Since the news broke today that Nine Inch Nails annouced new tour dates for 2022, of course it would put me in a NIN frame of mind. Instead of something typical to post about why not explore some of the remixes. One of the remix albums that often gets overlooked in their catalog is Things Falling Apart from The Fragile era. The remix version of “Where Is Everybody?” done by Danny Lohner (aka Renholder) and Josh Eustis and Charles Cooper of Telefon Tel Aviv is superb. This version is much more atmospheric and features some really cool glitch beats towards the latter half of the song. Take a moment to dig into this awesome version and the whole remix album!
Nine Inch Nails- Where Is Everybody? (Renholder/Telefon Tel Aviv Remix):
Thought I’d try something new and fun! Since today is Bandcamp Friday (when they wave their fee for 24 hours) why not showcase some great bands and their albums/singles that are out now! Check out these bands and show them some support!
This is really exciting music news!! Absent In Body is a new band featuring Scott Kelly (Neurosis), Iggor Cavalera (ex Sepultura), Mathieu J. Vandekerckhove (Amenra) and Colin H. Van Eeckhout (Amenra). Originally conceived by Kelly and Vandekerckhove the two began working on a project and quickly realized they were definitely on to something good. Colin H. Van Eeckhout was then brought in on vocals and bass and then the icing on the cake was Cavalera joining. There is a sense of urgency to the band and the songs. Considering the world we live in now, a band like this filled with an uncompromising honesty of expression takes things to a whole other level. The first song released “The Acres/The Ache” is one hell of a track. It’s a dense and slowly brutal song that is epic and full of all the things you love about each member of this band. I personally can’t wait for this album and hopefully the Absent In Body tour at some point.
Take a trip back to January 2014 with me. Against Me is about to release their highly anticipated new album, Transgender Dysphoria Blues and with that comes all the late night shows to perform on. One such performance of theirs that has always stood out to me took place in January 2014 on the Late Show with David Letterman. When you watch the band perform, especially Laura Jane Grace, you can really get a sense of the joy and excitement of each member. The energy and prowess that is emitted during this is contagious and exciting. The album was a new chapter in many ways for the band and Laura and it has truly become one of the best albums of the new century. Against Me is one hell of a great band and it has shown throughout the years and on each album. Here’s to more great music from Against Me and Laura Jane Grace in the near future!
Against Me- Fuckmylife666 (Live On The Late Show with David Letterman/2014):
If you aren’t familiar with Author & Punisher (aka Tristan Shone) you must be living under a rock. Author & Punisher is a one man band formed in January 2004 by mechanical engineer and artist Tristan Shone. Most of the instrumentation and controllers he uses, entitled “Drone Machines” and “Dub Machines”, are custom designed and fabricated by Shone from raw materials and open source electronic circuitry. Since the inception of this project, Tristan has released 8 studio albums (9 counting the new one Kruller). By mixing industrial music and doom metal, Tristan has conjured up a sound that not only is impactful but also thought provoking. Having seen this live a few times, I can honestly say that you need to see it live to full embrace the impact the music has. On his new album, two songs have been released so far “Drone Carrying Dread” and “Maiden Star” both of which are absolute bangers but with a new sense of melody that brings out the influence and inspiration of bands like New Order and Depeche Mode. February 11 will see the release of this epic album!
This is very exciting. Meshuggah have finally announced the release date for their long awaited new album. On April 1st, Immutable is released to the world. The first single from the album “The Abysmal Eye” is one hell of a track. I don’t think I need to go into all the vibes you get from this track as it’s MESHUGGAH and you know damn well what you are gonna get, a total onslaught of heavy!
Remember when Coachella was still a good festival to attend? When the lineup was something you saw and were in awe? Yeah, I remember that too. One of the ones I remember most and was at was in 2008. When the lineup was announced I was zoned in on one band in particular, Portishead. This would be their first live shows in over 10 years and I was determined to be there. When it was time for Portishead to take the stage the crowd frenzy was stirring and the excitement was astounding. For the next hour or so, Portishead ran through a set that encompassed their previous 2 albums as well as their newest album, Third (which features my second favorite Portishead song, “The Rip.”). Witnessing Portishead live is an experience all on its own and one that I highly recommend. Also, I have a bootleg of this set that is straight from the soundboard that almost rivals the Roseland Ballroom show in 1998.
Portishead- Live At Coachella 2008:
Setlist:
01) Silence 02) Mysterons 03) The Rip 04) Glory Box 05) Wandering Star 06) Machine Gun 07) Over 08) Sour Times 09) Cowboys 10) Threads 11) Roads 12) We Carry On
Back in late 1997 there was a song on the radio that you couldn’t escape. The song would go on to crack the Billboard top 40 chart (peaking at number 4) and was number 1 on the modern rock charts for a record 15 weeks (later broken by Nickelback). The song I’m referring to is “Sex and Candy” by Marcy Playground. It’s a very quirky, weird song that while simplistic is super catchy too. The song has some very interesting history too. This was the bands only “hit.” The song was so successful that for a while it had it’s own accountant. In a strange turn, the head of radio promotion of the bands label felt that the song actually hurt the bands career and MTV News even called the song a “career killer” making them a one hit wonder in the end. Not that there is anything wrong with that! Singer John Wozniak has even said he was pleased that the track “became a quintessential ’90s moment.” And it has remained a constant on 90’s playlists and soundtracks. Marcy Playground is still out there playing shows and releasing new material with “Sex and Candy” being a huge staple of the live set.
Radiohead is one of those bands that are truly awesome. Their evolution as a band has been one of the most interesting to listen to and watch happen. The Bends will always be my favorite album of theirs but, 2000’s Kid A is a very close second. That album is one of the best since the change of the century and ever! Not only is it a fantastic album it also has my all time favorite Radiohead song on it, “How To Disappear Completely.” This song is so beautiful and haunting. I still remember the first time I heard Kid A and when it got to this song, I immediately had to put it on again. It’s one of those songs that just has all the right elements and arrangements, plus where it was placed in the sequence of the album is something else too. “How To Disappear Completely” is one of those songs too that isn’t played live too often (only 188 times since Kid A was released according to Setlist.fm) but, when it is, the crowd truly listens and lets the song take over. Singer Thom Yorke has said that this song is “the most beautiful thing we’ve done.” An interesting tidbit about this song, guitarist Jonny Greenwood is the only one in the band with music theory training and According to longtime producer/collaborator Nigel Godrich, when the band heard Greenwood’s score “they all just sort of burst into giggles, because they couldn’t do what he’d written, because it was impossible – or impossible for them, anyway.” Needless to say they figured it out and it became one of the most epic songs they would play live.
Radiohead- How To Disappear Completely (Live 2001):
This is a fun topic to get into. I listen to a ton of music on a constant basis but, there are always certain albums or songs that just stay with me and I’m compelled to continuously keep them in rotation. Being that we are only a few weeks into 2022, I still have a few albums and songs that have remained in constant play. So here’s a few albums and songs that I can’t stop listening to!
Songs:
01) Centershift- My Own World (Single):
This song is tremendous. It’s the right amount of melodic rock that I dig. The accompanying video for this song is stunning and really captures the essence of the song. Definitely give this song a few spins and check out Centershift at their upcoming shows.
02) Quicksand- Colossus (Live Version):
The moment I heard this song from Quicksand’s new album, I was hooked. This song is so damn good. The riffs and rhythms along with the vocals/lyrics are superb. I had the pleasure of seeing Quicksand live a couple months back and they absolitely rocked the Troubadour. Plus having Stephen Brodsky (Cave In, Old Man Gloom, Mutoid Man, etc) on tour with them as their second guitarist and hearing him play on these new/old songs was out of this world amazing! If you haven’t heard the new Quicksand album, you should get on that!
03) Sparta- Air (Live Version):
I still remember when the debut Sparta album Wiretap Scars came out. I remember putting the album on and letting it play. A couple songs into it and then I dead stopped and started the song that just ended again. I was in total awe. That song was “Air” and it hit me at the right time. This is a perfect example of a great song with great dynamics. I remember too seeing them live back when this album came out in 2002/2003 and when they played this song live, oh my! Listen and you’ll see why almost 20 years later this song is still a gem!
04) Jane’s Addiction- Three Days (Live Version 1998 w/ Flea on Bass):
A friend of mine has been looking to expand his musical palate and I’ve been recommending bands for him to delve deep into. One of the ones I suggested was Jane’s Addiction. Naturally, I went back into the Jane’s catalog a bit too but more on the side of demos and live versions. One of my favorite eras of the band was around their Relapse reunion and Kettle Whistle album release. During this time Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers joined Jane’s for a tour and he was awesome with them. The first time I saw Jane’s was around this time and it’s forever been stuck in my head. Enjoy this one!!
05) Blink 182 with Robert Smith of The Cure- All Of This:
The other day I had a song stuck in my head but just the music and I couldn’t figure out who it was. fast forward a few hours later and I figured it out. The end result was a killer collaboration between Robert Smith of The Cure and Blink 182. On the latter’s untitled 2003 album there is a track on it called “All Of This” and it’s so damn good. Hearing this song back in 2003 was what made me buy their album. Actually, the untitled album is a great album and the best thing Blink ever did! This song is one of those that you will want to put on repeat for sure.
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