Category Archives: Jacob Baumann

A&E, Jacob Baumann

‘Wakin on a Pretty Daze’ proves to be Kurt Vile’s Best

Leave a comment

By Jacob Baumann                                                                                       

Kurt Vile’s latest LP has been a breath of fresh air for the ever so stale music scene.  Vile is a singer songwriter form Philly, and may have a future classic on his hands with Wakin on a Pretty Daze.

Kurt Vile has a completely original style from his physical appearance to his musical styling.  Much like his appearance, the tracks on this album are laid back and taking their time to reveal all that they can.

The opening track Wakin on a Pretty Day exemplifies his laid back manner, and clocks in at nine minutes.  Although some might say that Vile is just rehashing older music, but to that I say, every group does.  Musicians create music based on their record collections, because that is what influences them.

In the music scene today there are many artists making attempts to replicate older music with a modern twist, but Kurt does it in a way that is quite beautiful.  Even though we live in a generation built on hipsters, Instagram, and Twitter, sometimes artists lure people in with the hopes of being like older groups and then failing to deliver…. cough, cough Mumford and Sons.

In this album, Vile has taken the good parts of his past LPs and has made one heck of an offering with this album.  I honestly had never heard of Kurt Vile until this album, and the only reason I found out about him is when I made a trip to a music store on Record Store Day.  While I was there, some random guy recommended I purchase album and I am very glad I bumped into that guy.

Apparently, his last record, Smoke Ring for My Halo, was not so good.  The vocal and lyrical styles were nearly the same as this LP, but the music accompanying him was pretty awful.  In the two years since, Kurt seems to have realized the issue from his last album and has made the proper alterations.

When it comes to vocals on this album, I recalled artist like Tom Petty and Iggy Pop.  Kurt’s vocals were not all that impressive, but were very relaxed and had a Lou Reed vibe to them.  Sometimes his vocals went a tad flat, but they showed no signs of being altered or auto-tuned.

The sheer musicality on this album is astonishing, and the sound quality really comes to the aide of the instrumentations.  The guitars were not played like the instrument was about to be cut in half, rather played quite relaxed and beautifully.  The guitars, bass, and drums are vibrant and just lock in on every track of this 11 track album, some better than others.

With an average song length of seven minutes, you would think it would be quite easy to lose interest, but that’s not the case.  The psychedelic/indie rock that he brings to the table just takes you away.  The guitars are often howling out beautiful rifts and ambiguous chord changes are spread evenly through out Wakin on a Pretty Daze.

After I hear a song on this album, I picture myself relaxing in the summer sun.  Some of the songs deal with his personal struggles and also what he goes through when creating a record.  He brings some great philosophical ideas about life in this LP, and it is great to see a young individual straying away from the top songs on Spotify or the radio.

With Kurt Vile brings to the table on this album, I believe he has a very bright future.  Each album he makes is better than the last, so I hope he continues that pattern in his future musical ventures.

Wakin on a Pretty Daze     9/10

Run Time 70 minutes  (11 tracks)

Release Date: April 9, 2013

A&E, Jacob Baumann

Bioshock Infinite separates itself from modern games

Leave a comment

By Jacob Baumann

A little over five years have passed since gamers were first introduced to the horrors of the underwater city of Rapture, and now the third installment has been released. When I first heard the announcement for Bioshock Infinite back in 2011, I was ecstatic, and after seeing its demo at E3, I was even more so.

Although the game has seen countless delays, I feel that they were well worth the wait. I applaud the developers, Irrational Games, and the publisher, 2K Games, for allowing this game to acquire the polish that it rightfully deserved.
Nowadays, games are constantly churned out with thrown together stories, programming, and pointless DLC. Bioshock Infinite defies all of those characteristics. The man behind Irrational Games deserves the most praise for what this new title accomplishes, and his name is Ken Levine.

Not only did he create the wonder that is Bioshock Infinite, but he developed the whole idea of the series. He is only of the best storytellers in the business, and he thought that the game wasn’t ready for production and delayed it. Obviously, he had to get it approved, but who wouldn’t listen to someone who created the multiple “game of the year” award winning Bioshock.

Moving onto the game itself, from the moment your eyes gaze at the wonder that is before you, it is impossible to be drawn away. The game immerses you into the storyline so quickly and with such force, it takes your breath away. All I could imagine was the quality games of my childhood, where the passion the developers could be seen and this game ranks itself up with those.

Nostalgia is something that also comes to mind, because although it doesn’t appear like a Bioshock game, but it feels like one.

In game you play a middle aged man by the name of Booker DeWitt, and although his past is sketchy, he is easy to become attached to. He was contracted to find the girl and repay his debt. The game is set in 1912 in a world in the sky called Columbia. The mysterious city of Columbia has the theme of the Chicago World’s Fair that occurred in 1893, and in my opinion the game’s interpretation is spot on.

I was distracted by the attention to detail the game provided, and would catch myself listening to a barber shop quartet instead of following the task at hand. The graphics in this game are impeccable, especially because I was playing it on PC in the highest detail. It may not be Crysis 3, but it is exceptionally good for being such a story driven game.

The visual experience on the aging consoles will not come close to my experience, but for this game graphics mean nothing. The Unreal 3 Engine is great and games like Call of Duty will be outdone by Bioshock’s graphics, but that’s not saying a whole lot. Overall, the quality of the visuals will be great for all platforms.

Gameplay is always important, and this game draws upon action that made the series great to begin with. The weapons are fantastic, and the sound engine provides an equally pleasant experience.

Another important character in the game is Elizabeth, and she is always by your side. Elizabeth provides the emotional characteristics that missing form games today. She drives the game forward, and it took me back to my experience with the first Bioshock. The AI for Elizabeth must be fairly sophisticated, because it was almost like I was playing with a friend and not a computer operated player.

While strolling through the streets of Columbia, I felt as though I was in Disney World making my way down Main Street USA. It is beyond fascinating how this game is able to include history into its story. In Columbia, people seem to worship our founding fathers, but not in the way you might imagine. How the game manages to deal with concepts like religion and racism really speaks to the care that was given to its development. Game creators shouldn’t be afraid to tackle these issues, because they are more thought provoking and meaningful than Michael Bay style fighting cinematics.

If you do pick up this game, take your time with it. Also, there is no need to play the other two games to pick up on Bioshock Infinite, but I highly recommend them. There is no reason to run through game just to say you beat it, because that destroys what the game was for. Exploration and becoming involved in the story is what games are for, not going for achievements or kill streaks, and this game capitalizes on that through its tremendous story-telling ability.

Score: 9/10

Available on: PC, Xbox 360, and PS3

A&E, Jacob Baumann

Imagine Dragons’ album places them among the top new artists

Leave a comment
By Jacob Baumann
Although Imagine Dragons gained mainstream success at the end of last year, their debut album, Night Visions (Deluxe Edition), was not released until Feb. 12.
The band has been on the Las Vegas music scene since 2008, and the best way I can describe their sound is rock mixed with British pop.  The vocal delivery and use of electronics is where the British pop portion can be discovered, and the pounding drums and guitars is where the rock part can derived.  Somehow a bit of a folky style manages to sneak its way into this album, so the only category this group can be put in is indie.
In the early part of 2012, Imagine Dragons released their first EP since they were signed to a record label, Continued Silence, to positive reviews and acclaim out West.  I’ll be honest and say I dismissed it when I first heard the track “Round and Round,” which just happened to be one of the worst songs on the EP, but I am seriously glad that I went back and listened to it.
“Radioactive” is a perfect of example of the benefits technology can bring to the music industry.  The use of synth, voice effects, and the pounding drums on the song are almost hypnotic.  The voice of lead singer Dan Reynolds is very intense throughout the track, but the sound being produced behind his voice is where the power is delivered with even more strength.
For some reason I overlooked “Tiptoe” when I first listened to it, but it is just as powerful as the rest of the songs on the album.  After listening to these first two tracks, I fell in love with the band’s style.  The power that rises from the drums, guitars, and synth really make for a unique experience that can’t be found anywhere outside this group.  The vocals are bit more clear on this track, and the song is possesses a lighter tone.
Probably the most well-known track on the album, “It’s Time,” has been the band’s most successful single from the entire LP and for good reason.  However, this is not my favorite track on the album.  This track is a bit poppy for my taste, but it is enjoyable to listen to.  The instrumentation in this song is similar to folk rock, but the lyrics and vocals give it a more mainstream feel.  Honestly, every band who wants success needs a song like this.  It sounds mainstream, but the rest of their material is very different from it.  Fans of this song will go onto to listen more of their work, and find out if they like them or not.
The fourth track of Imagine Dragons album, Night Visions, is possibly my favorite song they have to offer.  It is less aggressive than the other tracks and has a more emotional feel to it.  The vocal delivery made this song for me, because it seemed so sincere and from the heart.  It discusses how being human cannot be altered, and that mistakes will always happen.  I thought it was really interesting to hear someone sing about something that most people are afraid to admit, mistakes.
When I first heard “On Top of the World,” my first thought was summertime.  This would be the perfect soundtrack for having fun with family and friends outside in beautiful weather.  Every time I listen to this track my spirits are lifted, because I know that even when times are rough I know that I will come out on top somehow.  With that being said, the song may be pretty but it is kind of plain and useless.  Songs like this and “Round and Round” are there for the sake of having a simple tune.
Everything in “Amsterdam” but the vocals scream The Killers, which is not surprising, because the group spawned from  the same place as The Killers and they looked up to them. This song brings up a common theme throughout the album, and that is coming up short of what you hope to accomplish.  The song isn’t really that special, but it is very emotional and lyrically very well executed.
“Hear Me” is a very strange track in comparison to the first six tracks, mainly due to the change up in the vocal delivery and guitar sounds. The song slowly builds up as it progresses to the chorus, and when it reaches its peak it is very powerful. This track is often overlooked, and I’m not sure why.  It is different, but that’s what makes it special. It demonstrates that the group is capable of more than just “Radioactive” and “It’s Time.”
“Every Night” is most definitely the worst track of the entire album.  The lyrics are poor in my opinion, and it doesn’t seem too offer anything.  The song does show off lead singer Dan Reynold’s vocal range and some brilliant guitar playing, but it drags down the album.  It is repetitive, like most modern music, and it felt as though it was there just because they needed another track.
Yet another gem that this album brings to the table, “Bleeding Out” is in my top 5 from the LP.   The song is emotional and slightly intense.  The electronic noises along with clapping throughout the song make it all the more enjoyable to listen to. The emotion journey that this song discusses can be interpreted in many ways. I think of it as someone who has reached a low point in their lives, and wants the person they love to be at the same low as themselves.  The lyrics are really quite underrated and are often overlooked by the everyday listener, so I highly suggest you give this track a listen.
“Underdog” is a bit generic, and it would probably do fair well for mainstream music lovers.  The other songs contain some dubstep-esque sounds, but this just overuses it.  I would personally have thrown out this track, but that’s just me.
Overall, I would have to rate Night Visions a 3.5/5, and it probably the best album to come out of 2012-13 and possibly my new favorite group.  Although a four is a really high score for me, I feel that this group has a lot of potential.  My only worry is that they will start making more and simple songs to satisfy the general public, and this is where most bands fall off the wagon.  I just hope Imagine Dragons continues with work of this quality and not sell out to what fame and riches might bring them.
Columns, Forum, Jacob Baumann

New trends reveal sounds for all listeners

Leave a comment

By Jacob Baumann

By Chase Palmer

In the past, music has gone through multiple stages and each had its own good and bad qualities.

About a year ago I would have told you all new music is horrible, but it has grown on me a bit.   Each of these stages in music had to be disliked during its transition period.

When the first pop songs started to appear in the late 70s, I bet they did not care for it at all.  The 80s was pretty much only pop songs and hair metal bands.  This stage in music is probably my favorite, but for some it was a horrible time in music. 

For those who enjoy heavier rock,the era was a bit mellow and boring.   Pop was the style everyone that most bands were headed toward.  I liked the direction where music was going, but some fans were very upset by these changes.

In the 90s, it was no different.  Rap and alternative rock came into the picture as pop began to fade.  Acts like MC Hammer, Ice Cube, and Vanilla Ice proved that rap was here to stay. 

When it comes to rap, I would usually say that it is painful to listen to.  Any rap where an artist just curses and screams profanity, I would not consider it to be music.  Rap where an artist sings about their hardships and struggles is what I see as great.  

With hair bands being pushed out of the picture, bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam arrived with an edgier sound.  I am not a fan of this sound at all.  The lyrics of the songs were good, but the sound just isn’t very appealing to me.

By the end of the decade, pop returned and led to another addition to the music’s lifecycle.  Rap and some heavier music also remained as the 2000s era began. 

Even though I do not care for the music of this decade,  it does not mean that music has gotten worse.  I like and dislike where music is headed.   I do not like it when someone who is talented screams instead of singing, or when their voice is ruined by auto-tune.

Music is ever changing and its really cool to see it happening.

Columns, Forum, Jacob Baumann

Baumann’s best bands

Leave a comment

By Jacob Baumann

Graphic by Chase Palmer

Before big hair and pop were prevalent, rock and power ballads were all the rage.

While there were many bands throughout the years, these are my favorite from one decade.

3. Rush

When it comes down to pure musicianship and musical compostion, Rush is the first group that comes to mind.

In the 70s, the Canadian group was known for the quirky style and their unforgettable lyrics.

In the beginning, they were heavy metal and they went to hard rock.  A short time was spent using synthesizers, but they soon returned to their rock origins.

With a vocalist like Geddy Lee, it was hard to say that they were like any other group.  Their originality is what makes them exceptional.

2. Aerosmith

Being known for their blues based rock, Aerosmith is sometimes called “America’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band.”

In 1973, Aerosmith released their first album self-titled Aerosmith.  The highest rated single and my favorite is “Dream On.”

From their next album, I liked the songs “Walk this Way” and “Sweet Emotion.”

Lead singer Steven Tyler was known for having cloth around his mic at every concert.

Today he is a judge on American Idold, but Aerosmith lives on.

1. Queen

When it comes to arena rockers, Queen stacks among the elite.

With the voice of Freddie Mercury front and center, the British group was a great success.  Mercury was known for his ability to connect with every member of the crowd.  Watching live concerts from the past, I can feel the connection with the audience that Mercury emitted.

Although some of their songs are  overrated, it is for the right reasons.

Every time they come on the radio, I will be found with it turned up all the way and rockin’ out to it.