A playlist of the internet age: “As I Watch My Life Online”
Source: latenightdrivehome.com
Indie rockers Late Night Drive Home from the El Paso area of Texas and New Mexico just released their first full-length album entitle As I Watch My Life Online on June 27th. This remarkable 13 track record blends many elements of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pink Floyd, The Strokes, and The Cars to document society’s increasing addiction to the internet.
Andre Portillo, Juan “Ockz” Vargas, Brian Dolan, and Freddy Baca are Late Night Drive Home – Source: teamwass.com
What sets this album and band apart are how the melodies, lyrics, and rhythms change their pace and tempo at the speed of a mouse click. Just when you think you’ve figured out a song, it reboots into overdrive, switches formats, or becomes the latest version of a downloaded app that diverts from the original. This is not a bad thing, though I would have preferred the second half of “Terabyte” remain closer to the first half.
“It’s not that dangerous
It’s just self expression
It’s just my depression
It’s just my addiction
It’s just my religion
And a mix of all the tension
It’s cultural analysis
For those with short attention”
“As I Watch My Life Online” – lyrics by Late Night Drive Home
What makes As I Watch Myself Online really standout is amount the introspection the band puts into it. The lyrics are not written as an ode to the digital age nor as superficial candy-coating, but they explore the many impacts (both good and bad) and contradictions the internet has created in our everyday lives.
“Be careful what you say
Be careful what you say
We don’t care what you say
You’re an addict either way”
“As I Watch My Life Online” – lyrics by Late Night Drive Home
Favorite tracks from this album include:
“American Church”
“Day Two” – so Strokesque!
“Opening A Door”
“If I Fall (Would You Crawl Under My Skin)”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqbtKgTjl4I&list=RDiqbtKgTjl4I&start_radio=1
“Last Seen Online” – The Cars would be very proud!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tO43E_SI-w&list=RD0tO43E_SI-w&start_radio=1
“Uncensored on the Internet”
“Deadstar”
“Modern Entertainment”
“As I Watch My Life Online”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktIlcVZoez0&list=RDktIlcVZoez0&start_radio=1
“Terabyte”
If you get the opportunity, be sure to check out this record on you favorite streaming or video service. It’s not often that I get geeked about concept albums, but “As I Watch My Life Online” is so reflective of modern human life in the uber-digital age, it deserves many well-earned accolades.
Peace!
#albums #digital #ElPaso #fun #internet #internetAge #LateNightDriveHome #lyrics #music #PinkFloyd #records #RedHotChiliPeppers #songs #TheCars #TheStrokes #tracks #tunes #videos