An eighteen songs epic in four acts, “David Comes to Life”, the third full-length studio album by Canadian hardcore punk band Fucked Up is an over 77 minutes trip into an universe juggling between alternative and post-rock shredding and punk rock energy and the space between is fulfilled with everything from classic hard rock to pop and hardcore punk. It’s like “Tommy” – the 1969’s classic rock opera by The Who – were re-interpreted by a rebellious teenager punk band grown up on Offspring and Green Day diet. And actually, “David Comes to Life” is a rock opera, comparable with Green Day’s “American Idiot” (2004) or “21st Century Breakdown” (2009).
Released on June 7, 2011 in North America and June 6, 2011 elsewhere on Matador Records in CD and double LP formats, “David Comes to Life” became Fucked Up’s first charting album in the United States ranking at number 83 on the Billboard 200. Read more Fucked Up – David Comes to Life (2011)
post rock
Dead Can Dance – Spleen and Ideal (1986)
There are bands and there are myths, legends. There are bands playing music and bands creating music, inventing new approaches, discovering new dimensions, tear down walls and open brand new highways. There are bands with one or two best records and bands with all their records being best ones. Some says, in the existence of the band the second album is the most important and it proves if the band have or haven’t potential. “Spleen and Ideal”, released on 1st September 1986 (in Australia), was Dead Can Dance’s second album and the band consist of Gerrard and Perry decided to abandon guitars in favor of classic symphonic instruments such as cello, trombones and timpani. A serious decision and one which probably change the course of the band’s history, but not only. Read more Dead Can Dance – Spleen and Ideal (1986)
Powerman 5000 – Copies, Clones and Replicants (2011)
Michael Cummings aka Spider One is most known to being the younger brother of Rob Zombie. He’s also the founder and only original member of Powerman 5000 – sometimes abbreviated to PM5K – and their styles and sound have often been also compared to Rob Zombie. “Copies, Clones & Replicants” are a fun collection of cover tunes released yesterday, 30th August and we’ve got 12 songs originally performed by artist such as T. Rex, Devo, Van Halen, David Bowie, Twisted Sister, The Cars, The Clash, etc mashed up, twisted inside out and reassembled by PM5K in their music blender.
Spider One said they continue working on original material, consider this an interlude. Read more Powerman 5000 – Copies, Clones and Replicants (2011)
Killing Joke – Killing Joke (1980)
A real underground pearl, still not enough appreciated, but an undisputed underground classic, the self-titled studio debut album by the British Killing Joke was self-produced and released in August, 1980 worldwide under E’G Records. The song “The Wait” was covered by Metallica in 1987 and released on “The $5.98 E.P.: Garage Days Re-Revisited” and “Requiem” was covered by Foo Fighters in 1997 as a b-side to the “Everlong” single. Finding modest commercial success, Killing Joke have influenced many later bands, such as Nirvana, Ministry, Amen, Lamb of God, Nine Inch Nails, Porcupine Tree, Napalm Death, Behemoth, Amebix, Big Black, Opeth, Murderdolls, Godflesh, Dead by April, Tool, Prong, Metallica, Franz Ferdinand, Primus, Jane’s Addiction, Soundgarden, Foo Fighters, Faith No More, Blacklist, Shihad, Pitchshifter, Das Oath, Rammstein and Korn, and gained a cult status with their industrial metal among critics and both fans of post punk and heavy metal. Read more Killing Joke – Killing Joke (1980)
Pearl Jam – Ten (1991)
20 years ago “Ten” exploded out of the blue. The album initially sold slowly upon its release, but by the second half of 1992 it became a breakthrough success, attaining gold certification and by February 1993, American sales of “Ten” surpassed those of “Nevermind”, the breakthrough album by Nirvana. “Ten” bring Pearl Jam to the elite of the Seattle grunge movement, along with Alice in Chains, Nirvana and Soundgarden. Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain angrily attacked Pearl Jam, claiming the band were commercial sellouts, but later Cobain reconciled with Vedder. While Pearl Jam was accused of jumping on the grunge bandwagon at the time, “Ten” had overwhelming contribution in popularizing alternative rock in the mainstream. The album has been certified diamond by the RIAA in the United States and by June 2011, it had sold 9,869,000 copies, and remains Pearl Jam’s most commercially successful album.
The album produced three hit singles: “Alive”, “Even Flow” and “Jeremy”. Pearl Jam received four awards at the 1993 MTV Video Music Awards for its video for “Jeremy”, including Video of the Year and Best Group Video, the band refused to make a video for “Black” and this attitude began a trend of the band refusing to make videos for its songs, despite it being common knowledge that music videos were one of the most vital sales tools in any band’s arsenal.
Released on 27th August, 1991, “Ten” is one of the rock classics, one of the (few) records that actually matters. Maybe meanwhile Vedder and his band mates lost their guts – and direction -, but back than Pearl Jam rocked. Read more Pearl Jam – Ten (1991)
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)
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)
Rollins Band – Nice (2001)
“Your number is one, your mind decided, your number is one, you are undivided…”
Without MTV and generally speaking, any media support and striking favorites such as “Low Self Opinion” and “Liar”, the last two albums – at least, up to date – of Rollins made no impression outside his fan base. It’s quite unfair, the 2000’s “Get Some Go Again” and the follow-up “Nice” released next year was two quality Post-Hardcore/Modern Rock albums. Released exactly ten years ago, on 21th August 2001, “Nice” perhaps it isn’t the best Rollins Band album, but it’s a… nice one. And still, I can’t figure out what the f*ck best means?! Harder, faster, bigger, stronger, louder? Whatever!
And actually good songs were plenty on it, just to mention a few: “Up for It”, “Your Number Is One”, “I Want So Much More”, “Hangin’ Around”, “Going Out Strange”, “Let That Devil Out”, etc Read more Rollins Band – Nice (2001)
