What is it with Coldplay?

Coldplay, a name one instantly relates to popular alternative rock music. What is it about them that makes them so damn good?
At a time when most bands get lost in this shit called Pop music that record companies keep excreting out their ass holes.
Coldplay have somehow managed to keep themselves on top and in the spotlight.
I think that comparing bands is sort of an insult to the artists but I can't help compare Coldplay and Travis (some might think of Oasis or similar band).
What I wish to point out here is that Coldplay have consistently managed to introduce new vigor and colour in their music, whereas bands like Travis did progress with their music and perfected it, but they never really innovated with their form to the point that Coldplay have and continue to do.
This is the song that started it all Shiver, from their first Album Parachutes Their first official hit!



A lot of you must remember this album, after all it did include hits like Yellow, Don't Panic, Trouble and Everything's Not Lost









If Parachutes was good then "A Rush Of Blood To The Head" was f*@king awesome!!!
I mean, the first thing that comes to mind when somebody mentions Coldplay is either Yellow or The Scientist.



It also had other hits like Clocks, In My Place, Green Eyes and many others.







"X and Y", I think ,was the first album that showed signs of them drifting away from their initial style.
They had these up-tempo electronica infused songs like Talk, and Speed of Sound. That didn't quiet sound like their previous work. I felt very relieved when I heard Fix You, A Message and Swallowed In The Sea. It took a while for me to realize that they were just trying to diversify their music and trying new things.







Now, when Viva La Vida was something totally different from what they had done earlier and I just couldn't connect with it at the first listen but slowly it grew on me and I began to understand their music.
This shift in style, I personally like to compare with the time when Bob Dylan went electric at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival.
None the less it had gems like Life in Technicolor which featured an orchestra!



and my personal favourite, Strawberry Swing, which had the most awesome video and African sounds.



Their latest single Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall just goes to show how far they'v come.

Indie,Folk,Rock and Alternative: God Is An Astronaut

Every once in a while you stumble upon a sample of music that just doesn't sound ordinary. It has the kind of feel, that emotes mutual understanding. As if for a blissful few minutes, time ceases to exist and you become one with the sound.

I must admit that this happens very rarely, and most of the times it is so with only few of an artist's songs.
But! with "God Is An Astronaut" that is not the case.

Only once before, have I  listened to each and every song on an album, without impatiently skipping to the next, like I do during the first listen.
Their music can only be described as hypnotic, I could not skip a single track, the hold was just too strong. Only "Snow Patrol's" fourth album, "Eyes Open" had this quality, where you can just press play and forget about changing the tracks from there on.

Coming back to God Is An Astronaut. Their music is often described as Post-Rock-Instrumental. But I think that it can only be described as "Avant Grade" , perfect in every way!
Each of their songs is accompanied by a unique video and light show, which the band create on their own. They call it a "full audio video show", sadly, I was not able to find any good quality live performance videos of their's on youtube.

Here is a sample of their ingenious work.

"All is Violent, All is Bright" the person who made this video was a genius!!! It complements the song perfectly!

My personal favourite is "Suicide by Star", you have to wait for the end, when the progression to the double drums just knocks your socks off!

The video was compiled from the Sci-Fi Classic "2001: A Space Odessy", Excellent work, I must say!


This is a live performance of the same!

"Fragile" is one of their more popular songs, because it got extensive coverage on music channels. The video is a real heart wencher!


One of their more "Mellower" creations is "Frozen Twilight"


Here is a sample of what their live performances look like.







I hope you became an Addict, like me. 

Indie,Folk,Rock and Alternative: The Difference Between Crap and Real Music

Why do people listen to mass produced CRAP (PoP Music)?

This question nags me every time I see a Lady Gaga video or the Beiber bitch prancing around on music channels.

 I mean, whats the deal? Is it the Shock and Awe factor that makes people go gaga over Gaga or just plain old stupidity (brainwashing by money hungry music companies) or teenage peer pressure by Beiber Bitches? 

Sample this;

So, this is the song that made Gaga a millionaire!

And this, is Real music,

And this is an example of "versatility" that only real "musicians" (not freaks) with real "talent" possess.

I know its unfair to compare genres, then again, the atrocities that these freaks commit on my senses compel me to rant about it.

Now that its off my chest i can sleep peacefully tonight. 

Indie,Folk,Rock and Alternative: Hinder

Hinder is one band that has been around for a decade now, they just completed ten years this year.
They have had plenty of hits in their early days, thanks to songs like,
"Lips Of An Angel" and "Better than Me"

Here's the acoustic version of "Lips Of An Angel"



Their greatest strength as a band is obviously the lyrics, and the great variety in their music. They have dabbled in Metal & Post-Grunge besides Rock genres and thanks to Winkler's awesome and versatile vocals, almost every song sounds genuine.

Although most of their music relates to "Love and the Hurt that accompanies it", like "Bliss"


"Jealousy and Pain" like "How Long"


but they also have some inspirational songs , somewhat like Nicky Sixx.
"Whatcha Gonna Do", from their latest album.


All these might have created an air of seriousness around Hinder, but as I said they are quite versatile.
Sample this one, "Put That Record On"

"By the time that the songs came on we were stoned out of our minds I know it's only rock and roll but it's the soundtrack of our lives 

And no matter how crazy life gets I can feel right at home sweet home

Everytime I put that record on

The first time I got a whole lotta love I wanted a whole lot more

In the back seat baby made me feel like maybe we were knocking on heavens door

Walk this way still to this day makes me wanna drink all night long

Everytime I put that record on

Turn turn turn it up loud light you one up and pass it around

The song remains the same as life goes on and on and on yeah

Turn turn turn the page were back to that first time and place 

When you felt like you were living in that song

Put that record on

Life's been a crazy train barely kept it on the tracks

If you think it's the same that I act this way blame it on back in black 

Thought I did everything I did and I forget what I done wrong

Everytime I put that record on

Turn turn turn it up loud light you one up and pass it around

The song remains the same as life goes on and on and on yeah

Turn turn turn the page were back to that first time and place 

When you felt like you were living in that song

Put that record on

Let it play

Take me back 

To yesterday

Come on baby sing

Turn turn turn it up loud light you one up and pass it around

The song remains the same as life goes on and on and on yeah

Turn turn turn the page were back to that first time and place 

When you felt like you were living in that song

Put that record on "

It's probably the story of every Rock fan.

Indie,Folk,Rock and Alternative: The Weepies

When they say that music connects and brings people together, they really do mean it. The Weepies, are perhaps, an ideal example.
Deb and Steve were independent artists who met through their music, made a band, and even got married. "The Weepies" came to the fore with their song "World Spins Madly On" in 2006.


It's amazing how easily one connects to their music.



"Nobody Knows Me At All", really brings out that alone-in-a-crowd feeling.

Then there is "Be My Thrill", best Indie Iv'e heard in a long while.
Check out the lyrics.

"Be my thrill, my little white pill, my unpaid bill, the one who will 

Be my love, my little grey dove, my push and my shove, my heaven above

And we tumble down like Jack and Jill, and I miss all of the joy you kill

But I love you still, be my thrill

Be my one, my day in the sun, my little pop gun, the best thing I've done 

Be my what, my open and shut, my everything but, my little hot slut

And every morning is like the one before

And everybody needs someone to adore

I'm counting on you

Oh baby say you will

Oh baby be my thrill

Be my youth, my kissing booth, my little sweet tooth, my beauty and truth

Be my thrill, my little white pill, my wait up until, the one who will"

This has got to be the ultimate Please-hit-on-me song of all time, great video too!

Indie,Folk,Rock and Alternative: Matt Costa

A few years ago I couldn't have imagined myself enjoying Indie Music, but now "I'm so Indie that it hurts".

Jack Johnson should be credited for creating some very good music, but their is another thing we should thank him for. That is, for introducing Matt Costa to the world.

He's been around for some time now, but I found him through a live Jack Johnson concert video, he was opening for him.

Costa has a good collection of Singles that have a pretty good rating, his first is also my favorite.

It first came out in 2006.

"Cold December"

Its a typical "Broken hearted guy-trying-to-get-over-it" song, but I like the tune and the lyrics, they seem honest enough.

"Summers come and summer has gone 

Your Christmas cards cant comfort me

You've found new friends and tied all the ends

It's freezing in the loneliest winter"

Here's one that a lot of people would easily identify with, "Mr.Pitiful" 

"Oh Mr. Pit, oh Mr. Pit, Mr. Pitiful

Who let you down?

Who let you down?

Who let you down?

You still don't believe, you don't believe

You don't believe, and your grievances show

When your soapbox unfolds

But please come down from that cloud you're sitting on

I don't expect you to admit that you were wrong

I just want to know how you've been

It don't make me feel bad that we're still friends

Mulling it all over in my head

I hope that you see through your picket

I hope that you see through your big yard and white picket fence

To make amends

And still be friends, still be my friend"

Can this guy write or what!!!!

This one is an eye opener, it starts of nice enough, all innocent, but when it ends. It sort of leaves you with this haunting feeling of the inevitable.

Sunshine, check out the fantastic lyrics.

"I'd really like to tell you

Oh my sunshine

Even though your skies are blue

You're drying up my bed

How can I get any rest now?

Sha la la la la la la la

Someday 

You will get the best of me 

Oh someday

Probably when I'm old and grey

I'm lying in my bed

And I will soon be put to rest now

Sha la la la la la la la"