I absolutely despise dub step. Add an 'M' after the 'U' and that's about right.
How people can say that hardcore and metal music is 'just noise' and then listen to that nonsense is beyond me. At least the noise in hardcore/metal is made by musicians playing instruments and not some douche pissing about on a computer looping audio snippets of R2-D2 reacting to various scenarios. Honestly, it sounds like the Terminator masturbating at a rave most of the time.
At least there is a bit of substance through the chaos with heavy guitar-based music - deep lyrical meaning perhaps - but, with dub step, it literally is just random computer effects all tossed into a blender to form the most disgusting, robotic smoothie you've ever tasted.
'I know, we'll repeat the same tediously basic drum beat for 3 and a half minutes with the odd meaningless lyric appearing on occasion whilst rattling every key - sometimes more than one at a time - on a keyboard switched to the 'DJ' setting and then we'll edit it to fuck by putting every conceivable digital effect on the entire thing.'
That's what I believe the thought process to be when creating a track/album which sounds similar to a Royal Rumble between all of the Zords from Power Rangers. Everyone has their own outlook and taste, but dub step seems to me like a completely pointless and unsatisfying genre.
Tuesday 24 September 2013
Sunday 31 March 2013
Fall Out Boy: First impressions since their big comeback!
I wouldn't say I was ever a fan of Fall Out Boy, in the sense that I wasn't one of those who would shudder in the anticipation of a new release or whatever it is they would be doing next, but I enjoyed a lot of their music to a degree. I suppose that would explain my lack of emotion when they decided to "call it quits" - as the press were so fond of saying. I wasn't surprised when I heard the news either. Pete Wentz was getting most of the mainstream attention, which had to have an effect on the rest of the band, and their last album was arguably their worst to date. So, the break-up paved the way for Patrick Stump to hit the gym and turn into the male equivalent of Christina Aguilera, whilst drummer, Andy, and guitarist, Joe, went to work with some washed up metal semi-stars. I have no idea what Pete did, but I'm guessing it was shit or else Fall Out Boy would still be old news.
Now, they're back and they have released two brand new singles with videos to boot all in support of their forthcoming album entitled 'Save Rock And Roll'. Here's the official video for 'The Phoenix'.
The video obviously goes hand-in-hand with the previous single 'My Songs Know What You Did In the Dark (Light 'Em Up)' - which bags the awards for longest song title of the year and most senseless song title of the year - and both singles carry the same overall vibe.
Let me start off by stating, for the record, that I actually like the first single. It's catchy, it's different and it's exciting, so long as the rest of their much anticipated album isn't just going to be a bunch of retakes based on this sound. As good as the lead single is, I was hoping for more trademark sounds from the band, ie, guitar riffs. Then I heard 'The Phoenix' and I began to worry.
I am exclusively a rock music fan, therefore I'm not too keen on music without distorted riffing guitars, meaningful lyrics and banging drums with a few exceptions. However, I can admit when a tune/album is decent. Both of Fall Out Boy's new songs seem to be just that, decent, but that's all I can offer. The problem is that, when a band has been around for a certain period of time, they develop certain characteristics and sounds that identify them. While Fall Out Boy have retained some of their trademarks, some seem to have been left out and, in my humble opinion, the most crucial ones. This leads to the disappointment of many long-time fans, not that FOB will care.
'The Phoenix' was an odd experience because I expected it to be significantly different to its predecessor, maybe that was dumb of me. I expected it to show another side of the new material and give us a wider scope on how this new album is going to sound. What I heard was the same as before in a different key with different words over the top. With each passing second I thought to myself, 'guitars kick in... now!' It never happened. I wanted something a bit heavier, akin to their work prior to the break-up, and I didn't get it. I'm not saying that they had to come back on a wave of heavy guitars, but it makes no sense to call an album 'Save Rock And Roll' with the two leading singles being as 'rock' as my piss. They should have named it 'Kill Rock And Roll'.
Any excitement I may have felt about the return of Fall Out Boy has evaporated in their failure to retain the characteristics which made them and their reluctance to stomp on the distortion pedal and blast those power chords even for the odd chorus. All they've given us is a couple of songs which showcase what it might be like if Christina Aguilera got a sex change and collaborated with fucking Skrillex - not as bad as you'd think, but still nothing to write home about.
Now, they're back and they have released two brand new singles with videos to boot all in support of their forthcoming album entitled 'Save Rock And Roll'. Here's the official video for 'The Phoenix'.
The video obviously goes hand-in-hand with the previous single 'My Songs Know What You Did In the Dark (Light 'Em Up)' - which bags the awards for longest song title of the year and most senseless song title of the year - and both singles carry the same overall vibe.
Let me start off by stating, for the record, that I actually like the first single. It's catchy, it's different and it's exciting, so long as the rest of their much anticipated album isn't just going to be a bunch of retakes based on this sound. As good as the lead single is, I was hoping for more trademark sounds from the band, ie, guitar riffs. Then I heard 'The Phoenix' and I began to worry.
I am exclusively a rock music fan, therefore I'm not too keen on music without distorted riffing guitars, meaningful lyrics and banging drums with a few exceptions. However, I can admit when a tune/album is decent. Both of Fall Out Boy's new songs seem to be just that, decent, but that's all I can offer. The problem is that, when a band has been around for a certain period of time, they develop certain characteristics and sounds that identify them. While Fall Out Boy have retained some of their trademarks, some seem to have been left out and, in my humble opinion, the most crucial ones. This leads to the disappointment of many long-time fans, not that FOB will care.
'The Phoenix' was an odd experience because I expected it to be significantly different to its predecessor, maybe that was dumb of me. I expected it to show another side of the new material and give us a wider scope on how this new album is going to sound. What I heard was the same as before in a different key with different words over the top. With each passing second I thought to myself, 'guitars kick in... now!' It never happened. I wanted something a bit heavier, akin to their work prior to the break-up, and I didn't get it. I'm not saying that they had to come back on a wave of heavy guitars, but it makes no sense to call an album 'Save Rock And Roll' with the two leading singles being as 'rock' as my piss. They should have named it 'Kill Rock And Roll'.
Any excitement I may have felt about the return of Fall Out Boy has evaporated in their failure to retain the characteristics which made them and their reluctance to stomp on the distortion pedal and blast those power chords even for the odd chorus. All they've given us is a couple of songs which showcase what it might be like if Christina Aguilera got a sex change and collaborated with fucking Skrillex - not as bad as you'd think, but still nothing to write home about.
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