Top 3 Stand-Out Band Icons (Indie Rock and AlternRock)

A big what's up to the amazing people that normally follow my blog and those who read some of my posts. It's been too long guys, my life's been crazy over that last what 3 months or so with life issues and stuff but now I'm back and intended to blog at most 3 times a week to make up for LOST TIME . I've missed blogging so much especially about the latest games, fashion, artists and bands, food and of course music :)

In the last three months so much has happened especially when it come to music and games, some of you know I'm a fanatic when it comes to these two. My band  number has stretched to 62 bands so far which is good cause i love variety, not sticking to the same bands every time.

Without a doubt The Chain Gang of 1974 had to start us up, sort of known by a few especially after their exploits in the already claimed game  of the year Grand Theft Auto V.

#1. The Chain Gang Of 1974

So basically, whether you play video games or not, I am sure you have heard, to some extent, that about Grand Theft Auto V (GTA), Getting to the point, the soundtrack for this video game is one of the best that I have heard, maybe ever.  Oh, and there are three volumes, yes, three volumes of music to this game – -  Volume 1 is original music, Volume 2 is the score, and Volume 3 is the soundtrack. One track in particular that is pretty amazeballs is called  “Sleepwalking” by who else but The Chain Gang of 1974.

  There’s something infectious about “Sleepwalking” that seeps into your veins and gets you addicted.  At one point, a SoundCloud user cause everyone's on Soundcloud nowadays, anyway commented that the warm summertime jam sounded like “modern day Depeche Mode!” and which might have been a stretch, but I liked the enthusiasm.  You can all draw your own conclusions about the track, “Sleepwalking” is definitely one of the highlights of the GTA5 soundtrack as well as my playlist, no doubt about it.

So about there history, Kamtin Mohager  joined 3OH!3 as a touring bassist in 2007 till 2010 then formed The Chain Gang of 1974 and self-released Fantastic Nostalgic: The Early Recordings in 2010. He described the album Wayward Fire as "all over the place, from a piano ballad to songs that sound like Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Primal Scream, or Justice. Zachary Houle of PopMatters called the album "an homage to the '80s, in particular the soundtracks to John Hughes films, and it is, in a word, fun.

 But its the 80's aspect to it that does it for me when it comes to there music. However in the overall section of things i thought that people need to listen to and know about them. Hopefully you'll listen to their album "Wayward Fire" and their new upcoming album "Daydream Forever" which i'm absolutely mental about.

 

3 days ago

#2. Vampire Weekend

Ahhhh!! Is that you Weekend! These guys deserve a place on this list cause only God knows they do.  The Vampire Weekend singer and lyricist gave up on his own Blogspot site, Internet Vibes, seven years ago, as he finished up his English studies at Columbia University (the final post's title: "I HATE BLOGGING"). Still can't understand why but i'd understand if he found it hard to continue blogging.

 

 Vampire Weekend make a damn good case for wisdom all across Modern Vampires of the city. I mean sure, its more of a grown-up album that rarely makes sense but that's based on the fact that it largely trades in the Africa-inspired awe of their first two records for a sound that's distinctly innate and closer to the ear. Simply hands down pure Brilliance in my eyes though i'm picky on some of their songs but you all have to listen to "Step". The song got one-time haters of this band to rethink their entire lives.

But have a listen and see what you like.

#3. Arctic Monkeys

Arctic Monkeys Do It Old School in their latest album Am with the likes of  ‘Do I Wanna Know’, ‘Brianstorm’, ‘Dancing Shoes’, ‘Don’t Sit Down Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair’, ‘Teddy Picker’, ‘Crying Lightning’; As a collection of opening songs, it doesn’t get much better for us fans. 

Arctic Monkeys in the tyre tracks of the superb AM are bang on form with some beautiful music.  Finally appearing comfortable, not necessarily with where they come from but with the fame that has encompassed them for the past 8 years or so, they come across as a collective in the peak of their career, showmen till the very end. On top of being talented individual, have a certain unique style to other bands but maybe it's just me :p But no doubt, “No. 1 Party Anthem “, “Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?” are the track you should try out first to get a feel of the album but its great in sense.

 

As always hit play on all these bands and enjoy the rest of your night guys.

Samyueru Yagami

Album Review: Parachute - Overnight

Heeeelllllo heeelllo heelllo peeps,

What a fine Saturday it is today, if it isn't a Saturday wherever you are, it's still a good day and we're right back at it! Now the reason my mood is so good is because I just listened to a couple of track on the new Parachute album: OVERNIGHT.

Faithful fans have been had mixed emotions and questioning whether the band abandoned the heartfelt, slower vibes they were originally known for. But to be honest i'm not necessarily bothered by this change in pace. "Can't Help," co-written by One Republic's Ryan Tedder, the song has this perfect summer vibe with upbeat instrumentals and a polished, pop-influenced feel. Have to admit that this was a near perfect choice for the band's first single because it keeps me happy with the meaningful lyrics. "Hurricane" shook some emotions for me as it describes this person's inability to shake old memories and if your like me and pay close attention to the lyrics to know what the son's about. The deep lyrics in the song like "A photograph is all it takes, but I know I shouldn't let it in. And the memory is rising fast. It's seeping into every crack." Parachute's lead singer, Will Anderson, stands out with a plenty of vocal twists and melodies, making it a solid album front-runner.

Parachute still kept up with much of the music people fell in love with on Parachute's debut album, Losing Sleep, "Meant To Be" and "Drive You Home" for me are the closet to them. The more pop influenced track has to be "Higher," in this case which focuses its slightly auto-tuned and vocal chorus of "You got to go higher. Higher than you've ever been before." On the other side is "The Only One," a song with a softer pace than the rest. That isn't to say the other songs on the album are overlyhard-hitting, but instead that this one simply resembles Parachutes' previous work. 

Just a few songs into Overnight and it becomes clear that Parachute has taken its music into an exciting new direction. Regardless, the album is packed with several jams that faithful fans and new listeners will, without a doubt, enjoy.

Samyueru Yagami

Pharrell WIlliams - Happy

Hey guys, noticed something. Pharrell is BACK.

After featuring on summer anthem Get Lucky, this baby-face hitmaker was then chosen by Riri to appear as a judge on her Styled to Rock TV show alongside Erin Wasson. 

Clearly making the most of his winning streak, Pharrell's now releasing three tracks for the upcoming Despicable Me 2 soundtack, including a collabo with Cee Lo Green and this Sunny D shot of '60s joy, Happy, replete with handclaps and head bopping soul grooves. Hit play to get over 'hump' day. 

Samyueru Yagami

Phoenix - 1901

For some reason I can't get enough of this song!!

Samyueru Yagami

My Favourite 10 Game Developers Ever

Whether you love or hate video games, the gaming industry is a multi-billion dollar industry that continues to grow. I grew up with video games since I picked up my first NES controller to play Super Mario Bros. when I was three. Proud to call myself a gamer, i've been saving the Princess (Peach and Zelda) and riding chocobos for many years. The video game industry continues to innovate from its 8-bit graphics origins to motion-controlled and social gaming. With the continuing evolution of gaming, the Game Developers Confrence (GDC) has always been a key stepping stone for the gaming industry. They go as follows:- 

#1

Rockstar North

Founded: 2002

The term "Rockstar" is thrown out for all games developed and published under that banner. But the sole developer responsible for a vast majority of Rockstar’s hits is, in fact, Rockstar North. The Scotland-based developer is best-known for its epic contributions to the gaming industry in the form of Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Grand Theft Auto IV. And it’s currently working on the most anticipated game of 2013, Grand Theft Auto V, a game almost guaranteed to sell millions of copies from the get-go. But Rockstar North is known for even more – it created Manhunt and helped out Rockstar San Diego on development of Red Dead Redemption, too – and has a considerable history under another name, DMA Design. But for its GTA games alone, Rockstar North holds a special place in the history of the gaming industry.

#2

Konami

Founded: 1969

Founded in the late ‘60s as a jukebox company, Konami emerged as a powerhouse of the gaming industry in the 1980s. Like Capcom, Konami has always been part developer and part publisher, but the contributions of its internal development teams to the realm of gaming is what it’s most fondly known for. Its Pro Evolution Soccer 2013,  Metal Gear and Silent Hill series are perhaps its three most well-known franchises, and they cover very different genres and subject matter. Konami may have fallen from grace in recent years, but it’s impossible to ignore the powerhouse it once was, such a powerhouse, in fact, that Konami created a spinoff corporation – Ultra Games – just so it could publish everything it was developing back in the NES days. Talk about output.

#3

Naughty Dogs

Founded: 1984

If you consider today’s gaming landscape, Naughty Dog is perhaps the single most prolific gaming developer currently on the scene. But it wasn’t always so. Before the developer put out the likes of the Uncharted trilogy on PlayStation 3, it was releasing more obscure titles, such as Apple II’s Keef the Thief and the SEGA Genesis title Rings of Power. But by the mid-1990s, Naughty Dog catapulted to popularity with its Crash Bandicoot series, success it found again on PlayStation 2 in the form of Jak & Daxter. By 2001, Sony purchased Naughty Dog outright, and it’s widely considered the crown jewel of its development team. And its upcoming PS3-exclusive, The Last of Us, is perhaps the most eagerly-anticipated game of 2013.

#4

Ubisoft Montreal

Founded: 1997

Few modern studios have established as many significant franchises as Ubisoft’s Montreal division. Often serving as a hub that not only creates games, but pulls in the collective might of Ubisoft’s global resources, the Montreal studio has watched over franchises like Far Cry, Prince of Persia and Naruto, as well as helped create series like Splinter Cell and Assassin’s Creed and with Ubisoft just announcing the most anticipated game of 2013, Watch Dogs. Make no mistake about it – with its juggernaut franchises and strong track record, Ubisoft will likely play a considerable role in the future of the games industry, and its Montreal studio will be a major reason why.

#5

Infinity Ward

Founded: 2002

Complain all you like about Call of Duty’s unchanging ways: Its impact, and the people responsible for creating it, cannot be understated. Infinity Ward created a fresh, story-driven take on World War II before it burned out, stayed strong after the fact to help launch the Xbox 360, and reinvented online multiplayer with its Modern Warfare series. Developers the world over ape Infinity Ward’s cinematic style, spectacular set-pieces, and competitive design. What truer sign of accomplished creators could there be?

#6

Cyberconnect2

Founded: 2002

CyberConnect2 might be my favorite Japanese game developer. Not only is it the studio responsible for the Naruto: Ninja Storm fighting game franchise, but other key titles such as Asura's Wrath.

#7

IO Interactive

Founded: 2002

Danish game developer, IO Interactive has handled all five titles in the Hitman series, including the latest game, Hitman: Absolution, but now the franchise is moving to another studio for the first time. The next game in the series is being developed by the newly-formed studio Square Enix Montreal. No details on the game have been revealed, and there’s also no word on a release window. The move from IO to Square Enix Montreal appears to be amicable. IO Interactive has already started working on another new project, but there’s no word yet if it will be a Hitman game or something completely different. Hitman: Absolution is out now.

#8

Eidos Montreal

Founded: 2007

Canadian game developer, Eidos Montreal owned by Square Enix Europe are on the verge of becoming one of gaming's biggest powerhouse in the next coming years with title's such as Deus Ex: Human Revolution which I have to say i one of my favourite games of 2011/12 as well as this years Tomb Raider which has had it shares of Highs and Low. Eidos Montreal has nothing to fear as their current project Thief set to debut in 2014 will be one gamers eagerly await for.

#9

SCE Santa Monica Studio

Founded: 1999

SCE Santa Monica Studio is one of six North American studios affiliated with SCEW, the others likewise having been responsible for well-known PlayStation franchises. The breakthrough of SCE Santa Monica, however, came with their second title, the action/adventure platformer, featuring the iconic raging spartan Kratos in the God Of War series, that spawned a multi-million dollar franchise and gain a large fan base around the globe. The newest release of God Of War: Ascension,  certainly has its remarks as while some see Ascension as fun, it is nowhere near to Gow3. A weaker story and less satisfying combat. 

#10

EA Sports

Founded: 2002

EA Sports is a brand of Electronic Arts that creates and develops sports video games. Formerly a marketing gimmick of Electronic Arts, in which they tried to mimic real-life sports networks by calling themselves "EA Sports Network" (EASN) with pictures or endorsements of real commentators such as John Madden, it soon grew up to become a sub-label on its own, releasing game series such as NBA Live, FIFA, NHL, Madden NFL, and NASCAR. The best selling EA Sports series is the FIFA series with over 100 million units sold.

             Samyueru Yagami

Kanye West's 'Yeezus' lands at No. 1 on Billboard chart

Hey guys,

So today i decided to do a review on Kanye's new album Yeezus. Now there’s already been a lot written about Kanye West’s new album, Yeezus. The album tends to tackle many punk-friendly themes, including racism, anti-media, anti-corporation, and being an underdog. Plus, it’s Kanye’s most aggressive album as well as his angriest one. Some have even compared tracks off of Yeezus to bands like Death Grips. Everyone professionally involved with the creation of Kanye West's sixth solo effort was sworn to secrecy, and with no preorders allowed, plus the news that producer Rick Rubin was still tinkering with tracks seven days prior to the drop, this instant, no-singles, anti-hype album got pre-release hyped on an Olympic scale. Think of the roll-up as a revolutionary blow against the empire or the supernova ego of West in full effect, and while it's probably a little of both,Yeezus the album is a lot of both, with good taste and bad taste both turned up to 11.

"New Slaves" is a bizarre, layered concept clash where high fashion, slavery, and "I'd rather be a dick than a swallower" all collide) with punkish, irresponsible blast-femy (during the draggy, trap track "I'm in It," West's melodious and melancholy voice shouts its dreams to the multitude, pleading "Your titties, let 'em out, free at last/Thank God almighty, they free at last" as if civil rights and booty calls were equally noble quests), and it all works in an astonishing, compelling manner. It's as if West spent the last year listening exclusively to Death Grips and Chief Keef and all the political, social, and musical contradictions became his muse, inspiring moments like the Keef and Bon Iver meet-up that fuels the mile-high hangover number "Hold My Liquor." "Blood on the Leaves" is recklessly bold as it uses Nina Simone's performance of "Strange Fruit" under its snide tale of ex-girlfriends, groupies, and date rape drugs; then there's the obviously volatile "I Am a God" ("Hurry up with my damn massage!/Hurry up with my damn ménage!"), which still outdoes its provocative title with a swelled-head manifesto plus an unexpected, Magic-Mike-meets-Aphex-Twin boom production courtesy of Daft Punk.















 At least he has decided to indulge his giant hunger with the help of art, and if anything, this is the moment he becomes a swashbuckling Salvador Dali figure, chopping down all that's conventional with highly imaginative work and crass, attention-grabbing attitude.

                            Samyueru Yagami

INDICUD! All about the music

By now, it's evident to true cudders that Kid Cudi relationship is almost like a rebellious child and a disconcerted parent. When he debuted in 2009 with The Man on The Moon: The End of Days, I was disappointed that it didn't live up to his 2008′s A Kid Named Cudi. By the time Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager landed in 2010, I found hope by realizing he’d never be that man on the mixtape. Now, with his third solo album, Indicud, Cudder’s at a career precipice: one small step from obscurity or one confident stride toward achieving potential.

Cudi’s once-promising rap skills are now without depth emotion. “Solo Dolo Part II” sees him team with lyricist Kendrick Lamar. Lamar brings lyrical fire (“Eternity, no such thing as time will tell / Infirmary, burn like magnetic combustion / Bad credit with me, and paramedics are hustling”).

“Young Lady”, a hackneyed number about talking to a pretty girl, actually sounds good in his stoner phase. And even though “Brothers” features Cudi rhymes (“Hey yo, alright / This is how it’s supposed to be”). When he’s not singing about his personal demons, Indicud springs to life.

Where it falls apart for Cudi is “Afterwards (Bring Yo Friends)”which incudes people i have never even heard of. “Unfuckwittable” as for the title of this song, I think Scotty has coined a new phrased which potentially will be used by the masses. It’s a 4 and half minute long track with only a handful of lyrics. This isn’t a bad thing though; it gets his point across with no filler. Plus it brings out the dopeness of the beat. Cudi never fails expressing his song’s message. This one is to be played when you’re feeling in the zone.

“King Wizard” generates more of Cudi’s bro-ish words of triumph and celebration. Still, “Red Eye” is by far one of the best songs, in the entire collection in Indicud. With the lovely harmony of the Haim sisters, Cudi creates a bubbly groove. It’s mostly on the sisters, but Cudi makes them operate in a new, more stereotypically-accessible manner, further understanding the power of leaving your comfort zone.

"Just What I Am", whoever is delaying Kid Cudi’s albums needs to be fired. Remember how much longer his album was realised after “Day ‘n’ Night” came out? Maybe the songs are just leaking earlier than expected but this banger has been out since last year! Anyway the track itself is one of the best stoner anthems since “Hits From The Bong”. The production and chorus are trippy. The lyrics are smooth as ice and King Chip has one of the slickest lines around:

"Cold Blooded" is fucking it! Some fucking life shown! Thank you. A beat that will have your head boppin’ and Cudi’s flow is catchy as hell. Finally a switch up in his vocals. He even dares you to think any different of him.“Only good for a hook huh? Let me show you flows”. It’s kind of amazing how he can make a song about being the man and still show some honesty by admitting that he isn’t scared of anyone besides his late father. This sounds like what Rick James might have made if he lived to see the year 3015.

The point is, this record just proves that Kid Cudi has a lot of sorting to do, and continuing down the same old path simply won’t cut it in the long-run. Following a little personal overhaul, listeners like me might actually be proud to be Indicud.

Favorite Tracks: “Red Eye”, “Young Lady”, "Cold Blooded"

Samyueru Yagami

Simple Plan - Your Love Is A Lie

Good JAM!! Listen and Enjoy..

Samyueru Yagami

Life is A Highway - Rascal Flatts

Thought it was a pretty good song.
Enjoy...

Samyueru Yagami

The most anticipated games of 2013

It's been sometime now but for all those who read my blog, be prepared for a review on this years highly famed games. For you game lovers, most of you already know which games your eagerly anticipating, so my job will just be a brief summary on them. Now, i'll tell you a little history about my gaming history so far before I start. I started playing games when i was about 7 or 8 yrs old, and was highly addicted to them. Back then all we had was the PS1 which was a big deal then if you remember, the culmination of technological advancement they said anyway. I can't remember the exact game i started playing with, but i do remember the games i became fond of as a child. Lion King, Spiderman, NFL and FIFA but i'm sure there others. Ever since that point in time gaming became one of my hobbies though these days it's more costly :p
Anyway, don't want to bore you. Let's get straight to it, and first up is:

#1:- Devil May Cry (Xbox 360/PlayStation 3/PC, 18 January)




British developer Ninja Theory may have come in for some stick for its 'emo' reworking of DmC hero Dante, but their track record with story-based action-adventures are exemplary. Early previews suggest this reboot is shaping up to be something special, with terrific combat and a bewitching aesthetic.

#2:- Watch Dogs (Xbox 360/PlayStation 3/PC, TBC)



E3 2012's surprise package is due for release this year, a technological open-world thriller following hacker Aiden Pierce in a Chicago run by an artificial intelligence. The demo at E3 suggested a video game that outstrips the technological limits of the current crop of home consoles. Could well be a launch title for new hardware. Either way, Watch Dogs is one to keep an eye on.

#3:- Dead Space 3 (Xbox 360/PlayStation 3, 8 February)



The third entry in the most successful new survival-horror series in over a decade, Dead Space 3 will feature co-op and seems to be following a more action-orientated route. Will the sci-fi scares be diluted?

#4:- Crysis 3 (Xbox 360/PlayStation 3/PC, 22 February)




How do you marry the jungle warfare of Crysis with the urban setting of Crysis 2? Easy: encase New York in a nanodome which turns the city into a lush, verdant forest. Taking the best bits from two of the most emergent shooters ever made sounds good to us.

#5:- Tomb Raider (Xbox360/PlayStation 3/PC, 8 March)



Rebooting the legendary Lara Croft is no easy task, and a worrisome focus on bombastic action and controversy over the games themes hasn't made it any simpler. However, Crystal Dynamics have a fantastic record with video games most recognisable heroine, so her origin story on a mysterious jungle island should be nothing if not fascinating. Rhianna Pratchett on writing duties also intrigues.

#6:- God of War: Ascension (PlayStation 3, 15 March)




Ascension has been most notable for the introduction of online multiplayer. Multiplayer! In God of War! Has the world gone mad? We shall see, but Sony Santa Monica has a 100% hit rate with the series, so we expect familiar excellence. The single-player campaign serves as a prequel to the entire franchise as Kratos kickstarts his celestial feud with Ares.

#7:- Grand Theft Auto V (Xbox 360/PlayStation 3, TBC March)




Grand Theft Auto is rarely short on ambition, but the first game in the series for five years is aiming higher than ever. The biggest open-world game in Rockstar's history, a full eco-system, improved driving, better combat and multi-layered missions as the three protagonists team up on heists are the marquee technical goals. As ever, though, it will be the setting --this time Los Santos-- and the characters that are most likely to thrill.

#8:- The Last of Us (PlayStation 3, 7 May)




Naughty Dog take a break from the matinee bombast of Nathan Drake and Uncharted to deliver a bleak post-apocalyptic tale. Burly survivor Joel and young girl Ellie are an unlikely duo trekking across America, evading the Infected and the remnants of humanity. Expect Naughty Dog's usual skill with characters, setting and cinematic action.

#9:- Beyond: Two Souls (PlayStation 3, TBC)




Heavy Rain creators Quantic Dream's next project casts Hollywood starlet Ellen Page in the leading role. A psychological and supernatural thriller, Beyond follows the life of Jodie Holmes, a young woman seemingly accompanied by a wandering spirit called Iden. Technically spectacular and thematically fascinating, you're not likely to play another game quite like it.

#10:- Splinter Cell Blacklist (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, TBC)




Sam Fisher returns, seemingly younger and certainly more violent. Blacklist follows the newly formed Fourth Echelon as they track down terrorists threatening US cities. A bombastic E3 2012 showing featuring torture and hyper-violence does leave concern that Splinter Cell has left its incision stealth behind, but this is a great series always worth keeping on your radar. No Michael Ironside lending his voice to Sam is a crushing disappointment though.

So we have quite the year of games coming through for us and hopefully you'lll get the time and money to enjoy these delights brought to us by the likes of Square Einx, Microsoft, Eidos, Ninja Theory, Quantic Dream and Rockstar.

Twitter: @SamyueruYagami
Email: samuel.mukuru@gmail.comBlogger: You'll see it on the right side of my blog page

Samyueru Yagami