Hearts a Mess

Once again I find myself eternally grateful for having started this blog as I did, so that all of my random music and video suggestions might fall upon the ears of those who are looking for something new to listen to.

Song: Hearts a Mess 

Artist: Gotye

Although I only listened to this song a couple times before I went to bed, I awoke with the chorus dancing around my brain. It's the kind of song that in its alternative nature, it's very hard to let go of. Gotye's vocals are spot-on and filled with so much emotion that they completely draw you into his song. The minimalistic instrumental backing additionally sets such a powerful mood, carrying the song through to its end, whereupon you might feel strongly inclined to hit the "repeat" button.

As regards the video itself, it's strange, but the abstract quality of the animation perfectly compliments the feel of the actual song. It's difficult to explain it, and there's certainly a good chance you won't agree with me, but either way it's an interesting video to watch that's for sure. In a way, some of the animation reminded me of the game Limbo in its silhouette-like style. 

As a bonus, it turns out this song was in the movie "The Great Gatsby," so if you are familiar with that story at all, the lyrics do take on additional layer of meaning. 

Phoenix

Last night I was reminded of why I created this blog in the first place. As I was looking up an album I was interested in, I stumbled across another I had never heard of before, and one listen absolutely took my breath away, pushing me to desperately want to share it with anyone who would listen.

Album: Phoenix

Artist: The Classic Crime

I know very little about The Classic Crime and their style—honestly, yesterday was the first time I'd even heard their name. However, I'd say that this album certainly leans towards the alternative side of the rock genre, with a few samples drawn from the indie and pop/punk elements. Personally, I found this album to embody a slice of everything I love about rock music. The lyrics are heartfelt and uniquely inspiring, the vocals are beautiful and easy to get lost in, and the instrumental backings set a perfect and intriguing tone for each individual track. I've been cycling through the album for a few hours now, and each time through I notice something new about every song that makes me fall more in love with the record, if that's even possible. 

Some standout tracks include;

• You and Me Both

• The Precipice

• Glass Houses

• Beautiful Darkside
• City of Orphans

Although those songs do stand out in my mind, to put it simply, I'd recommend you listen to this album in its entirety, regardless of where on the spectrum your musical tastes lie. There's so much to love about it, and the fact that it was independently released and funded through Kickstarter speaks to just how much effort and dedication The Classic Crime put into crafting it. 

Showbiz

For a while, whenever I'd go without writing on this blog for a while it was because I wouldn't know what to write about. However, the reason I haven't written on here in the past number of weeks is because I simply didn't have the time or desire to do the actual writing. To remedy this, I decided to shorten up my posts, so that they're more of a quick blurb rather than a detailed review of sorts. 

Song: Showbiz

Artist: Muse

In Muse's distinct symphonic rock sound, a creatively intricate instrumentation with a strong synthesized feel builds the intensity of the track. Every note played, word sung, and drum hit has a distinct purpose which complements the song's intensity and creates powerful shifts between chaos and order. In terms of form and style, it's definitely atypical, reflecting its creators. This is not the song you would expect to consistently hear on the radio, yet it's remarkably catchy in its unique right, with an overarching motif which transcends through both the vocals and instrumentation. Although the lyrics are somewhat repetitive, they fit perfectly within the song's interesting structure.

I'd recommend listening if you enjoy Muse, alternative music in general, or just something different than the mainstream. In this age where mediocrely constructed songs are the norm, and the main emphasis is creating a radio-hit simply for the potential payout, Muse has provided a breath of fresh air through all of their music, extending back to their 1999 debut album which gave us this song. It's something strange, it's something different, it's something unique, and it's something absolutely amazing.

Song of the Lonely Mountain

For anyone who's seen The Hobbit, this is the song that was playing while the credits rolled at the end. For anyone who hasn't seen The Hobbit, don't stop reading just yet; there's a good chance you'll enjoy this song regardless!

Song: Song of the Lonely Mountain

Artist: Neil Finn

Let me elaborate on my introduction by saying that part of the reason I love this song so much is that I read and fell in love with The Hobbit growing up, and then I definitely enjoyed the movie when I saw it a few days ago. This song was specifically made for the movie and does contain references to The Hobbit, which makes it more meaningful and interesting for those who know the story. However, that does not mean that anyone who doesn't know anything about the story won't appreciate it anyways. Trust me. 

The song contains many parts from J.R.R. Tolkien's poem "Over the Misty Mountains Cold," (that may or may not be the correct title; I'm not sure) but Neil Finn did a beautiful job writing other original lyrics that subtly capture the story as well. 

The track has a very flowing, alternative feel to it. The guitar part brings in hints of some folk influences, as do the intricate percussion rhythms. String arrangements throughout aid the flow of the song, and the vocals add to that with a slightly ethereal feel at times, very muted and beautiful, complete with an intriguing backup "chant" of sorts. Overall, the song is very emotional, capturing the desperate intensity which is present in the story/movie itself. 

There are so many reasons regarding why this song is so captivating. Naturally, fans of The Hobbit will enjoy it more for knowing the story it's based upon, but even those who don't will likely still enjoy it. Although that is something I can't guarantee, this song is so beautifully crafted and performed that I think it would be hard for someone to not like it, especially if he/she has musical interests similar to mine. Seriously, give it a shot. And if you haven't already, go read the book or watch the movie. It's a fantastic story! 

The Stampede

I had intended to post about this video a while ago and forgot, but trust me, it's definitely worth the wait.

Song: The Stampede

Artist: Biting Elbows

This music video is a little different than your typical music video. And by a little different, I mean it's not like anything you've ever seen before. For a music video, Biting Elbows has infused a level of creativity that's not very common among the mainstream music video scene, and the result is simply amazing.

Musically, the song reminds me a lot of Thrice's early work at times, with that kind of brash punk-rock sound. However, parts of the song have a little more of an electronic, synthesized vibe, which is a very neat twist. The overall track is more based in the power of the raw instrumentation, but the vocals are still very strong and occasionally rather catchy, actually.

The video has little to do with the song. It's more like a mini-movie set to the song, but that just serves to make it more interesting. It's shot with the first-person-point-of-view angle, which gets very intense once the fighting starts. It's hard to describe what makes this video so awesome, so you'll just have to watch it and find out.

I heard about this video from elsewhere on the internet, and knew I had to share it. It's so unique, yet very well done, and I felt compelled to share it. I'd highly recommend not passing this one over, even if the song itself does not sound like it would be to your liking. 

Dead Man's Bones

I know it's only January, but I think I've found another album to add to my playlists for Halloween. Of course, that's not going to stop me from listening to it repeatedly the rest of the year as well.

Album: Dead Man's Bones

Artist: Dead Man's Bones

Growing up, we had a cassette tape of Walt Disney World theme-song-sing-a-longs that I used to listen to all the time. My favorite track was "Grim Grinning Ghosts," and I decided that if I ever went to Disney World, The Haunted Mansion was going to be my favorite ride. Well, when I went, that definitely held true, hands down. I enjoy the macabre, and that ride blended darker elements with a more humorous twist, making it a ride I went on a number of times without ever getting tired of it.

Dead Man's Bones is the duo Ryan Gosling (yes, the actor) and Zach Shield's indie/folk rock project. They've released one album, self-titled. Apparently, they had originally wanted to film a horror musical using the tracks from this album, but settled for just the music instead. After listening to the album, I'm still holding out hope for a horror musical, personally.

According to a commenter on iTunes, Gosling and Shield have cited their influence as The Haunted Mansion. Whether or not that's true, it definitely sounds like it is. The album definitely blends a folk-rock sound with the style of thematic music used on The Haunted Mansion. It's very hard to describe, but the result sounds like it belongs on the ride, complete with subtly creepy undertones and upbeat tempos and melodies.

As the album cover states, it features the Silverlake Conservatory of Music Children's Choir. Having that unique sound as well lightened the album, and made it even more fun to listen to. Don't get me wrong, Gosling and Shield turn in impressive vocal and instrumental performances throughout, but there's something great about listening to children sing, and it adds so much to the album.

Some standout tracks include;

• Dead Man's Bones

• My Body's a Zombie for You

• Paper Ships

• Pa Pa Power

• Dead Hearts

• In the Room Where You Sleep

• Lose Your Soul

Those are the only ones I can list, because they are the only ones I've listened to so far. If you're a fan of Halloween-inspired music as I am, or are just looking for something a little different to listen to, this is the album for you. I discovered it through Ryan Gosling, as he's one of my favorite actors. Honestly, he's one of my favorite singers now too. I strongly recommend giving these guys a listen; you won't regret it!

Apocalyptica

I've long enjoyed this group, and have wanted to highlight them for a while now. Today seemed like the best opportunity to do so.

Artist: Apocalyptica

Apocalyptica is a Finnish metal band, composed of three classically trained cellists and one very talented drummer. If that doesn't spell "unique" to you, I really don't know what to say.

They started out performing Metallica covers, but have grown to include elements from a wide variety of genres in their music. And although fans of rock might hesitate at the prominence of cellos and lack of vocals, there's no reason to be afraid. It's a very different sound to be sure, but it's something so different from the rest of the rock scene that it should not be overlooked. Plus, to put it simply, their music is amazing. They're all so incredibly talented individually, and thus the final product is something to take notice of for sure!

If you're still not convinced, a lot of people have heard of Apocalyptica through the numerous tracks they've done with various vocalists. I've listed a few below, and you might recognize some of these collaborators.

Some of their standout tracks include;
• Quutamo
• Path
• Inquisition Symphony
• Sad But True
• Enter Sandman
• Not Strong Enough (featuring Brent Smith)
• I Don't Care (featuring Adam Gontier)
• I'm Not Jesus (featuring Corey Taylor)
• End of Me (featuring Gavin Rossdale)

I chose to shine the spotlight on these guys today for a couple auxiliary reasons (aside from the fact that they are remarkable and deserve much more attention than they've gotten) which revolve around a couple of the musicians they've featured.

Firstly, it's Brent Smith's birthday today, so a very happy 35th to him!

And, for anyone who hasn't heard, Adam Gontier has chosen to resign from Three Days Grace. If you want to know more, the internet is at your disposal. I'm not here to rewrite what's already been said; I just wanted to highlight the career of an amazingly talented musician. Although he's chosen to explore a new chapter in his life, his music will continue to reach the ears and touch the hearts of many people around the world. I wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors, and thank him profusely for what he's shared with us over the past number of years!

But back to Apocalyptica, I'd strongly recommend giving them a thorough listen. If you don't, there's a very good chance that you're doing yourself a huge disservice.

10 Years

It feels cheap to mention a band more than once on here, but sometimes, it just can't be helped. This is one of those times.

Artist: 10 Years

A while ago, this band kept coming up on my Pandora, and I was very intrigued. The songs were very catchy, but stayed very true to the rock sound I loved then and still love now. I decided to look them up, and I'm immensely glad that I did so.

Listening to 10 Years, there are many times I'm reminded of Chevelle, another very straightforward rock band that I enjoy, from the sound of the vocals, through the deliberate guitar riffs, and to the powering drum tracks. Such similarities leave both bands to be regarded for their wealth of talent in the rock music genre, and worthy of high praise.

Their lyrical content varies a lot, and with that comes a variation in their musical style as well from song to song. Such impressive versatility makes listening to this group never get old. Each track holds a new unique trait, showing a different side of the band and further cementing their abilities.

Some of their standout tracks include;

• Beautiful

• Russian Roulette

• Fix Me

• Waking Up the Ghost

• Minus the Machine

• Battle Lust

• Forever Fields (Sowing Season)

• Knives

• Cast It Out

• Wasteland

• Prey

• Actions and Motives

And it's not as though all of these amazing songs came from the same album. No, these songs span their discography, proving that they've always been a remarkable band and will continue to be one in the coming decades. To overlook this group would be doing a complete disservice to your musical palette.

The New Regime

Today, upon finding myself with some much-desired downtime, I accidentally came across some amazing new music to listen to, something I wish would happen more often.

Artist: The New Regime

The band is the solo project of musician Ilan Rubin, perhaps better known for his drumming work with Lostprophets, Nine Inch Nails, and Angels & Airwaves. As if he needed to add any more accomplishments to his already hefty list, A New Regime is surprisingly impressive.

The songs are uniquely catchy, ethereal at times. The layering provides a captivating atmosphere that's hard to stop listening to. However, the tracks are far cry from sounding all the same. On the contrary, each is distinctively intriguing, with shared characteristics from song to song that don't counterproductively bury each track's individuality.

Some standout tracks include;
• Live In Fear
• Pray For The Weak
• Enjoy The Bitterness
• Clairaudience
• Don't Chase It

Above I've linked to Rubin's website for the band, where you can listen to his music and download some of his songs for free, namely the ones I just listed. I guarantee that if you share my musical tastes, you will not be disappointed in the least.

Diamond Eyes

After knowingly wanting to give these guys a listen for months, I was rather excited when I finally got around to listening to them, and even more so when I discovered how amazing their music is.

Song: Diamond Eyes

Artist: Deftones

Although the Deftones have been on the scene since 1988, their song "Diamond Eyes" comes from a record of the same name released in 2010. Classified as being alternative metal, the song clocks in at 3:08 minutes long, and you won't want to forget a single second of it. 

The track adopts a very atmospheric sound, although the instrumentation itself comes off very heavily. The focus is not on an intricate guitar part, but rather Chino Moreno's soaring vocals. On the contrary, the guitars serve to provide a grungy backdropping layer of sound that adds such power to the song. The drums also ramp up the intensity, as does some of the keyboard parts interspersed throughout.

"Diamond Eyes" is nothing if not catchy, but like many of the other songs I've suggested on here, it's in a way quite unlike that of the traditional, overplayed, sellout pop song. Lyrically, the chorus stands out to me, as it's so beautifully worded and sung. Truly, the entire song follows that theme as well.

If you gain anything from reading my posts on here (aside from hopefully interesting music suggestions), it should be that you should listen to any and everything that piques your interest even in the slightest. The Deftones are a simply stunning group, and it took me forever to give them the chance they rightly deserved. 

House of Gold & Bones Part 1

Upon finding myself in the mood to update this blog, I asked myself, "why not go for the album trifecta?" I had no rebuttal, so here's today's suggestion.

Album: House of Gold & Bones Part 1

Artist: Stone Sour

This might be Stone Sour's most ambitious project to date. Most notably, aside from the unique packaging and comic book/movie potential, it's on two discs, the second to be released next spring.

For anyone already familiar with Stone Sour, this album is a kind of a throwback to their earlier works, in terms of the heaviness of some of the tracks. However, their evolution since those beginning days is very obvious at times, resulting in what I think is the blend most harder rock bands should strive for. 

All-around, the instrumentation is phenomenal. Roy Mayorga's drumming is intense and precise, Jim Root and Josh Rand's guitar work is intricate and moving, Corey Taylor's vocals are powerful and emotional, and none of that is surprising in the least. 

Although Stone Sour (and Corey Taylor in particular) have a very distinctive sound, nothing on this record felt like a cookie cutter copy of any of their previous works. While undeniably reminiscent of some of their older releases at times, everything is fresh without having fallen into an entirely new direction. 

Some standout tracks include;

• Taciturn

• Gone Sovereign

• My Name Is Allen

• The Travelers - Part 1

• The Travelers - Part 2

• Tired

• Last of the Real

To be honest, I haven't had as much time to listen to this record as I would've liked. From the few play-throughs that I've gotten, those were the songs that stood out to me the most. Take those only as a starting point though, because Stone Sour has produced something awfully amazing here, and you won't want to miss a single second of it. 

Transit of Venus

I don't always post about albums back-to-back, but when I do, I post about mind-blowingly-amazingly-awesome albums.

Album: Transit of Venus

Artist: Three Days Grace

It's been far too long since I've waited for a record to drop from months in advance. And although waiting all summer was challenging, the end result was most definitely worth it.

When Three Days Grace released their lead single "Chalk Outline" in August, my already high expectations for their album reached new heights. As a band, they were clearly capable of once again achieving greatness, and when October 2nd came around, they absolutely did.

With Transit of Venus, this group has seemingly found the middle ground between staying true to their own style while also expanding to try something new. Without sacrificing the core emotional, grungy sound that characterized their past releases, they were able to entertain some new concepts, including synths and keyboards. I know that might signal a sell-out to many people, but here that's completely not the case.

The slogan for the album was: "Some things will never happen again in your life time," in homage to the event the album derived its name from as well as the impact the band was hoping to achieve on the musical industry. With their clean, yet still heavy, sound from the vocals to the guitars to the drums to the keyboards, Three Days Grace truly seems to have captured the essence that slogan imparted. 

Some standout tracks include;

• Sign of the Times

• Chalk Outline

• The High Road

• Operate

• Anonymous

• Misery Loves My Company

• Give In to Me (A Michael Jackson cover)

• Happiness

• Give Me a Reason

• Time That Remains

• Expectations

• Broken Glass

• Unbreakable Heart

Anyone already familiar with this release will be quick to note that I just listed all of the songs off of the album. Well, that's just my way of telling you that if you're a fan of Three Days Grace or of rock in general, you would be wise to make listening to this entire album part of your future plans. I'm just saying.

Night Visions

I know this is my second indie rock suggestion in as many posts, but I was always intrigued by this particular band, and it wasn't until I heard one of their songs during the Olympics that I gave them my attention, for which I'm glad I did.

Album: Night Visions

Artist: Imagine Dragons

If you can get past how amazing their name is, the Imagine Dragons are quite the talented group. They're fairly new to the scene, having formed in only 2008, but have they've released 3 EPs and one full-length album, which is the subject of this post.

Night Visions encompasses all that's great about the indie side of alternative music, at least to my ears. With an ample dose of thumping bass, a measure of flowing vocal theatrics, and an abundance of general musical talent, this record has hit the recipe for awesome dead on.

To me, the biggest allure is the songs' catchiness. All too often, it seems as though a song that's labeled catchy turns out to be a stereotypical, sellout, pop song. However, here it's nothing like that. The music is original, and has a deeper meaning than a lot of what's out there nowadays. Also, not to hate on the music industry, but here the songs actually sound genuine, a rare find in today's market.

Some standout tracks include;
• The whole album

And I'm not just saying that to make a point or anything; I honestly tried to list out all of the ones I really wanted to suggest, but by the time I was done I realized I had listed pretty much the entire album. Which obviously is a good thing, and means you should probably go give this one a listen from start to finish if you find yourself liking their sound.

The Lonely Forest

Every so often, you come across that one band that, at least for the time being, becomes your new most absolutely favorite band. Well today I give to you my new most absolutely favorite band. 

Artist: The Lonely Forest

An American indie rock band from Anacortes, Washington, The Lonely Forest formed in 2005 and have since released 2 EPs and 3 full-length records to date. On their website biography, their music is described as having a core of John Van Deusen’s soaring vocals and keyboard melodies, wrapped tightly around Tony Ruland’s expansive guitar anchored by a heavy, yet nimble, rhythm section. 

Even from only having known about them for less than a day now, I'd still have to agree that the music is very vocally driven, but the guitar and rhythm parts are most definitely right there to back it and give their sound a very unique texture.

Lyrically and stylistically, their songs entertain a contrast of “brilliant pop songs featuring lyrics about spiritual longing wedded to an almost prog-rock sensibility” according to their site. Because of this, they apparently appeal to broad range of listeners, from “wide-eyed teenagers to jaded scenesters.”

From my own experience, I can only add to that by saying that their music sounds to me like a combination of Arcade Fire, Chevelle, and a little Angels & Airwaves perhaps. And honestly, I’d have to say that that’s a combination that really needed to happen, based on how amazing this band sounds. 

Some standout tracks include;

• Tooth for Tooth

• Coyote

• We Sing In Time

• Blackheart vs Captain America

• Are You Afraid of the World? 

• Nuclear Winter

I’m sorry I don’t have more songs to suggest, but I just found these guys yesterday and was a little impatient to post about them, so I haven’t gotten the chance to be able to explore their discography in any kind of depth. However, you can obviously go forth and discover on your own, which I strongly encourage! It's not nearly often enough that bands such as this get the attention they deserve, and these guys definitely deserve any and all attention they can get.

Four Seconds

It's nice to find a song that's just really fun to listen to. Be it a catchy beat, comical lyrics, or something else entirely that creates such an atmosphere, there's nothing quite like it and it makes for a great listen.

Song: Four Seconds

Artist: Barenaked Ladies

I had heard of this band before, but I had never come across any of their music and had never been inspired to seek it out, probably because that's quite the loaded Google search. 

When I found this track, it only took a few seconds for me to fall in love with it. After finding out what band was responsible for it, I was pleasantly surprised that it was a band I had heard mention of before.

Overall, it's an insanely catchy track. with heavy emphasis on the beat behind it. Not only is it unique, but it's quite involved with a neat guitar part, a driving drum rhythm, and even what sounds like a few baritone saxophone notes near the end. The vocals are also catchy in their own right, and honestly hard to not sing or hum along to. The lyrics are nothing overly profound or cohesive, but that just adds to the intrigue.

This track is definitely worth giving a chance, if for no other reason than that these guys found a way to rhyme with "orange," which is obviously a pretty unique undertaking. Really, it's just an overall enjoyable listen, from the uptempo to the quirky lyrics and everything in between. 

Minus the Machine

While eagerly awaiting an album's drop for months has its build-up appeal, there's something to be said for just finding a new record that you didn't even know about.

Album: Minus the Machine

Artist: 10 Years

This record, 10 Years' sixth studio album, just came out a couple of days ago, and I was lucky enough to stumble across it on an accidental iTunes exploration. When I fell in love with the first three tracks I listened to, I knew it was more than deserving of a shout-out on here.

"Minus the Machine" adopts a kind of ambient/spacey feel that works to create an intriguing emotional atmosphere found throughout pretty much the entire album. But, not to be lost amidst that overarching style is the technical success of the musicians themselves. 

Jesse Hasek's vocal style is very reminiscent of that of Chevelle singer Pete Loeffler as he channels a very intense performance that compliments his instrumental backing; From the grungy guitars and straight-forward drumming and even to the solo piano on one track*, it's rather remarkable.

Some standout tracks include;

• Minus the Machine

• Battle Lust

* Forever Fields (Sowing Season)

• Knives

It's honestly an all-around great listen. Anyone who's a fan of rock but doesn't mind some deviation from the traditional formula should give this one a chance. Or actually, anyone who likes music in general should listen, because this record is simply amazing and deserves a lot of attention.

Break

Have you ever gone through one of those phases where for a time you find yourself listening almost exclusively to one band's discography? I've had the pleasure of going through one this summer for a band whom I have known of for a long while and enjoyed, but never given a thorough chance.

Song: Break

Artist: Three Days Grace 

For those of you just tuning in, you wouldn't know that I have a thing for music videos with intriguing plots and more substance than just the band performing their song. Not to say I don't like just general performance-y type videos, but I tend to appreciate ones with more of a movie quality to them.

This suggestion actually comes from somewhere in the middle, where the band is technically performing, but the setting is not quite the traditional stage.

The video involves putting each member of the band into their own separate room that matches the color of their clothing, and finding out what happens if those different colors were to, say, mix. And by mix I of course mean splatter over the contents of the neighboring rooms, as is partially shown in the above picture. Sounds weird, but the result is quite aesthetically pleasing.

Musically, "Break" is a rather well-rounded hard rock song. The guitars are somewhat distorted, the drums are intense, and the vocals are a mix of the clean and the grungy. What else could you ask for, really? It's very straightforward and edgy, becoming of the heavy style Three Days Grace has become known for over the years, but with a slight, somewhat lighter, twist.

Lyrically, according to lead guitarist Barry Stock, the track is about how "if you don't like the situation you're in or what's going on around you, it's entirely up to you to break out of it. That's it. It's pretty much just breaking out and letting loose. You don't have to be stuck in whatever it is you're dealing with. Whether it's good or bad, it's your choice to make a change."


Also, one last note in regards to this blog; I'm going to be experimenting in the future with putting photos in the posts to add a little more color and visual, like I did with this one. No guarantees on how long it will go for, but I'm kind of liking it already, so here's to trying something new!

Bones

I had all but forgotten about this gem I stumbled across a few months ago until an ad for it popped up on Youtube and I remembered that I had never talked about it on here.

Song: Bones
Artist: Young Guns

An alternative rock band from Buckinghamshire and London, UK, the Young Guns have made a name for themselves playing the supporting role for a range of high-profile talent, including the Lostprophets, Bon Jovi, Guns N' Roses and Queens of the Stone Age. However, their own talent is something of note as well, not just that of who they've shared a stage with.

"Bones" comes across with a very traditional feel, where the drum/guitar parts are very straightforward and concise. Not to be lost among that beautiful simplicity is the precision of each note strummed or cymbal hit. It adds an open edge to the instrumental backing of the track that lends itself to the haunting ideas presented in the lyrics.

Speaking of the lyrics, I personally find the heart of this track to be in its lyrical content. Word-wise, it has a flow to it unlike anything I've ever heard. Nothing feels forced or out-of-place, and the verses are woven with a sort of deep message that is intricately crafted to a point where it seems as though every individual word was placed quite deliberately as part of the bigger theme-scheme.

Singer Gustav Wood's vocals serve to compliment the lyrics well, being clean enough to comprehend with an extra flavor of passion behind each syllable. As with many other songs I've featured on here over time, these vocals are in that range where they neither too grungy nor too light, finding the middle ground perfect for a song of this type/caliber.

I haven't had the chance to give the rest of the Young Guns' music a listen, but regardless, "Bones" is a strong testament to what a good rock song can, and maybe sometimes should, sound like. Give it a try, and if you're anything like me you'll probably wish you had found it sooner, or in my case not forgotten about it for so long.

Beyond The Fall

One of the most underrated parts of the concert experience is getting to hear the smaller opening acts who have to go out and play in front of a crowd impatient for the band they actually came to see. That being said, here's an amazing band who I would never have even heard of if they hadn't opened for a show I recently went to see with a friend.

Artist: Beyond The Fall

According to their Reverbnation page (linked above), Beyond The Fall is a "hard hitting melodic rock band from "L/A Maine" that formed mid-2009, that focuses on heavy grooves, melodic structures, and musicianship with an original feel and style."

Going from the meager handful of their tracks that I've actually heard, I would have to say that that description is pretty accurate.

Their songs have a very well-put-together feel to them, with structures that are just as clean as they are complex and intricate. The vocals are quite precise, and are neither too heavy or light, finding a nice middle to appeal to ears of all different backgrounds.

Instrumentally, the guitar and drums are impressive, showcasing the technical abilities of the band members in addition to their talent when it comes to just putting an exciting rock song together.

Some standout tracks include;
• Alone
• The Way
• Where You've Gone
• Hard To Find
• My Comfort
• Another Time

Coincidentally, it would appear that as they are a smaller, not-so-famous, band, the best way to listen to their music online is through the site linked previously. And if you decide to give them a chance, you'll find that I just listed all the songs from that site as standout tracks. The great part about that is that it's totally true.

Astronaut

It figures that after struggling for weeks to come up with a video to post, I can now find one everywhere I look.

Song: Astronaut 
Artist: Simple Plan

This is not the first time a band has used being an astronaut as a metaphor for being alone and forgotten, but out of those that I've heard this one might just have the most powerful imagery and story.

Lyrically, the song tells the tale of an astronaut who left Earth and then is stuck out in space alone because "the world forgot" about him, and all he wants is to find somebody else and be able to come down. The video plays to that plot line, as the majority of it is of an astronaut wandering around alone looking for signs of life until he finally finds somebody else out there at long last.

The song itself is very intense, with whatever chord they played it in fitting so well with the longing and desire such a lonely astronaut would likely feel. And for the most part, it stays true to describing an astronaut left out in space, with only the opening to the chorus signaling the presence of a metaphor with "tonight I'm feeling like an astronaut" after having spent the rest of the song describing what feeling like an astronaut would actually be like. All-in-all, that subtle use of a metaphor makes for a very unique, powerful track.

Personally, watching this video it definitely tugs at my heartstrings something fierce to see someone so lonely. Maybe it's just because I know the feeling, but regardless of why, the way it was filmed to show all that raw emotion was absolutely brilliant and not only sticks with the story but gives it a very definite life.

The song also happens to be ridiculously catchy, which maybe explains why it's been on loop for me for about a week now.