() Review

Sigur Rós. You haven't heard post-rock until you hear () by them, their third album. I've just picked it up, so I figured to make it my newest review.

Now. Sigur Rós is not an ordinary band. Their singer uses his own form of singing (dubbed 'Hopelandic') and leaves the booklet blank for fans to write their interpretations. But this style of singing blends beautifully with the music. Using techniques like bow guitar (guitar playing with a bow from a cello or violin), and effect pedals all over the place, they create landscapes that you'd hear if you were in a cave, cold, yet warm. They can bring out your deepest emotions and memories. They are a truly amazing band. However, the () album presents no track names, instead using Untitled #1, etc. This doesn't matter however, as either way, you'll enjoy the music if you're into melodic things. I highly recommend tracks 3, 4, 6 and 7. 

Even though this is my first venture into Sigur Rós, I gotta give this album an 8. There are some songs that could do without vocals, but other than that, this album is flawless to me. It's great for getting into them, so check out some tracks.

Quickie: Green Day live in Phoenix

So I just saw Green Day live again in Phoenix last Monday. Now, last year, I saw them in Phoenix as well, so this was my third concert. It was an absolutely spectacular show. Included among the setlist, were two jams, both consisting of classic rock like: Led Zep., AC/DC, The Beatles, Black Sabbath, Van Halen, and many more. Just like last year, their music sounded somewhat BETTER than the studio version. Green Day's shows are always a blast :)

New review on Monday as well.

All You Touch and All You See

First audio review ever! This is the long-awaited DSotM review with Colby Yerxa

...And The Machine is Bleeding to Death

They don't do interviews. They usually omit their name and track listings from their album covers. Their music is largely instrumental and and contains almost no words. They are Godspeed You! Black Emperor, one of the best instrumental bands I've ever heard. They originated from Montreal, Quebec in 1994, and since then have kept a low profile and are shrouded in secrecy, as per their request.

F♯A♯∞, the band's debut album, was released in 1997. It contains only three tracks, no traditional vocals, and is, in my opinion, the album of the apocalypse. (Not to mention, an edited version of East Hastings is featured in 28 Days Later)

The first track, Dead Flag Blues, is about sixteen minutes long, and contains an excerpt of a scrapped film script thing one of the guitarists was working on. Its doomy tone and melancholic sound make the opening track, a great one. The second track, clocking in at seventeen minutes, is called East Hastings and man is this one awesome. Its tempo changes and different sounds keep you into it, and it's completely amazing to listen to. The final and longest track, at twenty-nine minutes long, Providence, is a great closer. Its powerful, beautiful, and all-around just another perfect song on this record.

All in all, it's hard to describe this bands music. But fans of Explosions in The Sky and Mogwai will most likely like this music. I give it an 8.7/10 and recommend it to hardcore fans of instrumental music. It's a great record, and it's certainly going to have a place in history if it already doesn't.

Scream At Me Until My Ears Bleed

You're a punk rock band from East Bay, California. You've put out two records so far. You're gaining popularity. It's 1993 and you're recording your third album for a major label. And you are considered the Kings of Punk in America at the time. You've a big fan base. A signature sound. Three members. And your name is Green Day. 

Green Day was formed in 1987, in California and was originally usually seen at 924 Gilman Street in Berkeley, California playing shows before being signed to a major label in 1993. In 1990 and '92 they released the albums 39/Smooth and Kerplunk! respectively on the independent label Lookout! Records. Due to this, they gained a large following of fans, and massive amounts of respect from within the punk scene. However, when they signed to major label Reprise Records, they were considered a band that "sold-out" and this alienated most fans from their music.

February 9th, 1994. Green Day is now a worldwide commercial success in the punk scene. Hitting number two on the charts U.S. Billboard 200, charting in seven other countries, and reaching Diamond status (for the first and only time in their discography) in America. With only three members, it's a crazy thing that they could impact the world so much. But then again, hearing Billie Joe Armstrong's whined-out vocals and crunching, fast riffs and Tre Cool's frantic drum fills all mixed with Mike Dirnt's catchy bass lines, it's no wonder they got so famous.

Dookie was popular amongst teens as well, mostly due to the song Longview's overt references to masturbation and getting high. Notable great songs from this record include Burnout, She, Basket Case, F.O.D., and When I Come Around. Needless to say, Dookie met with high praise. I've included a link to the Wikipedia page where the list of "Best-Of lists" is included.  

So what do I think? F*** it. You've probably got money. Buy this record! I've seen rare deals for 10.00-15.00$ and this is one of them. Whether you love them and don't own it, or don't listen to them, I highly recommend this album to any Punk fan or just a casual listener.

Isn't Anything Loveless?

How do I even begin to explain this one?

In 1983 in Dublin, Ireland guitarist/singer Kevin Shields and friend Colm Ó Cíosóig formed My Bloody Valentine, one of the loudest, and greatest bands to emerge overseas. Sometime after forming, the band moved over to London, England, picked up two members and began recording their first album Isn't Anything (pictured above). After three years of pushing out EPs, Mini-LPs and singles, Isn't Anything was finally released in 1988 to the public. Whilst not effect-laden, Isn't Anything was a rather great album. The dual vocal approach and fast, sometimes effected guitar riffs compliment each other greatly. The album spans some dreampop style and a mostly alternative/punk-ish type of music. 
Isn't Anything garnered a few 5-star reviews and some "favourable" ratings. This is nowhere near the success of their next album, but the best was yet to come. Whether you like the band or not, Isn't Anything is a great album, and I'd recommend it to indie/dream-pop fans.

In 1990, the anticpated follow-up to Isn't Anything was finally released after two years of work due to financial difficulties. The album, titled Loveless, is possibly the greatest shoegazer album of all time. This is the album that spawned shoegaze and inspired many musicians. With loud as hell guitar work, heavy with chorus pedals, distortions, layers, and tremolo, looped drums, and ethereal vocals barely audible, and catchy melodies, this album is one for the ages. Around this time, MBV concerts were so loud that some people reported suffering minor hearing loss. :) In order to get the full experience, I recommend you have a nice bass woofer and loud speakers to enjoy this album. Even after multiple listens, I can never get tired of this. Notable tracks like I Only Said, Blown A Wish, and When You Sleep are infectious and great.

Loveless was praised greatly by critics, with NME giving it an eight-out-of-ten and the album being labeled as "the outermost, innermost, uttermost rock record of 1991". In 2003 three, it was even named second to Radiohead's OK Computer in best albums of the 90s. If that isn't an accomplishment, I don't know what is.

So what do I think of these two records? Isn't Anything gets an 8/10 from me, mainly because it lacks the sound of Loveless, but is a great record nonetheless. As for Loveless itself, 10/10, 5/5, Just absolutely perfect. It's a defining record to shoegaze, and belongs right next to Ride's Nowhere. Definitely check it out if you don't mind effects and dreamscapes. <3

Timiiinnngggg

Ah, I'm trying to figure out a weekly schedule to get postings done. I'm thinking maybe Mondays and Fridays. I'll figure this out. X]

-chris

Edit: This will be during my school year, I'm on summer. Which means I can pump out reviews whenever, and I'm not sure if I'll even have a schedule. I may just write them whenever I'm bored.