[Applied Psychology] Doing Better Work

“Today, I helped maybe 10 people. Why not 10,000 people?” When I first started working, I was just happy to help anyone I could. As I become more experienced in both work and life, I see the value in both continually improving my work and the lives of others. This effort requires sacrifice. You might sacrifice leisure for study time or steady work for the chance to do more rewarding, better work. Bands are great examples:

Rating: ★★★★☆ [4/5]
WANNA CONSIDER HOW DOING BETTER WORK IN YOUR FIELD CAN HELP OTHERS? KEEP ON READING!

[Applied Psychology] Differing Opinions Converging

Most people shy away from differing opinions. I embrace them! Nirvana is my favorite band, IDKFA dislikes them, and our debate fortified my opinion. Our differing opinions on Avenged Sevenfold, Metallica’s recent tour opener, converged in a civil way. They were someone I once knew’s favorite band, IDKFA thought they were below average, and I’d see them again. Since “all opinions are valid,” let’s consider the psychology of opinions, especially: why get offended over opinions?

Zombiepaper’s Rating: ★★★★☆ [4/5]
WANNA CONSIDER WHY WE SHOULD EMBRACE DIFFERING OPINIONS? KEEP ON READING!

[Grime/Glitter] Finishing Incomplete Work

“If you listen to a studio album by Tiger Army, that’s how they sound live.” I could also say that the opener act seemed to be an odd choice until watching their co-headliner made me realize they were actually the odd ones out. That’s about all I can say about the concert last month. So why not continue by talking about finishing incomplete work? The ones lingering on their fifth draft and still not done?

Bias: No major biases
Tiger Army Rating: ★★★☆☆ [3/5]
WANNA READ A HALF REVIEW, HALF THOUGHT PIECE ABOUT FINISHING YOUR WORK? KEEP ON READING!

[Concert Review] Wounded Giant (Kraken, 2017)

Wounded Giant are so captivating that I missed something exciting during their performance. Considering my bias for soon seeing them six times, they have the potential to become massively successful. Their musicianship is top notch! Distinctly vibrant melodies guide you through each song like a narrative told through doom metal instead of through letters and words. Other than distributing their music to wider audiences, two hindrances they could refine toward achieving bigger success might be–

WANNA FIND OUT ABOUT THAT HINDRANCE? YES, IT’S A TEASE! KEEP ON READING!

[Concert Review] Melvins (2017)

(The) Melvins have the musicianship and showmanship that could have made them the biggest band in the world. If they cared. They would have been bigger than Nirvana if they removed anything weird about their slightly inaccessible brand of heavy rock. They have the relentless work ethic to compete with The Beatles. Would compromising their sound be worth the money and fame? Would they still be the same Melvins? Or would they fade from relevance?

Rating: ★★★★★ [5/5]
WANNA CONSIDER HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND UNCOMPROMISING? KEEP ON READING!

[Concert Review] Video Games Live (Seattle, 2017)

Video Games Live symphonically celebrates the best of videogame music. Led by composer Tommy Tallarico, the orchestra have performed to sold out theaters worldwide for 12 strong years now. Subjectively, I dig the cultural preservation aspect of the series, respect Tallarico’s composing and reviewing work, and enjoy most classic videogame soundtracks. Objectively, there isn’t much to appeal to folks that aren’t already fans. Can Video Games Live attract wider acceptance to this maligned music genre?

Subjective Rating: “8.0 / 10” (★★★★☆ [4/5])
Objective Rating: “6.5 / 10” (★★★☆☆ [3/5])
WANNA CONSIDER A SIDE NOTE? THAT TRON: LEGACY INTRO, MAN. GENIUS. ALRIGHT, KEEP ON READING!

[Concert Review] Tengger Cavalry, Felix Martin

Musical curveballs are what’s exciting about going to concerts. Prolific performers like Mongolian folk metal band Tengger Cavalry can pick myriad songs to perform, along with touring with diverse performers that can accentuate their sound. On this tour, supporting jazz-meets-metal trio led by Felix Martin informed the audience of the musical intelligence found within Tengger Cavalry’s music. They might also be the most vital proponents, maybe even educators, in the dying art of throat singing.

WANNA BE INFORMED OF A CASUAL OVERVIEW OF THROAT SINGERS? KEEP ON READING!

[Concert Review] Pain in the Grass (2017)

Seattle radio station KISW hosts an annual all-day concert festival, Pain in the Grass, at the White River Amphitheater. This year’s eclectic performers, appealing to their fanbase or appearing in their programming, included Korn, Stone Sour, BABYMETAL, The Pretty Reckless, Yelawolf, and more. This outdoor event is similar to the Warped Tour, except there’s nothing to do except listen to music, or maybe sleep out on the lawn. Were the performances worth risking a sunburn?

Average Rating: ★★★☆☆ [3/5]
WANNA READ ABOUT WHY IT WASN’T A PAIN IN THE GRASS? KEEP ON READING!

[Concert Review] GUITAR WOLF (2017)

Guitar Wolf are fearless! They prove that if you pour work hard and sweat into your labors, you can achieve success on your terms. Though not selling out a 27,500-person capacity venue, selling out an intimate 200-person capacity venue that “normally doesn’t sell out on a weekday” is still an achievement, especially for their anti-conformist take on garage rock! If you can embrace their abrasive noise, they might be the best teachers of fearless motivation.

WANNA LEARN ABOUT FEARLESSNESS IN MUSIC? KEEP ON READING!

[Concert Review] Tool (2017)

“I drove eight hours to get here!” Tool is a progressive metal band that, years after their contemporaries faded from popularity, easily sell out amphitheatres or 27,500 tickets in minutes. Their aggressive intelligence, both musically with complex time signatures rarely seen within rock music and philosophically with lyrics that encourage self-awareness, might be why so many were willing to embark on the odyssey. Was it worth the 7-hour drive compared to watching a live video?

Rating: ★★★★☆ [4/5]
WANNA INSERT RELEVANT TOOL LYRIC HERE? KEEP ON READING!