02/24/12: Madlib - Madlib Medicine Show, #2: Flight to Brazil (2011)

02/24/12: Madlib - Madlib Medicine Show, #2: Flight to Brazil (2011)

1. Rio De Janeiro
2. Sao Paulo
3. Belo Horizonte
4. Porto Alegre
5. Salvador
6. Recife
7. Fortaleza
8. Brasília
9. Curitiba

     Madlib is one of the most prolific hip hop producers of the 2000's. He has collaborated with many of the biggest names in hip-hop like MF Doom, De La Soul, and Ghostface Killah just to name a few. He is a DJ, multi-instrumentalist, rapper and music producer. I received the pleasure of discovering my love of Madlibs DJing and production just as he was embarking upon a crazy musical project: The Madlib Medicine Show. The Medicine Show series was originally announced as a 12 albums in 12 months project with odd numbers being his production work and the even months demonstrate his DJ and mixing skills. All 12 volumes have already released and there ended up being a surprise 13th Volume that comes out in March this year. I have flipped through many albums in the series but there are quite a few I have yet to give a thorough listen to. Flight to Brazil is Number 2 in the series and is a Mixtape. From Wikipedia....

            "Flight to Brazil is your ticket out of this hell hole and onto an 80-minute guided tour through three or four decades of Brazilian funk, psychedelic, prog-rock and jazz."

     That  really pretty much covers it. This album is basically a giant mashup of many decades and genres of Brazilian music that Madlib had compiled in his vinyl collection through the years. Madlib really is spectacular at what he does. Its one song into the next and sometimes multiple songs at the sametime. He is incredible at mixing this musical history collection together. Its such a strange concept to me overall yet the album had me hooked from the get go. I really don't know what to say other than If you want to hear a ton of Brazilian music in about 79 minutes but have it presented to you in a hiphop mixtape sort of way go for it. DJing has never been as interesting to me as Madlib makes it. He's obviously a master of what he does. (055)

02/23/12: Geotic - Bless The Self E.P. (2011)

02/23/12: Geotic - Bless The Self E.P. (2011)

1. Isolated Speech
2. Isolated Mind
3. Illusory Body
4. Clear Light
5. Union

     Geotic is another music persona of Will Wiesenfeld (Most well known as Baths). Geotic is the name he records all of his more minimal and ambient tracks under. I understand why he does this. Baths and Geotic music are so drastically different it almost seems necessary. He recently toured for the first time as Geotic with Dntel. So far, every available Geotic album is free to download here.
     "Bless The Self" is the newest release by Geotic. It is a fairly short E.P. but was definitely worth the listen. The 5 songs that form this E.P. flow together as one long hazy ambient texture with a simple but necessary beat under them. I enjoyed this E.P. but I don't think it demonstrates what Geotic does when he's at his best. One of my favorite things about some of his earlier full length recordings is his use of guitars within these atmospheric, ambient songs. This E.P. is worth a listen but I would recommend checking out at least the album "Mend" (free in the link above) first. It's one of my favorite albums to read and/or fall asleep to. (054)

02/22/12: Shlohmo - Vacation E.P. (2012)

02/22/12: Shlohmo - Vacation E.P. (2012)

1. The Way U Do
2. Wen uuu
3. Rained The Whole Time
4. The Way U Do (Airhead Remix)
5. Wen uuu (Salva Remix)
6. Rained The Whole Time (Nicholas Jaar Remix)
7. The Way U Do (D33J Remix)
8. Wen uuu (Evenings Remix)

     Shlohmo is an electronic artist from the Anticon record label. I tend to be a huge fan of a lot of acts from Anticon. I discovered this guy due to the fact that he is friends with Baths and I checked out his debut full-length album "Bad Vibes" the day it released on Baths Twitter suggestion. He has a really unique combination of electronic genres. His albums ride a line between abstract hip-hop, trip-hop, ambient, cut and paste turntablism, and is overall very experimental. I loved "Bad Vibes" it is a super chill record with some awesome and unique production.
     The "Vacation" E.P. is his first release since "Bad Vibes" and was released through the label Friends of Friends. The E.P. includes 3 new songs and multiple remixes of those 3 songs. I believe this is the complete version. There are various versions of this release that include different remixes. This version has all of the released remixes included on it. The 3 new tracks are pretty fucking incredible. If this is a sign of things to come for future Shlohmo full-lengths, than I can't wait until its time for more. The songs definitely sound like his older stuff, but there's so much more depth within these songs. The beats are amazing the samples of vocals and tape loops create a ton of atmosphere and moodiness in these songs. The songs just feel like there are a lot more layers and though I really enjoy his full length these 3 new tracks are infinitely more interesting. And to top it all off, I loved most of the remixes. they were really unique takes on the new tracks without warping the songs beyond recognition. As much as I loved "Bad Vibes" this E.P. is an even better introduction to what Shlohmo can do. Check this shit out cuz its awesome. "And How!" (053)

The Burning of Rome - Living in the Lie

            Dancing Like a Dead Drunk Sailor



#58) The Burning of Rome - Living in the Lie (2007)

 1. Hard Times
 2. Like Frying a Small Fish
 3. Race to Build a Bomb
 4. Too Late, Too Bad
 5. Dancing Like a Dead Drunk Sailor
 6. Eulogy for John Cage
 7. Rape of Lucretia
 8. Less Forgotten
 9. Dear Israel...
 10. Hollywood Love Story

The Burning of Rome first came to my attention a few weeks ago when my friend posted Rome's new single, Ballad of an Onion Sprout. i was instantly hooked so i decided to check out more from these guys.

Living in the Lie is the bands first record. i think my favorite description of the band was "If Danzig constructed a carnival ride, it'd look something like this" - 944 Magazine
that's not entirely accurate though, their music definitely has a kind of gothic carnival feel but it's also incredibly poppy and experimental and they show a wide range of influences throughout the album. 

Today Is The Day - Supernova

                     What Is It About Me That Makes You So Mad


#57) Today Is The Day - Supernova (1993/2008)

 1. Black Dahlia
 2. 6 Dementia Satyr
 3. Silver Tongue
 4. Blind Man at Mystic Lake
 5. Adult World
 6. The Begging
 7. The Kick Inside
 8. Goose is Cooked
 9. Timeless
 10. Rise
 11. The Guilt Barber
 12. Self Portrait
 13. I Bent Scared
 14. C'mon Down and Get Saved

this was TITD's first full length. while it's more metal than their 2nd album, Willpower, it still has more of a noise rock feel overall. originally released in '93, the album was then re-issued in 2008 with 2 bonus tracks, I Bent Scared and C'mon Down and Get Saved. the tracks Rise, Adult World, Kick Inside and 6 Dementia Satyr all appeared on the band's demo EP How To Win Friends and Influence People (1992). of the album's 12 original tracks, 5 are "instrumentals", Blind Man at Mystic Lake, The Begging, Timeless, The Guilt Barber and Self Portrait. I Bent Scared and C'mon Down and Get Saved were originally released as a 7" single in a limited pressing of 1000.
as i said before, while i prefer the later metal stuff i really enjoy this early sound too. this was a really rad debut and it's great having those rare tracks on here as a bonus.

Nadja - Desire In Uneasiness

Deterritorialization

#56) Nadja - Desire In Uneasiness (2008)

 1.Disambiguation
 2. Sign-Expressions
 3. Affective Fields
 4. Uneasy Desire
 5. Deterritorialization

as i said in my previous Nadja post, these guys have a ridiculous amount of albums, especially considering they've only been around since 2003. i think this is their 9th full length.
the biggest change here is the addition of a drummer, Jakob Thiesen. the album is also entirely instrumental, with Aidan being credited on bass and effects and Leah on bass. to me this record was missing the heaviness and intensity of Skin Turns To Glass and the limited instrumentation seemed to strip away some of the layers of sound. i also missed the waves of distortion present on Skin. that being said, i really enjoyed this album. it had a very mellow, hypnotic feel to it that i think was enhanced by the lack of vocals and the inclusion of a live drummer. i wouldn't recommend it as your starting point to Nadja but it's definitely a rad album and worth checking out.

Poison Idea - Record Collectors Are Pretentious Assholes

My Heart's Such An Open Sore

#55) Poison Idea - Record Collectors Are Pretentious Assholes (1984)

 1. A.A
 2. Legalize Freedom
 3. Cold Comfort
 4. Typical
 5. Thorn In My Side
 6. Laughing Boy
 7. Rubber Husband
 8. Right?
 9. Rich Get Richer
 10. Don't Like It Here
 11. Die On Your Knees
 12. Time To Go

Poison Idea is a band i'd heard of here and there but never really bothered to check out for some reason. then when i was doing some research for my Venomous Concept post the name popped up again as one of the main influences on that band. since i really dug that album i figured it was time to check out Poison Idea.

they were a hardcore band from Portland that formed in the early 80s. this was their 2nd EP and 1st 12". this cd version has 4 extra tracks. the original 12" track list was:

1. A.A.
2. Legalize Freedom
3. Cold Comfort
4. Thorn In My Side
5. Rubber Husband
6. Rich Get Richer
7. Don't Like It Here
8. Time To Go

also worth noting is the record collection in the cover photo belongs to PI's guitarist Tom "Pig Champion" Roberts.
as for the music it's old school hardcore. songs are short, fast and angry. definitely a rad album. i'll be listening to more by these guys soon.

Ghastly City Sleep

 You Wish The Stars To Dampen Out

#54) Ghastly City Sleep (2007)

 1. Ice Creaks
 2. Hushing Weight
 3. Suchness
 4. Subtle Orsater

Ghastly City Sleep's debut ep. this is one of those bands where each member has been/is in a thousand other bands and they've all played in bands with each other at some point (i'm not going to get into who was in what band with whom because)

the band plays a kinda post rock with ambient electronics. initially i wasn't all that thrilled with the album. it wasn't that i thought it was bad, it just wasn't all that...original i guess. there are a million bands that have a similar sound to this. however i listened to it a couple more times before writing this post (and am, in fact, listening to it right now) and it's really growing on me. i still don't think it's a game changer or anything but it is a very well crafted and quite enjoyable album. love might be a stretch but i really like this record and i'm interested to see how their sound evolved over the 3 years between this album and their first full length, which i will probably be posting about soon.

02/21/12: Neil Hamburger - Incident in Cambridge, Mass. (2012)

02/21/12: Neil Hamburger - Incident in Cambridge, Mass. (2012)

1. This Is Not My Usual Show
2. It's All Out Of The Packet
3. The Sensational Chili Peppers
4. You Wanna Hear The Zipper Lips?

     Anti-Comedian Neil Hamburger is incredibly confusing to me. I love some of his corny-ass jokes. I love the strange targets of his jokes and twittering like Smash Mouth, and Taco Bell. I really am entertained by him and can endure him for a long time but I haven't listened to many of his stand-up albums. I figured I'd check out his newest release "Incident in Cambridge, Mass." which is a complete unedited show from 2008 and you can purchase for download here. I really don't know what to say. I've listened to it twice and enjoyed it, but what makes it most entertaining is the large amount of hatred and laughter coming from this crowd at the same time. Thank you oksentaminen for exposing me to this crazy ironic bastard. You should really check this show out. Its only $3.99. (052)

2/20/12: John Coltrane - Blue Train (1957)

2/20/12: John Coltrane - Blue Train (1957)

1. Blue Train
2. Moment's Notice
3. Locomotion
4. I'm Old Fashioned
5. Lazy Bird

     "Blue Train" is John Coltrane's second solo album and was released in 1957. It was really early on his career so his stuff was definitely still more traditional musically then his later recordings. The songs follow a basic thirty-two-bar blues form. Its a really upbeat album that almost sounds big band like at times. Apparently this album is also famous for being the first time Coltrane was recorded playing what are now known as Coltrane Changes. I tried understanding that fact but apparently was something he created for improvisational sections that did not follow the traditional rules of harmonic progressions. He expounds on that method further on his album "Giant Steps" which I'm sure I'll get to later.
     I enjoyed my time working with this album in the background. I could definitely tell what he was on his way to doing on this album. Its drastically different than the albums I've listened to a lot by him like "A Love Supreme" and later albums yet at the same time I can hear the roots of those albums here. I really have yet to find a Coltrane album I can't at least bop my head to. (051)

02/19/12: Miles Davis - Sorcerer (1967)

02/19/12: Miles Davis - Sorcerer (1967)

1. Prince of Darkness
2. Pee Wee
3. Masqualero
4. The Sorcerer
5. Limbo
6. Vonetta
7. Nothing Like You
8. Masqualero (Alt. Take)
9. Limbo (Alt. Take)

      The album "Sorcerer" by Miles Davis is the 3rd of 5 albums by Miles Davis' 2nd Quartet. This was basically during the final stage of his career in an acoustic quartet before he moves heavily into electric instruments and from what I've heard of his later recordings, he becomes much more experimental as well. I have not listened to a ton of Miles Davis, but much of what I've heard is from the later stages of his career and I'm a big fan. The version of the album I listened to is the CD release which adds the last 2 alternate takes to the original album.
     The style of their music during the time moves in and out of normal Bebop Jazz sections and improvisational sections. The album is very enjoyable. It was energetic and up-tempo for the most part but really grabbed me by slowing the tempo down dramatically on "Vonetta" and then surprising me with a closing track that includes the first singer of the recording. Though definitely included on the original release of "Sorcerer", "Nothing Like You" was recorded several years prior with a drastically different lineup and it shows. I almost didn't understand why it was there but I still enjoyed the track.
     The alternate takes included on this release were also very interesting. The 2 versions of Limbo were drastically different. Good album if you want to listen to his more old school stuff. I have so freaking many to go. (050)

2/18/12: Mahavishnu Orchestra - Birds of Fire (1973)

2/18/12: Mahavishnu Orchestra - Birds of Fire (1973)

1. Birds of Fire
2. Miles Beyond
3. Celestial Terrestrial Commuters
4. Sapphire Bullets of Pure Love
5. Thousand Island Park
6. Hope
7. One Word
8. Sanctuary
9. Open Country Joy
10. Resolution

     This album was a band that I had been meaning to listen to for a long time. They were recommended to me by Mark years ago because of my love of The Mars Volta. I did some reading on these guys and they are technically considered one of the earlier Jazz Fusion bands. All of the songs on this album are instrumental and clearly combine Jazz and Rock but I would probably describe these guys as a Prog band. From what I read, they only released 2 albums with this original lineup. This is their second album. 
     I really dug this album. Mars Volta was a very solid lead in to these guys. I could see Mahavishnu Orchestra music being what The Mars Volta would have made if they were doing it 25-30 years ago. Its really just a solid music composition. The album flows together really nicely and the addition of synth and violin to the almost freeform jazz style made for a really enjoyable listen. I'll have to get back to these guys later on. (049)

The Giallos Flame

Crime Squad

#53) The Giallos Flame (2005)

 1. The Getaway
 2. Jazz Killer
 3. Crime Squad
 4. 7th Sign
 5. Stalking
 6. Remember When
 7. The Chinese Dragon
 8. Profundo Giallo
 9. Book of Eibon
 10. Analog Sequence
 11. Nosferatu
 12. The Chase (live)
 13. Trons Lament
 14. Stalk and Slash
 15. Cannibal (main theme)

this is the first record from Giallos Flame and it's amazing. it's like being in every rad cop and horror movie from the 70s. it's got that kinda proggy, synth heavy instrumental rock sound that was done so

well by bands like Goblin and composers like Fabio Frizzi.

i'm also pretty sure that this a one man project and creator Ron Graham does everything on the album himself. that's pretty rad if you ask me. unfortunately he ended the project after only 3 full lengths and a couple film scores and his records aren't all that easy to find. i'm a huge horror fan and i love this old school sound so i'm definitely gonna be on the hunt for the rest of this stuff.

Scott Hull - Requiem

E' La Colpa Nei Suoi Sogni

#52) Scott Hull - Requiem (2008)

 1. La Boca Di Cielo
 2. Conseguenze
 3. Visita All'ospedale
 4. Il Funerale Di Bonnie
 5. Morte Sul Treno
 6. E' La Colpa Nei Suoi Sogni
 7. Conseguenze (Alternate)
 8. Shootout
 9. Incubi E Sogni
 10. Santificato (End Titles)
 11. "In Paradisum Deducant Te Angeli"

in 2006 an associate of Hull's asked him to score his film. Hull agreed and spent the next year learning to compose for instruments he's never worked with before and creating this album where he composed and performed everything himself. this was a cool album and it was interesting to hear a completely different side of Hull's musical talents.

as for the movie i'm not really sure what happened to it. though Hull mentions seeing a full first cut of the film, from what i've read online it sounds like the movie was never completed. it's a shame, i would've really liked to have seen how his score worked with the film.

Japanese Torture Comedy Hour - Volatage Monster

Earth Sized Microwave

#51) Japanese Torture Comedy Hour - Volatage Monster (2006)


 1. Total Memory Loss
 2. Explosions in Ward 6
 3. Black Mathematics
 4. Pollination
 5. Earth Sized Microwave
 6. Prowler in the Yard
 7. Atmospheres

so here's another Scott Hull project. he describes it as a hybrid of noisecore and power electronics. i couldn't really find a lot of info about this project and searching for something with the words "japanese torture" in it leads to a lot of strange results (Japanese Enema Torture?). i do know that this project features Hull, his Agoraphobic Nosebleed bandmate Jay Randall, Chris Leamy, Andrew Kokes and Chris Carlson.  if you dig harsh electronics then check this stuff out.

Pig Destroyer - Natasha

I Stared Into The Forest Pretending Not To See The Hangmen She Was Hiding In Her Eyes

#50) Pig Destroyer - Natasha (2008)

1. Natasha



Pig Destroyer is one of my favorite bands. i love every album in their discography but for some reason i still hadn't listened to Natasha. this isn't a "proper" album per se. it originally came as a bonus 5.1 audio dvd with the Terrifyer (2004) album and was later issued as a standalone cd.

 this album finds them at their most experimental. throughout the album's 37 minute run there's not even a single "grind" moment. the album starts off with 5 minutes of noisy soundscape work before becoming a Godflesh/Swans like noise sludge dirge. at around 13 minutes the track shifts back into noisy drone mode for a few minutes before becoming some vaguely post-rock twinkly guitar semi-wailed vocals thing for a while and then going into a weird dark ambient with whispered vocals passage. all these stylistic shifts have happened by about the halfway point of the album. between the ways the various styles of this album come together to JR Hayes' voice and bizarre lyrics this album is excellent. JR might be one of the best lyricists in the music industry, i love the way this dude writes. and of course, Scott Hull is the fucking man.

Harvey Milk - Courtesy and Good Will Toward Men

My Broken Heart Will Never Mend

#49) Harvey Milk - Courtesy and Good Will Toward Men (1996)
     
       Disc 1
 1. Pinnochio's Example
 2. Brown Water
 3. Plastic Eggs
 4. My Broken Heart Will Never Mend
 5. I Feel Miserable
 6. The Lord's Prayer
 7. Sunshine (No Sun) Into the Sun
 8. Go Back to France
 9. A Good Thing Gone
 10. One of Us Cannot Be Wrong
 11. The Boy With Bosoms

        Disc 2
   Live at TT the Bear's
 1. Pinnochio's Example
 2. Merlin is Magic
 3. Come and Spit
 4. F.S.T.P.

Patrice O'Neal - Mr. P

"You Can Catch A White Bitch With Some Fruits And Nuts In Your Hand"

#48) Patrice O'Neal - Mr. P (2012)

 1. Intro
 2. Can't Care
 3. Making Lots of Money
 4. T.S.A.
 5. Hate People Touching Me
 6. Obama
 7. Reparations
 8. Race War
 9. Tolu
 10. White Women Are Pleasant
 11. Black Women Get You Refunds
 12. White Women Get Cold
 13. Side Pussy
 14. The Corporation
 15. My Dogs
 16. Start a Hoe, Stay a Hoe
 17. I Like Hoes

i don't generally listen to a lot of stand up. i made an exception in this case though because Patrice is one of my favorite comedians and after his unfortunate passing a few months ago i'll take whatever material i can get. this is his first and only cd.

i think Patrice had a unique style, he was very conversational, almost rambling, and he loved bringing the audience into things which, to me, made it seem like you weren't seeing (or listening, in this case)  an act but sharing stories and ideas. he could also be very confrontational and was not afraid to say whatever was on his mind. i think that fearlessness earned him a lot of credit among other comedians and he seemed to be very well respected and liked in the comedy world.

the album itself was hilarious and no subject is off limits. as always he brings up race a lot and his views are hilarious but honest and i think that's what made him such a great comic, he was brutally honest. if you're easily offended chances are you aren't going to enjoy Patrice's stand-up, but as he says on this cd it makes jokes funnier if some people are uncomfortable.

2/17/12: DOOM - Born Like This (2009)

2/17/12: DOOM - Born Like This (2009)

1. Supervillain Intro
2. Gazzillion Ear
3. Ballskin
4. Yessir!
5. Absolutely
6. Rap Ambush
7. Lightworks
8. Batty Boyz
9. Angelz
10. Cellz
11. Still Dope
12. Microwave Mayo
13. More Rhymin'
14. That's That
15. Supervillainz
16. Bumpy's Message
17. Thank Yah

     I first got into MF Doom via his style of production. He has many instrumental / production only  releases that I had listened to and enjoyed before I ever really got into his stuff where he raps. He has a knack for creating a unique environment. His songs sound to me like what hip-hop would sound like if it existed on 1950's and 60's television or if we were all living in a comic book or cartoon. His production involves a large amount of sampling. Lots of samples of people talking or beats from old songs. Samples on this album are incredibly diverse. They span from Creep by TLC to a Jeff Dunham character to a poetry reading by Charles Bukowski to himself.
     The album title is actually from a line in a Charles Bukowski Poem called "Dinosauria, We". He actually goes by the pseudonym DOOM on "Born Like This". His lyrics and flow can be a bit unconventional at times but he has such a distinct enjoyable style and can tend to be as all over the place as his production. I have listened to a couple of his earlier albums and everything seems to be at its sharpest on "Born Like This". (048)

2/16/12: Coaltar of the Deepers - Robot EP (2001)

2/16/12: Coaltar of the Deepers - Robot EP (2001)

1. Joy Ride (edit)
2. The System's Made of Greed
3. Sarah3
4. Mexico (Ver. 1)
5. Astro Vs. Apatch

     Seeing that both of us have now listened to some Coaltar of the Deepers I figured I would do at least a few more entries for their stuff. The first 2 EPs I reviewed "Dog" and "Penguin" were so drastically different, and I enjoyed their more Metal stuff from the Penguin EP much more. I decided to figure out which parts of their catalog were more on the Metal and Electronic side of things. The first of those that I found was the "Robot EP".
     This EP jumps all over the place and was great. It opens with an amazing electronic song, that breaks way into an awesome metal song. From there they have what is possibly the heaviest Shoegaze track I've ever heard. Ends up i dig shoegaze when there is a heavy dose of metal influence. From there it brings it back down with a dreamy acoustic track with a guest female vocalist and to keep you off balance that leads into the heaviest track on the EP. This was another super enjoyable and incredibly A.D.D. EP from my new Favorite Japanese band. Next time I bring them up, I hope to have listened to one of their full lengths. (047)

02/15/12: Black Flag - The Complete 1982 Demos (1984)

02/15/12: Black Flag - The Complete 1982 Demos (1984)

1. What Can You Believe
2. Yes, I Know
3. Slip It In
4. Modern Man
5. My War
6. Black Coffee
7. Beat My Head Against The Wall
8. Can't Decide
9. I Love You
10. Nothing Left Inside / Scream
11. I Love You*
12. My War*
13. Interview*
14. Swinging Man*

     Here comes more of my recently learned Black Flag history. I have been reviewing some of their full lengths, but I had always wanted to check this out. There should only be 1 or 2 more Black Flag releases to go through after this.
     I had always wondered about why their releases came out the way they did. They released "Damaged" in 1981, then they didnt release anything again until 1984 where they released 5 albums throughout '84 and '85. It ends up they were stuck in a lawsuit with their original record label and could not release any music under the name Black Flag until the suit was resolved. They went around that by first releasing a compilation titled "Everything Went Black" under each individual band members names instead of Black Flag.
     During 1982, they recorded a large batch of Demos that would eventually make up the albums "My War" and "Slip It In" (My favorite 2). I don't know how they are circulated now, but it is a widely distributed bootleg and not an official release by them. The 14 Tracks include mostly songs from the previously mentioned 2 albums as well as 2 completely unreleased songs and a live radio performance and interview.
     I had been avoiding these demos basically because i assumed the production quality would be awful. I was definitely proven wrong there. The recordings are actually really nice for Demos recorded in 1982. It really was a collection of many of my favorite Black Flag songs and there were actually a couple versions on these demos that I prefered to the official releases. The 2 unreleased tracks were solid as well seeing that they were from my favorite period of their careers. And Finally the radio session is a really nice bonus. The 3 songs they chose are great. Hank and the band kill it. The recordings are really nice here as well. And to top that all off there is an 8 minute interview with the guys from right after the lawsuit was over and they were able to release My War after over 2 years without ny releases.
     This Bootleg ended up being a must-listen for any Black Flag fan. Great collection. (046)

02/14/12: Sleigh Bells - Reign of Terror (2012)

02/14/12: Sleigh Bells - Reign of Terror (2012)

1. True Shred Guitar
2. Born To Lose
3. Crush
4. End of the Line
5. Leader of the Pack
6. Comeback Kid
7. Demons
8. Road to Hell
9. You Lost Me
10. Never Say Die
11. D.O.A.

     I only recently listened to Sleigh Bells debut LP "Treats" but I was late to this party. Fortunately for me that meant I already have another album by Sleigh Bells to listen to. This follow-up is called "Reign of Terror"and it is a strong but evolved second album. After a first listen I wasn't really sure what to think. I gave it a few more listens and it definitely grew on me.
     This album gos for more of a live concert feel as it opens with the roar of a crowd and builds into one of the most rocking tracks on the album. The production had a different feel than "Treats". The guitars were more focused and in the forefront of many of the songs as the electronic parts were brought back a bit. I liked this approach a lot as it lead to some of the more heavy metal guitar licks of their 2 albums. The other obvious change on this album was the fact that singer Alexis Krauss was involved through the entire production of the album. Her pop music roots become much more apparent on "Reign of Terror". The second half of the album brings it down a bit and they have a long section of more pop influenced songs in terms of production, tempo and level of shredding and to my surprise I still dug it. "Treats" was produced entirely by Derek Miller and lyrics and vocals were done after Miller met Krauss. Her effect is clearly heard here yet it still left a solid and satisfying Sophomore album. (045)

02/13/12: Black Flag - Loose Nut (1985)

02/13/12: Black Flag - Loose Nut (1985)

 

1. Loose Nut
2. Bastard in Love
3. Annihilate this Week
4. Best One Yet
5. Modern Man
6. This Is Good
7. I'm The One
8. Sinking
9. Now She's Black

     Apparently I am working backwards on this whole Black Flag thing. This is the album from before "In My Head" it was also released in 1985. I mentioned that Black Flag had a hard time maintaining an audience due to the fact of their ever changing style. I guess at one point Hank Rollins suggested not changing their style as much from album to album for that exact reason. After listening to "Loose Nut" I would say that the closest they got to maintaining a sound was in between "Loose Nut" and "In My Head". There is a much more present heavy metal sound than on earlier releases but it also has songs that sound more straightforward punk than on "In My Head". The album was alright but it definitely didn't blow me away. It lost my attention at times. It is probably near the bottom of the Black Flag albums I've listened to but it still had a couple solid tracks. (044)

02/12/12: John Coltrane - First Meditations (for quartet) (1977)

02/12/12: John Coltrane - First Meditations (for quartet) (1977)

1. Love
2. Compassion
3. Joy
4. Consequences
5. Serenity
6. Joy (alternate version)

     I am going to be honest. I love Jazz but I am not thourougly educated in this genre of music nor do I have a wide group of Jazz musicians I listen to. John Coltrane and Miles Davis are the majority of Jazz music I have listened to and enjoyed. First Meditations was originally recorded in 1965 but was released posthumously in 1977. It was the last recording session with the John Coltrane Quartet and was never released due to the fact that he rerecorded this suite of songs 2 months after as a six piece as he added tenor saxophonist Pharoah Sanders and Drummer Rashied Ali. Those sessions were released as the more well known album "Meditations" (will listen to this abum soon) in 1965.
     From what I've read, the rerecorded "Meditations" is much more avant-garde than this version.  I had never listened to this album thoroughly but it was enjoyable. Coltrane is exclusively on tenor sax on this album. He plays a lot of pretty lyrical sections making for a fairly straightforward jazz album coupled with the occasional explosion of crazy overblown notes and a more avant-garde sound at other times. I feel that the songs actually live up to the song titles for the most part. I found this to be a good work album. It was for the most part a peacful jazz album. It gets out there but its not over the top and still easy to follow. I will be listening to a bit more jazz in this project. Maybe I'll learn some things and actually have intelligent things to say about Jazz. (043)
   

Plague Bringer - As The Ghosts Collect, The Corpses Rest

We Should Not Be Permitted This Quiet Privilege Of Breathing

#47) Plague Bringer - As The Ghosts Collect, The Corpses Rest (2006)

 1. Burn Ward Whore
 2. Hope and Slow Murder
 3. No Such Nothing
 4. Halo Trauma
 5. The Somnambulist
 6. Splinters Through a Straw
 7. Impaled Faith

Plague Bringer are a 2 man drum machine grind band (e-grind, digigrind, cybergrind, whatever...) from Chicago and this is their first record. this a band who's name i had heard a few times and had meant to check out but never got around to. 
though they use a drum machine, this album isn't so much Genghis Tron as it is some blistering death/grind with a touch of experimentation. there are a lot of great riffs on this record and the drum programming is really well done. overall, i prefered Life Songs but this was still a really solid album and a great debut. even though they haven't released a record since Life Songs (they did release a single in 2010) i'm really hoping to hear from these guys again.

02/11/12: Black Flag - In My Head (1985)

 02/11/12: Black Flag - In My Head (1985)

1. Paralyzed
2. The Crazy Girl
3. Black Love
4. White Hot
5. In My Head
6. Out of This World *
7. I Can See You *
8. Drinking and Driving
9. Retired at 21
10. Society's Tease
11. It's All Up to You
12. You Let Me Down *

*Tracks originally from the "I Can See You" EP

     Black Flag is probably my favorite of the old school punk bands. I say this despite the fact that they  have only released one LP that actually sounds like a punk record (Damaged). There are a few Black Flag albums that I used to listen to constantly, but I realized that I had barely given some of the others a chance. I have been listening to them non-stop and there are gonna be 3 or 4 Black Flag records over the next week of entries or so. I am going to jump all over the place, but I will start with their last LP "In My Head".
     This is the CD reissue version which includes 3 tracks from an EP they released 3 years after they broke up. The songs were recorded during the same sessions and are integrated into this reissue perfectly as well as being really great songs. I don't understand why I never really gave this album a chance but it ended up being spectacular. "In My Head" shows where their sound ended up before their breakup. They started out as a punk band, but as their career progressed, their songs slowed down and became more heavily metal influenced due to Greg Ginn's ever evolving guitar sound and growing talent. They had a hard time maintaining fans for the same reason but I really enjoy their more down tempo sound anyways. It is a straight-up quality hardcore record with a nice experimental touch. A really solid collection of songs to close out a too short career.
     I have been doing a lot of reading about Black Flag over the last couple days and I really didn't realize a lot of things about their career. I will probably talk about some of the facts in other posts. I can't believe they released 5 albums in 2 years. (042)

02/10/12: Deftones - Saturday Night Wrist (2006)

02/10/12: Deftones - Saturday Night Wrist (2006)

1. Hole in the Earth
2. Rapture
3. Beware
4. Cherry Waves
5. Mein (feat Serj Tankian)
6. U, U, D, D, L, R, L, R, A, B, Select, Start
7. Xerces
8. Rats!Rats!Rats!
9. Pink Cellphone
10. Combat
11. Kimdracula
12. Riviére

     I have an on-again off-again relationship with the Deftones. I really like Chino's voice and a tend to like some of their music. I can usually find a jam or 2 on any Deftones album but the only album of theirs I ever really fell in love with was "White Pony" which is of course the most different of them all. They came out with their self titled record after White Pony and it had a couple tracks that really blew me away but the rest of the album was "meh". I have had "Saturday Night Wrist for awhile but I never did more than flip through a few tracks here and there. Well it ends up I was missing out on one of their best albums.
     I don't know what it is. It seemed like a more focused effort but I did some reading and it seemed to be quite the opposite. It was their first album away from their long time producer Terry Date. There were tensions within the band as well as tension between Chino and the New Producer Bob Ezrin. Chino was also dealing with a drug problem, going through a divorce and working on his side project Team Sleep. He apparently considered walking away from the band after this album but all of the negativity brought one of their best efforts.
     It is a moody and atmospheric album overall but it definitely touches all of the Deftones bases of the past. There are super heavy parts, super catchy parts, echoey howling parts, electronic parts. Great album and one of my new favorites by them. I'm sure I'll find more reasons to listen to Chino sing throughout this project. (041)

02/09/12: Nick Grey And The Random Orchestra - Spin Vows Under Arch (2008) [Crossover Review 2]

02/09/12: Nick Grey And The Random Orchestra - Spin Vows Under Arch (2008) [Crossover Review 2]

1. King Flood
2. Miller, 1918
3. Your Greatest Hunger
4. Black Paper, Mountain
5. Couvre-Feu
6. Italian Cities Fight Smog
7. La Zone Battue
8. Setting Expectations
9. Porno Drone (Evil SPiders Have Put A Curse On Our Garden)

     Wow, I am a whole week behind. But anyways this is my second crossover review picked by oksentaminen. You can see his original review here. I had definitely not heard of Nick Grey before but based on his review I knew I would be able to get into it. I would say his description of the very hard to describe sound is accurate. A bit ambient, a bit folk and a lot experimental. This is probably a prog record in a way. Each song sweeps and changes and flows into each other. I listened to "Spin Vows Under Arch" 3 or 4 times over the last few days I was working and I caught something different and beautiful each time. Different singers coming in and out of soundscapes. Ghostly buildups at times that almost reminded me of Sigur Ros. I have to give it a couple more listens to really get a grasp of what I have listened to but a quality album. Once I figure out whats happening here I'd like to check out what else Nick Grey has done. Good pick oksentaminen. (040)

SSS - Short Sharp Shock

Runnin Riot In The Dead Of The Night

#46) SSS - Short Sharp Shock (2007)

 1. Quiet Before the Storm
 2. Warhorse
 3. New Dogs
 4. The Answer is Never
 5. Damaged Goods
 6. Overload
 7. Monster
 8. SSS
 9. Gearin Up For Gettin Down
 10. The Beast
 11. Last Man Standing
 12. Hallowed Grey
 13. OJ Skyrkts
 14. LxBxPx
 15. Son of a Beast
 16. Im Sick
 17. Black Night White Light

Short Sharp Shock is the first full length of crossover thrash from England's SSS.  even though the band isn't really doing anything new, they do it well

Anakrid - Banishment Rituals of the Disenlightened

Behinde The Green Mythdoor

#45) Anakrid - Banishment Rituals of the Disenlightened (2008)

 1. The Examinatione
 2. False Dymaxion
 3. Reflections of Failure
 4. The Many Voices of Reason
 5. The Outer Beings
 6. The Gutenberg Galaxy
 7. Cinder in Your Eye
 8. The Rotten Sigil
 9. As Wheat In Winter
 10. Behinde the Green Mythdoor
 11. Limited Liability Processing Plant
 12. Lies on a Tranquil Brow

 Anakrid is an experimental electronic project started by Chris Bickel (Guyana Punch Line) in 1989.
  i was a little apprehensive about this record because i do, in fact, judge things by their covers and i thought the album art was lame and cheap looking. the first couple tracks didn't really do much for me. there was nothing wrong with them, i just wasn't feeling them for some reason. eventually though the album began to grow on me and i enjoyed it. enough that i actually went back and listened to those first few tracks with a new ear and ended up enjoying them too. there's definitely a lot of cool stuff happening on this record. it's dark and kinda creepy at times. some of the tracks have a definite Silent Hill feel (as i stated before, i LOVE the Silent Hill).

The Skull Defekts - The Drone Drug

Skull Addikt

#44) The Skull Defekts- The Drone Drug (2008)

 1. Bone Tone
 2. A Drone Drug
 3. Day One Is Done
 4. Skull Addikt

i knew nothing about this band going into this other than the fact that they were from Sweden. in fact i didn't even know it was a band, i thought it was just a noise/drone project. and for the most part that's what this is, a noise/drone record. however there's a part of the track Drone Drug where it becomes this mash-up of psychedelic rock and noise that was unexpected and awesome. from what i've gathered that's what this band does, combines avant garde rock and experimental electronics. i went into this expecting nothing but drone and ended up really enjoying the rock part and actually wishing there was more of that on the record. definitely gonna check out more by them.

Whourkr - Naät

Prr Kch Gumm gohkah Trrki

#43) Whourkr - Naät (2007)

 1. Kommiu
 2. Nrrit
 3. Cera
 4. Nhosg
 5. Yum Nho Naat
 6. W
 7. Hackta
 8. Kruma

Whourkr is a project featuring Gautier Serre (Igorrr) and a person named -i snor and this is their first record. i got into these guys last year when i randomly picked up their 2nd album Concrete (i didn't realize it was an Igorrr side project until later though). it's basically what Igorrr would sound like if it was a metal project and that's not a bad thing at all. crazy glitchy beats and riffs (actually everything is glitchy at one point or another, the track Hackta is pretty much nothing but glitches) collide to form an absolutely crushing metal album. there are no lyrics, there isn't even any recognizable language used (the title of this post is a sampling of some of the "lyrics" from the booklet) . as the band puts it "the voice is a howling instrument that creates an emotional language." what that means is there's a ton of bizarre screaming and yelling in a variety of ranges. it's a bit Mike Patton-esqe really.
i'd recommend checking out both Whourkr albums and the Igorrr albums. at this point i'll pretty much check out anything Gautier Serre does

Igorrr - Nostril

Cruciform Dachshund

#42) Igorrr - Nostril (2010)

 1. Double Monk
 2. Tendon
 3. Excessive Funeral
 4. Very Long Chicken
 5. Melting Nails
 6. Pavor Nocturnus
 7. Caros
 8. Cruciform Dachshund
 9. Half a Pony
 10. Unpleasant Sonanta
 11. Dentist
 12. Fryzura Konika
 13. Veins
 14. Moldy Eye

i don't have a lot to say about this album other than this is really fucking rad. this is the 3rd and most recent Igorrr release and it's amazing. it continues in the mind blowing genre-mashing tradition of his previous 2 albums (Poisson Soluble and Moisissure, check out my post on Poisson Soluble for more info on the music style). this guy just keeps getting better and i cannot recommend this project enough. can't wait for the new album

and go get Moisissure if you haven't yet!

Igorrr - Poisson Soluble

Mastication Numérique

 

#41) Igorrr - Poisson Soluble (2006)
 1. Petit Prélude Périmé
 2. Mastication Numérique
 3. Tartine De Contrebasse
 4. Pizza Aux Narines
 5. Dixit Dominus
 6. Sueur De Caniche
 7. Dieu Est-Il Un Être?
 8. Sorbet Aux Ongles
 9. GroDJi (Featuring Indian Sonic)
 10. Ganapati (Featuring Indian Sonic)
 11. Remix Bleed
 12. Valse En-Décomposition (Raoul Sinier Recomposition)
 13. Melting Nails (Rotator Redux)

Igorrr is a 1 man project consisting of Gautier Serre and Poisson Soluble (Soluble Fish) is his first record. i first heard Igorrr a couple years ago when i randomly downloaded his 2nd album Moisissure (Mold) off the Acroplane records site and was instantly hooked. unfortunately at the time Poisson Soluble was only available on vinyl and i was not set up for that. luckily last year Ad Noiseam released a 2 disc set that included Poisson and Moisissure on cd, which i believe is the first time they were widely available in that format. don't know why it's taken me so long to listen to but whatever.

this is some crazy music. i don't even know how to describe what he does here in a manner that will truly convey how bizarre and brilliant Igorrr is. glitchy baroque breakcore metal? these tracks weave so effortlessly through genres that it's amazing. instead of me struggling to describe this just do yourself a favor and go to Acroplane's site and download a copy of Moisissure , it's free (legally of course) and you won't regret it. 

Coaltar of the Deepers

Dead By Dawn

#40a) Coaltar of the Deepers - Dog EP (1999)

1. C/O/T/D
2. Super Natural
3. Summer Rain
4. Blind Love

#40b) Coaltar of the Deepers - Penguin EP (2004)

1. Fastest Draw (Dream Man 2)
2. Wipeout
3. Dead By Dawn
4. Swimmers

so post number 40 means it's crossover time again. this time i got to pick. adam played a track by these guys for me a while back and i remember really digging it so i decided to check 'em out.
i started with the Dog EP, and though it's not at all like the track that was played for me, i still enjoyed it. it's  dreamy, poppy Japanese shoegaze. although it won't blow your mind it's definitely a solid album. what it will do is leave you completely unprepared for the metal assault that is the Penguin EP.
Penguin is an odd combination of the poppy shoegaze of Dog and elements of death metal, electronics and occasionally traditional Japanese music. from the 1st track to the last, this album had me hooked. i really wish this was a full length because 15 minutes was not enough.
this is definitely an interesting band and i hope to hear more from them in the future.

  

Bear McCreary reveals the physics behind your favorite science fiction theme tunes

the other day io9 posted a really cool article about the science behind some famous sci fi themes and what makes them so memorable and stirring. McCreary is an excellent composer and he really knows his stuff. i highly recommend checking this out.
Bear McCreary reveals the physics behind your favorite science fiction theme tunes

RLW - An Archivist's Nightmare

An Archivist's Nightmare

#39) RLW - An Archivist's Nightmare (2007)

 1. 1
 2. 2
 3. 3
 4. 4
 5. 5

some info from the cd case:
"The Nightmare has been produced as a sound feature for radio Resonance, London, in mid 2003 and was "aired" on the internet October 3rd, 2003"

notes from RLW:
"I will read the titles of the last records I got (I guess about 1000 should fit into one hour). Selected, insofar as I'll leave out those I found not worth listening to anyway. No criteria of order (therefore the title). Imagine a future archivist interested in experimental/avantgarde/underground - however you will call it - sounds of the past 21st and 20th century, trying to find a path." RLW, April 2003

"In an earlier mail I told you i would like to add some pieces of mine to the feature. Meanwhile I think this only would distract the listener's attention from the reading. Instead I will additionally read parts of my letters to you and include these recordings in the feature. This additional level of self-reflection will also be of use as an structural element." RLW, May 2003

so what you're getting on this record is a German guy reading a list of records he digs interspersed with him reading letters he sent to the dude who helped him do this recording, i guess. a more patient listener probably could have come away from this with some recommendations for some records, i am not that patient listener. i stopped paying attention midway through the 1st track, which is 13 minutes long. 
i honestly don't even know why i listened to this whole thing.
i guess this guy normally does experimental electronic stuff and he has over 20 albums out. i hate to rag on him without being familiar with his other work but this was just not a record for me.  i appreciate the experiment though,  and maybe one day i'll listen again and take some record notes but for now i'm just gonna move on and try not to regret the hour of my life this album took up.

02/08/12: The Depreciation Guild - Spirit Youth (2010)

02/08/12: The Depreciation Guild - Spirit Youth (2010)

1. My Chariot
2. Crucify You
3. Blue Lily
4. Dream About Me
5. November
6. Trace
7. A Key Turns
8. Spirit Youth
9. Through The Snow
10. White Moth

     I recently reviewed The Depreciation Guild's first full-length album "In Her Gentle Jaws". I enjoyed it and also mentioned that I planned on checking out this one as well, so I'm just going to keep this short. I really did not like this album. The reason I fell in love with these guys was their use of chiptune sounds and on "Spirit Youth", that attribute is almost completely missing which leads to a boring album. The album opens with a chiptune melody that ended up being my favorite based on that alone. After the first track the chiptune sounds are missing. If you listen VERY closely you can hear it in the background which just doesn't cut it. You put the reason I listen to you deeply hidden in the background I lose interest. This album was basically a shoegaze album. Its a genre I'm not super interested in. I find it boring and the only reason I made an exception for these guys was due to their use of chip sounds. I think I can stop caring about these guys because they abandoned why I loved them. (039)

The Skinny Boys - Weightless

Ya Gotta Be Fresh

#38) The Skinny Boys - Weightless (1986)

 1. Jock Box
 2. Unity
 3. Get Funky
 4. Weightless
 5. Ill
 6. Feed Us the Beat
 7. Awesome
 8. Rip the Cut
 9. Skinny Boys

if you're a fan of Workaholics then you're already familiar with these guys as Jock Box is the song used in the opening and snippets of it are played during the commercial bumpers. for those not familiar with the show, or the group, The Skinny Boys are Shockin' Shawn, Superman Jay and The Human Jock Box.  the beats are simple  and there's a lot of beatboxing which i really enjoyed. they also use what sounds like a synth line of the Addams Family theme song in Ill. i don't really have a lot to say about this one. Jock Box was easily the best song but they were all entertaining. i'd definitely recommend it if you're into early hip hop or just dig that 80s sound. and who doesn't like beatboxing?

02/07/12: Cursive - I Am Gemini (2012)

02/07/12: Cursive - I Am Gemini (2012)

1. This House Alive
2. Warmer Warmer
3. The Sun and Moon
4. Drunken Birds
5. Lullaby for No Name
6. Double Dead
7. Gemini
8. Twin Dragon - Hello Skeleton
9. Wowowow
10. This House a Lie
11. The Cat and Mouse
12. A Birthday Bash
13. Eulogy for No Name

     I have been looking forward to this entry since we started this project. Cursive and Tim Kasher are still my favorites. I preordered this Cursive album the first moment I could. I recieved my download of the album 2 nights ago... A wonderful 2 weeks early. I'll be getting my super special edition soon which includes a bunch of fun stuff like a limited vinyl with b-sides that there will only be 500 copies of.
     I have already listened to the album 3 times and will be looking forward to listening again with the lyrics in front of me. This album is a return to story-telling form. It tells the "story of Cassius and Pollock, twin brothers separated at birth. One good and one evil, their unexpected reunion in a house that is not a home ignites a classic struggle for the soul, played out with a cast of supporting characters that includes a chorus of angels and devils, and twin sisters conjoined at the head". I was reading peoples comments on this album and theyre all complaining that there hasn't been a good Cursive album since "The Ugly Organ". I am apparently in the minority on this one because I have loved every cursive album since TUO as well. I thought "Happy Hollow" was an incredible followup to "The Ugly Organ". I'd say "Mama, I'm Swollen" was a bit weaker but still a solid album that was not neaarly as deeply conceptual as their others.
     "I Am Gemini" is a return to the old in a few ways. It is an in depth concept album, It has a cast list and stage directions in the lyric booklet, and its their first CD since 2000's "Domestica" to not have additional instrumentation like the cellist or the brass section that have been featured on older LPs and EPs. I found this album to mix the older Cursive sound with the new. Dissonant guitar riffs mix with driving bass lines as the story is told through Kasher's awesome lyrics. The whole album flows together seamlessly and truely are a cohesive unit. As much as I'm enjoying this album and as much as it is a return to early form, I am left wondering how much more intense this album would have sounded with a cello. Still worth the wait. (038)

Theory of Ruin - Counter-Culture Nosebleed

These Are Just My Observations From A Test Inferno

#37) Theory of Ruin - Counter-Culture Nosebleed (2002)

 1. Asleep at the Wheel
 2. Missives on a Recurring Theme
 3. A Friendly Reminder
 4. Type A Male
 5. Profiteering
 6. Translate
 7. Blasted

this is the band Alex Newport started after Fudge Tunnel. thank god he got better at naming bands. anyway, i found out about this band while trying to find info for my Nailbomb post (31 Flavors Of Napalm To Try) as far as i can tell they only have 2 full lengths out, this being the first. 
musically this is way different than Fudge Tunnel. all the songs have way more singing than screaming or shouting, the riffs are heavy but not as heavy as in FT and it's more experimental. i see it described as noise rock a lot, that's pretty accurate, although i'd add that it also has a bit of  an "alternative" (yeah i hate that term too but whatever, i'm lazy) feel as well. this was a rad album, i'm glad i found out about these guys. i'll definitely try to track down some more of their records.

Anal Cunt - The Old Testament 1988 - 1991

"We Are Anal Cunt, From Boston..."

#35 + #36) Anal Cunt - The Old Testament 1988 - 1991 (2011)
  
                 Disc 1

 1. 1st Demo
 2. 47 Song Demo
 3. 88 Song EP - Side One
 4. 88 Song EP - Side Two
 5. Live In Indiana
 6. AC side of split 7" with Seven Minutes of Nausea
 7. AC songs from Apocalyptic Convulsions 10" Comp
 8. 5,643 Song EP - Side One
 9. 5,643 Song EP - Side Two
 10. Another EP - Side One
 11. Another EP - Side Two
 12. Live in Schwabisch Hall, Germany - April 3, 1990
 13. Live in Berlin, Germany - April 20, 1990

                 Disc 2

 1. AC side of split 7" with Meat Shits
 2. AC side of split 7" with Psycho
 3. AC songs from The Master of Noise 12" Comp
 4. Side One of Unplugged EP
 5. Side Two of Unplugged EP
 6. Side One of Live EP
 7. Side Two of Live EP
 8. Riverbottom Nightmare Band
 9. Boy George
 10. Anal Cunt Theme Song (Instrumental)
 11. Even Newest HC Song #1
 12. Precursor to Song #6 (Instrumental)
 13. Song #5

 according to Relapse this is the "last completely authorized AC release". Seth completed all the liner notes for this shortly before he died. as you can probably tell by the album and track titles this is a collection that chronicles the first few years of AC, back when they were a "noisecore" band whose goal was to be "the fastest, noisiest, shittiest band around and to have absolutely no musicality at all - no lyrics, no song titles, no music written for the songs." eventually though the band got bored and started adding some musical elements. in fact, by their 2nd demo they were already adding a bit of "musicality".
disc 1 is the original AC line-up of Seth on vocals, Mike Mahan on guitar and Tim Morse on drums (Morse also wrote an epilogue to the liner notes a couple months after Seth's death.) disc 2 is the 2nd wave of AC that has Seth on vocals and some guitar work, Fred Ordonez on guitar and Tim Morse on drums. the songs on this comp have appeared on Fast Boston HC, Greatest Hits Part 1, Old Stuff Part 2 and The Early Years 1988 - 1991, except for the 1st Demo and tracks 8-13 of disc 2, which are from AC's last session in '91.

02/06/12: Cymbals Eat Guitars - Lenses Alien (2011)

02/06/12: Cymbals Eat Guitars - Lenses Alien (2011)

1. Rifle Eyesight (Proper Name)
2. Shore Points
3. Keep Me Waiting
4. Plainclothes
5. Definite Darkness
6. Another Tunguska
7. The Current
8. Wavelengths
9. Secret Family
10. Gary Condit

     Cymbals Eat Guitars is an indie rock band from Staten Island, New York. The band's name comes from a Lou Reed quote describing the sound of the Velvet Underground. Lenses Alien is their second album but it's the first I have listened to by them. I was doing some research. They gained a following due to their self released debut "Why There Are Mountains". Apparently this album is darker than the first. I mean I guess it has a little bit of a darker dissonant sound at times but is counterpointed by very catchy pop rock moments. They definitely have the indie rock sound at their core but they also get a little proggy and post-hardcore at times. There were a few standout tracks that usually included proggy stylistic shifts that surprise and bring you back into the song. Good album. I will probably give it another listen soon. (037)

02/05/12: John Mulaney - New In Town (2012)

02/05/12: John Mulaney - New In Town (2012)

1. Quicksand
2. A Child with Lawyers
3. Asian American Woman
4. Trying His Best
5. The Worse Word
6. Special Victims and Ice-T
7. Old Murders
8. Easy Not To Do Things
9. Mariachi And The New York Post
10. Taking Care Of Myself
11. Old Gay Man
12. Female Heist Movie
13. Delta Airlines
14. Jewish Girls
15. Whiskey Or Perfume
16. The One Thing You Can't Replace
17. On The Street
18. New In Town
19. The Xanax Story

     John Mulaney is a writer for SNL and a standup comedian. I am definitely not up to date with SNL but I am all about Mulaney's standup. I purchased this album last week on its release date. They aired the special on Comedy Central the night me and oksentaminen were out at the bar for a friends birthday. I was upset I missed it but solved said problem by buying the album. His last album "The Top Part" was a really good album and it made me quite excited for this new release.
     Mulaney's comedy is fairly middle of the road and goofy but overall it is quite self deprecating. He had almost 10 minutes of material about Law and Order on his first album and doesn't back off the topic on the new album by doing 3-4 minutes of material about Law and Order SVU and Ice-T. He mostly makes fun of himself whether its about his former drinking problem or his possibly being asian, a woman or gay. He does various small impressions (see Ice-T) that are always entertaining. Hes funny as hell and I highly recommend both of his albums. (036)

02/04/12: Wyatt Cenac - Comedy Person (2011)

02/04/12: Wyatt Cenac - Comedy Person (2011)

1. Introduction 
2. Some Thoughts About Television
3. Cats On The Internet
4. Medieval Times
5. High School Reunion
6. Oreos, Apples & Jeeps
7. Rosa Perks (sp?)
8. Dogs are Racist
9. An Old Fashioned Tea Party
10. Gay Marriage & My Uncle Pete
11. St. Patrick's Day
12. Singles & Cosplay
13. Making Slurry

     Wyatt Cenac is a Comedy writer, standup comedian and actor who is most well known as a correspondent and writer on "The Daily Show with John Stewart". I recently purchased a couple new standup albums that I had wanted to check out and "Comedy Person" was an album I was curious about since it released. Cenac was one of my favorites from "The Daily Show" and I had fairly high hopes for this CD. I listened to it a couple times due to the fact that I never really know how to go about reviewing a comedy album.
     The album is entertaining, smart and funny. Cenac's comedic voice while doing standup is very similar to the voice he uses on the Daily Show. He has a mix of observational humor, race jokes and some smarter political commentary. I had a couple good laughs while listening to this but it was by no means gut-busting hilarious. I was entertained, but I judge a lot of my stand-up albums by how much I could see myself playing it for other people, but I could see this one being mainly for me. Cenac put together a clever, smart album that I can recommend for some but not all. This wasn't my most intensive album review but I get lost trying to describe comedy. (035)