddamn shower at 6 in the morning and you are running late for first period environmental science...

That was probably too far, just like the album in question. Listening to this work, you might feel like you are looking into another’s life or that you can perfectly envision the poor sap whose life this discography describes. 

Overall, Sorority Noise has made a good first impression on me. I hope to see more from them and have purposefully chosen to neglect their second album which is totally not my speed at all. No really, at all.

Hope they keep it up and bring back the blend of grungy mixed instruments and sunset shining melodies.

[proxyanorak]

Fuck yes!! FUCK YES! How many times can I say it, FUCK YES!!!!

Finally our prayers have been answered and Imagine Dragons has gathered some semblance of sense to return to what sounds very reminiscent of the first “Night Visions” album. They did keep some of the tricks that they adopted from their second studio album “Smoke + Mirrors” with pretty nice base drops and breathless rap-like lyrics, but I finally feel like this is a stride and song that I can actually get behind. 

‘Believer’ is hopefully the start to a new Imagine Dragons era. They have felt lost to me and many of my pals that were adamant avengers of their first exposure since the second album came out, focusing too much on tricks and not the music or their classic indie roots. That is not to say that this song has these same indie intertwinings, because if I were to say that I would be stretching it, but overall this is my favorite single of theirs in a long time.

Now we have an Imagine Dragons song that makes you feel like the biggest baller on the jungle gym. Feel free to run all out to this on the weekends with sun streaming through your hair or discovering a new place, ‘Believer’ is a song that will make you feel nearly invincible (only when listened to on the fucking loudest setting).

Enjoy these fuckers and may we live to see a Dragons comeback that lives up to the sadly overplayed and media-hyped “Night Visions”. Cheers!

[proxyanorak]

Band is the exact opposite of the Canadian stereotype. 

When you listen to a Gob song, you are hit with their aggressive, constant guitar and semi-screaming vocals. That by no means deters from their artistry. The production balance of vocals and instruments are on point and allow for ease of understanding.

Described as a 1994 post-punk band, the bitches in Gob live up to that title. ‘Radio Hell’ is a personal favorite that reminded me of the Sex Pistols, just with a less nasal and ear-grating lead. Listening to “Apt. 13″ is a trip that will give you perfect visions of spike-haired assholes clad in dark colors and distressed fabrics. In a way it makes you want to roll around in the dirt and find a crew to mosh with.

This song, sad though it may be to say, has been on my playlist for over 10 weeks, which is a feat much larger than that of topping the billboard music charts. The public's opinion doesn’t matter, music usually sucks.

[proxyanorak]

A sultry EP, like Queen’s ‘We Will Rock You’, made to slam designer boot clad feet into the beer covered ground of a concert hall.

While not my absolute favorite song from this Seattle-typical moody English artist, this is still a piece of work that will get you clapping or bobbing along with the rhythm. ‘Hellfire’ is the perfect song for strutting aggressively down the street surveying the plebeians from above. It has a certain twinge of endurance that will draw out a subtle smirk on your face if you are not already singing along.

The newly released EP ‘The Dull Drums’ by Barns is definitely one to give a listen to if you have not already tested one of the massively popular songs. Newly added ‘Hellfire’ is not my favorite, but it aptly fits in with the rest of the loud snare driven beats.  What else would you expect when 2 out of 5 songs are named after the searing burn of a flame?

All of the songs in the album, save ‘Little Boy’, are a pleasure to listen to, and have enough class and enough held back that you will not get into any trouble playing this for co-workers in the morning HOV lane or getting caught giving people a second-hand listen through blasted headphones. It is officially parent approved, to many of our dismay. 

Still have their concert marked diligently on my calendar, two months off.

EP earns: 8/10 (Because like in many situations, ‘Little Boy’ ruins the mood)

[proxyanorak]

I had the pleasure of seeing this bitches in concert a few weeks back. I came in with zero expectations, knowing their song ‘Soap’ from two years back, and was thoroughly surprised by the enthusiasm and power this set of guys has.

‘Drop Dead’ is one of my favorites, giving me vibes of MCR with the screaming background vocals and hints of Nirvana grunge and Highly Suspect smooth vocals. They have humor, a good physique and a set of six songs that all hit you with a punch in the gut and make you want to grind up on the nearest attractive being. 

This band of misfits has been laying welcome siege to my ears for weeks, looking forward to the new album that will no doubt be coming out this year.

Would give this particular EP: 9/10

A touch-and-go album of sexual tension, strong riffs, and unique sound.