Punk rock this week!

This week is Punk rock week! So I am going to let you know what is Punk rock!

Punk, in Chinese we call it "龐克". It originates from punk culture, which often related to  antiestablishment(反社會原則). Telling the popular that someone still need help ant the world is not as happy as the the popular see; too much people's cry are hidden behind the TV.

The features of Punk rock are that Punk band usually make fast pace songs with hard-edged melodies and political, antiestablishment lyrics. The meaning in their songs related to many aspect of social problems, including war, economic inequality, bully, environment protection, and so on. They use their songs to let people know the social problems.

Take "Rise Against", a punk band from Chicago, for example. In their album "Endgame" ,they discuss the Iraq War, unequal treatment to homosexual group, or even the tragedy caused by Hurricane Katrina. 

When you listen punk rock music, hope you can enjoy it and at the same time listen what they want to tell you.

the song related to homosexual bully

the song related to antiwar 

The beauty of speed and guitar : Power Metal !

   Before I  am going to talk about this style, I am sure that the word "metal" in your minds are bands with a growing vocalist(嘶吼主唱). But not all metal style prefer to this kind of vocalist, for example, power metal!  In power metal music, they prefer "clean" vocalists(清腔). And most of this kind of singers have wide range of vocal!
   Power metal music has some features that are easy to tell. First, they are usually with fast tempo, giving listeners the feeling of strong "power". Second, today power metal bands often have their performance with a orchestra playing behind them. So in their songs you can hear multiple kind of sound, creating  dramatic, emotional feelings! Last but not the least, the guitar solo! In power metal, their guitarists are abnormally skillful,which always create fantastic, amazing solo, and become the most appreciable point in a single song!
   Because power metal usually have an orchestra play with them, creating powerful sound. The concept in their songs usually related to mythology or epic like knight and dragon. You can link the whole album to a story about a knight going to safe his princess from wicked dragons.
   So, let me introduce some power metal bands around the world!
   First, the Japanese band - Galneryus !  attention!this song has no vocal!but others have!

and the song with vocal~

second, Italian band - Rhapsody of fire (symphonic power metal) .

Progressive Metal!

     Today I am going to talk about Progressive Metal music(前衛金屬). This kind of music is vary different from our daily music. It has complex arranger and odd temple in their songs. Usually, most people who first listen to this kind of music would not like this style.
     Let's start to talk about this kind of amazing music! As I say, it has complex arranger, which means they mix lots of elements into their songs. Maybe in the guitar riff or in the bass riff, even drum solo!  Also, like post rock music, progressive metal often use concept album(概念專輯) to presence their songs, which means the whole album's songs are all related to the same topic, and this is also the reason why the public seldom contact to this kind of songs, because radios or TVs will not spend lot's of time play many songs that all belong to a band! But without appreciating a complete album,  you can't really understand what their music mean! At the same time, to presence a complete story, progressive metal's songs usually up to 8 minutes  or even longer.
     When it comes to progressive metal, Dream Theatre(夢劇場) is the most amazing band that I have ever listened! When you listen to their songs, you can pay your whole attention to the guitar solo, in addition to its incredible skill, their solo include many words!Also, pay attention to their KB(鍵盤), you will be stunned ! Lot's of words I can't tell you until you listen to their songs on your own!

 

Instrument's talk - post rock!

Today I am going to introduce "post rock"  to you guys! Most of this kind of music have no vocal in their songs. Still,  they can tell you what they want to say without vocal. When you listen post rock music, you will "hear" many pictures! Unlike other music, post rock seldom has a single hot song in their albums; they inclined to tell you a story through a whole album. In other words, when you try to understand the meaning of songs, you have to listen the whole album orderly.Another feature of post rock music is that they seldom have solo. Instead, they make their music like a talk among many instruments! Also, the average length of one single is usually up to 7 or 8 minutes, or even longer!

"Sugar Plum Ferry" is my favorite Taiwanese post rock band. Unfortunately, they dismissed few months ago. The song "False awakening" is the most famous song!

Another well-known foreign post rock band I like is "Explosions In The Sky" . Try their songs and I'm sure that you will "hear" many pictures in your brain!