Alex Clare: The Lateness of the Hour

Everyone knows that love is the most prevalent theme throughout all music.  It crosses into every genre and almost everyone can relate to it.  This album is not unique to that condition in any way.  Alex Clare’s debut album oozes heartache and misfortune in terms of love.  The Lateness of the Hour exemplifies the theme of love but in a very modern sense.  Over time, the idea of falling in love has changed into a less romanticized journey.  It has changed from finding love in people who are arranged to be married, to finding love through exploring as many relationships as possible.  Monogamy was valued as a necessity to maintain a love filled relationship previously and now that has changed into what is known as a “hook-up” culture.  It is socially acceptable to see many people at once as long as no exclusivity has been established now.  Even sex has become acceptable with many partners as long as no boundaries of exclusivity have been established.  Alex Clare establishes his use of the modern belief system throughout this album.  He writes about sleeping around and being unable to stay with one person within the album.  Nothing stays the same throughout all of time and music reflects the changes in cultural practices. 

            The Lateness of the Hour is criticized by major music review websites, such as Pitchfork, because of the integration of modern and more historic musical and lyrical ideas.  The musicality of the album integrates more modern music into the soul genre through incorporating EDM into the songs.  Clare has a very soulful voice that is juxtaposed in this album through the prevalence of strong bass and dance background music.  Alex Clare had Diplo and Major Lazer producing this album with him, which led to the use of dance beats.  Their influence seamlessly integrated the two genres.  Clare’s timbre is perfectly matched to slower, more intricate beats when he is singing at a normal volume.  When he crescendo’s Diplo and Major Lazer cranked up the bass to match his volume and intensity.  Even though these two genres of music seem so separate, with one having years of historical background and the other being a new technique, when they come together, it’s magic. This album is hard to swallow at first but the second time around, there’s no way to dislike it.  The people who critiqued this album focused too much on how the two genres present were unlike each other, and not on how well they played together.

            Alex Clare seems to dabble in the arts of pushing the boundaries.  He tested them through integrating soul and EDM and tested them again when he integrated modern and outdated cultural beliefs of love and sex.  This album touches subjects such as infidelity and not being able to commit, as well as the idea of not wanting to lose someone.  The song hummingbird touches on the more antique idea of loving someone and only them.  Throughout the song, it shows how much Clare wants to be with this woman and to love her.  Unfortunately she is ‘hovering’ around him, dodging his attempts to show her how much he cares.  This is a very unique type of breakup song because it’s not from the perspective of someone who has been wronged or broken up with, but from the person who knows the end is near and can’t do anything to stop it from coming.  Relax my Beloved is very similar in the sense that it’s about not letting go.  He’s desperately trying to provide support and understanding to someone who he’s struggling with, in the hopes of a maintaining a relationship.  There’s a tangible pain felt within these songs, as he is aching to be loved in return.  These songs share a very restrained EDM background beat.  In Hummingbird the beat remains steady and calm until the chorus, where the bass climaxes and Alex Clare sings his heart out.  Relax My Beloved also has a very mellow beat until the first chorus where the pace increases but still remains steady for the rest of the song.  The musicality is an indicator of stability and sameness, that monogamy and relationships have. 

            Up All Night is the most major change in views of sexuality.  This song is entirely about infidelity and getting away with sleeping with someone else.  This song epitomizes the idea of a ‘hook-up culture.’  He is leaving one woman to have sex with another, never seeking satisfaction in one person but through the love of many.  He expresses that he has been wasting his youth by spending it with one person and not exploring the love of other women.  Hands Are Clever is another song that explores the modern ideas of relationships.  It describes how Clare is trying to woo a woman by being very direct in what he wants to do with her.  He describes how he’s not looking to raise a family or play games.  The intention of sleeping with this woman becomes entirely clear when he sings “There’s only so much I can say,/ to convince you/ Though words have their place,/ not in a bedroom.”  The song encircles the modern views of love and sex, through the pursuance of a purely sexual relationship with no intent of a future.  Both of these songs are upbeat, with a fast paced tempo.  Their musicality seems to parallel the ideals held within the songs.  Sleeping with many people and not committing is a very fast paced way of having relationships and with the intense bass of Up All Night and the high energy jazz instruments of Hands Are Clever, there’s no slowing down. 

            This album is a fluctuating view from loving one person to loving many and all the gray area in between.  Every facet of love is addressed within this album.  It’s very raw and truthful to the fickle nature of love.  Some people decide to maintain old values and stay with one person and some decide to assimilate to modern ideals.  And then there are some like Alex Clare that dabble in both.  This album carries Clare through desperately fighting for one woman to exploring the life of loving many women.  It ventures into the world of envisioning being with someone, knowing the outcome and encountering a bad ending while still wanting to make the relationship work.  There’s truly no happy ending in any of these songs but it is alluring nonetheless.  The fluidity of the music and the musicality making melancholy stories seem upbeat is unique.  It has an addictive quality because playing the album once doesn’t express the many dimensions of it.  Each time it is listened to, a new aspect is noticed and it adds its beauty and intricacy.  Alex Clare is an artist of words with a soulful voice and with the help of his producers, his work is a representation of his artistry.  There are very few artists out there with music like Clare’s but the artists that do venture into mixed genres, like James Blake, don’t come near the mastery of this album.

Works Cited:

Berlant, Lauren. "The Subject of True Feeling: Pain, Privacy, and Politics." Cultural Studies &                        Political Theory. Ithica, NY: Cornell UP, 2000. 42-62. Print.

Blake, James. Retrograde. James Blake. Academy Plus, 2013. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.

Brase, G.L., L. Adair, and K. Monk. "Explaining Sex Differences in Reactions to Relationship                        Infidelities: Comparisons of the Roles of Sec, Gender, Beliefs, Attatchment, and Sociosexual              Orientation." Evolutionary Psychology 12.1 (2014): 73-96. Academic Search Complete                        [EBSCO]. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.

Cohen, Ian. "Alex Clare: The Lateness of the Hour." Pitchfork. N.p., 5 Aug. 2011. Web. 19 Nov.                      2015.

Nicky Da B. Express Yourself. Diplo (ft. Nicky Da B). Rec. 11 June 2012. Mad Decent Protocol                     2012. MP3.

Ray, Elisa. "Alex Clare Interview: Three Years after His Debut Album Flopped, the Musician Is                   Back with a Bang." The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, 7 Nov.                             2014. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.

Rogers, Kathleen Béres. "Permeability And Its Uses: Affect And Audience In Charlotte                                 Smith's Elegiac Sonnets." Women's Writing 16.1 (2009): 126-42. Academic                                           Search Complete [EBSCO]. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.  

Rundell, John. "Slave to the Rhythm or Love, Sex and the Dialectic of Freedom." Thesis                               Eleven 117.1 (2013): 127-34. Academic Search Complete [EBSCO]. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.

Halsey: Badlands

                     Halsey's Badlands is her first album and features two of her three top singles; "Ghost", and "New Americana".  This album has contributed to Halsey's recent fame that began with her debut EP Room 93.  This album is the true showcase of Halsey's talent, through the inventive lyrics and the hypnotizing background music.  There is a haunting feel to this album, through the eerie melodies and the torturous emotion behind the lyrics in the songs.  Just like Bastille's VS. Other People's Heartache, Halsey gets out this intense emotion in an almost aggressive manner, making dark topics enjoyable.  There's an underlying theme of overthrowing the system that has already been established, and breaking free of the chains of such an outdated system of gender roles.  Halsey's bold choice to make her first album conceptual on this idea of change could have ended her career before it began but her uncanny ability to manipulate her voice made this one for the books.

            Within the past five years major political issues have been brought up and have led to major change in U.S. politics but as Halsey points out, there’s a long way to go.  The use of legal marijuana and gay marriage are the most major political changes that have been brought up recently.  Through years of fighting the battle for recognition, same-sex marriage was legalized in June of this year.  Halsey’s themes of rebellion and escaping the ties of societal standards perfectly expresses the rebellion required to make such an impact.  And with all of that change, the Federal Government in the U.S. has established that if a state wishes to legalize the use of marijuana, they can.  Alaska, Oregon, Colorado, and Washington have legalized the use of marijuana recreationally and medically.  With all of these advances, there are still setbacks that were established many decades ago.  States can legalize marijuana but they can’t sell it legally for recreational use.  So even though it isn’t illegal to consume it, it is illegal to obtain it in a regulated and controlled way.  Halsey’s album expresses this theme of attempting to take one step forward and realizing that it didn’t result in any progression.  How can anyone take a step in the right direction when there are societal boundaries preventing anything from changing? 

            A very similar issue that is always addressed but makes very slow strides toward change, is the issue of gender roles. Decades of the perpetuated idea of female and male, social and economic roles has led to one of the largest issues in America.  Women have fought for their right to vote and to work but they still are treated as lesser individuals.  The idea of defying these established gender roles and starting a new culture is very prevalent through Badlands.  Halsey tries to establish how difficult it is to be oneself, if they are always being controlled by pre-existing standards.  Men have been the domineering figures restricting women’s choices, and Halsey can’t stand it.  Women have gained more freedom in the workplace, and in traditional roles but there is still a lingering tone of inferiority.  Now it has become more acceptable for couples to have the woman making more income than her male counterpart.  This issue impacts every aspect of human interaction from popularity in the music industry to household expectations.  Halsey, even as young as she is, recognized that and addressed it in her album. This issue impacts every aspect of human interaction from popularity in the music industry to household expectations.  Halsey, even as young as she is, recognized that and addressed it in her album.

          The opening number "Castle" sets the tone for the whole album.  It opens with the skin crawling sound of buzzing and a faint ringing and then the beat is established.  The lyrics open by bashing the requirements of being poised and peaceful and expressing how the journey to the top is gonna be a fight.  She opens herself up by saying that she's already a target, so why should she waste her time crying about it.  Instead "[She's] heading straight for the castle."  "Castle" gives the listener a taste of the musical style of the album, with a dark and upbeat musical style and vocals that are flawless.  Halsey's vocal range is unbelievable but she mostly displays her vocal control in this album; through riffs and her ability to put her emotion into her singing.  

           Next the song "Hold me Down" expresses how Halsey's “demons” led her to speak her mind and become belligerent.  These voices tearing her down, convince her to open her mouth and speak up for herself but then they take her too far.  In a way, her “demons” give her the push to assert herself, to try to defy the social expectations.  But the down side is that it can go too far.  She even talks about how she gave herself to someone and they put her down through praising her.  Giving her condescending compliments that slowly tear down self esteem.  Then she realized that it wasn't her want to stay down, it was the "devil" that was holding her down.  She defies gender roles at every turn of this album and this song shows another defining rebellion.  This song holds a more upbeat tempo with eerie background sounds of wooshing and backup vocals, but stays on brand to Halsey's vocals.  In a way, this song is a song of revelation, showing how she gets up even though someone is holding her down.  

          Halsey then sings "New Americana" which is a song about escaping the old and becoming the new.  This song is the climax of the album musically.  The tempo and bass for this song give it an addictive quality, being one of the songs that gets played over and over because just once isn't enough.  Through listening closely, small but significant sound effects are added throughout the songs like a group of people echoing a phrase or yells of agreement in the background can be noticed.  This song in particular is artfully created and all of the little details seamlessly fit together.  This song is the one that has the most effort in it and is definitely the most important in establishing the theme of the album.  The entire song is about how Halsey's group is defying the culture of our time and they will leave their legacy.  They were raised on "Biggie and Nirvana" and together they will be the change society needs.

          The rest of the album mostly speaks upon Halsey's experiences of being put down by a significant other and getting back up from them.  She references being used and manipulated by a man in "Colors".  In the song he makes her change to suit his lifestyle and then once she has conformed, he leaves her.  It's as if in that song, the male followed the stereotypical gender roles but when he tried to change Halsey to fit them too, she wasn't good enough.  The songs transition into describing his aftermath by saying that his dominance still haunts her.  This idea of being haunted by a domineering, gender role conforming man, is expressed through "Haunting" and then carried out into the final song "Ghost".

          Between those two songs, the tone changes from being put down to sticking up for oneself.  Defying gender roles, and fighting for individuality is the major theme expressed through "Control" and "Young God" and this concludes the album perfectly.  "Control" continues the dark and eerie vibe of the album while establishing the change in tone.  The lyrics speak of demons and children crying out of fear, but it's all a manifest of Halsey's fear in defying social standards.  Halfway through the song, the music slows down and the piano chimes in a high pitched, creepy tempo.  During this time, the tone changes and Halsey accepts her fear and establishes that she's become familiar with her demons.  She ends the song by saying "God Damn Right, you should be scared of me" because she is coming into her own and standing up for herself.  "Young God" perpetuates the idea of growing strength and getting people to join the cause.  At the end "Ghost" establishes how no matter what Halsey is searching for someone to fill a void but now she isn't look to be subservient to anyone.  This song states that she's looking for someone to love and leave, to not get attached and move on.  This song was Halsey's top single before the album came out but it has a very sad undertone to it.  It's about finally being free of the gender roles of relationships but along the way she closed her heart to people.  She conquered the gender stereotype even at the expense of her relationship.  That's a very brave move on her part and it shows how dedicated she is to her cause. The album chronologically tells a story of conquering the stereotypes of the world and creating a new system/ generation.  

         This album overall establishes that our society is flawed and someone needs to fix it.  Whether or not that someone is Halsey and her followers is yet to be determined but through this album, she's made it very clear that she is trying.  For an opening album this makes a bold statement but, with the perfect musicality and the vocal expertise of Halsey, it's not overpowering.  Halsey's voice is not entirely unique like Bad Suns or Bastille, but her ability to control it makes it so powerful.  With a message like this on her first album, we definitely have more to come.  Hopefully someone will truly make an impact on gender roles and change the lopsidedness of our social standards.

        

Have you experienced something that made you want to rebel and fight for a better outcome?

Bastille: Vs. (Other People's Heartache, PT. III)

             Vs. (Other People's Heartache Pt. III) is Bastille's seventh album (including EP's).  This is the third part of a series of albums where Bastille sings songs original to other artists and the majority of these covers feature a variety of artists.  This album is their most recent release and, unlike the others, only includes original songs.  Bastille has made this album perfectly angsty and intense for an album about heartache.  Every song is fast paced and has a thrilling chorus where the guitar picks up and the heartache is entirely palpable.  There's so much emotion in this album that its hard to listen to without feeling something.  It is a very cathartic album, in the sense that it makes something sad and unbearable into a rock ballad.  The power of the instrumentation and vocals expels all of the unwanted emotions being felt.  Unlike sappy, sad albums that make people dwell on unhappiness, this album is like yelling and getting all of it out of your system.  And at the same time, Dan Smith and the other artists aren't screaming or yelling, they just have an intensity in their voices that creates that feeling.  

                Dan Smith has a incredibly recognizable alternative voice.  His voice has an unbelievable range, but he mostly stays in a higher key.  He has the guttural intonation of George Ezra but the clarity and range of James Bay.  That combination  makes one of the most well-known alternative artists of this decade.  His most recognizable song Pompeii got him to the top of the charts and ever since he has been experimenting with musical techniques, which led to this album.  It involves echoing vocals and auto tuning his voice to unreachable low octaves.  Even the instrumentation has become more bold through including a string quartet in Fall Into Your Arms and warped drum notes in Bite Down.  This album in particular contains an enumerable amount of unique musical sounds that add to the aesthetic of the album.  All of the musical aspects are incorporated into the overarching theme of heartache.  

               The theme is so relate-able that there is a lot of leeway to include different allusions and incorporate new musical techniques.  Bastille utilized that freedom and ran with it.  Their skill showed through when all of the unrelated and distinct techniques were manipulated into a cohesive record.  They utilized references that were so vastly different in culture and related them to heartache.  In the song Torn Apart by Bastille, featuring GRADES and Lizzo, the artist GRADES references Yin Yang through the line “My yin and yang is killin’ me/ gotta get back, back to the synergy."  This symbol is immediately recognizable as the balance between good and bad.  Yin Yang is a Chinese philosophical symbol that has been around since the 14th Century B.C.  In Chinese culture, it represents the extremes of the world that result in balance. In this song it supports the idea that someone's heart has been broken and its knocked their center of balance off.  GRADES raps this particular line and it shows how even ancient culture can be used to explain modern heartache.

              Another major allusion Bastille made was in The Driver  to Romeo and Juliet.  This is one of the few songs Bastille performs alone but it is also one of the best.  The intensity of the song and the ability of it to go from a soft melody to a vivacious guitar-backed chorus and back again, makes it one of the most memorable songs. The reference to Romeo and Juliet in the line “Shout out from the bottom of my lungs/ A plague on both your houses/ This thing/ It’s a family affair/ It’s drawing out my weakness”  adds to the beauty of this song.  Shakespeare is one of the most  well-known playwrights and therefore this reference is impossible to miss.  Also, the storyline of Romeo and Juliet is one of the iconic tragedies and showcases of heartache ever.  It's the story of two young lovers from dueling families.  The story is tragic because even though there love was true, their circumstances resulted in their deaths.  This allusion builds upon the immense broke-hearted feeling throughout this song.  Bastille uses this reference to establish how iconic heartache is and relate with the younger generation.

           The entire album makes for a whirlwind of emotion from unbearable heartache to a freedom from the pain that's been haunting someone.  It's an album that can make up for a bad night or help relate to the pain people have felt.  Throughout the entire album allusions to the 90's and 80's can be made through the chosen featured artists and even broader references through the lyrics.  The featured artists GRADES, Lizzo, Angel Haze, Rag n Bone, Skunk Anansie, and Braque are from previous decades.  They achieved their fame far before Bastille.  There are also artists, such as HAIM, that relate to modern generations.  Including bands from varying decades adds to Bastille's credibility in saying that heartache is a universal feeling.  Bastille was able to make Chinese philosophical symbol and a classic play all relate to the same theme.  This album showcases how talented Bastille is in utilizing broad and unique aspects of music and culture and relating them to heartache.  He was intelligent enough to choose a widely felt emotion that transcends time and medium and manipulate all of those mediums into one cohesive album.  I haven't experienced gut-wrenching heartache in my life so far but through this album I can see how awful it is and how strengthening it is to pick oneself up from that.  I can also relate better to the theme of heartache in other mediums because this album gave me insight, I hadn't had before.

Do you know of any albums that incorporate countless allusions to culture that all blend together to support one main theme (ex. Heartache)?

(I did not include any of the videos because they are very strange and definitely don't relate to the songs.  If you want to see a ton of cultural allusions unrelated to the album, the video for bad_news is filled with them.  The video for Torn Apart is very creepy and definitely inappropriate, with very few cultural allusions.)

Bad Suns: Language and Perspective

            Language and Perspective is Bad Suns’ first album and this definitely set them up for success.  Each song perfectly transitions into the next, showcasing what the band has to offer.  The tempo of the album stays constant and with addition of the lead singer’s vocals, the album is new and unique.  This album is about making mistakes but the album somehow has an upbeat feel.  The combination is alluring.  Somehow the music is melancholy and cheerful all at once.  It almost reminds me of the Littmus Lonzenges in Because of Winn-Dixie, a juxtaposition of sweet and sad that people still love.  The combination of finding oneself and surviving the mistakes one makes with the lead singer Christo Bowman’s unbelievable vocal range is an unforgettable combination.

            Christo Bowman has a very distinctive voice that immediately lures in people and establishes the band’s style from the very first word.  His voice is characterized by his higher pitch that somehow maintains a very masculine feel, and his middle range is what would make any person weak in the knees.  The back-up vocal from Gavin Bennett (the bassist), and Ray Libby (the guitarist) add to the alternative sound of the band and create a fuller sound to the music.  The addition of their sound layers on top of the main vocals and the music, filling in the empty space, completing the song.  Another very characteristic part of each song is the drum’s beat.  Drummer Miles Morris has a new and interesting beat for every song and adds the percussion into each song seamlessly.  All of the band member’s skills together make a sound that is very rock but also very alternative. 

The unique qualities that the album possesses make it very hard to classify.  From the upbeat tempo of the songs, to the distinctive vocals, Bad Suns is very diverse.  They utilize influences from rock and alternative music through instrument choice and musicality.  The songs utilize the most crucial of instruments; drums, guitar, and tambourine.  This set up gives the songs a similar vibe to most rock songs but the addition of technologically manipulated guitar sounds and of shakers adds to the alternative side.  Also the main vocalist’s voice is so unique that no matter what he sang, it would be interesting and new.

Due to the unique style of the band, it drew in a few members of the alternative rock genre but I feel that most were from the alternative genre as a whole.  With such an interesting and new sound, the alternative audience seems like a more interested audience.  The style of the band as a whole, physically and musically is what would have brought the alternative rock crowd.  Bad Suns emulates stereotypical alternative rock/ punk band through their wardrobe and instrumentation.  These qualities draw in a very diverse range of listeners.  Overall, this band is something unexpected for its genre and it couldn’t have been better.  The new sound draws in a new audience and in my opinion, makes the band more appealing because its setting trends in the music world.

            Bad Sun’s writes their songs with a chronological order in mind, so that each listener can hear it the way it was intended to be listened to.  The track list seems to have none of that significance if only the lyrics are analyzed but from the way each song leads to the next musically, it is easier to see.  They also wove in three songs that had been previously released on their debut EP; “Cardiac Arrest”, “Transpose”, and “Salt”.             

“Cardiac Arrest” is the only song released as a single before the album was released.  This song made billboards top 20 and was even featured in iTunes’ featured free artists sections for a week.  This song is what Bad Suns is usually known by and there’s a reason behind it.  It’s the most iconic song on the album, showcasing the best of the band’s talent, while also providing a catchy chorus and beat.  This is a song anyone can sing along to and it is reminiscent of a summery day at the beach.  Bad Suns became my obsession once I discovered this song. 

Another track that showcases the best of Bad Suns is the “We Move Like the Ocean.”  This track is about losing one’s direction and living on auto-pilot.  It describes the feeling of becoming so lost that its overwhelming and almost feels like drowning in an ocean that you once conquered.  Musically, this song is one of the slower tracks but the chorus still has an upbeat tempo and lamenting but stunning vocals.  This song is the second on the album, coming right before “Cardiac Arrest”, which brings up the cheerfulness. 

“Rearview” is the last track but it definitely deserves recognition.  This song ends the album appropriately by describing having to let go of the past.  It describes seeing the sunset in the rearview mirror and realizing that once everything changes, it stops feeling familiar.  The song starts with reverberating guitar, where the chords are very commanding of attention.  As the intro progresses, the beat is established and Christo comes in with his stunning vocals.  The constant repetition of the same three chords by the guitar creates the perfect tempo for the song, ending the album with a fast paced beat.

Uniqueness in a band’s sound makes it equally harder and easier to classify.  For example, unique voices like Amy Winhouse established her as a jazz artist.  Similarly, Bowman’s voice establishes him as alternative and post-punk but the band’s music conflicts with that assumption.  The music is very much alternative rock because it utilizes the themes of rock but the overall sound never reaches the intensity of a true rock song.  Through comparing every aspect of this album and its contents, it’s fair to say that it is alternative rock.  It also needs to be said that this can easily fall under the alternative category and draw in that audience.  With such an array of genric influence, this album is new and enticing and highly recommended.  

Would you explore a new artist in the type of music you like if they strayed from the norm?

Fall Out Boy Save Rock and Roll

             Fall Out Boy’s Save Rock and Roll is their saving grace from the dismal fate of band breakup.  This album was the spark they needed to spread across the nation like a wildfire.  Their music infiltrated every radio station and made it to number one on the Billboard top 100 within the first week of sales.  Coming back from the radio silence that had haunted Fall Out Boy fans since the 2008 Folie a Deux, this album couldn’t have been a better starting point for the rest of their career. 

            Patrick Stump is accredited for the break up of Fall Out Boy but is also largely given credit for bringing them back.  Stump is the person blamed for separating the band because he wanted to pursue a solo career.  Pete Wentz, the bassist, pursued fatherhood during this time and Joe Trohman and Andrew Hurley, the guitarist and drummer joined the heavy metal band The Damned Things.  Somehow during this five year break the band became even more talented.  The release of Save Rock and Roll in 2013 marked the day that all was forgiven, because it’s impossible to listen to this compilation of songs and not feel satisfied.  This album was worth the wait, making up for all the lost time by being completely modern but still including the true Fall Out Boy style.

            Save Rock and Roll is an ambiguous title for an album that isn’t even completely a rock album.  The music is largely pop and alternative rock but the title reveals a theme for the album lyrically.  Fall Out Boy organized the songs in a specific order to tell a story of revival and mistakes.  The story revolves around the idea of being young and falling in love and causing chaos.  And although this story has been told a million times, the musicality of this album from the first second gets you hooked.  So for the purpose of truly appreciating the album, I will overlook the arguable title. 

            Each song’s placement in the album was well thought out and contributes to the success of the album.  For example the opening number "The Phoenix" begins with suspenseful violins and leads into a high tempo song.  Patrick Stump’s iconic voice starts the song with a cry to put on your warpaint and is backed up by a steady drumbeat.  This song showcases the amazing vocals and tempo that the rest of the album builds on.  Another strategic element of this song is the name.  The image of a phoenix symbolizes the return of Fall Out Boy from the ashes of their success and reminds everyone that they won’t ever truly be able to dissipate from the music world. 

            The guitar and drum rhythm continue to keep the beat of the music fast paced and exhilarating as it transitions into "Young Volcanoes" and "Alone Together."  The music is so upbeat that it mimics the story behind the album, of being young and reckless and accepting the horrible mistakes that they make with ease.  Each song talks about a terrible love story where there’s a mutual attraction but both parties are careless in their actions.  This complete shift of topic is quite abrupt.  The album comes to a climax at "My Songs Know What you Did in the Dark", where Stump’s soaring vocals cry out the iconic line ‘Light ‘em up.’  He is describing how his music can see where his love interest is betraying him.  And the next song is The Mighty Fall, describing the fall for the girl.  This is also the first song that has a featured artist in the sequence,

            Four out of the Eleven songs on Save Rock and Roll feature a famous artist, including the key song of the album.  The artists that feature are from an array of genres, such as the alternative artist Foxes and the rapper Big Sean.  It also includes music legends Courtney Love and Elton John.  Including these artists wasn’t just a whim for Fall Out Boy but an intentional move to promote their album.   Bringing in a variety of artists draws in a broader group of listeners and with that comes more publicity.  This ensured the success of Save Rock and Roll and made this album one to remember.  Having matchups like this was unheard of and now people can hear the iconic Fall Out Boy jam with Elton John in Save Rock and Roll and hear the collaboration between rap music and rock.  These features were a major publicity scheme but this album became legendary because of it. 

            This entire album was immortalized when Fall Out Boy did a music video for every single song.  The songs didn’t truly have any chronological order but the videos put a cohesive story behind the music.  I will say that the videos are gory and slightly explicit (but what isn’t these days).  Now people can experience the beauty of this album through the music and visually through a video storyline. 

Would you be able to relate to the recklessness of love as told by Fall Out Boy or is it just storytelling in song form?

Youngblood Chronicles: Compilation of every video in order

Welcome!

Welcome to Almost Alternative! 

This blog is an exploration of the music in the alternative rock genre.  I will review alternative rock artists, from their most well-known to their most obscure music.  My blog is focused on artists who made it into the genre of alternative rock but also venture into the genres around it (Indie rock, alternative, etc.). This is the music that leads to random dance parties and can turn any sad day into a jam session.  All of the music I will review will have had some impact on me.  I am obsessed with this genre but my taste tends to deviate so some pop rock and pop artists may make a cameo in this blog.   Almost Alternative is centered around the musical aspects as well as the metaphysical aspects of songs.  I will try to analyze what emotions the music evokes, while also trying to identify the musical techniques used to convey that emotion. 

To give a little of background on myself, I am a University of South Carolina Freshmen.  Alternative music somehow seeped into every part of my day and I cannot complain.  Recently my alternative rock taste has been focused on bands like Fall Out Boy, Linkin Park, and 30 Seconds to Mars.  I'm always on the lookout for new music and I will make sure to include a variety of styles.  All of the meaning and emotional effects of this genre of music have led me to want to share it with you.  I intend to explore music in a more critical and yet also a more personal way.  When I’m not listening to alt. music or doing schoolwork, I tend to be singing.  Singing is what led to my passion for music.  I have been learning about the techniques of singing and reading music since the beginning of high school.  The techniques of music, that I have learned, will help me better describe the music to you.  My hope is that through this blog I can delve deeper into the music I so often listen to and give you a new perspective. 

The music scene updates itself so often that I will never run out of new artists to review but I may throw in a few pieces that just barely make it into the alternative rock genre.  I won’t deviate too often from the major theme of the blog because I want to make sure I expose myself and anyone reading to exciting new alt rock bands.  Alternative rock can include bands that hit pop radios to bands who never make it past $0.69 per song on iTunes.  Every artist I write about will be one that I dedicate myself for a solid week before deciding how to describe them.  Some articles may reflect a distaste for an album or particular songs by an artist but that doesn’t mean that I don’t recommend the artist.  My hope is that I can give a well-rounded enough review that you can decide for yourself whether the band is worth exploring.  I'm gonna hit the books and get all the background information I need to write posts with actual evidence to back it up.  Also, I will end each blog post with an open ended question about the artist’s music as incentive to explore that person’s music. 

I look forward to exploring more music and I hope that you’ll be along for the ride:)