Anti Pleasure’s Favorite Music (or not so favorite)

You know, music can really heal the breaking and somber heart but it seems lately that everyone is just producing utter crap. I’m sorry, but electronic producers/deejays, you are making the worst noise I have ever heard. Go on beatport.com just for an example on the top 100 songs. Now I have never been into charts, anything at the top of the charts really, but are you kidding me… there is electro house remixes made for everything now.

What is wrong with these producers? Maybe I am just not into music like I have been, but I honestly think music is going through a rough and TERRIBLE transition right now. You have all these newbies creating tracks because they think it’s cool, or they took sound engineering or maybe they taught themselves. But it’s all just… ugh, terrible is the only word I can think of!

I think I am more into electronic type of bands that are coming about now from the UK or from North America. I am more into the electro/breaks movement right now, all that “fidget” or “tech-funk” is sounding great to me, all thanks to Lot49 records. <3 And also there are some great bands on the verge coming from Sub Pop, Modular and of course Kitsune records. Check it out folks, those four record labels are where it’s at!

Maybe I am getting a bit off topic here, but can everyone just STOP playing “Time to Pretend” by MGMT on every freaking commercial and ad? Is it really good to be playing a psychedelic song about all the drugs they do? NO! But hey, I’m sure the kiddies are singing along to it because it “sounds cool”. I think my problem is that I like obscure things, so they don’t get into mainstream and therefore are NOT overplayed ten times a day.

Fame really ruins the quality of songs in certain types of bands… such as, the Killers. They are just trying too hard to be everything and making songs for the masses to impress. And also the cell phone commercial ruined Shiny Toy Guns for me, I’m sure for a lot of people as well. I guess I am proud of these bands for rising to the top, “selling out” if you will, making lots of money, but it really affects the outcome of the next albums.

Anyone with me on this?

Patrick von Weiler

August 13th - December 7th

I mentioned in my other blog http://antipleasure.today.com that my friend Patrick has passed away. So I dedicated M83’s Farewell, Goodbye to him and here are the lyrics:

“Kiss on the mouth, bliss of a touch
Hand in a hand, killing the fiend
I’ll write my love on more
Than a thousand weeping willows

Walk on your voice so far so close
Whispering child so cold so mild
All the colors mixed up in falls of rainbows

Tears on your neck, holding you near
Sparkling shells, three comet tails
Hoping for some magic
To make your heart beat next to mine

Shiny island, blue underground
My everyday is fading away
I fly through the wind and whistling
Some strange melody

Hang on to me, getting out of my corpse
Please don’t leave me
Watching you from the clouds

Melancholy, you’ll join me soon, my love
Feeling frozen, I’ll warm you every night
Falling asleep, I’ll travel in your dreams.”

Okay so this song was released, in May 2008… I was pretty excited to hear a new Portishead song! It is called “The Rip” and the video is animated… it reminds me of the 1950s but on the creepy surreal side. I love it. Such soft and beautiful vocals too. I’ll post the video below:

This next song is… all I can say, AMAZING. It’s called “Molten Light” by Chad VanGaaelen, he hails from Canada and his lyrics are so unique. He animates the videos himself. The video is a bit eery, about a girl who got dumped into “The Molten Light” and through the song and video they tell the story how she will come back and haunt those who killed her, and she’ll kill them. EEP! I just LOVE the video and his singing voice.

Now… the next video is pretty lame, but I do love the song. It’s “Kim and Jesse” by M83 who = one of my favorites! Typically their videos are usually like this, with themes of something going on with someone’s life… to put that blandly. Anymoos, go ahead and laugh at the video but the song is awesome. 

From Halifax, NS Jelo released a video for his track “Darke”. I believe it was released some time last year. The video just has a bunch of girls dancing around, with a sketchy guy at a club who finally dances towards the end. *A SHRUG* I do like the song though, it’s one of my favorites.

I was also watching the Wedge (a block of indie and electronic music videos, aired late on Fridays) and it showed a Deadmau5 video. Now I laughed my ASS off because the deejay that was spinning in the video, wasn’t even him! I wonder if the video is even official? It does have Mellee Fresh though… a washed up hoe that did the voice for Cheer Bear, yes, for reals. Plus, the song is a different version of “After Hours” and it just seems too cheesy for my likes. Heck, Deadmau5 is a block of cheese now… I remember when I was the only one who heard of him a couple years ago and people called him “Dead-mow-five” HAHAHA!

Anyway, here’s the video, laugh: 

I think music videos should be portayed  if 1) the song is good 2) you are creative about it! I can’t really think of any electronic artists who have honestly made good music videos. I think the best thing for electronic songs… well they’re made for dancing, not laughing at their stupid attempts at making music videos.

Maybe tomorrow I’ll talk about something positive? We’ll see! I’m feeling extremely uninspired today, so that’s why I haven’t been talking about good music…

You know, a couple years ago I said something to offend a friend of a friend, only because he offended me. Now, he was a metal head (your typical, bigot, know it all) who obviously dissed the music that I like. Of course a metal head is going to laugh because I like “DANCE” music, AHEM, electronic thank you. You don’t see me saying “your crappy metal music” because that’s not how I roll, I don’t diss anybody for the music that they like.

They proceeded to tell me that there are no good “dance” songs, every DJ is a faker, and there are no “good DJs” what are you talking about? And this person had never, ever been to a rave. Fair enough, not your scene, but you’ve never even been to a rave before.

I thought it was hilarious when I went to raves a couple of years ago, and you would just see a bunch of rEtards and they were metal heads, bopping their heads and jumping around like a fool.

So metal heads are allowed to prance around raves and yet they still diss the true fans of electronic music? Thanks a lot. Where IS the love? :P 

 My point is, sure I go on about some artists that I don’t like, but I DON’T LIKE THEM and that doesn’t mean that I will make fun of anybodybecause of a certain type of music that they listen to. I just like to have a positive vibe going and it really annoys me when other people have to put you down because of what music you like.

Everyone has their own tastes, and I’m sorry, I just can’t seem to get along with many people who are into metal because all they do is bash other types of music genres. I try my best to be nice, but they’re not nice back… why don’t you take a minute, see the positive side of life instead of going home listening to your screamy suicidal music and just respect others.

Did any of that have a point? I hope so lol.

I have to say that the worst awards show of LIFE is the Grammy awards. I mean, for example, who would give Avril Lavigne a grammy in the first place? Has it EVER gone down hill in the last ten years. I know awards are pretty much popularity contests… so I guess the music doesn’t matter anymore. WHAT MATTERS apparently is what you are wearing that night, what song is the flavor of the week and therefore it receives a nomination.

Why am I fuming right now? I’m laughing but with a tinge of a grimace here… Daft Punk have been nominated for a grammy! WHAT? Seven years later, they are nominated for “Harder Better Stronger Faster” and hmmm, who can we thank for this? Kanye West of course, for sampling it in his song last year. A little behind aren’t you there Grammy awards?

And what on earth… Deadmau5 is nominated for a grammy too? Man, what a sham these awards are now. No offense, but there have been producers (such as Daft Punk for goodness sake!) around for years and years and it took them that long to nominate a song that’s probably popular on youtube or maybe some aloof and stupid talk show host is all for Daft Punk. I don’t know, I’m rambling here…

My point is, half of these artists who get nominations, SHOULD NOT BE NOMINATED! I don’t find it fair that tons of artists over the years have never received even a nomination.

How ridiculous. 

Here are the nominations for “Best Dance Recording” lol:

Daft Punk – Harder Better Faster Stronger
Lady Gaga – Just Dance
Madonna – Give It 2 Me
Rihanna – Disturbia
Sam Sparro – Black & Gold

*ROLLS EYES*

And here, for Best Remixed Recording:

Ne-Yo – Closer (Stonebridge Radio Edit)
MGMT – Electric Feel (Justice Remix)
Madonna feat. Justin Timberlake – 4 Minutes (Junkie XL Remix)
Mary J. Blige – Just Fine (Moto Blanco Remix)
Morgan Page feat. Lissie – The Longest Road (Deadmau5 Remix)

You know you are a major sell out when you are nominated in these categories Plus, there is only two categories for “DANCE” music. I’d say the majority of the US have no idea what electronic music is. They think it is TECHNO TECHNO and Daft Punk.

And can I just say, the songs that were nominated were pure CRAP.

That is all! 

Alright I hope some of that made sense.

End of rant. 

I don’t know why I always remember this, but every year I always think to myself, “December 2nd, it’s Britney’s birthday!” lol so happy birthday miss Spears.

I am only mentioning her today because it is her birthday, and because I watched her little… *cough* documentary. I must say, poor excuse of a documentary. I do like how it focused on her music career, behind the scenes of her new video “Circus” but my god, she is such a dumb broad at times. Or maybe the editors just make her seem really dumb.

Several times she was quiet, whenever the interviewer asked questions, or she was bawling her eyes out. She said “I am not going to sugar coat anything…” but I’m sorry Bretto but you really didn’t talk about your MELT DOWN and all of the CRAZINESS that you have surpassed.

I figured she would talk about you know, the drugs, shaving her head, what made her get to that point, and she covered NOTHING. I like how she is so caring about her children, but she really did not talk about anything worth while. No apologies, no explanations, no “oooh yes I did do drugs and I’m sorry!” I swear they must have edited everything she said to make this a Hills-esque type of special.  

Not impressed with the documentary, I was expecting more out of her really. I guess she isn’t allowed to talk about how she went loony bins for over two years after she had her kids. Oh well…

and yeah, I’m a Britney fan. Go ahead and laugh, I still think she’s AWESOME. <3 (Even if she does seem to be aloof, but somewhat grounded even though there is cameras shoved in her face daily.)

I don’t think the full video for “Circus” is on youtube, but here’s a teaser.

Toodles!

1997… good year huh? Good enough for a band name? Possibly! I’ve just discovered this band called 1997 and they come from Chicago. I would say they are an indie pop group, more along the lines of an emo-ish band, with a great male and female vocalist.

(I dedicate this band to my amazing wifey and none other than miss Beaner!) <3

Many <3 <3 <3 emo hearts to you all… hahaha.

(Silly post don’t mind me!)

So one of my favorite shoegaze electronic type artists is M83. I LOVE LOVE LOVE THEM! They are named after the spiral galaxy, Messier 83. (Which I posted a picture above, it’s so beautiful!) Their music is so inspiring to me and it also really sedates me whenever I listen to them.

M83 is made up of Anthony Gonzalez and formally Ncolas Fromageau. They first founded the group in 2001, in France.

How can I describe M83… well they are very ethereal sounding, the synthesizers do the shoegaze kind of music justice. Don’t know what shoegaze is? Look it up folks, I’m not in the mood to talk about what the genre is like. Just think of… earthy and melodic voices that makes you think of… wind chimes, or something. (Man I don’t know if I describe things very well sometimes :P)

M83 focuses mainly on synthesizer based songs, but there is guitar thrown in there too. The tone of the singing voices are very whispery like. It’s great music to relax to, and the videos are thought provoking I would say.

Their latest album is “Saturdays = Youth” and my suggested tracks for them would definitely be “You Appearing”, “Kim and Jesse”, and “We Own the Sky.” The album has a very pop feel to it, but it is still typical M83.

So check ‘em out, I think I have a good ear for music. I think.

One of my favorite electro duos for over a year now is none other than CRYSTAL CASTLES! These two hail from Toronto, Canada, Ethan Kath who is a vocalist and plays several instruments (synths and whatever else he has created!) and also vocalist Alice Glass.

Their name comes from the cartoon She-Ra if you hadn’t notice. And if you also heard of these guys, a lot of their songs sound like synth pop type video games like the atari, there is also a game for the old atairi called Crystal Castles.

They released copious amounts of songs on their myspace page first starting out. Good ol’ myspace!

They released their first album with 16 tracks and it is self -titled. It was released in early 2008. During this time they played in the Nine Inch Nails “Lights in Sky Over” tour. They were also on tour with several music festivals like Leeds and Reading.

Crystal Castles are really intriguing to me because of the oringiality in the songs that sound like the old atari, new wave and electro. They are something different all right, with a punk edge thrown in there.

They have remixed some amazing songs, such as “Hunting for Witched” by Bloc Party, “Atlantis to Interzone” by Klaxons and of course the song that got me hooked “Leni” by the Goodbooks. My suggested tracks for these electro starlets are “Vanished”, “Knights”, and “Courtship Dating.” You will either want to dance or just be amused.