tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88813382386347088492024-03-05T00:39:10.959-08:00Innovative MusicA blog about all things music. Only good music makes the cut.pjones5387http://www.blogger.com/profile/01095130020405945058noreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881338238634708849.post-74053894979138923692016-04-09T21:18:00.000-07:002016-04-09T21:18:28.403-07:00Onry Ozzborn - DUO <img alt="New album by hip-hop artist Onry Ozzborn" class="zoomable media__img" data-large="http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_content_width_large/hash/8c/72/8c72c128abd37c6eabdbfa0ab15d4e10.jpg?itok=w0Kv81sC" height="200" rel="image_src" src="http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_content_width/hash/8c/72/8c72c128abd37c6eabdbfa0ab15d4e10.jpg?itok=ybiH-GVr" title="New album by hip-hop artist Onry Ozzborn" width="200" /><br />
Seattle alternative hip-hop artist Michael S. Martinez (aka Onry Ozzborn) has just released his new album <i>DUO </i>this month (April), and I'd have to say that it's one of his best. All of <i>DUO's</i> 16 tracks feature a guest collaborator/vocalist, including Aesop Rock, Rob Sonic, Sadistik, P.O.S., Kimya Dawson, etc. <i>DUO </i>has to be one of the best collaborative and most eclectic alternative hip-hop albums in quite some time, if not ever.<br />
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In many ways <i>DUO </i>proves that it is more than just a collection of collaborations; it is a complete work of art. <i>DUO </i>features recognizable names on the producer end as well, including SmokeM2D6, Void Pedal, Latrell James, and Jack Rylands.<br />
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This latest effort is full of ambition, and even has a 15 minute mini-movie featuring clips from each track. Few songs in Onry Ozzborn's library are solo pieces, but he tends to share the limelight well, and most definitely on <i>DUO</i>.<br />
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Watch Onry Ozzborn's <i>duofilm </i>below:<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNAFfgWou_w">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNAFfgWou_w</a>pjones5387http://www.blogger.com/profile/01095130020405945058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881338238634708849.post-64070433164861517962016-03-23T03:26:00.000-07:002016-03-23T03:26:17.111-07:00Drumcorps - Falling Forward<img class="irc_mi" height="200" src="https://f1.bcbits.com/img/a0332663096_10.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="200" /><br />
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Originally from Boston, MA, now based in Geneva, Switzerland, Aaron Spectre (Drumcorps) is a mastermind at what I like to call cyberpunk (a genre heavily influenced by metal, industrial, electronica, and breakcore). Coming out nine years after <i>Grist </i>(Ad Noiseam adn70, 2006), an album that built a considerable fanbase for Drumcorps, <i>Falling Forward </i>certainly does not disappoint. The industrial, metal, and breakcore scenes certainly have changed over the years, and the change is evident on <i>Falling Forward</i>. Fuzzy glitches and electronic sequences hover between 90s industrial and grunge territory. The album even has guest appearances, which include Mike Justian (Madball), Leo Miller (Animosity), and Iggor Cavalera (ex-Sepultura, Mixhell). Spectre is a musician skilled in organizing distorted and blunt hardcore breakbeats, which is perfect for the Ad Noiseam label. Inspirations for breakcore were glitch aesthetics and malfunction. Spectre wanted to insist on these influences in the acceleration of sounds and vocal distortions. Even the album's artwork is influenced by this glitch concept (a distorted and pixelated image of Spectre himself).<br />
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Hear the track "Choose Again" below:<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIIap_FtaOw">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIIap_FtaOw</a>pjones5387http://www.blogger.com/profile/01095130020405945058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881338238634708849.post-69536701823199598442016-03-22T18:39:00.003-07:002016-03-22T18:39:41.841-07:00Swarm Intelligence - Rust <img alt="http://fluxproject.altervista.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/swarm-intelligence-rust.jpg" height="200" src="http://fluxproject.altervista.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/swarm-intelligence-rust.jpg" width="200" /><br />
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Only one year has passed since Berlin-based Swarm Intelligence (Simon Hayes) released his first album <i>Faction </i>for Berlin-based label Ad Noiseam. <i>Faction </i>was a very particular album in the post-industrial landscape that included really heavy beats. Fast forward a year later and we have the release of his new album <i>Rust </i>(2015). <i>Rust </i>shows a major change in Hayes' sound, although it confirms a certain slight common thread with the previous album. <i>Rust </i>is the quintessence of what could be identified with industrial music today. Hayes focuses on the absorption of sounds (and their context) coming from abandoned factories, power plants, and corroded metals. This is industrial music that focuses on sound research and really the raw definition of industrial as an art form.<br />
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Hayes uses his headphones to create communication between the human and the industrial world. His goal is to bring the listener to listen to the noisy communication between the machines. He stays loyal to the early industrial approaches.<br />
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<i>Rust </i>is characterized by a strong cinematic taste. The difference here is that this is not the product of a director's imagination, but more so memories of the places visited by Hayes himself. A major differentiation from <i>Rust's </i>predecessor is the major emphasis on rhythmic patterns that become deeper and more organic as the tracks progress. Overall, this is an album meant to be listened to in whole and to really feel those crumbling industrial landscapes.<br />
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Several different elements coexist on <i>Rust </i>and this album has its own identity. This is a work that requires many listens, and with each listen there will be something new found underneath the warm blanket of noise. Swarm Intelligence succeeds in recovering an old sound and producing an album that has an enormous amount of processed sounds, rhythmic changes, and atmospheres. Simon Hayes is a master with field recordings and proves this on Swarm Intelligence's <i>Rust</i>.<br />
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Hear the track 'Iridescent' below:<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jhYPwjDMcs">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jhYPwjDMcs</a><br />
<br />pjones5387http://www.blogger.com/profile/01095130020405945058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881338238634708849.post-41214742092183380682016-03-20T01:13:00.004-07:002016-03-20T01:13:40.387-07:00Citizen - Everybody Is Going To Heaven<img alt="CitizenEverybody is Going to Heaven" height="200" src="http://exclaim.ca/images/citizen.jpg" width="200" /><br />
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Over the past few years, we've seen a great deal of bands join in on this so-called post-grunge revival. One of those bands is Michigan and Ohio based Citizen. In 2013, Citizen released <i>Youth</i>, which was heavily influenced by earlier pop punk and hardcore material. This is not the case with their newest effort <i>Everybody Is Going To Heaven</i>, which shows the band finding their own niche. Citizen have made a major progression with this album, interweaving styles from heavy alternative rock to grunge. Think the early '90s meets the early '00s. Think Silverchair meets Brand New. This minor description is just a starting point. <i>Everybody Is Going To Heaven </i>is darker and dirtier than their previous work, but in an absolutely beautiful way.<br />
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The songwriting is at an all time high on this album (musically and lyrically). Their is a lot of grimy dissonance throughout the tracks, followed by spacious and atmospheric moments of clarity. This is most apparent in songs like "Stain" and "Ten". The album's songwriting takes a very unconventional approach which makes the driving moments harder hitting and the hooks stand out more so than ever. There is evidence of this is in "My Favorite Color" and "Numb Yourself". Mat Kerekes' vocals are even stronger and more diverse than on <i>Youth</i>. He ranges from eerie whispers to full fledged screaming, and the emotion felt in each song is pure, raw emotion. "Dive Into My Sun" and "Yellow Love" are more melodic tracks, while "Stain" and "My Favorite Color" are heavier and more in your face. The most positive sounding song on the record is "Ring Of Chain", which closes the album smoothly.<br />
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Citizen have constructed a monument with <i>Everybody Is Going To Heaven</i>. It is their best work to date, from the songwriting, to the lyrics, to the production. The group continues to get better with each release and this makes me excited to hear which direction they go in next. <br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Z6I_qGkGQ0">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Z6I_qGkGQ0</a><br />
<br />pjones5387http://www.blogger.com/profile/01095130020405945058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881338238634708849.post-12822622883494933272016-03-19T23:12:00.000-07:002016-03-19T23:12:00.590-07:00O'Brother - Endless Light<br />
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Atlanta, Georgia based O'Brother will release their third full-length album <i>Endless Light </i>on March 25th through Triple Crown Records. The album was produced by Andy Hull, Robert McDowell (Manchester Orchestra, Bad Books) and Brad Fisher. That signature alternative/grunge rock vibe is present again (complete with fuzzed out distortion and crushing riffs), but the production and songwriting is more refined this time around.<br />
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<i>Endless Light </i>may not be as heavy as their first album <i>Garden Window</i>, but it follows in the footsteps of their sophomore effort <i>Disillusion</i> with its experimentation. The experimental aspect is more polished and determined on <i>Endless Light</i>, and sees the band going in to brand new territory. "Bloodlines" was the first track released from <i>Endless Light</i> and sets the overall feel of the album. Title track "Endless Light" is one of the more sonic and intricate tracks on the album, while "Black Hole" dives into pop rock territory and could be the one that takes O'Brother to the next level. "I Am (Become Death)" may very well be the most powerful track on <i>Endless Light</i>, while "Realm of the Physical" closes the album brilliantly.<br />
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O'Brother have outdone themselves with this album, from the songwriting to the production. This is by far my favorite composition from the Atlanta five-piece. It could very well be the album that helps them transition into the rock mainstream.<br />
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Stream <i>Endless Light </i>here before its release date:<br />
<a href="http://www.redbull.com/us/en/music/stories/1331783004866/o-brother-new-album-endless-light">http://www.redbull.com/us/en/music/stories/1331783004866/o-brother-new-album-endless-light</a><br />pjones5387http://www.blogger.com/profile/01095130020405945058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881338238634708849.post-12418176486087057312016-03-16T23:34:00.000-07:002016-03-16T23:34:40.245-07:00Caspian - Dust and Disquiet<img alt="Album Review: Caspian – ‘Dust and Disquiet’" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" height="200" src="http://newnoisemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Caspian-Dust-and-Disquiet-cover.jpg" title="Album Review: Caspian – ‘Dust and Disquiet’" width="199" /><br />
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Over the years, post-rock has lost much of that shine that it was originally known for. A great deal of instrumental bands today are using that basic post-rock formula of quiet to loud, back to quiet, with reverb painted within. Beverly, Massachusetts Caspian took on a whole new approach in 2012 with their release of <i>Waking Season</i>. <i>Waking Season </i>helped place Caspian alongside the innovative legends of the genre. They went beyond the atmosphere and textures, and expanded their approach with the addition of rhythm, melody, beats, and synthetic vocal effects. While <i>Waking Season </i>took the band higher up in the genre, their newest effort <i>Dust and Disquiet </i>takes them even higher. This album shows that there is an unlimited musical palette with post-rock, and that it doesn't have to be limited to a rehash of previous pioneers.<br />
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The album starts off with <i>"Separation No. 2"</i>, a beautiful and soothing opener that combines a repetitive guitar piece with strings, keys, and even a saxophone, evoking the emotion that Caspian are always great at delivering. <i>"Rioseco" </i>and <i>"Arcs of Command" </i>are very similar in format and well over seven minutes. <i>"Rioseco" </i>has a softer, more ambient approach while <i>"Arcs of Command" </i>has a more aggressive, hard-hitting feel. My favorite track on the album, <i>"Echo and Abyss"</i>, brings these looping and vocal effects center stage. It is a hauntingly beautiful gem. Caspian takes a quick breather with <i>"Run Dry"</i>, which combines acoustic guitar with some of the most heartfelt vocals that I've heard in recent years. <i>"Darkfield" </i>is rich with electronic pulses and could easily be used as a hard-rock soundtrack for outer space. These are easily the standout tracks for me, but the remaining songs on <i>Dust and Disquiet </i>are just as innovative as the ones mentioned.<br />
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<i>Dust and Disquiet </i>is a monumental record and Caspian's best to date. It is a hopeful and peaceful record, even at its heaviest moments. These six genre-bending geniuses are in a league of their own, and <i>Dust and Disquiet </i>is their greatest achievement (that is... until their next one).<br />
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Hear <i>Dust and Disquiet </i>in its entirety here:<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCbDtgbWZAs">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCbDtgbWZAs</a>pjones5387http://www.blogger.com/profile/01095130020405945058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881338238634708849.post-15586342583001235472016-03-16T21:51:00.003-07:002016-03-16T22:14:54.320-07:00Vessels - Dilate<img alt="" class="heroimage-album" src="http://cdn2.thelineofbestfit.com/images/made/images/remote/http_cdn2.thelineofbestfit.com/media/2014/Vessels_-_Dilate_600_600.jpg" height="200" width="200" /> <br />
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Hailing from Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, Vessels have been known in the past for creating masterpieces that rely heavily on the post-rock side of music. The group was formed in 2005 and have released three full-length albums to date. Their last record, <i>Helioscope</i>, was released back in 2011, and during that time they gained a new found focus, which gives us <i>Dilate</i>, their newest effort which was released in 2015.<br />
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<i>Dilate </i>takes the listener to brand new landscapes, and Vessels have created one of the most euphoric sounding landscapes that my ears have had the pleasure of hearing. Their interest in down-tempo electronic/ambient music is clearly evident on <i>Dilate</i>. Yppah, Tycho, Bonobo, and Four Tet are just a few artists that come to mind when describing the overall feel of <i>Dilate</i>. I'd even say that Vessels took a very similar approach to Mogwai, where Mogwai took the more electronic route with <i>Rave Tapes</i>.<br />
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Don't get me wrong, though, the post-rock structuring is still there on <i>Dilate</i>. The consistent layering is right there, just like it was on their previous albums, and each song has its own monumental mark. While the guitars are not present on <i>Dilate</i>, Vessels have created a beautiful and textural experience with the use of electronics.<br />
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The weakest moments on the album are the vocal tracks <i>'As You Are' </i>which features vocals by Isolde and <i>'On Monos' </i>which features vocals by Snow Fox. The tracks aren't bad by any means, and the vocals give a unique twist, but they act as more of a distraction than an essential element. These tracks don't compare to the instrumental tracks, which have so many interesting twists and turns. <br />
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Despite the vocal tracks, <i>Dilate </i>is definitely a strong follow-up to <i>Helioscope</i>, and although the music isn't as up front, it makes for the perfect background or soundtrack music. Vessels has changed direction but in a new, fresh, and exciting way, which is one of my favorite things about this style of music. Each album that they have created takes the listener on a unique journey and I am beyond excited to see where this next journey will take us.<br />
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Hear <i>Dilate</i> in its entirety here:<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJpTOskHtiumaSrLawxxNSyHLgauGl85u">https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJpTOskHtiumaSrLawxxNSyHLgauGl85u</a><br />
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pjones5387http://www.blogger.com/profile/01095130020405945058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881338238634708849.post-83418741089889117442013-06-05T20:15:00.000-07:002013-06-05T20:15:07.004-07:00The Amazing Mongooses - Blue Sky Blues<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Decatur, Georgia based The Amazing Mongooses are a Blues, Classic Rock, and original Rock 'N' Roll power trio consisting of members Chris Iconis on guitar/vocals, Mike Young on bass/vocals, and David Young on drums/vocals. Their newest release "Blue Sky Blues" is a collection of eight songs that contain many different influences throughout the album. The trio has influences that range from The Beatles and Led Zeppelin to The Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd. "Blue Sky Blues" also has a little bit of Grunge Rock thrown into there for good measure, which is something I really dig. These guys have the talent that a lot of Classic Rock bands have and deserve the recognition for this, because the majority of music today is very programmed and simple, and not just straight up Rock 'N' Roll with talented musicians playing their instruments with soul. The Amazing Mongooses have soul and are here to share it with the world on "Blue Sky Blues". Go buy it on Amazon or iTunes. You will not be disappointed. <br />
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<br />pjones5387http://www.blogger.com/profile/01095130020405945058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881338238634708849.post-40282054100917336712012-09-29T00:02:00.000-07:002012-09-29T11:14:35.924-07:00Caspian - Waking Season<div class="iholder" id="yui_3_5_1_7_1348888444833_442" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
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In recent years, post-rock has become somewhat stale and every time I turn around, there seems to be another Mogwai or Explosions In The Sky clone popping up. In 2009, Beverly, Massachusetts post-rockers Caspian released their second full-length album <em>Tertia</em>, which was an album that brought a completely new feel to the genre, but just didn't receive any of the recognition that it deserved. <em>Tertia </em>was a groundbreaking album that should have put Caspian on the map right next to post-rock pioneers Mogwai and Explosions In The Sky, but the album didn't receive much attention, which is essentially what held the band back. All of this has changed, however, with the release of Caspian's newest effort <em>Waking Season</em>, which was released this past Tuesday, September 25th, 2012 through Triple Crown Records. </div>
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On previous Caspian records, the band called all of the shots when it came to recording and mixing. On <em>Waking Season</em>, however, the band recruited the notable and legendary Matt Bayles (Isis, Minus The Bear, Russian Circles) to mix the final product. Caspian's music has improved significantly since <em>Tertia</em>, but the most noticeable improvement is in the production on <em>Waking Season</em>. Caspian has never sounded better, clearer, or more mature since their formation in Autumn of 2003. While some of this epic sound can be praised due to Matt Bayles' skills, the majority of it comes from a band that has continued to mature throughout their nine years of existence. </div>
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<em>Waking Season </em>is, without a doubt, a mature and patient album. Caspian focused much of their attention on patiently crafting <em>Waking Season</em>. They've developed and perfected the slow-build dynamics, patiently layering the highs and lows of their instrumentation. The steady and patient builds are what make the album's crescendos hit harder than ever. This patience in song development is best displayed in 'Gone In Bloom And Bough', a ten minute track that is positive, haunting, heartfelt, subtle, consistent, and most definitely heavy. While listening to this track, I began to notice chills forming on both of my arms and thought to myself, "this is truly uplifting and heartfelt music if it is touching me so heavily...heavily enough to send chills up my arms". </div>
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The quality of instrumentation on <em>Waking Season</em> is outstanding and contains some of the best sounds that I have heard in years, not only in post-rock, but in all genres. <em>Waking Season </em>also contains many more advanced sounds and techniques than previous Caspian efforts, including drum and vocal samples, organic ambiance, acoustic arpeggios, and classical ambient piano arrangements. Tracks like 'Akiko' and 'Halls Of The Summer' contain very trance-like loops and industrial drum beats, while the second track 'Procellous' contains a live string quartet. All in all, this album is absolutely beautiful. Caspian are currently at the top of the genre and definitely pushing the boundaries of post-rock. They were not afraid to branch out from the ordinary on <em>Waking Season</em>, and this is one of the many reasons why it is one of the best records of 2012. </div>
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Stream Caspian's <em>Waking Season </em>in its entirety here:</div>
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<a href="http://www.spin.com/#articles/caspian-waking-season-full-album-stream">http://www.spin.com/#articles/caspian-waking-season-full-album-stream</a></div>
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pjones5387http://www.blogger.com/profile/01095130020405945058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881338238634708849.post-5870874736855754432012-09-26T18:39:00.000-07:002012-09-26T18:39:17.701-07:00Pray For Sound - Monophonic<a class="popupImage" href="http://f0.bcbits.com/z/42/63/4263332528-1.jpg" jquery17106740730847194231="13"><img alt="Monophonic cover art" itemprop="image" src="http://f0.bcbits.com/z/15/24/152445567-1.jpg" /></a><br />
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Massachusetts based Pray For Sound is a solo post-rock project that was started by Bruce Malley in 2011. After a great amount of time was spent searching and struggling to find musicians serious enough to help develop the project, Malley decided to go at it alone. Fast forward to about one year later and Pray For Sound's debut album, <em>Monophonic</em>, will finally be released on September 25th, 2012.<br />
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Pray For Sound's <em>Monophonic </em>was inspired by Malley's struggle with hearing loss and is composed of five tracks that take the listener on an emotional adventure. In 2005, doctors found a destructive and dangerous cyst called a cholesteatoma growing inside of Malley's left ear. Although doctors surgically removed the cyst and reconstructed Malley's ear, he was left with severe hearing loss, tinnitus, and reoccurring ear pain. This emotional journey is what made up the underlying theme for <em>Monophonic </em>and inspired Malley to follow through with his dream. <br />
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Malley's mission is that no one should ever give up and will passionately pursue their dreams, no matter what hurdles are thrown at them. He never gave up, even after such an emotionally tragic experience, and he has created a truly inspiring post-rock album, from start to finish. There is still hope around every corner, and one place that you will find this hope is on Pray For Sound's <em>Monophonic</em>. <br />
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Listen to Pray For Sound's <em>Monophonic </em>here:<br />
<a href="http://prayforsound.bandcamp.com/">http://prayforsound.bandcamp.com/</a>pjones5387http://www.blogger.com/profile/01095130020405945058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881338238634708849.post-10244059966780597582012-09-15T00:40:00.000-07:002012-09-15T00:41:31.481-07:00Dedleaves - Dedleaves<div style="text-align: left;">
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Dedleaves are a four piece instrumental rock band hailing from the outskirts of Baltimore, Maryland. Their self-titled debut LP was recorded, mixed, and mastered in one month and released on August 20, 2012. The band consists of Michael Gugliotti and Greg Lewis on guitars, Adam Segal on bass, and Shane Stanton on drums/percussion. The entire LP was written and recorded by the band themselves and produced by drummer Shane Stanton.</div>
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On their debut LP, Dedleaves covers a wide variety of sounds and these sounds definitely speak to the listener emotionally. A great amount of heart and passion can be heard throughout this album, especially in the complex, melodic guitar tones, as well as in the irregular time signatures. Dedleaves have proven themselves as true instrumentalists on this debut LP and I cannot wait to hear what they come up with next.</div>
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You can listen to Dedleaves self-titled debut LP here:</div>
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<a href="http://dedleaves.bandcamp.com/">http://dedleaves.bandcamp.com/</a></div>
pjones5387http://www.blogger.com/profile/01095130020405945058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881338238634708849.post-66522139004763503762012-07-16T22:27:00.000-07:002012-07-16T22:28:46.417-07:00Favorite Albums of 2012 (Part One of Three)<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfttJn-OBm2mfppRTHuOyNBVcMF-jK4oa5Fi0Kse9ysgepJ2OmPNWqrzm7c00lqtfIn_lJ7g9jzdFuLoKImYNU387WWIcbPwxhAAnaxC6THwidiw_8q3OhSYg3iGUdppkvJXHC8LyOEok/s1600/thumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfttJn-OBm2mfppRTHuOyNBVcMF-jK4oa5Fi0Kse9ysgepJ2OmPNWqrzm7c00lqtfIn_lJ7g9jzdFuLoKImYNU387WWIcbPwxhAAnaxC6THwidiw_8q3OhSYg3iGUdppkvJXHC8LyOEok/s200/thumbnail.jpg" width="200px" /></a> <b>The New Law - The Fifty Year Storm </b>The New Law's 2012 release <i>The Fifty Year Storm </i>is one of the best instrumental hip-hop albums that I have heard in quite some time. The album takes the listener on an adventure of cinematic soundscapes, beats, electronics, and horns, and remains this way throughout its entirety. I would say it sounds very similar to DJ Shadow meets post-rock meets ambient. As a fan of hip-hop and post-rock/ambient, The New Law's <i>The Fifty Year Storm </i>is hard for me to not listen to every day, even though I have been listening to it since it came out in January. <br />
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<b>The Invisible - Rispah </b>The first two things that came to mind when listening to The Invisible's <i>Rispah</i> was Nine Inch Nails' song structure and Radiohead's vocals. While obviously being a fan of these two acts, I was bound to like <i>Rispah</i>. Well guess what? I did, and still do. The Invisible combine a variety of different styles on <i>Rispah</i> including afrobeat, industrial, jazz, and electronica. The Invisible have discovered undiscovered territories on <i>Rispah</i>, and this groundbreaking sound is something this trio can call their own. <br />
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<b>Thavius Beck - The Heavens Bleed Sunshine</b> Thavius Beck has been and always will be one of my favorite rappers/producers. His newest offering <i>The Heavens Bleed Sunshine</i> is comprised of five instrumental tracks that range from hip-hop and electro to jazz and classical. Thavius Beck has always been a master of his craft and <i>The Heavens Bleed Sunshine</i> gives the listener a nice sample of what is to come on Beck's upcoming full-length <i>The Most Beautiful Ugly</i>, which is due out this fall. <br />
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<b>Ab-Soul - Control System</b> Top Dawg Ent. rapper Ab-Soul might have been the last member of Black Hippy to release a full-length, but he makes up for this by putting himself on the top with the release of <i>Control System</i>. Ab-Soul is not just some rapper that is going to be in the limelight for a minute and then disappear. Instead, I feel like Ab-Soul is going to gain the type of respect that 90's rappers like Dr. Dre, Tupac, and B.I.G. gained. Ab-Soul's <i>Control System</i> is the true return of 90's rap and since its release, rap is stale no longer. <br />
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<b>Ancients - Star Showers On The Euphrates</b> Ancients is a new group that is made up of certain members of UK acts Rinoa and *Shels. <i>Star Showers On The Euphrates</i> is a post-rock album with vocals. Did I say a post-rock album with vocals? I absolutely did, and many post-rock fans are quick to blow vocals off. However, the vocals on this album don't stand out as much as other vocals, but instead act more like an additional instrument. The vocals give the already beautiful instrumental peaks more sonic beauty. Ancients <i>Star Showers On The Euphrates</i> bridges the gap between Sigur Ros-esque ambiance and Caspian style guitar work/instrumentals, but with a very unique atmospheric production. Ancients may very well be one of the next best things in post-rock with the release of <i>Star Showers On The Euphrates</i>. I believe it and I'm sure you will too. This album is pure, atmospheric gold. pjones5387http://www.blogger.com/profile/01095130020405945058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881338238634708849.post-10656209934848944302012-04-20T21:20:00.000-07:002012-04-20T21:20:42.918-07:00Bitcrush - In Distance<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOMHaCTo06TSEGRCo11qlNewtFoBJe-vAJchXPYMygV7HYdNID0ZJFPk88KpR0I9PfaUYH9QnPjMOEtjBHDt7GarZDmIBtE7bsRfGo-avZzaTSvj840lyMAn0Z0cpp1y9gRV9-QH-Ipaa/s1600/kNrSq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183px" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOMHaCTo06TSEGRCo11qlNewtFoBJe-vAJchXPYMygV7HYdNID0ZJFPk88KpR0I9PfaUYH9QnPjMOEtjBHDt7GarZDmIBtE7bsRfGo-avZzaTSvj840lyMAn0Z0cpp1y9gRV9-QH-Ipaa/s200/kNrSq.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div>I have always had a love for electronic/ambient and post-rock music. Sometimes so much, that I passionately search for artists that combine these two styles. If done right, there is so much depth and emotion behind each genre, so combing the two would be like a piece of heaven for me. Bitcrush provides this heaven, and he does it well. <br />
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After the San Francisco based electronic, post-industrial group Gridlock disbanded on March 24, 2005, member Mike Cadoo began working on his solo project Bitcrush. While Gridlock relied heavily on electronics, Bitcrush focuses more on the unique blend of electronics and live instruments such as guitars and drums. If there was an easy description for Bitcrush's music, I would say it is almost like a mix between Gridlock and post-rock acts like Explosions In The Sky, Caspian, and Sigur Ros. The ambient, beat-laden tracks are often infused with rich, post-rock-esque guitar sweeps, giving Bitcrush a sound that is hard to beat. Many times, the songs change styles completely throughout, making the music all-the-more interesting. The songs have a similar feel to the low, heavy, low, heavy progression of your traditional post-rock, but instead of layered guitar build-ups, there are textural ambient build-ups that lead into crushing guitar and drums, then back into softening ambiance. <br />
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Bitcrush's <em>In Distance </em>is a journey in-and-of itself. The music on this album demands the listeners full attention, and it's very hard not to pay attention, given the genius sounds presented. Mike Cadoo is a master at his craft and not only spends time making music as Bitcrush, but also makes music under the aliases Dryft and m.cadoo. He is also the owner and operator of the n5MD record company. <br />
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<div align="center">Check out the track 'And Triage' from Bitcrush's <em>In Distance:</em></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div>pjones5387http://www.blogger.com/profile/01095130020405945058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881338238634708849.post-30537646459841483102012-03-29T13:06:00.000-07:002012-03-29T13:06:51.015-07:00The American Dollar - Awake In The City<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6aXgUPETyUZ0192UzAIR0DOhQurSu0ga7Q_-YRfKS4tQDFOsnQGLtKrQPsu4EidMQFS-0RMvu2gcG7iJ3rQ8O7UfZzMl1QxTjeX8X66NzhtadJGSTY9BPNvPdQzo7Zi1yXOJzZYi_eYry/s1600/175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6aXgUPETyUZ0192UzAIR0DOhQurSu0ga7Q_-YRfKS4tQDFOsnQGLtKrQPsu4EidMQFS-0RMvu2gcG7iJ3rQ8O7UfZzMl1QxTjeX8X66NzhtadJGSTY9BPNvPdQzo7Zi1yXOJzZYi_eYry/s1600/175.jpg" /></a></div>The American Dollar was formed in August of 2005 by fellow New Yorkers and long time friends John Emanuele and Rich Cupolo. After sharing their first recorded track on the Internet, it was licensed right away for television production and the duo knew that their compositions were suitable enough for the film and television industry. Soon after, The American Dollar released their first full-length record. Since 2005, the duo has been hard at work, releasing 5 full-length records, 2 remix full-lengths, and numerous EPs. They have also had their music featured on CSI:Miami, Infiniti Automobile commercials, the television trailer for Up In The Air, and numerous other network and cable features. The band is currently touring areas spanning from Canada to Russia and plan to continue touring throughout Russia, Europe, and China during the Spring of 2012. <br />
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On March 24, 2012, The American Dollar released their newest effort entitled <em>Awake In The City. </em>While the band has become a big name in the post-rock genre, you don't hear any gigantic, climaxing guitar tones for 10 minutes at a time. Rather, you hear thought provoking, well structured synth and piano-laden melodies that play a huge role in establishing their unique sound. These melodies, of course, are accompanied by smooth guitar riffs and ambient percussion. <em>Awake In The City </em>sees the band continuing down the path that they are most comfortable with. Tracks such as 'Faces In The Haze' and 'Heavy Eyes Ignite' bring out that familiar The American Dollar sound with nostalgic piano melodies and warm guitar leads. There are also tracks such as 'Ether Channels', 'First Day', and 'Steeltown Part One' that have the more electronic/beat-oriented vibe. <br />
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Whether it's their beautiful, piano-laden tracks or their electronic-laden tracks, The American Dollar never seems to disappoint. <em>Awake In The City </em>is the duo crafting already familiar work at its best. This album is one that is good for gloomy, rainy days or beautiful, relaxing days. Either way, this is instrumental music that needs to be listened to and felt from the inner core. <br />
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<div align="center">Check out the track 'Crossing Asia' off of The American Dollar's <em>Awake In The City:</em></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ho7FLQJ30iY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div align="center"></div>pjones5387http://www.blogger.com/profile/01095130020405945058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881338238634708849.post-80760227046975236612012-03-01T19:32:00.000-08:002012-03-01T19:32:12.835-08:00Ernest Gonzales - Natural Traits<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mdLj97SorGosq9bRoJsDQnFjlkSfuc_hBRxPshTmbIMRtR5I8HrKcDqHSQoTaPW6lQKSVDJJm8UenTlGZxOw9IKmDVOo_luT5G__HTgSMnELxVvLu_-epQxE0juJAlt6JFdEb2gM8kAu/s1600/C1upL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mdLj97SorGosq9bRoJsDQnFjlkSfuc_hBRxPshTmbIMRtR5I8HrKcDqHSQoTaPW6lQKSVDJJm8UenTlGZxOw9IKmDVOo_luT5G__HTgSMnELxVvLu_-epQxE0juJAlt6JFdEb2gM8kAu/s200/C1upL.jpg" uda="true" width="200px" /></a></div>San Antonio, Texas-based Ernest Gonzales is one busy fellow and a multi-tasker at heart. Before going solo, Gonzales was best known for his role in Mexicans With Guns, an electronic/trip-hop project that is no longer active. His multifaceted background not only includes music, but he is also a middle school technology teacher, a record label owner (Exponential Records), a husband, and a father of two. <br />
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Gonzales's latest creation, an LP entitled 'Natural Traits', is a unique blend of melodic songwriting and electronic euphoria. Many modern electronic/instrumental hip-hop albums contain a variety of samples, but this is not the case with 'Natural Traits'. There is no sampling on the entire album. Instead, it is a beautiful combination of analogue and digital instrumentation. Heavy percussion upholds every track and heartfelt ambient sounds are scattered throughout. 'Natural Traits' is a tough album to classify due to the fact that it contains some of the best hip-hop influenced beats in years, mixed with the ambient sounds of a genius. Yes, there have been albums like this before, but I have not heard one as well-crafted as 'Natural Traits' in years. <br />
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Ernest Gonzales's 'Natural Traits' is the type of album that fits many moods and can be listened to in a variety of situations. Many genres can be heard throughout the album including glitch-hop, ambient, house, electronic, post-rock, and hip-hop. Each song is like an educational lesson from this technology teacher/musical mastermind. 'Natural Traits' can be listened to at a very low volume while studying or at a very high volume, where the bass will make you want to get out of your seat and start dancing. I highly recommend this album for music fans in general. Ernest Gonzales is not trying to prove anything on this release, he is just humbly showing his many musical sides. <br />
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<div align="center">Check out the track 'Beneath The Surface' off of Ernest Gonzales's 'Natural Traits':</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/BhyH-WSJdVY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>pjones5387http://www.blogger.com/profile/01095130020405945058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881338238634708849.post-10042800749361446602012-02-29T22:05:00.000-08:002012-02-29T22:05:26.842-08:00The American Dollar - Heavy Eyes Ignite (Single)<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvIQ94VUv2_63LA1RduEHqd3OtHSPTvo6nTxipmXEzg-A-ICnsq64q4OzWDMD9RL8abSjf8zDrcW2KBxunuLEHb722jN0Di0Lqb9BiSi4e92jQWyEflnbOZCvelRKXedYhYat6cHWb2YH/s1600/3020529545-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvIQ94VUv2_63LA1RduEHqd3OtHSPTvo6nTxipmXEzg-A-ICnsq64q4OzWDMD9RL8abSjf8zDrcW2KBxunuLEHb722jN0Di0Lqb9BiSi4e92jQWyEflnbOZCvelRKXedYhYat6cHWb2YH/s200/3020529545-1.jpg" uda="true" width="200px" /></a></div>New York based ambient duo The American Dollar have been one of my all time favorite musical acts since their self-titled debut was released in 2006. In six years, The American Dollar have released four full-length studio albums, two compilations, one split EP, and one live album. On March 24, 2012, they will release their newest full-length entitled 'Awake In The City'. Today, March 1, 2012, they released the first single from this new effort entitled 'Heavy Eyes Ignite', and it automatically brings back that classic, ambient sound that The American Dollar mastered the craft of. Heartfelt keys, melodic guitar, and complex drumming make up the entirety of the track, and the tracks overall tone gives off a secure and warming vibe. 'Heavy Eyes Ignite' is an overall beautiful track and leaves me knowing that the entire full-length 'Awake In The City' is going to be a masterpiece. <br />
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Listen to 'Heavy Eyes Ignite' here:<br />
<a href="http://theamericandollar.bandcamp.com/track/heavy-eyes-ignite-single-edit">http://theamericandollar.bandcamp.com/track/heavy-eyes-ignite-single-edit</a>pjones5387http://www.blogger.com/profile/01095130020405945058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881338238634708849.post-31780924282723582692012-01-15T15:08:00.000-08:002012-01-15T15:08:33.123-08:00City Of Satellites - Machine Is My Animal<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjctX7lnKXtoCukM3hB4GBDfTJVRyZFcCh7M23zw-nuQEOiU8RMHZVnuCalQrQucYVAKu8ggpAduJ1PTB7Ul1VZAHbcOt5tYOKlx2Vo1kym1K1FSU058YitjK3ndpBMxHabYAz7orJ-99M/s1600/2714939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjctX7lnKXtoCukM3hB4GBDfTJVRyZFcCh7M23zw-nuQEOiU8RMHZVnuCalQrQucYVAKu8ggpAduJ1PTB7Ul1VZAHbcOt5tYOKlx2Vo1kym1K1FSU058YitjK3ndpBMxHabYAz7orJ-99M/s200/2714939.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div>Australian based duo City Of Satellites create a beautiful blend of structured electronic pop filled with layered guitar tones, beautifully atmospheric vocals, and intricate drumming. Layers of vintage synthesizers and textures are interwoven in the mix, creating a unique sound somewhere between post-rock and shoegaze. The ethereal vocals and synth soundscapes reminded me of my childhood right away, combining 80's pop influences with more modern technology. I can hear elements of My Bloody Valentine, M83, The Smashing Pumpkins, Joy Division, and Jatun throughout City Of Satellites's music. This band completely blew me away, changed my day, and brought me back to that childhood feeling of dreaming and being free in spirit. <br />
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<div align="center">Check out City Of Satellites - Skeletons (Remix):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/XiLAOan5jaI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div align="center"></div>pjones5387http://www.blogger.com/profile/01095130020405945058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881338238634708849.post-848519261622240172012-01-13T12:47:00.000-08:002012-01-13T12:47:04.668-08:00Metazen - Digital Purgatory<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-UsMkskK1nogNzkXncq1ZbzMQKml9EkCydgnYI2TpMcxQluUttqjzoT9XJOfwQzUdeIQDP79eOBwmmuPvamONTB8N9fzEPrbGvgLG-8e5rJzEBY5noacoLZCse2oLG_nGS3IzD669M0fx/s1600/312661_1989490814059_1146998186_31840610_1260069_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182px" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-UsMkskK1nogNzkXncq1ZbzMQKml9EkCydgnYI2TpMcxQluUttqjzoT9XJOfwQzUdeIQDP79eOBwmmuPvamONTB8N9fzEPrbGvgLG-8e5rJzEBY5noacoLZCse2oLG_nGS3IzD669M0fx/s200/312661_1989490814059_1146998186_31840610_1260069_n.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div>Bay area experimental hip-hop mastermind Metazen is at it again and is planning on releasing a new EP very soon. Although I am eagerly awaiting the new EP, Metazen has done a great job at keeping fans well fed with the release of his new track <em>Digital Purgatory</em>. <em>Digital Purgatory </em>comes in at 6 minutes and 6 seconds, and is an all instrumental track. The piano leading into the track sounds very reminiscent of a score for a thriller movie. After this, the bass drops and electronic wobbles fill the space. Post-rock driven guitar work is heard through out the bass and fuzz, and the layering has to be some of the best that I have heard in any genre. As much as I would like to continue describing <em>Digital Purgatory</em>,<em> </em>the track is best left to interpretation. This track is heartfelt, eerie, dark, and beautiful all at the same time, and my interpretation of it is beyond words. Metazen, you have done it again, and I can't wait to hear the new material in the very near future. <br />
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Listen to Metazen's <em>Digital Purgatory </em>here:<br />
<a href="http://soundcloud.com/metavatta/digital-purgatory">http://soundcloud.com/metavatta/digital-purgatory</a>pjones5387http://www.blogger.com/profile/01095130020405945058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881338238634708849.post-29852072208896912272012-01-12T10:50:00.000-08:002012-01-12T10:52:23.954-08:00Innovative Music's Top Ten Albums of 2011<span id="goog_1754989232"></span><span id="goog_1754989233"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDBaiE7cWej0TNDAUEziH_Ajx1nOsBhvNgAwdNmWeAepfKflW4LOkrZq-zycFetoL_re1gpyFjnuq7tjP0E895QQfxkuOLC3s8ShXs6h-KsZzmTgTlo3PqHhjmvSGrvofKlBMYHlCYY41_/s1600/Junius_Reports_CD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDBaiE7cWej0TNDAUEziH_Ajx1nOsBhvNgAwdNmWeAepfKflW4LOkrZq-zycFetoL_re1gpyFjnuq7tjP0E895QQfxkuOLC3s8ShXs6h-KsZzmTgTlo3PqHhjmvSGrvofKlBMYHlCYY41_/s200/Junius_Reports_CD.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">1. <strong>Junius - Reports From The Threshold Of Death:</strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Though there were many top albums for me in 2011, Junius' <em>Reports From The Threshold Of Death</em>, without a doubt, takes the cake. On <em>Reports</em>, Junius lose the post-punk/indie sound that they are known for and instead trade it for dreamy, spaced-out, mature sounding rock music. The album has its darkwave influences such as Depeche Mode and Joy Division, and combines these influences with crushing riffs and intricacy similar to the sounds of Isis and Deftones. <em>Reports </em>is inspired by near death experiences, with many of the songs focusing on light, judgement, and ascension. Though the album's overall theme may seem dark, the overall outcome of the album has a strong sense of light. The album was recorded at Will Benoit's (Constants) Radar Studios, which is powered entirely by solar energy. <em>Reports </em>literally would not exist without light present. Junius' <em>Reports From The Threshold Of Death</em> is an incredibly uplifting album and is easily my favorite of 2011. I highly recommend this album. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">For fans of: Joy Division, A Perfect Circle, Depeche Mode, Isis, Deftones</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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2. <strong>Nao - Nao:</strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Nao's self-titled album comes in second place on my list of top ten albums of 2011. Nao was started in 2002 by Pierre-Andre Pernin (computer, ideas galore) as a one-man project, but he was soon joined by Thibault Fellmann (drums), Jordan Daverio (guitar), and Matthieu Tercieux (video design). Nao's music combines crafty melodies and downtempo/industrial beats, with influences ranging from Nine Inch Nails and 65daysofstatic to Amon Tobin and Bitcrush. On this self-titles masterpiece, Nao present a beautiful combination of electronica and stadium-worthy rock. This is only the beginning for Nao and their self-titled album is easily one of my favorites of 2011, or essentially, all time. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">For fans of: Nine Inch Nails, 65daysofstatic, Amon Tobin, Bitcrush</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">3. <strong>Sainthood Reps - Monoculture</strong>:</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">One thing that has stuck with me ever since I was a child is my love for the 90's alternative/grunge rock that I grew up with. Very few modern bands have been able to bring back this sound that I loved as a child and still love to this day. I was aching for some new raw, alternative, grunge music until I discovered Sainthood Reps. This Long Island quartet relies heavily on distorted guitars and thick bass tones reminiscent of many grunge acts of the early 90's. Sainthood Reps <em>Monoculture </em>is an album that you will have to hear for yourself, but it is a great throwback album for those that grew up on 90's grunge/alternative and can serve as a starting point to those that were to young to experience the great sounds of that era. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">For fans of: Brand New (after 2005), Hum, Failure, The Life And Times</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCtyjNdEFC2480xBUpzTqjrrdY3FnWAtrA4IEm3FjSqatT-E547o8WOJWVmSmflU3vKoz-YG92_ARYsyGmra0KxbaxjITzw30gKsf7rbrC1BmVcOACUe5CZK9v8Wx3ZWEWt0fqKq0NRqI/s1600/3dhf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCtyjNdEFC2480xBUpzTqjrrdY3FnWAtrA4IEm3FjSqatT-E547o8WOJWVmSmflU3vKoz-YG92_ARYsyGmra0KxbaxjITzw30gKsf7rbrC1BmVcOACUe5CZK9v8Wx3ZWEWt0fqKq0NRqI/s200/3dhf.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">4. <strong>Tycho - Dive</strong>:</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Next on the list is Tycho's <em>Dive. </em>Tycho is San Francisco-based artist/producer Scott Hansen. Dive is a collection of ten tracks that make the listener feel exactly like the title suggests, diving into an ocean of sounds and floating in the depths. Tycho's <em>Dive </em>is filled with lush, atmospheric arrangements that allow the listener to hear something new with each listen. Analog synths and hip-hop-esque bass sound out the majority of the album, which may sound standard to some, but that is what makes the album more enjoyable. <em>Dive</em> is one of the more chilled out favorite albums of 2011, but in a very comfortable and relaxed way. <em>Dive</em> is an album that is perfect for shutting off your busy brain and just enjoying the beautiful sounds coming through your speakers. Tycho is bringing back the art of analog synths that artists such as Brian Eno and Boards Of Canada heavily relied on, and he is doing an incredible job at it. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">For fans of: Boards Of Canada, Brian Eno, Ulrich Schnauss, Arms And Sleepers</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">5. <strong>Metazen - The Conscious Cicatrix</strong>:</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">One thing with me, when it comes to music, is that I listen for creativity, feeling, sound quality, and an overall pleasing of the ear. Genres are very irrelevant to me when it comes to music. Metazen's music has all of these elements and his 2011 release <em>The Conscious Cicatrix </em>has to be one of my favorite hip-hop/not-so-hip-hop albums in quite some time. Though there are many elements of different genres thrown in to the mix, this is not why I enjoy the album so much. The overall sound quality and lyricism on the album is beyond unique. Metazen's vocals are based on his own thoughts and interests which include mind control, alien abduction, and terraforming. The lyrics on <em>The Conscious Cicatrix </em>allow the listener to explore topics beyond the world. With the release of <em>The Conscious Cicatrix, </em>Metazen has crafted some incredible experimental rap that covers many boundaries. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">For fans of: El-P, Nine Inch Nails, Dalek, Rage Against The Machine</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">6. <strong>Mogwai - Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will</strong>:</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Mogwai have carved the path for many and have influenced numerous other bands in the post-rock genre. 2011's <em>Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will </em>follows in the footsteps of previous Mogwai releases, however, there are some surprises on this release. You will hear elements of krautrock, shoegaze, dancehall, techno, post-rock, alternative, punk, and ambient. <em>Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will </em>never gets boring and shows that Mogwai can switch up the routine if they please. This could be one of Mogwai's best albums since <em>Young Team </em>and they have definitely opened new doors over the years. Mogwai are innovators of their craft and this album is one hell of a creation. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">For fans of: Explosions In The Sky, Caspian, This Will Destroy You, GYBE</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">7. <strong>Collapse Under The Empire - Shoulders & Giants</strong>:</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Hamburg, Germany's post-rock geniuses Collapse Under The Empire are, without a doubt, one of the best instrumental duos that I have ever heard. Their 2011 release <em>Shoulders & Giants </em>is also one of my favorite instrumental albums of all time. The music on <em>Shoulders & Giants </em>doesn't have the same post-rock sound that fans of the genre are used to. Collapse Under The Empire has taken a different approach<em> </em>with this album than on their previous releases. The sounds revealed on <em>Shoulders & Giants </em>are filled with epic guitar tones and many more electronic elements than any other Collapse Under The Empire release. <em>Shoulders & Giants </em>is one of Collapse Under The Empire's most stripped down and mature album to date. They keep progressing and proving, with each release, that they are some of the best players in instrumental music. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">For fans of: The American Dollar, Sleepmakeswaves, pg.lost, Long Distance Calling</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-daCQxiUM-9Eh7r31g-Uqyj4Tyg0ZF3xj3AGByFLLaPt3oGh-R8KMv2W6kkaQQXBXTMjpr5Ohq6s_5VxxWRUj162UtoEDWXoi-eCk8wZcdhWSNdnannY4lHWrGNOShYEsSTfYpR3R6cfI/s1600/untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-daCQxiUM-9Eh7r31g-Uqyj4Tyg0ZF3xj3AGByFLLaPt3oGh-R8KMv2W6kkaQQXBXTMjpr5Ohq6s_5VxxWRUj162UtoEDWXoi-eCk8wZcdhWSNdnannY4lHWrGNOShYEsSTfYpR3R6cfI/s200/untitled.png" width="200px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">8. <strong>Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross - Original film score for "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo":</strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Original film scores have always been some of my favorite records to listen to. In 2011, one of my favorite film scores of all time was released and that score is for the film <em>The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. </em>Composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, <em>The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo </em>soundtrack is made up of nearly three-hours, 37 pieces of rich, experimental, dark compositions. The score is filled with solid electronic and acoustic music that goes in strange and eerie directions. This is easily one of Reznor's darkest sounding efforts to date, along with Ross, and is a perfect fit for the movie it accompanies. <em>The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo </em>soundtrack is easily my favorite film score of all time. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">For fans of: Nine Inch Nails, The Social Network soundtrack, Brian Eno</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-aS_BbGiPvD1H9CK_nbkCFlcDkZ27KnJno92P2DROoQ07cfsg9I4UmtirKCeiC9vQsUxlrlQzUAuYqgsEzpC5JgxHgH6juwOfO4o7vBHqwejJDqXbQROFi0F_Y5Ka3ojdHXlbsO03Okds/s1600/thomasgiles-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-aS_BbGiPvD1H9CK_nbkCFlcDkZ27KnJno92P2DROoQ07cfsg9I4UmtirKCeiC9vQsUxlrlQzUAuYqgsEzpC5JgxHgH6juwOfO4o7vBHqwejJDqXbQROFi0F_Y5Ka3ojdHXlbsO03Okds/s200/thomasgiles-cover.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">9. <strong>Thomas Giles - Pulse</strong>:</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Thomas Giles is the solo project for Between The Buried And Me frontman Tommy Rogers. On February 1, 2011, he released his debut album entitled <em>Pulse </em>on Metal Blade Records. The album combines a perfect blend of space-rock, industrial, folk, electronic, metal, and progressive, and is a truly<em> </em>entertaining and legendary album. The most incredible part about <em>Pulse </em>is that it was completely written by Tommy Rogers himself and this shows true talent and skill. Even though each track is completely different, they all seem to work together perfectly and flow in to one another smoothly. This album makes for one epic adventure and is sure to be a rewarding experience for whoever chooses to listen. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">For fans of: Trent Reznor, Thom Yorke, BTBAM</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7eDNYKt9NdtIGAuEKFbOsr-6QPkj1_PfB-qz9NN21rJ9mTt7vhsnMkg0JAprxgJxoO5k4rHsOIyYF2qtB7QDapxj3cb-Pw-AFTja3NeDZZ9yUj_GzVfyfHUPFAbhGILbglypbzEWviDQL/s1600/misuseapril.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199px" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7eDNYKt9NdtIGAuEKFbOsr-6QPkj1_PfB-qz9NN21rJ9mTt7vhsnMkg0JAprxgJxoO5k4rHsOIyYF2qtB7QDapxj3cb-Pw-AFTja3NeDZZ9yUj_GzVfyfHUPFAbhGILbglypbzEWviDQL/s200/misuseapril.png" width="200px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">10. <strong>Misuse - April</strong>: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Formed in 2001, Greek post-rockers Misuse have been carving quite a path for themselves since their formation, and with their 2011 release <em>April</em>, they are better than ever. Since their debut album, Misuse has been experimenting with new sounds, textures, and styles that go beyond the post-rock genre. Although they took big steps with <em>April</em>, Misuse still are able to maintain the true identity<em> </em>of the band. <em>April </em>shows a darker and more experimental side of Misuse, and this new approach shows the band at their best.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For fans of: Mogwai, Errors, The American Dollar, Arms And Sleepers</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>pjones5387http://www.blogger.com/profile/01095130020405945058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881338238634708849.post-27816007545802170342012-01-02T13:34:00.000-08:002012-01-02T13:34:32.639-08:00Sainthood Reps - Monoculture<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLS445ZOET-GBzcvLHgoR9TFUwZ8z74r791RmWWTrbUmSBlCn64wFUnUL3FDZLugas6q9r_Zo60SxpJFntnocQFK1zvpQKYw4Lk7ojPiqmfHDRrW7M6ItKy89y5Q1Mq6NZtuePALMCGDi2/s1600/sainthood+reps.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLS445ZOET-GBzcvLHgoR9TFUwZ8z74r791RmWWTrbUmSBlCn64wFUnUL3FDZLugas6q9r_Zo60SxpJFntnocQFK1zvpQKYw4Lk7ojPiqmfHDRrW7M6ItKy89y5Q1Mq6NZtuePALMCGDi2/s200/sainthood+reps.png" width="200" /></a>It is a very rare occurrence when a band can pull off a sound that is on par with the music that said band grew up with. Long Island natives, Sainthood Reps, fit this rarity and this can be heard on their Tooth and Nail Records debut <em>Monoculture</em>. While Tooth and Nail Records lost their grunge and punk-inspired roots over time, these roots have returned on Sainthood Reps <em>Monoculture</em>. <em>Monoculture </em>has a variety of influential sounds, including Smashing Pumpkins, Frodus, Brand New, Failure, Jawbox, and early mewithoutYou. <br />
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Sainthood Reps bring back the fuzzy, distorted guitars and thick, pummeling bass of early grunge and post-punk. The vocals are very thought provoking and are sort of a finger to corporate America, which is what really defined the grunge/punk movement years ago. <em>Monoculture </em>is filled with social criticism and many of the tracks refer to the tragedies brought on by greed or pride. This criticism on commercialization is evident in the first, title track 'Monoculture' and remains steady throughout the entirety of the record.<br />
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Sainthood Reps <em>Monoculture</em> is definitely an album for fans of 90's music, particularly grunge and post-punk. It is a raw and stripped down record that goes back to the roots that its creators grew up on. Albums like <em>Monoculture </em>are few and far between, and are definitely worth every penny. For such a new band, Sainthood Reps not only sound like many well-known grunge legends, they also manage to pull the sound off successfully. <em>Monoculture </em>is a masterpiece of a record and will appeal to any fan of grunge, alternative, or punk rock. Sainthood Reps have put themselves on the map with the release of their debut <em>Monoculture </em>and have crafted what could very well be one of the best early-90's-esque albums of the last decade.<br />
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<div align="center">Check out the track 'Dingus' off of Sainthood Reps <em>Monoculture:</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/UloqE5rOvyA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Check out the track 'Hunter' off of Sainthood Reps <em>Monoculture:</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/vWay-WN48KA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div align="center"></div>pjones5387http://www.blogger.com/profile/01095130020405945058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881338238634708849.post-30158531762210468802011-11-21T23:54:00.000-08:002011-11-21T23:54:00.284-08:00Thomas Giles - Pulse<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXsJnNDTfKW0wAxGN85TAd85UolD_kV1r_-t8E2WkYYS9GAyTTunOkr3SK8qv3MUDNZ-crdfntn6NRPkD6evOv0BtMVWl5mpXOwymDEnrz1JlBeJJ7SuixDziZ1MOrkovZgMQNKJ7YfpaU/s1600/thomasgiles-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXsJnNDTfKW0wAxGN85TAd85UolD_kV1r_-t8E2WkYYS9GAyTTunOkr3SK8qv3MUDNZ-crdfntn6NRPkD6evOv0BtMVWl5mpXOwymDEnrz1JlBeJJ7SuixDziZ1MOrkovZgMQNKJ7YfpaU/s200/thomasgiles-cover.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Thomas Giles is the solo project for Between The Buried And Me frontman Tommy Rogers. On February 1, 2011, he released his debut album entitled <em>Pulse </em>on Metal Blade Records. Oddly enough, this is not the type of album that one would usually hear from Metal Blade Records and it definitely doesn't sound like something the frontman of the brutal, progressive metal act Between The Buried And Me would release. However, Tommy Rogers has always been very innovative in his musical ventures and this is shown in much of Between The Buried And Me's work. Rogers branches out from ordinary metal and applies many different styles to his music. Some people have even referred to him as the Thom Yorke of metal. So although the release of <em>Pulse </em>may seem out of the ordinary to metal fans, it is definitely not out of the ordinary for Rogers himself. <br />
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Prior to listening to <em>Pulse, </em>I was not sure what to expect and upon first listen, I was not sure what to think. <em>Pulse </em>is a very unique and deeply thought out album, and is definitely the type of album that takes some time to sit and reflect on. This is an album devoted to individuality, with each of the tracks sounding different than the others. <em>Pulse </em>is one of those albums that you wish artists would release more often, because the difference in personality and style on each track makes it one of a kind. <em>Pulse </em>is one of those albums that is very hard to give an accurate description of. It covers so many boundaries and styles that there is no true, set genre to put the music under. If anything, the music on <em>Pulse </em>has a very strong Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) and Thom Yorke (Radiohead) influence in it. These influences are noted because Reznor and Yorke have always released diverse albums with such musically individualistic tracks. This is the approach that Tommy Rogers sets forth in <em>Pulse</em>. From start to finish, <em>Pulse </em>shows off Rogers' versatility and explores various musical areas that will be a shock to most fans of the heavier side of his work with Between The Buried And Me, but this will be a good sort of shock. <em>Pulse </em>is by no means a metal album, but it takes some influences from the metal genre and numerous other genres including indie, acoustic, folk, progressive, jazz, industrial, and electronic. <br />
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Thomas Giles' <em>Pulse </em>begins with the track "Sleep Shake", which starts off with an ambient guitar riff that is very reminiscent of early, classic space-rock (David Bowie, Pink Floyd, King Crimson). The chorus then comes in with distorted electronics, guitars, and thunderous, pummeling drums. This track is definitely a memorable experience and a great way to begin the album. Although "Sleep Shake" is spacey sounding with its electronics and keyboards present, it stays more along the lines of apocalyptic, crescendo-driven rock. The more spaced-out sound is present on the next track "Reverb Island". This track is jam-packed with acoustic guitars, electronics, keyboards, and even a bridge section where Roger's repeats the words "can't stop" over and over again, while a trance-inducing dance beat is layered underneath of these vocals. This track could be described as Pink Floyd performing an acoustic song at a rave, dance party. "Mr. Bird" is mainly a piano-driven track, with a little lead acoustic guitar work thrown into the mix. This is a dark and eerie sounding track and shows how unique and different each of the tracks are on the album, especially because of the track right after it. This fourth track, entitled "Catch And Release" is, without a doubt, the album's wildest track by far. This is the most industrial, metal-driven track on the album and is somewhere along the lines of Chicago industrial noise and Radiohead's "Fitter, Happier" programmed vocal style or Skinny Puppy-esque screams. "Catch And Release" is a very noisy track and is pure genius, in my honest opinion. <br />
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The fifth track, "Hamilton Anxiety Scale", is one of my favorite tracks on the album and is a very melodic and progressive rock track that starts off acoustically and then leads into a full-blown distorted rock masterpiece. This track also has sparse elements of funk and space rock undertones throughout its four minutes and nine seconds. "Scared" is a beautiful, heartfelt, soulful acoustic folk song about hope and being there for someone, but also being sad and scared about what the outcome of a certain situation might be. Some people have compared this track to The Beatles at their heaviest. "Reject Falicon" is the second strangest track on the album (the first being "Catch And Release") and is a spooky, futuristic sounding, electronica track, complete with distorted synth beats and dark piano melodies. This track would fit perfectly in a sci-fi film and is without a doubt of the most unique sounding songs written by any artist in many years. <br />
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"Medic" is the heaviest and most metal-driven track on <em>Pulse. </em>If there was a track on <em>Pulse </em>that could be compared to Between The Buried And Me, "Medic" would have to be it, "Suspend The Death Watch" is a genius track and reminds me of Pink Floyd at their most spaced-out. Towards the middle of the track there is an atmospheric effect anda voice recording of a man talking about time machines. If anything, this piece sounds like it would be the perfect soundtrack for time travel. "Armchair Travel" is another folky, acoustic track that is very similar to "Scared". The final track, "Hypoxia", is a very slow song complete with harps, strings, woodwinds, keys, and guitars. This track slowly builds throughout and harmonizes beautifully until the epic crescendo sends you into another dimension.<br />
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Overall, Thomas Giles' <em>Pulse </em>is a true masterpiece of an album. The album combines a perfect blend of space-rock, industrial, folk, electronic, metal, and progressive, and is a truly entertaining and legendary album. The most incredible part about <em>Pulse </em>is that it was completely written by Tommy Rogers himself and this shows true talent and skill. Even though each track is completely different, they all seem to work together perfectly and flow into one another smoothly. This album makes for one epic adventure and is sure to be a rewarding experience for whoever chooses to listen. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Thomas Giles' <em>Pulse, </em>you will not be disappointed with the outcome. <br />
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</div><div align="center">Check out the music video for the track "Sleep Shake" off of Thomas Giles' <em>Pulse:</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/W5CO6M5Gpb8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Check out the track "Medic" off of Thomas Giles' <em>Pulse:</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Eft4rNBuDxY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>pjones5387http://www.blogger.com/profile/01095130020405945058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881338238634708849.post-9909779205578851792011-11-17T14:36:00.000-08:002011-11-17T14:36:11.748-08:00The Shaking Sensations - East Of Youth (2011)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmEW-lOV0rIYXrpQ715FXsnKRmvkVk9wNI72NZbIjzkUFBCFtMvSZSdAtEDreHS8FX07QGFV5cKRuoIrRMykM3fgn4W3Rz8OuEGlZQrUuapgj_P_iv1oMz3iR8NXd1AbdriPWDJ9Wx-Td/s1600/qnuwo83a6u.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmEW-lOV0rIYXrpQ715FXsnKRmvkVk9wNI72NZbIjzkUFBCFtMvSZSdAtEDreHS8FX07QGFV5cKRuoIrRMykM3fgn4W3Rz8OuEGlZQrUuapgj_P_iv1oMz3iR8NXd1AbdriPWDJ9Wx-Td/s200/qnuwo83a6u.jpg" width="200" /></a>Hailing from Copenhagen, Denmark, instrumental five-piece The Shaking Sensations formed in 2005 and have been getting a lot of praise for their newest album <em>East Of </em>Youth. I can relate to this praise because I happen to like the album a whole lot. The Shaking Sensations create well-crafted instrumentals that could restart the legacy of great post-rock, similar to what pioneering acts Mogwai and Explosions In The Sky did. They are very faithful to the post-rock genre and put a great amount of heart and effort into their material. The song structures on <em>East Of Youth </em>consist of precise build-ups that eventually lead into beautiful, melodic crescendos. This is the traditional post-rock structuring and The Shaking Sensations have easily mastered this technique. This Danish five-piece could easily go down as the next addition of current post-rock bands to keep the legacy of this genre alive, along with the likes of pioneers such as Mogwai, Explosions In The Sky, and Godspeed You Black Emperor. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Shaking Sensations debut album, <em>East Of Youth</em>, brings to the table everything that is worthwhile in a genre that has become not so worthwhile. Tracks like "All That Ever Lives Will Live Forever" and "Our Hearts Were Young And Gay" are composed of heartfelt, melodic guitar riffs that collectively build up into an array of emotions. Album closer "Homage To Boyhood" take a different approach than the previously mentioned tracks and introduces the bands heavier side. This track also shows off the collective blend of the bands two drummers and perfectly showcases how the two drummers bring an immense rhythm section and epic wall of sound. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Overall, The Shaking Sensations <em>East Of Youth </em>is a musically transcending debut album and the music on this album is so extraordinary that the band helps to continue the legacy of post-rock excellence. There is a significant contrast in The Shaking Sensations music, and this contrast is between the calm and fragile moments and the fiercly energetic moments. Moments like these help to describe the true nature of post-rock and instrumental music as a whole. The Shaking Sensations are sure to go down in the post-rock hall of fame, alongside of acts like Mogwai, Explosions In The Sky, and Godspeed You Black Emperor. Fans of these bands will definitely find something worthwhile on The Shaking Sensations <em>East Of Youth</em> and are very likely to hear the heart put into this album. <em>East Of Youth </em>is one of the best post-rock releases in recent years, but I could even go as far as saying that it is one of the best post-rock releases since the inception of the genre many years ago. All in all, The Shaking Sensations are definitely masterminds of their genre and prove this on their debut album <em>East Of Youth</em>. I was very pleased with what I heard on this album and the album continues to get better with each listen. This album is not only one that fans of post-rock will enjoy, but also one that music fans in general will find entertaining and beautiful. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of The Shaking Sensations <em>East Of Youth. </em>This is real music at its very finest. </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Check out the track "The Obsidian Sea" off of The Shaking Sensations <em>East Of Youth:</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/NpT6KYfrvcc?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>pjones5387http://www.blogger.com/profile/01095130020405945058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881338238634708849.post-43735668918810361292011-11-15T23:32:00.000-08:002011-11-15T23:32:38.694-08:00Yes, Inferno - Yes, Inferno<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Pw6ev2fTxSHi5EIQPHxi-PVnZETIuxZfvZlmO0Bk5A44TTwsYCBHHueL1F_rLcQTtjZiRi0whYanyAGWl-W6JMeW0rygIrjpmoqXBKqrNpulhKcJpFXUI0ocrmBwQL__Kb9dlQujzoZb/s1600/Yes-Inferno-Yes-Inferno1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Pw6ev2fTxSHi5EIQPHxi-PVnZETIuxZfvZlmO0Bk5A44TTwsYCBHHueL1F_rLcQTtjZiRi0whYanyAGWl-W6JMeW0rygIrjpmoqXBKqrNpulhKcJpFXUI0ocrmBwQL__Kb9dlQujzoZb/s200/Yes-Inferno-Yes-Inferno1.gif" width="200" /></a>San Antonio progressive, instrumental rock band Yes, Inferno was born in early 2009 out of the ashes of drummer Ernst Bredvad's garage. The four-piece consists of Ernst Bredvad on drums, Christen Saenz on bass, Cisco Garcia on guitar, and Richard Garcia on guitar. Though Yes, Inferno bring nothing groundbreaking to the genre, their music is definitely unique and blends many elements from numerous genres including progressive rock, post-punk, math rock, jazz, and metal. On June 7, 2011, Yes, Inferno released their self-titled EP with the help of Texas Is Funny Records. Aside from genres and styles, their music could be described as staccato hard rock, which is a form of hard rock that is composed of notes of shortened duration that are separated from notes that may follow by silence. <br />
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The EP opens with the track "Ellen Page", which is a hard hitter from start to finish, and ends with great placement without dragging on. This track brings to mind the earlier math rock sounds of Minus The Bear and only lasts for one-minute and forty-six seconds. Next up is the track "Midnight Murder Highway", which has a heavy focus on Bredvad's drum work and Saenz's bass skills. Many have quoted this song as "bringing voodoo funk to math rock", and the drum and bass work live up to this description. "Something Along The Skyline" starts off slow, but then builds into a heavy and melancholy soundtrack of epic proportions. The standout track and most melodic point on the album is the fourth track "Tunnels In London". Yes, Inferno chose a masterpiece of a guitar riff for this track, and as the song builds, the guitar work continues to progress for the better. The EP ends with "Ghost XO", which begins with a depressing sounding guitar riff, eventually leading into a full-blown, epic structure of drum and bass work. Swirling riffs play throughout the track until it ends at three-minutes and twenty-five seconds with the same riff that began the track. <br />
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Yes, Inferno have certainly put their skills to the test with their self-titled debut EP. Their music may not be groundbreaking, but it is definitely unique in sound structure and approach, and music that I enjoy very much. They have covered many boundaries in just five songs, so I know that they are capable of much more in the future. Fans of progressive rock, math rock, post-punk, jazz, and even metal, are sure to find something worthwhile on Yes, Inferno's debut EP. Do yourself a favor and go pick up a copy of Yes, Inferno's self-titled debut, I highly doubt you will be disappointed. <br />
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</div><div align="center">Click the link below to listen to Yes, Inferno's self-titled debut EP in its entirety:</div><div align="center"><a href="http://texasisfunnyrecords.bandcamp.com/album/yes-inferno">http://texasisfunnyrecords.bandcamp.com/album/yes-inferno</a></div>pjones5387http://www.blogger.com/profile/01095130020405945058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881338238634708849.post-71775050707778323832011-11-15T14:59:00.000-08:002011-11-15T14:59:47.470-08:00We Made God - As We Sleep<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gWx6dWfYgMtLQR_bCgHDEeaNpc0evnU6i-RKb0N6hRvH2n_ntW9v_pRC5YHYyiMgD6JNQI6gyyh2AJosCYUGr8h1j3q_6OCn_r6FLvS6VKD7hazh2g5iYlYWp38EbUx3HzgnnL1aAHdz/s1600/we-made-god-as-we-sleep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gWx6dWfYgMtLQR_bCgHDEeaNpc0evnU6i-RKb0N6hRvH2n_ntW9v_pRC5YHYyiMgD6JNQI6gyyh2AJosCYUGr8h1j3q_6OCn_r6FLvS6VKD7hazh2g5iYlYWp38EbUx3HzgnnL1aAHdz/s1600/we-made-god-as-we-sleep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gWx6dWfYgMtLQR_bCgHDEeaNpc0evnU6i-RKb0N6hRvH2n_ntW9v_pRC5YHYyiMgD6JNQI6gyyh2AJosCYUGr8h1j3q_6OCn_r6FLvS6VKD7hazh2g5iYlYWp38EbUx3HzgnnL1aAHdz/s200/we-made-god-as-we-sleep.jpg" width="198" /></a>It is very intriguing to hear of a band described as a mix between Sigur Ros and Deftones, and even more intriguing to hear their music. This band is the atmospheric metal four-piece We Made God. Hailing from Iceland, We Made God are a promising post-metal band that is made up of four members that are all in their early twenties. The band consists of Arnor on guitars, Maggi on guitars and vocals, Stuni on bass, and Biggi on drums. Fans of Sigur Ros, Deftones (especially White Pony), and *Shels, are sure to find something worthwhile on We Made God's debut album <em>As We Sleep. </em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>As We Sleep </em>begins with the album opener "Gizmo", which follows a gentle to brutal pattern and is something that the aforementioned bands are most notable at doing. The track keeps its focus on examining the gentle aspects while also having that epic post-metal touch. The second track, entitled "Bathwater", is filled with sonic guitar riffs reminiscent of Stephen Carpenter from Deftones and vicious screams that almost sound identical to those of Chino Moreno from Deftones. "Bathwater" is easily my favorite track on the album, especially since it resembles Deftones to a tee and Deftones have always been one of my biggest inspirations musically. "Sub Rosa" is the most bass-filled track in my opinion and the double bass drum work is outstanding. The fourth and fifth tracks "Deir Yassin" and "Theory Of Progress" follow the same techniques as the first three tracks and are very good tracks, but nowhere near as developed as the previous material on the album. Lastly, comes the sixteen minute epic "The Color". This track follows an entirely different approach than the rest of the album and the true beauty of the track comes in at nine minutes and thirty seconds. The heaviness and beauty swirl about from this time on and the ending is very promising. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Overall, We Made God's <em>As We Sleep </em>is an epic adventure throughout. For such a young four-piece just beginning their career, they sure know how to pack a punch however, the band is not at the top of their peak quite yet. My favorite thing about We Made God is that they are probably the closest musical act coming from Iceland that resembles Deftones. I was very pleased with their debut album <em>As We Sleep </em>and highly recommend it to fans of the aforementioned bands or to fans of that raw, post-metal flavor. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Check out the track "Bathwater" off of We Made God's debut album <em>As We Sleep:</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/T3d4GrhITUc?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><em></em>pjones5387http://www.blogger.com/profile/01095130020405945058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881338238634708849.post-71447078070578138282011-11-13T00:02:00.000-08:002011-11-13T00:02:26.062-08:00The Ansion - That Is The Way Of Things, A Day Late And A Dollar Short, A Third Of Four Rooms, B-Sides And Rarities<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6MbCleBrzxJH8hu3ksOb-Q6HbhDIGLpR1Mnw9QzI0X904dwDYqy107kgLdOGw8VcRzuRstxtdhSlv3W4wLoiFxEJxXAWtF0TSBtbunaJ4FdwJgyT1CNksji9fDtuz6h5VCL1pKUebJKze/s1600/The%252BAnsion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6MbCleBrzxJH8hu3ksOb-Q6HbhDIGLpR1Mnw9QzI0X904dwDYqy107kgLdOGw8VcRzuRstxtdhSlv3W4wLoiFxEJxXAWtF0TSBtbunaJ4FdwJgyT1CNksji9fDtuz6h5VCL1pKUebJKze/s200/The%252BAnsion.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7g1w3JAaq9vIChIGeBTVir_ElOMUCo5INJ6ilt1QNORcolbprLI_Zf5sPoO5_pQPGatrE1xt5EgGET1ANqHBdVdjQ4wi6Ziegx76abLO3K0XjaMvdvsI3rgKmHirshmCkkt71acl_XlgT/s1600/a+third+of+four+rooms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7g1w3JAaq9vIChIGeBTVir_ElOMUCo5INJ6ilt1QNORcolbprLI_Zf5sPoO5_pQPGatrE1xt5EgGET1ANqHBdVdjQ4wi6Ziegx76abLO3K0XjaMvdvsI3rgKmHirshmCkkt71acl_XlgT/s200/a+third+of+four+rooms.jpg" width="200" /></a>The Ansion is a humble and meek 28 year old hailing from Kilmarnock, Scotland that makes ambient and electronic music using his laptop, numerous keyboards, guitars, and loop pedals. His music is a mixture of programmed beats and live electronic instrumentation, and could be compared to acts like The Album Leaf, The American Dollar, and The Abbasi Brothers. The initial inception of The Ansion was in 2006 and his debut album entitled <em>That Is The Way Of Things </em>was released in 2007 on Ohio's Skean Dhu Recordings. In 2008, <em>That Is The Way Of Things </em>was released by Say Hello To Never Recordings, a Japanese based label. The music on <em>That Is The Way Of Things </em>combines elements of dance-oriented percussion and contemplative atmospheric sounds, which could appeal to fans of all types of music. The album comes with an extra digital download album entitled <em>A Day Late And A Dollar Short</em>, which is composed of outtakes from the <em>That Is The Way Of Things</em> recording sessions. <br />
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To add to the aspect of D.I.Y., The Ansion is a home-based musician and producer, and since his inception as an artist he has recorded in four different rooms in three different houses. This is the concept behind the name of his 2011 EP, entitled <em>A Third Of Four Rooms</em>. The four original songs and a remix by ::thinkstandard:: were recorded in the third of these four rooms, hence the name <em>A Third Of Four Rooms</em>. The songs on <em>A Third Of Four Rooms </em>were recorded throughout 2009 and 2010, and were initially intended to be on a full-length album that is just now starting to come together. The Ansion, however, came to the conclusion that since the tracks intended to be on the full-length had a completely different sound than the other recordings, he would release the tracks on an EP, which came to be <em>A Third Of Four Rooms. </em>The Ansion was working (and still is) on a full-length album that consisted of binaural guitar loop recordings while recording the tracks that make up <em>A Third Of Four Rooms</em>. The major sound difference in the two is that the tracks on <em>A Third Of Four Rooms</em> rely heavily on ambiance, and less on guitar. The only track on <em>A Third Of Four Rooms </em>that may resemble something up-and-coming from The Ansion is "Will You Shut Up And Get Off The Damn Ground", which relies heavily on guitar loops and is my personal favorite off of the EP. <br />
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Aside from these releases, The Ansion has also released individual tracks throughout the years that don't apply to one set album. Overall, The Ansion does a phenomenal job at creating music in this particular genre or style. One will hear elements of dance music, hip-hop, electronic, post-rock, industrial, and ambient music throughout each track, and The Ansion is so skilled at his craft that the mixture of all of these elements works out just right and never wrong. Anyone who enjoys ambient music with a danceable, electronic twist is sure to find something in The Ansion. I have been pleased with everything that he has released to this day and I am looking forward to what he develops next on the up-and-coming full-length album. <br />
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</div><div align="center">Check out the track "The Problem With Destiny" off of The Ansion's <em>A Third Of Four Rooms</em>:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/WstqgfwNX-A?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div align="center"></div>pjones5387http://www.blogger.com/profile/01095130020405945058noreply@blogger.com0