Weekly Music News: Week of March 15th, 2015

               This week, Thirty-three and a Third will take a different turn, away from the typical track/album review that has been posted weekly for the past month or so. This week, music news will be discussed and brought to attention. While big updates may be missed or some thing may not be brought to attention, I will do my best to inform you of some stuff you may not be aware of and hopefully introduce you to artists new to you :^)

To Pimp a Butterfly Album Cover

      This week has been a good week in terms of rap/hip-hop releases. Predominately, West-Coast rapper Kendrick Lamar released a brand new full length, To Pimp a Butterfly. This is his third studio release. While I may not be incredibly familiar with Kendrick and his work, this album has kick up some attention. It is being critically acclaimed, being praised for its creativity and fresh feel. Give some of Kendrick's music a listen here if you please (WARNING: EXPLICIT). Once I listen to it in its entirety, I may review it in the future. 
     Now, I'm going to discuss some further updates in the hip-hop industry this week. The group I'm going to discuss has stirred up some controversy with some of their releases and their experimentally eccentric style of music. Before I continue, I'm going to warn you, this group is weird as hell. They don't perform traditional music. The group I'm speaking of is experimental hip-hop group known as Death Grips. Despite their controversy and crazy music style, they have a very, very loyal following. The band performs on frantic electronic beats backed by energetic drumming

MC Ride, frontman of Death Grips

and absolutely howling and aggressive vocals. To me, this band is the purest representation of aggression. 
     The band went on a hiatus without some music they promised, and now the music is finally being released. Scheduled to be released on March 31st, Jenny Death, the second part of one of their previous records, is finally coming to the fans. If you are brave (or have an open mind to music especially), click here to give Death Grips a listen (WARNING: EXPLICIT). 
     In other news, some controversy has risen from what seems to be cases in which contemporary music rips off music from the past, and when I say rip off, I mean directly copies it. What has been in the news recently is the controversy behind Robin Thicke's Blurred Lines and its similarities to Marvin Gaye's Got to Give it Up. The Gaye family has sued Robin Thicke, bringing more popularity to Marvin's music. It seems things like this are happening more and more lately. Is this meerly coincidence, or a blatant rip-off? Watch the video below, and you decide. 

        Occurences like this make me wonder: will the world ever run out of original music? Will things like this happen more and more frequently due to the fact that music in the world is only growing, and in turn new sounds are getting harder and harder to come by? Tell me what you think by leaving a comment below. Do you have any other music news or suggestions to my blog? Leave a comment below. I know most of you guys treat comments as an assignment, but I would love to hear your voice and opinion.

Thanks for reading.

      

Track Review: Disorder, Joy Division

       Taking a turn from last week's blog post, we're going  back in time, back to perhaps the birth of early early post-punk. This week, we're going to have another track review, this track being the legendary Joy Division's Disorder.
       Before I get into this review, I am going to define the term "post-punk". As stated by a reliable source, post-punk is "a more experimental and arty form of punk." It was formed in the late 70s and laid down the original pavement for early alternative rock.

Joy Division's Members

      Joy Division was an English rock band formed in 1976 by singer Ian Curtis, bassist Peter Hook, drummer Stephen Morris, and guitarist, Bernard Sumner. They released their first record, Unknown Pleasures. Unknown Pleasures also happens to be the record that holds the track I'm going to be reviewing, Disorder.

Unknown Pleasures

     Disorder is the opening track on this record. It opens with a poppy-sounding drum track, inviting you to dance essentially. Then, an even poppier bass riff starts, practically shoving you onto the dance floor. The shrill guitar riff follows, leading into Curtis's haunting vocals. The song acts as a literal guide to this records, Curtis's lyrics literally explaining, "I've been waiting for a guide to come and take me by the hand."
    From this point on, you're introduced to the record. The track continues with the shrill and twangy guitar solos and melodies. The

Ian Curtis

bass riff pounds along, adding to the dance-y feel of the track itself.
    The song progresses, getting more and more intense with time. Curtis's vocals meet a gradual crescendo, getting louder and more chaotic with the track. The guitars get sloppy, but it's a good sloppy. Then, the track ends with a chant from Curtis and a gradual decrescendo.
    I personally think this track is awesome. It shows good progression and is an awesome opener to an awesome record. Listen to the track, and if you enjoy it then listen to the whole record. Below, I'll attach a link to the whole record. It's the first track, so give it a listen. If you like it, continue, if not, cuss me out in the comments below. 

Thanks for reading.

Track Review: Brand New - Limousine

      Yo yo yo. As sort of a refresher from the usual and weekly album reviews I've provided, this week a track review will be presented to you. Coming to ya loud and proud, the track I'll be review is Brand New's Limousine.

Brand New's debut, Your Favorite Weapon

      Now, before I begin the review, I would like to provide a little history. Brand New is an alternative rock band that was formed in 2000 by frontman Jesse Lacey, bassist Garrett Tierney, and drummer Brian Lane. This band has an interesting history, however. Beginning as an angsty pop-punk band with their debut record, Your Favorite Weapon, their sound quickly evolved and matured. Just two years after their first record debuted, Brand New released their second record, Deja Entendu.
      Deja Entendu brought on an extremely different sound, while still maintaining a somewhat punk sound. They took on a more emo approach with their music, addressing confessional lyrics and instrumentals. To see just exactly how their sound evolved, try listening to this track off of Your Favorite Weapon, and then this track off of Deja Entendu.
      FAST FORWARD THREE YEARS... and we Brand New released perhaps their most popular record to date, The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me. This record presented an even more matured sound in comparison to the two previous records. Addressing darker, more personal themes in the lyrics, this album was a total curve ball to the fans. However, as stated before, it is perhaps their most renowned album thus far. Many consider it an alternative classic, providing haunting instrumentals and vocals paired with dark themes. 

Frontman, Jesse Lacey.

      Limousine is the 5th track on the record, running approximately 8 minutes long. I chose this track for many reasons, but the main reason is the back story behind it. So, strap in, because this is truly an emotional rollercoaster.
      The song was written in response to a tragedy that occurred on July 2nd, 2005 at Long Island, coincidentally the same city Brand New originated in. On this day, a wedding occurred, and was a day filled with celebration and rejoice. After everything was said and done however, a few of the family members headed home in a limousine. Then, tradegy strikes in the form of a drunk driver. On the way home, the limousine was struck head-on by a drunk driver. The driver's blood alcohol level was three times higher than the legal limit, according the this article detailing the event. The story only gets more horrific.
      The driver was killed on impact, and the family was extremely injured. They quickly realized that the two flower girls, five-year-old Grace and seven-year-old Katie, were trapped inside of the wreckage. As Katie's mother was searching for her in the twisted metal of what the limousine had become, she made a horrific discovery; Katie was decapitated by her seatbelt. Katie's mother left the wreckage with her severed head in hand, too numb to properly react. This event was truly a tragedy, and it is nearly sickening. The drunk driver was charged with second-degree murder.
      
      The track begins with barebone vocals and an acoustic guitar. The lyrics address the event of the wedding and accident.

The Devil and God are
Raging Inside Me

"K, it's your ride. 

Get your petals out and lay them in the aisle. Pretend your garden grows and it's your day to wed.

We found you man. He's drinking up, he's all-american.

And he'll drive.

He's volunteered with grace to end your life."

      
      The name "K" is in reference to Katie. The verse continues, as harmonization with vocals and instrumentals become more complex. Then, after a few more lines, the song bursts with a guitar's screech into a louder verse, the drums joining along. The vocals become chaotic and passionate, the guitar doing just the same. Then, as the track progresses, the instrumentals become quieter and vocals more longing. Then Jesse begins with the lyrics, "Well, I love you so much, but do me a favor baby don't reply, cuz I can dish it out, but I can't take it."
      These lyrics continue with repetition as the intensity of the track builds and builds. The drums start hitting harder, and Jesse's vocals go up an octave. The guitars become more and more chaotic. The track seems to lose control of itself as it progresses. It continues, getting louder and louder, until the vocals cease and they're followed by screaming guitar and a leading drum track. Then, the track becomes quiet, and it fades.

       There is a lot to say about Limousine. The story behind it is hard hitting enough, but when you add that aspect to the passionate instrumentals and lyrics you only get hit harder and harder. It follows the perfect dynamic progression in my opinion. They keep you entertained and wanting more and more. Overall, this is a very hard hitting and emotional track, and I would recommend it to anyone who is willing to listen to either familiar music or perhaps unfamiliar music. Below is an online stream of the track. Feel free to listen and perhaps comment your opinion on the song or the story behind it.

                         Thanks for reading.