sir mix-a-lot
03-14-2007, 09:57 PM
Hello, dear Decoy denizens, it's nice to see you again. This week, we've started out with a bang and finished with a first. For once, my submission won't be last. I've released my ego for this one week only. And given it to somebody who doesn't even write for us! I could say it's a selfless act, but really, it's because I don't particularly feel like dragging and dropping, then clearing out the extra spaces created by doing so. Enjoy the hodgepodge of hickory-smoked sweetness!
Daniel Alcinii Wishes That Bracewar Will Fall On His Enemies…BRACEWAAAARRRRRRRR!!!
Bracewar (http://www.1917records.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/bracewar.jpg:
Bracewar
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/bracewar)
Bracewar plays fast hardcore in the vein of Antidote, Infest, Shark Attack, and Ceremony. This is basically all I've been listening to all week, even though they only have about nine songs total. My face is basically distorted like a Picasso painting right about now.
Sidenote: Fuck friends who constantly bail on you. It'd be fine if they actually called and said "Hey, I can't make it today" and scheduled a raindate. Instead, they just don't even fucking call, then avoid you altogether for about a week or two because they feel bad, and then they finally make plans and it happens again. Who wants to be my new friend?
Editor's Note: I need new friends, too, Daniel. Could you ever be friends with a guy who's a musical elitist asshole prick who doesn't really listen to hardcore? And what about a guy who makes the headline of your Listening Station pick a reworking of a Max Cavalera lyric? Max Cavalera can barely speak English! PM me to let me know or leave a brief, non-erotic, perfectly heterosexual comment below. Friends only.
Dave Spak Inspires Joy Joy Feelings In All Those Around Him
Type O Negative (http://www.yousaypartywesaydie.ca)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/typeonegative.jpg:
Dead Again
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/yousaypartywesaydie)
Rebounding from their somewhat disappointing last album, Type O Negative have come back as a staple on my daily playlist. “Dead Again” begins the album as one of their most accessible songs yet. This also happens to be one of my favorites because of its fast punk rock style. This album has a little something for every TON fan. There are Black Sabbath influenced stoner metal songs like “Tripping a Blind Man,” beautifully depressing doom metal such as “She Burned Me Down,” and an enjoyably epic ballad, “September Sun.” Some people may be turned off by how they sound like The Beatles during parts of “The Profit of Doom,” but it doesn’t bother me. This is a really consistent release and, at 77 minutes, it actually feels like you are getting your money’s worth instead of having your time wasted. It’s the perfect album to pass time while waiting for new episodes of Metalocalypse.
Editor's Note: I love Demolition Man. Did anyone else know that Scott Peterson was up for parole just before Simon Phoenix? Couple that with insinuating that Arnold Schwarzenegger would become so popular that they would allow him to become president for a term and this movie borders on science FACT. Plus Snipes looks like Rodman and hearing Sandra Bullock screw up common 90s phrases is funny every time (how does one not laugh when hearing "you really licked his ass?"), not to mention that Benjamin Bratt calling out, "Ohhhh!!! Smokes![/b] when the Snake in a Can joke is played on him is one of the best things ever. And the solution to the Three Sea Shells! Genius. Wait, this segment's about music, right? The music is so laughably bad in Demolition Man that it somehow becomes incredibly good. That's how great that movie is. The last good Stallone flick. Ironically, Type O Negative does appear in this soundtrack. Just kidding. They do appear, however, in the soundtrack for Mortal Kombat, which is a flat-out terrible movie in every respect.
Alex Often Ponders Just How Much This Band Digs Matt Pike
The Higher (http://www.thehigher.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/thehigher.jpg:
On Fire
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/thehigher)
I'm really, really happy this week. And this album is hitting all the right notes. I mean, it's like O-Town, but with electro beats. It's simply beautiful. "Insurance?," "Weapons Wired" and "DARE" are just straight up pop gold. The fact that essentially everyone reading this will probably throw up a little makes me like them more. Keep your monotonous post-everything yawncore. Give me a catchy chorus and a rippling synth beat any day of the week. I recommend this album to none of you.
Editor's Note: It's pretty amazing how fast I went from thinking Alex was the worst hire ever by any magazine covering any topic anywhere to thinking the guy's all aces. Rarely do we agree on music, but I'm pretty sure if I had been raised a little differently or my mind tilted more toward another aspect of my personality, I'd be just like him. We're very similar, but also complete opposites. Just a change in the way synapses fire and we'd be exactly the same, I'm sure. He's a badass. Anyway, I'm not going to listen to this album, because I had a bad experience with a D.A.R.E. officer as a child.
I'm a good, law-abiding citizen and when I was in elementary school, he asked me to pretend to do something I was morally opposed to, in order to act out a scene. I told him I wouldn't do it and he just kept demanding it and I kept saying "No." Anyway, I was a fragile soul then and ended up crying in front of my entire class. I wasn't going to cut my friend in line, goddammit! I was only eight years old! Cutting is bad! D.A.R.E. is stupid. If someone calls and asks if you'd like to donate to D.A.R.E., tell them to fuck off.
Jordan Blows A Golden Opportunity
Year Long Disaster (http://www.yearlongdisaster.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/yearlongdisaster.jpg:
Self Titled EP
Listen (www.myspace.com/yearlongdisaster)
It's been a weird week: I don't feel like I've necessarily found anything too amazing (the truth is, most of what I've been listening to are scores to movies). However, on Monday, I went to the Troubadour and saw The Sword (they rocked in standard fashion). Priestbird (formerly known as Tarantula A.D.) opened for them... But my pick of the week was the evening's opener, Year Long Disaster. There's no denying it; I simply love stoner metal. I don't like growl-y metal, I don't like aggro metal, I don't like shit that has double bass thunder just for the sake of being heavy. I like bands that rock old school style and do so with ease. That's how I felt about YLD, which, until Monday night, was a band I had never heard of. Now they're cool, and I suggest you all checking them out if you dig bands like The Sword, Priestess, Fu Manchu, etc. They definitely bring the rock.
Editor's Note: Priestbird? Tarantula A.D. was a badass name, though. That's a bummer. They probably changed sounds too, which, if true, is probably one of the saddest things I've ever imagined. Anyway, I don't know why Jordan would pick Year Long Disaster when there's a Tarantula A.D. possibility involved. But I do thank him for letting me know about the (hugely disappointing) name change.
Kamran should be excited about this, though.
Chris Pandolfo's All Like, "Look At Me! I Can Afford $200 Headphones! I Put A Premium On Sound Quality And Take Music Very Seriously! More Seriously Than A Lot Of Other People!" And I'm All Like, "Shit, Son, My Car Has Factory Speakers!"
Logh (http://www.logh.se)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/logh.jpg:
North
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/logh)
Swedish ambient rock. At first I wasn't sure what to think of this album. Then I listened to it with more volume with my 200 dollar headphones and was blown away by the beauty and ambience that is present on North. After hearing a couple songs, you wonder "How could they write an entire album with this style of rock?" and once you finish the album you realize how well each track delivers with their extremely moody tones and waves of luscious sound. There honestly is one part in each track that I could probably weep to...like a little girl. Somehow that is not a bad thing. Check out this album.
Editor's Note: Apparently, everyone at Decoy cries like a little girl at very embarrassing times. This is based on my sample group of two, but if you expand the results from those two cases, you will see that 100% of Decoy's writers cry like a little girl.
My headphones cost me $35 and I was pissed I had to spend that much. Then again, I rarely go "under the hood," as I call it. My listening is pretty much confined to my home office and my car, neither of which is equipped with superior audio equipment. But it gets me by. You can proceed with your condescending tones toward everything I say, if you must. I have no ill will toward people who put that much into the equipment that plays music or lets sound be recreated. It's a very good investment. I just choose not to use it, as I'd, well, never use it.
Ben Is Waist-Deep In Water Under Bridges Burned
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)
No, but for serious, "Small Things" is so great to listen to at way too high a volume while driving to Starbucks. And this album sounds a ton like Shifting Skin, which is never, ever a bad thing. That's one electronic pop album that deserves more attention. It deserves so much attention that I refuse to shorten its genre confine to electro-pop. That's how good it is. Secrets of the Lost Satellite is a return to form and it's a wonderful piece of work. It's nice to be a Ken Andrews fan again, after that whole Year of the Rabbit fiasco.
Editor's Note: I like it a lot. A lot a lot. Jordon Zadorozny does backing vocals! I hope he's part of the live band. I want him to sign my copy of August Everywhere. I should bring my recorder (if it somehow magically reappears) and interview him. He's my hero. Kind of. Sorta. Also, if you like my headline, it can be found on All the Way Rider's latest album, Lahuna, which I plan to review…at some…point…in time. Yes. Sometime. Soon. Er or later.
Armand Is Crazy Like A Fox, But Has Been Working Like A Dog
Bark Psychosis (http://www.barkpsychosis.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/barkpsychosis.jpg:
Hex
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/codenamebarkpsychosis)
If I had to choose one record from the whole pre-post-rock lost generation of experimental ambient electronic alternative 90s dreamy rock genre, then I would choose Hex. This record is absolutely phenomenal, so grab a hold of it and commence face pwnage.
Editor's Note:If I had to choose one of those aforementioned bands, I'd get tired just thinking about the genre name and take a nap.
Jeremy Has Many Outside Interests And Duties, Which Means Sometimes He Cannot Dedicate The Time He Would Like To Some Of His Numerous Hobbies. We Appreciate What He Can Do And The Fact That He Makes Time For This At All. At Least He Cites The Source
Winterpills (http://www.winterpills.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/winterpills.jpg:
Winterpills
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/winterpills)
I'm going to plagiarize the Amazon.com editor review somewhat (well, I guess it's not plagiarizing since I cited it, but you get the idea - I'm not writing as well about the album):
Winterpills brings you a tender, filigreed sound, a humming and a fragmentation of warmth and chill, a delicate suspension of belief. They are a band playing you songs of pretty losses and hollow hopefulness. They formed on a bare wood floor during a winter when mutual friends and potential enemies met to nurse wounds, drink, ignore the obvious, play other people's songs, and found they had their own.
They now give them to you in all their friendly, angry, wimpy, moody fragility.
I think that weirdly describes the band well. The album can be haunting, merry, beautiful, and devastating all at once. The first track, "A Benediction," should've been the last - as it's the best one on the album. One of the few songs in a while to give me chills like that. Fans of the new age of folk that has been making its way on the scene lately should give this a try. Hell, you should give it a try even if you're not.
Editor's Note:I am listening to a folk-type album as I edit this. It's really good. This probably is as well.
Scott Is All Like, "Look At Me! I Have Albums That Aren't Even On Pig-Noise-Related Sites Yet! And They're All Really Good! And I Am Equally Adept At Seeing Movies Before People Too, Na Na Na Na Boo Boo!" He's Such A Baby, Right? Man, Scott, You Are Just Too Cool
The Dear Hunter (http://www.thedearhunter.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/dearhunter2.jpg:
Act II: The Meaning of, and All Things Regarding Ms.
Leading
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/tdh)
That's right, I've got an advance copy. And it's awesome. Picks up right where last year's phenomenal EP, The Lake South The River North, left off and does so in the best way possible with soaring guitar work and vocals accompanied by their eclectic stylistic and instrumental flair. Great stuff.
Editor's Note: It's safe to say I am excited for this. And it's also safe to say Alex is mildly piqued, but hesitant.
I do find it interesting that Scott calls The Lake South The River North an EP in this, because we had a long argument when the year-end lists came around about whether or not it was an EP or an LP and I believe he landed on the LP side of things then. Interesting. Very interesting. To me personally, not to any of you. These are my Editor's Notes, not yours. If you want to say something interesting, make your own Editor's Notes, jerk.
Allen Has His Work Cut Out For Him If He Hopes To Salvage What Little Dignity He Has Come Election Time, What With All The Scandal Of His Latest Affairs. I've Come Too Far To Stop This Lame Headline. It Must Go On. It's Well Past The 'Restart' Phase. I'm Sorry That It's So Lame. Reclamation = Salvage, Dignity = Public Office, Rise = Power. It Seemed Like A Good Idea Originally, I Swear. To Our Readers, I Apologize. To Allen, I Apologize Profusely. I'm Very, Very, Truly, Madly, Deeply Sorry, Allen. Chicka Cherry Cola.
The Rise (http://www.riserock.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/therise.jpg:
Reclamation Process
Listen (http://www.riserock.com)
Complete emulation of bands is very rarely seen as any good. Almost any band on Victory proves that. But when you're copying the style of the arguable originator of modern hardcore, staying true to sound and political lyrics, it somehow works. The Rise seems almost an extension of The Refused, and certainly a better alternative to The (International) Noise Conspiracy, whether you like them or not. It also, as Refused did, stands out amid the rest of hardcore now, though The Rise, since releasing this album, have gone the same way as Refused.
Editor's Note: I really liked Savage Garden when I was a young teen. Everyone else thought they were tripe, so I guess that was just me beginning my "I will only listen to a band if no one else does" phase. I like to think I've gotten a little better about distinguishing good from bad, but that's really up for debate. And I like Incubus.
Daniel Alcinii Wishes That Bracewar Will Fall On His Enemies…BRACEWAAAARRRRRRRR!!!
Bracewar (http://www.1917records.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/bracewar.jpg:
Bracewar
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/bracewar)
Bracewar plays fast hardcore in the vein of Antidote, Infest, Shark Attack, and Ceremony. This is basically all I've been listening to all week, even though they only have about nine songs total. My face is basically distorted like a Picasso painting right about now.
Sidenote: Fuck friends who constantly bail on you. It'd be fine if they actually called and said "Hey, I can't make it today" and scheduled a raindate. Instead, they just don't even fucking call, then avoid you altogether for about a week or two because they feel bad, and then they finally make plans and it happens again. Who wants to be my new friend?
Editor's Note: I need new friends, too, Daniel. Could you ever be friends with a guy who's a musical elitist asshole prick who doesn't really listen to hardcore? And what about a guy who makes the headline of your Listening Station pick a reworking of a Max Cavalera lyric? Max Cavalera can barely speak English! PM me to let me know or leave a brief, non-erotic, perfectly heterosexual comment below. Friends only.
Dave Spak Inspires Joy Joy Feelings In All Those Around Him
Type O Negative (http://www.yousaypartywesaydie.ca)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/typeonegative.jpg:
Dead Again
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/yousaypartywesaydie)
Rebounding from their somewhat disappointing last album, Type O Negative have come back as a staple on my daily playlist. “Dead Again” begins the album as one of their most accessible songs yet. This also happens to be one of my favorites because of its fast punk rock style. This album has a little something for every TON fan. There are Black Sabbath influenced stoner metal songs like “Tripping a Blind Man,” beautifully depressing doom metal such as “She Burned Me Down,” and an enjoyably epic ballad, “September Sun.” Some people may be turned off by how they sound like The Beatles during parts of “The Profit of Doom,” but it doesn’t bother me. This is a really consistent release and, at 77 minutes, it actually feels like you are getting your money’s worth instead of having your time wasted. It’s the perfect album to pass time while waiting for new episodes of Metalocalypse.
Editor's Note: I love Demolition Man. Did anyone else know that Scott Peterson was up for parole just before Simon Phoenix? Couple that with insinuating that Arnold Schwarzenegger would become so popular that they would allow him to become president for a term and this movie borders on science FACT. Plus Snipes looks like Rodman and hearing Sandra Bullock screw up common 90s phrases is funny every time (how does one not laugh when hearing "you really licked his ass?"), not to mention that Benjamin Bratt calling out, "Ohhhh!!! Smokes![/b] when the Snake in a Can joke is played on him is one of the best things ever. And the solution to the Three Sea Shells! Genius. Wait, this segment's about music, right? The music is so laughably bad in Demolition Man that it somehow becomes incredibly good. That's how great that movie is. The last good Stallone flick. Ironically, Type O Negative does appear in this soundtrack. Just kidding. They do appear, however, in the soundtrack for Mortal Kombat, which is a flat-out terrible movie in every respect.
Alex Often Ponders Just How Much This Band Digs Matt Pike
The Higher (http://www.thehigher.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/thehigher.jpg:
On Fire
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/thehigher)
I'm really, really happy this week. And this album is hitting all the right notes. I mean, it's like O-Town, but with electro beats. It's simply beautiful. "Insurance?," "Weapons Wired" and "DARE" are just straight up pop gold. The fact that essentially everyone reading this will probably throw up a little makes me like them more. Keep your monotonous post-everything yawncore. Give me a catchy chorus and a rippling synth beat any day of the week. I recommend this album to none of you.
Editor's Note: It's pretty amazing how fast I went from thinking Alex was the worst hire ever by any magazine covering any topic anywhere to thinking the guy's all aces. Rarely do we agree on music, but I'm pretty sure if I had been raised a little differently or my mind tilted more toward another aspect of my personality, I'd be just like him. We're very similar, but also complete opposites. Just a change in the way synapses fire and we'd be exactly the same, I'm sure. He's a badass. Anyway, I'm not going to listen to this album, because I had a bad experience with a D.A.R.E. officer as a child.
I'm a good, law-abiding citizen and when I was in elementary school, he asked me to pretend to do something I was morally opposed to, in order to act out a scene. I told him I wouldn't do it and he just kept demanding it and I kept saying "No." Anyway, I was a fragile soul then and ended up crying in front of my entire class. I wasn't going to cut my friend in line, goddammit! I was only eight years old! Cutting is bad! D.A.R.E. is stupid. If someone calls and asks if you'd like to donate to D.A.R.E., tell them to fuck off.
Jordan Blows A Golden Opportunity
Year Long Disaster (http://www.yearlongdisaster.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/yearlongdisaster.jpg:
Self Titled EP
Listen (www.myspace.com/yearlongdisaster)
It's been a weird week: I don't feel like I've necessarily found anything too amazing (the truth is, most of what I've been listening to are scores to movies). However, on Monday, I went to the Troubadour and saw The Sword (they rocked in standard fashion). Priestbird (formerly known as Tarantula A.D.) opened for them... But my pick of the week was the evening's opener, Year Long Disaster. There's no denying it; I simply love stoner metal. I don't like growl-y metal, I don't like aggro metal, I don't like shit that has double bass thunder just for the sake of being heavy. I like bands that rock old school style and do so with ease. That's how I felt about YLD, which, until Monday night, was a band I had never heard of. Now they're cool, and I suggest you all checking them out if you dig bands like The Sword, Priestess, Fu Manchu, etc. They definitely bring the rock.
Editor's Note: Priestbird? Tarantula A.D. was a badass name, though. That's a bummer. They probably changed sounds too, which, if true, is probably one of the saddest things I've ever imagined. Anyway, I don't know why Jordan would pick Year Long Disaster when there's a Tarantula A.D. possibility involved. But I do thank him for letting me know about the (hugely disappointing) name change.
Kamran should be excited about this, though.
Chris Pandolfo's All Like, "Look At Me! I Can Afford $200 Headphones! I Put A Premium On Sound Quality And Take Music Very Seriously! More Seriously Than A Lot Of Other People!" And I'm All Like, "Shit, Son, My Car Has Factory Speakers!"
Logh (http://www.logh.se)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/logh.jpg:
North
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/logh)
Swedish ambient rock. At first I wasn't sure what to think of this album. Then I listened to it with more volume with my 200 dollar headphones and was blown away by the beauty and ambience that is present on North. After hearing a couple songs, you wonder "How could they write an entire album with this style of rock?" and once you finish the album you realize how well each track delivers with their extremely moody tones and waves of luscious sound. There honestly is one part in each track that I could probably weep to...like a little girl. Somehow that is not a bad thing. Check out this album.
Editor's Note: Apparently, everyone at Decoy cries like a little girl at very embarrassing times. This is based on my sample group of two, but if you expand the results from those two cases, you will see that 100% of Decoy's writers cry like a little girl.
My headphones cost me $35 and I was pissed I had to spend that much. Then again, I rarely go "under the hood," as I call it. My listening is pretty much confined to my home office and my car, neither of which is equipped with superior audio equipment. But it gets me by. You can proceed with your condescending tones toward everything I say, if you must. I have no ill will toward people who put that much into the equipment that plays music or lets sound be recreated. It's a very good investment. I just choose not to use it, as I'd, well, never use it.
Ben Is Waist-Deep In Water Under Bridges Burned
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)
No, but for serious, "Small Things" is so great to listen to at way too high a volume while driving to Starbucks. And this album sounds a ton like Shifting Skin, which is never, ever a bad thing. That's one electronic pop album that deserves more attention. It deserves so much attention that I refuse to shorten its genre confine to electro-pop. That's how good it is. Secrets of the Lost Satellite is a return to form and it's a wonderful piece of work. It's nice to be a Ken Andrews fan again, after that whole Year of the Rabbit fiasco.
Editor's Note: I like it a lot. A lot a lot. Jordon Zadorozny does backing vocals! I hope he's part of the live band. I want him to sign my copy of August Everywhere. I should bring my recorder (if it somehow magically reappears) and interview him. He's my hero. Kind of. Sorta. Also, if you like my headline, it can be found on All the Way Rider's latest album, Lahuna, which I plan to review…at some…point…in time. Yes. Sometime. Soon. Er or later.
Armand Is Crazy Like A Fox, But Has Been Working Like A Dog
Bark Psychosis (http://www.barkpsychosis.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/barkpsychosis.jpg:
Hex
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/codenamebarkpsychosis)
If I had to choose one record from the whole pre-post-rock lost generation of experimental ambient electronic alternative 90s dreamy rock genre, then I would choose Hex. This record is absolutely phenomenal, so grab a hold of it and commence face pwnage.
Editor's Note:If I had to choose one of those aforementioned bands, I'd get tired just thinking about the genre name and take a nap.
Jeremy Has Many Outside Interests And Duties, Which Means Sometimes He Cannot Dedicate The Time He Would Like To Some Of His Numerous Hobbies. We Appreciate What He Can Do And The Fact That He Makes Time For This At All. At Least He Cites The Source
Winterpills (http://www.winterpills.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/winterpills.jpg:
Winterpills
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/winterpills)
I'm going to plagiarize the Amazon.com editor review somewhat (well, I guess it's not plagiarizing since I cited it, but you get the idea - I'm not writing as well about the album):
Winterpills brings you a tender, filigreed sound, a humming and a fragmentation of warmth and chill, a delicate suspension of belief. They are a band playing you songs of pretty losses and hollow hopefulness. They formed on a bare wood floor during a winter when mutual friends and potential enemies met to nurse wounds, drink, ignore the obvious, play other people's songs, and found they had their own.
They now give them to you in all their friendly, angry, wimpy, moody fragility.
I think that weirdly describes the band well. The album can be haunting, merry, beautiful, and devastating all at once. The first track, "A Benediction," should've been the last - as it's the best one on the album. One of the few songs in a while to give me chills like that. Fans of the new age of folk that has been making its way on the scene lately should give this a try. Hell, you should give it a try even if you're not.
Editor's Note:I am listening to a folk-type album as I edit this. It's really good. This probably is as well.
Scott Is All Like, "Look At Me! I Have Albums That Aren't Even On Pig-Noise-Related Sites Yet! And They're All Really Good! And I Am Equally Adept At Seeing Movies Before People Too, Na Na Na Na Boo Boo!" He's Such A Baby, Right? Man, Scott, You Are Just Too Cool
The Dear Hunter (http://www.thedearhunter.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/dearhunter2.jpg:
Act II: The Meaning of, and All Things Regarding Ms.
Leading
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/tdh)
That's right, I've got an advance copy. And it's awesome. Picks up right where last year's phenomenal EP, The Lake South The River North, left off and does so in the best way possible with soaring guitar work and vocals accompanied by their eclectic stylistic and instrumental flair. Great stuff.
Editor's Note: It's safe to say I am excited for this. And it's also safe to say Alex is mildly piqued, but hesitant.
I do find it interesting that Scott calls The Lake South The River North an EP in this, because we had a long argument when the year-end lists came around about whether or not it was an EP or an LP and I believe he landed on the LP side of things then. Interesting. Very interesting. To me personally, not to any of you. These are my Editor's Notes, not yours. If you want to say something interesting, make your own Editor's Notes, jerk.
Allen Has His Work Cut Out For Him If He Hopes To Salvage What Little Dignity He Has Come Election Time, What With All The Scandal Of His Latest Affairs. I've Come Too Far To Stop This Lame Headline. It Must Go On. It's Well Past The 'Restart' Phase. I'm Sorry That It's So Lame. Reclamation = Salvage, Dignity = Public Office, Rise = Power. It Seemed Like A Good Idea Originally, I Swear. To Our Readers, I Apologize. To Allen, I Apologize Profusely. I'm Very, Very, Truly, Madly, Deeply Sorry, Allen. Chicka Cherry Cola.
The Rise (http://www.riserock.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/therise.jpg:
Reclamation Process
Listen (http://www.riserock.com)
Complete emulation of bands is very rarely seen as any good. Almost any band on Victory proves that. But when you're copying the style of the arguable originator of modern hardcore, staying true to sound and political lyrics, it somehow works. The Rise seems almost an extension of The Refused, and certainly a better alternative to The (International) Noise Conspiracy, whether you like them or not. It also, as Refused did, stands out amid the rest of hardcore now, though The Rise, since releasing this album, have gone the same way as Refused.
Editor's Note: I really liked Savage Garden when I was a young teen. Everyone else thought they were tripe, so I guess that was just me beginning my "I will only listen to a band if no one else does" phase. I like to think I've gotten a little better about distinguishing good from bad, but that's really up for debate. And I like Incubus.