sir mix-a-lot
11-15-2006, 10:55 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.
Daniel Alcinii Is No Longer A Teenager And Thus Has Adopted A More Mature Approach Toward Music Listening: God Is An Astronaut - The End Of The Beginning
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/godisanastronaut2.jpg
Website: (http://www.superadmusic.com/god) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/godisanastronaut)
My first Listening Station pick as a twenty year old (seeing as I've forgotten the previous two weeks) goes to Ireland's own God Is An Astronaut. We've been told not to judge a book by its cover, but fuck that; everyone does it. This is why I was a bit skeptical when I first heard of God Is An Astronaut (God and religion doesn't sit well with me), but much to my surprise, it wasn't anything that would sound like it belonged on Tooth & Nail/Solid State. Cutting to the chase, if you're a fan of Magyar Posse, Ef, Mono, or Explosions In The Sky, enjoy.
Alex Davies Joins Me In Honoring Boy/Girl Vocal Duo Love Song Writer People: Stars - Heart
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/stars.jpg
Website: (http://www.arts-crafts.ca/stars) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/stars)
To put it bluntly; Stars make utterly gorgeous music. And "Elevator Love Letter" is among the greatest songs ever written. And if lush indie pop accompanied by floating boy/girl vocals isn't your thing, then fuck you.
Chris Pandolfo Heckles The Dredg Live Album Haters: Dredg - "Ireland" Video
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/dredg2.jpg
Website: (http://www.dredg.com) :: Listen: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrhlAVqF124)
Taken from the in-store acoustic shows to promote the new live album, which is completely void of Orph songs. What a shame.
Allen Questions The Music Gods As To Why He Would Listen To An Album Such As: Third Eye Blind - Out Of The Vein
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/3eb2.jpg
Website: (http://www.3eb.com) :: Listen: (http://www.3eb.com/e-card/index.html)
Because it sounds so different from their first two releases. Because it caused them to fade out of the limelight a bit. Because every single song is so catchy. But mostly because it makes me happy.
Armand Swoons When He Peeps The Album Cover: Dustin Kensrue - Please Come Home
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/dustinkensrue.jpg
Website: (http://www.dustinkensrue.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/dustinkensrue)
I have always been a pretty big fan of Thrice and with that came being a big fan of Dustin Kensrue’s solo material. Please Come Home is a highly anticipated album amongst Thrice fans like myself, but many of them may be caught by surprise upon first listening to this album. This album contains tons of folk and country elements mixed with traditional singer/songwriter type material. But never the less, I really enjoy listening to this album. It makes me smile and hopefully it will make you smile to.
Sebastien Longpre-Allaire, Despite The Painfully Pretentious Name (Note: All Non-American Names Are Pretentious), Picks Something That, While Good, You Don't Have To Be A Snooty Musical Connoisseur Who Crushes The Egos Of Others To Enjoy, Which, Frankly, Given The Name, Is Surprising And Disturbingly Unwelcome: Set Your Goals - Mutiny!
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/setyourgoals2.jpg
Website: (http://www.setyourgoals.net) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/setyourgoals)
"Heroe's Have Betrayed. We Sing For Better Days, Don't Sign Our Lives Away To Impure Industries" and "Sign Our Band And We'll Write You A Chorus. We Will Use Your Gimmicks If You Think They Will Sell Us" should give you an idea what Set Your Goals is about. A true and honest band that are in this for the good reasons : THE MUSIC! Some see it as melodic hardcore, others see it as really fast punk-rock. Take it as you wish - This Shit Rocks. In the veins of Lifetime/Gorilla Biscuits/Strike Anywhere/Reach The Sky.
Brandon Doesn't Buy Used Records. He Buys Them All: Brand New - The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/brandnew.jpg
Website: (http://www.fightoffyourdemons.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/brandnew)
It's the brand new Brand New and you know you want it. I know I did. So yeah, love them or hate them, but at least check this one out. This is a band that is pretty good at keeping true to themselves and making music that people want to hear. So listen to this one and make your own decision, because you might too find that The Devil and God Are Raging Inside YOU!
Jeff Latta Told Me He'd Be Selecting This Album Earlier In The Week And It Gave Me The Urge To Listen To It, But When I Got To Work, I Found I'd Accidentally Grabbed Album Of The Year Instead. I Listened To "Collision" And Started Up A Debate Over The Best Album By: Faith No More - King For A Day, Fool For A Lifetime
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/faithnomore.jpg
Website: (http://www.fnm.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/fnmofficial)
Anyone who denies the influence that Faith No More had (and continues to have) on modern day music has their head buried inside one of two places - the sand or their own ass. Many Faith No More fans will point to Angel Dust or even Epic as their masterpiece, but I humbly hold up King for a Day. Here, their more stylistically varied and ambitious tunes resonate with more power and focus than they did on Angel Dust - see "Take this Bottle" or "Just A Man" - and the hard rockers rock like never before, with tracks like "Digging the Grave," "What A Day," and "Get Out" standing out as some of the catchiest and most solid tunes of this fantastic band's fantastic repertoire.
Ben Likes To Think He Just Recognizes Good Pop When He Hears It, But The More Likely Answer Is That He Transmogrifies Into A Fourteen-Year-Old Girl Whenever He Listens To: The Hush Sound - Like Vines
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/thehushsound.jpg
Website: (http://www.thehushsound.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/thehushsound)
I have been listening to this album way too often since I first received it. Despite what may be, conservatively estimated, fifty listens, this album doesn't get old. It gets better and better. Last night, I went to see them with Murder by Death and they were really damned good. I was scared the songs wouldn't translate live, that maybe the band was just a studio thing. Neither was really a stretch. But everyone in the band nailed everything and their dabbles in new vocal stylings were neither strained nor unwanted. For some reason, before they took the stage, my mind made me compare them to The Monkees. Then their drummer Darren Wilson took the stage and reminded me of Davy Jones immediately. Uncanny. He later did his best Animal impression during "Lion's Roar." Anyway, this band is way too fucking good. It's going to be hard not to include them in my year-end top ten, but I figured I'd give them some extra press by including them here, just in case. Hopefully they'll get in there. This is the blueprint for 21st century pop.
Oh, also, the sound guy at The Boardwalk in Orangevale, California, fucking blows. He kept un-mic'ing the keyboard and vocal mics. Weird, considering there are dual vocalists and the keyboard drives pretty much every song. That guy has ruined so many damned shows for me. Complete hack. Fortunately, I anticipated this and just filled in the missing parts from memory. But still, how do you fuck that up? "Piano-based band? Why should I mic the keyboard? I don't see a reason. What's that? Both vocalists might sing together from time to time? Fuck it, that sounds tough. I'll just leave one vocal mic on at a time. That's easiest for me, so…yeah, that'll do." I hate you, guy. I hate you a lot. I would also like to thank you for ruining The Walkmen's live set from last year while I'm here bitching. There should be a disclaimer telling bands with more than four members to steer fucking clear. Or, ya know, guy, you could give up the mixing board to the sound guy the band brings along, you arrogant fuck. You are horrible. Sorry.
Michael Philips (Scene Point Blank (http://www.scenepointblank.com), Escapist Records (http://www.escapistrecords.com)) Has Probably Just Found The Secret Formula For Creating My Least Favorite Band While Describing: Fireworks - We Are Everywhere
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/fireworks.jpg
Website: (http://www.wearefireworks.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/fireworksmi)
Say hello to your new favorite band. Well, that is, of course, if you enjoy a band that blends upbeat punk, infectious pop hooks, and even a dash of melodic hardcore flavoring. Fireworks hail from Michigan and, while they are not everywhere yet, with their new EP in hand, the band is going to be very soon. If you're into Fall Out Boy's Take this To Your Grave, Jawbreaker's Dear You, and/or Set Your Goal's Reset, then you should pick this up. That's about all that needs to be said - now go forth and listen.
Scott Relives His Days Portraying Wyatt Earp In His Glee Club/Drama Club Collaborative Production Of Tombstone: The Subversive, Homoerotic Musical: Viarosa - Where The Killers Run
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/viarosa.jpg
Website: (http://www.viarosatheband.co.uk) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/viarosa)
I'll usually give any band that can properly employ a banjo the benefit of the doubt, but Viarosa does so much more in crafting their haunting brand of noir country; the melodic arrangements of strings and percussion and the arresting vocals take the listener on short (but ambitious) journeys, a la Nick Cave or Johnny Cash, across the landscapes of long ago. This debut is a remarkably lush and gripping listen from start to finish.
Daniel Alcinii Is No Longer A Teenager And Thus Has Adopted A More Mature Approach Toward Music Listening: God Is An Astronaut - The End Of The Beginning
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/godisanastronaut2.jpg
Website: (http://www.superadmusic.com/god) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/godisanastronaut)
My first Listening Station pick as a twenty year old (seeing as I've forgotten the previous two weeks) goes to Ireland's own God Is An Astronaut. We've been told not to judge a book by its cover, but fuck that; everyone does it. This is why I was a bit skeptical when I first heard of God Is An Astronaut (God and religion doesn't sit well with me), but much to my surprise, it wasn't anything that would sound like it belonged on Tooth & Nail/Solid State. Cutting to the chase, if you're a fan of Magyar Posse, Ef, Mono, or Explosions In The Sky, enjoy.
Alex Davies Joins Me In Honoring Boy/Girl Vocal Duo Love Song Writer People: Stars - Heart
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/stars.jpg
Website: (http://www.arts-crafts.ca/stars) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/stars)
To put it bluntly; Stars make utterly gorgeous music. And "Elevator Love Letter" is among the greatest songs ever written. And if lush indie pop accompanied by floating boy/girl vocals isn't your thing, then fuck you.
Chris Pandolfo Heckles The Dredg Live Album Haters: Dredg - "Ireland" Video
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/dredg2.jpg
Website: (http://www.dredg.com) :: Listen: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrhlAVqF124)
Taken from the in-store acoustic shows to promote the new live album, which is completely void of Orph songs. What a shame.
Allen Questions The Music Gods As To Why He Would Listen To An Album Such As: Third Eye Blind - Out Of The Vein
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/3eb2.jpg
Website: (http://www.3eb.com) :: Listen: (http://www.3eb.com/e-card/index.html)
Because it sounds so different from their first two releases. Because it caused them to fade out of the limelight a bit. Because every single song is so catchy. But mostly because it makes me happy.
Armand Swoons When He Peeps The Album Cover: Dustin Kensrue - Please Come Home
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/dustinkensrue.jpg
Website: (http://www.dustinkensrue.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/dustinkensrue)
I have always been a pretty big fan of Thrice and with that came being a big fan of Dustin Kensrue’s solo material. Please Come Home is a highly anticipated album amongst Thrice fans like myself, but many of them may be caught by surprise upon first listening to this album. This album contains tons of folk and country elements mixed with traditional singer/songwriter type material. But never the less, I really enjoy listening to this album. It makes me smile and hopefully it will make you smile to.
Sebastien Longpre-Allaire, Despite The Painfully Pretentious Name (Note: All Non-American Names Are Pretentious), Picks Something That, While Good, You Don't Have To Be A Snooty Musical Connoisseur Who Crushes The Egos Of Others To Enjoy, Which, Frankly, Given The Name, Is Surprising And Disturbingly Unwelcome: Set Your Goals - Mutiny!
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/setyourgoals2.jpg
Website: (http://www.setyourgoals.net) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/setyourgoals)
"Heroe's Have Betrayed. We Sing For Better Days, Don't Sign Our Lives Away To Impure Industries" and "Sign Our Band And We'll Write You A Chorus. We Will Use Your Gimmicks If You Think They Will Sell Us" should give you an idea what Set Your Goals is about. A true and honest band that are in this for the good reasons : THE MUSIC! Some see it as melodic hardcore, others see it as really fast punk-rock. Take it as you wish - This Shit Rocks. In the veins of Lifetime/Gorilla Biscuits/Strike Anywhere/Reach The Sky.
Brandon Doesn't Buy Used Records. He Buys Them All: Brand New - The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/brandnew.jpg
Website: (http://www.fightoffyourdemons.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/brandnew)
It's the brand new Brand New and you know you want it. I know I did. So yeah, love them or hate them, but at least check this one out. This is a band that is pretty good at keeping true to themselves and making music that people want to hear. So listen to this one and make your own decision, because you might too find that The Devil and God Are Raging Inside YOU!
Jeff Latta Told Me He'd Be Selecting This Album Earlier In The Week And It Gave Me The Urge To Listen To It, But When I Got To Work, I Found I'd Accidentally Grabbed Album Of The Year Instead. I Listened To "Collision" And Started Up A Debate Over The Best Album By: Faith No More - King For A Day, Fool For A Lifetime
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/faithnomore.jpg
Website: (http://www.fnm.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/fnmofficial)
Anyone who denies the influence that Faith No More had (and continues to have) on modern day music has their head buried inside one of two places - the sand or their own ass. Many Faith No More fans will point to Angel Dust or even Epic as their masterpiece, but I humbly hold up King for a Day. Here, their more stylistically varied and ambitious tunes resonate with more power and focus than they did on Angel Dust - see "Take this Bottle" or "Just A Man" - and the hard rockers rock like never before, with tracks like "Digging the Grave," "What A Day," and "Get Out" standing out as some of the catchiest and most solid tunes of this fantastic band's fantastic repertoire.
Ben Likes To Think He Just Recognizes Good Pop When He Hears It, But The More Likely Answer Is That He Transmogrifies Into A Fourteen-Year-Old Girl Whenever He Listens To: The Hush Sound - Like Vines
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/thehushsound.jpg
Website: (http://www.thehushsound.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/thehushsound)
I have been listening to this album way too often since I first received it. Despite what may be, conservatively estimated, fifty listens, this album doesn't get old. It gets better and better. Last night, I went to see them with Murder by Death and they were really damned good. I was scared the songs wouldn't translate live, that maybe the band was just a studio thing. Neither was really a stretch. But everyone in the band nailed everything and their dabbles in new vocal stylings were neither strained nor unwanted. For some reason, before they took the stage, my mind made me compare them to The Monkees. Then their drummer Darren Wilson took the stage and reminded me of Davy Jones immediately. Uncanny. He later did his best Animal impression during "Lion's Roar." Anyway, this band is way too fucking good. It's going to be hard not to include them in my year-end top ten, but I figured I'd give them some extra press by including them here, just in case. Hopefully they'll get in there. This is the blueprint for 21st century pop.
Oh, also, the sound guy at The Boardwalk in Orangevale, California, fucking blows. He kept un-mic'ing the keyboard and vocal mics. Weird, considering there are dual vocalists and the keyboard drives pretty much every song. That guy has ruined so many damned shows for me. Complete hack. Fortunately, I anticipated this and just filled in the missing parts from memory. But still, how do you fuck that up? "Piano-based band? Why should I mic the keyboard? I don't see a reason. What's that? Both vocalists might sing together from time to time? Fuck it, that sounds tough. I'll just leave one vocal mic on at a time. That's easiest for me, so…yeah, that'll do." I hate you, guy. I hate you a lot. I would also like to thank you for ruining The Walkmen's live set from last year while I'm here bitching. There should be a disclaimer telling bands with more than four members to steer fucking clear. Or, ya know, guy, you could give up the mixing board to the sound guy the band brings along, you arrogant fuck. You are horrible. Sorry.
Michael Philips (Scene Point Blank (http://www.scenepointblank.com), Escapist Records (http://www.escapistrecords.com)) Has Probably Just Found The Secret Formula For Creating My Least Favorite Band While Describing: Fireworks - We Are Everywhere
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/fireworks.jpg
Website: (http://www.wearefireworks.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/fireworksmi)
Say hello to your new favorite band. Well, that is, of course, if you enjoy a band that blends upbeat punk, infectious pop hooks, and even a dash of melodic hardcore flavoring. Fireworks hail from Michigan and, while they are not everywhere yet, with their new EP in hand, the band is going to be very soon. If you're into Fall Out Boy's Take this To Your Grave, Jawbreaker's Dear You, and/or Set Your Goal's Reset, then you should pick this up. That's about all that needs to be said - now go forth and listen.
Scott Relives His Days Portraying Wyatt Earp In His Glee Club/Drama Club Collaborative Production Of Tombstone: The Subversive, Homoerotic Musical: Viarosa - Where The Killers Run
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/viarosa.jpg
Website: (http://www.viarosatheband.co.uk) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/viarosa)
I'll usually give any band that can properly employ a banjo the benefit of the doubt, but Viarosa does so much more in crafting their haunting brand of noir country; the melodic arrangements of strings and percussion and the arresting vocals take the listener on short (but ambitious) journeys, a la Nick Cave or Johnny Cash, across the landscapes of long ago. This debut is a remarkably lush and gripping listen from start to finish.