Since Coal Chamber released their first album in over 13 years this week, I find it only fitting that this weeks cover song comes from them. In 1999 when the band released their second album Chamber Music, “Shock The Monkey” was released as a single and helped propel the band more into the mainstream.
Coal Chamber- Shock The Monkey:
Peter Gabriel- Shock The Monkey:
One of my all time favorite comedians is Mitch Hedberg. His unique style of comedy resonated with my humor so well it. It’s such a shame that he succumbed to his addictions in 2005. Mitch did leave quite a wonderful legacy of jokes and his style has influenced countless comedians over the years. His first comedy album is one of my favorites, and I listen to it constantly. Strategic Grill Locations was recorded at The Laff Stop Comedy Club in Houston, Texas on September 7, 1999. The album was originally self-published by Hedberg and sold through his website and at shows. When time came to release his second album, Mitch All Together (another great comedy album), the Comedy Central label also re-released Strategic Grill Locations. This album contains 21 tracks of great jokes, stories and one-liners. During the show Mitch was also accompanied by musician Chuck Savage on a giant standup bass, making Mitch’s delivery all that much more fun and captivating. So take the time today to enjoy some comedy!!!
Mitch Hedberg- Strategic Grill Locations:
Most of the time when a band announces their return after a very long hiatus, it is usually met with great excitement. At the same time there is always hope that the reunion brings new music from the band. Sometimes it works out for the best and other times it fails miserably like it did with the latest Soundgarden album King Animal. One of the most anticipated albums of 2015 has been the new album from Faith No More. At first when they released their first singles “Motherfucker” and “Superhero” those songs weren’t anything special. If anything they seemed like just fun songs they came up with and released them to just wet the appetite of their fans. I can honestly say that the album itself is quite good. It could be taken as the logical followup to their 1997 swan song Album Of The Year. The band themselves have not lost a step at all during the 18 year gap between albums. If anything, Faith No More seems reinvigorated and ready to take back what should have been theirs to begin with. Songs like “Cone Of Shame, (my personal favorite on the album)” “Sunny Side Up,” “Black Friday,” and “Matador” are all outstanding tracks. Even the first two songs the released fit in the scheme of the album better than they do on their own.
I wouldn’t say this is a perfect album, but it does hit the mark. One of the best things about the Sol Invictus is that it leaves you wanting more. Faith No More really delivered the goods on this one.
Scale of 1-10: 8
Faith No More-Sol Invictus:
By: Brian Lacy
Today marks the 35th anniversary of Ian Curtis of Joy Division’s passing. During his very brief career, he left a lasting effect on the music landscape and influenced countless bands and artists over the years. So in tribute to Ian, here are my favorite covers of Joy Division songs and the albums themselves.
Nine Inch Nails- Dead Souls:
Bush- In A Lonely Place:
The Killers- Shadowplay: This also the best thing this band has ever and will ever do.
Neurosis- Day Of The Lords:
The Cure- Love Will Tear Us Apart:
Unknown Pleasures:
Closer:
The term “Supergroup” is so over used these days, but in this case it really is quite spectacular. I present to you Vanishing Life. This band is made of of Walter Schreifels of Quicksand/Rival Schools, Rise Against guitarist Zach Blair, bassist Autry Fulbright of …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, and drummer Jaime Miller also of Trail Of Dead but also Snot, and The Start. So far they have only released a 7″ with two songs, but those songs are badass. This band has the right amount of raw energy that made all their other bands who they were but the combination of all these guys together makes something that is exploding with melody and breathes in new life to rock music that is desperately needed. The band has already played this past years SXSW festival. Hopefully they have a full length out soon, because this band is awesome!
Vanishing Life- People Running:
Vanishing Life- Expression (Live):
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vanishing-Life
twitter: @vanishinglives
By: Brian Lacy
Depeche Mode is not an easy band to cover. Lots of bands try to just duplicate what Depeche Mode did rather than make it their own. In 1997, In Flames did a cover of Everything Counts. It’s a very interesting version. Take a listen.
In Flames- Everything Counts:
Depeche Mode- Everything Counts:
In 1998 Far released what is considered by many to be one of the top 10 influential albums of the “emo” movement in music, Water and Solutions. This record and band attracted a strong cult following in the late 1990s, due to the single “Mother Mary” and the band touring with long time friends in Deftones and Incubus. The album itself had a more melodic sound and richer fuller production by macshop” href=”#”> thanks
to Dave Sardy, who was the producer on this album. The lyrical subject matter of Jonah Matranga and his vocals stretched from the raw screams to a more soulful singing voice, thus providing a real sense of intimacy for the listener to relate the words to. Musically the band has always been on point. Shaun Lopez distorted guitar and his remarkable tone is highly influential. His knack for creating a driving riff with the right amount of melody is often replicated but never quite the same as he does it. The rhythm section of John Gutenberger and the hard hitting drums of Chris Robyn were as tight as tight can be. John’s bass bellowed with the right amount of thump to push Chris’s heavy playing into the heights of the right amount of heaviness needed to fit with Shaun’s playing and Jonah’s vocals.
Sadly, not long after they released Water and Solutions, the band broke up. Though in 2008, the band reformed for a handful of US dates, and also a small UK tour. And in 2010, released a new album At Night We Live via Vagrant Records. At Night We Live is a solid album, and not just a throwback. Again though in 2011 it was announced that Far would not be be getting back together as there was just “too much drama.”
Far is one of those bands who will always be recognized for the great work they did, the material they put out, and the bands they influenced. And those of us who were fortunate to see them will always know that for sure.
Far- Water and Solutions:
By: Brian Lacy
When a band is 7 albums into their career, there comes certain expectations for said bands new albums. Sometimes some of the albums released don’t quite hit the right mark, while others go on to leave a lasting impression and inspire others. In the case of Incubus, their career has had quite a few twists and turns. They have managed to put out two really solid albums, 1999’s Make Yourself and 2004’s A Crow Left Of The Murder, while the rest of their catalog is hit or miss, though they have some songs that are really good from those other albums. Incubus’s latest offering Trust Fall (Side A) is 4 songs and 20 minutes of hit and miss. The first song Trust Fall, could almost fit on A Crow Left Of The Murder musically. The vocal melody from Brandon Boyd is very strong and convincing. The rest of the band is really together on that track. In fact after hearing that song you think this could be a really good sign of things to come. Then “Make Out Party” happens. The verse’s have a very obnoxious vocal melody that is cringe-worthy. The chorus is very formulaic, and just doesn’t do anything special for the song. The first single and third track “Absolution Calling,” is catchy as can be for the band. It’s got a groove to the beat and bass line that follows a very catchy melody. At first listen to this song, you wonder what happened to the Incubus of old, but it does grow on you quite fast. Sadly the EP ends with “Dance Like You’re Dumb” a song that is just awful. This songs makes it seem like Mike Eizinger has spent too much time hanging out and working with electronic artists.
So of the four songs, only two of them are worthy, leaving this “Trust Fall” pretty much a Trust Fail (pun totally intended). For the most part I’ve always enjoyed Incubus. Even on this albums that were misses over the years, I’ve found songs that I can listen to. I don’t know what they were thinking with this one. This EP was also self produced, so the lack of having a producer around seems like that made all the difference. Had they gone back to work with Brendan O’Brien (Who has done all their albums since A Crow Left Of The Murder), this newest release could have ended up differently.
Scale of 1-10: 5
Trust Fall:
Make Out Party:
Absolution Calling:
Dance Like You’re Dumb:
By: Brian Lacy
In the late 90’s Marilyn Manson released two albums that cemented his place in the rock world. His breakthrough album, Antichrist Superstar came out in 1996. This album was produced by Trent Reznor at Nothing Studios in New Orleans. The album was was met with a slew of controversy and excitement. It should also be noted that this was all part of a “rock opera” trilogy. Even though Antichrist was released first, it is the final installment of the trilogy. Holy Wood is actually the first. Antichrist had a real heavy industrial edge to it, along with a raw mentality that allowed it to have a cool, sinister and taunting feeling. There are so many songs on the album that are standouts besides just “The Beautiful People.” Songs like “Tourniquet,” “Irresponsible Hate Anthem,” (Which is the albums opener), “Cryptorchid,” Antichrist Superstar,” are all standouts.
Then in 1998, Manson released Mechanical Animals. This album has a much different feel to it that comes completely from left field. I’ve always sort of felt that Mechanical Animals was his David Bowie album, in the way his persona and the music changed. Originally, The Dust Brothers were going to collaborate with Manson, but nothing really came of those sessions. Later on Manson’s friend, Billy Corgan served as an unofficial music consultant for the band during these early stages. After playing a few of the early songs for him, Corgan advised the band that “This is definitely the right direction” but to “go all the way with it. Don’t just hint at it.” When it was time to go into the studio Michael Beinhorn was chased to produce that album. Beinhorn whose credits include Soundgarden’s Superunknown, was wrapping up work on Hole’s Celebrity Skin album before coming aboard for these sessions. Musically this album is a deep departure from Antichrist, but it is also one of the most thought provoking albums of Manson’s career along with his newest album The Pale Emperor. Songs like “The Dope Show” and “I Don’t Like The Drugs,” are fun and catchy and a typical singles, but then when you really delve into the album you come across songs like the very impressive “Coma White,” “The Speed Of Pain,” “Dissociative.” Those songs really make an impact on a entirely different level.
As you all know I’m a huge Trent Reznor fan, and you would think because of that I would pick Antichrist over Mechanical, but I actually like the songs better on Mechanical thought I love the production on Antichrist better. I think Michael Beinhorn is a horrible producer that does too many things to make it sound polished and compressed. So my pick for this debate is Mechanical Animals. Can you imagine what Mechanical would have sounded like had Trent done this one too?
Antichrist Superstar:
Mechanical Animals:
One of the reasons why I started this blog was to show people that there is so much good music out there that is going unnoticed. And this category of band of the week does just that. This week I bring you Sensory Station from San Diego. This four piece has a really cool vibe that mixes ambience and hard rock in a Pink Floyd meets Tool sort of way with a dash of Explosions In The Sky. Their debut album, Open Your Eyes, was recorded and mixed by Aaron Harris (of Isis/Palms). From the videos they have posted online, their live show looks like it is chock full of energy and invigorating performances from each of the band members. Check out Sensory Station!!!!
https://www.facebook.com/sensorystation
Sensory Station on Spotify:
