Dave's "Take Two" Challenge

[Dave]

I used be to a huge music fan. I say that I used to be because, lately, I haven't been able to keep on top of new music like I used to. Being a parent, believe it or not, really takes up a lot of your time. So when you're not looking after your kid, going to work, or doing other menial day-to-day stuff, your time to keep on top of your hobbies is dramatically cut short.

But music has always been a big love of mine. I have been to more live shows for musicians than I have wrestling shows. Which, coming from a guy on a wrestling fan forum, seems quite odd. And having had a scroll through some of the music on my phone and PC recently, I realised that I haven't been putting any new music on my catalogue.

So with that in mind, I have restarted this thread. The reason I say I have 'restarted' this thread, is because it existed before. Sadly, I can't find it anymore. Regardless, here it is once again. In an effort to keep me on track when finding new music, I create this thread and ask you all to take part in it as much as you can.

The rules are simple. Find a new band that you have never listened to or given a chance. Then you find two of their songs that you would happily add to your music library and post them here. It doesn't have to be from a specific genre of music but I am keen to see what interests in muci you have and the sort of music that you find.

So with wide eyes and an optimistic heart, we go from here...

 

[Dave]

The first band I have chosen to add to my library is a band named The Xcerts.

Spoiler

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Believe it or not, there is a story to this band being the first to pop up here.

About two months ago, I was lucky enough to go and see my favourite band in the entire world, Biffy Clyro. They played a summer session not far from where I live and I was even more lucky enough to get a couple of tickets for my birthday in May. Obviously, this was a celebratory day and I was pretty wrecked by the time that Biffy Clyro actually came on. Hell, it was a rock show and it would be rude not to. Fall Out Boy were the main support act and also happen to be my favourite band from my teenage years full of teenage angst. All in all, the show was absolutely amazing from start to finish. And, more than that, I would implore everyone to go and YouTube Biffy Clyro at the Reading and Leeds Festival for a share of the experience that I go. Amazing.

Still, in my drunken stupor, I didn't really know a lot of the acts that actually went on before Biffy and FOB. I know that Wolf Alice were one of them but I wasn't overly impressed by them. One band I was slightly impressed by was this band, The Xcerts. However, due to distortion and being pretty drunk by the time I got there, I didn't really give them a chance to impress me. That said, a lot of the people in the audience were totally impressed by them and one memory I do have of them is how much of a presence they were on stage,. The lead singer is a ball of energy, despite the songs that I have posted being a little melancholy. Truthfully, I had no idea what they were even called but having found them on Last FM, I really dig what they are going for. They aren't like Biffy in a lot of respects but the riffs of the guitar are enough to hook me. And Hell, I'm a sucker for that whiny rock singing that the front man uses to perfection.

A worth add, if you ask me.

 

[Alex]

Devil Wears Prada

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I asked about them ages ago on here in the metal thread in the bar room. It was a toss up between them and August Burns Red and people seemed more keen on August Burns Red. Fast forward to now and I see that Devil Wears Prada are playing near me at a small venue. I decide to check them out again. I'm digging a lot of their songs but this one sticks out because of the video. The music and lyrics are great too but it's the video that gets me. I never would have thought that a music video with puppets would be as good as it is.

 

[#tamale]

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Was listening to some new singles from a band I really like (Black Marble) on youtube, and the same record label had this band called Tycho which I was immediately drawn towards because of the artwork on their releases. It's fun music to dance to. Hope everyone enjoys.

 

[Alex]

Asking Alexandria

Spoiler

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Now I didn't really listen to them because I thought of them as shit, mainly because of annoying teen fangirls. But I saw them at Leeds festival (there was no one else on) and I was surprised at how good they actually were. Sure there was an abundance of teens in the tent but they were still good. I'd heard The Final Chapter (first song) before on nights out and enjoyed it (hadn't realised it was them). The Death of Me is really good because it has a modernised 80s feel which is good. Mainly because singer Danny Worsnop likes 80s stuff and didn't want to scream anymore. Third song is from their latest album with new singer Denis Stoff. It's gone back to the metalcore sound but it does have an old school sound on the guitar which works.

 

[Dave]

Wow! I didn't think it had been so long since I did one of these. Truth be told, it's been a few weeks from Hell and I haven't even had the chance to log in most days, never mind post. But as I sit on the bus to work again, I feel the urge to post a band I have been listening to for a couple of days now. As I said in my opening post, I'm all about finding new music and expanding my musical horizons. That search put me onto a band called The Wombats a few days ago and I have been having a lot of fun listening to their stuff. Whilst they have been around for a while and have been moderately successful at it, I don't think most people know about them on this side of the pond. And even fewer on the American side of the pond. Anyway, here's a couple of songs that I've added to my library as a result...

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So, although I haven't been listening to them for very long, these are two of their stand out songs. They come from the album "A guide to love, loss and deperation": which is probably their most successful to date, and probably their best in terms of pure quality. As of yet, I don't know what makes this band so appealing to me but they just seem to have this quality about them that I can't quite put into words. Their lyrics are both thought provoking and entertaining at the same time. And the catchy hooks on most of their songs is enough to keep them in your head for days.

Over the next few days, I'm going to try and get through the rest of their albums and see what I feel about them and their later work. But for the purposes of this thread, these two songs are exceptional.

 

[Dave]

I'm back with another awesome band that you all should sink your teeth into!

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Man, those songs take me way, way back!

The Magic Numbers are not a big band and, as far as I am aware, never really had a great deal of success in the UK music charts. In fact, I was only aware of two of their four albums and, furthermore, had no idea that they were still touring and releasing new music up until now...

These two songs came from their first two albums though, The Magic Numbers and Those The Brokes. Truthfully speaking, that was the peak of the success for The Magic Numbers. But I still fondly remember these two songs. I don't know what exactly to call this genre of music but I do know that it just seems to strike a chord with me every time I hear it. I guess the biggest strength of The Magic Numbers was their lyrical talent – the brilliant bass lines and excellent folk charm was just a magnificent bonus.

The Magic Numbers were shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize in 2005 but came up short to someone that should never have won it. But it did signal a measure of success for a band that had no real right to be successful. They didn't have the look to be mainstream but the capitalised on it brilliantly. I can't say a lot about their most recent stuff because I haven't heard any of it yet but the first two albums are exceptional. I really hope that you give them a listen.