Listen To This Too

Written by Craig Will Sunday, 27 March 2011 05:00

Welcome to episode 2 of Listen to This. Last week we talked about guys that can shatter glass with their vocals and this week we'll talk about genres… and how I don't believe in them.

The era we live in now is full of products that blur the line between different functionalities and mediums. Take smartphones for example: calling and texting have been standard for cell phones for a while now but we have the added convenience of the internet, games, email, and so much more on the go. I see music the same way -- sure an artist may fit into one or another genre, but styles have become so muddled and merged it's hard to tell where one ends and another begins. This week we'll look at bands that don't believe in falling into any particular sound.

As always I will pick out three tracks from an album that really exemplify what to expect from the group. And sometimes a fourth bonus track that is either an exception for the group, such as a hardcore/metal group doing an acoustic or slow number (i.e., Vermillion Pt. 2 - Slipknot), or a fourth track that fought tooth and nail to be with the other three.

Also, use the comments to let us know if we've turned you on to something you now love or if you have an album that everyone else needs to hear.

On to the music!

Foxy Shazam - Introducing- 2008

Foxy can't be accurately described by any one genre and I'm having a hard time describing them in any less than four… The important thing to know is that they are pure fun and energy.

Tracks to check out: Introducing Foxy / Ghost Animals / Red Cape Diver Bonus: Listen to The Science Of Love

Super Bonus: See them live if you ever have the opportunity. There will be eating of lit cigarettes, drinking of water from a shoe, and playing of cymbals while they are worn like hats.

Skindred - Babylon - 2004

Ever wondered what Metal would sound like infused with Reggae? Well wonder no more, Skindred mashes them together in an uncanny sound of awesome that can only be described as, well, awesome.

Tracks to check out - Nobody / Bruises / Pressure

Bonus: The re-release includes an acoustic version of Pressure as the hidden track.

Say Anything - Say Anything - 2009

Max Bemis has a sense of wit and wisdom hard to find elsewhere in the industry. And while Say Anything may not always stray from their standard sound, this latest offering provides several different sounds on one disc. Each track mentioned below sounds different (thus proving my point).

Tracks to check out: Crush'd / Do Better / Eloise

Bonus: The bonus CD has two extra tracks (both soft songs). They are "Narcissus" and "I Love You More Than I Hate My Period"