sir mix-a-lot
11-30-2005, 06:53 PM
So you wanna know what each Decoy contributor is jamming this week? Take a long gander at this week's list and feel free to add what you guys are spinning too.
Jordan is Reinventing the Space Station Whilst Grooving to Daturah:
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/daturah.jpg
Website: (http://www.daturah.de/) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/daturah)
I came across Daturah several months ago while reading up on German metal purveyors Ira. Ira mentioned somewhere how they dug the work of this other German group Daturah, and I'm the kind of person who always follows up on these things. At the time, all Daturah had available to listen to was a few rough demos, none of which really struck me as being very important. Turn the clock forward a few months and Adam is telling me how I have to "check out this awesome German instrumental band" who had just sent in a copy of their self-titled debut release to Decoy Music and whose name sounds vaguely familiar. What was I expecting? Not epic, ambient instrumental rock with flares of metallic underpinnings. Not a band with a grandiose vision for their craft and even more bourgeois songs to match. Not a collection of three songs that you expect to reach a balls out Isis inspired breakdown and send the whole world running for cover as they thrash about with axes flailing. Definitely not a band who shares a lot in common with the likes of several of the bands on the Translation Loss roster. But what I got was all of the above and more. Daturah is a solid album that requires a lot of patience from the listener and a ear for ambience. Ira seems to love these guys, so shouldn't you?
Ben is Rediscovering His Latin Roots While Playing Air Tuba To: Los Hermanos - Quatro
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/loshermanos.jpg
Website: (http://www.loshermanos.com.br) :: Listen: (http://www2.uol.com.br/loshermanos/)
Brazilian pop-rock band Los Hermanos knows how to write a love song. Sure, their Brazilian tongues make it impossible to understand without a handy translation guide, but the feeling is there regardless, be it in the powerful vocals of or the incredible musicianship of the rest of the band. Los Hermanos is not your typical tinkle-the-ivories and strum-some-chords pop-rock band a la Coldplay. No, sir, they bring much more to the musical table than simplicity. While their guitar parts do tend to be fairly typical for the genre, it's their inclusion of creative drum beats and reliance on upright bass and brass, coupled with dramatic shifts in time and styles, that makes them a more intriguing band than any others in their genre. Every album they've released has been a masterpiece, with Bloco do Eu Sozinho being their most distinguised and creative. But Quatro certainly doesn't see Los Hermanos being a shadow of their former selves. The songwriting is still top-notch and, although they've trimmed what little fat they once had, they still stand head-and-shoulders above their less-creative, more streamlined, competition. If you're in the market for something a little more comforting and mainstream (sounding) without the hype and linear arrangements, dish out the extra dollars for any Los Hermanos disc. I find that searching on half.com lends you to getting their albums for much less than import price. Enjoy!
Johnny L is Doing a Complete 180 as He Listens To: Aberdeen City - The Freezing Atlantic
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/aberdeencity.jpg
Website: (http://www.aberdeenmusic.com/index1.php) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/aberdeencity)
Aberdeen City is a four piece rock band in the vein of Interpol, Echo and the Bunnymen, and Sonic Youth. Their swirling guitars, driving beats and passionate, moody lyrics make for the ideal listening experience no matter what mood you happen to be in. These boys are taking the indie and college radio world by storm and after you listen, you will understand why.
Jayme is Rollicking in the Grandeur of Basics While Blaring: Set Your Goals - Set Your Goals
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/setyourgoals.jpg
Website: (http://www.setyourgoals.net) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/setyourgoals)
Set Your Goals is simply a melodic hardcore/punk band from San Fran, CA, that thrives on playing fast, playing hard, and having fun. The band doesn’t claim to be changing the face of music; instead, they take pride in doing the same things that got them stoked about music in the first place. Formed in early 2004, the band almost immediately released their EP on Straight On Records that very summer. These guys successfully do exactly what they intended on doing with their self-titled EP as well: they play hard, bring back the nostalgia of our early times in this music scene, and they enjoy themselves thoroughly in the process. They have just recently taken a break from the road to record their upcoming full length due out sometime in 2006. Roll down the windows, sing along, talk about old times with your friends, get excited, and enjoy. Set Your Goals is a refreshing band that could care less about being the next big thing; they’re content with just playing the music they love and being completely humbled by every friend they have and every opportunity that arrives. Set Your Goals is highly recommended if you are a fan of The Backup Plan, Crime In Stereo, Saves the Day, Daggermouth, or Comeback Kid.
Rick is Pointing Out the Flaws in Others While Rocking: Five.Bolt.Main - Venting
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/5boltmain.jpg
Website: (http://www.fiveboltmain.com) :: Listen: ( http://vista.streamguys.com/jspiewak/pathetic_audio.wma)
I’m sure I'm one of about only 10 people out there who was actually really saddened when Flaw called it quits. They were one of the bajillion melodic nu-metal bands to come out in the late 90’s and early 00’s, but, dammit, they were better than 95% of their peers! When I heard that Chris Volz was working on a new project, Vent, I was intrigued. Their demos were good and they eventually went on to call themselves Five.Bolt.Main. They should have actually just called themselves Flaw because this band is basically Flaw. They sound just like them, which isn’t all that bad. Sure, these guys are no groundbreaking band like Pelican or Isis, but they also aren’t your run of the mill shitstain band like Korn or Disturbed.
Eric Is Putting the Hell in Hello While Cranking Up: Die Alone - The Arcane Suicide Movement
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/diealone.jpg
Website: (http://www.diealone.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/diealone)
Since April of 2002, Milwaukee, Wisconsin's Die Alone have built on their reputation as being drastically out of the ordinary. Rather than regurgitate the At-The-Gates-with-mosh idea or write songs that are merely endless guitar and drum endurance exercises, Die Alone instead pound out extreme metal that does not forget about dynamics and song structure. The band's music moves like a horror movie shifting from scene to scene; the listener never knows what will come next and the story never ends with "happily ever after." They have been building their fanbase with regional shows alongside Bleeding Through, Misery Signals, Between The Buried And Me, and Dead To Fall. Die Alone is easily appreciated by fans of Neurosis, The Red Chord, Immolation, and Between The Buried And Me.
Jordan is Reinventing the Space Station Whilst Grooving to Daturah:
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/daturah.jpg
Website: (http://www.daturah.de/) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/daturah)
I came across Daturah several months ago while reading up on German metal purveyors Ira. Ira mentioned somewhere how they dug the work of this other German group Daturah, and I'm the kind of person who always follows up on these things. At the time, all Daturah had available to listen to was a few rough demos, none of which really struck me as being very important. Turn the clock forward a few months and Adam is telling me how I have to "check out this awesome German instrumental band" who had just sent in a copy of their self-titled debut release to Decoy Music and whose name sounds vaguely familiar. What was I expecting? Not epic, ambient instrumental rock with flares of metallic underpinnings. Not a band with a grandiose vision for their craft and even more bourgeois songs to match. Not a collection of three songs that you expect to reach a balls out Isis inspired breakdown and send the whole world running for cover as they thrash about with axes flailing. Definitely not a band who shares a lot in common with the likes of several of the bands on the Translation Loss roster. But what I got was all of the above and more. Daturah is a solid album that requires a lot of patience from the listener and a ear for ambience. Ira seems to love these guys, so shouldn't you?
Ben is Rediscovering His Latin Roots While Playing Air Tuba To: Los Hermanos - Quatro
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/loshermanos.jpg
Website: (http://www.loshermanos.com.br) :: Listen: (http://www2.uol.com.br/loshermanos/)
Brazilian pop-rock band Los Hermanos knows how to write a love song. Sure, their Brazilian tongues make it impossible to understand without a handy translation guide, but the feeling is there regardless, be it in the powerful vocals of or the incredible musicianship of the rest of the band. Los Hermanos is not your typical tinkle-the-ivories and strum-some-chords pop-rock band a la Coldplay. No, sir, they bring much more to the musical table than simplicity. While their guitar parts do tend to be fairly typical for the genre, it's their inclusion of creative drum beats and reliance on upright bass and brass, coupled with dramatic shifts in time and styles, that makes them a more intriguing band than any others in their genre. Every album they've released has been a masterpiece, with Bloco do Eu Sozinho being their most distinguised and creative. But Quatro certainly doesn't see Los Hermanos being a shadow of their former selves. The songwriting is still top-notch and, although they've trimmed what little fat they once had, they still stand head-and-shoulders above their less-creative, more streamlined, competition. If you're in the market for something a little more comforting and mainstream (sounding) without the hype and linear arrangements, dish out the extra dollars for any Los Hermanos disc. I find that searching on half.com lends you to getting their albums for much less than import price. Enjoy!
Johnny L is Doing a Complete 180 as He Listens To: Aberdeen City - The Freezing Atlantic
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/aberdeencity.jpg
Website: (http://www.aberdeenmusic.com/index1.php) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/aberdeencity)
Aberdeen City is a four piece rock band in the vein of Interpol, Echo and the Bunnymen, and Sonic Youth. Their swirling guitars, driving beats and passionate, moody lyrics make for the ideal listening experience no matter what mood you happen to be in. These boys are taking the indie and college radio world by storm and after you listen, you will understand why.
Jayme is Rollicking in the Grandeur of Basics While Blaring: Set Your Goals - Set Your Goals
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/setyourgoals.jpg
Website: (http://www.setyourgoals.net) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/setyourgoals)
Set Your Goals is simply a melodic hardcore/punk band from San Fran, CA, that thrives on playing fast, playing hard, and having fun. The band doesn’t claim to be changing the face of music; instead, they take pride in doing the same things that got them stoked about music in the first place. Formed in early 2004, the band almost immediately released their EP on Straight On Records that very summer. These guys successfully do exactly what they intended on doing with their self-titled EP as well: they play hard, bring back the nostalgia of our early times in this music scene, and they enjoy themselves thoroughly in the process. They have just recently taken a break from the road to record their upcoming full length due out sometime in 2006. Roll down the windows, sing along, talk about old times with your friends, get excited, and enjoy. Set Your Goals is a refreshing band that could care less about being the next big thing; they’re content with just playing the music they love and being completely humbled by every friend they have and every opportunity that arrives. Set Your Goals is highly recommended if you are a fan of The Backup Plan, Crime In Stereo, Saves the Day, Daggermouth, or Comeback Kid.
Rick is Pointing Out the Flaws in Others While Rocking: Five.Bolt.Main - Venting
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/5boltmain.jpg
Website: (http://www.fiveboltmain.com) :: Listen: ( http://vista.streamguys.com/jspiewak/pathetic_audio.wma)
I’m sure I'm one of about only 10 people out there who was actually really saddened when Flaw called it quits. They were one of the bajillion melodic nu-metal bands to come out in the late 90’s and early 00’s, but, dammit, they were better than 95% of their peers! When I heard that Chris Volz was working on a new project, Vent, I was intrigued. Their demos were good and they eventually went on to call themselves Five.Bolt.Main. They should have actually just called themselves Flaw because this band is basically Flaw. They sound just like them, which isn’t all that bad. Sure, these guys are no groundbreaking band like Pelican or Isis, but they also aren’t your run of the mill shitstain band like Korn or Disturbed.
Eric Is Putting the Hell in Hello While Cranking Up: Die Alone - The Arcane Suicide Movement
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/diealone.jpg
Website: (http://www.diealone.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/diealone)
Since April of 2002, Milwaukee, Wisconsin's Die Alone have built on their reputation as being drastically out of the ordinary. Rather than regurgitate the At-The-Gates-with-mosh idea or write songs that are merely endless guitar and drum endurance exercises, Die Alone instead pound out extreme metal that does not forget about dynamics and song structure. The band's music moves like a horror movie shifting from scene to scene; the listener never knows what will come next and the story never ends with "happily ever after." They have been building their fanbase with regional shows alongside Bleeding Through, Misery Signals, Between The Buried And Me, and Dead To Fall. Die Alone is easily appreciated by fans of Neurosis, The Red Chord, Immolation, and Between The Buried And Me.