Music of the Month Review: I Forget Where We Were by Ben Howard

By Ana Lete

In high school, I stumbled upon Ben Howard’s debut album, Every Kingdom (2011), after hearing the song “Promise” on an episode of House—and let’s just say that it successfully changed my life. That album is raw. Its lyrics are idealistic in one moment and are tear-jerking the next. And honestly, the sound quality of Howard’s acoustic guitar throughout that album is as crisp as a 50 degree fall day and hard to beat.

Fast forward to October 21^st, 2014, and Ben Howard has released a new full length album entitled,I Forget Where We Were. Compared to Every Kingdom (2011), this album seems more grown up, more reflective, but no less raw. Howard has also made the conscious decision to go from purely acoustic to adding in electric guitar—a move that has been done by the likes of Bob Dylan and Bon Iver and seems to be a natural move for artists who focus heavily on the use of acoustic guitar in their previous albums. After all, a change like going from stripped-down acoustic to electric guitar and effects pedals can either be great or a disappointment. But in I Forget Where We Were (2014), Howard’s use of electric guitar is done tastefully. He uses different effects and harmonics multiple times throughout tracks like “Small Things” and “End of the Affair”, making his shift from acoustic to electric great, not a disappointment.

Lyrically, Howard has maintained the rawness that is felt in tracks like “Promise” and “Black Flies” from Every Kingdom (2011). In I Forget Where We Were (2014), the song, “Evergreen” seems especially raw. In it, Howard sings:

“Take me back to the catacombs/ I am tempted by her love/

Bluest eyes against my own skin/ I have never been so caught up/

Lookin’ around I see memories/ what it was oh what it was/

There in the crowd you said something/ but I can’t remember what.”

This chorus’s lyrics are especially raw due to the melody line and chord progression that is paired with them, but compared to his previous album, the lyrics throughout I Forget Where We Were(2014) seem more reflective and personal in nature than the lyrics from Every Kingdom (2011) seemed to be.

In closing, I Forget Where We Were (2014) makes use of tasteful electric guitar effects in a similar way to the band, Daughter, and is overall reflective and raw. And while Every Kingdom (2011) was crisp and suitable for a fall day, I Forget Where We Were (2014) is the perfect album for all of the snow that is currently covering our campus.

Listen to “Evergreen” by Ben Howard:

Listen to “Conrad” by Ben Howard:

Music of the Month: Foxygen, Ben Howard, and Led Zeppelin

By Ana Lete

This month of October is bringing some exciting new releases in music. On Tuesday, October 14th, Foxygen is releasing their third full length album via Jagjaguwar. The album, …And Star Power, will be 24 tracks of pure Foxygen goodness. So far, Foxygen has only released one single from the upcoming album. However, their single, “How Can You Really?”, definitely fits into the Foxygen album recipe of feel-good 60’s vibes and psychedelic tendencies. And with its upbeat nature and feel-good harmonies, “How Can You Really,” definitely falls into the feel-good 60’s vibe category.

Listen to Foxygen’s “How Can You Really”:

Next, after the success of his Every Kingdom release back in 2008, Ben Howard is coming back with another long awaited full-length album called, I Forget Where We Were, on Monday, October 20th. The recently released single from the album, “I Forget Where We Were,” doesn’t seem all too different from his Every Kingdom (2008) record—Ben Howard’s singing style hasn’t changed dramatically and his lyrics are still extremely emotive and insightful. However, there is one difference. While, Every Kingdom (2008) featured a lot of acoustic guitar, “I Forget Where We Were” includes electric guitar instead. And while his use of electric guitar is extremely tasteful and seems similar to Bon Iver’s use of electric guitar in his second album, whether this is a trend that will continue throughout Ben Howard’s whole upcoming record will have to wait to be seen on October 20th.

Listen to Ben Howard’s “I Forget Where We Were”:

And lastly, Classic Rock fans (or those who have been hunting for that elusive Led Zeppelin IV on vinyl) will rejoice as the next two albums in the lineup of remastered Led Zeppelin albums, Led Zeppelin IV (1971) and Houses of the Holy (1973), are to be released by Jimmy Page on vinyl, CD, and in digital music stores on Tuesday, October 28th. And just like the first three albums that Jimmy Page remastered and released in June, Page has also created deluxe versions of Led Zeppelin IV (1971) and Houses of the Holy (1973) that will include extra audio of alternate takes and demo tracks.

Listen to an alternative take of “The Rain Song” via Pitchfork:

http://pitchfork.com/news/56883-led-zeppelin-share-alternate-mix-of-the-rain-song/

While rumors of a Led Zeppelin reunion are going around again due to the remastered Led Zeppelin albums, it doesn’t look like we will see a reunion any time soon. According to Rolling Stone, Page is up for a reunion, but with Plant’s recently released album, Lullaby and the Ceaseless Roar (2014), from his new band, the Sensational Space Shapers, Plant isn’t bored enough yet to entertain the idea of a Led Zeppelin reunion. He told Rolling Stone, “Do you know why the Eagles said they’d reunite when ‘hell freezes over,’ but did it anyway and keep touring?” …”It’s not because they were paid a fortune. It’s not about the money. It’s because they’re bored. I’m not bored.” So for now, until “hell freezes over” and Plant grows bored with his current pursuits, Led Zeppelin reissues and 1970’s live videos from YouTube will have to suffice.