Won't Get Fooled Again

After explaining to a friend, somewhat ashamed, that I barely knew any of The Who's stuff, (and after enduring the incredulous remarks that one gets when he admits he doesn't know much about The Who) I went on youtube and watched a clip of the legendary rock band playing live on a 60's talk show. My friend sent me the link to this infamous live performance, where overzealous pyrotechnics are rumored to have gone off in guitarist/crazy man Pete Townshend's ear, subsequently making him hear a constant ringing for 3 straight weeks. Now, I don't know if this is true, but I do know that their live performance captivated me more than the anthemic 'My Generation' (slap yourself if you thought of Limp Bizkit while reading that). They went nucking futs man! Pete completely obliterated his guitar, cabinet, amp, speakers the whole shebang, and I couldn't look away. It was then I realized for myself, why these guys are pretty special.

We give technology a lot of crap these days, but without the... general usefulness/uselessness (I can't decide) of being able to watch just about anything on youtube, I don't think I would've been so hard hit with the revelation of just how awesome The Who are. Notoriously famous for being a live act that was hard to top, it was only fitting that my first experience (where I actually wanted to sit through and listen to a whole song of theirs) was of them in their element - the stage in front of a live audience. I think it was fate that the next song I looked up was 'Won't Get Fooled Again'. Almost 10 minutes of sheer Rock n Roll, there's simply no other way to describe it. From vocalist Roger Daltrey's commanding stage presence and rugged vocals and ring leader-esque swinging of the microphone, to Pete Townshend's almost assuredly drug induced hippy hops across the stage, whilst not forgetting bassist John Entwistle's motionless grooving bass playing and Keith Moon's pounding and pulsing drums, watching any of The Who's live clips is bound to bring the viewer to a state of awestruck giddiness that is so rare these days. 

I'm off to listen/watch more of The Who. Check this video, if you haven't seen it, you'll be blown away, guaranteed. 

Won't Get Fooled Again

Who'd a thunk it?

I'm gonna say it here, because I need to get this off my chest. I am being 100% serious when I say that...thenewcoldplayalbumisactuallyreallycool! Phew. Had to let it out. It's true, the new Coldplay album, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends. Its currently streaming on their myspace ahead of its release in mid-June (you need to have a myspace account to access the stream). I've never owned any music by Coldplay before, and have often made jokes and equated listening to Coldplay with raging homosexuality (ala Seth Rogan and Paul Rudd in The 40 Year Old Virgin),  so believe me when I say I am completely and utterly shocked that I've really enjoyed the 2 or 3 plays through this album I've had today. 

I've already copped shit from all my friends ('Go listen to Creed while you're at it!' and just the oh-so-powerful head shake), but I won't budge on my position that it is a good record. As I'm typing this, I've come to the album closer 'Death and All His Friends' and am already looking forward to listening to it again in its entirety and dissecting what exactly it is that makes me like this album as much as I do. It might have something to do with Brian Eno being tapped in to help produce this one, or the fact that they are good musicians. Or maybe I'm getting soft, or more open minded. Whatever the reason, I'm glad I can appreciate this album. With tracks that are imbued with jagged rock guitar, epic and beautiful ambiance, the surprise use of eastern instrumentation and Chris Martin's distinguishable vocals, I'll definitely be picking this album up when it becomes available. Guilty pleasure? I feel no shame in liking and appreciating the work of a band unafraid to experiment outside the niche the public has carved for them.

Stream here!

(there will be a link there to listen to the new album, you have to be logged into a myspace account to stream the new album)

The tastes, they are a' changing

Lately, as in today and yesterday, I've been into the slick, laid back and percussive hip hop beats found in artists like CYNE and Jahbitat's music.

The former, a rap group from Gainesville, Florida (Against Me!'s home town) consists of two MC's and two producers (I believe), with thoughtful and *gasp* sometimes politically tinged lyrical content to compliment. To be honest, I haven't grasped the meaning of most of the 

lyrics/listened enough to tell you how well these two MC's spit, and if it really is intelligent subject matter, but that should be evidence of how engaging the actual music is. Not lame, rehashed samples from hit songs that were big 30 years ago (ahem KANYE, TIMBALAND), but noodling acoustic guitar and bongo break downs found on the excellent track 400 years, or the upbeat piano found on the cheerful song Maintain. To be fair, from the lines that do standout, one can be assured the subject matter is far from the 'Where my bitches at/HUWHAAAT/get crunk' drivel some MC's spit and have the audacity to claim as 'gangsta shit'; talking about

living life, shots at mainstream music and the like are just some topics CYNE touch on. CYNE, which appropriately stands for Cultivate Your New Experience, bring a fresh take on the stale genre hip hop has become (in the mainstream). Devoid of idiotic gimmicks, ridiculously stupid subject matter and unfortunately, the publics eye, they stand a head above other artists in the sputtering genre - for those who know about them. Spread the word!

Looking at Jahbitat's myspace, you can already tell this guy isn't...well...normal. A quick look at his interests will quickly affirm this, if the picture of shaggy Simon Williams-among-the-weeds didn't tip you off yet. If your music is influences are as diverse as his, from narwhals to mountain goats and tapirs, your music better be organic, earthy and soothing to reflect that. Which he does, quite effectively. I stumbled across Jahbitat's page through CYNE's myspace, and after letting the instrumental music play in the background while I looked up funny pictures on the interwebz, I realized I had found the perfect background music. Soothing, and not at all imposing itself on the listener, I believe Simon Williams (or rather Jahbitat, his real name doesn't seem to suit the stripped, down-to-earth nature of his music. Bad puns ahoy!) has created music that truly reflects the very essence of nature and how we see it in our modern, changing world - constantly soothing in the background and not imposing in the slightest, but upon further inspection, amazing and almost ethereal in its beauty. 

With all the wonders and creations in our world, we sometimes take for granted the scenery, in favor of the convenience of the streets and skyscrapers we frequent, but there are moments of pure bliss we get from truly appreciating nature, and this unique artists awakens and replicates this appreciation in us through his music. While some of his tracks muddle on, there are instances where you are taken aback - beautiful piano melodies, mixed with driving hip hop beats leaves the listener awestruck, which is an amazing feat for any artist. My initial impressions of this artist are just from the tracks on Jahbitat's myspace, but if I ever get a hold on an album of his, I'll write up my thoughts about it. I'm sure I won't be disappointed.

I think the lesson today, which many of you already know, is that if you dig deep enough, treasures underground surface and surprise you - and I know the work it takes to dig up and uncover the artists is paid back tenfold by the satisfaction of spreading the word about their music. 

Coheed and Cambria Live at UNSW Roundhouse, Sydney, NSW

Last night, at a small venue located at my University's bar, Coheed and Cambria played to a almost capacity crowd of eager Claudio Sanchez-ites (myself included). With the dedicated fans amassing a line that snaked from the main entrance to the Roundhouse bar towards deep into the heart of the University, excitement (and plenty of dreadlocked heads) were in the crisp, cold air. It was my first time experiencing Coheed live, as I've never seen them or any of their live material before (like Live at the Starland Ballroom DVD), but was expecting an amazingly tight show. My lofty expectations were far from let down, as this concert cemented Coheed and Cambria as one of my favorite bands of all time, and as one of the most dynamic and entertaining live acts I have witnessed.



After securing my ticket, and upon the advice of one of my friends, I listened to their debut record religiously for a week - it was an amazing feeling discovering this gem of a first record; the raw production, Claudio's still maturing vocals (which seemed to be more daring), and energetic sing along chorus peppered with intricate guitar riffs made me obsess over The Second Stage turbine Blade. Needless to say, I understand why everyone is eager to agree that this record holds some of their best work to date. With the preparation complete (in familiarising myself with all of their catalogue), I was more than anxious the whole day, dreaming up how Coheed would reproduce some of my favorite track in a live setting, and made lists in my head of what songs I was hoping to hear later that night.

The doors opened at 8pm and when me and a couple of friends finally made it though the door, we made a bee line to the bar. The merch stands' lack of selection (no mediums in some t-shirts at the start of the concert..?) was a bit disappointing but as soon as the openers cleared stage, all that left my mind.

Through a wall of smoke emerged the band, with Claudio being the easiest to spot with his mammoth hair do cutting through the obscuring smog. And with little hesitation they roared through the opening song 'No World for Tomorrow' - grabbing everyone's attention until the end of their set. Claudio's vocals were spot on the entire night, and you could feel the passion and energy he was pouring into each and every vocal lick he yelped out in his altitude climbing alto voice. His and lead guitarist Travis Sterner's guitar work was superb the whole night, as evidence of their improv jam of their finale 'The Final Cut'. They both used memorable tecchniques like a talk box (Travis) and screaming into their guitars' humbuckers to create a supersonic burst of noise (Claudio).

The set list was a tasteful mix of music from all of my favorite records of theirs (In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth 3 is probably my least favorite of their albums, and (I don't know if I should say fortunately?)had the least number of songs featured in the concert).

The set list was very similar to this (tried to get it in order but I can't remember it exactly)

• No World for Tomorrow


• Gravemakers & Gunslingers


• A Favor House Atlantic


• The Hound (of Blood and Rank)


• Feathers


• The Running Free


• Everything Evil


• The Trooper (Iron Maiden cover!!!)


• The Devil In Jersey City


• The Suffering


• Delirium Trigger

*Encore

• Welcome Home


• In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth


• The Final Cut (extended jam)

Highlights for me were The Suffering, which was so fun to sing along to, as was The Running Free. The rapid transitions of Everything Evil into the Trooper followed by the Devil In Jersey City might have been my favorite part of the concert. It went old school, to way old school back to more of their old material and it was such an awesome surprise. The Final Cut jam was incredible as well, with the two guitarists really displaying their chops, along with a cool and collected Chris Pennie who showed off his prowess at polyrhythmic beats and lightning fast rolls all over his set.

Last night, March 31st 2008 was definitely one of the best musical experiences I've ever had, and a night I won't soon forget. They are definitely masters of their craft and play so well and impassioned that they truly are an inspiration to me and (should be to) modern music.

Recent Digs

Like I said, it's been quite some time since I posted, so I'm going to remedy that with some double post action! Here's just a rundown of some new bands/albums I've been listening to a lot lately.

1. Thrice - Vheissu

It's pretty obvious Thrice have fast become 

one of my favorite bands, which is a worthy accomplishment for any artist, as I change my mind more than you're girlfriend changes clothes when getting ready for a date.  I may have liked Thrice upon first listen, but something about Dustin's voice grated on my nerves. Now, looking back, the affection has grown ten fold and I can't believe how long it took me to really get into the post-hardcore 4 piece from California. I love (...!) Dustin's voice and his always interesting vocal melodies, Teppei's tasteful and measured guitar playing (and keyboard as well, in this case), Riley's groovy flashes of brilliance and Eddie's driving rhythms. To me, Vheissu is Thrice's 'Morning View' - when compared to the other records in their catalogue, this record stands out with its underlying idea of the ocean as a prevalent theme, with more laid back and soothing instrumentation, and in general songs that imprint a soothing air on the listeners mind. One thing that I really enjoy about Thrice are Dustin's positive messages he hurls at the listeners ears; it's always refreshing to know that there is hope, no matter how bleak the situation may seem.

2.Thrice - The Artist in the Ambulance

I know I seem obsessive (I'll give you one guess to figure out what band is at #3) but this album is really good! With stand out tracks like Stare at the Sun and All That's Left, this high octane release from the quartet gets my blood going. At the moment 'Hoods on Peregrine'  is a track that I'm really digging at the moment (Teppei's riffing is tasty). A lot of people rank this as their favorite album, and while not personally my top Thrice album, I can easily see why. Appealing to fans of hardcore, melodic punk, rock and metal, The Artist in the Ambulance won me over with its aggressive riffing, soaring melodies and insanely catchy songs.

3. Thrice - The Illusion of Safety

I know, I know, enough drooling over Thrice. But I only recently started on my Thrice binge, and only really recently got into them. I also only recently got the album the boys released in 2002, The Illusion of Safety. Aggressive, in your face, and raw, this showcase of hardcore tinged with punk release has Teppei showcasing his chops on guitar. Songs are short and sweet, and listening to it doesn't make me look back and think, 'Wow, these guys have improved so much' (which arguably, they have) What I think I'm trying to say is that The Illusion of Safety isn't a record on which Thrice should look back on and be embarrassed. On the contrary, it should be seen as an important part of their past - a contextual gauge on how masterfully they have evolved and changed their sound over their duration as THE perennial genre-traipsing Californian band. 

* on a side note, it would be almost impossible for me to rank the Thrice albums, from what i think to be their best, to their worst. actually, that's a lie. as of now, Vheissu edges out The Alchemy Index, then it would be The Artist in the Ambulance and finally The Illusion of Safety. That was a lot easier then i thought it would be, but i doubt these rankings will stand (also, these are the only Thrice records i have) *

4. Have a Nice Life - Deathconsciousness

This album is a bit of a wild card for me; quoted on the band's website as the most depressing album of the year (or something along those lines :p), this record sounds like something I would not enjoy, as my personality is so contrasting to the records 'claim to fame'. I picked it up anyway, (and almost with some reluctance), put the album on while I turned off the lights and waited for sleep to take over. And I waited. And I listened. And I waited, and I listened, and I listened, and I listened...I listened to the album all the way through, a rare feat for someone who can fall asleep before the lights go out. After the ambient, spacey intro, the second track, with its grand, enormous sound (you'll understand), with the bass chugging away and the distorted guitar lacing its way through the bass's unshakeable groove; I was captivated. I kept thinking at the time, its so simple, but so beautiful! Looking back, I don't think thats correct as Have a Nice Life's music isn't complicated. It's powerful and... efficient? It has to be experienced to really appreciate it - no explanation would do it justice. The sound surrounds you when listening with (good) headphones and for me, made me experience what I like to call a musical epiphany - when the music feels so good it stirs a sense of euphoria, like it all makes sense, and leaves you in almost a heightened state of musical awareness. I know that sounds pretentious and down right stupid to some, but for those who have had music evoke such raw emotions in them will surely know what I'm talking about. I can't recommend this release enough. Give it a shot.

5. The National - Boxer

It seems that my musical tastes have shifted. Head-banging to down-tuned riffs that chug away and that Gothenburg brand of Scandinavian metal (they do it so well, those Scandinavians!) that I loved so much just sometimes can't keep my interest. Before getting The National's latest release, I had heard many good things, particularly from an awesome website called sputnik music (a site which I often frequent, and where I learn about great new music). At this website, there are a quite a bit of music enthusiasts that seem to really know their stuff, and normally when they rave over an album, it seems to be to overwhelming, and wouldn't be something I would normally like (ex. Have a Nice Life). I'd like to listen to all the releases they rave about, but sometimes I would get scared that if i don't like what they think is awesome,and that maybe I didn't have 'good taste' (which is a ridiculous notion, as all musical taste is subjective) Needless to say, now I always take other's peoples opinions on board regarding music, with an open mind, which has helped me broaden my taste. I always remember that I will like what I like, and I don't need to impress anyone by forcing myself to like this record or that artist. This album has secured it's way in my collection of favorites because it made me realize all of the above, as well as making me realize that I had been sorely missing out on great music before I encountered the Brooklyn based group from Cincinnati (not sure about that)!. Heart felt and well written lyrics adorn every The National song, and the instrumentation is awesome by an indie band's standards. The vocals are deep and almost gravelly, but compel you to keep listening, so as to unravel the character behind the crooning voice. Laid back and slick guitar work (like the riffs found on Green Gloves), and a slight hint of rock impressed me beyond my expectations. When I listen to this album it makes me repeat in my head, like a mantra "This is soooo good" (it's retarded, but I actually do think that).

I think I'll leave it at that. I'll try and keep the updates more regular from now on, but that's probably not likely. 

Much love

Thrice - Atlantic (Live AOL sessions)

It's been crazy long since I last wrote on here! Chalk it up to laziness. During that hiatus I've gotten really into Thrice (more so than before) and have really grown to like Vheissu, especially the song Atlantic. Dustin's vocal lines are so awesome and soothing and I love the watery texture of the keyboard part Teppei plays. This video might be old news to some of you, but I just really wanted to share it with you guys. Enjoy!

(Yea, I couldn't figure out how to embed the vid from youtube onto this post, but that link should work! Sorry!)

And The Winner Is...

It may be too early to write off any surprise, last minute releases, but I think it's safe to say that my Top Album of 2007 goes to Orange County's Thrice's latest release, The Alchemy Index: Volumes I&II - Fire and Water. I know this is my top choice out of the countless hours of quality music released this year because I came to this conclusion without a doubt in my mind, a mind that's normally plagued with indecision and commitment issues. On paper, the idea of a concept album that dealt with the 4 quintessential elements of life - Earth, Water, Wind and Fire seemed too grand in it's scale, as if the 4 piece post-hardcore outfit(a futile effort to pigeon-hole them into a genre, I know) had bitten off more than they could chew. While the possibility to pull off something truly amazing and inspirational was glimmering on the horizon, me, ever the cynic, saw it more like a mirage, as if their over zealous, ambitious ideas were blinding them - would it be possible to execute and integrate these elemental motifs in a memorable and effective way? The possibilities and ideas they could come up with were indeed endless, but at the same time would this creative approach be their bane? Conforming to the themes of Fire and Water might restrict instead of direct their musical ideas, compromising what COULD be an excellent release.

So I heeded the release date with trepidation.  I wanted it to be a good record, I really hoped they could pull it off - the videos they aired on their website that chronicled and hyped their impending release began to ease my paranoid mind. Maybe they could do it? And they just seemed like such cool, down to earth guys, you just wanted them to succeed, much like how audiences side with the protagonist whose against-all-odds-but-has-his-heart-in-the-right-place. They were the underdogs, as I'm sure I wasn't the only one who was scared for them. Obviously I was tripping (I think a bit too much).

After buying it (hooray for supporting quality artists), listening to it, digesting it, liking it, loving it, obsessing over it and recommending it to nearly everyone that will listen to me, it would be an understatement to say Thrice has succeeded. They passed with flying colors, and all preconceptions of how the record would turn out were tossed aside as I listened with giddy-like-a-school-girl excitement. From the harrowing sirens that mark the beginning of 'Firebreather' from the Fire disc, to the brutally beautiful 'The Flame Deluge' to the epiphany enducing 'Open Water' on the latter disc (Water), this is one of the better albums I have heard in a long time. A release that actually impacted and touched me emotionally, which is always a rare and quite frankly, special thing (the last being 65daysofstatic's 'The Destruction of Small Ideas"...I should write about that next). If I had to choose which disc I preferred, it would have to be the Water disc, by the slightest of margins, simply because of the tracks 'Open Water' (and as I type this 'Lost Continent' and the instrumental 'Night Diving' spring to mind, pleading their cases as most memorable track). I'll agree with the consensus and say The Water disc is the stronger of the two, aptly executing the water motif- with dreamy, smooth guitar riffs, parts of the track that seem to be underwater, a lyrical delivery that has a lucid and slippery quality to it - it really is a must listen. That isn't to say the Fire disc is without its moments, as Firebreather will most assuredly be stuck in your head for days, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

It's quite obvious that I'm pretty passionate about this release (understatement of 2007), but at lease I've found a record that I've enjoyed so much that I'm passionate about it. If that makes sense. I hope that everyone's found a record like that this year, and if they haven't, Thrice's Alchemy Index project sure isn't a bad place to start. Quick! Before 2007 comes to a close!

A very strong 4.8/5. (I should have just written a review...looking back)

*Honorable mention goes to Coheed and Cambria's Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume 2: No World For Tomorrow.

*I'll be making a top 10 album list as the year comes to a close so look out for that. Peace!