"With Arrows, With Poise" by The Myriad

I'm reaching way back into my vault of music for this one. I first came across this album three years ago, bought it for the album artwork, and listened to it a ton only to forget about it later (that's the problem with a music addiction folks, sometimes it results in music ADD). Then, a couple days ago, I rediscovered it, and have since been listening to it repeatedly.

The album is "With Arrows, With Poise" by The Myriad. I went to investigate why they haven't released any new music and found out that the band's drummer tragically passed away after a fight with cancer. The band's music still lives on, however, and for that I'm glad.

There is an undercurrent of darkness to the whole album, a sort of quiet urgency that wouldn't be out of place in a movie scene (imagine the protagonists hiding, fleeing from some shady foe that don't really see or understand). It makes for some pretty powerful music (and though the band is known as a Christian band, these songs are by no means limited in their appeal to music listeners of all creeds). The lyrics are dark, reflective, and earnestly delivered by a frontman with a great voice and a solid falsetto.

The choruses on this album are what makes it special. They're just flat out catchy; in fact, all of these songs are really easy to sing along with. And with some of the awesome song titles on this album (examples are "You Waste Time Like a Grandfather Clock," "Don't Let Them See You!," and "Polar Bears and Shark Fins," you'll want to).

The final piece of this puzzle is this music, a polished but gritty and dark set of well-executed songs and riffs that inspire some definite head bobbing. This album is just plain good.

My three favorite songs on the album are "A Clean Shot," "A Thousand Winters Melting" (one of my all time top 20 favorite songs), and "Don't Let Them See You!".

Here's a link to the band's Myspace, which is still up and running (but it's a little eerie; to be honest, it's a bit like being in a Myspace ghost-town).

http://www.myspace.com/themyriad

Until next time, enjoy the music!

Andrew

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Andrew

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"... And They Have Escaped The Weight of Darkness" by Ólafur Arnalds

Well, seeing as it's finals week next wekk and I'm stressed out (becoming completely obsessed with "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" probably could have come at a better time), I'm going to write an entry! This one isn't really going to be a super long post, because this album has to be taken as a whole, it can't really be effectively broken down into songs.

"... And They Have Escaped The Weight of Darkness" is about 45 minutes or so of straight up beauty. It's an instrumental album, and on it Arnalds skill fully composes works featuring predominately piano and strings, with occasional percussion.

When I first heard this album, I knew it was probably the music subtly beautiful CD I had heard in a long time, if not ever. That hasn't changed. It is ridiculously easy to float away in this music. Some sound morose and mournful, some sound hopeful, and some pulse with a majestic feel. All are executed almost flawlessly.

There isn't a whole lot else to say about this album other than that it is amazing and a perfect way to relax. If you're stressed (oh, I don't know, by studying for a final exam worth 30% of your final grade), this is perfect music to play either for a breather or while your studying. It makes everything happening around you seem a little bit less overwhelming.

It's hard to say what my three favorite songs are because, in addition to the album being best listened to as one long composition, I love every single song on here. I have a soft spot for classic-oriented instrumental albums, and this album hit the spot.

Here's a link to his Myspace!

http://www.myspace.com/olafurarnalds

Until next time, please enjoy some music and click the link on the "I Need Your Help" post!

Andrew

P.S. We're almost at 5,000 total views, but I'd love for that to skyrocket until executives somewhere have no choice but to give me an obscenely lucrative contract (a ridiculous dream, you say? Probably :]).

"What Separates Me From You" by A Day to Remember

I have a confession to make when it comes to the subject of this post. This album represents a guilty pleasure of mine. I don't pretend to say that it breaks any major barriers musically or lyrically, but man is it catchy. That, and how cool is the album cover??

"What Separates Me From You" by A Day to Remember is ADTR's most commercial and most accessible release to date. I probably like "Homesick" a little better on a whole. However, this album is by far the best for those who thought ADTR's previous work was just a tad too rough for them.

On this album, the band is pissed. That much is obvious. Almost every song pulses with straight fury and angst. This goes for the lyrics as well, which detail abandonment, anger, and an overall "F you" to the people of the past.

I know this is not a new bit of subject matter. But holy heck do these guys do it well. Every single song is extremely catchy. The electric guitar riffs, the melodies and lyrics of the choruses in particular, everything just grabs you and doesn't let go. Every. Single. Song.

This is not an example of a band branching out and taking their music to new places that it hasn't previously been. ADTR is returning to familiar territory willingly, and they are continuing to show that musical genre who's boss.

If you're angry or upset or just feel like using music to let off some steam, this album is just the ticket.

My favorite three songs are "All I Want," "This Is The House That Doubt Built," and "If I Leave."

Here's a link to their Myspace.

http://www.myspace.com/adaytoremember

And here's a link to the Facebook page for this blog! Like it and pass it along to your friends!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Great-Music-You-Havent-Heard/157409857629889

Until next time, enjoy all the music out there!

Andrew

"Signs and Wonders" by Animal Kingdom

How's it going everyone? Well, as it starts to be, once again, time to start studying for finals (have you ever noticed how I almost always have a midterm or an essay or a final to work on? Yay quarter system!), I wanted to get another post on here for you!

The album, ladies and gents, is "Signs and Wonders" by Animal Kingdom. This album popped up about 1.5-2 years ago, and I didn't buy it for a while because I had foolishly gotten it into my head that I wouldn't like an album that was a reincarnation of psychedelic rock.

Obviously, I was wrong. This album is amazing. There are definitely strong elements of psych rock in here that remind me a little bit of Pink Floyd (never a bad thing), but there's a heart of rock pulsing under the airy vocals.

For a relatively new artist, Animal Kingdom is able to put together an incredibly diverse set of songs. Nothing on here feels like filler, and there's always some new melodic element that the band is adding into their songs.

The lyrics are clever as well, well-written but unassuming. They are not the star of this album, though the frontman's airy/almost falsetto vocals do add a ton to the album. The choruses on this album are some of the best I've heard in a while.

You're probably thinking that I'm about to say the music is the star of the album, if the lyrics aren't, right? Wrong! The music is also a critical element of the album, but the trick of this album, and the facet of it that makes it so special is that there isn't a star. The music is at times light and ethereal, and at times more rock-ish and psychedelic, but it's always well-executed and it always backs up the vocals perfectly.

This album has been floating around for a while now, so I can only hope that a new album is in the works! Here's a link to their Myspace.

http://www.myspace.com/weareanimalkingdom

My three favorite tracks on the album are "Tin Man," "Silence Summons You," and "Chalk Stars."

Until next time, enjoy the music and follow the link on the "I Need Your Help" link! :)

Thanks,
Andrew