Wait, I'm seeing music that's from 2023 that sounds like 2001. Rap-infused metal, drop-C tonality.

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In a village of La Mancha, the name of which I have no desire to call to mind, there lived not long since one of those gentlemen that keep a lance in the lance-rack, an old buckler, a lean hack, and a greyhound for coursing.

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Wait, I'm seeing music that's from 2023 that sounds like 2001. Rap-infused metal, drop-C tonality.

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Myrath popped up on my feed today and I'm really diggin' it. It's a curious mix of sounds. Instrumentation that reminds me of Septicflesh, but with vocals that are more akin to Queensryche, with some badass slap bass underneath. I guess the Septicflesh bit is because I listen to Communion pretty often, and that album has some themes from the same part of the world as Myrath's general sound. I guess according to Every Noise at Once, Myrath falls under "<a href="https://everynoise.com/engenremap-arabmetal.html">Arab Metal</a>".

Feeling like Hep Alien over here with my "x meets y" description lol

<a href="https://www.last.fm/user/alexstandiford/obsessions/7018109">https://www.last.fm/user/alexstandiford/obsessions/7018109</a>

Myrath popped up on my feed today and I'm really diggin' it. It's a curious mix of sounds. Instrumentation that reminds me of Septicflesh, but with vocals that are more akin to Queensryche, with some badass slap bass underneath. I guess the Septicflesh bit is because I listen to Communion pretty often, and that album has some themes from the same part of the world as Myrath's general sound. I guess according to Every Noise at Once, Myrath falls under "<a href="https://everynoise.com/engenremap-arabmetal.html">Arab Metal</a>".

Feeling like Hep Alien over here with my "x meets y" description lol

<a href="https://www.last.fm/user/alexstandiford/obsessions/7018109">https://www.last.fm/user/alexstandiford/obsessions/7018109</a>

I can't stop listening to this album. There's something about the 1800's era Americana theme, combined with…just really catchy melodies. I've actually listened to it so much that it's caused me to watch documentaries about "Ohio Fever" and "The Year Without a Summer".

Funny, since we just came back to Ohio after our 4 years on the road. Maybe we had Ohio Fever, too.

<a href="https://www.last.fm/music/American+Murder+Song/Murder+Ballads+of+1816:+The+Year+Without+a+Summer"></a><a href="https://www.last.fm/music/American+Murder+Song/Murder+Ballads+of+1816:+The+Year+Without+a+Summer">https://www.last.fm/music/American+Murder+Song/Murder+Ballads+of+1816:+The+Year+Without+a+Summer</a>

I can't stop listening to this album. There's something about the 1800's era Americana theme, combined with…just really catchy melodies. I've actually listened to it so much that it's caused me to watch documentaries about "Ohio Fever" and "The Year Without a Summer".

Funny, since we just came back to Ohio after our 4 years on the road. Maybe we had Ohio Fever, too.

<a href="https://www.last.fm/music/American+Murder+Song/Murder+Ballads+of+1816:+The+Year+Without+a+Summer"></a><a href="https://www.last.fm/music/American+Murder+Song/Murder+Ballads+of+1816:+The+Year+Without+a+Summer">https://www.last.fm/music/American+Murder+Song/Murder+Ballads+of+1816:+The+Year+Without+a+Summer</a>

Casual Weirdness

There's something about Dark Cabaret that I've really been enjoying lately. It uses interesting instrumentation, is always at least mildly theatrical, and in the case of American Murder Song, the 1816 Americana theme is really doin' it for me.

<a href="https://www.last.fm/user/alexstandiford/obsessions/7009208">https://www.last.fm/user/alexstandiford/obsessions/7009208</a>

There's something about Dark Cabaret that I've really been enjoying lately. It uses interesting instrumentation, is always at least mildly theatrical, and in the case of American Murder Song, the 1816 Americana theme is really doin' it for me.

<a href="https://www.last.fm/user/alexstandiford/obsessions/7009208">https://www.last.fm/user/alexstandiford/obsessions/7009208</a>

Upgraded my headphones this weekend. I got a set of Sennheiser HD650s. The DAC is coming tomorrow, and I can hardly wait to try it out!

Upgraded my headphones this weekend. I got a set of Sennheiser HD650s. The DAC is coming tomorrow, and I can hardly wait to try it out!

So, I've been going through a bit of a shift in the kind of music I want to listen to lately. For the last, god, 10 years, I've been mostly listening to Haken, Devin Townsend, some off-beat things like Diablo Swing Orchestra, and a fair bit of Nine Inch Nails. Some bands akin to that, as well, like Ayria.

So, I've been going through a bit of a shift in the kind of music I want to listen to lately. For the last, god, 10 years, I've been mostly listening to Haken, Devin Townsend, some off-beat things like Diablo Swing Orchestra, and a fair bit of Nine Inch Nails. Some bands akin to that, as well, like Ayria.

What I haven't been listening to much of has been blues-centric rock. It's mostly been a either industrial metal, or prog. In-fact, even before that, I wasn't ever really that into this kind of sound historically, and ironically enough haven't had a well-curated list of things from this sound.

What I haven't been listening to much of has been blues-centric rock. It's mostly been a either industrial metal, or prog. In-fact, even before that, I wasn't ever really that into this kind of sound historically, and ironically enough haven't had a well-curated list of things from this sound.

But over the last few years, my wife, <a href="http://katestandiford.com">Kate</a> has really gotten into a lot of folk rock, and <a href="http://casualweirdness.life">since we live in a camper</a>, her tastes seem to have started to bleed into my tastes lately. Or at least, that's what I think it is. Hell, it could just as easily be because I've been playing a lot of older rock tracks like Blue Suede Shoes and Leroy Brown <a href="/micro/1988">while performing here at the campground this summer</a>. Either way, I've found myself wanting to listen to music that's a lot more approachable than the weirder stuff like this <a href="https://youtu.be/JyfcbeLfYbI?si=2_4AY0XmCVBRclxv">DSO track</a>, or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_e4YX73Ww4">Haken's Cockroach King</a>. Conversely, it's heavy in a very different way than the noisy stuff like Devin Townsend's Deconstruction album, all of which are things that I've historically been into.

But over the last few years, my wife, <a href="http://katestandiford.com">Kate</a> has really gotten into a lot of folk rock, and <a href="http://casualweirdness.life">since we live in a camper</a>, her tastes seem to have started to bleed into my tastes lately. Or at least, that's what I think it is. Hell, it could just as easily be because I've been playing a lot of older rock tracks like Blue Suede Shoes and Leroy Brown <a href="/micro/1988">while performing here at the campground this summer</a>. Either way, I've found myself wanting to listen to music that's a lot more approachable than the weirder stuff like this <a href="https://youtu.be/JyfcbeLfYbI?si=2_4AY0XmCVBRclxv">DSO track</a>, or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_e4YX73Ww4">Haken's Cockroach King</a>. Conversely, it's heavy in a very different way than the noisy stuff like Devin Townsend's Deconstruction album, all of which are things that I've historically been into.

I'd say the closest I've ever gotten to this sound is what I can only describe as "objectively cool music". When you hear <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTW0Uf-34BA">Casualties of Cool</a>, or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNBzPrFTPtE">S.G Goodman's The Way I talk</a>, you go "DAMN they're so cool." The music is usually straight forward with simple, consistent time signatures, predictable song formats, and simple, yet fantastic hooks.

I'd say the closest I've ever gotten to this sound is what I can only describe as "objectively cool music". When you hear <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTW0Uf-34BA">Casualties of Cool</a>, or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNBzPrFTPtE">S.G Goodman's The Way I talk</a>, you go "DAMN they're so cool." The music is usually straight forward with simple, consistent time signatures, predictable song formats, and simple, yet fantastic hooks.

Anyway, I realized I had a few songs that recently caught my attention that kinda aligned with this sound, so I threw them together in a playlist along with a couple samples that seemed adjacent to it, and clicked on Spotify's magic "Enhance" button.

Anyway, I realized I had a few songs that recently caught my attention that kinda aligned with this sound, so I threw them together in a playlist along with a couple samples that seemed adjacent to it, and clicked on Spotify's magic "Enhance" button.

And...whoa! It actually worked! Historically this hasn't been very effective for me. It's unclear why exactly, but usually the music on the song wouldn't fit the vibe I was looking for well enough. Maybe I was trying to be too specific then. Maybe it's just because the music is easier to categorize, who knows?

And...whoa! It actually worked! Historically this hasn't been very effective for me. It's unclear why exactly, but usually the music on the song wouldn't fit the vibe I was looking for well enough. Maybe I was trying to be too specific then. Maybe it's just because the music is easier to categorize, who knows?

Spotify’s “Enhance” Feature Is Awesome

I got a chance to jam this weekend with some really talented people. It’s a lot of fun to get to improvise bass lines instead of forcing myself to memorize songs note for note.

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I got a chance to jam this weekend with some really talented people. It’s a lot of fun to get to improvise bass lines instead of forcing myself to memorize songs note for note.

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This guy from the campground just walks up to me earlier this week and says "Hi, I'm Steve. Do you play bass?"

3 days later I'm playing the bass for the first time in 3 years in front of people, playing songs I've never heard with two people I've never played instruments with.

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This guy from the campground just walks up to me earlier this week and says "Hi, I'm Steve. Do you play bass?"

3 days later I'm playing the bass for the first time in 3 years in front of people, playing songs I've never heard with two people I've never played instruments with.

Insert an image to make a visual statement.

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Jamming to Diablo Swing Orchestra today. I think they really came into full swing in this last album. They're a little more approach-able in this album, but still have all of that super awesome swing sound, unique instrumentation, and some real bangers.

<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/73YgGTPKJux9DVDr3Jv7k7?si=iNGcclvbSq2Cr5ouqceQpA">https://open.spotify.com/album/73YgGTPKJux9DVDr3Jv7k7?si=iNGcclvbSq2Cr5ouqceQpA</a>

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Jamming to Diablo Swing Orchestra today. I think they really came into full swing in this last album. They're a little more approach-able in this album, but still have all of that super awesome swing sound, unique instrumentation, and some real bangers.

<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/73YgGTPKJux9DVDr3Jv7k7?si=iNGcclvbSq2Cr5ouqceQpA">https://open.spotify.com/album/73YgGTPKJux9DVDr3Jv7k7?si=iNGcclvbSq2Cr5ouqceQpA</a>

<div class="wp-block-group">Jamming to Diablo Swing Orchestra today. I think they really came into full swing in this last album. They're a little more approach-able in this album, but still have all of that super awesome swing sound, unique instrumentation, and some real bangers.<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/73YgGTPKJux9DVDr3Jv7k7?si=iNGcclvbSq2Cr5ouqceQpA">https://open.spotify.com/album/73YgGTPKJux9DVDr3Jv7k7?si=iNGcclvbSq2Cr5ouqceQpA</a></div>

<div class="wp-block-group">Also, "COME INTO FULL SWING" LOL</div>

Bear Ghost is an adventurous rock band out of Phoenix. I discovered them through a Slack channel when someone recommended them. They have somewhat silly subject matters in their music, but it's always fun, unique, and never lacking in good instrumentation.

<a href="https://www.bearghost.com/">https://www.bearghost.com/</a>

Bear Ghost is an adventurous rock band out of Phoenix. I discovered them through a Slack channel when someone recommended them. They have somewhat silly subject matters in their music, but it's always fun, unique, and never lacking in good instrumentation.

<a href="https://www.bearghost.com/">https://www.bearghost.com/</a>

<div class="wp-block-group">Bear Ghost is an adventurous rock band out of Phoenix. I discovered them through a Slack channel when someone recommended them. They have somewhat silly subject matters in their music, but it's always fun, unique, and never lacking in good instrumentation.Give 'em a listen sometime.<a href="https://www.bearghost.com/">https://www.bearghost.com/</a></div>

Owner of Siren Affiliates. Digital Nomad of 4 years. I talk about WordPress, Entrepreneurship, &amp; RV life.