Right, so before I get to this little nugget, I'd just like to throw down a quick little update on how things are going in Ben World...
First of all... Working full time sucks balls, but manages to be pretty awesome at the same time. It takes up a lot of my time, but I work with some cool people and don't hate my job.
Secondly, I've finally started on Captain Numbskull. For reals this time. I'm devoting a good part of my evenings to it. It's going slow but it's looking really good, In my opinion.
Now on to the Article: I love music.
Simple enough, right? Well, let me get into some details. For the most part, I enjoy music. All kinds. Mostly stuff that falls into the rock category. That being punk, classic rock, grunge, alternative, etc. I'm also fond of electronica, indie, pop, and even a little country and rap where relevant.
There are really only 3 bands that I am unable to listen to. Led Zepplin, Guns and Roses, and The Police. Not saying that they aren't good. They all have decent songs that I enjoy on the occasion. In general, I have to change the station when they come on, though. A lot of their music is long and drawn out and repetitive and not fun for me to listen to.
On the other end of the spectrum there are only 2 bands/musicians that I really really enjoy. Andrew W.K. and M.J. Hibbett. These are the only two musicians that I look up and say, "Oh, sweet. They've got a new album out. I must own it." I really love these guys. It's funny, too, because they are so totally different. That might be why I love them, though.
Details.
MJ Hibbett and The Validators (http://mjhibbett.tripod.com/) are a sort of indie rock band. It's very singer songwriter/folk-rock kind of stuff. And also, they're British.
Hibbett's songs are all good solid rock songs. Well put together. Catchy. Fun to listen to. The songs are, often times, about everyday kind of stuff. Hibbett's a real everyman. I can totally relate to what he sings about. I can feel where he's coming from and his songs speak to me. He's a wonderful songwriter, perhaps the best I've heard in recent years. Lyrically and musically, Hibbet's amazing.
And lets not forget about his band, The Validators. They seem to compliment each other fantastically. The percussions are solid, the bass is solid, the violin is solid, the backup vocals are solid. Everything just fits together nicely.
One thing that stands out, especially in their latest album, is the backup singer, Emma Pattison. Her voice is very unique and adds a ton of character to the music. She really puts the icing on the cake for me.
Now, Andrew WK (http://www.andrewwk.com/) is a character. I first saw him on MTV2 a while back. He kicked himself in the face. I was amazed. The energy and optimism he shows in life comes through beautifully in his music.
His first two albums could be described as nothing less than epic. A wall of sound. The energy exuded from this music can make your head explode. It is impossible for me to feel down when I listen to this stuff. Instant pick-me up. When I'm down or feeling stressed out about life... I put on some AWK and remember why I'm alive. It's nothing short of amazing.
His newest album isn't quite as epic as the first two. From what I understand, Andrew preformed most of the music himself and compressed it all together to result in an aural battering ram. For Close Calls, he utilized his backup band to a fuller extent.
While it's not quite as extreme, the talents of all his band members come through to form a full, more varied and complete rock sound. It is pleases my ears. The music isn't as intense, but the songs are better, by far.
With Andrew WK, however, it's not just about the music. It's about the message and the man. Andrew fancies himself a "motivational performer" and I believe that to be an accurate description. If ever there was a reason to believe that there is good still in this world, Andrew WK is it. His energy and charisma complement his music to bring about a message of hope. He may be just an average guy who loves life, but that doesn't mean he's not the best role model anyone can hope for.
The message he echoes is that you must enjoy life. Live it the way you want to. Never let down. That's a message worth listening to. As I've said before: It's helped me out of a bad place or two. I really thing that it could help anyone who needs it. It's just that amazing.
So. That's why MJ Hibbet and The Validators and Andrew WK are my two favorite musicians. I really don't play favorites often but when I say something is my favorite I mean it. When I say Hackers is my favorite movie, there's no gray area. Arby's is my favorite food. Ants are my least favorite animal. Hibbett and AWK are my favorite musicians.
Until next time.
~~Ben