codythemusicguru

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Review: Sorority Noise “You’re Not As _____ As You Think”

Sorority Noise is a four piece indie rock band from Hartford, Connecticut that has, for better or worse, gained a lot of traction in the past few years. The band, which has often been dubbed a powerhouse in the post-emo scene, recently released (3/17/17) their third full-length album titled ‘You’re Not As _____ As You Think.’ Unlike their two previous records ‘Forgettable’ and ‘Joy, Departed,’ which were released through Topshelf Records, the band’s newest work was put out by Triple Crown. In addition to changing their label for this album, the guys in Sorority Noise have made a significant transition in their overall sound, shying away from their somewhat over-the-top emo roots. That is not to say this release isn’t possibly the saddest thing I’ve listened to in recent years, but singer Cameron Boucher’s writing style has clearly moved from an angsty, teenage, self-centered point of view to one that continually comments on the sick humor of the obstacles the world throws at him, albeit in a much more mature fashion, both instrumentally and lyrically.

The entire premise of ‘You’re Not As _____ As You Think’ comprises of Boucher’s tooth and nail attempts to come to terms with the loss of several of his best friends, who all died in the past year or so, mostly from suicide. The album makes several direct references to two friends in particular, Sean and Julien, and each song is a commentary going further into the mind of Boucher, as he faces guilt and loneliness from the sudden absence of his loved ones.

The album kicks off with the song ‘No Halo’ — and, let me tell ya, this track is one hell of an opener. From the start we get an upbeat but slightly somber chord progression (characteristic of Sorority Noise), layered with some atmospheric guitar drowned in reverb. My first immediate thought was that Sorority Noise was back with some of their unique post-grunge flavor, but as Boucher began to sing, I realized this was something way more significant than that. While they were indeed, sticking to their roots, it only took me listening to the first few lyrics before I realized that this band had grown the f*ck up. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely dig their older, screw you posers/everything sucks mentality, but this new sound was the sound of someone who had experienced tragedy, but was trying to comprehend it in a much less childish manner. Boucher gets right to the point in the pre-chorus, where he sings “When God called you to fulfill a vacancy, I tried to see why it wasn’t me.” And that line, for me, was the beginning of the emotional rollercoaster this record encompasses. The chorus follows with more powerful, distorted guitars, underlying the shouted lines that I feel sum up the theme of this album. “So I didn’t show up to your funeral, but I showed up to your house. And I didn’t move a muscle, I was quiet as a mouse. And I swore I saw you in there, but I was looking at myself.” When interviewed about the meaning of this particular chorus, Boucher tells a story of when he was recently at home visiting some friends. He decided he was going to drive back to his house, and after realizing he was near Sean’s neighborhood, he decided he would stop by just to say hello. He got to the house, drove up to the front, and then remembered that Sean was no longer alive. The idea of his best friend not existing anymore was so surreal that his subconscious couldn’t even process it. I feel like throughout this record, Boucher continually tries to illustrate this state of dreamy hopelessness that he has been living in.

As the album progresses, we get a mix between the usual Sorority Noise sound of happy instrumentals accompanied by hilariously sad lyrics (a contrast that I’ve always found interesting with this band), and the newer, slower, painful songs that seem to highlight the album in between their more upbeat tracks. When I say hilariously sad, I am reminscent of songs from ‘Joy, Departed’ such as ‘Using’ and ‘Art School Wannabe,’ — those songs are sad, but in an almost sarcastic, intentionally overbearing way. But some of the songs from this newest release (‘First Letter From St. Sean,’ ‘A Better Sun,’ ‘Second Letter from St. Julien,’ ‘New Room’) are just absolutely soul-crushing, and usually accompanied by soft minor progressions, instead of the loud crunchy riffs usually found in Sorority Noise records. The emotional speech at the end of ‘A Portrait Of’ completely twists the direction of the album, as Boucher sends the listener farther down into the dirt. I’m just gonna leave some examples of some stand-out lyrics here so you get a feel for how heavy this stuff gets.

“When your best friend dies and your next friend dies and your best friend’s friend takes his life. And you spend six months on your own ‘cause there’s no one left to talk to.”

“This is the part where I am proper. This is the part where I’m just another face. This is the part where I’m a marathon runner and both my ankles are sprained.”

“Just this year I lost a basketball team to heaven, and I’m sure they’re shooting jumpers with Jesus, Mary and Joseph. And you said we wouldn’t notice it if you had disappeared, but I swore I got a phone call, so that seemed pretty weird.”

And last but not least,

“So go out and have some fun, let loose, and I’ll daydream of the noose that took my friend Sean’s life.”

What the f*ck. That’s all I could think to myself when I listened to this album the first time. I’ve definitely listened to some sad stuff in my life, but these guys are just so good at encompassing all the bad sh*t they’re feeling and throwing it into your face through their music. But that’s what makes this album so beautiful. Listening to these songs, you can physically hear how much Cam is hurting at the loss of his friends, how hopeless he feels, and how apathetic he is about everything occuring around him. Contrasting this emotional floor crawl with tracks that are characteristic of the oldschool melancholy, yet mildly cheerful, Sorority Noise (‘A Portrait Of,’ ‘Disappeared,’ ‘Where Are You”), this album contains material that will surely be an interesting listen for both old fans of Sorority Noise and new listeners. I encourage everybody to give ‘You’re Not As _____ As You Think’ a listen, and furthermore be thankful for the people in your life. This album may be a hard listen for some, but I believe it’s one of the best indie releases of 2017 so far. Thanks for reading everyone, I hope you enjoyed my take on this record. I’d love to hear your opinions on the album and any recommendations for future reviews.

awh Score: 8.5/10

Standout Tracks: No Halo, A Portrait Of, Disappeared, Where Are You, Second Letter from St. Julien

[codythemusicguru]

Stress

Stress is a b*tch.

I know that’s pretty blunt, but I had to get it off my chest.  The reason for this quite obvious statement you may ask? Finals.  It’s a feeling that every college student knows all too well.  Everywhere you look, there’s another project due or test to study for.  Every one of your professors come together to collectively sh*t on you with everything you’ve done throughout the entire semester, all at once.  I know, I know, it’s part of the “college experience” that we all signed up for so I shouldn’t be complaining, but this is a blog, what else would I do on here?

Even with the finish line in arm’s reach, it’s easy to lose sight of that glorious summertime break that we all so desperately crave.  We temporarily forget about the freedom that it brings because of the mountains of schoolwork obscuring our vision.  Instead of sunshine and free time, we see deadlines and criteria for a single week that decides half of our grade.  The weight of these final days can really take a toll on your state of mind, and what was once happiness about the final days of class quickly becomes dread.  We get so trapped inside our heads that we forget to look beyond this series of tests. Final exams become our final days, as each test begins to feel like a life-or-death scenario.  

That’s why it’s important to take a step back and breathe for a second.  

I know the tunnel is dark right now, but the light is just around this corner.  We will make it through this, and we will be alive by the end of it.  Don’t let the stress of these last few weeks overthrow your life.  Pump your brakes, clear your head, and do your best; it will all be over soon.   

Until next time,

Cody Upchurch

[codythemusicguru]

CILVIA DEMO - ISAIAH RASHAD

I want to begin this series with an album I hold near and dear to my heart, which is Isaiah Rashad’s Cilvia Demo.  While this project is technically and EP, let’s call it an album for the sake of this blog.

It was 2013.  I remember hearing talk of a new Top Dawg signee and wondering, “Who is Isaiah Rashad, and why is TDE signing him?”  Keep in mind, I’m the biggest TDE stan there is.  I own every single project each artist on the label has ever released, as well as the obscure mixtapes you may not know about.  I even have a designated Top Dawg playlist on my phone to house all of these purchases in one glorious location. 

Quick to fix my apparent mistake, I immediately searched his name and came across the “I Shot You Down” video.  I was instantly hooked.  He embodied everything I love about southern Hip Hop, and drew me in from the first syllable.  When I found out he was from Tennessee, (the state right f*cking above me), I started kicking myself for not already being familiar.  Needless to say, I liked what I heard.

Now fast forward to January 28, 2014, when I throw on Cilvia Demo for the first time.

With just one listen, I knew I was hearing something truly special.  The connection I felt with Isaiah strengthened more and more as each track faded into the next.  I felt like I knew him, like we went to the same school and grew up together.  The production, the subject matter, the slang, the delivery, the entire vibe… it all resonated with me instantly.  Rarely is an artist able to bring me into their world as quickly as he did, AND THIS WAS HIS DEBUT!  He had a voice of his own, with a style that painted an immaculate picture of the person he was and the surroundings he grew up in.

He touched on everything with this project.  From religion and depression, to alcohol abuse and women, each track felt like a piece of his soul placed over some of the smoothest production I had heard in a while.  That’s part of what makes this project so great.  Each track comes together to form a bigger picture.  Very seldom am I able to listen to this album without playing it front to back.  Every single song strikes a different emotion, and with each listen I become addicted to the vibes over and over again.  It’s a ride I’ve taken over a 100 times, and it never gets old.

Not to mention the dude can spit, and not in a “I got f*cking bars” type of way.  He’s more straight forward with his raps.  You’re not going to need an encyclopedia and dictionary to understand what he’s saying, but that’s not to say his rhymes aren’t prolific.  He manages to be blunt and to the point, while leaving little gems buried within each line for those that want to dig a little deeper.  The topics he tackles are the main driving force behind my appreciation of this album.  He doesn’t shy away from talking about his suicidal thoughts or his rocky relationship with God.  This sense of vulnerability opens the windows to his soul allowing us to clearly see his inner workings.  

This soulfulness in his music shines brightest when he flexes his melodic chops.  The way he fuses melody into this album is astonishing.  You can genuinely hear the emotion and struggle with each sung performance.   The handful of tracks that SZA, (fellow TDE songstress), is featured on exemplify this even more.  The chemistry these two share is indescribable, and I’m still holding onto the prayer that we receive a Zay x SZA collab album someday.  But until then, these tracks will have to do. 

I could talk about my love of this album for days on end, detailing every single song and dissecting what each one means to me, but that’s an experience for you to have on your own.  I just hope that I have inspired you to check out this amazing project if you haven’t already.

That’s my overarching goal with this series.  I’m not here to tell you these are definitive classics, everybody’s got their own list of those.  Instead, I ask you to give these projects a shot and see if they hit you the same way they did me.  You may absolutely hate my picks, and that’s ok.  This is a place where all opinions are safe and all suggestions are welcomed.  I invite you to respond with some of your favorite albums, and why they mean so much to you.  I’m always looking for a good recommendation.

Until next time,

Cody Upchurch

[codythemusicguru]

BE HUMBLE.

Kendrick Lamar

[codythemusicguru]

Forgive me, and I’ll forgive you

Jesus Christ bummed a cigarette off me. He asked for a light too, and who am I to deny the Son of God a smoke? He didn’t wear a halo. His hair was dirty and his smile was tired. I asked him for some wisdom, but he couldn’t recall any scripture.

 “Aw come on, Jesus. Even I can recite a few lines from the Good Book.”

 “Good for you, man.” That was all he said, so I shut up and lit a cigarette of my own.

 Jesus wanted a Big Mac and a fresh pair of socks. I oblige him, remembering a snippet of an old hymn from my childhood.

 Though sometimes he leads through waters deep, trials fall across the way

Though sometimes the path seems rough and steep, see his footprints all the way

 Beneath fluorescent lighting in plastic booths, he told me the story about the first time he tried heroin. I wanted to know what it felt like, and he asked if I remembered the part in the story where the stone rolled back from the tomb.

 “Every fragment of light from heaven flooded over me again.”

 I ask why he doesn’t drop the needle and go home to infinity. He just shrugs and tells me that infinities tend to last.

 “I’ve got time.” He points up at the ceiling, saying, “There’s a celebration going on, 24-fucking-7. A giant party that never ends. But down here…” he points at me, like I’m the problem. “Down here, there’s still people who didn’t get their invitation.”

 After that, he wouldn’t say more. Little bits of mustard dripped onto his beard, and I wanted to cry. I wanted to call my dad. I wanted to tell someone that I was sorry. I crossed my arms and dug my thumbs into the meat of my biceps and watched him chew.

 Outside, he seemed to have more to say. He asked for another cigarette, and I asked if he wanted me to buy him a pack, all while imagining what the deacon of my childhood church would say if he saw my buying some cowboy killers for the Lamb of God.

 He was in a tight spot, like every other wretched soul on that street corner. But none of the other bums had seen the grandeur of heaven, and that made him seem even sadder. He had traded the streets of gold for some stark existence sustained by the kindness or the cruelty of the world that he had hoped to save.

 “I was born for the strippers, man. I came here for the guys that hit up gas stations. The only crown I ever knew how to wear…the only one I ever learned to wear, it drew blood. It caused me pain.” He holds his arms out as if he means to singlehandedly embrace the entire city, piss-stained streets and all. “This is what I was made for…to hurt for you freaks.”

He politely flicks his cigarette away from me, and the wind carries the ashes up into the air. My eyes follow them, and for the first time, I notice a faded billboard out towards the freeway. It’s a picture of him – except it doesn’t resemble him at all. Blue eyes traded for his brown ones, blonde hair dangled down over crimson robes – unlike his short dark hair and faded blue jeans.

 He reads the message aloud, “Who is Jesus? Call 855-FOR-TRUTH”. He rolls his eyes and a tiny smile creeps onto his face. And then he points at the sign and says, “I’m just a man. That’s the truth.”

[codythemusicguru]

This is what I like

Bruno Mars - That’s What I Like

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😍😍😍

the best interior design of BMW

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Popeyes cashier: Next in line!

Me: 

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Oldies by Cody Upchurch Shuffle this on the boat with your parents, thank me later.

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Fill in the Blank by Car Seat Headrest 👍🏻👍🏻

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Timmy's Prayer by Sampha words can't describe how ready I am for this new album

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two new FREE projects definitely worth your time, don't sleep #ColoringBook #August26

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Nobody Speak (feat. Run the Jewels) by DJ Shadow 🔁

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John Ibe Grievance by John Ibe 🔥🔥🔥

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new sounds from the homie, catch the wave

A SOULLESS CREATION *

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I Think They Like Me - feat. Jermaine Dupri, Da Brat & Bow Wow by Dem Franchize Boyz