One Direction
One Direction got their start by
auditioning for the popular British reality singing competition The X Factor.
The band, which consists of members: Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik,
Liam Payne, and Niall Horan, went far into the contest but eventually finished in
third place. However, the show's creator, Simon Cowell, took notice of the
group's unique sound and talents and signed them to his personal label Syco Records.
The team is heavily pop inspired and is probably best described as a “boy band”
That doesn't mean that most of their songs are written or performed in the
traditional boy band manner. This group has its own specific sound that carries
a modernized "alternative flair." One Direction released its debut
album in 2011 titled Up All Night. The collection skyrocketed in popularity and
peaked at the number two position on the UK Albums Chart. After seeing their success,
Columbia Records reached out to the group and brought their talents stateside. Up
All Night is now available in the United States and also contains one song that
was rewritten specifically for an American release. This album contains 13
songs but sadly does not have a digital booklet or any bonus content.
The collection starts out with the band's
hit single, "What Makes You Beautiful". This cut is vocally driven and
catchy harmonies dominate background instrumentals. Upbeat synthesizers, fast
paced drums, and guitar riffs undertone everything. This is a very "feel
good" and entrancing pop sound and is the type of mix that will make you
want to get up and dance. "One Thing" keeps the party going with its heavy
and patterned drum line paired with funky sounding guitars. The harmonies once
again reign supreme here and this score really helps to showcase the group's
vocal range and abilities. The band has a softer-side too, as presented in "More
Than This". This lyrically powerful song has a softer vocal tone to it.
These arias are underlined by sweet sounding synthesizers and a subtle yet poignant
drum beat. This mix carries a techno styling with it, making it a very unique pop
ballad.
One Direction is becoming a driving
force in the genre of pop. Their unique and energetic sound is refreshing and most
of their songs are catchy. The band has already found success in the United Kingdom
and the recent release of Up All Night in the United States is increasing their
popularity world-wide. Users on iTunes are flooding the album with good praise
and positive comments. If you are looking for a "boy band" with an uncommon
twist then give this album a try.
Epica
Epica is a well-known symphonic metal band
from the Netherlands. The group has been around since 2002 and has produced
five albums. Epica is the brain-child of Mark Jensen, who created the band after
he cut ties with the group Ever After. He is joined by Coen Janssen, Simone
Simons, Isaac Delahaye, Arien Van Weesenbeck, and Yves Huts. All six members of
the band collaborate on their instrumentals, but Simone Simons and Mark Jensen are
responsible for the bulk of the group's vocals and lyrics. Epica has been labeled
as a "gothic-meta!" band, but most of their songs are off the
traditional beaten path. Their ability to pair operatic female vocals with dark
and foreboding male snarls has set them apart from the rest of the genre. These
powerful voices are accompanied by a multitude of orchestral instruments, ranging
from violins and xylophones to electric guitars. Their newest collection is
entitled Requiem for the Indifferent. The iTunes album is comprised of 15 total
tracks, two bonus tracks, and comes complete with a digital booklet.
The ensemble starts off with the track
"Karma". This short but powerful song displays a mass of different
instruments, underlined by haunting male and female vocalists. Karma bleeds
seamlessly into the next song, "Monopoly on Truth". Hard sounding
electric guitars are paired with a fast paced, booming drum line. Simone Simons
and Mark Jensen both display their vocal ranges here as they alternate lyrical sections.
This score reminds me of an up-tempo, hardcore metal opera. It isn't all hardcore
metal though; Epica still manages to provide fans with some serene, lyrically pleasing
arias, as apparent in the title "Avalanche". This song starts with a
very airy sounding music box that is quickly accompanied by a group of soft
string instruments. Simone chimes in with strong and haunting vocals. The song
picks up speed as a gentle patterned drum beat rises up. A personal favorite of
mine, "Nostalgia" kicks things up with some slick electric guitar
playing. Strings, bass, and drums all come together to produce a very nice harmony.
These become second to the vocals though, which carry a very heavy opera styling.
Epica is a big contender in the world
of operatic-metal and they seem to get better with each album they release. Requiem
for the Indifferent is receiving a lot of hype and positive comments from iTunes
users. The low price and high song count make this collection a great deal. I
would recommend this album to anyone who enjoys the symphonic-metal genre but
wants something with a little more operatic elegance.
The
Decemberists
The Decemberists are a five-piece
Portland, Oregon native band with the members: Colin Meloy (Lead Vocals), Chris
Funk (Guitar), Jenny Conlee (Organ, Accordion, Multi-Instrumentalist), Nate
Query (Bass Guitar and String Bass), and John Moen (Drums, Backing Vocals,
Melodic Guitar). The Decemberists are labeled as a “folk alternative band” and
are the epitome of unique. Their music styling changes with each song, and
their albums are usually a very electic mix of cultural sounds. The band draws
influences from folk tales and some of their tracks tell stories and reflect on
some of the more prominent legends of folktales. As far as their sound goes, it
is hard to “relate” them to any specific band. Colin Meloy has a powerful,
unique voice and his band mates play a variety of unexpected instruments with
ease. Their newest collection is titled We All Raise Our Voices to the Air
(Live Songs). This album contains different tracks that the band played live
between the months of April and August, 2011. This is the seventh collection in
the band’s discography and contains a large variety of songs from their
previous anthologies. We All Raise Our Voices to the Air has 20 songs, but
doesn’t come with a digital booklet or bonus content.
The album starts out with the track
“The Infanta”. This piece revolves around an “infanta”, defined as the daughter
of a Spanish king. The lyric boast an impressive vocabulary and the
instrumentals are very diverse. Although there is a flair of Spanish harmony,
this song is dominated by an organ and piano. “We Both Go Down Together” is one
of the band’s more prominent score. This song is the embodiment of folk. Pianos
and string instruments are under-laden by an organ and a sweet sounding violin.
Colin Meloy displays a great amount of vocal range here. "Down By the
Water" feels like a classic rock song, with the soulful sound of a harmonica
and electric guitar. "The Mariner's Revenge Song is a vastly entertaining
and immersive tale about a young boy who seeks revenge on a man who has done his
mother wrong. The audience interacts with this song and it really has that "live”
feeling to it. Accordions and melodic guitars combine here with a powerful drum
line. Colin Meloy really shines and the vocals are amazing.
The Decemberists are a joy to listen
to and are really entertaining. Their live album is receiving great reviews
from iTunes users as well. The collection is a true value as it contains so
many songs from the band's discography over the years and includes some of
their best hits. I would definitely suggest giving this album a chance.
