++ Ultra – What You Think You Know But Isn’t So
Listen, the next group of people who will collectively go crazy are likely to line themselves up in front of television studios with news clipping articles (likely printed out by themselves) stapled to their chests. They won’t recite prayers either, but talk show hosts’ monologues. They’ll create new religions that blend ancient spirituality with modern conspiracy theories. They might get an anthem written about them by ++ Ultra.
But you’ll have to decide whether you want to join. Most likely, you’ll need to decide on the spot, and there won’t be any way to study the organisation’s rhetoric through reading their Wiki page. The truth is up to interpretation, and you’ll discover bits and pieces of it through every conversation you have with people. You will, however, never be able to put all the pieces together yourself.
Have the last years made you crazy? You’re not entitled to any kind of compensation, but you will likely want to move forward. ++ Ultra’s “What You Think You Know But Isn’t So” is a tense rock song about our collective sense of paranoia. And while this, specifically, concerns the period of lockdowns that’s still fresh in the minds for some, the songwriter’s political opinion isn’t really the point here.
The point is that if you’re not going to go crazy, your neighbour will. “What You Think You Know But Isn’t So” is really a song about how we’re all connected and meant to pull each other to the bottom.
The Silhouet – Be the King
“Ambition” is often a dirty word, and not least of all in the world of alternative music. Those who have some of it are viewed with suspicion by their peers. Those who have a lot of it are actively disliked as if failing to succeed at doing something you love is, somehow, a badge of honour. But someone has to buy the Aston Martins and headline the stadium gigs, and why shouldn’t that be you?
That’s the attitude that The Silhouet works with and without any shame of how that might be viewed by those “in the know.” That attitude may well turn out to be helpful, especially considering the kind of heroes that modern rock music has embraced. While the likes of Kurt Cobain or Jimi Hendrix have done terrific things for art, they’ve also helped to create the image of the modern rock musician as someone who wants no part in the success that they’ve helped to create.
Rock fans oughtn’t lose hope just yet, and neither should practitioners of this art. What’s wrong with having your rock tune chanted by thousands of well-thrilled fans? The rock groups of old are still doing this and facing little backlash for it. With this in mind The Silhouet’s “Be the King” is a swaggering song about wanting it all, not being ashamed to admit it, and gladly taking on the burden of responsibility. It’s a catchy tune that sits at the intersection of 90s US rock and modern Euro metal a la Volbeat. It’s a strong composition and with the required “right attitude” in tow, why wouldn’t this be the hit that this group wills it to be?
