Hard Format makes the point that everyone seems to be claiming we may be reaching the end of physical media created for music. Apparently the founders of the site, Justin and Colin, beg to differ. So, in a mutual love of all things music packaging related, the established Hard Format to serve as an archive of their personal favorites. Don’t expect a top 40 best album covers of all time but do expect to see something you have never seen before but probably can’t take your eyes off of. Case-in-point, I purchased the new Radiohead album as a download from Radiohead’s website, I had no idea such a beautiful album was created for it. You can end up spending a lot of time at Hard Format so if you have a little to spare for inspiration, you will definitely find it there.
Comments Off on Paul Potts From Britains Got TalentMusic
Wow. I mean wow. I really mean wow. Just wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. There are not many things in life that have sincerely moved me to tears, but I am not ashamed to say, in absolute seriousness, that watching Paul Potts sing for the first time had this very effect.
I grew up singing and even performed in an opera when I was 12 years old. I sang the lead in an opera called Amahl and the Night Visitors. It was one of the most demanding things I have ever done artistically, and I have always regretted not pursuing acting and singing further. So, to see someone who had been lingering in the desperate shadows of life like Paul Potts, step onto the stage of the British equivalent of American Idol, a show called ‘Britain’s Got Talent’, and do what he did really pulled my heart strings. It is one of those rare moments in life when you feel like you really got to see something beautiful happen. The only word that comes close to describing his performance is transcendent. The guy is the real deal, and he is just amazing. Since his audition, he went on to win the show and has gone on to become an overnight sensation that is sweeping across the world. You can find numerous examples of his enormous talent on YouTube.
He really is an example of how, if you have a dream and believe in yourself, you can do what your heart desires and go all the way. It is nice to see a genuine star shine in what sometimes seems to be such a weary world. Thank you to him for having the courage to step forward and share his gift with the rest of us. I wish him all the success the world has to offer.
The band Vampire Weekend have been the latest subject of much hype and equally as much hate. Their music teems with touches of afropop, hints of the caribbean and sometimes even a little swath of what you could swear is reggae. Apparently the source of a lot of the hatred stems from their ivy league educations and privileged upbringings. I guess a lot of rock-n-rollers want to reserve rock for the lower class and keep it close to it’s first cousin, the blues. I personally could care less. I just know what I like.
Yes you can definitely hear a little Police here and a little Paul Simon there on Vampire Weekend’s album, but those are two things I really like and haven’t really heard any newer bands do well. Vampire Weekend does it very well. Their music is highly composed, and it is refreshing to hear percussion treated as more than a time and tempo keeping device. There is good fodder for the lyric lovers in their music as well and some of those lyrics are what have inspired some of the indy versus ivy backlash. The haters will hate, however and there is little anyone can do about that. In my opinion, it doesn’t stop their album from being something I really enjoy listening to and will continue to do so. I honestly haven’t enjoyed an album this much since Spoon’s latest release. If you are not convinced or have some reservations about my taste in music, you can have a listen to some of their latest tunes at their MySpace page and decide for yourself. Love or hate.
If you don’t own Hello Avalanche by The Octopus Project, go out and buy it right now. It’s just a damn fine album. Their last album was fantastic as well but they have really cooked up something special on Hello Avalanche. There are no vocals on the album save for the very last song which is a bit of a departure for them but the depth of experimentation and the harmonies created by both synthetic and real instruments is just deliciously melodic. It’s an album that is great to work to but equally great to throw on in the background of a party. It just makes you feel good.
