The Ready Set
Get ready for it. The Ready Set has the potential to be the next big thing. The trend with this blog lately seems to be reviewing one man bands, and it looks like it is going to continue with this band. The Ready Set is the creation of 18 year old Jordan Witiigreuter of Fort Wayne, Indiana who writes and records all of his music on his own at home. When playing shows though he is joined by two of his friends.
The music is electronica/pop that incites happiness. The lyrics are deep and easy to relate to and even though it seems that most of this songs are written about his girlfriend, they can be applied to other situations. The lyrics to the song Soular Flares are particularly well written. That would be the song that made me decide to review this band. The introduction, chorus, and interlude are all catchy in their own way and at the same time fit together perfectly. For that reason it is an extremely catchy song, and with the electronic music supporting the lyrics its a song I look forward to coming up on my play list. The rest of his songs are just as well written both lyrically and instrumentally. The instrumental transitions between parts of songs are seamless and help so each song is individual from the others. The lyrics are all emotional but not to the point where he can be labeled “emo.”
The lyrics are fresh and original. Even though I have listened to a bunch of electronic based music lately, I do not feel as though I have heard any of these songs before, which is a problem with a lot of music lately, although that is mostly because of the instruments and riffs used. One example of popular song that sounds like another is Dani California by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. To me the opening riff sounds too similar to Tom Petty’s Mary Jane’s Last Dance. I like the Chili Peppers so I am not ripping on them; this example is more a testament to how original the music of The Ready Set is.
The only other bands I can really compare them to at this point from my knowledge are Owl City, and A Rocket to the Moon. All of them are extremely talented and worth listening to, and definitely individual in the developing genre. Check out The Ready Set. The are ready to get big. If Jordan can keep writing like he has for this CD he will have a nice career ahead of him. If you only check out one song check out Solar Flares, but listen to it all. The Ready Set.
Owl City
Owl City is a one man band out of Owatonna, Minnesota. I’m guessing the name comes from the name of his hometown but I’m not sure. At any rate, Owl City is aesthetically pleasing. This band has it all. Great album art, an eye pleasing myspace page and most importantly an electronic sound that isn’t robotic and annoying but rather melodic and soothing. Adam Young has a voice that fits his music incredibly and he is lyrically genius. In a way he is like Death Cab for Cutie, or the Postal Service except eternally upbeat.
It is hard to put into words what his music is able to do to the listener but the instrumental progressions are seamless and almost as inspiring as the lyrics. Owl City’s music that makes the listener feel happy.
For an unsigned band, Owl City is already getting great reviews. This is what Absolutepunk.net says of his 2008 release Maybe I’m Dreaming:
“It is distinctly obvious that Young has potential surpassed by few in his genre, and Maybe I’m Dreaming is an effective portrayal of how Young has progressed. The emotion is almost touchable, and the way Owl City picks you up, takes you on a journey of the sky and other surreal and abstract worlds, and then gently sets you down again, is amazing.”
That is a review that I have to agree with whole-heartedly. Owl City is a band that I will definitely buy their music when I get a chance. To think, the music is the result of insomnia, or at least that is the indication his myspace says, is awe inspiring. Adam says: ” I have trouble sleeping. These songs are all I have to show for my sleepless nights.” Sorry to say this, but I hope he continues to not sleep. The music he has created on those sleepless nights has already helped me get through nights that I would have had trouble sleeping.
This is good stuff. Check it out at: http://www.myspace.com/owlcity
View From an Airplane
When looking from the window of an airplane while gliding through the clouds, people generally think of two things: “wow this is breathtaking and amazing,” or “everything below seems insignificant. It’s hard to believe that I ever cared about that kind of stuff.” Okay, so maybe neither of those things crossed your mind while in an airplane, and probably thousands of other things have gone through people’s minds as they were flying through the air, but the point I was trying to get across is that View from an Airplane seems insignificant.
Certainly, that was a roundabout way to get to that point, but I was hoping that I could buy myself more time to figure out what I actually want to say about the one man band from Nick Conway, another Massachusetts native. I was trying to figure out how I wanted to critique a one man band, because, just given that fact, you have to admire that he plays all the instruments involved in View From an Airplane’s music. Conway provides the vocals, guitar, bass, programming and piano work, which, in itself is a display of great talent. Lyrically, he has some strong writing ability as well, but it has trouble all coming together.
There seems to be a big lack of emotion in the songs of View From an Airplane. Sure its there in the lyrics, but I’m just not feeling it in the music, or vocals. Most of the songs are simple instrumentally with simple progressions and simple strum patterns, but given that it is a one man band I guess that it is to be expected. Also, at points in the recordings the sound of the instruments drowns out Nick’s voice, or maybe has the ability to make it a strong sleep inducer. I could listen to every track without paying attention, and just have it playing as background noise because there was nothing to grip me.
There was a glimpse of energy, and a transition in a song in “A Galactic Day” with the outro.
ill drive for days
no i wont sleep a minute without you
ill listen to your favorite songs
just to picture myself with you
you’re all thats on my mind
when we’re apart i just cant bear it
i need you here inside my arms
i need your heartbeat just to feel it
That part of the song was picked up in pace. The emotion was clear; it was a strong part of a song. Unfortunately, there isn’t a whole song on his myspace, (yes I am making my judgment off myspace. Its a great tool to find new music) that held me the whole way and made me say I want to listen to this again.
But because I am reviewing this band, I probably will go back and listen again and probably acquire a taste for the music. From the first taste though, I wasn’t satisfied. If the samples that are advertised and available for the casual listener don’t draw them in, odds are they will never buy the record.
Once again though, I will comment on his talent, and commend Nick for his effort, but maybe he would be better suited as part of a band. Complicate the instruments a little bit, add some transitions to the songs that are noticeable, I’m sure there were some but it was hard to tell, and focus on the singing and the emotion there. The lyrics are good, but if nobody is going to listen, what good is it?
View From an Airplane is talented, but from what I heard is a sleep-inducing band. There are some bright spots and strong lyrics and I’m sure there is a strong following somewhere, but they definitely lack energy.
If you want to see if I am wrong, and argue with me, or if you are into what I just put down, or even if you want to listen just for the bright spots I mentioned you can check out View From an Airplane here. Or you can pick up his CD CurrentSex/LoveNoises, which is available on Itunes.
On a side note, the song “Operation Illusion of Destiny” caught me by surprise. it started with bouncy piano, then a deep voice that despite the contrast drew me in for a second, then lost me until the chorus, but then later in the song I was confused when there was a screaming part.
So, once again, not a bad band, but the emotion and energy that is there, often isn’t enough, but there are glimpses.
A Rocket to the Moon
A Rocket to the Moon is the product of Nick Santino, a resident of Braintree Massachusetts. The band which started as an experiment in the summer of 06 has slowly, but surely, gained popularity convincing Nick to keep the band alive. A Rocket to the Moon, was originally just Nick providing the sequencing, guitar, vocals and keyboard work, but when his feedback boomed enough for him to be able to tour he brought friends Joe and Mike Cafano along for the ride.
If there was ever a band that embodied its name, this is one. The ability of Nick is one that he will be able to rocket to the top of the charts in no time. As of yet, the band is unsigned, but their popularity on myspace is growing quickly. The music is amazing. Its the kind of stuff that after hearing it once makes you want to listen again. The lyrics are smart, Nick’s voice fits the instruments well, and the music is tight.
For example, the song “Fear of Flying” is emotional and well paced with solid vocals and a great rhythmic acoustic guitar. This is the song that caught me (I’m a sucker for a well written acoustic song) but the rest of what he has to offer is pretty top notch as well which is a obviously a big plus.
One of the other perks of this band is that in a time when many bands are the cast from the same mold, the songs offered by A Rocket to the Moon, don’t all sound the same. They vary well in style, in lyrical content and in pacing. The band’s self categorization of powerpop, electonica, experimental couldn’t be more accurate, and the experiment couldn’t have gone better. As I mentioned earlier, some songs are played mostly on acoustic guitar, but there is a huge electronic influence on this band, and it actually doesn’t hurt.
Check out A Rocket to the Moon… http://www.myspace.com/arockettothemoon
They are certainly a fresh band that should be looked for in the future as a band that will have an impact on this generations youth. They have a full length CD “Your Best Idea” and a 6 song Summer ‘07 EP.
