Better Lovers Highly Irresponsible

WHAT I’VE BEEN LISTENING TO: APRIL EDITION

Over the past couple weeks I’ve been diving into some new tunes that have peaked my interest. Some of these are new albums and a couple are ones that I’ve revisited because it’s been a minute since I listened to it. Here’s 10 albums that I’ve been listening to. Take a listen and enjoy!

01) Idle Heirs- Life Is Violence: I love this album. It’s the best album I’ve heard all year. This debut album has definitely made it’s way to my list of best debuts of all time. Read more about this album HERE and be sure to check this one out! IT’S A MUST! I should note that I haven’t gone a day without listening to this album since I got it. It’s That Good!



02) Pale Rider- 1 to 0: This album came across my email a couple weeks back and I quite enjoyed this one. I’ve been searching for all sorts of different types of bands of late and Pale Rider was one of the ones that stood out. 1 to 0 is a really fun spring/summer album. It’s a great alternative rock album that explores bits of dream pop, shoegaze and ambience. It’s also a pleasure to hear vocalist Rus Martin again. Always have enjoyed his style and lyric approaches (remember Hotwire? or Eyelid? I know I sure do). Give this record a spin!!




03) Chimaira- Chimaira: It’s been a while since I last listened to this album and I forgot what a beast this album is. I’d really have to say this is the best Chimaira album. It’s one of those albums you can tell they really put their all into it. It’s definitely one of the best heavy albums of the last 25 years. Usually self titled albums are “statement” albums, and this one is no different in that it takes no prisoners and it’s an all out assault of heaviness. This is an unsung masterpiece of an album! Also fun tidbits. This video was shot at the old Cobalt Cafe in the San Fernando Valley. Also, yours truly is in the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIScWpfZ2Z4&list=OLAK5uy_kW7__uA0HD7-MlGnOF6n9G1z0G_rZ4Fsk


04) Guiltless- Teeth To Sky: This is another album I’m stuck on. I’ve really been enjoying all the nuances that this album packs into it. Plus the optimism that radiates throughout the album is quite a treat from the usual doom and gloom that is associated with this style of music. Teeth To Sky is one of those albums that will grow on you the more you listen. And once you let it’s teeth sink in, it’s quite the wonderful listening experience



05) The Smashing Pumpkins- Aghorri Mhorri Mei: This is a great album! If you have been craving an old school Smashing Pumpkins album that is more aligned with their 90’s era, then you really should listen to this one! It’s quite the album. This is another album I have yet to take out of rotation. It’s refreshing to hear them go back to that sound a bit while still pushing boundaries of what alternative music can reach. I’m really hoping there is a US tour for this album because these songs need to be heard and played live!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNOFLu40NzY&list=OLAK5uy_nRnbe2-k5CxdkxL140Fs1baQuL8Dmrgf4&index=2

06) Spiritbox- Tsunami Sea: Over the last couple years I’ve really come to like Spiritbox. Their album Eternal Blue was quite good. Their follow up EP, The Fear Of Fear really got me interested in where this band can go and then they released their new album, Tsunami Sea. This new album is pretty damn good. It’s nothing groundbreaking or reinventing the wheel but, it’s solid and packs quite the punch. There’s also a lot of different twists and turns on the album that peaks your listening interest to listen again and again. Looking forward to seeing them live at the Palladium in May.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_l4FsWfBiw&list=OLAK5uy_mfdx_C0pR6XdVKoGGoXHVRdQlvEVtjw0c&index=2


07) Coheed And Cambria- Vaxis III- The Father Of Make Believe: I’ve quite enjoyed this album. It’s one of their most focused albums in a minute. This album reminds me a bit of Good Apollo IV and Second Stage Turbine. There’s some truly epic moments on this album as with any good Coheed album. And the songs themselves shine. This is one of the more fun albums I’ve listened to this year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSckI-66MsI&list=OLAK5uy_kYxvSUMUzqSpw6MFitvmIBeXjFosoWKzI


08) Better Lovers- Highly Irresponsible: Talk about fun albums. I still can’t get enough of this album. When I need a good pick me up, this is a great one to go for. I just saw Better Lovers live again and it was awesome. They have fast become one of my favorite new bands and bands to see live. Their energy is infectious and makes you want to keep the album on repeat. I look forward to what else is to come from Better Lovers as I feel this is only the beginning of something pretty spectacular!



09) Stone Temple Pilots- Purple: Sometimes you just need a classic to listen to. Every time I put this album on, I get this warm sensation that comes over me like a warm blanket. This album is a masterpiece. There isn’t one thing wrong with this record. If you haven’t listened to Purple in a while, you should change that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pd-6Dokk3Jg&list=OLAK5uy_kw5inENBPxMWfRS4zjTGI7VFIySuwp7U4&index=2

10) Nine Inch Nails- The Fragile: This is my all time favorite album. It’s the album I constantly put on if I can’t think of anything to listen to. The Fragile is another absolute masterpiece. Not to take away from any of the other albums in the NIN catalog, this one though, it’s just otherworldly. For the past 26 years of listening to this album it’s never gotten old. It still sounds fresh to my ears and it still gets me in the feels every time. If you haven’t listened to The Fragile in a long time, that should be on your list too!

What I’ve Been Listening To: November Edition


Since I took a break I’ve been trying to catch up on everything I’ve missed out on. I’m still catching up but I thought I’d put together a list of a few albums that I’ve been listening to. I recommend you all check these bands and albums. I can guarantee you’ll find something you like! Also on a side note, if any of you out there are graphic designers, Audioeclectica could use a new logo! Hit me up!

Enjoy The Tunes!
Brian

What I’ve Been Listening To:

Better Lovers- Highly Irresponsible:
This album is what it must feel like to be shot out of a cannon. It’s explosive and full of twists and turns that will leave you wanting more. It might even cause you to spontaneously start jumping up and down due to the energy this album emits. Listen to this as loud as possible!



Jerry Cantrell- I Want Blood:
Jerry’s new album feels like it picks up where Degredation Trip left off. The dark brooding vocals mixed with Jerry’s signature guitar playing makes this a great album. As much as I would love to have a new Alice In Chains album, this one will definitely hold you over till then!! Check out the track “Echoes Of Laughter” it’s my favorite on the album!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_krvAUGLYK3GCL81obV1c-TpojnXdxeBxc

Linkin Park- From Zero:
I never thought this day would ever come but here I am praising a Linkin Park album. I’ll get into how this all came to be in an article to come. This new album featuring their new singer Emily Armstrong of Dead Sara and drummer Colin Brittain is fantastic. It’s a short and concise album that runs the gamut on all that the band has done and then some. There’s some really great throwback moments on this album as well as all sorts of new things to enjoy. Really give this one a shot. In a world where so many bands have tried to cop their style, the originators return to show how it’s done!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_llu148Ny0qF6bSApqzcVOQ9MaiCYySEG8



The Smashing Pumpkins- Aghori Mhori Mei:
I love this album. It’s The Smashing Pumpkins through and through. It’s a great rock album that we’ve been wanting from them since their “reunion” was announced. Each listen makes me love this album more and more. This is another one that really deserves your attention!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nRnbe2-k5CxdkxL140Fs1baQuL8Dmrgf4

Iress- Sleep Now In Reverse:
Iress is one of my favorite bands I’ve heard in a long time. Each release of theirs gets better and better. This new one adds a heavier and darker vibe to their already dark atmospheric dreamy doomgaze sound. This is an album YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO!!!



Gouge Away- Deep Sage:
This is one of the best albums I’ve heard all year. I love this album. Every song on it is impactful and meaningful. This is another album that might find your spontaneously breaking out into a one person mosh pit. Listen to this album!!!



Common Wounds- All Night Blood:
I love a good post-hardcore band and Common Wounds has all the ingredients that I enjoy about the genre. This is their first full length and it delivers quite the punch. The latter half of the album is my favorite part as it tends to be a bit more experimental and epic which I love. I’m very excited to see where this band goes as I quite enjoy them!



Drug Church- Prude:
I’ve been a fan of Drug Church for a while and they keep getting better and better. Their new album continues on the path they’ve been on with some really cool new elements that remind me of Refused a bit. Sadly I just missed their LA show. I’ll have to catch them next time!



Planes Mistaken For Stars- Do You Still Love Me:
This one is a little bittersweet. I have been a Planes fan for many years and when the news came that Gared had passed away it was quite a sad moment. Thankfully though, we have one final album from this very underrated band. This album has all the classic elements that made Planes Mistaken For Stars such a great band as well as some really great melodic moments that will have you raising your glass in cheers!



Spirit In The Room- Passengers:
If you’ve been reading Audioeclectica long enough, you know that I absolutely love Spirit In The Room. I love that each release brings in something different yet it’s still volatile and dangerous, which is something that’s seriously missing from music these days. This EP is a little more subdued and introspective, showing off a different side of Dennis Sanders. Another really enjoyable album to check out!



Kerry King- From Hell I Rise:
I really like this album. Musically it sounds just like what you think it does but, that doesn’t stop it from being an all out assault. Kerry has quite the band backing him with Phil Demmel on guitar, Kyle Sanders on bass, Paul Bostaph on drums and the underrated and awesome Mark Osegueda on vocals. Live this band and these songs are so damn good. I saw Kerry and Co open for Lamb Of God and Mastodon a few months back and it made me really give this album a now outlook.



Cold Gawd- I’ll Drown On This Earth:
I’ve heard of this band for a while now and finally sat down to check them out and I enjoyed what I heard. Their shoegazey Deftones side really comes through in a good way. The dreaminess that this album has to it makes it a great driving album as well as one to put on while working. There’s some definite love for Siamese Dream on this album and that’s totally ok!



Unto Others- Never, Neverland:
The moment I put this album on the first thing I thought of was Type O Negative only a bit more positive. This album is one of the most surprising I’ve heard this year. I love the post-punk goth vibes this album has. I’m quite interested to see what they are like live and I would love to hear them take on a Type O songs to hear what it would be like.



Pearl Jam- Dark Matter:
I’ve been waiting a long time for Pearl Jam to come back with an album like this and FINALLY it’s here. This record has a very old school PJ vibe (Ten and VS with a dash of Vitalogy). The guitars are back to being at the forefront and everything finally clicks for the first time in a long time. This album really doesn’t have the usual filler either. Each time I listen I like this one more and more and find it climbing up my ranking chart for Pearl Jam.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_ltWvB2Aqnf32SbAI0fhvx8l5O87oruvS0

Category 7- Category 7:
John Bush (Amored Saint, ex Anthrax), Phil Demmel (Kerry King, ex Machine Head), Jason Bittner (Shadows Fall, ex Overkill), Mike Orlando (Adrenaline Mob) and Jack Gibson (Exodus). On paper this band is killer and on their self titled debut they slay! I’ve always loved John Bush as a vocalist and to have such a lineup of great players writing some killer riffs and metal, this band has everything they need to rip it up!