Some albums start with a slow build. A song to lull you in to some precious band’s languid dreamscape. F that noise. Some times a good punch-in-the-gut opener is just what you need. Check out five kick ass openers below:
There are several things that most people associate with music bloggers; either we’re super arrogant about our tastes, or just have loads of free time and connections. For the most part, I think people tend to put me in the first category, considering I have a full-time job that isn’t this web site, but I feel like I always have to justify myself, proving I’m not a snob. I’m pretty sure my love for this genre establishes my inability to escape mockery in all instances. It’s true, I love ska/ska-punk, whatever you call it. I spent loads of weekends as a teen dancing at Liberty Lunch or Voodoo Lounge. I figured in admitting my lack of cool, I’d also admit my favorites.
Honestly, I’m not a huge connoisseur of the air waves in our nation, but occasionally there are those days when I rush out the door without my iPod and I have to suffer the pain that is radio. Recently, with my hectic schedule, this has happened more and more, so it left me to ponder why on Earth some bands still get ready play, and more so, some certain songs. I thought of my top five, and while some are song specific, others just need to leave the airwaves in general.
Now that the east side seems to be exploding with a new bar popping up daily and hordes of people everywhere, I’ve started to seek refuge in some of my favorite old haunts from years past. These are places that were frequented by me a lot more towards the end of college and into early post-graduation, but are increasingly becoming apart of my weekend routine once again. Before I reveal my list of top dive bars, let us point out what I feel qualifies as a “dive” bar. For starters, ease of parking and access is a must, so you won’t be seeing bars on 5th-7th street (sorry Side Bar). It’s also important that these bars have that old rundown feel about them to create a nice atmosphere for drowning your sorrows in booze. I also require that my dive bars have unique jukeboxes with not a single hint of a 101x ready song inside. Plenty of seating, familiar clientele/staff, bar games, drink specials, and uncrowded places are also a must. Bonus points can always be awarded for random ass decor, crazy old ladies, bikers, distance from downtown or good food. These are places you want to go to get away from the downtown hastle, sit with friends and enjoy each others company (or being alone). My list has also been broken up into regions so you can pick your poison based on where you live in relation to these dives. Follow the jump for list.
I take advantage of the fact that I’m the only female Top 5 contributor, and I like to add my lady perspective to the male dominated ATH crew. What better way to lend my girly advice to you boys out there looking to win over the ladies with a musical selection. Ladies, you will probably just agree and be awaiting a mixtape with the following tracks on your playlist. So here are a handful of love songs for all you indie-romantics.
My second FT5 is on the eve of Record Store Day. Record Store Day got me thinking about my addiction, so I am going to use this FT5 as a confessional. My name is Brian and I am an Music Addict, and I feel a need to dispel some myths…
Happy Birthday to a real, badass dude: the Buddha. Without getting into a religious discussion, I feel that some albums are better at relaxing the listener and in some ways engage them at a deeper level. In these cases, the music serves as a map to guide the listener along a journey of self-discovery. In our modern, hectic lives, consumed by outside distractions and never-ending suffering around every corner, few of us can truly turn within and for just a moment, think deeply. As soon as we turn on our favorite album or mix-tape from someone special, we are transported to a meaningful place; there in that moment, enjoying it for what it is. So, in honor of the birth of one of the most influential people to ever grace the earth, here’s a list of the top 5 meditative albums to help get you in a thoughtful mood and let the world around you melt away.
Artists don’t always make the best decisions. Perhaps they just get bored. Reinventing themselves after every album must get tiresome. I guess that’s why some musicians choose to collaborate with people from other genres. Leaps of faith, even if they are doomed to failure, are more interesting than repeating the same old song and dance. Finding out the hard way that something is a bad idea is more exciting than going through the motions of what has been done before. Oftentimes though, it’s best to stick with what you know. Otherwise you end up with the kind of collaborative catastrophes listed here. Let’s take a look shall we? See the Top 5 Unusual Collaborations below:
