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School of Seven Bells: “Windstorm” Analysis

October 25, 2011 / aftertheshow

“Windstorm,” a song on School of Seven Bells’ sophomore album, is one of the most unique-sounding songs in my iTunes library.

The distorted melody that begins the song announces immediately that this song is different — it’s unrecognizable and hard to tell if a machine, guitar on overdrive, or human voice is producing this hook.

The vocals initially sound like they’re not in English but in some other more ethereal and musical language.

Entering the song unexpectedly in the first verse (0:35), the drums are heavy on the snare and sound like they could be played on a drum machine.

The chorus’s lyrical repetition and sparse instrumentation contributes to the song’s ethereal, chant-like feeling.

Sonically, the zenith of the song for me is at 2:35, when two separate vocal arrangements overlap (chorus + verse) creating a musical round that evokes feelings of prayer and meditation.

Live version of “Windstorm” below:

VH1 Save the Music: Family Day NYC

October 23, 2011 / aftertheshow

Today — Saturday, October 22, 2011 — was VH1’s Save the Music Foundation “Family Day.” This free interactive musical expo featured performances, food trucks, and activities for children at The Anderson School on New York’s upper west side.

Check out this interview that Parenting Magazine did with Taylor Hanson to promote Save the Music’s Family Day in New York.

Photos and 3 videos from Hanson’s performance at Save the Music Family Day by After The Show:

Yellow Bird Project

October 18, 2011 / aftertheshow

Yellow Bird Project is an organization that partners with indie rock musicians to create and sell t-shirts to benefit an array of charities, each chosen by the musicians.

In addition to the original t-shirt designs, Yellow Bird Project has two books out — the Indie Rock Poster Book and the Indie Rock Coloring Book.

Bands involved in the project include:

Andrew Bird, Au Revoir Simone, Beach House, Bon Iver, Devendra Banhart, Laura Veirs, Metric, Ra Ra Riot, Rilo Kiley, Stars, Tegan and Sara, and Whispertown 2000.

Breaking Dawn (Twilight) Soundtrack

October 15, 2011 / aftertheshow

The tracklisting for the soundtrack of the next Twilight film, Breaking Dawn, has been released, and it features some interesting bands such as:

The Joy Formidable, Angus and Julia Stone, Christina Perri, The Belle Brigade, and Iron & Wine.

For the full tracklist, click here.

Uh Huh Her at Irving Plaza

October 12, 2011 / aftertheshow

Last night, on the eve of the band’s new album release, Uh Huh Her headlined a show at Irving Plaza in New York.

Photos and video of “Never The Same” taken by After The Show:

4 More (Less Popular) Creepy Songs

October 2, 2011 / aftertheshow

Building upon After The Show’s last post about popular songs that are thematically creepy (read here), here are four more creepy songs, albeit less popular than those original four songs.

1. “Skulls” by The Misfits (cover by Blackback):

This song is told from the perspective of a serial killer.

2. “Old Timers” by Leslie and the Badgers:

This love song tells the story of a guy who was struck by lightning and went brain dead. Perhaps more depressing than creepy.

3. “Jack Killed Mom” by Jenny Lewis feat. Zooey Deschanel:

This song tells the Oedipal story of Jack, a young boy whose mother is crazy/abusive. Jack bullies other children at school and then kills his crazy mother, thinking that he is setting her free.

4. Charles Manson songs

The creepiest of the creepy — YouTube has a lot of songs by serial killer Charles Manson.