I love my music. Playing is good, and listening. I love to do both. I was thinking about it last night and i realised there are three main people who have shaped my music tastes, and who have introduced me to the majority of the bands that i listen to now.
Marky-G.My bro. Mark has no doubt, more than anyone, shaped my music taste. There is a 4 and a half year gap between me and mark. So that means when mark was about 14 and started to actaully get into music and do some exploring, i was 10. I really had no other music to listen too, so most of the music i listened to was marks. Mark introduced me to the following:
Jars Of Clay: These guys would have to be up there with one of my favourite bands, incredible lyrics, and beautiful melodies. Mark got their debut album i think when i was in Grade 5. Still remains to be one of my favourite cd's ever.
Switchfoot: You cant get any better with lyrics than switchfoot, in the secular world that is. These guys are IN baby, and their lyrics rock my bottom. Mark got so pumped about these guys. I remember talking over breakfast in a cafe in black rock about the song, dare you to move. You cant replace switchfoot... you can get sick of them, but u cant replace them. The song, this is your life, is plain genius. Switchfoot will always be close to my heart. They are also bringing out a new album in december! cant wait!
L.A Symphony: Back in late 2000, after mark finished school, mark went out and bought all these cd's. one of those was Dj maj - wax museum. This cd introduced us to the beautiful world of christian hip hop and underground. The gem out of all these groups, was by far L. A Symphony. These guys are hilarious. The album, The End is Now, is probably my third most played album ever.
mark introduced me to many more like Lifehouse, The O.C Supertones, Skillet, Newsboys, Audio Adrenaline, the classic dc talk, The Cross Movement, Listener, P.O.D, 4th Avenus Jones, Mars Ill, John Reuban, Grits, Antiskeptic, Ill Harmonics...the List Goes on.
GrassyGrace:
Gracey, my good friend Gracey, would have to come next. I still remember a conversation that me and grace had sometime in 2004. It went something like this. "so grace, what music are you into?"
"Emo."
".........whats that?"
Oh how things have changed. Me and grace got to know each other under the strangest of circumstances. However now we are rad as buddies, and she has introduced me to lots and lots of music. Grace has introduced me to:
Underoath: One day, actually it was the first of january 2005, Grace sends me this song called song will seek forgiveness, others escape. The start of the song i thought was incredible. I remember thinking it was a girl singing it, grace gave me so much crap for that. Anyway, the songs ends with Spencer from the group screaming his lungs out. It nearly made me fall off my chair. It took me a while to get used to it. I listened to a few songs off the net streamed and some were just too hardcore for me. Anyway, a day in July 2005, mark and i treked to Jb hifi in brighton. Mark was feeling generous that day and tells me i could buy a cd there. As i was looking through, i saw underoath there. Couldnt believe it. i decided to get it and i remember thinking initally it was too extremo. Little did i know that after the 4th or 5th listen, i fell in love and would be one of my favourite albums. Underoath also brought out another album this year which i think is just as good. Underoath and Jars of Clay would have to be my favourite artists. I also got the privilige to see them live last month and met them all. Respect to them yo!
Copeland: Copeland is just plain genius. If you dont like copeland then there is something wrong with you. Grace introduced me to copeland as well. Copeland are one of those bands which make my playlist complete. Copeland arent your standard genre filler, they make music like no other.
Anberlin: These guys are great. Grace made me listen to these guys back early 2005 and ive never looked back :) If you havent got their album, never take friendship personal, get it. Its awesome. They are brining out another album in feb, which is gonna be a huge release.
Dashboard Confessional: A notable mention. I was never a huge fan of dashboard, but nevertheless a fan. Grace made me listen to these guys too. I liked them enough to buy three of their Cd's.
Grace also introduced me to many other bands that i love like yellowcard, Mae, emery, further seems forever, armageddon sky, wishful thinking, angelas dish and the postal service. yep. Grace is pretty cool yo!
Benjaminties:
benjamin newton is abit of a champion, if you dont know him, then again there is something wrong with you. sorry ladies he IS taken by the amazing ginniey niggy, so no luck there. Ben and i grew up with a similiar music background, so today it has meant that we have a very similiar taste in music. If you go to bens house, you'll find that he has pretty much every cd i have. Either he has it or its on his wish list. Ben has introduced me to great bands, such as:
Death Cab For Cutie: Grace really was the first to introduce me to death cab, but i never caught on. On the way up to pick my car up from Yass, We listened to the whole of translaticism or however you say it. Convinced me enough to buy the album and the one after it. If you like indie music and dont have any death cab stuff then again there is something wrong with you. Death cab is now apart of my usual daily listening.
Relient K: These guys are rad cool. Ben fully digged them before i ever did. Now i have three of their albums, all to which i dont listen to much now, but are still good albums. These guys rock the pop punk world, with their rad lyrics and nice harmonies. Ben tells me they have a new LP coming out in Feb. madness.
Jimmy Eat World: Ben gave me a listen to these guys, and from the very first listen i loved. I mean they are pretty big, but i never really ventured out and heard their stuff. i think i like their newer stuff than their older stuff, and thats what benjamonie showed me. These guys are quality, get into em, they arent hardcore either.
Ben has also introduced me to some other great bands like lovedrug, angels and airwaves, ocean lane, jacks mannequin, as tall as lions, minus the bear, and got me more into bloc party, blink 182 and emery.