Sorry for the late post (again!) of this week’s Graboid, but it seems to be a consistent thing for me to able to only get a chance to compile it on the weekends. This one day a week posting thing is wearing thin on me as well. It feels like a punishment or some kind of madness that I have to sit here and wait to get access to a working pc. But, this will not last much longer as i’ll be back full strength sometime this weekend. There’s nothing more that adds fuel to the fire of writing something for this blog than being forced (albeit some of it was voluntary) to take a break.
Looking at the new releases this week it’s easy to notice that it’s loaded with some big name artists that we’ve come to expect consistently good music from. But, seeing these releases posed a question for me that I had been thinking about on and off the past few days. It’s an urge a person can feel when going to purchase music. Is it easy to succumb to this kind of security-blanket type of feeling when picking up the latest copy of for example – the latest Beck, Decemberists or Killers albums? I can admit that i’m susceptible to this when I go to the store to buy cds that i’m more likely to pick up those albums, while a lot of the time doing this from only listening to just one song instead of picking up that critically acclaimed or blog hyped album of the week. Are you the same way? I can’t blame you if so. It seems easy when a band/artist you’re familiar with released a great debut or new album, to just give them a free pass or to buy their new material just because you think you’ll get your money’s worth.
Is it a problem? I’d like to say yes, but at the same I think buying music now has changed a lot from even a few years ago. I think this is more of a question to the casual consumer – as for a person like myself – finding new music is easier than ever before with artists/bands being more accessible on the internet. I’ve bought so many albums this year alone that I probably would never even know about otherwise if I wasn’t running this blog or reading countless others. There’s this first-time thrill I get when discovering an amazing new band or a catchy song. Hopefully, though, while you can buy those new albums from familiar faces, that you can appreciate music from a lesser known band like Tokyo Police Club that can provide a different take on a genre of music that maybe you’re not as familiar with. Who knows though, as every day of every week you could possibly find your new favorite band and end up passing up on that new Killers (easy thing to do) album for something a bit more scintillating.
Akron/Family | Meek Warrior
Akron/Family | “Gone Beyond”
Akron/Family | website, previous articles
Beck | The Information
Beck | “Cellphone’s Dead”
Beck | website, previous articles
The Dears | Gang of Losers
The Dears | “Hate Then Love”
The Dears | website, previous articles
The Decemberists | The Crane Wife
The Decemberists | “O Valencia!”
The Decemberists | website, previous articles
The Hold Steady | Boys and Girls in America
The Hold Steady | “Chips Ahoy!”
The Hold Steady | website
The Killers | Sam’s Town
The Killers | “When You Were Young”
The Killers | website
Kooks | Inside In/Inside Out
Kooks | “She Moves In Her Own Way”
Kooks | website
Pernice Brothers | Live a Little
Pernice Brothers | “Somerville”
Pernice Brothers | website, previous articles
Sean Lennon | Friendly Fire
Sean Lennon | “Dead Meat”
Sean Lennon | website
Thunderbirds Are Now! | Make History
Thunderbirds Are Now! | “The Veil Comes Down”
Thunderbirds Are Now! | website
Tokyo Police Club | A Lesson in Crime
Tokyo Police Club | “Citizens of Tomorrow”
Tokyo Police Club | website
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Why do we love Katamari?
I’ve actually never played any of the Katamari games. I just thought the image of the king was pretty funny and just completely random.
Both the Decemberists’ and Beck’s new albums are great. “O Valencia” is now probably one of my favorite songs.
Yeah that’s definitely my favorite song off the album. I think it’ll take me a few listens to truly enjoy it though, that’s how it’s been with all their albums.
I’m really liking everything from that Sean Lennon album as well. Great stuff.