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#1 Flobots

Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 1:31 pm
by Jason_Firewalker
Excerpted from the Flobots Website:

When a pair of intelligent, visionary emcees joins forces with a battle-hardened, groove-fusing rhythm section, and a classically trained violist the result is a sound that explores and expands the frontiers of live hip-hop. Progressive in both style and message, the band’s ability to drop from symphonic rock-infused crescendos into stripped-down string-laden breakbeats has earned Flobots a reputation for both originality and authenticity.

Armed with musicianship, intelligence, and an ingrained sense of rebellion, Flobots are looking to engage a new musical culture, one mind at a time.

If you are thinking, you are winning.








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I suggest everyone listen to their music as it is awsome and life changing on so many levels.

http://video2.umrg.com/flobots/default.aspx?vid=01

#2

Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 3:13 pm
by Rukia
Eh, they're ok.

I think that are a little to pretentious to be completely honest. Their song "Handlebars" completely turned me off and they are really not that inventive. But far be it for me to say who is and is not "life changing" to someone else.

*shrug*

#3

Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 3:31 pm
by rhoenix
Rukia wrote:Eh, they're ok.

I think that are a little to pretentious to be completely honest. Their song "Handlebars" completely turned me off and they are really not that inventive. But far be it for me to say who is and is not "life changing" to someone else.

*shrug*
...Ok, I have to ask. Not to claim your opinion is right or wrong (since I'm not) - what about the song Handlebars "completely turned you off?"

#4

Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 4:49 pm
by frigidmagi
Meh, the music was pretty tame actually. Didn't seem all that visionary and barrier breaking to me. I mean you got a violin? That's nice, Flogging Molly has been using the same instrument in most of their rock songs for almost a decade now. The beats and rhythms I heard were well done but frankly I've heard alot of the same before, some from Street Dogs and a bit from Authority Zero. The punks and rockers sad to say are way ahead of you. Also the repeat word use in the chorus was kinda flat.

The intro Jason gave if they wrote that themselves reeks of pretension and if they want to be the left wing band of the future they're gonna have to step more to beat out Rage Against the Machine.

Still they're better then most of the crap on MTV, I'll give them that.

#5

Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 5:07 pm
by rhoenix
I just thought it was kinda cool that they're effectively our generation's version of a protest band.

As for Handlebars, I thought it was a good caution about power and ego. Though it drew a stark contrast between freedom and power, it did so well enough to make its point.

Their other music I was less impressed by, but I still listen to it from time to time.

#6

Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 12:20 pm
by Jason_Firewalker
I agree that they are a little pompus but the lyrical meaning is what got me, I see me and my friend Josh doing the same sort of split, him going into big business as an ad exec and me going into peaceful Outdoor Education

#7

Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 2:35 am
by General Havoc
If this is our generation's equivalent to a protest band, then I want to transfer to the Baby Boomers. Say what you will about their politics, at least they knew how to write protest music.

#8

Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 3:33 am
by frigidmagi
rhnoenix wrote:As for Handlebars, I thought it was a good caution about power and ego. Though it drew a stark contrast between freedom and power, it did so well enough to make its point.
Honestly I didn't get any of that from the song, only from the video. Since most of the time you're going to hear a song seperate from it's video, if the song needs the video to convey it's desired message then it's weak as a song.
Jason wrote: but the lyrical meaning is what got me,
Again I'm not hearing it. All I got out of the song was a "Whooo Look at what I can do" and a recogization that power can be used for good or evil. Let's take your desire for outdoor education for example. As a teacher you can steer your students towards good or ill. Towards understanding or ignorance. A teacher can destroy lives if he puts his mind to it. Don't believe me? What happens if a teacher decides to drive a student into dropping out?

Look try listening to Cruxshadows Winterborn I've very deliberately picked a fan video that is nothing like the original music video as part of the point. Winterborn doesn't need the visuals to let you know what's it about.

Cruxshadows by the way also had a violin before Flobots and the beats are alot alike only Cruxshadow was frankly doing it first. No, I'm not likely letting that go.
f this is our generation's equivalent to a protest band, then I want to transfer to the Baby Boomers. Say what you will about their politics, at least they knew how to write protest music.
Protest music honestly isn't my thing, but I think Rage Against the Machine does it damn well. Not only do their songs not depend on their videos (I've never seen a RAtM video, I get the message of the songs) Chop Suey wasn't bad either but they broke up awhile ago.

Flobots got a ways to go in my view. Still it's not like they suck or anything, they're just firmly average for what they are.