Key West
A month ago, I wrote about listening to Imagine Dragons. If you remember, I had invited some ‘young people’ to challenge me, to suggest music; bands, solo artists,etc, for me to listen to (shock, challenge, and make my music neurons wake up!) (I forgot to mention the age group of these young ‘uns – 18 to 21 years). To carry on with the idea of me- middle aged woman, being introduced to ‘new stuff’ in regards to music, I have been listening to Patrick’s suggestion –
Key West.
N.B: this is NOT a review – it’s simply an experiment in expanding my listening tastes.
What I listened to
1.This is Heartbreak– A slow, romance song with steady drum beat and gentle vocals. “Over and over again I can’t take it”, just about sums it up for me.
What does it sound like to me? ‘Soft’ Pop.
Did I like it? No.
2. All My Mistakes – Another romance, more upbeat with a cheeky little tambourine in the chorus. Has a kind of summer feel to it and I can definitely see the ‘young one’s’ dancing to it at a party. Me? I’d have to have a few G&T’s first!
What does it sound like to me? Pop/Rock
Did I like it? If I’m being generous, it was okay. Kind of…
3.Carousel – Another love song!! Gak!! A little upbeat, nice drum rhythm and clapping. Didn’t make me want to dance though – or ride a carousel!
What does it sound like to me? Pop/Rock
Did I like it? No.
4. Stuck On Replay– Another song about love, this time unrequited, sort of. A typical pop melody and rhythm that reminded me of so many other ‘love songs’ of the 90s. Even the lead singers voice has a very generic quality to it; ‘croaky pain’, check. ‘whispery pain’, check. ‘high-note sorrow’, check.
What does it sound like to me? Pop
Did I like it? No
5.This Summer– Did that intro sound like All My Mistakes??? Slightly heavier beat (though still rather soft) – oh! I can go ‘Fuck yourself’!! Seems like he’s got over the girl/girls in previous 4 songs, and it makes a positive difference. It ends on a discordant note on guitar and piano – which I thought might bode well for future stuff…
What does it sound like to me? Pop/Rock
Did I like it? Almost. Not quite.
6.Electric Love – The opening has potential, a minimalist feel with a slappy bass. But guess what? It’s ANOTHER love song!!! There is a bit of a western feel with the rhythm, like being on a train, which keeps the song feeling more ‘alive’ than others. But it gets quite repetitive after 2 minutes in.
What does it sound like to me? Pop/Rock
Did I like it? Not really.
7.Messages From God – Sounds like another love song to me. Blah, blah, blah.
What does it sound like to me? Pop
Did I like it? No.
8.Feels So Cruel – Aarrgghh!!
What does it sound like to me? Pop
Did I like it? No
9.The Message – Borrr-ing!
What does it sound like to me? Soft Pop
Did I like it? No
10.The Little Things – A stronger vocal opening than previously heard. Picks up into a bouncy little number after intro. Nice guitar and bass. A little experimentation at the end with some ambient sounds.
What does it sound like to me? Pop/Rock
Did I like it? It was okay.
To round-up – I won’t be listening to Key West again. The name suggests a link to America, though they are, I discovered, a Dublin band. I had never heard of them before, despite the fact that they have been on the scene since 2012. The sound is too processed, too audience friendly – middle of the road for my liking.
Was I challenged? No. Were my middle-aged-lady sensibilities offended? Not at all.
By track 4 I definitely felt ‘Stuck on Replay’! I had determined to listen to 10 songs and to give them an even break, but boys, I’ve heard it all before. It’s so hum-drum, pedestrian with little creativity that I can see.
The point of this exercise was to have music that would challenge me, something new, something exciting, perhaps weird or a little ‘arty’. Key West is, for me, none of those things. The challenge was sticking with it long enough to form and write and opinion.
Flailing Through Life 