This is just great, feels so good to listen it. I won’t sell you lollipops, I actually don’t have a clue what “nu jazz” means, generally speaking, I don’t know what’s modern and what not in jazz, and digging further, in music. Sometimes – nowadays – modern becomes synonym of stupid, or at least trendy and patterned, and I really don’t wanna swallow it. This is different. “Smells Like Tape Spirit” have some gentle, warm, retro and kind of classy perfume, but on the other hand it’s extremely fresh, sparkling and breathing alive, it’s – God, I hate this world! – modern, a blending of standards and improvisations, structures and free licks, a rebellion build upon the solid ground of tradition.
Read more Wojtek Mazolewski Quintet – Smells Like Tape Spirit (2011)
2011
Total Chaos – Battered and Smashed (2011)
Absolutely classy, undiluted 80s punk rock. These guys from Los Angeles delivering music – unbelievable! – since 1989 – for more than two decades.
Rob Chaos -Vox, Shawn Smash -Guitar, – D Shocker and Miguel Conflict – Bass, and Danny ‘Boy” Virus and Gearbox – Drums, juggling between The Ramones and The Exploited, delivering the perfect blending of both approaches. The band was formed as a response to the rising, commercial, “new style” of punk widely promoted by media and record labels and it was not only music, but a forum to convey important political and social views.
Total Chaos along with many others started organizations such as – UVP (United Valley Punks) OCP (Orange County Peace Punks) and AGC (Alternative Gathering Collective ) holding social events like:Food Not Bombs, giving support to the Big Mountain Indian Reservation and helping to open the Los Angeles Anarchist Center. The idea of social responsibility was a significant thing from organizing peace punk picnics to protesting against the Gulf War, their music had meaning and stood for something.
Read more Total Chaos – Battered and Smashed (2011)
Project Pitchfork – Quantum Mechanics (2011)
With 12 albums, 7 eps, and several compilation appearances, toured extensively and played hundreds of shows all over the world, Project Pitchfork is one of the leading German industrial/dark-electro bands.
Delivering danceable beats, warm melodies and industrial textures with powerful chords, Project Pitchfork find their own blending of sounds and create their unique style juggling between EBM, IDM, industrial, synthpop and electronic dance music.
Formed in 1989 by Peter Spilles and Dirk Scheuber, they released their debut album “Dhyani” in 1991 through Hypnobeat Records.
In 1995, Project Pitchfork established their own label, Candyland Entertainment, through which they release the majority of their own material as well as the material of other bands. Read more Project Pitchfork – Quantum Mechanics (2011)
Kittie – I’ve Failed You (2011)
Scheduled to be officially released on August 30th 2011, the sixth studio album by the Canadian quartet of women Kittie will blow right in your face. As always.
This line-up – Morgan Lander – lead vocals, Rhythm guitar, Mercedes Lander – drums, backing vocals, Ivy Vujic – bass and Tara McLeod – lead guitar – stand since 2008 and this is their second album and the girls delivered another set of 11 noisy, powerful and biting Metal tracks. These girls rocks hard as any boys and “I’ve Failed You” comes like whispering: kittie, kittie, kittie…. and bang!! – you don’t know what actually hits you. Read more Kittie – I’ve Failed You (2011)
Snurfu – Bag of Bones – EP (2011)
There’s not too many things to say about a band formed only three years ago and delivering their first EP. Watching their video for “372nd Military Police” on YouTube I was thinking they are a punk band juggling between New Model Army and The Exploited, later listening their four songs from the EP I realized this is (only) Rock (And Roll), there’s something raw, garage and punk taste-like about it, but still, this is unpolished, good-old Rock and it feels alright.
The opening “Your Sister Too” have a kind of Velvet Revolver after-taste, it’s right in the middle between Guns N’ Roses and Stone Temple Pilots, between Rock and Post-Grunge. “My Empty Song” bring to the surface some Southern/Stoner roots and sounds, it’s quite classy and the guitar riff is actually pretty wicked. Read more Snurfu – Bag of Bones – EP (2011)
Red Hot Chili Peppers – I’m With You (2011)
I’m wondering for how many more albums they have contract with the Warner Bros. because I actually see no other reason to deliver new materials. RHCP kind of pissing on their own grave and the only evolution from their previous album is that “I’m With You” fortunately is considerably shorter, instead two discs we’ve got only one. “Stadium Arcadium” was a chaotic/eclectic, extremely scattered release, variety actually meaning only fluctuate quality songs. Well, critics praised as the best RHCP album and it sold over 7 million copies, so, probably something it’s wrong with me and not with the Uplift Mofo Party guys.
Kiedis said the recording almost was called “Dr. Johnny Skinz’s Disproportionately Rambunctious Polar Express Machine-Head,†based on a drug experience and the cover image by the controversial British artist, Damien Hirst is already considered by many as a repulsive one. Well, I’m sick – and once again – I find the cover might be the only interesting thing about the new RHCP. Read more Red Hot Chili Peppers – I’m With You (2011)
Cosmonauts Day – Live Demos, EP (2011)
I’m gonna handle this one backwards: “The Last Watchman”, the closing track of this EP, it’s a beautiful, shining, Progressive Rock song with a friendly, warm vibe. Somehow it sticks in your head and can’t get rid of it.
Now I’m gonna get back to the beginning and I tell ya a secret: you can download for free this EP from the band’s Bandcamp page.
From Moscow, Russia, Cosmonauts Day delivered a quite unique mixture of post-rock, stoner/sludge metal and space/progressive rock with some exotic aromas, original structures and harmonies. Read more Cosmonauts Day – Live Demos, EP (2011)
Gravity – Syndrome (2011)
With roots back to classic and symphonic Heavy Metal, merging Death Metal with Groove and Nu Metal, Gravity are the latest promise of Montpellier Metal’s stage. Singed to M&O label last year, they released their debut full-length album entitled “Syndrom” in 2011. Emilie (vocals), Alex and Mathieu (guitars), Tim (bass) and Hugo (drums) delivered a quite unique blending of Metal sub-genres. Emilie covers a large range of singing styles from classic, clean singing to deadly howling and bloody screaming, sometimes evoking opera styles, other times – mainly – being extremely brutal and combine Death and Hardcore styles. The music is also colorful, while I’m getting bored by too many so-called whatever-core released lately, Gravity delivering quality modern Metal without repeating the trendy cliches and patterns. Read more Gravity – Syndrome (2011)
Cansei de Ser Sexy – La Liberacion (2011)
Got tired of being sexy? Free yourself and dance till the end of the world and everything further.
Scheduled to be released tomorrow – 22 August 2011 – after a three years gap, the third album by CSS – abbreviation for Cansei de Ser Sexy – “La Liberación”, is another tasty piece of groovy, extremely danceable, fresh and driving music right from São Paulo, Brazil. last time this vibe was delivered by Copacabana Club, another great Brazilian band. This mixture of Indie Pop and Rock, keyboards and guitars, it’s something extremely simple and catchy way to express yourself effortless, but without repeating yourself or following trends. And this music feels good because it comes naturally, it seems to be honest, Adriano Cintra and his band mate don’t try to sell you something else than they actually are. Read more Cansei de Ser Sexy – La Liberacion (2011)
The Dead Kenny G’s – Operation Long Leash (2011)
If this isn’t a great band name – obviously quoting Biafra’s band name, I don’t know what it is! Eventually The Dead Kenny G Spots… 😆 😆 😆 Songs such as “Melvin Jones” merged explosive Noise-Metal with exotic aromas and Ethno-Jazz blowing, but one thing is absolutely sure: they are loud. Imagine a Rock-like noisy and loud Jazz band with suspicious taste for Klezmer and Metal and Hardcore, eventually like Primus. Not accidentally I mentioned Les Claypool’s “insane brigade”, they toured together last year.
Eric Walton aka Skerik (saxophones, keyboards, loops, samples, effects and guitar), Brad Houser (bass, baritone saxophone, bass clarinet and electronics) and Mike Dillon (vibraphone and percussion) – aka Critters Buggin -, are The Dead Kenny G’s! This is the highest level of musical subversion, stay tune or stay away, injuries are unavoidable! Read more The Dead Kenny G’s – Operation Long Leash (2011)
