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July 2008 Archives
Song: "Dance in Dark"
Artist: Proxy
Album: Dance in Dark EP (2008)
My internet is screwed up on my computer, and might be for a while, so I'm not able to search out music as readily as before or listen to music in the same place as I'm posting it. I'll come up with a solution, but in the meantime the next handful of posts are going to be songs from bands I've had around a while and simply not posted, or repeated artist songs.
This artist, however, is new to me (just prior to internet fuckery) and this site. I've been listening to this and similar music a bit recently, mainly quiet but repetitive dance-focused music. It's good for concentration and passing time between much heavier tracks without having to resort to (scream!) indie.
As I said, here are some (mostly) previously mentioned or posted artists. I've decided to go down the thematic route with this. These are all songs that led me to or down the musical path I am today that I discovered when I was 16.
Song: "H."
Artist: Tool
I can pretty much end this post here. But, I shall keep going.
Song: "Freak on a Leash"
Artist: Korn
I was introduced to Korn with Follow the Leader, so it's no wonder this song stands out in my personal history.
Song: "Dragula"
Artist: Rob Zombie
I saw the video for this on tv just before or just after watching Sifl & Olly one day. I thought it was too great and suddenly envisioned my life as a rockstar. Hmm...
Song: "New"
Artist: No Doubt
Wrong turn at Albuquerque. This video played basically every fucking day before school this year of my life. Brainwashing.
Song: "Space Lord"
Artist: Monster Magnet
Oddly, I'd never seen this video before. LOL. Anyhow, <3.
Song: "Enough"
Artist: Gravity Kills
Same subject as the previous song... In any case, I loved Gravity Kills at this time.
Song: "New Model No. 15"
Artist: Marilyn Manson
"Oh look you're like a VCR, stick something in to know just who. you. are." Despite the distaste going around about this guy in recent years, this and other songs are obvious works of genius. I had a fine introduction to music.
Song: "No Quarter"
Artist: Led Zeppelin
Album: Houses of the Holy (1973)
If you're young or you've missed this, listen now.
I was browsing youtube and thought of this idea. All of these songs are in the reject pile for Sounds of Sagittarius, but were songs whose videos I grew up watching and thought were cool at the time or have otherwise been very memorable. I was born in '82, you do the math. All the links go to vids.
"Thriller"
Michael Jackson
"Like A Virgin"
Madonna
"Money For Nothing"
Dire Straits
"Got My Mind Set On You"
George Harrison
"Open Your Heart"
Madonna
"Opposites Attract"
Paula Abdul
"Walk Like An Eygyptian"
The Bangles
"Material Girl"
Madonna
Same deal as the post before this, but with videos I saw in the 90s. No fucking bumblebees here. I hated that damn song. That and the other one. You know the one. Fuck you, Nirvana.
And now it's time for a breakdown...
"My Lovin'"
En Vogue
"Crying" & "Crazy"
Aerosmith
"Fantastic Voyage"
Coolio
"Shoop"
Salt N Pepa
"Who Am I / What's My Name"
Snoop Doggy Dogg
"Waterfalls"
TLC
"Creep"
TLC
I obviously wasn't listening to a lot of rock as a kid, but then...
"Bullet With Butterfly Wings"
Smashing Pumpkins
"Stupid Girl"
Garbage
"Spiderwebs"
No Doubt
"Perfect Drug"
Nine Inch Nails
"Memory Remains"
metallica
"Turn The Page"
metallica
"Breathe"
Prodigy
"Criminal"
Fiona Apple
"Virtual Insanity"
Jamiroquai
"Waiting For Tonight"
Jennifer Lopez
Y2K! Fortunately, I stopped watching videos.
Song: "Hold The Line"
Artist: Toto
Album: Toto (1978)
I saw a video for this song when I was about 21 and it fucking blew my mind. Certainly it's nothing special, but in the same... how often do you get that kind of "heart" out of a singer in a popular video of the band playing these days? Usually they just stand there trying to remember the lyrics or flail about, clearly faking it.
I'm not sure if this is the video I saw anymore because I only saw it once, and I've since changed my mind about this song/artist, but it's still decent enough to post.
Song: "Great White Bull"
Artist: Akimbo
Album: Jersey Shores (2008)
I'm still with the computer issues, but this was necessary.
The closest musical comparison to this band that I've posted about so far are Red Fang, Black Cobra, Big Business, and High on Fire. In other words, this is the first post in a while that actually fits the core of this blog (har har).
If you've arrived from the usual places, you'll probably like this.
Song: don't know the name yet.
Artist: Ancient Age
Album: ... (2007)
I'd seen this name around before. I'm not sure exactly where, but I definitely recognized it when finding out that the band Saviours would be doing a show with them in August. So, I did my research and found this video for you guys.
From what I gather, this band is new as of 2007. As for just this song, they're familiar to The Sword minus a bit of that mind-control consumerism that particular band attracts. In any case, you're sure to like.
Edit: It took me ten months to update this, but... the song is called "Angela".
Song: "Five Years Ahead of My Time"
Artist: Third Bardo
Album: Five Years Ahead single (1967)
I was reminded of this song after hearing a Monster Magnet cover of it. I knew of the The Cramps version, too, which is probably the best one that I know of.
This video begs a lot of questions. More like 45 years late... Apparently the authorities did something about such riff-raff. Or not.
Song: "Triceratops"
Song: "Triceratops (remix A by Acid Girls)"
Artist: HEALTH
Album: HEALTH (2007) / DISCO (2008)
Both versions of this song are decent. If you prefer experimental and noise rock, chose the original. If you prefer electronic and dance, chose the remix. Open minds will give both a listen.
Song: "The Four Horsemen"
Artist: metallica
Album: Kill 'Em All (1983)
Mars is going to exact-conjunct Saturn today, and since I've already posted "Mother Puncher", here's a somewhat more accurate to the astrology song for you all.
Song: "Master of Puppets"
Artist: metallica
Album: Master of Puppets (1986)
One more metallica post because after the last, I had this song stuck in my head. Naturally, this is your fault and you will pay for it.
Song: "Wizard Van Wizard"
Artist: Akimbo
Album: Navigating The Bronze (2007)
What if Fu Manchu's drug of choice was steroids? Or various other trite comparisons...
I didn't care for this song much at first, but it grew on me fast.
Song: "El Doce de Octubre"
Artist: Black Cobra
Album: Bestial (2006)
You can find this album online in various place if you're inclined to look. As may be clear from my previous Black Cobra posts, it's worth it. This band/duo is amazing.
Apparently "the 12th of October" the Sun is at 19 degrees Libra. If you're 26-31 years old, this song is conjunct your Pluto. If you previously didn't know that, you now do. Congratulations. Take your new-found intellectual herpes and spread away.
Song: "Heir Apparent"
Artist: Opeth
Album: Watershed (2008)
This is overdue, but fitting seeing as how I still have computer issues and need to catch up on a few artists who've been neglected. Anyhow, if you haven't heard it, the CD version sounds a lot nicer than youtube allows.
Of course, this song is decent and worth your time regardless of your musical background. It has everything.
Who's going to see High on Fire open for Opeth in September/October..?
Song: "Poney"
Artist: Vitalic
Album: Ok Cowboy (2005)
The video begs the question - What the fuck?
Birds. For real.
If you're seizure-prone, you may want to consider downloading Firefox and getting "Ad Block Plus" before visiting their myspace. It's useful for obnoxious images.
Song: "Prison Sex"
Artist: Tool
Album: Undertow (1993)
I would tell you this is a great, worthwhile song. If you haven't heard it, you are sorely neglecting yourself. If it doesn't immediately appeal, it will. Just give it time. I swear.
Some years ago I would tell you that this is the best song EVER. There is no song better than this one. For serious. It has been my favorite song since the day I bought Undertow, just short of ten years ago, immediately superseding the brief reign of "Space Lord". Feel sorry for my friends at the time. I made mixtapes.
I still love this song... but, today, you get little enthusiasm in comparison to before.
For real.
Song: "Stadium"
Artist: Monster Magnet
Album: Superjudge (1993)
I meant to post this song months ago, but I couldn't find more than a poor sample of the song anywhere. So, this morning, I put together a song-only video of it and uploaded the song for your proper preview and enjoyment.
This is my third most-listened to track on last.fm. I have yet to pinpoint why I've listened to this song so much. Besides the fact that's it's simply great and it's (fucking) Monster Magnet.
Perhaps it's that intro. Or the fuzzy outro. Or that singing. Or that we drove a truck to the ranch of life and came back.. with another brain. I'm not sure one was in their own mind to begin with to come up with the idea of driving in and out of life. Dave totally doesn't do drugs and never has, ever. He just borrows brains from the life farm.
Did you know ah seen your mom with her knees pinned back? You'll pay aye-nee-thing to hear that sound.
Unfortunately, my headphones of a year and a half have decided to protest my existence. (Interesting timing with my computer issues and being sick and other stupid shit going on - Saturn square Mercury, mm?).
Amazon is recommending that I buy the headphones that I had (Sennheiser HD202), the brand/type I've been using for three years. They're great with all types of sound, have been very comfortable, and I'm a huge fan of being able to walk across the room still plugged in. Further, they're fairly cheap. I cannot sustain on 3ft-cord, uncomfortable earphones with poor sound quality so a new pair is already the plan.
Knowing that their lifespan with my habits is a year and a half, I will need a new pair of headphones soon enough. Any recommendations?
I obviously need good, full sound. Noise canceling is a plus. I also need a long cord. Apparently I have a small cranium (unbelievable, I know) but this doesn't make much of a difference since headphones are usually properly adjustable. Usually. Price is definitely an issue.
Anyhow, if you're a headphone connoisseur, comment.
Song: "Beneath"
Artist: Meshuggah
Album: Destroy Erase Improve (1995)
I think I may finally be feeling somewhat better. I did not really mention the sickness I had because I think the lack of internet and headphones speaks enough on its own this month, but it's been around making me not want to post even moreso than these other things. Plus I can't take care of these other things yet. I'm having a moment in life where the use of words like "motherfucker" and "cunt" is highly appropriate.
Thus, this song. First off, the beginning of the song is very much great. So is the end. The whiny guitar and not-singing parts are great, too. I get a little bored with the song overall, but those little pieces make the song quite awesome. Especially that first two minutes. I'm sure you guys are aware of my aesthetic ADD by now and won't let my momentary boredom keep you from enjoying this little piece of compressed joy for yourself.
The album's good, too.
Song: "The Word is Born of Flame"
Artist: 3
Album: The End Is Begun (2007)
I'm surprised at how this song has stuck despite my resistance. I think seeing this band live was very solidifying, but you can hear about that elsewhere. "The Word is Born of Flame" is a really good, building start to this album, and apparently since it feels incomplete by itself, it's the first half of the video song link above.
I have proper internet AND headphones now. Yay(yyyyyyyyy)!
For the record, I'm still taking headphone ideas.
Song: "Opiate Blues"
Artist: Iota
Album: Tales (2008)
This album has quickly grown on me.
Though not as good alone as previously posted Iota tracks, "Opiate Blues" wins for its eclecticness.
Last.fm has recently changed the design of their site, but you can still listen to this album (or this song) with a little adjustment of habit. The player is on the right side of the page now.
Song: "Naked In Front Of The Computer"
Artist: Faith No More
Album: Album of the Year (1997)
What a nice happy little song of aggression.
You probably know or have this already, so you won't mind the less-than-desirable sound in that video. Right? Right.
Song: "Guardrail"
Artist: Fu Manchu
Album: The Action Is Go (1997)
Me and this song here have history. I don't know if it's a momentarily amazingly good song that I've ruined and merely remember as really good, or if it really is as good as I once thought. I would like to think it is... after all, "izth' di'yin sown!"
Song: "The Heaviest Matter of the Universe" (two links)
Artist: Gojira
Album: From Mars to Sirius (2005)
It took me a long time to get into this song in comparison to the other songs on this same album, but during my days of music-lack and subsequent headphone rape, I missed songs like this one so much. How wonderful it is to have this in my life again.
Gojira has a new album called The Way of All Flesh due out October 14th, with a European tour to coincide.
Lyrics:
Lay down fall away
Lie awake
Just cannot move
My arms and legs
I'm paralyzed
Don't recall how to free
Myself from this
In the heart of the dark
My face contorted
Don't know how to
Reach the light
But I feel so bad
Like a freak in a cage
Open the door
Enter your heart
You go so far
Golden unworldly silence
Space flight at speed of light
I cross the clouds and colours
The black hole is calling me
I slide on the horizon
On the frontier not to cross
Black dwarf
Time's gone distorted
In the heart of the dark
A whirl of light
Enter in
The realm of nothingness
I fell the cold, my eyes are shut
My fear is slowly dying
Light years from here
Are my thoughts and cages
I can hear their moan
But now a long deep breath
Is calling
Overtaking time
And now understanding space
I feel united
I do cross light
I feel the living
Here in the center
Stands the light of love
That never can be touched
From greater silence
Shall return
Song: "72 Virgins"
Artist: Shitdisco
Album: Kingdom Of Fear (2007)
I'm going to do a little bit of astrolo-geekin' for ya, here, but: I have Venus in Taurus in my 8th house opposite Jupiter in Scorpio. This is the planet of so-called abundance aligning with a planet about so-called love and taste and social choices, in a sea of Scorpionic type of energy. In short, it's okay that you're a whore, dear. We all are. It's just a matter of the subject.
Songs like this remind me of my friends over the years.
Songs like this also remind me that it sucks getting songs like this stuck in your head.
Song: "Revival"
Artist: The Atomic Bitchwax
Album: TAB 0004 (2008)
This album is probably their overall best since their first. I prefer different, heavier sounds lately, but this song is still pretty effective. I hesitate to call it "stoner rock" since it's just plain rock, but the band still seems somewhere rooted in the genre (think Queens of the Stone Age, whose music is barely "stoner" if at all, especially lately). In any case... nice lyrics.
Song: "Be Stiff"
Artist: Big Business
Album: Tour EP II (2006)
I don't have any links for you just now, but you may know this song from Devo... since it's a cover of Devo's song of the same name. Naturally, it's better simply for the fact that Big Business is doing it.
In any case, it's stuck in my head. Both versions, now, since I had to listen to them both repeatedly to know I really wanted to post this song without a freakin' link. But soon, soon there will be one because I will make one.
All that aside, EE!
Update: I added a download link so you can hear the whole EP.
Song: "Sin"
Artist: Nine Inch Nails
Album: Pretty Hate Machine (1989)
Jesus Christ, I'm fucking exhausted. But, unlike this day a year past, neither of my hands are sending pain signals to my brain. Still, yesterday's show was full of the crazy...
I wasn't paying much attention to what people were "doing" when I was young, so it comes as a surprise to me that my early days of liking this band coincides with many others in that, so often, others' favorite early NIN track is this one.
Despite any sense, it's just so good. If nothing else, how often do you hear the word "effigy" in lyrics?
Song: "Happy Birthday"
Artist: Sons of Kyuss
Album: Sons of Kyuss (1990)
It doesn't make any sense that I would leave the previous post up overnight after recent incarnations, so here you go. Some old Kyuss.
Since this is Kyuss, it is good by default. If you're in any way a fan of Kyuss and you don't have their first "Sons of" Kyuss album, it's a worthwhile find and/or purchase for the songs, like this one, that aren't found elsewhere in their discography.
"Two years ago today" I was listening to Welcome to Sky Valley.
Song: "Crows"
Artist: Vortice
Album: Human Engine (2008)
I love the internet. There is no way I would have heard this band (among many others) any other way.
Vortice reminds me very much of Meshuggah in a slightly more consumer-friendly, bass-heavy format. Thus far this album as a whole sort of trails off into a blur of jack-offery to me, but this song definitely has something quickly appealing.
Song: "Blood, Milk, And Sky"
Artist: White Zombie
Album: Astro-Creep: 2000 (1995)
Do you really need a link to this, really?
This song reminds me very much of my teenage years. I think the first time I heard it I was in a friend's car, probably driving around late at night. And this is very much a "late at night" song.
Song: "Pushit"
Artist: Tool
Album: Aenima (1996)
This song also reminds me of late-at-night existence.
I had had this album a while. One day, skipping school sometime in the middle of my junior year, I stayed home to do some pseudo-artistic projects. I got carried away and couldn't press stop after the songs I liked best had played unless I wanted to ruin my music player. So I let the album play all of the way through, for the first time actually sitting through "Pushit". I was in exactly the mood and mindset for it.
It's strange looking back these days at my inability to get through a nearly ten minute song, having to do it basically by force, when one of my favorite songs of late is 23 minutes long and I consistently get through ten minute long tracks without issue.
Even still, tracks like this take a bit of work on the listener's part due to the subject matter and delivery. This is not exactly an "every day" song, unless maybe you're a masochist. In the right mood and mindset, however, "Pushit" is fucking amazing.
I give you no link out of principle. Buy the album.
Song: "Wrecked Nation"
Artist: Brothers of the Sonic Cloth
Album: ...
Though myspaced in quality, this song is still full of the tasty genre-ific metal goodness you lack in your life. This band shows promise.
Song: "Pirana"
Artist: Torche
Album: Meanderthal (2008)
This band is like a few others in that you scratch your head wondering why their band's genre is typically called stoner metal and they're known best around stoner circles. Certainly they're musically heavy and loud, somewhere in the vein of "sludge", but their overall feel is removed from that of typical stoner music. Still, the albums they've put out seem to appeal to that crowd.
As far as I'm concerned, this is "introduction to the genre" material for people who can't handle actual stoner metal yet (other variables apply).
"Pirana" is a highly energetic, jumpy track. It's a short song, which sucks because it's the one that appeals to me the most on this album thus far.
Song: "The Geeks Were Right"
Artist: The Faint
Album: Fasciinatiion (2008)
Okay, to justify this... I'm posting it because it's obviously a drug song, yet most of those on the internet don't seem to see that and are attempting to analyze it beyond surface appearance. It's funny, yet irritating, that people can be so stupid.
Quote from another blog (related, but not): [It's] a thundering, bass-heavy assault of grimy synths, grungy guitars, and skull-pounding beats ... Oh really? It has bass. It's not an "assault" of bass - you get that from metal or heavy dance. It's a pop-rock dance song, like all of the other Faint songs. The bass is gentle and groovy. Grunge is not a way to describe the guitars, either. They're far, far too light. What this song is is damn catchy (I've warned you guys about this band before), bouncy, cute, non-pretentious, warm, and a nice song to listen to between hits of " Ecstasy" and acid ("Supernaut").
Song: "23"
Artist: Blonde Redhead
Album: 23 (2007)
I looked up this album when it came out over a year ago. It was lost on me. I haven't tried to come back to it since it just sounds so far away from any place I've been visiting, musically, since even before that time. Regardless, this individual song came on random earlier, and I was reminded of the place I was "in" when and just before I heard it for the first time.
I don't mind the haunting melancholy present here. I'm no longer in this mood, but it's interesting to look back on.
(Not-interesting side note: just reached 2323 hits today.)
Song: "Month of Sundays"
Artist: Sheavy
Album: Blue Sky Mind (1996)
Short of purposeful distortion, this is the coolest most incoherent song on the planet. I dare you to actually sit down and try to write out the lyrics to this song. All of them.
In memory, I was listening to this song the most in mid-2005, when I first joined last.fm and when I first had a new kitten in my house. I used to make the poor, innocent kitten head bang upside-down to the song. He liked it. He would, because being my cat, he better have taste. I don't.
Anyway, ADD aside, this is a pretty cool song. The world honestly needs more Sheavy (and Red Fang, too, for that matter!). Check it out... and let the blue sky fill up your mind.
Song: "From Mars"
Artist: Dozer
Album: Dozer/Unida Split (1999)
And I know.. you're like a stone.. soaring down... soaring down.
Both Dozer and Unida's songs on this split CD are great. Unida of course, but I'm not always interested in Dozer's material. Their songs here go down the path of stoner rock to a T - familiar, warm and rich in sound, and welcoming in nature. Those who have not been introduced to "stoner rock", especially coming from a modern radio or classic rock background, will find this album very, very rewarding.
As for the song, I think much of what I said about the album itself applies. Give it a listen over at last.fm.
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