New URL/Blog: Things That Make You Learn

I didn't realize people read this. I reopened it.
Please read my new blog

http://www.thingsthatmakeyoulearn.blogspot.com

Leave comments and stuff. new stuff there.

-Kyle

Review: City and Colour- Bring Me Your Love

City and Colour- Bring Me Your Love

Sometimes I wish music acts would just break up. Many bands have hidden secrets that aren’t exposed like they should be. This art is called a “side-project.” These “side-projects” are usually only known by the true fans of the bands. It’s sort of like the rest of the world over looks this music because its hiding under a rock. A prime example of this is Alexisonfire’s guitarist Dallas Green’s solo project “City and Colour.” Besides the fans in Canada who look at this man as an icon, this JUNO winning performer doesn’t receive much credit in the states. With his critically acclaimed debut “Sometimes”, that dropped in 2005; many fans having been waiting impatiently for a new record. Dallas announced his singing to Vagrant Records and the fans have finally got their request; Bring Me Your Love.

I found out about this new record from a live performance DVD Dallas released. In this DVD, Dallas debuted many new tracks that are on Bring Me Your Love. Just like the DVD, the opening track is “Forgive Me” A soft, calm melody that you would find in a church. I find the most impressive and interesting claim on this album is how every instrument Dallas uses is vintage. “Confessions” is the second song on Bring Me Your Love. Dallas’s unique way’s of putting an accent on some guitar notes is key. This ultimately sets the entire emotion for the song leaving the line “at least I won’t be alone tonight” repeated in your head for days. (Yes, this happened to me).

When I try to watch television at night, I’m forced to watch Lifetime or some other mediocre station. All these channels do is show these western/southern movies about some big business girl coming down there, falling in love with a guy, going back to wherever, then finally marrying the guy. It happens in every single movie. However, the soundtracks these movies carry are very weak. Maybe if you’re lucky, you’ll find a Neil Young song or something by Dylan. Bring Me Your Love is the missing piece to making these Lifetime movies enjoyable to watch. Songs such as “Body In A Box” and “What Makes A Man?” are perfect examples. Though Dallas is from St. Catharine’s, Ontario; there seems to be a passion for acoustic music for him. Incorporating the harmonica throughout the album is why I would love to see this on Lifetime.

The most interesting fact about this album is the backup band supporting Dallas. Different acts from Canada play drums and different instruments to help support this record. In the previous acoustic demo of “Sleeping Sickness”, Dallas sang by himself. While this is my favorite City and Colour song, the re done version is something I wish I could get into more, but I cannot. Gordon Downie of The Tragically Hip contributes vocal harmonies and well as his own little passage in the song. Overall, I wish this song stayed a demo. The song all of us City and Colour fans were introduced to. The single “Waiting…” Go on the Internet and find the music video, this song is one beautiful song. Mainly distributing the negative sides of love, here is my favorite lyrical passage out of Bring Me Your Love.

Hoping a better place is all I need, with moments of innocence and mystery.
Oh, it's the little things you miss.
Like waking up all alone.
Oh, it's the little things you miss, when you're underneath it all.
So say goodbye to love, and hold your head up high.
There's no need to rush we're all just waiting, waiting to die.

-Waiting....


Bring Me Your Love generally takes a softer side for the second part of the record. Dallas tries different musical figures in this second part to show what his true potential is. With the clapping in “Constant Knot” to the harmonica in “Against The Grain.” Dallas knows how to blend instruments to make sounds you’d think Neil Young would make. Using some banjo in “The Girl” this piece is another favourite(ah see what I did there) of Bring Me Your Love. Illustrating more of Dallas’s emotional side, passage’s such as “When you cry a piece of my heart dies… Knowing that I may have been the cause” are heart grabbing. The song takes jumps into a more upbeat motion around 2:30 in the song. With gang vocals harmonizing different selections, it makes a sad song sound happy. That is just sickening.

It’s becoming interesting what members can do without the rest of their band. These “solo-projects” are starting to get more hype than their formal bands. More noticeably is Dustin Kensrue of Thrice releasing “Please Come Home” in 2007. These harder bands always have a soft side. Dallas Green’s sophomore album “Bring Me Your Love” is a well worked off album. Showing how creative someone can be and how well each song is done. Us fans were impatient with another record, but I strongly believe that this wait was well worth it. With haunting lyrics that are guaranteed to have you humming all day, Bring Me Your Love should stick a top my favorites of 2008.

Rate: 94%

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Music Video for "Waiting..."

New Stuff Shortly

Yes, I don't lie. New stuff. I've been a tad bit busy lately. However, The Daily Chorus has taken interest in my work and I am now writing for them. This blog will be modeled to the genre of "Indie." New reviews in about two days.

Go read my Mercy Mercedes Review.

http://www.thedailychorus.com/rev.php?subaction=showcomments&id=1202230190&archive=&start_from=&ucat=6&

Listen to: Jens Lekman

Jens Lekman. His new album "Night Falls Over Kortedala" is absolutely awesome. There should be a review soon.

Track by Track: This Is Hell/Cancer Bats Split [EP]

This Is Hell/Cancer Bats Split [EP] (2007)

1. This Is Hell - Another Facade : This track originally appears on This Is Hell's Sundowning release in 2006. It delivers one of those very powerful songs that you wish could continue, but due to shortness... they end way too soon.

2. This Is Hell - Death Bros. (Cancer Bats cover) : The best part of this vinyl release is how both Cancer Bats and This Is Hell cover one of each others songs. This Is Hell elected to cover Death Bros, one of the songs I actually enjoy by Cancer Bats. Vocalist Travis Reilly brings a keen mix the song making not sound like a cover, but more of one of This Is Hell's own songs.

3. Cancer Bats - Let It Pour : New song from the Canadian natives, very upbeat. Reminds me a lot of an Alexisonfire vibe mixed with a European influence. The song is about three minutes long and is a pretty good song.

4. Cancer Bats - Diamond Lanterns (This Is Hell cover) : I'm pretty much obsessed with the Cancer Bats version of this song. Cancer Bats decided to cover "Diamond Lanterns," a This Is Hell song from their 2005 EP. To me, the song sounds exactly the same as the original. But it's a fun song just to jam to in the car.

I suggest trying to find the vinyl EP if you can. It comes in different colors and is numbered in different quantities.

Rating: 6.7

This Is Hell's Myspace
Cancer Bats Myspace

Ivory Update

Ivory has posted new shows. They also announced that vocalist Nathaniel Swokowski will be leaving for NYC. Read below.

January 31 8:00P Copper Rock - Nathaniel from IVORY Appleton, Wisconsin

Feb 1 2008 7:00P.. The Venue - Nathaniel from IVORY w/ Number One Fan Terre Haute, Indiana

Feb 2 2008 7:00P The Warehouse w/ Number One Fan, The Fold La Crosse, Wisconsin

Feb 7 2008 7:00P Roast w/ Nathaniel from IVORY, Number One Fan Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Feb 8 2008 7:00P The Blend - Nathaniel from IVORY and Number One Fan Chicago, Illinois

Feb 9 2008 6:00P The Loft w/ Number One Fan Madison, Wisconsin

Feb 10 2008 7:00P COPPER ROCK w/Number One Fan Appleton, Wisconsin

With many of the ups and downs in the last few years with Ivory, we have decided to support Nathaniel's move to NYC. He'll be working with producers, songwriting, and meeting with labels for the long-term success of IVORY. He'll be leaving for the coast this Valentines Day so be sure to come and check out these last few shows.

Ivory also posted a new song on myspace entitled "Take It Slow."

Update

I was supposed to attend Kevin Devine's show at The Bowery Ballroom tonight. But due to some hardships, I am not able to attend.

Sorry for the lack of word the past week. I've been barely around to write anything. I have midterms this week and will spend more days updating this.

Rogue Wave Daytrotter Sessions

Rogue Wave has recorded a few tracks with Daytrotter.com part of the "Daytrotter Sessions." Check them out here.

Kevin Devine New Song

Kevin Devine has posted a new song on myspace entitled "Murphy's Song." Personally, one of my favorite songs live.

Nightmare of You- Bang EP

Nightmare of You- Bang EP

In the music industry, sometimes you might catch a family who is very talented in the music business. One always hears about the Kinsella’s marvelous work but another family overshadowed is the Reilly‘s. In this case Brandon Reilly and Nightmare of You. Most agree, Nightmare of You came out of nowhere with their Self titled debut in 2005. The boy’s introduce us to the dancy/indie EP “Bang.”

Nightmare of You is an interesting outfit. With member’s formally of Glassjaw and The Movielife, success wasn’t far away. Bang is released on The Bevonshire Label, which is Nightmare of You’s own label. They recently split from East West Records in May, making the EP impossible to find in any Best Buy or FYE. So I recently went to local music shop, Looney Tunes, and found a copy there. That moment made me re-live the glory of one of the most forgot EP’s of 2007.

Bang is the sophomore release from NOY. It’s one of those EP’s that with every listen, it gets better and better. The release open’s up with the false track titled “I Don't Want To Dance Anymore.” To many, Nightmare of You brings resemblance of The Smiths and Morrissey. This track is clearly an example of Brandon Reilly giving a knack at an English sound. “I Was Never A Normal Boy” follows the first track. The guitar work that guitarist Joseph McCaffrey introduces reminds me a lot of Beatles/Beach Boy’s mashup. Reilly in this song keeps reminding the listener of his childhood life and how he was insecure about many things, including himself.

The first half of Bang is a completely different mood then the rest of the EP. The first half of the EP reminds me of a hang over from the self titled debut. Mellow, depressing rock. To start off the midpoint of Bang, “You're Very Dear To Me” turns the tide with the jazzy/dancing side of Nightmare of You. At first listen, I swore I heard this song on a Geiko commercial. But I can say, I wouldn’t be surprised to hear this song at a nightclub in New York City. “Bang” is the next track on the EP. Again, NOY keeping up with an upbeat tempo, the band show’s how sex is involved in their music. The finally song my personal favorite, “Herbal Jazz Cigarette.” The simple, yet hard driving drum beat that is illustrated in the song sets the speed of how fast you move your feet.

Everyone is going out but you will keep me in tonight even though you aren't here with me. You make me want to find God, you give me meaning for the means of my universe. Oh, the end would have no end. And if I don't see you soon I just might lose whatever is left of my mind. I know, I know, I know that I'm so crazy I know, I know, I know because you told me so. And there's nothing in this world that's quite prescribable that makes me feel the way I feel when I look into your eyes. -Herbal Jazz Cigarette

Getting back to the family members theory. With This Is Hell releasing a new record in 2008, so does Nightmare of You. This EP demonstrates why so many people respect what this band has done in so little time. This EP resembles English rock beats, classic bass, and just an overall positive impression. It’s a shame that Bang wasn’t released worldwide, because many people forgot about the drive of Nightmare of You. Bang brings back a reason why old fan’s should be excited for 2008.

Score: 82%

Track list:
1. I Don’t Want To Dance Anymore
2. I Was Never A Normal Boy
3. You’re Very Dear To Me
4. Bang
5. Herbal Jazz Cigarette

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