10.19.2009

Qu

This is my review for Sherwood's new CD "Qu". Enjoy!!! =]

Shelter – I like how it starts out. It’s so different and awesome. I think it would be so weird with other instruments, but it works with just the piano. This would be a good opening song for a show.

Maybe This Time- Man, I forgot how good Sherwood is. These lyrics are really good. And the simplicity of the band is really cool cause you don’t have as much to focus on. His voice is so amazing and I think this song has a good message overall. This song has the potential I think to be really good live, but I haven’t seen Sherwood in a few years, so I’m not sure. But I think it would be really good acoustic. The synthesizer is really good in this song too. All I can picture is him dancing at their last show I saw.

Hit The Bottom – this vaguely reminds me of The Beatles. The drums are really good in this song. So is the acoustic guitar. I’d really like to get the sheet music for this song. This would be a good song live, I think it would have a really positive audience interaction. I like how in this whole album there have been parts where the music is really quiet and the vocals are really prominent, it’s really nice and are more like what I think a local band would do.

Make It Through- Again, I like how this song opens. It’s good that I’m listening to this with my big headphones cause I can get the full effect. This is most defiantly a headphone album. There would be so much I wouldn’t catch if I had done it though the speakers. His voice sounds really good in this song too, I think he sounds better next to an acoustic guitar rather than an electric one, but that’s just me. This album is way different than anything I’ve ever heard. Most songs or albums now are about love or breaking up and I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, but it’s getting a little repeative for me. But here, it’s really subtle.

You Are- The synthesizer is really good in this song. Yeah, his voice does sound better next to an acoustic. I like how right after I said something about a love song, one comes on. But it’s a different type of love song, which is really cool. It’s more describing the person instead of saying oh I love you so much. The guitar solo is really nice too. Then the quiet drums right after. And I like how his voice seems kinda far off in that one part.

Ground Beneath My Feet- this kinda reminds me of Relient K because of the piano. His voice seems more somber and I can’t decide if I like that or not. I think it fits better with this song, but if he had done it for like, Make It Through, it would’ve been weird. Oh, never mind, it got really fast. Yeah, this sounds more like Sherwood. This also reminds me of A Day In The Life, but way more upbeat. Just how it starts off slow then gets faster. The guitar is really good in this song. I love how it’s just all their voices at that one part and nothing else. But to be honest, it is getting kinda old, but I think it’ll be better once I listen to it again.

Around You- Again, really glad I have my headphones. This intro is amazing. With all the different layers that are going on, it sounds so awesome. Sherwood would make a really good instrumental band as well I think. They can get really creative. This is maybe one of the best songs I’ve heard so far. It’s so interesting and all the different elements that are in it make it really special. The lyrics are really cute too. This is so something I would put on any mix CD for a friend or someone I like. Oh, I like the heavier guitar towards the end too. It’s nice cause it kinda breaks up what’s going on. This whole song was just really cute. Best so far.

What Are You Waiting For?- The drums at the beginning kinda startled me. I like the lyrics as well for this song. I can really relate to what he’s saying. The guitar sounds really good here too. The background vocals too are a nice touch as well. I can see this song being in a movie or something just kinda playing in the background. The bass line at the end is really good too. I like how it ended too.

Not Gonna Love- Oh, I love this song so far! The drums are awesome! The first thing you notice by far. The synthesizer sounds awesome too. Again, I can relate to the lyrics for this song too. I like how he repeats himself, it’s a nice touch. That little drum solo was kick butt! Same with the guitar solo. Sherwood has some of the best guitar solos. The bass line and the shouting are really nice too, something different and unexpected. This song is gonna be really good live, I can just tell.

Worn- I like this song too. I need the sheet music for it too. I love his voice with an acoustic guitar. I can just picture him playing it too, which is awesome. This is another good song live. Oh, who’s voice is that? It’s a nice touch to the song as well. Their voices sound so great together. This song is really cute too. This is a good song to listen to while it’s raining.

Free – this is a total 180 from the last song, but I like it. This would be a good trailer song for a movie I think. These lyrics are awesome as well. The music is really nice in this song. Not too loud during the singing, but the little twangs that happen in between are really unique. And I like that it’s heavier during the chorus, cause then you know that it’s an important part of the song. Oh and the piano part is really nice. It just abruptly changes, which is kinda cool. I like everything that’s happening in the last minute and a half of the song.

No Better – I like the intro to this song, again another song to listen to while it’s raining outside. I like his voice in this as well. It’s very descriptive, which you don’t really get a lot in songs. I so can relate to this song. Divorce or having parents that don’t love each other anymore sucks big time. This would be a good song for a breakup album. I just feel kinda numb listening to this song and I can’t tell if it’s a good thing or not. I do like the piano and guitar in this song though. I would really like to see a music video for this song. The outro is really nice too, it just adds to the song and I think it would be weird without it. I like how it just kinda ends, a nice way to end the album as well. =]

10.08.2009

Forget and Not Slow Down

Hey everyone! This is my review of Relient K's new album Forget and Not Slow Down! Again, it's like what I did with Hot Mess, I listened to the album and wrote down what I thought while the songs were playing! Enjoy =]

1. Forget and Not Slow Down - Really nice intro. I like Matt’s voice in this. Its way different than anything he’s done before. The guitar is a little loud, but I think it’s supposed to be that way. The piano could be a little later. LOVE this bass line! I like these lyrics. It’s like he’s talking to me and only me. I feel like dancing. The guitar is way more sophisticated than in their past albums. It’s like, he wants to keep going forward with their new sound and leave the past behind. This song is gonna be AMAZING live. The chorus is easy to pick up and it’s fun to sing.

2. I don’t need a soul- This piano is really awesome. Oh, nice way to add the guitar. Again, another song I can tell is gonna be really good live. I like the stuff going on in the background, but I think it takes away from the vocals a little more than it should. I like how the guitar will pause for a second while he’s singing or it’ll just go real quiet. I like this song a lot. I like the change in the tempo and the guitar changes. But I can’t tell if this song is about Jesus or a girl. Is that Adam from Owl City? I’ll look that up later. The only thing I don’t really like is that title, cause I thought they were a Christian band and he’s singing about not needing a soul.

3. Candlelight- I like the beginning. It reminds me of their old stuff a little. Like from Mmhmm or something. I could maybe swing dance to this song, but really slowly. I like the upbeatness of it. They mentioned sirens again…And what’s with all these songs about girls? Come on Matt! Love the Lady and The Tramp mention. I feel like dancing to this song too. This would be a really good song to put on a mix for someone you like. I’m liking this little instrumental part. The drums are really good in this song as well.

4. Candlelight (outro) - Why did you need a whole track for the outro? Couldn’t you have just put it at the end of the last track? But the little kid piano is a really nice touch.

5. Part of It - Nice bass line at the beginning. Potentially, this could be another good song live. I feel like the music in the background is taking away from the lyrics a little. Again, another song to put on a mix for someone you like. I do like the guitar parts though and the drums are a nice little touch too. I think this song has a nice message because it’s saying how we’re a part of everything. I like Matt’s voice with the single strum in the background. I love when songs have a part like that, then it gets loud again. LOVE IT! It kinda reminds me of the Almost in a way.
6. Outro - Again? What’s with the 1 minute outros? I don’t get it…They’ve never done this in any other album. I like the piano in it. I can’t tell which voice I should be focused on. I don’t know what that was at the end, but I liked it.

7. Therapy- Man, Matt has improved so much on the piano. The drums seem like they’ve gotten a lot better on this album too. This is one of those songs you listen to when it’s raining out, I think. I think if they had the right crowd, this would be a good song live. I like the positive mention of God. The guitar I think has gotten more sophisticated as well. There’s always like, one song that jumps out at me and I think this is that one song. =] LOVE IT!

8. Over It - Oh, Matt you’re voice is so amazing. I just want to hug you. I can just see them all sitting around playing this song. This song would be really good acoustic and I think I hear an acoustic guitar in the background. Punk Goes Acoustic 3? Maybe? This is another song to listen to while it’s raining or when it’s night. I like that Matt’s voice is more prominent in this song, cause in the other songs I feel like he was kinda put on the side. But since they’re using just a piano and acoustic guitar and maybe drums, it’s better for his voice to be heard. Oh man. LOVING the…sax I think it is….or maybe it’s a sting and the footsteps and door!

9. Sahara - OH MAN! LOVE this opening. Did not expect that at all!!! This would be amazing to hear live. You can tell they put a lot of work into this song. His voice sounds so raw and that guitar is just amazing. This totally reminds me of the heavier stuff in Five Score and Seven Years Ago. I like those vocals in the background. This song is way different than the other songs I’ve heard so far. Have I mentioned that guitar? This is such a different sound for them and I love it. Matt’s voice is just going above and beyond what I thought. Oh slow part with the fast guitar in the background. I like the God reference and the abrupt ending.

10. [Untitled]- Hmmmmmm…….this is total Relient K. Just random nonsense with an awesome guitar or whatever that is in the background.

11. Savannah - I want to know what that is! It sounds so awesome. I feel like I’m right there with them. I think this is their first song that’s named after a girl. It’s got a kind of African feel to it. I like the acoustic guitar that’s just like, yeah I’m here. This I think would be another good song done acoustic. Is that a Spanish guitar? Well, whatever it is, I like it. And this slow part kinda towards the end. This is just a happy song! I love it. Matt’s voice can be heard very well in this song too. I like the ending too. Nice and clean.

12. [Untitled]- I want to know what this is all about! I could put this on a mix for someone that I like, which would be awesome. It’s so cute =]

13. If You Believe Me - I like this intro. It’s like their going back to their old roots. And they just keep layering everything. That was a cool way to bring everything in. This song would be good live too. But why so many songs about girls? Huh Matt? Who’s singing with him? Cause if it’s not Matty T, then they have such power and emotion in their voice. But if it is him, he has gotten I don’t want to say better, but I like the new style. Oh, love the piano part. They are all so talented.

14. This Is The End (If You Want It) - The piano is just amazing. This is fer sure one of those albums that you have to listen to all the way though the first time because it’s just awesome. But I don’t want it to be the end… I like the upbeatness of this song too. The drums are really nice too as well as the guitars.

15. (If You Want It)- Whoa, the song changed. These boys are so talented. I like they’re mentioning the end of the album cause a lot of time people won’t do that, but it’s really cool that they’ve brought it up as a song. I don’t want it to be the end. You are worthwhile. This piano, my goodness. It’s so much better than what I’m used to from them. I love his voice. It’s gotten a lot better, I think anyways.