A post on my blog
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Look, I don’t know what the deal is with this, how many people read it or follow it or whatever, and whenever I do post, people rarely interact in any meaningful way about it, but I’m just really excited at the moment about a few things and it’s seven o’clock in the morning and the only people I want to share it all with are YOU, (which is hardly as exclusive a statement as it sounds, considering how bloody many of you there are, be it ten or ten thousand, because really, any sort of validation makes it worthwhile, and if one person reads this and takes something amazing away from it then y’know, it justifies the whole exercise) so I’m going to tell you about these discoveries I’ve made this morning that will hopefully impact your morning in a similarly clear and piercing way, the first of which is this band called Ratfuck, who seem like just the sort of people who’d call themselves post-hardcore, or even be so post-post-anything that they’d just nihilistically deny any sort of categorization, even though they’re basically punks, and they’ve put together this amazing EP with amazing lyrics that just defy common sense but paint these amazing pictures of just being completely comfortable with being dust and nothing, and you should definitely check it out at http://ratfuck.bandcamp.com (my favourite track is Hoppipopolla, and I just love the way the group shouting moves so freaking fluently around the intonation of the ‘Fuck you’s), but if it’s not really the sort of thing you like (which I am totally cool with) you should perhaps check out Gallop, who are a band who were played on Radio 1 last night for a reason I’m not entirely sure of, since they seem to be somewhere in between math-rock and post-rock with keyboards, but perhaps it was just on the virtue of them absolutely rocking, because if you go to http://myspace.com/thegallopband you’ll see how awesome they are after one play of Miami Spider, which is a great track, sort of post-rocky in a really really fluid, almost animal-collectivey kind of way (although I hate to say that, because it’s totally not even similar, it just crops up in my mind for some reason, perhaps because it sounds a lot like some of the new Panda Bear tracks that have been surfacing recently) but whatever, let’s take a little detour here to tell a story, because after I was listening to Gallop I was all like ‘hey, I miss actual real awesome post-rock’, and then I thought ‘what’s the most post-rocky post-rock group I can think of, like, that absolutely crystallises the essence of post-rock to the point where it’s almost a parody of itself’ (which is the sort of music I love, because it means I can crystallise the essense of ME while I’m listening to it, and sort of anthropomorphise my own soul in a cartoony kind of way, which makes me feel comfortable and proud) and then I thought ‘Red Sparowes!’ because they’re pretty much the poster children for pure post-rock as far as I’m concerned, so I went around looking to see if they’ve released any new stuff since 2006′s ‘Every Red Heart Shines Towards The Red Sun’, and they HAVE released a new LP, called ‘The Fear Is Excruciating, But Therein Lies The Answer’, which I’m listening to right now, and enjoying an awful lot, despite pitchfork’s rating of 5.2 for it, which in many ways backs me up entirely in my beliefs, because it says that all Red Sparowes do is rely on the same old formula song in, song out, and never try to change it, but to me that’s what makes listening to a new Red Sparowes record feel warm and comforting, in that the music is different, but in many ways you know exactly what’s coming next, and you never feel you have to think too hard, or that they’re asking something of you that you don’t want to give, but just that you’re there, and they’re there, and they’re going to play you some songs that you love, and you need never stop loving them ever, ever again.
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Reader Comments
like i just said in a tweet on twitter dot com, i like your tweets and blogs and things a lot and your recommendations are v interesting and great so thanks a lot!!!
Thanks for the suggestions, I'll be sure to check out Red Sparrows soon! I wish I had something meaningful and genius to say, but I don't. It's 2:47 a.m. here, and I'm way to tired to fall asleep, if that makes any sense. Anyway, thanks for the new blog post, the .pdf, the mixtape, and the new EP. God, Tom Milsom, you give us much more than we deserve, on top of being kind of a genius. Why do you have to be so fucking perfect?! Ok, rant over, goodnight/goodmorning/whatever.
a lot!!!
a lot
a
lot
MY EYES
That was a lot to take in in one huge paragraph. Bigger font next time please?
Not into the whole regular wrock type thing. I prefer the Trock, Wrock or Prock genres.
Have a nice day
I've been listening to Gallops for a while now (and by a while I mean, since you tweeted it or whatever) and yes, I was absolutely hooked at Miami Spider. I also really appreciate what you've said about Red Sparowes NOT treading new ground, because I've been in that uncomfortable place with bands I love, namely Rilo Kiley, in which the band wants to move in a different direction and, frankly, I just wanted something that could have been an extension of The Execution of All Things. I did give that one Ratfuck track a listen, and it seems like one of those things that I probably could be into if I listened to it a bunch, but certainly not as easy as other things. There was a band I was really into during college called Parwana that a lot of my friends were in. I found their music really abrasive at first but I would always go to their shows just to hang out, and eventually I loved their music. OK, I guess I'll also have to check out Red Sparowes as I've never heard anything of them aannd I guess I'll leave it there.
I wish I could leave a really intelligent and thoughtful response to this, because then you would reply, and we could have an in-depth discussion about music. Sadly, I don't have anything very thoughtful to say about any of the bands you mentioned. I clicked the links to them you posted on Twitter and listened to a few songs from each, and didn't find anything I liked. It is interesting, though, how I hate music that my favorite musician likes very much. Logically, you’d think that if I like the music a person makes, I would also like the music that they enjoy listening to. But I guess not.
Oh, and on a different note, did you realize that this blog post is only one sentence? It makes it somewhat difficult to read, since there are no real breaks. You might consider using periods at the end of a thought in the future, rather than just stringing it on to the next thing. Seperate paragraphs are nice, too.
After looking up all these excellent recommendations, I found out that the second band is called “Gallops,” and their website is http://www.myspace.com/thegallopsband with an s. So people who got lost looking, there you have it. I really like Red Sparowes! Thank you for recommending these great bands. The mixtape was really cool, and Ruminations is going on my collage wall, even though you didn't pick my topic.
You just keep being awesome Tom!
See, I'm just waiting for them to put out a new Takeoffs and Landings. God, I miss that record. Science vs. Romance is one of the best songs of all time, imo.
Still, bands have to change and move on, and I'm hardly the sort of person to talk… I don't even want to think of the number of people who listened to Explorers 3 while gazing tearfully toward their beloved copy of Awkward Ballads.
Hello, you're a very talented person who can write what is probably the longest run-on sentence I've ever seen without making it obvious, and you're very good at music. I bought your album today, the second one, and it's quite good! I don't know if that merits a congratulations on making an amazing album or a thank you for making an amazing album. Thankgratulations?
I'd comment on your recommendations except I haven't looked them up and I can't keep my eyes open long enough to do so. Will do tomorrow, though. Probably won't comment. Hope for the best.
It's not seven in the morning, it's two in the morning. Your argument is invalid.
I'll recommend something too so it's more an exchange, but you might not like it or have heard of it already.
The Dear Hunter
If you know what it is, you can skip the rest of this, but if you don't know, it's a multi-part…rock opera? It's like albums released with a plotline, and they're brilliant. There are supposed to be six by the end, but they're on the third as of last fall. Second is the best in my opinion, and the best song is Red Hands, if you just want a peak.
Bye, then!
nonono, Red SPAROWES. with an E. And only one R. Hopefully this makes your future googling a lot easier
..wish I had something interesting and meaningful and engaging to say.
But, to be frank, I really haven't a clue what you're talking about.
I read it all, and I enjoyed it, but none of it really means anything to me. The words aren't making any sort of connection to any sort of meaning.
Now, if you were discussing Kate Nash/Lily Allen/Death Cab for Cutie/The Postal Service, for example..
Teenage Girl music, basically.
>_o
You're absolutely right. I actually am not sure which of the two I like better. And don't get me wrong, I like Jenny's solo stuff…but…..yeah :/
Also, could you have arrived at Explorers 4 without making Explorers 3?? Isn't the title Explorers rather explanatory?
And then, now that I've listened to some Red Sparowes I have to ask: is Explosions in the Sky considered post-rock? Because, clearly, they're who come to mind first for me when I listen to those tracks….and also I have a hard time keeping track of genres. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around what is considered “shoegazer” and maybe I just need to find a music genre venn diagram to explain everything.
Sounds awesome! I'll have to check it out. Nothing to do with the band Deerhunter, I presume?
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the recommendations upon your awakening
Hello Tom, I have to say I have read this whole post, every word. As I'm typing this I have that first band you mentioned “Ratfuck” playing in another tab. I have to say it really isn't my sort of thing. It reminds me of one of the bands I used to hear at local gigs when I was 15/16, whose name escapes me. I always used their set to go to the loo or something. Mind you, I have only listened to their first song and I'm not going to judge them so quickly. I'm giving Hoppipopolla a chance now. The guitar is good but the overall thrashyness of it, no. I don't think they're right for me.
I'm going to go on myspace for your second suggestion now. (Your link wasn't right, there is an s after gallop…) It's started off in a more appealing way. Although highly repetitive it's so bouncy and lively it's quite cheering. A good suggestion but I don't think I'll pursue them past this short listen. Finally, Red Sparowes. My favourite of your suggestions. I really really like them. I could definitely incorporate them into my life. I shall leave them playing as I go and read through twitter this morning.
I downloaded that mixtape you made the other day also, though didn't look up the tracklist even though I know you posted it. I liked the not knowing and just listening to the music. That was a really great thing to do. I really enjoyed it.
I'm just astonished that you managed to be this coherent and excited about something at 7 a.m., and all in one sentence. I'm never awake at 7 a.m., and I often think without punctuation.
I feel like you, Tom, would be such an interesting person which to have the most random and intense conversation about music. This was quite a pleasant nugget. And the fact that you referred to Gallops as math rock made me smile, because of all the people involved in music that I know (and I realize that I don't KNOW you) I've never once seen the phrase “math rock” written except for in my own writing. I get the Animal Collective comparison – it's inexplicable stream-of-consciousness music (much similar to your stream-of-consciousness post).
And I don't know why I'd never heard Red Sparowes before. Thanks for that. And it looks like they'll be coming to Seattle so I'll need to put that on my ever-growing list of shows this summer. This got me thinking about what I could recommend for you, and I tried to think of the most obscure post-post-post whatever band I knew, and I came to this band from around my area called The Tasteful Nudes (http://www.myspace.com/thetastefulnudes).
Heck, I'd be interested in seeing what are a few of your favorite albums ever, if you feel so inclined.
I'm going to listen now! Hopefully this can be part of my holiday music.
Radio One can actually be quite good with new music I find, although normally they only merit the smallest bands with one play, I suppose it's something.
Thank you very much for the recommendations, Tom. I've always listened to the more obvious post-rock bands such as 'Explosions in the sky', 'Mogwai' and 'This Will Destroy You'. I am so glad you recommended Gallops and Red Sparowes as they are both exactly as you described. Truly brilliant. Thanks again.
ohmygod. A-MAZ-ING!
I would be lying if I told you that I'd look up any of your recommendations, so I won't. But what I truly love about this post is that I didn't realize, when I first read it, that it was only one long sentence. But you know that already. So I guess you are right. I don't really interact with your posts in any meaningful ways. Hmmmm….
Okay I listened to Ratfuck and Gallop some. Ratfuck was about the furthest thing from anything I've ever listened to, and to be honest I didn't like it at all. Gallop was pretty good I guess, it's just not the kind of stuff that I could really get in to. I see why you said somewhere in between math rock and post rock though, because they've got this math-y sound without really having the math technique to back it up.
I enjoyed the recommendations, and you should write more music blogs maybe that would be nice.
Ugh stupid thing posted my name as my email.
I check the blog regularly to see if there's anything new.
glad to have the recommendations, no one I know ever recommends any music to me that I don't already listen to. I'm always eager for new music, and all i get is mainstream stuff they play on the radio, random CDs I pick up in record stores, or songs that people cover (usually musicfromblueskies) that I like and then look up the original artist. again, I like the recommendations. a lot. will definitely look into them.
Yeah… I knew that…
Haha, thank you for the correction. 
I'm listening to “Giving Birth to Imagined Strangers” right now, and I love it, it's great!
Currently listening to Gallops (by the way, their myspace has an s [www.myspace.com/thegallopsband]), but since I really don't have a particular taste in music, I imagine I'll enjoy. I'll listen to the others as well–so thanks for the recommendations.
I more wanted to say I am a big fan of the stream-of-consciousness type writing you used, as it feels very personal and read with a lovely flow, so thanks for that.
I really like it when you say stuff. Even if it isn't all that significant to me.
But I shall check them out. I really need to find some new music that wasn't first released onto vinyl. ^_^ I guess I'll always be an oldies girl…
I would just like to thank you for this blog post. I'm loving ratfuck right now, and cant wait to listen to check out the gallop
<3
Ahh, it's things like this blog post that make me wish I knew more about music. I don't even have a good reference for what post-rock really sounds like – meaning I will definitely be looking up Red Sparowes. And I know what you mean by the familiarity of each song – it's like you can trust that they'll never change, and if it's something you like, then hey, it'll never turn into something you dislike. Unless you grow bored of it. D: Kind of like a friend who's always willing to give you a hug, no matter how life has been treating you. Heheh, corny…
Anyway, although I utterly failed at understanding most of this blog, I enjoyed reading every bit of it. The way you write is very comforting, it's like a stream of thoughts just running through a person's head. I really wish I had something more meaningful to say… Unfortunately, I don't, so I'm off to listen to Miami Spider. Thankies for the recommendations, bye now! ^-^
Glad to hear from you again Tom, been missing your blogs lately. I cant wait to check out the music.
Gallops. It is amazing. Thanks for the reccomendations!
I'm going to check out the Red Sparowes next, I think…
Anyway, the idea of anthropomorphizing your soul is awesome.
Bye!
you just made my day with this blog post =] although i have no idea what post-rock is or anything, but im glad for the recommendations so i'm definitely going to look all of them up! i loved hearing from ya tom!
Dood, It's sweet to see you post again! Hopefully you realize that we all appreciate what you do. I personally won't stop listening to your music (or reading this beautiful blog) any time soon ^_______^
Let's see… First, I checked out Ratfuck.'s Breakfast! album on bandcamp. It was fucking great. It made me feel like swinging my arms aroung in a windmill-like fashion, pummeling my monitor, and putting several holes in the wall O.o
Then I checked out Gallops (http://www.myspace.com/thegallopsband). I liked them a bit. It was pretty mellow and nice sounding– the perfect rehabilitation for after listening to Ratfuck. XD
Lastly, I went and checked out Red Sparowes on youtube. I couldn't put it any better than you did.
Thank You So Much for Everything You Do,
Kyle
(gneigh, I RAPED HER)
I saw your name in bold on my Google reader, and I literally said out loud “Tom?”
I love music that brings me back to a time or place in my life, most of the time I can't place exactly what it reminds me of, it just makes me feel either at peace or rather uneasy. This happens to me because I tend to listen to one album over and over until I know it forwards and backwards and then find a new album to love.
Keep posting, we love to hear what you have to say!
TOM! I was shocked when my Tumblr said it imported a feed from you. You haven't posted anything in far far far to long. [And I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say we all love reading what you have to say, even if we don't always interact back. So please don't ever stop. <3]
I love listening to the bands that play songs I know I'll always love and never tire of. I always let music spark my memory, whether it's the lyrics that make me think of a situation or something that's happened to me, or whether it's music that reminds me of a certain momen when I listened to the song and it immortalised that moment inside the song. And I find it fantastic when I can listen to a song and think “Wow, this symbolises ME” and not just me feelings or a situation but completely and utterly me. It's almost fulfilling, like a part of you has been explained in complete depth.
But I've always found that the best way to feel comfortable inside a record, a track, is when you know more about the artist. When you know about their obsessions, their pet hates, their experiences and secrets. You can listen to a track and know what it's about and I feel like it enhances my love of a song, like I know a secret that no one else knows. I think it's why I love your's [and the other guy's] music so much. Because you interact with us and let us know more about who you are as a person so you seem to become more like a friend than a musician. And I do think that is the ultimate way to get sucked into a song. <3
Ohh and the music recommendations = fab. Sorry, I get sidetracked easily. xD <3
Hello Tom! Glad to see your finally blogging again, always nice to hear from you
I listened to Gallops, and I liked them for what they were. They had some really good beats and the syncing was good, but I'm just a more singer-songwriter type music person. (if that sentence made sense…) And then I listened to Ratfuck. I honestly have a wide variety of music taste, here's the way I usually put it to people: From Chuck Berry to Tom Milsom to The Clash to Michael Jackson to The Beatles to The Kooks. But there's usually ONE thing I can't stand in songs, and that is screaming. I mean I can stand it if it's like a McCartney scream in Long Tall Sally or whatever, but screaming all through the song just makes me stressed out for some reason. Then I listened to the Red Sparowes. And I can honestly say out of all three of the bands you mentioned, I liked them the most. Just great music, the way all of the instruments blended together was just awesome.
So after listening to all that, here I go to listen to the very comforting Paul Simon.
Btw, you should listen to Maudln Of The Well, it's like a prog rock band with jazz piano in the back X) lol
Now that's deep… You've got a way with words, my friend. I appreciate the blog post! Keep it up! =D
You know, for someone I very recently discovered existed, I respect your music taste way too much.
I mean, the lack of conventional structure in your post, and also my lack of knowledge about genres of music basically made me read this blog as [Awesome philosophical and musical musings, in which Tom recommends RatFuck, Gallops, and Red Sparowes]. And, thus, I have now downloaded the RatFuck's EP; I have listened to Gallops for the first time; I have listened to Red Sparowes.
They are both… interesting to say the least.
In regards to RatFuck: I'm going to have to look up the lyrics to all of their songs, to have any real understanding of them. I can't decipher screams very well. But, musically I love it for the choices they take. I just listened through the CD and it just captures some incredibly concentrated angst. But, it's way past angst- past desperation- it has a hint of joy. It is pure anarchy. There's no other way to describe it. It's anarchy in music form; it's the soundtrack to anarchy, or both, I'm not sure. All I know, is that it is not what I usually listen to; is that I love it and I haven't even looked up the lyrics yet.
I next listened to Red Sparowes for the first time. Now, if RatFuck was the essense of anarchy, Red Sparowes is like loving something that doesn't yet exist. It's longing, and hoping, it's wishing and praying. It's patience. It's sensual. It's going all in on the fact that it all works out in the end, while not believing that's true. It's a safe place, in which you can humble yourself. It's what the earth would sound like if it were music. What rain, and wind, and storms, and fire would sound like if they were music. It's drowning; it's healing; it's existing.
Finally, I listened to Gallops. Now, these were all right in a row. So, you could imagine the emotions that were coursing through me at this point. Gallops is the perfect bridge between surrealism and reality. As I started listening to it, I began to wake up from whatever crazy hallucination/dream I was having. It's like it's positively affirming me. Like, it says. “Welcome back. Here, listen to this, and remember how to be happy. Go ahead, I give you permission to dance in your chair. You should probably eat lunch after you finish these songs, you've been sitting at your computer for way too long. Kthnxbai, see you soon.”
You, kind sir, just gave three incredible recommendations which I shall be getting on my iPod as soon as I possibly can. What's weird, I think, is how differently my perceptions of each of these bands would probably be if I had listened to them individually, or in a different order. Because these recommendations of yours… basically was a thrilling, emotional journey that I took this morning. It's why I love music. Because music can take me where it took me today.
Finally, to finish up this long comment. I just want to tell you, that I love Explorers 4. It's the first music I honestly ever heard from you, and I haven't yet delved into your earlier stuff. But, from the second I heard Toy, I just… well honestly it's why I have so much musical respect for you, and why I've sat at my computer for several hours just listening to some bands you recommended. If I were talented at musical instruments, Toy is what I would want to write. Not to mention the other songs on the EP. In C is my other favorite. Explorers 4 takes me on a musical journey in the same way that those three bands you recommended took me on one today. So, just, be proud of yourself. And keep exploring.
Haha, I write like that too when I'm excited… but you're just so much better at it, I could never write more than a few lines; the lack of capital letters just annoys me..
As nearly everyone else did, I'll review the recommendations as well:
Ratfuck is just not my thing, and it slightly even worried me that you can actually enjoy it.. its like listening to… I don't know… some sort of… indescribable noise. The lyrics I must say are just random and that's all. The noise is just like… Behemoth(which I hate, by the way) or something, but a bit less heavy, with less music. I must say, it's very different from what you play and sing, so I'm worrying… don't change…
The second one was better, but I don't love it. There's kind of no structure to it… (In my opinion)
Haha, but the Red Sparowes are great, I'm listening to them right now, but I still love you more, because you are you, and you look a lot more awesome than them. But I still like the Red Sparowes it's just pure, good music, withough lyrics and I can't really tell the difference between tracks which just shows how musically untalented I am… I like it when there's no lyrics though… they can get quite annoying and unpredictable sometimes. I don't even know what post-rock is… to me music is either rock/metal or pop or classical (which is a bit shallow-minded I guess, but thats just me), haha… and I mostly only listen to symphonic metal, you, Take That for some reason, and there's Metallica, which I don't know if you like, but if you did that would be awesome, because then you would just be perfect and I could prove to my friends that awesome people listen to metal as well. But if you don't then it's fine… but Metallica just seems too normal for you… you seem to be listening to really strange bands which just come up on the internet from nowhere, if I'm wrong then ignore me, but I've never heard of the bands you talk about before. I know you've probably heard this song before and I don't know if you liked it, but if you listened to Nothing Else Matters by Metallica, doesn't that give you inspiration, rather than that thrash/screaming thing? And it's not just the lyrics, because I don't get them; I'm probably not old enough to get them, it's the music and everything about the sound, it's just beautiful.
Haha, Now I'd be trying to convert you to symphonic metal or something, When I heard Autumnsong by you, I thought 'Yeah! There's another person who likes that sort of thing, AND its an awesome blue-haired musician, who can play a whole load of instruments, and owns a guitar!!!' and I was so hopeful that one day maybe you could play more songs like Autumnsong and I'd be like a dream come true.. sorry, that was a bit of a rant, haha, if you actually didn't ignore it then well done and thank you. And if you think I'm stupid then feel free to tell me, then I'll know, and I'll stop writing useless stuff, because I just don't have a clue about the world. I'm sorry.
I understand completely about not feeling appreciated for work. It's pretty frustrating, but as you've seen in the comments, people do read and love your blogs.
Ratfuck isn't really my type of music, and the myspace link doesn't seem to work for gallop, but I like that you're recommending new music to your readers.
Looking back at these two sentences of mine, they don't seem very meaningful at all, and for that I can only be sorry.
Aidan.
All this time without a blog post and you only write one sentence.
I'm really glad that the Ratfuck. EP was free because I don't think that I would have spent money on it. I feel that their main reason for being compelling is that their name is Ratfuck. and all of the songs start with an h. A fucking h. I tried out both GALLOPS and The Red Sparowes, and I just wasn't into either one. I have this chromosomal deformity that makes me dislike anything with “post” in the genre title. This is where we differ my friend. I once gave you a CD; I wonder if you liked it. I shudder to think that we don't enjoy the same music. Of course, you don't strike me as the type to sit around reading Foxtrot and listening to Aesop Rock and Devin the Dude. Correct me if I'm wrong.
I would love to write something that would grab your interest for just a second or two; I hope I do. However I have been listening to samples of the new Red Sparowes album, and I really think that you have lead your readers to discover something special
I would also like to say that by reading your posts and comics and most importantly listening to your music, you have helped me to see people in a different way, and love them more than I ever thought possible.
Man, did that sound cliché… but it’s true.
Panda Bear is amazing. I sometimes listen to him as I go to sleep
And I hear your blue hair is fading. WHAT IS THIS!?
I like them, they've got quite an interesting sound. It's not very polished but I like how it's put together.
I changed my twitter name, in case it shows up on here, but I posted the earlier comment as enterblue6. Now I'm back, just with a different mask on…
I wasn't asleep for a week but I got very distracted but NOW I can relate my thoughts.
I checked out Ratfuck briefly, just briefly because it's not my type. It's the type I see in concerts a lot though, and I can tell it's probably great for those who are into that kind of message delivered in that kind of style for that kind of effect. I don't mean to be vague, but I mean like how…how it all goes into the nihilistic/anarchistic meaning together. It's that type of band…rambling…ah…
Right, the Gallops. I liked them better, but they repeat the base beat too much before adding onto it with more…well, more. I did like the Window FX song though. They remind me of sort of the Gorillaz new album in parts, Plastic Beach, in that sort of synthesizer tech way. I'm not trying to pretend I know a lot of music lingo, I'm just making this up as I go
Red Sparowes I liked best. I can see kind of repetitiveness in their songs as they all sort of start out smooth and then get rougher, work up to some peak, and then go back smoothe again, like the plot of a story, you know, exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution. But they're the type of thing you can listen to for a long time without realizing you are and then notice and go “Oh hey
” and keep listening with new appreciation. I like how they're not trying to do too much though. Simplicity is nice- I approve.
You checked out Dear Hunter yet? A few songs, like the main theme tracks, remind me of the Red Sparowes a bit. Black Sandy Beaches, Life and Death, annnnd What It Means To Be Alone, I think.
OH, and new inspiration, check out the song Count Bodies Like Sheep To The Rhythm of War Drums by A Perfect Circle. Just found that yesterday.
Tom, your writting is an onslaught and i love it.
I have to turn my music off when I read anything of yours because your whole essence makes me feel the need to concentrate.
Now, I don't know any of the bands you just mentioned and I also don't think that I would like them much from the sound of your post. I might check out the Red Sparowes though, simply because Pitchfork only rated them 5.2. I kind of have a love-hate relationship with that website: Everytime I read anything there, I am instantly annoyed by their style of writing and their general “I am so cool and indie and hip”-attitude, but at the same time I still check out the bands that they like. I also somehow feel really great when they are in my opinion wrong about a band, so I hope Red Sparowes turn out to be awesome.
Music’s funny, isn’t it? Funny-funny and funny-fucking-strange. It’s the most beautiful thing (though sight might get a look in — but it’s well above smell and, most times, sex). It’s the simplistic beauty of harmony that gets me — the way it crystallises the most complex emotions into a single moment of loveliness. And when there’s no harmony, or even hint of melody, there’s still this great chance that pure vibrations will stop you in your tracks and transfix you; clarify the muddle in your head, or set it off into some crazy uncharted territory. Just through the shorthand of sound. Amazing. Ace. A fantastic way to feel your way around this world.
I like the ambition of Tom’s work. I like the scope. The belief. The tunes. The use of children’s instruments. And the heart. The heart as much as anything. He’s got heart.
Tom, you would not believe how excited I usually get when I see a new entry on your blog.
Hello, I am going to copy your style of blogging in comment form, because it feels like you'd like that, maybe, despite the countless errors I'll surely make with placement of comas and what not, to tell you that I appreciate your posts and how you put so much thought as you do into them that the very way they are written, organization I suppose, adds to the post, and not just that it shows that you feel like it's “wrong” to stop your thoughts in writing, also sorry if the quotation marks bothered you, but just how you don't want your thoughts and opinions to end, which I find extremely interesting, almost as interesting as the very posts themselves which is probably bad but oh well, not having another transitional verb, and I do hope you'll forgive me, look past all the shit I just wrote that I'll evidently post anyway because I wrote this much already and anyway it'll probably just get overlooked amidst this plethora of input, and see this: please keep posting your opinions not just on bands and music but other things, for opinions as good and valid and “educated”, I think, as yours as scarce and I just really really like them.
Well I just had a look at Ratfuck, and it's not my kind of thing. Screaming and swearing, not singing. Ah well. You can't like everything. lol
Well I just had a look at Ratfuck, and it's not my kind of thing. Screaming and swearing, not singing. Ah well. You can't like everything. lol