Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Paper Trail
If you noticed my Last.Fm bar to the left, you would also have noticed that T.I. has been making the rounds on my itunes. Since today is Tuesday I made a trip to Best Buy to browse for CD's. Knowing good and well I was going to purchase Paper Trail and Forgetting Sarah Marshall I almost made it out of their without going over my shopping list (I saw Bleeding Throughs new album Declaration at the last second and picked that up too). I'll have reviews on T.I. and Bleeding Through up soon (and Set Your Goals and Spitfire).
Thursday sign with Epitaph
Epitaph Records has signed post hardcore heroes Thursday making their second major signing within the last month. Their first signing of New Found Glory seemed surprising enough, but now to have snatched up Thursday as well; Epitaph is building a roster that will be able to challenge any other indie.
More New Unearth
Unearth has just added another new track off of their upcoming album "The March" to their myspace page. Check it out right mya.
This song sounds (as expected and described by the band) as a throw to more melodic sounds. Their last album "III: In the Eyes of Fire" Turned the Brutal knob to 11, but these new songs sound more akin to "The Oncoming Storm" era Unearth. I'm excited.
This song sounds (as expected and described by the band) as a throw to more melodic sounds. Their last album "III: In the Eyes of Fire" Turned the Brutal knob to 11, but these new songs sound more akin to "The Oncoming Storm" era Unearth. I'm excited.
New Metallica
A mysterious comment has suggested that I review the new Metallica album. Though I have a sneaking suspicion as to who this person is; it wouldn't make much sense for me to beg for you guys to post, and then not respond in some fashion when you do.
Chances are that if you are a Metallica fan, you have already heard the new Metallica album, and therefore have a made a judgment call of your own. However if for some reason you await my review before you listen to it then I have a couple of things to point out.
I have never been the biggest Metallica fan. I have been leisurely working my way through their catalogue for a little over a year now, and would consider myself a casual fan of their music. This is not to suggest that I do not understand and respect their influence on the genre of metal and music as a whole. I certainly understand the importance of Metallica, however the only knowledge of Metallica I had for a quite a while was a very skimpy and simple familiarity with the Black album through Reload. I was seeing Lars Ulrich on T.V. trying to condemn Napster and thinking to myself "Who the hell wants to download your ragged ass tunes anyway asshole?"
I know better than that know. I remember the first time I heard "Master of Puppets" and having a very immediate opinion change about Metallica after just 55 seconds. I know better now. As I stated before, I respect Metallica immensely for their contribution to metal. However at that point I had already been cutting my teeth on things like Choking Victim, Anti-Flag, Thursday, Thrice, and other bands (A lot of pop-punk) that just sounded different than Metallica, in some ways heavier (gasp) even. I had learned to listen past the screaming I was thought of as obnoxious and hear the music, and eventually came to love the screaming. Before the end of senior year I went to my first metal show and saw Scarlet, As I Lay Dying, and the namesakes of the blog Every Time I Die. A pretty kick ass first show I might add.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I jumped onto the metal ship at a weird time, and it wasn't until I got into more types of heavy music that I listened further back into Metallica's catalogue and really gained an appreciation for it.
In review: missed the Metallica train, not the biggest fan.
Now, onto the new album. I streamed a couple of tracks online and was surprised and somewhat impressed with what I heard. But not long after it was released I found this article. Anyone who has talked to me about music for long enough has heard me talk about production qualities and how much I value them. The new Metallica album has become a victim of "the loudness war" and has had its production values compromised.
What does all this mean? It means that while someday I might own the new Metallica CD, it will never get a great review from me because of its production values (or lack thereof). "But how's the music?" you ask. I'll put it this way, Rick Rubin told Metallica to go and make "Master of Puppets" II, and this is obviously what they have tried to do on this album, and with some degree of success. If you like Metallica and aren't a stickler for sound quality then you will most likely like the new Metallica. If you haven't been a huge Metallica fan in the past, but like classic Metal (real metal, not hair metal, and as much as I love them Zeppelin are not classic metal) and again, are not a huge stickler for quality, then there is a good chance that you will like this album.
Chances are that if you are a Metallica fan, you have already heard the new Metallica album, and therefore have a made a judgment call of your own. However if for some reason you await my review before you listen to it then I have a couple of things to point out.
I have never been the biggest Metallica fan. I have been leisurely working my way through their catalogue for a little over a year now, and would consider myself a casual fan of their music. This is not to suggest that I do not understand and respect their influence on the genre of metal and music as a whole. I certainly understand the importance of Metallica, however the only knowledge of Metallica I had for a quite a while was a very skimpy and simple familiarity with the Black album through Reload. I was seeing Lars Ulrich on T.V. trying to condemn Napster and thinking to myself "Who the hell wants to download your ragged ass tunes anyway asshole?"
I know better than that know. I remember the first time I heard "Master of Puppets" and having a very immediate opinion change about Metallica after just 55 seconds. I know better now. As I stated before, I respect Metallica immensely for their contribution to metal. However at that point I had already been cutting my teeth on things like Choking Victim, Anti-Flag, Thursday, Thrice, and other bands (A lot of pop-punk) that just sounded different than Metallica, in some ways heavier (gasp) even. I had learned to listen past the screaming I was thought of as obnoxious and hear the music, and eventually came to love the screaming. Before the end of senior year I went to my first metal show and saw Scarlet, As I Lay Dying, and the namesakes of the blog Every Time I Die. A pretty kick ass first show I might add.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I jumped onto the metal ship at a weird time, and it wasn't until I got into more types of heavy music that I listened further back into Metallica's catalogue and really gained an appreciation for it.
In review: missed the Metallica train, not the biggest fan.
Now, onto the new album. I streamed a couple of tracks online and was surprised and somewhat impressed with what I heard. But not long after it was released I found this article. Anyone who has talked to me about music for long enough has heard me talk about production qualities and how much I value them. The new Metallica album has become a victim of "the loudness war" and has had its production values compromised.
What does all this mean? It means that while someday I might own the new Metallica CD, it will never get a great review from me because of its production values (or lack thereof). "But how's the music?" you ask. I'll put it this way, Rick Rubin told Metallica to go and make "Master of Puppets" II, and this is obviously what they have tried to do on this album, and with some degree of success. If you like Metallica and aren't a stickler for sound quality then you will most likely like the new Metallica. If you haven't been a huge Metallica fan in the past, but like classic Metal (real metal, not hair metal, and as much as I love them Zeppelin are not classic metal) and again, are not a huge stickler for quality, then there is a good chance that you will like this album.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
New A Static Lullaby
I've never really been into A Static Lullaby, but I'm streaming their new album over on pure volume, and I'm pretty impressed so far. Sounds like they really took a page out of the He Is Legend, Maylene, Memphis May Fire book for this release; and with a name like Rattlesnake! the album already has my favor. Check it out here
Tribunal Sampler
Tribunal records has released a free sampler album with a good number of their current line up on it. Tribunal has a pretty impressive list of former bands including Atreyu, He Is Legend, and From Autumn To Ashes. I'm listning to the sampler right now and so far am pretty impressed. It's all pretty heavy stuff. You can check out the sampler here. It's Free!!
October 14th
I just saw a commerical informing that "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" (kiss my ass I like it) will be released on October 14th, which makes it the third item I will be picking up that day. The other two things are Unearth's new CD and Between the Buried and Me's Colors_Live DVD. Its' going to be a good Tuesday.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
A Pledge To You (The Reader)
The majority of the last posts that I have published have been while I was sitting on the sectional sofa with 14 premium movie channels right at my disposal. Having been through four years of college and discovering (all too late) that the library (or) a place with as view distractions is the best place to get anything done, I now realize (even as I watch "Real Time") that writing posts while I'm doing other things isn't really a good idea.
I know that it's a music blog that not that many people read, but the reason I started this was so that I could talk about something that I loved, and share my passion with music with my friends in a way that would not only keep me writing, but also keep all my friends who also love music up to date on what I'm doing at what I'm listning to.
All of that said, I'm slowly but surely trying to make this blog something that is legitimate. I've added a couple of blogs to the "Blog Roll" (fancy speak for 'other blogs that I like') including Jamais Cascio's "Open the Future" blog (real interesting shit), Andrew Sullivan's political blog, and my good, good friend Wesley Julians blog of his adventures in Japan (brother gotta help another brother out). I've added all of these things to make your websurfing experience not come to a collosal dead end after you have your way with my humble peice of internet. It is with this newfound respect for my blog that I ask a number of things:
1. Tell your friends who are interested in music about this blog.
2. Check back here often, I try to update it to keep it interesting.
3. POST RESPONSES YOU ASSHOLES! Unlike a lot of blogs, you don't have to enter an email address or anything to post a response. Just something simple like "Yeah, I like Peter Gabriel...fuck Phil Collins." Let me know what you want to see from this blog, this is after all a blog for you people.
Most of all, thanks to the people who keep coming to the blog everyday. It's you people who make me want to get out here and dig into myself and music to try and add something relevant to the wide world of the internet. From here on out, I pledge to take my posts seriously. No more "posting" while watching T.V. or any other distraction; I can't ask you guys to take this blog seriously if I don't take it seriously myself.
Thanks, and much love,
Watson
I know that it's a music blog that not that many people read, but the reason I started this was so that I could talk about something that I loved, and share my passion with music with my friends in a way that would not only keep me writing, but also keep all my friends who also love music up to date on what I'm doing at what I'm listning to.
All of that said, I'm slowly but surely trying to make this blog something that is legitimate. I've added a couple of blogs to the "Blog Roll" (fancy speak for 'other blogs that I like') including Jamais Cascio's "Open the Future" blog (real interesting shit), Andrew Sullivan's political blog, and my good, good friend Wesley Julians blog of his adventures in Japan (brother gotta help another brother out). I've added all of these things to make your websurfing experience not come to a collosal dead end after you have your way with my humble peice of internet. It is with this newfound respect for my blog that I ask a number of things:
1. Tell your friends who are interested in music about this blog.
2. Check back here often, I try to update it to keep it interesting.
3. POST RESPONSES YOU ASSHOLES! Unlike a lot of blogs, you don't have to enter an email address or anything to post a response. Just something simple like "Yeah, I like Peter Gabriel...fuck Phil Collins." Let me know what you want to see from this blog, this is after all a blog for you people.
Most of all, thanks to the people who keep coming to the blog everyday. It's you people who make me want to get out here and dig into myself and music to try and add something relevant to the wide world of the internet. From here on out, I pledge to take my posts seriously. No more "posting" while watching T.V. or any other distraction; I can't ask you guys to take this blog seriously if I don't take it seriously myself.
Thanks, and much love,
Watson
Friday, September 26, 2008
American Psycho
So I'm watching American Psycho right now, and I'm just at the part where he's in his place with the two hookers. Besides marvelling in Patrick Bateman's (Christian Bale's) lush and sophisticated musical reviews, I realized something else while watching that scene...I'm afraid that I like Phil Collins...
Normally finding out about a musician or new music through a movie would be a good thing, yet I have tried to resist all affinity for Phil Collins due to my preference and admiration for the true genesis/solo master of the 80's: Peter Gabriel.
I've somehow worked it out in my head that I can't like Phil Collins if I like Peter Gabriel. Just like I would question the devotion of Van Halen fan who liked Sammy Hagar more than David Lee Roth, there is something about liking the replacement more that the original that just doesn't feel right to me.
However there have been certain replacements who have done fine, Cove Reber with Saosin or Daniel Rinaldi with Bedlight For Blue Eyes.
Help Me...
Normally finding out about a musician or new music through a movie would be a good thing, yet I have tried to resist all affinity for Phil Collins due to my preference and admiration for the true genesis/solo master of the 80's: Peter Gabriel.
I've somehow worked it out in my head that I can't like Phil Collins if I like Peter Gabriel. Just like I would question the devotion of Van Halen fan who liked Sammy Hagar more than David Lee Roth, there is something about liking the replacement more that the original that just doesn't feel right to me.
However there have been certain replacements who have done fine, Cove Reber with Saosin or Daniel Rinaldi with Bedlight For Blue Eyes.
Help Me...
Music Lit
I'm finding the thing that I'm missing the most about school (college) is having smart people talk to me. Not that my friends aren't smart, but not many of them are proffesors. Anyway, I happened across a book a while ago that seemed like it would satisfy my musical hunger, that I'm also finding is satiating my intellectual hunger as well.
The book is called "This Is Your Brain On Music" and it's all about music and how your brain responds to it. It's very interesting. Well composed, and a good mixture of analytical neuroscience colored with common musical examples and language.
You can check out the books website here.
The book is called "This Is Your Brain On Music" and it's all about music and how your brain responds to it. It's very interesting. Well composed, and a good mixture of analytical neuroscience colored with common musical examples and language.
You can check out the books website here.
Don't let this win over you...
Another track and video from Set Your Goals:
Listning to the lyrics and watching the video I got even more upset that I hadn't heard about this band before I did. The lines: "You will have to let this make you stronger...Soon you will end the pain, and you will say that it did make you stronger."
really make me wish I had this song to blast in my office last year when it felt like everything was crashing around me.
Though the song is about losing a loved one, it certainly has application beyond that (besides it being so damn catchy).
Listen to Set Your Goals.
Listning to the lyrics and watching the video I got even more upset that I hadn't heard about this band before I did. The lines: "You will have to let this make you stronger...Soon you will end the pain, and you will say that it did make you stronger."
really make me wish I had this song to blast in my office last year when it felt like everything was crashing around me.
Though the song is about losing a loved one, it certainly has application beyond that (besides it being so damn catchy).
Listen to Set Your Goals.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Love Exists...
You may notice that my Last.fm chart (to the left of the screen) has been playing a song called "Love Exists" by Say Anything for quite a while now. What any Say Anything fan should be saying to themselves is "What the hell song is "Love Exists"?!?!?"
Well, the reason you dont know it is because it's the song that Max Bemis just emailed me from the Say Anything song shop. That's right, it's my very own Say Anything song. Max Bemis and I are the only one's who have heard it. It's mine.
Boo-ya
Well, the reason you dont know it is because it's the song that Max Bemis just emailed me from the Say Anything song shop. That's right, it's my very own Say Anything song. Max Bemis and I are the only one's who have heard it. It's mine.
Boo-ya
Monday, September 22, 2008
New Fear Before
A new song by Fear Before (Formerly Fear Before The March Of Flames) can be heard here.
While it is a complete departure from "Art Damage", it certainly sounds like the same band that made "The Always Open Mouth". I'm sure I'll be listening to this track for a while, and I'm even more excited to hear the rest of the album now.
While it is a complete departure from "Art Damage", it certainly sounds like the same band that made "The Always Open Mouth". I'm sure I'll be listening to this track for a while, and I'm even more excited to hear the rest of the album now.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Yes...
Found this article while poking around on The Dillinger Escape Plan Myspace page.
I for one am all about collaborations. I'm not a genre elitist who refuses to listen to other type of music, or discourages blending between two genres. I think things like rap/rock are a great idea (when done correctly). The thing that makes me especially excited about this is caliber of both of the individuals involved.
For me, it's awesome to see Wayne (obviously at the top of his game both lyrically and success wise), and Weinman (who is at another level entirely as far as heavy music is concerned) involved (though not directly) in a musical project together.
I'll be very excited to hear this when it comes out.
I for one am all about collaborations. I'm not a genre elitist who refuses to listen to other type of music, or discourages blending between two genres. I think things like rap/rock are a great idea (when done correctly). The thing that makes me especially excited about this is caliber of both of the individuals involved.
For me, it's awesome to see Wayne (obviously at the top of his game both lyrically and success wise), and Weinman (who is at another level entirely as far as heavy music is concerned) involved (though not directly) in a musical project together.
I'll be very excited to hear this when it comes out.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
The Splurge
The other day I did something that isn't unusual for me; but unless something big changes, can't really afford to do too often.
I walked into best buy, sure that I was going to buy something, but exactly sure what that something was. The first thing I picked up was Hatebreed's new live DVD "Live Dominance". I'm a big Hatebreed fan and got real excited by the preview video when it came out a couple of months ago. On the other end of the musical spectrum I picked up Mika's CD "Life In Cartoon Motion". I had read good things about it online, had heard good things about him from a friend and had liked the one song of his that I had heard "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)".
Hatebreed is Hatebreed and since it wasn't a new disc there was only so much I was surprised by. The concert footage was pretty cool, and for 12 bucks, I'm okay with it.
"Life In Cartoon Motion" certainly fits its name, and is filled with fun and upbeat pop music. I haven't made it all the way through yet, but I'm sure there are going to be some songs on there that make it on to my "firday" and "summer" playlists.
After a couple more hours of working at the store, I took off again, heading to the DMV to try and get a new license (mine's beat to shit). On the way there I passed the local record store "Fantasy" which I usually avoid on principle. It's not that I dont support small record stores, just that I hate feeling like I'm under a microscope and being examined by the staff the whole time I'm shopping. Eventually I got to the DMV and decided that the parking lot was way to full for me to attempt to brave the crowd. I turned around and headed back home with full intentions to stop by Fantasy and try and find two cd's that I had been looking for that had been eluding me for a while.
I emerged victorious; clutching the Deluxe edition of Mutiny! by Set Your Goals and Cult Fiction by Spitfire. Both of the these CD's came out a while ago (Set Your Goals in 2006) but both of them had been particularly difficult to find due to the more obscure nature of the bands. What made it even better was that I got the last two copies of each disc.
I'll update soon with reviews of both the Set Your Goal's and Spitfire CD's. I expected good things and I got great things from both of them.
I walked into best buy, sure that I was going to buy something, but exactly sure what that something was. The first thing I picked up was Hatebreed's new live DVD "Live Dominance". I'm a big Hatebreed fan and got real excited by the preview video when it came out a couple of months ago. On the other end of the musical spectrum I picked up Mika's CD "Life In Cartoon Motion". I had read good things about it online, had heard good things about him from a friend and had liked the one song of his that I had heard "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)".
Hatebreed is Hatebreed and since it wasn't a new disc there was only so much I was surprised by. The concert footage was pretty cool, and for 12 bucks, I'm okay with it.
"Life In Cartoon Motion" certainly fits its name, and is filled with fun and upbeat pop music. I haven't made it all the way through yet, but I'm sure there are going to be some songs on there that make it on to my "firday" and "summer" playlists.
After a couple more hours of working at the store, I took off again, heading to the DMV to try and get a new license (mine's beat to shit). On the way there I passed the local record store "Fantasy" which I usually avoid on principle. It's not that I dont support small record stores, just that I hate feeling like I'm under a microscope and being examined by the staff the whole time I'm shopping. Eventually I got to the DMV and decided that the parking lot was way to full for me to attempt to brave the crowd. I turned around and headed back home with full intentions to stop by Fantasy and try and find two cd's that I had been looking for that had been eluding me for a while.
I emerged victorious; clutching the Deluxe edition of Mutiny! by Set Your Goals and Cult Fiction by Spitfire. Both of the these CD's came out a while ago (Set Your Goals in 2006) but both of them had been particularly difficult to find due to the more obscure nature of the bands. What made it even better was that I got the last two copies of each disc.
I'll update soon with reviews of both the Set Your Goal's and Spitfire CD's. I expected good things and I got great things from both of them.
New Format
So I switched the format up a bit....
All of my favorite blogs stack the text on the right and the other stuff on the left. It's more comfortable for me. I also changed the colors up a bit. I'm reserving the right to sacrifice your familiarity for my comfort and satiation of my need for spontaneity.
All of my favorite blogs stack the text on the right and the other stuff on the left. It's more comfortable for me. I also changed the colors up a bit. I'm reserving the right to sacrifice your familiarity for my comfort and satiation of my need for spontaneity.
Free CD...
Being one of the few people I know who still actually buys music, I'm not sure if this will excite other people as much as it does me; however I figured it's hard to download an album that you don't know exists. That said, Go Crash Audio is giving away their new album for free: here.
The band turns out a fairly traditional, but not boring pop-rock sound that's pretty solid (especially for the price). Check it out.
The band turns out a fairly traditional, but not boring pop-rock sound that's pretty solid (especially for the price). Check it out.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
New Unearth...
Professional ass-kickers Unearth have a preview up of a new song "My Will Be Done"off of their new album "The March". The album has claimed that the album is "Their most dynamic to date", this single is certainly indicitive of a new and more full dimension than what the band has shown in the past.
Unearth is a band who have been consistent with the quality of their releases (and though I haven't seen them in a while) I'm guessing that their live show has only gotten better as well. I'm completely excited for this release.
Unearth is a band who have been consistent with the quality of their releases (and though I haven't seen them in a while) I'm guessing that their live show has only gotten better as well. I'm completely excited for this release.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Can we be friends?
Instant inspiration:
I'm so upset that I only learned about this song a little while ago. I can only image how many times I would have played this too loud and danced around wherever I was like a total asshole. For me this is one of those songs that no matter what's going on, or where you are, totally overshadows everything else.
I'm so upset that I only learned about this song a little while ago. I can only image how many times I would have played this too loud and danced around wherever I was like a total asshole. For me this is one of those songs that no matter what's going on, or where you are, totally overshadows everything else.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Play video games, save the world
Though this is intended to be primarily a music blog, I reserve the right (since it's my little chunk of the internet) to post about other things that I think are awesome. Like this...
Will you be the one whose ideas save the planet?
Will you be the one whose ideas save the planet?
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Deja Vu...
As any Blink-182 fan will remember, a number of years ago while the were recording what would become their self titled album the band set up cameras in the studio so that fans could watch as the band produced their album.
I am very pleased to announce that one of my other favorite bands Lamb of God will be doing the same thing.
Head to their website http://www.lamb-of-god.com/ to view the in studio web cams.
Cant wait for February...
I am very pleased to announce that one of my other favorite bands Lamb of God will be doing the same thing.
Head to their website http://www.lamb-of-god.com/ to view the in studio web cams.
Cant wait for February...
Monday, September 8, 2008
Mana from on high
Personal hero and namesake of this blog Keith Buckley has posted a blog about the VMA's:
LIVE FROM THE VMA’S ON MY COUCH!
If that wildly unentertaining faux celebrity we've collectively agreed to refer to as Perez Hilton can gain notoriety by poorly photo shopping cumshots and 4th grade fart joke commentary onto someone elses pictures like some retarded john madden, maybe this can be my chance to be the voice of the counter culture hungry to indict pop culture for its affront to good taste. I'm speaking directly of the MTV awards that I voluntarily but painstakingly endured tonight. If you have the audacity to call yourself an award show, perhaps you should consider the artistry that goes into making an actual video. As apprehensive as I am to say this, the most honorable acceptance speech was made by the band Linkin Park, whose lead singer commended the videos director for his vision (albeit the director was a band member). What did the director have to say about it? Who knows. The second he began his speech, MTV cut him off. Not ONCE over the course of its two and a half hours did this VIDEO award show applaud the vision of reputable directors. Panic At The Disco's tremendously florid and most original video of the year lost to Brittney Spears whose appearance at the awards was as robotic and scripted as any celebrity with a formidable public relations team could write for her, given her universally viewed meltdown. It was almost as if I was told to host an award show based on my favorite keith buckley. When you conjure up, preen and present an artist, to award IT a trophy is not only perpetuating your sense of self importance, but terribly insulting to an intelligent audience that still hopelessly clings to your programming desperately trying to catch a glimpse of itself in the vapors of what was once its idea of rebellion. Luckily for MTV, they've abandoned their intelligent viewers long ago and can get away with giving air time to T-PAIN who arrived on an elephant surrounded by clowns, providing an unintentional but astoundingly appropriate satire of music as a whole. It is a baroque mockery of itself. Note my Chuck Palahniuk use of one line paragraphs to stress importance that you otherwise may not have understood had I not outlined it for you.If it weren't for Pete Wentz and FN'MTV resurrecting the importance of new artists, when asked what our favorite music video of all time was, most of us would say "that collaboration with that dude" Anyone here miss LIMP BIZKIT? Fear not! They've been resurrected as PINK. We get it lady. You are punk rock. Nice butt cheeks. Nico would be proud. Ive never been more incessantly reminded of anyone as forgettable as Rhianna. "hey you hear that new rhianna joint?" "No, who is that?""I dunno. A female vocalist whose voice has been processed in pro tools beyond recognition" "Maybe. Whats she look like?""Kind of like Kim Cattrall in MANNEQUIN but as female vocalist""oh yea. Shut up and drive rules""totally. you pick out your junior prom suit yet?""nope"Keep in mind that 25 years ago, the nominees for BEST MALE VIDEO were Billy Joel and Michael Jackson. Tonight it was FLO RIDA. Nonono guys. Not FLORIDA. That's way too over your head. You see, METRE is the term used to describe the rhythmic arrangement of the accented and unaccented syllables in verse. So FLORIDA is considered the metric foot. FLO RIDA is the negation of everything you know as grammatically correct, shaking the foundation of traditional structure. You'll never understand how advanced "In The Ayer" truly is until you study the iambic pentameter that made Shakespeare legendary.I was reminded of how much I love 'Merica when the Pussycat Dolls not only aggrandized their hit single ode to the insufficiencies of female tweens but then thanked our troops for their dedication to freedom before plugging their shitty record. I'm sure the legless father of 2 felt his heart skip a beat while receiving no remuneration for his time served in a pointless war. The battle over who can stuff the pockets of our first illiterate president has finally been validated in the concise prose of the women who sing "When I grow up Fresh and clean Number one chick when I step out on the scene". If that doesn't scream national pride, I don't know what does.Really? The Jonas Brothers? Lets forget the fact that every live performance from the backlot looked like something big bird would have done when elmo joined him in a spin off of a Barbara Streisand song. Those 3 cartoon character brothers ACTUALLY sang on the same stairs where Harold Hooper argued with Oscar the Grouch. Is it possible to further perpetuate the idea that non threatening, a-sexual and talentless assholes hold the key to the heart of our youth? And for anyone that watched their performance when they moved to "Main Stage", lets run through the producers thought process:"ok, jonas brothers begin where Gordon talks to Count Von Count""perfect so far""then we put a bunch of overweight 14 year olds in pastel spandex and have them rush the stage in order to give the viewing audience the idea that these 3 shitbags are popular""hold on, I thought I was at the meeting for the nickelodeon awards. Is this really MTV?""yes. But we can amalgamate our viewers as long as I have Miley Cyrus playing rock band""Deal. Can one of the brothers rip off his vest in a defiant but predictable maneuver and then crowd surf to show how edgy he is?""totally sweet.""nice. Ill see you in aruba"Last year at the VMA's we got a glimpse into the guilt that MTV must have felt for no longer awarding such visionaries as Michel Gondry or Chris Cunningham. Enter Lou Reed. His opinion seemed almost prophetic as this year we have effortlessly seen the elimination of:BEST ALT VIDEOBEST MTV2 AWARDBEST GROUP VIDEOBEST LONG FORM VIDEOIngenuity is rolling in its grave.While I don't claim to hold any stringent allegiance to what main stream media channels offer me, I wont pretend that I am completely immune to its influences. Only vapid indie hipsters who imagine that they are so far removed from popular culture as to maintain a staunch indifference to its pervasiveness declare this absurdity. Yes guys I understand. You love JUSTICE and new balance sneakers and organic foods and denying the origin of any of your cliché ideas for a song. But the truth is, creativity comes not only from an awareness of influences but from a study of how they offend you. if it weren't for MTV award shows there would be no music devoted to its undoing. There would be no antiplots and miniplots and archplots that make direction and story writing what it is. If I didn't hate METRO STATION as much as I do I would never fully appreciate the brilliance of true music played by musicians. I am proud to be a part of a culture that will not make a countdown on a local radio station. And if I do, then it is under the same pretense that that creepy asshole in glasses came into the Emersons house in The Lost Boys. Get the invitation, then ruin all you come into contact with. Maybe one day ill be invited into the "House Of All The Rage". But if I am, I promise I'm bringing my bloodsucking friends with me. See you on tour.
Love keith and ETID
My sentiments exactly... (though I did think Lil' Wayne was sweet)
LIVE FROM THE VMA’S ON MY COUCH!
If that wildly unentertaining faux celebrity we've collectively agreed to refer to as Perez Hilton can gain notoriety by poorly photo shopping cumshots and 4th grade fart joke commentary onto someone elses pictures like some retarded john madden, maybe this can be my chance to be the voice of the counter culture hungry to indict pop culture for its affront to good taste. I'm speaking directly of the MTV awards that I voluntarily but painstakingly endured tonight. If you have the audacity to call yourself an award show, perhaps you should consider the artistry that goes into making an actual video. As apprehensive as I am to say this, the most honorable acceptance speech was made by the band Linkin Park, whose lead singer commended the videos director for his vision (albeit the director was a band member). What did the director have to say about it? Who knows. The second he began his speech, MTV cut him off. Not ONCE over the course of its two and a half hours did this VIDEO award show applaud the vision of reputable directors. Panic At The Disco's tremendously florid and most original video of the year lost to Brittney Spears whose appearance at the awards was as robotic and scripted as any celebrity with a formidable public relations team could write for her, given her universally viewed meltdown. It was almost as if I was told to host an award show based on my favorite keith buckley. When you conjure up, preen and present an artist, to award IT a trophy is not only perpetuating your sense of self importance, but terribly insulting to an intelligent audience that still hopelessly clings to your programming desperately trying to catch a glimpse of itself in the vapors of what was once its idea of rebellion. Luckily for MTV, they've abandoned their intelligent viewers long ago and can get away with giving air time to T-PAIN who arrived on an elephant surrounded by clowns, providing an unintentional but astoundingly appropriate satire of music as a whole. It is a baroque mockery of itself. Note my Chuck Palahniuk use of one line paragraphs to stress importance that you otherwise may not have understood had I not outlined it for you.If it weren't for Pete Wentz and FN'MTV resurrecting the importance of new artists, when asked what our favorite music video of all time was, most of us would say "that collaboration with that dude" Anyone here miss LIMP BIZKIT? Fear not! They've been resurrected as PINK. We get it lady. You are punk rock. Nice butt cheeks. Nico would be proud. Ive never been more incessantly reminded of anyone as forgettable as Rhianna. "hey you hear that new rhianna joint?" "No, who is that?""I dunno. A female vocalist whose voice has been processed in pro tools beyond recognition" "Maybe. Whats she look like?""Kind of like Kim Cattrall in MANNEQUIN but as female vocalist""oh yea. Shut up and drive rules""totally. you pick out your junior prom suit yet?""nope"Keep in mind that 25 years ago, the nominees for BEST MALE VIDEO were Billy Joel and Michael Jackson. Tonight it was FLO RIDA. Nonono guys. Not FLORIDA. That's way too over your head. You see, METRE is the term used to describe the rhythmic arrangement of the accented and unaccented syllables in verse. So FLORIDA is considered the metric foot. FLO RIDA is the negation of everything you know as grammatically correct, shaking the foundation of traditional structure. You'll never understand how advanced "In The Ayer" truly is until you study the iambic pentameter that made Shakespeare legendary.I was reminded of how much I love 'Merica when the Pussycat Dolls not only aggrandized their hit single ode to the insufficiencies of female tweens but then thanked our troops for their dedication to freedom before plugging their shitty record. I'm sure the legless father of 2 felt his heart skip a beat while receiving no remuneration for his time served in a pointless war. The battle over who can stuff the pockets of our first illiterate president has finally been validated in the concise prose of the women who sing "When I grow up Fresh and clean Number one chick when I step out on the scene". If that doesn't scream national pride, I don't know what does.Really? The Jonas Brothers? Lets forget the fact that every live performance from the backlot looked like something big bird would have done when elmo joined him in a spin off of a Barbara Streisand song. Those 3 cartoon character brothers ACTUALLY sang on the same stairs where Harold Hooper argued with Oscar the Grouch. Is it possible to further perpetuate the idea that non threatening, a-sexual and talentless assholes hold the key to the heart of our youth? And for anyone that watched their performance when they moved to "Main Stage", lets run through the producers thought process:"ok, jonas brothers begin where Gordon talks to Count Von Count""perfect so far""then we put a bunch of overweight 14 year olds in pastel spandex and have them rush the stage in order to give the viewing audience the idea that these 3 shitbags are popular""hold on, I thought I was at the meeting for the nickelodeon awards. Is this really MTV?""yes. But we can amalgamate our viewers as long as I have Miley Cyrus playing rock band""Deal. Can one of the brothers rip off his vest in a defiant but predictable maneuver and then crowd surf to show how edgy he is?""totally sweet.""nice. Ill see you in aruba"Last year at the VMA's we got a glimpse into the guilt that MTV must have felt for no longer awarding such visionaries as Michel Gondry or Chris Cunningham. Enter Lou Reed. His opinion seemed almost prophetic as this year we have effortlessly seen the elimination of:BEST ALT VIDEOBEST MTV2 AWARDBEST GROUP VIDEOBEST LONG FORM VIDEOIngenuity is rolling in its grave.While I don't claim to hold any stringent allegiance to what main stream media channels offer me, I wont pretend that I am completely immune to its influences. Only vapid indie hipsters who imagine that they are so far removed from popular culture as to maintain a staunch indifference to its pervasiveness declare this absurdity. Yes guys I understand. You love JUSTICE and new balance sneakers and organic foods and denying the origin of any of your cliché ideas for a song. But the truth is, creativity comes not only from an awareness of influences but from a study of how they offend you. if it weren't for MTV award shows there would be no music devoted to its undoing. There would be no antiplots and miniplots and archplots that make direction and story writing what it is. If I didn't hate METRO STATION as much as I do I would never fully appreciate the brilliance of true music played by musicians. I am proud to be a part of a culture that will not make a countdown on a local radio station. And if I do, then it is under the same pretense that that creepy asshole in glasses came into the Emersons house in The Lost Boys. Get the invitation, then ruin all you come into contact with. Maybe one day ill be invited into the "House Of All The Rage". But if I am, I promise I'm bringing my bloodsucking friends with me. See you on tour.
Love keith and ETID
My sentiments exactly... (though I did think Lil' Wayne was sweet)
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Friday, September 5, 2008
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
New Fall Out Boy
Just for anyone who is interested...
The new Fall Out Boy single can be streamed here.
I'm so so on it. So far.
The new Fall Out Boy single can be streamed here.
I'm so so on it. So far.
The new Helter Skelter
I'm currently painting the guestroom in Mom and Dad's house in order to maintain my free rent status. Naturally I have a 12 pack of beer and my speakers and Ipod set up in the room with me to keep me inspired/company. For this particular task I decided to set it to shuffle, which (as usual) has given me a compendium of non-sequitur tunes. As the speakers went silent and then started humming with "Helter Skelter" by The Beatles, I thought nothing of it till I listened a little harder.
It's been a while since I went on my White Album kick, and I started hearing things that might not have appeared to me when I was listening to it in high school. Listening to everything from the composition, to they they played the notes, and the discordant nature of the whole song, I couldn't help but be reminded of Norma Jean.
I know what your thinking. What the fuck, seriously? Norma Jean and The Beatles? Yes in fact, Norma Jean and The Beatles.
While I was listening to "Helter Skelter" the voices of everyone I know who I've talked about music to who is over 40 kept ringing in my ears "The Beatles and Led Zeppelin were the heavy metal of those days." came at me full force, as I realized that The Beatles really did take a genre that they helped to invent, and kick it in the teeth, and in the process push the first domino that resulted in some of my favorite music.
What we have exactly 40 years later (I'm thinking about the new Norma Jean album The Anti-Mother most with these statements) is music that is "hardcore" or "metalcore" that can through a convoluted but visible trail be traced back to The Beatles.
I couldn't help but laugh and be excited at this revelation that I had. I Thought it might be useful to share it with you all.
It's been a while since I went on my White Album kick, and I started hearing things that might not have appeared to me when I was listening to it in high school. Listening to everything from the composition, to they they played the notes, and the discordant nature of the whole song, I couldn't help but be reminded of Norma Jean.
I know what your thinking. What the fuck, seriously? Norma Jean and The Beatles? Yes in fact, Norma Jean and The Beatles.
While I was listening to "Helter Skelter" the voices of everyone I know who I've talked about music to who is over 40 kept ringing in my ears "The Beatles and Led Zeppelin were the heavy metal of those days." came at me full force, as I realized that The Beatles really did take a genre that they helped to invent, and kick it in the teeth, and in the process push the first domino that resulted in some of my favorite music.
What we have exactly 40 years later (I'm thinking about the new Norma Jean album The Anti-Mother most with these statements) is music that is "hardcore" or "metalcore" that can through a convoluted but visible trail be traced back to The Beatles.
I couldn't help but laugh and be excited at this revelation that I had. I Thought it might be useful to share it with you all.
MISSION STATEMENT:
In order to better inform friends and other digital passerbys about good and wholesome music, so has the the blog 'This is a rock and roll takeover..." (henceforth "rnrtakeover") has been established. By posting about various styles and forms of music, the authors hopes to empower and elighten his audience by informing them of all things sonically important and/or rad. The author hopes that your visits to this musical oasis be satiating and enriching, and that you should discover not only new music, but that you should use the written dictations of the author to delight yourself while bemusing and belittling the lesser informed cretens of society who are perfectly and smugly satisfied with simply listing to the radio. Start the takeover...
'Ohh how the plot thickens..."
The new Underoath album came out today. There was substantially less hype surrounding the release of this record as compared to their last record (which makes sense considering that they didn't really do to much different on this record).
Maybe it's because I haven't had too much time with it yet, but I'm missing the vast improvement that some people are claiming is present from Define The Great Line and Lost In The Sound of Separation.
The CD isn't bad by any means. I'm just wondering why everyone seems to be losing their shit about how great this CD is.
There a couple of stand out tracks in "Breathing In A New Mentality" (Especially the beginning, turn up your speakers for the full effect), "Anyone Can Dig A Hole But It Takes A Man To Call It Home", "The Only Survivor Was Miraculously Unharmed", and "Too Bright To See Too Loud To Hear". The Later three being some of the heavier tracks on the album while the last is softer for the most part, but totally badass.
The group seems to play with softer sounds on this record (not really a bad thing), but don't seem to do anything with the changes of pace. Track 7 ("Casting Such A Thin Shadow") on Define The Great Line is a definite break from the rest of Define The Great Line, but its slow, meandering, Pelican like build up that leads into its atmospheric, crushing, Deftones like crescendo not only sounds totally awesome, but shows the band stretching themselves in an interesting way. There don't seem to really be any of these moments on this record.
I'm definitely willing to admit that maybe I just need more time with this album to get into it and see it for what it is. And to repeat It's a good album. By genre standards it might be one of the best of the year, yet when you do as much as Underoath does, as well as they do it, criticism comes with a heavier hand.
Maybe it's because I haven't had too much time with it yet, but I'm missing the vast improvement that some people are claiming is present from Define The Great Line and Lost In The Sound of Separation.
The CD isn't bad by any means. I'm just wondering why everyone seems to be losing their shit about how great this CD is.
There a couple of stand out tracks in "Breathing In A New Mentality" (Especially the beginning, turn up your speakers for the full effect), "Anyone Can Dig A Hole But It Takes A Man To Call It Home", "The Only Survivor Was Miraculously Unharmed", and "Too Bright To See Too Loud To Hear". The Later three being some of the heavier tracks on the album while the last is softer for the most part, but totally badass.
The group seems to play with softer sounds on this record (not really a bad thing), but don't seem to do anything with the changes of pace. Track 7 ("Casting Such A Thin Shadow") on Define The Great Line is a definite break from the rest of Define The Great Line, but its slow, meandering, Pelican like build up that leads into its atmospheric, crushing, Deftones like crescendo not only sounds totally awesome, but shows the band stretching themselves in an interesting way. There don't seem to really be any of these moments on this record.
I'm definitely willing to admit that maybe I just need more time with this album to get into it and see it for what it is. And to repeat It's a good album. By genre standards it might be one of the best of the year, yet when you do as much as Underoath does, as well as they do it, criticism comes with a heavier hand.
Monday, September 1, 2008
The Brooklyn Boy
Jessie and I went to a show at "The Boot" in Norfolk last night. I had been there the night before to see a pretty sweet western band called Spindrift who put on a great show. They recorded the soundtrack for a very spaghetti western movie called "The Legend of God's Gun". The music was really cool and befitting of a western movie.
Anyway, I was in the bathroom looking at the list of shows when I saw the name Kevin Devine. I had read his name a lot on AP and knew that he and Jessie Lacey were good buds and blah, blah, blah, but I had never really listened to his stuff. The poster noted that he was opening for a guy named Matt Pryor (whose face greeted me as I opened the AP that I got yesterday afternoon) who is also the lead singer of The New Amsterdams and (get this) used to be the lead singer of The Get Up Kids. In the excitement of discovering that this show would be taking place the next night, I called Jessie who agreed to go with me.
I checked out Matt Pryor's myspace page and listened to "Confidence Man" (strongly recommended) and was pleased with what I heard. I neglected to check out Kevin Devine's myspace page (link in the title of the post) but felt confident that I would enjoy his music anyway; and boy did I...
Though Devine played before Matt Pryor, he almost undoubtedly stole the show (a difficult feat considering how good Pryor was). Devine brought excitement and energy to an all acoustic show like few people can do. Everything about his performance- from his crowd interaction (humorous, polite, considerate) and his playing of requested songs -to the way that he poured himself into the songs, was amazing.
I could continue to throw a bunch of adjectives his way, but will refrain and simply say that I am now a huge fan of Kevin Devine. Check out his myspace, buy a CD, and by all means catch him live if you can.
Anyway, I was in the bathroom looking at the list of shows when I saw the name Kevin Devine. I had read his name a lot on AP and knew that he and Jessie Lacey were good buds and blah, blah, blah, but I had never really listened to his stuff. The poster noted that he was opening for a guy named Matt Pryor (whose face greeted me as I opened the AP that I got yesterday afternoon) who is also the lead singer of The New Amsterdams and (get this) used to be the lead singer of The Get Up Kids. In the excitement of discovering that this show would be taking place the next night, I called Jessie who agreed to go with me.
I checked out Matt Pryor's myspace page and listened to "Confidence Man" (strongly recommended) and was pleased with what I heard. I neglected to check out Kevin Devine's myspace page (link in the title of the post) but felt confident that I would enjoy his music anyway; and boy did I...
Though Devine played before Matt Pryor, he almost undoubtedly stole the show (a difficult feat considering how good Pryor was). Devine brought excitement and energy to an all acoustic show like few people can do. Everything about his performance- from his crowd interaction (humorous, polite, considerate) and his playing of requested songs -to the way that he poured himself into the songs, was amazing.
I could continue to throw a bunch of adjectives his way, but will refrain and simply say that I am now a huge fan of Kevin Devine. Check out his myspace, buy a CD, and by all means catch him live if you can.
"Start the takeover..."
Hopefully this is the start of something significant...
For a number of reasons I've decided to start a music blog. Me?! Big surprise, I know. Hopefully this blog will serve a number of purposes (including but not limited to):
1. Helping me write more
2. Fighting post graduate lazyness
3. Recomend and talk about music on a more accessible level.
Stay tuned... I plan on adding a bunch of bells and whistles soon.
For a number of reasons I've decided to start a music blog. Me?! Big surprise, I know. Hopefully this blog will serve a number of purposes (including but not limited to):
1. Helping me write more
2. Fighting post graduate lazyness
3. Recomend and talk about music on a more accessible level.
Stay tuned... I plan on adding a bunch of bells and whistles soon.
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