sir mix-a-lot
12-28-2005, 06:32 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.
Brandon Is Having a Hard Time Finding Musicians Not Named Tim Kasher Because He's Listening to: Cursive - Domestica
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/cursive.jpg
Website: (http://www.cursivearmy.com/) :: Listen: (http://www.cursivearmy.com/03/downloads.html)
Cursive's Domestica is certainly one of the finest hard indie rock releases and has established an impressive staying capacity in my CD rotation. Kasher's intelligent, thought-provoking lyrics resonate perfectly inside the head of anyone who's ever seen love go sour. "The Martyr" is a standout anthem to those jilted with the finer sex and their perceived emotional volatility, with the ingenious refrain: 'Sweet baby, don't cry/Your tears are only alibis.' Songs like "A Red So Deep" rock hard while keeping emotions firmly attached to sleeve, asking bitterly, 'Are you satisfied tonight?' At only nine tracks, Cursive's Domestica suffers from brevity, but not much more. If you're happily linked with a member of the opposite sex, stay away from this record. Otherwise, the world needs Cursive. -Taylor M. Clark @ Pitchfork.
Jayme Is Sidestepping the Shit He's Being Given While Enjoying: Halfacre Gunroom - Beauty Is Terror (Live in Sacramento)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/halfacregunroom.jpg
Website: (http://www.halfacregunroom.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace/com/halfacregunroom)
All right, let’s shift gears this week. Sure, the band’s name, the album name, and the record label (Deathwish) may all scream “typical tough guy hardcore;” however, Halfacre Gunroom is anything but that stereotype. The guys in Halfacre Gunroom deliver solid, heartfelt alt-country to your ears that will leave your toes tapping if you have any sort of a pulse. You can download this full live album, Beauty is Terror, in its entirety at http://www.halfacregunroom.com/live/... So it’s worth giving a try (the quality blows, but oh well). If you are a fan of Lucero, I would definitely recommend giving Halfacre Gunroom a try.
Aaron Continues to Find Music to Be Lackluster, But Still Gets Mild Enjoyment Out of: Himsa - Hail Horror
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/himsa.jpg
Website: (http://www.himsa.org:81/) :: Listen: ( www.myspace.com/prostheticrecords
)
Having been first introduced to HIMSA briefly, I was lucky enough to catch a couple of their new songs in early 2005 while on tour in Seattle(their practice studio was at the venue I was at and I could hear it). I thought to myself, "Damn, this sounds pretty good; I will have to check this out." A year later, the album is finally slated to hit the streets. This should shoot a quick jolt of metal into your 2006. This album isn't anything new though and those of you looking for something to distinguish this band from the rest of them may have a hard time. After a few listens I find myself becoming increasingly bored with this cd as I've heard it all many times before. Hear one of the new songs: http://myspace.com/prostheticrecords
Rick Is Wishing for the Agonizing Death of Fear Factory While Pummeling His Eardrums With: In Flames - Come Clarity
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/inflames.jpg
Website: (http://www.inflames.com) :: Listen: ( http://www.purevolume.com/inflames)
It’s pretty much a given that if you ask any critic about In Flames’ latest album or two that they’ve seemingly taken a few steps backwards in terms of songwriting. I would tend to agree, but with Come Clarity, In Flames have started back on the right track. Don’t get me wrong; this isn’t their best material, but it is much better than their last effort. One song in particular, “Dead End,” is extremely worthy of note because of the inclusion of female melodic vocals. It fits with In Flames’ style so seamlessly that I’m surprised they didn’t use it more on this album. Regardless, this is still a solid Euro-metal release and shows In Flames making strides to regain some of the fans they may have lost.
Ben Is Researching For An Argument With Adam By Revisiting: ON - Shifting Skin
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/on.jpg
Website: ( http://www.kenandrews.com) :: Listen: ( http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004SCH9/104-1554199-9182364?v=glance)
The other day, Adam and I got into an argument about the band Failure. We were disputing just who made the band what it was. Up until about 2003, it was a very safe assumption that Ken Andrews was the man behind everything. After all, he'd put out a few albums with other projects, produced a ton of records, and guested on way too many others to even start to list. Meanwhile, second-in-command Greg Edwards hadn't really done anything. Since the 1998 breakup, he had released…a five-song EP. That's it. But as the band was dissolving, he also did a lot of work on former Tool bassist Paul D'Amour's Lusk project. After Greg's new band Autolux finally dropped their first full-length in late 2004, the answer seemed obvious to me that Edwards brought more to the table for Failure than Andrews. But upon relistening to ON's first album, it's really very hard to make a pick as to who did what. The only strong argument for Edwards is that all three of his records have been fantastic, while Andrews has stumbled a few times. But as far as output, Andrews has a vast advantage and, thus, has more chances to release a shit album (he hasn't, but there have been some questionable ones). ON's Shifting Skin, an electro-pop exploration in 11 parts, stands as Andrews's best post-Failure work, bar none.
Kamran Believes (Correctly) That The Following Is Not Noise-Rock: Death From Above 1979 - Romance, Bloody Romance
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/dfa1979.jpg
Website: (http://www.deathfromabove1979.com) :: Listen: (http://www.deathfromabove1979.com)
Nothing quite kicks ass like an ass-kicking band with some dance beats, i.e., Death From Above 1979. So, in such a sense, is it really necessary to remix an already dance-rock band? Rob Zombie said yes; Beck said yes; DFA 1979 decided to go with a yes, as well. I was skeptical at first, well, because I despise the word “remix,” and I can’t help but think of R. Kelly “remixing” in a girl’s hair when I hear the word. But fear not, DFA 1979 did not let their gritty, You’re A Woman, I’m A Machine get ruined, nor did they urinate on anyone in the process. Choppy at times, but nonetheless dancy and entertaining, not to mention accessible to a wide audience, Romance, Bloody Romance is one hell of a remix album. Even the hardest-working-man in stoner rock, Josh Homme, remixes a track. Get the album; get the drinks; get the girls; then: Shake that ass, watch yaself.
Brandon Is Having a Hard Time Finding Musicians Not Named Tim Kasher Because He's Listening to: Cursive - Domestica
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/cursive.jpg
Website: (http://www.cursivearmy.com/) :: Listen: (http://www.cursivearmy.com/03/downloads.html)
Cursive's Domestica is certainly one of the finest hard indie rock releases and has established an impressive staying capacity in my CD rotation. Kasher's intelligent, thought-provoking lyrics resonate perfectly inside the head of anyone who's ever seen love go sour. "The Martyr" is a standout anthem to those jilted with the finer sex and their perceived emotional volatility, with the ingenious refrain: 'Sweet baby, don't cry/Your tears are only alibis.' Songs like "A Red So Deep" rock hard while keeping emotions firmly attached to sleeve, asking bitterly, 'Are you satisfied tonight?' At only nine tracks, Cursive's Domestica suffers from brevity, but not much more. If you're happily linked with a member of the opposite sex, stay away from this record. Otherwise, the world needs Cursive. -Taylor M. Clark @ Pitchfork.
Jayme Is Sidestepping the Shit He's Being Given While Enjoying: Halfacre Gunroom - Beauty Is Terror (Live in Sacramento)
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/halfacregunroom.jpg
Website: (http://www.halfacregunroom.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace/com/halfacregunroom)
All right, let’s shift gears this week. Sure, the band’s name, the album name, and the record label (Deathwish) may all scream “typical tough guy hardcore;” however, Halfacre Gunroom is anything but that stereotype. The guys in Halfacre Gunroom deliver solid, heartfelt alt-country to your ears that will leave your toes tapping if you have any sort of a pulse. You can download this full live album, Beauty is Terror, in its entirety at http://www.halfacregunroom.com/live/... So it’s worth giving a try (the quality blows, but oh well). If you are a fan of Lucero, I would definitely recommend giving Halfacre Gunroom a try.
Aaron Continues to Find Music to Be Lackluster, But Still Gets Mild Enjoyment Out of: Himsa - Hail Horror
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/himsa.jpg
Website: (http://www.himsa.org:81/) :: Listen: ( www.myspace.com/prostheticrecords
)
Having been first introduced to HIMSA briefly, I was lucky enough to catch a couple of their new songs in early 2005 while on tour in Seattle(their practice studio was at the venue I was at and I could hear it). I thought to myself, "Damn, this sounds pretty good; I will have to check this out." A year later, the album is finally slated to hit the streets. This should shoot a quick jolt of metal into your 2006. This album isn't anything new though and those of you looking for something to distinguish this band from the rest of them may have a hard time. After a few listens I find myself becoming increasingly bored with this cd as I've heard it all many times before. Hear one of the new songs: http://myspace.com/prostheticrecords
Rick Is Wishing for the Agonizing Death of Fear Factory While Pummeling His Eardrums With: In Flames - Come Clarity
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/inflames.jpg
Website: (http://www.inflames.com) :: Listen: ( http://www.purevolume.com/inflames)
It’s pretty much a given that if you ask any critic about In Flames’ latest album or two that they’ve seemingly taken a few steps backwards in terms of songwriting. I would tend to agree, but with Come Clarity, In Flames have started back on the right track. Don’t get me wrong; this isn’t their best material, but it is much better than their last effort. One song in particular, “Dead End,” is extremely worthy of note because of the inclusion of female melodic vocals. It fits with In Flames’ style so seamlessly that I’m surprised they didn’t use it more on this album. Regardless, this is still a solid Euro-metal release and shows In Flames making strides to regain some of the fans they may have lost.
Ben Is Researching For An Argument With Adam By Revisiting: ON - Shifting Skin
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/on.jpg
Website: ( http://www.kenandrews.com) :: Listen: ( http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004SCH9/104-1554199-9182364?v=glance)
The other day, Adam and I got into an argument about the band Failure. We were disputing just who made the band what it was. Up until about 2003, it was a very safe assumption that Ken Andrews was the man behind everything. After all, he'd put out a few albums with other projects, produced a ton of records, and guested on way too many others to even start to list. Meanwhile, second-in-command Greg Edwards hadn't really done anything. Since the 1998 breakup, he had released…a five-song EP. That's it. But as the band was dissolving, he also did a lot of work on former Tool bassist Paul D'Amour's Lusk project. After Greg's new band Autolux finally dropped their first full-length in late 2004, the answer seemed obvious to me that Edwards brought more to the table for Failure than Andrews. But upon relistening to ON's first album, it's really very hard to make a pick as to who did what. The only strong argument for Edwards is that all three of his records have been fantastic, while Andrews has stumbled a few times. But as far as output, Andrews has a vast advantage and, thus, has more chances to release a shit album (he hasn't, but there have been some questionable ones). ON's Shifting Skin, an electro-pop exploration in 11 parts, stands as Andrews's best post-Failure work, bar none.
Kamran Believes (Correctly) That The Following Is Not Noise-Rock: Death From Above 1979 - Romance, Bloody Romance
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/dfa1979.jpg
Website: (http://www.deathfromabove1979.com) :: Listen: (http://www.deathfromabove1979.com)
Nothing quite kicks ass like an ass-kicking band with some dance beats, i.e., Death From Above 1979. So, in such a sense, is it really necessary to remix an already dance-rock band? Rob Zombie said yes; Beck said yes; DFA 1979 decided to go with a yes, as well. I was skeptical at first, well, because I despise the word “remix,” and I can’t help but think of R. Kelly “remixing” in a girl’s hair when I hear the word. But fear not, DFA 1979 did not let their gritty, You’re A Woman, I’m A Machine get ruined, nor did they urinate on anyone in the process. Choppy at times, but nonetheless dancy and entertaining, not to mention accessible to a wide audience, Romance, Bloody Romance is one hell of a remix album. Even the hardest-working-man in stoner rock, Josh Homme, remixes a track. Get the album; get the drinks; get the girls; then: Shake that ass, watch yaself.