Welcome Back to RATAG

Hello everyone!!! It has been a long summer with almost no posts. Id like to apologize for my absence, and I'm starting to pick this up again. During the summer I've seen quite a bunch of concerts and read up on more and more bands and I'm ready to share my love of music with you. SO this weekend i will make my first post for the new career!!. BE READY AND BE PREPARED!!!

Chang in The Blog

So I decided that realistically, i'm going to lose things to talk about if i do an article a day, so ill try for every couple of days. Have a good weekend!

Livin' To Rock

Sophistafunk Live at Mc Dunna's taken by Mikey B

Today I want to take the focus to a softer style. Everyone loves to hear some smooth R&B every once and a while. What if I said there was a band out there that  not only had R&B, but combined it with jazz, blues, hip hop, funk and rap. Crazy idea right? Not so much when you listen to these guys. They go by  the name "Sophistafunk".
Originated at Syracuse University, these guys have been slowly taking over New York. They play a lot of local shows, and recently completed their first Nation Wide Tour. They describe themselves as "Combining hip hop & spoken-word with the sounds of live funk, soul, & dance music, the trio SOPHISTAFUNK has invented its own style of cross-genre music." Nothing could describe them any better. It was a treat to see these guys live after hearing their album. I am used to heavy concerts where its more of a mosh pit, crazy, massive sweat fest style of concert. 

First Album

These guys put on a soulful show filled with not only their own music but covers of such songs as "Renegades of Funk" and "So Fresh So Clean". The group entails 3 very talented musicians, Jack Brown with the vocals and lyrics, Adam Gold on the keys, bass, and vocals, and no one can leave out Emanuel Washington on the drums. Together these guys have taken a dream and are making it a reality. Unfortunately the only link I can post to some of their old music is to a myspace page of theirs. If you like what you hear, go to iTunes and download their album. If I could point out the key songs I'd be forgetting something because all of the music Sophistafunk comes out with is amazing. 
Currently they are in the process of coming out with their second album. Now I haven't heard any of the music from it yet but as soon as they come out with it, you can bet I'll be reporting it. If anyone is in the Chicago area in July, they will be back in town. I will post date as it gets closer.
It's Been Real Everyone! This is Mikey B, Stay Fresh!

They're Coming Back Around!

First Album

Today I would like to talk about a band that is over looked a lot; Wolfmother, is a band from Australia and has made it their reputation to sound like a classic rock band but at the same time sound like their own style of music. In 2005 they came out with their first album, which was titled "Wolfmother". That album was just a bunch of hits. To name a few: Dimension, Joker and the Thief, White Unicorn, and one that everyone must know, Woman. After that album was released they really blew up, in fame and as a band. The song "Woman" was hitting the charts. It even got an appearance in Guitar Hero! In the years 2006-2008 they went on world tours and became very well known throughout the world. Unfortunately between the years 2008-2009 the band went On hiatus and split up. Many people were upset that a band with such talent and such original sound could go by the wayside. 

Second Album

But luckily for the world, Andrew Stokdale (lead guitarist and vocalist), decided to reform the band with new members and in 2009 they began recording a new album. What worries most people about bands that reform with new members, is the idea that they may not have the same sound that we all grew to love. Wolfmother wouldn't have that issue, reason being the original sound came from the guitar work of Andrew Stockdale. So reforming the band was easy; In late 2009 Wolfmother came out with their second album, Cosmic Egg. With all the hype of what was to come with this new album, Wolfmother was put on the spot. Let me say, they did not disappoint what so ever. That album has such hits like: Back Around, California Queen, Cosmic Egg, and New Moon Rising.  Even as I listen to it over and over it never gets old. Not only did they recover from what a lot of people say is impossible feat,(that being keeping the original sound with new members) but they came out with a very successful album. I'm excited to hear something new in the near future from these guys.
LISTEN TO THESE GUYS! They do not disappoint!
Till tomorrow folks this is Mikey B. Keep Music Alive!

B.o.B Dillo Day Concert Review

If my article about him wasn't right on the dot, I don't know what is. Being the second time I've seen him it was better than the first. His energy always high, his aura of greatness was there, and his stage presence puts most to shame. Since everyone has got to have their own rating system, I got to have mine as well! So for this concert I give it 5 out of 5 Donald Glover aka Childish Gambinos.

I'd Rather Be Hellen Keller

Members of 3oh!3

Today I'm feeling a little negative, so in the spirit of negativity, here is my first negative review!! Remember the days when people kept their style and "main stream" wasn't even in thought? Those days were great. Unfortunately we are long past those days, and groups/bands that we once loved, lost track of who they were and decided to put out crap. Music once filled with originality is now filled with collaborations and just sounds like everything else out there. One such group has stood out to me for the sheer fact they were crazy, different and amazing all at the same time. From Boulder, Colorado, these two guys really were doing something well for them selves. Coming out with their first album, which was self titled, they brought an original spin on hip hop. Having such hits as, Holler Till You Pass Out, and Choke Chain, in the underground, this group 3Oh!3 really was making a good name for themselves.

Second Album By 3oh!3

Reason it took me so long to say their name is because of what has become of them. With their second album, "Want", they started coming into existence with the radio. With the song Don't Trust Me, they started getting some mainstream radio play. Slowly becoming bigger throughout the music industry. With this follow up album they put out such hits as Rich Man, and Starstrukk. With Starstrukk being redone with Katy Perry, came the downfall of 3oh!3. After that their was no escaping the inevitable. 

Third Album by 3oh!3

Their third album "Streets of Gold" was a disaster, to the loyal fans from the start. Such songs as "My First Kiss ft. Ke$ha" and "House Party" really showed that they were reaching to the audiences that like such crap as "Ay Bay Bay". And no I won't put a link to that song because it is complete garbage. As the title of this article says, "I'd rather be Hellen Keller", referring  to the song Don't Trust Me, and the fact that I'd rather be deaf and blind than listen to their mainstream pop shit or see what's become of them. Now I'm sure you've all heard  the song "Hey ft. Lil Jon", that is another song that disappoints me beyond belief. It was recently announced that their new album will be called Robot. We can only hope that it isn't like Streets of Gold.
Now that I've gotten that off my chest, I've decided every Tuesday will be negativity day! Next week will feature Linkin Park....I think..........
Till next time, this is Mikey B, Stay true to your Style or you won't last awhile!

A Hero Of War

Album Covers

For my loyal readers, I want to start this off with a happy memorial day! Today in spirit of America I'd like to talk about a band that is pro america, but anti war. That band is, Rise Against. Coming off their sixth studio album, Endgame, Rise Against has been building up a huge reputation for putting out consistent after consistent album. Now I haven't listened to the first two albums (Revolutions Per Minute, and The Unraveling) enough to talk about those, but the past 4 albums have not let me down in the slightest. Each album holding the sound and technical aspects of what they have made for themselves. The past four albums: Siren Sounds of The Counter Culture, The Sufferer and The Witness, Appeal to Reason, and Endgame, have progressively developed this band into the hit that they are now. In my opinion, the best album out of the last four is "Siren Songs of the Counter Culture", but they are all albums that i could listen to over and over again. What really makes me favor this band more than others is the fact they come from my home city of Chicago. As we all know, Chicago has produced some of the greatest bands out there.
As the people who are closest to me know, i'm a big gamer. I love video games, and if i didn't I probably wouldn't have ever listened to these guys. My first look at these guys came from the video game Burn Out 3- Take Down. In that game they used the song 
"Paper Wings". From then on i was hooked. Now this wouldn't be an RATAG post if i didn't link you to some of their music. 

In spirit of memorial day, i think you can really grab the focus of the band and where they stand on their political views through the song, "Hero of War". Its about a solider through his service. Very meaningful and captures the essence of the band. Now other hits that are on my top 5 are: Collapse, Give It All, Ready To Fall, Satellite, and of course Prayer Of The Refugee. I hope you listen to those and enjoy them as much as I have. This band rocks and at the rate they are going, they will be rocking on for ages.
This is Mikey B wishing everyone a happy memorial day.
Raise Your Fist High and Keep Rock Alive!