sir mix-a-lot
04-18-2007, 09:06 PM
Grab your headphones, some double A's, and an open mind; it's time for Decoy's Listening Station. This week, we've got everything from up and comers to has-beens, even some resurgents and never will bes. Yep, it's got everything this week. Everything but the girl.
Jeremy Wants To Let You Know This Is Not A Glitch. This Album Truly Is Being Talked About In Two Articles Posted Today
Sleeptalker (http://www.sleeptalker.net)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/sleeptalker.jpg:
Simplify, Simplify
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/sleeptalkerband)
I'm actually doing a review for this album, so I can't divulge too much. This is, after all, an EP and there's only so much you can say about an EP before you've blown your load. Still, I want to recommend it for listening pleasure. I liked it when I heard it before I was supposed to do a review and now that I know more about their background and previous sound (from the ever helpful and informative Adam) - coupled with more attentive listening, I like it that much more. Beautiful and moody music - that's what you'll get here. Perhaps I've said too much...
Editor's Note: If this really is better than Aireline and this world made sense, everyone in the world would own this EP by October 27th. But right now, I'd just settle for it being available, since that doesn't hold true for old Aireline EPs.
Rick Is xBadxAsSx
Deadlock (http://www.xdeadlockx.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/deadlock.jpg:
Wolves
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/xdeadlockx)
Deadlock released my #1 CD of the year in 2005 with Earth.Revolt. Their brand of precise, surgical, deadly melodeath was way ahead of the curve. It’s now 2007 and their follow-up, Wolves, is soon to be released. I’ve been listening to my review copy for a while now and must say that it is a solid melodeath album, but it lacks a lot of what made Earth.Revolt as stellar as it was. Gone are the 10 minute epics, replaced by more digestible 4 to 5 minute long songs. Gone is the razor sharp guitar work. Gone is the overall cohesiveness of the songs. However, replacing those missing elements are a heck of a lot more female vocals from Sabine Weniger (which is a definite plus), more appropriately (for the most part) placed keyboards, and concise songwriting. I was initially turned off by the changes the band made between releases, but after numerous listens the album can be appreciated for what it is--an accessible melodeath album that will gain them a larger fanbase at the cost of alienating a few older fans.
Editor's Note: If this world made any sense whatsoever, someone would have stopped the bastard who coined the genre name "melodeath." I understand the supposed wit behind it, as it sounds vaguely like "melodic," but it sounds asinine. If it makes Rick feel any better, though, my pick for the week was his pick ages ago.
Daniel Alcinii Is Canadian/en, So He Doesn't Even Know The Meaning Of The Phrase
Trash Talk (http://www.rumblerecords.com/trashtalk.html)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/trashtalk.jpg:
Walking Disease
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/trashtalkfu)
Sunday afternoon, I attended The First Step in the back of a skate shop and it was pretty intense. Trash Talk was not playing, nor were they ever on the bill; however, bands like Urban Blight and another whose name I cannot remember for the life of me were on that very bill. The point is, ever since Sunday afternoon, I've been spinning Trash Talk's 11 song CDEP, Walking Disease, which clocks in at nine minutes and six seconds total. Okay, I lied, it hasn't been ever since Sunday afternoon; it's probably been for about a month because that's just how I roll. Anyways, check them out if you're a fan of Outbreak, Negative Approach, Ceremony, Urban Blight, Shark Attack, Infest, or anything that's really fast and abrasive.
Editor's Note:I'd like to think that a hardcore band that preaches a message of hope and self-respect could one day christen itself with a positive name. Maybe one day...
Allen Would Probably Dig This Band Nullify, Which Is The Creator Of My Favorite One-Page Of All Time
Sky Eats Airplane (http://www.skyeatsairplane.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/sea.jpg:
Everything Perfect On The Wrong Day
Listen (http://www.purevolume.com/skyeatsairplane)
All right, so at face value all you take it for is some relatively generic metalcore with some electronica influences. Then you listen and realize it's practically techno with metalcore vocals. Then you do some research and learn that it was TWO DUDES that did everything on the album (their numbers have since swelled for live shows).
Then you listen some more, truly impressed, and realize it's AWESOME. This has barely left the "play" list on my mp3 player and the CD is so worn down in a week's constant playing in various CD players and car radios that it has started to skip.
Imagine The Faint with the best screams from your favorite hardcore or metalcore band and you have Sky Eats Airplane.
Editor's Note: I'd post the entire one-page for Nullify, but it's packed away somewhere. It was hilarious. Alas, it is packed away. And I never reviewed their album. It's called Perfectly Flawed and it's awesome for what it is. I remember somewhere in the one-page, they said they got inspired to write music by a psychotic clown they'd bought at a thrift store or something, so, to avoid angering it, they bought a guitar and some drums and practiced "until we were nearly average" and recorded an album. Awesome. It's related because, on the surface, it seems like generic metalcore.
Alex Is Justified In Being Supa Dupa Fly When He Gets His Freak On
Timbaland (http://www.timbalandmusic.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/timbaland.jpg:
Timbaland Presents Shock Value
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/timbaland)
I've always been a fan of Timbo. His beats have always been recognisable and more often than not, the best around, in terms of mainstream hip hop. But that's not why I picked it. I mean, yeah, there's a whole bunch of awesome tracks on here: "Release," "Give It To Me," "Bounce," etc., etc., but WOWZORZ the track with Fall Out Boy is just too damn amazing for my ears. I'm not going to go into too much detail about why it's so good, as you should probably just listen to it and hate it for yourself. But damn, it's Petey's writing at a pretty high standard, coupled with Patrick totally bringing it vocally, then smeared all over some illegally sexy Timbo beats. What's not to like? If your answer to that was "everything," there's a line on another track where Justin Timberlake asks a girl to bounce like her "ass got the hiccups."
Editor's Note: I'm not gonna lie. Alex's argument is airtight here. In a just and rational world, people would agree about that. Instead, I predict it will be just the opposite.
Chris Pandolfo = Dant Rambo?
Bright Eyes (http://www.brighteyes.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/brighteyes.jpg:
Cassadaga
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/brighteyes)
I had Adam send this album to me and it wasn't because I wanted to hear it. My girlfriend had asked me for it. So a few nights ago I gave it a listen. What do you know...I like this CD. Afterward I told Adam and he simply said "yer gey." Thanks, dude.
Editor's Note: Dude, Bright Eyes. Bright. Eyes. I rest my case.
Scott Doesn't Really Care If You Listen To This Band
We Insist! (http://www.weinsist.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/weinsist.jpg:
Oh, Things Are So Corruptible
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/weinsistband)
In describing music of this ilk, words like "eclectic," "varied," and "dynamic" are usually the first to spring to mind. And We Insist! definitely fits such descriptions, not only for deriving their name from a 60's jazz album, but also because they combine elements from bands like McLusky, At the Drive-In, Queens of the Stone Age, and Shellac with the unbridled zaniness of Primus or Mr. Bungle. But, since my brain is refusing to comply with the request that it flesh out this brief write-up, I'll stop here so you can go listen to the album.
Editor's Note: I can only assume this album title is in regards to floppy discs.
Ben Doesn't Really Even Like Smashing Pumpkins
Jimmy Chamberlin Complex (http://www.jimmychamberlincomplex.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/jcc.jpg:
Life Begins Again
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/jimmychamberlincomplex)
I don't care that this album falls off drastically after opener "Streetcrawler." That track is a bon a fide 47/12. Jimmy's drumming on this album is incredible and there's just enough of that Billy Corgan fellow to keep it from being obnoxious. By it, I mean either the sound of his voice or just Billy Corgan in general. You decide. The point is, this album is awesome despite nearly dying after track one. But again, that's only in comparison to the amazing opening track.
Editor's Note: Honestly, I don’t like the Smashing Pumpkins. I don't think James Iha is great. I don't like Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. Nor do I care for Gish. Hell, I probably like Adore best. Maybe this just means I don't understand them, but to put it all into perspective, I would like to point out that this band once wrote a song called "Heavy Metal Machine" and the lyrics were literally just this: "Heavy metal! Heavy metal machiiiiiiine!" over and over again. Why?
Jeremy Wants To Let You Know This Is Not A Glitch. This Album Truly Is Being Talked About In Two Articles Posted Today
Sleeptalker (http://www.sleeptalker.net)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/sleeptalker.jpg:
Simplify, Simplify
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/sleeptalkerband)
I'm actually doing a review for this album, so I can't divulge too much. This is, after all, an EP and there's only so much you can say about an EP before you've blown your load. Still, I want to recommend it for listening pleasure. I liked it when I heard it before I was supposed to do a review and now that I know more about their background and previous sound (from the ever helpful and informative Adam) - coupled with more attentive listening, I like it that much more. Beautiful and moody music - that's what you'll get here. Perhaps I've said too much...
Editor's Note: If this really is better than Aireline and this world made sense, everyone in the world would own this EP by October 27th. But right now, I'd just settle for it being available, since that doesn't hold true for old Aireline EPs.
Rick Is xBadxAsSx
Deadlock (http://www.xdeadlockx.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/deadlock.jpg:
Wolves
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/xdeadlockx)
Deadlock released my #1 CD of the year in 2005 with Earth.Revolt. Their brand of precise, surgical, deadly melodeath was way ahead of the curve. It’s now 2007 and their follow-up, Wolves, is soon to be released. I’ve been listening to my review copy for a while now and must say that it is a solid melodeath album, but it lacks a lot of what made Earth.Revolt as stellar as it was. Gone are the 10 minute epics, replaced by more digestible 4 to 5 minute long songs. Gone is the razor sharp guitar work. Gone is the overall cohesiveness of the songs. However, replacing those missing elements are a heck of a lot more female vocals from Sabine Weniger (which is a definite plus), more appropriately (for the most part) placed keyboards, and concise songwriting. I was initially turned off by the changes the band made between releases, but after numerous listens the album can be appreciated for what it is--an accessible melodeath album that will gain them a larger fanbase at the cost of alienating a few older fans.
Editor's Note: If this world made any sense whatsoever, someone would have stopped the bastard who coined the genre name "melodeath." I understand the supposed wit behind it, as it sounds vaguely like "melodic," but it sounds asinine. If it makes Rick feel any better, though, my pick for the week was his pick ages ago.
Daniel Alcinii Is Canadian/en, So He Doesn't Even Know The Meaning Of The Phrase
Trash Talk (http://www.rumblerecords.com/trashtalk.html)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/trashtalk.jpg:
Walking Disease
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/trashtalkfu)
Sunday afternoon, I attended The First Step in the back of a skate shop and it was pretty intense. Trash Talk was not playing, nor were they ever on the bill; however, bands like Urban Blight and another whose name I cannot remember for the life of me were on that very bill. The point is, ever since Sunday afternoon, I've been spinning Trash Talk's 11 song CDEP, Walking Disease, which clocks in at nine minutes and six seconds total. Okay, I lied, it hasn't been ever since Sunday afternoon; it's probably been for about a month because that's just how I roll. Anyways, check them out if you're a fan of Outbreak, Negative Approach, Ceremony, Urban Blight, Shark Attack, Infest, or anything that's really fast and abrasive.
Editor's Note:I'd like to think that a hardcore band that preaches a message of hope and self-respect could one day christen itself with a positive name. Maybe one day...
Allen Would Probably Dig This Band Nullify, Which Is The Creator Of My Favorite One-Page Of All Time
Sky Eats Airplane (http://www.skyeatsairplane.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/sea.jpg:
Everything Perfect On The Wrong Day
Listen (http://www.purevolume.com/skyeatsairplane)
All right, so at face value all you take it for is some relatively generic metalcore with some electronica influences. Then you listen and realize it's practically techno with metalcore vocals. Then you do some research and learn that it was TWO DUDES that did everything on the album (their numbers have since swelled for live shows).
Then you listen some more, truly impressed, and realize it's AWESOME. This has barely left the "play" list on my mp3 player and the CD is so worn down in a week's constant playing in various CD players and car radios that it has started to skip.
Imagine The Faint with the best screams from your favorite hardcore or metalcore band and you have Sky Eats Airplane.
Editor's Note: I'd post the entire one-page for Nullify, but it's packed away somewhere. It was hilarious. Alas, it is packed away. And I never reviewed their album. It's called Perfectly Flawed and it's awesome for what it is. I remember somewhere in the one-page, they said they got inspired to write music by a psychotic clown they'd bought at a thrift store or something, so, to avoid angering it, they bought a guitar and some drums and practiced "until we were nearly average" and recorded an album. Awesome. It's related because, on the surface, it seems like generic metalcore.
Alex Is Justified In Being Supa Dupa Fly When He Gets His Freak On
Timbaland (http://www.timbalandmusic.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/timbaland.jpg:
Timbaland Presents Shock Value
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/timbaland)
I've always been a fan of Timbo. His beats have always been recognisable and more often than not, the best around, in terms of mainstream hip hop. But that's not why I picked it. I mean, yeah, there's a whole bunch of awesome tracks on here: "Release," "Give It To Me," "Bounce," etc., etc., but WOWZORZ the track with Fall Out Boy is just too damn amazing for my ears. I'm not going to go into too much detail about why it's so good, as you should probably just listen to it and hate it for yourself. But damn, it's Petey's writing at a pretty high standard, coupled with Patrick totally bringing it vocally, then smeared all over some illegally sexy Timbo beats. What's not to like? If your answer to that was "everything," there's a line on another track where Justin Timberlake asks a girl to bounce like her "ass got the hiccups."
Editor's Note: I'm not gonna lie. Alex's argument is airtight here. In a just and rational world, people would agree about that. Instead, I predict it will be just the opposite.
Chris Pandolfo = Dant Rambo?
Bright Eyes (http://www.brighteyes.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/brighteyes.jpg:
Cassadaga
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/brighteyes)
I had Adam send this album to me and it wasn't because I wanted to hear it. My girlfriend had asked me for it. So a few nights ago I gave it a listen. What do you know...I like this CD. Afterward I told Adam and he simply said "yer gey." Thanks, dude.
Editor's Note: Dude, Bright Eyes. Bright. Eyes. I rest my case.
Scott Doesn't Really Care If You Listen To This Band
We Insist! (http://www.weinsist.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/weinsist.jpg:
Oh, Things Are So Corruptible
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/weinsistband)
In describing music of this ilk, words like "eclectic," "varied," and "dynamic" are usually the first to spring to mind. And We Insist! definitely fits such descriptions, not only for deriving their name from a 60's jazz album, but also because they combine elements from bands like McLusky, At the Drive-In, Queens of the Stone Age, and Shellac with the unbridled zaniness of Primus or Mr. Bungle. But, since my brain is refusing to comply with the request that it flesh out this brief write-up, I'll stop here so you can go listen to the album.
Editor's Note: I can only assume this album title is in regards to floppy discs.
Ben Doesn't Really Even Like Smashing Pumpkins
Jimmy Chamberlin Complex (http://www.jimmychamberlincomplex.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/jcc.jpg:
Life Begins Again
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/jimmychamberlincomplex)
I don't care that this album falls off drastically after opener "Streetcrawler." That track is a bon a fide 47/12. Jimmy's drumming on this album is incredible and there's just enough of that Billy Corgan fellow to keep it from being obnoxious. By it, I mean either the sound of his voice or just Billy Corgan in general. You decide. The point is, this album is awesome despite nearly dying after track one. But again, that's only in comparison to the amazing opening track.
Editor's Note: Honestly, I don’t like the Smashing Pumpkins. I don't think James Iha is great. I don't like Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. Nor do I care for Gish. Hell, I probably like Adore best. Maybe this just means I don't understand them, but to put it all into perspective, I would like to point out that this band once wrote a song called "Heavy Metal Machine" and the lyrics were literally just this: "Heavy metal! Heavy metal machiiiiiiine!" over and over again. Why?