sir mix-a-lot
06-14-2006, 06:51 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.
Jordan Silverberg Enjoys The Films With Substance: Adult Cinema - All A Dream
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/adultcinema.jpg
Website: (http://www.myspace.com/adultcinema) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/adultcinema)
Note to the reader: Do not be fooled by the name. Adult Cinema is not a porno funk band; they have nothing to do with the adult entertainment industry. Adult Cinema is a kick-ass new band I was exposed to a month or two back through work. They have a sound that recalls some 60s and 70s classic bands like The Kinks, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, but something about them sounds a bit like Muse, only not quite as fast and heavy. And then there's the folk element, but it's sort of haunting and very pretty. Basically, modern psychedelic folk rock. I don't believe the album has been released in the States, but check out their MySpace page, be their friends, and support their music. Cheers!
Brent's Submission Needed A Lot Of Editing: Mastodon - Leviathan
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/mastodon.jpg
Website: (http://www.mastodonrocks.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/mastodon)
Hi. I'm 24, single, enjoy quiet evenings, reading books, sipping wine, smiling at pretty girls, and fucking blasting Mastodon records. This band is dominating metal right now -- and rightfully so. Not only do they succeed in covering all the bases, they exceed in the elements of this genre which matter most: proficiency, technicality, versatility, and brutality.
Michael Phillips (Scene Point Blank (http://www.scenepointblank.com), Escapist Records (http://www.escapistrecords.com)) Is Wont To Self-Promote, But Finds It A Necessary Evil From Time To Time: Robot Eyes - Arręt
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/roboteyes.jpg
Website: (http://www.myspace.com/roboteyes) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/roboteyes)
So before I go into any further detail, let me preface my choice by stating that Robot Eyes is on the record label that I own. But any individual with integrity that runs a record label will tell you that they wouldn't invest in a release if it weren't something that they would buy. Which brings us to the release, Robot Eyes' debut full-length Arręt. The music that these fine gentlemen from the small town of Corvallis, Oregon, play is comparable to Through Being Cool-era Saves the Day mixed with the upbeat style of Kid Dynamite. The band builds on this sound with an infusion of indie rock and post-punk influences as well as some pop sensibility, which helps to distinguish the band from the slew of others in the underground music scene. If you've enjoyed the output of the aforementioned bands as well as The Movielife or Brand New, you should check them out; you just might find something you like.
Daniel Alcinii Thinks These Guys Are As Addicting As Cigarettes: Cancer Bats - Birthing The Giant
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/cancerbats2.jpg
Website: (http://www.cancerbats.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/cancerbats)
Yes, I'm recommending the Cancer Bats once again, and with fucking good reason! Not many of you American kids know who the Bats are, and that's truly a damn shame. A week ago on six/six/six, "Satan's day," the world didn't come to an end with the Apocalypse like so many ignorant people thought; instead came the end of shitty music and a ragin' live show with the Cancer Bats and Birthing The Giant. This album title got me thinking about how fucking painful giving birth must be to a regular-sized child, never mind a giant. Remember Andre The Giant? I wonder who would win between him and the Big Show… or The Big Green Giant, for that matter. I don’t even like wrestling; why do I know this? ANYWAYS, stemming from bands like the infamous Figure Four, Rouge Nation, At the Mercy Of Inspiration, and Urban Blight, there is absolutely no reason why the Bats shouldn't be one of your favourite bands by the time this album leaves your CD player, if it actually ever does.
Scott Has Seen True Lies Too Many Times: The Tango Saloon - The Tango Saloon
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/thetangosaloon.jpg
Website: (http://www.ipecac.com/bio.php?id=43) :: Listen: (http://www.ipecac.com/audio/075.mp3)
The Tango Saloon is a band with a cool name. But who cares? Lots of bands have 'cool' names. This one, however, also happens to describe the music's unique execution perfectly, pinpointing style and substance, both with the unflinching precision of an old-west rifleman. Blending revolutionary tango stylings with the spaghetti western flair of Ennio Morricone's soundtrack compositions (as well as an experimental 'something' all their own), The Tango Saloon has crafted an amazing debut album. Structurally, the music flows down paths similar to its namesake dance, rife with exhilarating highs and lows.
However, the musicians never lose sight of their influences: Innate cheesiness, clamping their jackal's teeth over the fragrant rose that is well-done satire. This smirking experimentalism separates The Tango Saloon from their many background-noise appropriate contemporaries, imbuing it with an amusing-yet-thrilling confidence reminiscent of Mr. Bungle, Estradasphere, or even, perhaps, two dancers rapt in the heated finale of a passionate tango.
Jared Was Taken Aback By: As Blood Runs Black - Allegiance
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/asbloodrunsblack.jpg
Website: (http://www.mediaskarerecords.com/asbloodrunsblack.html) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/asbloodrunsblack)
This week it's back to my usual metal kick and this album just fell into my lap. I'd never heard a single note of As Blood Runs Black before last week and, based on their name, I figured I might be interested. As it turns out, this is one of the most punishing releases I've heard this year.
Their sound is reminiscent of Job For A Cowboy or Through The Eyes of the Dead. The most impressive part about these songs on Allegiance are the drums. I don't know who this guy is, but he can certainly kick out the blast beats with ferocity. For the most part, the guitars stick to heavily distorted chugging, but they include short melodic flurries that are just enough to grab your attention.
I have been waiting for this moment since January. I wanted an album to just come out of nowhere and blow me away and As Blood Runs Black did just that with Allegiance this week. I'm going to go out on a limb and say this will probably make my top 10 this year. Either way, it's going to get a number of plays though my speakers.
Aaron Thinks This Band Name/Album Title Combo Pretty Much Says It All: Good Riddance - My Republic
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/goodriddance.jpg
Website: (http://www.good-riddance.com) :: Listen: (http://myspace.com/goodriddance)
I'm sure by now everyone knows my everlasting love for Good Riddance, from the good days of A Comprehensive Guide To Moderne Rebellion, Of God And Country, and Ballads From The Revolution, to the last few albums, Operation Phoenix and Bound By Ties Of Blood and Affection, which seem to not have captured the essense of the Good Riddance of old. This time around, the band has re-enlisted the drumming of Sean Sellers, which helps me relive my past memories and brings forth an album that has its own staying power in my collection of discs again. The new album, My Republic, is definitely a step up from the past few as I find myself enjoying it more and more after each listen. The melody is still there, the politics, and the fast paced punk rock we all grew up loving. I think a lot of past fans will finally re-identify with this new album, so be sure to pick it up June 27th via Fat Wreck Chords and get prepared for what could be one of the last Good Riddance albums we could ever see. I just have this feeling their time is coming to an end.
Johnny Returns From Outer Space To Bring You: Brandtson - Hello, Control
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/brandtson.jpg
Website: (http://www.brandtson.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/brandtson)
I have always liked Brandtson. Their brand of indie emo always struck a chord with me for some reason. They had big guitars, pretty catchy hooks, and there's always been something about their live shows that draws me in. Another album like their last would've been just fine for me, but Hello, Control is a step in a brand new direction, and it's a direction that I like very much. Their new sound is dance-y, electro-indie pop and it is a beautiful thing for this pop-crazy, hook-hungry young man. I like it so much in fact, that I will be using some songs from it to dance at our wedding next month...so thank you, Brandtson, for contributing to the Lintz wedding.
Brandon Figures Someone Had To Say It: Cursive - Happy HOllow
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/cursive4.jpg
Website: (http://www.cursivearmy.com) :: Listen: (http://www.saddlecreekrecords.com/bands/cursive/downloads.html)
Sure, this album isn't really out yet, but Tim and that indie powerhouse Cursive are getting back on track after reGRETtAbly losing the cello sound that was well-infused in The Ugly Organ. With Happy Hollow, you can bet that you won't be let down. That Cursive sound that you have grown to love so much is just as much alive in this release as it was from their first release. Get your hands on this one now!
Ben Likes His Albums Shorter Than His Reviews: Agoraphobic Nosebleed - PCP Torpedo
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/agoraphobicnosebleed.jpg
Website: (http://www.cursivearmy.com) :: Listen: (http://www.saddlecreekrecords.com/bands/cursive/downloads.html)
I have only listened to this album twice. The first time was as I was driving to work this morning. At a massive ten tracks long, it was over before I even reached the freeway, just a short jaunt of two miles from my apartment doorstep. 5:47 seconds into it, it ends. Then again, this is a band that wrote a 99-track, 20-minute album. Side projects are fun like that. And lately, I've been trying to get my hands on pretty much anything Pig Destroyer-related. They just reach something primal in everyone. Oh, and this write-up doesn't include the second disc, which is noise remixes, many of which are longer than the entire album. And they're grating as shit. Naturally, I had it cranked on my way home, then became embarrassed and turned it down. Until the light turned green. Because music's quieter when it's moving. Abrasive. Fun. Good times. It must suck to realize you can't write a song longer than three and a half minutes. But that shit's over-rated anyway. Sometimes, you're only taking a quick drive to the grocery store. PCP Torpedo does the trick.
Jordan Silverberg Enjoys The Films With Substance: Adult Cinema - All A Dream
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/adultcinema.jpg
Website: (http://www.myspace.com/adultcinema) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/adultcinema)
Note to the reader: Do not be fooled by the name. Adult Cinema is not a porno funk band; they have nothing to do with the adult entertainment industry. Adult Cinema is a kick-ass new band I was exposed to a month or two back through work. They have a sound that recalls some 60s and 70s classic bands like The Kinks, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, but something about them sounds a bit like Muse, only not quite as fast and heavy. And then there's the folk element, but it's sort of haunting and very pretty. Basically, modern psychedelic folk rock. I don't believe the album has been released in the States, but check out their MySpace page, be their friends, and support their music. Cheers!
Brent's Submission Needed A Lot Of Editing: Mastodon - Leviathan
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/mastodon.jpg
Website: (http://www.mastodonrocks.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/mastodon)
Hi. I'm 24, single, enjoy quiet evenings, reading books, sipping wine, smiling at pretty girls, and fucking blasting Mastodon records. This band is dominating metal right now -- and rightfully so. Not only do they succeed in covering all the bases, they exceed in the elements of this genre which matter most: proficiency, technicality, versatility, and brutality.
Michael Phillips (Scene Point Blank (http://www.scenepointblank.com), Escapist Records (http://www.escapistrecords.com)) Is Wont To Self-Promote, But Finds It A Necessary Evil From Time To Time: Robot Eyes - Arręt
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/roboteyes.jpg
Website: (http://www.myspace.com/roboteyes) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/roboteyes)
So before I go into any further detail, let me preface my choice by stating that Robot Eyes is on the record label that I own. But any individual with integrity that runs a record label will tell you that they wouldn't invest in a release if it weren't something that they would buy. Which brings us to the release, Robot Eyes' debut full-length Arręt. The music that these fine gentlemen from the small town of Corvallis, Oregon, play is comparable to Through Being Cool-era Saves the Day mixed with the upbeat style of Kid Dynamite. The band builds on this sound with an infusion of indie rock and post-punk influences as well as some pop sensibility, which helps to distinguish the band from the slew of others in the underground music scene. If you've enjoyed the output of the aforementioned bands as well as The Movielife or Brand New, you should check them out; you just might find something you like.
Daniel Alcinii Thinks These Guys Are As Addicting As Cigarettes: Cancer Bats - Birthing The Giant
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/cancerbats2.jpg
Website: (http://www.cancerbats.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/cancerbats)
Yes, I'm recommending the Cancer Bats once again, and with fucking good reason! Not many of you American kids know who the Bats are, and that's truly a damn shame. A week ago on six/six/six, "Satan's day," the world didn't come to an end with the Apocalypse like so many ignorant people thought; instead came the end of shitty music and a ragin' live show with the Cancer Bats and Birthing The Giant. This album title got me thinking about how fucking painful giving birth must be to a regular-sized child, never mind a giant. Remember Andre The Giant? I wonder who would win between him and the Big Show… or The Big Green Giant, for that matter. I don’t even like wrestling; why do I know this? ANYWAYS, stemming from bands like the infamous Figure Four, Rouge Nation, At the Mercy Of Inspiration, and Urban Blight, there is absolutely no reason why the Bats shouldn't be one of your favourite bands by the time this album leaves your CD player, if it actually ever does.
Scott Has Seen True Lies Too Many Times: The Tango Saloon - The Tango Saloon
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/thetangosaloon.jpg
Website: (http://www.ipecac.com/bio.php?id=43) :: Listen: (http://www.ipecac.com/audio/075.mp3)
The Tango Saloon is a band with a cool name. But who cares? Lots of bands have 'cool' names. This one, however, also happens to describe the music's unique execution perfectly, pinpointing style and substance, both with the unflinching precision of an old-west rifleman. Blending revolutionary tango stylings with the spaghetti western flair of Ennio Morricone's soundtrack compositions (as well as an experimental 'something' all their own), The Tango Saloon has crafted an amazing debut album. Structurally, the music flows down paths similar to its namesake dance, rife with exhilarating highs and lows.
However, the musicians never lose sight of their influences: Innate cheesiness, clamping their jackal's teeth over the fragrant rose that is well-done satire. This smirking experimentalism separates The Tango Saloon from their many background-noise appropriate contemporaries, imbuing it with an amusing-yet-thrilling confidence reminiscent of Mr. Bungle, Estradasphere, or even, perhaps, two dancers rapt in the heated finale of a passionate tango.
Jared Was Taken Aback By: As Blood Runs Black - Allegiance
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/asbloodrunsblack.jpg
Website: (http://www.mediaskarerecords.com/asbloodrunsblack.html) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/asbloodrunsblack)
This week it's back to my usual metal kick and this album just fell into my lap. I'd never heard a single note of As Blood Runs Black before last week and, based on their name, I figured I might be interested. As it turns out, this is one of the most punishing releases I've heard this year.
Their sound is reminiscent of Job For A Cowboy or Through The Eyes of the Dead. The most impressive part about these songs on Allegiance are the drums. I don't know who this guy is, but he can certainly kick out the blast beats with ferocity. For the most part, the guitars stick to heavily distorted chugging, but they include short melodic flurries that are just enough to grab your attention.
I have been waiting for this moment since January. I wanted an album to just come out of nowhere and blow me away and As Blood Runs Black did just that with Allegiance this week. I'm going to go out on a limb and say this will probably make my top 10 this year. Either way, it's going to get a number of plays though my speakers.
Aaron Thinks This Band Name/Album Title Combo Pretty Much Says It All: Good Riddance - My Republic
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/goodriddance.jpg
Website: (http://www.good-riddance.com) :: Listen: (http://myspace.com/goodriddance)
I'm sure by now everyone knows my everlasting love for Good Riddance, from the good days of A Comprehensive Guide To Moderne Rebellion, Of God And Country, and Ballads From The Revolution, to the last few albums, Operation Phoenix and Bound By Ties Of Blood and Affection, which seem to not have captured the essense of the Good Riddance of old. This time around, the band has re-enlisted the drumming of Sean Sellers, which helps me relive my past memories and brings forth an album that has its own staying power in my collection of discs again. The new album, My Republic, is definitely a step up from the past few as I find myself enjoying it more and more after each listen. The melody is still there, the politics, and the fast paced punk rock we all grew up loving. I think a lot of past fans will finally re-identify with this new album, so be sure to pick it up June 27th via Fat Wreck Chords and get prepared for what could be one of the last Good Riddance albums we could ever see. I just have this feeling their time is coming to an end.
Johnny Returns From Outer Space To Bring You: Brandtson - Hello, Control
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/brandtson.jpg
Website: (http://www.brandtson.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/brandtson)
I have always liked Brandtson. Their brand of indie emo always struck a chord with me for some reason. They had big guitars, pretty catchy hooks, and there's always been something about their live shows that draws me in. Another album like their last would've been just fine for me, but Hello, Control is a step in a brand new direction, and it's a direction that I like very much. Their new sound is dance-y, electro-indie pop and it is a beautiful thing for this pop-crazy, hook-hungry young man. I like it so much in fact, that I will be using some songs from it to dance at our wedding next month...so thank you, Brandtson, for contributing to the Lintz wedding.
Brandon Figures Someone Had To Say It: Cursive - Happy HOllow
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/cursive4.jpg
Website: (http://www.cursivearmy.com) :: Listen: (http://www.saddlecreekrecords.com/bands/cursive/downloads.html)
Sure, this album isn't really out yet, but Tim and that indie powerhouse Cursive are getting back on track after reGRETtAbly losing the cello sound that was well-infused in The Ugly Organ. With Happy Hollow, you can bet that you won't be let down. That Cursive sound that you have grown to love so much is just as much alive in this release as it was from their first release. Get your hands on this one now!
Ben Likes His Albums Shorter Than His Reviews: Agoraphobic Nosebleed - PCP Torpedo
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/agoraphobicnosebleed.jpg
Website: (http://www.cursivearmy.com) :: Listen: (http://www.saddlecreekrecords.com/bands/cursive/downloads.html)
I have only listened to this album twice. The first time was as I was driving to work this morning. At a massive ten tracks long, it was over before I even reached the freeway, just a short jaunt of two miles from my apartment doorstep. 5:47 seconds into it, it ends. Then again, this is a band that wrote a 99-track, 20-minute album. Side projects are fun like that. And lately, I've been trying to get my hands on pretty much anything Pig Destroyer-related. They just reach something primal in everyone. Oh, and this write-up doesn't include the second disc, which is noise remixes, many of which are longer than the entire album. And they're grating as shit. Naturally, I had it cranked on my way home, then became embarrassed and turned it down. Until the light turned green. Because music's quieter when it's moving. Abrasive. Fun. Good times. It must suck to realize you can't write a song longer than three and a half minutes. But that shit's over-rated anyway. Sometimes, you're only taking a quick drive to the grocery store. PCP Torpedo does the trick.