MuteMath- Armistice

Armistice: (noun) a temporary suspension of hostilities by agreement of the warring parties; truce   

See!  You learn something reading this after all!!

I got MuteMath's first self-titled album about a year or so ago for the simple reason that I couldn't get "Typical" out of my head.  The album was a mix bag.  There were some really really good songs on there, but almost half of the album was instrumentals, and at times it felt like more of a jam session than actual album.  All the music was good, it just kind of felt unfinished.  So, when I had an itunes card burning a hole in my pocket the other day, I took a chance on their follow up album "Armistice" figuring it would probably be more of the same: 4 or 5 really good songs and then a lot of spaced out jams.

I was pleasantly surprised.

Armistice is really really good.  It's got everything I loved about the first album: big guitar hooks, tons of energy, crazy skittering drum beats that defy logic, weird background sounds and good lyrics.  But it's toned down a little, there aren't 9 minute instrumental jams between every song.  The songs are more structured and fully realized.  It's that great moment when you hear a band taking the next step.  Going from a band who occasionally writes good songs, to a band that makes great albums. They manage to maintain their experimental side, but hone it in to songs that hold together.  It's the thing most jam bands still don't understand: albums have to be made of songs.  That 13 minute noise intro is really cool live, but on an album, it sucks.


Instrumentally, MuteMath still defies categorization. (SAT words galore in that last sentence!)  Are they a rock band?  A techno band?  Or some kind of weird alternative hybrid?  I'll go with option 3.  Now, I'm not a techno guy.  I don't like listening to the same beat played over and over and over again for 17 mind numbing minutes, but MuteMath is not a techno band.  But they are a band who uses a lot of techno features (synthesizers, sound effects, lightning fast drum rhythms) to create a sort of rock music.  Their way more U2 than Daft Punk, and you know what?  that's a good thing!  Because everyone loves U2 and only that weird guy on the 3rd floor who hasn't left his apartment in 10 days likes Daft Punk.


Lyrically, as the title suggests, it's album about conflict, resolution and the lack there of.  Songs like "The Nerve", "Clipping" and "Armistice" are about a world where it seems like everyone is at each other's throats.  It's about how we put that behind us, or don't.  The first step to stopping all of that is an armistice.  It's not a solution to all our problems, but it's the first step, a cease fire. (Woah!  Got a little deep there!  I should probably stick to making fun of techno fans)

My favorite track so far is "Electrify" or at least its the one I can't get out of my head.  It's catchy enough to keep you singing along but still features an interesting mix of guitars and synths.  "Spotlight" is a close second, with a nice guitar riff and good hook.  The band's secret weapon is their drummer.  Actually it's not so secret.  Most MuteMath songs are based off the drums, it's sort of the defining aspect of their sound.  "Goodbye" and "Backfire" are both really good too.  Even though there aren't the long extended jams of their previous works, they still mix it up a bit.  Notice the middle eastern strings on "Clipping" or the Maroon 5-meets-New-Orleans-jazz horn section on "Armistice".  "Lost Year" is a break up piano ballad that, while still a good song, feels incredibly out of place.  Overall it's a really solid album and well worth the extra 99 cents on itunes (it's 10.99 instead of the usually 9.99.  Why??!!!!  It's only 13 songs!).

Enjoy the headache inducing video for "Spotlight" below!  More stuff to come, I know I've been slack lately.  As always, thanks for reading!
 

13.1 Songs for 13.1 Miles

Sorry for the delay, but I was on vacation and then there's this thing called "work" that has been taking up a lot of my time lately.  Good stuff is on the way I promise.

You may have detected some mental instability while reading this blog.  It's ok, I don't blame you.  Especially a couple of weeks ago when my brother-in-law told me he was running a half marathon in October and I agreed to do it with him! (You can read his training blog, it's listed on the blogroll).  Now, let's just say that I'm not what you would call an athlete.  But I have been making a diligent effort to get into running recently, so it didn't seem that insane at the time.  Thanks to my girlfriend's love of biggest loser (which has turned into MY love of the biggest loser), I have been trying to eat healthy as of late, and if Daris can run a full marathon in 4hrs, I can certain run a half marathon.  However, as you try to wrap your mind around running 13.1 miles when the longest you've ever run is somewhere around 2... you start to question your own sanity.  We're a few weeks in and to finish my 6 mile run today, I needed some help, so I created a playlist to help me through the pain.  Thus, I decided to make a 13.1 song list for 13.1 miles. 

*Note: This list will include 13 songs and a "cool down song" -the .1 if you will- but in reality, I will probably need over 3 hours of music to get through the race.*


1.  The Black Keys- Strange Times:  The first mile is all about setting an easy pace and if you follow the drum beat of this song, it will set a nice pace for you.  Also, The Black Keys rock and I'm amazed you can make a song this cool with 2 people.


2.  Weezer- Getchoo:  During my last foray into running (which I think was 2005) I fell in love running to the darkhorse contender for Weezer's best album: Pinkerton.  Lots of loud screeching guitars, angsty lyrics, just what you need to really get going.  This is a good rocker to keep your pace up.


3.  Kanye West- Champion:  Hey, you're running half a marathon.  You ARE a champion.  It's all about confidence and Kanye has enough confidence for you, me and a stadium full of low self-esteem individuals.


4.  The Raconteurs- Salute Your Solution:  Take your mind off the pain and focus on trying to figure when Jack White is singing and when Brenden Benson takes over lead vocals.  Focus, focus...see?  Not as tired as you were.  Also, Jack White makes the line "I'm like a trashcan, haulin' all the information" seem badass and logical (it doesn't really make sense when you think about it, but it does in the moment).


5.  Jimmy Eat World- Big Casino:  Most Jimmy Eat World songs are basically motivational speeches.  Even their biggest hit "The Middle" was a sort of "come on kid!  you can do it!" type song.  It's mile 5, it's time to dig deep and believe in yourself.  Come on kid!  You can do it!


6.  Pearl Jam- Life Wasted:  Love love love this one!  It's total guitar-riff-grunge-ain't-dead-yet glory!  Pearl Jam's self titled album (which came out in 2007) is like a renaissance for the band.  It's back to basics in the best way possible.  Get all the art-house stuff out of here, just crank up the amps and let it loose.  Good lyrics too.


7. Mute Math- Typical:  Love running to this one.  It's inspiring, the guitar riff is awesome and the pace it sets isn't too fast.  There's nothing typical about running 13.1 miles, so it's time to crank that!


8.  Jay-Z/Linkin Park- Jigga What/Faint:  The best thing Linkin Park has ever done/will ever do is the mash-up album they did with Jay-Z.  They mix and match their songs with some of Jay-Z's hits and somehow manage to elevate their music without watering down Jay-Z's (which is quite an achievement).  This song mixes hip-hop confidence (essential for mile 8) and heavy metal anger (essential for getting through the pain).


9.  Incubus- Light Grenades:  Can you run as fast this riff?  If so, you were probably born in Kenya.  You gotta love running to any song with the line: "Wipe off your face, you've come this far, come on, remember who you are!"  Especially at the end when Brandon Boyd screams it.  Listen to the song and you'll know what part I'm talking about, it's tough to miss.

10.  Old 97's- Time Bomb:  If you can't enjoy this song, then your enjoyer is broken.  I'm a big fan of how the Old 97's mix country and punk rock.  It's a good fast song to help you pick up the pace.  It's also the ultimate "This girl is driving me crazy song".

11.  Jay-Z and Drake- Off That:  I'm a big fan of the Blueprint 3 (more on that later) and I'm a big fan of any song that tells off Rush Limbaugh.


12.  Jimmy Eat World- Bleed American:  This song is really angry about...something.  I don't really understand it.  But the chorus "Salt, sweat, sugar on the asphalt" is appropriate.  I don't know about sugar, but there's a ton of my salt and sweat on the asphalt...  It's mile freaking 12!!!  Time to dig deep!!!!


13.  Rage Against the Machine- Sleep Now in the Fire:  My legs will be on fire at this point, and I will be having fantasies of sleep.  So, it's a fitting end.  This is another good running song: good pace, loud, really gets the blood pumping.  Al...most...there...


The point 1.  "The Theme from Chariots of Fire"  It's a classic!  Cool down, vomit, drink some water, vomit some more, feel dizzy, call a medic, get hooked up to an IV and know that you have accomplished something great!


Ok, back to training.  Next Saturday is 7 miles, so if you see a guy out running, who is sweating like a madman, and who's face is an unhealthy shade of red, just know I've got my headphones in and can't hear you honking at me.