sir mix-a-lot
09-06-2006, 11:31 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.
MJ Makes His First Imprint On The Segment, So I'm Going To Include The Headline He Made Up. But Only This Once: MJ Austin Has Been Cast As Jim Kelly's Replacement For The Black SamuraiRemakes: Swords - Metropolis
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/swords.jpg
Website: (http://www.myspace.com/swordsproject) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/swordsproject)
Once featured in Adam Roncaglione’s 10 Bands You Should Know article, Swords are unquestionably top 5 candidates for the most underrated artists of 2005. Often drawing comparisons to Sigur Ros and Codeseven, the sextet’s first LP, Metropolis, weaves a remarkably sensual brand of ambient pop-rock that wouldn’t be out of place as the soundtrack to a modern painter’s art show. Fans of shoegaze, electronica or the prior mentioned artists would do well to pick this album up; their collection just isn’t complete without it.
Michael Phillips (Scene Point Blank (http://www.scenepointblank.com), Escapist Records (http://www.escapistrecords.com)) Can't Really Screw This One Up: Botch - We Are The Romans
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/botch.jpg
Website: (http://www.myspace.com/botch) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/botch)
The album speaks for itself. Go buy it; that is all.
Chris Conlan Wants To Know Your Age, Sex, Location: A Static Lullaby - A Static Lullaby
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/astaticlullaby.jpg
Website: (http://www.astaticlullaby.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/astaticlullaby)
What does the future have in store for A Static Lullaby? The guys have been through a lot these past 2 years, but at the end of the day their heads are still held high. ASL's forthcoming self-titled Fearless debut is the album they wanted to make since the beginning. With no pressure from a major label and the ability to do what they want, A Static Lullaby is grabbing the bull by the horns and plans to take themselves to the top like they did with And Don't Forget to Breathe. So all your ASL fans that strayed away after the release of Faso Latido, get ready to find your way back.
Rick Wishes He Were Brandon: Dream Theater - Live At Budokan
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/dreamtheater.jpg
Website: (http://www.dreamtheater.net) :: Listen: (http://www.amazon.com/Live-at-Budokan-Dream-Theater/dp/B0002XL2WK/sr=1-13/qid=1157574270/ref=sr_1_13/002-8846760-9160066?ie=UTF8&s=music)
Wouldn’t it be great to be so kickass at something, you know that there’s not another person out there that can match you? I’d imagine that the members of Dream Theater feel that way most of the time. With so many great releases under their belts, accolades from just about everyone, a live show that is an unstoppable prog juggernaut, and musical talent pouring out all over the place, how could they not? This 3-disc live set from their performance in Budokan showcases many of Dream Theater’s recent songs being performed in a live setting. I find I like this 3-hour performance much more than any of their others that have been put to disc, as they don’t stick only to the hits. This is Dream Theater playing what they want to and how they want to and it is captured perfectly for your listening and viewing pleasure.
Armand Babian (BarbarTheElephant87) Wishes People Would View Him As More The "Nathan Lane" Type: Under Byen - Samme Stof Som Stof
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/underbyen.jpg
Website: (http://www.underbyen.dk) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/47795897 )
Under Byen has been around since 1995. It’s a shame I never heard them until earlier this year. It may be due to the fact that they’re from Denmark, but we’ll never know for sure. Never the less, I’m still glad I got the chance to hear them, especially since Samme Stof Som Stof is one of my favorite albums of this year and one of the most inventive albums I’ve heard in quite some time.
Under Byen’s sound is really unclassifiable for me. Sometimes they sound indie, sometimes they sound like Bjork (well at least their vocalist, Henriette Sennenvaldt), and sometimes they just sound like the most incredible post-rock I’ve ever heard. Their song “Den Her Sang Handler Om At Fa Det Bedste Ud Af Det” (yes, that’s the song name) exhibits so much control over tension and resolution, it’s ridiculous. It builds and builds and builds in the second "movement" and then switches from major to minor for what seems like just one measure before switching back again. This could be post-post-rock, if you ask me.
Anyway, this album isn’t just post-rock and is pretty far from it. There are songs on this album for fans of all kinds of music. Also dudes, Google image search Henriette Sennenvaldt. You will NOT be disappointed.
Brandon Takes Great Pride In The Fact That He Is Not Rick: Tilly And The Wall - Wild Like Children
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/tillyandthewall2.jpg
Website: (http://www.tillyandthewall.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/tillyandthewall)
The tapdance that got me started on a great group from Omaha. One of my first reviews at Decoy and I am still digging the lovely ladies of Tilly and the excellent songwriting of Nick and Derek, as well as the rest of the group. If you are not yet familiar with this band, then I'd suggest you take a listen! If you're a fan of Bright Eyes or Jenny Lewis, then check this band out now.
Chris Pandolfo Experiences An Emotional Jab To His Ab Every Time He Tries To Find: In Reverent Fear - Stomacher
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/inreverentfear.jpg
Website: (http://www.inreverentfear.com) :: Listen: (http://www.purevolume.com/inreverentfear)
This is an album I can't seem to stop listening to. And that's not a problem. Following Hopesfall's path of a melodic hardcore band turning space rock, In Reverent Fear put out their sophomore LP, Stomacher, and it's a treat to indulge. A couple things I've noticed with Stomacher are that it gets better and better with each listen, and the 2nd half of the album also seems better than the first. Not that one song is bad on this album; it's just that once the incredibly moving "Heavy On It" begins, the rest of the album is just flawless. The incredible amount of atmospheric elements on this album flows at you like waves when you experience it through decent headphones. It's really something you have to try. Also, if you haven't read Ben's review for Stomacher (http://www.decoymusic.com/index.php?content=reviews&reviewid=15990&oldreview=0), you should also get on that.
Now I just wish I could find this CD near me BECAUSE I'VE LOOKED EVERYWHERE AND NO ONE HAS IT! Beat.
Jared Is Sick Of Everyone Jabbering On About Dragonforce And Their Greatness Within The SkyMetal Genre. Additionally, He Asks That "SkyMetal" Never Be Recognized As A Genre Name: Into Eternity - The Scattering Of Ashes
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/intoeternity.jpg
Website: (http://www.intoeternity.net) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/officialintoeternity)
Dragonforce has nothing on these guys. There, I said it; now everyone flame me. The truth is everyone really hates the Dragonforce vocals. I can't even count how many times I've heard someone tell me they'd be into them if the vocals weren't so over-the-top. Well, Into Eternity has the right idea: A little falsetto vocals, more screaming, and enough death metal to fill a cemetery full of graves. And they're from Canada. Who doesn't like Canada?
Jordan Will Never Stop Rubbing It In About How Great His Job Is: Kaada - Music For Moviebikers
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/kaada.jpg
Website: (http://www.kaada.no) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/kaada)
So, I really wanted to put mewithoutYou's new album as my pick of the week, but since I just got it a few hours ago, I'll hold off on that one. I also wanted to put my pick of the week as this link: http://youtube.com/watch?v=dLPb2QiybHo (Alive in Joburg), but it's not music - just the short film directed by the guy who's going to be directing the Halo feature film. Pretty kick ass. Instead, I chose Kaada's latest release, which is something I've been looking forward to listening to for the last couple weeks. What more can I say about this album? Kaada wrote a score to a movie that doesn't exist. That kicks ass. Why, it's almost like he wrote it just for me to place in a movie trailer. How thoughtful.
Daniel Alcinii Does Not Fail To Realize The Hilarity Of The Fact That This Band's Name Can Be Re-Spaced To Read Anal Bat Ross: An Albatross - We Are The Lazer Viking
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/analbatross.gif
Website: (http://www.analbatross.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/analbatross23)
I'm going to go ahead and assume that someone has mewithoutYou as their listening pick this week, so I'm going for a different feel. This past Monday, my girlfriend and I were supposed to be seeing An Albatross live, but due to the local underground CD store's website, which also sells tickets, fucking up and having the date as Wednesday instead of the actual date (Monday, as previously mentioned), I missed out on the event. Regardless, I've been listening to An Albatross's Funkytown beats and Louisiana State Carnival-like grindcore all week. Grab a candy apple and/or cotton candy and hop on those death traps carnies tend to call a "safe rollercoaster," all the while hurling over the edge onto some fat passerby who’s got the unfortunate name of Jethro. Git’er done!
Johnny Sometimes Wishes His Feline Friend Would Get Stuck In The Goshdarn Elm Down The Road!: The Elms - The Chess Hotel
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/theelms2.jpg
Website: (http://www.theelms.net) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/theelms)
...my kitten mauled my hand...can't type...listen to The Elms...
Andy Young Doesn't Want Revenge. After All, He Is Male. Hetero Sex'll Do: She Wants Revenge - She Wants Revenge
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/shewantsrevenge.jpg
Website: (http://www.shewantsrevenge.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/shewantsrevenge)
I didn't take to She Wants Revenge at first, but being a huge fan of Joy Division, The Cure, and other 70-80's new wave I found it hard to resist. With their Ian Curtis-like vocals, sexually explicit lyrics, and those damn techno beats that I find to be so catchy, what once was a guilty pleasure, I now confess I really like. I love this release though. There isn't a song on the album that I skip; it's very complete. Of course it's not all that imaginative and it's maybe a little too similar to Joy Division or maybe even Interpol, but I choose to ignore that and just enjoy the album. I'm checking these guys out at Bogarts next week with former featured artist Mellowdrone as the opener.
Marc Won't Confess To The Crimes He's Committed: Miles Away -- Consequence
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/milesaway.jpg
Website: (http://www.myspace.com/milesawayhc) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/milesawayhc)
Australia's finest hardcore band Miles Away comes back with the follow-up to Bridge 9's 2005 self titled. They deliver 11 tracks of straight-up melodic hardcore. When most bands are tossing in the ever so popular breakdowns (for the sake of breakdowns) and constant gang vocals, Miles Away takes the old school approach with the fat mid-tempo tracks in the vein of Champion and Gorilla Biscuits. It's kind of hard to believe something like this can come from Australia; it makes me think, "What else is that oh so far place hiding in their kangaroo pouches?" This is a really solid release from Bridge 9 and definitely a breath of fresh air for hardcore which has become very predictable as of late.
Ben Isn't Really A Lord Of The Rings Fan, But He Knows This Band Got Their Name From A Hill Or Some Shit: Ephel Duath - The Painter's Palette
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/ephelduath.jpg
Website: (http://www.ephelduath.net) :: Listen: (http://www.ephelduath.net/download.htm)
I know what you're thinking…Star Wars was half good, half bad, while Lord of the Rings translated ridiculously well to the big screen. But what you should be thinking is that I consistently bring one of the best picks each and every week and my selection of Ephel Duath's splashy first hit album, The Painter's Palette, pretty much follows in that vein. While their latest album, Pain Necessary to Know, hit a few "Bland Street Blooms," this one's all great, all the time. I guess the singer aspect of the band really was a huge contributing factor to this band's greatness. I'd like to mention that Adam Roncaglione thought I should audition for the role of smooth vocalist for this smooth-jazz gone metal hybrid. I don't think that's a good idea.
MJ Makes His First Imprint On The Segment, So I'm Going To Include The Headline He Made Up. But Only This Once: MJ Austin Has Been Cast As Jim Kelly's Replacement For The Black SamuraiRemakes: Swords - Metropolis
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/swords.jpg
Website: (http://www.myspace.com/swordsproject) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/swordsproject)
Once featured in Adam Roncaglione’s 10 Bands You Should Know article, Swords are unquestionably top 5 candidates for the most underrated artists of 2005. Often drawing comparisons to Sigur Ros and Codeseven, the sextet’s first LP, Metropolis, weaves a remarkably sensual brand of ambient pop-rock that wouldn’t be out of place as the soundtrack to a modern painter’s art show. Fans of shoegaze, electronica or the prior mentioned artists would do well to pick this album up; their collection just isn’t complete without it.
Michael Phillips (Scene Point Blank (http://www.scenepointblank.com), Escapist Records (http://www.escapistrecords.com)) Can't Really Screw This One Up: Botch - We Are The Romans
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/botch.jpg
Website: (http://www.myspace.com/botch) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/botch)
The album speaks for itself. Go buy it; that is all.
Chris Conlan Wants To Know Your Age, Sex, Location: A Static Lullaby - A Static Lullaby
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/astaticlullaby.jpg
Website: (http://www.astaticlullaby.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/astaticlullaby)
What does the future have in store for A Static Lullaby? The guys have been through a lot these past 2 years, but at the end of the day their heads are still held high. ASL's forthcoming self-titled Fearless debut is the album they wanted to make since the beginning. With no pressure from a major label and the ability to do what they want, A Static Lullaby is grabbing the bull by the horns and plans to take themselves to the top like they did with And Don't Forget to Breathe. So all your ASL fans that strayed away after the release of Faso Latido, get ready to find your way back.
Rick Wishes He Were Brandon: Dream Theater - Live At Budokan
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/dreamtheater.jpg
Website: (http://www.dreamtheater.net) :: Listen: (http://www.amazon.com/Live-at-Budokan-Dream-Theater/dp/B0002XL2WK/sr=1-13/qid=1157574270/ref=sr_1_13/002-8846760-9160066?ie=UTF8&s=music)
Wouldn’t it be great to be so kickass at something, you know that there’s not another person out there that can match you? I’d imagine that the members of Dream Theater feel that way most of the time. With so many great releases under their belts, accolades from just about everyone, a live show that is an unstoppable prog juggernaut, and musical talent pouring out all over the place, how could they not? This 3-disc live set from their performance in Budokan showcases many of Dream Theater’s recent songs being performed in a live setting. I find I like this 3-hour performance much more than any of their others that have been put to disc, as they don’t stick only to the hits. This is Dream Theater playing what they want to and how they want to and it is captured perfectly for your listening and viewing pleasure.
Armand Babian (BarbarTheElephant87) Wishes People Would View Him As More The "Nathan Lane" Type: Under Byen - Samme Stof Som Stof
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/underbyen.jpg
Website: (http://www.underbyen.dk) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/47795897 )
Under Byen has been around since 1995. It’s a shame I never heard them until earlier this year. It may be due to the fact that they’re from Denmark, but we’ll never know for sure. Never the less, I’m still glad I got the chance to hear them, especially since Samme Stof Som Stof is one of my favorite albums of this year and one of the most inventive albums I’ve heard in quite some time.
Under Byen’s sound is really unclassifiable for me. Sometimes they sound indie, sometimes they sound like Bjork (well at least their vocalist, Henriette Sennenvaldt), and sometimes they just sound like the most incredible post-rock I’ve ever heard. Their song “Den Her Sang Handler Om At Fa Det Bedste Ud Af Det” (yes, that’s the song name) exhibits so much control over tension and resolution, it’s ridiculous. It builds and builds and builds in the second "movement" and then switches from major to minor for what seems like just one measure before switching back again. This could be post-post-rock, if you ask me.
Anyway, this album isn’t just post-rock and is pretty far from it. There are songs on this album for fans of all kinds of music. Also dudes, Google image search Henriette Sennenvaldt. You will NOT be disappointed.
Brandon Takes Great Pride In The Fact That He Is Not Rick: Tilly And The Wall - Wild Like Children
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/tillyandthewall2.jpg
Website: (http://www.tillyandthewall.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/tillyandthewall)
The tapdance that got me started on a great group from Omaha. One of my first reviews at Decoy and I am still digging the lovely ladies of Tilly and the excellent songwriting of Nick and Derek, as well as the rest of the group. If you are not yet familiar with this band, then I'd suggest you take a listen! If you're a fan of Bright Eyes or Jenny Lewis, then check this band out now.
Chris Pandolfo Experiences An Emotional Jab To His Ab Every Time He Tries To Find: In Reverent Fear - Stomacher
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/inreverentfear.jpg
Website: (http://www.inreverentfear.com) :: Listen: (http://www.purevolume.com/inreverentfear)
This is an album I can't seem to stop listening to. And that's not a problem. Following Hopesfall's path of a melodic hardcore band turning space rock, In Reverent Fear put out their sophomore LP, Stomacher, and it's a treat to indulge. A couple things I've noticed with Stomacher are that it gets better and better with each listen, and the 2nd half of the album also seems better than the first. Not that one song is bad on this album; it's just that once the incredibly moving "Heavy On It" begins, the rest of the album is just flawless. The incredible amount of atmospheric elements on this album flows at you like waves when you experience it through decent headphones. It's really something you have to try. Also, if you haven't read Ben's review for Stomacher (http://www.decoymusic.com/index.php?content=reviews&reviewid=15990&oldreview=0), you should also get on that.
Now I just wish I could find this CD near me BECAUSE I'VE LOOKED EVERYWHERE AND NO ONE HAS IT! Beat.
Jared Is Sick Of Everyone Jabbering On About Dragonforce And Their Greatness Within The SkyMetal Genre. Additionally, He Asks That "SkyMetal" Never Be Recognized As A Genre Name: Into Eternity - The Scattering Of Ashes
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/intoeternity.jpg
Website: (http://www.intoeternity.net) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/officialintoeternity)
Dragonforce has nothing on these guys. There, I said it; now everyone flame me. The truth is everyone really hates the Dragonforce vocals. I can't even count how many times I've heard someone tell me they'd be into them if the vocals weren't so over-the-top. Well, Into Eternity has the right idea: A little falsetto vocals, more screaming, and enough death metal to fill a cemetery full of graves. And they're from Canada. Who doesn't like Canada?
Jordan Will Never Stop Rubbing It In About How Great His Job Is: Kaada - Music For Moviebikers
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/kaada.jpg
Website: (http://www.kaada.no) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/kaada)
So, I really wanted to put mewithoutYou's new album as my pick of the week, but since I just got it a few hours ago, I'll hold off on that one. I also wanted to put my pick of the week as this link: http://youtube.com/watch?v=dLPb2QiybHo (Alive in Joburg), but it's not music - just the short film directed by the guy who's going to be directing the Halo feature film. Pretty kick ass. Instead, I chose Kaada's latest release, which is something I've been looking forward to listening to for the last couple weeks. What more can I say about this album? Kaada wrote a score to a movie that doesn't exist. That kicks ass. Why, it's almost like he wrote it just for me to place in a movie trailer. How thoughtful.
Daniel Alcinii Does Not Fail To Realize The Hilarity Of The Fact That This Band's Name Can Be Re-Spaced To Read Anal Bat Ross: An Albatross - We Are The Lazer Viking
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/analbatross.gif
Website: (http://www.analbatross.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/analbatross23)
I'm going to go ahead and assume that someone has mewithoutYou as their listening pick this week, so I'm going for a different feel. This past Monday, my girlfriend and I were supposed to be seeing An Albatross live, but due to the local underground CD store's website, which also sells tickets, fucking up and having the date as Wednesday instead of the actual date (Monday, as previously mentioned), I missed out on the event. Regardless, I've been listening to An Albatross's Funkytown beats and Louisiana State Carnival-like grindcore all week. Grab a candy apple and/or cotton candy and hop on those death traps carnies tend to call a "safe rollercoaster," all the while hurling over the edge onto some fat passerby who’s got the unfortunate name of Jethro. Git’er done!
Johnny Sometimes Wishes His Feline Friend Would Get Stuck In The Goshdarn Elm Down The Road!: The Elms - The Chess Hotel
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/theelms2.jpg
Website: (http://www.theelms.net) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/theelms)
...my kitten mauled my hand...can't type...listen to The Elms...
Andy Young Doesn't Want Revenge. After All, He Is Male. Hetero Sex'll Do: She Wants Revenge - She Wants Revenge
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/shewantsrevenge.jpg
Website: (http://www.shewantsrevenge.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/shewantsrevenge)
I didn't take to She Wants Revenge at first, but being a huge fan of Joy Division, The Cure, and other 70-80's new wave I found it hard to resist. With their Ian Curtis-like vocals, sexually explicit lyrics, and those damn techno beats that I find to be so catchy, what once was a guilty pleasure, I now confess I really like. I love this release though. There isn't a song on the album that I skip; it's very complete. Of course it's not all that imaginative and it's maybe a little too similar to Joy Division or maybe even Interpol, but I choose to ignore that and just enjoy the album. I'm checking these guys out at Bogarts next week with former featured artist Mellowdrone as the opener.
Marc Won't Confess To The Crimes He's Committed: Miles Away -- Consequence
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/milesaway.jpg
Website: (http://www.myspace.com/milesawayhc) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/milesawayhc)
Australia's finest hardcore band Miles Away comes back with the follow-up to Bridge 9's 2005 self titled. They deliver 11 tracks of straight-up melodic hardcore. When most bands are tossing in the ever so popular breakdowns (for the sake of breakdowns) and constant gang vocals, Miles Away takes the old school approach with the fat mid-tempo tracks in the vein of Champion and Gorilla Biscuits. It's kind of hard to believe something like this can come from Australia; it makes me think, "What else is that oh so far place hiding in their kangaroo pouches?" This is a really solid release from Bridge 9 and definitely a breath of fresh air for hardcore which has become very predictable as of late.
Ben Isn't Really A Lord Of The Rings Fan, But He Knows This Band Got Their Name From A Hill Or Some Shit: Ephel Duath - The Painter's Palette
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/ephelduath.jpg
Website: (http://www.ephelduath.net) :: Listen: (http://www.ephelduath.net/download.htm)
I know what you're thinking…Star Wars was half good, half bad, while Lord of the Rings translated ridiculously well to the big screen. But what you should be thinking is that I consistently bring one of the best picks each and every week and my selection of Ephel Duath's splashy first hit album, The Painter's Palette, pretty much follows in that vein. While their latest album, Pain Necessary to Know, hit a few "Bland Street Blooms," this one's all great, all the time. I guess the singer aspect of the band really was a huge contributing factor to this band's greatness. I'd like to mention that Adam Roncaglione thought I should audition for the role of smooth vocalist for this smooth-jazz gone metal hybrid. I don't think that's a good idea.