God I'm tired. Thinking about joining a band and doing shows, get me out and away from the house.
Good god.
Anyways, I haven't had any free time lately to sit down and listen to music to a point where I can review it so it might be a week or two before you see a new blog. Im even thinking of starting to make them come out on Tuesdays. New albums are release every Tuesday, might as well pick up something I post here as well. Items in the wood-work:
The Demonstration - Accidents With Intelligence
Neutral Milk Hotel
Mastodon - Blood Mountain
Isis - Wavering Radiant, along with Oceanic
Intronaut - Prehistoricisms
Maybe a Red Sparrow album
maybe some older albums too. I don't know, too much is and has been going on to do anything.
Speaking of Isis, I might go to one of their shows coming up. The Mastodon show was crazy as hell so I want to see what Isis will be like.
Im done, cheers.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
The Mars Volta - De-Loused in the Comatorium (2003)
After leaving At the Drive-In, Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and Cedric Bixler Zavala went onto create the Mars Volta. A beautiful, dangerous and ground breaking group that is sure to set the standards for all experimental rock, if not all rock bands to come. The first full length album, courislly titled, “De-Loused in the Comatorium” proves this beyond a shadow of a doubt.
The album, made pretty much right after leaving AtDI, if not before, is jaw dropping. Cedric voice, although known mostly now days as the high pitch serpent that it is, is reeling back and forward between its post-hardcore rants to an almost Robert Plant sound, spouting out the overly difficult to follow lyrics. His words are passionate, though, filled with lo
ve and pain. It makes sense once you understand about the back-ground of the album and who inspired it. Omar playing and band directing, however, is remarkable. He brings a sound that we’ve all heard before in Spanish music, but twists it and turns it from traditional to rock ballets and then to some other form of music. Cedric voice is one thing, but it is Omar’s arrangements that make the album.
The album artwork is pretty cool itself. Throughout the pages holds random quotes, drawing, and information to decode the album and the story that it tells. From research that I’ve found, the story follows a character named Cerpin Taxt who overdoses on painkillers and is taken into a inder world where all of his creations have come to life. All of this happens while he’s in coma. He finally wakes to find that the world is left is much better than the world he’s living in and kills himself….I’m not kidding.
The one down side to the album is the band’s used of ambient sound-scape. For instance, the song, “Cicatriz ESP” is 12 minutes and 29 seconds long, give or take your computer or cd-player. However, a long muffling occurs around 6:00 minutes in with the music falling out from behind it. The music then picks back up around 9:20. 3 minutes of ambient and random guitar playing. I guess it might be a cooling down period for the listener but still, 3 minutes is a little overkill. The other downside is the story. The album booklet doesn’t come with the lyrics but you could’ve brought a little booklet that tells you the story, confusingly and give you the lyrics. I didn’t like that idea but it worked in the long run, I guess.
Over all though I enjoyed the album, it is exciting and confusing as it is haunting and beautiful. It begins as abruptly as it ends. It’s a defining moment in music that cannot be passed up. Go get this album, it’s worth the money. 5 out of 5 stars. Enjoy the music folks.
Cheers!
The album, made pretty much right after leaving AtDI, if not before, is jaw dropping. Cedric voice, although known mostly now days as the high pitch serpent that it is, is reeling back and forward between its post-hardcore rants to an almost Robert Plant sound, spouting out the overly difficult to follow lyrics. His words are passionate, though, filled with lo
ve and pain. It makes sense once you understand about the back-ground of the album and who inspired it. Omar playing and band directing, however, is remarkable. He brings a sound that we’ve all heard before in Spanish music, but twists it and turns it from traditional to rock ballets and then to some other form of music. Cedric voice is one thing, but it is Omar’s arrangements that make the album.The album artwork is pretty cool itself. Throughout the pages holds random quotes, drawing, and information to decode the album and the story that it tells. From research that I’ve found, the story follows a character named Cerpin Taxt who overdoses on painkillers and is taken into a inder world where all of his creations have come to life. All of this happens while he’s in coma. He finally wakes to find that the world is left is much better than the world he’s living in and kills himself….I’m not kidding.
The one down side to the album is the band’s used of ambient sound-scape. For instance, the song, “Cicatriz ESP” is 12 minutes and 29 seconds long, give or take your computer or cd-player. However, a long muffling occurs around 6:00 minutes in with the music falling out from behind it. The music then picks back up around 9:20. 3 minutes of ambient and random guitar playing. I guess it might be a cooling down period for the listener but still, 3 minutes is a little overkill. The other downside is the story. The album booklet doesn’t come with the lyrics but you could’ve brought a little booklet that tells you the story, confusingly and give you the lyrics. I didn’t like that idea but it worked in the long run, I guess.
Over all though I enjoyed the album, it is exciting and confusing as it is haunting and beautiful. It begins as abruptly as it ends. It’s a defining moment in music that cannot be passed up. Go get this album, it’s worth the money. 5 out of 5 stars. Enjoy the music folks.
Cheers!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Portugal. The Man - Church Mouth (2007)
“Church Mouth” is the very reason why I started listening to Portugal. The Man. The second release has a southern feel, the double-sided lyrics and the style of the band offers much to the listen as any other of their albums.
Highlights of the album would have to be the band, the music, and the words. The band is highly in tune, playing in sync with each other. Their harmony with each other either gives a song a Baptizes chorus or an eerie effect. This adds to the music as they mix bl
ues and gospel with their already jazz, rock and R&B feel. This is hinted at more than once in songs like: “Dawn,” “Children,” and “The Bottom.” Each song is full with lyrics that speech out of each side of the mouth.The burned bulbs of the album would really have to be “speed bumps.” Basically something that slows down the album which can take place from song to song or even in one song. Such as “The Bottom” where we get the drawn out end chorus which just slows down the song. I guess these can be forgiven with an awesome record that “Church Mouth” is.
But this album is really a slower record, meant to be enjoy on a lazy day or on a drive one sunny day. This is why I really do like the album, it’s meant to be slow and allow you to digest everything brought to your ears. Though I understand this, I have to give “Church Mouth” 4 out of 5 stars. A great album, but if you’re new to Portugal. The Man then you might want to pick up “Censored Colors” first.
Enjoy the, and yours’, music.
Cheers!
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes (2008)
Ah, Fleet Foxes, a rarity indeed. A band, that I just so happen to come across one late night, who found a place in my heart. I can’t say I’ve heard a band that has gotten me as ecstatic as this on just their first, self titled at that, album.
The sound and feel of the album is that of the seasons Fall and Winter. You can just see the leaves turn brown, red, and yellow in the chilled air, and yet you have a smile on your face the whole time. It’s also really great driving music for those long trips and that’s only the beginning. Singer and main song writer Robin Pecknold voice and words are full of age and wisdom, while
there are hints at pain and sorrow under his soft voice that brings a tear to your eye. As well, his voice harmonized beautifully with the rest of the band, Skyler Skjelset, Nicholas Peterson, Casey Wescott, and Craig Curran. Their single and biggest hit, “White Winter Hymnal” goes beyond to show this natural harmony, as well as, “Quiet Houses.” (Video of White Winter Hymnal at the bottom.)
I didn’t really hear much of a problem with the album nor band. They do seem to show some progressive tendencies in some of their songs which come mostly in the form of end-of-song jam sessions (ie; The ending of “He Doesn’t Know Why.”). This isn’t a bad thing at all, so don’t get me wrong here. Though they need to order their album just a little different, the does slow down a little from time to time with a slower, sadder song. Example: Going from Ragged Wood to Tiger Mountain Peasant Song slows downs the album because of they both began.
So in the end, I did enjoy this album to its’ fullest. A number of songs will never leave my player from this album alone. This is a band you shouldn’t ignore and by listening and then buying this album, you will understand what I mean. 5 out of 5 stars for this bad boy. Pick it up today and get on the Fleet Foxes band wagon. Enjoy your music folks.
Cheers!
The sound and feel of the album is that of the seasons Fall and Winter. You can just see the leaves turn brown, red, and yellow in the chilled air, and yet you have a smile on your face the whole time. It’s also really great driving music for those long trips and that’s only the beginning. Singer and main song writer Robin Pecknold voice and words are full of age and wisdom, while
there are hints at pain and sorrow under his soft voice that brings a tear to your eye. As well, his voice harmonized beautifully with the rest of the band, Skyler Skjelset, Nicholas Peterson, Casey Wescott, and Craig Curran. Their single and biggest hit, “White Winter Hymnal” goes beyond to show this natural harmony, as well as, “Quiet Houses.” (Video of White Winter Hymnal at the bottom.)I didn’t really hear much of a problem with the album nor band. They do seem to show some progressive tendencies in some of their songs which come mostly in the form of end-of-song jam sessions (ie; The ending of “He Doesn’t Know Why.”). This isn’t a bad thing at all, so don’t get me wrong here. Though they need to order their album just a little different, the does slow down a little from time to time with a slower, sadder song. Example: Going from Ragged Wood to Tiger Mountain Peasant Song slows downs the album because of they both began.
So in the end, I did enjoy this album to its’ fullest. A number of songs will never leave my player from this album alone. This is a band you shouldn’t ignore and by listening and then buying this album, you will understand what I mean. 5 out of 5 stars for this bad boy. Pick it up today and get on the Fleet Foxes band wagon. Enjoy your music folks.
Cheers!
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