Compilation Albums
Some of the best CDs or albums to buy these days are compilations. This is not just because you are able to find a nice grouping of your favorite artists and theirs songs on one disc, or because of the price that is typically lower than most regular CDs, but because a compilation album is great place to discover new artists.
Over the years I have gotten into many bands because of compilation albums. It started with the Warped Tour Comps and then the Atticus CDs, and now its the Punk Goes… series. All of these places, for me at least, are great sources for music of bands I know and love and because they are generally by theme there are new artists mixed in there as well. Two of the most recent bands that I have taken a liking to are Mayday Parade and All Time Low, both thanks to Punk Goes Acoustic 2.
This theory applies to other genres besides punk I am sure, but for those of you interested in the “punk” type of music check out the compilations that I mentioned above. Currently Mayday Parade is one of my favorite bands. The piano, mixed with hard guitar riffs and strong vocals is a mix that I love. In fact, tomorrow I will be reviewing a Mayday Parade album for this website.
So the moral of this story, check out compilation albums to find new bands to listen to if you are getting tired of the same old rotation. There will be a nice mix, the album will be relatively cheap and you will find some new bands you want to get in to.
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
Fresh Music Review
Once upon a time there was an amazing network that had the ability to connect people all across the world with the click of a button. That network was called the internet. The internet is a tool that is helping many young artists make a name for themselves, or at the very least is helping them share the music that they have created.
Some musicians are in it for the money. Some are in it for the love of making music and because they hope they can share there with others. This website will review different bands that are found through networking. Bands that are found by through listening to bands that are similar to other bands, or were influenced by other bands, or influence other bands, or are maybe are even friends with other bands.
At any rate, Fresh Music Review will provide you with at least one review of a new band every day. New music is being made every day, and still there are many people who only listen to their old records from the 70’s. This isn’t to say that music from the 70’s is bad, some of the best music came from then, and even earlier, but this is about what is fresh.
And just a little disclaimer now, there probably will be reviews of older bands at some point too, so don’t get on our case when that happens. What is old news for you is still fresh for others. Let’s expand our horizons together.
