Mark Morton & Willie Adler

Seeing as it's Halloween and one of my all time favorite metal bands; Lamb of God announced their new CD, entitled "Resolution" today. I felt it would be appropriate to write about the bands guitar players, Mark Morton and Wille Adler, two extremely talented (and extremely hairy) musicians.

I was introduced to Lamb Of God in the summer of 2009 by my good friend Pete, who was the lead guitar player of the band I was in at the time. I admit that I did not instantly like them, but one day they just clicked with me. My bandmates and I spent hours upon hours watching the two DVD's the band has put out, and spent even more time trying to figure out how to play their riffs. Mark and Willie play with distinct styles that are completely complimentary of one another, and marks lead work is some of the most underrated guitar playing I've ever seen. Together these guitar players write some of the heaviest, complicated, yet melodic and catchy riffs I've ever heard. Most metal bands now days focus on trying to be heavier and faster than everyone else, without paying attention to the fact that they still need to write great songs. Lamb Of God is a band that covers all of that territory. They can play fast and loud, while also making great songs that you can listen to over and over. I know the name of the band sounds a tad sacrilegious . But after watching the DVD's and reading interviews with the band. You understand that they are just normal, good people, who love to have fun. I don't play metal anymore (at least not seriously) but I am still a big fan of LOG and find myself often inspired by the guitar playing of Mark and Willie.

Before I'm Old

The song "Before I'm Old" by the Utah based band Fictionist has been in constant rotation on my iPod lately. There's certain groups in this day and age that i "get" and certain groups that i don't "get"
and fictionist is a group that makes a lot of sense to me. It could be the fact that they're from Provo, and in that sense, seeing them succeed feels a lot like rooting for the home team. But that's not what does it for me. After all, there are a lot of great local acts. I think the thing that resonates with me the most about this group is that I can understand where they come from in a musical sense, myself being a fan of groups that inspire them, such as Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. But the thing I like most about Fictionist is the song "Before I'm Old." It's a song I can really relate to, It's about figuring out your priorities and coming to terms with growing up, which is something I've always struggled with. The song reminds me somewhat of "The Suburbs" by the band The Arcade Fire, probably because of the references to growing up and holding the hands of their children. But the way Fictionists singer Stuart Maxfield sings the lyrics "there's tiny hands for me to hold, and I'd like to hold them, before I'm old" makes you believe that he is entirely sincere.  What works for this song is how it's structured. The beginning of the song comes from the younger perspective, and realizing that you're getting older. And then the tone changes, Coldplay-esque guitar playing enters and pushes the song, making you "feel alright."
It could just be me. But I think the instrumentation on this song is wonderful. It's a lot simpler than most of the other tracks by Fictionist taking up space in my iTunes library, but it's the most effective because of the way the simplicity is used.  I already feel like I've wrote far too much, and believe me, I've had my ring finger heavy on the delete button of my keyboard. Before i began typing, analyzing this song seemed a lot easier. But what makes a good song is that it can mean different things to different people.
Bottom line is: This is a great tune, I completely relate to it, and you should take a listen to it.

Blogger doesn't support music so I posted the song on my rarely used Tumblr blog, you can hear the song here: http://.austinahatch.tumblr.com, here are the lyrics:

If I'm say I'm scared, it doesn't mean no

there's a thousand places, that I would like to go

that I don't

there's a tiny hand for me to hold, and I'd like to hold it, I'd like to hold it

before I'm old

today I woke, and I found that I'd grown

got a house in the suburbs and a lawn to mow

and settlin' down was close to a curse word, as a young man when he dreams

wide as the sky, but I don't know why

I feel so old

I feel so cold

If the me back then, could see me now, would I shake my head

and wonder how, I can feel all right, I can feel all right

lettin' go of my plans, and givin' up the fight

and if the me back then, could see me today, would I tell me I was wrong,

and I got lost and gone astray

and I can feel all right, I can feel all right

lettin' go of my plans, like doves in the night

there's tiny hands for me to hold, and I'd like to hold them,

Oh, I'd like to hold them,

before I'm old.

5 Records I would have if I were stranded on an island (in no particular order)

So a few days ago, I was going through my iTunes library and started to wonder which albums I would replace as fast as i could if my library was erased. So it got me to thinking about if, for some strange unprecedented reason, I were to become stranded on a desolate island with only a bag of beef jerky, a swiss army knife, a CD player (with batteries) and five CDs, which five CDs would i pick? After a lot of thought, I narrowed it down to these five (in no particular order):

B.B. King "Live at the Regal" (1965) 
If someone were to ask me "Hey Austin, What is blues music?" This is the first record I would hand them. When B.B. recorded this album, he was only 40 years old (which is young, seeing as he's 86 today) and was in his all time prime for singing and guitar playing. what's impressive about this record is the way B.B. involves the audience and makes them just as much a part of the show. B.B's guitar playing on this album is unparalleled, throughout the albums 10 tracks B.B makes Lucille (his Gibson ES-335 guitar) sing, cry, and wail. My choice tracks for this cd are "Sweet Little Angel" and "How Blue Can you get." This record is perfect because you're bound to have the blues when you're stranded on an island.

Coldplay "Viva La Vida (Or Death and all His Friends)" (2008)
To me, Coldplay is one of those bands that people either like or dislike. They've even been called "The worst band to ever become the biggest band." But, if there's one thing no one will fight you on. This album is a masterpiece. Sonically, this record is something I aspire to create in my own music. All 10 (must be a lucky number) of these tracks fit together perfectly producing the most cohesive and often beautiful 45 minutes of music I've heard in a long time. The reason I'd have this album with me on an island is that it's versatility makes it hard to get tired of. My choice cuts on this record are "Lost" and "Strawberry Swing." Go ahead and hate if you want to hate, I can't hear you from my island.

  The Jimi Hendrix Experience "Axis: Bold as Love" (1967)
This album is the sophomore album made by The Jimi Hendrix Experience. And, in my opinion is the most underrated of all their albums. To most people, when you say Jimi's name, they think of Searing lead guitar solos and trippy lyrics, or maybe even just the hippie movement of the 60's. But to me this album is a testament to Jimi's mastery of guitar in the rhythm area. With songs such as "Little Wing" and the title track "Bold as Love" showing off Jimi's floral and perfectly executed R&B rhythm guitar style. The two tracks I just listed are my suggested listening for this album. But if you're an over achiever and feel like going for some extra credit i suggest "Wait Until Tomorrow" and "Castles Made of Sand."

Metallica "Master Of Puppets" (1986)

My first musical endeavor was being a bass player for an 80's style thrash band in high school. This was the album that changed everything for me. All of the songs on this album are perfectly written, and it displays the incredible tightness of James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett's guitar playing. But what was most impressive to me was the incredible bass playing of the late bassist, Cliff burton. Cliff's playing shines on tracks like "Master Of Puppets" and my favorite (and all instrumental) track "Orion." To me, this is the essential Metallica album, and a crash course in metal. It also helps me look past some of Metallica's more recent mistakes (Load, Reload,St. Anger, anyone?) 

John Mayer "Continuum" (2006) 

In an interview about this record, John Mayer stated that he wanted to make a timeless, perfect, record. And with Continuum he did just that. Not only is this John's first studio album that fully shows off his guitar playing capabilities, it also shows his incredible songwriting abilities. Every song on this album has been crafted and refined until it was exactly perfect. Soulful guitar playing and clever, insightful lyrics. All crafted by the same artist who brought us songs like "Daughters"...yeah, I know. My recommended listening on this album is "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room" and "Belief." 

Well, now you know what songs I would be listening to while making sand castles, digging for treasure, talking to a volleyball, dying of hunger, and Making clothes out of palm leaves. Thanks for Reading!

About My Blog.

 With this blog I'll probably write a lot about music, and things that inspire me. I am calling this blog "Progressions" because a song is just a series of chord progressions that all go together and aim towards one final goal. It also fits because blogs, and songs, are about life. Life is also full of little moments or "Progressions" that all go together to ultimately form something whole and beautiful.