Music Blog #2
It's been a busy year for me and it has definitely reflected in my listening habits. This year has definitely had a good handful of albums I liked, although I've consumed less and less music as this long year has dragged on. A few albums I enjoyed this year
The New Few
The ever-changing band now calling themselves Osees has released two albums this year that have found their way to my eardrums. The first is called *Protean Threat* which is an interesting mishmash of short and medium-length tracks with a loud psychedelic/punk sound. Overall it is pleasant enough although outside of a few tracks it's a bit repetitive and samey. I'd recommend the song Toadstool as one of the best tracks from the album. Overall, I'd rate it a 6/10.
The second album to come from Osees this year is called *Metamorphosed.* This is the more interesting of the two in my opinion. The first side is a few short psychedelic-punk tracks that are energetic and lively enough and don't overstay their welcome. This is followed by the best track on the album in my opinion, called The Virologist, which is a fourteen-minute homage to Krautrock with a bit of modern flair thrown in for good measure. This is followed by the twenty-three-minute track I Got A Lot which also follows the Krautrock style. Although it is a bit too repetitive and doesn't quite reach the psychedelic heights Krautrock is known for. Overall, I'd give this album a 7.5/10.
Another obvious one is King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard's new album K.G. If you're a fan definitely check it out if you haven't already. I won't cover too much as I'm sure people have elsewhere. Overall a solid album that isn't revolutionary by the standards of KGLW. 8/10
Comment on your favorite albums that have come out this year below. Also recommendations for albums you think I should listen to or review would be appreciated.
What music genres and bands do read.cash's users listen to?
Why you should still own your music in 2020
I know what some of you may be thinking. "Why should I own music? I can stream all the music I want." While this may be true to the casual music listener, it more often than not does not apply to hardcore fans of music (Such as myself) who often find streaming services lacking enough in key areas to be our sole means of listening to music. I intend to argue for the continued relevance of owning music in both digital and physical mediums.
Owning music is permanent. As long as you have a record, CD, or digital file, it will always be accessible to you. Streaming services are subject to occasional outages and sometimes tracks or entire albums are removed at random. By using streaming services you are in effect renting the right to listen to music on the platform. Based on this alone, a purchase of your favorite albums at the very least is justified.
Audio quality is often quite low on streaming platforms. Even on the "high" quality settings on Spotify, music is of a lower quality than that of records, CDs, or FLACs/MP3s. Streaming platforms also often use inferior mixes of many classic albums. Just listen to The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway or Hot Rats on Spotify compared to a CD or LP version. It is a night and day difference. CDs and LPs can give you more options when it comes to buying different mixes of an album. A streaming service typically only has one.
Streaming services often are missing artists and albums. I couldn't tell you how many times I've looked up a band on Spotify, only for the band not to exist on the platform, or the band's releases being limited in some way. Don't get me wrong, streaming platforms have a lot of music. But fundamentally they can't have everything and a ton of excellent music is nowhere to be found.
Physical music, especially records, have intrinsic value. There is nothing like getting your hands on a rare or cool looking record. Being able to appreciate physical album art is cool. Also, records and CDs have resale value. Although who wants to sell their records? Not me.
Buying new music supports artists directly. Streaming platforms are infamous for how little artists receive for people listening to their music. In order to make much money on streaming platforms, a band has to have millions of regular listeners. A direct purchase goes a long way to actually support a band or artist you enjoy.
Is owning records and CDs for everyone? No. But for people passionate about the music they love and who enjoy owning their music it is something they should consider. Even if they only buy a few.
Music Blog #1
This has been a fairly interesting week in terms of new releases. On the 24th, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard dropped their latest live album, Chunky Shrapnel, and I must say that I love it. It has a great start with a live rendition of one of my favorite songs by them, The River that is followed by Wah Wah. It has a few short interludes that are interesting, alongside their fantastic live tracks. The production quality is up there as well. If you're a fan of King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard I'd highly recommend this album. It's currently on Spotify and other streaming services alongside an accompanying documentary about their 2019 tour of Europe.
Another album was released on the 24th that impressed me was Double Sun by a band called Kanaan. They're a band out of Norway and have released some great instrumental psychedelic albums. Double Sun is their second album to be released this year and I would recommend them to anyone who is into space rock or psychedelic soundscapes.
Alongside these newer albums, I'd like to mention an older album I've stumbled across recently that I can't stop listening to. Mainstream by Quiet Sun. Its a mostly instrumental progressive rock album that was released in 1975. Phil Manzanera from Roxy Music plays guitar on this album and it really does shine. It's a fantastic jazz-rock/canterbury album that's full of distorted guitars and frenetic drumming. The first track, Sol Caliente, is incredible and the album is worth a listen if what I've said so far sounds enticing. I would say it's been my favorite album this past month or so.
That's what I've been listening to this week. Any recommendations or suggestions? What have you been listening to while stuck at home? Comment below.
Music Blog #0
This site seems like a good place to write about some miscellaneous topics that I find interesting and noteworthy. I am an avid collector and listener of music both old and new and I have experience as a college radio DJ. Due to the closure of my college, I won't be able to host my show. This blog can offer an alternative for me to share some great music and possibly review some albums if anyone would be interested in hearing my opinions. I am most interested in progressive rock (mostly from the "golden era" although there are some modern exceptions), psychedelic rock, jazz, experimental/avant-garde rock, math rock, post-punk/new wave, and some more mainstream rock music. I am open-minded when it comes to music and would be open to suggestions and feedback on what I should give a listen to. I intend to give more attention to less appreciated albums and artists and won't focus too much on praising albums that are already fairly popular (In The Court of The Crimson King). I look forward to writing more on read.cash going forward.
@Misenum