DECEMBER - MY FUCKING MUSIC, AND FUCK THE REST OF YOU

Well, the year is pretty much over, so for the final month, I decided to listen to MY music.

When December 1st rolled around, I pulled up an album I'd been saving of a Japanese Harmonica Virtuoso playing with a blues cover band. I was totally unable for it, I just can't process new music right now. I couldn't deal with it. So on went Hancock's Headhunters, which was the only music I listened to for about 3 days. I didn't want lyrics, I didn't want opinions, I didn't want ambience, I just needed something that was music, pure and simple, and something I had already processed. From there it was downhill, the next couple of days was Earth Wind & Fire, the Bee Gees and the Boogie Nights Soundtrack.. And you want to know something, Disco is fucking awesome. There's a reason it took over the world for a brief period. I mean even when Marvin Gaye tried to parody Disco he made one of the best Disco tracks there is.

So from there I went back to my five albums (this had came up when I had discussed the plan months ago with Jimmy, and he decided to mix some music from them). These albums are really in no particular order, and I'm not going to rate them per say, but say what they meant to me really.

The Blues Brothers - Original Soundtrack

Wow, what an incredible lineup. This is effectively the entire back line of the Stax studio from the golden era of Rhythm & Blues (the real kind, not the bastardized kind). I saw this film when I was young and impressionable, and it's musical leanings has affected me ever since. And to be fair to the two Blues Brothers Belushi & Akroyd, they sing quite well. As Steve Cropper said in the behind the scenes "they sang in key, and they didn't miss their queues!". The anecdote that always stays with me is how when Akyroyd & Landis were looking for the stars for the movie, effectively everyone they asked was available because their careers at that time were in the toilet. We've got James Brown, Arethra Frankling, Ray Charles and John Lee Hooker in here (to be fair, John Lee Hooker wasn't on the soundtrack, but the movie is definitely where I was introduced to him). And what else is great, so many of these amazing danceable tracks. How can you not like this album, it's just simply amazing. Some tracks are slower than others, but this stuff is toe tappingly great. This album lead me to investigate classic Motown, James Brown, John Lee Hooker and many others.

Jamiroquai - Synkronized

After being exposed to them a few albums earlier, Jamiroquai were an early favorite of mine. Are the greatest jazz funk band ever? Probably not, but these guys were the gateway for me to get in to funk, and later on jazz. Those bass lines are incredible, and Jay Kay still lays down vocals that fit the music fantastically. From an instrumentation perspective at least, let's be fair and say that the content of said lyrics may not stand up to scrunity of any intensity. This album was the last album that had Stuart Zender on bass, and whilst the funk disco based direction of the album is one of the things I love most about it, it's also the pushing in that direction that made him leave the band. I remember getting tickets to see Jamiroquai in Dublin for the tour of this album, and purposely didn't listen to the album for the several months before the gig. There's a few tracks on this album, such as "Black Capricorn Day", that many people will not even realise is Jamiroquai. The track that stands out to me the most coming back to it is "Were Do We Go From Here". Such epic bass! This always made me want to dance, and get further in to disco and funk.

John Carpenter - Escape From New York

Film is a big thing to me, sometimes I think more so than music. And one of my favorite directors is John Carpenter, who also led me towards electronic music. I have listened to this soundtrack over and over again, with the notable exception of "Everyone's Coming To New York". Surprisingly for a film OST, it glides from track to track like it was intended to be that way. Each track has this gorgeous simple slow build, at time a thumping beat that accentuates the tension. I mean there's almost an entire new genre of music now called "Synthwave" which in no small part takes it's queues from this era of music. I would say he was ahead of his time, but I think he was exactly of his time, these kind of soundtracks would most likely not be made today, and that would be a crying shame. The fact that this is one of my favorite movies and I can envisage the badassedness of vintage Kurt Russell running through the charred remains of St. Louis can only help.

Cowboy Bebop - Cowboy Bebop

This was most definitely my gateway in to jazz. I first saw the series Cowboy Bebop back around 1999, and was totally blown away. I had seen things such as Blood and Akira, but they always seemed to be focusing on the shock and the drama. Cowboy Bebop however was something totally new, something I had never seen before. It really got me to appreciate television as a genuine media. People talk of how Sopranos changed television in to an acceptable form, well I assure you Cowboy Bebop changed anime in a similar way. Each episode almost like a miniature film, and it always felt relatable (obviously not to say I can relate to piloting a spaceship and picking up criminals for bounties), and the writing and cinematography was incredible. I still contest some of the best fight sequences I've seen are contained within this series. And the music is simply phenomenal. Yoko Kanno is the master of cermonies here, and how with such little experience of jazz she can arrange such incredible pieces with forever astound me. I remember being alone after having moved to France around 2001, and this was one of the few CDs I had brought with me. I listened to it over and over again, sometimes for hours on repeat. Each time you can hear the littlest pieces that add more and more to each track, there is so much texture and life to the songs it almost defies belief. When they recorded their New York style pieces, Rudy Van Gelder was the engineer. It's simply incredible stuff, and in a simliar way to the Blues Brothers, has some of the best musicians in the genre, by virtue of the fact that it's not popular music. I love these guys, I feel like I will listen to them till the day I die.

Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - Moanin'

Whilst I always like to say I enjoy jazz, it usually comes down to I enjoy Art Blakey. This album is important, as the title track is the one that made me want to pick up piano again after an almost twenty year hiatus. Bobby Timmons silky touch over the ivories is simply mesmerizing. Every time I hear that title track I just want to sit back, close my eyes, and take in all the beauty that it has to offer. And this is the absolute beauty of jazz, it's not being minimalist, it's not trying to be anything more than it needs to be, it has almost exactly the amount of notes and instruments it needs to make an incredible textured, detailed and yet simple performance. It is pure music, for the sake of being so. It's not pretentious, it just is. I'm listening again to this, and the chills are traveling down my spine as I type to the sultry tones of Lee Morgan on his trumpet, which gracefully transitions to Timmons exquisite touch. I love the Jazz Messengers, I have over twenty albums of theirs on my phone so I just throw them on and listen through. Art Blakey is the true band leader, he is perfectly content to keep the beat, sit back on the drums and not interfere with the flow when it is there. And that's not to say he can't drum, you just need to hear Evidence when they played with Monk to know that man CAN drum, but chooses only to do what is needed. He's so good he almost doesn't need to be there.

NOVEMBER - RICHARD BROWN

1. Mr. Bungle - California (Goodbye Sober Day)
2. Led Zeppelin - IV
3. John Martyn - Solid Air
4. Kingston Wall - I
5. Crosby Stills Nash & Young

Ritchie is the gentleman who has taken it upon himself to teach me piano. Well, he is doing so for the exchange of money and sanity. I could probably help him a little more on the sanity side of things if I would actually practice, and play in a key other that F minor pentatonic. But hey, we can't all be winners Ritchie.

Ritchie is most definitely a hippie who is starting to possess a roundly cynical view upon the world at large. He has a ways to go until he is as cynical and jaded as I, but I'll slowly drag him there at the cost to his idealism and faith in the human race in general.

Mr Bungle - California (Goodbye Sober Day)

It actually came up not so long ago that when I offered my initial opinion of this album as being a negative one, our poor talented bassist in our circles Issac (there is more than one poor talented bassist, but this is the guy in particular we're referring to) couldn't sleep when he heard I didn't gel with this album. Much in the same way as D-Styles, this is kind of an acquired taste, but all the sweeter for it. It's more than a little eclectic, and to say there is some bizarre changes throughout would be an understatement. It's a little difficult to pick one track, as they flow from style to style (and often, within that one track to which you may try to nail down). I think the last track is actually my favorite, but that change requires a whole album to build an be appreciated. It's almost as if the entirety of this album was made to build to that heavy point that punctuates the track so viciously. Knowing what I now know, I wouldn't be surprised their previous albums were designed to flow seamlessly in to this one. One thing is for sure, I do intend to find out by listening to more Mr. Bungle.

Led Zeppelin - IV

I think I may have screwed things up here. I'm sure I have heard all these tracks at some point before, and I may have even heard this album before, but hey, it got put on the list, so here we are listening to it. Well here I am listening to it rather, I certainly hope none of you out there is stupid enough to listen to all these albums in the fashion to which I have. It was a terrible mistake and this is your cautionary tale. Don't listen to everything I've listened to this year unless you really don't prize your sanity or self respect highly at all. And maybe in more regards to the latter than the former, I've never had much self respect to begin with, and as regards sanity, that is also very much up for debate. But enough, Led Zepplin, what more is there to say? Great cruising rock, it's almost a case of if you like your music is any way modern, how could you not like Led Zepplin? Great simply (and remember, we don't confuse simple with stupid) rock, great rhythm, and probably the best know rock ballad of all time in the form of "Stairway To Heaven". If you've never listened to any Led Zepplin, you need to get out from what ever rock you've been hiding yourself under and rectify that errror (yep, I did notice that made a type in the previous "error", but thought it funnier to stay there).

John Martyn - Solid Air

This is actually what Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young should have been. A pure man playing his guitar with the minimalist of backing and pretentiousness. It's a great album, that flows beautifully from track to track, with those sultry tones to guide us, accompanied by some wonderful acoustic, smooth bass, and occasional additions from some muted keyboard. Nothing overshadows what we need to hear, and at the same time nothing is missing. I don't know how this John Martyn is, but I think I'm going to have to track down some more of his acoustical efforts at some point down the road. A very chilled record, not something that requires intense concentration, but excellent none the less.

Kingston Wall - I

There's nothing really bad to say about this, it does seem a little standard rock however. It reminds me a little of Hendrix era rock, so it was quite funny when they turn around and play "Fire" a few tracks down the line. Again it is good music, and it doesn't offend me, but it doesn't really do anything new or exciting. Good background music, I get the feeling these guys may give a great live gig. I find it difficult to write much more about these guys, I mean there's nothing bad here, but it doesn't fill any musical void for me thus far in my life, so it's almost what is the point?


Crosby Stills Nash & Young

Four iconoclasted musicians, all now worth millions each, playing in front of an audience of more millionaires who all paid highly for this privilege of hearing these four acoustically felate each other for an hour, and record the whole thing, and will then most likely turn around and sell it through Time Warner Classics or whatever label is popular that month.
Of course none of the audience have any idea of the music of these guys, which is made all the more hilarious when one of our egotistical troupe of performers shouts to the audience "to sing along now", to which none of them fucking do. Hell, these people can't even clap in time. They're the morons who pay god knows how much money for a single plum, in perfume, floating in a man's hat.
I could not listen to this album in one sitting. I could only listen to it for a couple of tracks at a time without feeling the need to wretch in disgust. The fucking quaintness of them playing a song for Mayor John Daly, Jesus. It's like when a prizefighter makes his way up from the ghetto, how can he really unleash the animal in the ring when he wafts to sleep in a million dollar mansion with a supermodel beside him? It's depressing to admit it, but I guess when you talk about folk rock and blues, not long after these guys get money, they lose the edge. Preaching about social injustice is a little more difficult to do when you're wearing the best of Versace and flying everywhere on a private jet.

OCTOBER - NAIVE TED

1. Dr Octagon - Dr Octagonecologyst (Blue Flowers)
2. Fuguees - The Score
3. Orbital - In Sides
4. Plastikman - Artifaks
5. Jeff Mills - Live At The Liquid Room Vol. 2


I just opened up this text file, and one of the greatest things about it is I'd already written a few token pieces of text with respect to this month, which is great, it means even less of this crap fest I have to relive.

Naive Ted, who I really don't know that much at all, dropped this list upon me of his musical influences. Quite interesting as I did have one of his albums from Luke's list, so in a roundabout way I have "reviewed" one of the albums of one of this years "victims". From what Jimmy told me, I was hoping for some obscure jazz, but alas, that is very far from what I got. I don't think there was anything from this month that I would ever feel the need to go back and relisten to.


Dr Octagon - Dr Octagonecologyst (Blue Flowers)

This is a weird one alright, as Jimmy told me, this guy is "touched". I mean Wikipedia describes him as "one of hip-hop's most eccentric and unusual personalities." We're talking about hip hop here, I mean this is not a genre unacustomed with weirdness. To be bizare by those standards takes some fucking doing I'm pretty sure. And despite the weirdness of the lyrics that stream throughout, this is actually flows really great. It reminds me a lot of Sebs's stuff last month, it's old school hip hop, but some of the content... I'm trying to listen to this stuff as music, but when a guy is going on about ass surgeries, it can be a little difficult. That said, it really doesn't bother me that much! I love these beats, I love his vocal delivery, I will actually totally listen to this album again. I was going to make this album number two, but rethinking it I am moving it up to number one. Yep, it's better than the Fugees.


Fugees - The Score

First listen through this album didn't really gel with me, but after multiple listens it's starting to slowly sink it's hooks in. More than a little bit gangsta in some places, and the shouting and "huh yeahs" don't add to the enjoyment.
Whilst there's in particular one or two nice covers in here (Killing Me Softly being front and centre), having some homeboy give his grunts over it has little to add. Where's Lauren Hill's smooth sultry tones not enough for you Wycleaf Jean?
That said it's been noted on the net she's quite the fruitcake. And that's coming from Wycleaf Jean ..... So maybe it was her idea to have the grunting?
Some solid tracks in here, and could be well worth a listen.


Orbital - In Sides

I feel like I'm trapped in a rave filled techno soundtrack of a Playstation game here (and the game is WipeOut I've since discovered.)
The saddest thing is I'm starting to dig this album. It's got some dark thumpy vibes (technical language there), but still feeeling like I may be missing out on the full experience when I'm sitting here trying to listen to this music, as opposed to hopped up on mushrooms in some glowstick illuminated abandoned industrial complex surrounded by people with anime hairstyles, PVC pants and piercings.
I was tempted to place this above the Fugees, but I think the highs of the Fuguees soar much higher than those of Orbitals effort.
That said, this definitely the more consistent of the two.
Whilst I kind of enjoyed it to a degree, I don't see myself playing this album again in a hurry by choice, and none of the tracks stand out from each other to me in particular, so it's a little what is the point.
This to me is background music, would be good the backing of some Action B-Movie.
So in essence it's a little bit like elevator music. I may play it in the gym and see how many people complain.

Plastikman - Artifaks

This is quite trancey ambience to me. This sounds like a bad soundtrack to me, I don't really get anything from this. Why would I put this one when I could just sit quietly twiddling my thumbs in desperation? I'm not really sure. I may have to chalk this one up to more drugs. I actually don't really remember this, which is probably the more damning piece of the puzzle. At least I remember Jeff Mills. Oh god, how I wish I couldn't remember Jeff Mills. I feel like listening to Plastikman I should be hooked up to a drip whilst staring blankly at the ceiling.


Jeff Mills - Live At The Liquid Room Vol. 2

What a pile of crap.
Andy, I may have to ask you how many drugs you took in your formative years, and if I need take them to "appreciate" this "music"
I listened to this album once, and I have no notion what direction or structure it taking at any point. As Jimmy said to me "he just went up there on drugs and fucked a bunch of random records on the decks. If any of the rest of us did that we'd be laughed off the stage."
You know what I've come to realise in the last month in particular?
I've reached a new level of appreciation for silence.
I am more than just content to cruise along home from work with my depressing thoughts and the quiet rumble of the motorway to keep me company than to listen to this. Just silence, I like silence. Jeff Mills can keep his records to himself. I prefer to just alot the approximate time of the album and spend that in silence. That's my way of listening to Jeff Mills.

SEPTEMBER - SEB

1. KRS One - Return Of The Boom Bap (Outta Here)
2. De La Soul - Stakes Is High
3. Public Enemy - Fear Of A Black Planet
4. Iron Maiden - Powerslave
5. Motorhead - 1916



It's after 11 on a Thursday night, and I don't have to be in to work in the morning. I'm feeling a little disenchanted with the human race in general right now, pissed off at a few things (I'm coming to the conclusion I plain don't like December), and thus seems like a good time to pull out the remainder of that bottle of Chivas Regal, get a little drunk, and little angrier, and put this stupid blog shit to bed once and for all.

Seb is another in the famous circles of DJs & Streetfighters of which I have found myself embroiled. Why is it I only seem to choose interests which only appeals to other guys?
I'm sure most of the people in this circle think the same thing. I've noticed for a while that he ain't no big fan of "the man", and this is reflected in his music choices. The story that always comes to mind when I think of Seb is how a few years ago he didn't want to be included on the Census, so elected to spend the night sleeping on a park bench. That there is a man of principles I guess.
But fair play Seb, I don't know much about Hip Hop, and people have since remarked that "my" taste in Hip Hop is "classic old school". Thanks for that Seb, you've made me look like a legit purveyor of golden era hip hop.

KRS One - Return Of The Boom Bap (Outta Here)

 

Man, this album is most, most excellent. This man has a great lilt to his voice, and some amazing grooves that he raps along to. This is beautiful stuff, the tone seamlessly fits in to the tempo and intertwines with the beat as he gives us his ghetto poetry. And a lot of it actually seems to be about music, and not some heavy political slants. There is some many fantastic tracks on this album that effortlessly flow from one to the other. I was very tempted to make "I Can't Wake Up" my best track of the month, but I have to be fair, "Outta Here" is the track that made me keep turning up this album each time. This is definitely one of the albums I will be returning to time and time again, and I think a visit to KRS One's back catalogue may also be on the agenda.

De La Soul - Stakes Is High

A slightly bizarre album, but extra points for being interesting. I don't think this is as good an album as Public Enemy, but I'm throwing up here above them as I think it's much more varied, and little less political. I've also been told by a lot of people that it's very difficult to buy this album, and it generally isn't available on streams, due to the large amount of samples used. You know a lot of this hip hop, whilst not annoying me too much, I also find doesn't need a lot of concentration or interest from me. This is kinda my version of ambient music, leave it on in the background and let it roll away. I'm actually finding listening back to these last two albums are making me quite chilled and relaxed. Maybe I need to listen to more hip hop. I think it might be good for me. That's probably the opposite of what many politicians assert, but that may not be the first time a politician was wrong about something.

Public Enemy - Fear Of A Black Planet

Right, this stuff is a little more uptempo and charged than the previous two. Whilst I appreciate the muscical style of this album, being a white male listening to an album that seems to be about telling us how the white man is the reason for everything wrong with the world I find a little difficult to commit to. However, the scotch is starting to kick in, and this is starting to make me feel a little angry and disenfranchised. Fuck you whitey, you and your white cops beating down my homies! No matter the content, this stuff has sme great beats and grooves. The vocal style suits perfectly to the music. Whereas a lot of modern rap I hear seems to be guys shouting and trying to sound angry, this stuff recognises the vocal as an instrument to be played with, and mixes in excellently with the beat. This is eminently listenable, well worth a listen through.

Iron Maiden - Powerslave

I'm not sure I'd even heard many of these tracks before, and I'm really not sure it does anything for me. It feels clichéd, and I don't know can I really recommend it for any reason. Makes me think of Van Halen, the sound is almost too clean for me to think of this as metal. I'm not even sure if this is classified as metal or simply hard rock, and I really can't be bothered to open up Google and find out. The first track is still playing as I type this, and I've already lost interest as it goes through. As the album progresses there are some nice licks, but of course they are are repeated over and over for the duration of the track. This ain't no Motorhead I assure you.

Motorhead - 1916

After my previous Motorhead experience, I was not looking forward to this one. Thank the lord above though, this was nowhere near as bad as the last Motorhead album I was inflicted with. I think. Maybe I've just blacked out the memory of my previous Motorhead experience. Thankfully, not every track on here feels like the start of the "Ace Of Spades", but we are listening to Motorhead, so don't nobody here be expecting any kind of musical variety at all. This is like the musical version of Cornation Street. It hard bluesy rock, followed by a little more hard bluesy rock, and polished off with a little bit of hard bluesy rock, just in case you weren't sure if you had enough hard bluesy rock. If you listen to the first track of this album and decide you like it, I have some good news for you - just about every track that follows sounds more or less the same. Motorhead must be the most consistent band in existence.

AUGUST - PADRAIG JOYCE (AKA REICH JOYCE AKA PBAP)

1. Daft Punk - Homework (Da Funk)
2. Nirvana - Nevermind
3. Revenge Of Shinobi OST
4. Weezer - The Blue Album
5. Richie Hawtin - Decks EFX 909

PBAP is how this man is known to me, and I'm at the point where I'm not 100% certain I know his actual name. I think it's Padraig. anyways, another streetfighter in our circle of firends who is also a DJ (really? A DJ who plays streetfighter you say?). Must be a common thing. I've not seen Padraig that much at all recently since he moved, so I hope he's keeping well down south. I remember asking him one night late in to August when I said "Jesus Padraig, Rave much?". To which he succinctly replied "YES PLEASE!". That probably sums up all we need to know about this month, and solidifies my feeling that being trapped in a thumping rave fest with black lighting, drugs and thumping subwoofters would be very close to my idea of hell.


Daft Punk - Homework (Da Funk)

Like just about everyone in the known world, I have listened to Discovery, probably the gateway for many in to electronic music.
And whilst I'd heard one or two tracks, I hadn't listened to Homework, the debut by the French electronic duo known around the world.
In the midst of listening to this album, I actually saw the Daft Punk Unchained documentary, which was quite the letdown, but gave some interesting insights to the group in question.
On first listen I thought this album was a little "rave", but it still held my interest for the majority.
It does feel a little disjointed.
In comparison to Discover, where the whole album flows beautifully from one track to the other, this album feels quite disjointed.
Daft Punk have commented that this was more a collection of tracks, and that shows.
It's very interesting however, as by listening to this you can "hear" the bridge from the techno origins of electronic music in to the new melodic sound which Daft Punk is so well known for, it's almost like a history lesson in modern music.
One of my favorite tidbits about it is how when Jean Michel Gondry commented on "Around The World" (which he directed the video for), that the tracks by Daft Punk would take one beat, and repeat to just before the point of which it would be too much, and only then change it.
I guess they are the masters of "dropping the beat", and you can really hear it throughout this album.
Ironically the most important parts of the album are the bits that "miss", and it really highlights the fine line between the catchy chart topper hits Daft Punk have thrown out, and the origins they came from to develop that sound.
I think from the point of view of musical structure, this is actually the best album I've listened to thus far this year.
As Pratchett would say "don't ever confuse simple with stupid"


Nirvana - Nevermind

Whilst massively overrated and over played, I can't honestly say Nirvana are a bad band. This album, whilst not my favorite, is quite listenable and by no means a bad album. There's some nice chunky guitar, and it flows quite well. The influence on modern pop rock is indisputable. I suppose I had more of a problem with the people who listened to Nirvana as opposed to Nirvana themselves. It's not particularly complex, but it's probably in the category of Metallica and the Ramones, pushing a bit of a new sound and inspiring people to get in to music. That said, it's more than a little repetitive. I wouldn't put this on by choice, but if someone else was putting this on as background music I wouldn't feel compelled to leave, or in the case of most of the rest of this list, shoot myself. It's been happily running in the background here for the last few minutes whilst I type this, check Facebook, drink coffee and remark how bloody dark it is now at 1800 in the evening.


Revenge Of Shinobi OST

Jesus, maybe I'm the one who's wrong here. Maybe I'm the only guy this year not taking drugs. There's some decent tracks on here, but listening to this as an album drives me slightly mad. Many would say I'm already far past that slightly stage, but listening to another album of bit tunes is not in any small way helpful to the preserve of whatever infinitesimally small quantity of sanity that somehow hasn't yet escaped my cranium of despair (at bit tunes).
I can't really say anything wrong with this music, there's some interesting licks. But when you listen to that same lick over and over, and then a teeny tiny variant of it over and over, and just when you think you've escaped it's wrath, it's back in the track after next. I really don't think it's fair to include a video game soundtrack in this list by nature of the layout of it, but I'm gonna speak about it as I hear it, without any particular emotional attachment as I've not played the game in the first place. And in that scenario, it does very, very little for me.


Weezer - The Blue Album

What the fuck PBAP, I feel like this is just a joke you're playing on me. I know we were all young once and made mistakes, but this superpop vibe of these hipsters really doesn't do a damn thing for me. I just listen to them rabbit on and on with their few chords, having flashbacks to that Happy Days music video that was on the Windows 95 disc, and politely (or not so politely the article may make it seem) wait for them to stop their monotone vocals and guitar at the end of 45 minutes. Generic pop indie rock of no interest to me really. This just sounds to me like all the crap I imagine hearing on the radio. And the scary thing is, this is probably the cream of what that current category has to offer. There were girls in the gym this week talking about bands like Snowpatrol and Walking In Cars, and whilst this stuff would probably blow those bands out of the water, they wouldn't care for them as they're not on the radio this week.


Richie Hawtin - Decks EFX 909

"Thank god that's over", the words I uttered after the first play through.
This, to me a least, is deep rave territory. I feel like I'm back in the nineties, watching a DivX rip of Blade in front of a gigantic monitor whilst eating a pot noodle. This is probably the first album this year that I could only stick a few sittings, and whilst I wish I could say different, does not seem to be the last. I'm pretty sure I'm in a deep deficit of the drugs required to get through this album. I don't even know what drugs do I need, nor do I want to know.
It's the same approximate beat, ran through a slightly different synth or timing over and over and over and over until I lose all will to live. It has a psychotic amount of tracks and they all make me question my station in life, and why I even would subject myself to this.
Three times was enough, I don't think I ever need to listen to this album again. Fuck this shit again for good measure.

JULY - MIRIAM WALSH

1. Rory Gallagher - Tattoo (20/20 Vision)
2. Phillip Lynott - Solo In Soho
3. John Grant - Queen Of Denmark
4. Dan Deacon - Bromst
5. Young Marble Giants - Colossal Youth


Right this month is my sister's, and whilst some may guess that is part of the reason that I'm not being a total prick about her musical choices, it's also in part because nothing in here is interesting enough to actually offend anyone. Most of it has a reasonable degree of musical competency too, without being toooo standard. Just. Barely. The fact that she has an upcoming wedding and I don't particularly want to do anything to upset her has nothing to do with the general lack of swearing and disgust. I was kinda hoping for some Clash and Ramones albums in here, but I suppose I've probably already heard a few Clash albums, and I'm not sure to be honest why she didn't chose the Ramones, but there you go. I always thought she was kinda more in to punk, but maybe that was her version of the teenage goth rebellion side of things, and now she's starting to turn full hipster.


Rory Gallagher - Tattoo (20/20 Vision)

After my Stevie Ray Vaughan experience with Mike's list, I was not looking forward to this. All I could think was another guitar wanker fiddling lick after lick and showboating. How wrong was I, I thoroughly enjoyed this album. Whereas a lot of other stuff in the category of "modern blues" seems to be a band centered around some guitar virtuoso, just giving the backing whilst he strokes his own ego drunk on Jack Daniels, cocaine and self absorption. Whilst the guitar does have more of a importance to the other instruments here, it's not at the expense of the other performers. I actually find it quite hard to chose my favorite track here, they're all pretty much a the same level. Even the slower songs have their own charm without being too self indulgent, and it's one of the slower ones I've chosen as my favorite, as it really has some nice piano mixed throughout.


Phillip Lynott - Solo In Soho

Now this is a man who can sing and write some music. I really enjoyed this album, and whilst many of told me this is not the Phil Lynott album they would chose, I thoroughly enjoyed it. As for the first track, yes, it's slow, yes it has those token "emotional" strings in a rock-ish ballad with those quaint flute in the background, but it actually all works rather well. I would have hear Lynott and Thin Lizzy from CDs in the past, but I wouldn't have been as familiar with his slower compositions, and this is an album that seems to have most of those. However, it does start to get a little more groove on in the following tracks, with "Ode To A Black Man" be a lot closer to the Thin Lizzy I would expect. And it all flows beautifully in to each other, not a particularly taxing album to listen to but worth a play through. If you don't like it the first time, you're probably ain't gonna like it after that either.


John Grant - Queen Of Denmark

OK, this took me by surprise. I generally don't like the mix of humor and music (whilst I appreciate Frank Zappa, he's just not for me), and slow acoustic guitar with a slow vocal running throughout usually drives me to despair. To be fair, usually when we're dealing with some hippie blonde chick in her twenties playing three chords whilst singing in a slow raspy voice that everyone thinks is amazing, but is the same fucking terrible Carly Simon/Janis Joplin wannabe without any of the actual talent or tune writing ability. But John Grant however, has no beans in making a joke of things, I think he's the kinda guy well capable of having a twitter page similar to James Blunt. It's a fairly relaxed album that does nothing new, but it's pared back just enough to be easy to listen to and enjoy. Doubt I'd ever bother to go to a gig, it's an interesting oddity that I'd probably not listen to again in the future, but I can't say it's bad.


Dan Deacon - Bromst

Meh. The first track straight away is just folksy noise. It's like they're trying to impersonate ELO, without any of the clarity or buildup of which they're know for. Most of the rest of the album has a similar vibe. I don't know whether to blame the band of the mix, it sounds like the whole thing is emanating over a rowdy club's sound system, and we're missing bits. The first few times I thought there was sometime wrong with my HIFI/Phone/Car Radio. It's more than a little distracting at the best of times. It does clear up from time to time, and some of the melodies seem fine, but it feels like I'm listening to the Ray D'Arcy show on Today FM about 10 years ago. This to me is kind of indie pop if you could call it such a thing. It's the new current thing that every hipster thinks they're the shit for listening to, and so far away from the conventional. I mean I can find Take That songs I enjoy more than this (think I'm lying? Go listen to Shine, and seriously tell me that's not a great fucking song. I don't give a fuck who sang it or wrote it, it's got a great danceable groove). Anyways, away from the sexual entities that are Robbie Williams and co., and back to Dan Deacon. Dan, you stay in your corner of the room and I'll be perfectly content to stay in mine. Come back when you find a decent sound engineer, and I can actually have a good idea what musical travesty you're trying to inflict upon me. I assume that tent on the album cover is where you recorded the album? Might want to address that issue too.


Young Marble Giants - Colossal Youth

Jesus. On the bright side, whereas everything was fairly similar and unoffensive this month, last of the pack was definitely the easiest to pick. Guess what, it's some hipster chick that thinks she's the shit whispering sensually and slowly in to a mic with some bassist behind her that is probably miffed that he wasn't enough of a try-hard too cool for school hipster to be considered for Vulfpeck. I mean, just look at the fucking album cover, all you need to know you can probably glean it from that. There's several tracks on here that sound like a bunch of depressed carnies. No, less than that, a bunch of Roma gypsies kidnapped by carnies and forced to play against their will. The girl is some 13 year old who was child-napped and cries herself to sleep at night. I mean are there actual musicians involved in this, I feel like this is some Andy Kaufman joke he's playing on the music scene. Do these people exist? And it's nearly 60 minutes. Did they really think they had enough in there? Guys, ye could have cut this at 30 minutes and just looped it, I don't think anyone would know the difference. Maybe they already have, and I haven't noticed. Dear god, it's track number 5 here and she's trying to raise her voice. Get back those carnies, the whipping must continue until morale improves. Or death. I'm happy with either. The best thing about this album is I don't have to listen to it again.

ADDENDUM
It has since been pointed out to me that Young Marble Giants are from the 1980s, so predate hipsterdom by quite a few decades indeed. Which on the one hand, makes them the godfathers of all the hipster kingdom has to provide, and lends further credence to my suspicion that this is in reality Andy Kaufman in drag. 

Random Interlude

It's 23:37, I'm drunk, just ate a burger, and now I am going to bed.

JUNE - CHRIST OPHER (AKA CHRIS BRENNAN)

1. Refused - The Shape Of Punk To Come (Liberation Frequency)
2. Radiohead - The Bends
3. The Dillinger Escape Plan - Miss Machine
4. Rage Against The Machine - The Battle Of Los Angeles
5. Meshuggah - Koloss

It's just after 10 right now, and whilst I should go to bed and get ready for the morning, I'm just after spending the last few minutes with a bottle of scotch whilst angrily beating out vague ramblings in F pentatonic. So why go to bed right now when I can stay up and bitch about people's ill chosen taste in music.

Chris seems to be a cool guy, and by all people's accounts a gifted performer and musician. I've not seen him live, but I've been told by several people it's a sensation you will never forget. I do want to make it out to one of Illenkus's gigs sometime, also in part due to the fact that my "coffee guy", Josh, is also in the ensemble. I mostly know Chris from (surprise, surprise), Streetfighter. He was, until recently, a residing member of the Fight House. He seems to be a cool guy, sets his mind to things, and then fucking does them. I have a lot of respect for that.



REFUSED - The Shape Of Punk To Come (Liberation Frequency)

This is probably the second best album I have heard thus far this year, a very close second to Phantasmagorea by D-Styles.
The subtle and not so subtle changes, even fiddling with the volume, filters and so forth, it's an incredible album that you always seem to find something new each time.
John Carberry told me that when the band finished this album they broke up, as they reckoned they could never match it. I'd well believe that feeling, writing this now a few weeks later I want to listen to it all over again.
And probably the fucking first song sets the bar too high, but everything else comes pretty damn close to meeting it!!! A seven minute song that actually justifies the playtime, how rare is that in modern music tell me?
This is music, and this is something incredible that has to be experienced for yourself. I almost genuinely don't know what song to choose, as they all complement each other so incredibly well.
This is an album I highly recommend everyone listens to, it's fucking amazing.

RADIOHEAD - The Bends

Given that another person has nominated another Radiohead album this year, I was pleasantly surprised that this turned out to be a great album.
My only knowledge of Radiohead is seeing their name carved on school desks alongside Therapy, not knowing either band, considering the people who were carving them in to the desks I was in no real desire to find out either.
None the less, it's a beautiful flowing album, just enjoyable to listen to and drift along to. Being so impressed with this album led me to choose Chris's month immediately after, being fairly sure that there would be at least one album in the list I would most likely tolerate.
This album is probably better than OK Computer. I think I may be becoming a Radiohead fan. Maybe it's the scotch talking, maybe it's the mild depression of a breakup, but guess what, I'm wallowing in scotch and depression right now and for some unforeseen reason it seems glorious and uplifting. Not something I ever thought I'd be ever saying about scotch. Or Radiohead. As I said, this guy who's singing must be a depressing motherfucker to be around, because it all comes through in his delivery. This is really beautiful stuff, I've found myself going back to this album every now and again even from last June. It flows excellently. Who would have thought semi standard chord strumming could be used to such excellent effect? I have to admit, Radiohead have really vaulted up the ladder of my appreciation this year. I guess all those knobs in school who used to listen to them actually had a pretty damned good reason to.

The Dillinger Escape Plan - Miss Machine

OK, these guys are pretty adamant about killing their vocal chords and our ear drums. I mean I'm replaying track one, and what the fuck am I listening to? It's a guy shouting as loud as he fucking can without going in to a fit, and some guy with and over driven guitar I can just imagine drooling from the mouth as he strums out his power chords as heavy as he can. I remember years ago going to a gig with my sister in Milwaukee for what she called a "math rock" band named I don't fucking know or care. I fell asleep in the middle of the performance, and woke up as if in the middle of a nightmare. It was like waking up drunk (which is worse than a hangover). Listening to this album is like that. It feels like a load of guys playing riffs that should sound good, but ultimately don't. The real problem I have is now  deciding is this album worse than RATM or not. You know, I'm at the point now where I'm starting to hate all music. I've listened to other people's crap for the last 10 months, and I have never been so fucking relieved to be at the end of something in my fucking life than this stupid blog. You want to know what I'm looking forward to now? Silence, fucking silence. I don't want to hear anymore of this pollution of fucking sound waves the haunt me at night, as I go to work, and a I drive home. I'd prefer to hear to monotonous hum of my engine on the motorway at 2500 rpm than listen to someone else's crappy choices in music. Fuck you all.

Rage Against The Machine - Battle Of Los Angeles

This feels like I'm listening to a bunch of entitled upper middle class white guys complaining about societal constructs, as they never had any actual hardships in their upbringing. And I don't even bother trying to decipher what they're saying, but from the sound that's the feeling I'm getting. These guys are trying to channel the depression of blues or the racial inequality of rap, but ultimately the have none of those experiences to draw from. They feel like a slightly better version of Linkin Park (which unfortunately, seems to emanate from our gym speakers far more frequently than I'd like). I don't think I cam really recommend this album, there's far better stuff out there to listen to. But if you've decided that you're mad at society for no reason in particular, and want to have some rhetoric to back you up, this could be the album for you. I'm pouring myself another dram of scotch here and this tool of a singer is singing about the same shit he did 15 minutes ago. There's some nice riffs in here, but that's like saying there's a good looking chick in a Hollywood film, it means nothing. I can't say that I HATE this album, but it does very little for me.

Meshuggah - Koloss

OK, I think we can definitely say this is metal, but it really doesn't do much for me. It's just some randomly kinda heavy licks with the cookie monster constantly going on and on and on until we die of exhaustion, depression, psychosis, boredom, or all of the above. I mean, really, listen to the first track (which I'm listening to right now as I type this previous long drawn out sentence in it's entirety), and nothing musically of interest or note happens. I feel like I could throw five cats in a room, drop their wails down a few octaves with auto-tune and the lyrics would make about as much sense as this plonker going on and on and on and on. And might I add, at least then I'd have the enjoyable spectacle of a few cats beating each other around their heads. It sounds like bad tribal music. Things get a little better as the album progresses, but it still seems to be one phrase per song repeated over and over as fast as a human can physically play it. Which as impressive as it may be, it feels like I'm watching a video I once saw of a man giving himself a blowjob.

MAY - JOHN CARBERRY

 1. Radiohead - OK Computer (Airbag)
2. Robert Glasper Experiment
3. Ghost - Opus Eponymous
4. Opeth - Blackwater Park
5. FZ Side Z


Right, so last night I made two mistakes I said I wouldn't do again this year.
For one, I went to the cinema and paid to see a Marvel film.
It was Doctor Strange, and actually to be fair, it wasn't bad, it was much better than I expected.
The second mistake I made was texted my ex (to be fair, only the second time since we've broken up. Ever have a breakup that made you take up piano? Well there ya go).
I decided to make up for later mistake by deleting all her info, so I can't hopefully make that particular mistake again.
And in order to help with the Marvel mistake, I drank the remainder of a bottle of Jameson.
Didn't make me forget it, but left me with a warm fuzzy depressed feeling.
And then I more or less wrote the blog about Kristijan's choices.
So right now I have Ghost blaring away here whilst about to crack open some Chivas Regal.
Unfortunately I must admit I don't recall many of John's choices doing much for me, but in his defense at the time I did ask him for music that inspired him whilst he drew art, and this is what he gave me.

I've known John for a good few years, and he's a good friend who takes his art seriously. I often refer to him as the Mayor of Don't Give A Shit town, and anyone who's dealt with John will understand. He does things his way and that's the way it's gonna be. On the one side I have the height of respect for that, but I don't regard it as the ideal attitude to all situations in life. But John makes it work for him, and that's all that really matters. He also remarked that if I asked him for the albums that got him in to music, I was gonna get a lot of Earth Wind and Fire albums. I feel a little hard done by that I ended up with this list to be perfectly honest John, what was wrong with some Disco ???


Radiohead - OK Computer (Airbag)

Wow, this took my by surprise and then some!
I think my favorite track is actually the opener, and this album flows beautifully throughout. And the vocals really fit in, I feel like this guy actually believes in what he's singing here. He's got soul, see guys? James Brown ain't the only guy out there who's got soul, this guy is singing from the heart, and whilst it's not as overt as Siekiera, it's definitely there. Highly recommend this album, and was very happy that it was actually good as I have another Radiohead album to listen to this year. And I'm pretty sure this isn't just the scotch talking. If you've not listened to Radiohead, and in particular an album, I think you owe it to yourself to put this one on, sit back, relax and take it all in. It's not fancy, it's not ground breaking, but it's something that is all of it's own. It doesn't feel like it's trying to be anything or anyone else in particular, it's these guys just making beautiful music together, and doing so well.


Robert Glasper Experiment - Black Radio

I'm making this album second, as there's some nice covers on here. But that said, it's all pretty soulless. I keep going on about soul this month, and realise I can't really define it at all. I'm like one of those judges in that Larry Flynt movie "I can't define it, but I know it when I see it". It reminds me of a line in Jerry Maguire, when the babysitter gives them a tape, and has little speech about how this tape of Davis & Coltrane, in the peek of their artform before "sleazy lounge singers" dragged the medium down to the sewer. Whilst there is some nice beats on this, it doesn't really do it for me. But at the same time, I think these guys are trying to do something with the genre, and I very much respect that. I'm not particularly nuts on this jazz hip hop hybrid they've got going on, but hey, if somebody with hip hop predilections listens to this and decides to investigate jazz further, or vice versa, who am I to say this is a bad thing at all?
I think I owe it to myself to listen to this album again in the future, but I'm not 100% sure that my opinion of it will change.



Ghost - Opus Eponymous

Allegedly this album is black metal, but it doesn't sound particularly black or metal to me. Some nice chunky riffs throughout, and by no means a bad album, but doesn't really stand out to me as being heavy in any way. It's a little like Weezer, except not shit. It's not really that heavy at all, I really don't get these metal genre definitions at all.
How is this "black metal", when Guns n' Roses has heavier guitar and bass, along with heavier lyrics, and that's still only hard rock?
I have had this on while I drive around, and it seems OK. But to actually sit and listen to this album without any other distraction, I don't see it. This is just background music again to me, it doesn't really do anything particularly interesting for any substantial length of time. The most exciting bits of each track seem to be the opening thirty seconds, and then it tapers down to nothing interesting in particular at all at all.
And their Hammond organ cover of "Here Comes The Sun" is an interesting novelty, but does nothing really amazing for the song either. It sounds like the Doors. How is that metal???
But if you feel like you want a non-shit version of Weezer in your life, this could be the band for you!

Opeth - Blackwater Park

Ok, now this does sound a bit metal! We've got that driving guitar, those cookie monster vocals, and that double beat drum. Not off to a bad start at all. But of course these guys think they have to have it all in there, the whole kitchen, sink and all it's paloova. Why do we need a 10 minute opening track, which is essentially the same the way through, bar a little interruption with some Spanish wannabe acoustic guitar, polished off with some "sentimental" piano at the end? The first track kinda rubs me up the wrong way, but to be fair the following tracks do integrate the acoustic guitar a little nicer. Still doesn't do anything in particular for me. There doesn't really feel like anything unique here. This could be any random metal band with a video on MTV/Kerrang or whatever the cool kids watch nowadays. I don't really think it's got any soul or bite to it, and just doesn't really click with me at any point the way through.

FZ Side Z

Jesus, this felt like a waste of my time.
Random 8 bit tunes from a video game soundtrack, that has little or no appeal to me.
I could imagine hearing this stuff over an elevator or whilst shopping in Dunnes.
Actually, if they played this in Dunnes I may actually be disappointed.
It's not particularly bad, and that nearly offends even more.
It can coast on in the background without requiring any degree of commitment from the listener whatsoever.
And of course, being a soundtrack as opposed to an actual album, it doesn't really have any flow, and repeats things in different mixes.
Just when I thought I was done with one thing, it's on again, or a thinly disguised version of it.
I have pretty much no desire to be in the same room as this thing again, and even less to play the allegedly amazing indie game to which it is accompanied.

APRIL - KRISTIJAN RESETIC

1. Megadeth - Youthanasia (Killing Road)
2. Metallica - Ride The Lightning
3. Motley Crue - Dr. Feelgood
4. Gorefest - Erase
5. Sentenced - The Funeral Album
6. Tiamat - Wildhoney
7. Motorhead - Orgasmatron

Kristijan is a longtime friend of mine that I made back in the bad old days of college, for the year I was studying abroad in France. Writing this now I'm realising that friendship has extended over a decade, and I'm feeling really old right now. Kristijan is, as you may guess from the list above, a metal head. He's also a librarian, so there's the old sexy wild side of the librarian in glasses confirmed for ye all.

He also could not get his list down to 5 albums. Hell, he couldn't even get it down to 7 albums, I'd heard two of the other albums and that's only way I got out of listening to those. But he did go to the extra effort of writing WHY he choose each album, how much it meant to him and his friends as they grew up, learned together and played together, so screw it, I guess I had to include them all.

Recently I've really let the blogs slide, so I'm gonna up the output a little bit to try to catch up on things. That said I'm not committing to WHEN things are going up - my album listening is now in it's final month, and that has gone according to schedule, the blogs was an afterthought, and will get that at the point whenever I feel the fuck like it. Fuck you Luke.

MEGADETH - Youthansia (Killing Road)

Fucking amazing.
This is exactly every type of metal cliche, and it is absolutely all the better for it.
Fast, aggressive, amazing, I love this fucking album.
Some tracks feel a little flat (Tout le Monde is more than a little meh), but when the highs are this high, it's really very very forgivable.
I've not listened to any other Megadeth albums, but this has definitely opened the doorway.
I have listened to this album over and over (well I've removed Tout Le Monde from the playlist to be fair), it holds up excellently.
There's so many amazing riffs spread throughout.
I listened to Metallica before this a few times, and enjoyed it, but I feel I have absolutely no reason to listen to Metallica when there's some Megadeth on offer.


Metallica - Ride The Lightning

Yep, I'd never listened to a Metallica album. To be fair, I'd not listened to as many albums when I was younger as I probably should have, everything was singles and mix cds from friends, and that's very much a part of the reason why I embarked on this album listening journey. I'd definitely heard at least half this album, and probably can't under emphasize the influence that Metallica has had on the genre (and definitely on how mainstream metal now is). I really enjoyed this album, and was very much ready to make it the choice of the month.
I can see this being like the Ramones for the punk genre, just inspiring people around the world to pick up a guitar and chuck in to some power chords. And that's what we're all about here, the music that inspired people!
Whilst Metallica in particular has had far more influence on to the popular scene than Megadeth, I just have to go with my gut and go with Megadeth. The first listen through of both I had the opposite opinion, but the relative simplicity of Metallica's album doesn't hold up to the more technical album put together by Masitaine's posse. Repeated listening definitely makes Youthanasia better and better. And if you like Metallica and have never listened to Megadeth, you should seriously make it you business to do so!


Motley Crue - Dr Feelgood

When I think of Motley Crue, I guess my mind zips back to when in the states with Kristijan to see them the states.
I'd never listened to them with any intention at all prior, and I guess this album was his way of making me listen in earnest !
I can definitely see where Guns n Roses got some of their inspiration, but it almost feels a little generic nowadays.
Some nice driving guitar, decent rock singing, everything seems good.
This may have been a massive shift in the musical landscape at the time, but now it just seems like another classic rock album.
Good, fairly enjoyable, probably goes in the category of "easy" no brain listening.
not sure I'll ever go out of my way to throw it on again, but I'd never be adverse to it beig in the background.


Gorefest - Erase

The first thing I get from this is that great thumping bass line on from the first track. This shit is old school, makes me think of the Duke Nukem soundtrack from back in the day.
Heavy, but not particularly fast, and some meaty vocals. This is definitely more my kind of metal, just a little on the slow side. Although it does get a bit representative a few tracks in. Not sure I could recommend it in earnest, compared to the other picks this week, but it's definitely above the travesty to my ears that was Motorhead.


Sentenced - The Funeral Album

This is a good fucking album, what an opening. How have I not heard of these guys before. I'm almost tempted to place this above Metallica, but they have a couple of whiny metal ballads in there (I could forgive/forget "Tout le monde" on Megadeth, but the highs here don't reach the highs of Youthanasia). To me this is kind of a soft metal album, it's not really my type of music, but I think Kristijan definitely picked one I could sit through without wanted to drive a nail through my skull. And these guys can lay down some riffs from time to time, so whilst Eagles they are not, they're not some whiny hair metal pussies either.


Tiamat - Wildhoney

You know what's great about this album?
It's only 40 odd minutes long.
That may seem a bit disingenuous, but credit where credit is due, for the style they have these guys had the sense to keep it tight. This is a little like ambient metal, and we all know at this stage my opinions on ambient music. It's probably a little closer to the sentiment "shit or get off the pot". I ain't no stoner, if I want sometime a little slower there's plenty of other genres for me to pick from than some castrated pussified metal.
It does have some heavier riffs in there, but all kind of slow and dragging, not really the thing I like from metal. But that said, for some strange reason I was able to sit through it without desire to end it all. I guess we'll add this again to Thomas's unusual elevator music selection list. Definitely wouldn't want to be stuck in a lift with this for the soundtrack to the ordeal however, that would be quite, quite hellish indeed.


Motorhead - Orgastmatron

Oh god, this was quite the let down.
It's just gravelly loud biker rock, played over and over, the same few chords and drunk shouting.
First time I listened through to this album, I remembering at the start of every track thinking "Oh, this must be the Ace Of Spades", and only realising after listening to the entire album that Ace Of Spades isn't even on this god damned album, and realizing that Motorhead can only play one song with one set of chords, and have most likely done this for the last few decades. It's like listening to Groundhog day, without any humor or Bill Murray. The repetitive nature wears quite quickly, by the third track I'm really starting to ask myself those existential questions again and coming to the horrifying realization that I have to listen to another Motorhead album this year. Definitely bottom of the heap here, and definitely don't want to listen to this again. At least not whilst sober. I'll wait till I'm drunk, depressed and looking for that final straw to make me tie up the noose and get busy.

MARCH - MIKE PENTZIN

1. Soundgarden - Superunknown (My Wave)
2. TWRP - Believe In Your Dreams
3. Rise Against - The Sufferer & The Witness
4. Pearl Jam - Ten
5. Stevie Ray Vaughan - Texas Flood

Mike is another buddy of mine from the streetfighter circles (a pattern is starting to emerge here...)

Mike is also German, but I try not to hold that against him.
We found out last week that he is an expert at spotting ze Germanz, and correctly confirmed I look nothing like a German.
Good call Mike, several bonus points for you on that front.

Mike has been studying his little heart out whilst enjoying the fruits that Ireland has to offer, streetfighter and tennis.
But he also plays guitar, which I found out quite by accident, and was surprised for not apparent good reason.
I haven't asked but it would not surprise me in the slightest if that started with Guitar Hero or Band Camp, or whatever thing those guys play with plastic instruments.
I could be wrong.
But hey, anything that inspires people to pickup real instruments and challenge themselves can't be bad, so hurray for Band Camp.
I'm pretty sure those games didn't inspire Les Claypool to sing, so at least they've got that going for them.

Again there was nothing in particular that stirred me this month, I'm starting to think Jimmy set the bar too high and gave me unrealistic expectiations, and more than a few people may be unhappy with me shitting over their cherished musical memories, but hey, here we are.
To be honest I found this month quite hard to write, as I just don't really feel anything for anything here.
The opposite of love is not hate people, it's indifference.



Soundgarden - Superunknown

There was a little bit of meat to this one, flowed rather well without being too whiney.
On the other hand, on my first listen through the albums, when the list flowed in to Pearl Jam I didn't realise until a few tracks in.
So I guess there's a definite negative there, it kind of sounds like every Seattle grunge act I've heard all the "cool kids" listening to when I was at school.
I was never nuts on Nirvana, Alice in Chains have a few tracks that tickle me, but as far as grunge goes that's usually where I'm at.
Tin Machine is alright, but a little too little too late in the Bowie chronology.
The album flows pretty well, probably everyone has heard Black Hole Sun too many times in their life at this stage, but to be fair I don't feel the need to lobotomize myself now as I once would have upon hearing it.
To be fair it's a solid album, and it has an interesting mix of sound, not everything is in the same tuning, which makes it a good listen.
At the same time, it's still "Soundgarden" all the way through.
I think I could easily say this is the best grunge album I've heard (all two of them in my lifetime!)
Favorite track would be "My Wave", which almost sounds like a Zepplin track to my ears (and by no means a negative thing I assure you)



TWRP - Believe In Your Dreams

Only five tracks on this puppy, giving it an instant plus, and probably the best track from the month is Pale Blue Dot, which I feel has kind of an ELO feel to it.
It lacks all seriousness and doesn't do an insane amount for me, but I can bop along to it without major frustration, so there's that.
I can' explain it, but I feel there's no real soul to it, it's sounds crazy but it feels like fan service music, as opposed to music from the heart.
Like a Marvel movie, it's popcorn. There's nothing deep here, but some nice riffs.
When I started writing this I actually had it at number one, but the more I write I think I may have to demote it.
Technically there's a nice amount going on here, which kind of elevates it in that regard, but none the less it feels lacking in substance.



Rise Against - The Sufferer & The Witness

I like the occasional bit of metal, and as such, this does very little for me.
It feels like pop metal. I'm told it's called "Hardcore", and it falls short of that definition for me.
There's a couple of catchy riffs, but overall it feels like guys who listened to guys who listened to metal, like if Weezer tried their hand at being heavy.
It's like if preachy vegans made metal, or their version of it.
I have no ideas if these guys are hippies or not, all I can see is those guys in "How To Make It In America" being all hipster in their vintage clothes riding bicycles.
There's no meat in this sandwich I guess is how we could put it.
It's a vegatarian metal sandwich.
I can't really decide do I dislike this more or Pearl Jam, but this feels less generic (but more pop), so I guess I'll give this the higher spot.


Pearl Jam - Ten

I honestly don't know what to write here.
It all sounds the same, and doesn't offend me enough to have an opinion either way.
It could be on the in the background and it wouldn't bother me too much if it wasn't too loud.
It feels like generic grunge.
At least Soundgarden had some soul, at least for a grunge record.
This just feels like the same, same vaguely clean grungey chords over and over with a moany singing voice on top of it.
At least Nirvana had a bit of bite, I actually just put it playing as I write this now in the hope of jogging some opinion.
All I'm hearing is "blah blah blah, I'm still alive", followed by one of the most generic guitar solos I can imagine.
Some tracks are slightly less moaney, some are more, none inspire any kind of interest.


Stevie Ray Vaughan - Texas Flood

I can hear in my head just about everyone (I'm counting three people here, so expectations are suitably low I think) who reads this going "WHAT? Stevie Ray Vaughan is LAST???".
Yes, Stevie Ray is last on this list.
Why?
Because, this music grates my ears.
Yes, he is without doubt one of the most talented guitarists of the last few years.
Yes, many took up an axe from his inspiration.
But quite frankly, white man's blues is something I dislike, generally quite intensely.
It's TOO clean a sound, there's no grit or rawness to it.
Technically it's great, but it's a sound that I've heard over and over in the last few years.
All I can hear when this is on is every crappy cover band I've ever heard, doing their version of this kind of blues.
The blues is like metal, I feel there has to be a little grit behind it.
I just don't get any vibe from this, I found it difficult to listen through this album in one sitting.
When you listen to the Rolling Stones and Clapton, they were able to take heavy blues influences and tweak it enough to make it something new.
Stevies just seems to be trying to distill old blues further to make a cleaner sound, wheras that brutality of the blues is what makes it so.
I can't really convey this in words, and it's quite a disapointment as I was really thinking this would be the best album of the month, but in reality it just leaves me cold.