Do-over

I'm currently unemployed, so in an effort to feel productive and to do a little self-analysis I will be documenting my favorite moments of every song I like. Anywhere from 3 seconds to probably a minute. We will see how it goes.

Am I the Only One?

Whenever I walk by one of those "self storage" places, I always wonder how much criminal evidence or bodies/parts-of-bodies have been dumped there and how long it's been sitting there.

Backlash

At what point did Mastodon go from innovative extreme metal/crossover act to a derisively "average hard rock group"? I thought we had all grown out of the "sell out" phase of music fandom? I just relistened to the last three albums and they're still pretty fucking good! The underground is a fickle mistress I guess...

Back to the Future

Goldfrapp - Seventh Tree
The mediocre album Goldfrapp should've released after Felt Mountain instead of Black Cherry. This album had mega promise: Weird 70's folk album art, an apparent return to the mellow score-like electronics of the earlier material and a movement away from the disco-isms of the last two albums. Perhaps my expectations were too high. I had in my head this incredible fusion of film-noiresque strings couched in lush psychedelia - or even a Der Blutharsch/Death in June folkiness - with Goldfrapp's incredible operatic vocals hovering above it all. Instead we get the duller musical interludes of Felt Mountain combined with Fairport Convention b-sides. Perhaos ironically, it ends up sounding more like a cash-in to current indie-rock trends then the left-field shift to electro/disco did.
On the other hand, Seventh Tree really isn't a bad album at all. I think it probably does what it sets out to do quite well. Unfortunately for this review, I'm having a hard time getting past my own (admittedly high) expectations. Why did trip-hop have to die? And why did Goldfrapp, perhaps the genre's last great exponent, have to be the headstone?
In the final analysis, it's good, not great. My enjoyment of it seems to shift with my mood. Maybe a 7 or 7.5 if I had to put a rating on it.

A Humble Question

Does anyone have photos of the Dillinger Escape Plan show at the Middle East in Cambridge, MA on Dec. 18? I saw lots of folks taking pictures, but I don't see anything online.

Ancient Paeons to Worlds Lost

Alethes - Aletheia
There's not much information on this Washington state duo's debut album on Glass Throat Recordings besides that 1) they're from Washington state and 2) instrumentation is simply acoustic guitar, strings and percussion (not drums, but percussion - it literally sounds like beating on logs). Rather than rehash what other reviews have stated, I'll simply listed a series of moods and feelings evoked by the album and end with a witty similie.
Earthy
Ethereal
Disturbing
Ancient
Beautiful
Hypnotic
Engaging
Rhythmic
Haunting
Sacred
Evil
Makes Steve Von Till sound like John Denver

Gamma Ray Burst to the Face

The Dillinger Escape Plan -- Ire Works
For a band who are praised for its unpredictable nature, and don't-give-a-fuck attitude, DEP sure do seem to attract a lot of negative attention for being unpredictable and not giving a fuck. "Why don't they make another Calculating Infinity?" cries the Dillinger "faithful," and like a band concerned only with making only the most intense, relevant music they humanly can, DEP soldier on, following their own muse and blowing the doors off expectations (unless that expectation is the same album over and over again).

Accurately describing a Dillinger record is difficult, but for those who have never heard the group (are you out there?), I'll do my best: A huge variety of tones playing a huge variety melodies and textures, performed by men as violently and emotionally as possible spanning speeds ranging from "headspinningly breakneak" to "atmospherically slow." How else to describe an album that encompasses such technical barnstormers as "Fix Your Face" and "Lurch" as well as melodic, catchy, but equally complex compositions like "Black Bubblegum" and the simply outstanding "Milk Lizard"? How else to reconcile the hyperspeed blur of Calculating with the oddball electronics of Irony is a Dead Scene? These guys have fucking talent - regardless of who happens to be in the line-up

So is it any good? For the all the talk about selling out and the gossip and the petty bullshit, there is only one relevant question about Ire Works: Does it deliver the goods? The answer is a resounding "YES."

Heavy

Electric Wizard - Witchcult Today
Electric Wizard was the undisputed "Heaviest Band in the Universe." Crushing releases like Dopethrone and Let Us Prey made sure that this title remained theirs. No one riffed harder, slower, or was more stoned. But then something happpened. The band's legendary weed intake caused the band to fall apart. But all was not lost! Electric Wizard reformed and then tripped over its own enthusiasm and gave the world the decent, if completely forgettable, We Live. Now, two years later, the Wizard have dusted off their denim jackets and devil-shaped bongs and gave us the proper follow up to Let Us Prey. With the exception of the (gasp) sung vocals, this album could actually sit quite comfortably between DT and LUP. It sounds that much like the Wizard of old.

The riffs lie somewhere between Black Sabbath and Hawkwind, and the addition of sung, albeit highly distorted, vocals and occassional use of organs enhance the damaged, 70's vibe running through the album.

No, it's not Dopethrone pt. II, which may annoy change-fearing, internet whiners, but Witchcult stands as the most consistant and enjoyable Electric Wizard album yet. The title remains in competent hands.

Utterly Heavy

High On Fire - Death is This Communion
The new High On Fire totally crushes. The song-writing is great, and the production is better than ever. Imagine the last album without the utterly tiring-to-listen-to, midrange-y, Steve Albini production with catchier songs and heavier, more dynamic riffs.
Matt Pike sings like three Lemmys, so when there's some vocal melody it sounds kind of weird, but it works and gives the songs a lot of power.
There are also a few short instrumentals (one of which is all percussion) which gives some respite between the proper songs and highlights some different elements of the band. Highly recommended.
They played live the other night at the Middle East, but I was at school and missed them.

The new Baroness is pretty great too, but I haven't given it a close enough listen to review it properly. It sounds different from the EPs, but still pretty cool; much more of a Southern vibe going on.

Amateur Mixology

I love cocktails. Specifically I like old cocktails like Manhattans, and Martinis with gin and vermouth in them. I also like to come up with my own. Here's a few for you to try in your own home!

Oaken Throne
In a cocktail shaker, combine with ice:
2oz of Applejack
1oz sweet vermouth
several dashes of Angosturra bitters
Stir and strain into a Collins glass;
top with cold apple cider

Kingslayer
In a cocktail shaker, combine with ice:
1.5oz of rye whiskey
.5oz of Campari
.5oz of dry vermouth
a dash each of orange and Angosturra bitters
stir and strain into a cocktail glass or an old fashioned glass with fresh ice

enjoy!