Sometimes there’s only one thing that can make me feel truly understood. Good music. I’m not a snobby music critic or a classically trained musician. I’m learning the guitar, but I’m not a freak about it and I listen to anything that I connect with in a given mood. I think that’s what music is all about. Not Billboard charts, record sales, spending money on expensive equipment, or creepy, sexual onscreen displays in music videos or at award shows. Music is all about the experience. I think that’s why I truly love concerts. Everything about the band and their music vibrates through you in an honest way. And there’s always someone new — with a fresh sound, passion and perspective.
On a less intense level, that’s why I’m really into thesixtyone.com. I can listen to new songs and emerging artists for hours. Connect with other people and their eclectic tastes while giving exposure to new bands no one has access to — until now. But, for me, it’s not just about new music. As I’m writing this post I’m jamming to a classic on my playlist, “Knights of Cydonia,” by Muse — possibly one of the best bands of the last ten years, in my opinion.
The song fits my mood perfectly, it’s somewhat uplifting, which is something I need, but it’s inherently dark. Like the “Knights of Cydonia,” I’m on a crusade myself. To stop being pissed off. (See “The Real State of Rentals.”) There’s something about the climbing riffs on the guitar combined with the melancholic sound of lead vocalist and guitarist Matthew Bellamy that gives me hope, while also letting me stew in my angst until I’m ready to emerge.
Perhaps that’s why they are one of the greatest bands, they have depth. That’s the other addictive thing about thesixtyone.com, the site has depth. There are so many artists and ways to extend your music library. From downloads and on-going competition among users — I can’t help but listen to more songs and conquer more quests, the game-like aspect of the site. There’s this one quest called “In the Mood” where you can listen to five minutes of five types of moods and you earn points toward more downloads or hearts, which allow you to express how much you like a song. The more a song is “hearted” the more people get to hear it.
Tegan and Sara on Last.fm
The “In the Mood” quest is awesome because you get a variety of music across different genres. Plus, if you are moody like me (haha) you can change it up whenever. It’s funny how the mind works. Just yesterday I was feeling very mellow, yet withdrawn, and guess what song popped in my head? “Zombie,” by The Cranberries. Now, I haven’t listened to The Cranberries since junior high and high school, when I listened to the band lying on my bed writing in my room. I guess The Cranberries back then, were my Tegan and Sara, or Muse now. My go-to music when I want something familiar that can bring words to whatever I can’t actually say.
Ah, now I’m listening to “Starlight,” by Muse. There is something magnetic about this song, I’m surprised it wasn’t more popular when the album first dropped. I think this song would definitely be on my personal soundtrack. You know that imaginary one that reveals your innermost thoughts, moving you toward something. Anyway, I think right now, I’m moving toward sleep. Enjoy thestixtyone.com, I’ll see you there, you can subscribe to my radio /#/christafletcher. To close, I’ve added Muse’s new video, “Uprising,” which has been everywhere, so I hope you’ve seen it. If not, check it out.
