The Fiery Works I&II

A band that is increasingly becoming present in the music scene is Brooklyn based band A Great Big Pile of Leaves (the name may have to grow on you). From humble DIY recording methods, they have recently toured with big time contenders that include but are not limited to Saves the Day, Motion City Soundtrack, and The Appleseed Cast. AGBPOL first played at a local church near my hometown and I was struck dumb at the sound of them. Their set had professional quality and the music was exceptional. Pete Weiland's powerful yet trailing vocals matched with Tyler Soucy's technical yet soulful drumming proved to be an amazing listening experience. I caught myself in dance mode in no time. 

In general terms, The Fiery Works (I&II) has the musical consistency of a fusion between indie rock, jazz, pop, and undertones of blues. However, limiting this band to commonplace genres should be avoided. They have such a unique sound that is rare and almost unprecedented in my experience. Melodic guitar and vocals backed by unwavering rhythmic drums remain resolute throughout both albums. The only main difference between these two albums is that Pete Weiland chose to employ other band members on the second instead of performing on all parts but drums on the first. I can find only one song that I wasn't in love with. The pop aspect of the album sound allows it to be accesible to many different musical styles. If you don't believe this then you have to hear my mother screaming the words to AGBPOL songs on car rides. 

In terms of lyrics, Pete Weiland writes with a minimalistic and observational style that reveal common thoughts and behavior and even struggles. The songs are usually about experiences of simple fun which reinforce the band name A Great Big Pile of Leaves. Its almost overwhelming how many different elements of this band there are that I enjoy. 

I will follow this band with growing curiosity as the days go on. If they have the capacity to create such a fantastic album on a musical whim, then I feel that their sound is only going to grow and develop as they have already shown with Have You Seen My Prefontal Cortex? and BOOM!. 

The Mystery of the Brain (The Fiery Works)

Drought of Snow (The Fiery Works II)

Highly Refined Pirates

It seemed appropriate to begin my musical passion blog with one of my favorite albums from one of my favorite bands. The album title is Highly Refined Pirates and the band name is Minus the Bear. Although it has received little, if any, positive critical reception, it still holds a special place in my heart. To me, this is one of those albums that I grew up with and have attached many emotional memories to. Critics may say that Minus the Bear uses too many traditional and cliched musical dynamics in this album, but I see this album as a marking of time. It both characterizes the early "sound" of the band and serves as a fond memory in my late childhood. Its difficult not to listen to this album and immediately feel the rush of emotions that I have subtly attached to it. Music has so much power in this respect. 


In terms of actual analysis of the album, the album and band tend to embody the genres of math rock, electronic, and indie. This album fuses these genres in an affecting way. The complex time signatures, employed under the math rock influence, and the melodic additions of the myriad synthetic varieties prove to create a unique sound unlike the band's distinct components. The band creates existing styles and creates their own sound from them. Although they are constantly playing on the archetypes of these genres and the traditions of song structure as a whole, the complex combination of the three styles hits the listener in a strange way. On the surface, the music seems relatively simple and played out. However, looking under the surface reveals the complexities that makes Minus the Bear their own in a time of the band finding themselves. I feel that critics fail to see this and are only focused on their relation to other bands. From a compositional level, this album is overwhelmingly enjoyable to me. 


The writing and conceptual aspect of the album is also telling of my emotional attachment to it.  The writer and lead singer Jake Snider once said when asked about the album, "I was definitely more just writing about what people at that age do, what it’s kind of all about.....Not the going to work from 9-to-5 and whatever other bullshit you have to deal with. There’s some fun to be had, and I think that the escapism aspect of life at that age is what I was focusing on then, as far as I can remember." This parallels my childhood outlook on life in that my main focus was on the visceral aspects of life, having fun. In an even greater expanse of childhood fun, the song titles of the album are simply ridiculous. They tell nothing of the individual song concepts and are just supposed to be comical randomness.

All of the widespread elements of this album still allow for it to be a pleasure to listen to through and through. Although a critic can find rampant errors and common musical structures and attitudes in this album (I do recognize them) it still holds a special place in my heart. In a time when the band was finding themselves, I too was in the process (and still am). 

Minus the Bear - Highly Refined Pirates - Absinthe Party at the Fly Honey Warehouse