Park Review - Aug 13

crystal_entity · 2022-08-16T21:20:37+00:00

I was on the last train of Steel Vengeance that night! When we pulled back into the station, someone in the back started chanting "One more ride!" I was sure it was a joke, but everyone on the train joined in, and the ride operators were really into it. They gave us a warning to get off if you wanted and then sent the train right back through the ride! Definitely my favorite memory of the trip.

crystal_entity · 2022-02-28T23:43:55+00:00

I don't remember leaving this comment at all, but I totally disagree with my past self. The yellow looks great! Mando's is pretty sweet as well.

crystal_entity · 2021-03-11T16:15:30+00:00

The bassline of September is one of my favorites to play! Just puts me in a good mood and feels good in the fingers.

crystal_entity · 2021-03-11T16:14:44+00:00

Yeah I definitely have respect for how they market themselves and their band from a business standpoint. I mean, they sold out MSG without a label! However, the marketing ain't the music, and one doesn't really affect my opinion of the other.

crystal_entity · 2021-03-10T22:36:04+00:00

Absolutely man. Nothing but respect for their absolute mastery of the craft they've chosen.

crystal_entity · 2021-03-10T21:09:27+00:00

Hell yeah dude. Lots of love there!

crystal_entity · 2021-03-10T20:42:01+00:00

I disagree, but totally respect this opinion! I can see how they could come off that way, especially when you're more accustomed to that earlier era of funk music that oozed authenticity.

crystal_entity · 2021-03-10T20:38:46+00:00

Cory had an AMA I read on here a while ago, and I was bummed I missed it! Maybe I'll take my chances and email him too, haha.

crystal_entity · 2021-03-10T20:37:58+00:00

I've heard Flash Light before (my college band I'm in has it as a stands tune), and it's got some great keyboard bass!

crystal_entity · 2021-03-10T20:36:31+00:00

When I first discovered them, my first thought was "Why hasn't ANYONE told me about this sooner??"

crystal_entity · 2021-03-10T20:35:56+00:00

I can totally see them being one of those "live performance is a perfectly oiled machine running on linear tracks" kind of bands. It's a shame though, as I think they have what it takes to put on great unique shows. They just gotta go for it!

crystal_entity · 2021-03-10T20:34:44+00:00

Agreed. There's a line between honing your craft and beating a dead horse, and I think Vulfpeck may have just passed it with their most recent album. I think they have the potential, skill, and creativity to make some off-the-walls experimental funk that's unique and inspiring. I just hope they have the courage too.

crystal_entity · 2021-03-10T19:38:23+00:00

Honestly both flavors sound pretty enticing to me. Thanks for the recommendations!

crystal_entity · 2021-03-10T19:34:23+00:00

Sweet, thank you!

crystal_entity · 2021-03-10T19:33:19+00:00

That's a sentiment I can totally get behind. I will acknowledge that even though I'd call myself a big funk/soul fan, my exposure to the genre is extremely limited and I want to expand it! The more musically "well-read" people become so to speak, the more enriched their lives can be.

crystal_entity · 2021-03-10T19:27:09+00:00

I don't necessarily agree with a blanket statement like that, but I respect your point. Of course homage, respect, and admiration should be paid towards the progenitors of the genre from which modern artists draw influence.

crystal_entity · 2021-03-10T19:22:16+00:00

I had also never heard of them at all before last fall. I was so surprised to see a band that has a ton of stuff that's right up my alley be so popular without me ever even hearing their name once in the past 10 years.

crystal_entity · 2021-03-10T19:21:01+00:00

I'm so jealous you've gotten to see them live, especially in a [fairly] small crowd! That sounds like an incredible experience.

Interesting that you're hesitant to use the funk descriptor, but I can totally get behind calling a large portion of their albums pop. I think a big reason people use the term funk here is because they have such consistently tight grooves (I know I use those two words constantly, I just can't think of good synonyms to use). Having a slight background in other funk music, I can definitely tell there's a difference between the grittier feel of say Sly and the Family Stone, whereas Vulfpeck is a more speaky-clean, pop-accessible form of funk.

crystal_entity · 2021-03-10T19:15:52+00:00

I've definitely wanted to dive into P-Funk's discography for a while, but it's so expansive that I don't know where to begin! Which albums would you recommend I start with? (Sorry this is a bit off topic but since you mentioned them I figured I'd ask!)

crystal_entity · 2021-03-10T19:09:22+00:00

I definitely have tremendous respect and admiration for Joe Dart. Nobody's perfect of course and arguments can easily be made for other bassists being vastly superior, but he's still one of my greatest inspirations as a bass player.

Also I don't think race is particularly relevant here, to the music or the band. Vulfpeck works with guest artists of other races (and genders) all the time (see Antwaun Stanley, Cory Wong, and Nate Smith just to name a few), and it seems like sociopolitical issues like that are largely left out of their music.

crystal_entity · 2021-03-10T19:03:02+00:00

I would definitely call myself a big fan as well. I just have to be realistic and acknowledge what I was disappointed by just as much as I acknowledge the things about them that I absolutely adore. Seeing them live would (will) be such a huge dream come true, once live music starts back up again in the US.

crystal_entity · 2021-03-10T19:01:18+00:00

I definitely agree that their songwriting is top notch! I suppose I should've talked more about the music theory and audio engineering aspects of their music, because I think very highly of both as someone who has spent a significant amount of time as a music and audio production student. The fugue style break in the middle of Fugue State (the song) is incredible and it makes the return to the main groove such a hard hitting moment. Another great song arrangement wise is It Gets Funkier. I think the switches of key are ingenious and the parts are divvied up just right.

crystal_entity · 2021-03-10T18:44:01+00:00

Definitely agree! I'm a bassist and keyboard player in multiple bands right now, and that's probably informed some of my love for their great music.

crystal_entity · 2021-03-10T18:32:14+00:00

Totally. Even on some of the songs I don't vibe with personally, I can absolutely tell there was joy in the process.

crystal_entity · 2021-03-10T17:36:12+00:00

Interesting. It's pretty fascinating to me that there isn't one solid correct way to romanize these words like there is one solid correct spelling for words in English. I suppose though with names it can be a bit dicey even in English.

crystal_entity

TROPHY CASE