Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts

MUSIC FEATURE: KLAXONS

2:54 PM , , , , YJ Lee
KLAXONS - LOVE FREQUENCY (2.0/5.0)

To say that the new Klaxons album is a 2014 disappointment is an understatement. The band is noteworthy (in my life) for penning angst-ridden, teenage anthems that have guided me through some pretty tumultuous times and for keeping me sane through studying for finals (It's Not Over Yet, anyone?) I can understand that band's shift and maturation of sound, because it's been seven years since Myths of the Near Future, but come on seriously.. What is going on here? 


I haven't been a fan of the bandwagon of nu-wave, electronica embedded albums that's been pretty prominent with mid-2000 artists. Maybe I'll revisit the album and listen to it a few more times later, but for now, I need to relisten to the past two albums and try to remember what YOUTH sounds like. 


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MUSIC FEATURE: SAM SMITH

6:05 PM , , , , YJ Lee
Disclaimer: I am a completely biased Sam Smith fan in the regard that yes, I am a lovestruck fangirl obsessed with the up-and-coming, twenty-two year old soul/pop singer from the UK.
SAM SMITH - IN THE LONELY HOUR (3.8/5.0)
Sam Smith's album, In the Lonely Hour, will be released in the US in a few days. However, you can listen to it on NPR First Listen RIGHT NOW. With that being said, I have been hooked onto this album for a week now. Beginning with his hit single, Money on My Mind, Smith uses his strong, soulful vocals to declare that he "[does] it for the love" above everything else. This message is similar to Price Tag's, the hit single from fellow Brit Jessie J. Building off the money<love message, in Leave Your Lover, he croons that he doesn't "[he] doesn't care for gold, what use is money when you need someone to hold?"

The theme of this album focuses on the unrequited nature of love, from not being able to obtain it because the person you're in love with is unavailable to the inability to find love yourself. I was not surprised by the theme because of Smith's comment stating that this album revolved around his personal struggle of falling in love with a dude who didn't love him back, but I was pleasantly surprised by the overall tone of this album. From his features in Disclosure's Latch to La La La, I was expecting it to be more upbeat and heavy with vocal tweaking.

Some of the lyrics get a bit lazy throughout the album, but the choruses are generally nice and put together. There weren't many vocal embellishments that triggered any grievances besides the siren wailings in the first track.

Money on My Mind is my least favorite track on the album; it's heavy on voice alteration that doesn't suit Smith's natural voice - by that, why does his voice sound like a siren? The other songs are A+ beautiful, ending with Lay Me Down, my favorite track from his EP. I would say this version of the song is a pretty balanced mix between the origin and the acoustic versions found on his EP. Also, my favorite track from this album is Not in That Way.


 WILL LOVE BE MUTUAL FOR SMITH? Maybe in his next album. On a more personal note, I feel like a broken person when I listen to this album, being fully able to grasp his lyrics and the milieu set off by his voice. I'm very excited to hear what his future albums will sound like, though I am very please with his debut.
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MUSIC FEATURE: KING KRULE

1:42 PM , , , , , , YJ Lee
Before you read this review, I wanted to admit that I am completely biased in every regard for Archy Marshall AKA King Krule, skewing of course to the fangirl swooning level that is probably not the most reliable for music reviews. I have been an avid fan of Archy Marshall circa his Zoo Kid era, replaying Baby Blue and his EP throughout my angsty teenage phase every night until my teeth fell out. I've been following the hype for 6 Feet Beneath the Moon for quite some time now, and August 24 is finally a-coming.


Marshall recently shared Easy Easy, a track from 6 Feet Beneath the Moon. It's reminiscent of many of his tracks a la bedroom. The synthing, lo-fi voice is haunting and the guitar progressions are eerily mellow and fit well and harmoniously with Marshall's flickering voice.

Check out King Krule's music. My personal favorite track is Baby Blue, but other recommended tracks are Ocean Bed, Bleak Blake, A Portrait in Black in Blue, Lead Existence, Noose in Jah City, Out Getting Ribs, Rockbottom, and pretty much anything you can get your hands on. Marshall also posts some hip-hop beats using his moniker DJ JD Sports. Worth a listen. 
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BUSKER BUSKER

10:56 AM , , , , YJ Lee
Typically, I am the anti-christ of Korean pop culture, but I've recently stumbled upon this Korean indie band whilst enjoying the highway scenery in my cousin's car. "Busker Busker" is an indie band consisting of three members, Beom-Jun Jang, Hyung-Tae Kim, and Brad Moore. They have been active since last year after their participation in the Korean variety music show, K3, but have nonetheless been sweeping the music charts since their debut, elevating many hits to the top ten spots continuously. I've been listening to their first album, which is simply entitled "Busker Busker 1st Album," and I'm pretty sure I've caught the fever that's captivating Koreans everywhere. The songs are all written by the band members and Beom-Jun's voice is absolutely lovely. Their sound kind of reminds me of the Kooks, but softer, in a sense, with less forthrightness and the combination of lighter instruments and chords. I would definitely recommend this to any person, but more specially, to the Koreans who usually do not embrace the K-Pop culture.  
4/5 stars. Stellar.


Here's a link where you can listen to first album via Youtube 
ALSO LISTEN TO: Pockets by Tourists (check em out!) Julio playlist will be out soon! 
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effervescent

6:10 PM , , , , , YJ Lee
I've experimented with light graffiti and double exposures, but I've never once thought about light projection photography until I glanced at Davis Ayer's portfolio. Projected on human bodies, these photos are a nice blend of elements from film and digital photography; his portfolio is stunning as well, so definitely check it out!
COLLISION OF HISTORY & TECHNOLOGY
Alwyn Collinson, an Oxford history graduate, has begun a six-year project to tweet events from every day of the Second World War as they happened 72 years ago. Maybe to some, that would seem silly and irrelevant, but to me, I find that truly ... amazing. Collinson wants to depict these events in real time, so people today, almost 100 years later, can relate and understand - put themselves in that time period, to be in shoes of people who really lived through WWII- the time period of the late 30s to 40s. 
It's really hard for me to articulate to people why history is so appealing to me, because history is the type of ineffable true love that doesn't provide a just answer to anyone's question. (One of these days, I'll try to articulate coherent sentences that explain my one true love, history and *TR*) In the mean time, check out the wonderful twitter, and follow it if you have a twitter account! 
This was so adorable. I enjoyed this video so much, and I hope you do too.

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10:17 PM , , YJ Lee
Things That Have Made Me Extremely Happy in the Past 48 Hours:
  • Answering all of the questions on history.com's quiz correctly!!
  • Bubble Tea & Pho (ATM I am in complete bliss b/c of the strawberry bubble tea I bought on Adams Ave. just now..KUDOS to senior year slacking..)
  • Looking at my friend's beautifully sculpted portfolio
  • Being "in the zone" when I wrote an analysis at midnight 
  • A large amount of calories in the form of a chocolately dessert
I've been running a lot of random errands and going on sporadic outings with friends lately; yesterday, after school, I decided to go to Philly to get some donuts at Krispy Kreme, and then hang out a bit before I went home to nap for 2.5 hours.. I started my homework at midnight, and went to bed at one. Today, I went to Best Buy to purchase a new television, went to Trader Joes to pick up groceries, and then went to Pho to get bubble tea. I skipped my daily nap, so I could watch 3 hours of Law & Order: SVU.. Do I regret this? Never. I'm really tired right now, but I still need to run, and at least start the huge pile of homework I have due for Thursday. Tomorrow is senior give back day and I have off, but I think I'm heading to North Jersey to go to a sauna, so I have to study for my bio test and write a paper tonight.. Ideally, I should probably starting doing these tasks, but realistically, my eyes are shutting and caffeine will not be my savior tonight.

Nineteen, young and free. Stephen Beadle's work is absolutely stunning, and I'm really inspired by his style of photography- his execution aligns perfectly with what I eventually what my style to progress to be. His shots are revitalizing, fresh and quaint with that perfect mixture of old and new. AND he's nineteen and serves as his own model? CHECK OUT more of his stunning work here 


I've been listening to Lykke Li all week.


AND THIS IS THE BEST THING I'VE SEEN ALL DAY

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