sir mix-a-lot
01-18-2006, 07:02 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.
Brent Shows He Deserved That Spot in the Women's Lib Class Over That Meathead Who's Just There for the Pussy by Proudly Displaying: Ani DiFranco - Revelling : Reckoning
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/anidifranco.jpg
Website: ( http://www.righteousbabe.com/) :: Listen: ( http://www.righteousbabe.com/ani/bootleg/index.asp)
This brilliant double-disk from DiFranco is her most underrated album, and also one of her best. One side (commonly called The Blue Side) is DiFranco at her most intimate: raw acoustic cuts accented by dry vocals, often missing the layering of a full back-up band. On the other side (The Yellow Side), DiFranco explores her country and bluegrass roots. Here, the songs are less story-like and vocal melodies are substituted for clever chord progressions and stylish instrumental coloring. This album is a great introduction into one of the best (and cutest) female singer-songwriter-poets in the last 20 years.
Aaron Is Trying to Find What's So Interesting About: BoySetsFire - The Misery Index: Notes From The Plague Years
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/boysetsfire.jpg
Website: ( http://www.boysetsfire.org/) :: Listen: ( http://www.boysetsfire.org/siren.html)
Having not always been a Boysetsfire fan, it took me a while to get into their music and just how good of a band these guys are. The Delaware five-piece hasn't had an easy 10 years in the business. Their previous effort Tomorrow Comes Today was good and was completely overlooked by Wind-Up Records. Finally, the band has landed on a solid label that has the same ideals these guys have. Equal Vision gives Boysetsfire an outlet to reach their best target market possible. The new album is nothing short of amazing. It has been on repeat for the last few days and it's definitely a beautiful record. Crafted with a very rock feel to it but definitely not leaving their more hardcore roots, this album contains 13 tracks of some of the most memorable ballads in some time. The album as a whole should be one of my favorites to come, as it has a little bit of everything; don't miss the song with the trumpets.
Johnny Is Never Nervous When He Listens To: Ellison - Indecisive and Half-Hearted
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/ellison.jpg
Website: (http://www.ellisonsite.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/ellison)
This Cincinnati pop rock/indie/emo-ish quartet just signed to Carbon Copy Records and just because their label is owned by one of the guys from Hawthorne Heights, it doesn't mean that they are another screamo rip off band. Ellison combines the beautiful melodies and vocals of Watashi Wa, Copeland, and Daphne Loves Derby with the indie instrumentation of bands like Dashboard and Spitalfield. If you are interested in some music you can share with your lady friend, look no further than Ellison.
Brandon Is Fresh Off the Bandwagon With His Latest Entry: Death Cab for Cutie - Transatlanticism
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/deathcab.jpg
Website: (http://www.deathcabforcutie.com/) :: Listen: ( http://barsukmusic.blaireau.net/DCFC_TitleAndRegistration.mp3)
Death Cab for Cutie originally formed in Bellingham, WA, in 1997 with their casette-only Elsinor Records release, you can play these songs with chords (later expanded and reissued by Barsuk on CD). The group, which appropriated its name from a song title by '60s UK rock ensemble The Bonzo Dog Band, has consistently released outstanding albums over the years, gaining a wider audience and fanbase with successful US and international tours, and seeping into the consciousness of mainstream America with the success of their latest albums and frequent mentions on the hit TV show, The O.C. None of this attention, however, has changed Ben Gibbard's emotionally powerful songwriting skills or the warm production of Chris Walla, except that both keep getting better and better over time.
Kamran Wishes Audioslave Sounded More Like: Soundgarden - Superunknown
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/soundgarden.jpg
Website: ( http://web.stargate.net/soundgarden/) :: Listen: ( http://web.stargate.net/soundgarden/multimedia/)
Now, Ben Rice and I have had debates on what constitutes a perfect album. Benjamin states simply because the album ends, it is flawed. An ending is an unforgiveable flaw in the design. I disagree. I say, a perfect album – among other things – stops exactly when it’s supposed to. The point being, Ben Rice doesn’t believe in perfect albums, and I do. The only definitive perfect album I know without question is Radiohead's OK Computer; however, Soundgarden’s masterpiece that is Superunknown is damn close to being perfect. Soundgarden decided to tone down the Sabbath influence on Superunknown, and increase the Zeppelin knob to 11 – it worked. This is one of the best rock albums ever made, winning both best hard rock and best metal awards at the 1997 Grammy’s. If by some psychotic phenomenon you haven’t listened to this album, then I highly suggest you do.
Ben Is a Real Man's Man And It Shows Whenver He Listens To: Man Man - Six Demon Bag
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/manman.jpg
Website: ( http://www.wearemanman.com/) :: Listen: ( http://www.acefu.com/MP3s/ManMan/10%20Van%20Helsing%20Boombox.mp3)
To be fair, I know where the Mike Patton comparisons come from when people discuss the music of Man Man. After all, I attach the Patton similarities to a lot of bands. But to be fair, Man Man sounds more like Sun Ra and His Solar Myth Arkestra being fronted by Tom Waits (in addition to Sun Ra. It's cacophonous at worst and downright hypnotic at best. I don't know how a band can make songs that are flat-out, head-noddingly catchy, while also giving them a very hefty "Dude, I'm so fucking wasted, I can barely stand" vibe. Strange, for sure, but also one of the better bands to come my way these past few years. Their previous release, The Man in a Blue Turban with a Face, is one of my favorites and Six Demon Bag is not very far behind. However, it does have a few more pitfalls than the previous album. Look for it on shelves in some places on February 21st.
Jared Shows How Being a Web Developer For This Site Lets Him Get Away With Posting Late: Caliban - The Undying Darkness
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/caliban_undyingdarkness.jpg
Website: ( http://www.calibanmetal.com/) :: Listen: ( http://myspace.com/caliban)
The Opposite From Within wasn't all that impressive. I found it somewhat catchy, but it was by far not groundbreaking. Regardless, I still found it enjoyable once in awhile. Caliban's new record The Undying Darkness is a small step up for the band. They're tighter sounding as ever on this, their 3rd full length. Listening to “I Rape Myself,” strangely reminds me of As I Lay Dying's “Meaning in Tragedy.” The rest of the album is pretty much straight up metalcore with some clean sung choruses. I have to pick on Caliban for the stupid orchestral intro though. It's time for metal to ditch them. Just get straight to the thrashing. Fortunately, there's plenty on this disc.
Brent Shows He Deserved That Spot in the Women's Lib Class Over That Meathead Who's Just There for the Pussy by Proudly Displaying: Ani DiFranco - Revelling : Reckoning
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/anidifranco.jpg
Website: ( http://www.righteousbabe.com/) :: Listen: ( http://www.righteousbabe.com/ani/bootleg/index.asp)
This brilliant double-disk from DiFranco is her most underrated album, and also one of her best. One side (commonly called The Blue Side) is DiFranco at her most intimate: raw acoustic cuts accented by dry vocals, often missing the layering of a full back-up band. On the other side (The Yellow Side), DiFranco explores her country and bluegrass roots. Here, the songs are less story-like and vocal melodies are substituted for clever chord progressions and stylish instrumental coloring. This album is a great introduction into one of the best (and cutest) female singer-songwriter-poets in the last 20 years.
Aaron Is Trying to Find What's So Interesting About: BoySetsFire - The Misery Index: Notes From The Plague Years
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/boysetsfire.jpg
Website: ( http://www.boysetsfire.org/) :: Listen: ( http://www.boysetsfire.org/siren.html)
Having not always been a Boysetsfire fan, it took me a while to get into their music and just how good of a band these guys are. The Delaware five-piece hasn't had an easy 10 years in the business. Their previous effort Tomorrow Comes Today was good and was completely overlooked by Wind-Up Records. Finally, the band has landed on a solid label that has the same ideals these guys have. Equal Vision gives Boysetsfire an outlet to reach their best target market possible. The new album is nothing short of amazing. It has been on repeat for the last few days and it's definitely a beautiful record. Crafted with a very rock feel to it but definitely not leaving their more hardcore roots, this album contains 13 tracks of some of the most memorable ballads in some time. The album as a whole should be one of my favorites to come, as it has a little bit of everything; don't miss the song with the trumpets.
Johnny Is Never Nervous When He Listens To: Ellison - Indecisive and Half-Hearted
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/ellison.jpg
Website: (http://www.ellisonsite.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/ellison)
This Cincinnati pop rock/indie/emo-ish quartet just signed to Carbon Copy Records and just because their label is owned by one of the guys from Hawthorne Heights, it doesn't mean that they are another screamo rip off band. Ellison combines the beautiful melodies and vocals of Watashi Wa, Copeland, and Daphne Loves Derby with the indie instrumentation of bands like Dashboard and Spitalfield. If you are interested in some music you can share with your lady friend, look no further than Ellison.
Brandon Is Fresh Off the Bandwagon With His Latest Entry: Death Cab for Cutie - Transatlanticism
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/deathcab.jpg
Website: (http://www.deathcabforcutie.com/) :: Listen: ( http://barsukmusic.blaireau.net/DCFC_TitleAndRegistration.mp3)
Death Cab for Cutie originally formed in Bellingham, WA, in 1997 with their casette-only Elsinor Records release, you can play these songs with chords (later expanded and reissued by Barsuk on CD). The group, which appropriated its name from a song title by '60s UK rock ensemble The Bonzo Dog Band, has consistently released outstanding albums over the years, gaining a wider audience and fanbase with successful US and international tours, and seeping into the consciousness of mainstream America with the success of their latest albums and frequent mentions on the hit TV show, The O.C. None of this attention, however, has changed Ben Gibbard's emotionally powerful songwriting skills or the warm production of Chris Walla, except that both keep getting better and better over time.
Kamran Wishes Audioslave Sounded More Like: Soundgarden - Superunknown
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/soundgarden.jpg
Website: ( http://web.stargate.net/soundgarden/) :: Listen: ( http://web.stargate.net/soundgarden/multimedia/)
Now, Ben Rice and I have had debates on what constitutes a perfect album. Benjamin states simply because the album ends, it is flawed. An ending is an unforgiveable flaw in the design. I disagree. I say, a perfect album – among other things – stops exactly when it’s supposed to. The point being, Ben Rice doesn’t believe in perfect albums, and I do. The only definitive perfect album I know without question is Radiohead's OK Computer; however, Soundgarden’s masterpiece that is Superunknown is damn close to being perfect. Soundgarden decided to tone down the Sabbath influence on Superunknown, and increase the Zeppelin knob to 11 – it worked. This is one of the best rock albums ever made, winning both best hard rock and best metal awards at the 1997 Grammy’s. If by some psychotic phenomenon you haven’t listened to this album, then I highly suggest you do.
Ben Is a Real Man's Man And It Shows Whenver He Listens To: Man Man - Six Demon Bag
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/manman.jpg
Website: ( http://www.wearemanman.com/) :: Listen: ( http://www.acefu.com/MP3s/ManMan/10%20Van%20Helsing%20Boombox.mp3)
To be fair, I know where the Mike Patton comparisons come from when people discuss the music of Man Man. After all, I attach the Patton similarities to a lot of bands. But to be fair, Man Man sounds more like Sun Ra and His Solar Myth Arkestra being fronted by Tom Waits (in addition to Sun Ra. It's cacophonous at worst and downright hypnotic at best. I don't know how a band can make songs that are flat-out, head-noddingly catchy, while also giving them a very hefty "Dude, I'm so fucking wasted, I can barely stand" vibe. Strange, for sure, but also one of the better bands to come my way these past few years. Their previous release, The Man in a Blue Turban with a Face, is one of my favorites and Six Demon Bag is not very far behind. However, it does have a few more pitfalls than the previous album. Look for it on shelves in some places on February 21st.
Jared Shows How Being a Web Developer For This Site Lets Him Get Away With Posting Late: Caliban - The Undying Darkness
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/caliban_undyingdarkness.jpg
Website: ( http://www.calibanmetal.com/) :: Listen: ( http://myspace.com/caliban)
The Opposite From Within wasn't all that impressive. I found it somewhat catchy, but it was by far not groundbreaking. Regardless, I still found it enjoyable once in awhile. Caliban's new record The Undying Darkness is a small step up for the band. They're tighter sounding as ever on this, their 3rd full length. Listening to “I Rape Myself,” strangely reminds me of As I Lay Dying's “Meaning in Tragedy.” The rest of the album is pretty much straight up metalcore with some clean sung choruses. I have to pick on Caliban for the stupid orchestral intro though. It's time for metal to ditch them. Just get straight to the thrashing. Fortunately, there's plenty on this disc.