sir mix-a-lot
04-19-2006, 07:25 PM
You've stumbled upon the wonderful world of Decoy Music's weekly Listening Station. So plug in your iPods or whatever you use and get ready to fill it with items selected by staff, readers, and bands you know and love. You could also buy an album, even. I know, far-fetched.
Mac Lethal (Mac Lethal, Black Clover Records) Hates Being Confused With DJ Lethal: Joe Good - Hi, May I Help You?
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/joegood.jpg
Website: (http://www.myspace.com/joegood) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/joegood)
A few years ago, some very famous rappers who a lot of people don't particularly care for, and some that a lot of people do, spearheaded the mixtape movement. This movement was the perfect promotional vehicle, and sadly, a cheap excuse to sell people half-baked, unmixed, unfocused songs on something that "isn't an album, it's a mixtape."
Joe Good didn't agree with this logic.
Hi May I Help You? is his answer to this travesty of corporate, dirtbag musicianship. It isn't filled with hokey shout-outs from other semi-famous musicians, it's full of eloquently-written passages and clever stabs at people trying to live out their rap music fantasies. It isn't filled with Casio beats that mirror the latest pop-rap trends. It's full of low-end-heavy bangers, with gritty drums and thirst quenching melodies. The perfect canvas for Joe Good to make his poignant and confessional brush strokes upon. Non-rap fans will probably love this more than rap fans. And rap fans love this mixtape.
Johnny Damns The Dam To: Hit the Lights - This Is A Stickup, Don't Make It A Murder
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/hitthelights.jpg
Website: (http://www.hitthelightsmusic.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/hitthelights)
Aaaaah, pop punk, how I love thee. Okay, let me specify that. I love GOOD pop punk and there's been a severe shortage of that lately. Enter Hit The Lights. This five-piece from Lima, Ohio (which is known more as the halfway point between Dayton and Toledo than a home of great bands) is a breath of fresh air in a genre that has been stale and boring for a long time. The thing about Hit The Lights is that they don't do anything new or different, but they take the best aspects of New Found Glory, Cartel, Fall Out Boy, and Saves The Day, mix them together and the outcome is magical. These boys are my pick for the next big thing and I can't wait to see where they end up...and if their new album This Is A Stickup, Don't Make It A Murder is any indication, it'll be on TRL and on tour in arenas.
Marc Thinks This Will Hit You Like An Anvil: Acme - …To Reduce The Choir To One Soloist
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/acme.jpg
Website: (http://www.radiotakeover.com/music/album.rto?id=180) :: Listen: (http://www.radiotakeover.com/music/album.rto?id=180)
Germany's answer to Botch. Easily one of my favorite crossover bands. It took me a while to discover Acme and took me even longer to find their full length. ...To Reduce the Choir to One Soloist is a mixture of hardcore, metal, and sludge. It may not be the most original band, but it was definitely promising, drawing comparisons to Converge, Coalesce, and Botch. Though the band has since broken up, they have set the path even more, particularly for metalcore.
On ...To Reduce the Choir to One Soloist they compile songs from their 7-inch, unreleased songs, and compilation songs. This CD is packed with enough double bass and "chugga-chugga" to make any metal or hardcore kid want to start picking up change.
Chris Can Be Heard Yelling, "You're No J. Geils Band" In The Background: Giles - Giles
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/giles.jpg
Website: (http://www.myspace.com/giles) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/giles)
This is what you get when you leave the talented Tommy Rogers Jr. alone by himself with a keyboard! Although Tommy is talented, I’m not sure if he displays much of that talent in these nine goofy electronica songs, but he does have a lot to do with the writing process in your favorite metal band, Between The Buried And Me, along with being the vocals for them. I do believe, and hope, that Tommy doesn’t take Giles all too seriously. And feel free to make fun of me if you want, as I do find myself listening to this CD every now and then, mainly for a chuckle, but some of the beats are rather fun to listen to. I’m definitely anticipating a Giles/BTBAM tour. Who’s with me?
Kamran Will Most Likely Ride His Own Nuts Over This Pick: Smashing Pumpkins - Gish
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/smashingpumpkins.jpg
Website: (http://www.smashingpumpkins.com) :: Listen: (http://www.smashingpumpkins.com)
For this listening station, I was racking my brain, trying to recall new albums that I've been giving a lot of attention to. But as I write this, I'm listening to Gish by the Smashing Pumpkins. And then I thought, well galldarnit, this album is worthy of my recognition because boy howdy, this is my favorite band, and I haven't listened to this album in a long while. This is probably my most accidentally overlooked Pumpkins album, and not with good cause or reason. This is arguably their second best album - behind Siamese Dream, of course - and it truly displays the band's mind boggling talent as rock n' roll musicians. Of the early 90s bands that made it big, none had as impressive of a debut as the Pumpkins did with Gish.
Dant Isn't Scared Of: The Pink Spiders - Hot Pink
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/pinkspiders.jpg
Website: (http://www.thepinkspiders.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/thepinkspiders)
To be honest, the first time I listened to The Pink Spiders, I figured I would be sick of them within a week. But it’s almost been a year now and I still love them just as much, if not more. Their full-length debut, Hot Pink, is inspired by popular acts such as Buddy Holly and Elvis Costello and it shows. Their love of old rock is prevalent throughout the whole CD. So if you want some rock revival and you’re tired of The Strokes, check these guys out.
Eric Believes The Tragedy Of Textbooks Is That They Are Completely Unreadable: A Textbook Tragedy - A Partial Dialogue Between Ghost And Priest
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/atextbooktragedy.gif
Website: (http://www.atextbooktragedy.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/atextbooktragedy)
Did you like The Dillinger Escape Plan circa Calculating Infinity? Apparently, this band did too. Their debut album, A Partial Dialogue Between Ghost and Priest, is quite an achievement. Taking the obvious influence mentioned above and adding frenzied arcade noises, whistled bird calls, and their own adaptation of the "Birthday Song" during the Anchorman-inspired title track "Stay Classy, San Diego." Avant-garde screamo and technical hardcore combine for a dazzling debut release by this imaginative Canadian band.
Ben Considers Himself A Young, Socially-Awkard, Comedically-Challenged: Daniel Tosh - True Stories I Made Up
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/danieltosh.jpg
Website: (http://www.danieltosh.com) :: Listen: (http://www.danieltosh.com/audiovideo.html)
Daniel Tosh first drew my attention during his Comedy Central Presents appearance. He seemed all right, but his joke about cargo pants hooked me. He's a self-deprecating, audience-riling observational genius. He will say the most jaw-droppingly racist or idiotic things, then spin it back to prove a point. He's not someone you can listen to if you're around people who don't have a sense of humor, we'll say. When he tells a joke, then says "Yeah, try saying that where you work…'What? I'm fired? All right, see ya later,'" he's exactly right. His jokes would probably get you fired. But he's hilarious and he cuts right to the bone. One of the funniest albums I've ever heard. He puts that Dane Cook fella everyone's so ga-ga over to shame.
Adam Doesn't Want To Move To Del Boca Vista: Murder By Death - In Bocca Al Lupo
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/murderbydeath.jpg
Website: (http://www.murderbydeath.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/murderbydeath)
Continuing my current love affair with the modern brand of chamber-like Americana, the highly anticipated new album from Murder By Death more than strikes my fancy. Their third full length, In Bocca Al Lupo, expands on their concept-laden storytelling and should definitely suppress the hunger from the three year wait. The album is drowned in the sound of violins, cellos, and pianos, not to mention the whiskey-scorched vocals that firmly plant your mind in a western saloon more than a century ago. Cursive never did it any better.
Mac Lethal (Mac Lethal, Black Clover Records) Hates Being Confused With DJ Lethal: Joe Good - Hi, May I Help You?
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/joegood.jpg
Website: (http://www.myspace.com/joegood) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/joegood)
A few years ago, some very famous rappers who a lot of people don't particularly care for, and some that a lot of people do, spearheaded the mixtape movement. This movement was the perfect promotional vehicle, and sadly, a cheap excuse to sell people half-baked, unmixed, unfocused songs on something that "isn't an album, it's a mixtape."
Joe Good didn't agree with this logic.
Hi May I Help You? is his answer to this travesty of corporate, dirtbag musicianship. It isn't filled with hokey shout-outs from other semi-famous musicians, it's full of eloquently-written passages and clever stabs at people trying to live out their rap music fantasies. It isn't filled with Casio beats that mirror the latest pop-rap trends. It's full of low-end-heavy bangers, with gritty drums and thirst quenching melodies. The perfect canvas for Joe Good to make his poignant and confessional brush strokes upon. Non-rap fans will probably love this more than rap fans. And rap fans love this mixtape.
Johnny Damns The Dam To: Hit the Lights - This Is A Stickup, Don't Make It A Murder
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/hitthelights.jpg
Website: (http://www.hitthelightsmusic.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/hitthelights)
Aaaaah, pop punk, how I love thee. Okay, let me specify that. I love GOOD pop punk and there's been a severe shortage of that lately. Enter Hit The Lights. This five-piece from Lima, Ohio (which is known more as the halfway point between Dayton and Toledo than a home of great bands) is a breath of fresh air in a genre that has been stale and boring for a long time. The thing about Hit The Lights is that they don't do anything new or different, but they take the best aspects of New Found Glory, Cartel, Fall Out Boy, and Saves The Day, mix them together and the outcome is magical. These boys are my pick for the next big thing and I can't wait to see where they end up...and if their new album This Is A Stickup, Don't Make It A Murder is any indication, it'll be on TRL and on tour in arenas.
Marc Thinks This Will Hit You Like An Anvil: Acme - …To Reduce The Choir To One Soloist
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/acme.jpg
Website: (http://www.radiotakeover.com/music/album.rto?id=180) :: Listen: (http://www.radiotakeover.com/music/album.rto?id=180)
Germany's answer to Botch. Easily one of my favorite crossover bands. It took me a while to discover Acme and took me even longer to find their full length. ...To Reduce the Choir to One Soloist is a mixture of hardcore, metal, and sludge. It may not be the most original band, but it was definitely promising, drawing comparisons to Converge, Coalesce, and Botch. Though the band has since broken up, they have set the path even more, particularly for metalcore.
On ...To Reduce the Choir to One Soloist they compile songs from their 7-inch, unreleased songs, and compilation songs. This CD is packed with enough double bass and "chugga-chugga" to make any metal or hardcore kid want to start picking up change.
Chris Can Be Heard Yelling, "You're No J. Geils Band" In The Background: Giles - Giles
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/giles.jpg
Website: (http://www.myspace.com/giles) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/giles)
This is what you get when you leave the talented Tommy Rogers Jr. alone by himself with a keyboard! Although Tommy is talented, I’m not sure if he displays much of that talent in these nine goofy electronica songs, but he does have a lot to do with the writing process in your favorite metal band, Between The Buried And Me, along with being the vocals for them. I do believe, and hope, that Tommy doesn’t take Giles all too seriously. And feel free to make fun of me if you want, as I do find myself listening to this CD every now and then, mainly for a chuckle, but some of the beats are rather fun to listen to. I’m definitely anticipating a Giles/BTBAM tour. Who’s with me?
Kamran Will Most Likely Ride His Own Nuts Over This Pick: Smashing Pumpkins - Gish
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/smashingpumpkins.jpg
Website: (http://www.smashingpumpkins.com) :: Listen: (http://www.smashingpumpkins.com)
For this listening station, I was racking my brain, trying to recall new albums that I've been giving a lot of attention to. But as I write this, I'm listening to Gish by the Smashing Pumpkins. And then I thought, well galldarnit, this album is worthy of my recognition because boy howdy, this is my favorite band, and I haven't listened to this album in a long while. This is probably my most accidentally overlooked Pumpkins album, and not with good cause or reason. This is arguably their second best album - behind Siamese Dream, of course - and it truly displays the band's mind boggling talent as rock n' roll musicians. Of the early 90s bands that made it big, none had as impressive of a debut as the Pumpkins did with Gish.
Dant Isn't Scared Of: The Pink Spiders - Hot Pink
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/pinkspiders.jpg
Website: (http://www.thepinkspiders.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/thepinkspiders)
To be honest, the first time I listened to The Pink Spiders, I figured I would be sick of them within a week. But it’s almost been a year now and I still love them just as much, if not more. Their full-length debut, Hot Pink, is inspired by popular acts such as Buddy Holly and Elvis Costello and it shows. Their love of old rock is prevalent throughout the whole CD. So if you want some rock revival and you’re tired of The Strokes, check these guys out.
Eric Believes The Tragedy Of Textbooks Is That They Are Completely Unreadable: A Textbook Tragedy - A Partial Dialogue Between Ghost And Priest
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/atextbooktragedy.gif
Website: (http://www.atextbooktragedy.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/atextbooktragedy)
Did you like The Dillinger Escape Plan circa Calculating Infinity? Apparently, this band did too. Their debut album, A Partial Dialogue Between Ghost and Priest, is quite an achievement. Taking the obvious influence mentioned above and adding frenzied arcade noises, whistled bird calls, and their own adaptation of the "Birthday Song" during the Anchorman-inspired title track "Stay Classy, San Diego." Avant-garde screamo and technical hardcore combine for a dazzling debut release by this imaginative Canadian band.
Ben Considers Himself A Young, Socially-Awkard, Comedically-Challenged: Daniel Tosh - True Stories I Made Up
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/danieltosh.jpg
Website: (http://www.danieltosh.com) :: Listen: (http://www.danieltosh.com/audiovideo.html)
Daniel Tosh first drew my attention during his Comedy Central Presents appearance. He seemed all right, but his joke about cargo pants hooked me. He's a self-deprecating, audience-riling observational genius. He will say the most jaw-droppingly racist or idiotic things, then spin it back to prove a point. He's not someone you can listen to if you're around people who don't have a sense of humor, we'll say. When he tells a joke, then says "Yeah, try saying that where you work…'What? I'm fired? All right, see ya later,'" he's exactly right. His jokes would probably get you fired. But he's hilarious and he cuts right to the bone. One of the funniest albums I've ever heard. He puts that Dane Cook fella everyone's so ga-ga over to shame.
Adam Doesn't Want To Move To Del Boca Vista: Murder By Death - In Bocca Al Lupo
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/murderbydeath.jpg
Website: (http://www.murderbydeath.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/murderbydeath)
Continuing my current love affair with the modern brand of chamber-like Americana, the highly anticipated new album from Murder By Death more than strikes my fancy. Their third full length, In Bocca Al Lupo, expands on their concept-laden storytelling and should definitely suppress the hunger from the three year wait. The album is drowned in the sound of violins, cellos, and pianos, not to mention the whiskey-scorched vocals that firmly plant your mind in a western saloon more than a century ago. Cursive never did it any better.