I'm going to be honest: I'm not precisely sure what's going on here. But I like it.
Gauntlet Hair is a noise pop duo from Chicago by way of Denver. This track has looping guitar riffs and somewhat dissonant interludes, along with nigh-unintelligible lyrics. (It's my custom to pilfer a line or two and include at the bottom of the post, but in this case, I can't make out enough of a phrase to put anything remotely meaningful.... so... yeah.)
It might not be your cup of tea, but then again you may find yourself drawn to it as I was. Give it a click, and if it's not for you, just browse to another post, like maybe some Sufjan Stevens if you're a hipster, Arcade Fire if you only liked Sufjan before he went mainstream, Said The Whale if you only liked Arcade Fire before they went mainstream, William Fitzsimmons if you just went through a divorce or nasty breakup, Bob Marley if you're Rastafarian or just like weed, or.... you know what, just browse around!
I have a love/hate relationship with the big corporations that dominate the landscape of America (and the world) these days. On one hand, it's incredibly convenient to be able to pick up yard tools, car parts, a PlayStation, scented candles, LEGOs, milk, eggs, toothpaste and saline all in one trip to Wal-Mart. On the other hand, where is my money going if I shop there, and what happens to the local hardware store, craftsmen/artists, grocer, farmers, etc. if I spend my money buying stuff from God knows where? Not to mention the environmental cost of trucking in these products from across the country (or further)...
Here's a song dealing with these sorts of questions and moral dilemmas. It might even hint at the potentially unsavory relationships between big businesses and politicians (hmm, where does that campaign funding come from, Mr. Senator? And why, I wonder, did Company X want to contribute to your campaign? Something in it for them?)
Five Iron Frenzy managed to blend a plethora of musical styles with some pretty deep stuff (when they weren't being totally off the wall). This one kind of defies description musically, but I love it anyway:
Who's behind the curtain anyway, Who pulls the levers and tells the lies?
Want to get some education while you listen? Read up on Adam Smith, who is mentioned in the bridge, and his book The Wealth of Nations, which set forth some fundamental theories of modern economics.
So my friend Jake's friend Scott posted this song a while ago on his song of the day blog*, and I checked it out and was impressed. I didn't want to just go post it myself right away though, because that just seemed like copying. But I heard Jake and a couple other friends** play the song today and it just hit me, so now you're getting it tonight.
* - wait, you mean I'm not the only person in the world doing this?
** - friendly post tonight, eh?
Harmonies and instrumentation. This song has them. I like those things. Self-described as "liturgical post-rock", Gungor's sound is rich and full. The way the song builds just resonates, and the breakdown with the glockenspiel is great.
Live version:
Album version:
"All this earth Could all that is lost ever be found? Could a garden come out from this ground, at all?"
These guys aren't around any more, but they were a lot of fun back when I was in high school and college, and well worth an occasional spin in amongst the newer music I listen to these days. FIF blended upbeat tunes with humor, and threw in some deep thoughts as well. This one's about finding a way to overcome the crushing weight of doubt.
"Beneath machinery
specter of treachery,
and I've lost everything;
and I am getting out,
the shadow of my doubt
is suffocating;
my own worst enemy,
this Juggernaut is killing me"
