World Beyblade Organization by Fighting Spirits Inc.

I've been thinking about doing this for about a week, but I'm just now getting around to it.

My goal for this topic is really just to gush about whatever band/CD I'm in love with at the moment and hope that some of you are crazy enough to dive in with me so we can chat about music together. I'm probably going to focus mostly on some pretty heavy carp since that's what I primarily listen to, but I'm not saying I won't randomly put up a post about something like Coldplay.

So this time I'm going to be talking about the CD "Ire Works" by The Dillinger Escape Plan.


Track List:

1. Fix Your Face
2. Lurch
3. Black Bubblegum
4. Sick On Sunday
5. When Acting as a Particle
6. Nong Eye Gong
7. When Acting as a Wave
8. 82588
9. Milk Lizard
10. Party Smasher
11. Dead as History
12. Horse Hunter
13. Mouth of Ghosts


I have talked about this CD before here on the board, but I've recently fell back in love with it which is why I'm choosing it this time.

For the uninitiated, The Dillinger Escape Plan is more or less the band that invented the "mathcore" sub-genre of hardcore with their eponymous debut "Calculating Infinity". Mathcore traditionally uses very odd time signatures and jarring tempo shifts along with harsh, screamed vocals for a sort of "grinding" sound. In other words, this style of music is very much an acquired taste. Its also worth mentioning that if you are not interested in technical musicianship or don't find it impressive then this is probably not the genre of music for you.

DEP have come a long way since their original disc. A few lineup changes (the band's original drummer quit two weeks before they were set to record this album) and major releases later and here we are with Ire Works, their latest release. What makes Ire Works so great? Put simply, the seamless integration of heavy riffing guitars, blast beats and nearly incomprehensible rhythms on drums and the interesting but not overdone usage of electronics.

The disc opens with a 1-2 punch to the face through the tracks "Fix Your Face" and "Lurch", both of which are very traditional Dillinger style tracks. They are short and bombastic, the fretwork blistering and the vocals esophagus shredding. This isn't a bad thing. Its a great way to open the disc and to make it clear to the listeners to expect the unexpected, which happens with the third track, "Black Bubblegum". Breaking away from the insanity that is the first two tracks, "Black Bubblegum" slows the pace down dramatically, easing in the use of electronics as well as vocalist Greg Puciato's clean singing voice, while the lyrics are not at all relaxed. A great track.

From here on there are two (mostly) instrumental tracks, focusing heavily on electronic experimentation. "Sick On Sunday", the fourth track, has an almost haunting vocal passage towards the end before transitioning seamlessly via gapless playback into the next track, "When Acting as a Particle". This is an entirely instrumental track using a wide array of percussion along with computer generated strings. It comes out of no where, further adding to the theme of unpredictability that Ire Works is so great at.

Next we move into another scorcher, "Nong Eye Gong". Here the band is at their utmost fury. From the opening scream to the ending shredding, its quite apparent Dillinger has not lost their ability to write some crushing music since their last release. As the disc continues listeners are treated to this sort of back-and-forth pull between electronic interlude tracks and absolutely brutal fret shredders.

The final track, "Mouth of Ghosts", is quite simply an awesome way to end the disc. Bringing the tempo down to a crawl, the band is free to weave in all sorts of electronic noodling and experimentation, all while Puciato croons out a menacingly sweet falsetto over all the chaos. The song crescendos into a pretty climactic ending, but drops off once more to leave a resonating silence. The disc is short (at only 38 minutes) and on a first play through I am willing to bet most will find it scatterbrained and intended strictly for those with A.D.H.D., but that is the beauty of this band and of this disc, that they can move so smoothly between all of these genres and influences, blending them into a comprehensive and technically impressive package.

Here are some professional reviews:

- Allmusic.com Review (4 and 1/2 out of 5)
- The A.V. Club (A-)

Some youtube tracks for the curious:

- Milk Lizard
- Black Bubblegum
- Horse Hunter


So, for the tl;dr crowd, these are the standout tracks:

- "Black Bubblegum"
- "Nong Eye Gong"
- "Milk Lizard"
- "Mouth of Ghosts"

I hope at least a few of you will check this disc out. It is honestly one of my favorite CDs.

I checked out "Milk Lizard," and I gotta say, it's not like anything I've heard before, for sure. Parts of it sounded like I had the radio halfway stuck between a rock station and a classical or jazz station. I'm not in love with it, but I don't hate it either.

Can you do another one of these man? I want some good recommendations.

Alice Wrote:Can you do another one of these man? I want some good recommendations.

haha

Yeah I planned on doing another one soon. Next one is probably going to be even lengthier than this one though. Just warning you. lol

Roan Wrote:

Alice Wrote:Can you do another one of these man? I want some good recommendations.

haha

Yeah I planned on doing another one soon. Next one is probably going to be even lengthier than this one though. Just warning you. lol

No worries. Just as long as it isn't Muse because they already rock my carp.

Alice Wrote:

Roan Wrote:

Alice Wrote:Can you do another one of these man? I want some good recommendations.

haha

Yeah I planned on doing another one soon. Next one is probably going to be even lengthier than this one though. Just warning you. lol

No worries. Just as long as it isn't Muse because they already rock my carp.

hahahahaha

No, its not going to be Muse.

Its time for Issue 2 of Roan's Music Corner! *Que confetti*

This time out I'm going to be gushing about...


Track List:

Disc One: Dawn to Dusk

1. "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness"
2. "Tonight, Tonight"
3. "Jellybelly"
4. "Zero"
5. "Here Is No Why"
6. "Bullet with Butterfly Wings"
7. "To Forgive"
8. "carp You (An Ode to No One)"
9. "Love"
10. "Cupid de Locke"
11. "Galapogos"
12. "Muzzle"
13. "Porcelina of the Vast Oceans"
14. "Take Me Down"


Disc Two: Twilight to Starlight

1. "Where Boys Fear to Tread"
2. "Bodies"
3. "Thirty-Three"
4. "In the Arms of Sleep"
5. "1979"
6. "Tales of a Scorched Earth"
7. "Thru the Eyes of Ruby"
8. "Stumbleine"
9. "X.Y.U." –
10. "We Only Come Out at Night"
11. "Beautiful"
12. "Lily (My One and Only)"
13. "By Starlight"
14. "Farewell and Goodnight"


As you can see, this is a whopper of a release, a 28-track, two disc set. But I'm here to tell you, almost every song on both discs is more than worth listening to.

Since I have so much material to get through I am not going to go with a track by track rundown like I did with the last disc, but rather give some history on the release and list some standout tracks.

Released on October 24th, 1995, "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness" is regarded by many to be The Smashing Pumpkins most ambitious and best release. The numbers more than back this up. It has been certified a platinum seller nine times over, a record for a 2-disc release and at the time it was the highest selling double-disc set of the decade. Suffice it to say, a lot of people really love this record and for good reason.

The album was led with the single "Bullet With Butterfly Wings", which peaked at number 22 on Billboard's Top 40 list. "Bullet With Butterfly Wings" is a great track, showcasing The Pumpkins' ability to unabashedly rock and yet still be accessible enough for even casual radio listeners to get into and sing along with.

But the hits don't stop there. Overall I feel that the first disc is stronger than the second. The songs "Bullet With Butterfly Wings", "Zero", "Tonight, Tonight", "Jellybelly", "Here is No Why" and "carp You (An Ode to No One)" are all incredible songs showcasing the Pumpkins' trademark versatility. This is one band that has explored the various areas of rock and done so successfully. From alternative, radio-friendly songs like "Tonight, Tonight" to some downright heavy tunes like "Bodies" and "Tales of a Scorched Earth" on the second disc, their ability is hindered only by their imagination and it shows.

Having said that, the instrumentation across both discs is consistently impressive. Utilizing a wide array of traditional rock instruments (electric guitars, drums, etc.) blended with (at the time) unique electronic textures, the release comes across as something special from the moment it begins to the last second. There is a large bit of variety here, as I mentioned before. However, as is the case on both discs, they tend to start off upbeat and more rock oriented and then trail off into slower, more thoughtful pieces. Which may or may not be a bad thing, depending on who you ask. The Smashing Pumpkins are talented at both fast rock and slow alternative, dreampop style songs, so its nice to see them exploit that here and show what it is they are capable of.

But I've gushed enough, lets let some professionals do the talking, shall we?

- Allmusic.com Review (4 and a half out of 5)
- Entertainment Weekly Review (A)


Youtube links for the curious:

- Bullet With Butterfly Wings
- Zero
- 1979
- Tonight, Tonight

Finally, for the tl;dr bunch, here are the standout tracks:

Disc One:
- Tonight, Tonight
- Jellybelly
- Zero
- Here is No Why
- Bullet With Butterfly Wings
- carp You (An Ode to No One)
- Love

Disc Two:
- Where Boys Fear to Tread
- 1979
- Tales of a Scorched Earth
- Thru the Eyes of Ruby
- X.Y.U.


Check it out guys, its an awesome package. If you like modern alternative rock I can't say I think you'll be disappointed.

Siamese Dream will always be my fav. release by the pumpkins, but Melancholy is probably my second fav. It's super awesome.

I wish it wasn't so expensive though, $35 at my local HMV. =(

Wow, piss on that.

I bought my copy used at FYE for like $22.

I'm gonna check this album out Roan, thanks for the recommendation!

(Jul. 31, 2008  6:07 PM)Roan Wrote: [ -> ]Wow, piss on that.

I bought my copy used at FYE for like $22.

Whaaat?! I got mine at Best Buy for $14.99. Even my local FYE had it used for $9.99 just three days ago.

Also, Roan, I completely agree with all of your statements on the album. It's hard to narrow down my favorite song on the album, but I really dig Jellybelly.

Time for another update!

If any of you have been paying attention to my posts in the What Are You Listening To topic, this shouldn't come as a surprise whatsoever.


Track List:

1. Highways of Gold
2. Bats Over the Pacific Ocean
3. Jaguar Pirates
4. Georgia
5. Vagabond Ballroom
6. Humans Evolve into Skyscrapers
7. Antoine and Birdskull
8. Bonetrees and a Broken Heart
9. The Man with the Plastic Suns
10. My Organ Sounds Like...


Jaguar Love is a fairly new band that formed in late 2007 after the members' previous bands broke up. Johnny Whitney (vocals, keys) and Cody Votolato (guitars) from the near-legendary art/post-hardcore band The Blood Brothers teamed up with Jay Clark (drums) of the art-rock band Pretty Girls Make Graves to form what I think is a perfect fusion of the previous two bands styles.

The music is very interesting in that its rather simple as far as technicality goes, but its also very upbeat and bright yet juxtaposed against often oppressive or morbid lyrics. Johnny Whitney's trademark falsetto croon makes a return to the mic, and while some may find his rather high-pitched voice annoying or too unusual to adapt to (think Freddie Mercury with a guitar capo on his nuts), I think its a perfect fit for the rest of the music.

It also manages to be unlike anything I've ever heard before. Its almost like a Broadway musical had a child with Queen and they named it Jaguar Love. Whereas most rock bands that utilize keyboards and the like make very sparing use of them, they punctuate nearly every song on this album and do so in a way that always makes sense; and its not just keyboards that make their way onto the album. I've picked out organs, traditional piano, and even a Wurlitzer. Of course, there are enough synth passages to go around as well.

If you've ever listened to The Blood Brothers (You definitely should if you haven't -- shame on you) or Pretty Girls Make Graves, you should have a pretty good idea of what to find on this disc. Its unusual and often a bit too artsy for most people, but I think if you can learn to appreciate Johnny Whitney's voice and are in the mood for some really upbeat and uplifting tunes, this is a great album to listen to. Unfortunately, the album hasn't released yet officially (August 19th is the street date), but I'm sure you all know how to find ways around that. (*Cough* torrentz.com *Cough*)

Anyhow, as always, here are some professional reviews of the album:

- Gigwise.com Review (4 out of 5)

Youtube links for the curious:

- Highways of Gold Music Video (Do yourself a favor and watch this one in High Quality, the sound is much better)
- Bats Over the Pacific Ocean rip (GREAT track)
- Georgia Live Performance (Recorded version is better, but this is the best I could find on Youtube lol)

And finally, for all of you tl;dr bums, the standout tracks:

- "Highways of Gold"
- "Bats Over the Pacific Ocean"
- "Georgia"
- "Humans Evolve into Skyscrapers"

So there you have it, another Music Corner in the bag. Go listen to this album guys, its great. <3

Oh no guys, its time for another issue!


Track List:

1. Set Fire to the Face on Fire
2. We Ride Skeletal Lightning
3. Laser Life
4. Camouflage, Camouflage
5. You're the Dream Unicorn!
6. Vital Beach
7. Spit Shine Your Black Clouds
8. 1, 2, 3, 4 Guitars
9. Lift the Veil, Kiss the Tank
10. Nausea Shreds Yr Head
11. Rat Rider
12. Johnny Ripper
13. Huge Gold AK-47
14. Street Wars/Exotic Foxholes
15. Giant Swan

"Young Machetes" is, in my opinion, one of the best and most important discs to come from the post-hardcore phenomenon. Fitting then, that it came from one of the best bands in the genre.

The Blood Brothers have been in existence since 1997, releasing 5 major albums before disbanding in late 2007. "Young Machetes" is their last recorded work as a band and it shows in every track. The Blood Brothers have always excelled at combining artsy, near-pop style melodies with intense breakdowns and screamed vocals, resulting in what I can only describe as a rock candy coated razor blade -- looks delicious on the outside, but there's a dangerous, scathing message hidden underneath. This style has been brought out in full maturity for "Young Machetes", with tracks such as "Laser Life" and "Spit Shine Your Black Clouds" utilizing bouncy, upbeat keys for the backdrop of seething social commentary in their flamboyant lyrics. For instance, in "Spit Shine Your Black Clouds":

"You turn on the radio, the speakers spit tangled talk.
Everything is war and who's carp their way to the top.
But they'll eat black clouds we all eat black clouds.
You're working on a cruise serving caviar to the cruel.
They repossessed your heart; you're making payments on your face, too.
Spit shine your black clouds now, baby.
And what if your religion turns out to be a cruel joke, and you're carp beyond all hope?
Gonna spit shine your black clouds now, baby."

The effect isn't nearly as pronounced in text as it is in the song -- you have to listen to appreciate it.

"We Ride Skeletal Lightning" is a chilling, almost dirty sounding song. The guitar work is heavily distorted and very lazy sounding, due mostly to the relaxed tempo. The jarring shift in tone musically towards the end when the song explodes into a psychotic screamed chanting of "We ride skeletal lightning / Vacant as a womb that's miscarried" is a perfect example of The Blood Brothers legacy: They really are unlike any other band I have ever heard.

Given all of this praise, there are obviously going to be a few of you who are turned off by the vocal styling on this record. Johnny Whitney and Jordan Blilie, the band's dual vocalists, often bounce back and forth lines. They utilize a wide array of vocal styles, from clean singing to screaming and anything in between. Johnny Whitney's voice is, well... Very unique and quite honestly the most polarizing aspect of the band -- you either love it or hate it. Often described as a child being tortured when he sings, his voice is very high pitched and he almost never sings out of falsetto, not even when he's screaming, which manages to somehow be even more high pitched. But it works within the artsy context of the band.

Jordan Blilie, however, is the yin to Johnny's yang. Or rather, the soothing cough drop to Johnny's sore throat. His voice is very deep and low pitched, often sounding very jazzy. However, Jordan screams quite frequently on the record as well, often in screaming harmony with Johnny. Like I said, its a very polarizing aspect of the band and its something that will definitely take some getting used to for first-time listeners, but I implore you, make the effort to adjust because the unique, artsy music and the amazing lyrics make it more than worth it.

Here are some professional reviews:

- Allmusic.com Review: (4 stars out of 5)
- Absoultepunk.net Review (90%)
- Punknews.org (4 stars out of 5 -- also one of my favorite sites for music reviews)

Youtube tracks for the curious:

- Set Fire to the Face on Fire
- Laser Life
- Giant Swan -- Easily one of the best tracks on the disc
- Spit Shine Your Black Clouds -- My other favorite

tl;dr Standout Tracks:

- "Laser Life"
- "We Ride Skeletal Lightning"
- "Spit Shine Your Black Clouds"
- "Huge Gold AK-47"
- "Giant Swan"

There we go, another Music Corner issue in the can. Enjoy!

As soon as I get my I-pod sorted out, I'm putting a lot of this music on it.
Keep these coming =)
Oh, and you should do Underoath or Thrice next =)

I was actually going to do Lost in the Sound this time, but I haven't really had a lot of time to listen to/observe it so I figured I had better go with something else until I'm more familiar with Lost in the Sound.