Studying at UK....

Finals week at the UK Library... Flash Rave time...

Click here to see the "attempted" news coverage of the Flash Mob. Once you are at the link click on the video on the far right

The Wizard of Ooh's and Ah's

Every now and then you go to a concert that completely blows away your expectations. Jason Mraz did just that to me tonight at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, KY.

I have always been a fan and of course I was looking forward to the concert, but I never expected an artist with such flashy vocals melodies and intricate lyrics to deliver in a live performance. He didn't meet his CD standards live; he exceeded them.

The quality of his voice was astounding. He remembered every lyric and didn't shy away from the more complicated tunes. 

The most impressive thing was the way he kept the crowd involved. He injected some Bob Marley, Oasis, marijuana and sex into the show. Comedy was pervasive. The most popular moment came when he broke into opera in the middle of "Mr. Curiosity" It was perfect. He made the crowd dance, and even the most detached audience members couldn't help but dance and sing along. Perhaps it was because Mraz targeted them out. "Yeah I know there are some of you out there all 'I just drove them, I'm not here to have fun.' Don't ever let your mind get in the way of you having a good time" It was perfect. Everyone clapped and laughed, including those members of the audience he was referring to. No one was embarassed to sing loud, because no one could hold a candle to the vocals pouring out of the PA anyway, but that isn't what it was about. Mraz made it feel that he genuinely wanted the audience to forget about their troubles for that hour and a half, and if that really was his goal, he succeeded with me at the very least.

To read my full review of the Kentucky Kernel click here

Goosebumps

Battle Studies

John Mayer has decided to allow his fans to follow the writing process of his fourth studio album, starting at the bare bones. He has dismantled his official website, and swapped it out in favor of a blog. For me personally, there is nothing more intimate an artist can do than to let his fans get as close as is realistically possible. I enjoy watching creativity unfold day by day, seeing how an artist's opinions of his or her own works change, and watching their techniques. The site goes as far as to stray from his work and simply to tell interesting and current accounts of his life as well as things like music and movie recomendations, allowing fans to see what may be inspiring some of the decions he is making.

Mayer refers to this blog as his battle studies, and acknowledges this as his opportunity to give more thanks and appreciation to his fans. I love the idea of an artist allowing his fans come along for the ride, and I hope it is a trend more artists take.

As for the clips of his work he has posted so far, they are very promising. I love Mayer's blues work, but this album seems to show a trand that is melding his blues inspiration with his poppy side, and the results have been promising. 

A clip of his song Half of My Heart:

Or his Kanye-inspired "foray into hip-hop":

These are just some of the hundreds of things he has posted so far. If you want to see what all Mayer has been up to for the last couple of months just click here.

FM Static Dear Diary

If you haven't heard of them, it's about time. I'll be the first to admit they are nothing ground breaking, but if you want your CD of feel-good, up-beat summer anthems, here it is.

My review for the Kentucky Kernel:

FM Static-"Dear Diary" Review

By Matt Murray

Tooth & Nail Records is becoming a haven for underappreciated bands, and the release of FM Static’s “Dear Diary” only confirms the argument.

FM Static, side project of Thousand Foot Krutch’s Trevor McNevan and Steve Augustine, has been redefining the pop/rock genre since 2003.

Gone are the nasally vocals that pervade many of today’s pop-rock groups. McNevan’s voice has a thick, rich quality that gives FM Static’s poppy refrains a full sound. Aside from his vocal range, his writing helps to set FM Static apart from its peers as well. McNevan walks a very fine line, finding a way to expresses a complete spectrum of emotions without ever letting FM Static lose their positive edge. Every song has a very up-beat feel from start to finish.

The concept album is based around the idea that each song is an entry in the diary of a teenager preparing to go off to college. Each song wrestles with different events and conflicts that many teens wrestle with, ranging from dating to religion.

The album’s opening track, “Boy Moves to a New Town with an Optimistic Outlook,” starts the album off on the right foot. The album’s protagonist has just moved into his new house at the start of his senior year of high school, and is exploring the realm of emotions that come along with that. Ultimately he decides that indifference is not an option as he sings, “I’m on a long journey through mountains of apathy and I’m not afraid to walk through.”

One of the album’s brightest spots is the duet between McNevan and Superchick’s Tricia Brock on the song “The Voyage of Beliefs.” The song follows the unnamed protagonist through his contemplation of his belief system. He wonders whether he truly believes in his religion or if he is just following in his family’s footsteps as he declares “I’m tired of making excuses. I need to decide for myself.” Brock  plays his female counterpart, as she ponders the same dilemma. Her voice is the perfect complement to McNevan’s fast paced hooks, and the result is ideal.

FM Static may become the launching pad for their underappreciated label as “Dear Diary” is a great listen from start to finish, and is an album everyone needs to add to their collection. But when you pick it up, prepare for your head to hurt a little, because there are going to be too many hooks stuck in there for your brain to process. ..But trust me, it’s a good thing.

Key Tracks: Boy Moves to a New Town with an Optimistic Outlook, The Voyage of Beliefs, Take Me as I Am

I'm gonna go out on a limb....

and I admit I am a little bias....

But this just may be the best song ever written... haha