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Ska! Ska! Ska! (and the other music of my life)
I love ska. What's ska, you ask? Well, many other people have described it better than I could possibly attempt. And you have to listen to it to really understand what I'm talking about... Basically imagine a combination of punk, reggae, swing, rock, and jazz. Not all at one time, for the most part, although many bands combine all of these elements in their albums.
Why do I love ska so much? Basically, I'm a sucker for brass. If I hear a trumpet or a trombone, I'm gone from the sight of the earth, and I float along in the clouds of pure joy. All music affects my soul, but I have an emotional attachment to ska which transcends everything else. For the most part, it's such happy music... fast, jazzy, uplifting. I'm immediately in a better mood after I listen to Five Iron Frenzy or the Skatellites.
However, even the most ardent rudegirl likes other types of music. I listen to everything, from rap to bubble gum pop to hardcore to eighties. Right now, I'm having a techno obsession. 80 percent of my mp3s are electronica. I'm still relatively new to the wide world of digital beeps, so any recommendations are greatly appreciated.
I have grandiose plans for this page. Look for CD reviews, featured bands, and anything else I deign important for you, my dear friends.
Song of the Month - May 2000: "Jump Right In" by The Urge
This is a band I just recently discovered from St. Louis. They mix a bit of ska, a bit of reggae, and a bit of punk to create a totally new and cool sound. "Jump Right In" emphasizes the old ska roots, with guest vocalist from 311, which was cool. This song talks about the decisions that we make in our lives, espcially in the romantic arena. The Urge actually reminds me a little of Agent 99, my absolute favorite band in the entire world, so I'm impressed with this. Plus the music video is damn cool.
Song of the Month - April 2000: "Get Up" by Amel Larrieux
Former lead singer of Groove Theory, Amel Larrieux has gone solo! Her latest album is very very cool, and this song has been playing through my head all month. It's actually *happy* R&B. It's nice to see an uplifting vibe in this scene. She has the voice of candy and spice, very sensual and emotional. When are *you* gonna get up?
Okay, that was corny, please forgive me. :)
Song of the Month - March 2000: "Brackish" by Kittie
Okay, Kittie is cool. And I love this song. "She's not afraid to die..." Talk about strong women! These girls rock! All are underage, all are angry, all know how to have a good, kick-ass time. I picked "Brackish" because out of the entire CD, I think this is the one that portrays the Kittie attitude the best. I want them to come to H-town soon! Female metal now has new ambassadors. :)
Song of the Month - February 2000: "Red Sweater" by the Aquabats!
I love this song. With such strange lyrics and a fun idea, the devotion of a normal guy to the girl with the red sweater becomes an anthem of true love. This is the ultimate love song... not too mushy, but amazingly sweet in a funny way.
"...you're my girl, I'm your man... I don't care if we live in a garbage can..."
With Valentine's Day just around the bend, I thought this was very appropriate and a great antidote to the plethora of bad love songs.
Song of the Month - January 2000: "Grace Flood" by The O.C. Supertones
The Supertones will always bring back fond memories. I recently picked up Supertones Strike Back and started listening. And listened. And listened. I realized why this is one of my favorite CDs. It's like coming back home. And "Grace Flood" is one of the best songs on this CD. A fun horn section, strong vocals, and an attitude of fun mark the Supertones sound. With a peppy tune and an awesome message, I've picked this as my song of the month.
Song of the Month - December 1999: "Dandelions" by Five Iron Frenzy
Dandelions is my favorite FIF song *ever*. Yeah, I know it's slow, but the lyrics, the melody, and the message haunts me. It's one of the few songs that I can sing without having to think about the melody. FIF has a strong brass section which just shines in this song. When I went to see them play live, I had such a spiritual experience, singing this song along with the crowd to God... Read the lyrics, look up the band, and just meditate on the goodness of the Lord.
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