Sorry for the delay, it's that ridiculous pre-holiday push right now and there are essays coming out my ears when I'm not discussing the possibility of breeding ovens with my friend. Anyway, this is your typical cop-out "I can't think of an actual thing to write about" list of things that will improve your life. If you do not own these then I look sadly at you.
Katie's Albums to Improve Your Life
1) The Holy Bible - Manic Street Preachers
My close friend and musical adviser handed me his copy of this CD with the words "this will change your life" or something to that effect. And it really has in a subtle way. I didn't have much of an epiphany, but it dwelled on me enough to buy my own copy and it has wormed its way deeply into my head. This is a pretty infamous album for, in all technicality, being Richey Edwards' last, not counting the use of his lyrics in later work. It's a chilling descent into the visions of someone with a razor-sharp observation of culture that still rings eerily true years later in its criticisms of politics and society, and exploration of the darkest parts of the human mind backed by a truly gifted band. Terrifying, intelligent, inspiring.
2) The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me - Brand New
This was my answer to the above album, as it was my epiphany. I got hold of it at the tender age of 14 in my early musical explorations and I am very grateful I found it. The music here can and does shift effortlessly and passionately from whispered and tired acoustic into passionate raging emotion in a split second. The vulnerable and eloquent lyrical musings cause you to question your own deepest convictions in sympathy with Jesse Lacey's own anxieties and stories of lives turned bad with a single unclear wrongdoing. Relaxing and beautifully chilling.
3) Devils - The 69 Eyes
Just in case you felt things were getting a little too serious, here's something to shake up the stagnant goth/sleaze scenes. As far as this band goes, there is a lot to be said for 'Blessed Be' being their finest moment, however this album is well worth a special place in your collection as well as a great starting point to open the avenues of both sides of this band, the gothic and the glam metal. From start to finish it's a tour de force of enjoyable rock 'n' roll in the vein of a gothed-up AC/DC, both darkly poetic and utterly silly. This band are here to prove you can have fun in leather and eyeliner, and they succeed in this task with incredible style. Catchy choruses, fantastic guitars, and horns cues you can set your watch to.
4) Join Hands - Siouxsie & The Banshees
The Scream was groundbreaking. Kaliedoscope the hit machine. Either side this is surrounded by incredibly worthy records that need to be heard but this deserves a huge mention that it doesn't often get. This is a galloping ride around the twisted fairytale world that this band seemed to occupy. Childhood seen through a house of mirrors, guitars that sound like they're jet-propelled around paper bags and tin cans, driving rhythms and a fifteen-minute stream-of-consciousness track that replicates the incredible energy of this band early on. This is possibly one of the finest moments of Siouxsie & The Banshees showing the art and punk of their music in equal measure.
5) The Downward Spiral - Nine Inch Nails
Many people say this is overrated, and perhaps it is but only in comparison to the overall genius that is Trent Reznor. By turns beautiful and savage, this rips too close to the bone for a full listen sometimes no matter how big a fan you are. It's not his angriest, nor his most artistic, and perhaps less deep than some but this is a total epitome of a talented man at his devastating best.
6) Who Killed Amanda Palmer? - Amanda Palmer
What can I say? This woman has a totally unique take of life and music that shines through perfectly here, talking of the world in all its ugly hilarity. There's something incredibly endearing in the honest eccentricity shown here and a clear ability to embrace the total absurdity of life in the highs and lows. Simple yet effective piano and a unique voice, great.
7) Love - The Cult
If you only own one album by this band, make it this one. It borders on nonsensical but the band here are so obscenely good at what they do that it's all excused. Passion and talent just ooze off the guitar riffs here, and the sound is something else.
8) Jane's Addiction - Jane's Addiction
If you haven't heard of this lot through 'Ritual De Lo Habitual' then you've probably experienced one of their many "reunions" or at least encountered Dave Navarro somewhere. There's more than enough to be said and that has been said about 'Ritual' as a masterwork of rock, but this is a live album of grotesquely unappreciated proportions. Here is the power and urgency of a band just coming into a world that will never fully understand it but love it, albeit in the way someone loves a slightly embarrassing cousin who tells confusing and controversial anecdotes in polite company. There's an incredible energy and fun that is a little lost in some of their studio work, and it is this energy, where you can find it, that made this band complete.
9) III - Billy Talent
I was hard-pressed to decide between I II and III as in their own way they're all blindingly good. However I chose this because it seems to be the one tying together everything this band have learned over the years. Although some argue that they've lost the driving anger that made them stand out so much in the earlier days, in its place they've got a gravity and maturity in both lyrics and musicianship that cements them as a truly great modern band. They've always been unique and why would they suddenly stop developing if they still have things to do?
10) Disintegration - The Cure
This has a huge reputation and deserves every single fragment of said reputation as a pinnacle of whatever it is you're comparing it to. I think it's all been said before.
I tried to restrict myself to 10, so with my habit of liking too many things, there is of course a lot more to add, but as a starting point, find these albums and hopefully you'll love them as much as I do.
29/03/2010
16/03/2010
Review: Max Raptor EP
Well hello there. Once again reviewing an EP. Shorter CDs make me ramble less so it's probably a good thing. Today is Max Raptor's EP. I have a lot of love for Max Raptor. Saw them supporting Billy Talent back in June and fell in love with their music almost instantly, and strong enough to remember to actually look them up afterwards which, considering that any Billy Talent show would normally blast any lesser support bands into total insignificance as far as I'm concerned, is a big achievement.
The Review
The good thing about this CD is that it does actually retain a lot of the energy that makes Max Raptor such a great live band. If you could imagine The Cribs with rabies you're part of the way there - they've got a fair amount of the 2000s 'indie' in their sound, but enough punk rock to really give it some oomph and reach an almost transcendent level of good for such a recent band.
First up is 'The Great And The Good', which kicks off with pounding drums and a chant that leads fluidly onto guitar noise. The gang vocal interplay is very well-done here, and the change in tone and dynamics between song and chant work very well. The instruments here are straightforwards enough but with more than enough flair and enthusiasm, vocals are tuneful yet powerful, lyrics powerful, and the structure and style of the song very enjoyable.
'Ghosts' is much more immediate in noise, although this is no bad thing. The melody here is very distinctive and adds another level of enjoyment. Once again the gang vocals feature heavily, although the singer on his own is a very good vocalist. The distortion and fuzzy bass work very nicely with cutting drums to create a wonderfully dark and paranoid sound. This is where Max Raptor rise above other bands of a similar sound: they're able to inject the most unlikely aspects of other things into their music. This is in-your-face indie punk via film noir thriller. Also, their lyrics once again prove to be smart and to-the-point, attacking the disappointment of modern life.
'Sparks' starts out with an incredibly upbeat and bouncy riff, although the lyrics, despite their soft and cheery delivery, reveal yet another sarcastic and vicious attack on modern life, and the song builds frantically towards an explosive chorus with pounding cymbals. Gang vocals get slightly superfluous here but this can be forgiven. The handclaps and guitar break only add to the tongue-in-cheek happiness of this song. The screams aren't the most impressive recorded but trust me, live they're something to listen for.
'Conversations With Death' is the closing song, opening with a stilted stop-start riff and a clear vocal sound that works well before the gang reappears for the pre-chorus. A definite strength of this band is the intelligent way they fit their lyrics into songs, toying with pacing and delivery to create something that really holds the attention. Their guitar sound is another enjoyable part, sounding like it's coming (very loudly) from a tin well, creating a nice contrast with the thundering train sound of the bass and drums.
So yeah. Four songs that are totally necessary in your life. How many other bands can produce a debut EP of four consistently great songs that not only work together but also as stand-along anthems for us new generation to jump around to.
You don't quite understand exactly how you're missing out or how much you're missing out on until you put the CD on and wonder where these guys have been your whole life. (Answer: Birmingham.)
Expect big things from these guys.
First up is 'The Great And The Good', which kicks off with pounding drums and a chant that leads fluidly onto guitar noise. The gang vocal interplay is very well-done here, and the change in tone and dynamics between song and chant work very well. The instruments here are straightforwards enough but with more than enough flair and enthusiasm, vocals are tuneful yet powerful, lyrics powerful, and the structure and style of the song very enjoyable.
'Ghosts' is much more immediate in noise, although this is no bad thing. The melody here is very distinctive and adds another level of enjoyment. Once again the gang vocals feature heavily, although the singer on his own is a very good vocalist. The distortion and fuzzy bass work very nicely with cutting drums to create a wonderfully dark and paranoid sound. This is where Max Raptor rise above other bands of a similar sound: they're able to inject the most unlikely aspects of other things into their music. This is in-your-face indie punk via film noir thriller. Also, their lyrics once again prove to be smart and to-the-point, attacking the disappointment of modern life.
'Sparks' starts out with an incredibly upbeat and bouncy riff, although the lyrics, despite their soft and cheery delivery, reveal yet another sarcastic and vicious attack on modern life, and the song builds frantically towards an explosive chorus with pounding cymbals. Gang vocals get slightly superfluous here but this can be forgiven. The handclaps and guitar break only add to the tongue-in-cheek happiness of this song. The screams aren't the most impressive recorded but trust me, live they're something to listen for.
'Conversations With Death' is the closing song, opening with a stilted stop-start riff and a clear vocal sound that works well before the gang reappears for the pre-chorus. A definite strength of this band is the intelligent way they fit their lyrics into songs, toying with pacing and delivery to create something that really holds the attention. Their guitar sound is another enjoyable part, sounding like it's coming (very loudly) from a tin well, creating a nice contrast with the thundering train sound of the bass and drums.
So yeah. Four songs that are totally necessary in your life. How many other bands can produce a debut EP of four consistently great songs that not only work together but also as stand-along anthems for us new generation to jump around to.
You don't quite understand exactly how you're missing out or how much you're missing out on until you put the CD on and wonder where these guys have been your whole life. (Answer: Birmingham.)
Expect big things from these guys.
07/03/2010
Review: A Little Something For You - Voodoo Six
Ack, sorry about the delay. The life of a student is never easy, ahaha. It is incredibly hard to find the time to doss about like the lazy sod you are when you need to research gothic literature ('Carmilla' by Le Fanu being my favourite traditional gothic story) and learn scripts. And try to remember how on Earth A-level co-ordinate geometry works.
However despite that, I have found time to attend gigs last week. One of which was a spontaneous decision on the part of my dad to go see Albert Lee. Country music isn't normally my thing, but I know when someone is good and damn that man can play guitar.
The other gig was my idea, and it was Voodoo Six, a local rock 'n' roll band that are sadly neglected. This was their first live outing with their new singer, and so it was a bit touch and go and you could tell he was a bit shy at first, but as the set progressed he found his feet, and to be honest, the rest of the band were so fantastic that you sometimes got the impression that the songs were more a conduit for musicianship than a focal point. This might just be due to his being new, as the studio recordings have a slightly more even focus. However, either way their songs are great. Tonight I'm going to be rambling about their latest release: 'A Little Something For You'. Lucky for you guys it's a five-track EP, not a full-length album, so you don't have to read my ramblings for too long.
However despite that, I have found time to attend gigs last week. One of which was a spontaneous decision on the part of my dad to go see Albert Lee. Country music isn't normally my thing, but I know when someone is good and damn that man can play guitar.
The other gig was my idea, and it was Voodoo Six, a local rock 'n' roll band that are sadly neglected. This was their first live outing with their new singer, and so it was a bit touch and go and you could tell he was a bit shy at first, but as the set progressed he found his feet, and to be honest, the rest of the band were so fantastic that you sometimes got the impression that the songs were more a conduit for musicianship than a focal point. This might just be due to his being new, as the studio recordings have a slightly more even focus. However, either way their songs are great. Tonight I'm going to be rambling about their latest release: 'A Little Something For You'. Lucky for you guys it's a five-track EP, not a full-length album, so you don't have to read my ramblings for too long.
The Review
So I suppose it ain't exactly easy being in the music business, and Voodoo Six are definitely a casualty of this. Not that they've been majorly screwed over, it's more an ongoing lack of recognition. If you want to know how I found them, you're going to be disappointed because I can't for love nor money remember. (Although money is readily accepted. Love may be negotiated.) Anyway, this EP in its purest form is just the band introducing their modified sound to their fans, with Luke's passionate bark taking over from the previous vocalist who, while good in his own way, had a higher and vaguely more 'glam metal' vocal style that sometimes got lost.
'Live Again' kicks off with one hell of a driving sound. The kind that makes the boozy rocker in my straight-edge kid's heart smile. Luke's vocals are an interesting and enjoyable mix of hard rock, heavy metal and a tiny tweak of grunge. The instruments here are masterful. Backing vocals slightly questionable but easily forgiven. The guitar-work is just delicious. The structure of the song does get a bit repetitive, but in all honesty, I could listen to that chorus many times and still enjoy it.
'Long Way' starts in much the same way, with the distinctive twin guitar and cymbals attack the band seem to favour. However this time the verse vocals are left alone with a throbbing bass and the other staple of rock 'n' roll drumming: kick drum. The whole effect gives the impression of a musical motorcycle revving up. And yes my friends it is turbo-charged and driven by Ghost Rider's brother. Not much differentiating this from the previous track as far as chorus sound goes, but instrumental breaks are where this band excel. Just sit back and enjoy. These guys, as I discovered when seeing them live, seem hell-bent on rehabilitating the guitar solo as something totally unapologetic. These guys are good and they aren't afraid.
'Something For You' is slightly heavier and deeper from the outset, but once again employs the full-throttle charge. However there's a tantalising little riff happening here in the verse, adding texture to the sound. Luke's talent for "yeahs" really comes through. Trust me, it is a useful skill. Lyrically they aren't anything phenomenal, but they're not hideously derivative either. It's forgiven. The chorus here slows and soars nicely. I am tired and will write pretentious imagery. It has to be said, there's a whole new layer in this song in the way it sounds that hooks the listener in.
'Take The Blame' was the first thing I heard by these guys. It starts with a brief a capella bit that is admittedly a slight nonsequiteur (spelling out the window) but works nicely with the overall feel. There's a bit of a Hendrix vibe happening here. Lyrically this actually makes more sense too, so it's definitely a highlight, as well as the rather catchy nature of it as a whole. The whole band are really going for it full throttle here, and it pays off no end. Vocals soulful, guitars controlled and skillful, bass driving and rhythmic, drums crashing and possessing the momentum of several runaway trains. The slower sections (complete with effects pedals) are also well-thought-out and expertly placed, exploding into action perfectly.
As an amateur rock bassist, I have to say the riff at the start of 'Where You Want Me' is the kind of riff I want to have a wild and torrid love affair with. It's easy to learn and sounds bloody good. Whatever he's using for that sound, I want it. The guitars follow this riff once they come in. This is a slightly more bluesy track in its own way, adding to the variety of things happening here. (And it has to be said the Hendrix thing is happening here too.) Lyrically there's a hint of the pseudo-spirituality happening. They're one of those bands who have that kind of thing not in any specific form apart from the worship at the altar of good rock music. Overall, nice little closer.
Basically, this is a bloody good set of songs by a bad who've really found their footing and had a lightbulb moment. Recommended to anyone who enjoys unapologetic guitars, heavy sounds, and fists-in-the-air ROCK.
I believe that 'Take The Blame' is kicking around for free download if you're curious. I shall leave you with two things from the gig I went to:
First up, a video of 'Live Again'. Pretty good as far as youtube quality goes. And you can have a fun game of spotting my hands. Hint: black fingerless glove/armwarmer hybrids, studded wristbands and a camera.
Next up: a photo from aforementioned camera. METAL FACE!!!
'Live Again' kicks off with one hell of a driving sound. The kind that makes the boozy rocker in my straight-edge kid's heart smile. Luke's vocals are an interesting and enjoyable mix of hard rock, heavy metal and a tiny tweak of grunge. The instruments here are masterful. Backing vocals slightly questionable but easily forgiven. The guitar-work is just delicious. The structure of the song does get a bit repetitive, but in all honesty, I could listen to that chorus many times and still enjoy it.
'Long Way' starts in much the same way, with the distinctive twin guitar and cymbals attack the band seem to favour. However this time the verse vocals are left alone with a throbbing bass and the other staple of rock 'n' roll drumming: kick drum. The whole effect gives the impression of a musical motorcycle revving up. And yes my friends it is turbo-charged and driven by Ghost Rider's brother. Not much differentiating this from the previous track as far as chorus sound goes, but instrumental breaks are where this band excel. Just sit back and enjoy. These guys, as I discovered when seeing them live, seem hell-bent on rehabilitating the guitar solo as something totally unapologetic. These guys are good and they aren't afraid.
'Something For You' is slightly heavier and deeper from the outset, but once again employs the full-throttle charge. However there's a tantalising little riff happening here in the verse, adding texture to the sound. Luke's talent for "yeahs" really comes through. Trust me, it is a useful skill. Lyrically they aren't anything phenomenal, but they're not hideously derivative either. It's forgiven. The chorus here slows and soars nicely. I am tired and will write pretentious imagery. It has to be said, there's a whole new layer in this song in the way it sounds that hooks the listener in.
'Take The Blame' was the first thing I heard by these guys. It starts with a brief a capella bit that is admittedly a slight nonsequiteur (spelling out the window) but works nicely with the overall feel. There's a bit of a Hendrix vibe happening here. Lyrically this actually makes more sense too, so it's definitely a highlight, as well as the rather catchy nature of it as a whole. The whole band are really going for it full throttle here, and it pays off no end. Vocals soulful, guitars controlled and skillful, bass driving and rhythmic, drums crashing and possessing the momentum of several runaway trains. The slower sections (complete with effects pedals) are also well-thought-out and expertly placed, exploding into action perfectly.
As an amateur rock bassist, I have to say the riff at the start of 'Where You Want Me' is the kind of riff I want to have a wild and torrid love affair with. It's easy to learn and sounds bloody good. Whatever he's using for that sound, I want it. The guitars follow this riff once they come in. This is a slightly more bluesy track in its own way, adding to the variety of things happening here. (And it has to be said the Hendrix thing is happening here too.) Lyrically there's a hint of the pseudo-spirituality happening. They're one of those bands who have that kind of thing not in any specific form apart from the worship at the altar of good rock music. Overall, nice little closer.
Basically, this is a bloody good set of songs by a bad who've really found their footing and had a lightbulb moment. Recommended to anyone who enjoys unapologetic guitars, heavy sounds, and fists-in-the-air ROCK.
I believe that 'Take The Blame' is kicking around for free download if you're curious. I shall leave you with two things from the gig I went to:
First up, a video of 'Live Again'. Pretty good as far as youtube quality goes. And you can have a fun game of spotting my hands. Hint: black fingerless glove/armwarmer hybrids, studded wristbands and a camera.
Next up: a photo from aforementioned camera. METAL FACE!!!
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