Showing posts with label Music Corner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Music Corner. Show all posts

Aug 25, 2016

Cloud Cult: Mencari Spiritualitas Lewat The Seeker

Setelah album Love tahun 2013 yang bisa dibilang karya terbaik mereka, saya sempat skeptis apakah Cloud Cult bakal bisa menciptakan album yang sama baiknya dengan album tersebut, minimal tidak mengecewakan. 


 Ketika single pertama mereka, No Hell, dirilis saya malah menjadi semakin skeptis akan album baru mereka nanti. Single tersebut memang tidak mengecewakan, namun terdengar kurang epic dibanding lagu-lagu terdahulu. OK, untuk tahun ini mereka boleh dimaafkan, setidaknya selama sepuluh tahun terakhir mereka telah menghasilkan karya-karya gemilang. Untuk yang belum tau band seperti apa itu Cloud Cult, biografi singkat berikut mungkin bisa menjadi petunjuk.

Short bio: Cloud Cult began as Craig Minowa’s solo studio project, and over the course of ten studio albums the band has grown with an evolving lineup of musicians. Cloud Cult has received accolades including MTV, New York Times, Entertainment Weekly and has had several albums at the top of the college radio charts. They've declined major record label deals in favor of staying independent. Rollingstone ranks Cloud Cult in the Top 10 greenest bands. (www.cloudcult.com)


Memasuki tanggal rilis di bulan Februari 2016, keraguan saya terbantahkan ketika album The Seeker akhirnya keluar. Setelah memasang earphone dan menekan tombol play, track pertama pun dimulai. Saya langsung dibuat takjub karena diajak menyusuri lautan perasaan melalui alunan instrumental Living in Awe (Birth). Suatu pengalaman yang tidak saya duga. Terlebih lagi ini menjadi lagu latar trailer film yang juga mereka sutradarai berjudul sama, The Seeker. Bayangkan sinematografi ala The Trees of Life dipadukan dengan ambient-instrumental ala Rhian Sheehan. Right in that feel sekali pokoknya! Kehangatan rasa haru langsung berkumpul tepat ke dalam jantung saya. Apalagi di akhir lagu disisipi lirik singkat yang membuat lagu ini semakin lengkap dan siap sebagai pembuka keseluruhan album:

The Great Mystery cannot be solved.
There will be joy and grief,
but live it all in awe.

Yup, apa pun yang terjadi dalam timeline hidup kita ke depan nanti, jalani dengan kekaguman. Life is a blessing, right? Singkat, mengena, dan penuh harapan.

Lagu pertama langsung memberikan pesan inspiratif. Sebuah pembuka yang sempurna. Lalu bagaimana dengan lagu selanjutnyta? To The Great Unknown memberikan kesan yang kurang lebih sama dengan lagu pertama. Hanya saja lebih menggugah hati untuk mulai bertindak, tidak hanya mengawang-awang dan merenungi apa yang akan dilakukan. Kepercayaan saya akan album ini pun sedikit demi sedikit bertambah.

Masuk ke lagu ketiga, Days to Remember, otak saya semakin yakin bahwa inilah album yang benar-benar saya cari. Hentakan drum dan kombinasi piano melipatgandakan semangat saya untuk segera bertindak dengan hidup saya. Kemudian memasuki lagu Time Machine Invention yang terdengar seperti aransemen lagu klasik mereka, Fairy Tale, dengan perubahan lirik tentang seorang pengelana waktu, telah berhasil menghipnotis saya untuk mulai menghargai saat ini, detik ini, dan hari ini:

I’ve finally solved the puzzle of my time machine invention.
You see, in the future, this present is the past, so
If you give this moment your fullest attention
We’ll just keep going forwards with no need for going back.

Memasuki lagu-lagu selanjutnya, saya semakin dibuat percaya bahwa Cloud Cult telah berhasil menciptakan album yang lebih baik dari sebelumnya. Formula yang mereka ciptakan memang tidak se-ngerock album Love, dan rasanya mereka jauh lebih mengerti bahwa ada area lain dalam musik mereka yang dapat dimaksimalkan sebagai album ke-10: lirik yang lebih spiritual, ambient yang lebih terasa, petikan akustik yang lebih menonjol, dan permainan piano yang lebih hidup. Kombinasi yang menciptakan album The Seeker semakin istimewa. Tidak perlu mengulagi resep ”seriang dan sekeras” Love. Menjadi kontemplatif saja ternyata sudah lebih dari cukup.

Sudah 6 bulan sejak pertama kali saya mendengarkan album ini, saya pun semakin merasakan perjalanan spiritual layaknya yang disampaikan dalam album The Seeker. Sebagai makhluk spiritual yang merasakan pengalaman dunia, manusia pada dasarnya akan selalu mencari cara untuk merasakan pengalaman transendental dari mana mereka berasal. Pengalaman yang akan memperkaya jiwa, mendorong untuk berani menghadapi ketidakpastian, keberanian merasakan suka duka, menikmati saat sekarang, move on dari kekecewaan, dan menjadi positif di setiap kesempatan. Pada akhirnya kita diingatkan untuk menjadi manusia seutuhnya, manusia yang tidak hanya hidup untuk diri sendiri namun juga untuk orang lain dan seluruh alam beserta segala isinya. The Seeker telah berhasil memberikan pengalaman tersebut.

Bagi saya, The Seeker mengungguli album Love dan album-album Cloud Cult sebelumnya, dan Cloud Cult tetap menjadi band yang berhasil memperkaya pendengaran, kreatifitas, dan jiwa saya. Boleh dibilang merekalah satu-satunya band dari sekian ribu artis/band yang pernah saya dengarkan (sejak duduk di bangku TK hingga duduk menulis tulisan ini) yang berhasil mengubah saya secara emosional, perbuatan, spiritual, dan cara pandang dalam melihat dunia.

Dec 30, 2015

Album of the Year 2015


10. Of Monsters and Men - Beneath the Skin




09. Chadwick Stokes - The Horse Comanche




08. Twin Bandit - For You




07. The Go! Team - The Scene Between



06. The Weepies - Sirens




05. Joshua Radin - Onward and Sideways




04. VA - From Cover to Cover: 30 Years at Nettwerk




03. Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell




02. Joshua Hyslop - In Deepest Blue




01. Laura Stevenson - Cocksure

Aug 11, 2015

Veronica Maggio, My New Favorite!




Yaayy, akhirnya masih bisa konsisten ngisi blog. Meski gak penting, tapi yang penting ada yang ditulis. Oke, langsung saja masuk ke inti pembahasan. Kali ini saya ingin membahas penyanyi-penulis lagu yang lagi padet banget ngisi playlist di komputer dan HP. 


Akhir-akhir ini lagi seneng banget dengerin lagu-lagunya Veronica Maggio, penyanyi pop asal Swedia sana. Ya walaupun gak paham liriknya, tetep aja ketagihan nge-repeat lagu-lagunya ampe seharian (di kantor, di rumah, di jalan). Yang pasti, hal ini ngebuktiin kalo musik emang bahasa universal. Meski gak paham liriknya tapi tetep aja bisa goyang-goyang (minimal goyangin kepala).

Ada dua alasan penting kok tiba-tiba dengerin Mbak Veronica yang jauh-jauh dari Swedia sana. Satu, karena Mbaknya cantik (alasan klise pendengar cowok). Dua, karena Mbaknya punya zodiak pisces (alasan paling penting!). Langsung deh nyoba nyari videonya di Youtube pas tau 2 fakta tersebut. Trus langsung antusias mantengin video klip yang saya klik pertama, Jag Kommer alias (I'm Coming). 


Kesan pertama pas nonton, "Wuiiihh, Mbaknya cantik banget!". 

Kesan kedua, "Wuiiiih, lagunya mantabbb!". 

Kesan berikutnya, "Wuiiiihhh, video klipnya kerennn!". 

Tiga kesan itu jadi kombinasi tepat untuk akhirnya saya secara resmi jatuh hati ama Mbak Veronica. 


Selesai videoklipnya, langsung deh download albumnya, Satan i Gatan (Satan in the Street) (2011). Pas dengerin satu per satu, langsung cocok masuk ke telinga. Suara Mbak Veronica yang kayak remaja (padahal usia dah 30an dan punya anak) pas banget dipadupadankan ama hentakan dance lembut khas Swedia. Yang pasti dance ala Swedia itu gak norak kayak pop-dance Amrik sekarang. Gak heran kalo Swedia adalah pengekspor musik-musik dance kualitas tinggi, mulai dari ABBA ampe Ace of Base trus Lykke Li yang terkenal akhir-akhir ini. 

Selesai dengerin album Satan i Gatan, nyoba lagi nyari lagu di album lain. Ketemulah lagu Sergels Torg (Sergel's Square) yang keren ini. Kalo didengerin ampe tiga kali dan seterusnya, nih lagu dalem banget. Apalagi kalo baca translation-nya, daleemmm banget! klipnya juga sukses nggambarin lagunya. Pokoknya TOP! Langsung deh track ini sukses masuk playlist dan diputer berulang-ulang. 


Gak lupa juga langsung download albumnya, Handen i fickan fast jag bryr mig (Hand in my pocket although I care) (2013). Kayak album sebelumnya, nih album juga luar biasa mantabb! Apalagi pas lagu Sergels Torg. Kesan nostalgia dan emosi yang dikeluarkan Mbak Veronica kerasa banget. Jadi bisa negebayangin perasaanya Mbak Veronica di lagu ini. 


Ada lagi lagu yang juga gak kalah luar biasa di album ini. Videoklipnya lumayan, lagunya menarik. Pokoknya pas banget dan gak bikin bosen.




Pastinya musik pop itu gak harus selalu ngikutin trend Amrik dan ngebosenin. Mbak Veronica berhasil tuh ngebuktiin kalo musik pop bisa tetep enak didengerin meski gak pake formula ala dance Amrik saat ini. Bahkan gak pake bahasa Inggris pun tetep aja lagu-lagunya Mbak Veronica bisa dinikmati ampe seharian.

Musik pop emang musik yang paling pas untuk nyantai. Dengerinnya gak perlu mikir, tinggal nikmati aja irama dan nadanya. Yang pasti Mbak Veronica Maggio telah berhasil masuk dalam daftar 'my favorite pop female artist' mulai dari sekarang.

Dec 31, 2014

Albums of the Year 2014

I remember that i used to listen 'This Year' by The Mountain Goats as the year began. It was a sort of interesting acoustic song driven by monotonous drum beat that was easy to hum to. Besides, I found an interesting line as well that said something like this; 'I'm gonna make it through this year, if it kills me'. Such an evoking lyric to start the year.

I wondered then, would this year bring something more exciting and lively than the year before? Or would it bring something burdening till the end? The answer revealed after i came through. Twelve months were needed to understand the answer of my question. Twelve months were needed to tell myself that this was the year that i could finally survive of.

The year was full of unpredictable scenes. It was surely made of amazing happiness and detailed by some downfalls and grievances. It was the year of unforgettable moments; environmental movement volunteering, new job, upside-down love life, family lost, baby born, and many other things that made this year imperfectly meaningful. It was the year that was full of tear, but somehow, joy could still fitted in. Whatever this year came by, i finally could make it. This year seemed like killing me, but thankfully i didn't die instead. All the things happened, and they remind me to be more grateful for every single thing. This was the year that taught me about life to live in, to let go something i barely had control over it, and to move on for the new life in front of me.

And these are newly released albums that i mostly listened to accompany myself during my life-sailing on the year 2014. These are the albums that coincidentally successful coloring my life. 


10. Colbie Caillat - Gypsy Heart 


(pop/acoustic/female vocalist)

Somehow, Colbie reminds me to my friend who has similar face with her. And i think that is the reason why i listen to her songs. However, Gypsy Heart is a kind of pop album that can be enjoyed by everyone; easy to listen, danceable beat, hummingable tune, pretty vocal, and of course beautiful face.

09. Sleeping At Last - Atlas: Ocean [EP]


(instrumental/piano/ambient)

Another ambitious project after 'Yearbook'. Unlike 'Yearbook' which is named by the name of each month, Atlas tries capturing geographical elements into the name of each EP. 'Oceans' is one of them. Composed by 5 tracks with the name of 5 oceans in the world; Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern, Arctic, the album successfully creates amazing piano-based instrumental music. Each song successfully visualizes the enigmatic and  majestic charm of the ocean. Such an excellent album for mind-wandering!

08. Tigers Jaws - Charmer


(indie rock/pop punk/emo)

I thought this band existed no more, but i was proofed wrong. They finally returned into pop punk scene again with this nice album. Although only 2 members left, but they still made an interesting album to listen.

07. Pompeii - LOOM


(indie rock/indie/post-rock)

I was surprised to know that this band finally released their new album though they failed the kickstarter project; such a good surprise actually. Moreover they returned with more post-rockish tune that made the album pretty nice. 

06. Accents - Tall Tales


(alternative/indie rock/acoustic)

Have you ever wondered that as you grow older, sometimes you do not get what you've already dreamed of as you were a kid? Accents tries to emphasize and rationalize that theme in a positive way. They try telling the listeners that still there are so many things in life to be grateful for.  

05. Andrew Jackson Jihad - Christmas Island


(indie rock/acoustic/folk punk)

The latest album of Andrew Jackson Jihad and the most popish among others. I always like the way how they combine folk and punk altogether. Although they put more instrumentation, but the acoustic tune still can be heard. And it made the album more interesting. 

04. Abby Gundersen - Time Moves Quickly


(piano/instrumental/ambient)

Abby Gundersen realizes that time surely moves quickly and passes everything behind. Through this album, she tries to capture the stillness of each moment. She successfully does. Everytime i listen to the music, i feel drowned into the moment of my present life. Such captivating classical-piano based album!  

03. Noah Gundersen - Ledges


(folk/acoustic/singer-songwriter)

The year 2014 wasn't complete without this album. Along with his sister Abby Gundersen, Noah Gundersen played pretty good mature folk song to listen. With little bit sound of indie rock, this album can be a good companion for spending leisure time or doing some stuff. 

02. Peter Bradley Adams - The Mighty Storm


(folk/acoustic/singer-songwriter)

As always, Peter Bradley Adams impressed me with his beautifully crafted folk songs. His musical style didn't change really much, but that was the formula that made the album powerful. This was the second time i bought music from the internet, and it was worth the buy.   

01. Cloud Cult - Unplug


(acoustic/alternative/experimental)

This album successfully summed up my year of 2014; an Unplug album from Cloud Cult with songs containing beautiful and philosophical meaning. The Songs covered such themes including welcoming baby born, letting go the death of family member, becoming more responsible in life, and other reflective yet optimistic theme. And yes, those are the things that i had been through on the year 2014.

For me, personally, this album is more like a reminder to deal with reality. I just feel grateful for having a chance to know this acoustic album. Like i said as always, it is the music that finds the listeners. And i think Unplug has already found its listener.

Dec 23, 2013

Most-Listened 2013 Albums

Finally, the end of 2013 is near - still, it's hard to believe that the year flew so fast. For me, this year offered a lot of great things to learn due to so many lessons i had to face to improve myself better. I still remember the day when i wrote something about the "changing of thing" on the first month of 2013. On that writing, I made an explanation of some musicians who changed their band name on this year - Kinda odd to know that there are more than one musician who change the name at the same year. At the end of the writing, i concluded that lessons could be learned as well from changing into something new.

 Changing is a nature's law and all of us just can't escape from it. Luckily, that nature's law also visited me this year. Consequently, i had to adjust my life to adapt that something new. Without any doubt, there were so many rise and fall feelings during that period, but thanks God i could enjoy that moment and survive until now. During that process, i was accompanied also by excellent albums that could really cheer me up and trace good memories of 2013. So then, i kindly present my top ten albums released on 2013 that i always listened during the good or not-so good time.

10. Streetlight Manifesto - The Hands That Thieve


(ska/punk/alternative)
*this album had successfully encouraged myself to be brave in making a change. feel so lucky to discover Streetlight Manifesto.


09. Matt Pond - The Lives Inside The Lines In Your Hand


(indie rock/acoustic/singer-songwriter)
*although he dropped his PA off from his (band) name, but Matt Pond still plays good indie music.


08. Frightened Rabbit - Pedestrian Verse


(indie rock/acoustic/alternative)
*their Scottish tune is something different for me. 


07. Joshua Radin - Wax Wings


(acoustic/folk/singer-songwriter)
*first rule to enjoy this album: be in love!


06. The Wild - Dreams Are Maps


(folk/punk/indie rock)
*this folk-punk band teaches me to appreciate the value of family, friendship and life, enjoy each moment and dare to make an adventure and difference.


05. Ruth Moody - These Wilder Things


(folk/acoustic/female vocalist)
*Ruth Moody is my favorite among the Jennys, and this album is a great female vocal folk album of 2013.


04. Toh Kay - The Hands That Thieve


(acoustic/folk/singer-songwriter)
*the acoustic version of Streetlight Manifesto. for me, this album is ten times lovelier and more encouraging that the ska punk version.


03. Gregory Alan Isakov - The Weatherman


(folk/acoustic/singer-songwriter)
*read the album review on my previous post, and you will be in love with this excellent album.


02. Clarice Falcão - Monomania 


(acoustic/folk/female vocalist)
*felt in love instantly when i saw this Brazilian girl picture on the internet. and now, i just can't get enough with her music (and beauty).



01. Laura Stevenson - Wheel


(indie rock/acoustic/female vocalist)
*all of Laura Stevenson's albums can boost up my mood during the not-so good day. this album is kinda heavier that her previous, but still i enjoy the album really much.

Dec 20, 2013

Love Songs (these can be perfect for wedding songs)


When it comes to love, everything seems beautiful. It simply changes your perspective in seeing life. You feel everything around you is wonderful - just frankly indescribable. Although words sometimes are not adequate describing that feeling but somehow songs can be perfect companion to express it. These are some songs telling perfectly about being in love. I guess, these are perfect songs also to listen on this season of love.

1. Sarah McLachlan - Ice Cream



Simple but sweeter than ice cream - at least for your heart, ears and soul, not your tongue. Beside Angel, this is one of my favorite songs from Sarah McLachlan. Though it only takes several minutes, but it captures beautifully the feeling of being in love.

2. Ben Rector - Falling In Love



Another catchy with short duration song about love. Simple tune but captivates excellently the emotion of being in love. Completed with nicely played guitar strumming and singing, this song becomes perfect soundtrack for anyone who tastes the joy of love.

3. Eastmountainsouth - So Are You To Me



Simple, emotional and beautiful - adequate words to describe the song. Once i listen to this song, i can feel the emotion nakedly written into beautiful music and lyric. Moreover, the lines saying so are you to me sounds pretty poetic to be said for lovers. Without any doubt, Kat Maslich-Bod and Peter Bradley Adams are excellent pair in writing and singing love song.

4. Marie Hines - Always Been You



Another cheerful song about falling in love. I like the tempo, the climax, the vocal, the rhythm, the melody, the lyric and the rest elements i haven't mentioned yet. In fact, Marie Hines' clear vocal can flawlessly express the feeling of being in love. It magically turns the combination of music and lyric into hope and warm feeling right to the heart - just perfect song to accompany yourself on your love-filled day.
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