Tag Archives: Rock

Appreciating The Evolution of Incubus – Concert Countdown

Posted on by Ryan Kantor

It’s despicable, it’s wrong, and it’s gutless… that I haven’t seen either of my favorite bands live in concert. Of course, that will change this month, when I Incubus perform on August 19, in Atlanta, as part of the Honda Civic Tour. To get myself pumped for a concert, I always like to listen through their discography in the couple of weeks preceding the show. For the upcoming Incubus concert, that means listening to Incubus’s older work (which I’m less familiar with) and seeing if what I’ve heard countless times–”I really like the old Incubus stuff”– is agreeable.

Released way back in 1995, Incubus’s first studio album, Fungus Amongus is reminiscent of some early Red Hot Chili Pepper albums (my other favorite band). As such, Brandon Boyd has explicitly credited the Chili Peppers as being a key influence for his band. Listening through the album, the funk stood out more so than other genres, but the jazz, rap, and heavy metal were also present and worked nicely together in “Deep Inside.” I fully intend to deep dive this album and get the whole Incubus picture before the concert.

S.C.I.E.N.C.E. is certainly very different from their most recent album, If Not Now, When?. Considering S.C.I.E.N.C.E. came out nearly a decade and a half prior, it’s not too surprising to see a band grow and evolve a good deal over that time. The blend of techno, jazz, and metal is pretty obvious and makes me think of the concept coined by Linkin Park, “Hybrid Theory”–bringing together an eclectic group of talented musicians with different styles and tastes to create a sound that is more powerful than any singular genre in the music. It certainly makes the pairing of Linkin Park and Incubus in the Honda Civic Tour seem fitting. Sailing Catamarans Is Every Nautical Captain’s Ecstacy is a pretty funny acronym too.

So, after looking at their entire discography chronologically and holistically, I can understand why some may only like their older music, because it markedly different from the smoother softer sound that appeared on Light Grenades and became more pervasive on If Not Now, When?. While different, I love both styles and respect the band’s evolution

What pre-Make Yourself song is your favorite? What must I listen to before I see them live?

Here are some of the Incubus songs I hope to hear live from the latter albums I know and love them for, starting with my favorite, Make Yourself, and progressing in chronological order.

Make Yourself (1999)
Top Tracks:

  • “The Warmth”
  • “Clean”
  • “Stellar”
  • “When It Comes”
  • “Drive”

Morning View (2001)
Top Tracks:

  • “Under My Umbrella”
  • “Wish you Were Here”
  • “Circles”

A Crow Left of the Murder (2004)
Top Tracks:

  • “Megalomaniac”
  • “A Crow Left Of A Murder”
  • “Beware! Criminal”

Light Grenades (2006)
Top Tracks:

  • “Dig”
  • “Anna Molly”
  • “Love Hurts”

If Not Now, When? (2011)
Top Tracks:

  • “Promises, Promises”
  • “Adolescents”
  • “If Not Now, When?”

As always, please subscribe to this blog by clicking the “Follow” button at the top of the right sidebar. If you don’t have a WordPress account, you’ll have to enter your email address. You can share your opinions in the comment section below or by tweeting to @Ryan_Kantor. Thanks for reading!

Living Things by Linkin Park – Album Review

Posted on by Ryan Kantor

In my previous blog post about Living Things and its lead single “Burn It Down,” I discussed how the new album would supposedly be an ode to the albums that made Linkin Park famous (i.e., Hybrid Theory and Meteora), and how the single had a new musical element–electronica–that I haven’t heard from Linkin Park before. I was very hopeful and excited for the new album’s release (6/26/2012) and interested to hear if this electronic sound would be the theme of the album.

After listening through the album’s 12 tracks, it’s clear the electronica element made a big stamp on the album, but the ode to the “nu metal” of Linkin Park’s heyday was a bit overstated. Read below for my song by song breakdown.

1. “Lost In The Echo” opens with some very cool electronic and bass sounds that get you primed for what you’re going to hear in the rest of the album. They work well with Chester Bennington’s smooth melodic chorus and Shinoda’s rapping. Bennington brings the intensity at the 2:16 mark in one of the album’s better tracks.
7.5/10

2. “In My Remains” certainly has the aspect of the electronica I’ve discussed, but there is so much more than that in this track. Smooth verses with a more intense chorus mark the song, before it transitions into an “interlude” (I use the term interlude here loosely) of repetitious, droning lyrics:

“like an army, falling one by one by one”

Although I could do without the “interlude,” the electronic sounding intro is great, Chester’s vocals are spot on, and the drums standout as especially excellent. This is probably my favorite song on the album.
8/10

3. “Burn It Down” is of course the album’s lead single and really highlighted the direction this album would take. If you didn’t grow sick of it after hearing it a million times during the NBA postseason, I imagine you will enjoy it. It lacks the classic Linkin Park intensity, but still makes for a strong track and fitting single.
7.5/10

4. “Lies Greed Misery” – After a promising beginning to the album, Mike Shonoda takes over, handling the majority of the vocals in this (rap/hip-hop) song, and well… listening to it in order to review it made my headache come back.
2/10

5. “I’ll Be Gone” gets the album back on the right track after “Lies Greed Misery.” Chester Bennington’s vocals carry the track as he combines smooth verses with a powerful chorus.
7/10

6. “Castle of Glass” is one of the album’s more mellow songs, but that doesn’t stop it from being an enjoyable tune.
6.5/10 

7. “Victimized” - At only 1:51 seconds long, this track seems like one loud scream with some electronic sounds and rap lines mixed in. I like the creativity of a short intense song between two of the album’s softer songs, but execution is lacking.
3/10

8. “Roads Untraveled” is one of the album’s softer songs. It is made unique by a high-pitched bell sound leading the intro and then present throughout.
5/10

9. “Skin to Bone” - You really have to listen to this one to fully understand where I’m coming from when I say it is somewhat muddled with electronic sounds, thumping, and other headache-inducing sounds. I’ll take it over some of the bland, blah that was on Minutes To Midnight, but that doesn’t make it good.
5/10

10. “Until It Breaks” - Shinoda’s rapping in this song is excruciatingly unenjoyable. He takes the lead in this song in a big way, rapping through first two-thirds of the track. Chester then takes over singing very softly for the final minute and change.
3.5/10

11. “Tinfoil” is finally a move back to some real rock ‘n roll after a couple weak songs. The vocal delivery seems a little unfamiliar from Linkin Park, but not necessarily in a bad way. It’s a shade repetitive, but it is the best song on the second half of the album.
6.5/10

12. “Powerless” is a nice tune, but ironically, is somewhat…powerless. It could be epic in a live show, but the studio version doesn’t evoke a lot of emotion (at least from me). Nonetheless, as I said, it is a nice song and worth listening to.
6.5/10 

Before I started writing this review, I thought it would be scathing and end in a  sub-five overall rating, but as I listened through each track over-and-over I found that there were quite a few decent, if not outright solid tracks.

The problem is that the album lacks a great song. Even a so-so album will often have one or two great songs that influence your opinion of the entire album upward. 

 I’ll admit, that much like my friend going into the movie Prometheus, my expectations were too high. I was hopeful for something as good or even better than Hybrid Theory/Meteora and that probably wasn’t fair. I’m tempted to say this is their best album since those early albums, however it doesn’t have a track as strong as “No More Sorrow” (Minutes to Midnight) or “Waiting For The End” (A Thousand Suns). I like “In My Remains” a lot, but I hesitate to call it truly great, and an album without a single great song isn’t that good. 

Living Things 6/10

What is your favorite track on the track on the new album? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Ratings are subject to change. As always, please subscribe to this blog by clicking the “Follow” button at the top of the right sidebar. If you don’t have a WordPress account, you’ll have to enter your email address. You can share your opinions in the comment section below or by tweeting to @Ryan_Kantor. Thanks for reading! 

Life Will Write The Words by The Rocket Summer – Album Review

Posted on by Ryan Kantor

After his tour with Switchfoot, Bryce Avary released his newest album, Life Will Write The Words. My last post in the music category was a review of one of those shows with Switchfoot, and as such it is only appropriate that I give his newest album a review as well. Rather than linking each individual song to a YouTube video, I included the full album in one place, which can be heard here.

Enjoy the review. Please share my blog and the album with you friends, and of course, give each song a few listens before casting judgment.

1. “Run And Don’t Stop“ is the album’s lead single and was played on The Rocket Summer’s tour with Switchfoot. This track strikes me as the one with the most classic Rocket Summer sound to it. To that end, it risks blending in the rest of his work, but is held up by some of his best guitar work including solos at the 2:17 and 3:09 marks and its highly metaphorical lyrics, which I’m still working on deciphering. Some of my favorite lyrics are the opening lines:

“A desert rain is falling
A southern cold in July.”

and this mind bender:

“The tree bearing apple now bears a lime…” 

7/10

2. ”Revival“ is another album single that was played on the Switchfoot tour. It’s a very catchy track with great contrasts between the soft piano at parts, passionate vocal delivery (even a faded scream around the 3:06 mark), and vowel utterances that are the trademark of the song (you know, like a modern-day version of shooby do wop).
7.5/10

3. ”Prove It” seems to be about a very specific situation Bryce Avary experienced with a woman holding a grudge from long ago. Despite the guitar solo at the 2:34 mark, the song is bit too poppy and a let down after the first two tracks.
5.5/10

4. “Old Love “ is a tribute to the very notion of selfless love, and a solid track, but the vocal delivery is just slightly off from some of the stronger tracks.
6/10

5. “200,000“ is one of the album’s pre-release singles. After an awkwardly choppy piano intro it settles into smooth verses and a passion filled chorus that makes “200,000″ one of the best song on the album. The lyrics,

“There are not one, but two hundred thousand miles on my car. To be with I’ve driven far, but I loved you that much”

ring loudly in this anthem of love, likely written to his high school sweetheart–now wife–Tara. If not for the (intentionally) choppy piano work at parts of the song I’d be tempted to give it a higher rating, but as is, I feel comfortable stopping just short of giving it an excellent score.
8/10

6. “Just For A Moment Forget Who You Are“ asks the listener to forget for a moment who they think they are, and remember that they were made in an image of greatness. While that notion is something worth some mental mastication, the song doesn’t blow one away and is just another quality song on the album.
6.5/10

7. “Circa ’46″ is somewhat similar to “200,000″ in it’s intentionally choppy piano work (this time overlayed with snapping fingers), but otherwise very different. After the similar start, “Circa ’46″ delivers the lyrics for which the album is named:

“Life will write the words, but you choose your own melody.”

Unfortunately, it incorporates the worst parts of “200,000″ without the passionate chorus or the smooth melodies. Nonetheless, it is still a good track.
7/10

8. “Underrated” is a fun and enjoyable tune that should resonate with many listeners who feel underrated or unappreciated. It is light, but upbeat and an overall good track.
7.5/10

9. “Soldiers” is the album’s first attempt at an acoustic ballad, and it is somewhat mediocre. It pales in comparison to the best songs of the album. Maybe additional listens and delving into the lyrics will “open my eyes,” or more aptly, my ears. It is one of Avary’s favorite tracks on the album though.
5/10

10. “The Rescuing Type” is another fun an enjoyable tune, much like “underrated.” It is upbeat and thoughtful. “Be the rescuing type. Be reckless, be bright.” It doesn’t stand out as one of the album’s better songs, but it is solid nonetheless.
6/10

11. “Scrap Book” is a second effort at a piano ballad. The stellar piano work carries the song, and the last 50 seconds introduce the electric guitar into the mix
5.5/10

12. “Ashes Made of Spades,“ Hallelujah! Track 12 is the best song on the album both for its guitar work and its lyrical content.

“Standing in the streams without a branch to rescue me and pull me from the tormenting. Will I die here in the water? I closed my eyes so I could see then there grew a tree out of my belief.”

I think it is somewhat clear what this metaphor is describing, but I’ll let you arrive to the conclusion on your own (If you haven’t figured it out yet, I asked him in person at a concert in Charlotte and his answer is here).

Rarely does an artist save the best for last. Not only that, but the best part of the entire album starts almost exactly halfway through the song around the 2:25 point, when the intensity really picks up. The album ends with Bryce Avary screaming “Oh My Light!” with all the passion that built up throughout the song and then a nice guitar outro.
9.5/10

Life Will Write The Words 7.5/10

Overall, the album lived up to my expectations. This was the first self-produced album for Bryce Avary after leaving his record label to explore more creative freedom. Strong lyrical content is the hallmark of the album, so I tried to include some interesting snippets that I hope you enjoyed.

Thanks for reading! As always, please subscribe to this blog by clicking the “Follow” button at the top of the right sidebar. If you don’t have a WordPress account, you’ll have to enter your email address. You can share your opinions in the comment section below or by tweeting to @Ryan_Kantor. 

Shinedown Set To Release New Rock Album, Amaryllis

Posted on by Ryan Kantor

“Shinedown has announced the upcoming release of their much anticipated new album. Entitled ‘Amaryllis,’ the record will arrive in stores and at all digital retailers on March 27.”

Music snobs often lump Shinedown in with the mash of other similar bands like Three Doors Down and Puddle of Mud. With their new album Shinedown plans to break through the clutter and demonstrate their continued growth. Brent Smith explains:

“I’ve always seen Shinedown as its own entity – this living thing that’s been growing and developing and evolving over the past 10 years. During the recording, the vision of what Shinedown is and where it’s going became completely clear. ‘Amaryllis’ is the manifestation of that vision, the centerpiece of what Shinedown is. It reflects on everything we’ve done and where we’re heading.”

The band has released the album’s first single, “Bully.” Below is the video–one of the very best lyric videos I’ve ever seen. The song itself though may leave fans of Shinedown’s early more unrefined, raw sound concerned about what the new album may hold. I expect a continued evolution of their sound, and I think that’s good as it shows artistic growth. “Amaryllis” is set to be released in about two months, and it’s one I’m looking forward to.

As always, please subscribe to this blog by clicking the “Follow” button at the top of the right sidebar. If you don’t have a WordPress account, you’ll have to enter your email address. You can share your opinions in the comment section below or by tweeting to @Ryan_Kantor. Thanks for reading! 

‘The Trees’ by Rush (1978): A Keen Metaphor Wrapped In A Brilliant Song

Posted on by Ryan Kantor

It’s been a while since I’ve written a music post so I hope this one doesn’t disappoint. A few weeks ago, a dear friend recommended I listen to a track from Rush’s 1978 album Hemispheres, entitled ”The Trees“ (I’ve always wanted to call someone a “dear” friend). When I finally got around to listening to it and perusing the lyrics I was really intrigued. Obviously the quality of the music itself is pretty subjective, but I thought it was great. What really stood out though, were the lyrics.

One of my favorite classic books is Animal Farm by George Orwell, which brilliantly communicated a broad political message through allegory. Rush does the same, only using trees instead of animals and doing it in four minutes and forty-five seconds instead of 141 pages. The band has denied any hidden meaning, explaining that the idea came from a silly comic book strip, but it’s pretty obvious they delivered a poignant message.

I don’t mind artists making political messages in their music, but if I don’t like it then I won’t listen to them anymore (e.g., Greenday). Below are the lyrics from Rush’s “The Trees,” and below them I’ve embedded a video with the music and lyrics. I’ll let you make up your own mind. What do you think?

There is unrest in the forest,
There is trouble with the trees,
For the maples want more sunlight
And the oaks ignore their pleas.

The trouble with the maples,
(And they’re quite convinced they’re right)
They say the oaks are just too lofty
And they grab up all the light.
But the oaks can’t help their feelings
If they like the way they’re made.
And they wonder why the maples
Can’t be happy in their shade.

There is trouble in the forest,
And the creatures all have fled,
As the maples scream “Oppression!”
And the oaks just shake their heads

So the maples formed a union
And demanded equal rights.
“The oaks are just too greedy;
We will make them give us light.”
Now there’s no more oak oppression,
For they passed a noble law,
And the trees are all kept equal
By hatchet, axe, and saw.

As always, please subscribe to this blog by clicking the “Follow” button at the top of the right sidebar. If you don’t have a WordPress account, you’ll have to enter your email address. Thanks for reading!

People and Things by Jack’s Mannequin – Album Review

Posted on by Ryan Kantor

Jack’s Mannequin released their third studio album on October 4th, 2011. Titled People and Things, the band’s third album follows Everything in Transit, and The Glass Passenger, which peaked at number eight on the Billboard 200. Lead singer Andrew McMahon explains the album:

“I consider ‘People and Things’ a relationship record. My goal with many of the songs was to strip away the flowery language and sentiment attached to newer love and replace it with starker, less blinded language about more binding love. In the time following the last Jack’s album the people in my world were moving in together, getting married, trying to find quote unquote ‘real jobs’ and reconciling new lives that looked a lot less like youth than some of us cared for. Marriage is a bit of a beast to tackle in a pop record but when I wrote ‘My Racing Thoughts,’ it became clear how powerful and loaded a subject this kind of love is and somewhere in that moment I began to lock into the broad concept for the writing sessions to come.”

What are your thoughts on the album art?

Here’s a unique album trailer on YouTube, definitely worth checking out!
Now for a song by song breakdown. Be sure to share your favorites.

1. “My Racing Thoughts“ The debut single off the new album, “My Racing Thoughts” features a beautifully simple piano melody, but is actually somewhat average for the album’s debut single. Nothing really stands out about the track beyond the piano melody. 6/10

2. “Release Me“ starts off with a great intro that really defines what “piano rock” is all about, and was the standout track the first time I listened through the album. The guitar work in the background around the 2:45 mark is simply stellar. The harmony that closes the track is a great touch. Standout track! 8/10

3. “Television” immediately made me thing of U2. I imagine it is somewhat intentional, but I’m reminded of “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” a #1 hit on the music charts U2 released in 1987. Now it doesn’t sound at all like the Disturbed cover of  “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” which is pretty fantastic. “Television” for what it lacks in uniqueness is a very solid song that most people should enjoy. 6.5/10

4. “Amy, I”  is one of three songs on the album in which Matt Thiessen of Relient K contributed. The song gradually works its way into a chorus where McMahon uses nature imagery to explain a relationship, some pretty interesting lyrics:

Another long winter trying to fight this freeze
Waiting but the cold’s got a hold on me
Hold on to me
So hold on to me

Amy, I
I never felt this kind of cold before

A very good song with well done lyrics and nice guitar work.
7/10

5. “Hey Hey Hey (We’re All Gonna Die)” starts off with McMahon belching out slow lyrics in front of piano and violin, making an effort to sound epic, but coming up short. The vocal delivery wasn’t my cup of tea. 4.5/10

6. “People, Running” has a very Jack’s Mannequin sound to it. It seems to be about the minuteness of our lives, but is a little boring until the 2:37 mark when the pace picks up, hitting it’s highlight at the 2:52 mark with some nifty guitar work. Rarely is guitar the highlight of a Jack’s Mannequin song. Unsurprisingly, there’s a nice piano hook that will get the tune stuck in your head. 6/10

7. “Amelia Jean” is a s nice smooth song that is great for what it is. It doesn’t stand out, and you won’t immediately search this track out on the CD, but when it comes on you’ll always enjoy it without realizing how much. It was actually originally written for the previous album, The Glass Passenger. 7/10

8. “Platform Fire” has some “stodgy” vocals that didn’t work for me. The piano work is nice throughout and the guitar work at the 2:20 mark stands out. 6.5/10

9. “Hostage” is one of the more interesting songs on the album. It’s about those people in your life who you may not see for a while, but you immediately connect when you see them, regardless of how long it’s been. It’s a “banner track” on the album. There are great videos on YouTube with McMahon explaining each song. They’re worth checking out. 7.5/10

10. “Restless Dream” is a nice attempt at a soothing acoustic ballad, but it ends up being boring and the weakest song on the album. 4/10

11. “Casting Lines” was originally written for a television show, but when it wasn’t selected for the show the demo was re-recorded for People and Things. It’s about being part of family, and (in my opinion) how family is always there for you regardless of the path you take through life. While the lyrics are pretty cool, the music is a little bland in parts. 6.5/10

People and Things, overall the album is solid, but not quite as good as The Glass Passenger, and definitely not as good Everything in Transit. Many of the tracks lacked intensity and a catchy hook, but a few stood out–”Release Me,” “Hostage,” and “Amy I.” The overall album gets a 6.5/10

These ratings would probably drastically change if I listened for a few more weeks and really came to appreciate them before writing the review, especially since the lyrics seem pretty deep and may take a while to understand. I’ll try to resist going back and editing, as I just did to my past review of “I’m With You” from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, which deserved more than the 7.5 I originally gave it. There as some bonus tracks as well, but I’ll leave those for you to discover. I hope you liked the review and enjoy the album. If you’d like the album for yourself, check out this blog.

As always, please subscribe to this blog by clicking the “Follow” button at the top of the right sidebar. If you don’t have a WordPress account, you’ll have to enter your email address. Thanks for reading!

What Is The Warmth?

Posted on by Ryan Kantor

Most people think of the hit songs “Drive” and “I Wish You Were Here” when they think of the alternative rock group Incubus. Despite those mainstream (albeit good) songs, Incubus is actually a pretty off-the-wall experimental band.

One of their better and more experimental songs is “The Warmth” from their third album Make Yourself.

The intro is interesting, strange, and unique. It sounds like whales to me. I’m not sure if that’s the image they were going for with the intro. Anyway, the core of the song is about not letting others who aren’t happy with their lives make you feel down about your own life. The most interesting lyrics are below

“Remember why you came and while you’re alive
experience the warmth before you go.”

Those lyrics lead me to the obvious question; What is “The Warmth”?

Click here to listen

Click here for the lyrics (warning explicit, but deep)

 

This may be my last music post for a long while as there is a lot of other blog worthy stuff going on in the coming days. Tomorrow is my favorite day of the year–fantasy baseball draft day– next Tuesday I’m making a trip to Philips Arena to see the Lakers play the Hawks (my last chance to see Kobe in person and in his prime) and we still have liberals protesting in Wisconsin. I think my co-blogger Tommy likes it when I leave the music posts to him anyway.

So give it a listen, check out the lyrics, and please leave your thoughts on what”the warmth” is in the comments.

Incubus

Musical Side Notes on an Illegitimate Holiday

Posted on by Ryan Kantor

Today is Presidents’  Day and Definition 6 where I’m interning this semester gave everyone the day off. What a ridiculous federal Holiday, but it does give me the opportunity to share some great music that even Tommy can enjoy.

First off all, I checked out Tommy’s band of the week, Ra, and was impressed. I was expecting something a little more…screamo.

I have two songs I want to share with you. It’s an injustice that neither Tommy nor I have so much as mentioned this band. They were the object of both of our musical obsessions about a year ago and this is one of best live performances I’ve ever seen on YouTube. Enjoy Hollow by Submersed.

I hope/assume you liked Submersed. Sadly enough they are defunct. Lead singer Donald Carpenter did some work with another band called Thousand Man Army, but it just wasn’t the same.

I’ll give you one more song to listen to. This particular song is a more recent revelation of mine. The intro is especially good and I am a big fan of the lyrics. It’s Rebirthing by Skillet.

Thanks for reading/listening and be on the look out for a marketing related post from me and a new Band of the week from Tommy very soon. There’s some big stuff happening at Definition 6 and Tommy told me he has a great “Band of the Week” up his sleeve and he won’t tell me who they are until he writes his post.

Finally, I leave you with this. Here’s a blog about quotation marks and the stupid people who “use” them ‘incorrectly’ and unnecessarily. The “Blog” of “Unnecessary” Quotation Marks. Very funny stuff, enjoy!

Debut Band of the Week: Ra

Posted on by Tommy D

In an effort to be more active on this blog, I am starting a new trend called “Band of the Week.”  The title is pretty self-explanatory; every week (or more realistically, every 7-12 days), I will post briefly about a certain band and give a short profile as well as some song samples.  I will try to make many of my posts about bands that aren’t widely known, so as to make the whole thing more interesting and illuminating.  Occasionally, Ryan can post about some bands he would like to discuss.  Just don’t expect them to be nearly as interesting as my posts (just playin’ Ryan…but seriously).  This idea was inspired by my love for rock music as well as the shameful Grammys, which do anything but award the best musicians.

That being said, the first ever band of the week is an overlooked act called Ra.  A hard-rock/alternative metal band with a slightly progressive touch, the group takes its name from the ancient Egyptian sun god.  The band is from Los Angeles and has been around since the late 1990s, and, after several lineup changes, its current members are as follows:

Sahaj Ticotin:  Vocals, guitar

Ben Carroll:  Guitar

Andy Ryan:  Drums

P.J. Farley:  Bass

Ticotin, when discussing the band’s name, said, “When I was naming the band I wanted to come up with something that tied the Sun into the image of the band. I was thinking of different kinds of things but, I like the idea of Ra because it’s short, melodramatic and sort of an odd thing and really unique.”

Ra’s songs often feature Middle-Eastern sounds (understandable, given their name) as well as a bit of Latino influence (Ticotin is half Puerto Rican).  These influences help add a progressive flair to their music.

Ra has released three full-length studio albums (From One, Duality, and Black Sun), one EP (One, their debut album, which formed the basis for their first full-length release, 2002′s From One), one live album (Raw), and one album (Black Sheep) that is a collection of b-sides and previously unreleased demos.  Their most successful and well-known songs include “Do You Call My Name” (off From One; this is my personal favorite Ra song), “Fallen Angels”, a cover of The Police’s “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic” (both of the previous two songs come from 2005′s Duality), “Broken Hearted Soul” (from the 2008 album Black Sun, though the single was released in 2007), and “Supernova” (2009, from Black Sheep).

Links to these songs are below.  I suggest you check out Ra for yourself!

Do You Call My Name

Fallen Angels

Every Little Thing She Does is Magic

Broken Hearted Soul

Supernova