Music Review - Tumblr Posts
Already subjected my discord mutuals to this. It’s your turn, Tumblr!
Over the span of like 3 days, I listened to the entirety of Epic: The Musical (or what’s released of it, anyways. Iirc there’s two albums yet to be released.) And now I’m gonna pick my fave and least faves. Because why not <3
The Troy Saga Fave: Open Arms. It’s iconic, the dude who voiced Polites did great, and it’s referenced a ton in other songs. Least Fave: I guess Warrior of the Mind, if I had to pick. Idk. I like the Troy saga.
The Cyclops Saga Fave: Survive. That, and Polyphemus coming right before it are such good songs. The pure terror in their voices around the end of Survive were just chef’s kiss Least Fave: My Goodbye. It made me dislike Athena (until the Wisdom saga, at least) ;-;
The Ocean Saga Fave: Luck Runs Out. It’s also referenced in future songs (I think?) and it’s pretty catchy imo. Least Fave: None. If I HAD to pick…ig Keep Your Friends Close? Ocean Saga doesn’t have a single bad song. Change my mind 😎
(More below the cut. Tis’ a long post)
The Circe Saga Fave: Done For. The part that went “Hermes gave you that didn’t he” “lol yeah. But still-“ (paraphrasing) was great. Least Fave: There Are Other Ways. Nope nope nope nope nope I got no idea what’s going on back there but it sounds like she’s trying to charm him. Nope.
The Underworld Saga Fave: The Underworld. The faint reprise of Open Arms gave me chills. Least Fave: No Longer You. Underworld also has no bad songs. I just had to pick one. Sorry :(
The Storm Saga Fave: SCYLLA SCYLLA SCYLLA— in all seriousness, Scylla is what got me into listening to the whole thing. I love it to death. It’s my discord status too. Least Fave: Mutiny. Started out strong. Kinda lost its charm after the actual mutiny part. Maybe I’m just an Odysseus sympathizer haha.
The Wisdom Saga Fave: God Games. Athena redemption ark real!! She actually called Ody’s son a friend, too 🥺 Least Fave: We’ll Be Fine. Apparently it wasn’t very memorable as I listened to it an hour-ish ago and I already forgot how it goes.
Music from "The Elder" by Kiss: Was It Really That Bad? - TheHappySpaceman Reviews
In 1981, KISS made a daring attempt at a progressive rock concept album. Over four decades later, TheHappySpaceman discovers how that worked out for them.
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An OurStage.Com Fan Picks Special Feature With Trabue
OurStage.com's "You Be The Judge" has a bit of a twist to it this week. Usually, when we look for a fan to feature, the first thing we check is their judging history, Predictor awards and Connector badges—things that immediately tell us the user likes to listen to a lot of music. This time, the first thing we noticed about our featured user was his affinity for writing reviews. We found Trabue in the comments section of Daniel Palmer’s Fanclub page, and asked him right away if he’d like to review a couple of his favorite OurStage tracks. Rather than the usual quick picks, we had Trabue share some more in-depth accounts of why he likes the songs he chose.
Trabue Gentry: OurStage artist and music reviewer.
Trabue: A man of many words...
Bio: Trabue Gentry began his musical career writing music at the age of 13 and has since penned over 150 musical compositions. He started out as an apprentice engineer at Kings Studio in 1965 and eventually received an artist contract by producer Pete Drake (George Harrison, Ringo Starr, et al) in 1977. Today, Gentry continues to write and produce music and advise and collaborate with artists around the world. Lean more about Trabue Gentry
Artist: Michael "Mike" Krizanovski
Composition: Deepest Water
Listen to: Deepest Water
Admittedly, I am biased since I featured Michael's awe inspiring guitar work on my composition "Lost In The Wax". But my bias goes well beyond that. Quit simply, Michael is a brilliant composer, arranger, musician and engineer. His genius in all of these areas is no more evident than in his hauntingly beautiful composition "Deepest Water".
Michael is best known for his OurStage contest winning "TeeAKKee" which personified what we all expected from him as an extraordinarily talented rock guitarist.
Recently, Michael expressed to me his concern that his yet unheard classical compositions might not be well received by OurStage audiences and sent me an advance copy of "Deepest Water" for my opinion. Naturally, I was caught completely off guard. This is perhaps the most beautifully written, orchestrated and executed classical rock masterpiece I have ever heard.
"Deepest Water's" complexities and intricacies may well be the topic for heated discussion and debate among the most accredited academic music theorists for many years to come.
No matter what genre you prefer, everyone should experience the lesser known and perhaps more brilliant side of Mike Krizanovski in "Deepest Water".
Artist: Jerry Herrera
Composition: Gethsemane (in the garden of)
Listen to: Gethsemane
Here is Jerry Herrera, one the undiscovered but very important artists on OurStage.
I've been a fan of Jerry's music for quite sometime. His is the stuff of deep emotional imagery which evokes a sense of incredible well being. It's a spiritual journey with many subtle twists and turns creating visions that flow beautifully and endlessly in and out the listeners head.
With many years of experience as a recording engineer I can speak with authority here. Intentional or not, Jerry's recording technique is remarkable. It has a wonderful "primitive" quality to it which is, in great part, responsible for the eerie and ethereal character of his music.
Perhaps the most engaging of Jerry's works is "Gethsemane" or literally translated: "in the garden of". It should be noted that this recording has several imperfections that, were they pieces of furniture, would be considered "distressed" only adding to its natural beauty.
So, close your eyes, open you mind and prepare yourself to experience a master of musical imagery, Jerry Herrera with "Gethsemane".
Artist: Descending New Angels
Composition: Break Me
Listen to: Break Me
Locked and loaded and ready to rumble. That's the best way to describe Descending New Angels' "Break Me".
"Break Me" screams, not at you, but with you in its defiant message of "never give up". This is one tight and powerful song. The front man conveys this inspiring and hopeful message with his biting guitar and "in your face" vocals while the rest of the band literally steamrolls the song along in a perfectly coordinated attack.
Descending New Angels is one of those rare bands that provide a consistently good stream of music. Every song is unique and conveys an honest, meaningful message. There is not a single hint of pretense with this band. What you hear is what you get and what they say is what they mean.
So, if you're ready for distraction with action, Descending New Angels is, without a doubt, ready for you.
A new project!!
Hey guys! From today on I will be posting a new segment every fifteen days called “Musical Review / Characters”. It’s simple- I will play my playlist on shuffle and the first song that comes on will be the subject of the review. ‘Music is not just notes and lyrics, it’s memories.’ So I will mostly be sharing my memories associated with a particular song and, because I want to have a little more fun, I will be making characters based on the songs. If you have any questions, please feel free to message me! :)
WHAT IS IT, THE BRAIDS?! - K.Dot 🔥
˗ˏˋ ECLIPZEN1GHTS REVIEW CORNER ˎˊ˗
RATING SYSTEM: 5 ★
BOOK SYSTEM: how well did the book achieve it’s goal, what was left out of the book, character development, pacing, reliance on tropes, use of literary devices.
MOVIE SYSTEM: effectiveness of the plot, theme, acting/performances, writing/dialogue, special effects, musical effects, cinematography.
MUSIC SYSTEM: lyrics, quality of vocals, effective storytelling, general impression of the album/song.
⇉ NOTE: open to requests on what books, movies, and songs/albums to review, (those might take longer to review, as i'll have to either buy the book, or find the time to watch/listen to the movie, or song/album) however any book, movie, or song/album that I rate under a 2.5 will not have an in-depth review as other reviews posted. (at that point its not even worth giving a review if it's that bad.)
BOOK REVIEWS
MOVIE REVIEWS
MUSIC REVIEWS
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The Odyssey Tour: The Dirty Heads, Shiny Toy Guns, Midi Matilda and Oh No Fiasco!
First time in this theater. Too bad I didn’t find Lincoln earlier during my time at Elon. The venue…
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Top 40 format radio really has been on life support since at least 2010. Thanks Todd in the Shadows for presenting radio's newest low. Napster wounded the music industry and Spotify put it in a coffin.
Alright, folks time for my favourite albums of all time because I’m tired of pop brain rot that is more about the action of being a fan than actually feeling something
Funeral- Arcade Fire
GOD this album makes me feel things. It’s raw and hopeful and fantastic and so so real. It is born of genuine love for the art of songwriting and its powerful.
Favourite song: Neighbourhood 1 (Tunnels)
Complex- Montaigne
Making it! I think is their best in terms of singles but this album really well curated and delves into some interesting themes.
Favourite song: is this all I am good for?
The Positions- Gang of Youths
Oh fuck me this was a hard choice. All of Gang of Youths is so good but their first LP is just so powerful. Definitely check out their whole discography though.
Favourite song: Radioface
I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose- Bombay Bicycle Club
Ohhh man this album. Song after song is a journey and is equal parts like washing your face with the first few of the spring and reflecting on a heavy sadness that is still lingering.
Favourite song: Always Like This
Moonfire- Boy and Bear
Listen to Boy and Bear right now. Moonfire was a huge part in giving me hope for my life. I’m dead serious. It’s such a beautiful album.
Favourite song: Big Man (holy fuck this is an incredible song)
Our Two Skins- Gordi
Gordi has a voice that goes right through you, she has a way of crafting songs that are so painfully universal.
Favourite song: Free Association
The Balcony- Catfish and the Bottlemen
Ohhhh fuck me this album. This ALBUM. When I was 16 this absolutely shattered my world. Messy love, lust, desire, fighting. All the things that a teenager needs.
Favourite song: Hourglass
Album Review: Dybbuk Tse!
By: Yoni Mayraz
Album Details:
Genre: Jazz
Released: June 2, 2023
From The Artist: Yoni Mayraz states that the "Dybbuk, known from Jewish folklore, is a malevolent wandering spirit that enters and possesses the body of a living person. It’s a cursed soul of a dead one that wanders tirelessly for sins committed during their life. The most vulnerable victims are the young and the sinful. Possession can be taken literally or as an analogy to the burden that young people carry generations back, which they have no influence on, and which they have to accept. Dybbuk can only be removed by exorcism. The titular ‘Dybbuk Tse!’ is a command to remove the spirit from the possessed body. The album is a story about possession but also about exorcism through music."
Album Review:
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars [⭐⭐⭐⭐.5]
Favorite Track: As We Entered Jericho
Authors thoughts: Wow, wow, wow! What an album! Mayraz has a truly unique sound and artistic voice that comes through here beautifully. A fusion of jazz, 90's NYC hip-hop, and Middle Eastern music, this album harbors a vibe like no other and a rooted story within. These three genres are blended beautifully together through structure, rhythm, melody and star-striking solos from each member of the band. The solos flow from instrument to instrument perfectly and the group seems to be in that state of "musician communication harmony" together. In particular, I enjoyed the groovy and flowing bass lines which Eli Orr rips out on bass guitar with a nice, rich, but synth-like tone. Somewhat dark yet light at the same time, Mayraz delivers his usual style of production while simultaneously experimenting with tinges of murkiness and gloom, resulting in the aforementioned dark/light contrast. I, personally, could not help but get up and dance to some of the tracks on here. My only real critique here is that the titular track (Track 5: Dybbuk Tse!) falls kind of flat in comparison to the rest of the album and the opening vocal sample on it feels out-of-place. Finally, I think the album art is surreally beautiful and worthy of mentioning here because it is just so cool. Very much worthy of it's high rating, I would recommend this album to anyone interested in or looking to get into fusion/contemporary jazz.
Got suggestions or feedback? Let me know in DMs or Asks!
RATING SCALE
~ Created for clarity and reference ~
⭐ - Hated this piece of media, never show it to me again.
⭐⭐ - Disliked this piece of media, has lots of room for improvement, would prefer to not see it again.
⭐⭐⭐ - Purely okay, has room for improvement, no strong feelings one way or the other, might recommend to others.
⭐⭐⭐⭐- Enjoyed this piece of media! Would recommend to others/see again. Minor room for improvement, overall really nice.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - The coveted "perfect" rating (very rare to give out). Truly exceptional work, no critiques to be made. Would 100% recommend and see again.
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Ratings of my favorite BBC Uncle songs:
No Survivors - 7/10
A bit long and slow for me, but the lyrics are pretty lit of you listen to it.
I Like Like You - 10/10
Very catchy with very creative lyrics. Would 100% go out with anyone who sings this to me.
I Love Love You - 10.5/10
I'm sorry, but that rock just gives so much more to it. Also, Errol saying the 'This song was written by him' is somehow sooooooooooo good.
I'm Back - 10/10
As someone bored of their Catholic school I 110% approve this. 'Like Jesus Christ or what's his name' is an illegally funny line.
Last Place Hero 124/10
I'm literally obsessed with this song. I hum it all the time and I've translated the lyrics into Hungarian just for fun. ¯\_(シ)_/¯ Also, Val, Casper and Gwen are absolutely amazing there. 👏👏
Seven Minutes in Heaven - 8/10
Very fun lyrics! I absolutely adore Errol's lines.
Carpet Brothers Jingle - 11/10
Oh, I whish there were any Carpet Brothers in Hungary so that I could just hang out there and listen to this masterpiece.
Green Eyed Monster - 8.5/10
Oh gosh why is it sooo good???? This song should be every teenage girl's dream. Also, why does 'I've been going through your bins' goes so hard?
Ship In A Bottle - 11/10
One of my favorites. It's emotional but still so Andy. If this isn't playing on my funeral, I'm not going.