Saturday, 20 April 2013
Name Change
Name change, I've decided that I'm not really manic as such but more spontaneous to be honest and anyway weasels are more spontaneous than Kittys (however much I like cats). Also it helps differentiate the blog from others called Manic Kitty.
Bastille!
One of my new Favourite bands is the English "Indie Pop" group Bastille they have an energetic vibe and everyone seems to like them (unlike most of my music) to such and extent that they have reached no.2 in the charts. I don't really have that much to say about them other than their music is great (especially acoustic) and the singer needs a haircut. Theirs lots of nice tunes and rythms in there and though they're not maybe the most original or talented band they're certainly the best thing high up the British charts in years.
Civ V Something is very wrong here!
I am currently in the process of experiencing a very bizarre situation, I'm actually doing well in my first game of something. I've never had any games consoles other than the trusty computer and disapproving parents have meant that I am well out of practice. However I finally got Civ V working on a computer an to my shock I actually became good at it. Once I'd worked my way around the various menus I started a game as Bismarck, okay admittedly I was playing at settler level but still what followed was an extraordinary occurrence. I played for hours, fighting various wars and making Berlin look like a 1600s Tokyo until I reached the point were other Civs go mad! America was at one point my closest rival but that lasted about as long as their capital (mwuhhaha) Greece was going to attack as well but they resorted to peace without a fight. As I write I've destroyed Siam and America entirely and my score is well into the 600s my closest rival (Catherine) is only in the 300s. Its the first game I've ever done well on my first time and interestingly enough I think I like it (what a coincidence)!
Wednesday, 6 February 2013
Maccabees- Given To The Wild Review
The Maccabees are an arty band from South London (currently located in Brighton), I'm not really one for introductions so you can read more about them at their official website. http://www.themaccabees.co.uk/
Given To The Wild is the Maccabees third album and was released in early 2012.
Given To The Wild (intro)
The album starts with this mostly instrumental little track that introduces the album and its key themes of life, death, love and nature. It sounds good enough and is carefully built up but it is slightly uninspriring on its own. It does however however it leads on to Child perfectly.
Child
Child is a slow rocking song that utilises skilled layering to get an attractive effect that feels vibrant and dreamy, towards the end the tempo suddenly speeds up, giving the listener a real buzz.
Feel To Follow
Structured around a central drum line and keyboard chords interlaced with the Maccabees unique vocal and guitar sound. An exciting track, that pumps adrenaline through the listener, building up slowly yet again.
Ayla
For some reason this song always sounds like a computer turning on to me with its slightly sickly sweet keyboard intro. It gets better following the chorus, though the keyboard line becomes quite annoying after awhile. It is not the Maccabees at their best in my opinion.
Glimmer
Another repetitive keyboard part lies at the heart of this song however it has more depth than "Ayla" with a slightly less clean cut sound at points, this is what "Ayla" could have sounded like with more imagination.
Forever I've Known
Forever I've known builds up well like all of the Maccabees work and has their classic strength with the drums and crying guitar parts in the middle. The ending is superb, this song definitely stands out as one of the best one this great album.
Heave
This song is a good mix of the positive features from many of this album's songs, it sounds particularly good sandwiched between "Forever I've Known" and "Pelican" but I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to it on it's own.
Pelican
This song is the first ever Maccabees song I heard it echoes the indie rawness of the "Wall Of Arms" album with its jumpy power and carefully structured guitar lines. Everything about this song is energetic, a brilliant track that has since become they're signature.
Went Away
Zesty and punchy from the start "Went Away" is upbeat and enjoyable to listen to. Yet again layered and well developed. I feel that it fits well with the tracks surrounding it. It is a tribute to their earlier work but matured and better for it.
Go
This is probably my favourite track on the album, it has the strength of their earlier work coupled with the newer, intoxicating tone of this album. It has all the qualities expected of a Maccabees track, a joy to listen to.
Unknow
This track has hard, rocky drum and guitar lines coupled with stunning vocals. The instruments sound great but it is the vocals that are the stars of the show. It sounds like a 21st century cantata, the different voices working together beautifully against a modern backdrop.
Slowly One
The last four tracks have a real power to them, so this modest song sounds as though it lacks strength however it soon proves its self and is incredible at it reaches its climax.
Grew Up At Midnight
A track with lots of depth and character, the tempo increases rapidly and ends this stunning album on a triumphant note.
Overall- This is a brilliant album that I would recommend anyone listens to, if the Maccabees continue to be half as good they will still be incredible.
4/5
Given To The Wild is the Maccabees third album and was released in early 2012.
Given To The Wild (intro)
The album starts with this mostly instrumental little track that introduces the album and its key themes of life, death, love and nature. It sounds good enough and is carefully built up but it is slightly uninspriring on its own. It does however however it leads on to Child perfectly.
Child
Child is a slow rocking song that utilises skilled layering to get an attractive effect that feels vibrant and dreamy, towards the end the tempo suddenly speeds up, giving the listener a real buzz.
Feel To Follow
Structured around a central drum line and keyboard chords interlaced with the Maccabees unique vocal and guitar sound. An exciting track, that pumps adrenaline through the listener, building up slowly yet again.
Ayla
For some reason this song always sounds like a computer turning on to me with its slightly sickly sweet keyboard intro. It gets better following the chorus, though the keyboard line becomes quite annoying after awhile. It is not the Maccabees at their best in my opinion.
Glimmer
Another repetitive keyboard part lies at the heart of this song however it has more depth than "Ayla" with a slightly less clean cut sound at points, this is what "Ayla" could have sounded like with more imagination.
Forever I've Known
Forever I've known builds up well like all of the Maccabees work and has their classic strength with the drums and crying guitar parts in the middle. The ending is superb, this song definitely stands out as one of the best one this great album.
Heave
This song is a good mix of the positive features from many of this album's songs, it sounds particularly good sandwiched between "Forever I've Known" and "Pelican" but I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to it on it's own.
Pelican
This song is the first ever Maccabees song I heard it echoes the indie rawness of the "Wall Of Arms" album with its jumpy power and carefully structured guitar lines. Everything about this song is energetic, a brilliant track that has since become they're signature.
Went Away
Zesty and punchy from the start "Went Away" is upbeat and enjoyable to listen to. Yet again layered and well developed. I feel that it fits well with the tracks surrounding it. It is a tribute to their earlier work but matured and better for it.
Go
This is probably my favourite track on the album, it has the strength of their earlier work coupled with the newer, intoxicating tone of this album. It has all the qualities expected of a Maccabees track, a joy to listen to.
Unknow
This track has hard, rocky drum and guitar lines coupled with stunning vocals. The instruments sound great but it is the vocals that are the stars of the show. It sounds like a 21st century cantata, the different voices working together beautifully against a modern backdrop.
Slowly One
The last four tracks have a real power to them, so this modest song sounds as though it lacks strength however it soon proves its self and is incredible at it reaches its climax.
Grew Up At Midnight
A track with lots of depth and character, the tempo increases rapidly and ends this stunning album on a triumphant note.
Overall- This is a brilliant album that I would recommend anyone listens to, if the Maccabees continue to be half as good they will still be incredible.
4/5
Greetings
Hello folks, welcome t my blog, I'm SpontaneousWeasel (a devilish pseudonym). I'm a fan of almost everything and my interests are always changing so please do not be surprised if posts about high art turn into an ode to cornflakes. Hope you enjoy this blog and are not too creeped out by it all!
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