Metal Et Cetera

Blunt Force Trauma - 1ST track off new Cavalera Conspiracy streaming now.

2011-02-21T14:01:00.004-05:00

BLABBERMOUTH.NET - CAVALERA CONSPIRACY: Title Track Of New Album Available For Streaming
Max Cavalera's latest work with Soulfly tends to feature a first track that is exciting at first, but able to be skipped upon future listens. It usually features a somewhat familiar riff, followed by another that confirms -- yes, Max hasn't lost anything yet. After that there is a breakdown that leads to the inevitable epic outro, and you've officially entered the world of Max yet again.
This track is just that, down to the letter. Like it or dislike the tactic, it's been an effective one. The only thing I can say after hearing this and the other track that streamed about a week or so ago is that neither of them actually offer a guarantee that the record will be a unique experience. We've heard the electro stuff on top of metal before, we've heard these riffs and melodies before, and yeah, it adds to that tribal thing Max seems to be bent on. So we shall see. My prediction? This will be a 3 star record that doesn't feel as fresh as the first one did. Only for the true fans who can't get enough.

Thailand fans lose CMND/CTRL over Deftones show cancellation

2011-02-17T13:10:00.000-05:00

Deftones fans go beserk after concert is cancelled - The Straight Times

Nice to know that we can still count on a bunch of angry young people to start shit over an inevitable and unfortunate circumstance their efforts can do nothing to fix. And, nice to know Deftones still has a rabid fan base, though I don't think this would happen over in the states.

These kinds of things always pop into my mind when thinking about group dynamics. The riot is such a powerful and interesting form of social expression. Compared with the protests in Egypt, this is not much of a footnote in history, if anything, it seems to have temporarily primed the world on riotous behavior (Iran, Iraq, Tunisia, etc.). Nowadays, there's digital riots, such as the attacks on Esperanza Spalding's wikipedia page by angry Justin Bieber fans that were upset he didn't win new artist. Now, part of me identifies with these kids, as many can recall Jethro Tull beating out Metallica for best metal performance back in '89. But all the same, it's pretty clear that these die hard Bieber fans will be pretty embarrassed with themselves. Bieber doesn't suggest to me as having any staying power beyond these fans' travel through puberty.

Well, Is It Possible to Make Dangerous Reporting Safe?

2011-02-17T11:45:00.000-05:00

Is It Possible to Make Dangerous Reporting Safe? - Hamilton Nolan, Gawker

I pulled this off of a Media Bistro feed. This is something that's been on my mind for the better part of the last two years. We of course want to raise the bar on reporting as we recover from the cheer leading several media companies committed themselves to back in 2001-2003. It's clear we were swindled by the government, and it's clear that media outlets reporting around the world, and those not reporting around the world, beefed up their journalistic enterprise considerably since then. When someone like Ann Coulter suggests that more journalists need to be jailed, we need to consider how far reporting should go, and additionally, relaxing our expectations of how that reporting should be framed. So when Lara Logan gets beaten and sexually assaulted, should we feel like we need to pull back? Or accept that cost and move on?

The King of Limbs is Coming!

2011-02-14T12:48:00.000-05:00

Radiohead Releasing New Album on Saturday | Rolling Stone Music

I don't have to tell you that I'm really excited about a new Radiohead record.

What I do have to tell you is that, I have a slight worry that Radiohead might finally make a misstep and put out a record that just ain't that great. Part of me just can't believe a band has been this good for this long, but, you know what? Let the power of positive thinking prevail.

MetalSucks » Blog Archive » LEGOS: NOW MADE OF METAL

2011-02-11T12:54:00.000-05:00

MetalSucks » Blog Archive » LEGOS: NOW MADE OF METAL

A metal head's dream denied by a still satisfying reality

2011-02-11T12:34:00.003-05:00

On the train to work today I sat next to a young woman who was fairly attractive and small. She put her headphones in and scrolled through her smartphone to select a tune. Immediately some form of true Swedish metal core was blasting out of her headphones. I did my best to listen in and see if I could decipher a few tunes, tried to catch the album graphic whenever she checked her phone and figure out what band compelled this person.

Yes, of course, metal is bigger than ever now, and all of us guys have noticed the increase in the female count at shows of bands that tend to be on the more aggressive side. So, to a certain extent, it's becoming more and more presumptuous to say that a woman, this very woman, can't be a metal head. But for many years, she was only a dream for many of my male friends.

Now, I have a wonderful and loving significant other, so I had nothing more than curiosity at heart, but all the same, there was no need to come off as a creep. I quit toying with the idea of tapping her on the shoulder and opted for the position of the modest metal dude. I felt righteous in reserving myself in order to let this mystery be.

Glad to have done it, too. As it turns out, when I got up to get off at my station, I realized that the music originated from a metal dude two doors down who was blasting his headphones so loud that I thought it was right by me. A smile crossed my face as he and I both walked out.

I mentioned this anecdote to a fellow metal colleague, and he too recounted having been fooled by his desire of that rare metal chick. In a similar circumstance, he realized it was his own headphones in his bag, still blasting, not hers.

Fare thee well in thy search, brethren.

Cavalera Conspiracy is killing me inside.

2011-02-09T19:10:00.001-05:00

Yes, that title is unlawfully tongue in cheek, but...well, I won't defend myself.

So you can download the new single by the band here, and I must say a few things.

Don't expect what you've heard before. It might be that this track is a weird one off to test reactions. There's a little bit of electronic sampling, but you're reassured as soon as the riff hits that it's more than likely going to be on. It's reminiscent of late Max era, on the line between chaos and roots. Is this a sign of things to come for Soulfly, too? I have to say that I like it.

Only neg is that you've got to sign up for an email list to get it, but it's the roadrunner list, and if you're not on it, I'm surprised. Not to say it's a good list since I didn't get an email about this, but just cause they do so much of this marketing stuff. Hey, look, at least metal is big again.

The question of creativity and potential modes for collaborative learning

2011-02-01T12:57:00.002-05:00

No Right Brain Left Behind: A Speed Innovation Challenge for Creative Education | Design for Good | Big Think

I've recently read the primer for The Future of Learning Institutions in a Digital Age, which was a fantastic set of preliminary guiding principles that, in short, encourage institutions to look to collaborative projects and tasks as opposed to the traditional 'instructor as authoritarian' and modality of competition. One of the recurring statements is the fact that we, as an internet culture, are already learning together, working together and interacting with each other in this way, and that major educational institutions (the old money ones) are designed directly in opposition to this. So, the question becomes - are students really not doing as well as they could because the internet is such a distraction? Or is it because they aren't being properly catered to?

So above is a link to a few words on another book I will likely read, and this is a thought that has come to me often - what really is creativity? We sort of get sold on the whole high school identity slots that the creative people are the artists, which I propose isn't true. Creative environments, other than that of art exist, and projects need to reflect and/or demand that. Let's have the students approach a specific problem and be charged with doing the research to find a solution. Let's encourage creativity as defined as being able to imagine and adapt and form solutions. Is the quarterback on the football field choosing to run an audible any less creative than the emo kid smoking pot under the bleachers, drawing cartoons of monsters?

Equal value, I say.

Anti Matter Captured. Baby, we about to blow up!

2010-11-19T21:06:00.001-05:00

Breakthrough: Anti-Matter Trapped for the First Time | Dr. Kaku's Universe | Big Think

Yup. Some smart fools out there at cern labs managed to capture a particle of anti matter, proving that it is indeed possible we might be able to destroy ourselves entirely in an instant. Yielding about 100 times the power of an h bomb, this momentous discovery is sure to become a blast.

That said, this is the kind of energy production we will likely need in order to power the future. Currently it's too expensive to produce this stuff, and by the time we do, we will need it for a better battery, so it's unlikely we will use it to kill ourselves. Here's to the future, nerds!

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Smart Phone N00b? Check me out on Examiner.

2010-11-08T14:04:00.001-05:00

Hey dudes. I've recently begun writing for Examiner as a Smart Phone expert. Follow me there, or jump to these links to get started on choosing a smart phone:

Here are a few recommends:

Al Pacino is Phil Spector

2010-10-13T13:56:00.000-04:00

Rolling Stone reports today that, yes, not only is there going to be a movie about Phil Spector, one of the most metal producers of our time, but that this movie will also be directed by none other than David Mamet (Wag the Dog, Race, Oleanna, et cetera).

Al Pacino to Play Phil Spector in Biopic | Rolling Stone Music

If you know anything about these guys, you know this film will be nothing if not heavy. Phil Spector was notorious for being a gloriously self righteous asshole who shat on everyone on his way to top, continuing to do so after he got there. While he has some serious producing credits, my personal fave is A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector, which has rumors of him forcing the musicians and and singers (Darlene Love, The Ronettes, The Crystals), who were high profile artists at the time, to work tirelessly during the summer in a hot studio with no fans or AC in order to make Christmas. In typical 60's fashion, the record was titled as a gift to you when you had to pay for it, and put a nice package over the personal turmoil Mr. Phil Spector caused the artists in his charge.

And do you know what happened when the record came out? Kennedy got shot, killing the record's sales. Over time the record gained in popularity, and if you hear a 60's version of Mommy Kissing Santa Claus or others, likely it's from this record, which for a Christmas record is brilliant. Just remember that every time you hear one of these, behind it were some blood, sweat and tears.

Now a killer in his own right, I'm excited for a biopic that delves into the probable dark corners of a frightening man who's life has been too public.

Psyched for The Social Network

2010-09-24T10:19:00.001-04:00

I'm not one to tout a movie based solely on the merits of one Mr. Pete Travers, but he makes a compelling case, and for what it's worth, I think that the excitement the idea of movie like this offers can't be argued with. Rare, and perhaps never truly done right, has there been a dramatization based on such an important figure in his own time, before the man has even left his twenties. It's modern Americana, and you couldn't even make it up. It's a tale that only the brash intellectuality of an anti-intellectual society would breed.

The themes are probably obvious, but ripe: ambition, obsession, alienation, deception, greed. In fact, they're quite in your face, every ad designed to slap you with the torpid stare of a punk kid from white plains that gains "more friends than Jesus". A boy whom we will likely discover needs to have not just friends, but followers, willfully brings them to him by the virtue of a single concept that gets him more than he bargained for. This is just the bag of thrills I was looking for.

Social Network

But what I'm most excited about is the soundtrack. I have to confess, I was a bit on the fence about seeing the movie until Trent Reznor came on board. He and Atticus Ross at their peak, having just done an instrumental record together that laid the groundwork for what you hear on the sample. Sounds good. And the tracks are a bit more than what you would expect. I recall some talk of how fantastic it would be if NIN built the sound for the new Terminator movie, but that might have been the wrong move for Reznor, adding in the fact that Terminator 4 was not the movie anyone wanted. It would have come off bloated and post 80's, I think.

No, there is a direct darkness to each tune, much more in the vein of Ghosts, that lends itself well to the story of a brilliant twerp who wins not the just the girl, but all of them. Here, Reznor and Ross make Hollywood work. The Gentle Hum of Anxiety pierces the spleen of a generation that wants to believe the question of soul doesn't matter. It is the tale we've been waiting for, one of a moment of genius that comes from a drunken night to become something we hadn't even dreamed of, fueling the crushing ambition it takes to conquer our world, every opportunity said yes to, every person stepped on the way to get there. This isn't a heart warming success story, it's the truth to the cost of ambition, the entry fee to the upper echelon of greatness.

Why isn't anyone covering Huey Lewis and The News?

2010-09-16T14:07:00.001-04:00

I'm serious. I'm not joking around.

This is an amendment to a recent post of mine discussing my feelings toward retro bands. So the question becomes, not only why is no one covering Huey Lewis and the news, why is no one interested in revisiting this form of rock? It's fertile ground for retro-rockers.

Okay, perhaps that notion is a bit ludicrous (although ripe, I am really not joking about this, I think people would listen to an 80s retro rock group of this caliber, and religiously), but consider the fact that this is a Grammy award winning outfit that, at one time, had the hit video on MTV, and not just once. Come on!

The Heart of Rock & Roll
The Power of Love
Back in Time!
Hip to Be Square

Nerd rockers, where are you? There is an opportunity here to bone up on all that Revenge of the Nerds love, watch the Back to the Future trilogy in one sitting, and come up with a well done contemporary nod to a group that not only had a hit song on a soundtrack, but all of whose albums in the 80s went gold, if not platinum or multi. Sure, record sales don't actually equal band success any more, but back then, that was stupendous.

And if not that, I'm begging for a metal, or even a Gaga version, of Back in Time. They did it in the movie! Huey Lewis was there! He was the guy that told them they were too loud. If this is not hitting you as bad-ass, you should hit yourself. Otherwise, consider the scene from American Psycho. Mr. Bateman makes a strong case for both my arguments.

Corn Sugar?

2010-09-15T12:14:00.000-04:00

A New Name for High-Fructose Corn Syrup - NYTimes.com

Don't be fooled friends. While the article sites that evidence remains inconclusive about whether or not Corn Syrup poses a health risk, that's not the only thing it's about. There are several small farmers that have been put out of business by companies that genetically engineer corn, and then sue the small farmers when these strains appear on their farm. It should be noted they have virtually no control over this as the process of seed being spread is naturally done by wind and animals that carry the seeds.

Aside from Food, Inc., you should check out the documentaries in featured here.

I like that new The Sword record

2010-09-14T23:25:00.002-04:00

You know, I'm really not a fan of the whole retro thing, and while I appreciate that thrash has been completely revitalized, it leads to an unavoidable problem. How do you write new material that doesn't already sound old out of the gate?

You see, even though Dragonforce isn't much more substance than fun, at least they sound like they came out of a time capsule as a band that was somehow not discovered in the time they were supposed to be in.

That's pretty much why I like The Sword. They have a simple goal. Sound like they're from another time. And while comparisons can be made to Black Sabbath, among other pioneers of old school metal, they're doing their own thing.

Warp Riders is definitely riffing on and paying tribute to their hard rock roots by going Sci-Fi. Have keyboards, must be from space. And the concept, aside from some solid song writing, is fantastic fantasy. An archer on a planet experiencing tidal lock is banished from his tribe to discover a magical orb that gets him in touch with an entity known as The Chronomancer who puts him on a path to save a planet. 3 Witches. And ancient androids. It is just darn good clean fun.

And that's the point of retro, I guess. So I get it now. But don't worry. No plans to get too into it.

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Hey Beavis, Pull My Finger

2010-07-16T13:27:00.002-04:00

MetalSucks » Blog Archive » IT’S OFFICIAL: BEAVIS AND BUTT-HEAD ARE BACK!

Hail Metalheads,

Thankfully B&B return for some buffoonery. I'm excited, but I was hoping this wouldn't be on MTV. They don't take so much care for their programming these days. I'm thinking one season at most, probably a really strong first episode with a lot of filler in-between.

Why "Secret" Tracks Should Just Be A Track

2009-11-12T15:22:00.006-05:00

There is no benefit from appending a secret track to an existing one, which is not really all that secret due to the technology we have today. Hello!? Adding 7 minutes of silence doesn't make anybody wait, we can just scroll along. In fact, it only creates the following annoyances:

It makes the track longer to rip, which creates a needlessly larger file.
Having to skip every time to listen to said secret track, if it is actually interesting, is needlessly cumbersome. Exhibit confidence in your creation, not "coolness."
It sets up false expectations for those who see a final track is 17 minutes and think the band was brave enough to put together a brilliant and epic piece of music no radio show will ever play. Bonus! Except not.

So please, music community, just make secret tracks an extra track. If we want it, we should be able to skip to it. If you didn't make it official, it's already clear that you don't think it's all that fitting with your record, which means you already think most people will ignore it. This rant is for the ones that care. Show them you do. The ignorant won't even notice.

Dethklok Lives and Mastodon Rules

2009-10-31T12:34:00.007-04:00

On both counts, the show was flat out fantastic. Dethklok was tight as hell, thanks partly to the click Brendan Small and Co. played to, but no credit can be taken away from the Gene "The Atomic Time Bomb" Hoglan as Mr. Small renamed him at the end of a face pummeling set of metal hilarity that was air tight. Cheers to the mighty Mastodon who played a surprisingly longer set than Dethklok, running through Crack The Skye from start to finish, taking only a two minute break before coming back for another mini set of tunes, three of which from Remission. A killer performance. If you missed this show, you are a stupid, because the experience was truly unique.

Behind both bands sat quite a large LCD screen, and both used it to its fullest extent, displaying all new visuals related to Mastodon's Crack The Skye storyline, and of course a mix of seen and unseen videos for each of Dethklok's songs. Hats off to Mastodon, coming this time around with a much more focused and developed vision for their video clips, utilizing a silent film age style, including actors, effects and make up, along with the digital art that made the special edition version of the album such a great collector's item. Dethklok's videos were both entertaining and on-point, starting off with the Metalocalypse theme, burning through a mix of Dethalbum's I and II that included Black Fire Upon Us, Duncan Hills Coffee Jingle, Murmaider and Dethsupport before finishing with Fan Song. Interludes between the band's brief breaks presented a very fun tutorial by Dethklok's mascot JawBones on moshing, and trailing Gen. Crozier's plot to eliminate all Dethklok followers, which gets thwarted in a very typically Metalocalypse fashion.

Brendan Small treated the fans to a bit of fun when he chatted with the crowd, switching from Toki to Skwisgaar to Nathan in an instant. He really seemed to enjoy New York's energy, and while Mastodon put on a jaw dropping show, the response to Dethklok was much more energetic, some in Halloween garb, including characters from Metalocalypse. Dethklok itself was dressed strictly in black to maintain emphasis on the videos. Of the rest of the players from the other bands of the night, only Brent Hinds dressed for the occasion, sporting a huge afro wig, silver pants and platform shoes. Yeah. He played with tremendous ferocity, and even attacked a crew member to the side of the stage for tuning his guitar incorrectly. All in good humor of course. All in good humor.

Them Crooked Vultures @ Roseland, NYC - October 15, 2009

2009-10-16T14:09:00.002-04:00

Hey Guy!

I got so blasted before the show, I can only remember that it was awesome. Definitely more along the blues groove lines. RS actually has a spot-on review of the show. Check it.

The Mars Volta at Roseland - October 8th, 2009

2009-10-10T00:56:00.006-04:00

The smartest decision this band made was to headline with no opener and play smaller venues like Roseland. Of course, they did their share of festival stops this summer, but it's clear that cozy is how these fellows prefer to feel. While I ended up missing the first half hour of what happened to be close to a 2-hour set (hey, I'm a busy New Yorker aright??), I have to say I was thrilled that the band played a set full of really key songs, even throwing in Eunuch Provocateur as a very nice surprise. It was about as true a mix of all their records you can get without harping too much on new stuff, as a lot of other bands would do. Since their actual breakup with heroine, TMV appear fully committed to providing their fans with a show they actually want to see, not just stand through for the good parts. They've also become quite keen on how long to jam before it becomes dross Syd Barrett on acid shit.

The band sounded great, and Roseland is a place where such things can happen, but unfortunately there seemed to be a lot of problems for Mr. Bixler-Zavala, whose mic was giving out on him every few minutes. On top of that, it was clear he had trouble hearing himself through the monitors, creating some moments where a misguided vocal over a perfectly executed chorus were a bit of a let down. All the same, not very much in the band's control. Sure didn't stop Cedric from weaving like a serpent, playing hacky sack with his trademark white mic, or busting out the more than occasional handstand. I can't say the energy from the rest of the band was as high, except of course for Toms Bombz Pridgin. Might have been due to this show being one of the last in a long series stretching back to June. Nonetheless, it was a good enough show considering all the factors against them, and as per usual, no encore, which I greatly respect.

Check out some fantastic pics @ brooklyn vegan.

Son Et Lumiere
Intertiac E.S.P.
Goliath
Cotopaxi
Roulette Dares
Viscera Eyes
Halo of Nembutals
Eunuch Provocateur
Ilyena
Teflon
Drunkship of Lanterns
Luciforms
The Widow
Wax Simulacra

Blue Record - Baroness

2009-10-07T20:56:00.006-04:00

If you don't know who Baroness is at this point, you really must not be listening. Think Mastodon with a heavier country/blues vibe and vocals more mongrel, less shedding but more instrumentalism, then add a dash of shoegaze rage, and you've got the right mix for a band that's as unclassifiable and incomparable as the mighty Mastodon. Baroness write powerful, raw music with an undeniable sense of justice. It’s no surprise that their latest release, while significantly different, manages to live up to the hype magazines like Revolver helped establish by giving them record of the year for Red Album in 2007. Check out the video for Wanderlust from that one.

All that said, despite the tremendous amount of buzz this record is getting, I have to admit that it wasn't a win at first listen. Their focus this time around was to write more melodically and somewhat prettier in order to shrug off comparisons with Mastodon, and in this regard I believe they're successful, but honestly, they never needed to fight it. Neither will ever write the other's songs, and Blue Record is no Crack The Skye, as Blood Mountain is no Red Album. I missed the sonic experimentation off that earlier release and find that, while their blending of acoustic interludes among others maintain the sense of something epic, overall, their new spin detracts some from the power of their instrumentalism. And although vocalist John Baizely is certainly a unique screamer, he's not as phenomenal as a singer as he is expressive. The result is a sort of tuneful chanting that nonetheless compliments his minimalist lyrics and fantastic song titles, so I have to say that it did feel as if the band was quite happy to be making a record such as this. It has a natural touch to it.

Baizley also happens to be, in case you didn't know, the guy behind the great cover artwork for Pig Destroyer's Phantom Limb and Darkest Hour's Deliver Us, and of course the artwork for Blue Record features his signature provocative style. Check it:

Clearly he has a great appreciation for madames au naturelle. Like this piece, Blue Record is a beautiful work worth your eye and ear.

Desperate Living - Horse the Band

2009-10-05T22:48:00.008-04:00

Out of the spectrum of bands I listen to, I must admit I have no particular reason for liking Horse the Band, other than that they are so not like anything else out there in metal and stick to their guns when it comes to their craft. If you don't happen to know, Horse the Band is jokingly self-branded as nintendo-core, the most bizarre combination of 8-bit melodies and hardcore breakdowns. Prog-rock guitars, blast beats to rim shots, an NES emulator for a keyboardist, and a vocalist who sounds like the biggest nerd from your class, except he dropped out of school cause he got really into death metal. It's these somewhat unrelated elements matched with an inherent adolescence that is the key to never having lost their activation energy and love of ADHD songwriting, skipping from odd-time into total abrasion before breaking down into atmospherics or jump-up-and-down fist-pumping four-on-the-floor disco/punk. They're insane.

You might remember them for that one tune Birdo, a moment of brilliance that was birthed at both the right and wrong time - it got them some fame but no one respected the genre. Desperate Living could describe the way they've spent most of their career since that random hit: with little label assistance and poor personal funding, they are a true DIY that thrive completely on that adolescent power, booking their own shows and calling on fans for support. I saw them open for Poison the Well, then hang out after the show asking around for a place to stay because their management was so fed up with their destructive antics, allegedly only fueled by soda and pizza. They could have just been talking shit, but I know not if they slept well that night. Now, a bit older, on a better label, they're fully armed to make this the first record that really captures them at their most advanced. Consider this the latest upgrade to their firmware.

From the start it seems as if they're more serious, but not much more mature, which feeds their fantastic character. I won't say there are any new tricks, or more original breakdowns from guitarist David Isen, but the focus is much stronger on the construction of their brand of insanity, blending riffs together with random bits that fit, despite being a complete switch, ranging from 80s new wave soundtrack moments to references from Mega Man and even a live sample from Super Mario. That sporadic and relentless energy is dually reflected in the smart and equally dynamic production and structure of songs like Golden Mummy Golden Bird and their tribute to comic book of the same name Science Police, which could easily be their next single. The lyrics are just as brash, hilarious, juvenile, sentimental and senseless as ever, with Nathan Winneke occasionally doppleganging the Comic Book Guy from the Simpsons, complimenting their sonic efforts perfectly. They're even brash enough to write a song called Horse the Song, and reference themselves as special guests Lord Gold (nickname for keyboardist Erik Engstrom) and His Purple Majesty. Don't be fooled, however - somewhere under that armor of surface idiocy is a force with heart and soul and a vast conflated metaphor about serious issues. By the time you hear special guest Jamie Stewart of Xiu Xiu sing "let's sing that crippled song together" on their single Shapeshift, you just might be moved.

I Saw Tool @ All Points West and I Liked It.

2009-08-05T21:37:00.009-04:00

Now that you know, I might as well talk a little bit about what else I saw:

Tim & Eric @ the Queen of the Valley Tent

Oh my god. Dudes were wearing full-body suits with humongous genitalia, dancing around, talking about how their gonna bang their sisters. Perfect! How did I miss their existence?

Kool Keith @ the Bullet Stage

In the dress department, Keith was rockin some kind of Muslim headdress in white, studded with rocks, while his hype-men had acrylic superman capes around their necks. Yeah, I didn't get it, but hey - I thought they looked pretty cool. Anyway, it was more of his "I'm a gangsta now" material than any of that space-rap Black Elvis stuff. It was groovin' though.

Not groovin: The beverage situation was just not that cool. A companion of mine's license expired, which somehow disproved her age. Went to one of the designated beer gardens to pick her something up, but you're not allowed outside! I somehow did not remember this from last year. So I sat there, sipping my two beers, listening to Kool Keith from afar.

Arctic Monkeys @ the Blue Comet Stage

Boring. Got more beer.

Gogol Bordello @ the Blue Comet Stage

Can't say I'm a fan, but I headed straight for the pit and had a ton o' fun. The singer was pouring wine on the crowd and rocking out Gypsy crazy, while the violinist was laying down some serious fire. The percussionist gave the crowd crazy eyes, dancing wild with the go-go girls. It was hot!

Not hot: Lost my remaining 3 beer tabs in the pit (of which I had 7 to start with). Security guards were no help. No more beer unless I bummed a whole wristband from someone else. Right. While I appreciate that they limit the drinking to reduce douche-baggery, this was a major fail.

My Bloody Valentine @ the Blue Comet Stage

The fact that I had to stand through this for an hour to hold my spot, in the mud from the rain the night before, losing my buzz while my back burned and my feet hurt, watching some white girl do the white girl twist to this b(l)and's wall of sonic texture noise is a hatredy. I was really wishing Dethklok would just show up and each member would be claimed by death in an instant. The guitars were too loud, the bass was even louder, the drums sounded pale and I could not hear the vocals at all, which apparently is the point? I didn't even know anyone was singing until I took a look at the big screens and saw mouths moving. The worst was their simulated ten-minute explosion at the close of the show. Why?

They said punk was not music. They said metal was not music. Totally wrong. This was not music AT ALL. It was pure torture and snide mockery towards the uninitiated. Ooh, like, you're so deep, cause like, you can't even write a melody. Lame. That one of the guitarists, Kevin Shields, is from Queens explained it (note: I hail from Queens), but it certainly did not forgive it. Look, I get it, okay? I just don't care for it. If I want noise I'll put my face in front of a fan. Thank you.

The most irritating thing is that this idiot could not comprehend why every tool fan was flipping them the bird through their whole set. Said idiot would have you believe that they compare somehow in aesthetics or intent, but don't be fooled kiddies, the only point they agree to is pretentiousness, and in kind they're split by a razor's edge. There is nothing similar about the two bands from a musical standpoint, which is the only conceit to consider. Tool appreciates poignant melody and intricate song structure that develops dynamics through subtle repetition, creating shifts in emotion from brazen to beaten, or hopeful to misanthropic, within the space of one piece. Leading me now to…

Tool @ the Blue Comet Stage

As you can see from the picture, they were set in their classic formation from the left: Adam Jones, Maynard James Keenan, Danny Carey, and Justin Chancellor, against a drowning backdrop of visuals designed by Jones. True to their modest aesthetic, no band member was remarkable, except for the fact that all of them were in white, save Keenan, who was in a dark coveralls, water in a holster, his megaphone slung over his shoulder.

Of course, despite seeming to be a shadow, Keenan was quite a show, shifting his body in hieroglyphic positions during the start of Jambi, and keeping to the band's rhythm in the same manner throughout when not vocalizing. It was a treat to see him pace in a circle as he spouted the storyline of Rosetta Stone, clasping the megaphone's wired receiver and gripping his mic stand for cleaner phrases. He even took a crack at the audience about how some should not let anyone see their flesh, then wished all a good night before Tool broke into Vicarious.

The setlist* was an interesting compendium of the more sinister and brooding side of Tool, with plenty of their signature odd time riffage, best personified by the addition of Flood, which was absolutely thrilling. I had forgotten how interesting that song is, and in hearing it then, it occurred to me how much more that tune would prove to be a blueprint for Tool's more recent work than any single they're known for. Overall, the band was incredibly controlled, delivering a frighteningly even performance that contributed to their otherworldly vibe, jamming and variating here and there just to stun that much more so. Jones' visuals completed the triad of music and performance, both thoughtful and provoking, equally an interpretation of the art of Tool's sound, as are the lyrics Keenan pens. Frank Ferrar joined the troop on Lateralus with his own drumset, laid out by stagemen in lab coats. While it was great to see the drummers take turns at each other, he did not hold a flame to Carey in my opinion.

It was a great show. All that said, there was something left to be desired after having seen Radiohead last year, whose performance and visuals will probably go down in my book as the best I've ever seen. Tool's visuals were a bit predictable and repetitive - Radiohead's in comparison seemed much more directed and particular, developing logically with each song.

A much more sour note was the reaction of some of the Tool fans who actually said that the show sucked because there was no encore. It was clear they weren't going to do one, and while Keenan ducked out, Jones, Carey and Chancellor stayed out to look over the crowd and connect for ten minutes before exiting themselves. Such a complaint is flagrant and ludicrous, and, especially these days, really fucking typical. It's gotten cliché to do an encore, and everyone knows it, so much so that bands work around the idea of an encore to play however long they really want to. The last time I saw Deftones and Lamb of God they did 4-song encores. It's just not special anymore. Encores need to end or be earned, not be expected.

*Jambi

Stinkfist

46 & 2

Schism

Rosetta Stoned

Flood

Aenema

Lateralus

Vicarious

Rolling Stone Interview with Dave Mustaine

2009-07-30T09:47:00.001-04:00

Much more gossip and talk than discussing anything musical, but just to let you know:

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/29426165/megadeths_dave_mustaine_talks_new_riffs_old_drama/

I'm excited for this record. Not that I expect anything phenomenal, but I'm a huge fan and just love that undeniable Megadeth sound.

The 2 Cent Switch

2009-07-27T19:27:00.003-04:00

Killswitch Engage - Self Titled: If you like hearing the same exact material they've done since Howard Jones came aboard, by all means keep listening. I won't.

Darkest Hour - The Eternal Return: This record would be really impressive if they hadn't done three records worth already. Apt album title. Must've snatched it from Killswitch so they couldn't use it.

Get these instead, if you haven't already...

Candiria - Kiss the Lie: It's hard to come by the version of this record intended for sale since Amazon and iTunes botched the track list and duplicated one track, but I know if you pick up the vinyl you're good. Comes with an MP3 disc. This band's catalog gets more and more interesting and diverse as you go back. Definitley rubbed off on Dillinger Escape Plan.

Cynic - Traced in Air: Sick record since the last one, which was back in '93. Wow. If you've somehow never heard of 'em, just consider the fact that two members did stints in Death and Gordian Knot. SOLD!