the garage sound

There are just many reasons why I can never make it as an album reviewer or some sort of a music critic. One simple fact would be that I can't come up with the right adjectives to define a band's music precisely and fairly. I can drown in their music and I can stare into space for hours because I get caught up with the songs. But I can't describe the music that tried passionately to eat up my attention.

One genre that I listen to... familiar and definitely not new would be GARAGE ROCK. A term that I've been waiting to hear, a term that I've been waiting to tell my friends, a term that I've been waiting to write about. It used to describe the music of the bands that literally sprung in the garages of America in the 1960's that continuously mimic the sound of then popular British bands. Due to the lack of funds, they come up with an amateurish, screeching yet interesting raw music.

One of my favorite garage revivalists would be THE STROKES. Lead by Julian Casablanca's shattered and rambling voice and his external talent as a songwriter, they achieved international success in music. This band is hyped as one of the saviors of rock n roll for they are reminiscent of the previous pioneers in sound and style. They stained their own personality on it and brought an exciting sound back to the era of their influences. Though they have already reached a huge attention in music they've never learned to enjoy and stand under the spotlight of mainstream success.

The Strokes earned the hearts of the critics after releasing their Is this It? album in 2001. They combined the theme of drugs, sex and rock n roll. Julian Casablanca's voice as intended to be hidden behind is supported by a repetitive guitar and bass into a well generated debut album. Since then the Strokes matured into new tricks to go with their third album, First Impressions of Earth. They really are serious in dedicating their music as a craft that is here to stay.

There's just too much pressure to place on the bands as considered to be the revivalists of Garage Rock. And these bands do not control the fate of rock n roll. Who knows? a new band would just come along, maybe the fate of saving garage rock is just in the constraints of your house. You'll see bunch of kids playing the covers of the Beatles, Nirvana, the Ramones and the Sex Pistols.. but then again, that's how rock n roll legends started out.

psycho 101

I think I’m going mad... literally! Why wouldn't anyone believe me? My brain cells has lost its track and I feel like I’m about to have a sort of sanity breakdown. My mood swings need a few adjustments and altering. I can go from kidding to a drowning depression in like a few seconds. But how do you know if you REALLY are? Does it have any symptoms? Does it have any medications? What makes me think that I’m going crazy? Why do I feel this way?

Yesterday I got up early, went to school and prepared to face a deadline for a design plate. I met my friends, had no awful news or anything but without apparent reason I felt dreadful. My happiness was suddenly replaced by an unpredictable melancholy. It felt like somebody pushed me into this black hole-like mood. I had no idea why I was sad. In my room, I stared at my drafting table for like 10 minutes. It seemed like what I want to do was just there but I just can't grasp it. I lay on my bed and I couldn’t bring myself to do anything at all. Whenever I need to catch a deadline my mind transcends my body. The irony of it kills me. It felt like my body was mounted flat on my bed and my brain was lurking at somebody else's head.

Despite all these pyschological hurdles pinning me down, I survived and got off my bed. I considered smoking and having a drink and all I wanted to do was be alone. Any thought of social interaction would just kill me. I tried to drink with my obscurity and confusion and let them go down the drain of my body. I feel somewhat better now and I’m back laughing and blogging once again.