sir mix-a-lot
12-14-2005, 07:07 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.
Aaron Is Revisiting His Glory Days While Getting Drunk To: Sevendust - The Best of: Chapter I (1997-2004)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/sevendust.jpg
Website: (http://www.sevendust.com) :: Listen: (http://www.sevendust.com)
Seems like just yesterday Home came out and I couldn't quite get into it until a friend of mine pretty much played it on repeat when we would hangout. From then on, I anticipated each Sevendust release thereafter, finding a steady stream of solid albums full of hard rock songs as well as the ballads Sevendust has become known for. This Best Of collection is a must have for anyone who is new to Sevendust or to the die hard fans, of course. The album contains everything you need to hear from Sevendust: "Black," "Bitch," "Too Close To Hate," "Praise," "Enemy," and many more you'll recognize as soon as you hear them. After seeing them live twice, I now keep looking forward to everything new they release, even though my favorite member is no longer in the band. Grab this one if you've been missing some good hard rock.
Rick Is Ripping Tails Off of Rats and Biting Heads Off of Cats While Blaring: Shellshock - Injected into the Hive
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/shellshock.jpg
Website: (http://shellshock.tv) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/shellshockuk)
This EP may only be four songs long, but it’s received more spins in my car and stereo this week than most full lengths. Try to imagine a combination of Atari Teenage Riot, System of a Down, Celldweller, and Sikth mixed with a healthy dose of drum & bass undertones. Yeah, they’re easily as crazy as they sound and I freaking love every minute of it. It’s not often that a band can integrate electronics, melody, metal, mayhem, and ambience together and have it not come out a jumbled mess. This EP is one of those rare moments!
Jared Is Learning He Gets No Say In What Is Written in This Space While Spinning: Hawthorne Heights - If Only You Were Lonely
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/hawthorneheights.jpg
Website: (http://www.hawthorneheights.com) :: Listen: ( www.myspace.com/hawthorneheights
)
Call them trendy. Call them the death of screamo. But make no mistake, Hawthorne Heights are going places. If Only You Were Lonely is another step in the right direction for the band. Essentially, it picks up right where Silence in Black and White left off. It's chocked full of hook-filled melodies and screams in all the right places. Some of my favorite tracks so far are the title track and “Breathing in Sequence.” I noticed a little less screaming in the vocals overall. Is this a sign that HH is maturing? The reality is this album is probably going to land them a major label deal. I predict they leave Victory for a major within a year. Their music is heavy enough to attract the metal kids while being accessible enough to appeal to the Warped Tour type crowd. It's a combination for success.
Adam Is Cashing In His Scene Points By Enjoying: Portugal The Man - Waiter: You Vultures!
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/portugaltheman.jpg
Website: (http://www.portugaltheman.net) :: Listen: ( http://www.myspace.com/portugaltheman)
Portugal The Man's forthcoming album, Waiter:You Vultures!, was not exactly on the top of my wish list, despite Foucart's incessant humpage of said band. However, seeing how the band was formed from the ashes of Anatomy of a Ghost, a band I shamelessly plugged during my fledgling period as a writer, this new incarnation began to pique my interest. After receiving the advance, I was floored by the astounding leaps and sonic bounds the band had taken. The 2-plus years' time have given this band an identity worth noticing. Instead of being a screaming Coheed cover band, they are far more reminiscent of art-core bands like The Blood Brothers (Crimes era) and The Mars Volta. I know lately it's become an industry cliche to make a dramatic stylistic change, but in the case of Portugal the Man, it's more than welcomed.
Brent Steven White Says He'll Let the Music Do the Talking While Rocking: The Darkness - One Way Ticket to Hell and Back
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/thedarkness.jpg
Website: ( http://www.thedarknessrock.com/) :: Listen: ( http://www.myspace.com/thedarkness)
Last year I didn't stop listening to Permission to Land, the debut from The Darkness. What a fun record! This new one, well, it's different and it's the same. Look for a review here on Decoy in the next few days.
Kazy Is Halting His Search for a New Favorite Band Because He Still Absolutely Loves: Small Brown Bike - Our Own Wars
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/smallbrownbike.gif
Website: (http://www.smallbrownbike.com/home) :: Listen: ( http://www.lookoutrecords.com/catalog/item.php3?sd=138924689&matrix_id=1000)
Ten songs from these Michigan-ates? Michiganers? Whatever. Note: Yes, reviewers often use Jawbreaker and Hot Water Music as a starting point. Also note: They have never been compared to Sunny Day Real Estate, Spazz, Operation Ivy, or Black Sabbath. They broke up before most people knew about them, so you can probably tell people you liked them to earn credibility points. Move out of your mom’s basement, do something other than play on the internet all day and listen to this while you're doing something of worth.
Dara Is Setting the Pace Again While Waltzing To: Menomena - Under an Hour
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/menomena.jpg
Website: ( http://www.menomena.com/) :: Listen: ( http://www.menomena.com/uah/uah-index.html)
Okay, so I guess this is "music for modern dance," and it's nothing like their first album at all, but bear with me because Under an Hour is super great. Although there's an actual performance component that goes with it, I haven't seen it yet and that hasn't affected my enjoyment of this superb record. It's three 17+ minute instrumental tracks, no vocals this time around. These three pieces resist easy classification. I guess 'post-classical' might work, but the killer beat that comes in at the ten-minute mark of "Light" says otherwise. Very well-composed, well-played, enveloping music.
Ben Is Pondering Just What They Mean By "Lost" While Re-Discovering: Call Me Ishmael - Effervescing
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/callmeishmael.jpg
Website: (http://www.callmeishmael.net) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/callmeishmael)
In 2002, Sacramento band Call Me Ishmael released an EP entitled Effervescing. This came on the heels of their first full length, Listen, which was recorded before the band had played even a dozen shows. In late 2003, I saw Call Me Ishmael play a small venue as the headliner on another band's release show. Barely anyone stuck around. So it stands to reason that even fewer people realized the band had lost a member. This would be their first show without a keyboardist. No reason was ever clearly stated on the website and there are times I wonder if Andy died or something. Anyway, Effervescing brought out all the high points in what would become Call Me Ishmael's signature sound. They had a slightly 70s rock vibe to them, slightly nasal falsetto vocals, spacey interludes, and sudden doses of adrenaline that came from seemingly nowhere. Effervescing managed to hide the band's true genius, however, as it seemed to focus too prevalently on Andy's keys and effects as opposed to the rest of the band, no slouches themselves. However, it is still, to this day, one of the finest EPs I have heard.
Brandon Is Getting This One In Under the Wire Because He Was Too Busy Enjoying: The Good Life - Black Out
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/thegoodlife.jpg
Website: ( http://www.saddle-creek.com/html/goodlife_frame.html) :: Listen: ( http://www.saddle-creek.com/bands/goodlife/downloads.html)
The Good Life started out as a means for Tim Kasher to use a songwriting approach that differed from his other projects (namely, Cursive), but it didn’t take long for the solo project to become a band, and for that band to finally come into its own. The Good Life’s sound has evolved from the refined, quiet pop of the first full-length, Novena on a Nocturn, to the moody hooks of 2002’s Black Out, to the sing-along anthems of divorce and disillusionment found on the recent Lovers Need Lawyers EP. The sum of these parts is found on Album of the Year.
Tom Is Counting His Lucky Stars That I’m Patient and Slow While Booming: Torche - Torche
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/torche.jpg
Website: ( http://www.torche.tk/) :: Listen: ( http://www.myspace.com/torche)
Another one of those instances where I wait forever on checking a band out and then regret it hard. These guys just flat-out rock. To the point, riffy, raw, stoner-y goodness, with strangely infectious vocals that bring to mind Page Hamilton of Helmet. Vocalist/guitarist Steve Brooks and bassist Jon Nuñez both were members of the late Floor, another band I heard a lot about but never got around to hearing, and I'm starting to think that maybe I should have. At the least, check these guys out just to hear the so-called "bomb string" in the opening track "Charge Of The Brown Recluse."
Aaron Is Revisiting His Glory Days While Getting Drunk To: Sevendust - The Best of: Chapter I (1997-2004)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/sevendust.jpg
Website: (http://www.sevendust.com) :: Listen: (http://www.sevendust.com)
Seems like just yesterday Home came out and I couldn't quite get into it until a friend of mine pretty much played it on repeat when we would hangout. From then on, I anticipated each Sevendust release thereafter, finding a steady stream of solid albums full of hard rock songs as well as the ballads Sevendust has become known for. This Best Of collection is a must have for anyone who is new to Sevendust or to the die hard fans, of course. The album contains everything you need to hear from Sevendust: "Black," "Bitch," "Too Close To Hate," "Praise," "Enemy," and many more you'll recognize as soon as you hear them. After seeing them live twice, I now keep looking forward to everything new they release, even though my favorite member is no longer in the band. Grab this one if you've been missing some good hard rock.
Rick Is Ripping Tails Off of Rats and Biting Heads Off of Cats While Blaring: Shellshock - Injected into the Hive
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/shellshock.jpg
Website: (http://shellshock.tv) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/shellshockuk)
This EP may only be four songs long, but it’s received more spins in my car and stereo this week than most full lengths. Try to imagine a combination of Atari Teenage Riot, System of a Down, Celldweller, and Sikth mixed with a healthy dose of drum & bass undertones. Yeah, they’re easily as crazy as they sound and I freaking love every minute of it. It’s not often that a band can integrate electronics, melody, metal, mayhem, and ambience together and have it not come out a jumbled mess. This EP is one of those rare moments!
Jared Is Learning He Gets No Say In What Is Written in This Space While Spinning: Hawthorne Heights - If Only You Were Lonely
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/hawthorneheights.jpg
Website: (http://www.hawthorneheights.com) :: Listen: ( www.myspace.com/hawthorneheights
)
Call them trendy. Call them the death of screamo. But make no mistake, Hawthorne Heights are going places. If Only You Were Lonely is another step in the right direction for the band. Essentially, it picks up right where Silence in Black and White left off. It's chocked full of hook-filled melodies and screams in all the right places. Some of my favorite tracks so far are the title track and “Breathing in Sequence.” I noticed a little less screaming in the vocals overall. Is this a sign that HH is maturing? The reality is this album is probably going to land them a major label deal. I predict they leave Victory for a major within a year. Their music is heavy enough to attract the metal kids while being accessible enough to appeal to the Warped Tour type crowd. It's a combination for success.
Adam Is Cashing In His Scene Points By Enjoying: Portugal The Man - Waiter: You Vultures!
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/portugaltheman.jpg
Website: (http://www.portugaltheman.net) :: Listen: ( http://www.myspace.com/portugaltheman)
Portugal The Man's forthcoming album, Waiter:You Vultures!, was not exactly on the top of my wish list, despite Foucart's incessant humpage of said band. However, seeing how the band was formed from the ashes of Anatomy of a Ghost, a band I shamelessly plugged during my fledgling period as a writer, this new incarnation began to pique my interest. After receiving the advance, I was floored by the astounding leaps and sonic bounds the band had taken. The 2-plus years' time have given this band an identity worth noticing. Instead of being a screaming Coheed cover band, they are far more reminiscent of art-core bands like The Blood Brothers (Crimes era) and The Mars Volta. I know lately it's become an industry cliche to make a dramatic stylistic change, but in the case of Portugal the Man, it's more than welcomed.
Brent Steven White Says He'll Let the Music Do the Talking While Rocking: The Darkness - One Way Ticket to Hell and Back
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/thedarkness.jpg
Website: ( http://www.thedarknessrock.com/) :: Listen: ( http://www.myspace.com/thedarkness)
Last year I didn't stop listening to Permission to Land, the debut from The Darkness. What a fun record! This new one, well, it's different and it's the same. Look for a review here on Decoy in the next few days.
Kazy Is Halting His Search for a New Favorite Band Because He Still Absolutely Loves: Small Brown Bike - Our Own Wars
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/smallbrownbike.gif
Website: (http://www.smallbrownbike.com/home) :: Listen: ( http://www.lookoutrecords.com/catalog/item.php3?sd=138924689&matrix_id=1000)
Ten songs from these Michigan-ates? Michiganers? Whatever. Note: Yes, reviewers often use Jawbreaker and Hot Water Music as a starting point. Also note: They have never been compared to Sunny Day Real Estate, Spazz, Operation Ivy, or Black Sabbath. They broke up before most people knew about them, so you can probably tell people you liked them to earn credibility points. Move out of your mom’s basement, do something other than play on the internet all day and listen to this while you're doing something of worth.
Dara Is Setting the Pace Again While Waltzing To: Menomena - Under an Hour
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/menomena.jpg
Website: ( http://www.menomena.com/) :: Listen: ( http://www.menomena.com/uah/uah-index.html)
Okay, so I guess this is "music for modern dance," and it's nothing like their first album at all, but bear with me because Under an Hour is super great. Although there's an actual performance component that goes with it, I haven't seen it yet and that hasn't affected my enjoyment of this superb record. It's three 17+ minute instrumental tracks, no vocals this time around. These three pieces resist easy classification. I guess 'post-classical' might work, but the killer beat that comes in at the ten-minute mark of "Light" says otherwise. Very well-composed, well-played, enveloping music.
Ben Is Pondering Just What They Mean By "Lost" While Re-Discovering: Call Me Ishmael - Effervescing
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/callmeishmael.jpg
Website: (http://www.callmeishmael.net) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/callmeishmael)
In 2002, Sacramento band Call Me Ishmael released an EP entitled Effervescing. This came on the heels of their first full length, Listen, which was recorded before the band had played even a dozen shows. In late 2003, I saw Call Me Ishmael play a small venue as the headliner on another band's release show. Barely anyone stuck around. So it stands to reason that even fewer people realized the band had lost a member. This would be their first show without a keyboardist. No reason was ever clearly stated on the website and there are times I wonder if Andy died or something. Anyway, Effervescing brought out all the high points in what would become Call Me Ishmael's signature sound. They had a slightly 70s rock vibe to them, slightly nasal falsetto vocals, spacey interludes, and sudden doses of adrenaline that came from seemingly nowhere. Effervescing managed to hide the band's true genius, however, as it seemed to focus too prevalently on Andy's keys and effects as opposed to the rest of the band, no slouches themselves. However, it is still, to this day, one of the finest EPs I have heard.
Brandon Is Getting This One In Under the Wire Because He Was Too Busy Enjoying: The Good Life - Black Out
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/thegoodlife.jpg
Website: ( http://www.saddle-creek.com/html/goodlife_frame.html) :: Listen: ( http://www.saddle-creek.com/bands/goodlife/downloads.html)
The Good Life started out as a means for Tim Kasher to use a songwriting approach that differed from his other projects (namely, Cursive), but it didn’t take long for the solo project to become a band, and for that band to finally come into its own. The Good Life’s sound has evolved from the refined, quiet pop of the first full-length, Novena on a Nocturn, to the moody hooks of 2002’s Black Out, to the sing-along anthems of divorce and disillusionment found on the recent Lovers Need Lawyers EP. The sum of these parts is found on Album of the Year.
Tom Is Counting His Lucky Stars That I’m Patient and Slow While Booming: Torche - Torche
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/torche.jpg
Website: ( http://www.torche.tk/) :: Listen: ( http://www.myspace.com/torche)
Another one of those instances where I wait forever on checking a band out and then regret it hard. These guys just flat-out rock. To the point, riffy, raw, stoner-y goodness, with strangely infectious vocals that bring to mind Page Hamilton of Helmet. Vocalist/guitarist Steve Brooks and bassist Jon Nuñez both were members of the late Floor, another band I heard a lot about but never got around to hearing, and I'm starting to think that maybe I should have. At the least, check these guys out just to hear the so-called "bomb string" in the opening track "Charge Of The Brown Recluse."