|
|
Post by RocDoc on Mar 2, 2005 16:53:13 GMT -5
Damien Rice's performance on Austin City Limits a coupla weeks ago was definitely outstanding FWIW...engaging stage presence AND a wonderfully controlled tenor...
~
No buzz on these guys? They just did a show here that was reviewed very favorably(but which I couldn't find just now..), but perhaps a bit too 'metal' for a general popular buzz to happen, eh?
BLESSED BLACK WINGS
High on Fire
A substantial haze coated the first two albums by High on Fire, but on "Blessed Black Wings," the Oakland, Calif., trio subjects its metal mayhem to the air-clearing production skills of Steve Albini, and the results are stunning at times.
Albini's fixation on crisp 'n' nasty percussion is perfect for drummer Des Kensel, who blasts his way through every song with enough energy to power a small village. Matt Pike and Joe Preston's riffs sound newly urgent, instead of indomitably sludgy. Albini will always be a prickly punk at heart, and some of that attitude probably rubbed off.
Sludge isn't necessarily a bad thing, though, and "Blessed Black Wings" offers healthy doses of the same noise that earned High on Fire its status as contender for Next Wonderful Loud Thing. The title track has a colossal bottom end; "Brother in the Wind" roils and churns without respite; and "Anointing of Seer" is almost trancelike, except for Kensel's crackling rhythms.
Elsewhere, the dominant template is Motorhead's full-bore attack, and although those moments are fittingly intense, they also show the limitations of High on Fire's no-frills approach. The idea of pairing growly vocals, breakneck rhythms, revved-up guitars and macabre lyrics is already about three decades old, and nothing on "Blessed Black Wings" violates that sacred text.
But the fact that the band sounds utterly electrified is what matters -- it's proof that metal's ol' hellwinds can still form a perfect storm.
-- Joe Warminsky
|
|
|
|
Post by skvorisdeadsorta on Mar 3, 2005 13:37:39 GMT -5
I don't know, I think this new Albini produced effort will probably blow these guys up pretty good. I saw them last year and they were far away one of the best live shows I have ever seen. I would have to agree with this review too. One of the things that works for High on Fire so much is that while yes, they are formulaic, it actually in the end works out quite nicely for them.
|
|
|
|
Post by RocDoc on Mar 4, 2005 17:23:00 GMT -5
...the review of the Chicago show which I know I read within the last 2-3 weeks(and cannot find now)made them souind friggin amazingly good....
I'm glad you enjoyed them too, Skv...
|
|
|
|
Post by ScottsyII on Mar 9, 2005 5:35:49 GMT -5
OH man! I am in heaven now!
Been surfing around some of my regular websites... found out two things...
There will be new albums this year from both The Go Betweens AND The Church
Fucking excellent! I am so freaking thrilled about these two morsels of news! I will be first in line for my copies of these respective albums, that's for sure!
Hurraaaaaah!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by luke on Mar 10, 2005 9:46:53 GMT -5
Bought that Kings of Leon because I'm going to see them in N.O. next Thursday...really good stuff, I'm digging it. Really like that song about his limp wiener.
|
|
|
|
Post by bowiglou on Mar 10, 2005 19:32:05 GMT -5
Hi all..sorrry for recent absence....anyway, though I'm not a huge purchaser these days, of my recent CDS I've bought, I rank the following:
Arcade Fire--9.72...spectacular..all the hype is well-deserved
Luna--Rendezous --9.16(or something like that)..I have to find out more about this group..I think I have a burned CD somewhere from one of you........absolutely adore this group..reminds me a little of Yo Lo Tengo
Low--The Great Destroyer---8.93...exhilirating...I know nothing about this group's prior releases, and from what I've read, longtime fans are rather dismayed with this "commercial" release......but I am very enamored with this.
Bright Eyes---forget the title, but there are effusive ratings....I give it about a 7.3...it's OK, and I do like duets with Emmylou Harris, but it hasn't completely resonated with me yet.....
|
|
|
|
Post by pattentank24 on Mar 12, 2005 7:48:30 GMT -5
The new KOL is solid,I think they still haven't been able to match the power of their live shows yet
I Keep forgeting to buy that last Luna Record,Their farewell show was outstanding back in Nov
The Arcade Fire's "Power Out" is FINALLY on the regular rotation at commercial-alternative radio it was the 2nd most added song this week(1st being another Velvet Revolver balland,ughhh)
The new Low is worth a couple of listens,even if you weren't a fan of earlier albums,I'll be interested to see where they go with this,love to see them live
Speaking of adds quick take on new singles that should be hitiing your radio by now or shortly
AudioSlave- "Be Myself"- Well which Audioslave did you like the loud howling vocals with Morello wailing,or more shit like this the sequel to "Like A Stone" (2)
Garbage- "Why Do You Love Me" - This is what you call a "COMEBACK RECORD I hope they got 10 more as strong as this, I'd really enjoyed "Beautiful" but the public turned their back on it,People love that guitar riff,and when Shirley sings "I bet you slept with my friend" it's gold(9)
NIN- "The Hand That Feeds"- It was great we played 3 x before we got a "STOP PLAYING IT OR WILL SUE E-mail
from Nothing (8)
Coldplay- "Talk" - Oh Man I was shocked by how fantastic this was the u2 comparsions(unforgetable fire era) really do exsist on this track,Then after 5 spins we were told we couldn't play it for another 2 weeks(9)
|
|
|
|
Post by pattentank24 on Mar 12, 2005 7:56:45 GMT -5
I forgot to post the Top 10 albums in Atlanta last week so for FEB 27- MAR 4
1.The Mars Volta- Frances The Mute (last week (4)(3 weeks, 1st week @#1)
2.Stars-Set Yourself On Fire (1) ,last week,2 weeks( 1 week @#1)
3.Doves- Some Cities (3) last week (3 weeks)
4.Tori Amos- The Beekeeper (9) last week ( 2 weeks)
5.Kings of Leon- Aha Shake Heartbreak (2)last week (2 weeks)
6.M83- Before The Dawn Heals Us (6) last week ( 6 weeks, 2 weeks @ #1)
7.Trail of The Dead- Worlds Apart (10) last week (6 weeks)
8. LCD Soundsystem (5) last week(4 weeks, 1week @ #1)
9.Chemical Brothers- Push The Button (8) last week, (5 weeks)
10.Bright Eyes- I'm Wide Wake It's Morning (7) (6 weeks)
Headphone Hall Of Fame
The Mars Volta-Deloused In The Comatorium
I download the book it was written about,one of the best narrative albums ever
|
|
|
|
Post by pattentank24 on Mar 12, 2005 8:54:51 GMT -5
Top 10 Albums in Atlanta March 5-12 10.  Kasier Chiefs- Employment(-) (Debut) 9.  M83- Before The Dawn Heals Us(6) last week (7 weeks, 2 weeks @#1) 8.  LCD Soundsysytem- s/t(8) last week ( 5 weeks, 1 week @#1) 7.  Tori Amos- The Beekeeper (4) last week (3 weeks) 6.  Kings of Leon- Aha Shake Heartbreak(5) last week (3 weeks) 5.  Doves- Some Cities(3) last week ( 4 weeks) 4.  Daft Punk- Human After All(-) (Debut) 3.  The Bravery-s/t(-) (Debut) 2.  Stars- Set Yourself On Fire(2) (3 weeks, 1 week @ #1) 1.  The Mars Volta- Frances The Mute(1) last week (2nd week @ #1, 4 weeks) The Headphone Hall Of Fame Pick of The Week  The Matthew Good Band- Audio of Being |
|
|
|
Post by Ryosuke on Mar 14, 2005 0:21:45 GMT -5
A bit surprised that no one has mentioned the new Mercury Rev yet. The album to beat for the top spot in the best of 2005 list, IMHO. "Vermillion" absolutely kills me everytime I listen to it.
Also, I know that there are quite a bit of Luna fans in here; any opinions on the other Galaxie 500 offshoot - Damon & Naomi? I bought The Earth Is Blue at the beginning of the year, and it's still seeing quite a bit of air time in my CD player. The music is just ethereal, and in one of their songs (the best track on the album, I might add), they give a nod to the disturbingly unique Japanese folk singer, Kan Mikami; I certainly wasn't expecting that!
The good ole US of A is starting to become my favorite country for music right now. These people did invent rock and roll, after all...
|
|
|
|
Post by Ryosuke on Mar 14, 2005 0:44:51 GMT -5
A bit surprised that no one has mentioned the new Mercury Rev yet. Actually, I'm not a bit surprised, I'm quite flabbergasted. |
|
|
|
Post by NdY on Mar 14, 2005 9:15:20 GMT -5
Listen to Coldplay's "Talk".
And then go listen to Kraftwerk's "Computer Love" off of their Computer World album.
They completely lifted the riff note for note. Dirty stinkin thieves.
|
|
|
|
Post by lunatic96 on Mar 14, 2005 10:25:02 GMT -5
Listen to Coldplay's "Talk". And then go listen to Kraftwerk's "Computer Love" off of their Computer World album. They completely lifted the riff note for note. Dirty stinkin thieves. Maybe they just figured since Sum 41 ripped them off, it was ok if they ripped off Kraftwerk. |
|
|
|
Post by riley on Mar 14, 2005 10:33:41 GMT -5
There's a lot of ripping off going on right now, but a lot of the bands doing it are at least ripping on cool bands.
Loving the Bravery disc, but the opening track is "Blue Monday".
Then there's an accoustic track on the new Idlewild that sounds like a Nickelback progression, but with good vocals and lyrics, so hopefully some of it is accidental.
|
|
|
|
Post by skvorisdeadsorta on Mar 14, 2005 11:14:09 GMT -5
I gotta tell you, you have to watch out for the hype on The Kaiser Chiefs and Bloc Party. I think both bands are just terrible.
I haven't heard the new Mercury Rev yet, but I will. Definitely an underappreciated and underrated group.
|
|
