Due to events beyond their control, 28 Days regret to inform that they are unable to play their Thriller date in Brisbane this Saturday night. The band sincerely apologise and will endeavor to return as soon as possibleThe other bands will still be playing, although at 5 in the morning I can't remember who they are.
Sufjan Stevens. The man who puts out album after album of great indie covering all styles, ideas and concepts. Although only 2 albums into his concept of an album for each state of America (Illionoise just blew him up massively), he's already taken a break and released a different strain of music, with his new album the Age of Adz. And for that album he will be coming to Australia.
Weezer has recently put out a new album, Hurley. Sure, it's not very good, but... Well, there is no but. They must realise it themselves as well, because they are about to release a whole bunch of stuff from their peak days, around the time of Pinkerton. As well as touring the whole album.
And yeah, I took that picture. See more on my Flickr.
"I'm just here for the free stuff."So I present to you free music Friday.
Not one to discriminate on the pure fact that they are from a country of cheese eating surrender monkeys I gave them a listen. And I enjoyed. Not purely sludge, these guys throw in a healthy dose of hardcore as well. At times I even pick up a bit of screamo. This fits my current mood and listening habits perfectly.
a bill of Brisbane’s finest including Running Guns, MyIt should be an interesting night. At a good bar, I like X&Y a lot.
Own Pet Radio, Ivy May Dillon and Woodville House,
the bands will be performing a selection of re-worked
and re-imagined songs from The Strokes.
So which bands are playing the indie-hipster festival of festivals this year? I've bolded the ones I really want to see:!!! (Chk Chk Chk)Les Savy Fav and Menomena have put out two of my favourite albums of the year. So much so, that I was going to blog about Menomena today. As long as prices are reasonable, I'll be there. This has turned into the year of the festivals for me.
The Antlers
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti
Beach House
Bear In Heaven
Blonde Redhead
Cloud Control
Cut Copy
Deerhunter
Foals
Gotye
The Holidays
Holy Fuck
Jenny & Johnny
Warpaint
Les Savy Fav
Local Natives
Yeasayer
Menomena
Pvt
Rat Vs Possum (Excluding Perth)
Stornoway
Two Door Cinema Club
Violent Soho
World’s End Press
But just in case you don't know Sting, he was the bass player and singer for a little, not very well known band from the 70s, the Police. He went on to do a bunch of solo stuff, some acting and apparently in his spare time he has tantric sex with his wife.
1. Ben Folds Five - One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces (3:54)
Ben Folds was the sound of university students of the 90s. This track, one of his heavier ones, was the opening track to the album that made him huge, the one that had that sobby song Brick on it.
2. Alice In Chains - We Die Young (2:32)
Nirvana was the biggest band in grunge, Pearl Jam possibly the second. And the third, without a doubt, was Alice in Chains. I still remember when the lead singer Layne Staley died in high school, most of my friends had to go home to mourn. It was a huge moment for us, as Alice in Chains was the working class rock music of our area.
3. At the Drive-In - Metronome Arthritis (4:01)
Probably one of the best bands, ever. They had a massive hard working ethic, and apparently gave the most legendary on-stage performances. This was a track that was recorded just before the sessions that gave them their critically acclaimed, and unfortunately last, album Relationship of Command. Before this song they were scrappyish post-hardcore. After this track they defined a style. They then broke up to form the bands Sparta and the Mars Volta.
4. Deftones - Root (3:41)
This track is off of their first album, when they were a burgeoning hardcore band. Still one of my favourite albums, I play this on guitar almost every day. Eventually they calmed down into an electronic/ambient hardcore band that they are now. They’ve become their own genre.
5. Blur - M.O.R. (3:27)
Woohoo! These guys made Brit-rock famous. Unfortunately they wrote the bogan anthem Song 2, but the rest of the album was full of amazing British rock. The lead singer is now the Gorillaz, amongst other bands.
6. Bush - Bubbles (3:02)
Another British band, but more of a grunge one. They hit the time huge in America with a song called Glycerine, but this song is off of the Mallrats soundtrack. The lead singer ended up marrying Gwen Stefani of No Doubt, got happy, stopped writing good music and is now an actor.
7. Fugazi - Give Me The Cure (2:59)
Fugazi formed from the ashes of the short-lived hardcore band that invented straight edge (they even wrote the song that NOFX covers): Minor Threat. Although not the relentless hardcore of Minor Threat, they introduced indie and melody to create some quiet, yet still hard songs. They still kept the hardcore ethic though, every concert they play is all ages and cheap as chips. That’s the only way they’ll play. They are truly in it for the music, even after 30 odd years.
8. System Of A Down - Sugar (2:33)
You know System of a Down. Their first album though, especially this song, was at the forefront of my drug days in the 90s. The album, this song too, was basically about bad drug trips. This one is about mushroom men.
9. A.F.I. - Malleus Maleficarum (4:01)
I also hope you know A.F.I. Before they were glam-punk, they were a great west coast hardcore band. I wish I had known them during these days.
10. Nine Inch Nails - Big Man With A Gun (1:36)
Nine Inch Nails were so huge in the 90s (and so feared) that I remember my teenage books (Animorphs in particular) always had the loners, the losers, or the trouble makers listening to their music.
11. Modest Mouse - Doin' the Cockroach (4:18)
Modest Mouse in the 90’s were a balls to the wall noise-rock band with existential lyrics that either made you think or got you lost. But halfway through each song the lead singer Isaac would just lose it, and play as much noise while yelling as he wanted to, until he pulled it up slow. Not as good these days, but still an amazing indie band.
12. REFUSED - New Noise (5:09)
The single off their groundbreaking album, the Shape of Punk to Come. They actually showed us in this album the music scene 10 years on, and like any great band releasing an amazing album, they broke up immediately afterwards. Oh, and Swedish. You should listen to this whole album, it is just hardcore royalty.
13. Poison The Well - Artists Rendering of Me (3:20)
There was nothing like the hardcore of today before Poison the Well. And they are still going strong.
14. Beastie Boys - Sabotage (2:58)
Yeah, they mainly do hip-hop. And got huge off it. But this is a great little track with an awesome video clip.
15. Incubus - You Will Be A Hot Dancer (4:17)
Incubus are now a pretty boring indie band. But when they started, they mixed together funk and metal in a brand new way. Their bass player is one of the few reasons I ever bought a bass guitar.
16. Maxïmo Park - Graffiti (2:46)
Ask girls my age about this band. They love them and so do I. But for some reason, their cabaret style just gets the girls.
17. Spiderbait - Shazam! (2:03)
Australia’s favourite band, whenever the drummer was singing they produced much better and heavier songs like Shazam!
18. Beck - Sexx Laws (3:41)
Beck is just one of those artists that is around a lot, and has been for years. He’s put out weird electronic music, he’s put out acoustic music, he’s put out rock music. But the album I best remember him for is where this track came from, full on big-band trumpet style music. Probably not your taste, but it’s just fun with a bit of a risqué subject.
I know it’s not quite your scene, but wasn’t the whole idea of this to expose you to new music? Some of this you will hate, that I can guarantee. But whatever, I like these songs dammit.
1. Diana Ah Naid - I Go Off (3:09)
An Australian one-hit wonder. I still see her touring these days, but I have no idea why. Apart from this song I doubt anyone knows her. But that doesn’t detract from this pissed-off chick with an acoustic guitar song.
2. bis - Action And Drama (Album Version) (2:28)
Thank you. I had forgotten how much I loved Bis until I was going through my 90’s music. This song was on Triple J years ago (they even played Hey Hey It’s Saturday), but they are probably known more for a song no one would put together with them: they wrote the Powerpuff Girls theme song. Remember that cartoon? It’s what is known as twee, which is basically happy pop music.
3. Days Of The New - Touch, Peel And Stand (4:57)
A post-grunge band. This song was huge in the states when I lived there. Post-grunge basically means grunge, but softer. Lots of acoustic guitars.
4. Harvey Danger - Flagpole Sitta (3:38)
For years I thought this was a cover of a 1960’s pop song. But no, it’s a 90’s indie band with a one hit wonder that you just know without ever knowing. If you know what I mean.
5. The Black Heart Procession - A Light So Dim (7:52)
I didn’t know these guys in the 90s. I didn’t know these guys for most of the last decade. I’ve just recently stumbled across them and their moody post-punk style indie. It’s gloomy. I can imagine they wear a lot of leather jackets and play in a lot of dingy bars.
6. The Cardigans - My Favourite Game (3:39)
Sweden is my favourite country by far, they just make some of the best music. Ask one day, I could make you hours upon hours of awesome Swedish mix CDs. This band got popular on a song in the Leonardo Di Caprio Romeo and Juliet Soundtrack. But they also released a lot of better rock songs like this one.
7. Björk - Hyperballad (5:21)
It’s oh so quiettttttttttt. Shhhh. Shhh. This is a more electronic and kind of sweet lyrics song by the crazy Icelander.
8. Blind Melon - No Rain (3:39)
My first year college roommate was obsessed with this band. And to be honest, I’ve still only heard this one song. I think this mix CD is full of one-hit wonders. This was a number 1 for a long time I’m pretty sure.
9. The Bloodhound Gang - I Wish I Was Queer So I Could Get Chicks (3:44)
I actually have this as a CD single I bought when I was a kid. Pure hilariousness.
10. Bruce Springsteen - The Ghost Of Tom Joad (4:27)
Bruce is normally known for his stadium style rock anthems. But this song, is just so quiet and haunting (now that’s a bad pun, but true). It’s another side of the Boss that you just don’t see. That and it’s been covered a lot, so you know it’s a good song.
11. Catch 22 - Dear Sergio (2:33)
It’s ska, but I find it more punk than ska. I actually wish more ska was like this instead of that Reel Big Fish crud.
12. Crash Test Dummies - Afternoons And Coffeespoons (3:54)
Another post-grunge band, best known for their annoying as fuck MMMMM song. You’d know it if you heard it.
13. Cruel Sea - The Honeymoon is Over (3:05)
Australian rock band featuring the very talented Tex Perkins on vocals. He is the voice of rock and blues in Australia in the last 20 years.
14. Everlast - Ends (4:33)
A white boy rapper, he started in a band called House of Pain that had a hit called “Jump Around.” I guess he then learnt how to play a guitar and write some more introspective songs.
15. King Missile - Cheesecake Truck (1:11)
Not really “music” King Missile do comedic spoken word poetry.
16. Lavish - Homosapien (3:00)
Another Triple J 90’s one hit wonder. I think it was in some movie, but I can’t quite remember.
17. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - The Rascal King (2:46)
A bigger ska band from the 90’s, but once again, these guys tended to lean more towards playing punk than ska. This song is actually from the Clueless soundtrack, which is what I was considering burning you instead, because it’s just full of damn good music from the 90s. And is one of my favourite movies.
18. Monster Magnet - Powertrip (3:31)
I thought I had missed my chance seeing these guys live, but it turns out they are yet another band brought from the dead to play at Soundwave next year. They do acid/stoner rock: I guess that means it is slightly nonsensical lyrics with more interesting sounds in their guitars instead of just distortion and heaviness.
This mix starts off with a Chicago punk scene tribute. I was on the outskirts of it too late for some of these bands, but it was strong in the 90s. Rise Against, Alkaline Trio, Fallout Boy, the Tossers, Local H, Smoking Popes and even (not really so punk) the Smashing Pumpkins.
1. Mach Pelican - Dance In Chicago (1:59)
Not from Chicago, but actually from Japan but playing out of Perth. These guys just worship the Ramones and try to be the Japanese version of them.
2. Lucky Boys Confusion - Fred Astaire (3:33)
Chicago reggae/punk/ska band that was actually mainly all of Indian descent. They played my old university town every few months and were much loved by all. I was at one of their final shows before they broke up in early 2004.
3. 88 Fingers Louie - Drunk & Ugly (1:43)
Chicago melodic hardcore punk band and one of Clus’s favourites. After they broke up, 2 band members helped form Rise Against.
4. Hot Water Music - Rooftops (2:53)
I saw the lead singer Chuck Ragan play an acoustic show earlier this year in Perth. Not as punk as most punk bands, but almost a working class rock and roll. I thought they were from Chicago, turns out they formed in Florida. Woops.
5. Lawrence Arms - A Guided Tour of Chicago (1:45)
Chicago pop-punk. These guys just have a lot of fun and sing about the most random shit. They opened for Frenzal Rhomb at the Arena about 4 years ago. Although they got booed off stage by Frenzal’s dipshit fans, I think they are a much better band.
6. Ace Troubleshooter - Punk Rock Chicks (2:05)
Christian pop-punk. I saw them open a ska show years ago, and they are reasonably good fun.
7. Fenix TX - All My Fault (2:50)
Originally called RiverFenix, they were sued by the dead actor’s estate. I only really know this song, as it was a bit of a one hit wonder in the late 90s.
8. Against All Authority - Daddy's Little Girl (1:21)
Hardcore/skatepunk ska. They do the kind of ska that has no horns, but is more of skate punk. One of the heavier ska bands there is. In fact, most people don’t consider them ska at all.
9. Propagandhi - Ska Sucks (1:51)
Canadian skate punk, quite political in their songs. They are still putting out albums but are now almost a metal band.
10. Suicidal Tendencies - Cyco Vision (1:49)
A punk/thrash metal band from California, although these days half of the band is married to Australians and live on the Sunshine Coast. They’ve gone through a lot of different sounds, from punk to metal to thrash, but this song is off their skate-punk album Freedumb. It was so much skate punk that it was on the soundtrack to the first Tony Hawk game.
11. Descendents - I'm Not a Loser (1:29)
The originators of nerd punk and probably pop-punk, they were one of the first punk bands to not take themselves seriously and just sing about fun things. They are about to embark on their first Autralian tour in their 30+ year career, I’m stoked. Barely a day goes by when you don’t see someone wearing one of their shirts, which have a quite distinctive caricature of the lead singer Milo as their recurring logo.
12. The Bouncing Souls - Kate Is Great (2:53)
One of my favourite pop-punk bands, in the 90s they were more of a melodic hardcore style. Amazingly fun live band, they are touring here with Hot Water Music in December.
13. The Vandals - Euro-Barge (1:54)
A band very much in the style of the Descendents, most of their songs are just jokes. Very skilled musicians, but this is the most serious song on their best album “Hitler Bad. Vandals Good.” The rest of the album is about the government reading their mind, mullets, dead girlfriends, people going to hell and even movie ideas. I think you saw them with me opening for Sum 41 once.
14. Good Riddance - Hardest Part (1:44)
A very influential and political hardcore punk band. They were on the record label owned by NOFX, but were never overly famous outside of the punk scene. However, most modern hardcore punk bands owe a lot to their sound.
15. Dogbuoy - Mozzies (2:56)
This was a small one hit wonder on Triple J when I was in primary school. Came around about the same time as 28 Days, when we went through that rap/rock phase.
16. Guttermouth - What If? (2:25)
A very rude and crude American skate punk band. They are quite vulgar and every song is generally a joke or an innuendo. I really don’t like them too much, but this song is a great parody of the Doors and the B-52s and always makes me laugh.
Download
#1 - 90's Heavy ShitDear Lxxx,
With these CDs I tried to pick bands you may not have heard of, or listened to. So I avoided a lot of the stuff I’d figure you’d already know, hence no Pearl Jam or Nirvana. You probably won’t like half of the crap, but if you do, I can hook you up with more.
Also, was way too hard to make it a single CD, so I tried to group it into 4 categories.
Regards,
Chuck
Ahh the nineties in heavy music, where it was just becoming a more popular genre. The hardcore punk of the 80’s got faster and heavier to start becoming hardcore like we know it now. The hair metal of the 80s was dying and the guitars were getting detuned while the vocalists started growling more. And how could we ever forget that wonderful thing that was nu-metal in its youth. As much as we hate it now, listening to bands like Korn and Limpbizkit got most people, including me, away from the radio and into less mainstream music.
1. Turbonegro - The Age Of Pamparius (5:59)
A Norwegian glam-punk band, these guys at times, especially in this song, are channelling bad 80’s glam rock. Every time I hear this song I imagine the mockumentary This is Spinal Tap, where they have a similar song with midgets dancing around a fake miniature stone henge. This song was also the theme for Wildboyz, one of the sequels to the Jackass TV show.
2. Danzig - Five Finger Crawl (3:43)
Danzig was the original lead singer of the horror-punk legends the Misfits. He left, formed his own band and made gloomy songs like this that sounded like a less-punk version of the Misfits rather unsurprisingly.
3. Filter - Welcome To The Fold (7:41)
Filter was formed by the touring guitarist from Nine Inch Nails in the mid 90s. They had a stream of charting hits in the 90s and 00s, but this song was the first I ever heard of them. They do a more stylised industrial rock sound, with some electronic songs and acoustic songs (which are the ones that got famous, of course).
4. Coal Chamber - Loco (4:09)
These guys have been blamed as pioneering the Nu-Metal sound. They were novel as they were one of the heaviest ones, even more depressing subject matter, and had a reasonably attractive female. Apart from that... well it’s nu-metal.
5. Fear Factory - Edgecrusher (3:39)
This band is still kicking around today and is a staple of most metal fans. They do industrial metal and are one of those bands not afraid to add electronic to their songs. In fact, a lot of their songs are about technology.
6. Dope - Everything Sucks (3:01)
Stoner industrial metal. They actually used to be drug dealers to finance their records. They do a pretty awesome cover of You Spin Me Right Round as well.
7. Ministry - Bad Blood (5:00)
As far as I’m concerned, these guys are the fathers and the best of industrial metal. They’ve been kicking around since the 80s, when they were actually a synth-pop band. Weird to think about.
8. Atari Teenage Riot - Digital hardcore (4:10)
ATR invented the genre digital hardcore and I guess this song is one of the better examples of it. Its dance music meets hardcore/metal basically. They try to produce as much noise as possible over a dance track.
9. Boysetsfire - In the Wilderness... No One can Hear You Scream (3:23)
I don’t actually know much about these guys, but they were a hardcore band which I downloaded after hearing a Metallica cover. This is one of their earlier songs, they are a lot more mellow after this album.
10. Coalesce - Burn Everything That Bears Our Name (2:23)
A metalcore band that many consider one of the first mathcore bands. Drummer on this album is James Dewees, the keyboardist/backup vocalist of the emo band Get Up Kids and the touring and recording keyboardist for New Found Glory and My Chemical Romance. Complete turn around from the start of his career.
11. Walls of Jericho - Changing Times (1:05)
A very extreme hardcore band with a female lead singer.
12. Zao - Savannah (2:46)
Christian death metal. This was one of the first self-proclaimed Christian bands I had ever heard. And they are brutal. Also one of those bands that have changed lineup about 100 times and have none of the original members.
13. Helmet - In The Meantime (3:08)
An old-school hardcore style, this song was the opening track to their acclaimed album Meantime, which debuted at number 63 in the USA. This wasn’t their hit single from the album (that was Unsung) but I like this song better. Evergreen Terrace has a song named after the lead singer/guitarist of Helmet (Chaney Can’t Quite Riff Like Helmet’s Page Hamilton). Still touring, they come out here every year or so. Page also guest stars on a lot of great albums, including a few Norma Jean songs.
14. Sevendust - Black (4:08)
The only band I have ever seen live in this list. They open nearly every concert with this song (hopefully at Soundwave next year). Although they came about during the nu-metal days, they were more of a radio friendly rock and have been very successful in the USA for the last 12 years.
15. Blindside - Superman (2:42)
Swedish Christian band that actually started as a Deftones cover band. This is from their first album when they were channelling the Deftones’ first album. Eventually they found their own sound which is a lot more punk than this. Still a great band. My mates in the states are obsessed with them. They generally play shows in Toowoomba when they come here, but never Brisbane, because of the Christian scene up there.
