Stornoway - Beachcombers Windowsill

I know it's been a while since i've written anything lately but to my defence, there has been a million things unfolding in the last month or so and I tried to find the perfect album to see fit.  First off, let me begin with my status as a university student............I'M DONE!  I know right, I finally finished my twenty one years of schooling and to be honest, it's a little surreal, though when it does hit me, I don't doubt that it'll hit me like a bag of bricks.  Second, I found two other jobs that will eventually help me with my future plans, although one of these occupations diverts me back into the kitchen where the smell of fried foods, a number of different sauces and sweat all mixed into one is so potent that not even the strongest of colognes can hide it....just think of the money.  And third, I believe I have finally found someone that can bare/withstand my randomness, who I can say is a really good friend to me as well; but that's a whole other story.  Either way, epic right?...So I knew I had to take the time and find the right album to share my story, and here it is...

# 23

A pair of brothers playing up-beat and folky tracks while using an assortment of different instruments make up the core of Stornoway.  With comparison to the very talented Mumford & Sons, who's influential music exploded onto the indie music scene, Stornoway's sound is fresh, unique, and a perfect soundtrack for a road trip in the summer.  "Zorbing" is by far the most unique song i've heard in years.  Listen to the low harmony in the pre-chorus beginning at 0:36, and the eccentric bass line beginning at 1:20.  Their arrangement of sound is quite reassuring, simply because it proves how talented people can be without having to mimic others.  "Fuel up"...do you remember that feeling you get when you hear a certain song, or remember a certain memory and you get this sudden, yet comforting chill that is simply unexplainable?...well take a moment and listen to this song.  That exact moment happened to me at the 1:32 mark when the bassist drops an unbelievable rift that just sends chills down my spin.  If I could define that feeling with one word, I think I would call it 'Swoon'!

I enjoyed this album very much. One, because its simply brilliant; two, because their song writing ability is very influential; and three...they reassure me that in fact, what i'm doing in my life is the right choice.  It may not be the best, but it's the one I want to take - which is the only choice for me.  If I could give anyone advice, (since i've been getting the best as of late) I would say to just take a new look at your goals and accomplishments. You'd be surprised at what you may find by simply keeping the same path with a different approach.  At the end of it all, you are what you love, not what loves you...

Stornoway - Beachcombers Windowsill
4.5/5
Recommended songs:
Zorbing
Fuel Up
Watching Birds
I Saw You Blink
Here Comes The Blackout

The Weekend - House of Balloons

Respect is extremely difficult to come by. It's not just something you can slap a label on and move on, it's something you have to earn and prove you deserve.  I have great respect for people, much like my parents, who came to a foreign country not knowing the language, who fought their way against all odds, and earned their respect.  Our generation is so blinded by the things we are supposed to earn with the things we are given. It's hard to understand what respect is supposed to stand for.  So I decided to write a review on an artist who I believe has given great dividends to a genre in which has lost its respect throughout the years.  Coming from a generation where auto-tune, dub-step and mediocre lyrics have somehow taken top reign in the music industry, true R&B has fallen off the map and I for one missed out on the chance to succumb to artist such as Boyz II Men, Aaliyah, Mary J. Blidge, Erykah Badu, Marvin Gaye, all of which have been forgotten to some extent.  But we can't dwell on what we've missed, instead we should appreciate what R&B has become and use these artists as inspiration. Give them our respect.

#22

The Weekend - House of Balloons

To set the record straight, no I don't think this mix-tape has saved or somehow reincarnated the R&B genre. Instead, I think it has done a great job producing its own rendition; creating a certain sub-genre that pays dividends to its origins, while staying modern. Abel Tesfaye, stage name The Weeknd, is a Toronto based artist who draws his listeners in with his slow, seductive and melancholic voice, backed up by a dark and eerie production that mirrors the late hours of a very....very long night out.  "The Party & The After Party" is a perfect example of what you may listen to while fixing yourself up, or slowing yourself down from the extremities of a long night.  There are a few things that kept me interested while listening to this track.  1) the sample that is used during the chorus is equally haunting and beautiful, which fits perfectly to its theme... and 2) I can't help but recognize the similarities between this song and Beach House's "Take Care".  Then again, there are two parts to this seven minute track, so I'll leave it to you to describe what you feel while listening.  If you haven't realized already, Tesfaye uses themes such as sex, drugs and money in most of his music, which is basically the exact same concept for modern day rappers; Tesfaye just makes it more appealing.  "The Morning" is another great example of Tesfaye's rendition of sub-genre R&B (comparable to Drake's: Houstalantavegas).  The mixture between Hip-Hop, alternative rock and R&B are all evident in Tesfaye's music, which I believe is a step in the right direction for this coming of age sub-genre.

Respect, again, is only earned when it is equally received.  You cannot go out of your away and just expect others to respect you for what you've done, you have to earn it.  It may takes months, or years, or even decades to earn the respect of others, but when you believe in yourself, it may take mere seconds. After that, everyone else's opinion just doesn't seem to matter.

The Weekend - House of Balloons
4/5
recommended:
The Party & The After Party
The Morning
Loft Music
High For This
What You Need