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Posts tagged as “music”

(Archive March 2017) Fathom Farewell: An Interview with a Local Band

By editorialteam on September 10, 2024

By Mariah Boisvert | Observer Contributor

A Fathom Farewell – Fathom for short – is a band local to Worcester County and book shows all over Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Current members include vocalist Alex Cohen and guitarist Jesse Ljunggren

“A Fathom Farewell’s brand of post-hardcore brings a different angle to a well-tread genre, fusing modern metalcore with influences ranging from traditional Armenian music, to stoner metal, to pop-punk. Their high-energy performance seeks to bring positivity to every musical community they play in” – Direct quote from the band’s Facebook page. read more

(Archive March 2017) A Music Review: Defend the Rhino

By editorialteam on September 10, 2024

By Bryon Harris | Observer Contributor

Defend the Rhino is an instrumental post rock band you won’t want to miss out on. Drawing their influences from groups like Mogwai, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and Explosions In The Sky, Defend the Rhino has a gorgeous sound and wonderful musicianship. Their latest CD There’s No Place Like Home shows off the undeniable potential of their works.

Starting off with “Milestone,” Defend the Rhino presents their musical identity with a soothing musical experience. “Milestone” begins with some ambient crackling accompanied by a set of piano chords. These are then slowly built upon adding tasteful guitar licks for about half the song. This progression then breaks into a steady groove bringing the composition together with layered guitar, bass, drums, and some additional production. The mix is professional and sounds as if it could be used in movies or television soundtracks, which speaks volumes about the musicianship and talent of Defend the Rhino. read more

(Archive February 2017) Music Review: Dropkick Murphys’ 11 Short Stories of Pain and Glory

By editorialteam on September 5, 2024

By Jason D. Greenough | Observer Contributor

Dropkick Murphys’ 11 Short Stories of Pain and Glory

Boston’s favorite sons, Quincy-based Dropkick Murphys, started 2017 off with a bang, with the release of their ninth studio record, 11 Short Stories of Pain and Glory, on January 6th.

I always enjoy the anticipation of an album, because being able to finally listen to it gives me a glimpse into how a band has progressed and grown. Not only in their sound, but in the lives of the members as well. In that regard, this album did not disappoint. In fact, this album was, in my opinion, their most personally revealing album in their catalog. read more

(Archive December 2016) December Music Preview

By editorialteam on September 4, 2024

By Jason Greenough | Web\Social Media Editor

With September, October, and November bringing some of the most anticipated albums of the year, December comes in a bit thin with the amount of music coming out, but the content is nothing to scoff at. With the majority of the releases coming on December 2nd, There is a good mix of hip-hop and and rock to make everyone happy.

With Comedian and Actor Donald Glover’s hip-hop alter ego, Childish Gambino’s Awaken, My Love! When it lands on the shelves, it will mark the first full-length release from Gambino since 2013’s Gold-Certified record Because The Internet. While his last effort was certified gold earlier this year, the overall reception of the album by critics such as Pitchfork and Spin were less than favorable.  read more

(Archive November 2016) Local Benefit Music Concert

By editorialteam on September 4, 2024

To Raise Awareness and Empower Women

By Byron Harris | Observer Contributor

Sylvie Abate is a local musician out of Fitchburg. Along with being a multi-talented musician, Abate also shares a passion for helping others and creating a stronger community. Abate will be putting together a benefit music concert to celebrate and empower women.

Abate is managing the Out of the Fog Festival to raise awareness for domestic and relationship abuse. The term Out of the Fog come from patterns of behavior associated with emotional abuse which promote Fear, Obligation, or Guilt (F.O.G). The Out of the Fog Festival will be an all-inclusive, feminist fundraising event for musicians, friends, families, and supporters of all genders.  read more

(Archive May 2016) “Workin’ eight days a week…”

By editorialteam on September 3, 2024

Song: Eight Days a Week/
Artist: The Beatles/
Writers: Lennon-McCartney/
Album: Beatles for Sale/
Release Date: 4 December, 1964

“Eight Days a Week” is one of my favorite Beatles songs during their “pre-Rubber Soul” era. It maintains a somewhat-unique composition and a possible double-meaning.

On the album of origin, Beatles for Sale, it is the first song on the B-Side, or back, of the vinyl long-play, alongside seven other original compositions, and pitted against six covers. This may have been done to illustrate just how exhausted the band was after being in the spotlight for all of 1964. read more

(Archive April 2016) Shorthand 03: The Beatles & Beach Boys Edition

By editorialteam on August 28, 2024

“Eight Days a Week”
Lennon-McCartney – Beatles for Sale – 1964.12.04

It’s definitely a good song, even if the band isn’t too fond of it. It’s the ‘dark-horse’ of The Beatles’ fourth UK album, with its brighter composition in comparison to the rest of the original compositions’ darker overtones, as well as the possible double-meanings that are present. All of that makes this one a favorite of mine. [8/10]

“A Day in the Life (Anthology Edit)”
Lennon-McCartney – Anthology 2 – 1996.03.18 read more

(Archive April 2016) Shorthand 02: Coming Attractions Edition

By editorialteam on August 28, 2024

“Do You Like Worms”
B. Wilson-Parks – The Smile Sessions – 2011.10.31 [iTunes]/2011.11.01 [Worldwide]

Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks’ original mostly-instrumental, when presented in this collection, seems to still be in its unfinished condition. While the individual pieces by themselves sound good, they do not really benefit each other as a comprehensive composition, especially owing to the fact that few of the couplets that Parks wrote for this song were known to have been recorded. It would later be completed as “Roll Plymouth Rock” for Wilson’s SMiLE 2004 album, but even that version has its own share of problems. [4/10] read more

(Archive April 2016) “Probably the most beautiful thing I’ve ever listened to.”

By editorialteam on August 28, 2024

By Patrick J. Miller | Observer Contributor

Title: Our Sweet Love/
Artist: The Beach Boys/
Writers: Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson & Al Jardine/
Album: Sunflower/
Release: 31 August, 1970

The Beach Boys are a group of five, maybe six young and cute Californians composed of brothers Brian, Carl & Dennis Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, childhood friend Al Jardine, and later on, Bruce Johnson. Together, these six lads would compose many high-hitting compositions that would end up as hit singles [California Girls, Good Vibrations]. They would be best known for their brilliant harmonies and their work leading up to their monumental “Pet Sounds” album. read more

(Archive April 2016) “An interesting mess.”

By editorialteam on August 28, 2024

By Patrick J. Miller | Observer Contributor

Song: A Day in the Life [Anthology Version]/
Artist: The Beatles/
Writer: Lennon-McCartney/
Album: Anthology 2/
Release: 18 March, 1996/
Recorded: 19-20 January & 10 February, 1967/
Label: Apple

Anthology 2 is the second of three compilation albums dedicated to Beatles outtakes. They mainly hosted a large set of studio outtakes, home demos, and even live performances that were either bootlegged in large numbers before, or making their debut here.

`Overall, I felt that the compilations helped tell the story of the band’s rise to the top, and their descent towards their last few days. However, my main problem with this set is its gratuitous need to combine certain outtakes in order to form a “complete” product, especially when this uses otherwise unavailable outtakes.

“A Day in the Life”, an already great song that would really benefit from a progressive look at outtake-wise (one outtake at a time), it is instead represented by a smörgåsbord of Takes, numbered 1, 2, 6 & an orchestra outtake, all compiled to form a “complete” version. However, I can’t really complain too much, because both Take 2 and the orchestra piece is available, consumer-wise, for the first time. read more