New Reel Big Fish

Though I haven't really kept up with them past "Turn The Radio Off", one of my favorite bands Reel Big Fish have announced via Myspace bulletin that they have a new album coming out in January.
If you have never given Reel Big Fish a listen, I suggest that you stop castigating yourself and listen to their righteous ska jams.

Front man Aaron Barret has been one of my favorite musicians ever since I saw them on Warped Tour in like 9th grade.  His ability to shred and sing harmonies all on his own (and his fan devotion) really impressed me.  

Do yourself a favor and check them out, and if you don't like ska, you're beyond my help.

The Mile After

I stumbled across an interesting group of fellows from Charlotte, NC today called The Mile After.  I get a Something Corporate sort of vibe from them (probably an account of the presence of the piano).  Their songs are catchy and seem unsually genuine to me, and they happen to be on tour with Emery, which scores them pretty big points with me.  Maybe I'm crazy, but check em out for yourself. 

It's Video Day!!!

Seems like everything I've posted lately has an attatched video, but oh well. You can listen to the new Fall Out Boy song in the "video" below. Regardless of what you think of this band, this is a pretty good song. Not to mention it has Elvis Costello on it...

The Gay Blades

If you haven't heard of The Gay Blades before then the title of this post might be rather confusing.  However this might be your lucky day, because these dudes could just blow your damn mind.  

Recently signed to Triple Crown (and deservedly so) these gents are poised to put their finger inside everything you know and love about music.  

I could launch a number of adjectives at you or talk about how they sound like a mix of this band and that band on a meth binge, or the love child of a robot and a Gila monster; but those reviews are already all over the Internet.  What you need to know is that The Gay Blades are funnier than your best friends, more mysterious than spontaneous erections, and have an album called "Ghosts" which demands attention for it's wholesomely eclectic mix of brazen and meaningful songs.

Proof: The Gay Blades: Me-Ow!


More Proof

There is also a facebook group called TGB4N, started by some terribly good looking fellow.

UPDATE:

I coulden't have planned to do an article on TGB on a better day.  This video of Clark Westfeild just showed up on AP

These kids read this blog.

"Why are you talking music that isn't rock on your blog called "Rock and Roll Takeover?"

Back In The Saddle

I'm back to the computer after a couple of days of being gone.  On Wednesday I met with one of the camp directors Ben Williams and talked about next year at camp.  After which I drove to Covington, Virgina to Escatawba Farms to help a good friend do some fly guiding.   I left on Friday to go to Hampden-Sydney's homecoming where I saw some old friends and had more than my fair share of libations.  It was a great five days.

In other news, I'm not sure if anyone else watches the site meter as much as I do, but my numbers have almost doubled in the past four days...uhhh...awesome.

I also discovered that some people who I never would have expected to, but that I'm absolutely thrilled about are apparently reading this blog (JMU).  It is with this in mind that I'm going to again bolster and renew my efforts to make this a blog that merits peoples time spent on it.  Thanks again, the future looks bright.

Colors Live

I remember listning to Colors and thinking "I wonder if one day they will ever play this entire cd live?"  "No Way."  "Well maybe once, in some epic preformance."  "But probably not, it would be ridiculous, who could play that much ridiculously technical music for that long?"

How wrong I was.

Mail Googles...Like Beer Goggles...Get it!

I'm not really a drunk e-mailer, but this is pretty sweet.

Super Tuesday Strikes Again

I didn't spend quite as much money on CD's today as I have before, but I did manage to pick up Senses Fail's Life Is Not A Waiting Room, (and though it came out a while ago) The Showdown's Back Breaker.  I would say "reviews coming soon" but I haven't been very good about doing reviews have I ; )

Seasonal Music

I was talking to Jessie on our way back from Richmond last weekend when Brand New showed up on the ipod and we both started talking about how it was getting to be about "Brand New Time".
I'm not sure about other people (Wesley) but I'm a very seasonal music person. There are just some things that I won't listen too once the weather starts to change. For example I can listen to B rand News Your Favorite Weapon all summer. Perfectly enough, "Soco Amaretto Lime" is the last song on that album, and is the perfect transition into the darker, moodier Deja Entendu. Because Deja Entendu and The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me are not filled with major chord pop-punk songs, they really don't suite me in the summer; but in the winter....perfect.

That said, here's a list of some CD's that I'll be putting into hibernation pretty soon:

1. Four Year Strong - Rise or Die Trying
2. Set Your Goals - Mutiny!
3. New Found Glory - All (except maybe Coming Home)
4. Dashboard Confessional - The Shade of Poison Trees / A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar
5. Reel Big Fish - All
6. Mighty Mighty Bosstones - All
7. Jack Johnson - All but Sleep Through the Static
8. Bob Marley - All

You get the idea...
Here's a list of some things coming out of hibernation for the winter

1. Owen - At Home With Owen
2. Deftones - Saturday Night Wrist, White Pony
3. Boxcar Racer - S/T
4. Boys Night Out - Trainwreck
5. Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlanticism
6. The National - Boxer
7. Nickel Creek - Why Should The Fire Die?
8. Thrice - Vheissu
9. Pelican - The Fire In Our Throats Will Beckon The Thaw

Any arguments?

Conor Oberst and his genius

Conor Oberst released his newest album (technically not a Bright Eyes album) a couple of months ago, and it hadn't occurred to me until I saw a video for one of the tracks from it on a website that I should encourage all of you people to check it out.
Not a traditional Bright Eyes album (simply due to the absence of Mike Moogis) this album still sounds like the acoustic folksy Bright Eyes introduced in last two albums (I'm Wide Awake It's Morning and Cassadega). Oberst reportedly wrote the songs after (or during) a trip to Mexico, and it shows in the music. The album is overall a sunny and more carefree approach to folk that Oberst has turned out in the past. Check out the video for one of the standout tracks:

A Day To Remember Indeed

I went to the Easy Core tour the other night; featuring New Found Glory, A Day To Remember, Four Year Strong, The International Superheroes of Hardcore, and Crime In Stereo. I'll do a full write up soon, but until then, enjoy one of the things I enjoyed the most at the show.

SinceUBeenGone_AlbumVersion_.mp3

Jimmys Playlist

It wasn't until I was recently reminded that I remembered a function that I had intended for this blog to provide, an opportunity for me to make "playlists" for people. Beyond being a cool idea, I really like making playlists and mix CD's, and I figured this would be an interesting and more universal platform for me to create mixes on. Though I currently lack the technology (maybe I just haven't explored blogspot enough) to post the actual songs on the blog, that may change if someone who knows what the hell they're doing with a computer instructs me.
The idea first came to me to use the blog for this when I played the Thrice E.P.'s for my good friend Brad Luke; he was curious, and wanted to know what other magicians I could pull out of magic book. It is with this purpose refreshed in my mind that I would like to present the first playlist for my other good friend Jimmy Lewis.
Jimmy and I first met at camp last year and saw eye to eye on a number of issues (far to many to name here). Beyond him setting my lunch into place for me everyday this last year of camp, and being just generally excellent company, Jimmy called back in musical response as I snapped my fingers and bounced around the dining hall one day singing "Style" by Frank Sinatra. After I removed myself from the paralysis of excitement, I knew that Jimmy was beyond a friend, but a sort of musical soul mate. It is with that intrinsic bond that I present the Jimmy Lewis playlist:

Genre request: "Killer riffs and double peddle." (Metal)

1. Darkest Hour - With A Thousand Words To Say But One
-A great way to start of any mix.


2. Children of Bodom - Living Dead Beat
-The first track off one of the bands newer albums, this song does everything a children of Bodom song does. It makes you bang your head, shreds, and makes you want to be from Finland.

3. Between the Buried and Me - Selkies: The Endless Obsession
-Arguably the bands best song. This song in typical BTBAM fashion goes all over the place. The musical ability of this band is completely ridiculous. Do not listen to this song for the first time while driving a car or operating heavy machinery, you don't want your last moments to be spent starring at your stereo before you crash into a wall.

4. August Burns Red - Barbarian
-August Burns Red are pretty much a total crush fest. Breakdowns fly from left and right amidst blast beats, and neck spanning guitar work. A wonderful blend of harmony and destruction.

5. Four Year Strong - Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Hell
- Though Four Year Strong are decidedly less "br00tal" than the three previous bands, what they lack in aggression, they make up for in their insanely tactful and fun mix of hardcore and pop. Breakdowns, riffs, gang vocals, wrapped in sweet, delicious vocal harmony. Fucking delicious.

6. Winter Solstice - To The Nines
-Straight up, unapologetic metalcore. Riffs as much as you want and double basses even more than that. Some of my favorite kick drums on any album, full of punch but with a nice layer of smacking treble on top. Plus you get a totally sweet vocal guest spot from Tim Lambesis of As I Lay Dying.

7. Maylene & The Sons of Disaster - Memories of the Grove
-Maylene always makes me want to be on a road that is dusty and bumpy in a totally jacked Chevy Silverado with the top cut clean off and drinking Jack Daniels straight from the bottle. If this doesn't get you going, you might be beyond my help. Southern slang, hardcore heritage, all awesome.

8. Unearth - Zombie Autopilot
-One of the more Swedish influenced tracks from the powerhouse that is Unearth. Interesting and eclectic song craft really help this band stand out amidst their metalcore peers, though to lump them in the metalcore heap is to miss a lot of what is Unearth. They groove like a hardcore band, and make fretboard magic like Swedes.

9. Throwdown - Holy Roller
- The first track of the bands latest album, "Holy Roller" finds Throwdown picking up almost right where Pantera left off. Blending their hardcore roots with the southern swag of Pantera, this is a showcase of how a band can cross from one metal genre to another with great success. Gnarly riffs and a badass rhythm section make this one a surefire in the section of "killer riffs, and double peddle".

10. Hatebreed - Doomsayer
-The most hardcore (as far as genre is concerned) of the songs on the list so far. Hatebreed is Hatebreed, and they invite anyone who doesn't like it to get the fuck out. Crunchy ass guitars, pummeling bass, and a shit ton of attitude, Hatebreed pulls no punches.

11.Lamb 0f God - Laid To Rest
- I don't want to cheapen the experience by trying to describe it in words. It's a cop out I know, but if you haven't heard this song before, or even heard Lamb of God before, than you should be the one in trouble, not me.

So there you have it. The first mixtape! I would encourage anyone who disagrees or thinks that anything should be added, to say so in a reply. Jimmy, let me know what you think. More hardcore? More metal? More screaming? Faster? The majority of these I don't think are on Kyles ipod, but in the true spirit of the mixtape, hopefully you'll find something new that you enjoy.