I have been pretty busy lately, so I'm sorry that I've been in hiding.
This will be a short update just talking about a couple of albums worth picking up.
The new Brendan Canning album that I mentioned in my last update is pretty fantastic. Much different from his "Broken Social Scene Presents..." Album that was released a few years ago. The albums feels like it is an intentional departure from BSS and all their splendour. He keeps everything very down to earth and organic. The name of the album (you GOTS 2 CHILL), though it hurts me to look at, is a great representation of the feel you are in for. I do recommend this album on vinyl over CD.
I have been playing way too much of the new Pokemon game. Don't judge me. It is awesome.
I have started scripting out an album idea I had been playing around with. It will take me forever to finish, but I'll keep everyone posted on the progress.
My beard is getting ridiculous. It may be incredibly awesome.
Chance Procedures has been writing and experimenting lately. New stuff will hopefully be available come the early new year.
Have I mentioned that I have one of those Tumblr things? I have this habit of calling it several different names. I mostly use it when I am avoiding boring everybody with personal stuff. If you find my personal life somewhat interesting, you should follow my Tumble-Dryer! I update it every time I get sad or depressed or alone and use the publicness of it to search out for comfort. I also like posting letters to nobody and the occasional thing that Jhonen Vasquez posts.
I will leave you to your weekend now. I am currently listening to Death Cab For Cutie and trying to figure out what to do with my Saturday Evening.
-J
P.S. ALY COMES HOME TONIGHT! Holy Fuck.
P.P.S. I may at some point post pictures from Iceland, but I am ridiculously secretive about that whole adventure.
Saturday 26 October 2013
Thursday 10 October 2013
Iceland.
Hello, I have returned from a dream composed from a total of 12 hours sitting on a plane.
My brother and I have very recently returned from a trip to Iceland. Reykjavik has become one of my favourite cities for so many reasons that I am going to avoid gushing as much as I can.
We all know me, though. I went to see what their music scene was like. Of course; I picked one of the worst weeks to go ever. It seems like they were still half recovering from Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds curating an All Tomorrows Parties event a month or so prior. They also have their Airwaves festival coming up at the end of October, which looks like a very (VERY) good time. I actually didn't get to see a single live act while I was there. The only bands that were billed to be playing around the city (from what I could see) were all cover bands. So, I took my show money to a local record shop and bought an album I had never heard of or seen in our shops.
This album stood out to me based on the fact that the label that released it in Iceland was actually the record shop I was standing in at the time. 12 Tónar seemed to be the bigger of the record shops in the downtown area in Reykjavik. Their selection was far from massive, but what they had is what stood out. Once you get past the stacks of Sigur Rós and Björk CDs, there was a wealth of interesting imports and alluring independent and small local bands. The only reason I only picked up once CD was the sheer price of everything (which makes sense considering everything would be an import).
I made a fantastic choice, though. From what I can read on the internet (because the liner notes are all in Icelandic), Samaris is 3 teenagers from Iceland who made a pop album. It's somewhere between dream pop and Triphop. Everything is etherial and dreamy, yet the backbeats are all hiphop based. This creates the strangest and most trance-inducing sounds I have come across in a while. The vocal styling is what grabbed me instantly. I hate to compare the band to other Icelandic bands, but the singer really does sound like the middle between Björk and Fever Ray. There is that innocence behind it that just gives me goosebumps.
Everything is incredibly minimalistic and sparse. I initially did not enjoy parts and pieces of the instrumentation; but the more I listen, the more I realize the subtle brilliance in every layer constructed. There always seems to be one instrument that feels placed on top of the mix, very similar to where the vocals usually sit. Instead of moving the other sound out of the way when the voice comes in, they meld the two to create this strange third melody out of the dissonance.
The album wraps up with 4 remixes of songs found prior on the album. Normally I am not a fan of this sort of track progression, but I was not initially aware that this was the case. Instead, it feels like a revisitation to themes found earlier. I will admit that a huge part of this is the language barrier.
Overall, I would recommend this album to anyone looking for a wicked album of sweet jams. I usually hate it when reviews use lines like "chill out" to describe sounds, but it works so damned well in this context. It's only 9.99 on iTunes, go pick it up.
Here's a track
My brother and I have very recently returned from a trip to Iceland. Reykjavik has become one of my favourite cities for so many reasons that I am going to avoid gushing as much as I can.
We all know me, though. I went to see what their music scene was like. Of course; I picked one of the worst weeks to go ever. It seems like they were still half recovering from Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds curating an All Tomorrows Parties event a month or so prior. They also have their Airwaves festival coming up at the end of October, which looks like a very (VERY) good time. I actually didn't get to see a single live act while I was there. The only bands that were billed to be playing around the city (from what I could see) were all cover bands. So, I took my show money to a local record shop and bought an album I had never heard of or seen in our shops.
SAMARIS
I made a fantastic choice, though. From what I can read on the internet (because the liner notes are all in Icelandic), Samaris is 3 teenagers from Iceland who made a pop album. It's somewhere between dream pop and Triphop. Everything is etherial and dreamy, yet the backbeats are all hiphop based. This creates the strangest and most trance-inducing sounds I have come across in a while. The vocal styling is what grabbed me instantly. I hate to compare the band to other Icelandic bands, but the singer really does sound like the middle between Björk and Fever Ray. There is that innocence behind it that just gives me goosebumps.
Everything is incredibly minimalistic and sparse. I initially did not enjoy parts and pieces of the instrumentation; but the more I listen, the more I realize the subtle brilliance in every layer constructed. There always seems to be one instrument that feels placed on top of the mix, very similar to where the vocals usually sit. Instead of moving the other sound out of the way when the voice comes in, they meld the two to create this strange third melody out of the dissonance.
The album wraps up with 4 remixes of songs found prior on the album. Normally I am not a fan of this sort of track progression, but I was not initially aware that this was the case. Instead, it feels like a revisitation to themes found earlier. I will admit that a huge part of this is the language barrier.
Overall, I would recommend this album to anyone looking for a wicked album of sweet jams. I usually hate it when reviews use lines like "chill out" to describe sounds, but it works so damned well in this context. It's only 9.99 on iTunes, go pick it up.
Here's a track
Sunday 29 September 2013
Last post before I leave...
Random link jumping. Came up with some different and interesting artists and whatnot to look into.
Audrey Napoleon :: Random producer who does stuff. Some of it is pretty neat. It is a bit more dance-pop than I usually look into.
Brendan Canning :: Finally got a stream of the new album (in link) and it sounds pretty cool. Also, he started another label, thus the not being released on Arts & Crafts.
Dream Affair :: I keep checking in with this band every so often just to see what is new. 80's Goth, today!
Beliefs :: I'm on a bit of a dream-pop thing. These guys are pretty cool.
CST Sampler :: Constellation Records did a sampler a little while ago. Worth poking around on, if you are looking for something obscure. I'm not a fan of the full 40 whatever minuets, but to each their own.
I hope something in that list brings you a great feeling.
I'm off to do something that is very similar to this list, except I'm not going to tell anyone about it.
Also, I'M GOING TO ICELAND. BYE.
-J
Audrey Napoleon :: Random producer who does stuff. Some of it is pretty neat. It is a bit more dance-pop than I usually look into.
Brendan Canning :: Finally got a stream of the new album (in link) and it sounds pretty cool. Also, he started another label, thus the not being released on Arts & Crafts.
Dream Affair :: I keep checking in with this band every so often just to see what is new. 80's Goth, today!
Beliefs :: I'm on a bit of a dream-pop thing. These guys are pretty cool.
CST Sampler :: Constellation Records did a sampler a little while ago. Worth poking around on, if you are looking for something obscure. I'm not a fan of the full 40 whatever minuets, but to each their own.
I hope something in that list brings you a great feeling.
I'm off to do something that is very similar to this list, except I'm not going to tell anyone about it.
Also, I'M GOING TO ICELAND. BYE.
-J
Friday 27 September 2013
The Accidental Mistake
Well that was the worst possible name I could have come up with for this post.
Hello my fine readers! I'm sorry that I have been missing lately; I got completely sidetracked by life and everything it holds. Of course, by life I mean work.
This is also I mild hyperbole, since I have actually been quite busy. Some I can't talk about (because it involves things in progress), and other things are mildly boring to people who don't like things (I won two of four Magic the Gathering rounds the other night).
Let's get the gaming news out of the way:
I have been playing a bit of everything lately: Kerbal Space Program, Papers, Please, and Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. All have been great fun. All have made me late for work at least once. Overall, I would recommend any of these to people who like time sink games. Especially Papers, Please, which has you working a boarder in 1984 U.S.S.R. It starts to get brutally depressing when you realize that all of what you are doing would have actually happened, and still does in some capacity or another today.
There is a very good reason for my silence: I was waiting for something amazing to fall into my lap. Thanks to a couple of trips down to Orange Monkey, I think I finally have something to talk about.
I first heard of Memoryhouse about two or three years ago. A girl I was seeing at the time told me about how this couple from her school took off for six months or so and came back with a massive european following. I looked them up and could only find a listing for the song Lately. The ideas behind the song and the sparse minimalism of the instrumentation stuck a fine chord with me. For some reason or another, I never did follow up research to find out if and when the album would come out. That song has shown up on many of my playlists and I have always been curious about what they would do next.
I was doing a second run at Orange Monkey last week and I came across the newest Memoryhouse album by accident. I actually found it in a compilation pile between a sixties funk comp and a hard-core punk comp. I picked it and a copy of Four by Bloc Party and ran home to put it on a stack with the other few albums I still had to get through. I would like to report that the music is actually prettier than the art work. This two piece has this ability to sound positively haunting in the best way. The better tracks are definitely the ones with the faster tempo, but I can't really say that there is a bad song on the album.
The one thing I could say to the detriment of the album is that it has little range. I get that it is an element of dream-pop, but the lack of dynamics leaves me feeling like I missed something. I can't even say that either side drags, but side A did little to hold my strict attention. The one crecendo happens on Old Haunts actually startled me from reading because it felt so unexpected. At the same time, it was a beautiful turn to end the album on.
Overall, I would highly recommend this album. If you are already a huge dream-pop fan, maybe give it a good stream before jumping all over it. If you are new to the scene, Memoryhouse is a great place to start.
October is looking like it is going to be a bad-ass music release month! Brendan Canning, Basia Bulate, Deltron 30303, Moby, Minus The Bear, The Seas... So many more.
I will not be updating next week for sure, though. I will be in Iceland between the 2nd and the 7th. Let me know if you have been and know of any sweet record shops!
Hello my fine readers! I'm sorry that I have been missing lately; I got completely sidetracked by life and everything it holds. Of course, by life I mean work.
This is also I mild hyperbole, since I have actually been quite busy. Some I can't talk about (because it involves things in progress), and other things are mildly boring to people who don't like things (I won two of four Magic the Gathering rounds the other night).
Let's get the gaming news out of the way:
I have been playing a bit of everything lately: Kerbal Space Program, Papers, Please, and Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. All have been great fun. All have made me late for work at least once. Overall, I would recommend any of these to people who like time sink games. Especially Papers, Please, which has you working a boarder in 1984 U.S.S.R. It starts to get brutally depressing when you realize that all of what you are doing would have actually happened, and still does in some capacity or another today.
There is a very good reason for my silence: I was waiting for something amazing to fall into my lap. Thanks to a couple of trips down to Orange Monkey, I think I finally have something to talk about.
Memoryhouse :: The Slideshow Effect
(2012 Sub Pop Records)
I first heard of Memoryhouse about two or three years ago. A girl I was seeing at the time told me about how this couple from her school took off for six months or so and came back with a massive european following. I looked them up and could only find a listing for the song Lately. The ideas behind the song and the sparse minimalism of the instrumentation stuck a fine chord with me. For some reason or another, I never did follow up research to find out if and when the album would come out. That song has shown up on many of my playlists and I have always been curious about what they would do next.
I was doing a second run at Orange Monkey last week and I came across the newest Memoryhouse album by accident. I actually found it in a compilation pile between a sixties funk comp and a hard-core punk comp. I picked it and a copy of Four by Bloc Party and ran home to put it on a stack with the other few albums I still had to get through. I would like to report that the music is actually prettier than the art work. This two piece has this ability to sound positively haunting in the best way. The better tracks are definitely the ones with the faster tempo, but I can't really say that there is a bad song on the album.
The one thing I could say to the detriment of the album is that it has little range. I get that it is an element of dream-pop, but the lack of dynamics leaves me feeling like I missed something. I can't even say that either side drags, but side A did little to hold my strict attention. The one crecendo happens on Old Haunts actually startled me from reading because it felt so unexpected. At the same time, it was a beautiful turn to end the album on.
Overall, I would highly recommend this album. If you are already a huge dream-pop fan, maybe give it a good stream before jumping all over it. If you are new to the scene, Memoryhouse is a great place to start.
October is looking like it is going to be a bad-ass music release month! Brendan Canning, Basia Bulate, Deltron 30303, Moby, Minus The Bear, The Seas... So many more.
I will not be updating next week for sure, though. I will be in Iceland between the 2nd and the 7th. Let me know if you have been and know of any sweet record shops!
Thursday 5 September 2013
I'm the worst fan in the world and you should probably forget that I exist.
That title is a message for Trent Reznor. I'm okay with the idea that he will never see it. If he does, well, I have some explaining to do.
Dear Trent, I do like the new album. I had to get that out of the way before you started to worry that I had turned my back on you. The title is actually more about the fact that I actually forgot that the new Nine Inch Nails album had some out on the third. Worry not, oh person I have nothing but great respect for; you got my money before 5 o'clock on the fourth. I actually really like Hesitation Marks. I am a bit surprised by the change and the fact that I still like it, but there are several good reasons for that.
Well, my friend (I wish Trent and I were friends), the first reason is that I came in a bit late. It was mid 2003 and I was just about to wrap up my first year of high school. My good buddy Chris was talking to me about his favourite NIN albums and I had to sheepishly let him know that I had never heard of them. After I wiped the blood from my head, he proceeded to tell me about the albums and how The Fragile may just be the last thing you ever do. He lent me The Fragile and told me to look into The Downward Spiral if I liked what I heard. Well, I kind of fell in love with everything that I heard.
I remember doing some research and reading about how The Fragile split a good portion of the fan base; people either saw it as brilliant or too much of a departure. It was around the time that I found the Broken Ep that I started to see just how diverse your music could get. I think that because this is where I came in, I find it really easy to just accept that I'm looking at another side of Nine Inch Nails. I mean, within two years of me hearing my first tracks, With Teeth was released.
So, on that note, let's look at how that progression went (in pretentious genre specific terms):
1988-91; Everything surrounding Pretty Hate Machine. Very 80's industrial mixed with 80's pop.
1992-94; Broken & Fixed. Very hard and loud. Inspired from things closer to Ministry as opposed to Skinny Puppy. Took notes from The Pixies' "loud quiet loud quiet loud" formula.
1994-96; Downward Spiral and all those Ep's. Very dirty and grungy sounding. Adrien Belew added so much to the soundscapes and general feel. Much experimentation. Felt like there was more purpose behind every song that there probably was.
1997-98; Perfect Drug. Pretty cool song, but it was definitely different from what was done and what was soon to come.
1999-2005; The Fragile and & All That Could Have Been. The Fragile is one of my favourite albums of all time and followed by easily one of the best live DVD's of all time. The new sound used more soundscapes and noise instead of hooks. Seriously though, Just Like You Imagined? My good fuck that is some brilliant shit!
Because there was a dramatic decline in the space between albums, it seems like a lot of people just kind of clump the albums together. With Teeth is far more straight up electronica than the subsequent albums. Year Zero & The Slip are in the same universe conceptually, but The Slip definitely took a tonne of pages from Ghosts.
Well, Mr. Reznor, that brings us right up to the new album. I was actually very surprised to hear the direction you went in. I don't know how I feel about a drum machine album, if I'm being completely honest. Barring that, this album feels like you took the entire career you have had over the last 25 years and smashed it into 14 songs. I am currently on my third run through of the album and I am finding myself really torn over a few points.
Someone described this album to me as "NIN with less angst." I can't quite argue that, but there is something other than suicidal lyrics missing from this collection of new songs. The entire mix is very clean and very minimalistic. Yes, the soundscapes are still there. Yes, there are still a billion layers to every twelve seconds of music. There are these parts where all the additional overlays and effects are all dropped, however. This gives parts of the album a demo-esque feel. It's almost like some of the songs were never taken to studio. To make it clear: I don't consider this a bad thing. This has given some of the lines more power because there is such an honest feel about the album. Everything has the warmth and glow that can only be created by someone who actually loves what they are doing. I know someone is going to say that a song like Everything is a pop single, but we are talking about Nine Inch Nails here. If any of the fan base had heard that song on the radio before picking up the album, the sales would be so dismal that he would HAVE to rerelease every album ever remastered with bonus awesome to make up for the loss. The fact that Everything still made the cut lets me feel like my point is valid. Though I am curious about what was dropped, I really do think that this is the way the album was intended to be released.
But in all seriousness, the intro to Satellite pisses me the fuck off.
In conclusion, Trent (Can I call you Trent? Can I call you ever? Just one cup of coffee and you telling me how everything works?), I am a proud owner of Hesitation Marks. I know that you are getting praise from everywhere, but as a fan I am happy. Now, could you just please get me tickets to one of the shows on the upcoming tour? I missed out by a day or two.
-J
Dear Trent, I do like the new album. I had to get that out of the way before you started to worry that I had turned my back on you. The title is actually more about the fact that I actually forgot that the new Nine Inch Nails album had some out on the third. Worry not, oh person I have nothing but great respect for; you got my money before 5 o'clock on the fourth. I actually really like Hesitation Marks. I am a bit surprised by the change and the fact that I still like it, but there are several good reasons for that.
Well, my friend (I wish Trent and I were friends), the first reason is that I came in a bit late. It was mid 2003 and I was just about to wrap up my first year of high school. My good buddy Chris was talking to me about his favourite NIN albums and I had to sheepishly let him know that I had never heard of them. After I wiped the blood from my head, he proceeded to tell me about the albums and how The Fragile may just be the last thing you ever do. He lent me The Fragile and told me to look into The Downward Spiral if I liked what I heard. Well, I kind of fell in love with everything that I heard.
I remember doing some research and reading about how The Fragile split a good portion of the fan base; people either saw it as brilliant or too much of a departure. It was around the time that I found the Broken Ep that I started to see just how diverse your music could get. I think that because this is where I came in, I find it really easy to just accept that I'm looking at another side of Nine Inch Nails. I mean, within two years of me hearing my first tracks, With Teeth was released.
So, on that note, let's look at how that progression went (in pretentious genre specific terms):
1988-91; Everything surrounding Pretty Hate Machine. Very 80's industrial mixed with 80's pop.
1992-94; Broken & Fixed. Very hard and loud. Inspired from things closer to Ministry as opposed to Skinny Puppy. Took notes from The Pixies' "loud quiet loud quiet loud" formula.
1994-96; Downward Spiral and all those Ep's. Very dirty and grungy sounding. Adrien Belew added so much to the soundscapes and general feel. Much experimentation. Felt like there was more purpose behind every song that there probably was.
1997-98; Perfect Drug. Pretty cool song, but it was definitely different from what was done and what was soon to come.
1999-2005; The Fragile and & All That Could Have Been. The Fragile is one of my favourite albums of all time and followed by easily one of the best live DVD's of all time. The new sound used more soundscapes and noise instead of hooks. Seriously though, Just Like You Imagined? My good fuck that is some brilliant shit!
Because there was a dramatic decline in the space between albums, it seems like a lot of people just kind of clump the albums together. With Teeth is far more straight up electronica than the subsequent albums. Year Zero & The Slip are in the same universe conceptually, but The Slip definitely took a tonne of pages from Ghosts.
Well, Mr. Reznor, that brings us right up to the new album. I was actually very surprised to hear the direction you went in. I don't know how I feel about a drum machine album, if I'm being completely honest. Barring that, this album feels like you took the entire career you have had over the last 25 years and smashed it into 14 songs. I am currently on my third run through of the album and I am finding myself really torn over a few points.
Someone described this album to me as "NIN with less angst." I can't quite argue that, but there is something other than suicidal lyrics missing from this collection of new songs. The entire mix is very clean and very minimalistic. Yes, the soundscapes are still there. Yes, there are still a billion layers to every twelve seconds of music. There are these parts where all the additional overlays and effects are all dropped, however. This gives parts of the album a demo-esque feel. It's almost like some of the songs were never taken to studio. To make it clear: I don't consider this a bad thing. This has given some of the lines more power because there is such an honest feel about the album. Everything has the warmth and glow that can only be created by someone who actually loves what they are doing. I know someone is going to say that a song like Everything is a pop single, but we are talking about Nine Inch Nails here. If any of the fan base had heard that song on the radio before picking up the album, the sales would be so dismal that he would HAVE to rerelease every album ever remastered with bonus awesome to make up for the loss. The fact that Everything still made the cut lets me feel like my point is valid. Though I am curious about what was dropped, I really do think that this is the way the album was intended to be released.
But in all seriousness, the intro to Satellite pisses me the fuck off.
In conclusion, Trent (Can I call you Trent? Can I call you ever? Just one cup of coffee and you telling me how everything works?), I am a proud owner of Hesitation Marks. I know that you are getting praise from everywhere, but as a fan I am happy. Now, could you just please get me tickets to one of the shows on the upcoming tour? I missed out by a day or two.
-J
Wednesday 28 August 2013
Off Topic.
I seem to have several un-published posts. That's fine.
Today I have been listening to music that always seems to alter my perspective on what music is and can be. It all started when I grabbed Sufjan Stevens' Age of ADZ. The standard listen to this album is that I listen to the entire thing at least once, then skip back to track ten and loop it until my voice is horse. I will be the first to admit that of all the songs to sing along to, I sure did pick the closest to being a 2004-core emo set. I think I just enjoy the range jumps in that song and how it ALWAYS seems to be accessible to my limited range. There is also something therapeutic about singing "I want to be well" in a rhythmic round to then be followed by yelling "I'm not fucking around.." a billion* times in a row. The other thing about that song is how impossible it would be to recreate live without having two-thousand* people on stage with you. I would also like to take this moment to point out how the drums in the crescendo are lame and weak.
*May be a hyperbole.
The second album I sat through in its entirety today was A Silver Mount Zion's he has left us alone but shafts of light sometimes grace the corner of our rooms. This will probably always remain as one of my top post-rock AND classical albums of all time. The movements are beautifully timed, the layers are perfectly separated... AHHHH I could go on for days. The thing that happens when I am listening to this album is that I get completely enveloped into the music and I can't seem to concentrate on anything else going on around me. Though haunting, I never find it depressing. Though beautiful, I never find myself stumbling. It is just completely what it is. I can't say that I know to many albums that I can say that about.
Last but not least is Sigur Ros with their album (). This album has a tendency to bring me to tears when I'm (not?) in the right frame of mind. Everything I said about ASMZ? Make it so, then double it. If you have ever seen the videos they released around that album, then you know exactly what to feel. It's claustrophobic, restrictive, degrading and fucking amazing. Untitled Track 8 has broken me down on several occasions just because of the several minute build to the most intense explosion of cacophony I can think of ever to be created by men. Fuck. I can never think of an album that has moved me more in my existence than that one has. It has shaped me as a person and has changed me as a musician and all without saying a coherent word. Quite literally. The album is written in the fictional "Vonlenska/Hopelandic" because the singer was sick of people trying to figure out what he way trying to say. If there was an album I could hear just before I lost every last frequency from my hearing, it would be this one. I think I have (at least tried) to share this album with every person in my life so far. I really do have to thank Johnny for getting me into them back when I was in grade 10. If he had any clue how much this album has meant to me, he would probably rub it in my face for ever doubting him.
Well that turned into a gush fest. I don't think I realized how much I enjoyed that album until I started writing this.
As I mentioned, I have a few posts that I never posted either because they are incomplete, or they were just not good. They are all full of something neat, so maybe I'll just combine them and GIANT-BLOG.
-J
Today I have been listening to music that always seems to alter my perspective on what music is and can be. It all started when I grabbed Sufjan Stevens' Age of ADZ. The standard listen to this album is that I listen to the entire thing at least once, then skip back to track ten and loop it until my voice is horse. I will be the first to admit that of all the songs to sing along to, I sure did pick the closest to being a 2004-core emo set. I think I just enjoy the range jumps in that song and how it ALWAYS seems to be accessible to my limited range. There is also something therapeutic about singing "I want to be well" in a rhythmic round to then be followed by yelling "I'm not fucking around.." a billion* times in a row. The other thing about that song is how impossible it would be to recreate live without having two-thousand* people on stage with you. I would also like to take this moment to point out how the drums in the crescendo are lame and weak.
*May be a hyperbole.
The second album I sat through in its entirety today was A Silver Mount Zion's he has left us alone but shafts of light sometimes grace the corner of our rooms. This will probably always remain as one of my top post-rock AND classical albums of all time. The movements are beautifully timed, the layers are perfectly separated... AHHHH I could go on for days. The thing that happens when I am listening to this album is that I get completely enveloped into the music and I can't seem to concentrate on anything else going on around me. Though haunting, I never find it depressing. Though beautiful, I never find myself stumbling. It is just completely what it is. I can't say that I know to many albums that I can say that about.
Last but not least is Sigur Ros with their album (). This album has a tendency to bring me to tears when I'm (not?) in the right frame of mind. Everything I said about ASMZ? Make it so, then double it. If you have ever seen the videos they released around that album, then you know exactly what to feel. It's claustrophobic, restrictive, degrading and fucking amazing. Untitled Track 8 has broken me down on several occasions just because of the several minute build to the most intense explosion of cacophony I can think of ever to be created by men. Fuck. I can never think of an album that has moved me more in my existence than that one has. It has shaped me as a person and has changed me as a musician and all without saying a coherent word. Quite literally. The album is written in the fictional "Vonlenska/Hopelandic" because the singer was sick of people trying to figure out what he way trying to say. If there was an album I could hear just before I lost every last frequency from my hearing, it would be this one. I think I have (at least tried) to share this album with every person in my life so far. I really do have to thank Johnny for getting me into them back when I was in grade 10. If he had any clue how much this album has meant to me, he would probably rub it in my face for ever doubting him.
Well that turned into a gush fest. I don't think I realized how much I enjoyed that album until I started writing this.
As I mentioned, I have a few posts that I never posted either because they are incomplete, or they were just not good. They are all full of something neat, so maybe I'll just combine them and GIANT-BLOG.
-J
Sunday 18 August 2013
I may have set the bar a bit high....
Welcome to my 20th post! Well, number 20 that I keep up, anyway. I did remove a few of the more boring posts. As well as some that were far too related to things that were life based.
I made mention around a week ago that I was going to do a top albums list. This is still the plan, but it will be postponed for quite some time. I realized that in order for me to do this properly, I would first need to go through ever album I own and figure out what ones mattered. This is not as daunting as I was initially thinking it would be (took me only a few hours to do about a quarter), but it has been far too busy to get finished. I'm also breaking everything into categories so I'm not keeping important albums off a list because I listen to them less. For instance, I listen to Animals as Leaders far more than Godspeed You, Black Emperor! but I would easily put F# A# Infinity on my top lists.
The next big question is what lists and guidelines should I use when selecting the music? Should I make "Top EP's" a thing and keep EP's off the rest of the charts? Should I be putting a brief explanation why I love every album, or just the number ones? Should I be linking videos or tracks when available? Should I be doing a list a week at the end of other updates, or just spam out something huge when completed? So many questions for such a huge project!
While these questions remain in speculation, here are a few things that I either picked up or rediscovered over the last couple of weeks.
Classic album! Anyone who knows me, knows that I harbour much love for this British duo. Songs From the Big Chair is still one of my favourite albums of all time and Sewing the Seeds of Love is one of the earliest memories I have. I blame this band for my love of industrial music and for keeping my mind open to so many different ideas of where music can go. Are they cheesy? Hell yes! They get away with it through being so genuine in everything that they did for most of their career. I still hold that the original version of Mad World puts Gary Jules to shame, though I will admit he understood the underlaying tones of what that song was trying to say. For a debut album, it screams potential and great imagination. If you have a soft spot for eighties music and works of art, I would put this on your "must find" list. I picked it up a while ago on vinyl from a shop in Waterloo and haven't stopped playing it when I'm in my room since.
This is one of those albums where I listen to it, then don't touch my drums for a week because I am not worthy. Though still very metal, this album closer resembles a jazz composition. No bass, just two eight string guitars and a drummer who doesn't let up. I tend to not remember any one part of this album because I get so lost in the many layers and rhythms. Very few albums leave me feeling absorbed and yet still a spectator. Still one of my favourite albums to drive late at night to; the groove is a great soundtrack to a night sky. When I say the term groove, I do not use it lightly. Every song, no matter how complicated, falls on a groove that anyone can find. It is what keeps this band different from most of the other progressive instrumental metal that has come out before it. The only thing that keeps this from being my favourite of the AaL albums is the lack of a 10 minute long song. I do loves me some unnecessarily long tunes!
This is more of a rediscovery than a new procurement. This week, we had a copy of Marriage come through my fascinating. It is one of my favourite Canadian albums, but this tops it in every way, minus the punk way. I still find it fascinating that a band that has such a punk/hard core root can grow up to be such a great folk outfit. I have my suspicions that this band will never reconvene; they have all had great success doing other things. This album is their swan song. Such beautiful ideas, songs, and lyrics. There is very little to talk about because it all seems so simple in my eyes. I'm sure there are a million nuances that my little brain can not figure out, but I honestly do not wish to. It will remain a great pop/folk album in my mind and I am really okay with that.
Here is the single off of the album. It's less folk and more pop rock, but still awesome.
Well, that is all I have for now. I hope the upcoming week is awesome and I hope that you are all doing well.
If you have some recommendations on how I could go about my list, please don't hesitate to comment below or shoot my an e-mail in some capacity.
-J
I made mention around a week ago that I was going to do a top albums list. This is still the plan, but it will be postponed for quite some time. I realized that in order for me to do this properly, I would first need to go through ever album I own and figure out what ones mattered. This is not as daunting as I was initially thinking it would be (took me only a few hours to do about a quarter), but it has been far too busy to get finished. I'm also breaking everything into categories so I'm not keeping important albums off a list because I listen to them less. For instance, I listen to Animals as Leaders far more than Godspeed You, Black Emperor! but I would easily put F# A# Infinity on my top lists.
The next big question is what lists and guidelines should I use when selecting the music? Should I make "Top EP's" a thing and keep EP's off the rest of the charts? Should I be putting a brief explanation why I love every album, or just the number ones? Should I be linking videos or tracks when available? Should I be doing a list a week at the end of other updates, or just spam out something huge when completed? So many questions for such a huge project!
While these questions remain in speculation, here are a few things that I either picked up or rediscovered over the last couple of weeks.
Tears for Fears - The Hurting.
Classic album! Anyone who knows me, knows that I harbour much love for this British duo. Songs From the Big Chair is still one of my favourite albums of all time and Sewing the Seeds of Love is one of the earliest memories I have. I blame this band for my love of industrial music and for keeping my mind open to so many different ideas of where music can go. Are they cheesy? Hell yes! They get away with it through being so genuine in everything that they did for most of their career. I still hold that the original version of Mad World puts Gary Jules to shame, though I will admit he understood the underlaying tones of what that song was trying to say. For a debut album, it screams potential and great imagination. If you have a soft spot for eighties music and works of art, I would put this on your "must find" list. I picked it up a while ago on vinyl from a shop in Waterloo and haven't stopped playing it when I'm in my room since.
Animals as Leaders - Weightless
This is one of those albums where I listen to it, then don't touch my drums for a week because I am not worthy. Though still very metal, this album closer resembles a jazz composition. No bass, just two eight string guitars and a drummer who doesn't let up. I tend to not remember any one part of this album because I get so lost in the many layers and rhythms. Very few albums leave me feeling absorbed and yet still a spectator. Still one of my favourite albums to drive late at night to; the groove is a great soundtrack to a night sky. When I say the term groove, I do not use it lightly. Every song, no matter how complicated, falls on a groove that anyone can find. It is what keeps this band different from most of the other progressive instrumental metal that has come out before it. The only thing that keeps this from being my favourite of the AaL albums is the lack of a 10 minute long song. I do loves me some unnecessarily long tunes!
Attack In Black - Years (By One Thousand Fingertips)
This is more of a rediscovery than a new procurement. This week, we had a copy of Marriage come through my fascinating. It is one of my favourite Canadian albums, but this tops it in every way, minus the punk way. I still find it fascinating that a band that has such a punk/hard core root can grow up to be such a great folk outfit. I have my suspicions that this band will never reconvene; they have all had great success doing other things. This album is their swan song. Such beautiful ideas, songs, and lyrics. There is very little to talk about because it all seems so simple in my eyes. I'm sure there are a million nuances that my little brain can not figure out, but I honestly do not wish to. It will remain a great pop/folk album in my mind and I am really okay with that.
Here is the single off of the album. It's less folk and more pop rock, but still awesome.
Well, that is all I have for now. I hope the upcoming week is awesome and I hope that you are all doing well.
If you have some recommendations on how I could go about my list, please don't hesitate to comment below or shoot my an e-mail in some capacity.
-J
Friday 9 August 2013
O' God, The Aftershow
SO. MUCH. PAIN.
But not as much as I was actually expecting.
Yesterday, Luka and I went to check out the summer slaughter tour. I will start this "review" with the statement that I am NOT a festival guy. Though I like the idea of paying one price to see several of my favourite bands, I get bored. Especially something like the Summers Laughter Tour where it starts loud and just stays loud for the entire time.
I will not be going too far in depth with talking about it. I will say that Cattle Decapitation, Norma Jean, Periphery, Animals as Leaders and The Dillinger Escape Plan make for an amazing tour just them alone. In fact, if I had known when they were playing, it would have been worth the $25 to show up when that lineup started. The first bunch of bands were a grab bag of not bad to really good. Norma Jean played it safe by spending most of the set playing "O' God, The Aftermath" and "Bless the Martyr & Kiss the Child." I am not complaining: it meant I was singing along during the only band I danced in the pit for. Dillinger played a good selection and I might have blown my voice screaming along with 43% Burnt. Periphery and Cattle Decapitation were the two bands I had never seen before that night that I was most excited for. Neither band disappointed, but I feel like I may be the only person around who DOESN'T CARE about Periphery's second album.
Animals as Leaders has changed their drummer since last I saw them. I quit music forever.
Seriously! It was not even fair to watch. It did not sound or even LOOK humanly possible. Fuck.
To anyone with Steam: Add me!
I say that because I now have a mouse that is pushing me to play more online games because Left 4 Dead. Yep. Also Borderlands 2.
I did mention how I have this week off, correct? I have nothing else to mention. I will try to have a full review or something awesome for next week. Maybe I'll do an 80's thing. That would be awesome.
Reminders: I am at this on Monday. Come say hi. The 'Rents are awesome.
I have a Twitter where I bitch about things. Usually boredom related.
The comment section is a great way to yell at me for something publicly. Please feel free to do so. If it is about my grammar, I know already. If it was financially viable, I would pay for an editor.
Special Thank you to Jacob and Nate for noticing spelling errors within the first fifteen minutes of launch. For that, they get this sentence.
But not as much as I was actually expecting.
Yesterday, Luka and I went to check out the summer slaughter tour. I will start this "review" with the statement that I am NOT a festival guy. Though I like the idea of paying one price to see several of my favourite bands, I get bored. Especially something like the Summers Laughter Tour where it starts loud and just stays loud for the entire time.
I will not be going too far in depth with talking about it. I will say that Cattle Decapitation, Norma Jean, Periphery, Animals as Leaders and The Dillinger Escape Plan make for an amazing tour just them alone. In fact, if I had known when they were playing, it would have been worth the $25 to show up when that lineup started. The first bunch of bands were a grab bag of not bad to really good. Norma Jean played it safe by spending most of the set playing "O' God, The Aftermath" and "Bless the Martyr & Kiss the Child." I am not complaining: it meant I was singing along during the only band I danced in the pit for. Dillinger played a good selection and I might have blown my voice screaming along with 43% Burnt. Periphery and Cattle Decapitation were the two bands I had never seen before that night that I was most excited for. Neither band disappointed, but I feel like I may be the only person around who DOESN'T CARE about Periphery's second album.
Animals as Leaders has changed their drummer since last I saw them. I quit music forever.
Seriously! It was not even fair to watch. It did not sound or even LOOK humanly possible. Fuck.
To anyone with Steam: Add me!
I say that because I now have a mouse that is pushing me to play more online games because Left 4 Dead. Yep. Also Borderlands 2.
I did mention how I have this week off, correct? I have nothing else to mention. I will try to have a full review or something awesome for next week. Maybe I'll do an 80's thing. That would be awesome.
Reminders: I am at this on Monday. Come say hi. The 'Rents are awesome.
I have a Twitter where I bitch about things. Usually boredom related.
The comment section is a great way to yell at me for something publicly. Please feel free to do so. If it is about my grammar, I know already. If it was financially viable, I would pay for an editor.
Special Thank you to Jacob and Nate for noticing spelling errors within the first fifteen minutes of launch. For that, they get this sentence.
Monday 5 August 2013
QUICK UPDATE!
I still don't have much to say seeing as this week has been a pretty personal self-exploration kind of week. I DO have new songs, though!
FINALLY I can share what I have been up to for the last year! Jeff, Steve and I recorded this a month or so ago at the Church of the Nazarene in Preston. The tracks were engineered and mixed by Ryan Prasad, who is a fantastic man and I would recommend that everyone says hi to him if you get the opportunity. The recording was done with two M-Audio mic's in an X shape placed infront (mildly on top) of my kick drum facing towards the pews. Everything was live off the floor and each song had about 5 takes. I was not present for the mixing of the tracks, but it worked beautifully.
In other news, I have short hair and a beard. What the hell, right? Let me know what you think of the beard, if you have seen it. Please give some feelings on the tracks. My two personal favourites are Weird Science and First Day of Fall.
Go listen to more Cursive.
FINALLY I can share what I have been up to for the last year! Jeff, Steve and I recorded this a month or so ago at the Church of the Nazarene in Preston. The tracks were engineered and mixed by Ryan Prasad, who is a fantastic man and I would recommend that everyone says hi to him if you get the opportunity. The recording was done with two M-Audio mic's in an X shape placed infront (mildly on top) of my kick drum facing towards the pews. Everything was live off the floor and each song had about 5 takes. I was not present for the mixing of the tracks, but it worked beautifully.
In other news, I have short hair and a beard. What the hell, right? Let me know what you think of the beard, if you have seen it. Please give some feelings on the tracks. My two personal favourites are Weird Science and First Day of Fall.
Go listen to more Cursive.
Wednesday 31 July 2013
IT'S OVER one-thousand.
Though my view count has not hit the astounding 9000 that Goku's power level does, I am happy to say that over 1000 people have viewed this blog! Thank you for the support to each and every one of you. Even you, person who has never been here before today!
I really wish I had something excited and groundbreaking to discuss today. I have been spending the last week or so sorting my shit out and preparing for a gig. Oh, I guess it was cool that my new band (Chance Procedures) played our first official gig on the 26th of July. We had fun. The other bands were amazing. Look into The C'Mons, The Benefit of the Free Man, and Lambs. All great bands with unique sounds. We made some great new friends that night.
What else have I been doing... uh... I finally saw the entirety of Ghostbusters. I saw most of Caddyshack. I picked up tickets for see the Summer Slaughter tour in Toronto. Finished off my Feist collection...
I have played a bit of Last of Us finally! That was pretty cool, I guess. It is kind of falling close to the same issue I have with Uncharted in that I just can't seem to care enough to pick it back up. The intro was bad-ass and the ideas are creepy possible. Where the AI can be funny bad at points, it is possibly the most beautiful game I have played on the PS3 to date. From playing the first couple of hours, I would give the game a 7 out of 10. I'll do something proper when I either beat it, or give up on it.
I've been listening to a lot more metal that usual lately. Just today my soundtrack was Darkest Hour and The Dillinger Escape Plan. I have been attempting to track what I listen to versus what sparked my interest in that particular album or sound. So far I have very few conclusions outside of that I like music and I would hug music if I could. I have even been tracking what I feel from listening to various different music to see if it will illicit an emotional response. So far I can only notice concentration levels being spiked or dropped, and general speed of productivity. When writing, I tend to throw on something more electronic or industrial, where as driving I tend to go with something spastic and dense. Vinyl seems to make me nostalgic, even if I have never heard the band before that day. Mp3's launch me into "listen to everything" mode. I can be lost for hours just jumping from style to artist to album to song.
In conclusion; I don't have one. I'm sure I will find an article to share with all of you next week dealing with some experiment to conclusively show what sounds relate to what parts of the brain. Today I am just going to leave it at that.
I will leave you with a great video involving greatness.
I really wish I had something excited and groundbreaking to discuss today. I have been spending the last week or so sorting my shit out and preparing for a gig. Oh, I guess it was cool that my new band (Chance Procedures) played our first official gig on the 26th of July. We had fun. The other bands were amazing. Look into The C'Mons, The Benefit of the Free Man, and Lambs. All great bands with unique sounds. We made some great new friends that night.
What else have I been doing... uh... I finally saw the entirety of Ghostbusters. I saw most of Caddyshack. I picked up tickets for see the Summer Slaughter tour in Toronto. Finished off my Feist collection...
I have played a bit of Last of Us finally! That was pretty cool, I guess. It is kind of falling close to the same issue I have with Uncharted in that I just can't seem to care enough to pick it back up. The intro was bad-ass and the ideas are creepy possible. Where the AI can be funny bad at points, it is possibly the most beautiful game I have played on the PS3 to date. From playing the first couple of hours, I would give the game a 7 out of 10. I'll do something proper when I either beat it, or give up on it.
I've been listening to a lot more metal that usual lately. Just today my soundtrack was Darkest Hour and The Dillinger Escape Plan. I have been attempting to track what I listen to versus what sparked my interest in that particular album or sound. So far I have very few conclusions outside of that I like music and I would hug music if I could. I have even been tracking what I feel from listening to various different music to see if it will illicit an emotional response. So far I can only notice concentration levels being spiked or dropped, and general speed of productivity. When writing, I tend to throw on something more electronic or industrial, where as driving I tend to go with something spastic and dense. Vinyl seems to make me nostalgic, even if I have never heard the band before that day. Mp3's launch me into "listen to everything" mode. I can be lost for hours just jumping from style to artist to album to song.
In conclusion; I don't have one. I'm sure I will find an article to share with all of you next week dealing with some experiment to conclusively show what sounds relate to what parts of the brain. Today I am just going to leave it at that.
I will leave you with a great video involving greatness.
Friday 19 July 2013
My Friends Are Talented.
Wednesday was a night filled with so much awesome I can barely contain my excitement! I will, though. Just for one paragraph.
I was sent home from work early both Wednesday and Friday (which is the day I am writing this) with severe stomach pains. I mention this because I was able to do some research into new bands, new games, and new ways to lie in a bed so that pressure is equally distributed throughout a body. I discovered that Civilization Five is, though broken, fucking awesome. Any game that lets you build a society close to how you wish society was built and then DESTROY EVERYONE is fantastic in my books. It doesn't quite live up to how fantastic Black and White was, but it can get pretty close.
BAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH fuckit. Let's talk about Wednesday evening!
After I finally woke up around 7:45 PM, I remembered that Lambs was playing with Slender Loris down the street from where I live. With the pain at the lowest it had been for days, I decided that I would make the trek and, maybe, have a beer. Though I did not actually have that beer, I did see one of the best shows I have been to in a while.
The Creative Cup is located on King Street in the Preston district of Cambridge. What it lacks in capacity, it makes up for in being rad! Local art plasters the walls. They have a great spread of both food and drink. They music that they have playing is diverse but never really annoying. To top off all of these awesome things, the shelves are littered with excellent literature. If you ever just want to go grab a drink and spend some time alone, I feel like this may be the ultimate place for such activity.
Lambs put on an excellent set full of beards and sex. Just prior to the show, I had been listening to their self produced New EP, which is really awesome. Though I never doubted the talent of a single member of that band, it was still amazing to watch them pull it all of without a hitch. They were so tight, you would think that this band was their full time job. I have already splooged all about this band in a prior post (which was riddled with horrible grammar), so a link for what they sound like will be enough. Just know that if you EVER have the chance, you need to see this band.
Slender Loris was the happiest I had been in a while. It was original, loud, and angry as fuck. Along with a CD, they also had a cassette and other merch. I write good reviews. Joking aside, they reminded me of a punk scene long dead in this area. Everything from the attitude to the broken patch chords just screamed happy reminders from days long past. If this band plays within an hour of me, I will be there. And you should be to!**
**I may be willing to drive. Just saying
The other two bands were both fantastic. The Flying Lenins were filling in for the beautiful Binary Forrest with Russian versions of the songs. I swear that I have seen them somewhere before. Maybe they just go to all of the BF shows. The 'Rents are another fantastic band from Cambridge. I am rather embarrassed to admit that I sat outside through their set. By that time, my ears were starting to loose the 5 or so frequencies I have left. I could hear and see them fine, however. They put on a great stage show and their sound was clean and clear and beautiful.
That is all I have. Check out the conversation between my friend Aly and I if you are interested in reading more about what we have going on. Basically, it's conversations about random trivia points and I think what she is up to is fascinating.
I have a gig with my new band CHANCE PROCEDURES on Friday, July 26th at 8:30PM. Cover is $5 and it's at that Creative Cup place I keep talking about. Please come out, it would mean the world.
I was sent home from work early both Wednesday and Friday (which is the day I am writing this) with severe stomach pains. I mention this because I was able to do some research into new bands, new games, and new ways to lie in a bed so that pressure is equally distributed throughout a body. I discovered that Civilization Five is, though broken, fucking awesome. Any game that lets you build a society close to how you wish society was built and then DESTROY EVERYONE is fantastic in my books. It doesn't quite live up to how fantastic Black and White was, but it can get pretty close.
BAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH fuckit. Let's talk about Wednesday evening!
After I finally woke up around 7:45 PM, I remembered that Lambs was playing with Slender Loris down the street from where I live. With the pain at the lowest it had been for days, I decided that I would make the trek and, maybe, have a beer. Though I did not actually have that beer, I did see one of the best shows I have been to in a while.
The Creative Cup is located on King Street in the Preston district of Cambridge. What it lacks in capacity, it makes up for in being rad! Local art plasters the walls. They have a great spread of both food and drink. They music that they have playing is diverse but never really annoying. To top off all of these awesome things, the shelves are littered with excellent literature. If you ever just want to go grab a drink and spend some time alone, I feel like this may be the ultimate place for such activity.
Lambs put on an excellent set full of beards and sex. Just prior to the show, I had been listening to their self produced New EP, which is really awesome. Though I never doubted the talent of a single member of that band, it was still amazing to watch them pull it all of without a hitch. They were so tight, you would think that this band was their full time job. I have already splooged all about this band in a prior post (which was riddled with horrible grammar), so a link for what they sound like will be enough. Just know that if you EVER have the chance, you need to see this band.
Slender Loris was the happiest I had been in a while. It was original, loud, and angry as fuck. Along with a CD, they also had a cassette and other merch. I write good reviews. Joking aside, they reminded me of a punk scene long dead in this area. Everything from the attitude to the broken patch chords just screamed happy reminders from days long past. If this band plays within an hour of me, I will be there. And you should be to!**
**I may be willing to drive. Just saying
The other two bands were both fantastic. The Flying Lenins were filling in for the beautiful Binary Forrest with Russian versions of the songs. I swear that I have seen them somewhere before. Maybe they just go to all of the BF shows. The 'Rents are another fantastic band from Cambridge. I am rather embarrassed to admit that I sat outside through their set. By that time, my ears were starting to loose the 5 or so frequencies I have left. I could hear and see them fine, however. They put on a great stage show and their sound was clean and clear and beautiful.
That is all I have. Check out the conversation between my friend Aly and I if you are interested in reading more about what we have going on. Basically, it's conversations about random trivia points and I think what she is up to is fascinating.
ALSO!
I have a gig with my new band CHANCE PROCEDURES on Friday, July 26th at 8:30PM. Cover is $5 and it's at that Creative Cup place I keep talking about. Please come out, it would mean the world.
Saturday 13 July 2013
Oh Toronto: Learn to Swim.
Garbage week continues! Most of this tale is awesome, though.
So on Monday I had plans to hang out with Luke at her house in Toronto. My evening goes about its usual pace and I get on the road about six PM. If I had checked the weather before I left my house, I may have just waited for another night, though probably not.
So the 401 was flooded therefore stopping all traffic going both ways. I finally get to Young Street around 9:30 PM and have to deal with a combination of no power (for traffic lights), flooded subway (so every pedestrian ever was walking down the road) and a deep hatred for busses (because they hate you). It was actually a lot of fun, for the most part, and people were actually great about the entire thing.
I finally got to Luke's place around 9:45. The house had gotten together and set up candles everywhere. They had also started up the grill (yes, in the rain) and had been clearing out the fridge. Thanks again to that house for the grilled zucchini and steak; it was delicious. We then sat on the porch and waited out the rest of the power outage. Then watched everyone turn on their everything all at once. Then the power dropped again. It was funny. Luke and I then watched Death Proof and I went home.
Death Proof may just be one of my favourite Tarantino movies of all time. For those out of the loop, it was part of a two movie collection call Grindhouse. Death Proof and Planet Terror were supposed to be in homage to classic 1970's exploitation and horror drive-in movies. I really can't seem to do movie reviews, but basically the movie is about this dude who kills women by crashing into their car with his car. Since he is a stunt driver, his car in built to withstand the most impossible collisions, and is therefore Death Proof. It's funny, it's gory, and it's action packed.
I don't think I picked up a single new album this week. That is awkward. I have been listening to Periphery's first album on loop in the car, but that isn't knew.
Although, I don't think I have talked about the new Sigur Rós yet! Which if you are a fan of this band at all, you already know it is amazing. However, if you thought that Sigur Rós was too pop-oriented for postrock, then pick up Kveikur. The opening track breaks the strange ambient tension with a massive and sudden hit from a distorted bass and the drums. It then bleeds into a very intense song where several industrial parts move in and out of the deafening drum patterns. The singer gives a mature and heart-wrenching performance and every member of the band is clearly engrossed in everything they are doing. I also love how the first song is also the first single, though I still don't quite understand the video.
Ooooo.. short post. Strange.
So on Monday I had plans to hang out with Luke at her house in Toronto. My evening goes about its usual pace and I get on the road about six PM. If I had checked the weather before I left my house, I may have just waited for another night, though probably not.
So the 401 was flooded therefore stopping all traffic going both ways. I finally get to Young Street around 9:30 PM and have to deal with a combination of no power (for traffic lights), flooded subway (so every pedestrian ever was walking down the road) and a deep hatred for busses (because they hate you). It was actually a lot of fun, for the most part, and people were actually great about the entire thing.
I finally got to Luke's place around 9:45. The house had gotten together and set up candles everywhere. They had also started up the grill (yes, in the rain) and had been clearing out the fridge. Thanks again to that house for the grilled zucchini and steak; it was delicious. We then sat on the porch and waited out the rest of the power outage. Then watched everyone turn on their everything all at once. Then the power dropped again. It was funny. Luke and I then watched Death Proof and I went home.
Death Proof may just be one of my favourite Tarantino movies of all time. For those out of the loop, it was part of a two movie collection call Grindhouse. Death Proof and Planet Terror were supposed to be in homage to classic 1970's exploitation and horror drive-in movies. I really can't seem to do movie reviews, but basically the movie is about this dude who kills women by crashing into their car with his car. Since he is a stunt driver, his car in built to withstand the most impossible collisions, and is therefore Death Proof. It's funny, it's gory, and it's action packed.
I don't think I picked up a single new album this week. That is awkward. I have been listening to Periphery's first album on loop in the car, but that isn't knew.
Although, I don't think I have talked about the new Sigur Rós yet! Which if you are a fan of this band at all, you already know it is amazing. However, if you thought that Sigur Rós was too pop-oriented for postrock, then pick up Kveikur. The opening track breaks the strange ambient tension with a massive and sudden hit from a distorted bass and the drums. It then bleeds into a very intense song where several industrial parts move in and out of the deafening drum patterns. The singer gives a mature and heart-wrenching performance and every member of the band is clearly engrossed in everything they are doing. I also love how the first song is also the first single, though I still don't quite understand the video.
Ooooo.. short post. Strange.
Sunday 7 July 2013
A nice distraction.
I'm having a horrible week. Let's distract Jay.
I can start officially promoting a show that I have coming up at the end of the month. It's only $5 and we will be joined by my great friends in Lambs. I do not have anything official I can show you from my band, yet, So don't click here. We did record the other day. It was an interesting experience and it showed a lot of promise. We recorded at the Church of The Nazarene. If you remember anything about churches, it is that they are built to have some of the greatest acoustics in modern architecture. My kick drum sounded like a bomb and my snare, a shotgun. It was a great experience and a great way to spend an evening.
Summer at the old job has started. I'm constantly battling with schedule changes and vacation time. I think I'm just going to book off most of September and travel. Or at least spend a week bothering Luke(a) down in Toronto while I scratch her puppy's face all over. SO MUCH LOVE FOR PUPPY.
Speaking of which, my puppy got a shave.
It makes him look so small. I just want to pick him up and hold him. Too bad he is, in fact, still 150lbs and so full of squirms...
MUSIC?! Music.
Thank you again to my friend Nate for showing me deafheaven several weeks ago for me just to look into them now. It's exactly what I need this week and damn are they pretty. This is a sound I need to play around with more. I don't have to many friends into this kind of music, and I know less musicians who can play it. I mean, I would probably go a more Titan rout with the idea, but just that intense cascade of noise and sounds that lead to a painful end: I do consider this to be the most beautiful genre of music ever. Silly me, only ever buying it on vinyl so my car rides are stuck with artists like Bibio.
I think I might start posting the things that I write that aren't rants and opinons on another blog page. I have been working on a book of short stories and poems for the last couple of years, and I may just set up a blog to share what I have done so far.
OUT OF THINGS. Going to Skyrim.
I can start officially promoting a show that I have coming up at the end of the month. It's only $5 and we will be joined by my great friends in Lambs. I do not have anything official I can show you from my band, yet, So don't click here. We did record the other day. It was an interesting experience and it showed a lot of promise. We recorded at the Church of The Nazarene. If you remember anything about churches, it is that they are built to have some of the greatest acoustics in modern architecture. My kick drum sounded like a bomb and my snare, a shotgun. It was a great experience and a great way to spend an evening.
Summer at the old job has started. I'm constantly battling with schedule changes and vacation time. I think I'm just going to book off most of September and travel. Or at least spend a week bothering Luke(a) down in Toronto while I scratch her puppy's face all over. SO MUCH LOVE FOR PUPPY.
Speaking of which, my puppy got a shave.
It makes him look so small. I just want to pick him up and hold him. Too bad he is, in fact, still 150lbs and so full of squirms...
MUSIC?! Music.
Thank you again to my friend Nate for showing me deafheaven several weeks ago for me just to look into them now. It's exactly what I need this week and damn are they pretty. This is a sound I need to play around with more. I don't have to many friends into this kind of music, and I know less musicians who can play it. I mean, I would probably go a more Titan rout with the idea, but just that intense cascade of noise and sounds that lead to a painful end: I do consider this to be the most beautiful genre of music ever. Silly me, only ever buying it on vinyl so my car rides are stuck with artists like Bibio.
I think I might start posting the things that I write that aren't rants and opinons on another blog page. I have been working on a book of short stories and poems for the last couple of years, and I may just set up a blog to share what I have done so far.
OUT OF THINGS. Going to Skyrim.
Saturday 22 June 2013
Lest we forget (punk & Metal)
Remember 2002? I don't either don't worry.
(END BLOG)
I kid. 2002 was the year I started high school. The intro metal at the time were bands like Slipknot and Staind, and I really did start the alternative hunt around that time. Death metal got me into looking into the local scene and my Nine Inch Nails discovery got me looking into the budding screamo scene.
Grade 10 I was introduce the the local music scene of Cambridge by a girl named Becky and a fellow named Jeff. They took me to see The Reason play with 86 This, Handheld, and Farewell To Freeway. So that seems like a good place to start.
Every little section will be followed by a "DOES IT HOLD UP?!" to which I am simply asking that if I had come across this album now instead of then, would I have picked it up.
I'd also like to take this line to Nate for introducing me to the phrase 2004-core. All you need to do is look at a few albums from this year to get what it means.
The Reason - Ravenna (2004)
This was one of my first experiences with "screamo." Ex Sewing with Nancy changed their sound and became a form of pioneer in the Southern Ontario punk scene beside Silverstein and Alexisonfire. The reason had that vocalist that would switch between the whining singing and screaming to accompany their soft-heavy-soft formula. The drummer barely used double kick, and it really kept the punk pace to all of their music. The individuel parts of their songs were very simple yet very fluid.
DOES IT HOLD UP?! Well, in the same way that At The Drive In's first album holds up. It is not so much a good listen as it shows a time and a place in music. In the screamo genre, this album has one of the lower production values that will apear on the list. Though this adds to the feel, it does make it hard for new listeners to pick it up and give it a swing. The Reason's next album, Things Couldn't Be Better, is a much cleaner album with much less 2004-core screaming.
Roses Dead - Stages (2006)
Holy fuck technical punk and/or Djent has come a long way, but my god this album is pretty. This is the first band I heard that played with rhythms and time signatures to a point where someone looking to learn the progressions would HAVE to break it down into segments, some of which lasting less than 3 seconds. The album starts with a "dirty breakdown" and the noise doesn't end for the entire 11 tracks. A Wake In The Water is still one of my favorite instrumental tracks of all time. The only real gripe I have about this album is that, even though it is one huge track, every song starts with a very similar guitar riff. This band has an EP prior to this release the broke up due to internal conflict and the inability to find a singer.
DOES IT HOLD UP?! New listeners and people who don't remember the early years of this sound would probably not enjoy this as much as those of us who lived through it to tell the tale. I mostly put this one on the list to remind the old 519punk users that they exist. 519 REGION PEOPLE, GIVE THIS ALBUM MORE PLAYS ON YOUR ITUNES! If you need a copy, talk to me. I think I still have mine somewhere.
Tugnut - Ode To Pete (2006)
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
*recomposes self*
I played so many shows with these guys and my do I miss it. The first time I saw them, their bass player played half the set outside and I had no fucking clue what the hell was going on. People didn't know whether to dance or to kill each other. Still remains one of the loudest bands I have ever seen and will always stay close to my heart. I am reviewing this album mostly because when scanning through all of them, this was one of the only ones I could hear. The recordings, minus this and one other album, were all self done analogue. The first few albums were put together using photocopiers, sharpies, and time. There was some mention that the singer would actually write poetry and base the songs around how he thought the music would accompany it. To be honest, there are still parts of their songs I can't play after all these years of trying because it makes ABSOLUTELY no sense, and I love it.
DOES IT HOLD UP?! If for no other reason than there is nothing that could ever sound like this ever. Their strange use of jazz chords followed by broken jazz chords followed by a saucy dance bit will never be able to be replicated, and that is a bit depressing. Where are they now? Joe is making acoustic guitars in, I believe, BC. Marc was playing bass for Fuck The Facts and Steve was playing with the Great Sabitini. Marc and Steve are also in a two piece doom metal group called Greber. Please help these amazing friends with their respected projects.
Poison The Well - Opposite of December... A Season Of Separation (1999)
I can't tell if I have to love this album for what they influenced and were at the forefront of, or if I should hate them for making entire songs on this album out of "dun dun dunundun dun." There was a time where the first track had blown my mind with it's blistering double kick outside of metal and how personal the lyrics are. When looking at my iTunes for albums that came out that same year, I can't find anything remotely similar with the exception of Calculating Infinity (The Dillinger Escape Plan) and Refused's The Shape of Punk To Come from the year prior. There are still some great moments on this album and I'll still bust Slice Paper Wrists out at social functions to watch a couple people go scouring the ground for nickels.
DOES IT HOLD UP?! To put politely, fuck no. It is little more than nostalgia and their second album Tear From The Red (2002) was the same idea but so much better. I still love this album, and I'm sure most people who picked it up back in the early 2000's still love this album. If you have never heard of Poison The Well, save this one for last on the list of which albums to check out.
...
*puts Slice Papers Wrists back on to sing along with the middle bit*
ALEXISONFIRE - ALEXISONFIRE (2003)
When the hell did this album hit ten years old? That aside, what a fantastic piece of audio. This album has some of the prettiest string work to date. This album was before Dallas Green could sing properly and before George Pettit knew how to scream without thrashing his voice. The drums on this album are simple because they have to be to make this album perfect.
DOES IT HOLD UP?! I am way too biased to say honestly whether it does or not. It is still in my top Canadian albums of all time and in my top twenty albums of all time. There is something I love about how unpolished it is. In fact; if they cleaned it up, I probably wouldn't care for the album at all anymore. It is gritty and off key and strangely mixed because it HAS to be. I'm still looking for someone to cover Counterparts And Number Them, by the way.
Brand New - Deja Entendu (2003)
Keep your voice low...
This album is beautiful. The use of vocal harmonies and almost vocal battles at points must have been something short of impossible to arrange in a way that didn't make them sound conflicting. This was my emo secret, and I owe it all to my friend Jaymi for reminding me every once and a while that I still have this album somewhere in this massive library of music I have. The songs are unfairly catchy, yet not cheesy. The lyrics are personal, but not pathetic, though they do hinge at times. Every song is about some horrible personal moment that could have ruined a life, and quite possibly has. At the heart of this wrist-cutting hair-dying masterpiece is a punk heart who beats with just as much hate as any of us. The vocalist is a lyrical genius with lines that seem relatable, quotable, but still incredibly personal to the one who wrote them.
DOES IT HOLD UP?! Like most major label releases from the early 2000's, there is little change is recording quality or methods so from a strictly auditory standing; yes. It comes from the same background that most modern pop-punk comes from and, since emo is a dead language, I would say that it would definitely hold up to date. Forget I dropped the emo line and pretend that punk was never used in this review. Use them as an idea to check out this classic album, but don't base the album on those merits. It's an experience, not a label. Listen, enjoy, and welcome to the family.
Norma Jean - O God The Aftermath (2005)
This album starts with a "...wat..." and it just never really drops it. I would like to think that I'm ok at drums, but I still can't figure out the first track. Speaking of tracks; this was the first album that I have ever seen that had not only a witty play on words every track title, but also had two titles per track (the second of which was equally witty). I can't make out a damned word he says on this album, but it all sounds equally brutal and harsh and something that's fun to punch walls to. I don't know if it's the gargled screams, the driving and fucked drums, or the constant slides of dissonance on the guitars that make me so angry when I listen to this album. Don't get me wrong, it's a good kind of angry. The kind that you get after you watch that bully who was just making fun of you get his ass handed to him by someone who just can't take his bull shit anymore. The biggest bit of regret I have around this band is that, when I got to see them (2005), I couldn't mosh or maim because the God Damned hardcore kids were dancing in every possible pit area.
DOES IT HOLD UP?! Oh fuck yes and no. It sounds like shit. The mid is totally scooped out and if you are in a car, the bass rattle from the windows will be louder than anything going on in the music. As far as musically, it is in a field all to it's own. When I say sliding guitars, I mean that the first track and a couple others are literally based around synchronized slides and dissident chords being hit in perfect unison. The drums are, though simple in skill, are so fucking tight with the random nature of the tracks, that following them can feel like you are going to loose your mind. Please, pick this album back up. Show them that they shouldn't have dropped this sound and that we may have supported them for longer if they hadn't. Seriously, Norma Jean: your other albums after this one suck.
I Hate Sally - Sickness Of The Ages (2004)
So fucking metal. This album came out before they got their more recognizable female front. I personally prefer where they went, but I can completely see why this album was so well received in the metal scene and why so many fans still hold it on such high. It was metal through and through. There was no attempt at making anything sound pretty and the message was very straight forward.
DOES IT HOLD UP?! Yes. The metal community should always remember these great Canadians and all the good that they did. The next big album they did (Don't Worry Lady) was much more drone feeling and came at everything from a different lyrical edge. Check them both out!1 Also, I will never do this band justice. Luka is a much better fan than I, ask her about them if you want more information!
BAHHHHHHH THERE IS TOO MUCH!
I will come back to this premis later if this is well received. If I left something out that you KNOW I shouldn't have, remind me in the comments! I'll probably hate myself forever if I don't get something I'm not thinking of right now in the next one.
(END BLOG)
I kid. 2002 was the year I started high school. The intro metal at the time were bands like Slipknot and Staind, and I really did start the alternative hunt around that time. Death metal got me into looking into the local scene and my Nine Inch Nails discovery got me looking into the budding screamo scene.
Grade 10 I was introduce the the local music scene of Cambridge by a girl named Becky and a fellow named Jeff. They took me to see The Reason play with 86 This, Handheld, and Farewell To Freeway. So that seems like a good place to start.
A couple of notes:
Every little section will be followed by a "DOES IT HOLD UP?!" to which I am simply asking that if I had come across this album now instead of then, would I have picked it up.
I'd also like to take this line to Nate for introducing me to the phrase 2004-core. All you need to do is look at a few albums from this year to get what it means.
The Reason - Ravenna (2004)
This was one of my first experiences with "screamo." Ex Sewing with Nancy changed their sound and became a form of pioneer in the Southern Ontario punk scene beside Silverstein and Alexisonfire. The reason had that vocalist that would switch between the whining singing and screaming to accompany their soft-heavy-soft formula. The drummer barely used double kick, and it really kept the punk pace to all of their music. The individuel parts of their songs were very simple yet very fluid.
DOES IT HOLD UP?! Well, in the same way that At The Drive In's first album holds up. It is not so much a good listen as it shows a time and a place in music. In the screamo genre, this album has one of the lower production values that will apear on the list. Though this adds to the feel, it does make it hard for new listeners to pick it up and give it a swing. The Reason's next album, Things Couldn't Be Better, is a much cleaner album with much less 2004-core screaming.
Roses Dead - Stages (2006)
Holy fuck technical punk and/or Djent has come a long way, but my god this album is pretty. This is the first band I heard that played with rhythms and time signatures to a point where someone looking to learn the progressions would HAVE to break it down into segments, some of which lasting less than 3 seconds. The album starts with a "dirty breakdown" and the noise doesn't end for the entire 11 tracks. A Wake In The Water is still one of my favorite instrumental tracks of all time. The only real gripe I have about this album is that, even though it is one huge track, every song starts with a very similar guitar riff. This band has an EP prior to this release the broke up due to internal conflict and the inability to find a singer.
DOES IT HOLD UP?! New listeners and people who don't remember the early years of this sound would probably not enjoy this as much as those of us who lived through it to tell the tale. I mostly put this one on the list to remind the old 519punk users that they exist. 519 REGION PEOPLE, GIVE THIS ALBUM MORE PLAYS ON YOUR ITUNES! If you need a copy, talk to me. I think I still have mine somewhere.
Tugnut - Ode To Pete (2006)
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
*recomposes self*
I played so many shows with these guys and my do I miss it. The first time I saw them, their bass player played half the set outside and I had no fucking clue what the hell was going on. People didn't know whether to dance or to kill each other. Still remains one of the loudest bands I have ever seen and will always stay close to my heart. I am reviewing this album mostly because when scanning through all of them, this was one of the only ones I could hear. The recordings, minus this and one other album, were all self done analogue. The first few albums were put together using photocopiers, sharpies, and time. There was some mention that the singer would actually write poetry and base the songs around how he thought the music would accompany it. To be honest, there are still parts of their songs I can't play after all these years of trying because it makes ABSOLUTELY no sense, and I love it.
DOES IT HOLD UP?! If for no other reason than there is nothing that could ever sound like this ever. Their strange use of jazz chords followed by broken jazz chords followed by a saucy dance bit will never be able to be replicated, and that is a bit depressing. Where are they now? Joe is making acoustic guitars in, I believe, BC. Marc was playing bass for Fuck The Facts and Steve was playing with the Great Sabitini. Marc and Steve are also in a two piece doom metal group called Greber. Please help these amazing friends with their respected projects.
Poison The Well - Opposite of December... A Season Of Separation (1999)
I can't tell if I have to love this album for what they influenced and were at the forefront of, or if I should hate them for making entire songs on this album out of "dun dun dunundun dun." There was a time where the first track had blown my mind with it's blistering double kick outside of metal and how personal the lyrics are. When looking at my iTunes for albums that came out that same year, I can't find anything remotely similar with the exception of Calculating Infinity (The Dillinger Escape Plan) and Refused's The Shape of Punk To Come from the year prior. There are still some great moments on this album and I'll still bust Slice Paper Wrists out at social functions to watch a couple people go scouring the ground for nickels.
DOES IT HOLD UP?! To put politely, fuck no. It is little more than nostalgia and their second album Tear From The Red (2002) was the same idea but so much better. I still love this album, and I'm sure most people who picked it up back in the early 2000's still love this album. If you have never heard of Poison The Well, save this one for last on the list of which albums to check out.
...
*puts Slice Papers Wrists back on to sing along with the middle bit*
ALEXISONFIRE - ALEXISONFIRE (2003)
When the hell did this album hit ten years old? That aside, what a fantastic piece of audio. This album has some of the prettiest string work to date. This album was before Dallas Green could sing properly and before George Pettit knew how to scream without thrashing his voice. The drums on this album are simple because they have to be to make this album perfect.
DOES IT HOLD UP?! I am way too biased to say honestly whether it does or not. It is still in my top Canadian albums of all time and in my top twenty albums of all time. There is something I love about how unpolished it is. In fact; if they cleaned it up, I probably wouldn't care for the album at all anymore. It is gritty and off key and strangely mixed because it HAS to be. I'm still looking for someone to cover Counterparts And Number Them, by the way.
Brand New - Deja Entendu (2003)
Keep your voice low...
This album is beautiful. The use of vocal harmonies and almost vocal battles at points must have been something short of impossible to arrange in a way that didn't make them sound conflicting. This was my emo secret, and I owe it all to my friend Jaymi for reminding me every once and a while that I still have this album somewhere in this massive library of music I have. The songs are unfairly catchy, yet not cheesy. The lyrics are personal, but not pathetic, though they do hinge at times. Every song is about some horrible personal moment that could have ruined a life, and quite possibly has. At the heart of this wrist-cutting hair-dying masterpiece is a punk heart who beats with just as much hate as any of us. The vocalist is a lyrical genius with lines that seem relatable, quotable, but still incredibly personal to the one who wrote them.
DOES IT HOLD UP?! Like most major label releases from the early 2000's, there is little change is recording quality or methods so from a strictly auditory standing; yes. It comes from the same background that most modern pop-punk comes from and, since emo is a dead language, I would say that it would definitely hold up to date. Forget I dropped the emo line and pretend that punk was never used in this review. Use them as an idea to check out this classic album, but don't base the album on those merits. It's an experience, not a label. Listen, enjoy, and welcome to the family.
Norma Jean - O God The Aftermath (2005)
This album starts with a "...wat..." and it just never really drops it. I would like to think that I'm ok at drums, but I still can't figure out the first track. Speaking of tracks; this was the first album that I have ever seen that had not only a witty play on words every track title, but also had two titles per track (the second of which was equally witty). I can't make out a damned word he says on this album, but it all sounds equally brutal and harsh and something that's fun to punch walls to. I don't know if it's the gargled screams, the driving and fucked drums, or the constant slides of dissonance on the guitars that make me so angry when I listen to this album. Don't get me wrong, it's a good kind of angry. The kind that you get after you watch that bully who was just making fun of you get his ass handed to him by someone who just can't take his bull shit anymore. The biggest bit of regret I have around this band is that, when I got to see them (2005), I couldn't mosh or maim because the God Damned hardcore kids were dancing in every possible pit area.
DOES IT HOLD UP?! Oh fuck yes and no. It sounds like shit. The mid is totally scooped out and if you are in a car, the bass rattle from the windows will be louder than anything going on in the music. As far as musically, it is in a field all to it's own. When I say sliding guitars, I mean that the first track and a couple others are literally based around synchronized slides and dissident chords being hit in perfect unison. The drums are, though simple in skill, are so fucking tight with the random nature of the tracks, that following them can feel like you are going to loose your mind. Please, pick this album back up. Show them that they shouldn't have dropped this sound and that we may have supported them for longer if they hadn't. Seriously, Norma Jean: your other albums after this one suck.
I Hate Sally - Sickness Of The Ages (2004)
So fucking metal. This album came out before they got their more recognizable female front. I personally prefer where they went, but I can completely see why this album was so well received in the metal scene and why so many fans still hold it on such high. It was metal through and through. There was no attempt at making anything sound pretty and the message was very straight forward.
DOES IT HOLD UP?! Yes. The metal community should always remember these great Canadians and all the good that they did. The next big album they did (Don't Worry Lady) was much more drone feeling and came at everything from a different lyrical edge. Check them both out!1 Also, I will never do this band justice. Luka is a much better fan than I, ask her about them if you want more information!
BAHHHHHHH THERE IS TOO MUCH!
I will come back to this premis later if this is well received. If I left something out that you KNOW I shouldn't have, remind me in the comments! I'll probably hate myself forever if I don't get something I'm not thinking of right now in the next one.
Tuesday 11 June 2013
Where went the number? Where have you been?!
*exaggerated sigh* What a long time away from blogging! What have I accomplished? Absolutely nothing! Let's crack on.
Oh E3: there is so much information you cram down my throat minute by minute.
Some news has been absolutely astonishing. Who knew that we would actually see a Half Life 3 game ever?
Some news has been absolutely confusing. What do you mean Half Life 3 is a Wii-U exclusive?
But other news has been mostly expected.
I honestly had to miss the XBOX conference due to work. I am waiting for a reliable release of the conference of its entirety before I go making incredibly rash comments or stating anything that I can't confirm as fact. I was rather happy to hear that the game line-up sounded fantastic and full, with many good games ready at launch. Even the price point sounded great when I read the little information I could find when I got around to it. $499 for a next-gen console launch?! That is the same price of the 360 when it debuted back in 2005. Tack on the prospect of a new Killer Instinct exclusive and I was actually considering picking up this piece of North American machinery! The only thing that raised and eyebrow was the apparent lack of information surrounding all the drama that has been surrounding the machine since before the press conference last month.
You see, this is what I had been all excited about before the Sony press conference had started. The first half of the Sony announcement went exactly as I predicted...
"Here is the PS3 and some games. OH YEAH; We have a Vita! Now here is what the PS4 looks like! Isn't it smaller than the XBOX and with a better name?! Please ignore that it looks like a melted PS2! Did you know we had a record label AS WELL as a movie studio!?"
Please do not take that as a bad thing. They announced some pretty sweet titles and had some cool demonstrations. They also had some great news for Indi dev's with self publication being a viable option and a possible Indi Game store tacked onto PSN. Watching Assassin's Creed IV freeze up during gameplay made me smile and listening to the awkward chatter of the Bungie crew during the Destiny stuff was pretty fun. THEN THE BIG NEWS! Not only did they talk about the DRM questions in everyones mind (which I hear Microsoft actually avoided), they encouraged the sharing of games between friends! They talked about how yes, you will have to pay for multiplayer now instead of it being free. They also talked about some huge bonuses for Plus members! They even came up with a price point $100 cheaper than Microsoft.
I think to further understand where I come from in regards to this, you need to understand my background in current-gen gaming.
I jumped ship from XBOX about two years ago because, when it comes down to it, more friends had the PS3. The last new release I purchased on the 360 was, if I'm not mistaken, Mass Effect 3. I much prefer the controller on the 360 and I found the user interface easier to deal with until the big Windows 8 updates started rolling in. I am disappointed with how poorly Microsoft has been dealing with the controversy surrounding the next generation of the platform I enjoyed so much through high school and what little of my adult life I have lived. Sony has stolen my heart by being true to gamers and very upfront with any news that might effect my ability to play games.
I had to miss everything to do with Nintendo today, so I will hopefully have more information and opinions as I get to hear some stuff. As someone whose first console was a Nintendo Entertainment System and owned most other Nintendo products post 1990, I really want a reason to purchase a Wii-U. Half Life 3 and Bayonetta 2 have come close to a good enough reason, but I might just wait to see where Zelda goes after the Wind Waker HD Remake.
New Boards of Canada is amazing. I am about to wrap up the final side and writing has been a chore because I keep getting lost in the emotions and rhythm of the album. Music Has A Right To Children is one of my top albums of all time, so I was looking forward to this release since I heard about that amazing little game they played with everyone. And who could forget their RSD fun?
To anyone who doesn't know this collective, Boards Of Canada are basically this amazing ambient dance group who have created the perfect soundtrack for anyone who feels like their day might not actually be happening. At times a little melancholy, others almost tacky, their audio brilliance is a must. Maybe not a great choice for a party, though..
If you are looking for a great rock album that I completely forgot got released, I would look towards OK GO's third album Of the Blue Colour of the Sky. It's a great album with great songs and potentially even better music videos! They are one of the few bands that I have found where every album is good and every album is just different enough. If you enjoy the sound, please go and enjoy their albums. Do it for yourself and maybe your neighbour who is sick of you blasting something horrible. My family sure is sick of Dillinger Escape Plan this week, I'm sure...
I'm sure I missed something huge, but I'll just throw it in my next update. I'm currently compiling a list of bands that I forgot about that all released really good albums between the years of 2002 and 2010. I'll post the link when that is up and ready for some sort of consumption. Please leave some positive personal feedback about E3 in the comments below and FOR THE LOVE OF GOD AND ALL THAT IS HOLY give me a reason to love and trust XBOX again!
E3
Oh E3: there is so much information you cram down my throat minute by minute.
Some news has been absolutely astonishing. Who knew that we would actually see a Half Life 3 game ever?
Some news has been absolutely confusing. What do you mean Half Life 3 is a Wii-U exclusive?
But other news has been mostly expected.
I honestly had to miss the XBOX conference due to work. I am waiting for a reliable release of the conference of its entirety before I go making incredibly rash comments or stating anything that I can't confirm as fact. I was rather happy to hear that the game line-up sounded fantastic and full, with many good games ready at launch. Even the price point sounded great when I read the little information I could find when I got around to it. $499 for a next-gen console launch?! That is the same price of the 360 when it debuted back in 2005. Tack on the prospect of a new Killer Instinct exclusive and I was actually considering picking up this piece of North American machinery! The only thing that raised and eyebrow was the apparent lack of information surrounding all the drama that has been surrounding the machine since before the press conference last month.
You see, this is what I had been all excited about before the Sony press conference had started. The first half of the Sony announcement went exactly as I predicted...
"Here is the PS3 and some games. OH YEAH; We have a Vita! Now here is what the PS4 looks like! Isn't it smaller than the XBOX and with a better name?! Please ignore that it looks like a melted PS2! Did you know we had a record label AS WELL as a movie studio!?"
Please do not take that as a bad thing. They announced some pretty sweet titles and had some cool demonstrations. They also had some great news for Indi dev's with self publication being a viable option and a possible Indi Game store tacked onto PSN. Watching Assassin's Creed IV freeze up during gameplay made me smile and listening to the awkward chatter of the Bungie crew during the Destiny stuff was pretty fun. THEN THE BIG NEWS! Not only did they talk about the DRM questions in everyones mind (which I hear Microsoft actually avoided), they encouraged the sharing of games between friends! They talked about how yes, you will have to pay for multiplayer now instead of it being free. They also talked about some huge bonuses for Plus members! They even came up with a price point $100 cheaper than Microsoft.
I think to further understand where I come from in regards to this, you need to understand my background in current-gen gaming.
I jumped ship from XBOX about two years ago because, when it comes down to it, more friends had the PS3. The last new release I purchased on the 360 was, if I'm not mistaken, Mass Effect 3. I much prefer the controller on the 360 and I found the user interface easier to deal with until the big Windows 8 updates started rolling in. I am disappointed with how poorly Microsoft has been dealing with the controversy surrounding the next generation of the platform I enjoyed so much through high school and what little of my adult life I have lived. Sony has stolen my heart by being true to gamers and very upfront with any news that might effect my ability to play games.
I had to miss everything to do with Nintendo today, so I will hopefully have more information and opinions as I get to hear some stuff. As someone whose first console was a Nintendo Entertainment System and owned most other Nintendo products post 1990, I really want a reason to purchase a Wii-U. Half Life 3 and Bayonetta 2 have come close to a good enough reason, but I might just wait to see where Zelda goes after the Wind Waker HD Remake.
MUSIC!
New Boards of Canada is amazing. I am about to wrap up the final side and writing has been a chore because I keep getting lost in the emotions and rhythm of the album. Music Has A Right To Children is one of my top albums of all time, so I was looking forward to this release since I heard about that amazing little game they played with everyone. And who could forget their RSD fun?
To anyone who doesn't know this collective, Boards Of Canada are basically this amazing ambient dance group who have created the perfect soundtrack for anyone who feels like their day might not actually be happening. At times a little melancholy, others almost tacky, their audio brilliance is a must. Maybe not a great choice for a party, though..
If you are looking for a great rock album that I completely forgot got released, I would look towards OK GO's third album Of the Blue Colour of the Sky. It's a great album with great songs and potentially even better music videos! They are one of the few bands that I have found where every album is good and every album is just different enough. If you enjoy the sound, please go and enjoy their albums. Do it for yourself and maybe your neighbour who is sick of you blasting something horrible. My family sure is sick of Dillinger Escape Plan this week, I'm sure...
I'm sure I missed something huge, but I'll just throw it in my next update. I'm currently compiling a list of bands that I forgot about that all released really good albums between the years of 2002 and 2010. I'll post the link when that is up and ready for some sort of consumption. Please leave some positive personal feedback about E3 in the comments below and FOR THE LOVE OF GOD AND ALL THAT IS HOLY give me a reason to love and trust XBOX again!
Saturday 18 May 2013
12) Feeling Lucky?
So let us talk about sales of audio mediums and why the music industry is not going anywhere any time soon. I will try to keep my reasons and such, though opinion based, as unbiased and as educated as I can. Please keep in mind that my opinions for stating the reasons for changes in the industry are based on sales and opinions working at a used CD shop in Cambridge and should be seen as an idea or argument. Do not use this blog as any sort of absolute fact on anything, but especially this piece. The charts the actual numbers come from will be linked at the end.
The thing that gets brought up oh-so-often at my cash counter is "isn't the music industry dying?" and "why not just download everything?" Well, the easy reply to the downloading idea is that it is still illegal most places and most websites do not want to get caught in the crossfire. When people bring up places like iTunes and (legal) Napster, opinions and feelings often become thrown around as fact.
The first point I would like to make is that the music industry would not bother if it was not profitable. It is far too early in the year to have any sort of fair comparison to last years numbers, so let us pretend it is closer to January. Physical sales are down from a sudden peak in the year prior and digital sales are spiking from a very low 2011. Physical medium sales are still 80 million units outselling digital distribution. Now, would those sales go to digital if there was not an option for physical sale? I have a couple of customers who come to our store from the country who can barely get internet access. Would these people be able to switch to digital? Obviously not. Now, I am aware that the few customers I mention is not enough to even make the industry bat an eyelash, so I'm going to bring up some census information! YAY CANADIAN CENCUS!
A study done in 2010 shows that 1 in 5 Canadians do not have internet access (so just over 6.8 million Canadians). With Canadian physical purchasing sitting at 20.5 million last year and digital sitting just over 10 million, and assuming we go by the idea that 0.9 albums sell per person, would mean a decrease in sales by 6.12 million albums. The average price of a new CD at my work is approximately $15 dollars. This would mean a loss of 91.8 million dollars in revenue. Now factor in people like me: I do not download albums from iTunes unless I have to and I never purchase one off songs because the album is what is important to me. When you compile all the numbers, it will cost the music industry less to press CDs than they will loose in total sales.
Signs that the physical age will be on its way out? Price hikes would be one, and rarity of mainstream albums being another. I feel as though we would see Wal*Mart stop carrying CDs long before HMV went out of business, but we might see random pop albums all of a sudden become very difficult to find. Though I can no longer find the information on the actual situation, who remembers the Warner snafu? Warner went through some huge reconstruction thing at the corporate level and threw their distribution of music into the strangest tither. Customers would be able to find some WMG merchandise at my store, but not at the HMV in the mall behind us. Kitchener would be the only city in all Ontario to have Lykki Li, for instance. It was awkward to explain the situation to those who were just looking for that new release and it seemed to get fixed out of nowhere. There were a couple of us who started speculating a digital only push in cities. If it was an experiment, the consequence was the loss of thousands of sales..
What about vinyl? At one time is was viewed as the dominant source for quality of sound. People still spend tens of thousands of dollars getting setups and rooms for perfect acoustics. Audiophiles will always be around for every medium, but vinyl was always viewed as the "purists" form. This grand resurgence has been great for people who just prefer the sound and feel but did not want to give a million and one reasons every time a friend came by. It has now become accepted as just another medium to a huge part of the market and, with sales increasing in double digit percents every year, that market has become bigger and bigger. We now have Record Store Day with sale numbers that almost double every year. I personally do not think that vinyl will ever be the dominant form of music distribution ever again, but what a fantastic decade for vinyl to come back!
Before I wrap up, I would like to mention song sales. This is a fairly new idea, since singles from the days of old always came bundled with a couple of perks. When you purchase a song from iTunes at a dollar, 30 cents goes to Apple and 60 cents to the distributer. The total number of songs sold in 2012 was 1336 million. The cost for an indi artist to upload a song to iTunes using TuneCore is $9.99 per year. With these numbers, I am having a very hard time why anyone thinks the music industry is hurting.
Website used and not tagged already :
This article had a nice collection of charts with all the sale information from 2012 and 2011. Very informative and just kind of cool to read over.
During the writing of this, I was enjoying 2 records: Do Make Say Think Goodbye Enemy Airship the Landlord is Dead and John Coltrane's A Love Supreme. Both seminal albums in their genres and two of my favourite albums of all time. Please, as music fans, check into these.
The thing that gets brought up oh-so-often at my cash counter is "isn't the music industry dying?" and "why not just download everything?" Well, the easy reply to the downloading idea is that it is still illegal most places and most websites do not want to get caught in the crossfire. When people bring up places like iTunes and (legal) Napster, opinions and feelings often become thrown around as fact.
The first point I would like to make is that the music industry would not bother if it was not profitable. It is far too early in the year to have any sort of fair comparison to last years numbers, so let us pretend it is closer to January. Physical sales are down from a sudden peak in the year prior and digital sales are spiking from a very low 2011. Physical medium sales are still 80 million units outselling digital distribution. Now, would those sales go to digital if there was not an option for physical sale? I have a couple of customers who come to our store from the country who can barely get internet access. Would these people be able to switch to digital? Obviously not. Now, I am aware that the few customers I mention is not enough to even make the industry bat an eyelash, so I'm going to bring up some census information! YAY CANADIAN CENCUS!
A study done in 2010 shows that 1 in 5 Canadians do not have internet access (so just over 6.8 million Canadians). With Canadian physical purchasing sitting at 20.5 million last year and digital sitting just over 10 million, and assuming we go by the idea that 0.9 albums sell per person, would mean a decrease in sales by 6.12 million albums. The average price of a new CD at my work is approximately $15 dollars. This would mean a loss of 91.8 million dollars in revenue. Now factor in people like me: I do not download albums from iTunes unless I have to and I never purchase one off songs because the album is what is important to me. When you compile all the numbers, it will cost the music industry less to press CDs than they will loose in total sales.
Signs that the physical age will be on its way out? Price hikes would be one, and rarity of mainstream albums being another. I feel as though we would see Wal*Mart stop carrying CDs long before HMV went out of business, but we might see random pop albums all of a sudden become very difficult to find. Though I can no longer find the information on the actual situation, who remembers the Warner snafu? Warner went through some huge reconstruction thing at the corporate level and threw their distribution of music into the strangest tither. Customers would be able to find some WMG merchandise at my store, but not at the HMV in the mall behind us. Kitchener would be the only city in all Ontario to have Lykki Li, for instance. It was awkward to explain the situation to those who were just looking for that new release and it seemed to get fixed out of nowhere. There were a couple of us who started speculating a digital only push in cities. If it was an experiment, the consequence was the loss of thousands of sales..
What about vinyl? At one time is was viewed as the dominant source for quality of sound. People still spend tens of thousands of dollars getting setups and rooms for perfect acoustics. Audiophiles will always be around for every medium, but vinyl was always viewed as the "purists" form. This grand resurgence has been great for people who just prefer the sound and feel but did not want to give a million and one reasons every time a friend came by. It has now become accepted as just another medium to a huge part of the market and, with sales increasing in double digit percents every year, that market has become bigger and bigger. We now have Record Store Day with sale numbers that almost double every year. I personally do not think that vinyl will ever be the dominant form of music distribution ever again, but what a fantastic decade for vinyl to come back!
Before I wrap up, I would like to mention song sales. This is a fairly new idea, since singles from the days of old always came bundled with a couple of perks. When you purchase a song from iTunes at a dollar, 30 cents goes to Apple and 60 cents to the distributer. The total number of songs sold in 2012 was 1336 million. The cost for an indi artist to upload a song to iTunes using TuneCore is $9.99 per year. With these numbers, I am having a very hard time why anyone thinks the music industry is hurting.
Website used and not tagged already :
This article had a nice collection of charts with all the sale information from 2012 and 2011. Very informative and just kind of cool to read over.
During the writing of this, I was enjoying 2 records: Do Make Say Think Goodbye Enemy Airship the Landlord is Dead and John Coltrane's A Love Supreme. Both seminal albums in their genres and two of my favourite albums of all time. Please, as music fans, check into these.
Sunday 12 May 2013
11) Isn't this supposed to be dead?
I witnessed two police cruisers flying down a main drag in front of my work tonight. I was just in the parking lot when the blaring sirens and shimmering lights danced and bounced off of the front window of the store front. The record store I work at is on this fantastic intersection between a Police headquarters and a fire station. All day, ever day, we bare witness to dozens of vehicles speeding and dodging down the road, usually barrelling towards the major highway that resides just over one kilometre from our front stoop. I wish I could say that we play some sort of game guessing how many will dart past that day, but usually I just stare out the windows for a moment to remind myself that the world outside is still present and dangerous. I then continue to collect discs, buff scuffs, and price merchandise.
Today I think I heard the same compact disc four or five times. I think I have discovered the art of completely ignoring the music that plays up above. We have great freedom to play what we wish, but after seven years your mind compacts everything you once loved into the categories of "Store Playable" and "You will enjoy this when you get home." It can be rather depressing when you realize that you have actually started to not listen to favourite bands based on the very idea that you can listen to them when you work if you really need your fix. As I write this, I am listening to Beggars by Thrice.
I picked this album up shortly after its release back in 2009. Though I am not normally a Thrice fan, they destroyed all my expectations after they released the four part Alchemy Index just a couple of years prior. My point for referencing this album is that, for the first time since 2009, I am listening to this album outside of work.
Who else has fallen into this trap? Our Lady Peace, The Cardigans, The Foals, The Tea Party, Depeche Mode, The Cure, Metric, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Sigur Ros, The Stills, Coldplay...
What I am trying to say is that I think I can finally go back and listen to bands that I tried to avoid for quite some time. Maybe the next time someone asks if I would be okay listening to some Death Cab for Cutie I will reply with "Yes sir or madam, I would love to!" Instead of the standard "only if it's one of these two albums that never come through my work because of reasons."
It also amazes me how, working at a CD shop, fans can ruin everything. I used to like the Black Keys until I realized why everyone else liked them. Now I can't listen to them through the general popular opinion. This may sound like the standard record store employee bull shit but please, hear my plight.
All people talk about is how "innovative" and "unique" The Black Keys are, but all I hear is a cross between The White Stripes and Robert Johnson. Do I take great pride in relating bands to one another? Only mildly. El Camino sounds like Brothers sounds like Attack & Release.
Of course, I am not aloud to say such things at work, even though they love to do it to other people in the news. The fans become irate and they feel like they have to defend this friend who takes all their money to release the same album over and over and over.
You are aloud to like what you like. I am not saying that The Black Keys do not deserve the career that they have. I am not saying that if you like The Black Keys that your opinion is less valid. I am not saying that I am immune to the comments I make, and I am far from saying that I have a better music taste than anyone else. I do not think that I like my music for "better reasons." I just feel like people need to actually sit down and realize what they are supporting. The public needs to realize that there is so much more out there.
For instance: do you like two piece blues throwback bands? Check out the Lullaby Arkestra. A couple from Toronto who cross blues with a bizar gospel-esque feel. Fantastic live performance, and they just have so much fun doing what they do. Actually, I think that would be a really neat pairing. Lullaby Arkestra opening for The Black Keys. I would pay for that.
This is the part that I could start going on about how horrible record labels are for the music industry, but I really do not agree with that idea. Do I think that labels are pumping out the same shit every year? Hell yes. Do I blame the labels? Hell no. If they thought that they could make money on something different, then I am sure they would release something different. With proper interest from investors they might fund it in such a way that even mainstream radio stations would bother to play it. I don't even know if I believe the idea that labels are bothering to carrel public music tastes as a whole as to make one sound popular. The music industry is a strange beast. An artist like Gotye could be made famous Canada wide thanks to a cover done by a pop group based out of Burlington using one guitar. The time gap between that video and Walk Off the Earth's major label début (January 6, 2012 - March 19, 2013) leads me to believe that this was a genuine social find as opposed to the idea of it being set up by a bunch of dudes sitting around a table in a board room on the moon.
-END-
Now; some recommendations.
Winston's Essentials
Look into the bands on this list. Polyvinyl is this strange beast where you really do get the impression that they will release anything as long as they think it is awesome. This collection of bands are stupid fun and rather great. Check some out.
EDIT: the Half Life 3 thing I read was false. Sorry about that!
Today I think I heard the same compact disc four or five times. I think I have discovered the art of completely ignoring the music that plays up above. We have great freedom to play what we wish, but after seven years your mind compacts everything you once loved into the categories of "Store Playable" and "You will enjoy this when you get home." It can be rather depressing when you realize that you have actually started to not listen to favourite bands based on the very idea that you can listen to them when you work if you really need your fix. As I write this, I am listening to Beggars by Thrice.
I picked this album up shortly after its release back in 2009. Though I am not normally a Thrice fan, they destroyed all my expectations after they released the four part Alchemy Index just a couple of years prior. My point for referencing this album is that, for the first time since 2009, I am listening to this album outside of work.
Who else has fallen into this trap? Our Lady Peace, The Cardigans, The Foals, The Tea Party, Depeche Mode, The Cure, Metric, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Sigur Ros, The Stills, Coldplay...
What I am trying to say is that I think I can finally go back and listen to bands that I tried to avoid for quite some time. Maybe the next time someone asks if I would be okay listening to some Death Cab for Cutie I will reply with "Yes sir or madam, I would love to!" Instead of the standard "only if it's one of these two albums that never come through my work because of reasons."
It also amazes me how, working at a CD shop, fans can ruin everything. I used to like the Black Keys until I realized why everyone else liked them. Now I can't listen to them through the general popular opinion. This may sound like the standard record store employee bull shit but please, hear my plight.
All people talk about is how "innovative" and "unique" The Black Keys are, but all I hear is a cross between The White Stripes and Robert Johnson. Do I take great pride in relating bands to one another? Only mildly. El Camino sounds like Brothers sounds like Attack & Release.
Of course, I am not aloud to say such things at work, even though they love to do it to other people in the news. The fans become irate and they feel like they have to defend this friend who takes all their money to release the same album over and over and over.
You are aloud to like what you like. I am not saying that The Black Keys do not deserve the career that they have. I am not saying that if you like The Black Keys that your opinion is less valid. I am not saying that I am immune to the comments I make, and I am far from saying that I have a better music taste than anyone else. I do not think that I like my music for "better reasons." I just feel like people need to actually sit down and realize what they are supporting. The public needs to realize that there is so much more out there.
For instance: do you like two piece blues throwback bands? Check out the Lullaby Arkestra. A couple from Toronto who cross blues with a bizar gospel-esque feel. Fantastic live performance, and they just have so much fun doing what they do. Actually, I think that would be a really neat pairing. Lullaby Arkestra opening for The Black Keys. I would pay for that.
This is the part that I could start going on about how horrible record labels are for the music industry, but I really do not agree with that idea. Do I think that labels are pumping out the same shit every year? Hell yes. Do I blame the labels? Hell no. If they thought that they could make money on something different, then I am sure they would release something different. With proper interest from investors they might fund it in such a way that even mainstream radio stations would bother to play it. I don't even know if I believe the idea that labels are bothering to carrel public music tastes as a whole as to make one sound popular. The music industry is a strange beast. An artist like Gotye could be made famous Canada wide thanks to a cover done by a pop group based out of Burlington using one guitar. The time gap between that video and Walk Off the Earth's major label début (January 6, 2012 - March 19, 2013) leads me to believe that this was a genuine social find as opposed to the idea of it being set up by a bunch of dudes sitting around a table in a board room on the moon.
-END-
Now; some recommendations.
Winston's Essentials
Look into the bands on this list. Polyvinyl is this strange beast where you really do get the impression that they will release anything as long as they think it is awesome. This collection of bands are stupid fun and rather great. Check some out.
EDIT: the Half Life 3 thing I read was false. Sorry about that!
Sunday 28 April 2013
10) Ten, really?
Oh time off: how I have missed you. It was March that I last had more than one day off in a week. Thursday I napped for an entire hour because why the fuck not! It was glorious.
I digress. I should probably mention that my store loves me right now. In the last week, I have picked up the following albums:
At The Drive-In - Acrobatic Tenement
The good ol' reissue of At The Drive-In's first full length album on bright red vinyl. Dine Alone Records has done a great job with these reissues. The liner notes and artwork is all faithfully restored and the presses are great. I would say that this is an essential grab for anyone who loves fast sudo-punk and recordings that can sound like shit and sound amazing at the same time. One thing that threw me off was that this particular press does not come sealed. Paper Bag Records has been notorious for this with all the limited edition releases they have been doing as of late. I don't think it changes much and the environmentalist inside me is quite happy. There will always be that worry that someone is going to score just the wax and leave the sleeve behind, but that is just years of working in customer service talking.
I had a friend who died for something he really loved I had a friend who stood for none of the above I had a friend whose experience was riddled with scars who got drunk one night in the trunk of Louie P.'s car I had a friend who would love to scare you as was his affection and tremble you did, cuz you weren't worthy of his friendship I had a friend, but now he's stranded on the Mesa St. exit and sometimes I'm jealous cuz I'm still at the intersection I had a friend whose heart was too heavy to hold...
At The Drive-In - Relationship of Command
AHAHAHAHAHAHA I GOT IT! I was kind of worried it wouldn't happen. I also just got notice from a buddy of mine that he picked up the Cure LP I wanted, but more on that next week. Limited reissue on the biggest album of ATDI's career? I think it will come back, but maybe on black vinyl instead of yellow. In the mean time, I'm going to play the paranoid record store guy and assume that I will never see it again as long as I live. It sounds great and feels great and my god One Arm Scissor is such a wicked tune.
At The Drive-In - Vaya
What? I talked about the other two I have and I'm missing In Casino/Out, so Yes: I am going to type about my favorite album that they ever released. White ten inch. I hate white. I think ten inch records are pretty, but impractical. Other than that, great fucking album. Ok, on to that other one I picked up durring the week.
Emily Haines and The Soft Skeleton - Knives Don't Have Your Back
One of the most beautiful albums to be released in Canada, not to mention one of the most beautiful solo attempts I have ever heard. Emily Haines of Metric really shows how diverse her vocal ranges can be and just how great of a song writer she is. Yes, it is apparent that she ripped most of the subject matter from the pages of Margret Attwood's Handmaid's Tale (which is a terrible book, by the way), but she used it in a very modern and good way. Did I mention that the album is incredibly pretty?
I digress. I should probably mention that my store loves me right now. In the last week, I have picked up the following albums:
At The Drive-In - Acrobatic Tenement
The good ol' reissue of At The Drive-In's first full length album on bright red vinyl. Dine Alone Records has done a great job with these reissues. The liner notes and artwork is all faithfully restored and the presses are great. I would say that this is an essential grab for anyone who loves fast sudo-punk and recordings that can sound like shit and sound amazing at the same time. One thing that threw me off was that this particular press does not come sealed. Paper Bag Records has been notorious for this with all the limited edition releases they have been doing as of late. I don't think it changes much and the environmentalist inside me is quite happy. There will always be that worry that someone is going to score just the wax and leave the sleeve behind, but that is just years of working in customer service talking.
I had a friend who died for something he really loved I had a friend who stood for none of the above I had a friend whose experience was riddled with scars who got drunk one night in the trunk of Louie P.'s car I had a friend who would love to scare you as was his affection and tremble you did, cuz you weren't worthy of his friendship I had a friend, but now he's stranded on the Mesa St. exit and sometimes I'm jealous cuz I'm still at the intersection I had a friend whose heart was too heavy to hold...
At The Drive-In - Relationship of Command
AHAHAHAHAHAHA I GOT IT! I was kind of worried it wouldn't happen. I also just got notice from a buddy of mine that he picked up the Cure LP I wanted, but more on that next week. Limited reissue on the biggest album of ATDI's career? I think it will come back, but maybe on black vinyl instead of yellow. In the mean time, I'm going to play the paranoid record store guy and assume that I will never see it again as long as I live. It sounds great and feels great and my god One Arm Scissor is such a wicked tune.
At The Drive-In - Vaya
What? I talked about the other two I have and I'm missing In Casino/Out, so Yes: I am going to type about my favorite album that they ever released. White ten inch. I hate white. I think ten inch records are pretty, but impractical. Other than that, great fucking album. Ok, on to that other one I picked up durring the week.
Emily Haines and The Soft Skeleton - Knives Don't Have Your Back
One of the most beautiful albums to be released in Canada, not to mention one of the most beautiful solo attempts I have ever heard. Emily Haines of Metric really shows how diverse her vocal ranges can be and just how great of a song writer she is. Yes, it is apparent that she ripped most of the subject matter from the pages of Margret Attwood's Handmaid's Tale (which is a terrible book, by the way), but she used it in a very modern and good way. Did I mention that the album is incredibly pretty?
Sunday 21 April 2013
9) Long Time No See
Hi. I already took a week off.
What have I been doing? Well:
Yep. At it again. Recording stuff. It turned out ok, considering. Of course, the song itself won't be available for a good while still. We are still trying to figure out how to get the time to do the rest. It's been pretty interesting, and a lot of fun. I'm hoping to spend my Sunday doing another song. Maybe with more microphones. Probably not. If I get asked enough, I'll update and have a link around. In the mean time, I just can't be bothered to do that much uploading for all two or three people who might only care to look into it.
I actually had my first gig since November last night. It was at the Coreia household in Galt. What a way to spend 4/20! (A very sober 4/20 mind you. It's what I do best!)
Just to tease me, the Beat Goes On I manage got the three Record Store Day items I really wanted. The Cure - Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me, At The Drive-In - Relationship of Command, and a rare Pulp single on a 12". I'm not aloud to purchase them until Monday, but here is hoping they are still around. Kiss Me (etc.) has been the album I have wanted on vinyl since I first started collecting records in 2005: it is both my favorite Cure album and my favorite album from the '80s.
UPDATE :: The Cure was one of the first albums for me to sell on Saturday. The Pulp was there when I left and we have so many At The Drive-In releases right now, I'm not worried.
Until Monday, here is what I have picked up in the last few weeks:
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Push the Sky Away
Oh Nick Cave, how I love your ways with words and situations. This is actually my first Bad Seeds album I have picked up; I've always been a bigger Grinderman fan due to how ridiculous it is. This album is as beautiful and haunting as the picture on the front would lead you to believe.
Beastie Boys - Ill Communication
HardXCore, funk, jazz and hip-hop all at it's finest. Fuck yes I love this album. Plus Q-Tip!
Beach House - Teen Dream
Admittedly, I need to give this album another listen. It is far from bad, but I feel like I would have enjoyed it more if I had not heard the amazing Bloom first. I'll come back to this one...
Low - The Invisible Way
When I read that Low's sixteenth album was produced by Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, I was nervous. Though Wilco is not known for being happy and go-lucky, they are far more upbeat that Low has ever been. I can't tell if this album turned out so well because he is a huge Low fan, or if he just made sure the band stayed together though the making of, but this album turned out brilliantly. Still just as depressing as low should be! Plus my copy came with a disc of demo stuff. NEAT!
What have I been doing? Well:
Yep. At it again. Recording stuff. It turned out ok, considering. Of course, the song itself won't be available for a good while still. We are still trying to figure out how to get the time to do the rest. It's been pretty interesting, and a lot of fun. I'm hoping to spend my Sunday doing another song. Maybe with more microphones. Probably not. If I get asked enough, I'll update and have a link around. In the mean time, I just can't be bothered to do that much uploading for all two or three people who might only care to look into it.
I actually had my first gig since November last night. It was at the Coreia household in Galt. What a way to spend 4/20! (A very sober 4/20 mind you. It's what I do best!)
Just to tease me, the Beat Goes On I manage got the three Record Store Day items I really wanted. The Cure - Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me, At The Drive-In - Relationship of Command, and a rare Pulp single on a 12". I'm not aloud to purchase them until Monday, but here is hoping they are still around. Kiss Me (etc.) has been the album I have wanted on vinyl since I first started collecting records in 2005: it is both my favorite Cure album and my favorite album from the '80s.
UPDATE :: The Cure was one of the first albums for me to sell on Saturday. The Pulp was there when I left and we have so many At The Drive-In releases right now, I'm not worried.
Until Monday, here is what I have picked up in the last few weeks:
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Push the Sky Away
Oh Nick Cave, how I love your ways with words and situations. This is actually my first Bad Seeds album I have picked up; I've always been a bigger Grinderman fan due to how ridiculous it is. This album is as beautiful and haunting as the picture on the front would lead you to believe.
Beastie Boys - Ill Communication
HardXCore, funk, jazz and hip-hop all at it's finest. Fuck yes I love this album. Plus Q-Tip!
Beach House - Teen Dream
Admittedly, I need to give this album another listen. It is far from bad, but I feel like I would have enjoyed it more if I had not heard the amazing Bloom first. I'll come back to this one...
Low - The Invisible Way
When I read that Low's sixteenth album was produced by Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, I was nervous. Though Wilco is not known for being happy and go-lucky, they are far more upbeat that Low has ever been. I can't tell if this album turned out so well because he is a huge Low fan, or if he just made sure the band stayed together though the making of, but this album turned out brilliantly. Still just as depressing as low should be! Plus my copy came with a disc of demo stuff. NEAT!
Thursday 11 April 2013
8) Three games that ruined my life.
Well, I shit the bed this week. Forgot to post stuff. Uhhhhhh... due to not having a clue what to post for yesterday a day late, here are three reviews of games that I can't talk too much about because it would ruin everything if they get spoiled. YEAH! That'll do!
Video games and I have been strangers for the last couple of years. It seems like I always have one on the go, but I never finish a damn thing. In the last two months, I have actually beaten three of my new favourite triple A titles. Are theses the best games of all time? No; Mass Effect 2, The Legend of Zelda, Limbo and FTL are going to stay strong in my heart for a long time, me thinks. These are just the three games that either caught me off guard with how great they really are, or they came out of nowhere and blew me away.
Far Cry 3
Never have I seen a game pull off the idea of a character loosing their sense of being so honestly as in Far Cry 3. You watch your brother die in the first twenty minuets of the game, and not even 200 paces later you are murdering some poor sod. Your character then proceeds to freak out and panic, writhing in terror over what he has just done. A lot of people claimed that the new Tomb Raider game did a better job of showing this loss of insanity, but riddle me this; did Tomb Raider have a segment where Laura was confiding in a recently saved friend that she is starting to love the power that comes with taking a life? Jason, our lead protagonist, begins explaining to a comrade how great it has begun to feel to squeeze the last breath from another human being. You hear the voice actor change his voice from terror at the idea of pulling the trigger, to laughing hardily while burning people alive with a flame thrower. Great voice cast, and even better controls. This game is a must play for any FPS fan.
Persona 4 Golden
Persona 4 is probably one of the most Japanese games I have ever played. The basic premise is that you are just some high school kid who gets lodged into some small town because your parents have taken off for a year or two to work in the states or something like that. When you arrive, you get unpacked, you go to school, and you make friends. Then you find out that someone is using an alternate world that is within the television to murder people in horrendous ways and, for some unknown reason, your misfit collective is the only humans on the planet who can stop the killings. I know this sounds terrible, BUT MY GOD IT'S SO ADDICTIVE! This is one of those games that you play when no one is around but for some reason you still feel obligated to wear headphones. It's touching, coy and surprisingly realistic. I found myself either agreeing with characters or comparing them to friends that I either have or did have at one time. There isn't much else to say about this game: so much of it is in the execution. All I can say is that if you enjoy Anime and JRPG's, please play this game. It's fantastic.
Bioshock Infinite
The hardest game to give any information on without giving something away. It was beautiful, exciting, intelligent and graceful. The characters are beautifully written and the world is brilliantly conceived. The combat is a bit clunky in its frenetic pacing, but I feel like it almost works with the bizarre animation and motion capture. The voice acting is Godly (per usual with the series) and a couple of the twists actually caught me off guard. However, through all this praise, I cannot say that this game is better than Bioshock one. Back in 2007, Bioshock literally destroyed my expectation on story delivery in both video games AND movies. Half the time I actually forgot that the main character was silent. It flowed with mostly due to its almost horror pacing mixed with very cut throat fighting. This game set the bar so high in my mind that few, if any, games could compare.
I'm a horrible person
Video games and I have been strangers for the last couple of years. It seems like I always have one on the go, but I never finish a damn thing. In the last two months, I have actually beaten three of my new favourite triple A titles. Are theses the best games of all time? No; Mass Effect 2, The Legend of Zelda, Limbo and FTL are going to stay strong in my heart for a long time, me thinks. These are just the three games that either caught me off guard with how great they really are, or they came out of nowhere and blew me away.
Far Cry 3
Never have I seen a game pull off the idea of a character loosing their sense of being so honestly as in Far Cry 3. You watch your brother die in the first twenty minuets of the game, and not even 200 paces later you are murdering some poor sod. Your character then proceeds to freak out and panic, writhing in terror over what he has just done. A lot of people claimed that the new Tomb Raider game did a better job of showing this loss of insanity, but riddle me this; did Tomb Raider have a segment where Laura was confiding in a recently saved friend that she is starting to love the power that comes with taking a life? Jason, our lead protagonist, begins explaining to a comrade how great it has begun to feel to squeeze the last breath from another human being. You hear the voice actor change his voice from terror at the idea of pulling the trigger, to laughing hardily while burning people alive with a flame thrower. Great voice cast, and even better controls. This game is a must play for any FPS fan.
Persona 4 Golden
Persona 4 is probably one of the most Japanese games I have ever played. The basic premise is that you are just some high school kid who gets lodged into some small town because your parents have taken off for a year or two to work in the states or something like that. When you arrive, you get unpacked, you go to school, and you make friends. Then you find out that someone is using an alternate world that is within the television to murder people in horrendous ways and, for some unknown reason, your misfit collective is the only humans on the planet who can stop the killings. I know this sounds terrible, BUT MY GOD IT'S SO ADDICTIVE! This is one of those games that you play when no one is around but for some reason you still feel obligated to wear headphones. It's touching, coy and surprisingly realistic. I found myself either agreeing with characters or comparing them to friends that I either have or did have at one time. There isn't much else to say about this game: so much of it is in the execution. All I can say is that if you enjoy Anime and JRPG's, please play this game. It's fantastic.
Bioshock Infinite
The hardest game to give any information on without giving something away. It was beautiful, exciting, intelligent and graceful. The characters are beautifully written and the world is brilliantly conceived. The combat is a bit clunky in its frenetic pacing, but I feel like it almost works with the bizarre animation and motion capture. The voice acting is Godly (per usual with the series) and a couple of the twists actually caught me off guard. However, through all this praise, I cannot say that this game is better than Bioshock one. Back in 2007, Bioshock literally destroyed my expectation on story delivery in both video games AND movies. Half the time I actually forgot that the main character was silent. It flowed with mostly due to its almost horror pacing mixed with very cut throat fighting. This game set the bar so high in my mind that few, if any, games could compare.
Sunday 7 April 2013
7) Yep
Well, this blog is going to have a couple of parts to it. It has been a busy week in my head, and in person, not a whole lot has happened.
First off, I spent very little time at home researching things to blog about for Wednesday, thus the no show. I wanted to have an interview done, in all honesty. It's something I think would be neat because I have never done one before. So, on Tuesday morning, I realized that I was 3 days behind in prep, let alone in actual work. Life goes on.
I purchased myself a new laptop this week! By new, I mean my first laptop ever. I picked up the acer Chromebook. It's pretty in it's simplicity. So far I have used it for browsing, a thrilling round of Angry Birds, and now this blog post into starting bit. It is kind of strange; I feel like I'm using an oversized tablet. The screen is small (11.5 inches) and the keyboard is bizarre, but I'm enjoying its company all the same. I think I'm going to name him Ace. Every piece of electronics need a name. Except consoles: They do not have a soul.
Since I haven't pushed this thing yet, I'm not sure of it's processing power. It is hard to push a PC that is a web browser and, therefore, you have to go out of your way to find games.
EVERYONE MUST REMEMBER THAT RECORD STORE DAY IS APRIL 20TH. GO FIND A LOCAL RECORD STORE AND LET THEM KNOW YOU APRECIATE THEM.
Yes, there will be a lot of links to allmusic.com for this next bit. Mostly because I feel like they have some solid information. Partially because I like links.
I have had a few conversations about where the music industry is going this week. I see it either crashing and going the way of the late '80s/early '90s, or the more early '80s. Early '80s being a world of happy people being happy about the everything they think they have, and the early '90s being a world of "fuck the mainstream." Right now it appears to be something along the line of an over saturation of bands who all either sound the same or use the same ideas to convey the popular sound. The underground is starting to swell again to the same capacity like the early 2000s when we had the emo invasion happening beside the semi hip-hop British Invasion-Inspired sounds by bands like The Gorillaz and Danger Mouse making huge waves. Along the sides of all of that, Jack White was getting his start with The White Stripes and Weezer made a come back. All of a sudden, it seemed like those bands started to become background to acts that used those ideas and made them accessible to everyone. Even bands that had been around forever changed their sound just enough to fit in. The prime examples being Kings of Leon having a single (and album) which barely resembled the previous albums.
My personal hope is for the industry to change in every way. We already have had a major upset with things like home recording and self distribution becoming incredibly easy and cheap. This has caused a massive over saturation of sounds and ideas which has a major up (new music always popping up and around) and major downs (a million to one odds to find anything to enjoy). The way I would like to see everything go is either a movement or a community in popular music. From what I have seen, there hasn't been a real mass community built around a band since Death Cab For Cutie circa 2005. Back then, it was rare to know someone who wasn't either gushing over how great Plans was, or how Transatlanticism was better. Regardless of your views, it felt like everyone had some sort of tie to that band. Now it feels like there is a greater segregation between cliques. I will admit, this may be an age thing: although I work at a music store, I haven't been a part of a community that wasn't metal in years. Please, for the love of all that is Holy, let this paragraph be my absence from something amazing, then let me know how to get in.
A movement is something I feel like I have always missed out on. I came in late for the early 2000s punk uprising, but too early for the Emo brigade. I jumped ship from metal just before the death metal revival of 2005 (I say that because Cephalic Carnage had just released Anomalies), and I hated the people jumping into the post-post-hardcore. I only really got into math rock in the last few years and this fucking country has always had shit electro.
I would like to conclude with what I think this current music industry is doing right from my perspective and where they could improve. I think bringing vinyl back to the forefront was a brilliant move. Though I do not have exact numbers (hook ups?), I know that new music sales at my work have increased exponentially since we started carrying vinyl. I sell (on average) a record a day with one record a week being a new release.
Digital distribution is probably a new market standard for top twenty groups thanks to the reinstatement of the single buying ability: it is quite nice to grab that one song if the rest of the album sucks. I do not think iTunes will reign supreme for another decade, but they will try.
BandCamp.com has made everything so beautiful for the independent musician and label. With free download readily available for those who want to do so, plus the introduction of the supplied online store, TuneCore and iTunes actually have a true competitor on the field. I just hope they can keep it up without corruption.
First off, I spent very little time at home researching things to blog about for Wednesday, thus the no show. I wanted to have an interview done, in all honesty. It's something I think would be neat because I have never done one before. So, on Tuesday morning, I realized that I was 3 days behind in prep, let alone in actual work. Life goes on.
I purchased myself a new laptop this week! By new, I mean my first laptop ever. I picked up the acer Chromebook. It's pretty in it's simplicity. So far I have used it for browsing, a thrilling round of Angry Birds, and now this blog post into starting bit. It is kind of strange; I feel like I'm using an oversized tablet. The screen is small (11.5 inches) and the keyboard is bizarre, but I'm enjoying its company all the same. I think I'm going to name him Ace. Every piece of electronics need a name. Except consoles: They do not have a soul.
Since I haven't pushed this thing yet, I'm not sure of it's processing power. It is hard to push a PC that is a web browser and, therefore, you have to go out of your way to find games.
{Please be kind to the following opinion piece about the music industry}
EVERYONE MUST REMEMBER THAT RECORD STORE DAY IS APRIL 20TH. GO FIND A LOCAL RECORD STORE AND LET THEM KNOW YOU APRECIATE THEM.
Yes, there will be a lot of links to allmusic.com for this next bit. Mostly because I feel like they have some solid information. Partially because I like links.
I have had a few conversations about where the music industry is going this week. I see it either crashing and going the way of the late '80s/early '90s, or the more early '80s. Early '80s being a world of happy people being happy about the everything they think they have, and the early '90s being a world of "fuck the mainstream." Right now it appears to be something along the line of an over saturation of bands who all either sound the same or use the same ideas to convey the popular sound. The underground is starting to swell again to the same capacity like the early 2000s when we had the emo invasion happening beside the semi hip-hop British Invasion-Inspired sounds by bands like The Gorillaz and Danger Mouse making huge waves. Along the sides of all of that, Jack White was getting his start with The White Stripes and Weezer made a come back. All of a sudden, it seemed like those bands started to become background to acts that used those ideas and made them accessible to everyone. Even bands that had been around forever changed their sound just enough to fit in. The prime examples being Kings of Leon having a single (and album) which barely resembled the previous albums.
My personal hope is for the industry to change in every way. We already have had a major upset with things like home recording and self distribution becoming incredibly easy and cheap. This has caused a massive over saturation of sounds and ideas which has a major up (new music always popping up and around) and major downs (a million to one odds to find anything to enjoy). The way I would like to see everything go is either a movement or a community in popular music. From what I have seen, there hasn't been a real mass community built around a band since Death Cab For Cutie circa 2005. Back then, it was rare to know someone who wasn't either gushing over how great Plans was, or how Transatlanticism was better. Regardless of your views, it felt like everyone had some sort of tie to that band. Now it feels like there is a greater segregation between cliques. I will admit, this may be an age thing: although I work at a music store, I haven't been a part of a community that wasn't metal in years. Please, for the love of all that is Holy, let this paragraph be my absence from something amazing, then let me know how to get in.
A movement is something I feel like I have always missed out on. I came in late for the early 2000s punk uprising, but too early for the Emo brigade. I jumped ship from metal just before the death metal revival of 2005 (I say that because Cephalic Carnage had just released Anomalies), and I hated the people jumping into the post-post-hardcore. I only really got into math rock in the last few years and this fucking country has always had shit electro.
I would like to conclude with what I think this current music industry is doing right from my perspective and where they could improve. I think bringing vinyl back to the forefront was a brilliant move. Though I do not have exact numbers (hook ups?), I know that new music sales at my work have increased exponentially since we started carrying vinyl. I sell (on average) a record a day with one record a week being a new release.
Digital distribution is probably a new market standard for top twenty groups thanks to the reinstatement of the single buying ability: it is quite nice to grab that one song if the rest of the album sucks. I do not think iTunes will reign supreme for another decade, but they will try.
BandCamp.com has made everything so beautiful for the independent musician and label. With free download readily available for those who want to do so, plus the introduction of the supplied online store, TuneCore and iTunes actually have a true competitor on the field. I just hope they can keep it up without corruption.
Sunday 31 March 2013
5) Yeah, I'm still doing this.
AHHH! Now that was the very definition of a busy week. I am officially first aid qualified and I'm pretty sure I clocked over 40 hours in the work place again. Time moves on, and Easter is here, and I got to see Sigur Ros last night!
It was pretty amazing. Oneohtrix Point Never opened the show. He's almost like if you were to cross Aphex Twin with Sigur Ros; pretty strings and choir samples, sliced together in a frantic collection of sounds.
Sigur Ros themselves, I felt, started a bit weak. They had this curtin in front of them for the first couple of songs. I had a neat effect for a little bit, but they weren't doing enough with it to warrant how long it was up. As soon as it dropped, I felt like the show began. I can't really remember the set. I did mean to take notes. I wound up sitting there, gapping maw, blown away by the brilliance and beauty of what was in front of me. They played every song that I wanted to hear (minus BaBa from the EP BaBaTiKiDiDo, but I would have been REALLY surprised), and even the songs I didn't care for on album sounded amazing. I still haven't heard the newest release, but now I almost have to because of how BAD ASS the songs were. The one piano player/aux percussionist had a full rack of metal slabs to get a proper "pot and pan" feel.
The back drop for the set was all the modified music video clips you can find from past shows. They did a good job at meshing images displayed on the screen and some of the stage lighting to make things seem like they were one. The lighting was really cool; either really organic lights set up like stars, or frantic strobes and spot lights to convey the frantic nature of some parts. Joining Sigur Ros on stage was a horn section (who, though very talented, I have no clue who they were) and I thought it was Amiina rejoining to fill out the string section, but I have been corrected. Everyone played their parts brilliantly, though it was fun to hear the occasional bunk note.
Bioshock Infinite is staring me in the face. I really would like the time to get that plastic wrap off. I am beyond stoked that it has finally been released, now it's just a question on when to play it.
To my dearest metal heads: please do yourself the favor of looking up the Toronto band Titan. They are by far one of my favorite bands in Canada and my favorite metal band who haven't broken up. Bone-crushing rhythms and tear-evoking melodies in a soul-destroying arrangement with relentless and bloodied cries piercing through the cascading collection of melodiousness sounds. Parts and pieces of their sound reminds me of the Hamilton local band named Hoosier Poet, which is another one of my favorites.
Here is a horrible sounding live video. It's still pretty, though.
Here is the BandCamp for the new album.
This band still holds the status of the prettiest band I have ever heard. It is the only band that can brutally beat the shit out of my ears and I cry with joy and absolute awe. I came in durring the era around their second album 'Chronoclast: Selected Essays On Times Reckoning And Auto-Cannibalism' and what a brilliant time to find them. The album is one long song broken into ten tracks with names to keep the theme going. Might I add that I'm pretty sure the drummer uses a single kick the entire time? Isn't that just amazing?
I was rather depressed when I found out that I missed their last show a couple of years ago. I had heard that they were coming up to ten years playing brutally fast music with hectic shows and mostly just playing for food and new an end was in sight. Of course, when someone offered me tickets and didn't mention it was their last show, I thought I'd have another year at least. Boy, was I red.
Shit quality, but you get the idea.
It was pretty amazing. Oneohtrix Point Never opened the show. He's almost like if you were to cross Aphex Twin with Sigur Ros; pretty strings and choir samples, sliced together in a frantic collection of sounds.
Sigur Ros themselves, I felt, started a bit weak. They had this curtin in front of them for the first couple of songs. I had a neat effect for a little bit, but they weren't doing enough with it to warrant how long it was up. As soon as it dropped, I felt like the show began. I can't really remember the set. I did mean to take notes. I wound up sitting there, gapping maw, blown away by the brilliance and beauty of what was in front of me. They played every song that I wanted to hear (minus BaBa from the EP BaBaTiKiDiDo, but I would have been REALLY surprised), and even the songs I didn't care for on album sounded amazing. I still haven't heard the newest release, but now I almost have to because of how BAD ASS the songs were. The one piano player/aux percussionist had a full rack of metal slabs to get a proper "pot and pan" feel.
The back drop for the set was all the modified music video clips you can find from past shows. They did a good job at meshing images displayed on the screen and some of the stage lighting to make things seem like they were one. The lighting was really cool; either really organic lights set up like stars, or frantic strobes and spot lights to convey the frantic nature of some parts. Joining Sigur Ros on stage was a horn section (who, though very talented, I have no clue who they were) and I thought it was Amiina rejoining to fill out the string section, but I have been corrected. Everyone played their parts brilliantly, though it was fun to hear the occasional bunk note.
Now for things I could talk about any day.
Bioshock Infinite is staring me in the face. I really would like the time to get that plastic wrap off. I am beyond stoked that it has finally been released, now it's just a question on when to play it.
To my dearest metal heads: please do yourself the favor of looking up the Toronto band Titan. They are by far one of my favorite bands in Canada and my favorite metal band who haven't broken up. Bone-crushing rhythms and tear-evoking melodies in a soul-destroying arrangement with relentless and bloodied cries piercing through the cascading collection of melodiousness sounds. Parts and pieces of their sound reminds me of the Hamilton local band named Hoosier Poet, which is another one of my favorites.
Here is a horrible sounding live video. It's still pretty, though.
Here is the BandCamp for the new album.
Basically, what I'm getting at is that I love bands that remind me of Buried Inside and all of their brutal, beautiful sounds.
AND NOW FOR ME TO GUSH OVER BURIED INSIDE!
This band still holds the status of the prettiest band I have ever heard. It is the only band that can brutally beat the shit out of my ears and I cry with joy and absolute awe. I came in durring the era around their second album 'Chronoclast: Selected Essays On Times Reckoning And Auto-Cannibalism' and what a brilliant time to find them. The album is one long song broken into ten tracks with names to keep the theme going. Might I add that I'm pretty sure the drummer uses a single kick the entire time? Isn't that just amazing?
I was rather depressed when I found out that I missed their last show a couple of years ago. I had heard that they were coming up to ten years playing brutally fast music with hectic shows and mostly just playing for food and new an end was in sight. Of course, when someone offered me tickets and didn't mention it was their last show, I thought I'd have another year at least. Boy, was I red.
Shit quality, but you get the idea.
Wednesday 27 March 2013
4) I have friends with friends who like high places.
Sean Houston. Oh you beautiful man. Would you please stop playing shows on nights when I can't make it out? I haven't seen you physically on stage since the Parking Lot*. Though I am pretty sure that 15 year old you would not care for the direction you have gone, I think I can forgive you.
OK, I should start this over.
My good friend and co-worker Sean has been busy lately. It seems every shift he has he comes in exhausted, but really excited to tell me about what his night consisted of. Initially, it was just things like jamming with the guys and working on some neat ideas. Slowly, it became this mystical thing (from my eyes, anyway) named Lambs. When it was first brought to my attention, it was about experimenting with post-rock ideas and edgy directions. If memory serves well, they played one or two shows instrumentally. The next I hear about Lambs, it was how Sean has started singing and they are now going psychedelic rock.
Lambs are playing in Hamilton this Friday (fb link) at The Doors Pub with doors opening around Eight PM. I am going to be making an attempt at going to the show, but if ANYONE from Hamilton is reading this and you do not go, you suck. It's only FIVE DOLLARS at the door or THREE DOLLARS when you bring some sort of canned food item. OR you could bring canned food and pay five anyway. The show is looking stacked with sets from Lambs (duh), Slender Loris (see last weeks rant on Kevin), The Eden Wells (I'm sure I'll do something on them soon), and The Ednas (who sound amazing based on the 45 seconds from the first track on their BandCamp)!!
*The Parking Lot was a fantastic idea (and one of the worst executions I have ever seen). It was an all ages venue for punk, metal, ska, and rock bands based out of Cambridge, Ontario. Pretty much every independent band that could have come through the area played there. Sean's old band Susana No Pants used to play there all the time along with Sister Amadeus and All Cut Up.
My good friend and co-worker Sean has been busy lately. It seems every shift he has he comes in exhausted, but really excited to tell me about what his night consisted of. Initially, it was just things like jamming with the guys and working on some neat ideas. Slowly, it became this mystical thing (from my eyes, anyway) named Lambs. When it was first brought to my attention, it was about experimenting with post-rock ideas and edgy directions. If memory serves well, they played one or two shows instrumentally. The next I hear about Lambs, it was how Sean has started singing and they are now going psychedelic rock.
This was very exciting to me
Now, after about a year of Sean being very tired and talking my ear off about all the new ideas they have and all sorts of stuff, the self titled demo has finally surfaced on BandCamp. As I am typing this, I am making my way through the album (currently on track 4 entitled 'Mister Mystic'). First thoughts? Damnit guys, stop being so awesome. Seriously, I can't help but think late '80s/early '90s Brit Pop. Kelsey (drums) has some of the most appropriate and driving percussive swells I have heard from a band in this scene in a while. Randy (bass) is a fucking beast and ANYONE who has ever heard that kid play knows EXACTLY what I am talking about. Brad and Sean both have some fantastic Guitar layers and it is very obvious that a lot of thought went into the polyrhythm in tracks like The Lobby. In fact, go listen to that song in particular.Lambs are playing in Hamilton this Friday (fb link) at The Doors Pub with doors opening around Eight PM. I am going to be making an attempt at going to the show, but if ANYONE from Hamilton is reading this and you do not go, you suck. It's only FIVE DOLLARS at the door or THREE DOLLARS when you bring some sort of canned food item. OR you could bring canned food and pay five anyway. The show is looking stacked with sets from Lambs (duh), Slender Loris (see last weeks rant on Kevin), The Eden Wells (I'm sure I'll do something on them soon), and The Ednas (who sound amazing based on the 45 seconds from the first track on their BandCamp)!!
*The Parking Lot was a fantastic idea (and one of the worst executions I have ever seen). It was an all ages venue for punk, metal, ska, and rock bands based out of Cambridge, Ontario. Pretty much every independent band that could have come through the area played there. Sean's old band Susana No Pants used to play there all the time along with Sister Amadeus and All Cut Up.
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