TWB: Breaking the barriors

Me and my daughters father, my boyfriend I guess, because we're not married, went to see Killswitch Engage last week in Helsinki. The gig was awesome though I was a little bit embarrassed by the teenagers hopping around in they mosh-pits yelling stupid stuff like "play paranoid". Behind me there was a group of black girls, sitting next to a huge obviously Finnish skin-head-type-of-guy - their lips we're moving at the same time, whispering the same words. They probably didn't even realize with whom they were sitting with.

Nowadays the world is filled with anger and hate. You are criticized by your looks, skin-color, religion - people hate you for what you are and for what you are not. You are judged even by the type of music you listen to. Still there's a difference between being judged by your religion than by your music taste (well, the obvious difference is that they don't' kill you if you like Rihanna better than Pearl Jam - but if you love Rihanna more than Jesus, you just might die) - inside a religious group you have rules you have to obey, or they will kick you out, you become a sinner or something like that, but inside that genre of music you listen to, you are not judged by anything. You are always welcome in to a Justin Bieber - fan club whether you are a muslim or an asian - you are loved no matter what, just because you love Justin Bieber.

I've seen a lot of gigs, lot of festivals and shows - crowded with people of all sorts. They dance together, they sing together, they drink, laugh and love together, they hold hands and smile, smile and smile. There's no hate in that. There's no judgement. There's only that amazing moment, when 10 000 fans sing the same lyrics, shout in out to the universe, you can feel the energy around you - you are privileged to be apart of all that. People unite, people become one.

The 20/20 Experience (Justin Timberlake)

It's been 7 years since Justin Timberlake released an album. That sentence must only be said with the old Rose voice from the movie Titanic. I myself have been a fan of Justin's music since 2000, one hardcore N*Sync fan right here, no shame!

There were some musical dark times when the mister only wanted to focus on his acting and even any rumors of new songs were shut down faster than light. Therefore no one saw it coming when Timberlake implied working on new stuff at the studio in the summer of 2012. Now, 6 months later, our joy is through the roof!

When Suit & Tie was finally released the feedback was mixed. I guess people were waiting for the next Futuresex/Lovesounds record but slowly opened their ears for something new. When Mirrors was released with the pre-order, the album was getting much more hype. The journey shows even big stars like Justin Timberlake have to struggle with their comeback sometimes.

The 20/20 Experience was released 19th of March and it has already scored highly on the critics feedbacks because of its huge variety of mixed styles and its breaking ground in the structures of the songs.

TWB - Shaun the sheep

My father is a musician. Professional, or course. He has done lots of great stuff - foremost taken care of my musical education. 

I remember when I was a child, we listened to all sorts of music - I have a vivid memory of Bruce Springsteen playing in the background while I'm eating potatoes and carrots. Though The Boss probably wasn't my favourite at the age of two, I do think that the music my parents listened to, had something to do with how my musical taste eveloped. For example U2 - dad listened to their vinyls, I even remember the cover of The Joshua Tree and everybody knows how big of a fan I am.

"Blind" by Hurts

The British synth pop duo Hurts has just released a new music video for the song Blind off their new album Exile. Known for their artistic, figurative and sophisticated music videos in the past, Blind brings something new to the table with its ambitious and aggressive story telling. The vocalist The Hutchcraft is portrayed as an outlaw and the video has strong references to sex and violence.

 

TWB: The survival kit

Living in Finland is great - we have The Santa Claus and his reindeers, we have Lapland and the Northern Lights, koskenkorva and salmiakki. Funny though that all of those things remind you of winter, cold and grumpy people. I agree, changing of the seasons, raining 3/4 of the year, snow... it's all annoying but mostly because you have to update your iPod at least four times a year to survive.

Winter in Finland.. well, when everything went crazy in London because it happened to snow a bit, you can add 50 sentimeters every day for three months to that and - welcome, you're in Finland! When London looses it, we go ice-fishing - and listen to death metal or something else that says "I want to kill myself rather than walk another mile in this weather". 

Though it seems that we enjoy ourselves jumping to a icecold lake, we don't. Surviving without music isn't possible. My wintertime music says "fuck the world, I can do this" while I'm squeezing into a crowded bus with strollers after waiting 15 minutes for the bus that was not only late, but also threw me out before I ever reached my destination which meant that I had to walk 3 kilometers and it was minus 23 degrees outside. Motörhead saved my life that day.

Annie Mall

Annie Mall was formed in late 2007 but the debut album was long in the making. The reason for this was the band members’ struggle on different musical paths but they now admit to have found a clear focus together. The band has an extreme DIY mentality; a part of the instruments are self-made and the songs are recorded, mixed and mastered by themselves.

Blind by Hurts TEASER

Sempiternal (Bring Me The Horizon)

There are two sorts of bands. Bands that play music and love doing it from the bottom of their hearts, and bands that play music that save lives on the side. Bring Me Tho Horizon, the British metalcore phenomenon definitely drops to the latter group of bands and has belonged there ever since 2004 after they were put together from the ashes of some previous projects. Even though the new album Sempiternal was no longer than a few year wait - for the fans it felt like forever, and I do admit being one myself! They left no one cold this time either and Oliver Sykes has once again sung his way to my heart with his hollow and fragile essence.

For me I have to admit that Shadow Moses, the first single off the album didn't really make my heart skip a beat when I heard it for the first time. It required proper digestion and I turned back to the previous album, after which doubt took over: ”Was I ready to accept any new material yet”. After lengthy pondering I decided to give them one more chance, which ultimately really paid off. It took some constant repeating until I was sold. After "a few" listens I had to admit that the guys still have it, slowly increasing their slow beat to the climax where it all exploded with my heart on the side.

TWB: What I wait the most...

You wake up dizzy, start the day by opening your eyes and you see the green fabrics and the light steering through it. You smell of alcohol, the great Australian red wine you drank last night, one bottle, maybe two and a bit of jack and coke too, from a mug, I guess it was used. You danced with a bunch of people you didn't know, round and round you went, someone tried to lift you up but you were too heavy or he was way too drunk, you felt the beat in your veins, bum bum bum bum bum...

You see the crowd around you, they jump like they could touch the sky, they slow down just so you could watch them, they sing the songs you have loved since you were twelve. You smile, tears streaming down your face. In this moment you could live forever.

You feel sick. Not in a way people feel sick when they've seen someone die or had an awful experience but in a way you know you should feel at the moment. Because of the wine and the jack, you know? You close your eyes again and consider whether you should try sleeping a bit more or just wake up.

LIVE! Funeral For A Friend

My tiny fangirling heart cried blood last Friday night when a Funeral For A Friend show turned to be a huge disappointment. I've been loving this band for countless years, gone through break ups listening to History and fell in love with Juneau over and over again during these past years. After missing the previous Funeral For A Friend show in town I was "slightly" excited to hear they were coming back and I finally had a chance to jam out to my favorite band.

At this point I should probably mention that as I'm talking about a band that has grown with me, most albums have ended up on my playlists over and over and over again - my expectations were really high. I ended up leaving the show swallowing my bitter tears and secretly hating our eastern neighbour who had decided to keep Matthew Davies-Kreye's voice as a hostage.

I can honestly tell you that I waited for this show for almost half a year. Friday felt like the longest day in the history of time as I patiently watched the clock tick towards ten when it was time for the warm up act Order! Order! to get on stage.

(I have to mention that the Order! Order! vocalist Sami Halme has been blessed with a voice that made chills run through my spine. A person with a voice like that should do nothing else ever again in his life than just sing. I may have fallen in love a bit but let's not let that take any attention away from the main act of the evening.)

When the curtain finally dropped and the good ol' She Drove Me To Daytime Television blasted out from the speakers, a smile rose onto my face and I was happy to finally see this band! I thought they would never disappoint me! Oh how wrong was I...

My Chemical Romance frontman releases statement on disband

My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way has posted a lengthy blog confirming that indeed the band has called it a day. I personally never thought that this band would end it all in one paragraph and I was right. It didn't. Here's the heartfelt open letter about everything. We weep.

I woke up this morning still dreaming, or not fully aware of myself just yet. The sun poked through the windows, touching my face, and then a deep sadness overcame me, immediately, bringing me to life and realization- My Chemical Romance had ended. 

Featured: Streak and the Raven

What makes Streak and the Raven’s music a little more unique, than the rest of the bands that fall into the same genre, are the low vocals of Janiv Takala combined with Pauliina Lindell’s singing that flow nicely together with the overall darkness in the songs. Also, there is definitely a 80s vibe in their music with the synths.

This 6-piece electronic synth pop band comes from Seinäjoki, Finland. Streak and the Raven was formed a couple of years ago already but the release of their debut album called Love & War was on February 22nd, 2013.

When your favorite stops existing

Today I woke up to some information I thought I would never have to hear. It felt like my best friend, most passionate lover and most influential mentor had all died in a car crash together. It left me with a blank stare and a strange desire to cry. My favorite band had called it quits.

I've spent the best and worst years of my so far life listening to this band. And I mean that as literally as I can. This was the band that was there for me in the middle of my worst teenage angst as well as through the difficulties of growing up. The music was always there and it offered me comfort even if nothing else did.

Exile (Hurts)

The British synth pop duo Hurts will hopefully always have their romantic melodrama and discreet sophistication as their trademark. Both qualities can definitely be heard as much on their new album as their previous breakthrough debut Happiness - Exile is thankfully just as magnificent as its predecessor, just a tad darker. In where Happiness even had some very danceable and hopeful tunes, Exile floats forward in much deeper waters even when there is a beat to dance to. I for one believe Exile is going to be just one of the many milestones for a band that will be marked down in history.

I found Hurts right away when they came out with their debut. I was sold right away and thrilled to finally have something new to the table as I had started to feel very frustrated about mainstream music. Happiness took my heart right away and I was nervous to find out if Exile could fulfill my expectations that were very high. Exile starts with exhilarating electronic sounds, turning the blood in my vains into anxious excitement and anticipation. As the vocals hit in I find the melody to be almost hopeful. It sounds like this is going to be a very significant journey to somewhere very special and I am definitely ready for the ride. This is "Exile."

The second song of the album is also the first single off of it; "Miracle" has such a dark an theatrical atmosphere in it that I almost feel like my body is possessed or ready for resurrection. I completely understand why this song in particular was picked as a single as it's really catchy, has a very compelling beat and sounds perfectly like Hurts. The song sounds huge, like it could break down a small building if it wanted to - and I'm guessing that Hurts definitely wants to.

The third song "Sandman" begins with a beat that almost has an r'n'b vibe to it. The song was available for a free download on Hurts's official site before the album was out and therefore was also the first song I heard from the album entirely. It sets a pretty accurate preconception of the album; catchy, dark, anthemic and haunting. The song is accompanied with a creepy choir of children in the background and the choir theme slightly continues to the fourth song "Blind" which also sounds like a continuum for "Sandman" as the beat resembles the beat.

I have to say that overall the track listing on the album seems very well built and thought out, it works really good and flows forward perfectly. The album has a lot of potential songs to be picked as singles and "Blind" is definitely one of them. It is also slowly growing to be one of my favorites from the entire album.

The next song "Only You" has something very similar to the breakthrough hit "Wonderful Life" from their debut album, especially comparing the choruses. However "Only You" sounds less grand; it's rather a weaker version of "Wonderful Life" and also the weakest song on Exile. This doesn't in any way mean the song would suck, I think it has a very important place on the album considering the overall flow.

The sixth song "The Road" starts with Theo Hutchcraft showing off his brilliant (I'd like to say overbearingly sexy, but I guess that wouldn't be professional at all (with that note, people like Theo Hutchcraft shouldn't be granted a permission to sing words like "penetrate")) voice. At exactly minute through the song, it surprisingly explodes all over the place making chills run through my spine and making me feel distraught and mesmerized at the same time. After the chorus the song immediately shrinks back to half feet tall until it slowly grows back to explosion again. Simply genius. The road also has some slight dubstep vibes in the end that make the song sound even more versatile and impressive. Very well done! Kudos!

TWB: The magic 27

I never feared death until my daughter was born. I never really even thought about it. Well, of course I did at times, just like everybody else, but when a new life is born you somehow get a different touch to things - maybe it's a different perspective, maybe something biological that just happens to come out after giving birth to another human being.

Anyhow, in the middle of my darkest fears I needed to find some relief - didn't find it in the Bible (God is a great guy and all, but i'm really not that into invisible men), didn't find it from sex or dugs (you cannot think anything deep without laughing when stoned, so there's no relief in there or in a wine bottle for that matter), but I started to wonder maybe I, or we, could find it in music.

27. The magic twenty-fucking-seven.