In case you where unaware of the fact that I was a musician. Well by golly gee willikars here I am. I'm "Zeus Blackfoot", I'm a singer/songwriter under the genre of the unknown I would say I'm an independent/ experimental artist. Due to the fact i love to experiment with just about everything , from Folk Music ,to psychedelic mind adventures. I like to test the listener, to see how far i can take the human listening pleasure. Ladies and gentlemen. I give you... Myself... Zeus Blackfoot....
Being a huge fan of "Shoegaze" music such as My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, Ride, Jesus and Mary Chain.
I tend to love to find new bands in the genre. But tonight I have discovered a band so moving and powerful I immediately had to write about this. I stumbled upon a band called Raised By Swans. I was reading an article about "Good bands who don't have much success" and Raised By Swans was on the list saying they where a shoegazer band from Canada. I'm thinking to my self ..."interesting name". So I go on Youtube to check out this band, and I type in their first album name "Codes and Secret Longing" which brought me to the song "Violet light". The band is mesmerizing. It completely blew me away.
Being that I was in a trance by these guys, I saw that the whole album is uploaded on Youtube. I listened to the whole album and unlike a lot of albums from music today, you cannot skip any song on the album. Each song is a crystallized work of art. The band has a pure and rich slow sound, its kind of like if shoegaze band "Slowdive" met indie / post hardcore band "Sunny Day Real Estate". Which is an amazing combination.
So seriously take my word for it, this band and album is a melancholic gem. they just released a new album called "No Ghostless Place". I have not got the chance to listen to it, but when I get the chance its my first choice.
When we listen to most hip hop music of today, it's all based of one lined lyrics that make absolutely no sense, serve no purpose, and have NO meaning what so ever... Such as lyrics like.. "This is why i'm hot" or "I'm the biggest boss that you've seen thus far". To me That So called "hip hop" is plain, simple, non talented BULLSHIT! But I am going to stand up and gladly say we have a "Hip Hop Superman" to save hip hop music. and this "Superman of Hip hop" never ceases to amaze me with his work. And thats Kanye West.
First of all, the man has something to say. He has something to contribute to the music industry. We all know he really didn't let Taylor Swift finish what she had to say the night at the MTV VMA's. When he stated his opinion on what the best female video Should had been for Beyonce. But you must admit the man has talent, and has the biggest balls. When he has his mind set, he shoots for the stars. But for Kanye, it's not about the ego. It's about the music.
Kanye does things in music that no one has done before in hip hop. He practically introduced the "auto tune sound" to the mainstream hip hop world. Kanye is also a master of sampling. He really amazes me with his musical insight. Not only he adores hip hop, he adores rock music, such as Led Zeppelin, and The Rolling Stones just as much as he loves hip hop. I noticed in his "Graduation" album he sampled the song
"Sing Swan Song" from the experimental rock band "Can", on to his song "Drunk Hot Girls". I was shocked
he used that in a sample because not a lot of people have heard of Can unless you like experimental music. Or just a music buff in general like me. He blows me away with his knowledge of music..
Kanye Talks about life in his work, he draws you into his lyrics which are referenced metaphorically
in a lot of songs, To me that is interesting for a hip hop artist. Usually they babble and speak's in a lame with lyrics.
Kanye at times puts on a metaphorical way of communication in his songs. But is Powerfully blunt. He really has a style of his own when it comes to writing . He keeps me interested through out his albums. Most people had a bad reception to "808 and heartbreaks" due to it was rather depressing, and wasent like " Late Registration" ,"College drop Out" or "Graduation".When "808's was released, He made a "David Bowie move". Like when David Evolved from his "Ziggy Stardust" persona. Kanye evolved to another level in his musical journey. He entered a new stage in his life and in music.
To me the "808's" album was genius being that is how he felt at the time due to losing his mother tragically. You can feel the heart break in it. When it starts out with The song "Say You Will", you feel his pain. You rarely can pick up emotions in a lot of todays hip hop. He definitely works with musical emotional expression perfectly...
Yes Kanye has had some controversy. But what can we say? The man does what he wants to do. And like I said he has balls unlike most people in the music industry. Sure he has pissed off a lot of people. Whether it be the Hurricane Katrina incident where he publicly criticized George W. Bush on national television, stating "George W. Bush does Not care about black people". Yeah.. That was quite ballsy to say such a vulgar statement on national television.. But could You do it? Can you picture Any other artist or celebrity do that or say that? I think Kanye did something this country is granted with, but people are still afraid of using this given luxury, which is (Freedom Of Speech). So I give the man credit for what he had to say about the whole Katrina incident. Takes a lot of guts to publicly criticize The President of the United States on live National Television. And about the Taylor Swift "interruption" at the MTV VMA's. When I saw that I wanted to give Kanye a high five! I was literally Crying because I was laughing so hard. Because the man Does not give a flying Fuck!!! Kanye Is Going to say, what Kanye has to say! I respect him for his brutal honesty.
So I must say Kanye is in a league of his own. People try to follow his path, but cant keep up. The man has too many roads in his path. He takes his work in all directions. Its not just hip hop to him, its Art. So look out Rick Ross!! Look out Gucci Mane!! Let your ears behold "Intelligence", from the Artistic, Daring, and unique sounds. The Power of Kanye West!!!
My most recommended album By Kanye West is "Graduation"..
Be on the look out of Kanye's new album release.....
I have grown up with so much music. Especially music from the grunge scene, Pearl Jam, Nirvana etc..
But no band from the grunge scene has influenced me, nor touched me more than Soundgarden has.
Soundgarden were really the pioneers of grunge rock in the late 80's, but where the last grunge band to make an international hit. Their album "Superunkown" put Soundgarden on the
charts finally with songs like "Black Hole Sun" "Fell On Black Days" "The Day I Tried To Live" and "My Wave". The album won them
a grammy. the band released one more album in 1996
"Down the Upside" but went on a hiatus for almost over 13 years...
13 years later Soundgarden has returned, releasing their compilation album "Telephantasm". The compilation includes a unreleased song "Black Rain" which has a very dark and doom like sound to it. It reminds me of "Superunknowns" sound very dark, eerie, and powerful. The band played Lollapalooza this year and, played a few shows promoting their release of Black Rain for the latest Guitar Hero release. the band consists the classic line up, Chris Cornell, Kim Thayil, Ben Shepard, and Matt Cameron. To me the band sounds like they did when they split more than 13 years ago. personally I'm glad Cornell got out of the Audioslave/ pop stage he was in.. Yes they had that one cool song "like a stone". BUT I WANT SOUNDGARDEN!!!
If you are curious about the sound of Soundgarden..
Check out this album !!!!
SUPERUNKNOWN!!!
For about I would say going on 6 to 7 years. There has been an roaring underground scene in music.
About 5 years back, not many people where into what they call "Metalcore" or "Screamo"at the time. It was just gaining popularity to the underground scenes. The bands usually consist of what normal Metal bands usually contain, Guitars, bass, Lead singer, and drummer. But they fuse the music into a technical sound, with complex solos, or really heavy breakdowns. Personally I have a few metal groups of choice that I would listen to still but most bands, now are horrible and are too trendy I was into metalcore long before most of the people who like it now, were even aware metalcore existed..
Alot of bands play this music passion and love for what they do. They write songs about Anger and resentment
and catch the right audience. kind of like the 80's "Hardcore Punk" scene (which I adore more than metalcore).
I'm not trying to bash these bands i'm just giving you my strait up opinion
Now heres a brief list of bands that i consider worth, and not worth listening to.
I love art. I always have been fascinated by the fact that art has No Limits, and the part of being unique in a sense. But Andy Warhol not only was very unique, he broke barriers! I always try to image in my head "What would Andy be working on if he had lived"? Could he had built a giant pink skyscraper of a fire hydrant by now? I would not put it past the man. He was always looking for the simple things in life, and making them into a complex, thought provoking, controversial life form.
Take his "screen tests" for instance, he filmed so many of todays icons, like Lou Reed, Nico, Edie Sedgwick, just sitting in a chair and staring at the camera. One I absolutely adore is Lou Reed's screen test, due to his apathetic snarl , his dark sunglasses, and drinking a bottle of Coke with a blank expression on his face. Another of Ann Buchanan the whole footage is her, with a Sad look on her face, almost to where you read the sadness in her eyes. Eventually Ann bursts into tears, leaving you silent and grasping a powerful moment, watching a person finally break....You don't know whats wrong, but you feel the pain. Most people would look at these things and say "This isn't art this is depressing!!!" "Whats this got to do with anything?" But people don't look at it to deeply, that it is beautiful to see something REAL. Thats what Andy did he brought you in to the normal day things, but he made you actually focus on them. and when you did you had a whole new view about the subject. Just like the Campbell's soup can series. they where no longer just a can of soup. It was his figure of repetition, The beauty of everyday life.
I once heard someone say, that "Andy was the best Non artist." and I must say I agree. Yes he had artistic value, but he never was a Picasso. Andy knew exactly what he was doing. When he had an image he went for it. When his image was brought to life, he was ready to do something else. People called him a manipulator and a user, and in a way he was. But he never meant to hurt people in any way. he never bonded with people emotionally. Only artistically. He was attracted to the "misfits'' of society, the ones who never fit in. People who had addictions REALLY attracted Andy. And he would feed their addictions, just so it wouldn't destroy his fascination with them artistically. Otherwise he would lose total interest in them. But thats why Andy Warhol Was Andy Warhol. The man who bonded not emotionally, but artistically.
I think if he where alive today he would be working with something huge. because every time he changed his media, he would progress to something bigger. I think Andy would have many things in store for the world to behold. thats one thing i loved about Andy, he was always in the "Now" he never reflected on the past. he was always focusing on what was "in" at the time. In a Growing Complicated world we live in now. Boy he would have had so many new things to work with... He would had been in heaven. But we cherish his work, and will forever.... This is an ode to the simple things, the simple things that make us double take on them.
weather it be people crying on camera , to soup cans, to watching Andy eat a hamburger. The realism keeps us drawn in. Andy Warhol Simplicity- Realistic- Immortal.
In case you where unaware of the fact that I was a musician. Well by golly gee willikars here I am. I'm "Zeus Blackfoot", I'm a singer/songwriter under the genre of the unknown I would say I'm an independent/ experimental artist. Due to the fact i love to experiment with just about everything , from Folk Music ,to psychedelic mind adventures. I like to test the listener, to see how far i can take the human listening pleasure. Ladies and gentlemen. I give you... Myself... Zeus Blackfoot....
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