Shrinebuilder: Shrinebuilder
Year: 2009
Click here for the artist's site
Supergroups are a tricky thing. Too often they feel like odd amalgamations of the disparate contributions of their constituent members. They feel forced, trying to pigeonhole Band X's sound into Band Y's style. Most of the time, they just fall flat. Perhaps it is the bane of the supergroup: to succumb to the unrealistic expectations.
Enter Shrinebuilder.
Comprised of Scott "Wino" Weinrich of Obsessed and Saint Vitus on guitar/vocals, Scott Kelly of Neurosis on guitar/vocals, Al Cisneros of Om and Sleep on bass, and Dale Crover of The Melvins on the skins, those are huge expectations to live up to. So what does Shrinebuilder do to those expectations?
It crushes them.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Album Review: Coheed and Cambria - Year of the Black Rainbow
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.
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.
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.
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