My Journey Through Sound: Part 2

" When I say this way is a waterslide away from me that takes you further every day (hey),
so be cool"
- Say it Ain't So by Weezer.

Another one of my influential bands, but not Canadian! Definitely and eye opening band for me aswell as Alexisonfire. Hollering from Los Angeles, California in 1992 Weezer was born unto the world consisting of Rivers Cuomo, Jason Cropper, Matt Sharp, and Pat Wilson. They, to me, are coined the 'Fantastic Four'. During the recording of their debut album entitled "Weezer", Jason left the band to take care of his future wife, who was pregnant with their first child. He was replaced by Brian Bell, a then bassist of Carnival Art.

I distinctly remember seeing the "Buddy Holly" video and falling in love with this band! It was just them in the setting of Happy Days with the Fonz! A pretty sweet video in my opinion but it never matched "Say it Ain't So" to me. They had this unique sound of being so laid back and it was the most interesting sound to me. Not to mention all their songs after were catchy as hell! If you know anything about Weezer, their first album had a lot going for it; "Buddy Holly", "Say it Ain't So", "Undone - The Sweater Song" all of them amazing in their own right.

Following this amazingly laid back album they hit with "Pinkerton" an edgier and most definitely opposite sounding album to their first but still with a bit of that original Weezer style. In my opinion the only song to fully intrigue me from this album is "El Scorcho". The opening line is hilarious, and there's just something about the song that makes it nice, maybe because it still has a bit of that lazy feel to it. But soon after Pinkerton was released Matt Sharp left the band, then making way for Bass player Mikey Welsh to come in (and if you're confused as to what happened to Brian, he actually plays Guitar for Weezer!).

Follwing their second album they released Weezer. Confusing eh? Well the album cover was green where as the first one was blue, so most call the first album The Blue Album, then Pinkerton, and now, The GREEN ALBUM! What made the Green Album huge in my opinion is definitely "Hash Pipe". If you haven't heard it, it's probably the catchiest song they've ever made. It caught a lot of people's attention in my opinion! "Island in the Sun" was another big hit off this record and scored them a lot of ladies... Just kidding, but it's one of their lighter sounding songs and is delicious from beginning to end. Unfortunately after this Weezer would lose bassist Mikey Welsh and gain their final bassist, Scott Shriner.

In 2002 Weezer released "Maladroit" which had "Dope Nose" and "Keep Fishin' ". Both of these songs in my opinion, although very different from one another, were unique and great in their own way. To follow this album would be "Make Believe" which featured "Beverly Hills" which hosted a cameo with Playboy Mansion owner, Hugh Hefner. Their sound on this album felt a little less mainstream and left me feeling that they needed something more. Which leads into this little bit of information...

Weezer is releasing a new album this year (2008) in the springtime(ish). If you're not pumped or atleast interested in hearing this next evolution from Weezer, then I don't know what you need to hear. Unfortunately this may be the last we'll ever be graced by Weezer but they've gone on a great run.

What really made Weezer interesting to me was their laid back sound and pretty hilarious or off the wall videos. Whether they were hanging with the Fonz, Playing in a laundry room, Gargling water and singing about random stuff, or jamming with Sumo wrestlers, you just couldn't not be interested in their videos. Also their ability to make really catchy songs makes allows the band to enter number 5 of my top 5 bands.

Discography
Weezer - The Blue Album (May 10, 1994)
Pinkerton (September 24, 1996)
Weezer - The Green Album (May 15, 2001)
Maladroit (May 14, 2002)
Make Believe (May 10, 2005)
Untitled 6th Album (Spring 2008)

Want more from Weezer?

TOP 5 BANDS
1.
2.
3. Alexisonfire
4.
5. Weezer

My Journey Through Sound: Part 1

"Smile for the camera sweetheart. I really wanna immortalize this moment."
- .44 Caliber Love Letter by Alexisonfire.

One of my lovely influential bands (that thankfully) broadened my horizons for music. This five piece band from St. Catherines, Ontario broke on to the music scene with a raw power unlike I had ever heard before. Until then I had been within my shell listening to nothing outside of what I had already been exposed to. "Pulmonary Archery" was their first released video that I definitely remember seeing on Much Music and shortly after I became captivated they interviewed the wild George Pettit. From that day forward I knew something in me had changed but the extent to which I had not known. Would I have ever purchased their CD having only heard that one song? Of course not (because I'm not that crazy to spend money on an Artist only to find I enjoy one song)! The second video to release was (in my opinion) their best song, from their self-titled first CD, "Counterparts and Number Them". OH MY LORD! The video in my opinion is pretty sweet with them hanging out with a bunch of little kids. Needless to say out of their current 3 CD's that are in the market it's probably my favourite because of it's raw energy and sound.

The second CD to hit stores was "Watch Out!". Not as good as the first, it seemed a little more fine tuned and more mainstream friendly. Now by the time this CD had been released I was already widespread into other post-hardcore/screamo (or whatever hybrid sounding genre you would like to place them in) style bands, so this felt weird for me seeing as this was not exactly what they produced the first time around. Obviously re-creating something as amazing or influential to me (or anyone for that matter) can be very difficult and is sometimes failed at miserably. I still do love many of the songs on this CD like, "Control", "Sidewalk When She Walks", "Get Fighted" and my favourite song on this album "Happiness By The Kilowatt". Unfortunately this would be the last time we would hear from drummer Jesse Ingelevics as he left the band and Jordan Hastings would replace for what would be the third CD.

"Crisis" is the last CD Alexisonfire has produced up to said time and in my opinion has lost all it's edge that could be spared from the second CD. It's definitely mainstream but still in my opinion some of their best work. When they released the first video all I could feel was excitement that they had continued to do their jobs in writing music. I love the song "This Could Be Anywhere" probably because it is so different sounding it gave me a little motivation to want to start my own band (unfortunately nothing has come of it... yet). Yet again the song they broke out with isn't in my opinion the best one on the album. This time I went with track six "You Burn First" with guest vocals by Gared O'Donnell from Planes Mistaken for Stars.

I guess my real fascination at this point with Alexisonfire is that they've changed their sound and remain one of my top bands. I've got three big ones and these guys are number 3. The next installment of "My Journey Through Sound" will consist of other bands that I like and maybe my second ranked band. Not totally sure yet but keep an eye out.

Discography
Alexisonfire (January 1, 2003)
Watch Out (June 1, 2004)
Crisis (August 22, 2006)

Want more from Alexisonfire?

TOP 5 BANDS
1.
2.
3. Alexisonfire
4.
5.

Be sure to check out my buddies blogs...
Johnnie
Kevin