Month: March 2015

Album Anniversary: Radiohead- The Bends

the-bendsA bands second album is usually met with such high expectations if their first is filled with lots of praise that a lot of bands fail. Though sometimes the second album is beyond what you would expect. At the start of 1994, Radiohead began working on song arrangements for The Bends. The band nearly broke up due to the pressure of sudden success of Pablo Honey, as the tour extended into its second year. The band chose John Leckie to produce their new album. Leckie had been the producer on George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass, and The Stone Roses debut. The engineer Nigel Godrich would later go on to become Radiohead’s go to producer for all albums to come. The band found the first two months of work on the album difficult. The band’s record label, EMI, had set an October 1994 release date for the record, which later proved unrealistic. EMI also suggested Radiohead should record the album’s lead single first. No one could agree on what the lead single should be, so the band worked on four tracks they considered candidates: “Sulk”, “The Bends”, “Just”, and “Nice Dream”. This proved to be counter productive and slowed things down. Jonny Greenwood would also add to the slow down by experimenting with several rented guitars and amplifiers in order to discover “a really special sound” for his instrument, despite Leckie’s belief that Greenwood already had one. Also during this time tensions were coming to a boil between Thom Yorke and the rest of the band. So John Leckie suggested to Thom that he record some songs by himself on guitar. During this time the band had taken a short break to do a small tour and recharge. The break for the tour proved to be just what they needed. Radiohead completed recording the album at Abbey Road Studios in London, where Leckie also mixed some of the songs. The Bends marked the start of a gradual turn in Thom Yorke’s songwriting approach from personal angst to the more cryptic lyrics and social and global themes that would come to dominate the band’s later work.This would also be the last Radiohead album to me predominantly “raw” and without any electronic elements.

The Bends has long been my favorite album of Radiohead. Don’t get me wrong I love OK Computer and Kid A, but this album a a whole is fantastic. The songs, the way they were written and then the track listing make this a perfect album. From the first note of “Planet Telex,”to the swooning “High and Dry, the more upbeat almost rocking, “Just,” and the perfect closer in “Street Spirit (Fade Out),” The Bends is a masterpiece and after 20 years still holds just as though it were released today.

Radiohead- The Bends:

By: Brian Lacy

Band Of The Week: The Everyday Losers

11055201_915688818450413_3728623161412012303_nIt’s really nice to hear the resurgence of loud rock bands coming back to the forefront. Bands that have a knack for being able to write solid rock songs with melody. I present you Indiana’s The Everyday Losers. Combining their love for heavy hard rock and 90’s alternative, especially Nirvana, Silverchair and Bush. The Everyday Losers released their debut EP “Songs for Us All” in June 2011 and their second EP “Social Paradise” in January 2012. The band released their debut album “Revel in the Chaos” in June 2014 with 2 singles released so far.  They have toured nationally with Saliva and Future Leaders of the World, and shared the stage with some of the bigger radio rock bands from the last few years. These guys are radio ready but without the silly generic sound that comes with all those bands. In February they released a new EP entitled “Underexposed – Live and Acoustic” via Dead Industry Records.

The Everyday Losers- Underexposed Live and Acoustic:

Listen on Reverb Nation:

https://www.reverbnation.com/theeverydaylosers

https://www.facebook.com/theeverydaylosers

By: Brian Lacy

Cover Thursday: John Frusicante (The Bee Gees)- How Deep Is Your Love

A friend of mine recently showed me this gem. I’ll admit I can’t stand the Bee Gees, but this is actually really good. I never thought I’d enjoy a Bee Gee’s song. John Frusciante is way underrated as a guitarist and his rendition of this is outstanding! Thanks for the recommendation Patrick!

 

John Frusciante- How Deep Is Your Love?

Video Rank: Nine Inch Nails

03 - Nine Inch Nails

 

There are lists devoted to ranking a bands best albums and songs, and not enough that rank the bands videos. So I thought why not do a ranking of a bands videos. Since Nine Inch Nails is my favorite band, here is the ranking of 10 of their best videos.

 

10. Into The Void- The Fragile

 

9. Only- With Teeth

 

8. Head Like A Hole- Pretty Hate Machine

 

7. Wish- Broken

 

6. We’re In This Together- The Fragile

 

5. The Hand That Feeds- With Teeth


4. March Of The Pigs- The Downward Spiral

 

3. Survivalism- Year Zero

 

2. Closer- The Downward Spiral

 

1. The Perfect Drug- Lost Highway


<p><a href=”https://vimeo.com/3612941″>Nine Inch Nails: The Perfect Drug (1997)</a> from <a href=”https://vimeo.com/ninofficial”>Nine Inch Nails</a> on <a href=”https://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a&gt;.</p>

 

Live Review: Coal Chamber at House Of Blues

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In front of a packed house and playing in front of your home town crowd, you know that you have to deliver the goods. Coal Chamber did just that on Saturday night at the House of Blues. Their 75 minute set was blisteringly heavy and pleased everyone in attendance. This was the second time Coal Chamber has played Los Angeles since they announced their return, only this time they were tighter than they had ever been and were playing with such a passion that it seemed like they never left. Their setlist included songs from all their albums including two new ones from their new album Rivals (their first album in 13 years). The new songs “I. O. U. (Nothing)” and “Rivals” were very strong, heavy and what you would expect new Coal Chamber to sound like, not to mention they will be crowd favorites for a long time to come. Dez’s vocals are still ferocious and unrelenting. Meegs still has the knack for the down tuned riffs. Mike Cox and Nadja are tighter than they ever were live before. Some highlights from their set included opening with “Loco,” “Big Truck,” the always fun sing along “Rowboat,” “Not Living,” “I,” and closing the night was “Sway.”

Also playing the night was Filter. I’ve been a Filter fan for a long time and was really looking forward to seeing how this would play out for them in front of this audience. Well it didn’t go that great. Richard Patrick just couldn’t get the crowd going and engaged until the final song of the night. His new band was sloppy, kept having technical problems and who ever was doing their sound needs to be fired for the mix he put up. Their short set was so so. Though they did open with “You Walk Away” from their album The Amalgamut which was a nice surprise. I thought they would have opened with something like “Welcome To The Fold” instead. They did play “Jurrassitol” from The Crow: City Of Angels soundtrack. Closing their set was “Hey Man, Nice Shot” with special guest guitarist Brian Liesegang (who was in the original incarnation of the band). Filter is a good band but not the right fit for this tour.

The second band of the night was Combichrist. I’m not very familiar with them at all. And as entertaining as they were, I couldn’t get into them. Musically they have an industrial tinge to them, but it sways more to the EDM side of things. Their singer looks like the type of guy that would front a hardcore band, not a band like this, I will give him props for being really engaging with the crowd. The band did have a lot of energy and you could tell that a lot of people in attendance were big fans of the band. I’m still not sold on them.

Opening the night was American Head Charge. They were one of my favorite bands that came out of the scene in the early 2000’s and it was really great to see them back on stage. They came out strong and brought the heavy. Their very short set did include a brand new song off an album they said would be coming out in June.

This was a great night full of nostalgia in the Sunset Strip area where a lot of bands from the late 90’s and early 2000’s made their name (along with countless others dating back to the 60’s). It’s also sad to know that soon the House of Blues on Sunset will be torn down to make room for some monstrosity of an expensive hotel. The thing that stuck out to me this evening was the sheer excitement and enjoyment everyone in attendance had to see Coal Chamber back on stage killing it.

 

Coal Chamber Set List:

1. Loco
2. Big Truck
3. I.O.U. Nothing (New Song)
4. Fiend
5. Rowboat
6. Something Told Me
7. Clock
8. Drove
9. Not Living
10. Dark Days
11. I
12. Rivals (New Song)
13. No Home
14. Oddity
15. Sway

Filter Set List:

1. You Walk Away
2. Can’t You Trip Like I Do
3. We Hate It When You Get What You Want
4. What Do You Say
5. Jurrassitol
6. Dose
7. Hey Man, Nice Shot

 

By: Brian Lacy

Photo By: Jim Morris lifeisaphoto.net 

 

Band Of The Week: The Broken Stems

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Nestled against the cliffs of San Diego, The Broken Stems are bending genres and captivating audiences. Their blend of classic rock, blues and reggae has developed into a sound that emits positivity in a world with so much negative energy. The Broken Stems are Jesse Gawlik (Vocals/Guitar), Chelsea Baker (Bass/Vocals) Brad Sweet (Keyboards/Vocals), and Andrew Bache (Drums). With influences stretching from Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin to Dave Matthews Band, The Dear Hunter and more modern groups like Alt-J, the members have boundless amounts of space to create music. The bands musical connection and constant flow makes this band stand out. Each member brings out a different creative aspect in the other, allowing the music and lyrics to be at the fore front.

The Broken Stems deliver a style that remains true, emotional, and original while including the elements that make the listener want more. Having played packed shows throughout the San Diego area, including sold out shows at the House of Blues. The Broken Stems are leaving their stamp on the music scene. Currently, The Broken Stems are gearing up to record the follow up to 2013’s We Are Home EP. The message of The Broken Stems’ music, more than anything is to live a music filled life, rich with the people it touches and the effect we know it can bring.

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/thebrokenstems

http://brokenstems.com/

 

By: Brian Lacy

Cover Thursday: How To Destroy Angels (Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music)- Is Your Love Strong Enough?

This version can be found on the soundtrack for the David Fincher version of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. It’s quite a haunting take on the original Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music version. Both versions are great. It’s all a matter of preference!
How To Destroy Angels- Is Your Love Strong Enough?:

 

Bryan Ferry- Is Your Love Strong Enough?:

 

 

Album Debate: Alice In Chains- Unplugged VS Nirvana- Unplugged

AIC_Unplugged

 

 

Nirvana_mtv_unplugged_in_new_york

Both of these albums are amazing. They each possess something great and powerful. Alice In Chains and Nirvana were so different from each other musically, yet were able to reach the same generation. The voices of Layne Staley and Kurt Cobain are without a doubt, pure, honest and as real as real can be. This is one of those debates that is really hard to pick one. It all depends on what camp you land in.

The Alice In Chains unplugged album to me is my favorite. When the band went in to perform this, it had been quite a few years since Alice had last performed live. Layne even jokes during the show that this is the best show they’ve played in a few years to which Jerry Cantrell replies Yeah it’s the only show we’ve played in a few years. Granted Layne was high as a kite during the filming, he was pretty much spot on throughout (though he did flub up the beginning of “Sludge Factory”). The set list they chose for the night was perfect and each song brilliantly executed. Opening with “Nutshell” was outstanding and closing with a new song “Killer Is Me,” was another great choice.

The Nirvana unplugged album has been hailed as the best of the series. I wouldn’t go as far as saying it’s the best of the series, but I will say it is the best thing that Nirvana ever did. I love the fact that they did what they wanted to do and played what they wanted as well. Their cover of David Bowie’s “The Man Who Sold The World,” is one of my favorite covers ever and one of the best covers of all time. The set list they chose was great as well. The version of “Pennyroyal Tea” is haunting as well as the closing song of Leadbelly’s “Where Did You Sleep Last Night” with that scream at the end, which still sends me chills when I hear it.

Both albums are great in their own right. I still always will pick the Alice In Chains album, but if I’m ever in the mood to listen to Nirvana I always pick the unplugged.

Where do you stand?

 

Alice In Chains- Unplugged:

 

Nirvana-Unplugged:

 

By: Brian Lacy

Album Review: Soko- My Dreams Dictate My Reality

Soko

When I get an album one of the first things I look at is who produced and engineered it. Recently an album came across my email that sounded intriguing to me. Ross Robinson’s name was listed as the producer on the album. I’ve been a fan of a lot of the albums that Ross has done in the past. Specifically his work with Korn, At The Drive In, The Cure and a newer band Wild Throne. So needless to say my curiosity was peaked. The album I’m talking about is Soko’s new album My Dreams Dictate My Reality. This album is quite a departure from most of the stuff that I listen to, but it also was a nice change of pace. Soko’s album is soaked in early 80’s new wave influence, somewhat reminiscent of The Cure started out as. The first song on the album “I Come In Peace” has an almost electro Mazzy Star vibe to it, making it the perfect lead off song for the album. There are also moments when there are bits of post punk a la a Joy Division vibe especially on the title track. This is definitely something different to my ears, and it totally fits the alternative music climate that has taken over the radio waves today. If you are looking for an album chock full of early new wave sounds, this is one of those albums for you. Also on a side note, it’s nice to hear Ross Robinson spread his wings and show his versatility as a producer.

Soko: My Dreams Dictate My Reality-

 

http://sokothecat.tumblr.com/

 

By: Brian Lacy

Album Review: Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds- Chasing Yesterday

Noel_Gallagher_High_Flying_Birds_-_Chasing_Yesterday

There is something really special when the main songwriter of a band takes the reigns of their own musical path. Noel Gallagher of Oasis fame has done that once again on his newest album Chasing Yesterday from Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. This 10 song album is the perfect setup to spring and summer. There are those trademark melodies that made Oasis songs really shine, but also the signature (and highly underrated guitar tones) of Noel. Leading track “Riverman” starts the vibe of the album off right. It has a sweet melody that allows the listener to get the idea of where the records mood will take them. “In The Heat Of The Moment,” is a rocker. There is also a subtle dance element to this song that makes you want to move. “Lock All The Doors,” is one of those songs that would fit perfectly on an Oasis album. Noel’s voice on this track really shows his ability to lead a rocking song. Not to mention the guitar solo, is simple yet stellar. This is easily one of my favorite songs on the album. “The Dying Of Light,” is a really pretty ballad. This is one of those songs that had that trademark Oasis melody. “You Know We Can’t Go Back,” is another of the more rocking songs on the album. It also is my favorite track on the album. The catchy chorus that comes with it, not to mention the driving beat really carries this song.

Noel Gallagher has really left his mark with this album. It’s the first album to be produced as well as written by Noel and features a much broader array of instrumentation than ever before; the result is a diverse layered album,  that draws from a range of different genres and influences. Oasis will always be the standard fallback, but Noel really shines on this effort.

Scale of 1-10: 8.5

 

In The Heat Of The Moment: Video

 

By: Brian Lacy