I have been sitting in James Dunn for about eight hours now, working on papers and getting increasingly agitated at the broken Aquafina machine, and I feel as though my brain has reached the perfect state of stale apathy that will allow me to write this lovely column.
Might I add, it’s my last column of the year.
I’ve been thinking about this column all week.
Pondering whether I should compile a bunch of bands to send you all forth into summer bliss, or just pick one amazing band that will leave a lasting impression on your equally stale and apathetic minds. (I feel safe saying that loaded statement because I know we’re all totally overwhelmed during this time of the year; students, faculty and administration alike.)
I want to talk about a band from Vancouver, B.C. Black Mountain have been around since 2004, so they are hardly a new presence on the Canadian music scene.
They’ve been a finalist for the Canadian Polaris Music Prize, and more recently, they were nominated for the “Best Alternative Album” Juno Award.
The term I would use to describe them is psychedelic rock. Before you judge, I know that makes them sound super lame, but I can’t think of a better umbrella to place their sound under.
I have to add, that at times, they are complete and utter anthemic rock. Who doesn’t love a really, really long, dramatic build up and explosive ending in a rock song?
Black Mountain are kind of like Pink Floyd, but with a harder edge and really, really catchy guitar hooks.
The song “Stormy High” off of their 2008 release, In the Future, received CBC Radio 3’s Bucky Award for best guitar hook last year.
Which really means nothing, other than to point out that Grant Lawrence also agrees that they have sweet guitar riffs. In the Future has a really interesting sound that is perfect for pushing you through that last paper.
If you need to get motivated by some great music, I highly suggest you go out and buy Black Mountain’s latest album.
