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.

30 Seconds to Mars

For the longest time, I had heard this band's name tossed around, but never thought to give them a serious listen until a couple months after I had first heard one of their songs in history class.

Artist: 30 Seconds to Mars

If you look past their Guinness World Record, MTV's banning of one of their music videos, the lawsuit they were on the receiving end of, the fact that their front-man was/is a somewhat famous actor, and their humanitarian efforts among many other interesting highlights, you'll find quite the talented, unique band.

30 Seconds to Mars has a very alternative feel, acquired mostly through the usage of various electronic sounds and effects. Over time, they've become quite famous for their live shows, as the energy level they create and thrive in is unbelievable. It would follow that such energy is also present in their music, thanks to the insane drumming, precise guitar, and intense vocals they produce.

Since their inception in 1998, they've released three studio albums and three EPs, all along the way being compared to the likes of Pink Floyd and Tool due to their experimental music and lyrical content.

Some of their standout tracks include;
• Kings and Queens
• Capricorn (A Brand New Name)
• From Yesterday
• Hurricane
• The Kill
• A Beautiful Lie
• Attack
• Closer to the Edge
• Edge of the Earth
• This Is War

But a select few of my other personal-favorite-but-maybe-just-not-as-"standout"/famous tracks are;
• L490
• Alibi
• Oblivion
• Search and Destroy
• Hurricane (Unplugged)
• Stranger In a Strange Land
• Valhalla (an unreleased track)
• Night of the Hunter 

I strongly suggest that if you like what you hear above, you continue your way through their discography, because it's literally all remarkable, even if it's not as well-known and/or respected. And while you're at it, take the time to look up some of their music videos, as the majority of them are quite remarkable in production quality and content.

Predictable

So naturally, the day after I give up on finding a music video to spotlight is when I finally remember one of my favorites that I had intended to mention a while back.

Song: Predictable
Artist: Good Charlotte

Before posting this, I searched through this site about a dozen times in utter disbelief that I hadn't already talked about this one. But the results came back that surprisingly I had indeed forgotten about it, so I'm going to make up for that lack.

The video is set in two contrasting scenes. The first, during the verses, is one of singer Joel Madden walking down the street of a seemingly perfect neighborhood, looking entirely out of place. The farther he goes, he starts to pass by vignettes of his band-mates where there's clearly something a little off, such as a lemonade stand that sells "Forgotten Dreams" and "Lost Hopes." Everyone he passes looks at him like he's the one who's odd, and that uncomfortable feeling properly sets the tone for the rest of the video as well as the song.

The second scenery, during the each chorus, is of the entire band performing in a kind of "Dr. Suess-meets-Tim Burton" storybook-esque room, where shadows are abundant and proportions are wacked. Actually, the conceptual art for the video (and the actual art from the intro) was created by guitarist Billy Martin, who drew his inspiration from Tim Burton's works.

In the song itself, there's a string part during the verses that helps to set everything on edge, and the guitar on top of that is borderline mysterious/creepy. Those parts are instrumentally more prominent thanks to the great minimalistic backdrop the drums and bass provide. And of course, Madden's vocals give this track the vibe of an angst-y punk rock-type ballad, complete with a couple of all-out rants even.

Apparently, it was written about Joel and Benji's father, and how he had left them when they were growing up, although it does easily double as describing a typical relationship saga.

Dead Beat

Today is the day marking when I have officially given up on trying to keep my four suggestion "categories" even, as finding quality music videos has proven harder than I thought. And, short of suggesting the same band's music videos ad nauseam, or trying to make something out of nothing, I've reached that point where it makes more sense to suggest whatever comes up, regardless of its "type." So, with that being said, here's today's suggestion.

Album: Dead Beat
Artist: Rufus Rex

This sound of this band bears an incredible similarity to that of the band Creature Feature, whom I've discussed previously on here. Spoiler alert, that similarity is because Rufus Rex is the side project of the Creature Feature singer/guitarist Curtis Rx. He is accompanied by drummer Victor Fuentes, but it's really a guitar-heavy solo project.

Of course, the similarities don't just stop at the sound: some of the macabre themes carry over as well. Basically, "the album is a concept about one man's quest for immorality and the strange world he discovers after awakening a terrible evil older than time itself" according to their official website.

However, the drastic difference between this music and that of Creature Feature is that Creature Feature is much more literal. To demonstrate what I mean, take Rufus Rex's song "Personal Demons," which is about the disruption of one's sanity. Were Creature Feature to have a song by the same name, it would probably be about actual little demon critters following someone around. That variance pretty much holds true for the entirety of the album, although there are some grisly aspects here and there.

Some standout tracks include;
• Rise Lazarus Rise
• Personal Demons
• From the Dust Returned a Titan
• Worlds In-Between
• Body In Revolt
• You'll Never Guess

If you go to this website, you can actually legally listen to all of the songs for free, and there are even lyrics put up for them as well. Trust me, it's much easier than scouring Youtube. Also, if what I've heard is correct, you can get the singles from the album through that site with a "name your price" scenario provided, meaning you can download them for free if you so desire or make a general donation-type payment.