SEEINGTHEDARK.COM tag:seeingthedark.com,2011-02-25://2 2012-05-17T08:22:37Z2012-05-11T07:59:30Z2012-05-07T05:05:08Z2012-05-07T04:55:00Z2012-05-02T02:58:55Z2012-04-27T14:31:24Z2012-04-25T20:33:44Z2012-04-23T18:35:05Z2012-04-21T13:54:08Z2012-04-21T03:28:28Z Movable Type 5.04 arbitrary list of albums that have been good to me (9-14). tag:seeingthedark.com,2012://2.322 2012-05-17T08:09:00Z 2012-05-17T08:22:37Z I decided to put together a day-by-day list of 30 albums than have been good to me. You can go... saturnine I decided to put together a day-by-day list of 30 albums than have been good to me. You can go back and read/listen to the first eight, or skip on ahead to the latest group.

I am now reaching a point of indecision over which albums are going to make this list and struggling to not write ahead on days I feel particularly generous. This exercise is proving to be an excellent excuse to listen to bands and albums I haven't listened to in a while, too, which is great. Hopefully the greatness shall continue as I find which albums I'm going to have to drop.

Arbitrary list of albums that have been good to me (9 to 14)

#9: Ladytron - Witching Hour. Early on I was better readied for plodding heavy doom through dance and electronic than I was through my metal history. While I've all but abandoned Ladytron and their familiars now, for a while they were the perfect low mood music that I could turn on and leave on. They also gave me one of my funniest concert moments: watching a little fat guy dance to "Fighting In Built Up Areas" like he was forced farting out of each side of his ass with every "bass" hit. Dude just didn't care. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPZoaGqLGpQ

#10: Kyuss - Welcome to Sky Valley. If it's a hot day, such as today, "100 Degrees" is stuck in my head. This album is indisputably great. Among my musical associates it's passé in comparison to the other awesomeness happening out there, but it's a fucking crime that the general public is not aware of it, or them. Kyuss, and especially this album, was my bridge between hyper-favoritism & extreme musical elitism and the shovel-it-all-in approach I've taken since: they helped me realize that there were quality bands out there besides Tool, and without a hint of pretension. In short, 1994 Kyuss is untouchable. In shorter, KYUSS!!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff9bWsc2UOo

#11: Pearl Jam - Ten. I haaaaated Pearl Jam growing up. Then I became a sensitive little flower for a couple of years and I could suddenly understand the appeal. At this point it's 20 years of brainwashing working against me. It's like a voice in my head... saying seize the day, pull the trigger, drop the blade, and watch the rolling heads. Wait, what? Anyway, this album flows well, and the last song so well matches the first that it begs to be listened to twice. And then you kill yourself after the second play of "Black" because you're like that. I'LL NEVER LOVE AGAIN! *sob* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvHsm46uVqU

#12: Mastodon - Leviathan. Mastodon was an excellent investment. I wanted to go to more concerts, but the kinds of music I was intent on, I was never really sure I could put up with their crowds, nor traveling and insomnia and after-the-fact social isolation, and usually wouldn't go. Then I saw Mastodon. I came home covered in bruises and other people's sweat, and it was so god damn awesome that I have since gone metal stupid. Mastodon has changed a lot since Leviathan and I don't care for said changes, but for lighting a fire under my ass to get me to pursue more metal and attend concerts on my own, I still love them. Also, stockholm syndrome. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSCBArT3TT4

#13: Le Tigre - Le Tigre. Ten years ago, Le Tigre broke me out of a radio metal/prog/grunge rut on the long road to variety. For as much as I listened to it then, and as much as I've listened to, quoted, or lip synched "Deceptacon" since, its lyrics still regularly get stuck in my head at the worst possible moments. This album is another example of how rawness, honest sharing, and making the most of what you've got is more important in the grand scheme than being technically gifted... but now that I mention it, I haven't listened to Behold The Actopus in a while. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHOZwyNilZs

#14: Sheavy - The Electric Sleep. I gave Black Sabbath a proper chance because of Sheavy and my ignorance of the 'joke', so there's that. They became irritating as I got into "heavy", but there was a year where I had Sheavy on repeat, and this album is great (read: a classic) if you can overlook the hyena. The lyrics just might be the best part, and are especially effective if you've ever discovered you're a robot, had a crush on a porn star, and/or had an internet relationshit. Me: all three! Also, username? It comes from this album. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WpHRbMsmKM

]]> arbitrary list of albums that have been good to me (1-8). tag:seeingthedark.com,2012://2.320 2012-05-11T07:49:12Z 2012-05-11T07:59:30Z For my birthday, I decided to put together a day-by-day list of albums than have been good to me, and... saturnine For my birthday, I decided to put together a day-by-day list of albums than have been good to me, and it has proven more than enough musical written thought for me most days since I started - hence the lack of posting. Since posting all 30 at once would be too much, nevermind that I haven't written 22 of them yet, here are the first eight.

Arbitrary list of albums that have been good to me (1 to 8)

#1: Electric Wizard - We Live. This one is very easy to turn on and leave on til the end, something I'm not good at doing. Electric Wizard is great for gradual hearing damage, calming hate, pretending to be an endarkened weed wizard, apocalyptic visions, and dying one's hair black. In short, I AM THE GOD OF HELLFIRE. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NKdM2ZWtL8

#2: Marilyn Manson - Antichrist Superstar. This album has aged surprisingly well considering its teenage goth rebel connotations. It's packed with great lyrics of the hateful, culturally rebellious kind and carries meaning beyond for the performance inclined. "I am the idiot who will not be himself" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nXCZhqTIps

#3: !!! - Myth Takes. This album has proven itself wonderful for space-the-fuck-out situations, including but not limited to repetitive activities like cleaning. It's comfortably warm while still being rock, intellectually stimulating, and heavy on the bass. The ridiculous electronic sounds work really well as presented without being distracting, and the vocals are amazing... despite him sounding like a jerk and a spazz. I suspect he doesn't give a fuck about that motherfucking shit... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysCORaPAPq4

#4: Akimbo - Jersey Shores. 2008 was an amazing year for music for me, and the discovery of Akimbo contributed heavily to that. Jersey Shores may take a while to click if you're not already into a spacious, psychedelic sludge sound, but the whole-album-listen payoff is well worth repeat tries (I recommend the cherry pick method until you're ready for 47 minutes of HOLY SHIT WHAT JUST HAPPENED TO ME). Witnessing this album live was, in short, life changing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4Dr2r4b-bI

#5: Staind - Tormented. You might coil back in horror, but this album is a thousand times more honest and raw than subsequent radio Staind. The album's about a guy's extremely angsty, hateful, sometimes unintentionally comedic journey to suicide, ending with a dramatic gunshot. It goes great with terrible, people-hating moods: "I don't give a fuck about all of your problems / I could give a rat's ass how you're feeling today / Take your worldly advice and shove it straight up your ass / Thanks for coming around to fuck up my day" was my mantra at 17. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJL9rjnZD8Y

#6: Gojira - From Mars to Sirius. Gojira: progressive death metal with a hippie environmentalist, love thyself & thy neighbor, thoughtful lyrical tone, making them great for dumbass society rebellion in addition to the obvious musical challenge. Their latest two releases are both standards-raising, but From Mars to Sirius wins me over with immediacy and aggression (and an occasional snicker), with "The Heaviest Matter Of The Universe" easily living up to its name. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWivRmSoxs0

#7: Black Elk - Black Elk. Much hate had been filling my soul at the time I heard Black Elk, but that didn't alter the fact that my evil smirk turned into hysterical laughter by the third song of this album. It's "full on" to say the least. Between erratic but wholly effective noise metal and Tom Glose's whacked out nonsense vocals and morbid lyrics apparently about a pet getting brutalized by mother nature, I became an insta-fan. While the laughing has subsided, "How do you feel about natural selection?" and "TA YA TA DAH WAH" are still two of the greatest lines, ever, and "Eyebone" remains one of my favorite songs of all time. Their early internet presence sucks, so I leave you with an event link. https://www.facebook.com/events/391858710841708/

#8: Monster Magnet - Powertrip. Yeah, I fucking said it. I also said this years ago: "[Some guy] posted a photo of his tattoo. spine of god artwork, ON HIS SPINE. i think he has more dedication than i do. it would be ridiculously cool if it wasn't for the fact that the bullgod artwork is mediocre. i'm nothing if i'm not a heretic. let's root for the underdog and then fuck it!! okay! let me get my coat!" This album is responsible for how I got into stoner rock. I owe it a six hundred page letter describing how it ruined my life, but instead I'll just say thanks, Dave! Here's $43 more dollars for you to burn! lol debt. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0ERMy2wPKQ

]]> pian oh god. tag:seeingthedark.com,2012://2.319 2012-05-07T05:00:18Z 2012-05-07T05:05:08Z I'm going through old links. Here's a cover of "Eyes in Disguise" by a nice Australian named Dinky. I am... saturnine I'm going through old links. Here's a cover of "Eyes in Disguise" by a nice Australian named Dinky.

I am an asshole.

]]> sleepy kitten. tag:seeingthedark.com,2012://2.318 2012-05-07T04:49:47Z 2012-05-07T04:55:00Z I may have posted this before. Perhaps you've seen it elsewhere. Doesn't matter, too bad, you're seeing it again. I... saturnine I may have posted this before. Perhaps you've seen it elsewhere. Doesn't matter, too bad, you're seeing it again.

I have felt this.

]]> gojira still sounds like gojira. tag:seeingthedark.com,2012://2.317 2012-05-02T02:53:31Z 2012-05-02T02:58:55Z If you haven't heard it yet now is as good a time as any; you're only three or four days... saturnine If you haven't heard it yet now is as good a time as any; you're only three or four days behind the rest of the metal internet. I heart Gojira and I'm really looking forward to the release date of this album.

]]> black tusk - bring me darkness tag:seeingthedark.com,2012://2.315 2012-04-27T14:16:14Z 2012-04-27T14:31:24Z Black Tusk is one of the most energetic bands I've seen live. I felt great after that show. They released... saturnine Black Tusk is one of the most energetic bands I've seen live. I felt great after that show. They released a new album - Set The Dial - last year, and it's full of that sort of hyperactive, semi-aggressive ridiculousness I got to witness for a while on stage that night. Here's one of the songs. Try not to hear my jealous cries about the European folks that get to see them live with Red Fang (jerks) this year. They're somewhere between the second and third "six!"

]]> a song about abuse. tag:seeingthedark.com,2012://2.313 2012-04-25T20:22:07Z 2012-04-25T20:33:44Z I find Marilyn Manson's artistic line-crossing admirable. Perhaps the fact that he/they were one of the earlier bands I... saturnine

I find Marilyn Manson's artistic line-crossing admirable.

Perhaps the fact that he/they were one of the earlier bands I gave a try is why I'm able to separate myself from my music, where I do not partake in the subject matter of its lyrics or social impressions, now. Or perhaps I was always this way and all that's happened is that I've found the right pseudo-rebellious, offensive, or personally contradictory music to enjoy.

Either way, I'm pleasantly surprised by the new album.

]]> witch mountain + lord dying jamboree. tag:seeingthedark.com,2012://2.312 2012-04-23T18:16:33Z 2012-04-23T18:35:05Z Finally, I can talk about this. Witch Mountain is not only releasing a new album in June, but they're going... saturnine Finally, I can talk about this. Witch Mountain is not only releasing a new album in June, but they're going on tour then, too. And they're touring with fuckin' Lord Dying. Guys, guys... really, guys. If they pass by you, go see them. Here are the dates (with more to come for Lord Dying):

Fri 4/27 - Hub Bar & Grill - Centralia, WA - Witch Mountain, Seventh Silence (free show)
Fri 5/4 - Tiger Bar - Portland, OR - Witch Mountain, Tombstalker, Avi Dei
Sat 5/5 - Cloud 9 - Corvallis, OR - Witch Mountain, Norska, Arcweld
Sat 6/2 - The Ritz - Tampa, FL - Scion Rock Fest: Down, Sleep, Church of Misery, Witch Mountain, The Atlas Moth
Sun 6/3 - The Earl - Atlanta, GA - Witch Mountain, Lord Dying, Order of the Owl
Tue 6/5 - The Haunted Mill - Belmont, NC - Witch Mountain, Lord Dying, Monarchist, Pig Mountain
Wed 6/6 - King's Barcade - Raleigh, NC - Witch Mountain, Lord Dying, Atrophix
Thu 6/7 - Kung Fu Necktie - Philadelphia, PA - Witch Mountain, Lord Dying
Fri 6/8 - Saint Vitus - Brooklyn, NY - Witch Mountain, Lord Dying, Bezoar
Sat 6/9 - Machines With Magnets - Providence, RI - Witch Mountain, Lord Dying
Sun 6/10 - Great Scott - Boston, MA - Witch Mountain, Lord Dying, Elder
Mon 6/11 - Geno's Rock Club - Portland, ME - Witch Mountain, Lord Dying
Tue 6/12 - Cafe Chaos - Montreal, QC - Witch Mountain
Wed 6/13 - Hard Luck Bar - Toronto, ON - Witch Mountain, Blood Ceremony, Castle
Thu 6/14 - Now That's Class - Cleveland, OH - Witch Mountain, Lord Dying
Fri 6/15 - Mac's Bar - Lansing, MI - Witch Mountain, Lord Dying, Satyrasis, Borrowed Time
Sat 6/16 - Empty Bottle - Chicago, IL - Witch Mountain, Lord Dying
Sun 6/17 - High Noon Saloon - Madison, WI - Witch Mountain, Lord Dying
Mon 6/18 - Off Minor - Dubuque, IA - Witch Mountain, Lord Dying
Tue 6/19 - Bourbon Theatre - Lincoln, NE - Witch Mountain, Lord Dying
Wed 6/20 - Larimer Lounge - Denver, CO - Witch Mountain, Lord Dying
Thu 6/21 - Burt's Tiki Lounge - Salt Lake City, UT - Crucial Fest: SubRosa, Witch Mountain, Lord Dying, Reality
Fri 6/22 - The Shredder - Boise, ID - Witch Mountain, Lord Dying, Cerberus Rex
Sat 6/23 - Backspace - Portland, OR - Witch Mountain, Lord Dying, Spellcaster

Also, in case you didn't know (like I didn't before this morning), Castle - the band Witch Mountain shares a stage with in Toronto - has an album coming out this month. Here's a video.

Fitting pairing, I know.

]]> some days were dark. tag:seeingthedark.com,2012://2.310 2012-04-21T12:34:59Z 2012-04-21T13:54:08Z On June 12th, three albums are set for release. I'm sure there are more, but these are the ones I'm... saturnine On June 12th, three albums are set for release. I'm sure there are more, but these are the ones I'm going to discuss.

Rush - Clockwork Angels
I'm not a fan of Rush and my interest in them is very casual, more confined to radio brainwashing than true appreciation, but it's nice to hear that a quality band is still putting out albums and doing well so far into their career. They put "Headlong Flight" online a few days back, and you should check it out if you have even the slightest inclination towards rock.

Mike Scheidt - Stay Awake
YOB's guitarist frontman is about to debut his solo acoustic project. I've only heard the same samples that were online months ago that most of you would have heard so there's not much to say about this short of how anticipated of a release it is. A few places have managed to hear his material live, and lucky them. While I'm not keen on acoustic/solo work normally as I prefer a fuller sound with drums/bass, the fact that this is coming from mister Scheidt and was recorded by Tad at his personal studio might make all the difference.

Witch Mountain - Cauldron of the Wild
It took Witch Mountain ten years between the first album and the second, and only one between the second and this, the third. Ten years to build material and hone talents made South of Salem startlingly good, and on first impression Cauldron of the Wild sounds more familiar, known, and more of a sigh of relief for the band. Uta's involvement is more obvious, the lyrics more reminiscent of Aranya (especially on "Aurelia"). The blues in Witch Mountain's sound is more enhanced and clearly expressed, and that goes double for the final track "Never Know" which absolutely fucking rules. Profound Lore has uploaded "Beekeeper" for previewing, and of tracks that are totally new to me, I like it best. Even in knowing that Witch Mountain went into the studio to record immediately after getting a new bassist, I don't hear the difference at all - granted, the star of the instrumental band is the guitarist and quality there remains. In short, I recommend you get this... and, in case you're sitting there judging my proximity, I say that as a fan.

In conclusion, Rush reminded me of a live Tool cover of this song:

]]> madness of an architect. tag:seeingthedark.com,2012://2.309 2012-04-21T02:41:37Z 2012-04-21T03:28:28Z Occasionally I find myself jealous of Seattle's music scene, often unfounded in light of what's available to me in nearby... saturnine Occasionally I find myself jealous of Seattle's music scene, often unfounded in light of what's available to me in nearby Portland. However, here are two really good reasons why:

1. Adam Noble Bass of Ladies' Choice Productions.

2. Nik Christofferson of Good To Die Records.

An article can only go so far to show or promote what's going on somewhere, but if these names are unfamiliar to you right now, just keep your eyes and ears peeled and you'll see what I mean. May these two folks inspire you, too.

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