I'm slow on these wandering psych/experimental instrumental songs, so pardon my lateness in saying I just recently discovered how grand this is. I've generally been in a Grails-like sort of low mood lately, and the last few days have been a constant draw on this song. Meanwhile, its name is beyond appropriate, lending clear imagery where there might not be any.
The first time I heard this song I was immediately reminded of the MYST soundtrack. It sounds like when you're "exploring" some creepy bedroom, particularly in the bit that doesn't contain any drums.
Short of my associations, this is really good. I wouldn't have been particularly receptive to it right when this album came out but it sounds great now. If only for this song, a hundred and one stars out of five.
I tried sampling OvO in the past, likely originally having something to do with them touring with Subarachnoid Space. I've given them a few chances based on myspace/vids, but the "dark" metal hilarity factor wasn't working out for the ten seconds I was going to give it. Recently, however, I got ahold of 2008's Crocevia...
The first song "Ostkreuz" reminded me of Rabbits right off, though I'm not sure if that connection is authentic because I don't own the song I was immediately reminded of. All in all, it's actually alright even though the vocals sent me into giggle fits the first time or two.
The second song on the album, however, seems like it's supposed to be obnoxiously funny. "Tiki 2020" starts with a really misleading drum/guitar bit, the song switches up, and then here come the vocals...
I assume that's Italian or maybe German, but from across the ocean it sounds like nonsense language a kid randomly makes up and suddenly turns into a song. For some reason, I'm reminded A LOT of the Melvins circa "If I Had An Exorcism" despite them being literally musically dissimilar. As for a closer musical relation, I'm thinking black metally sludge layered in retarded humor.
I wonder if any of these songs are about prancing through the dandelions...
This song is great. Yes. This album as a whole has gotten better with time, particularly with its best songs which this one obviously qualifies.
Unfortunately, it's one of those songs you can't listen to when you're in a low, dumb mood because it does this: Son, you can't bring your gun in here. We're going to have to confiscate that at the door if you're coming in. I don't know what you're going to do now. Maybe it's going to be Sometime Never for you, eh? Maybe a little Sometime Five Minutes In The Car Beforehand? And what's this semper fi crap? You don't sound particularly faithful with your talk about other people. You're hitting Sometime So Last Summer right about there, pal.
SHE SAID DO-NT, DON'T LET IT GO TO YOUR HEAD, BOYS LIKE YOU ARE A DIME A DOZEN.
Song: "Esoteric Surgery" Artist: Gojira Album: The Way Of All Flesh (2008)
This is kind of low of the list of songs you need to hear by Gojira, and not exactly a good introduction to them as a whole... but it's catching my ear quite a bit lately. I thought it was sort of funny today when, talking about Saturn conjunct my Mars in my 12th house, this song came on random... "You have the power to heal yourself" is the first line.
You have the power to heal yourself
All illness can be healed
The cell regenerates
Disambiguated situation
There is a secret code
In the structure of the mind
You have the power to heal yourself
Flesh bodies mute and blinded
Roaming uncertain, lost
Infected misinformed
Releasing a black enormous insect
Out from the chest
Archaic form disease
Esoteric surgery a dissection of the soul
Unsuspected precise power
On the wounded astral body
Projected beam of light
All illness can be healed
The cell regenerates
Disambiguated situation
There is a secret code
In the structure of the mind
You have the power to heal yourself
Suspended floating in empty spaces
Descending swift like a fire running down
Obstruction disintegration life force
Overcoming all circumstances
Release the pain
I wonder if Joe has Moon aspecting Neptune. A lot of his hippy bullshit comes down to hallucinatory nonsense. Of course, I can't find his birthday. Also, I'm sure 30% of the population has "moon aspecting neptune", or some other ridiculous figure like that, so who knows what the fuck I'm seeing here. I have Moon sextile Neptune and I obviously have a bad handle on reality when it comes to my writing... Projection.
Wow, that last paragraph was a useful contribution to the internet. I hope you're grateful. I know I am. Post!
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.
This stupid band has been stuck in my head all fucking day. Jerks.
I'm not sure if I'm going to make it to their show here on the 10th, though I've been wanting to see them again in fresher circumstances. Here's hoping they make some decent money from their current tour and album release so they wander back this way again soon.
Song: "Sovereign Nocturnal" Artist: Velnias Album: Sovereign Nocturnal (2008)
I just checked these guys out because they're playing a show here with Kylesa and Bison BC.
For the bands I'm familiar with, these guys sound like a cross between Agalloch and Opeth. They have high compatibility with Wolves in the Throne Room, which is another obvious one. Any of these bands should tell you a whole fucking lot about what this band sounds like. The good news is, they're not quite so boring and may actually appeal to those of us who emotionally matured by the time we started listening to metal.
If I ever get a concussion and decide I want to start a black metal band, I'm going to put a bunch of leafless trees and dark people in black robes on my album cover. Then when I have concerts, I'm going to wear pastel sundresses with neon pink hair and, between songs, tell my audience about cute things my pets do and how much trouble I have finding the perfect shade of lipstick. The doors will be, of course, locked when I start showing baby bathtime pictures on the screen. Then some random thinks-he's-tough heavyset leather-wearing guy in the audience gets ass-raped with a drumstick by Bertha, our drummer, on stage while I make the crowd sing "I'm Gonna Go Eat Worms". When she's done, I'll say "IF YOU DON'T FUCKING CHEER UP, YOU'RE GETTING THE MIC."
And then we laugh maniacally. Feminism is awesome.
They sound a little bit like Headdress here, but somewhat more conscious and "full" sounding. Plus, female vocals that don't remotely make you want to punch a hole through someone's face. RARE.
By the way, the song is a free download at last.fm... among several.
In a short time span, I found this on a blog and was sent it via email. I can't remember if the chicken hatched or the chicken existed in the first place, so... hi. I'm months behind on this one. Nevermind it being a year old to begin with.
This sounds like someone stomping around, growl-screaming about not getting an extra scoop of ice cream. Mary got an extra scoop, WHY CAN'T I?! And they're like, this is what happens when you don't clean your room. STOMP STOMP STOMP. SLAM. And in the distance, you hear it clearly even though it's muffled behind a door, "I HATE YOU!"
But it's not really hate. It's really love. In disguise.
Little slow on the start but then it goes all metalli-thrash. Nothing revolutionary happening here, but it's likable for its familiarity at least. Also, is it just the hair making them look young, or were these guys not even born yet when Metallica became a household name? Not that there's anything necessarily wrong with that... but, yeah. Weird.
Free stuff is great/awesome/really nice/more compelling than shit I have to pay for and more often resulting in me actually paying for and liking something... or writing something up on TEH INTERNETS for others who may not have been aware of the stuff to begin with.
I think that was a very long hint. I'll try harder not to be obvious next time.
They remind me of something, not sure what. Due to the amount of Akimbo in my head recently, I'm seeing that... but maybe I'm confused with Torche because I was listening to that, too. Not sure it matters, you're going to get it and find out for yourself anyway.
This song starts out very energetic and tapers off, then re-builds in a more stoner-ish way... Very 'I went to art school' of it, but it still sounds great. I think this album has three more listens before it enters 'favorite albums ever' territory.
I'm a bit at a loss with this band. I've tried a few times to listen to them but nothing has grabbed me or 'set the mood' for me yet. They're heavy and loud and have plenty of familiar, appreciated elements, but nothing about the music really stands out for me to turn generalized, boring "respect" into like.
I spent an hour or so last night just watching videos of them, though... And holy crap, Valient has a shitload of charisma.
Song: "Penumbra" Artist: Ninth Moon Black Album: Ninth Moon Black (2008)
There are a lot of shows going on here tonight. Of the many, one is opened by this band - an Isis-y, ambient, dark movie soundtrack writing set of individuals.
Ninth Moon Black sounds a bit more conscious than the usual post-metal band (ironic because they come from the hippy capital of the world). This song in particular has a nice pace to it and briefly reminds me of Black Math Horseman's "Origin of Savagery".
Song: "Shittown, USA" Artist: Mongoloid Village Album: Mongoloid Village (2008)
I was waiting to do a post on this band until I had gotten into their material and therefore had something more interesting to say than the obvious... Not quite there yet. Nevertheless, I've had a few searches here and at the previous blog location for this band, so I might as well get the obvious song out of the way.
If you're from Portland, you may already know Mongoloid Village. If not, you should. Here's your learning experience.
I've known Diesto since at least March of last year. I heard one of their songs, loved it despite the low quality sample, and bought this CD without listening to anything else - something I rarely do. Their record label also sent me a bunch of other shit which was pretty cool...
I don't remember exactly why I checked them out originally, but I do remember they were playing a show with Red Fang about that time and that could have played a part. I couldn't go due to school.
They had other shows, but then it was a matter of money/priority. I planned to see them during MFNW and got sick. I think they once played a date when I was going to attend another show, but I didn't actually end up going to either because it was back to back with Black Cobra. Tonight they've got a show, and it sounded great in theory, but I just learned about a MELVINS + WEEDEATER + DANAVA = OMG show coming up which is exactly where this and last night's shows' money went.
So. I have not seen Diesto yet. And I need to. Because they do sound pretty good and it's about fucking time.
If you like darker spectrum sludge/doom (or the similar Northwest bands I've posted about: Black Elk and Akimbo and...), you'll like Diesto.
For the record, I don't consider this song "stoner" but they have moments... hence the tag.
I saw this band about nine months back. All I remember now is that the singer was pretty animated and seemed to know what he was doing, unusual of my experience of new-ish/underground/local bands. I didn't expect to like them but they stood out from the entire show and I thought that I'd have to check them out in the future.
Unfortunately for them and maybe my special local live band brownie points, I can't decide if that'll be soon or not. Five bands is too fucking much for apparently shitty venues I have to pay $30+ to get home from when the door cost is probably not even half that, nevermind the cost of food/drink seeing as how I'd be away from home no less than 7 hours even if I didn't see the whole show to waive the No Car Fee. I'm bored and in need of some good musical experience, but probably too broke to be THAT entertained.
In short, I hate local venues with their packing on of extra bands to sell tickets when I just want to see two bands starting at a reasonable time, not be there more than three hours, and get the fuck out before I catch alcoholism (because it's a "disease", see) and/or get dusted in idiot residue and wake up the next morning night with combover bangs stuck to one side of my head. Ten years ago I would have called y'all "fags" but I'm afraid I have more respect for the gay than to think they're all a bunch of ridiculous clones as is apparent at every small show I've been to. Seriously, if it's not the fucking jerks with their pants, it's the fucking jerks with their holier than thou attitudes who bitch on the internet in their fucking forums and blogs about shit that doesn't matter. GOD. WHY DON'T I LEARN TO DRIVE AND GET A REAL JOB?
That wasn't short.
You know what IS short, though? ... My patience.
Anyhow, I hope that if Dark Skies ever googles themselves the way Tweak Bird and KWC/Snailface and Tad did, they see the humor in this post and send me an email asking me if I'll help them put together a domain website because, like, geocities is, like, soooo 1997 ago.
Before I forget... This song did not make any real impact on me on album, but it sounded really great live. It's the stompy beat you can clearly hear at about 45 seconds into the song meets the live experience of watching these assholes flip out at the end of the song and then getting the ascending/circular/waltzy guitar noise at about 1:07 or 5:20 stuck in your head... And "your-ah breath is now still..."
Those of you familiar with L7 will be familiar with this name, as Donita was their singer. With her own band, she seems to have wandered a little closer to a more popular rock sound and style, but I wouldn't call this "pop rock" exactly. For one, it's just a little too heavy... and as far as I can tell it isn't about lost loves or one's whore practice.
I posted about this right when the video came out, but unfortunately I didn't have Sounds of Sagittarius back then... and apparently we're going back several years from this blog. Here's some things I had to say about Donita Sparks in the past. Brackets indicate current-day editing.
August 2006: meanwhile, i had “infancy of a disaster” stuck in my head all day.
November 2005: While researching this entry, I found Donita Sparks’ (singer of L7) “[He's Got The] Honey”. It’s kind of L7-style, but obviously different. It doesn’t have as much variation in sound in the song as L7 songs do, but it’s alright.
June 2006: … and then i came home and watched donita sparks’ ["Infancy of a Disaster"] video.
December 2006: very early this year, i raped the song “infancy of a disaster” off of the internet, which is by donita sparks. she’s supposed to have an album come out here someday(?!) … but it’s just flippin’ grand. it’s meaningless rock garbage, this song. “he’s got the honey” is similar. i like how she/they take a simple idea and just roll with it. i’m waiting on that album…
So I waited 2-3 years for this. At this point it seems like old news to me and the songs have worn off to the point that they're no longer striking. However, nobody's talking about it so I'm going to assume you haven't heard this before. Get to it, the entire album is free.
Here's another band I'm late on. Oddly, I've had this downloaded for months if not as much as a year and only recently checked them out because of their Roadburn videos. I still need to get through their work, but this song is pretty outstanding on its own.
The song on their myspace is chopped so you only hear the second half, so even though you'll get not-so-great sound on youtube, be sure to check out that video or last.fm's quality version.
I think it can be easily deducted that if you are displeased with recent Isis, you will enjoy this. Not that that's a proper comparison... but I never liked Isis that much because I require more heaviness and immediacy, and Amenra certainly seems like a logical step between what Isis does and what sludge should actually sound like to be called sludge.
I woke up with "Prehistoric Dog" stuck in my head. Not sure what caused this. I wasn't thinking about it in any respect. But there it was.
I haven't posted this song yet. Red Fang uploaded it to their myspace, I think, last summer... but I had posted too many of their songs in short order at that time, so I decided to wait. I think it's been long enough now.
The best part of this song is the last minute and a half. Especially 2:35 on.
I've already established that "The Artof Dying" is amazing with you guys, but I had a moment with the song about a week ago that threw me right into Gojira mood. I've been having a little trouble getting through all of their latest album, but the songs I'm fine with... are freakin' great. I'm soveryreally glad they're headlining a states tour.
Song: "Billy Fish" Artist: Melvins Album: Nude With Boots (2008)
I haven't listened to this album much in a while. Been sort of picking at it. Then this song comes on this evening... And that little guitar solo at 2:51 hits. EE!
Song: "Heart On"
Artist: Eagles of Death Metal
Album: Heart On (2008)
Damn the internet. I have this song stuck in my head again. I thought it would go away after its first run of stuck-in-head-ness last year, but... it's back again. Son of a bitch.
OMG. My first entry at the site. What am I going to wear? Oh, right, same BC shirt I've been wearing for the past six days. Sweet!
I'm still getting used to this new shit, here. So far things look practically the same, but, holy shit, they are NOT working the same behind the scenes. My hitting of small children and/or pets mood has passed, though, so that's cool.
Here's your first song, song blog #3. Cherish it.
"Death's Not Your Friend" by Wooden Shjips. I got this from the The Heads/Wooden Shjips Tour EP split (2008), available for download over at Sludge Swamp. I was not convinced but this is pretty cool.
This song doesn't really meet my standards as a whole... but that whiny instrument sound at the beginning and throughout the song "makes" the song work for me. If blogspot had a utility that allowed me to voice record my impression of what it sounds like, I'd post that right about here. Because it doesn't, you'll have to give the song a listen.
I dreamed that I was talking on the phone with an uptight guy with black hair deciding that, later, I would go over to his house next door and kiss him. I was happily thinking about that about a minute when this blonde stoned guy with fluffy long hair seemed to be offering a chance at the HIV lottery. Instead he fell asleep on me before anything really happened. That's when the other guy walked in the room. I had the blanket up to my neck and stupid was lower. I was asked to explain the strange disproportionate raise in the blanket. I said it was my cat sleeping and pet its cute little fluffy head. Bobo's such a fat little fucker. He shrugged and walked off.
I'm always amazed what people believe when the obvious is so clear.
I am unhappy about this development. I wanted to like them before I heard them, before I saw them... but there's something about this particular style of music that reminds me of people I want to kick in the face. Or at least gently push and go "oh shtop"... Yeah. This song has a redeeming quality for the band, and perhaps one day I will stop hating other assorted late 1960s-1970s transplants, too.
Crazy how difficult this band was to me a year or so ago, how since about September I've had very little trouble with them. What a ridiculous shift in taste. Or even interest. Or whatever it was.
The vocals still make me laugh. So over the top. Doesn't make the song suck, though. Especially after three minutes in. So, listen.
This song is okay, and a couple others on this are alright, but... eh. I can't get into this album. It's taken me months just to post this song thanks to being all interested and finding out that I am not actually interested in what's going on here. Still, the song works... It's nummero uno on the album, and for good reason.
This song has been stuck in my head since a random listen two days ago. I haven't posted it yet. Wonder why not, it was a feature song in my life around my birthday.
This is one of those 'learn something about yourself' kind of songs. How much obnoxious vocals can you tolerate, can you keep simple rhythm, and can you figure out what the song's about without looking up the lyrics? Among other possibilities...
In any case: loud. heavy. aggressive. varied. interesting.
This band sounds a little too indie-alternative rock to get away with any sort of stoner/heavy label... but this song alone might remind you of Boris on a lucid day. DFA1979 is another familiar kind of sound, here. I'm not sure about the band yet, but I definitely like the song.
YAY! I can finally do things like type numbers and parenthesis, see clearly the world wide web, and listen to music I feel like listening to!
These guys are doing a show with Mendozza and Salvador in approximately two months. If you do not have the mindset for the level of heavy these two bands put out, you will enjoy Minoton. They have rock.
Found out Meshuggah is touring here again soon. Their openers appear to be sub-par, so I checked to see who Seattle had instead [those spoiled jerks]. This name came up.
The song needs to be experienced for full effect, methinks. I will say it sounds like a cross-breed of a thousand metal bands.
Edit: The tour website I checked out to find out the openers lied to me. No Hole for Seattle.
Song: "Grip" Artist: zZz Album: Running with the Beast (2008)
More zZz! Because it's been eight or nine months since I last posted them. And because this album is all fresh, shiny, and new. It can be found at itunes if that's your thing. Otherwise, it'll be out December 9th.
Oh, and check out the "Running With The Beast" video. You put your CHICKEN IN, you take your CHICKEN OUT... And you wear a suggestive shirt and shake it all about.
Here's a pretty faithful cover of Alice In Chains' "Would?" done by Opeth. It doesn't quite have that extra bit of pathetic energy required to properly pull off anything by AIC, but is nevertheless pretty good. This lonely sample is a bit distorted, but this album/song is swimming all over the web so it shouldn't take you long to find it otherwise.
Song: "Dahlia" Artist: Salvador Album: Built of Trees and Sludge (2008)
I wanted to make a post about a bunch of local bands that we should all know and love by now, but it seems I should post more individual bands first.
I've known OF Salvador a while now, but it's taken time to get around to them. Finally when I have gained interest enough to sample them live and they even have a line-up of other, semi-local bands I have needed to see/hear a while now as well, they end up playing the same date/time as freakin' Earthless. While one clearly outweighs the other, the addition of other bands makes this a nearly unsolvable dilemma. It appears that bookers, etc, around here hate each other. I wish I had a time machine.
This song is worth it to a non-technical metal fan because of the highly memorable guitar throughout the song.
I wish they'd come back here. I'm all caught up now.
Humanity peeled from our bones Deprived of integuments that make us real. Shadows of flesh to maintain the system Our own blood splashes as we kneel.
So meticulously machined Into these obedient devices Puppets, fine tuned submissive drones Replicas of each other, clones
We're dormant accumulations of flesh In a crimson filtered twilight Mute witnesses to the game Wrenches to keep the bolts of lies tight
We're the fabric concealing the stains, The red tainted existence The gullibles to bless your sins away Rags to wipe your blooded trails
We give in to the atrophy, To the twining of self-thought knowledge The purpose of the human mind reviled Everlasting ignorance realized The scarlet flood inundates our powerless thoughts Defenseless minds with lies overfed
Every thought stained, defiled Painted the color, the shade of electric red
Ughhhh. That was too much. But I want more. Well, as soon as my ears and feet stop hurting. This Halloween - November 1st topped all others... by a nose. Heh.
Look, appropriate song title for how I feel today. As you should know, the Melvins are good and you should consume their most current version of rock if you have not done so already.
You know what sucks? You're involved in astrology enough to know the Sun Signs mean almost nothing to the whole of a person, yet you encounter particular Sun Signs in a very stereotypical format, causing you to believe that all of a particular Sun Sign suck in a specific way. And though this is ultimately true for you personally, that you're never going to get along that well with particular signs, you find exceptions in people who have astrology that leans away from their Sun Sign. I mean, they do kind of suck in that way, but you can no longer say anything edgy or important about all of that Sun Sign. Well, you could, but then you'd be attacked by idiots. And you might hurt exceptions' feelings.
Not that I've ever been in the feel good business. Too much effort, not enough truth.
So that was my thought when Oaks - "Big Sta" came on today. You should go find it, listen to it, transcribe its lyrics, and send them to me so I can see how well this entry doesn't connect in any way to the song.
Song: "SecretPlans" Artist: Eagles of Death metal Album: Heart-On (2008)
We individuals with a concentration of Libra should have no trouble getting into a band whose lead singer and lyricist is a Libra Sun conjunct Pluto conjunct Mercury, correct? After all, he speaks (Mercury) for a whole generation (Pluto) of pansexual, finger-in-every-pie morons (Libra). Plus he's got Jupiter square all of his Libra, so he's got a Mister Smiley persona which is a tough thing to resist even for more serious, intellectually rigid types. Definitely comes out in the music...
This album comes out in physical format in a few days, but you can already buy it via mp3... or, you know, download it free because you already bought the album and got sick of waiting when the album would probably not even arrive til the day of the show thanks to an apparent postal void between everywhere else and your city and that's too late to know. Yep.
Song: "Hospital" Artist: Black Elk Album: Always a Six, Never a Nine (2008)
There was a show I was kind of thinking of going to today because of an opening band interest. I decided not to because the venue's hard to get home from and the place would be packed with moron-level death metal fans. Just as I was starting to feel crappy for my loss of opening band live experience, I found out that the headliner used impaled goat heads in their stage gimmick. That is, real, once alive goat heads, the kind that start to smell of rot after so much time post-death. ... That is fucking fucked up. I'm all for darker spectrum art in music, but that's fucking ridiculous. No way am I going to a show that smells of rotting goat head.
Almost needless to say, I'm reminded of Black Elk and their eaten-alive puppies. Singing about it is fine, thinking about it is okay, but the real thing? Not so much.
Song: "Sugar" Artist: She Wants Revenge Album: Save Your Soul EP (2008)
Being SWR, this song is very Depeche Mode-ish, this time in the vein of "Enjoy The Silence". It's good, in a familiar and safe way. Our local singer almost sounds like he's singing for once, too.
I'm not sure why I hadn't done this song yet. Oddly, this EP is better than their latest album - by leaps.
Song: "Sharks" Artist: Red Fang Album: Red Fang (2008)
Tomorrow, Red Fang's full-length self titled LP comes out. If you don't buy it, you're an idiot. If you do, you're still an idiot, but at least, now, a cultured idiot.
That strained voice with the few clear lyrics will make you smile, if not laugh. There is also that jumpy beat which is great, and even greater when the song takes a dramatic turn halfway through. This song appeals to all mood states, as it's both fun and serious.
Also, apparently, this band is about their beer worship (go to page 2 of "My Photos").
Song: "Wannabe in LA" Artist: Eagles of Death metal Album: Heart-On (2008)
California as a whole is gross despite its persona. But, this song is evil enough to share. Also? <3 Liam Lynch. If you have a computer that can handle videos/huge files, check out Liam's podcasts.
I'm wondering if this is going to be the last EODM song post for a while, or the first of several. Just a few more days to go til we find out.
I went looking for this album months ago. I searched, and I searched some more, and I eventually gave up. The other day, randomly looking up the bands name once again thinking my search was hopeless as had been before, their album came up. GASP. Then I waited two days for it to download.
The extended wait was worth it.
You could argue that I could just have bought the album to begin with and heard this back in April or whenever it was, but I have been broke since. Soon, though, this will be mine. Make it yours, too.
I did some minor research yesterday and came up with this. You will like HWCT if you like stoner rock, basically. Right off I noticed Karma to Burn impersonations not merely for the fact that they're both instrumental bands, however Hotel has a heavier, more physically solid sound.
This song might not be the best places to start unless you're in the mood for a wavering, in-flux kind of sound... but it made a quick impression for me, and thus my sharing. Also check out the first track on this album, "Cup Weekend Murders".
Lazy post #7850. Later I'll post Queens of the Stone Age, followed by the only Electric Wizard song post I haven't made, and finish up the day with some Black Sabbath. Tomorrow, the Beatles. You'll fucking like it, too.
I like to experience music as a whole when I am not nearly unconscious, as it makes for less awkward experiences when dealing with the actual human beings involved with said music, from the band members themselves to the drunken idiots I have found myself spacially or socially near at that moment. Unfortunately for my need to make sense and be present, extreme levels of mental and physical exhaustion always find themselves meeting up with synchronous sound appreciation. In short, it sucks. I'm not socially trained enough to deliver when I'm out of it.
That's what this song made me think. Irrelevant, like everything else I've said about songs here at Sounds, but nevertheless present.
Great ending to this song, here. After clock abuse from various pseudo-metal bands, it's nice that someone out there can take the general energy of said styles and shorten it but still be effective/affective.
See also this video, where that venue magically allows their sound to exist comfortably.
It seems fair to post this song now before I move on to the next thing but also before I get bored of the phase(s) of current, though it's a bit compact with the others from this band. I have also yet to decide if days of abuse caught up to me or if there really is something here, merely taking a shift (yeah, yeah) of perspective to see/hear. I have some time to go before I will find out.
Anyway, listen to the song and find out for yourself.
This is overdue, but I posted so many Red Fang songs in close order that I decided to wait on this one.
In short, see this band live. They don't seem to be doing any touring or shows right now, but when they do, get on that before this song gets phased out in the wake of possible future new material. Of course, if you see this band, it'll be soon if not immediately apparent it doesn't matter which songs are getting played because they're all above par... but still. Don't miss it.
Edit: Red Fang's full-length LP comes out October 14th.
I've been thinking of doing something like this for months. The intention has changed a few times, mainly between whether I wanted to do the best new songs I've posted about since I started this blog or this more concise list of a top song list for the actual year 2008. I could wait until the true end of the year, or even my blog's actual birthday, but I can see myself being distracted at either time, and there aren't any albums (besides leaks) that are worth mentioning coming out in the next exact month. Even if I did include the last 2.5 months of 2007 to make this more even, it would almost be redundant in comparison to my (and others') postings last year and early this year. So, I hope you won't mind if I've jumped the gun on this one. Perhaps I'll reorganize this come January 1st, but who knows.
All that said, I've tried to make this list as concise and related to the blog as possible. Artists and songs who probably should be in here aren't due to genre differences, repetition, etc. I've gone for 13 songs in effort to make fun of myself and former incarnations, as I normally don't make "top lists" or play the self-importancy game when it comes to which songs are better than others - every song works in a different mindset; favoritism is relative. These are the songs, though, that didn't get boring with future listens, that are musically advanced or interesting, that aren't watered down by stereotype or social construct. Unfortunately, I can only put on here what I've heard and understood in context.
This song could be much higher up the list, but it fails at the fact that it's too short. Regardless, it's awesome. It's quick and energetic and fun and simply sounds great. It needs to be on here.
"Beyond" is the first off their newest album, Return to Disruption. The formula with first tracks on albums generally seems to be "leave them wanting more", and this one succeeds. All this song is, is five straight minutes of build and growing intensity. For that, it's not really a traditional song, hence its lower position on this list.
While not as straightforward in time or intention as the previous two, this one has a more traditional style and approach towards the whole song-writing business. It's very energetic, and is heavy and loud without being aggressive to the point of lame. The breakdown moment at about two minutes in is, in short, great.
I didn't care much/at all for Opeth before I heard Watershed, but this song has certainly stuck with me since. It has pretty much everything you could want in a metal song - doomy vocals, heaviness and volume, and moments catering to music appreciation. It's epic as a whole, but it's Opeth and they write varied, lengthy songs as a rule so that would be expected.
"Whorses" manages to win over the Tweak Bird virgin in ten seconds or less. Overall, they have better songs, but the fact that this song is so incredibly effective puts it on this list.
Here we have our simplest, least intense song of the whole group. So why is it here? Well, for one, it's Big Business. Then there's the matter of the stompy feeling and overall style. But... The lyrics. Listen to them. Now try to get them out of your head.
For having no vocals and such introverted band members, this band is ridiculously interesting to see live. It's hard to talk of instrumentals in a concrete manner, but of possible songs worth landing this list, this one is the most clear in mood and style throughout.
Starts great, ends great, and that piece in the middle? HOLY SHIT. I am also particularly fond of the lyric "there is no ending, and there's no wonder-why"... assuming, of course, that's what the lyrics are.
Maybe, just maybe, this shouldn't go as high as it is. I just heard it recently, so it hasn't withstood the test of time yet. But that so very cool intro, and the fact that Gojira goes off in another direction despite that intro, and then goes off into another apparent direction of pure fucking awesome from there... It's definitely worth the listen. Initially the sudden change in direction comes across as schizophrenic, but all in all it makes plenty sense.
Perhaps this song could be lower as well, being that it's nearly as new to me and the least traditional song on this list. With "Reincarnation", you kind of have to wait and see, not really knowing what's coming up, and this element makes it quite interesting. The combination of instruments and style make this both haunting and incredibly refreshing.
The moment I heard this song earlier this year, I knew I had to make some wholly unnecessary list for it to fall a top position on. While this song comes across as being pseudo-emotional electronic music, which doesn't really seem to appeal to the people who regularly patronize Sounds of Sagittarius, the fact that it's Boris wins out. It's good one way or another, but in the right sort of introverted mood, this song is absolutely amazing. Though it's not straight up rock n' roll, you will still be thinking HOLY SHIT.
I am so glad I heard Iota. Most of the songs on their new album Tales are great - I've had the open for "New Mantis" stuck in my head since I heard it, and I love "Opiate Blues" to death. But "Dimensional Orbiter"... just... is. It's so good. I have a habit of turning songs off before they've even finished, and at nearly 23 minutes long you'd think I'd have passed this song over more than I actually have. It would be a stretch to say that this song stays interesting throughout (at least without external aide), but it definitely maintains its wandering, spacey mood, even managing to bring the whole song back to planet earth before its end which is not something a lot of songs like this one achieve. You will come out of this song feeling different, for sure.
First off, I encourage you not to listen to this right after Iota as the styles of the two songs are very conflicting.
That said, if you're new to Meshuggah, this song will initially come across as pointless noise in the general vein of metal. My initial impression of them before this album was that they were nothing short of obnoxious. But, I gave them a second chance upon the release of ObZen, and "Combustion" quickly won me over.
Seeing them live shortly afterwards, one song stood out in their performance that I hadn't yet given a chance - "Bleed". My ears were fresh on their sound, so I had to go home to confirm my suspicions. Sure enough, I had discovered the one song that would keep me coming back.
Lyrics? Amazing. I could do without these kind of vocals but they definitely fit this song. The length of the song is just comfortable enough to tolerate on a regular basis while still being lengthy. The music itself is interesting as fuck - whether you know the technicalities of music or don't. Being a "progressive technical metal" band, they've combined straightforward, aggressive metal elements with intelligence and depth in mood. You can find the same concept with other bands, but none that do it this good. If you listen to this and don't completely space out in awe and/or nearly start crying, you're simply doing it wrong.
A lot of these songs are fluid in placement, but for "Bleed" there is no competition. This is the best song of the year, hands down.
Song: "The Art of Dying" Artist: Gojira Album: The Way of All Flesh (2008)
Gojira's new album was leaked two days ago, which I noticed without looking mid-yesterday thanks to the wonders of the sidebar blogroll.
The most obvious thing I heard about it from my very sleepy sampling is that there's been a shift in direction. From Mars to Sirius was very well produced, but this seems to be produced differently - the outcome is more raw, for starters. I've heard a couple of these new-to-Gojira sounds in different presentation with bands that should probably remain unnamed as some might get the wrong idea. Despite the addition of synth in at least one of these songs, the band is still as "death metal" as ever.
I didn't like Gojira much when I first heard them, and all of their material has taken me time to "hear" even when I've been open. This is going to be no exception. This song alone is nearly ten minutes - the first half alone, without the dramatic outro, qualifies as epic. If you like Gojira already, you will appreciate the fuck out of it. If you're not a Gojira fan (yet), good luck.
As I said above, I'm pretty hopeful about any upcoming albums from this band. This EP is very promising. If you like Big Business (or by any respect, the Melvins, as this particular song has a more leaky style than Business' previous albums) and catch them on tour presently, pick this EP up. Seriously, you want it.
Edit: What timing I had with this post. You can now listen to this song on their myspace.
I expected something slightly more fresh from this song from a distance, but my initial impression is that it seems like an outtake from Witchcult Today - like some wrap-up final track. This is still good, but it's more of a song for fans than casual listeners.
I wish my hearing was as good as it was ten years ago and my neighbors were all dead, because I'm sure I'm missing the total experience of songs/bands like this playing it via mp3.
Song: "Sex on Fire" Artist: Kings of Leon Album: Only By The Night (2008)
Kings of Leon has a few songs in their discography that are pretty nice regardless of where you're coming from, and this is one of them. Obvious radio hit going on here, obviously. Good to know that all current popular music doesn't outright suck. Right, metallica?
I'm waaaay behind on my research and findings, but this is as current as it gets. I just skimmed through this album, and it's already here, so that tells you something.
Not to be musically incestuous, but this song sounds like it came out of Tomahawk's Anonymous album. Being that it was my first post here, you know how I feel about that. Sounds awesome. Just, fuckin' great.
Well, I think I'm back. This was one tough week. In short, it was not as advertised. My so-called "fun" was muddled beyond my natural apathy, and I had to cut back everything. Nice fucking timing, motherfuckingsonofabitchshit.
I still caught this band live, outside of direct choice, as they were opening for another I have been long curious about (see previous entry). I might never have seen them without this kind of situation, as their recorded material hasn't impressed me. I've tried to do the the POV thing, but it wasn't working as I've been in a more "metal" mindset. I was half expecting to be bored.
They weren't bad. At all. What contrast between the recorded experience and live. Further, the singer of this band is one of the odder looking people I've seen (saying a lot because I see myself every day), which is not something you can capture through sound despite that voice. Odd, if nothing else, is interesting.
I don't know what song I want to include here, so I've gone with a mass-appealing one. Think updated 70s-style psych rock.
What the? I only ever get the really weird songs stuck in my head, naturally. I really thought I was doing a good job of avoiding "Spaceships" because it's just the right amount of weird to make an impact on my sleeping skull. Apparently not.
Fourteen. Spaceships. Out in the dehehsert. One, symphonic drone... Voices. Singin'. Bury the trehesure. So I'm diggin', a hole...
I was thinking the other day about how I've never mentioned my term "porn song" here, which is weird because several songs have fallen under the term. This song doesn't 100% qualify, but it's close enough.
I just enticed somebody who wouldn't have listened to this song on that description alone.
It's good, bouncy, "fun", and you're sure to like "Closed For Inventory" if you follow the garage/punk sound.
Somehow this was immediately appealing. And "Bones". You know you want more Bones and Whorses in your life, so go check these songs out at their myspace, then buy their split coming out with Red Fang soon.
Song: "Machine Gun" Artist: Portishead Album: Third (2008)
I've yet to post this namely because this album has been way over-hyped. I suppose I should respect this achievement and others like it because it's popular with integrity, but all the same. Is it my aesthetic-ADD or is this album actually boring? I suppose if I wasn't in a heavier, metal kind of overall mood, I might like it better... but I don't know.
Anyhow, when I first listened to this, "Machine Gun" immediately stood out. It's got something... particularly the second half of the song when she is not longer singing. Especially that last minute.
Something about this song reminds me of some other band. I can't put my finger on it exactly. Nevertheless, it's a pretty "friendly" song - by which, I mean radio friendly. Still, it's good.
Obviously I'm out of adjectives, but the album seems pretty good so far, too.
Song: "Weaver's Dawn" Artist: Scott Reeder Album: Weaver's Dawn (2008)
I don't have a sample link for you because this was only recently released and by surprise. In any case, the album it comes from is only two songs and is available both on amazon mp3 and itunes, so it's only $0.99 per song to check out.
Weaver's Dawn, as an EP, sounds like missing tracks from Tunnelvision Brilliance - if you like it, you'll like this. "Weaver's Dawn" is the obviously stronger track of the two, musically very familiar to Kyuss or Brant Bjork, with Reeder's trademarked vocals and somewhat lighter-in-feeling style. Despite my disinclination towards anything not-metal lately, this still comes across as pretty good.
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").
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.
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: "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.
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.
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..?
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.
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.
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.
Song: "Floorshaker" Artist: Boris Album: Message/Floorshaker EP (2008), Statement EP (2008)
Note that the song player above is at the very bottom of the page.
This song is classic Boris in their genre-crossing. One minute they're drone, the next they're electronica. It's pretty obvious why this song didn't make it to their 2008 Smile album. Still, it's fucking amazing. Get it. Seriously.
From what I gather, the physical singles this song is on are gone, gone without a trace. You'll find them, however, on several mp3 websites.
The beginning of this song reminds me of Wolfmother. (Yeah... Way to go with that, you guys.) Nevertheless, "Fire Exits" is a decent beginning to an otherwise repetitive album. A lot of the material can be found in other bands... but people can say the same thing about stoner rock clones. So, if you like alternative, semi-melodic "cored" rock-metal, you might just like this band.
Some time ago I mentioned that Iota was coming out with a new album this year. It was released about a week ago.
This particular song is familiar to Kyuss (Welcome To Sky Valley), Dozer ("Exoskeleton"), Monster Magnet (especially Tab), pretty much on the calmer, more laid back spectrum of stoner rock. Though it is a freakin' long track, it's still entirely worth your while.
Song: "Bomb This Track" Artist: Mindless Self-Indulgence Album: If (2008)
You may not want to, but you will like this song.
Also, maybe I should add a "hip hop" category to my tags even though I'll never use it again and this song doesn't necessarily fall under that genre despite how it moves.
Song: "Beyond And Into The Ultimate" Artist: Grey Daturas Album: Return to Disruption (2008)
Since I don't have a link to the song specifically, you can find this album online in various places if you look.
All I know about GD is that they're Australian and they're familiar to bands like Wolf Eyes and Subarachnoid Space (at least with this song). If you don't know them, you will likely find them worthwhile if you listen to anything on the post-whatever to stoner-psychedelic spectrum of rock/metal.
As for this song? Pretty fucking great. All tense, no release.
As predicted, Nine Inch Nails released an album today - apparently exactly at midnight PST. It's still sinking in for me, so I don't have much to say about it - but it starts off heavy (meaning heavy for NIN), hits a few consumer-friendly tracks, and ends in gentle (for industrial) instrumental tracks. First impression is that it's an extremely truncated version of The Fragile.
Oh yeah, and not to forget this: it's entirely free.
Clearly I'm in awe. I can't wait to see where they take things after this.
Song: "Station" Artist: RussianCircles Album: Station (2008)
Russian Circles' material is mostly gentle and atmospheric, but this particular track "rocks". I mean that in a loving way as well as the fact that it has a clear rock n' roll beat. (Maybe alt-metal is a better way to put it..?)
Oh yeah, and it's only their best song I've heard to date. Whether you're a fan of emotional rock or complex metal, you're sure to like this.
This album comes out May 6th. Presently you can pre-order Station from Insoundand have Insound donate to this band for touring, if you're so inclined.
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About this Archive
This page is an archive of recent entries in the 2008 category.
