sir mix-a-lot
02-21-2007, 07:13 PM
Sorry for the week off, those who still read this thing. Hopefully, we don't get a repeat of that business next week. To be sure that that doesn't happen, maybe you could, I dunno, submit something. Try it. It's fun.
Chris Pandolfo Is A Professional Translator
Sigur Ros (http://www.sigurros.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/sigurros.jpg:
Ágætis Byrjun
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/sigurros)
"Sheee sheee eiioooo sheeiioos doooo eiiiustaaa euugiiiiaashh"
- Olsen Olsen
This CD rules. Yes, those are the actual lyrics too.
Editor's Note: I don't own this. True story. I can't get into it like I do their later works.
Scott Gets Presidential On That Ass
The Axe That Chopped The Cherry Tree (http://www.myspace.com/theaxethatchoppedthecherrytree)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/cherrytree.jpg:
Moon. Window. Water.
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/theaxethatchoppedthecherrytree)
Well, I haven't actually listened to this album - thanks to the dong-huffing seeder on OiNK leaving 5 minutes after he uploaded the torrent (and not being able to find it anywhere else, even for purchase) - but after listening to the MySpace songs I have a feeling that these guys are something special. Not quite pop, not quite experimental, they craft the kind of electronica-infused rock made relevant by bands like The Blood Brothers and Horse The Band, but manage to imbue within it a pop sensibility that is distinctively their own. Now hopefully that goddamn seeder will come back so I can hear the rest of the songs.
Editor's Note: Or bite his legs off.
Alex Wanted Me To Post This Last Week So That It Would Make More Sense, But I Made An Executive Decision And Decided I Didn't Care If No One Else Did
Stars (http://www.arts-crafts.ca/stars)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/stars2.jpg:
Set Yourself On Fire
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/stars)
As the opening track, the cheerfully titled "Your Ex- Lover Is Dead," opens with the line "when there is nothing left to burn, you have to set yourself on fire," you'd be forgiven for thinking Stars wasn't exactly catering to the Valentines period. Lyrical content aside, the music here is the soundtrack to loving, losing and leaving. And the girl singer has one of those silky voices that just makes me want to go and move in with the lovely Mr. Alcinii for a while, so I could hunt her down and woo her. I'm sidetracking; listen to this album if you like good music.
Editor's Note: Whoa, whoa, this could have gone terribly wrong had the last little bit not been added in. All the jokes about Alex would have only gotten worse. Nice save at the last moment, though. Also, Alex is incredibly straight. For the record.
Jeremy Reminds Me That I Forgot All The Math I Used To Know, So I Can't Be Nearly As Nerdy In This Heading As I'd Like To Be
Cloud Cult (http://www.cloudcult.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/cloudcult.jpg:
The Meaning Of 8
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/cloudcult)
Well, I actually just got this CD today. It's quite a weird blend of music that spans a few different sounds/genres before the disc is done. A lot of it feels like it could be a Thom Yorke side project, but without the pretentious connotations everyone associates with the Radiohead frontman. There's violin, there's ambient sounds, there's dance beat grooving, there's even folk flourishings towards the end. I've only just touched on this CD with my limited times listening to it, but I really liked it to begin with and feel that it has the potential to keep on growing on me. I expect a fair number of our Decoy regulars and indie supporters will appreciate this album if they haven't already gotten into it.
Editor's Note: Note for writers: CD has both letters capitalized. Not just the C and definitely not neither letter. See what you made me do, writers? That sentence is bothering the fuck out of me. Look at it! Look at it! Just you look at it! Then listen to this band.
Rick Thinks He May Have Missed This Section Of The Holy Book Upon His Last Perusal
Testament (http://www.testamentlegions.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/testament.jpg:
Low
Listen (www.amazon.com/Low-Testament/dp/B000002J0G
)
When I was in high school, I picked up this CD on a whim at a local used record shop because I thought they were a Christian metal band. Yes, I was one of those kids who was huge into the Christian hardcore and metal scene, no matter how bad the bands were. I was eating up whatever I could and with a name like Testament, I just figured the band was a religious band. I found out quite the opposite when I read the lyrics. The music was good, but I was all about the message back then.
In going back now to listen to this disc again, I realize I missed out on a hell of a band simply because I couldn't move beyond the lyrics. Easily one of the better thrash metal bands to come out of the 80's, Testament made a change from their thrash roots on Low to incorporate more grooves and death metal elements. Because of this change, Testament was able to move beyond the boundaries of being a simple thrash band to making a truly heavy disc that shreds and pummels at the same time. This album, along with most of Testament's discography in the 90's, should be required listening for every up and coming metal band. They knew their shit.
Editor's Note: The whole time I was editing this, I had "Sleep Now in the Fire" by RATM in my head. Because it sounds just like "Testify." I hate RATM. And Audioslave. Soundgarden was pretty spectacular though.
Allen Is A Skinhead Punker With Pop Sensibility
Chumbawamba (http://www.chumba.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/chumbawamba.jpg:
Tubthumper
Listen (http://www.chumba.com/downloads.html)
Don’t ask me why, but for some inexplicable reason Tubthumper is perhaps one of the best going-to-the-beach-to-surf albums ever. I was hitting some waves down south in Mexico last week while you dudes were probably sitting in chairs at work or school (don’t worry, I paid for it with a wicked bad case of sun poisoning) but I cant go surfing without listening to this. All I can say in defense of myself is that, someday, try driving down the highway with your best friend blasting “The Good Ship Lifestyle” as high as it will go while singing at the top of your lungs…and it will all suddenly make perfect sense.
Editor's Note: Did this just happen?
Armand Builds Monuments Dedicated To Chris Martin Of Coldplay
Architect (http://www.blackmarketactivities.com/label)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/architect.jpg:
Not Too Late
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/architectkills)
Normally I use these listening stations to promote some little known post-rock bands that I’ve really been digging over the past week. However, my entries normally don’t get much attention so I’m going to go over another route this week.
One of the bands I’ve really been enjoying lately has been Architect, not to be confused with all the other Architect(s). Their debut All Is Not Lost is one of the best metalcore albums I’ve heard lately. They’re heavy, they’re fast, and they’re even prog-y. Fans of the Botch school of thought should definitely look into this album.
Editor's Note: Sing "Ahh, ahh, yeah, Ahh, ahh, yeah," everything's not lost. Also, has Botch become the new Dredg as a basis for comparison? Discuss.
Ben Doesn't Think Any Albums Over The Last Two Weeks Have Really Stood Out Unless They've Already Been Featured On The Listening Station (I.E. Explosions In The Sky, Aereogramme)
Lovage (http://www.bigbaer.com/nathanielmerriweather_lovage.htm)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/lovage.jpg:
Music To Make Love To Your Old Lady By
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/lovage1)
It's hard to pick a favorite track on this album. The Chest Rockwell skits are all great in their own way, Jennifer Charles does a miraculous job throughout (especially on ultra-sexy "Strangers on a Train" and "To Catch a Thief"), and Mike Patton is at his more subdued finest. Plus the beats are fantastic. Hell, I even own the instrumental version. But when all is said and done, let's hear some love for Lovage hot traxxx "Book of the Month" and "Sex (I'm A)." Seriously, I love the fact that "Sex (I'm A)" is so typical of male pornographic fantasy. While Jennifer Charles is dreaming up kinky outfits to wear, the only thing Patton can think to be is "a man." Every time. This album's orgasmic, yes?
Editor's Note: I also listened to The Love Below by Andre3000, but never bothered to put on Speakerboxxx, which is weird, because I love that disc as well. But really, I'm here to pimp the next Oceansize, a band that doesn't even have a record yet, but was kindly enough to contact me via MySpace to let me know they exist…and that they're spectacular. That band is Eustacia and you can find them at http://www.myspace.com/eustacia. These guys will be huge within the hard rock/post-rock hybrid scene very shortly. Count on it.
Chris Pandolfo Is A Professional Translator
Sigur Ros (http://www.sigurros.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/sigurros.jpg:
Ágætis Byrjun
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/sigurros)
"Sheee sheee eiioooo sheeiioos doooo eiiiustaaa euugiiiiaashh"
- Olsen Olsen
This CD rules. Yes, those are the actual lyrics too.
Editor's Note: I don't own this. True story. I can't get into it like I do their later works.
Scott Gets Presidential On That Ass
The Axe That Chopped The Cherry Tree (http://www.myspace.com/theaxethatchoppedthecherrytree)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/cherrytree.jpg:
Moon. Window. Water.
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/theaxethatchoppedthecherrytree)
Well, I haven't actually listened to this album - thanks to the dong-huffing seeder on OiNK leaving 5 minutes after he uploaded the torrent (and not being able to find it anywhere else, even for purchase) - but after listening to the MySpace songs I have a feeling that these guys are something special. Not quite pop, not quite experimental, they craft the kind of electronica-infused rock made relevant by bands like The Blood Brothers and Horse The Band, but manage to imbue within it a pop sensibility that is distinctively their own. Now hopefully that goddamn seeder will come back so I can hear the rest of the songs.
Editor's Note: Or bite his legs off.
Alex Wanted Me To Post This Last Week So That It Would Make More Sense, But I Made An Executive Decision And Decided I Didn't Care If No One Else Did
Stars (http://www.arts-crafts.ca/stars)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/stars2.jpg:
Set Yourself On Fire
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/stars)
As the opening track, the cheerfully titled "Your Ex- Lover Is Dead," opens with the line "when there is nothing left to burn, you have to set yourself on fire," you'd be forgiven for thinking Stars wasn't exactly catering to the Valentines period. Lyrical content aside, the music here is the soundtrack to loving, losing and leaving. And the girl singer has one of those silky voices that just makes me want to go and move in with the lovely Mr. Alcinii for a while, so I could hunt her down and woo her. I'm sidetracking; listen to this album if you like good music.
Editor's Note: Whoa, whoa, this could have gone terribly wrong had the last little bit not been added in. All the jokes about Alex would have only gotten worse. Nice save at the last moment, though. Also, Alex is incredibly straight. For the record.
Jeremy Reminds Me That I Forgot All The Math I Used To Know, So I Can't Be Nearly As Nerdy In This Heading As I'd Like To Be
Cloud Cult (http://www.cloudcult.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/cloudcult.jpg:
The Meaning Of 8
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/cloudcult)
Well, I actually just got this CD today. It's quite a weird blend of music that spans a few different sounds/genres before the disc is done. A lot of it feels like it could be a Thom Yorke side project, but without the pretentious connotations everyone associates with the Radiohead frontman. There's violin, there's ambient sounds, there's dance beat grooving, there's even folk flourishings towards the end. I've only just touched on this CD with my limited times listening to it, but I really liked it to begin with and feel that it has the potential to keep on growing on me. I expect a fair number of our Decoy regulars and indie supporters will appreciate this album if they haven't already gotten into it.
Editor's Note: Note for writers: CD has both letters capitalized. Not just the C and definitely not neither letter. See what you made me do, writers? That sentence is bothering the fuck out of me. Look at it! Look at it! Just you look at it! Then listen to this band.
Rick Thinks He May Have Missed This Section Of The Holy Book Upon His Last Perusal
Testament (http://www.testamentlegions.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/testament.jpg:
Low
Listen (www.amazon.com/Low-Testament/dp/B000002J0G
)
When I was in high school, I picked up this CD on a whim at a local used record shop because I thought they were a Christian metal band. Yes, I was one of those kids who was huge into the Christian hardcore and metal scene, no matter how bad the bands were. I was eating up whatever I could and with a name like Testament, I just figured the band was a religious band. I found out quite the opposite when I read the lyrics. The music was good, but I was all about the message back then.
In going back now to listen to this disc again, I realize I missed out on a hell of a band simply because I couldn't move beyond the lyrics. Easily one of the better thrash metal bands to come out of the 80's, Testament made a change from their thrash roots on Low to incorporate more grooves and death metal elements. Because of this change, Testament was able to move beyond the boundaries of being a simple thrash band to making a truly heavy disc that shreds and pummels at the same time. This album, along with most of Testament's discography in the 90's, should be required listening for every up and coming metal band. They knew their shit.
Editor's Note: The whole time I was editing this, I had "Sleep Now in the Fire" by RATM in my head. Because it sounds just like "Testify." I hate RATM. And Audioslave. Soundgarden was pretty spectacular though.
Allen Is A Skinhead Punker With Pop Sensibility
Chumbawamba (http://www.chumba.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/chumbawamba.jpg:
Tubthumper
Listen (http://www.chumba.com/downloads.html)
Don’t ask me why, but for some inexplicable reason Tubthumper is perhaps one of the best going-to-the-beach-to-surf albums ever. I was hitting some waves down south in Mexico last week while you dudes were probably sitting in chairs at work or school (don’t worry, I paid for it with a wicked bad case of sun poisoning) but I cant go surfing without listening to this. All I can say in defense of myself is that, someday, try driving down the highway with your best friend blasting “The Good Ship Lifestyle” as high as it will go while singing at the top of your lungs…and it will all suddenly make perfect sense.
Editor's Note: Did this just happen?
Armand Builds Monuments Dedicated To Chris Martin Of Coldplay
Architect (http://www.blackmarketactivities.com/label)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/architect.jpg:
Not Too Late
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/architectkills)
Normally I use these listening stations to promote some little known post-rock bands that I’ve really been digging over the past week. However, my entries normally don’t get much attention so I’m going to go over another route this week.
One of the bands I’ve really been enjoying lately has been Architect, not to be confused with all the other Architect(s). Their debut All Is Not Lost is one of the best metalcore albums I’ve heard lately. They’re heavy, they’re fast, and they’re even prog-y. Fans of the Botch school of thought should definitely look into this album.
Editor's Note: Sing "Ahh, ahh, yeah, Ahh, ahh, yeah," everything's not lost. Also, has Botch become the new Dredg as a basis for comparison? Discuss.
Ben Doesn't Think Any Albums Over The Last Two Weeks Have Really Stood Out Unless They've Already Been Featured On The Listening Station (I.E. Explosions In The Sky, Aereogramme)
Lovage (http://www.bigbaer.com/nathanielmerriweather_lovage.htm)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/lovage.jpg:
Music To Make Love To Your Old Lady By
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/lovage1)
It's hard to pick a favorite track on this album. The Chest Rockwell skits are all great in their own way, Jennifer Charles does a miraculous job throughout (especially on ultra-sexy "Strangers on a Train" and "To Catch a Thief"), and Mike Patton is at his more subdued finest. Plus the beats are fantastic. Hell, I even own the instrumental version. But when all is said and done, let's hear some love for Lovage hot traxxx "Book of the Month" and "Sex (I'm A)." Seriously, I love the fact that "Sex (I'm A)" is so typical of male pornographic fantasy. While Jennifer Charles is dreaming up kinky outfits to wear, the only thing Patton can think to be is "a man." Every time. This album's orgasmic, yes?
Editor's Note: I also listened to The Love Below by Andre3000, but never bothered to put on Speakerboxxx, which is weird, because I love that disc as well. But really, I'm here to pimp the next Oceansize, a band that doesn't even have a record yet, but was kindly enough to contact me via MySpace to let me know they exist…and that they're spectacular. That band is Eustacia and you can find them at http://www.myspace.com/eustacia. These guys will be huge within the hard rock/post-rock hybrid scene very shortly. Count on it.