Brutal Truth - Evolution Through Revolution

Our Blind Ambitions Only Bleed Us Dry

#13) Brutal Truth - Evolution Through Revolution (2009)

 1. Sugardaddy
 2. Turmoil
 3. Daydreamer
 4. On the Hunt
 5. Fist In Mouth
 6. Get A Therapist...Spare the World
 7. War Is Good
 8. Evolution Through Revolution
 9. Powder Burn
 10. Attack Dog
 11. Branded
 12. Detached
 13. Global Good Guy
 14. Humpty Finance
 15. Semi-Automatic Carnation
 16. Itch
 17. Afterworld
 18. Lifer
 19. Bob Dylan Wrote Propaganda Songs
 20. Grind Fidelity

 so this was Brutal Truth's first full-length since they broke up in 99 and reformed in 06, 5th over all, and it's like they didn't even miss a beat. if anything they spent those 12 years building up some serious aggression. 20 tracks of grind with a bit of experimentation. the album was mastered by Scott Hull, of Pig Destroyer and Agoraphobic Nosebleed among others (bands that will be showing up here later), and it sounds amazing. i'm not really gonna get into Brutal Truth's history here 'cause i've got a few more Truth records to get to, including their 1st so i'll get to it there. but yeah, another rad album from some old school grind masters.

01/13/12: Shabazz Palaces - 2 E.P.s (2010)

01/13/12: Shabazz Palaces - 2 E.P.s (2010)

a.) Shabazz Palaces E.P.

1. Kill White T
2. 4 Shadows
3. 32 Leaves
4. Blastit...
5. Capital 5
6. My Mac Yawns
7. A Mess

b.) Of Light E.P.

1. Gunbeat Falls
2. 100 Sph
3. Hottabatch
4. Chuch
5. Spechol-Analog
6. Sparkles
7. N. Splendored
8. Find Out

     Shabazz Palaces are the first hip-hop act to ever sign to Subpop Records. They are from Seattle and are made up of an MC and a multi-instrumentalist. They caught my attention with their debut LP  "Black Up". The hip-hop music they create is pretty out there. They are very experimental with their production and use a wide variety of samples from hip-hop to jazz. I decided to look into their 2 debut EPs for one entry. "Black Up" came out in 2011 and the year before that came their first released music via these 2 EPs. They were released on the same day and basically make up a full length album in themselves.
     After listening to the both CDs, I am going to guess that they were separate for a reason... I don't know if they were made at the same time but they are different. I'm guessing self titled was recorded before Of Light but there is really not a lot of information about them beyond the fact that they were released anonymously.
     The first EP "Shabazz Palaces" is as straight forward as their music gets. The production was pretty basic on this CD compared to the rest of the their releases. There was still a couple standout tracks. Blastit... shows their knack for making interesting production choices. The beat has a "world music" sound to it. There are small moments that show how unique their sampling choices are as well.
     The second EP "Of Light" is a huge step forward in my opinion. Their sound developed a lot more and sounds a bit more like their full-length. The production gets much more experimental and the song structures become more complex. the first 2 tracks on this EP are probably my favorite 2 songs in their brief careers. Those first 2 tracks show just how different of an approach they take with their hip-hop. I hope this is the shape of hip-hop to come. (013)

01/12/12: Dosh - Wolves and Wishes (2008)

01/12/12: Dosh - Wolves and Wishes (2008)

1. Don't Wait for the Needle to Drop
2. Bury the Ghost
3. If You Want To, You Have To
4. First Impossible
5. Kit and Pearle
6. Wolves
7. Food Cycles
8. Keep Up Appearance
9. The Magic Stick
10. Capture the Flag

     Wolves and Wishes is the 4th full -length album from Dosh. It is instrumental and electronic music. The songs feel like electronic music in their structure but have a lot of instrumentation in them. Dosh is mainly a pianist, and percussionist, but he also uses a lot of Rhodes synth and looping machines. There are some interesting tracks. He's a very solid musician that almost seems to disguise his music as electronic, but everyone knows those are actual instruments they're hearing!
     You can tell he builds his songs with looping machines. A standard song on this album starts simple and you can hear the additions of each layer until he has the full structure in place. The songs are constantly driving forward and he tends to surprise you with new instruments whether its an out of place drum fill or a horn part. Overall a good album... relaxing but not boring. Very interested to see how he handles himself live. (012)

Today Is the Day - Temple of the Morning Star

Why Hold Back? Kill Yourself

#12) Today Is the Day - Temple of the Morning Star (1997)

 1. Temple of the Morning Star (Acoustic)
 2. The Man Who Loves to Hurt Himself
 3. Blind Spot
 4. High as the Sky
 5. Miracle
 6. Kill Yourself
 7. Mankind
 8. Pinnacle
 9. Crutch
 10. Root of All Evil
 11. Satan is Alive
 12. Rabid Lassie
 13. Friend For Life
 14. My Life With You
 15. I See You
 16. Hermaphrodite
 17. Temple of the Morning Star/Sabbath Bloody Sabbath

01/11/12: Murder by Death - Red of Tooth and Claw (2008)

01/11/12: Murder by Death - Red of Tooth and Claw (2008)

1. Comin' Home
2. Ball & Chain
3. Rumbrave
4. Fuego!
5. Theme (for Ennio Morricone)
6. A Second Opinion
7. Steal Away
8. Ash
9. The Black Spot
10. 52 Ford
11. Spring Break 1899

     I've liked Murder by Death since the first time I heard them. I've bought all of their albums and listened to all of them thoroughly. That is excluding this one of course. I listened to this one as soon as it came out and it was the only one of their albums to not really catch my ear. So, I decided to give Red of Tooth and Claw another listen. This is my first entry that is a straight up second chance.
     Upon this second (and third) listening, my opinion is for the most part unchanged. It is just my least favorite of their releases. Overall it is an average album. They brought nothing new to the table on this release and it led to some boring songs. There are still some standout tracks for me though and they were mostly on the tail end of the album. "Theme" was an impressive ode to spaghetti western scores. The album closes with the most interesting track. It has a very 50s vibe. A couple tracks saved an otherwise underwhelming record. (011)

01/10/12: of Montreal - Paralytic Stalks (2012)

01/10/12: of Montreal - Paralytic Stalks (2012)

1. Gelid Ascent
2. Spiteful Intervention
3. Dour Percentage
4. We Will Commit Wolf Murder
5. Malefic Dowery
6. Ye, Renew the Plaintiff
7. Wintered Debts
8. Exorcismic Breeding Knife
9. Authentic Pyrrhic Remission

     I don't entirely know where to go with this one. I don't think this album is actually out yet, but its really fucking interesting. I'm listening to it a second time as I write this and I am loving it. They are a psychedelic band and this is their 11th album and its really ALL over the place. Psychedelic at its core but unfocused in a good way.  Musically it feels older than it is because of certain stylistic choices, but production wise it feels very modern.
     The album starts off on a more upbeat traditional note. The early tracks remind me of the 70s. They end up sounding kind of like Steely Dan on. There is some interesting live instrumentation via horns, flutes and strings throughout the album. There is a turn in the middle of the album where the mood gets a little darker and the music becomes more proggy. There is even a very trippy soundscape within the proggy tail section of this album.
     In short, take some drugs and listen to this album. It's pretty sweet. Gonna have to check out more of their older stuff. It ends up that I like Of Montreal. (010)