sir mix-a-lot
01-31-2007, 10:31 PM
Welcome back to another wonderful peek into Decoy's Listening Station. This week, you'll find the best of the old, the best of the new, and the newest of the old. But no Days of the New.
Rick Is A Dagoba Systems Analyst
Dagoba (http://www.antitheses.org/dagoba)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/dagoba.jpg:
Dagoba
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/dagoba)
Last year I fell in love with the melodic, and definitely European flavored, metal offering from Dagoba, What Hell is About. Their mix of melody and Euro-metal wasn’t anything groundbreaking, but they approached the style with a very militant edge. Wanting to explore what the band had evolved from, I sought out their first full length, Dagoba. It wasn’t too far removed from What Hell is About, but where it was different was in the aggressiveness. Their self-titled effort was a heck of a lot more raw and relentless. There are some great melodic moments, but they possess an edge their newer material doesn’t. It feels like what might come out of having In Flames go through boot camp and tossed into a musical warzone. It’s awesome. The end.
Editor's Note: Speaking of Star Wars nerds who dig music, a little-known secret about me is that I try to finish up the Listening Station so I can watch Beauty and the Geek. One of the dudes on the show has a Star Wars themed rock band and he's pretty much the coolest guy ever. And he might get some action this week. I'm totally stoked to watch. I hope you see it. If you miss it, I don't know why you even listen to Star Wars music. Oh, and last week, they kicked off the Star Trek nerd, proving once again which is better, as if there were any doubt (before Episode I).
Chris Conlan Writes The Newest Installment Of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Classic Series
The End (http://www.allchaos.net)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/theend.jpg:
Elementary
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/theendmusic)
Boy, am I glad that I came across The End's new album Elementary. While I've known about the guys for a while, I just never got around to listening to them. The Relapse roster has always been an on/off thing for me. What attracted me right away to this album was their song "Dangerous." It was on some metal magazine sampler. The song is absolutely brutal. Makes you want to cause some destruction. The only thing I wish they did differently with the song was to shorten the bridge for the song. For how powerful the song is, to completely drop the tempo to zero for over a minute hinders the song some. Other than that, it's a great song.
The rest of album follows suit. I was expecting all the songs to be like "Dangerous," but I was wrong. "Throwing Stones" is probably my favorite song on the album. Definitely has a Tool vibe to it. Is it me or at times does it kind of sound like Tool on some tracks? Maybe it's just me. Other than that, I highly suggest this album to everyone. It's balls!
Editor's Note: I have a sneaking suspicion this album might actually exceed all the ravings.
Jeremy Deal Is An Enigmatic Fellow
Final Fantasy (http://www.reidtaheny.com/ff/read.html)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/finalfantasy.jpg:
He Poos Clouds
Listen (http://www.reidtaheny.com/ff/hear.html)
Sorry for the short write-up this week. I'll do better next week. For now, all you need to know if you aren't already familiar with this music already is that, much like milk, it does a body good. Violinist featured on Arcade Fire.
Editor's Note: So…Does anyone else think the album title is a reference to God?
Chris Pandolfo Hit Shuffle On His iPod And Ended Up Hearing The Same Song Twice In A Row. I Know This Because It Feels Like I've Seen This Write-Up Before
Life In Your Way (http://www.lifeinyourway.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/lifeinyourway2.jpg:
Waking Giants
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/lifeinyourway)
When I heard that Life In Your Way was signed to Solid State, I was sort of confused. There is a small percentage of that label that is actually good. When I thought about it longer, I began to see things on the brighter side. It is possible that people will actually know who Life In Your Way is now!
I believe that when they hear Waking Giants, they will instantly be won over. This album is incredible. This is melodic hardcore that we all missed. Remember Taken? Yeah, they broke up. Remember With Resistance? They broke up too. Remember how incredible Hopesfall's No Wings To Speak Of was? Well, you may never hear that sound from them again, but Life In Your Way sticks around and writes amazing songs, one after another, and this band isn't going anywhere.
I'll go into detail about how good this album really is in my full review.
Editor's Note: Dunno if anyone knows this, but Chris Pandolfo really likes this band. Oh, and update about Beauty and the Geek: Jennylee and Nate totally made out. Then Jennylee got sent to elimination, but her team won because Mario said "mimicking" instead of "mirroring." Man, I hate that this show is almost over. Mario and Nadia were the most in-sync duo out of all of them and now they're gone. But maybe there'll be a XXX throwdown next episode. Win some, lose some, right? I'm not a nerd.
Jordan Puts Music Into Movie Trailers And Sometimes I Wonder If He Pitches A Band To A Studio Guy The Same Way He Does His Write-Ups
Klaxons (http://www.klaxons.net)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/klaxons.jpg:
Myth Of The Near Future
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/klaxons)
I know these guys are trailing close behind The Fratellis as the "hipster blogger's band of the week," but it's all with good reason. Klaxons write some seriously kickass dance rock tracks, but the beauty about them in general is that they don't simply stick to dance rock. Listen to "Golden Skans" - if you don't like that track, then shut up and don't tell me, 'cause I f'n love it! Nuff said.
Editor's Note: Jordan closes all of his picks with 'Nuff said.' Looks like someone needs a new spark in their lifestyle. Of course, I'm one to talk. I haven't even written a review since October. Unless you count the totally awesome Aereogramme review I wrote tonight, which you should, because, as previously mentioned, it's totally awesome. However, when I tried to write it Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, it was complete crap and I pretty much considered quitting because I had absolutely no writing flair. And I barely had any to begin with! Additionally, that Klaxons website is irritating.
Scott Was Shocked To Discover It Was, Verily, Vanilla
Chocolate Milkshake Surprise (http://www.myspace.com/chocolatemilkshakesurprise)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/chocolatemilkshakesurprise.jpg:
Hippodrome
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/chocolatemilkshakesurprise)
I chose this week's Station entry not only because the band writes some pretty good tunes - which are made up of primarily instrumental acousto-electronica with sporadically implemented distorted chipmunk vocals - but also because I was absolutely positive Ben would come up with something awesome for the title given the band's wacky name. Of course, now that I've mentioned that in the blurb, he'll undoubtedly try to be witty by typing something like "Ben's got nothing" or "No surprises here," which are total cop outs that do not in any way address the potential for hilarity of Chocolate Milkshake Surprise. You should feel ashamed of yourself, Ben Rice. ASHAMED.
Editor's Note: My original header wasn't very mature and would have reflected poorly on Decoy as a whole. Therefore, if you must read it, here it is:
Scott Can Eat My Chocolate Milkshake Surprise (I Think We Can All Read Between The Lines On That One. No! Not That I Would Take Sexual Pleasure From Him Eating My Poo. No, No, I Mean, He's Clearly One Of Decoy Music's Most Renowned Jackasses And He Deserves A Plateful Of Feces).
I'm sorry you had to see that.
Adam Stops Himself From Continuing His Habit Of Listening Station Failure
Ken Andrews (http://www.kenandrews.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/kenandrews.jpg:
Secrets Of The Lost Satellite
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/kenandrews)
Considering that Failure is one of my top 5 all time favorite bands and that they are widely perceived as one of the most influential bands in the modern era, it's no surprise that Ken Andrews's latest offering is getting a lot of spins these days. Even though ON and Year of the Rabbit were highly enjoyable and extremely unique albums (all peers considered), nothing has quite quenched the thirst left behind when Failure closed the well. Now frontman Ken Andrews has started his own label, Dinosaur Fight Records, which is home to his wife Charlotte Martin, as well as Los Angeles Digital Noise Academy (a super group of sorts) and will be releasing the first album, Secrets of the Lost Satellite, under his own name. The end result of 10 tracks and 40 minutes has fallen somewhere between the spacey post-hardcore of Failure and the electro-tinged bounce of ON, but it's completely engulfing and, over the last week, I've been unable to turn it off. MJ summed it up best last night when we were discussing Ken's greatness when he said, "That guy invented music, didn't he?"
Editor's Note: I'm listening to it and it has some of the things I loved about On, but it also has some of the things I didn't like about On, as well as the other little things that kind of drove me batty about anything Ken did post-Failure. But it's okay, because everything he does will always have a special place in my heart. He may not have invented music, but he definitely made me want to listen to it more than I ever had before.
Jeff Steals My Thunder (See Below)
Queen (http://www.queenonline.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/queen2.jpg:
Live At Wembley Stadium
Listen (http://www.amazon.com/Live-at-Wembley-Stadium-Queen/dp/samples/B0000AOV6I/ref=dp_tracks_all_1/102-0312992-5291359#disc_1)
Technically it's the live video of this concert that I've been listening to, not only this week but on a consistent basis; it's the greatest live concert I've ever seen. The musicianship is impeccable - there's not a bad, false or even weak note anywhere on the entire 2 plus hour concert - and (most importantly) Freddie Mercury is in top form. His eccentric yet magnificent stage presence is why the DVD of this is oh so much better than the CD; you actually get to see the man himself strut around the stage with his mini mic stand, waltzing around like he owns the stadium (which he might as well). This is 1986, long after the band's creative heyday, but there are no chinks in this rock and roll armor. For the greatest rock show in the history of the world, look no further than Queen: Live at Wembley Stadium.
Editor's Note: My little sister owns this album, the old double disc version. Shit's hot. This is the second Queen album featured in the listening station, which tops many of today's top acts. Eat it.
Ben Didn't Really Listen To Anything But Aereogramme (Out All Over The States Next Tuesday!). But He Did Get Dikta In The Mail. But He's Already Picked Them. So He'll Just Pretend He Listened To
Ozomatli (http://www.ozomatli.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/ozomatli.jpg:
Live At The Fillmore
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/ozomatli)
I actually have never listened to this album. Why would I bother when it comes with a DVD? All I know is, every time I watch it, I regret not seeing them on their yearly stop in Davis around Thanksgiving. They're such an incredible collective, even if their bassist seems like a retarded redneck (oxymoron, even though the dude's not even white) and their MC is generally a waste of oxygen. But their main dude on vocals has one of the best voices ever and their keyboardist is an amazing multi-instrumentalist who may secretly be the most exciting and talented member in the group. Yes, this multi-ethnic musical monstrosity is a live show juggernaut and I love that they can throw all of the cultural styles inherent in their diverse membership together into a thoroughly enjoyable worldwide love hodgepodge. If you've never experienced Ozomatli, you need to.
Editor's Note: Coincidentally, I experienced Ozomatli accidentally. I went to a record store in Moorhead, Minnesota, with two albums in mind. Well, two bands. Anyway, in reality, I was looking for Ozma, as they had recently been recommended to me. But I forgot by the time I got there and found Ozomatli and thought, "Yeah, this seems about right," when I picked up Embrace the Chaos (which featured a pre-above-ground fame Common). Definitely one of the best accidental purchases of all time. One negative to this DVD, though. Drummer wears an Ozomatli shirt during the set. Why? Why!?!? To date, I've heard one Ozma song and am thoroughly convinced I am beyond ecstatic that I made this mistake. That band's pretty horrid.
Rick Is A Dagoba Systems Analyst
Dagoba (http://www.antitheses.org/dagoba)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/dagoba.jpg:
Dagoba
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/dagoba)
Last year I fell in love with the melodic, and definitely European flavored, metal offering from Dagoba, What Hell is About. Their mix of melody and Euro-metal wasn’t anything groundbreaking, but they approached the style with a very militant edge. Wanting to explore what the band had evolved from, I sought out their first full length, Dagoba. It wasn’t too far removed from What Hell is About, but where it was different was in the aggressiveness. Their self-titled effort was a heck of a lot more raw and relentless. There are some great melodic moments, but they possess an edge their newer material doesn’t. It feels like what might come out of having In Flames go through boot camp and tossed into a musical warzone. It’s awesome. The end.
Editor's Note: Speaking of Star Wars nerds who dig music, a little-known secret about me is that I try to finish up the Listening Station so I can watch Beauty and the Geek. One of the dudes on the show has a Star Wars themed rock band and he's pretty much the coolest guy ever. And he might get some action this week. I'm totally stoked to watch. I hope you see it. If you miss it, I don't know why you even listen to Star Wars music. Oh, and last week, they kicked off the Star Trek nerd, proving once again which is better, as if there were any doubt (before Episode I).
Chris Conlan Writes The Newest Installment Of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Classic Series
The End (http://www.allchaos.net)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/theend.jpg:
Elementary
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/theendmusic)
Boy, am I glad that I came across The End's new album Elementary. While I've known about the guys for a while, I just never got around to listening to them. The Relapse roster has always been an on/off thing for me. What attracted me right away to this album was their song "Dangerous." It was on some metal magazine sampler. The song is absolutely brutal. Makes you want to cause some destruction. The only thing I wish they did differently with the song was to shorten the bridge for the song. For how powerful the song is, to completely drop the tempo to zero for over a minute hinders the song some. Other than that, it's a great song.
The rest of album follows suit. I was expecting all the songs to be like "Dangerous," but I was wrong. "Throwing Stones" is probably my favorite song on the album. Definitely has a Tool vibe to it. Is it me or at times does it kind of sound like Tool on some tracks? Maybe it's just me. Other than that, I highly suggest this album to everyone. It's balls!
Editor's Note: I have a sneaking suspicion this album might actually exceed all the ravings.
Jeremy Deal Is An Enigmatic Fellow
Final Fantasy (http://www.reidtaheny.com/ff/read.html)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/finalfantasy.jpg:
He Poos Clouds
Listen (http://www.reidtaheny.com/ff/hear.html)
Sorry for the short write-up this week. I'll do better next week. For now, all you need to know if you aren't already familiar with this music already is that, much like milk, it does a body good. Violinist featured on Arcade Fire.
Editor's Note: So…Does anyone else think the album title is a reference to God?
Chris Pandolfo Hit Shuffle On His iPod And Ended Up Hearing The Same Song Twice In A Row. I Know This Because It Feels Like I've Seen This Write-Up Before
Life In Your Way (http://www.lifeinyourway.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/lifeinyourway2.jpg:
Waking Giants
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/lifeinyourway)
When I heard that Life In Your Way was signed to Solid State, I was sort of confused. There is a small percentage of that label that is actually good. When I thought about it longer, I began to see things on the brighter side. It is possible that people will actually know who Life In Your Way is now!
I believe that when they hear Waking Giants, they will instantly be won over. This album is incredible. This is melodic hardcore that we all missed. Remember Taken? Yeah, they broke up. Remember With Resistance? They broke up too. Remember how incredible Hopesfall's No Wings To Speak Of was? Well, you may never hear that sound from them again, but Life In Your Way sticks around and writes amazing songs, one after another, and this band isn't going anywhere.
I'll go into detail about how good this album really is in my full review.
Editor's Note: Dunno if anyone knows this, but Chris Pandolfo really likes this band. Oh, and update about Beauty and the Geek: Jennylee and Nate totally made out. Then Jennylee got sent to elimination, but her team won because Mario said "mimicking" instead of "mirroring." Man, I hate that this show is almost over. Mario and Nadia were the most in-sync duo out of all of them and now they're gone. But maybe there'll be a XXX throwdown next episode. Win some, lose some, right? I'm not a nerd.
Jordan Puts Music Into Movie Trailers And Sometimes I Wonder If He Pitches A Band To A Studio Guy The Same Way He Does His Write-Ups
Klaxons (http://www.klaxons.net)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/klaxons.jpg:
Myth Of The Near Future
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/klaxons)
I know these guys are trailing close behind The Fratellis as the "hipster blogger's band of the week," but it's all with good reason. Klaxons write some seriously kickass dance rock tracks, but the beauty about them in general is that they don't simply stick to dance rock. Listen to "Golden Skans" - if you don't like that track, then shut up and don't tell me, 'cause I f'n love it! Nuff said.
Editor's Note: Jordan closes all of his picks with 'Nuff said.' Looks like someone needs a new spark in their lifestyle. Of course, I'm one to talk. I haven't even written a review since October. Unless you count the totally awesome Aereogramme review I wrote tonight, which you should, because, as previously mentioned, it's totally awesome. However, when I tried to write it Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, it was complete crap and I pretty much considered quitting because I had absolutely no writing flair. And I barely had any to begin with! Additionally, that Klaxons website is irritating.
Scott Was Shocked To Discover It Was, Verily, Vanilla
Chocolate Milkshake Surprise (http://www.myspace.com/chocolatemilkshakesurprise)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/chocolatemilkshakesurprise.jpg:
Hippodrome
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/chocolatemilkshakesurprise)
I chose this week's Station entry not only because the band writes some pretty good tunes - which are made up of primarily instrumental acousto-electronica with sporadically implemented distorted chipmunk vocals - but also because I was absolutely positive Ben would come up with something awesome for the title given the band's wacky name. Of course, now that I've mentioned that in the blurb, he'll undoubtedly try to be witty by typing something like "Ben's got nothing" or "No surprises here," which are total cop outs that do not in any way address the potential for hilarity of Chocolate Milkshake Surprise. You should feel ashamed of yourself, Ben Rice. ASHAMED.
Editor's Note: My original header wasn't very mature and would have reflected poorly on Decoy as a whole. Therefore, if you must read it, here it is:
Scott Can Eat My Chocolate Milkshake Surprise (I Think We Can All Read Between The Lines On That One. No! Not That I Would Take Sexual Pleasure From Him Eating My Poo. No, No, I Mean, He's Clearly One Of Decoy Music's Most Renowned Jackasses And He Deserves A Plateful Of Feces).
I'm sorry you had to see that.
Adam Stops Himself From Continuing His Habit Of Listening Station Failure
Ken Andrews (http://www.kenandrews.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/kenandrews.jpg:
Secrets Of The Lost Satellite
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/kenandrews)
Considering that Failure is one of my top 5 all time favorite bands and that they are widely perceived as one of the most influential bands in the modern era, it's no surprise that Ken Andrews's latest offering is getting a lot of spins these days. Even though ON and Year of the Rabbit were highly enjoyable and extremely unique albums (all peers considered), nothing has quite quenched the thirst left behind when Failure closed the well. Now frontman Ken Andrews has started his own label, Dinosaur Fight Records, which is home to his wife Charlotte Martin, as well as Los Angeles Digital Noise Academy (a super group of sorts) and will be releasing the first album, Secrets of the Lost Satellite, under his own name. The end result of 10 tracks and 40 minutes has fallen somewhere between the spacey post-hardcore of Failure and the electro-tinged bounce of ON, but it's completely engulfing and, over the last week, I've been unable to turn it off. MJ summed it up best last night when we were discussing Ken's greatness when he said, "That guy invented music, didn't he?"
Editor's Note: I'm listening to it and it has some of the things I loved about On, but it also has some of the things I didn't like about On, as well as the other little things that kind of drove me batty about anything Ken did post-Failure. But it's okay, because everything he does will always have a special place in my heart. He may not have invented music, but he definitely made me want to listen to it more than I ever had before.
Jeff Steals My Thunder (See Below)
Queen (http://www.queenonline.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/queen2.jpg:
Live At Wembley Stadium
Listen (http://www.amazon.com/Live-at-Wembley-Stadium-Queen/dp/samples/B0000AOV6I/ref=dp_tracks_all_1/102-0312992-5291359#disc_1)
Technically it's the live video of this concert that I've been listening to, not only this week but on a consistent basis; it's the greatest live concert I've ever seen. The musicianship is impeccable - there's not a bad, false or even weak note anywhere on the entire 2 plus hour concert - and (most importantly) Freddie Mercury is in top form. His eccentric yet magnificent stage presence is why the DVD of this is oh so much better than the CD; you actually get to see the man himself strut around the stage with his mini mic stand, waltzing around like he owns the stadium (which he might as well). This is 1986, long after the band's creative heyday, but there are no chinks in this rock and roll armor. For the greatest rock show in the history of the world, look no further than Queen: Live at Wembley Stadium.
Editor's Note: My little sister owns this album, the old double disc version. Shit's hot. This is the second Queen album featured in the listening station, which tops many of today's top acts. Eat it.
Ben Didn't Really Listen To Anything But Aereogramme (Out All Over The States Next Tuesday!). But He Did Get Dikta In The Mail. But He's Already Picked Them. So He'll Just Pretend He Listened To
Ozomatli (http://www.ozomatli.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/ozomatli.jpg:
Live At The Fillmore
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/ozomatli)
I actually have never listened to this album. Why would I bother when it comes with a DVD? All I know is, every time I watch it, I regret not seeing them on their yearly stop in Davis around Thanksgiving. They're such an incredible collective, even if their bassist seems like a retarded redneck (oxymoron, even though the dude's not even white) and their MC is generally a waste of oxygen. But their main dude on vocals has one of the best voices ever and their keyboardist is an amazing multi-instrumentalist who may secretly be the most exciting and talented member in the group. Yes, this multi-ethnic musical monstrosity is a live show juggernaut and I love that they can throw all of the cultural styles inherent in their diverse membership together into a thoroughly enjoyable worldwide love hodgepodge. If you've never experienced Ozomatli, you need to.
Editor's Note: Coincidentally, I experienced Ozomatli accidentally. I went to a record store in Moorhead, Minnesota, with two albums in mind. Well, two bands. Anyway, in reality, I was looking for Ozma, as they had recently been recommended to me. But I forgot by the time I got there and found Ozomatli and thought, "Yeah, this seems about right," when I picked up Embrace the Chaos (which featured a pre-above-ground fame Common). Definitely one of the best accidental purchases of all time. One negative to this DVD, though. Drummer wears an Ozomatli shirt during the set. Why? Why!?!? To date, I've heard one Ozma song and am thoroughly convinced I am beyond ecstatic that I made this mistake. That band's pretty horrid.