Don't bother to turn down the treble knob or the bass for that matter. In fact, run in the other direction and hang on. My latest rediscovery is the band Sunna (One Minute Science). This is by far the best trip in sound I have taken in a long time. Imagine if Kurt Cobain, Filter and S.T.P were to spawn, the result would be Sunna.
This album is a perfect mix of hard grinding sound (I'm not trading) mixed with dark and seriously disturbing ballads (I miss). One reviewer said "This album seethes with testosterone-driven intensity". I don't expect that this genre of music is for everyone. You won't likely get the urge to prance around your apartment while this is playing, though Insanity Pulse will have you head banging along to it's beat. In sharp contrast, O.D and Forlorn might make you tear up and take notice of it's precise and aching energy. Combine the two approaches and you'll see that it's a colossal effort at sturdy rock. Each time I listen to this cd, I have to be reminded of the fact that this project is from the same genius that brought us the stunning sounds of Massive Attack. Quite the departure, aggressive, moody and definitely an original. It had me white-knuckled at the armrest of my sofa, while I let the pure tension rush through me.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Flawless victory
Last night I sat, looking into my glass of white, contemplating the world, all the while Embrace loomed in the ether.
Their latest album, Out Of Nothing, is nothing short of brilliant. We're taken down a lane of memories filled with broken cobbles, deep potholes and cracks that would break even your mothers back.
This time round, the brothers MacNamara push the envelope and come through with a heart wrenching, atmospheric trip that will no doubt leave many thinking they're star crossed between Oasis and Spiritualized.
The opening track Ashes is a bit of a departure, as it's broader and more stylistic than their usual rock inspired anthems. It'll definitely inspire.
The cd plays out like a score to a film filled with a main character that suffers from little more than disappointments in love and life. Although the lyrics are dark, it's not long before you become more than a willing participant in it's sweeping journey. Glorious Day starts out as a lullaby with soft sounds soon swept under by a beat that clings ever so slightly to hope and then suddenly crashes down at your feet in despair. It's theme is more about relying on things that are dismal than anything else. I read somewhere that the track Keeping is actually the only song on the album that's about Danny MacNamara's ex-girlfriend. It's a little hard to fathom, considering the tone of the entire project. He claims that he promised himself he wasn't going to write any songs about her and their unfortunate demise, but in the end, their story served as a muse for one of the saddest songs I've heard in a long time.
Over all, it's books worth of both horrible and lovely things, as the lead singer had said recently in an interview. After listening to this lush and lyrical diary, I have to concur.
Their latest album, Out Of Nothing, is nothing short of brilliant. We're taken down a lane of memories filled with broken cobbles, deep potholes and cracks that would break even your mothers back.
This time round, the brothers MacNamara push the envelope and come through with a heart wrenching, atmospheric trip that will no doubt leave many thinking they're star crossed between Oasis and Spiritualized.
The opening track Ashes is a bit of a departure, as it's broader and more stylistic than their usual rock inspired anthems. It'll definitely inspire.
The cd plays out like a score to a film filled with a main character that suffers from little more than disappointments in love and life. Although the lyrics are dark, it's not long before you become more than a willing participant in it's sweeping journey. Glorious Day starts out as a lullaby with soft sounds soon swept under by a beat that clings ever so slightly to hope and then suddenly crashes down at your feet in despair. It's theme is more about relying on things that are dismal than anything else. I read somewhere that the track Keeping is actually the only song on the album that's about Danny MacNamara's ex-girlfriend. It's a little hard to fathom, considering the tone of the entire project. He claims that he promised himself he wasn't going to write any songs about her and their unfortunate demise, but in the end, their story served as a muse for one of the saddest songs I've heard in a long time.
Over all, it's books worth of both horrible and lovely things, as the lead singer had said recently in an interview. After listening to this lush and lyrical diary, I have to concur.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Brilliant disguises
In the end, it's music that matters most. Nothing more, nothing less. Ok, you may be saying to yourselves, what about Family?, Money?, Your job?, Your house?, Your health?, Art? - Well, I've never been one to mince words, so I'll just say that music, at least for myself, only furthers in helping one appreciate all of those things. Afterall, it inspires and as my special friend just pointed out to me today, "it's currency for the soul". We agree!
And so it is, a new day with lyrical genius smothering my ears in joyful bliss.
If we truly only have five senses, then those which make up the next eight must be comprised of four young men from the UK. Aptly named, The Thirteen Senses. Surely 2004 was a great year for this outfit, if for nothing more than the deluge of happy comparisons they received from the music critics, touting them as the new ColdPlay. Though the similarities are there, with the emotive lyrics, the soft voice of lead singer Will South, the streaming piano and delicate chords - it ends there. The more times I listen to this album, which is something now like ten in the last four days, I discovered that this band is closer to the sounds of Radiohead, with the earnest way in which the music plays out and obvious attempts at musical distortion. You get a distinct glimpse into their classical influences too (Do no wrong). It's a melancholic journey which like many other young bands, is filled with stories of heartbreak, sorrow and pain. Just the way EMO's like it.
Salt wound routine made me take instant notice. Will's voice soars above you as you get drawn into his hackneyed torment. If you were to dissect the lyrics and ponder them as separate from the music, a depressingly inescapable portrait of miserable reality is painted. Team these with the music though, and the poetry of the song becomes so overwhelming that you can't help but feel elated that such beauty can be crafted, and thankful that you are allowed to experience them for yourself. To that end, the track Lead us would have fit in quite nicely on the Bends (Radiohead), as it sounds eerily like Nice Dream. The closer to this brilliant cd is Automatic, a dreamy lyrical tale which had me instantly comparing it to No Surprises (Radioheads' Ok Computer), which is by far the most moving and depressing song ever written. Irony is glorious, isn't it?
And so it is, a new day with lyrical genius smothering my ears in joyful bliss.
If we truly only have five senses, then those which make up the next eight must be comprised of four young men from the UK. Aptly named, The Thirteen Senses. Surely 2004 was a great year for this outfit, if for nothing more than the deluge of happy comparisons they received from the music critics, touting them as the new ColdPlay. Though the similarities are there, with the emotive lyrics, the soft voice of lead singer Will South, the streaming piano and delicate chords - it ends there. The more times I listen to this album, which is something now like ten in the last four days, I discovered that this band is closer to the sounds of Radiohead, with the earnest way in which the music plays out and obvious attempts at musical distortion. You get a distinct glimpse into their classical influences too (Do no wrong). It's a melancholic journey which like many other young bands, is filled with stories of heartbreak, sorrow and pain. Just the way EMO's like it.
Salt wound routine made me take instant notice. Will's voice soars above you as you get drawn into his hackneyed torment. If you were to dissect the lyrics and ponder them as separate from the music, a depressingly inescapable portrait of miserable reality is painted. Team these with the music though, and the poetry of the song becomes so overwhelming that you can't help but feel elated that such beauty can be crafted, and thankful that you are allowed to experience them for yourself. To that end, the track Lead us would have fit in quite nicely on the Bends (Radiohead), as it sounds eerily like Nice Dream. The closer to this brilliant cd is Automatic, a dreamy lyrical tale which had me instantly comparing it to No Surprises (Radioheads' Ok Computer), which is by far the most moving and depressing song ever written. Irony is glorious, isn't it?
Monday, January 16, 2006
Leaders of the free world, untie!
This is brought to us by the never ending genius that is Rick Mercer:
"Usually when there's an election, there's a script that both sides follow and the rest of us read along - we all know our parts.
In a federal election the leaders then fly around the country, make all kinds of promises, which we all take with a grain of salt but based on those promises, we decide who we're going to vote for.
But the promises, whether they are kept or not, are generally within the realm of sanity. This time, it's completely different - the leaders are acting like this isn't a real federal election, or a provincial election or even a municipal election for that matter and for the longest time, I couldn't figure out what this reminded me of, then it dawned on me - HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT COUNCIL!
In high school elections, 90% of the candidates are serious, but there's always some guy that gets up there, high as a kite, makes all sorts of insane announcements and everyone loves him. When I was in grade 10, some dude with a mullet promised free beer in the fountains and a smoking room inside the school! My how we cheered, and that's what Martin and Harper are like: they're like two divorced parents trying to buy their children's love...We're the kids, they're our two dads!
Except this time, they're not trying to buy our love with just an X-Box or a few easy bake ovens here..NO!, they've gone completely off the head. Martin is spending like Belinda Stronick in a shoe store. We're talking billions of dollars every time he turns around and Harper is outspending him!
There's a rumor going around that tomorrow Harper's going to promise everyone in Ontario a ferris wheel and a pony!
This is not good Canada! I hate to be old fashioned here but STEPHEN! PAUL!, where in gods name is all the money coming from?
It is a very bad sign indeed when the worst case scenario is that whoever wins this election actually keeps their promises, because at the end of the day, free beer in a fountain is a great idea, I just don't want to pay for it!"
"Usually when there's an election, there's a script that both sides follow and the rest of us read along - we all know our parts.
In a federal election the leaders then fly around the country, make all kinds of promises, which we all take with a grain of salt but based on those promises, we decide who we're going to vote for.
But the promises, whether they are kept or not, are generally within the realm of sanity. This time, it's completely different - the leaders are acting like this isn't a real federal election, or a provincial election or even a municipal election for that matter and for the longest time, I couldn't figure out what this reminded me of, then it dawned on me - HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT COUNCIL!
In high school elections, 90% of the candidates are serious, but there's always some guy that gets up there, high as a kite, makes all sorts of insane announcements and everyone loves him. When I was in grade 10, some dude with a mullet promised free beer in the fountains and a smoking room inside the school! My how we cheered, and that's what Martin and Harper are like: they're like two divorced parents trying to buy their children's love...We're the kids, they're our two dads!
Except this time, they're not trying to buy our love with just an X-Box or a few easy bake ovens here..NO!, they've gone completely off the head. Martin is spending like Belinda Stronick in a shoe store. We're talking billions of dollars every time he turns around and Harper is outspending him!
There's a rumor going around that tomorrow Harper's going to promise everyone in Ontario a ferris wheel and a pony!
This is not good Canada! I hate to be old fashioned here but STEPHEN! PAUL!, where in gods name is all the money coming from?
It is a very bad sign indeed when the worst case scenario is that whoever wins this election actually keeps their promises, because at the end of the day, free beer in a fountain is a great idea, I just don't want to pay for it!"
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