Sunday, February 20, 2011

I Forgot To Remember To Forget - Elvis Presley

It has obviously been a while since I've posted on here so basically here's the story. If I feel like there is an exceptionally good or bad album that comes out, I'll write about it. In addition, any albums that someone requests for me to write about I'll write about (most likely). Alright well that's it folks, have a good night!

Monday, November 30, 2009

Brand New - Daisy

Brand New - Daisy

Nothing sums up the evolving nature of Brand New more than a lyric from their song "Last Chance to Lose Your Keys" when Jesse Lacey shouts "this isn't high school, this isn't high school"...

On Daisy, Brand New makes sure that their sound doesn't resemble anything you listened to while you were in high school (Your Favourite Weapon, Deja Entendu); with that being said though, Jesse Lacey and the rest of the band have created a more mature and urgent sound with their most recent release. The title of the album can be misleading as many of their songs feature searing riffs and scream-sing vocals which are apparent in songs such as "Gasoline" and "Sink". "Gasoline" sets the tone right in the beginning of the song with a heavy, distorted intro that explodes into something even greater, as it's pulsating riffs initally shock first time listeners to the album. "Sink" features feverish shouts and screams from Lacey and really tests the boundaries of what Brand New is capable of as a band, all while a steady bass line plays in the background.

Slower tracks such as "Bed" and title track "Daisy" counteract the heavier tracks on the album, as the guitar playing is more precise and flows smoother with the respective song. "Bed" is aptly named, as it smoothly begins with airy guitar and whispery vocals from Lacey, while "Daisy" experiments with a methodical, almost electronic sounding drum beat and remote vocals that leave you wondering if Lacey is singing from miles away; it makes for one of the better tracks on the album. The placement of both of these songs in the album are great as they nicely set up the forthcoming heavier songs on the album. Throughout the album, it is apparent their was an emphasis on trying out different guitar styles on their album, ranging from grunge sounding, to post hardcore, to even a twangy bluesy sound on "Sink" and the beginning of "In A Jar"

If there is something that Daisy lacks, it's memorable lyrics, which have been a staple of there past albums. Thinking back to songs such as "Seventy Times 7", "OK I Believe You But My Tommy Gun Don't" and even "Jesus Christ", the lyrics were something that the listeners could relate to, which is one of the appealing facets of Brand New's music. For example on "In A Jar" their lyrics state

There's too many saviors on my cross again,

I know I'm never going to be a perfect man.
Everyone's an oyster with their grain of sand,
I love you most and some, now it has to end

I'm not really sure what this means, but to me, I believe that they sacraficed some from their lyrics in order to set up musical freedom on their album.

The album is definietly a step in a new and yet to be determined direction for Brand New, a direction that is unfamiliar, yet filled with great promise. I liked the balance of heavier and lighter songs on the album, and compared to their older albums, they show greater musical maturity as they differentiate their songs with new and unique sounds. Daisy is an album with a purpose, which is to further educate its fans that they are changing, but for the better.

Grade: B+

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Ghostwriter - [RJD2]

Within the next week or so, I'll be writing my first reviews, one for Brand New's Daisy, one for Grizzly Bear's Veckatimest and possibly a review for Phoenix's Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. The reason why I chose these albums to be reviewed were for the following reasons:

1) They have all come out within the last six months so I wouldn't be necessarily be reviewing outdated releases (with Grizzly Bear's and Phoenix's albums approaching that timeframe)
2) All three of the albums I've listened to mulitple times
3) I feel like I can write each review with weighed praise and criticism and can accurately detail the nuances in all three albums.

I look forward to writing these reviews and I hope that you enjoy reading them.

Yours Truly,
JG

Friday, November 20, 2009

The First Song [Band of Horses] - Welcome to Lemon Juice!

When creating this site, I was looking for a release from my everyday life, to do something that I would truly enjoy. With that being said, the world of music has always been there for me through the good and bad times in my life. Music is a passion of mine and writing about is just one of the many ways I enjoy music. Creating Lemon Juice is something that I've thought about for a long time and now this blog is the beginning of what I hope becomes a dependable source for music listeners everywhere.

Yours Truly,

JG
Creator of Lemon Juice