Month: July 2015

Unsung Masterpieces: AFI- Sing The Sorrow
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AFI is a band that has gone through a lot of changes stylistically throughout their career. They started out as a punk band with hardcore roots, then shifted more to the Horror punk side of things. As time went on and the band evolved they found a balance of their roots of punk and added a more goth element to their music. So in 2003, AFI released their most ambitious album up till that point, Sing The Sorrow. Their die hard fans were caught off guard by the departure of their original sound, while at the same time finding a new audience. Sing the Sorrow was produced by Butch Vig and Jerry Finn, allowing the album to be more experimental. Lyrically, the album is darker and more poetic than their previous material. I for one, when I first heard the album wasn’t really in to it at all. It just wasn’t the AFI I was a fan of. Fast forward a few years and I revisited the album and really grew to love it. There is something truly intriguing about it. The depth of the songwriting really took things to another level for the band with the use of synths, strings and the all around lyrical content. Songs like “The Leaving Song Pts. I & II,” “Bleed Black,” “Death Of Seasons,” “But Home Is Nowhere,” really show the maturity of the guys in the band. There are some songs that are a little more radio friendly like “Girls Not Grey,” “Silver and Cold,” and “Dancing Through Sunday,” but that doesn’t change the fact that the songs are really good.

This is one of those albums that with time you really come to love. There is something about Sing The Sorrow that really hits home. Sure the production on it is a little too slick and AFI has completely changed from what they once were, but the growth on this album is truly astounding. Give it another shot if you gave up on them.

AFI- Sing The Sorrow:

By: Brian Lacy

Video Rank: Alice In Chains

Alice-in-Chains-Logo-music-wallpaperWhen it comes to music, Alice In Chains have always been the complete package .Their incredible harmonies, dark and meaningful lyrics, ability to create aggressive-in-your-face rock all the while adding masterful melodic moments and musicianship that has put them amongst the most respected acts going. One of the forgotten aspects of the band was their connection to the visual side of things. Here is a list of the best 10 videos of Alice In Chains career.

10) Again:

9) Them Bones:

8) Get Born Again:

7) Grind:

6) Would:

5) Voices:

4) I Stay Away:

3) Man In The Box:

2) Hollow:

1) Rooster:

Album Debate: Smashing Pumpkins Disc 1 vs Disc 2 of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness

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Since it’s been 20 years since Smashing Pumpkins double album Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness came out, I thought this would be a great topic for an album debate. Since it’s a double album the debate is between what disc you prefer. Disc 1 is entitled Dawn to Dusk and features classic like “Zero,” “Bullet With Butterfly Wings,” and “Tonight, Tonight” along with some great deep cuts like “An Ode To No One,” “Jellybelly,” and “Muzzle.”  This part of the album is heavier and filled with more rage. Disc 2 entitled Twilight To Starlight is loaded with songs that show a more mellow side of things. Songs like classics “1979,”  and “Thirty-Three,” really set the tone of this side of the album. Other deep cuts like “XYU,” “Bodies,” “Where Boys Fear To Tread,” also give this side a kick in the teeth to break up the solemn mellowness.

I for one am a big fan of the album and depending on my mood it differs on which one I pick. I will say though that if I ha to pick one side, I would absolutely pick Disc 1: Dawn To Dusk. I just love the way the songs all flow into each other and the way that you can get so wrapped up in the angst but all the while there is a calming sense nestled in each song.  Not to take anything away from Disc 2: Twilight To Starlight, which is an entirely different beast all on it’s own.
What side do you pick?

Smashing Pumpkins- Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness:

Band Of The Week: Moving Structures

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The ability to create moods with music is a wonderful thing. If you can create something that goes further than the norm without words, you know you are really on to something special. Los Angeles’s Moving Structures can do just that. Their music combines elements of prog rock and experimental rock, to create an ambient euphoric experience.  Currently, Moving Structures are in the studio with Aaron Harris of Isis/Palms, working on their new record. Moving Structures really are a tremendous band with the material to back it up.

https://www.facebook.com/MovingStructuresBand

http://movingstructures.bandcamp.com/

By: Brian Lacy

Cover Thursday: Corey Taylor (Live)- Lightning Crashes

Corey of Slipknot/Stone Sour is one of my favorite frontmen in music. He is now on a book tour and doing acoustic shows to accompany the signing. Corey does a bunch of Slipknot/Stone Sour songs as well as a good bunch of covers. Here is Corey doing the songs “Lightning Crashes” by Live.

Corey Taylor- Lightning Crashes:

Unsung Masterpieces: Neurosis- A Sun That Never Sets

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In August 2001, Neurosis put out one of the best albums since the turn of the century. After establishing themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the heavy music world and releasing 2 influential and classic albums (Through Silver and Blood & Times Of Grace), Neurosis returned with another classic A Sun That Never Sets. This album saw the band move even further away from their punk/hardcore roots and more into the experimental side of things all the while keeping with their “sludgy” sound and now incorporating a bit of a folk influence into the music. The album was again recorded by Steve Albini, and he has been able to capture the true essence of Neurosis for years now. A Sun That Never Sets is hypnotic in the way the songs all flow together to create the sound of the the world crumbling down around you. When you listen to songs like “The Tide,” “From The Hill,” “Crawl Back In,” and “Stones From The Sky (one of my personal favorite Neurosis songs ever),” you really can capture the essence of what this band is all about,

Neurosis has always been the type of band to do write what they want for themselves and not cater to any particular group. This album specifically marks the  point in their career when they just let all their influences come to play. There iis something truly special about this album. Take a listen and you will hear what I mean.

Neurosis- A Sun That Never Sets:

Classic Soundtracks: Eddie Vedder- Into The Wild

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When I first heard this album I was completely taken aback. To me it seemed like an album Neil Young didn’t finish and handed it to Eddie Vedder and said here do your thing. Sean Penn directed the movie version of Into The Wild and hand picked Eddie to do the soundtrack. As The story goes Sean Penn set up a viewing of a rough cut of the film, after which Eddie quickly got to work. After three days, Eddie gave Sean a range of material to work with. Sean then placed into the film what Eddie had given him, and Eddie then continued on to work on more material that Sean could add to the film. The songs Eddie came up with are rooted in folk music. There are also a couple songs that weren’t written by Eddie. The song “Hard Sun” is a cover of Gordon Peterson’s (better known as Indio). Corin Tucker of Sleater-Kinney performs backing vocals on the song as well. For the song “Society,” Eddie worked with singer/songwriter Jerry Hannan. Also a fun note the song “Guaranteed” won Eddie A Golden Globe, but was interestingly not nominated for an Oscar for the song. The length of the songs are quite short and it leaves you wanting more. It’s a great album to relax to or play after a long night on your way home.

Into The Wild Soundtrack:

Band Of The Week: RECAP

Since we have reached the half way point of the year, why not do a recap of all the bands of the week for 2015 so far. Here you go!

Ghost Parade:

http://ghostparade.net/

https://www.facebook.com/GhostParade

Before The Mourning:

https://www.facebook.com/BeforeTheMourning

Dedvolt:

https://www.facebook.com/DEDVOLT

http://www.reverbnation.com/dedvolt

Tidalwave:

https://www.facebook.com/itsatidalwave

Ancillary Theorem:

https://www.facebook.com/Ancillary-Theorem

http://www.reverbnation.com/ancillarytheorem

Malaki:

https://www.facebook.com/Malakiband

Haster:

https://www.facebook.com/Hasterband

http://www.reverbnation.com/Haster

http://www.hastermusic.com/

A Light Within:

https://www.facebook.com/ALWaudio

http://alightwithin.bandcamp.com/

Sweet Cobra:

https://www.facebook.com/sweetcobra

Socionic:

https://www.reverbnation.com/socionic

https://www.facebook.com/socionic

http://www.socionicband.com/

The Broken Stems:

https://www.facebook.com/thebrokenstems

http://brokenstems.com/

The Everyday Losers:

https://www.reverbnation.com/theeverydaylosers

https://www.facebook.com/theeverydaylosers

Sierra Swan:

https://www.facebook.com/Swan5

http://www.sierraswan.com/

All Hail The Yeti:

www.reverbnation.com/allhailtheyeti

https://www.facebook.com/officialallhailtheyeti

The Bloodline:

https://www.facebook.com/thebloodlineofficial

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/we-are-one/id951839102

Royal Thunder:

https://www.facebook.com/RoyalThunderMusic

Sensory Station:

https://www.facebook.com/sensorystation

www.sensorystationmusic.com

Vanishing Life:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vanishing-Life

Hidden Cabins:

http://www.hiddencabins.net/

https://www.facebook.com/hiddencabins

Dust Moth:

https://www.facebook.com/dustmothband

Mal:

https://www.facebook.com/malsongs

https://www.reverbnation.com/malsongs

http://www.malrock.com/

Set and Setting:

https://www.facebook.com/setandsetting

https://setandsetting.bandpage.com/

http://setandsetting.bandcamp.com/

Lost In Society:

https://www.facebook.com/lostinsociety

http://lostinsociety.com

Cover Thursday: Deftones (Weezer)- Say It Ain’t So

YouTube is full of a lot of junk, but amongst the junk there are some great gems. While on a recent Deftones kick, I stumbled upon this performance from 2001. Deftones covering “Say It Ain’t So” by Weezer. At first I was skeptical but after pressing play, I was taken aback by how cool their version is. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Deftones (Weezer)- Say It Ain’t So:

By: Brian Lacy

Album Debate: Joy Division Unknown Pleasures vs Closer

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One of my favorite things to do when I love a band so much is to delve into what influenced them. Throughout the years of my obsession with Nine Inch Nails, I read that Joy Division was a huge influence on Trent Reznor. So years ago I went out and bought all the Joy Division albums and listened to them over and over, realizing why Trent loved them so much. Which now brings me to todays topic, which Joy Division album is better, Unknown Pleasures or Closer.

Unknown Pleasures was released in June of 1979. Interestingly no singles were released from the album. This album is considered one of the most influential albums in the post-punk movement. There are so many great songs on this album from “Day Of The Lords,” “New Dawn Fades,” Shadowplay,” and “She’s Lost Control.” There is something beautiful and haunting about this album. The desperation of Ian Curtis’s voice, is so dyer and urgent that it makes the music even more driving. I can’t forget about the cover art, which is such a seminal part of music history. It’s kind of sad that hipsters have hijacked the cover and made put it on all their urban outfitters clothing.

Closer was released in July 1980. This album took a  darker approach and instilled a more gothic feel to it. This was a giant step in the creativity and songwriting of Joy Division. there are lots of critics out there that claim Closer to be the bands masterpiece. Ian Curtis had committed suicide two months prior to the release of Closer. The songs on this album really delved deeper into Ian’s problems with depression and seizures. “Atrocity Exhibition,” “Passover,” Twenty Four Hours,” “Heart and Soul,” really show the progress the band had made since their debut.

It’s really hard for me to pick a favorite, but If I had to I’d go with Unknown Pleasures. There is something about that album that really strikes a chord with me. There is a wonderful influence of The Velvet Underground and The Doors that rings throughout the album. I also love the production of it. Closer is more in line with what New Order would go on to do. I enjoy New Order, but I love Joy Division.

What are your thoughts?

Unknown Pleasures:

Closer:

By: Brian Lacy