Coheed and Cambria: Year of the Black Rainbow
Year: 2010
Click here for the artist's site
Coheed and Cambria shouldn't be popular. That is all there is to it. Music that at times is heavy, progressive rock/metal, then swings wildly to emo-pop. A vocalist whose upper register touches the clouds. And most importantly, an intricate (and "out there") science fiction yarn that spans (now) five albums, each of them a concept album in a larger work. In terms of popularity, these guys should be niche at best.
Yet Year of the Black Rainbow demonstrates admirably just why they are so popular.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Thoughts on Beatles Rock Band.
I've never been a fan of the Beatles.
Sure, I grew up knowing their music (thanks largely to my mother, who always has enjoyed them) and I had a cassette copy of Abbey Road that I listened to back when there were nothing but cassettes, and listened to it until the tape literally disintegrated and snapped. But I never thought I really liked them.
That was until the last couple of weeks, as I've been enjoying a romp through their history thanks to Beatles Rock Band.
Sure, I grew up knowing their music (thanks largely to my mother, who always has enjoyed them) and I had a cassette copy of Abbey Road that I listened to back when there were nothing but cassettes, and listened to it until the tape literally disintegrated and snapped. But I never thought I really liked them.
That was until the last couple of weeks, as I've been enjoying a romp through their history thanks to Beatles Rock Band.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Gaga versus M.I.A.
It seems that there may be a war brewing in the world of pop music, and all of us will have to pick sides.
Monday, April 05, 2010
Russian Circles: Geneva
Russian Circles: Geneva
Year: 2009
Click here for the artist's site
Russian Circles, a three piece band from Chicago, released a really great debut a few years ago. They struck a nice balance of thunderous, instrumental post-metal with atmosphere and building tension. Their second release left me a little cold, being too much atmosphere and not enough thunder.
Geneva, the band's latest effort, however, manages to strike the perfect balance between the two extremes. Stand up and take note. If you haven't heard of Russian Circles before now, I recommend you pay attention.
Year: 2009
Click here for the artist's site
Russian Circles, a three piece band from Chicago, released a really great debut a few years ago. They struck a nice balance of thunderous, instrumental post-metal with atmosphere and building tension. Their second release left me a little cold, being too much atmosphere and not enough thunder.
Geneva, the band's latest effort, however, manages to strike the perfect balance between the two extremes. Stand up and take note. If you haven't heard of Russian Circles before now, I recommend you pay attention.
Sunday, April 04, 2010
Jaga Jazzist - What We Must
Jaga Jazzist - What We Must
In my ever-constant evolution as a jazz lover, there are a lot of groups or artists that have caught my attention for a bit, only to have that attention wane as their music seemed less layered, less complex than I originally thought. (What can I say? I'm a perennial music dissector. It's just what I do.) For example, The Bad Plus was a great gateway drug into the world of three-piece-jazz-ensemble, but I'd rather listen to the Esbjörn Svensson Trio any day over them now. (RIP, Esbjörn.) There are others, however, who've had staying power in my pantheon of jazz listening - Polar Bear, Acoustic Ladyland . . .
And Jaga Jazzist is bound to be one of those latter bands.
Year: 2005
In my ever-constant evolution as a jazz lover, there are a lot of groups or artists that have caught my attention for a bit, only to have that attention wane as their music seemed less layered, less complex than I originally thought. (What can I say? I'm a perennial music dissector. It's just what I do.) For example, The Bad Plus was a great gateway drug into the world of three-piece-jazz-ensemble, but I'd rather listen to the Esbjörn Svensson Trio any day over them now. (RIP, Esbjörn.) There are others, however, who've had staying power in my pantheon of jazz listening - Polar Bear, Acoustic Ladyland . . .
And Jaga Jazzist is bound to be one of those latter bands.
Dream Theater: Black Clouds & Silver Linings
Dream Theater: Black Clouds & Silver Linings
Year: 2009
Click here for the artist's site
Ah Dream Theater. Where to begin with this band.
Despite being a Rush fan for years, and being somewhat acquainted with the whole genre of "prog rock", I hadn't really delved into the somewhat heavier realm of "prog metal". That was, until I heard "Pull Me Under" by Dream Theater. Released in 1992, Images and Words quite frankly blew me away. Thus began my long love of progressive metal.
Yet I cannot say that Dream Theater has been a constant throughout these past 18 years.
Year: 2009
Click here for the artist's site
Ah Dream Theater. Where to begin with this band.
Despite being a Rush fan for years, and being somewhat acquainted with the whole genre of "prog rock", I hadn't really delved into the somewhat heavier realm of "prog metal". That was, until I heard "Pull Me Under" by Dream Theater. Released in 1992, Images and Words quite frankly blew me away. Thus began my long love of progressive metal.
Yet I cannot say that Dream Theater has been a constant throughout these past 18 years.
Friday, April 02, 2010
Fear Factory: Mechanize
Fear Factory: Mechanize
Year: 2010
Click here for the artist's site
Right off, let's just ignore the entire Fear Factory argument of the past year. I has been well documented elsewhere, so there is no need to do so here. Here is a quick rundown of who is out and who is in:
Vocals: Burton Bell sill IN (despite stating he no longer wanted to make this kind of music)
Guitars: Christian Olde Wolbers OUT (initially bass player, switched to guitar when Dino left after Digimortal), Dino Cazeras back IN
Bass: Byron Stroud still IN (took over bass after Wolbers moved to guitar)
Drums: Raymond Herrara OUT, Gene Hoglan IN
The first question someone familiar with the past work will ask is: How does this compare to Demanufacture? I will answer that question, in time.
Year: 2010
Click here for the artist's site
Right off, let's just ignore the entire Fear Factory argument of the past year. I has been well documented elsewhere, so there is no need to do so here. Here is a quick rundown of who is out and who is in:
Vocals: Burton Bell sill IN (despite stating he no longer wanted to make this kind of music)
Guitars: Christian Olde Wolbers OUT (initially bass player, switched to guitar when Dino left after Digimortal), Dino Cazeras back IN
Bass: Byron Stroud still IN (took over bass after Wolbers moved to guitar)
Drums: Raymond Herrara OUT, Gene Hoglan IN
The first question someone familiar with the past work will ask is: How does this compare to Demanufacture? I will answer that question, in time.
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