This Is Me--2024 A to Z Theme

My A to Z Themes in the past have covered a range of topics and for 2024 the theme is a personal retrospective that I call "I Coulda Been" which is in reference to my job and career arc over my lifetime. I'll be looking at all sorts of occupations that I have done or could have done. Maybe you've done some of these too!

Thursday, October 15, 2020

Parachute ( #BOTB )

       The year 2020 so far has been free-falling for months.  At some point we're going to crash.  Somebody hand me a parachute so I can soften the landing...

        Just the other day I was watching a local show about music in the area.  The featured act particularly caught my attention. Curious to hear more I looked them up on YouTube where I found among their several songs a song called "Parachute".  And so comes another Battle of the Bands...


Battle of the Bands


        Battle of the Bands is the blogging event started by Far Away Series and now hosted by StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands.   This event happens each month on the 15th and on some there is also a Battle on the 1st of the month.  My blog is one of those with a second Battle excepting over these summer months.   The premise is simple:  Listen to the songs presented below and then in the comments vote for your favorite and tell us why you liked it.  Then visit the links listed near the bottom of this post for more Battle action.


Parachute

        I don't know how many songs have the title "Parachute".  It's kind of a good metaphor so I'd think there could be a number of them.  Being lazy I decided to stop after I'd found two, both bands with ties to Los Angeles.   They're different enough in style that I'm thinking votes might be well distributed.  But you've got to vote.  Take a listen...


Thee Lakesiders   "Parachute"  (2018)

      This young Chicano duo from Los Angeles has a retro sound that evokes fifties music yet they are firmly rooted in the lowrider culture from whence they came. 








Covet   "Parachute"  (2020)

         This "Math Rock" trio from California features the multi-talented guitar virtuoso Yvette Young.  The band began as an instrumental group, but as this video displays, Yvette is a good singer as well.







Time to Vote!
        
           As you float back to the here and now on planet Earth maybe you can cast a vote.  Now let your opinion be heard!  Which version do you prefer?   Hopefully you have an opinion of some kind.  You don't have to know about music to have an opinion since it all comes down to your own personal taste.

        Please vote on your favorite by letting us know your choice in the comment section and tell us why you prefer the version you chose. Then after you've finished here, please visit the other blogs listed below who may or may not be participating this time around. And if you've put up your own BOTB contest let us know that as well so we can vote on yours.



Here are some other places where you might find BOTB posts:

 StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands

 ‘Storms and Stardust’ 

  'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

The Doglady's Den 

Angel's Bark  

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 


Cherdo on the Flipside 

A I Love Music


Winner of this Battle Announced Thursday October 22nd









24 comments:

  1. With the second video (Covet), I'm impressed with the fact that Ms. Young doesn't use a pic to play her guitar, which to me gives the instrument a stranger tone.

    Unfortunately, it also reminds me some of the more spacey shoe-gazing music that seems to be prevalent on my college radio in my neck of the woods lately, which for me has been a major turn off of my radio station of choice that I listen to.

    The first video was pretty decent, although it would've been nice to hear the male part of the duo sing more in this song.

    First one gets my vote, if only for the fact that it isn't shoe-gazing music.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GB, I agree that Covet has a spacey sound. Ms Young's style is what attracted me to the music. She does an incredible job in my opinion.

      Voting starts out with a vote for...

      The Lakesiders.

      Lee

      Delete
  2. Lee,

    This was an easy pick for me. I really enjoyed Thee Lakersiders song. They did a great job with that dreamy 50s style. Is all of their mewsic like this? Whenever you get a spare moment, please come join me for multi-meme post filled mewsic and more on Curious as a Cathy! Have a bandtastic day, my friend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cathy, I don't know anything about The Lakesiders other than discovering this song.

      A vote for Thee Lakesiders..

      Lee

      Delete
  3. I love The Lakesiders with the inventive style to the oldies. The second is really good but I love the first.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Birgit, an affirmation of love.

      A vote for Thee Lakesiders.

      Lee

      Delete
  4. I like the singer's voice with Thee Lakesiders, but Yvette Young is incredible. I've featured her a couple of times on my blog, and she's just amazing. Covet wins for me...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. John H, I figured you'd be able to appreciate Yvette's guitar play. I really like her style.

      A vote for Covet.

      Lee

      Delete
  5. Good Battle, LEE.

    From the very first few notes, I instantly knew that I LOVED 'Parachute' by THEE LAKESIDERS. You're so right about it having tapped into that '50s / early '60s style, which I've always been a fan of. Their song seemed to whisk me back in time to my Orange County, California, youth. The song was like a "Waybac Machine".

    And I really dug the video, too. It took me back to the L.A. I knew so well. Great song, great sound, and I'll have to check out more of their stuffs!

    'Parachute' by Covet was nice, too. But it felt a tad repetitive musically, to my ears. Nice song, but no match for The Lakesiders "Waybac Machine".

    ~ Stephen
    (aka D-FensDogG)

    POSTSCRIPT: And you are also right about us crashing eventually. We have only barely begun to fall. Unfortunately, the worst is certainly yet to come.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. STMcC, I figured you'd like the retro song better. Some very familiar scenes in that video. The iconic bridge and concrete river. I don't think the duo has many videos, but I didn't check thoroughly.

      "The worst" is a matter of perspective. People who love this world are going to have a big let down.

      Another vote for Thee Lakesiders.

      Lee

      Delete
  6. I preferred Covet.
    Have a great weekend Lee.

    Yvonne.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yvonne, weekend is almost over, but I've been having a pleasant one. Hope you have too.

      Covet.

      Lee

      Delete
  7. Covet get my vote like them better

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hard to choose as both excellent - and very different. Despite some brilliant guitar playing by Yvette Young, my vote goes to Thee Lakesiders "Parachute" as I was hooked from the opening sound.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Roland, I do like the guitar playing of Yvette Young.

      A vote for Thee Lakesiders.

      Lee

      Delete
  9. From my Cousin Tom on Facebook comes a vote for...

    Covet.

    Lee

    ReplyDelete
  10. Replies
    1. Mary B, you're in the tally now...

      A vote for Thee Lakesiders.

      Lee

      Delete
  11. A FaceBook vote from my sister Joni for...

    Covet.

    Lee

    ReplyDelete
  12. Sorry I'm late. Been a busy week!

    The retro feel of the first song is great. Well done. Catches the feel well. But is it too far back (or not enough) for me. If it jumped back to 1963 instead of 1959, or back to 1945... better time for me.

    Covet, however, rings my chimes. It evokes a Rush-light feeling to me. Repetitive, working the melody over every which way, fast drum fills, etc. Reminded me of Rush, which I really like. I am surprised McCarthy had any kind words for them at all. He must not have gotten the same vibe I did or he'd have blasted them! VOTE: Covid... er, Covet!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 6-Gun, better late than never!

      Interesting that you made the Rush connection because I got the same vibe mostly from the drumming. There is definitely a disparity between the two recordings, but I think both are very good.

      Another vote for Covet.

      Lee

      Delete

Go ahead and say something. Don't be afraid to speak your mind.
I normally try to respond to all comments in the comment section so please remember to check the "Email follow-up comments" box if you want to participate in the comment conversation.

For Battle of the Bands voting the "Anonymous" commenting option has been made available though this version is the least preferred. If voting using "anonymous" please include in your comment your name (first only is okay) and city you are voting from and the reason you chose the artist you did.

If you know me and want to comment but don't want to do it here, then you can send me an email @ jacksonlee51 at aol dot com.

Lee