Podcast
Bearded Gentlemen Music
Hosted by Bearded Gentlemen Music · EN
Rants, Reviews, Interviews, and Independent Music Coverage.
3episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Lyric Shrink | The Music That Moves Us
Dec 6, 2024Tap to summarizeWelcome to a Lyric Shrink: album or song review with a psychological slant. I am Ryan McCann, a licensed independent mental health professional, audiophile, and volunteer sound tech. Take a seat on the couch, relax, and let’s talk about The Music That Moves Us. I was mindlessly scrolling Instagram and landed on a college student singing “I Can Go The Distance” from Disney’s Hercules of all things. And there’s a line of that song that always makes me tear up. “I know every mile would be worth my while. When I go the distance, I’ll be right where I belong.” It doesn’t matter what mood I’m in. It just provokes this welling-up of powerful emotions. That experience gave me the initial idea for this article. I also realize how stressful the holiday season is for so many of us. Music is an accessible and healthy escape from the hustle and noise of this time of year. My hope is that the knowledge and experiences shared here will encourage you to incorporate listening sessions into your stress reduction toolkit. You’ve likely experienced—in your musical listening journey—the deep stirring of feelings that makes you want to dance, cry, sing, or cheer. It’s primal. It is also quite healing. Many therapists recommend music for relaxation, but it also helps clients get in touch with or express their emotions. Songs can unlock thoughts or express feelings in ways our own words can fail to at times. Music has this power over us because it activates so many regions of the brain. Pitch stimulates auditory processing and rhythm in the motor cortex. Tones have culturally defined meanings that we interpret cognitively. At least in Western cultures, minor chords are described as dark and ominous while major chords sound bright and uplifting. Lyrics require interpretation and deepen our thinking and assignments of meanings to songs. Thus with so many parts of the brain firing together, we may notice a decrease in overthinking, a sense of calm, and a lift in mood when listening to music. And if a song has any personal meaning to you, then you’re likely to pair these mental and physical experiences with deeply felt emotions. This last element is how music can move us. For me, “I Can Go The Distance” gives me hope that my life’s struggle is valuable. It crystallizes those moments in life when I’ve felt right at home, be it in my own or someone else’s. I feel a physical sense of warmth and peace as my breathing changes and muscles relax in anticipation of the resolving note. The tears come because the moment is beautiful and overwhelming. I’ve felt similarly hearing the musical scores of Rudy and Gladiator. Maybe underdogs must be my thing? The triumph after struggling for so long just seems to catch me in the feels. Jerry Goldsmith’s “Tryouts” from Rudy starts off softly with woodwinds and strings and then picks up with booming tympani and horns. It’s bombastic and hard-hitting like college football. It inspires in me a sense of hope and causes me to think back on fond memories of frosty autumn days watching football with my dad. Lisa Gerrard sings in an idioglossia, a private language, on “Now We Are Free” and other songs from Gladiator. Her voice and wholly unique expressions make the movie for me. How do you describe stepping into Elysium? You can show it on the screen. You can write it on the page. But the feeling of stepping into the afterlife is indescribable. Unless you have some inspired language that comes from that place. Lisa seems to speak the language of the divine to describe the indescribable, and the Hanz Zimmer orchestration does the rest to capture a sense of majesty. It gives me shivers every time. Lyrics, style, and instrumentation all factor into what moves us. The settings where we listen to music matter too. Stomping and clapping along to “We Will Rock You” at a sporting event has a different feel than a cover band jamming out in a bar. But I’ve felt just as moved by both. The common factor was being in the presence of people all tuning into the same frequencies. Two settings where corporate singing never fails to get me emotionally charged are sporting events and church. The silence of 80,000 people right before the National Anthem at a Husker Football game and the singing in unison gives me goosebumps every time. I can’t hear “O Holy Night” sung in church without going back to my memory of playing an angel in a Christmas cantata at my church in 8th grade. A soprano belted out the song’s distinctive high note on the line “Oh night, divine”, and while I was slowly drawing my arms up and down majestically I went weak in the knees. It just floored me. The low rumble of voices singing along pierces by this crystalline note just made the hair on my neck stand up every performance. Hearing the song now provokes that similar sensation when I’m gathered with family at church and I just tuned into all the voices unifying to reach that note. It has been so stressful lately. Coming off a divisive election season leading right into the holidays that sometimes force contact with people we’d rather not be around. Obligations pile up along with finances and our health. Pretty soon it feels like we’re navigating through an ocean of anxiety. I come back to music every time to drop out of those choppy waters into the calm depths below. The times I sit in my chair just listening, with my phone off and eyes closed are the best. I just let the music wash over me. <div style="display: block; margin: 0px auto;" id="_ytid_41236" width="1170" hei...
Transcribe →The Gates Of Slumber – The Gates of Slumber | Reaffirming The Importance of Doom
Dec 3, 2024Tap to summarizeOut from the ashes of inner conflict, disbandment, and the tragic loss of several key members, The Gates Of Slumber has finally returned. And they’ve brought along their 6th studio album, The Gates Of Slumber on Svart Records. Formed in Indianapolis, IN in the late 1990s, the band eventually become legends in the doom metal community for their no-frills approach to the genre. Combining the cadence of early Black Sabbath with a penchant for hypnotic riffs, the return of this power trio is a victory lap, not a nostalgic cash grab. Acting as both a revival and celebration of doom, The Gates Of Slumber wastes no time getting down to business. The album opener, “Embrace The Lie,” sees the band reflect on their signature dirge approach with an added layer of rejuvenation. Despite the personally bleak and ugly origins of this project, the trio is energized with poise and vigor. It feels like they’ve approached this albums at some sort of make-or-break scenario in their careers. Although that’s clearly not the case, “We Are Perdition” not only achieves that goal, but the song is the tightest the band has ever sounded. While the first two tracks mark the return of what fans loved about this band, “Full Moon Fever” shows that the group is willing to experiment with atmosphere and rhythms to create a supersonic landscape. I especially love the phaser effect on the opening guitar riff. As the chunkiest tracks on the album, “At Dawn” delivers a strong emphasis on the groove; well, as much as doom can groove. The effects-laden guitar solo reminds me of Ministry’s “What About Us?” – which is a very good thing. The bass intro to “The Fog” is devilishly delicious while the rest of the vibe unabashedly takes influence from John Carpenter’s horror classic of the same name. While overtly atmospheric from beginning to end, The Gates Of Slumber finishes on a high note with the Slayer-esque tempo change during the last two minutes of “The Plague”. At a brisk six tracks coming in just over 35 minutes, The Gates Of Slumber is a relatively quick listen when compared to traditional doom. But the band’s choice to trim the fat works in their favor and gives the record a sense of urgency. Not a second is wasted on the obvious or any notion to exploit the past. There’s no denying that The Gates Of Slumber have grown considerably as artists. Where they choose to go from here is entirely up to them, but this record reaffirms that their particular brand of doom isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. The Gates Of Slumber is available on Bandcamp and Svart Records. The post The Gates Of Slumber – The Gates of Slumber | Reaffirming The Importance of Doom appeared first on Bearded Gentlemen Music.
Transcribe →Ska, Punk, and Other Junk – November 2024
Nov 25, 2024Tap to summarizeWelcome to “Ska, Punk, and Other Junk!” With this monthly column, I’ll highlight all of the cool things I discovered in the ska and punk scenes each month. Since I listen to more than just those two genres, I also highlight some other junk I discovered along the way too! (NOTE: Not actually junk. I just wanted to go with the rhyme). There’s so much cool music out there these days. This is my attempt to cover as much of it as possible. Hopefully, you find your new favorite band – or at least some cool new tunes to enjoy. I’d be a real turkey if I tried to get some Thanksgiving, Black Friday, or Cyber Monday puns into this month’s column. I’d find myself on the losing snap of the wishbone for sure. Instead of pandering to the time of year, I’ll get right down to business. This is the last Ska, Punk, and Other Junk column of 2024. Next month, instead of the column, I will focus on my Top 24 Albums of 2024 list instead. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves though, as November is stuffed with amazing albums. So, take a break from your post-holiday food coma, and check out some new music! Ska Coolidge – Vote 4 Coolidge I was a big fan of Johnny Socko when they were around. When Coolidge formed, I was excited for the continuation of Johnny Socko’s memory. The tracks on this EP are extremely political, and it’s clear from the lyrics that the band hoped for a different outcome this election cycle. Thankfully, the songs are still wonderfully constructed and can serve as inspiration for the 2026 mid-terms. The slower tempo rocksteady of “My Rights” and the punky “Narcissism” are the standouts to me. Less Than Jake – Uncharted Silver Linings introduced Matt Yonker as Less Than Jake’s new drummer. It marked a major shift for the band, as the drummer Yonker replaced was also the band’s primary songwriter. Four years removed from that release comes Uncharted, and it sounds like Less Than Jake knows who they are again. I hear a different confidence and energy level on these songs that is so infectious. Also, the fine folks at the Blasting Room captured the fun and excitement of a Less Than Jake live show in each track. Honestly, seven songs just isn’t enough. I hope the group has a full length in them soon, because Uncharted is the best Less Than Jake has sounded in years. Mango Wood – The Sound of Now Boss reggae, rocksteady, and trad ska from Madrid, Spain. Listening to The Sound of Now, you’re immediately hit with the love and respect Mango Wood has for the traditional sounds. This is a love letter to vintage Jamaican music, and it’s an absolutely joyful listen. Filled with heart and soul, and backed by some amazing organ work, The Sound of Now is the best representation of the boss reggae and rocksteady genres this year. It’s a must have for anyone who loves vintage tunes, preferably on vinyl. Mutiny – Avant Guardian #1 When they debuted earlier this year, the members of Mutiny enthralled me. I’m a sucker for a good skacore band, increasingly more when it’s filled with some of the best musicians in the scene. The other hook to this supergroup is how they approach making music. They actively seek out a story to be told and then form a narrative through their music. Mutiny is a musical Voltron living in this dystopian world, and they’re documenting their adventures for our sakes. Another special thing about Mutiny is how they intentionally connect with bands from other cultures. Their debut EP included FRAIL, as they sang in Japanese over Mutiny’s instrumentals. This time around, Mutiny teamed up with South Korea’s 18Fevers and Turn For Our. I’m already a fan of 18Fevers, so it felt great to hear they’re working on next. I’m already excited thinking about who Mutiny will partner with next! skaskaskaclub – SKA! SKA! SKA!? Japanese ska-punk is just so good. The music is always so tight and technically sound. With SKA! SKA! SKA!?, skaskaskaclub announce their arrival. Aside from straightforward ska-punk, you’ll also hear hip-hop influences, funk, and even some hardcore breakdowns. It all fits together perfectly, creating an innovative take on ska. It’s like Tokyo Ska Paradise and Hey-Smith met up with Fishbone and Red Hot Chili Peppers to jam. The Abruptors – “St. Louis” If “St. Louis” is any indication on what we can expect from the upcoming album from Buffalo’s The Abruptors, we’re in for a treat. “St. Louis” features infectious two part-harmonies, Elvis Costello-esque guitar riffs, and poppy organ-driven ska. The sincere and relatable lyrics make “St. Louis” that much better. December 6th can’t come soon enough. The Boy Detective – “I Renounce Verdukianism!” I just couldn’t have the last column of the year get published without featuring at least one Christmas song. Well, Southeastern Michigan ska-punk band, The Boy Detective, came through in the clutch and released a brand new song filled with holiday “cheer.” If you listen closely, you’ll hear some inspiration from the amazing John Williams. The band then puts the fun in dysfunctional by blending in their high-octane storytelling. It’s a rager of a tune, filled with holiday heartbreak and redemption. The Makeways – We Are All We Need Soulful undertones are woven within the fabric of each song on We Are All We Need. This soul drives the songs, even as they’re accentuated by trad ska, big band, and reggae melodies. The six tracks on this EP give The Makeways room to show off. From the saxophone solo in “Red Twelves” to the more upbeat ska “Monday Morning,” there’s a little bit of everything here for ska fans. I even hear a slight taste of Motown in “Waiting for the Day.” Warsaw Poland Bros – Ganja Licks With a name like Ganja Licks, it’s pretty easy to figure out the theme for the latest EP from Warsaw Poland Bros. They kicked things off by incorporating The Specials and a little Latin American flavor in “La Mota. That energy opener immediately got my head bopping and my hips shaking. The next track switched to a more reggae feel, and the following song had a funky jazz feel with reggae and hip-hop elements. Warsaw Poland Bros are really doing some fun things with their music, with plenty of little Easter eggs if you listen close enough. <iframe width="600" height="720" style="position: relative; display: block; width: 600px; height: 720px;" src="//bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/v=2/album=714469054/size=large/bgcol=333333/linkcol=0f91ff/tracklist=false/" allowt...
Transcribe →