The fun thing about writing this site is getting to hear so many different bands/artists. Every now and then something gets sent my way that really stands out to me. Over the years I’ve really been able to appreciate a good song no matter the genre. Recently Zachary Kibbee came to my attention. There is something interesting about this guy. His bluesy approach is quite captivating along with his voice. You can tell his influences which include The Black Keys and The Beatles, have set him on his way. You might have even heard some of his songs and you didn’t know. His song “My Own Two Feet” was used in a Microsoft Surface Pro 3 commercial, and many of his other songs have been featured television shows and films including “Agents Of Shield,” “Rake,” “Benched,” and “The Drop.” Zach’s newest album Songs From The Mud is bluesy with a bit of a rock edge to give it some grit. I would suggest Zach to anyone looking for some groovy blues rock. Zach is definitely on the right path.
This is just bad. Plain and simple. There is no other way to describe it. Plus Puddle Of Mudd is horrendous in general so it’s fitting.
Puddle Of Mudd- Gimme Shelter:
I haven’t done an “Ultimate Set List” in awhile. I was thinking to myself the other day that The Smashing Pumpkins have so many great songs on their albums that get overlooked that I should do an Ultimate Set List, if only to put it out in the ether that these songs should be played live. So without anymore delay, here is what I would like to hear if I could customize the perfect Smashing Pumpkins show.
Here are the rules:
Rule 1: maximum 25 songs
Rule 2: What line up of the band would it be
Rule 3: Where would you want to see the show
Lineup: Billy Corgan, Jimmy Chamberlain, D’arcy Wretzky, James Iha
Venue: Double Door in Chicago
Set List:
The Beginning Is The End Is The Beginning
Tonight, Tonight
Cherub Rock
An Ode To No One
Zero
One and All (with special guest Tommy Lee on Drums…since he played it on the album)
Perfect
Bullet With Butterfly Wings
Tales Of A Scorched Earth
X.Y.U.
Quiet
Soma
Eye
Daphne Descends
Tarantula
Muzzle
Siva
Thirty-Three
Bodies
Jellybelly
Silverfuck
It was announced that the upcoming Dillinger Escape Plan album Dissociation will be their last. The band has decided to take a bit of a break. Their newest tracks “Limerent Death” and Symptom Of Terminal Illness are an indication that they are going out with unrelenting fury. It makes total sense that they would take a break. The band has been around for almost 20 years (2017 marks 20 years), so it’s very necessary that they take step away for a bit.
One of the bands that are carrying the torch for rock music today is Los Angeles’s Aeges. Their new album Weightless is chock full of riffs galore, pulsating rhythms, and great melodies that will leave you tapping your feet, and singing along. The thirteen songs on the album lead by first single “Another Wasteland,” are energetic, catchy, and full of passion. In a day and age where singles are more and more popular, Aeges have released an “Album” that deserves your attention. They have managed to combine influences of straight ahead rock, a bit of prog rock, and a dash of post-hardcore, to create this album. Songs like ” Weightless,” “Save Me,” “All Of Me,” “Another Wasteland,” “What If,” “Better,” and “Drying Out” are all stellar tracks that really drive home what I mentioned above. The production on the album as well allows each member and instrument to be heard.
Aeges have been at this for a while now. Weightless is their third full length album. With each release, they keep getting better and better. If Aeges is playing in or around where you live, I strongly suggest you go check them out and pick up this album when you are there.
This November will be twenty years since Bush released their very underrated and unsung masterpiece Razorblade Suitcase. I can actually remember getting this album. My mom and dad had bought it for me. I came home from school and in my room was a copy of Razorblade Suitcase along with a note that said do your homework, but listen and enjoy the album. I remember putting the album on and letting it play from start to finish and thinking to myself that this is absolutely great. It was different from Sixteen Stone in a good way. There was so much more to this album in regards of depth and feeling. The album title itself, I thought was a really cool name, meant to Gavin Rossdale as a way to describe emotional baggage. What a crazy yet interesting way to describe it. Also during this time the band kept getting knocked in the press for supposedly being too much like Nirvana. This is something that I’ve never thought was true. Sure they had an album recorded by Steve Albini, and played a similar style of loud guitars and booming drums, but Gavin and Kurt were completely on the opposite sides of things.
The album is one of my favorites of all time. From the beginning growl of Gavin’s dog on “Personal Holloway,” to the dissonance of closing song “Distant Voices” and everything in between, Razorblade Suitcase was the perfect way to follow up Sixteen Stone. Lead single “Swallowed” was impactful and gritty yet full of sweet melody. Other wonderful songs like “Greedy Fly,” “Insect Kin,” “Cold Contagious,” “Bone Driven,” and “History” were absolute stand outs. Other tracks like “A Tendency To Start Fires,” “Synapse,” “Mouth,” and “Straight No Chaser,” offered something for every type of fan of the band. From the heavier tracks to the more delicate.
While Bush isn’t the most original band in the world, they are still part of the legacy of the 90’s that shouldn’t be ignored. Put the Nirvana comparisons aside and just listen and you’ll come away with an album that is deep and vulnerable. The playing and songwriting on this record is exceptional as well. Taking away the the polish of Sixteen Stone, Steve Albini put Bush in their natural element to really get at the true nature of the band. Gavin’s voice really shines on this album too. Razorblade Suitcase is often overlooked by many, but it’s not one that should be. Twenty years later this album still holds up if not better than when it first came out.
Throughout the many genres of heavy music there is one that has always been intriguing to me. It’s one of the silliest names but it makes for very interesting music. The genre is “Mathcore,” see it’s a really silly name, but there have been quite a few bands that have come through that genre like The Dillinger Escape Plan and Botch. Which now brings me to Broward County locals Fero Lux. Taking their love of bands like Botch and Dillinger along with Poison The Well, Thursday and a bit of Deftones, Fero Lux has created a blend of their influences to make music that they believe in. Their newest release No Rest is a blistering delivery of socially conscious lyrics, staccato riffs, and rhythms that challenge you not to tap your foot. Fero Lux is the band for you if you are into the mathcore/post hardcore genres.
I’ve been in the mood lately to go back and listen to The Dillinger Escape Plan. Their singer Greg Puciato has really grown on me over the years. He’s really found his own path amongst the bands catalog, side projects like Killer Be Killed and The Black Queen and by the songs he has guested on over the years. Dillinger are going to be releasing new music very soon, so I thought why not share some of the songs Greg has guested on over the years.
“Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” is on my top 5 list of favorite Led Zeppelin songs. This song is so delicate and beautiful and hits hard when the build comes in. That part is one of my all time favorite parts of any song ever. Recently one of my favorite newer bands of the past couple years The Last Internationale covered this song. The vocal performance from singer Delila Paz is tremendous. It’s subtle yet full of emotion, soul and grit. This is one of those covers that should be on many people’s lists of great covers.
The Last Internationale- Babe I’m Gonna Leave You:
Lets travel back to 1999. The peak of the nu-metal genre was riding high and Korn was on top of the mountain. Fresh off their success of their mainstream breakthrough of Follow The Leader, Korn followed that up with a more melodic simplified album, Issues. Issues saw Korn maintaining their signature heaviness while incorporating a slew of guitar hooks, vocal melodies that enhanced the lyrics, a dash of electronics, and production that really made their sound bombastic. Korn was also able to go back to its bare essentials, dropping their hip hop flair and rapping. Working with Brendan O’Brien allowed them to stay on track, and make an album that sonically sounds great and cohesive. Granted all of Korn’s albums have the same themes throughout, Issues was the absolute pinnacle of what became their signature. “Falling Away From Me,” “Trash,” “Beg For Me,” “Make Me Bad,” “Somebody Someone,” “No Way,” and “Dirty,” are absolute standouts on the album. The short interludes in between songs like “Dead,” “4U,”and “It’s Gonna Go Away,” add to the already dark lyric tones, but actually provide a nice bridge to carry on the flow of the album. I can remember buying this album and being absolutely enthralled by it. There was something about this record that really hit home with me. During this time in music, it wasn’t hard to write angry lyrics and such, but to do it with conviction and actually mean it was something Korn did perfectly. Yes, they have repeated the same thing for years, but they really know how to do it.
I’m bringing all this up because Korn are releasing a new album later this year that they promise will be more in the vain of their older efforts like Issues and Untouchables. They released a new song called “Rotting In Vain,” that really does have an old school Korn feel to it. Needless to say I’m actually intrigued to hear it. When I heard the new song, I felt compelled to go back and listen to a few of their albums. Issues was always the one besides their debut that stood out to me as a solid album. It’s quite strange to think that 22 years later, Korn is still releasing music and selling out venues, but they keep doing it and people keep listening. So take a trip down memory lane and listen to Issues.
