Hello everybody, this next blog has come a little earlier than i expected; I have to spend my free periods in the library, as part of 'supervised study'. Not that i particularly mind spending my free periods in the library on the laptops, but the downside is instead of going home at 1:20 on a Friday, I have to stay until 3:25. Slightly annoying, but on plus I get time to catch up on work, and when the motivation to work deserts me, I can do things like this.
My structure of splitting up my blog posts into one topic per post has already been ditched. I blog for the enjoyment of it, and structuring it like some sort of essay really didn't appeal to me upon reflection. Hopefully this may be a little more interesting for each individual post; to write and to read.
MUSIC:
I still like the title lines, still gives people the choice to skip stuff they don't want to read.
Anyway, a band I overlooked yesterday that I can't get enough of at the moment are Blessthefall. It really bugged me, as I wrote about a few bands yesterday that I really don't feel deserve as much credit as Blessthefall.
Their second album, Witness, is a fine example of a metalcore band progressing and stepping above the sea of generic, average tripe that drowns out many a talented band. The first album, His Last Walk, smacked of a band with more talent than they were letting on. Often you would hear a lead guitar melody that you just wanted to soar, take the song by it's balls and run with it, but what you got was a weedly, restrained whine drowned out by overproduced chug. It fell into the trap of a band trying far too hard to appeal to the metalcore masses, the production being most obviously guilty of this.
I wouldn't like to say if the departure of Craig Mabbit was what prompted the change in sound, but whatever it was, it was the best thing they have ever done. Witness opens a little underwhelmingly, the opening track 2.0 providing what I really do dread when i listen to a metal / metalcore album; a generic breakdown. The production is the one thing that impressed me from the off, the guitar given plenty of balls, but retaining a real raw energy that was missing on His Last Walk. The screams I personally can't really make my mind up on; at times, they sound so racked with emotion and energy, my hairs stand on end. At other times, they sound strained and a little choked. Possibly something to improve on, just reeling them in a little bit so they don't sound so.... uncontrolled.
You are then treated to what is undeniably one of the best opening tracks proper i have ever listened too in the form of What's Left of Me. The pick scrape to open makes you want throw your arms into the air and let the medley of guitar, drums and general noise wash over you. The best showcasing of chug on the album slams in, powerful and raw, with such an impressively technical, yet beautifully melodic lead guitar accompanying some of the best screams and cleans Blessthefall have to offer. The chorus is so intensely catchy, with some simple yet effective vocal melodies backed by a controlled aggression in the screams, one of the few times the screamer really reigns them in. Possibly the most quietly impressive part of this song is from about 2:00 onwards. A ridiculously simple quiet part, that creates atmosphere effectively without having to switch to clean guitar. The distortion rings true in the backing chords, providing a very interesting contrast to the clean, resonant lead.
Right, now that I've finished putting the ridiculous amounts of appreciation I have for that song into words, overall the album is good, but not fantastic. The highlights are real highs, but their is a little too much filler for me to really endorse this as one of my favourite albums. Check out Hey Baby..., God Wears Gucci, and Last Ones Left for the best tracks. The better moments actually tend to be the melodic rather than the heavy, in contrast to the opener. Look out for anthemic choruses aplenty, and for the heaviness to be inventive when it is utilised.
GENERAL THOUGHTS; 'TWO-FACED' vs 'TACT'
A couple random musings I have had recently. I've found Twitter is a useful way of keeping track of stuff I want to write about. I can tweet a thought on the spot to write about later, so I don't forget it.
I think everybody at some point in their life realises the majority, if not all, of the people they meet are 'two-faced' to some extent. Two-faced is probably not the best word to use, as it implies some semblance of negativity. Really, what I am talking about is the difference between being two-faced, and being tactful. Being two-faced is not a nice thing; talking badly about people behind their back, lying to people with selfish intentions, such and the like. Tact, on the other hand, is a very desireable trait; the skill of lying, often by omission, with the other person's interests at heart. Some people value honesty over all else, and I agree that with the people closest too you, honesty should be of paramount importance. However when dealing with acquaintances and friends, it is often better for the sake of relations to value their feelings more than honesty.
For example, how often has someone shown you a piece of work they are particularly proud of. It may be art, music, photography, whatever it is the same principles apply. 9 / 10 people would lie when faced with something they didn't feel was particularly good. I don't have the exact figures, but I'm guessing I'm in the right ball park. You don't want to crush you friends self esteem and pride, and so you tell a little white lie. You say 'Oh, that's good!'. Enough sincerity to pass, but not so far as to make the person think they are the next Picasso, Mozart, or..... I don't know any good or famous photographers. Thinking about it, is there such a thing as a famous photographer....But I digress.
Even in honesty, you still retain some tact. You don't tell the person 'Well that's the entire spectrum of awful captured on canvas' (probably because no one talks like that. Artistic licence.), even if you think it. You let them down gently, so as to comply to the obligations of honesty, but escape the situation with minimal damage to your friends emotional well being. Win win, right?
It is the people in this life that, intentionally or otherwise, try and blur the line that really piss me off. The person who's little white lie is insincere enough to let everyone know what they really think, the person who thinks honesty gives them the scope to tear into a friend, the person who thinks a lie to their own ends is perfectly reasonable under the definition of 'tact'. It's these people who really wind me up, using tact as a veil to disguise incredibly self serving or malicious actions. Watch out for these people, and if you ever come across one, do everything you can to distance yourself from them. Most people will be guilty of this at some point in their life, and it is forgiveable. But steer clear of the compulsive offenders.
GENERAL THOUGHTS; MATURITY
I love to be immature. The ability to laugh at the simple things, to enjoy the pleasures of being young and to not care about how it seems is a precious thing. But, equally, I enjoy the more mature things in life. This blog probably portrays more of the latter, but anyone who knows me will understand the former.
What I can't stand are the people who reside at the far left or right of this spectrum.
A constant immaturity is completely inappropriate in the real world, particularly in a working environment. Nothing would ever get done with the attitude of a 10 year old. I have been guilty of this many times in my life, but at least I recognise this and attempt to address a balance. The people who throw 'maturity to the wind', to coin a phrase, and dive straight into that pool of self indulgent adolescent ridiculousness, refusing to haul themselves out, become so incredibly grating. Sure, in small doses they can be refreshing to be around, and can brighten an otherwise dull day. But when too much time is spent with them, you begin to realise how much they will struggle in life if they can not learn to adapt some semblance of an adult mind set. Alan Hansen said 'You don't win anything with kids'. Well, the same applies outside of football; 'kids' achieve fuck all.
But equally, people stuck so far up their own arse they can taste the inside of their own cheek really do need to lighten up. Sure, they probably do more with their life than their peanut-brained counterparts, but they won't enjoy themselves half as much. A balance is necessary to achieve, but also to be able to enjoy any success.
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Anyway, that's me done for today. For regular updates on the ranting and raving of Arron Dempsey, follow me on twitter https://twitter.com/#!/ArronDempers. Comment, tweet or facebook me with any feedback, it is appreciated.
Cheers, Arron.
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