12 years are more than a lifetime in nowadays music industry. Bass player Les Claypool was considered by many a weirdo even back in the 80s, beginning of the 90s, nowadays with the more uniformed, pattern-driven music, with all those self-proclaimed “whatever-core” stuffs pretending to be “alternatives” and post-everything we might think or dream of, the Primus project seems much more off-beat. I’m quite curious what the media will write about this and how the ex-emo kids, now sport-ware and iPhone fan teenagers will receive it. Things that don’t fit in the boxes, labels don’t stick to them and aren’t easy to chew and swallow are not so welcome nowadays. If you want to be appreciated, you must stay in line. Odd… isn’t it? While everybody struggling to sound the same, Primus comes back and sounds just like they did two decades ago. Like nothing else and like… Primus. Bloody bastards! Read more Primus – Green Naugahyde (2011)
post rock
Garbage – Garbage (1995)
Today I’m gonna take you back only 16 years. 😀
The self-titled debut album by Garbage released on August 15, 1995 was considered innovative for its fusion of Pop melodies with Alternative Rock, Trip-Hop and Electronica genres and its use of loops and sampling. 6 songs out of 12 became successful singles. “Garbage” spent over a year on both the US and UK charts, reaching the top 20 on charts worldwide and receiving multi-platinum certification in numerous territories. The album’s success was helped by the band promoting it on a year-long tour, including playing on the European festival circuit and supporting the Smashing Pumpkins throughout 1996, as well as by a run of increasingly successful singles culminating with “Stupid Girl” which in 1997 was nominated for Grammy Awards for Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group. Read more Garbage – Garbage (1995)
Prince Edward Island – This Day Is A Good Enough Day (2011)
I actually missed something like this. Joyful, but acid and fun by dry humour, sounds mainly like drinking sing-a-longs, but catchy enough, simple, straight, not bloody indie rock, not again metalcore, harsh as the Scottish whiskey and smooth like a summer night, sunny as a child play, Prince Edward Island long awaited debut album “This day is a good enough day” coming through Crocfingers Record on Monday the 29th August. But till then, you can fully enjoy the whole material on their Soundcloud page. And enjoy it’s exactly how it feels. Reminds me a little bit of Eels and some good old days. When I gave up fooling myself and waiting for some better days – on a day like this with all the stock markets falling like dominoes one after another, this day and this album is more than good enough. Read more Prince Edward Island – This Day Is A Good Enough Day (2011)
Soviet Soviet – Summer, Jesus (2011)
I just stumbled into this and it’s just such a nice surprise. Soviet Soviet are an Italian trio from Pesara and their music is a quite catchy mixture of garage and industrial rock noises with the bitter-sweet echoes of Joy Division and the straightness and healthy arrogance of The Clash. This 6 track CD was released by Tannen Records in June 2011 and it’s a quality post-punk product. The strong, pumping bass lines and the tasty guitar riffs are the strongest points of this material, these guys create dark atmosphere, have some good grooves and a few strong passages/themes. Maybe it’s not outstanding, but definitely worth to listen it.
Read more Soviet Soviet – Summer, Jesus (2011)
Screaming Trees – Last Words, The Final Recordings (2011)
This album should be released eleven years ago, but in 2000 not one record label was interested in Screaming Trees. Nowadays the world – and economy – falling apart, everything worth a try, the record labels would release even their neighbor grandma’s singing in the bath if there’s the smallest chance to cash-in a few cents. Don’t ask me what happened with the idea that music should be fun and joy… But back in 2000 Screaming Trees was fired by the industry, now they thought it’s time to deliver to their fans their last songs and it’s quite alright.
Back then, Mark Lanegan joined Queens of the Stone Age, Barrett Martin has been a touring member for several bands and worked with Stone Temple Pilots and R.E.M. along others and Gary Lee Conner started the bands The Purple Outside and Amanita Caterpillar in which he is the vocalist.
“Last Word” the eight album by Screaming Trees, released on August 2, 2011. Read more Screaming Trees – Last Words, The Final Recordings (2011)
Fuseboxx – Animated (2011)
Quality progressive metal/rock from this Manila, Philippines band. Formed in 2001 by Abby Clutario – vocals/Chapman Stick/Keyboards, Mico Ong – 6 and 7 String guitars, Eric Tubon – synthesizers/keyboards/Keytar and Lester Banzuelo – drums/V drums, Fuseboxx delivered a quite exciting blending of traditional and modern progressive metal/rock, but sometimes building in smooth pop or jazz constructions and textures or explode in intense metal hurricanes.
Read more Fuseboxx – Animated (2011)
Combat Astronomy – Flak Planet (2011)
I stumbled into Combat Astronomy last year on their Bandcam page. It worth to check out their page, there you can get all their previous releases, some of them are still for free (and donation based) as their latest EP “Barricades” released in July 2011.
Mastermind, composer – and project manager 😀 – James Huggett explore the interference area of post-rock, doom and industrial with the outbursts of free jazz and avant-garde music. Space rock elements and dirty stoner rock riffs are melting down in the contorted noises and explosive outbreaks of horns. Freaky and heavy, cutting and exciting, in a fair world Combat Astronomy should be far better known as they are. But this isn’t a fair world, Britney Spears and Take That are famous and popular and I can’t blame them, not even the industry, the subordinated media, but I blame ourselves, the undefined, comfortable, predictable, lazy, fat and careless consumer. Nobody would be able to sell us shit if we wouldn’t bought it. Read more Combat Astronomy – Flak Planet (2011)
Fen – Epoch (2011)
The second first full length album by British Fen, “Epoch” was launched at the Bull & Gate venue in London with support from the old Corpse Road on the 11th of February 2011 and already gaining positive reviews in most of the magazines. “Epoch” was released in a standard jewel CD case and as a strictly limited – 999 copies – artbook edition with 40, and two exclusive & unreleased bonus tracks, “The Wind Whispers of Loss” and “…From the Mists”.
Following the acclaimed debut, “The Malediction Fields” from 2009, “Epoch” merging black metal, post-rock and shoegaze to express loss, sorrow, exaltation and a sense of ancient pride through music.
The band is named after a region of Eastern England called The Fens. The Fens have very flat and mysterious landscapes, with many marshes and wetlands. The band members grew up in this area, and find much of the inspiration for their music and themes from the atmosphere of this area. Read more Fen – Epoch (2011)
Starscream – Future, Towards the Edge of Forever (2011)
8-bit fans and lovers will really enjoy this one. Damon Hardjowirogo and George Stroud – the two core members of this project founded back in 2007 – are delivering an exciting mixture of 8-bit electronic textures and live drums. After several EPs and featuring on compilations, “Future, Towards the Edge of Forever” is their debut full-length album of 8 steps walk into the future space of inner search. New York never sounds so out of space before.
Starscream is about vibes, grooves and feelings flowing through machines. The murderous 8-bit sound and the powerful live drums merging into one is quite innovating and gives kind of forth dimension to this music. Read more Starscream – Future, Towards the Edge of Forever (2011)
O.A.R. – King (2011)
Of a Revolution (O.A.R.) due to massive online distribution over campus networks, become a hit among college students. The band is also well known for its live performances, they often creates variations to songs at each concert, making it rare to hear a song played exactly the same way twice. The band incorporates jam elements in their concerts, resulting in many of their live songs running anywhere between 5 and 18 minutes each.
Founded in 1996 by Marc Roberge and Chris Culos, recruited Richard On and Benj Gershman and one year later recorded their debut album “The Wanderer” at Gizmo Recording Company in Silver Spring, Maryland.
They graduated from Wootton High School in Rockville, Maryland, then moved to Columbus, Ohio to attend Ohio State University where they met Jerry DePizzo. In 2000 they returned to Gizmo Recording to record “Soul’s Aflame”, their second album. Read more O.A.R. – King (2011)
