The Preface:
"The way I regulated my list was, rappers that no one ever threw a stone at, with the exception of maybe one. Nobody ever fucks with these rappers because you know their going to fuck your life up," says Killer Mike.
Andre 3000
Killer Mike: Andre 3000 is southern lyricism; he is the blueprint for a southern lyricist. Whether you’re talking about B.O.B or Bobby Creekwater, two great up-and-coming MC's out of Atlanta, their absolutely wonderful, Andre 3000 is in their DNA; he's in the DNA of all of us. He's only preceded by 8 Ball and MJG. He is the standard of southern Hip-Hop in terms of being cool and early in his career in terms of that dope boy type shit.
He has all the superstar qualities of a rapper; the girls like him and when he puts a turban on his head guys want to be like him. He’s smooth, his music is impeccable, introspective and he’s so around the corner educated. He is our Langston Hughes rap wise. Langston took the language of the common people and he made intellect so simple, easy, emotional and valuable that equals people from all levels; from working class and all the way up. So Andre 3000 works on all levels.
Killer Mike suggests: ATLiens album.
Cee-Lo Green
Killer Mike: Actually as a rapper, Cee-Lo Green is better than Andre 3000. Bar for bar at being introspective, whimsical, funny, everything as an MC. He never took himself outside of the human experience. Cee-Lo said I wonder if they put the gates up to keep the crime out and our asses in, that's the type of shit you discuss at the barbershop. The thought of separating humans according to class, that's something you done heard about at Morehouse when I was there, you hear about at Howard; but that shit is on a rap record.
This is the same guy that has such a beautiful musical voice, but he gave over ten years to rap before he used it. Nobody ever tried him and nobody ever will, because bar for bar he will crush, he will kill. Cee-Lo Green is the epitome of what an MC is. He will get on stage, he will grab a microphone and for the next two hours, you will be duly entertained. You will not only be entertained, you will be edu-tained.
Killer Mike suggests: Still Standing [Goodie Mobb] album.
*(cee-lo spits his truth around 1:35, this song is off of "Dirty South Classics")
Eminem
Killer Mike: I know a few people have named Eminem, a lot of them were just dick sucking, they just wanted to name another rapper that was better than them. They're dick riding because it’s a white guy and it would be cool to say. I say Eminem because bar for bar he is the super manifestation of super rapper. He attempts and succeeds at cramping so many syllables at different times. If you’re not talking about Kool G Rap or Big Punisher, you're not talking about anyone else in this league. When you talk about the speed knot flow, the precision, the harmony within the flow, because Eminem uses harmony a lot too- people don't give him his credit for that.
I love Eminem because he made us understand what the white kids who were attracted to the energy of rap, what their life was like. Beyond that, he confident enough in his own skill to sign an artist who could have possibly overshadowed him, had he been a weaker ego of man like a lot of the black contemporaries are. He was so passionate about making sure rap is still dope that he signed 50 cent. He is the prototype of how every rapper slash fan should be, someone who loves rap enough to do what's right by rap. Him giving the world 50 cent, he did what was right by rap and I really mean that.
Bar for bar no one is touching him, bar for bar no one is fucking with him and dudes know it. He does his white boy shit and pulls me into another world. Eminem takes me to not only Detroit and Eight Mile, but what it’s like to grow up fucking crazy and white in America. Now that's dope music!
Killer Mike suggests: The original “Renegade” Featuring Royce da 5'9.
*(this is my favorite eminem song next to STAN haha, "Bad Meets Evil ft. Royce Da 5'9", i wish i could have found "Hellbound" by Eminem, Masta Ace and J-Black)
Scarface
Killer Mike: No one has talked about death like Scarface; he talked about the human toll of death. From the black community you get used to death lines you can hear his mama crying, his mama said why yall take my baby away. But when Scarface talks about a father having to identify his son, as a man you feel weak when you cannot protect your own flesh. When he said they want peace in our community, but ain’t no open opportunity for unity, he talks about they killed Martin Luther King because he had dreams. He talks about by the time you finally figure out the science of life you're owned, your mind done cracked and you done gone crazy. That’s real, that's stuff that only someone who is truly mentally disturbed can write. He's writing from a place of hope and hopelessness at the exact same time and that's bigger than self pity.
If you’re talking about that gangster shit and I don't mean that shoot ‘em up bang bang, I mean that what it’s like to be in sixth grade and the teacher tells your mom your selling dope like Face rapped about. Also and this is not to offend, because we have a lot of legends and a lot of egos. When you're talking about who has consistently played great not good, name a 20 year veteran whose music in this particular way has been relevant all the way through. Scarface fans can name you a record on every Scarface album, his core audience is devoted; he has grateful fans and the bulk of his core audience are rappers.
I remember watching the “greatest of all time” Jay-Z, on television doing an interview with Toure’, talking about Scarface. When you’re the greatest commodore in the world, who makes you say wow he is great and Scarface is that. He is the bar for a great rapper. Fans argue over who the greatest rappers are, the greatest rappers argue over Scarface.
Killer Mike suggests: Untouchable & The Fix albums.
geto boys are legendary southern/alternative hip hop influence in Houston and for rap at large.
AZ
Killer Mike: AZ is the perfect hybrid of Jay-Z and Nas; he has all the swagga, the flavor and a damn good dresser. Nas is one of the sickest dressers in the game and he has all the slickness and fly shit of a Jay-Z of a Big Daddy Kane, of a Brookyn fly nigga. He has the mental of the Five Percent(ism) and the Egyptian mysticism of Nas or the Queens movement. I think AZ is on tier with Nas and Jay-Z, it’s only because of beat selection and one producer producing the whole album that he don't get his just due.
I don't think that anybody wants it with him and I don't think anybody wants it with anyone I named on this list. The shit he says is just phenomenal, he use words like their women, words just bend themselves to dude, it’s like they love him. I looked at the line when he said niggery caligraphy. Who the fuck thinks to say that? When you think about gutter and ignorance, you think of the word nigger. When you think of beauty and opulence, you think of calligraphy. Who says I'm gonna put them on a date in the middle of my verse? That's why niggas don't want it with him.
If Jay-Z and Nas are the ying and yang, he is the lining in the circle that connects them. Dude is absolutely amazing!
Killer Mike suggests: Doe or Die or S.O.S.A (Save our Streets AZ) album.
i remember this was one of the first songs i downloaded back when kazaa was the shit to pirate media from, this is what i remember as hip hop.)
*i found this article on allhiphop.com
I may not necessarily agree with all of Killer Mike's picks, but I will say that every single artist he has chosen are actually some of my favorite rappers and influences, but more importantly, are undeniably irreplaceable, and necessary to the hip hop culture. This list was well articulated, well thought out, and presented extremely well with ample support.
THANK YOU KILLER MIKE, FOR KEEPING A LEVEL-HEAD IN THESE TIMES OF CHANGE IN HIP HOP, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING ME BACK TO THE GLORY DAYS, EVERY RAPPER IN THIS LIST MAKES ME WANT TO RAP, AND TAKES ME RIGHT BACK TO THE DAYS WHEN I WAS JUST A FAN. AND I STILL AM.
-adm
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Peace to '08 EDIT from myspace.
ADDITIONAL NOTE: You'll notice all of the pictures have different sizes, it's because I am html illiterate for the most part and I just pulled photos from different pages on the web. Sorry but enjoy the read anyway. AND if you want to skip my going ons about my life in 2008, just skip down past the photos and read about the best/worst/most overrated music of 2008!!!
I wrote this recap in haste. I wrote it in about 20 minutes as I was late for a few new years plans with my brothers. The night was simple yet sufficient. I proceeded to yack up about a bottle's worth of champagne. What a way to bring in the new year. I decided to re-post this awful entry but with a little revision and tact. Read after the jump:
Date: 12/31/08
Tis a new year come upon us in a few short hours and now before I head out to dinner with some of my close friends, I can't help feeling as lonely as I could be, because she is 16 hours ahead. To take my mind off of missing her, I am giving my 2008 wrap-up. My social, musical, cinematic critique.
Here it is. Happy New Year.
Social:
My rant on trends: The truth is, things I was into way before many of my friends, are being simply disregarded as things that they've somehow discovered amidst trend-setters around them. Apparently, I am not the one they go to for this. Some of them suck the life out of these pleasures, without giving me any credit that I was into it years before. Some examples are: cardigans (2004), v-necks (2006), beanies fitting like link form zelda (2005), sneakers (2005), street wear (2005), vests (2006), reading what i find to be interesting music news (2004), watching interesting films and critiquing them (2004) It's not that I need to claim it as being the very first person to do this, it's simply this: since when were you into it? And why won't you acknowledge that I was doing it long ago when I was excited about it and offering it to you. These small seemingly insignificant actions say a lot about character and I'm not trying to degrade my friends' character, but there is an immediate degradation of mine by disregarding my passions and passing them off for yours in origin. So to give credit where it is due, my fashion sense would be off kilter if it weren't for Jojo and her sister. They led me to the style I like to acquire for myself now, and they also turned me on to underground hip-hip. From here I hit the ground running.
Anyway in 2008, some amazing things happened for me, as well as some very terrible ones.
Wonderful: 4 Faimkills EPs
![fucklove [ep].](http://hotlink.myspacecdn.com/images01/40/ae763df768045d6a191277fbff57af84/m.jpg)
![death becomes you, hipster [ep]album art by jojo belisario](http://hotlink.myspacecdn.com/images01/75/59cc73c453bc49c0b6733de5ea8d978d/m.jpg)
and 1 Whore of the Habitat EP
![whore of the habitat//calaveras [by portraitFIASCO and/or Julian Rubalcaba]](http://hotlink.myspacecdn.com/images01/32/7bc46067638a5d69ab37a7d1e0b4e67d/m.jpg)
Joined Spirit Fangs
FLOATING IN MID-AIR by Spirit Fangs
Played a small tours worth of shows in various locations for both Faimkills and Spirit Fangs. Opened up for Bus Driver and got a decent review of my show in the school newspaper! Got radioplay for my Portishead Remix.
Graduated from UCR with my English B.A
Went on a roadtrip across the entire country and Toronto, CN minus Alaska and Hawaii.
Went to Texas and New York twice, the second time was odd but wonderful as it was with my estranged girlfriend.
Next time we go, it will be like a 1950s romance film set in Manhattan, with a potentially transatlantic urban twist in which it will be primarily set in the L.E.S. instead of uptown.
outside of central park
On our way to Statue of Liberty
Also, I had my first plane rides, my first karaoke, and a total side note: Coachella 2008 is wonderful.
Not so good things: Relationship failed. I failed the relationship. So many stupid fucking mistakes on my part. Car died. Had to give up a lot of freedom and move home. Lots of DEBT.
Either way, I learned a lot, hopefully grew a lot from things that happened this year. And the most important thing, I still have wonderful family and friends...and HER.
Music:
There are few people I respect as far as what they think and feel about music, I still stand by the idea that music is just like any other form of knowledge, the more you study, the better you are at understanding it, and "an opinion" is just a cope out for those who don't care as much about the power of music and studying it as much others. The handful of people I respect in regards to other musicians' music --Jojo, Demaio, Diego, and Tim, those are the main ones that I REALLY listen to and am not afraid to share music with and my thoughts about music because sometimes they can be fucking quirky and weird, and I am a little apphrensive to share these ideas in fear of disdain or ridicule. I will listen to what other friends have to say because they can be insightful as well. Then there are those that THINK they know but they just wish they did. When it comes to my own music, I am forced to listen to any and everyone, but what I try to take in is that from those who know my passion, it keeps my positive.
Now I don't have time to go into detail about why I chose these albums, nor do I want to appear as another pontificating blog by some one or other trying to enforce ideas about an album. And I wont even give points or an order, it's either: PHENOMENAL, GOOD, SUCKED/ A LET DOWN, or OVERRATED (which doesn't mean it was bad but just not deserving of all the hype).
PHENOMENAL:
Kanye West : 808s and Heartbreak
The Mae Shi: HLLYH
Beach House: Devotion
Young Jeezy: The Recession
The Raveonettes: Lust, Lust, Lust
Lil Wayne: Tha Carter 3
Lyyke Li: Youth Novel
Raphael Saadiq: The Way I See It
Marnie Stern: "This is it..."
Wale: While You Were Out (Best of Wale)
TV on the Radio: Dear Science,
Deerhunter: Microcastles
She & Him: Volume One
Q-Tip: The Renaissance
Lightspeed Champion: Fall Off the Lavender Bridge
M83: Saturdays=Youth
Crystal Castles self titled
Black Kids: Wizard of Ahhs EP
MGMT: Oracular Spectacular
Beck: Modern Guilt
Black Keys: Attack and Release
Atmosphere: When Life Hands You Lemons You Paint That Shit Gold
The Secret Machines self titled
Portishead: Third
Gang Gang Dance: Saint Dymphna
Bloc Party: Intimacy
These Arms Are Snakes: Dove and Tail Swallower
GOOD:
The Walkmen: You & Me
The Dream: The American Dream
Vivian Girls self titled
Underoath: Lost in the Sound of Separation
Shearwater: Rook
Santogold self titled
The Roots: Rising Down
No Age: Nouns
Atlas Sound:
Neyo: Year of the Gentleman
One Day As A Lion EP
Jenny Lewis Acid Tongue
Hot Chip: Made In The Dark
High Places
Girl Talk: Feed the Animals
Coldplay: Viva La Vida
Foals: Antidotes
Flying Lotus: Los Angeles
Fleet Foxes self titled
Crystal Stilts: Alight of the Night
The Dears: Missiles
Ray Lamontagne: Gossip in the Grain
SUCKED/LET DOWN:
Weezer: Red Album
Usher: Here I Stand
T.I.: Paper Trail
T-Pain: Three Rings
CSS: Donkey
The Virgins self titled
Sons and Daughters: The Gift
Ludacris: Theater of the Mind
John Legend: Evolver
Gym Class Heroes: The Quilt
The Game: LAX
OVERRATED:
VAMPIRE WEEKEND
Deathcab for Cutie: Narrow Stairs
The Ting Tings: We Started Nothing
NERD: Seeing Sound
Ill Bill: Hour of Reprisal
Does It Offend You Yeah?: You Have Know Idea What...
88-Keys: The Death of Adam
If you happen to read this list and decide to check out some of these albums, let me know, so we can discuss them and stuff.
MOVIES:
i didn't watch to many new ones in theater
Dope ones only: Role Models, Rock N Rolla, Pineapple Express, DARK KNIGHT.
HAPPY NEW YEAR.
love adam.
I wrote this recap in haste. I wrote it in about 20 minutes as I was late for a few new years plans with my brothers. The night was simple yet sufficient. I proceeded to yack up about a bottle's worth of champagne. What a way to bring in the new year. I decided to re-post this awful entry but with a little revision and tact. Read after the jump:
Date: 12/31/08
Tis a new year come upon us in a few short hours and now before I head out to dinner with some of my close friends, I can't help feeling as lonely as I could be, because she is 16 hours ahead. To take my mind off of missing her, I am giving my 2008 wrap-up. My social, musical, cinematic critique.
Here it is. Happy New Year.
Social:
My rant on trends: The truth is, things I was into way before many of my friends, are being simply disregarded as things that they've somehow discovered amidst trend-setters around them. Apparently, I am not the one they go to for this. Some of them suck the life out of these pleasures, without giving me any credit that I was into it years before. Some examples are: cardigans (2004), v-necks (2006), beanies fitting like link form zelda (2005), sneakers (2005), street wear (2005), vests (2006), reading what i find to be interesting music news (2004), watching interesting films and critiquing them (2004) It's not that I need to claim it as being the very first person to do this, it's simply this: since when were you into it? And why won't you acknowledge that I was doing it long ago when I was excited about it and offering it to you. These small seemingly insignificant actions say a lot about character and I'm not trying to degrade my friends' character, but there is an immediate degradation of mine by disregarding my passions and passing them off for yours in origin. So to give credit where it is due, my fashion sense would be off kilter if it weren't for Jojo and her sister. They led me to the style I like to acquire for myself now, and they also turned me on to underground hip-hip. From here I hit the ground running.
Anyway in 2008, some amazing things happened for me, as well as some very terrible ones.
Wonderful: 4 Faimkills EPs
and 1 Whore of the Habitat EP
Joined Spirit Fangs
FLOATING IN MID-AIR by Spirit Fangs
Played a small tours worth of shows in various locations for both Faimkills and Spirit Fangs. Opened up for Bus Driver and got a decent review of my show in the school newspaper! Got radioplay for my Portishead Remix.
Graduated from UCR with my English B.A
Went on a roadtrip across the entire country and Toronto, CN minus Alaska and Hawaii.
Went to Texas and New York twice, the second time was odd but wonderful as it was with my estranged girlfriend.
Next time we go, it will be like a 1950s romance film set in Manhattan, with a potentially transatlantic urban twist in which it will be primarily set in the L.E.S. instead of uptown.
outside of central park
On our way to Statue of Liberty
Also, I had my first plane rides, my first karaoke, and a total side note: Coachella 2008 is wonderful.
Not so good things: Relationship failed. I failed the relationship. So many stupid fucking mistakes on my part. Car died. Had to give up a lot of freedom and move home. Lots of DEBT.
Either way, I learned a lot, hopefully grew a lot from things that happened this year. And the most important thing, I still have wonderful family and friends...and HER.
Music:
There are few people I respect as far as what they think and feel about music, I still stand by the idea that music is just like any other form of knowledge, the more you study, the better you are at understanding it, and "an opinion" is just a cope out for those who don't care as much about the power of music and studying it as much others. The handful of people I respect in regards to other musicians' music --Jojo, Demaio, Diego, and Tim, those are the main ones that I REALLY listen to and am not afraid to share music with and my thoughts about music because sometimes they can be fucking quirky and weird, and I am a little apphrensive to share these ideas in fear of disdain or ridicule. I will listen to what other friends have to say because they can be insightful as well. Then there are those that THINK they know but they just wish they did. When it comes to my own music, I am forced to listen to any and everyone, but what I try to take in is that from those who know my passion, it keeps my positive.
Now I don't have time to go into detail about why I chose these albums, nor do I want to appear as another pontificating blog by some one or other trying to enforce ideas about an album. And I wont even give points or an order, it's either: PHENOMENAL, GOOD, SUCKED/ A LET DOWN, or OVERRATED (which doesn't mean it was bad but just not deserving of all the hype).
PHENOMENAL:
Kanye West : 808s and Heartbreak
The Mae Shi: HLLYH
Beach House: Devotion
Young Jeezy: The Recession
The Raveonettes: Lust, Lust, Lust
Lil Wayne: Tha Carter 3
Lyyke Li: Youth Novel
Raphael Saadiq: The Way I See It
Marnie Stern: "This is it..."
Wale: While You Were Out (Best of Wale)
TV on the Radio: Dear Science,
Deerhunter: Microcastles
She & Him: Volume One
Q-Tip: The Renaissance
Lightspeed Champion: Fall Off the Lavender Bridge
M83: Saturdays=Youth
Crystal Castles self titled
Black Kids: Wizard of Ahhs EP
MGMT: Oracular Spectacular
Beck: Modern Guilt
Black Keys: Attack and Release
Atmosphere: When Life Hands You Lemons You Paint That Shit Gold
The Secret Machines self titled
Portishead: Third
Gang Gang Dance: Saint Dymphna
Bloc Party: Intimacy
These Arms Are Snakes: Dove and Tail Swallower
GOOD:
The Walkmen: You & Me
The Dream: The American Dream
Vivian Girls self titled
Underoath: Lost in the Sound of Separation
Shearwater: Rook
Santogold self titled
The Roots: Rising Down
No Age: Nouns
Atlas Sound:
Neyo: Year of the Gentleman
One Day As A Lion EP
Jenny Lewis Acid Tongue
Hot Chip: Made In The Dark
High Places
Girl Talk: Feed the Animals
Coldplay: Viva La Vida
Foals: Antidotes
Flying Lotus: Los Angeles
Fleet Foxes self titled
Crystal Stilts: Alight of the Night
The Dears: Missiles
Ray Lamontagne: Gossip in the Grain
SUCKED/LET DOWN:
Weezer: Red Album
Usher: Here I Stand
T.I.: Paper Trail
T-Pain: Three Rings
CSS: Donkey
The Virgins self titled
Sons and Daughters: The Gift
Ludacris: Theater of the Mind
John Legend: Evolver
Gym Class Heroes: The Quilt
The Game: LAX
OVERRATED:
VAMPIRE WEEKEND
Deathcab for Cutie: Narrow Stairs
The Ting Tings: We Started Nothing
NERD: Seeing Sound
Ill Bill: Hour of Reprisal
Does It Offend You Yeah?: You Have Know Idea What...
88-Keys: The Death of Adam
If you happen to read this list and decide to check out some of these albums, let me know, so we can discuss them and stuff.
MOVIES:
i didn't watch to many new ones in theater
Dope ones only: Role Models, Rock N Rolla, Pineapple Express, DARK KNIGHT.
HAPPY NEW YEAR.
love adam.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Decades between genres is no match for music theory.
As a means of adding to my writing repertoire, I plan on utilizing this blog to collect thoughts, and practice my skills as a literary, social, cinematic, and music critic. I will however try to keep my nose out of political or religious criticism as much as I can, leave the politics to the politicians I say. I am tired of detached political rants from left-wing college and high school students, just as much as I am tired of close-minded conservatives ranting on about how disastrous Barack Obama will be for the U.S.
In this entry, I will be discussing incidental, accidental, or intentional similarity. I had an internship with Warner Music Group back in 2006, and to say the least, I wasted it. However, I ended up keeping a lot of good back catalog from some great artists like Tegan and Sara, Rilo Kiley, and Joy Division. The first time I heard Joy Division, I had all three remastered collector's edition releases via Warner for "Unknown Pleasures", "Closer", and "Still". In my opinion, "Unknown Pleasures" is an incredible album that was ahead of it's time even the the synth-riddled, new wave/post-punk 1980s. This album sounds like something that bands today are trying to achieve in some sense. Ian Curtis is a landmark for many of today's favorite vocalists, most notably: Justin Warfield of She Wants Revenge, Paul Banks of Interpol, and Brandon Flowers of the Killers. I would say however that Ian Curtis' vocals, and dark and odd lyrics still resonate with the most urgency.
Now fast-forward to the post-punk revival years or the 21st Century, lying outside of this "genreism" lies one my greatest influences, a band called Brand New, from Long Island. I have been mulling it over, just today actually, and have finally come to the conclusion that "The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me" has out seeded "Deja Entendu" as my favorite Brand New album. I hold "Deja" dear however, for more nostalgic reasons, and though it is a great album, damn near perfect if not 100%, "The Devil and God..." does something for me on a sonic level. It's ambivalent nature, and conflict grabs at me on a more mature plane and allows me to think more rather than the straight-forwardness, and lyrics that act on emotion rather than logic of "Deja".
NOW getting to the point of this whole entry. I was listening to Joy Division's "New Dawn Fades" the other day, a song quite possibly about change in relationships, and I couldn't help thinking of two songs by Brand New, "Degausser", and "Limousine (MS Rebridge)". I then went back and listened to all three songs and found remarkable similarities. Undeniably similar, almost to the point that one might question if Brand New was that heavily influenced by Joy Division. I have read many articles and interviews by Jesse Lacey of Brand New and I haven't heard him mention his undying love for Joy Division (not like his undying love for Moz or the Smiths that has left it's mark all over "Your Favorite Weapon", "Deja Entendu", and "Fight Off Your Demons demos") I have listed all three songs below so you can see for yourself.
From the outset, "New Dawn Fades" and "Degausser" share similar tones even with entirely different lyrical content. The ambience is a little darker in Joy Division, which is to be expected, however, they both share a similar grave tone with the reverb used in these recordings. The main rhythm of "Degausser" from the beginning to each verse is similar with the main differences being that Joy Division's riff is played with a bass and Brand News begins with a guitar that crescendos into a more technical bassline. Also, Joy Division fills in at different portions on different notes all while keeping the same rhythm as BN. The tempos are quite similar as well, with a more full drum landscape appearing in "Degausser", versus the more bare yet giant snares and lo-fi hi-hats found in "New Dawn Fades". The portion of "NDF", following its droney opening from 34: to 1 minute in, works in relation to "Degausser" as seen from 1:48 to 2:15. This portion of "Degausser" has the same self-imposing rhythm of "NFD", only this time BN uses bass as the driving force, while JD uses a guitar. "NFD"'s section also sounds similar to Jesse's vocal melody on the verses. Leading off of that note listen to the way Jesse enters in with this first verse in comparison to how Ian comes in, they both share an importance that seems to stop the song in its tracks. A final, and very vague relation is the lead guitar work. JD's is definitely placed as something to add to the tone of the narrator, while BN uses it in a more traditional sense, literally as a lead, leads tend to be just as catchy as a great chorus or hook in a well-written song. Now these lead riffs are by no means similar other than the fact that they appear to be working on the same scale, but they just may be interchangeable to each respective song. Decide for yourself.
Now the other similarity between "NDF" and BN is found in an entirely different BN song off of the same album, and it's called, "Limousine". If you listen to Joy Division's "New Dawn Fades" at 1 minute, up until Ian Curtis begins singing, and compare it to "Limousine" all the way towards the end from the epic blow out at 6:03 to 6:15, you will hear a resemblance in the guitar riffs.
Now I am merely making an observation in this comparison, I do not think it was intentional for Brand New, and who knows if they've even heard "New Dawn Fades", let alone, Joy Division. I used this as a point that music theory is a powerful and endless tool, a palette that I now realize, an artist will never ever run out of. Music is timeless and will always transform, mutate, progress, reinvent itself, and be abundant for us to make wonderful soundtracks to time. :] Happy times are here again.
Below is another example that is not as striking as JD vs BN, but exists nonetheless.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs released the "Is Is EP" in 2007, although this was material recorded between "Fever to Tell" and "Show Your Bones", which means they're from way back in 2004. The song "10 X 10" shares nearly an identical guitar riff with "What's it Feel Like to Be a Ghost?" by Taking Back Sunday. And I am not talking about when Nick Zinner is pleasing us with his tremolo guitar picking on the 12th, 13th and so on frets of his guitar, I'm talking about the rhythm guitar riff. Both bands from New York, different sounds, I'm sure they've heard of each other, but I'm thinking this was accidental as well.
-adm
In this entry, I will be discussing incidental, accidental, or intentional similarity. I had an internship with Warner Music Group back in 2006, and to say the least, I wasted it. However, I ended up keeping a lot of good back catalog from some great artists like Tegan and Sara, Rilo Kiley, and Joy Division. The first time I heard Joy Division, I had all three remastered collector's edition releases via Warner for "Unknown Pleasures", "Closer", and "Still". In my opinion, "Unknown Pleasures" is an incredible album that was ahead of it's time even the the synth-riddled, new wave/post-punk 1980s. This album sounds like something that bands today are trying to achieve in some sense. Ian Curtis is a landmark for many of today's favorite vocalists, most notably: Justin Warfield of She Wants Revenge, Paul Banks of Interpol, and Brandon Flowers of the Killers. I would say however that Ian Curtis' vocals, and dark and odd lyrics still resonate with the most urgency.
Now fast-forward to the post-punk revival years or the 21st Century, lying outside of this "genreism" lies one my greatest influences, a band called Brand New, from Long Island. I have been mulling it over, just today actually, and have finally come to the conclusion that "The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me" has out seeded "Deja Entendu" as my favorite Brand New album. I hold "Deja" dear however, for more nostalgic reasons, and though it is a great album, damn near perfect if not 100%, "The Devil and God..." does something for me on a sonic level. It's ambivalent nature, and conflict grabs at me on a more mature plane and allows me to think more rather than the straight-forwardness, and lyrics that act on emotion rather than logic of "Deja".
NOW getting to the point of this whole entry. I was listening to Joy Division's "New Dawn Fades" the other day, a song quite possibly about change in relationships, and I couldn't help thinking of two songs by Brand New, "Degausser", and "Limousine (MS Rebridge)". I then went back and listened to all three songs and found remarkable similarities. Undeniably similar, almost to the point that one might question if Brand New was that heavily influenced by Joy Division. I have read many articles and interviews by Jesse Lacey of Brand New and I haven't heard him mention his undying love for Joy Division (not like his undying love for Moz or the Smiths that has left it's mark all over "Your Favorite Weapon", "Deja Entendu", and "Fight Off Your Demons demos") I have listed all three songs below so you can see for yourself.
From the outset, "New Dawn Fades" and "Degausser" share similar tones even with entirely different lyrical content. The ambience is a little darker in Joy Division, which is to be expected, however, they both share a similar grave tone with the reverb used in these recordings. The main rhythm of "Degausser" from the beginning to each verse is similar with the main differences being that Joy Division's riff is played with a bass and Brand News begins with a guitar that crescendos into a more technical bassline. Also, Joy Division fills in at different portions on different notes all while keeping the same rhythm as BN. The tempos are quite similar as well, with a more full drum landscape appearing in "Degausser", versus the more bare yet giant snares and lo-fi hi-hats found in "New Dawn Fades". The portion of "NDF", following its droney opening from 34: to 1 minute in, works in relation to "Degausser" as seen from 1:48 to 2:15. This portion of "Degausser" has the same self-imposing rhythm of "NFD", only this time BN uses bass as the driving force, while JD uses a guitar. "NFD"'s section also sounds similar to Jesse's vocal melody on the verses. Leading off of that note listen to the way Jesse enters in with this first verse in comparison to how Ian comes in, they both share an importance that seems to stop the song in its tracks. A final, and very vague relation is the lead guitar work. JD's is definitely placed as something to add to the tone of the narrator, while BN uses it in a more traditional sense, literally as a lead, leads tend to be just as catchy as a great chorus or hook in a well-written song. Now these lead riffs are by no means similar other than the fact that they appear to be working on the same scale, but they just may be interchangeable to each respective song. Decide for yourself.
Now the other similarity between "NDF" and BN is found in an entirely different BN song off of the same album, and it's called, "Limousine". If you listen to Joy Division's "New Dawn Fades" at 1 minute, up until Ian Curtis begins singing, and compare it to "Limousine" all the way towards the end from the epic blow out at 6:03 to 6:15, you will hear a resemblance in the guitar riffs.
Now I am merely making an observation in this comparison, I do not think it was intentional for Brand New, and who knows if they've even heard "New Dawn Fades", let alone, Joy Division. I used this as a point that music theory is a powerful and endless tool, a palette that I now realize, an artist will never ever run out of. Music is timeless and will always transform, mutate, progress, reinvent itself, and be abundant for us to make wonderful soundtracks to time. :] Happy times are here again.
Below is another example that is not as striking as JD vs BN, but exists nonetheless.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs released the "Is Is EP" in 2007, although this was material recorded between "Fever to Tell" and "Show Your Bones", which means they're from way back in 2004. The song "10 X 10" shares nearly an identical guitar riff with "What's it Feel Like to Be a Ghost?" by Taking Back Sunday. And I am not talking about when Nick Zinner is pleasing us with his tremolo guitar picking on the 12th, 13th and so on frets of his guitar, I'm talking about the rhythm guitar riff. Both bands from New York, different sounds, I'm sure they've heard of each other, but I'm thinking this was accidental as well.
-adm
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