It's really built up lately, what with a 2 week blog absence and the push to review as many albums before the end of the year. But here we go:
Smith Westerns - Dye It Blonde (2011): Maybe it's the name, but I get a very country feel to this lo-fi rock 4.1/5
Social Jet Lag - The Monster Inside (2011): Generic modern post-hardcore, but with a female that can actually sing. She should do pop instead 2/5
Starfucker - Reptilians (2011): Hipster indie-dance. At times I think Flaming Lips, Of Montreal or Avalanches. The whole time I think "YES!" 5/5
Tennis - Cape Dory (2011): an album seemingly transported from the pop music of a hot 1960s summer 3.9/5
Whirl - Distressor (2010): The Jesus and Mary Chain, if they wrote good music after the 90s. 4/5
White Lies - Ritual (2011): Editors get drunk at New Order concert, hooks up with Interpol; 9 months later their baby sounds like this 3.8/5
Autre Ne Veut - ST (2010): It's a modern Prince album basically, with the same level of annoyance 2.3/5
Tim Blood & The Gutpanthers - Summer Of Our Discontent (2011): lofi pop punk, with a sound that makes me think of a non-folk Defiance Ohio 3.4/5
The Cab - Symphony Soldier (2011): If I was a teenage girl that likes soft contemporary rock, this would make me swoon. Too bad I'm male. 2/5
Nekromantix - What Happens In Hell, Stays In Hell (2011): Songs about ghosts and devils... Never would have guessed that in psychobilly 2.5/5
Kimbra - Vows (2011): A beautiful funky and jazzy album of soul from a talented kiwi female singer 4.2/5
Bomb the Music Industry! - Vacation (2011): The album starts nothing like a BTMI! album, but luckily the quirky ska comes back at the end 3.3/5
311 - Universal Pulse (2011): A 311 album in 2011 just sounds dated and so forced. Nothing even remotely funky about their current sound 2/5
Regurgitator - Superhappyfuntimesfriends (2011): As disjointed and random as any 'gurge album, but doesn't have a noticeable hit song on it 3.4/5
Staind - ST (2011): Less nu-metal than they used to be, but the song Wannabe makes me laugh so hard I can't take this album seriously 1.6/5
Frenzal Rhomb - Smoko At The Pet Food Factory (2011): Tyical Frenzal: fast songs with very non-PC yet hilarious subject matter 3.8/5
Puddle of Mudd - Re(Disc)overed (2011): This cover album takes everything I love about the original songs and destroys them forever 0.3/5
The Drums - Portamento (2011) & Dum Dum Girls - Only In Dreams (2011): surf rock albums almost identical, minus the female singer of Dum Dum Girls 3.3/5
(I had those 2 albums queued up back to back and I didn't notice when the album changed. They are so similar, except Dum Dum Girls is louder)
La Dispute - Wildlife (2011): an emotional trip with some of the best lyrics I have heard recently, each song is a story 4.7/5
(it took me ages to listen to the album, as seemingly each song is about dealing with death. Hits close to home. But unlike their last album, I don't think I heard the word "darling" once. In Wildlife the repeated word seems to be "cancer")
Mates of State - Mountaintops (2011): I listened to this 10 times without forming an opinion; which means it is still perfect lofi pop 3.8/5
Bury Your Dead - Mosh N' Roll (2011): In my world, this album is how I imagine all good straight edge hardcore to sound. 3.8/5
Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows - ST (2011): At times he gets close, but Craig Owens' new band just can't sound as good as Chiodos 2.3/5
Thrice - Major/Minor (2011): The post-hardcore sound is almost fully gone, but it has been replaced with some amazing rock song writing 4.6/5
Trivium - In Waves (2011): Enough heavier thrash for old fans & melodic metal for newer fans. Summary of their career really... 3.2/5
The Rapture - In The Grace Of Your Love (2011): They've lost the dance-punk edge and this album just sounds like modern elevator music 2/5
Red Hot Chili Peppers - I'm With You (2011): A watered-down version of their past (needs Frusciante!) that would be suited for AM radio 2.4/5
I Break Horses - Hearts (2011): This Swedish male/female synth-pop duo stands out from the pack because of their My Bloody Valentine influence 4/5
Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost (2011): They've lost a bit of the dreamy hipster sound and now almost sound alt-country. My Weakness! 4.3/5
Primus - Green Naugahyde (2011): The first new album from Primus in 12 years sounds as if it is from the Brown Album years. Funky and quirky 4.3/5
Ladytron - Gravity the Seducer (2011): Very quiet ambient synth music, like every Ladytron album. Just no stand out songs on this one 3.4/5
Eskimo Joe - Ghosts of the Past (2011): A very brooding mainstream-rock album, I can imagine the radio loving it. It just sounds cliche to me 3/5
Owen - Ghost Town (2011): Absolutely beautiful folk/indie/acoustic album, with just subtle touches of his noodly emo past showing 4.5/5
Skyway - Finders Keepers (2011): Imagine New Found Glory circa 2000, but Australian. That is this album. 3.6/5
Showing posts with label Trivium. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trivium. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Friday, October 7, 2011
Soundwave 2012: for reals yo
I was close, but I got a few big ones wrong. Especially bummed at lack of Tea Party, Kyuss, Ministry... maybe the second announcement?
Here's the full lineup as of today:
Here's the full lineup as of today:
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Mixtape: Floods
As I am sure you are aware of (and probably sick of me saying) I was caught in the great Brisbane flood of 2011. In fact, I'm still waiting for my apartment to be livable again (hopefully a week). I thought it'd give me an excellent opportunity for a mix tape, but I'll be honest, most people don't write songs about floods. They write it about girls. And drugs. But luckily there are a few songs out there about floods, so I've put them together.
But before we begin, here's a boat that got stuck in a park near my house.
As always, you can view more flood photos on my Flickr.
Before I start, I will admit that some of these songs only mention floods in passing. But fuck it, it's my mixtape, I can put whatever I want on it. And also thanks to those few people who helped me out, especially Jane and her bored work googling. My lack of internet has made it difficult to find music that didn't involve me simply typing in "Flood" in Winamp.
1. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Who'll Stop the Rain
Because seriously,
2. La Dispute - Said the King to the River
As Clus said best, "pick any song from that album, they're all basically about floods." And due to my excitement about finally seeing them twice this week, of course I'll add it. And of course I've been listening to it all week. But here's why it got in:
What's a good mix tape without Zeppelin? Nothing.
4. Dangers - Opposable
Included because I love the album and for this lyric that plays on American Pie:
A very old little folk/blues number. But a classic describing a flood in a town called Tupelo in 1936.
Why not a bit of hipster-electronica to dance to while flooding?
I really don't need to explain this one. Because so many of us were stranded on our own. Stranded far from home.
Bonus irony points for it being a Brisbane band.
8. Bleeding Through - There Was a Flood
Normally when metal sings about floods, it's about floods of blood. And you know what, Bleeding Through obviously stick to that formula. But you can still make parts of it about water flooding.
It's from an album called Found in the Flood. I had to find a way to put something from this album on the playlist. Luckily their most popular (I think it went on MTV) song had the following lyrics:
With a band name and a song name like that, you'd imagine a crappy pop-punk band. But no, I Hate Myself is a classic mid 90s emo band from Florida. And if you don't know mid 90s emo, think of the Get Up Kids.
The lyrics are quite funny actually. It's about being caught in a tree with the captain of the cheerleading squad (obviously) and making small talk. And it's awkward high school small talk.
11. Trivium - Tread the Floods
Typical metal song about floods number 2, mainly about death. But I included it because it has floods in the title and it is from my favourite Trivium album, the Crusade.
This song is from their amazing 2010 album, High Violet. And like most National songs, it's got that moody kind of feel about it. Perfect for contemplating the floods.
You can download the whole mixtape here.
But before we begin, here's a boat that got stuck in a park near my house.
As always, you can view more flood photos on my Flickr.Before I start, I will admit that some of these songs only mention floods in passing. But fuck it, it's my mixtape, I can put whatever I want on it. And also thanks to those few people who helped me out, especially Jane and her bored work googling. My lack of internet has made it difficult to find music that didn't involve me simply typing in "Flood" in Winamp.
1. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Who'll Stop the Rain
Because seriously,
as long as I can remember rain's been pouring down, especially this summer. It's been like 8 days in a row with hardly any rain right now, and I'm starting to miss it.
2. La Dispute - Said the King to the River
As Clus said best, "pick any song from that album, they're all basically about floods." And due to my excitement about finally seeing them twice this week, of course I'll add it. And of course I've been listening to it all week. But here's why it got in:
"Rise!" Said the King to the River,3. Led Zeppelin - When the Levee Breaks
"Never let up! No, bring us a flood and bring it hard!"
"Freeze!" Said the Wind to the Water,
"Never give in! No, build us a bridge!
And build it strong and angry.
Let it stills the King's decree.
Oh, you must contemplate the current
What's a good mix tape without Zeppelin? Nothing.
When The Levee Breaks I'll have no place to stayAnd because when the levee did break I had no where to stay.
4. Dangers - Opposable
Included because I love the album and for this lyric that plays on American Pie:
Drunk drive my Chevy to the levee5. John Lee Hooker - Tupelo
Let the flood come and sweep me away
A very old little folk/blues number. But a classic describing a flood in a town called Tupelo in 1936.
Did you read about the flood?6. Passion Pit - Swimming in the Floods
It happened long time ago, in a little country town, way back in Mississippi
It rained and it rained, it rained both night and day
The people got worried, they began to cry,
"Lord have mercy, where can we go now?"
Why not a bit of hipster-electronica to dance to while flooding?
What can I do?7. The Saints - (I'm) Stranded
The river's overrun
We're swimming in a flood, you know?
I thought I felt your touch
But the water's rising up
I really don't need to explain this one. Because so many of us were stranded on our own. Stranded far from home.
Bonus irony points for it being a Brisbane band.
8. Bleeding Through - There Was a Flood
Normally when metal sings about floods, it's about floods of blood. And you know what, Bleeding Through obviously stick to that formula. But you can still make parts of it about water flooding.
And breath-by-breath I'll rise to keep your flood away from me9. The Bled - My Assassin
It's from an album called Found in the Flood. I had to find a way to put something from this album on the playlist. Luckily their most popular (I think it went on MTV) song had the following lyrics:
Maybe you could finally be the one who reaches in and saves me from the flood.10. I Hate Myself - Caught In the Floods With the Captain of the Cheerleading Squad
Collapse. This is our last chance.
There's no time for relapse, just listen for the flood.
If not us, can I just save you?
With a band name and a song name like that, you'd imagine a crappy pop-punk band. But no, I Hate Myself is a classic mid 90s emo band from Florida. And if you don't know mid 90s emo, think of the Get Up Kids.
The lyrics are quite funny actually. It's about being caught in a tree with the captain of the cheerleading squad (obviously) and making small talk. And it's awkward high school small talk.
11. Trivium - Tread the Floods
Typical metal song about floods number 2, mainly about death. But I included it because it has floods in the title and it is from my favourite Trivium album, the Crusade.
Tread the floods so you can hope to seize,12. The National - Runaway
Your own reality,
Before it escapes thee,
Watch yourself drown in disarray,
It's time to break away,
Or we all will die today.
This song is from their amazing 2010 album, High Violet. And like most National songs, it's got that moody kind of feel about it. Perfect for contemplating the floods.
what makes you think I enjoy being led to the flood?
we've got another thing comin' undone
Monday, November 15, 2010
Disturbed
Disturbed are most immortalized for the most memorable syllables-that-aren't-words lyrics in a song ever with Down With the Sickness:
Disturbed - Down with the Sickness
***** | Myspace Video
Disturbed - Down with the Sickness
***** | Myspace Video
(The runner-up is Korn with Twist)
Disturbed are coming out to play their heavy nu metal to us on a large venue tour in 2011. What makes it a pretty good tour is their touring partners: Trivium and As I Lay Dying.
I would normally do descriptions and junk, but if you don't know or like any of these bands already, it may be hard to convert you. Even with the cheesy-nu-metal factor of Disturbed, and Trivium losing their screaming edge of earlier albums, it could be one of the heavier shows of the year.
(NB: although I said Trivium got quieter, I still enjoyed the shit out of their 2006 the Crusade. It was one of my favourites of the year.)
Brisbane Entertainment Centre, April 30.
I can only hope that the As I Lay Dying guy does a few sideshows as Austrian Death Machine, his Arnold Schwarzneger tribute-metal band, where every song is an Arnie one-liner song in an Arnie accent. It's amazing stuff.
Disturbed are coming out to play their heavy nu metal to us on a large venue tour in 2011. What makes it a pretty good tour is their touring partners: Trivium and As I Lay Dying.
I would normally do descriptions and junk, but if you don't know or like any of these bands already, it may be hard to convert you. Even with the cheesy-nu-metal factor of Disturbed, and Trivium losing their screaming edge of earlier albums, it could be one of the heavier shows of the year.
(NB: although I said Trivium got quieter, I still enjoyed the shit out of their 2006 the Crusade. It was one of my favourites of the year.)
Brisbane Entertainment Centre, April 30.
I can only hope that the As I Lay Dying guy does a few sideshows as Austrian Death Machine, his Arnold Schwarzneger tribute-metal band, where every song is an Arnie one-liner song in an Arnie accent. It's amazing stuff.
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