sir mix-a-lot
06-13-2007, 09:38 PM
There, it's done. Whaddaya think?
Chris Pandolfo Is A Closet Harrison Ford Fan
Callisto (http://www.callistochaos.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/callisto.jpg:
Noir
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/callistochaos)
Callisto is a perfect mix of downright heavy tones and beautiful musicianship. I highly recommend this band to you if you like anything post-rock or anything sludgy. The first few songs on this album are sheer brilliance. "The Fugitive" has one of the most heart-wrenching, most gorgeous parts I've heard in a long time and I've found myself repeatedly playing back this particular track. If this band somehow slipped under your radar, as it did for me (I have to get that damn thing fixed), then check out Callisto's Noir, and their other release, True Nature Unfolds - You will not be disappointed.
Editor's Note: You'll have to excuse me being unfunny this week. I've been working grueling, mind-crushing, soul-sapping, stree-inducing 12 hour days seemingly every day for the last month. It royally sucks. And now it's about 100 degrees out, 120 degrees in, and I've got two weeks of this stuff to put up tonight. Cheery, it ain't.
Daniel Alcinii Bids Adieu To One Of The Scene's Greats And Welcomes The Newest To The Fold
The Effort (http://www.wordsofwarrecords.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/effort.jpg:
Wear Your Heart
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/xeffortx)
Melodic straight edge hardcore out of Boston, Massachusetts. These guys have only been around for about a year (formed in summer of 2006), but they've already created a bunch of intense songs, signed to Words of War, and grabbed a ton of fans along their short journey thus far. Along the lines of Have Heart, Verse, Bane, Champion, 108, Turning Point and, finally, Boy Sets Fire.
Editor's Note: BoySetsFire is playing their final show shortly.
Scott Hides His Inadequacies With The Written Word Behind Impassioned Demands, The Oldest Trick In The Book He Could Never Write
The Microphones (http://pwelverumandsun.com/)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/microphones.jpg:
Mount Eerie
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/elverumandsun)
Fuck. That's the only word I can come up with to describe this album. But we must remember that pronunciation is important. It isn't a redneck bar-fight "fuck" or a drunken frat boy "fuck," oh no. It's the kind of "fuck" that sneaks past slightly parted lips in a whisper of breathless amazement at something never seen before. The Microphones' final album before changing their official band name to, uh, the name of this album, Mount Eerie, is a phenomenal piece of experimental rock music. Such genre constraints are purposely left vague because there's no way I could accurately describe this in just a few words, so go listen to it for yourself and try not to lose yourself in its eclectic instrumentation and sweeping metaphysical storyline.
Editor's Note: Just kidding. Scott knows how to write.
Armand Babian Is A Casual Fan Of Faith No More
Six Parts Seven (http://www.suicidesqueeze.net/6x7.html)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/6parts7.jpg:
Casually Smashed To Pieces
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/sixpartsseven)
If a dictionary could make sounds for each of its entries, it would play Six Parts Seven when you looked up the word “subtle.” On Casually Smashed to Pieces, Six Parts Seven decomposes music down to its most organic form and, as a result, the record oozes of subtlety and simplicity. There’s nothing fancy here. If you are looking for simple instrumental rock that doesn’t get all crescendoXcore, then stray no further than Casually Smashed to Pieces. With its folky nature and laid back simplicity, this is the perfect album for a lazy summer’s day.
Editor's Note: Referencing the track "Falling to Pieces." Sorry. But it's okay, because this morning, I realized that with more guitars, Depeche Mode very easily could have been Faith No More and less guitars could have made Faith No More Depeche Mode.
Jeremy Deal Is Sweet. He's A Sweet Deal
Gogol Bordello (http://www.gogolbordello.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/gogolbordello2.jpg:
Super Taranta
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/gogolbordello)
You guys know how Gogol rolls. It's a damn party and it's fun. The new album is no different. It sounds a little more like Multi Kontra Culti vs. Irony than Underdog, but it's still its own thing. If you don't know Gogol, you owe it to yourself to try them. It's not for everyone, so don't point your crooked ass finger at me if you don't like it, but if you do listen and enjoy... expect to have premium time listening for ages, my friend. Grab Vodka and hit repeat.
Editor's Note: Pretty much spot-on there. I can never find their albums, though.
Alex Big Ups His Main Man
Dizzee Rascal (http://www.dizzeerascal.co.uk)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/dizzeerascal.jpg:
Maths + English
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/dizzeerascal)
From the kid who put the grime genre in the face of unexpecting, mild-mannered adults with his Mercury Prize-winning debut Boy In Da Corner comes Maths + English, the third album from Dizzee Dizz, the street Shakespeare. Though there's little in the way of grime in his sound anymore, the Bow MC manages to sound as fresh, inventive and venomous as ever. From the euphoria of "Pussy'ole" to the fury of "Sirens," there aren't many in the genre, in hip hop itself, who can match Dizzee's style and talents. Oh, and it's got a lovely pink cover.
Editor's Note: This guy can be found in my area's electronica section. Cual es la fuck, my friends?
Rick Apparently Doesn't Understand Blasphemy
Jesu (http://www.avalancheinc.co.uk/jesu.html)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/jesu.jpg:
Sun Down/Sun Rise EP
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/officialjesu)
It may be blasphemous on this site to say it, but for as good as Conqueror was, it just wasn’t as good as Silver. There was too much repetition and not enough quality ambience. For those who craved that ambience from Jesu, go no further than Sun Down/Sun Rise, a vinyl-only release here in the US (it’s a bonus disc on Conqueror in Japan). Being 35 minutes long and only two tracks, there is plenty of building, moving ambience. It’s quite easy to see this as the logical follow-up to Silver when listening to the intricate songwriting and mellow mood. This is a truly beautiful effort and I hope it gets released on CD here in the US sometime soon.
Editor's Note: Man, Silver is awesome.
Chris Conlan Gives Sax And Violins A Bad Name
Yellowcard (http://www.yellowcardrock.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/yellowcard.jpg:
Paper Walls
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/yellowcard)
Yellowcard is back. For everyone who doubted them after the release of Lights and Sounds, the guys have bounced back and created the album that should've followed Ocean Avenue. A perfect summer album.
Editor's Note: Devil Sold His Soul
Dave Spak Asks Cohagen For Air, Gets Sent To Where The Red Swirls Roam
Frog Eyes (http://www.absolutelykosher.com/frogeyes.htm)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/frogeyes.jpg:
Tears Of The Valedictorian
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/frogeyes)
I was completely unsure of what to expect from Frog Eyes. They are one of the most eccentric bands that can be lumped into the indie rock category. When I first heard Tears of the Valedictorian, I wasn’t sure if I even enjoyed it or not. I haven’t been this confused from a first listen since Man Man’s last record. But like the aforementioned band, I became more enthralled as I gave it a closer listen. I have listened to this album countless times since and I can say that it has not lost any of its appeal with each repeated play. “Bushels” may be the best song written in 2007. It has the same quirky intensity that made Wolf Parade gain so much recognition. The song takes you on an unrivaled roller coaster ride of spastic guitars and vocals. Seriously, Carey Mercer’s vocal performance on that track is worth the price of admission on its own.
Editor's Note: Frogs are hopping off my brainstem.
Alex Davies Is King Of The Objective Critique
Paramore (http://www.paramore.net)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/paramore2.jpg:
Riots!
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/paramore)
It was inevitable; something had to end the Ignite and Red Sparowes binge I've been on lately. And RIOT! did just that. I'm not going to go into details, as my review covers all the bases regarding why this will probably be my #1 album of 2007, and should also be yours, if you have any taste/balls/ears at all. All I will say is that I had high expectations and I was pretty much floored by this album. So yeah, it's pop. Yeah, kids dig it. It's also better than whatever your favourite band put out last. Except for Dredg. Everything they've ever done is nothing short of life-altering.
Editor's Note: This band blows. Fortunately, this should be more than enough to make this Listening Station go to at least seven replies.
Ben Rice Attempts To One-Up Alex Davies
Maroon 5 (http://www.maroon5.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/maroon5.jpg:
It Won't Be Soon Before Long
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/Maroon5)
I'm not going to tell you why I think you should hear this album. You've probably already made up your mind without hearing it. You either recognized this band's ability to write great pop music or you pushed them aside as another trite indie-pop bullshit band. Even if their latest album sounds like the rebirth of disco, even if it's in the same vein as Justin Timberlake-Jackson, even if it is the best Jamiroquai album ever recorded, you already know how you feel and I'm not going to try to persuade you otherwise. All I know is that I think it's fantastic and was actually a lot better than I thought it would be.
Editor's Note: Secret: I didn't listen to Maroon 5 at all the last two weeks. It's been mostly stuff I've already picked in the last few months.
Chris Pandolfo Is A Closet Harrison Ford Fan
Callisto (http://www.callistochaos.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/callisto.jpg:
Noir
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/callistochaos)
Callisto is a perfect mix of downright heavy tones and beautiful musicianship. I highly recommend this band to you if you like anything post-rock or anything sludgy. The first few songs on this album are sheer brilliance. "The Fugitive" has one of the most heart-wrenching, most gorgeous parts I've heard in a long time and I've found myself repeatedly playing back this particular track. If this band somehow slipped under your radar, as it did for me (I have to get that damn thing fixed), then check out Callisto's Noir, and their other release, True Nature Unfolds - You will not be disappointed.
Editor's Note: You'll have to excuse me being unfunny this week. I've been working grueling, mind-crushing, soul-sapping, stree-inducing 12 hour days seemingly every day for the last month. It royally sucks. And now it's about 100 degrees out, 120 degrees in, and I've got two weeks of this stuff to put up tonight. Cheery, it ain't.
Daniel Alcinii Bids Adieu To One Of The Scene's Greats And Welcomes The Newest To The Fold
The Effort (http://www.wordsofwarrecords.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/effort.jpg:
Wear Your Heart
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/xeffortx)
Melodic straight edge hardcore out of Boston, Massachusetts. These guys have only been around for about a year (formed in summer of 2006), but they've already created a bunch of intense songs, signed to Words of War, and grabbed a ton of fans along their short journey thus far. Along the lines of Have Heart, Verse, Bane, Champion, 108, Turning Point and, finally, Boy Sets Fire.
Editor's Note: BoySetsFire is playing their final show shortly.
Scott Hides His Inadequacies With The Written Word Behind Impassioned Demands, The Oldest Trick In The Book He Could Never Write
The Microphones (http://pwelverumandsun.com/)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/microphones.jpg:
Mount Eerie
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/elverumandsun)
Fuck. That's the only word I can come up with to describe this album. But we must remember that pronunciation is important. It isn't a redneck bar-fight "fuck" or a drunken frat boy "fuck," oh no. It's the kind of "fuck" that sneaks past slightly parted lips in a whisper of breathless amazement at something never seen before. The Microphones' final album before changing their official band name to, uh, the name of this album, Mount Eerie, is a phenomenal piece of experimental rock music. Such genre constraints are purposely left vague because there's no way I could accurately describe this in just a few words, so go listen to it for yourself and try not to lose yourself in its eclectic instrumentation and sweeping metaphysical storyline.
Editor's Note: Just kidding. Scott knows how to write.
Armand Babian Is A Casual Fan Of Faith No More
Six Parts Seven (http://www.suicidesqueeze.net/6x7.html)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/6parts7.jpg:
Casually Smashed To Pieces
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/sixpartsseven)
If a dictionary could make sounds for each of its entries, it would play Six Parts Seven when you looked up the word “subtle.” On Casually Smashed to Pieces, Six Parts Seven decomposes music down to its most organic form and, as a result, the record oozes of subtlety and simplicity. There’s nothing fancy here. If you are looking for simple instrumental rock that doesn’t get all crescendoXcore, then stray no further than Casually Smashed to Pieces. With its folky nature and laid back simplicity, this is the perfect album for a lazy summer’s day.
Editor's Note: Referencing the track "Falling to Pieces." Sorry. But it's okay, because this morning, I realized that with more guitars, Depeche Mode very easily could have been Faith No More and less guitars could have made Faith No More Depeche Mode.
Jeremy Deal Is Sweet. He's A Sweet Deal
Gogol Bordello (http://www.gogolbordello.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/gogolbordello2.jpg:
Super Taranta
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/gogolbordello)
You guys know how Gogol rolls. It's a damn party and it's fun. The new album is no different. It sounds a little more like Multi Kontra Culti vs. Irony than Underdog, but it's still its own thing. If you don't know Gogol, you owe it to yourself to try them. It's not for everyone, so don't point your crooked ass finger at me if you don't like it, but if you do listen and enjoy... expect to have premium time listening for ages, my friend. Grab Vodka and hit repeat.
Editor's Note: Pretty much spot-on there. I can never find their albums, though.
Alex Big Ups His Main Man
Dizzee Rascal (http://www.dizzeerascal.co.uk)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/dizzeerascal.jpg:
Maths + English
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/dizzeerascal)
From the kid who put the grime genre in the face of unexpecting, mild-mannered adults with his Mercury Prize-winning debut Boy In Da Corner comes Maths + English, the third album from Dizzee Dizz, the street Shakespeare. Though there's little in the way of grime in his sound anymore, the Bow MC manages to sound as fresh, inventive and venomous as ever. From the euphoria of "Pussy'ole" to the fury of "Sirens," there aren't many in the genre, in hip hop itself, who can match Dizzee's style and talents. Oh, and it's got a lovely pink cover.
Editor's Note: This guy can be found in my area's electronica section. Cual es la fuck, my friends?
Rick Apparently Doesn't Understand Blasphemy
Jesu (http://www.avalancheinc.co.uk/jesu.html)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/jesu.jpg:
Sun Down/Sun Rise EP
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/officialjesu)
It may be blasphemous on this site to say it, but for as good as Conqueror was, it just wasn’t as good as Silver. There was too much repetition and not enough quality ambience. For those who craved that ambience from Jesu, go no further than Sun Down/Sun Rise, a vinyl-only release here in the US (it’s a bonus disc on Conqueror in Japan). Being 35 minutes long and only two tracks, there is plenty of building, moving ambience. It’s quite easy to see this as the logical follow-up to Silver when listening to the intricate songwriting and mellow mood. This is a truly beautiful effort and I hope it gets released on CD here in the US sometime soon.
Editor's Note: Man, Silver is awesome.
Chris Conlan Gives Sax And Violins A Bad Name
Yellowcard (http://www.yellowcardrock.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/yellowcard.jpg:
Paper Walls
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/yellowcard)
Yellowcard is back. For everyone who doubted them after the release of Lights and Sounds, the guys have bounced back and created the album that should've followed Ocean Avenue. A perfect summer album.
Editor's Note: Devil Sold His Soul
Dave Spak Asks Cohagen For Air, Gets Sent To Where The Red Swirls Roam
Frog Eyes (http://www.absolutelykosher.com/frogeyes.htm)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/frogeyes.jpg:
Tears Of The Valedictorian
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/frogeyes)
I was completely unsure of what to expect from Frog Eyes. They are one of the most eccentric bands that can be lumped into the indie rock category. When I first heard Tears of the Valedictorian, I wasn’t sure if I even enjoyed it or not. I haven’t been this confused from a first listen since Man Man’s last record. But like the aforementioned band, I became more enthralled as I gave it a closer listen. I have listened to this album countless times since and I can say that it has not lost any of its appeal with each repeated play. “Bushels” may be the best song written in 2007. It has the same quirky intensity that made Wolf Parade gain so much recognition. The song takes you on an unrivaled roller coaster ride of spastic guitars and vocals. Seriously, Carey Mercer’s vocal performance on that track is worth the price of admission on its own.
Editor's Note: Frogs are hopping off my brainstem.
Alex Davies Is King Of The Objective Critique
Paramore (http://www.paramore.net)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/paramore2.jpg:
Riots!
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/paramore)
It was inevitable; something had to end the Ignite and Red Sparowes binge I've been on lately. And RIOT! did just that. I'm not going to go into details, as my review covers all the bases regarding why this will probably be my #1 album of 2007, and should also be yours, if you have any taste/balls/ears at all. All I will say is that I had high expectations and I was pretty much floored by this album. So yeah, it's pop. Yeah, kids dig it. It's also better than whatever your favourite band put out last. Except for Dredg. Everything they've ever done is nothing short of life-altering.
Editor's Note: This band blows. Fortunately, this should be more than enough to make this Listening Station go to at least seven replies.
Ben Rice Attempts To One-Up Alex Davies
Maroon 5 (http://www.maroon5.com)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/maroon5.jpg:
It Won't Be Soon Before Long
Listen (http://www.myspace.com/Maroon5)
I'm not going to tell you why I think you should hear this album. You've probably already made up your mind without hearing it. You either recognized this band's ability to write great pop music or you pushed them aside as another trite indie-pop bullshit band. Even if their latest album sounds like the rebirth of disco, even if it's in the same vein as Justin Timberlake-Jackson, even if it is the best Jamiroquai album ever recorded, you already know how you feel and I'm not going to try to persuade you otherwise. All I know is that I think it's fantastic and was actually a lot better than I thought it would be.
Editor's Note: Secret: I didn't listen to Maroon 5 at all the last two weeks. It's been mostly stuff I've already picked in the last few months.