Mumford and Sons: Babel-ing Away to Another Hit

Until a couple of weeks ago, I had no idea who this band was. The amount of knowledge I knew about Mumford and Sons was limited to my friend saying, “Hey check out this new Mumford and Sons song” and “I’m trying to get their new album!” Curiosity got the best of me and the good old Wikipedia was open on my Internet Explorer window (yeah, I know, I STILL don’t have Chrome). My limited knowledge of this apparently folk rock band as described in the side bar of their Wikipedia page was not enough for me. In no time I had YouTube up and running as I scoured the web trying to find their songs (not so much scour as peruse, but you get my point). This band was not on my radar at all: But it is now.

They seem to be able to combine old school folk music with innovative sounds and country countermelodies and singing. I don’t consider myself a country fan. Maybe that is because I have never really been exposed to many songs of modern country. I think that country has probably grown into something more tolerable and even something rather enjoyable. I consider Mumford and Sons more of a country rock band, but that depends on your background. If you are straight from Nashville, you would probably scoff at that declaration but rock is in the ear of the listener. Either way they have written some pretty impressive music.

After listening to several of their songs on their newest album “Babel”, I have mixed emotions about their music. While I still believe that they are a talented band, I’m not sure if some of their stylistic choices mesh with some of my personal tastes. As you may notice, this blog post is about something radically different than any other band I’ve blogged about. No, my tastes aren’t changing. I just wanted a fresh perspective into the music realm and go into foreign waters. Anyway, the album throws out some distinct sounds. I feel that a lot of the countermelody stays very similar throughout multiple songs and the one saving grace is varying vocals. After about two minutes into each song, I start to get tired of the constant and repetitive strumming of a banjo in the background. Once again, it might be because of my lack of exposure to the genre, but there is only so much of that I can handle! That brings me to another point about their newest album. Have you seen the track listing? 4:36, 4:13, 5:39, 5:14, 5:21 minutes long each song! My attention span isn’t that long with songs I am familiar with; throw in a new genre and I’m about to go crazy. I think this is one downfall of this album: its sheer length takes away from the talent by stretching it out thin.

Another thing that bugs me before I start describing the positive things about this album: I feel that a song is either really upbeat or really soft. For the songs that they attempt to mesh the two, it starts off really low and soft, like in “Lover’s Eyes” and then they seem to abruptly change to a higher gear and keep the intensity throughout the rest of the song. I guess I desire more of a ‘story’ arc to my songs that takes me on a journey.

Now don’t get me wrong; Mumford and Sons takes me on a journey! While I seem to be a downer about this band, I am amazed at the work that they have displayed. They really hit the mark on two main fronts: vocals and lyrics. Because of its incorporation with a soulful type of music, I can take more powerful and passionate lyrics seriously as compared to upbeat pop songs. That is one method that I think Mumford and Sons exceeds at with their style choice. Because of their folk music, they are able to have deep and meaningful lyrics that match the general tone of the instrumentals itself. In sadder songs, they are able to keep the singing low and the instruments sparse and soft. In happier songs (and in the climaxes of songs) they can get away with using their wild banjo and guitar-like instruments to get a wild folk party sound! The vocals, as well add to the power of the each piece of music they compose. His deep soul-filled voice gives off an aura of passion. While it can get old at times, his consistent voice unifies a variety of songs with various tones together to make it sound like “Mumford and Sons”. His voice is so distinct that I think I will be able to recognize any of their songs now!

Now to the videos! I’m going to post three videos today. The first one is the lead song named “Babel”. Babel was the first song that I ever listened to by Mumford and Sons and it caught me. Thus it exquisitely served its purpose as the lead song on the album. They start out with an epic guitar diddle at the beginning that leads into the main counter melody. This song accents Mumford’s voice the best and they mesh well as one. Additionally, this song has rises and falls to it that I like in a song; making the powerful and upbeat sections of the song that much more cherished. Check it out below:

The next video I wanted to highlight from this album is their lead hit single, “I Will Wait”. This song starts off again with pretty rocking and upbeat instrumental introduction. This gets cut off into a softer vocal section that slowly builds back up to the high level of intensity. At the same time, it keeps the soft tone of this love related song. This is definitely one of my favorites from the album and I can see how it risen to the top of the charts. Check it out. Even if you don’t think their music is to your liking, it’ll grow on you:

While I have mixed feelings about this band that I just now discovered, I think that I might have been introduced to a new type of music that could grow on me. Pretty good despite being abnormally long!

Revolver Hits One Out of the Park

The Beatles are back at it again! By this time, they are actually starting to see a variety of competition come out of the wood-work. How can the Beatles compete with all of these rising bands such as the Stones, the Who, and the Beach Boys? Easy, they’re the Beatles.

Revolver was only released about three years after the Beatles’ first album. Remember that first blog I posted a while ago? The bubbly songs like “Please Please Me” and “I Saw Her Standing There” were vibrating off of Harrison’s guitar just a mere three years. The rapid pace in which the Beatles have developed as a band and the music they create is astounding. It has been relatively gradual too. It took several albums to ease into their new versatile selves who dared to throw in crazy bumps in a once uniform pop-like blend of songs. I bet that if the Beatles went back in time to themselves three years prior to releasing Revolver and told themselves that they would incorporate a sitar into their songs; they would be revered as insane (especially considering the fact that they would be talking to themselves).

When the album first started, I was utterly surprised at the first several songs. This wasn’t a feeling of surprise you get when you pass by a dead skunk; rather, a feeling you would get at a surprise birthday party. While I was not expecting certain aspects of the music that highlighted a new wild side released from within each of the band members, I was still content with their harmonies, melodies, and lyrics. I think that my love for the Beatles has grown and matured into something different. While I believe some of their older songs sounded more hip, I think I respect them more for their pure ability now after hearing them in a variety of genres and styles. This takes guts too! After being successful in one area, evolving into something that is unknown is a pretty gutsy move (especially in a field as fickle as music which all depends on the mood of the audience).  Because they are able to be so successful with whatever they do and adapt to changing music styles, I revere them very highly (as you can see given that I write every third blog about them).

Anyway, back to Revolver. I feel the influence of the Beach Boys ooze out of the speaker when I listen to this. This is most predominant at the very beginning of the album and through a couple of songs interspersed later on. In these five-ish songs, the Beatles adopted the orchestral sound of the Beach Boys. I was disappointed that they ditched some of their classic instruments in these songs, but the sound was unique and fresh to Beatles music. And it worked with the beautiful harmonies created by this band. In two of their songs, they use straight string instrumentals in order to carry the countermelody. In another song, “Got to Get You into My Life” they use a brass section with a predominant trumpet sound. In this song, they are able to use it to add musical background to an otherwise swing-like catchy beat and vocals. With brass instruments, I get a jazzy vibe. On the other hand, in the songs that use pure string instrumentals, I receive a vibe of complexity and emotion. For example, in “Eleanor Rigby”, the Beatles are able to conjure a sad message, yet at the same time, make a catchy tune and also sound complex and deep!

If this wasn’t enough, they threw in another song with an epic sitar solo at the beginning that drags on for what seems like eons. I feel like I entered an Indian jungle and met a native tribe during a ceremony. The sitar starkly contrasts the otherwise pop-like Beatles and utterly blew my mind when I first heard it. It was totally unexpected. Check it out:

By this time I’m thinking that this album has lost hope of ever hearing anything like the old beloved Beatles again. Not so! The Beatles have a way of tugging at my emotions, I’ve noticed. As soon as I think I’m disappointed, they make it so that I want more. By the fifth song of the album, they reverted back to a classic love song. The sixth song, “Yellow Submarine” was bland in my opinion, but they really hit their stride in the middle of this album! “She Said She Said” has a pretty epic introduction and sick beats. I feel like this song could have been a rival contender during the hard rock age. It just feels right for some reason, even though it contrasts my beloved early Beatles style. Additionally, the Beatles threw in a couple of classic-sounding songs like “Good Day Sunshine” that really tied the album back together in a nice knot. Check out these songs too.

I know this seems like a lot of videos, but it’s because this album is so full of intrigue! I can’t stop myself! I was literally sitting in front of YouTube with fourteen tabs open trying to decide which songs to highlight in this blog. Overall, this album offered some welcomed twists in the Beatles music but satisfied me as a whole. I definitely recommend this for further listening.

Beach Boys - "Pet Sounds"

The Americans surge again! While the Beatles continue to release a variety of hits in their albums Rubber Sole, Revolver, and Sergeant Pepper, the Beach Boys are a group that deserves rightful attention. While starting out writing a lot of fluffy music lacking depth, throughout their careers, the Beach Boys have shown an evolution of their music. The constantly are competing with the Beatles during this time period because their vocals sound extremely similar. The Beach Boys are somewhat like the Beatles 2.0 in the album Pet Sounds. They hit very pleasing harmonies to the ear and showed a progression toward better music.

I don’t know how they are able to do it either. This album has harmonies and vocals that have not been matched by any other band that I’ve heard all year. They show a different side to rock that drastically varies any other artists up until that point. The only ones in the same universe as them are the Beatles and I would even dare say that this album possesses qualities that surpass some of the Beatles’ later released songs. One of the pros, in my opinion, of the Beach Boys is that they evolved into better music while I kind of feel that the Beatles slowly made a plateau. Additionally, the Beach Boys created deeper songs than their original album which was highly focused on girls (sound familiar? *cough*Beatles*cough*).

“Pet Sounds” is full of songs that vary drastically. The first four songs of this album sound very soft and even classical. They perform long slow harmonies amongst a smooth melody. By the fifth song, though, they start out with a bang that really grabs me by the shirt collar and shakes me awake. I feel that this was needed in the album. The powerful timpani and snare drum abruptly contrasts the crooning in the first songs of the album. The fifth song of the album, named “I’m Waiting for the Day”, possesses certain qualities that match preceding songs in this album. They keep their basic harmonies and sounds the same, yet implement them in a fresh manner. This album works well because the variation adds needed spice to an album that would go on the verge of bland from the repetition of the first four songs. I’m not saying that the first four songs were bad (because they were amazing!) but if the Beach Boys kept all of their songs like this, I would turn off the album after the fifth song. And this is exactly where they started to pick it up! Check out what I mean. Below are two videos. One is from the beginning of the album and the other is “I’m Waiting for the Day”. I think you’ll notice what I’m getting at:

Now by the time the sixth song hits, I know this album is going to be a hit. The Beach Boys have the guts to throw in not one, but TWO instrumentals! Talk about being different. Most albums don’t even try touching an instrumental. I generally don’t like pure instrumentals because, most of the time, they are not implemented well. The first one named “Let’s Go Away for Awhile”, however, by the Beach boys is done very well. Unlike certain songs (*cough* The Ox *cough*) that seem like an uncontrolled jumble without the vocals to lead them, this song shows that it is stable all by itself. I feel a story being told throughout the melody and counter melody that actually makes me feel emotion. Overall I am just moved by the gorgeous music. And coming from me, that’s something. I don’t usually describe music as gorgeous. Maybe epic. Or wicked. But not often gorgeous. See it for yourself:

While the Beach Boys started out being a very fluffy band without any meat, this album throws away any of those stereotypes. Through just the lyrics, they venture into more in-depth topics. Additionally, I feel a wholesome quality in their voice that drives a more soul-based sub group of the genre of rock. They fall into the same area of the Beatles yet possess even more soul, seen through Otis Redding. I’m not saying that they sound like Otis Redding’s distinct deep vocals (because they don’t at all), but their styles are somewhat relatable as I feel they are based heavily on vocals. This is why the instrumental songs in the middle of the album seem so out of place. I feel like these are welcoming intermissions to a great play. And overall, the Beach Boys sound united under this soul, vocal-based sound.

While obviously heavily influenced by the Beatles in their song-writing and musical style, the Beach Boys have an important place in the development and evolution of rock.

Otis Redding: The King of Soul

All of my blogs lately seem to have been about bands that originate in England. So what is the rest of the world doing? What happened to the good old American rock and roll artists such as Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis? Did they just disappear? Did they give up on music? England cannot be the only one that is spewing out good artists left and right!

Well, one rock and roller that dared to rival the great English bands such as the Beatles and the Stones and the Who, is Otis Redding. Otis Redding seemed to break down common molds of rock and roll during his time. He is able to pull off singing in a variety of different styles. In one song, he is able to sound as wild and crazy as the “old” rock and roll style that made Jerry Lee Lewis so popular, yet he can shift in a heartbeat to a song much milder and softer in tone.

Despite his changes in style, he always seems to maintain a steady swing-like beat and his soulful voice. This is probably what enabled him to keep fans no matter what song he released. In this way, he is kind of like the Beatles who were able to try any genre they pleased and it was accepted. Like the Beatles, it was the vocals that unified the songs the most. The Beatles were able to sound like “The Beatles” because they had standard harmonies. Likewise, Otis Redding had a very distinct voice that unified his songs. His deep, vibrato vocals enabled his songs, if it was heavy rock, to country, to a more soulful melody, to flourish.

While he was not able to create music for as long as other bands and musicians of the time because of his unfortunate early death in a plane crash at age 27, in the time that he had, Redding made a significant impact to the music industry as a whole. He took rock and roll by the handlebars and steered it in a completely new direction. He basically formed early R&B with his passionate country-like songs. Redding was also had a lot of depth to each of his songs as well. The reason why Redding stays so memorable to me is that he was so different than anything that preceded him. He made music that contained so much originality that even his covers seemed to be different songs.

For instance, in his cover of “Satisfaction” of the Stones, Redding creates almost a completely different piece of music full of a lot more energy and craziness. Otis Redding definitely takes the Stones’ hit and transforms it into a completely different sound and vibe. Listening to them side by side, I hardly realize they are the same song besides the chorus. While the Stones’ version had, in my opinion, timid vocals and a much more punk-like sounding countermelody in the guitar, Redding goes a new route. He adds his own flavor to the song and incorporates a quicker tempo, jazzy and country-like rhythms, dominant vocals, and (we can’t forget) his commanding stage presence. Check out Otis Redding in action, transforming the Stones song below:

After hearing this one song by Otis Redding, I thought I had a pretty good idea about the type of music he wrote. It was all upbeat wailing and kind of wild. But then my ears caught hold of a completely different side to this brilliant artist. A lot of his songs are written very bluesy and display a soft R&B sound. In his song, “These Arms Are Mine”, Otis Redding writes a brief, yet powerful, poem that he croons out. His phrases are long yet it doesn’t make the sound seem to drag on laboriously. Redding’s songs seem to ooze out passion from their very core in order to put across a soulful message. Check it out for yourself and compare with the first video I posted:

Overall, I think Otis Redding is refreshing in comparison to all of the Beatles, Stones, and Who that I’ve been blogging about lately. He provides a new look into the art of rock.

Bob Dylan and "Bringing It All Back Home"

To be blunt, Bob Dylan’s voice is utterly revolting. He croons about and doesn’t really hit any real harmonies. At some points throughout his album I feel that a sick little kid screeching would sound better. Whenever he tries to actually attain range, it doesn’t turn out well. It really pains me to listen to his album. I know that there are many Bob Dylan fans out there (I have no idea why but there is) but for some reason his vocals do not resonate with me (no pun intended). I don’t even want to play back any of his songs in order to analyze them further because I’m afraid my ears will bleed. Maybe I am missing a cultural aspect of the time that really changed listening desires. I know that when many adults listen to current pop music, they can’t stand it. Some turn off a song before I can even hear the first lyric. So, despite my personal biases, I can see how different people and different generations are able to perceive music differently. His music was probably just unique enough to satisfy the need for change in that society.

 

Additionally, in the sixties, this music was main stream. It was economically and artistically viable. In comparison, if this was released now, nobody would care. But during his time, Dylan was a revolutionary in the lyrical world and hip hop roots where he tried attacking hard subjects such as society and religion. No other artists at this time were even coming close to what Dylan was doing. The Beatles merely sung about girls and pointless subjects until they were influenced by Dylan. Another reason why Dylan completely altered the music industry was that he was the first massively successfully artist that really couldn’t sing. This obviously impacted music because, as of current day, vocal ability is not really highly valued (cough, Nicki Minaj, cough, Carly Rae Jepsen, cough, Rebecca Black)

I also find it interesting how artists in this time period, particularly Bob Dylan, are able to so easily switch back and forth their genre and styles. Nowadays, nobody is able to implement this well. Many artists find their stride and don’t take any risks to try and widen their horizons. I have mixed feelings about this, because this enables artists to discover other genres and please the audience in other ways. I think it would be interesting if successful bands such as Coldplay or Maroon Five attempted another genre. On the other hand, it might feel out of place or strange because they are not able to adapt to changing styles of music. This is where artists of early rock and roll succeed in their adaptability, which is lost today. While some current artists have tried this, like Snoop Dogg switching between rap, country and reggae, it never actually works. Bob Dylan, while I HIGHLY dislike his voice and music, is definitely versatile and creative. His versatility shows through with his ability to pull off a successful album like Bringing It All Back Home where he implements folk music in a country-rock style. His creativity shows through his unique and in-depth lyrical poem that he creates. He is able to impact society through his songs by pushing his opinions. While I believe most art is the result of cultural changes of the time, Bob Dylan’s music is the one of a few exceptions. Bob Dylan created music that pushed on issues about society, religion, and more!

The reason why he is so impactful was because of his obtuse lyrics that were so starkly different than the Stone or the Beatles. They make me think about issues that other bands could never do. Sometimes an artist will be able to compose one song that really blows my mind with the pure lyrics. Even when this does happen, though, it is a blue moon; rarely repeated by the same artist/band. Even in the “golden age” of rock with the Beatles, the Stones, and the Who; I feel that songs are more directed towards straight rebellion or bubbly topics. In sharp contrast to this, Bob Dylan consistently throughout this album, and others, challenges the listener to take on a new outlook. While not all of his lyrics make sense to me, they definitely have a deeper meaning. Looking at the lyrics of the album all on a single webpage to cite an example supporting this point is too easy. I could literally close my eyes and point at a random part of a song and it would be chock full of meaning. Here I’ll try it: “The lamppost stands with folded arms. Its iron claws attached.” I don’t even know what this means but my mind is blown. I am shocked by his pure ability to conjure a message.

That’s really the reason why I’m even giving Bob Dylan the time of day on my blog. As a vocalist he is far under mediocre. His melodies are alright, his style is not completely satisfactory, and his voice is horrible. But when it comes to being a musician and song-writer, and the lyrical poem he creates through his songs: I would rival any one of his creations against even the deepest of poems. While I don’t necessarily like his singing and music, I still possess a lot of respect for Bob Dylan in the fact that he was a revolutionary in the art of song-writing.

Gangnam Style - How Internet Affects Music

You’re peacefully browsing the Internet looking for something to do because you’re bored (like always). YouTube looks fun so you type it into the URL box, mess up, and then correct it. Internet Explorer finally loads (because you STILL haven’t upgraded to Google Chrome) and… BAM!

YouTube is blowing up with images of some wild Korean guy in a suit and sunglasses. The sidebars advertise some guy named Psy and this interesting dance move called Gangnam Style. What is this madness?

If you haven’t heard about the music video sensation Gangnam Style, you haven’t lived. It fits right into a common trend of YouTube where videos spike to popularity and dominate the web. Gangnam Style is a fresh, catchy music video that is twisted with goofy Korean humor that sustains throughout the entire world. It obviously has some magic ingredient that has sparked the web into frenzy.

Released in mid-July of this year, Gangnam Style has gotten over 415 million views on YouTube and has soared on the charts of countries around the world. This K-Pop, electro-rap song combines the perfect combination of techo sounds and humorous interpretation; not to mention the insanely funny accompanying dance. It doesn’t matter that the lyrics are in Korean because the humor transfers so well and the cheesy dance itself can be utilized in any song (in my opinion).

Dancing and humor aside which have shot Gangnam Style and Korean rapper Psy to worldwide popularity, the music in this song is really catchy just by itself.

I love this song! While I will analyze the more serious topic of Internet influence on music later, I want to write about this song first. There is a driving beat with various electronic/dubstep sounds similar to Skrillex screeching. While it is mostly composed of electronically produced noises, this song works for me because that energy is transferred to the listener. The insane, yet steady, “instrumentals” make up the major counter melody and beat while Psy takes on the main vocals. Despite lack of variation, I feel satisfied because of the spices added into the song every once in a while, like a drop mid-way through the song. The counter melody actually repeats its self over and over again but the variations in the lyrics also make the song sound fresh and different after each part. Additionally, this song would seriously be lacking in my book if it was not accompanied with a music video. The video carries the entire song for me. It serves a purpose of providing the storyline for the song; making the Korean lyrics make sense, even though the majority of people would normally be lost. Because of the story associated with the music along with the driving counter melody of dubstep sounds, the music sounds epic. Check it out here:

Another very important aspect of this song is the pure choreography. In my opinion, this makes the song. Psy is seen in various places such as a sauna, a party bus, a deserted highway, a horse barn and around the city doing a very simplistic dance that mimics riding a horse. He starts out dancing by himself and actors are seen dancing one at a time. For some reason, Psy does not look awkward doing the dance like so many other people; he actually looks cool. Then as he is dancing throughout the song, he gains more and more dancers as new characters are introduced, until he has an entire arena full of people doing his insanely funny dance. I feel that the dance itself is the main meat of this music video and is more important to the success of the song than even the music.

Want to impress your friends? Learn how to do Gangnam Style with Psy on the Ellen Show:

All humor aside, I’d also like to briefly talk about how I think YouTube and the Internet has affected our listening habits. In one of my previous blog posts, I talked about how singles have evolved from album listening. Building off of this, I think that Gangnam Style provides a good example of how the Internet is able to drastically impact how we listen to music. People no longer have to wait days or even weeks to buy the newest album or song by their favorite artists. As soon as songs are released, the web and media explode them out to the world. Everybody can instantly listen to songs. I feel that this is a great way to be exposed to a variety of music. I am no longer limited to just what is in my CD case at home. I am able to instantly find a song from a known title, artist, even a major lyric. The rate of which that YouTube and other online media sources are able to fan out music astounds me.

Additionally, with the increasing popularity of music videos on YouTube, I think that the entertainer (not the pure musician) has risen to higher popularity. People start to care more if an artist is able to entertain, astound, or surprise them more than their pure musical capabilities, harmonies, and skill set. While I think that this is problematic on some levels, and doesn’t give respect to the really talented people in the industry, I also think that this is refreshing at times. While I highly value artists’ talent in vocals, instrumentals, and song-writing, when I’m doing average things during the day, I don’t necessarily care about these things. I just want something I can dance to and/or laugh at. I think that this is what most people feel too. They like good, solid music, yet have a vice for something different and bold. That is definitely what Gangname Style brings to the music industry. While Psy is not necessarily the best vocalist (I mean he is a rapper) and his song doesn’t possess skill in instrumental performance, it is catchy and wild.

And that’s all it needs to be.

Burn It Down - Linkin Park

I feel that I haven’t analyzed a single in a while so I picked a really good one today. Linkin Park was a band formed around the same time I was born. I’ve grown up in the era of this band yet never seemed to notice them until their latest song: “Burn it Down”. I don’t listen to much Linkin Park but after this song I felt an urge for more. Some people may disagree, but this song really resonated with me the first time I heard it. Linkin Park sounds like a mix between Bass Nectar, Maroon Five, and Alex Clare with a little bit of original flare. They make several things work by fusing together sick rock rhythms, electronic melodies, passionate vocals along with meaningful lyrics. All these unite under “Burn It Down” to create a real piece of art. Before I give you my opinions check it out yourself below and see what you think:

Let’s start at the beginning (seems logical). When you hit that PLAY button, Linkin Park instantly returns by hitting you with something that sounds like an electrified organ. That’s the best I can describe it because I have no idea what it is! Then it slowly builds upon itself with vibrating horn-like sounds as percussion and drums enter with a bang. All of this builds so much intensity and suspense, I feel a rush of anxiety similar to that before a race. Then after about 45 seconds of this, and you are all pumped up and are waiting for an epic drop… they soothe back down to a mild singing. Playing with our emotions much?? Because of this, I think I appreciate the introduction that much more because of its pure “instrumental” rock at the beginning (even though half of it is probably computer-generated).

Then the singing hits. I didn’t think that the song could get any more epic coming off of an insane introduction. But it does. Unlike a majority of electronica songs, Linkin Park possesses another dimension through powerful singing. I correlate Linkin Park to the similar powerful vocals of Alex Clare in “Too Close” (if you’re wondering what this sounds like, scroll down to my earlier blog posts and read about it!). Both of these men are able to pick out the good qualities of dubstep, yet couple it with ACTUALLY TALENTED singing! In the softer part of the verse, I feel the pure passion bleeding out of lead vocalist, Chester Bennington’s voice.

Speaking of vocals, I feel that if Bennington were asked to perform a solo at a choir concert, it would sound horrible (then again, I don’t think a majority of current singers could fit that task either). Fortunately for him, he will probably never have to do that, and his raspier voice fits right into the powerful and loud music he performs and the harsh lyrics written throughout the song (more on that a little later). His gruff vocals at the main chorus such as the title lyrics “Burn it down!” emphasize the great incorporation of vocals and melody. I also like the versatility of the vocals. They are able to distinguish the chorus and the rest of the song merely by the style of singing. At the same time, it all fits right in. I have only heard a little bit of the Beatles’  Revolver album, but I feel that they incorporate this similarly. Making a comparison to the Beatles is always a shaky proposition for Beatles die-hards, but I believe that certain aspects are shared between the bands. Both the Beatles and Linkin Park were able to experiment with fresh new sounds of the time. The Beatles played with original pop roots, while Linkin Park utilizes electronic sounds that have revolutionized modern music. Additionally, these two bands are extremely multi-faceted and are also able to actually sing.

While I’ve been talking a lot about the pure music, I absolutely love these lyrics. They are full of ambiguity, yet are chock full of imagery and description. Unlike a lot of current music that put across the message rather bluntly, this song is a quilt of complexity. I rather dislike that a lot of current songs don’t challenge the listener in interpreting their meaning. In my opinion when a band is able to do that, it adds another dimension to the song that is lacking in music without this lyrical poem. While many record companies can now mask the poor singing of a lot of musicians with intense beats, epic guitar chords, and wicked dubstep sounds, they will never be able to mask whether or not songwriters can create, not just sounds, but ART. While I don’t always pay attention to the lyrics of a song in everyday activities, whenever I deeply listen or analyze a song, I appreciate when an artist has the capability of expressing himself through words and making a lyrical poem. That is exactly what this song is able to do. It not only makes me want to whip my head up and down to the beat and release my inner wild side, it also depicts a scene in my head that is not entirely clear to me, yet sparks my imagination.

Beatles Take a Turn with Help

So… Say you’ve been transported back to 1965 (which would be pretty awesome by the way). Anyhow, despite being so excited that you invented time travel what else would you be instantly thrilled about? The Beatles of course! They have finally come out of Jamaica for eight months and are releasing a new album called Help! People would be wondering What’s it going to sound like? Are their perfect harmonies going to stay? I hope they weren’t influenced too much by Bob Dylan because his music sounds like a crooning cat. Nobody knows what the Beatles will bring, in a time where the Who and the Stones are emerging competitors. Well, nobody but you because you would’ve read this blog before going back in time.

And then, boom. The people of the time are hit with a fresh new Beatles. It is mind-blowing how they are able to pull off such large changes in music. They totally revolutionized their style, melodies, and even genre of music yet still maintained a level of popularity unprecedented! I am quite stunned actually. This album as a whole I did NOT enjoy the first time I listened to it. I was so utterly shocked by the instant change, coming off of Beatles for Sale, that I didn’t know how to respond. All of a sudden, the Beatles shifted from pop-like love songs with a distinct harmony and rock rhythm to a strange mix of country jazz. As I listen to individual songs again, it starts to grow on me again, though. I can feel the energy being released from the Beatles as they hit their first note in Help! The thing to remember about comparing what I’ll refer to as “Old Beatles” and “New Beatles” is that it happened over a period of time where music was revolutionizing at an exponential rate. The times were rapidly changing, and the Beatles (masters of the art) were able to adapt to the changing environment.

Another reason that I think this album was so refreshing and still kept its fans from the “Old Beatles” age was that their basic harmonies and vocals were still all there. While some songs, such as “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away” and “Act Naturally”, sound repulsive to me (more on that a little later), other songs incorporate the standard Beatles harmonies into other forms of music. This tested the capacity of each of their voices and challenged them to increase their horizons. Ultimately, I think that allowed them to have such a positive reaction. Additionally, they evolved slowly into a different type of band over time instead of other bands that childishly and indecisively skip around as they test the waters. The first two songs of this album were like a welcomed splash in the face with cold water. The Beatles basically screamed to the world “We’re back and you better get used to it!” Like I said earlier, I felt the vibrancy ooze out of “Help” and “The Night Before”. It showed what a good vacation could do that’s for sure! While a different beat and rhythm were thrown into the mix, these songs, to put it bluntly, rocked. Check them out. I think you’ll agree:

Oh, and another thing… The lyrics of the Beatles’ songs now seem more advanced and deep. If you listen closely to “Help” again you’ll see that it never once mentions the word love or girl. If you are an huge Beatles fan, you kind of just instantly infer they are talking about girls but not necessarily. This first song marks a change that is seen throughout other albums down the line as well, like Rubber Soul and Revolver.

Now to the bad side of the album. By now you must be wondering how I could have possibly called two of the BEATLES’ songs repulsive. I mean they are the Beatles right? They can do no wrong. You know what I have to say to that: False. Every musician has falters and this is the first time I have seen it noticeably in the Beatles’ music. I’m not talking about missing a note; a few songs just did not resonate with me. Before I address the repulsive songs, though, I would like to comment overall on the album. I’m not a huge fan of country or even some jazz. So when the Beatles shifted towards a more country-rock sort of style, I was saddened. I miss music from the “Old Beatles”. But, I can adjust to that. Something I cannot adjust to are bad songs.

Let’s start with the better of the two worst: “Act Naturally”. No matter how cool I think it is that the drummer of this band can sing, I can never connect with songs that Ringo sings. His voice is just so uncharacteristic of the Beatles as a whole and does not match the classic harmonies. He sounds more like Brad Paisley than a Beatles singer (maybe a bit exaggeration there). Thus I felt this song stuck out like a sore thumb. But this song was tolerable compared to “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away” by John Lennon. This song had Bob Dylan written all over it. The lyrics themselves sound typical of a Beatles song and would fit right in if it were a poetry book. But when you add Lennon’s gruff crooning voice it turns the song bad as a month-old apple. Who knows, maybe you like classic Bob Dylan and can’t stand the perfect harmonies of other Beatles songs? Judge for yourself:

While it may have had some downfalls, this album served its purpose; to get the Beatles back in the spotlight again.