[68] Atriarch, Saviours, Witch Mountain, Ludicra, Yob (2009)

Short review: I thought Trees played last year. SOUPA! Has bass. Fans of Mastodon. Impeccable.

Long review:

I went to bed on time yesterday, but my body disagreed with this idea entirely, so I stayed up another two hours to watch a movie. Normally I can do horror movies no problem, but this one resulted in Really Shitty Sleep. Apparently my subconscious was pissed off with me for doing that. Or just in general. Who knows.

I planned to get to this at doors, but instead I got there about 45 minutes later because I was moving so fucking slow. Oh well. The first band didn't even begin playing until a minute after I showed up, so hey. I win anyway.

My nose, however, didn't win. This place smelled like shit when I walked in. I overheard that it was "sage", but I don't have a clue what that smells like. Whoever's decision it was to burn whatever the hell needs to be slapped.

Atriarch looked like they were big fans of the East End, and they sounded a lot like Trees. Hell, maybe they were Trees. That about covers it. They had a moment or two, but, enh. Didn't like Trees last year, either.

Saviours set up, and I was actually looking forward to them this time. The first time I didn't get much out of their set. The second time I liked about a third of what they played, and what I did like was pretty good (see previous song postings). This time... they all walked out in foam tomato soup can Halloween costumes and went straight down a path of goodness. (That was me resisting the obvious joke.) Their last song wasn't particularly strong for my tastes, but the rest of it was decent. There was a guy up front apparently called Jason who was loving the shit out of them, and whats-his-face singer was enjoying the attention.

I thought I'd woken up by now, but I had a complete brain-dead moment about here when Mr. Diesto, Mark, and his girlfriend said hi to me. I suppose because it was entirely unexpected. Nevertheless, I knew he'd been around here, at the blog, but apparently she has as well. Crazy shit.

I also had a fairly long conversation with some stoned individual who wanted to sell me drugs. He was pretty forward, and I'm having trouble remembering the last time that's happened. It was kind of like a vague reminder of previous Halloweens, like my 16th and 17th, or the one where I stupidly went out with a drunk girl and her lack of contribution made us miss the last bus so we had to walk a million years home. She's one of those people on my wishlist for a free punch in the face. In any case, I'll cover those other stories another day. Back to the 'view.

I've seen Witch Mountain once before, with Rob singing. They had a guest singer on the very last song, though I don't remember if she, then, was the same lady this time around. In any case, shortly after that show they announced the addition of Uta.

I hadn't seen her other band before in person, but I did see a video of her singing for Aranya and liked what I heard. I generally don't care for female vocals, but her voice is smooth and she doesn't ever do that irritating "talking singing" that women love to resort to because it makes them appear "tough". Or that dog whistle Sarah Mclaughlin/Evanescence crap. Her voice is pretty warm.

Anyway, the bass and bass drums during Witch Mountain were fucking great for one of their songs, possibly "A Power Greater"(?) and good otherwise. I know they played "Wing of the Lord" and there was another familiar one in their set, but I have brain damage. As for costuming, they were all dressed sort of like zombies.

Ludicra had a strong start, and I was doing okay with them for the first song or so. I'm pretty sure one of the songs' guitar was from Mastodon, though I can't place the song now. Elsewhere, I think it was the vocals that were getting to me and making me not like them, because their musicianship seemed okay despite being indefinably familiar. I was getting sick of the screaming.

Edit: Okay, the song was "Veils". Tell me that guitar doesn't sound like "Hearts Alive".

Yob didn't start playing til 12:10, leaving me 20 minutes to decide if I was going to stay through them and be irritated that I had to spend $30 to get home or save $30 but be irritated that I only saw them for 20 minutes. I chose the latter option. The two songs and the first ambient minutes of a new song, either "The Lie That Is Sin" or "Burning The Altar" that I caught sounded impeccable, and now I know I'll definitely try to see them in the future. Perhaps next time I'll make a proper, financially reserved trip out of it.

For some reason, I didn't know they were going to appear almost clean-cut. All kinds of unexpected, considering their sound. Or their crowd, har har.

As for the crowd this whole show, I got a sense of warmth or politeness for the most part, but they weren't the most active bunch. Ludicra had more followers than the previous bands up in the front, and the Yob crowd felt fairly defined and attentive as would be expected.

The sound, as always for the venue, was all-around good.

And I would like to apologize to every person who I accidentally raped with glitter. I had the idea to put hair glitter on, and what a whole lot of fail that was. Most of it had fallen off my head before I even left the house, but I know I left a trail with every step because I kept seeing it falling off my head. Thankfully, it washes off easily.

Finally, is it just me, or is Halloween tranny night?

Song: "Thong Song"
Artist: Kyuss
Album: Blues For The Red Sun (1992)

One of the weaker Kyuss songs. And that's saying a fuck of a lot, since this song is great.

And now I'm getting distracted by other Kyuss songs. I haven't listened to them properly in a while. I forget how much I love them... until I have an internal conversation with myself wondering who my favorite band is these days seeing as how I barely listen to Tool or Kyuss lately. It's tough to say. But after listening to "10,000 Days" and Blues For The Red Sun, I simply don't care anymore.

Song: "Shot The Cat"
Artist: Cosmic Psychos
Album: Self Totalled (1994)

Did someone around here recommend this band at me? It sounds like all/any of you who I talk to, so I can't recall even by educated guess...

I also can't find this song online. Why not? Dumb.

The lyrics are stupid, apparently about someone's drunken behavior, but somehow it works. Plus? Bass.

Song: "Witchcraft"
Artist: Witchcraft
Album: Witchcraft (2004)

It's weird how long this song took to sink in. Or for me to post it, even.

I think I've hit a musical plateau.

It's strange how people interpret music with their body. It seems so arbitrary. Why would a series of noises equal a physical reaction? Everyday noises never seem to, even noises that carry a beat like fans, but yet when presented in "musical" format... it does. Why? And why do some people hear music and randomly move however the fuck they feel or would move regardless of the actual music, while others literally or semi-artistically interpret the music as a particular body movement set?

Monkeys with instruments. I'm going to start telling Sweetie she better watch out for those monkies, but especially the ones with tom-toms. But someday, Sweetie, I'm buying maracas and there will never be sleep for any of you again. I will leave every room shaking the shit out of those things while singing about my hatelove for sons 'a bitches and shitty kitties. So maybe she'd better keep me out of maracas stores and forget the fucking monkies. Actually, this sounds like too much work. I'll get a tape down and set it to play every day at one in the morning to make up for when I need to rush out of doorways. Like when I have to help someone who's becoming a victim of street crime. I'll be Maraca Lady, saver of street crime victims. And Sweetie will cry, why not meee? And Bobo Gaygay will be like, cuz you're a slut, ho. And then I hit Bobo over the head with my super maraca, accidentally killing a flea in the process... My arch enemy. And the day was saved at last. We can now eat popcorn and dehydrate in peace. Sunsabitchez, sunsabitchez, lots and lots of sons and bitches and bitches sons and sons with bitches and bitching at sons while sunning at beaches, [maraca dance] OLE.

SURE, I'd love another, Bartender!

It's almost like content!!

Song: "Unonou"
Artist: Danava
Album: Unonou (2008)

Speaking of Witchcraft... Danava needs more love. Here, in general, by you, wherever.

I went for a while thinking that this band's name was pronounced "dan-ih-vuh", because we here in America tend not to pronounce our a's with much effort. Turns out, it's "don-ah-vuh". One wonders what the process was to achieve this made up word and why it has unusually pronounced a's.

As for the album/song title, my best guess is "you no know you". Or that's what I tell myself so that I can spell it. It almost makes sense, considering one of the songs in this album is called "One Mind Gone Separate Ways", concluding a lack of knowledge about oneself.

Anyway, Danava is great, and I have to say I'm looking forward to whatever wavering introversion they have to share with the world in the coming years.

Oh em gee, guys. High On Fire's tentative release date for their newest, already recorded album is February.

And hey, look, a new song you can barely hear because someone has a shitty mic on their camera! Says the one who can't focus video after their camera starts recording, WHICH SUCKS.

Didn't do my research so I don't know if this is good or worthwhile, but since you guys normally like free shit...

Jalamanta re-issue + BOC cover

Song: "Relics"
Artist: Atolah
Album: Relics (2009)

Sounds like someone's been channeling the Wiz. (Or maybe that's Sleep. Hard to tell.)

The other song they have up right now, "Weedy Gonzales" initially sounds like Salvador minus vocals.

In other words, despite this being very new, it's warm and familiar. You're probably down for another dose of doom if you're still hanging around these parts, so have at 'em.

Edit: Just a few days after I posted this, they took "Relics" off their myspace. The other tracks should do in the meantime, however. Also? I've been quoted. Sweet!

Song: "Ganges"
Artist: Mico de Noche
Album: Brothers of the Sonic Cloth/Mico de Noche split (2009)

I think this song is heavy but I'm just not sure. Please convene on the matter and report back.

Yes, you have to spend $10 to find out. It's worth it, and you'll be supporting current Pacific Northwest metal while you're at it.

Song: "I"
Artist: Wizard Smoke
Album: Live Rock In Hell (2009)

I followed the Red Fang poster this way. Cliche as fuck name, but kids, that is exactly what they sound like. If you've been around me a while and you like the stoner metal and doom I post, this band should go really well with you. Seriously, on first listen I'm already impressed.

AND!!! They have their album free to download.

Song: "The Destroyer"
Artist: The Atomic Bitchwax
Album: 3 (2005)

Heh. This album was released the day of a new moon in Gemini and the first song is called "The Destroyer". If only I could hear the lyrics in order to figure out what the song's actually about.

In any case, I love the energy of this song.

... Strangely, the first song that came on after this was "Over The Mountain", aka "don't need no astrology".

Am I the only one who feels like they're going to fall into some kind of vortex when I find myself listening to the band whose shirt I happen to be wearing at the moment?

I tried to quickie review Them Crooked Vultures about this time yesterday, but I don't think it was remotely entertaining. I wasn't even my usual sarcastic, angsty self because I was tired.

Basically all I did was say that the album sounded like Josh. And that I'm not impressed. People who would/will be impressed are people who do not come from the Kyuss-Zeppelin camp, whose knowledge of QOTSA is limited to the last album or two, or are following Dave who seems to welcome mediocrity.

So keep your standards and expectations low, folks.

I'll return to it later when the burn cools off. I didn't like Era Vulgaris the first time I heard it, and it's fairly typical that I don't like music the first time(s) through, so we'll see how I feel in time.

That said.

Puscifer came out with a new thingamajig yesterday, entitled "C" Is For (Please Insert Sophomoric Genitalia Reference Here). I've heard most of the songs in some respect already, so it doesn't have an especially novel feel... but it's something to have.

I've already talked about "Polar Bear" here, but... It seems a general improvement alone over "V".

I think I only listened to "V" entirely through once. Afterward, I just picked songs, and lately I almost never listen to it. I don't even listen to the original "REV 22:20" anymore, actually. I suppose it has a lot to do with bad timing. I posted "Queen Bee" as one of my first songs here, right when it came out... Also that was right when I was deciding I'd rather listen to High On Fire and Electric Wizard than electronic rock. I'm sure if "V" had come out a year or two beforehand, it would have had its time.

(...a seed of hate from the day i was born...)

But yeah, "Polar Bear" is pretty good. Kind of like Portishead minus the pretentious art school shit. It's fully digestible.

"The Mission" I have also posted, and it sounds like it's the same mix. This song doesn't have a whole lot of hope with me, as it's going to forever be latched in my brain right next to the spot dedicated to Ren. I watched The Fifth Element again a few months ago, once connected in my head to two old friends both named Mark, but somehow these very direct and physical/visual references have muddled in light of the one person I know not named Mark. I'm curious to see what connections falter whenever I see Resident Evil again. Nevertheless, "The Mission" lost its objectivity for me.

"Momma Sed"... I can't recall what the original sounds like now, but this version is pretty nice. It sounds like Pink Floyd wanderings, breezy depression straight out of The Wall. I prefer this version of mister Maynard over the throaty pseudo-rap.

I also don't remember the original version of "Vagina Mine". Hmm. I'm sure it sounds better than the original, since I made it to the end. And the end is pretty nice.

Woah, for a sec there I thought "Potions" was going to go QOTSA on me. ... It's pretty weird how Maynard's associated music and vocals have changed over the years. I wonder who, in 1992 or 1996, would believe he'd eventually come out with a self-released mellow electronic rock album. It seems a little off-the-wall, such a jump. He's made some gradual changes over the years that have made sense in context, but... it makes you wonder what kind of ridiculous garbage you'll be up to in 15 years.

"The Humbling River" is pretty mellow, too. With the violin bit, it sounds familiar to A Perfect Circle, but still maintaining that overall electronic/experimental sound. I smirked at the song title/lyrics, considering his Moon in Cancer.

Boy is it nice to listen to a group of songs from an artist and not be immediately and constantly reminded of dozens or hundreds of other artists doing the same thing at the same time... This went down much smoother than expected. I don't think I even made one sarcastic, bitchy, or stupid comment! Oh wait, I see one. Well, anyway... Thanks, Maynard! This was better than "V" by a leap.

I didn't catch to stop the album when it was finished and my winamp decided it was time for me to listen to Black Cobra "Negative Reversal" now. C is for... Chronomega.

Here you go, music geeks. Play Where's Waldo with these photos:

Black Flag tribute

Hint: TAD, Akimbo, Black Elk.

These photos make you want to practice abstinence to 100% prevent East End children of the future. Hey look, Black Erik Tom is doing a safe sex demonstration in that fifth pic...

Song: "Scumbag Blues"
Artist: Them Crooked Vultures
Album: Them Crooked Vultures (2009)

I have decided, upon 2-3 listens, that I like this song. I do not, however, have the mental incapabilities or benefit of doubts to take in the whole product. But this song sounds nice. Reminds me of something, I don't know what, but my first thought was Liam Lynch... well, before I heard the recycled Queens of the Stone Age riff.

Song: "Shaman Of Ur"
Artist: Salvador
Album: Cleansed Through Fire And Blood (2009)

This band is better than Them Crooked Vultures. And guess what? This band's album officially released today. I don't see a link up for you, the internet, to buy it yet... but all the same, you should tell these guys that you want to spend your money on their purdy wittle vinyl recording. Seriously. Especially for "Pyres", but this song, too.

I woke up today to a movie, one of those teenager love story movies that have a real band soundtrack. I specifically woke up just before one of the characters in the movie was awing over facts regarding 70s glam and progressive rock bands.

Nevermind the irony of the movie being about supposedly good music when the soundtrack is fucking disposable garbage... This struck me in an entirely different way.

A few years ago I was at work having a group conversation about music. The conversation hog of the day was talking about an interview or article he'd read about Jim Morrison. I don't personally give a fuck about the guy, but that's the general case with me and musicians/vocalists. I like music, not musicians. Nevertheless, I was listening and following along. The other two guys were also there, listening - but they were normally the type to eventually jump in conversations, and were instead being quiet. The guy talking suddenly stopped and said, "what am I talking about? None of you are even old enough to know who the fuck Jim Morrison is."

My response was akin to "whatever". Sorry for being too young to converse with your cultured ways, grandpa. Let me go fetch you your cane. Don't want JIMMAY's biggest fan to break a hip.

Me not knowing at least famous musicians is kind of ridiculous. Yes, I'll go through periods of ridiculous ignorance, especially regarding genres/bands I don't care about, but... come on. It wasn't like I was a twelve year old cave dweller or something. I had to be at least 22 and showed up to work every day in band shirts - at very least the Pink Floyd one I wore a lot should have tripped a switch that I wasn't a complete rock music history retard.

The other two guys, not so much. They listened to music, but it was all fairly new or overplayed via radio. To a point, such things are expected as a teenager, and they were around 17-19 years old. I remember the radio being on, Nirvana playing, and one of them made a comment about the song that was so fucking oblivious that I'm pretty sure the guy had never listened to Nirvana before (I know - what? really? I can't believe it myself). I could definitely see him having no clue whatsoever who Jim Morrison was.

I did have a conversation once with the other about 90s bands, and he did have a background in one overrated 60s artist, so maybe he MIGHT have known... but all the same. I'd guess no.

I remember thinking the old convo hog was a jerk, and maybe I'd do well not to insult others' intelligence and personal experience in the future like that.

Waking up today to that movie, my thought was... how the flying fuck does this asshole even know who David Bowie is? He's playing a teenager. Even if he had been exposed to said music by parents or friends or choice, where would the idolization come in? Why would this kid even care?

Ditto about Juno, where there's this whole scene in the movie where she's awing over music she, as a teenager, would not make sense to have been exposed to enough to be able to have conversation with someone who was there, then on. Especially considering she was too stupid to wear a condom, I don't see how she'd be intelligent enough to recall ridiculous facts about bands.

...And then I was thinking of another younger friend I had for a while, someone who had plenty of musical experience and bragged to me that he picked up the band Tool when he was young. I think he said 12. I was about 15, so we picked the band up at the same time - the release of Aenima. While I can picture him being exposed to Tool (heh), I have difficulty conceptualizing someone that young being capable of understanding them enough to carry them beyond that age. There's so much mental and social and emotional development during your teen years that it seems weird to me that a band you're exposed to before you're even in high school would still find you ten years later except through nostalgia (or maybe social over-saturation).

But that's Tool, a generation-relevant band for both of us, not a band that made its way ten or thirty years before we were even born as would be the case with some of these movie characters.

I'm going to get sidetracked before I find the point, here.

Yep.

Perhaps in minor cases it does make sense that an individual of whatever youthful age would like a particular artist or overdo an entire genre that wasn't actually related to them socially. Or, perhaps, I am just a "gemini" who needs to lightly touch on everything and it takes me years to properly consume any one thing entirely, hence why I can't understand how a teenager would know SHIT about music.

And I'm not even 30 yet. I wonder what kind of rude shit I'll be saying to 18 year olds when I'm 50.

Er, besides "I have candy back in my van!" ... Okay, that was yesterday.

There should be a database of bands and labels that result in take-down notices.

As well as artists that get muted on youtube.

And asshole musicians that "write emails" and/or make threats.

It would make the blog life a little easier.

Maybe someone should start a forum on the topic or something.

Song: "The Lie That Is Sin"
Artist: YOB
Album: The Great Cessation (2009)

The newest Yob sounds better six months and six days after its initial sting. Possibly due to deprivation, dehydration, and sleep disturbance. I kind of knew I'd like this better when I felt like stabbing a needle in my eye (as opposed to frolicking through a field of daisies).

Holy long-ass intro into the actual "song" bit of this song.

Did you know that Yabby's playing a show January 29th at Rotture with the band Bloody Panda? Now you do. Well, you do as long as the date remains in tact.

I already liked Akimbo, but comments like these turn that bit of like into respect.

[69] Young Widows, Russian Circles (2009)

[70] Helms Alee, Young Widows, Russian Circles (2009)

Ooh. My first morning-after review. Hey, it actually is(!) a review! ... Not really.

I woke up not feeling as bad as I probably should, having woken up yesterday at 6am, leaving the house for this at 3, and not getting home til 1. I haven't dedicated nearly this much time to a show since the last time I had "concert friends". Not counting traveling to distant cities or sleeping over, possibly never.

The fact that I woke up so fucking early put a damper on this whole experience. I kind of knew I wasn't going to be in the mood for two "identical" shows, that I'd either show up late or leave early... and I ended up leaving early due to the lack of sleep (and too many fucking tall people).

The first show ran from 5:15 to 7 or 7:15. Kind of lame considering the all-ages crowd paid the same price as the 21+ crowd, yet only got 2/3 a show. Granted, there weren't that many people there. Maybe 100 at most. Most of them looked pretty young.

I wasn't exactly sure who was on stage when three boymen stood up there, but I knew it wasn't Helms Alee... since I was pretty sure Helms had ladies in the band. I couldn't decide if it was Git Some or not, since they were originally billed. I thought I'd recognize Young Widows since I've seen them once before... Nope. I guess it's been a while.

So, I liked Young Widows' first set to a point. They were hovering over "meh" most of the time, but the lower end of their sound was pretty good. I'm wondering at this point if I just like bass/bass drums and that's that. Or maybe I don't like guitarists... erm, unless they're fantastic. I don't know. This is an unsolvable riddle until I actually put some real thought into it, which may never happen because I don't really care all that much.

For Russian Circles, I had a good angle to the stage so I could see all that their guitarist was doing... Just like the other two times I've seen them. I don't know what the thing is called, but it's a pedal that records what you've played and plays it back. He loves that thing. And I suppose it saves on having to gain a half-used fourth member to fill in those spots.

Looper. Thanks google. I kept wanting to say repeater because I'm a computer nerd, not a music nerd.

So yeah... They sounded great. Why wouldn't they? Their first set seemed a bit "best of", though they played new songs... I think it was their last song that I didn't necessarily care for, possibly just because I'm not sure I've ever listened to it, but the rest was good. "Geneva" was nice live - the first time I actually had a reason to look over to the bassist.

After that was over, I had almost two hours to kill. I managed to get through the first one with relatively little pain, but the second one was where I started to get very sleepy. I was having trouble through the rest of the night trying to be "awake". I wish they would have started at 8 or 8:30 instead.

By the time music began again, the venue looked like it had been sold out... Possibly even over-sold. Very much in contrast to the early show. The type of people also changed - from apparent "kids" and hipster sorts to the older drunk idiot and aspiring meathead and "I'm here with my boyfriend" crowd. I also noticed a change in how alive/aware and enthusiastic people were. The older crowd seemed less insecure/thoughtful even though the lot of them were just as sterile.

Helms Alee didn't sound as great as I wanted them to. They had some really heavy moments where they all worked together and it was really great... but then they would have lighter moments and each instrument seemed like it was going off in its own direction. At one actually quiet song, it felt like the drums were way overpowering the guitars/vocals, and not in a possibly good way if, say, presented elsewhere. But, again, when they worked together things sounded fine.

Young Widows set two was initially better than the first time around. One or two of their songs had apparently worn off on me in that time. Otherwise... well, okay.

Russian Circles sounded beautiful, but I only stayed for a song and a half (almost 20 minutes) before I decided straining to see with as tired as I was wasn't going to work when I already had a decent fresh memory of them.

Today, I feel shitty as expected, but not nearly as shitty as 8-10 hours of my life would assume. My brain isn't working so great and I'm having trouble with words, but hey... what's new. At least my body feels okay with this abuse.

That said, the concert tickets on my desk have all been cleared away, and I have finals coming up in 2-3 weeks, plus the end of the year lack-of-shows is nigh... so I'm not sure when the 71st show o'mine will be... I have ideas but it's hard to say how realistic they are. Nevertheless, if you don't see one of these for a while, do not fret (insert arrogance over how I think anyone actually reads these things here). They shall resume.

I realized I hadn't updated this list in a while... Since the other blog is dead, I might as well share the whole lot here as well as what's new.

This is my list of the number one song played per week, each week I've been a member of last.fm. A few weeks had tied songs (generally due to slow weeks), so I've listed those, too... making this entry over 300 lines long. Ooh boy, have fun with this.

Top Tracks for the week ending Sunday...

05/05/29 Monster Magnet - Spine of God
05/05/29 Nonpoint - In The Air Tonight
05/06/05 Nonpoint - In The Air Tonight
05/06/12 Sheavy - Month of Sundaes
05/06/19 The White Stripes - The Denial Twist
05/06/26 Duran Duran - Planet Earth
05/07/03 Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Date With A Night
05/07/10 Blondie - Atomic
05/07/17 Sheavy - Automation
05/07/24 Marilyn Manson - Wrapped in Plastic
05/07/24 Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Black Tongue
05/07/24 Temple of the Dog - Pushin Forward Back
05/07/31 The Rolling Stones - Heartbreaker
05/08/07 The Rolling Stones - Heartbreaker
05/08/14 Real McCoy - Runaway
05/08/14 Bell Biv Devoe - Poison
05/08/21 Robert Miles - Children
05/08/21 Sheavy - Virtual Machine
05/08/28 Depeche Mode - Dream On (remix)
05/09/04 Blues Traveler - Hook
05/09/11 Metallica - King Nothing
05/09/11 Michael Sembello - Maniac
05/09/18 Monster Magnet - Cyclops Revolution
05/09/25 Eagles of Death Metal - Speaking In Tongues
05/10/02 Eagles of Death Metal - Speaking In Tongues
05/10/09 Queens of the Stone Age - Medication
05/10/16 Dessert Sessions - I Wanna Make It Wit Chu
05/10/23 Black Sabbath - Supernaut
05/10/23 Monster Magnet - Cyclops Revolution
05/10/23 Monster Magnet - Black Balloon
05/10/30 Kyuss - Deadly Kiss
05/11/06 Madonna - Dress You Up
05/11/13 Kyuss - Asteroid
05/11/20 The Gossip - Ain't It The Truth
05/11/27 Madonna - Hung Up
05/12/04 Queens of the Stone Age - Mexicola
05/12/11 Fiona Apple - Paper Bag
05/12/11 Sheavy - Synchronized
05/12/11 Eagles of Death Metal - Bad Dream Mama
05/12/18 Madonna - Get Together
05/12/25 Queens of the Stone Age - Little Sister
05/12/25 Queens of the Stone Age - Everybody Knows That You're Insane

06/01/01 Queens of the Stone Age - Broken Box
06/01/08 Marilyn Manson - Get Your Gunn
06/01/15 Monster Magnet - Evil (Is Going On)
06/01/22 The Gossip - I Want It (To Write)
06/01/29 The Gossip - Jealous Girls
06/02/05 CKY - The Human Drive in Hi-Fi
06/02/12 Sheavy - Lonely And Me
06/02/19 Sheavy - Lonely And Me
06/02/26 Jibe - Five Year
06/03/05 Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Gold Lion
06/03/12 Garbage - Metal Heart
06/03/19 Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Honeybear
06/03/26 Monster Magnet - Black Balloon
06/04/02 Kyuss - Allen's Wrench
06/04/02 Monster Magnet - Black Balloon
06/04/09 Eagles of Death Metal - Flames Go Higher
06/04/09 Eagles of Death Metal - Bad Dream Mama
06/04/16 Le Tigre - Deceptacon
06/04/23 Tool - The Pot
06/04/30 Tool - Jambi
06/05/07 Scissor Sisters - Filthy/Gorgeous
06/05/07 Tool - Jambi
06/05/14 Scissor Sisters - Music Is The Victim
06/05/21 Bauhaus - Dancing
06/05/28 Mc Chris - Fett's Vett
06/06/04 Placebo - Meds
06/06/11 Peaches - Tombstone, Baby
06/06/18 Black Sabbath - Children Of The Grave
06/06/18 Tool - Reflection
06/06/18 Nine Inch Nails - Last
06/06/25 Porcupine Tree - The Start Of Something Beautiful
06/07/02 TV On The Radio - Satellite
06/07/09 Porcupine Tree - The Start Of Something Beautiful
06/07/16 Lily Allen - Friday Night
06/07/23 She Wants Revenge - I Don't Want To Fall In Love
06/07/30 Deftones - Wax and Wane
06/08/06 Sevendust - Assdrop
06/08/13 Goldfrapp - Strict Machine
06/08/20 Peaches - Do Ya
06/08/27 CKY - Escape From Hellview
06/08/27 Peaches - Do Ya
06/09/03 Hole - Celebrity Skin
06/09/10 David Bowie - Magic Dance
06/09/10 57Chevy - Sun Rose Twice
06/09/17 Ladytron - Seventeen
06/09/24 Scissor Sisters - I Can't Decide
06/10/01 Ladytron - High Rise
06/10/08 Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Ain't No Easy Way
06/10/15 Goldfrapp - Ooh La La
06/10/22 57Chevy - Megatsunami
06/10/22 Goldfrapp - Satin Chic
06/10/22 Witchery - Plague Rider
06/10/29 Deadsy - Babes In The Abyss
06/11/05 Peaches - Downtown
06/11/12 Prodigy - Action Radar
06/11/19 Danzig - Power of Darkness
06/11/26 Melvins - June Bug
06/12/03 Mastodon - Sleeping Giant
06/12/10 Thom Yorke - The Eraser
06/12/10 Yeah Yeah Yeahs vs Daft Punk - World Maps
06/12/10 Priestess - I Am The Night, Colour Me Black
06/12/17 Ministry - Reload
06/12/17 The Long Blondes - Lust In The Movies
06/12/24 Ok Go - A Million Ways
06/12/31 Mindless Self Indulgence - Do Unto Others

07/01/07 Daft Punk - Human After All
07/01/14 Slo Burn - Cactus Jumper
07/01/21 KMFDM - Rules
07/01/28 Dozer - Rising
07/02/04 Slo Burn - Cactus Jumper
07/02/04 Bjork - Pluto
07/02/04 Karma to Burn - Thirteen
07/02/11 Death From Above 1979 - Turn It Out
07/02/18 Nine Inch Nails - Survivalism
07/02/25 Felix da Housecat - Rocket Ride
07/03/04 Nine Inch Nails - In This Twilight
07/03/11 The Faint - Posed to Death
07/03/18 Astroqueen - Crashlander
07/03/25 Melvins - The Talking Horse
07/04/01 Melvins - A History of Drunks
07/04/01 The Atomic Bitchwax - Hey Alright
07/04/08 The Faint - Worked Up So Sexual
07/04/15 !!! - Dear Can
07/04/22 The Faint - Sex Is Personal
07/04/29 Faith No More - From Out of Nowhere
07/05/06 Queens of the Stone Age - Sick, Sick, Sick
07/05/13 Gojira - Flying Whales
07/05/20 Mindless Self Indulgence - Bitches
07/05/27 Tomahawk - Mescal Rite I
07/05/27 Tomahawk - Red Fox
07/06/03 Mindless Self Indulgence - Bitches
07/06/03 Tomahawk - Song Of Victory
07/06/10 Faith No More - Naked In Front of the Computer
07/06/17 Combichrist - Dead Again
07/06/24 Melvins - If I Had an Exorcism
07/07/01 Thieves Like Us - Drugs In My Body
07/07/08 Sepultura - Roots Bloody Roots
07/07/15 sHEAVY - the dark carnival
07/07/15 Combichrist - All Your Bass Belongs To Us
07/07/22 Truckfighters - Spaceship Lord
07/07/22 Daft Punk - Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger
07/07/22 Stabbing Westward - So Wrong
07/07/29 Big Business - Another Fourth Of July... Ruined
07/08/05 Big Business - Easter Romantic
07/08/05 Big Business - O.G.
07/08/05 Big Business - Grounds for Divorce
07/08/12 Kyuss - Happy Birthday
07/08/19 Monster Magnet - Stadium
07/08/19 Muse - Bliss
07/08/26 The Knife - Listen Now
07/09/02 Queens of the Stone Age - Misfit Love
07/09/09 Monster Magnet - Stadium
07/09/16 Queens of the Stone Age - Born To Hula
07/09/23 Boris - Pink
07/09/30 High on Fire - Rumors of War
07/10/07 Dozer - From Fire Fell
07/10/14 Black Flag - Nervous Breakdown
07/10/21 Melvins - You've Never Been Right
07/10/28 Dozer - Exoskeleton
07/11/04 Melvins - Honey Bucket
07/11/11 The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster - I Could Be an Angle
07/11/18 Mastodon - Mother Puncher
07/11/25 The Dillinger Escape Plan - Black Bubblegum
07/12/02 35007 - Herd
07/12/02 Orange Goblin - The Ballad of Solomon Eagle
07/12/02 Tool - Stinkfist
07/12/09 The Gossip - Got Body If You Want It
07/12/16 1000mods - Dope
07/12/23 Monster Magnet - Tractor
07/12/30 The Blasters - I'm Shakin'
07/12/30 Electric Wizard - Satanic Rites of Drugula

08/01/06 Big Business - Start Your Digging
08/01/13 Sleep - Holy Mountain
08/01/20 Red Fang - Prehistoric Dog
08/01/27 Ghostland Observatory - piano man
08/02/03 Probot - Shake Your Blood
08/02/10 Hot Chip - Out At The Pictures
08/02/17 Electric Wizard - We Hate You
08/02/17 Melvins - The Bit
08/02/24 Melvins - The Bit
08/03/02 Witchcraft - Schyssta L?ner
08/03/02 Queens of the Stone Age - Suture Up Your Future
08/03/09 Black Cobra - Sugar Water
08/03/16 The Trucks - Shattered
08/03/23 Mastodon - Naked Burn
08/03/30 Floor - Namaste
08/04/06 Meshuggah - Perpetual Black Second
08/04/13 Wolf Eyes - Ancient Delay
08/04/20 Witch - Soul Of Fire
08/04/27 Black Elk - Toss You To The Wolves
08/05/04 Brant Bjork - This Place (Just Ain't Our Place)
08/05/11 Nine Inch Nails - 1,000,000
08/05/18 Prong - Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck
08/05/25 Death From Above 1979 - Blood on Our Hands
08/06/01 Meshuggah - Bleed
08/06/08 Meshuggah - Future Breed Machine
08/06/15 Devo - Time Out For Fun
08/06/22 Teenage Bad Girl - Cocotte
08/06/29 HEALTH - Triceratops [Acid Girls Rmx A]
08/07/06 Proxy - Dance In Dark (Original Mix)
08/07/13 Black Cobra - El Doce De Octubre
08/07/20 Meshuggah - Future Breed Machine
08/07/27 Big Business - The Drift
08/08/03 Torche - Pirana
08/08/10 Tweak Bird - Whorses
08/08/17 The Faint - Drop Kick the Punks
08/08/24 Black Cobra - Sombra De Bestia
08/08/31 Three - My divided falling
08/09/07 Weedeater - $20 peanut
08/09/14 Grails - Reincarnation Blues
08/09/21 danava - Quiet Babies Astray In A Manger
08/09/28 danava - Spinning Temple Shifting
08/10/05 Oaks - Big Sta
08/10/12 Tweak Bird - Spaceships
08/10/12 Scott Reeder - Fuck You All
08/10/19 Red Fang - Sharks
08/10/26 Eagles of Death Metal - Secret Plans
08/11/02 Red Fang - Sharks
08/11/09 The Sword - Barael's Blade
08/11/09 The White Stripes - Jimmy the Exploder
08/11/16 Tweak Bird - Whorses
08/11/23 YOB - Quantum Mystic
08/11/30 Red Fang - Sharks
08/11/30 Hackman - I Don't Need This Shit, I Played Budokan
08/12/07 zZz - Lover
08/12/14 Karp - Forget the Minions
08/12/14 Harvey Milk - War
08/12/21 Sepultura - What I Do!
08/12/28 Kowloon Walled City - Turk,Taylor & Jones

09/01/04 Ramesses - Ramesses Part 1
09/01/11 White Hills - Oceans of Sound
09/01/18 Ghostland Observatory - paparazzi lightning
09/01/25 Bob Sledge - Whither And Fall
09/02/01 Puscifer - The Mission
09/02/08 White Hills - Eternity
09/02/15 The Prodigy - Warrior's Dance
09/02/22 The Who - Young Man Blues
09/03/01 Mastodon - Oblivion
09/03/01 Lily Allen - Not Fair
09/03/08 Zoroaster - Seeing The Dark (actually Spirit Molecule)
09/03/15 Justice - One Minute to Midnight
09/03/15 Eagles of Death Metal - Eagles Goth
09/03/22 Jane's Addiction - Chip Away
09/03/29 Peaches - More
09/04/05 MSTRKRFT - It Ain't Love
09/04/12 Pentagram - Forever My Queen
09/04/19 Gojira - Clone
09/04/26 Snailface - Dancing on Landmines
09/04/26 Big Business - I Got It Online
09/04/26 Big Business - Found Art
09/04/26 Big Business - Cats, Mice
09/04/26 Melvins - June Bug
09/05/03 Big Business - I Got It Online
09/05/10 Shrapnel - Combat Love
09/05/17 Reverse Dotty - Hay
09/05/24 Opeth - Closure (ext.)
09/05/24 Wino - Gods, Frauds, Neo-Cons and Demagogues
09/05/31 Peaches - Billionaire
09/05/31 Orate - Atras
09/06/07 Ghostland Observatory - Heavy Heart
09/06/14 Thrones - Ephraim
09/06/21 Venom - In League With Satan
09/06/28 sHEAVY - Dalas Tar
09/07/05 Entrance - Grim Reaper Blues
09/07/12 The Gossip - Dimestore Diamond
09/07/19 Valis - Venus In Red
09/07/26 Indian Jewelry - PowWow
09/08/02 Headdress - The Painted Desert
09/08/09 Gojira - Love
09/08/16 Opeth - Ghost of Perdition
09/08/23 Cave In - Retina Sees Rewind
09/08/30 Masters of Reality - Absinthe Jim And Me
09/09/06 Madraso - Awesome Kong
09/09/06 Converge - Dark Horse
09/09/13 Cave In - Retina Sees Rewind
09/09/20 SubArachnoid Space - Akathesia
09/09/27 Russian Circles - Geneva
09/10/04 Muse - Uprising
09/10/11 Black Cobra - Chronosphere
09/10/11 Slayer - Disciple
09/10/18 Karma to Burn - Thirty
09/10/25 Black Cobra - Chronosphere
09/10/25 Baroness - Jake Leg
09/11/01 Baroness - Jake Leg
09/11/08 Alice in Chains - Would?
09/11/08 danava - UnonoU
09/11/15 Wizard Smoke - II
09/11/15 Puscifer - Polar Bear
09/11/15 Puscifer - Momma Sed "Alive At Club Nokia"
09/11/15 Wizard Smoke - I

...

As a teenager, I noticed that "kids" just older than me and 20-somethings consistently liked sappier and less "heavy"/loud/rock n' roll music every year they got older... I thought I would reach a particular age and suddenly revert to liking delicate "indie" rock and sappy bullshit just like them. One day, I might actually even start listening to Bob Dylan and understanding the words.

That hasn't happened. I've had phases where I've listened to more dance music, more oldies, more acoustic songs, or whatever... but, through it all, the music I listen to now is louder than it ever was. That's fantastic. The year I turn 30 I'll be listening to death metal.

Er, we'll see. Got a ways to go yet.

Song: "Triad"
Artist: Tool
Album: Lateralus (2001)

I'm glad I can sit through this whole album now and be unaffected.

I am also glad it's still good, anyway.

I am not glad that, in listening to it, it sounds like everything else I listen to lately. Musical growth? Nah, just new, subtle cover versions of "Triad". That's what I get for reflecting.

I'm gonna go sit in the corner and cry about how I love Tool now.

So, according to the internet today, Monster Magnet is recording again soon. Perhaps a new Monster Magnet album next summer...?

Let's have an illegal download listening party two weeks before it comes out. I'll bring the unenthusiastic cynicism if you bring the "YAY! I LOVE EVERYTHING MONSTER MAGNET EVER DOES!". Please also bring someone who's never heard Tab and/or Superjudge to perform mediation. ... and favors for the person who had the album first.

Yep.

And the current quiet on the blog = finals hurt brain. I'm not listening to anything new because that would just be one more distraction to the list of things I'm already using to procrastinate working on shit. Life. Another full week and so many days before I am to the end.

Song: "Lovefool"
Artist: The Cardigans
Album: First Band on the Moon (1996)

I heard part of this song in a commercial today... and immediately I was picturing listening to the radio at the time this song was popular. I haven't heard it in ages so it was more reference-specific for me than music has been for a while... All of this blog-related over-analyzation and genre-specific listening has taken a lot of the casual referencing out of music.

In any case, the song sounded cold and wet and metallic like my room at the time. I pictured my best friend and didn't know why until I looked up information on the song - it's on the soundtrack of her favorite movie then. I didn't like it... Probably because I think the story sucks bad enough as is.

Youtube wanted to remind me of that fucking "Kiss Me" song, and that reminded me also of recording in the back part of where I lived then, and Savage Garden, and playing Donkey Kong Country with my nephew, and laughing my fucking ass off about "birthing season". And more recent, sadder memories about how my same-aged friends are still listening to shit like this when there's newer artists out there that need a little lovin'.

The song also reminds me of going to the mall, seriously, and looking at dresses. Girly, frilly, scary as fuck prom type of dresses. I never did the dress thing, but my friends did a few times... Yikes. Hot Topic was a couple of doors down, and I remember one of the first times I set foot in that store, I heard "Kinda I Want To" by NIN for the first time. My best friend was a little over-enthusiastic about it. I had no idea it was Nine Inch Nails.

I went looking through old papers and photos the other day from when I was, mostly, in elementary school... and the horrors to my brain that ensued have resulted in this entry being more nostalgic than I've been in a while. You know what's crazy? My ten year high school reunion/anniversary is in six months. And I still act twelve...

Things I'm thankful for:

occassionally having enough money to buy physical albums.

I hadn't updated that list in a year and a half, so some might be missing that I just didn't see when I looked over my CDs. All the same, I didn't include mp3s I've bought. or stolen. You've all seen that one before.

Speaking of which, here's the lastest binge-and-purge on that:

This time you get a playlist.

1-366: Swamped.
367-14383: old files
14384-14529: comps
14530-14550: huge radio/interview files
14551-14740: old files, numbers and symbols
14741-: pending approval folders

Those "pending" folders are finally shrinking down to something manageable. I deleted about 5GBs the other day. I could probably stand to lose another 5GB there, but it would take thought I am not willing to put into it right now.

Anyhow. Music. Thankful for that.

Have a read on these two threads, essentially on the same topic of what is/isn't "metal". Some genius comments in here.

Pelican sucks & Hipster Metal is gay

Both of the reviews and threads don't really address how women in or attracted to a band reflects on the band, so it'd be nice if someone actually took the time to write about that.

Song: "Bludge"
Artist: Tad
Album: Infrared Riding Hood (1995)

If I was human, I might like this song.

Overrated in the so-called "underground" whatever-the-frig scene but nevertheless good.