Music Nation is a Music Video Competition for Independent Artists

LoVE SeX n DeATH says

LSD Salutes you!
First, a history, for those who are not familiar with my "Salutes", or what I'm doing in this comment. Back in the first round, I started to do daily artist spotlights of around 5 bands / artists that I thought I could relate to, and possibly describe in a way that other artists here could relate to, all the while pleasing the spotlighted, even though it may have not been the way they saw themselves. The results were ones of almost overwhelming love, and it was the absolute most fun that I had here at MN as well. Not to mention, besides breaking up the monotony of the voting phase, I was helping to spread the word about other artists here, as well as myself, all the while everyone was getting to know each other. THIS IS WHAT THIS SITE SHOULD BE ABOUT! Not saying totally, but just as one of the basic threads of integrity, made from this kind of moral fiber, that weaves through everyone in a way that even the artist that comes in at #500 out of 500, has gained more than they could have ever expected, or hoped for. What happened? Well, going into round 2, and not being experienced in the h2h, I was overwhelmed with what was going on. Survival mode kicked in and on top of that, in trying to figure out how this all worked, the positive that once ruled my way of thinking and what I did as a result, now engulfed my head with flames of negativity. But remember, life is made up of balance, where it takes the opposite for the other to exist, and this positive that I was doing was born from a negative. It's the only way that I know of, to make a right out of a wrong. It is how most positive things come to be. I believe we usually chalk that up as, "God working in mysterious ways". Personally, I think it's all pretty simple, and we are the ones who made Gods ways to be mysterious by making him out to be what he is not. A being with faults like jealousy, and anger. To me, to even think that, of such great power and love, is a pure sin. But I, am NOT without these faults, and so I do get lost. More than knowing the way actually. So once again, with the many to come, I do apologize. NEVER sorry, but sincerely I apologize. So I'll end with these notes---- E sharp / F flat / B sharp / C flat. LMAO! (Did I forget to mention, that these also came with dumb jokes that I make up?) Okay, but seriously I'm glad that I did, because I just came up with the significance of this joke, to all of this. Here goes............ Although, just like all of us here at Music Nation, those notes that I mentioned, technically are not recognized nor do they exist. Just like there are no sharps and flats between E and F, or B and C, there is no Love Sex n Death on the radio, in magazines, or on TV. But, if you'd just hit a note, where you'd NATURALLY hit it if I called out those notes, you'd find that although they don't exist "technically", they still have a sound, and they are of great value. Without them, if God were to take away the sound of those notes, music would never be the same, and music of the past would be destroyed. Big, small, existent, or nonexistent we all make an IMPACT. My biggest influence is Led Zeppelin. You know whose just as big of an influence to me? The band KISS. Maybe not so much musically, but everyday after elementary school, when I was so very little, my friends and I would raid our mothers make up, grab acoustic guitars, ukulele's, brooms, and bar stools and set up right in front of a big mirror and amp out in front of it to Kiss "Alive I & II", almost every day. (I always got to be Ace. Uh-huh! Being double jointed in the legs, and having straight long hair got me places.) lol. But getting back to making an IMPACT, the absolute most important influence, even bigger than Kiss or Led Zep.............. the 2 high school stoner's that had me in awe, while they played Pink Floyd and Led Zep songs with 2 acoustic guitars. I'll always remember this as clear as day, even though I was just a little kid when it happened. It was after school, on a late afternoon at my elementary school. It was the place for kids to hang and have fun, being that there were places to sit, big parks / playgrounds, a valley to go exploring in, baseball, basketball, etc. But I had never seen 2 kids jam before. And I had sure as hell never seen, anyone play rock songs live before. Not to mention, these were songs that to my understanding could only be played by it's great creators, and now, they were being played with these simple acoustic guitars, by 2 simple kids. I never saw those local kids as just stoner's ever again. They put an indescribable feeling and determination in me, that I can only describe as "being lost, but knowing what direction you're going in, and where it goes, not knowing what is there for you, yet knowing all that this place contains, and having a pure love for all of it, and knowing that it's there for me". So "Led Zep" might be the fire, and "Slipknot" or "Pantera" or even YOU, the fuel that keeps my influential fire going, but most important was that spark made by the passing of 2 boys on a simple day. That's the kind of IMPACT, that I'm talking about. I said in the beginning of the spotlights that I was doing here at MN, that since I was getting a lot of attention because of the high placement that I held in round 1, that I wanted to share it by spreading the love by way of plugging other artists. Not doing as well in this round, I questioned, that if any, who would care anymore? But then I found my answer! There are 5 artists / bands listed below, that can answer that question. And more will follow. Please keep in mind what I've always said. The number in which these artists are listed, are in NO way listed in order of a rank of any kind. It's just totally random, and should not matter. I also want to state right here and now, that this is NOT to win you over for voting purposes. In fact, that would only stain the whole purpose of the spotlights if you did. I am not saying that I don't want your votes, I'm saying that I don't want it, as result of this. The only way to reward this gesture, is to simply continue the perpetual motion of positive gestures, via promoting others, or in ANY way that you can think of. What I suggest, is a way that you would want done for you. If you happened to hear my stuff because of this, and like it, then great. I would gladly accept your support in the competition. That would be an even greater effect of a good thing as a result of this. If you have your doubts about how genuine this is, I surely cannot blame you, as I would too. Especially if I wasn't familiar with the person writing this. However, one thing is very certain! There is NO question, about WHAT I am saying here, and what it's about. Nor are the effects of it and it's value. When you truly think about the big picture, if everything that I'm saying here continues to grow with all of us, then you'll see that this is NOT about me, it's really all about YOU. About all of us. I'm not asking you to believe in Aaron, but to believe in whatever you think is right. Hopefully, you'll find most of what I've said here to be right. Today, I am standing on a clean slate. The shitty moments of the past, and who it may have involved, along with the drama that followed no longer exists. Mistakes are not the end of a good run, but the beginning of a good lesson. Accepting it removes all the obstacles, and moving on is as easy as walking forward. Here's my first step. Enjoy. Todays SpotLights: Jarah: "falling" http://musicnation.com/music/jarahlette/falling If being impressed by her musical talents of writing and performing wasn't enough, she also holds within her, a stunning voice that was paralyzing to me. I loved how she blends eerie with beauty in her songs, that makes for the same kind of the happy dark feeling that you get from looking at the sky at dusk, on a perfect day. Her use of background melodies with her voice really enhances this effect. Another great example, is her version of "Wont back down". Steelroad: "The Opening". http://musicnation.com/music/steelroad/the-opening I was gonna go with their song, "Sometimes I am the sky", which is another incredible one, but after hearing "the opening", I was pretty damn mesmerized. INCREDIBLE guitar work amongst everything else, I could not help but to hear this a few times. The vocals, lyrics, everything was perfect. It was reminiscent of Pink Floyd and a touch of Jane's Addiction. I must really like eerie, because this too, was hauntingly beautiful. Imaginary Bones: "Sofie". http://musicnation.com/music/imaginarybones/sofie This song truly shows how this band takes a sound of another era, captures it, and lets it go into the world of now, with a crystal clear sound of driving drums and bass, along with different guitar melodies, and classic vocals that gets the point of the lyrics across without hesitation. Very easily lovable! Harbour Grace: "One Step". http://musicnation.com/music/harbourgrace/one-step This is a live video of their song "One Step", and I have to say that they fucking rock. It showed truly great vocals, a tight band, and an in-fucking-credible tone of guitars. That kind of crunch, with melodic smooth vocals = fucking awesome. Harbour Grace, is nothing short of impressive. 5 Tongues: "Cool Aide". http://musicnation.com/music/5tongues/cool-aide This song would have made the Reverend Jim Jones proud. lol. Seriously, I wanted to do a spotlight on them a while back when I heard this song. The music is fucking incredible, and I especially loved the singers voice in this one. And although this band has all kinds of great songs, I personally think that this is the style and sound that truly shows their greatness. With a heavy-ish sound along with really cool time changes, there's a background of different melodies of piano and guitar that separates this from the norm, and gives it a really cool feel, versus the lyrics. It says in their bio, "kill the band on the radio". Well, you'd better watch out for what you wish for guys, because this could easily be a hit song. That's my word. Peace. LSD PS. Ben Vandagriff is a stud. (you asked. lol.)