Band Of The Week: Interstelar

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There are lots of bands out trying to do the whole stoner/sludge rock thing. Few can really do it justice. Enter Interstelar who can. Formed in 2010 in Los Angeles this group of guys have taken their influences of Kyuss, The Cult, Black Sabbath and mixed it with a bit of shoe gaze a la My Bloody Valentine. They released their debut EP in 2011 and are currently recording for a new release with Warren Riker (producer of Down 1-3). Musically they show how tight they are. The guitar tone is not so dirty that you can’t hear the notes, and the solos are intricate yet simple as to not take away from the rhythmic nature of the genre. The bass tracks blend perfectly with the drums. Vocally there are times as though Ian Astbury and Maynard got morphed into one. Their new track Hold It takes them up a notch and shows their craft as songwriters and has a bit more melody. Interstelar are one band in the genre that should not go unnoticed!

https://www.facebook.com/interstelarLA

http://interstelar.bandcamp.com/

http://interstelar.com/

By: Brian Lacy

Cover Thursday: Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Karen O (Led Zeppelin)- Immigrant Song

I’m not a fan of the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s at all but this version of Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” is fantastic. The arrangement from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross as well as the visuals from the opening sequence of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo make this great.

Against The Grain Part 1: Ulver

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In this new feature we go on a journey to other genres and explore what they have to offer. Today’s offering is Ulver. They formed in Norway in the early 90’s. Their sound tends to be classified as Folk Black Metal. They blend different genres such as rock, folk, metal, symphonic, classical, and electronic to create their unique sound. Their albums have all been different from their others. They are one of the few that evolution has never held them back. Bergtatt, the debut album has been hailed as not the heaviest or most aggressive black metal.What makes the album stand out from all, is its use of unique atmosphere to create something that is eerie and oddly tranquil. Another one of their albums that is quintessential to their catalog is Blood Inside. On this album, along with their folk, black metal, symphonic sound, they began to incorporate jazz elements. Thus allowing the band to have awkward yet enriching time signatures.

While Ulver isn’t for everyone, they truly are excellent songwriters. One can always appreciate a well written and arranged song. If you’ve ever wanted to venture to the darker side, Ulver is a great place to start.

From Bergtatt: Troldskog Faren Vild

From Blood Inside: It Is Not Sound

http://www.jester-records.com/ulver/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ulver/31166220421

By: Brian Lacy

2 For Tuesday: A.F.I.

In late 2013 A.F.I. released their album Burials which continues their evolution into the the more goth-pop side of things. Granted they will never be what they once were, Burials takes the best parts of Sing The Sorrow and mixes it with The Art Of Drowning style riffs. Their new album has stuck with me since I bought it and is far better than their previous 2 releases. Check out 2 tracks on this 2 For Tuesday!

The Embrace:

The Face Beneath The Waves:

Unsung Masterpieces: Silverchair- Neon Ballroom
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As the 90’s came to an end and the music started to evolve, plenty of bands started to add other elements to their sounds to compliment the changing climates. Radiohead is a prime example. One band that really took a sharp turn was Silverchair. Their third album Neon Ballroom, took them to the next level as far as songwriting, production, and performance. Their earlier releases especially Frogstomp were full of untamed rage, despair, and teenage angst. Frogstomp was written when the band were only 14. When Neon Ballroom was released, Daniel Johns, Ben Gillies, Chris Joannou, seemed as though they finally achieved what they wanted to do musically. Lyrically, the songs were more personal and had a feel to them that could be related to just as the early 90’s “grunge” bands. Musically it went beyond the simple drums, bass and guitar, The riffs got more intricate, rhythms more complex, and a new element of strings were used. The first track on the album “Emotion Sickness” takes that approach and mixes their blend of hard rock with a bit of orchestral sounds, thus making it epic, especially at the peak of the song where Daniel sings “get out” in such pain and despair. “Ana’s Song (Open Fire)” was written about Daniel’s bout with anorexia. The first single “Anthem For The Year 2000” has the similar vibe of their previous 2 releases but this time more grown up. Other stand outs on Neon Ballroom are “Miss You Love” “Spawn Again” (which was originally featured on the Spawn Soundtrack), “Black Tangled Heart.” There really is something about this album that allows the listener to grow with the band. Not to mention that this album was name number 25 in the top 100 best Australian albums of all time. Silverchair went on to release 2 other albums after Neon Ballroom, but they don’t compare to how great this album is. Now if only they would just get back together and tour!!

Neon Ballroom:

By: Brian Lacy

Band Of The Week: (Damn) This Desert Air

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There truly is a great deal of great music that has gone unheard. In this day and age of DIY mentality its a shame that so many have to go unheard my the masses. Enter (Damn) This Desert Air, hailing from New Jersey. They were formed in 2007. They have a distinct melodic rock sound that is infused with space rock riffs and post-hardcore. Picture Quicksand, Failure, Hum, and Stone Temple Pilots all together. (Damn) This Desert Air have appeared on numerous compilations, samplers, tribute album appearances on both the Failure and Hum Tributes. (Damn) This Desert Air have had their previous albums/E.P’s mixed by Brian Virtue. Their most recent album Pyramids is catchy and infectious. The opening track “Hanger” is full of melodic hooks. The song “Slave” takes the direction of space rock and shows the more delicate side the band all the while keeping their hard edge. The album also includes a cover of Quicksand’s “Shovel.”

(Damn) This Desert Air have melded their influences into something that is loud and booming yet doesn’t take away from the purity of the songs. They are really on to something, and hopefully can make their way out to the West Coast for some shows.

https://www.facebook.com/damnthisdesertair

http://damnthisdesertair.bandcamp.com/

By: Brian Lacy

Underrated and Influential: The Cult

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The Cult formed in 1983. They melded their love for Led Zeppelin, The Doors and assorted Post Punk bands such as Joy Division to create a heavy mystic sound. Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy have been the most consistent members since the inception of the group. They gained notoriety for songs such as “She Sells Sanctuary” “Love Removal Machine” “Fire Woman.” They have created 3 of the most underrated albums in all of hard rock, Love, Electric, and Sonic Temple and have left a distinct mark with each of them. In 1995 the band split for a period of time to work on themselves and came back with a rocking album in Beyond Good and Evil featuring the songs “Rise” and Painted On My Heart (which appeared on in the movie Gone In 60 Seconds). After the release and tour the band took a break again with Ian joining the remaining members of The Doors to play shows. Billy went on to form other bands that while were good, failed to leave any mark on the landscape as The Cult did. In 2006, Ian and Billy got together again to record the album Born Into This. 2012 saw the release of Choice of Weapon. This album is one of their best ever. It’s up there with Electric and the songs themselves are awesome.

Ian Astbury’s vocals, lyrics and stage presence are all things that so many people and other bands have tried to replicate. While some of what Ian does is similar to that of Jim Morrison, Ian took it to another dimension and explored deeper into his own internal struggles to connect with the mysticism that he was involved in. Billy Duffy has a very distinctive guitar tone that has a nice reverb to it all the while packing a punch. The clean sensibilities of his guitar work show the soul of the music. Live, The Cult are captivating and hypnotic. Watching Ian on stage is intense as he gets so into the show and hardly interacts with the crowd. Billy strums like a madman. Completing the lineup for live show is John Tempesta on drums and Chris Wyse on bass. Listening to The Cult and then listening to so many bands that have come up in the past 10 years like Mastodon (yes them), Queens Of The Stone Age and others, you can hear the influence.

 

Love:

 

Electric:

 

Sonic Temple:

 

Beyond Good and Evil:

 

Choice of Weapon:

 

Overplayed Songs

I’m working on compiling a list of the most overplayed songs. Songs that you’d be ok never hearing again. Please feel free to add to it!

So far this is the list:

Deep Purple- Smoke On The Water
Metallica- Enter Sandman
Journey- Don’t Stop Believing
Guns N Roses- Welcome To The Jungle, Sweet Child Of Mine
Foreigner- Jukebox Hero, Double Vision
Lynard Skynard- Free Bird, Sweet Home Alabama
Ramones- Blitzkrieg Bop, I Wanna Be Sedated
Incubus- Drive
Nirvana- Smells Like Teen Spirit
Stone Temple Pilots- Wicked Garden
The Cure- Love Song, Friday I’m In Love
Red Hot Chili Peppers- Give It Away, Under The Bridge, Californication
Queens Of The Stone Age- No One Knows
Staind- It’s Been Awhile, Outside
Muse- Madness, Starlight, Uprising
Radiohead- Creep
Jane’s Addiction- Been Caught Stealing, Jane Says, Stop!
Korn- Freak On A Leash
Smashing Pumpkins- Today
Tool- Sober
Pantera-Walk
Soundgarden- Black Hole Sun
ACDC-Highway To Hell, You Shook Me All Night Long
Queen- Bohemian Rhapsody, We Are The Champions, We Will Rock You
Sublime- What I Got, Wrong Way, Santeria, Date Rape
Kiss- Rock n Roll All Night
Depeche Mode- Personal Jesus
Filter- Take A Picture
Alice In Chains- Man In The Box
Steve Miller Band- The Joker
Oasis- Champagne Supernova, Wonderwall
Rolling Stones- Satisfaction, Start Me Up
U2- Their entire catalog