Vega4 - You And Others

I've made mistakes in my life....who hasn't...like any other human being, I feel sorry for my mistakes and I have a conscience thats eating away at me, but sorry doesn't usually cut it.   I've tried to make everyone around me happy, but thats the catch, you can't make everyone happy all at once...someone is going to dislike you, someone is going to disagree with you whither you like it or not.  Then there are times where you have to man up and admit your mistakes, admit you've been a jerk at times, but instead of faltering in self pity, you take it as a learning experience for the long run.  My closest friends are usually the victims to my impulsive reactions to certain situations and if anyone is going to tell me the truth, it would be them.  I rely on two or three of them to tell me exactly what I need to hear, even if its going to hurt me even more...but i wouldn't take a verbal punch from any one else but them....you just have to learn to listen.

#16

Vega4 - You And Others

One of my friends asked me where I find my music and all I told him was that I try to listen to every suggestion possible.  I listen to clips of songs used during commercial breaks, during movie trailers, or television programs..(never the radio, radio destroys the fun out of finding new and impressive music), and I take the time to listen to what other people enjoy.  There must be a reason why people choose the music they listen to, a feeling that is unexplainable and only attainable if you give it a chance.  I found Vega4 during a movie trailer and I knew right off that bat that I had to find their music; the feeling was there, I could hear it, I just had to find it.  "A Billion Tons of Lights" uses the ambient sounds of the Tone-pad instrument which suits the title of the track perfectly.  You can tell by the lyrics and the continues 16 bar loop that this song was directly influenced by the Tone-pad instrument and I've been waiting for an alternative rock band to do just that.  "Tearing Me Apart" is another song influenced by the Tone-pad instrument, though Vega4 definitely leans towards the rock approach with this track.  I have yet to hear another alternative rock band gutsy enough to use an instrument that only requires the tapping of your fingers, but regardless of the fact, Vega4 has created a new and exciting way to combine music with technology.  It doesn't take much effort to produce an irreplaceable loop from the Tone-pad, but combining with a full four piece band requires a great amount of skill...

It's hard to keep track of what I'm doing right and what I'm doing wrong, the only way to know is if my friends are still there by my side.  I do apologize for my misjudgments I embarked on these past few months, but if I had the chance to go back and change my decisions, I don't think I would.  I do believe in second chances, and I do believe that there is no weakness in forgiveness, you just have to make sure it's deserving.

Vega4 - You And Others
3.5/5
Recommended
Tearing Me Apart
A Billion Tons of Lights
Life is Beautiful
Traffic Jam

The Most Serene Republic - ...And The Ever Expanding Universe

Funny story...I went to go watch Ra Ra Riot perform at the Mod Club this past Wednesday and I saw a class mate walk by while heading to the washroom.  I thought nothing of it since we don't really speak to one another in class, though I knew it was him from his distinct characteristics.  While walking back to the concert floor, I see him once again fixing up the guitars, and helping the opening band prepare for their performance.  I turn to my friend and say..."hey look, the guitar tech..he's in my class", she replies with a raised eyebrow "dude, that's the lead singer".  Astonished, I watched his band perform in front of hundreds of people and to my surprise...they were really good!  At that moment, I knew I had to purchase their album, write a review, and someway somehow become his friend....man i feel like a groupie!

#15

The Most Serene Republic - ...And The Ever Expanding Universe

Little did i know that MSR had more then one album out in stores, so it was definitely difficult for me to choose which one to listen too, then I began to remember the performance and pinpointed the song that caught my attention.  "Heavens to Purgatory" (and yes, thats the guy in my class) fulfilled my needs for weird and uncanny musical genres.  The combination of The Shins and The Strokes, mixed with a trans back beat, a banjo outline, and a verse melody that ranges from high to low much like a seismic monitor, is by far the weirdest and most interesting thing i've heard this past year.  Whats most enticing to me is how MSR is not looking for that commercial sound, they find pleasure in producing their own music that fit their needs, and the ones of their avid fans.  "Phi" is another track that provides that indie style, out of the ordinary feeling that i find appealing.  MSR produces an array of musical sounds that fit together like a puzzle, in which one sound may feel naked on its own, but when put together, its simply euphoric.  

It's crazy to think that a classmate of mine, who sits right across from me in tutorial, is performing on the same stage as Ra Ra Riot, it just makes you think of all the talent thats around you.  You just never know who's next in line to stardom, who's the next richest man or women, or who's the next greatest inventor.  The talent amongst your friends, family, and or classmates is incredible, in fact, the talent you bestow amongst yourselves is incredible, we just need that time in the spotlight to share our talents that may potentially change the world.  I might be going overboard with my optimist, but at the same time....you never know....

The Most Serene Republic - ...And The Ever Expanding Universe

3/5

recommended:

Heavens to Purgatory

Phi

No One Likes a Nihilist

All of One is the Other

Mt. Desolation - Mt. Desolation

Sometimes you need a change, a change from your regular routine, a change from what's comfortable to what's exciting.  Admittedly, i've been letting my last year of university slip right through my fingers, by the end of next week ill only have one more semester left...then its off to the world.  The problem is...thats where the regular routine kicks in.  The dreadful 9-5, make dinner from 6-7, eat dinner and watch some glee from 7-8..make plans for the weekend from 9-10, get ready for bed and do it all over again.  I don't know if i can handle it, though i know its looming around the corner, waiting for me, lusting at its inevitability.  I'm not saying its a terrible life style, but i can't say it was something i was looking forward to....I wanted to look outside the box, and i think i found something.
#14

Mt. Desolation - Mt. Desolation

 I found this band while searching through another one of my favourite bands named Keane.  Their pianist Tim Rice-Oxley took time off from his original quartet  and focused on a side project entitled Mt. Desolation.  I wasn't sure how to make out the album, the Keane factor was quite apparent, though the country/up-tempo concept took me by surprise.  It's not something i normally listen to, but when you branch off to something unusual, it's kind of exciting. "State of our Affairs" was the first song i listened too off the album, and this two verse, no chorus, heavy violin and piano piece stood out from the rest.  It might be a bad example when trying to explain the rest of the album, but its not a song i could leave out.  The 2:03 mark was something unexplainable and definitely something i had to share.  By using their own instruments, the band strung together a plethora of notes to create a chaotic sound that oddly fit together with the rest of the song; they invented an acoustic distortion.  "Coming Home" is a much more formal, yet equally emotional piece by Mt. Desolation.  This Keane influence song reminded me much of "Somewhere only we know" by the same band, which you may remember its fifteen minutes of fame from the movie "He's just not that into you".....which i watched...and yes..enjoyed.

I also might have found something that may be a potential of something greater.  I am aware of my youth slowly but surely coming to an end..and yes i am only 21, but living through this generation, you tend to notice that everyone is fighting for the final piece of the puzzle, and age is definitely not a restraint anymore.  It's troubling for a york student at his final year to realize that its your turn, but you have nothing to prepare for when you step up to the podium.  Is it just me, or am I the first to say that i'm not ready yet.  I almost lost something that could potentially be something great, but i was so sure of throwing it away because I just wasn't ready.  This box we put on ourselves, this restraint that we trap ourselves with is self-destructive, it's unhealthy sometimes, and I can't say that school has helped me prepare for any of it.  So I taught myself to look outside the box, and I encourage you to do the same, because you might be surprised of what you may find.

Mt. Desolation - Mt. Desolation
3/5
recommended songs:
State of our Affairs
Coming Home
Bridal Gown
Bitter Pill