Dances Alone, Dances With Ghosts

I'm not sure why I have this. I'm not sure what I think of it. But, I do know that you should have it too.

One man musical entity Silver Antlers (Skylar) out of Utah, that's right... Utah... became inspired to create something new after the passing of his Grandmother and discovery of her old tyme record collection. So he created the entity Mothers Of Sons and released the album Dances Alone, Dances With Ghosts upon the unsuspecting interweb. He cut, looped and introduced a whole bucket load of white noise and general creepiness to the mixture. Is it good? I really can't listen to it long enough to find out...

There was no album art offered with it, so I took liberties and went with Carol Anne from Poltergeist. I think you'll understand if you listen...

come to the light... no stay away from the light... no, yes come to the light!

Munly & The Lee Lewis Harlots

As a member in good standing of Slim Cessna's Auto Club, Munly Munly (aka: Munly, Jay Munly, Jayson Thompson) is a member of Colorado's Americana revival elite. For your consideration today, I present his 5th non-Auto Club album, 2004's humbly titled Munly & The Lee Lewis Harlots.

Building upon his Alt Country/Gothic-Americana roots, Munly drew from an assemblage of noteworthy talent to create what can only be described as an epic piece of Americana. There is drama and tension within Munly's twisted carnival barker like tales, all accented by his backing players and their ample use of strings and spectral female vocals. Throughout, Munly weaves yarn after yarn with a voice that is equally disturbing as it enthralling. His lyrics unfold into personal narratives with the poetic dexterity of a good old fashioned knife fight. His musical visions are at times frightening, at times humorous, but always addictive. This album was years ahead of its' time when released upon the world in 2004, and it remains so today.

You've Got One-Eyed Intentions.

TOTAL BONUS VIDEO!!

White Devil, Black Metal

Grim... primal... and BLACK. California's one man black metal juggernaut, Leviathan, is a force to be feared, respected and held in a perpetual state of awe. White Devil, Black Metal is soloist Wrest's (aka Jeff Whitehead) 2002 demo. Leviathan's respect for traditional Scandinavian Black Metal is plainly evident, but there is an expansive nature to the creation within. It simultaneously pays homage to the founding corpse painted fathers of Northern Europe, as well as pushes and obliterates the often stagnant boundaries of the "scene." It is rare that such a grim and uncompromising creation can also be so varied and boundless.

There was a time when I sincerely believed that the best or most "real" (whatever that means) black metal had to be European in origin. I thought that the rest of the world would be stuck in a perpetual game of catch up... I could not have been more wrong. While the Euro scene, with some exceptions, has been releasing mediocre after mediocre watered down black metal clone bands, it is the West Coast of the United States that for years has been churning out impressive releases by stunning artists with a healthy variety of musical influences. All this while keeping it brutal and uncompromising. Leviathan are truly among the keepers of black metal's misanthropic flame. There's no corporate black metal here kids...


The original pressing of White Devil, Black Metal... was a whopping 66 hand numbered copies. Now that's kvlt.

white devil!!!! black metal!!!

Dark Age of Reason

Sweden's Arcana released this, their debut album, via Cold Meat Industry in the year of our Lord 1996. I distinctly recall picking up this gem in a Village record shop based on the album cover alone. Those were the days weren't they? It was still before the download revolution destroyed any wonder or adventure in blindly hunting through rows of unknown Cds, just to roll the dice on a hunch. Sometimes you ended up with shit like Shank 456, but other times you discovered a gem like Arcana.

Dark Age of Reason is as haunting as it is beautiful. As moving as it is foreboding. The vocals of Ida Bengtsson are gentle and mesmerizing. It is with a singular sadness that she allows her voice to glide effortlessly over the mournful and barren orchestral dirges. The chants of Peter Pettersson (who is known as Peter Bjärgö nowadays) are stark and unforgiving, serving as a steel willed anchor for the more ethereal and neo-folk moments of the album.

The album unfolds with an eerily calm yet steady determination. As if on the river Styx, Arcana serve as the Ferryman and draws the listener ever further away from the shores of reality.

Dark Age of Reason pairs well with red wine, abandoned churches and hallucinogenics.

..enjoy..

High

I know it hasn't been long since my last New Model Army posting... but I just can't help myself.

There aren't too many musicians who are two decades deep into their journey and are still able to create with such urgent passion and purpose as NMA. Justin Sullivan and the boys are true poets of the working class.

I really posted this because I imagine that there is some grimy old bastard out there that used to be a NMA fan back in the eighties and has since lost touch or interest with them. If you should be that grimy old bastard, first I congratulate you on your mastery of the intraweb, but really I think you need to get back on board with NMA. High (2007) is a perfect reintroduction for you and your old friends. And should you not be an old acquaintance of NMA, what the Hell have you been listening to?

Their 10th album proves that it is not just youth alone that is able to create inspired post punk/rock anthems. Youth has no monopoly on New Model Army's expression of urgent humanism. The music of High is without a doubt more mature as a result of years of finely tuned songwriting for this road tested band ( see: "Sky In Your Eyes" and "Rivers"), but that classic New Model Army call to action is alive and well. I for one am able to sleep just a bit better, knowing that New Model Army still tend to the flame and wave their flag high.

Face into the wind, boys, face into the wind

Trinity

Peaceville Records released My Dying Bride's three early EPs as a single album in 1995. I believe that the original EPs were only available to Peaceville club members... which is probably about the worst way to promote your label's artists. They righted the wrong with the release of Trinity.
By '95 My Dying Bride had already begun to move away from the Death Metal sound, but this collection serves as a bold reminder that these boys from Halifax were once austere members of the Death/Doom triumvirate, sharing the honor with Paradise Lost and Anathema. The cover included here is from the American release, the rest of the world got a pic of a severed Jesus statue head while we got graves with the original EPs' album art on them. Also, the track "The Sexuality of Bereavement" replaced "Transcending (Into the Exquisite)" from the original I am the Bloody Earth EP. Why, you ask? For no good reason that I know of... they just up and switched it. Anyway, this EP collection represents a time in My Dying Bride's catalog which was mired in crushing Death/Doom metal. Still, you can just hear the songs expanding the very genre of Doom with each track. My Dying Bride were creative pioneers even in their early days which is made evident by the poetic and emotive explosion of sound within this collection.

Lay down with beasts,
and welter in my gore

16 Tons (Ten Songs) 2003 KCRW Session

Over time it will become clear to you just how much of an Eels loyalist I am.

I believe this was only available for sale during their "Eels with strings tour" and has since disappeared from the retail world. That's not fair and I think you should be able to enjoy it as much as any other red blooded American who was smart enough to catch the "..with strings" tour. You shouldn't suffer for what I am sure was but a momentary lapse of judgment on your part.

Recorded live in 2003 for the KCRW Morning Becomes Eclectic radio show, Mr. E, Kooool G. Murder, Puddin' and Golden Boy laid down some righteous rock and roll for the radio listening public. They performed eight classic Eels tunes (each slightly re-envisioned) and two cover songs. One being "Sixteen Tons" by Merle Travis, and the second being "I'm a loser," which was written by some guys named Lennon and McCarthy. The latter two were apparently in some band a long time ago. Anyway, your Eels collection just got a little cooler with this live album included... even if you don't have a physical copy of it like the hip kids...

it's hard to laugh as you choke

Cinnamon Girl

The late 90s were good times for Brooklyn's Type O Negative. Their brand of gothic/doom metal had taken a decidedly pop tone culminating in the album October Rust. It all seemed to bode well for the mental state of lead singer Mr. Steele, but alas it was not to last... The band's music would soon imitate life and begin to spiral into much angrier and depressed regions. But still, the late 90s were good times. So here, for your listening pleasure, is the single for their cover of Neil Young's "Cinnamon Girl." It's a remix by Charlie Clouser, whose credits include NIN membership and various production work with numerous bands including White Zombie. It's a decidedly fun remix, despite its' "Depressed Mode Mix" title. I've always felt that Type O should do an entire album of covers... that has nothing to do with anything really, just thought I'd share that thought with you.

My baby loves to dance...

The Eyeless Horde

So, it is Easter weekend and I'm looking for an appropriate post. I was going to go all serious and put up some seriously heavy Christian themed music. But alas, I've decided to go in another direction...

For the resurrection weekend, we have on display Finland's Hooded Menace and their demo/ep from 2007, The Eyeless Horde. Via crushingly heavy doom with death metal vocals these Fins pay homage to the work of Spanish director and cult-horror hero Armando de Ossorio. For those of you who have deprived yourselves of the treat, Ossorio created a series of four films collectively referred to as the "Blind Dead" in the early '70s in which undead Templar Knights rise from the grave and go about wreaking havoc. Oh yeah, did I mention that they are blind?... But they can hear your ass so don't get all confident. This two song demo/ep is as heavy as it is slow. It plods along with the steadfast determination of a Blind zombie Templar Knight who is going to get you and just may rip off your clothes in the process. Think you can out run a slow as all shit blind zombie? Maybe you can... but they can also ride horses.

shhh...be vewy vewy quiet...

The Mouse & The Mask

Producer extraordinaire Danger Mouse and rapper/villain MF Doom joined forces in 2005 to form the unstoppable hip-hop beast Danger Doom and pay homage to the Cartoon Network's late night absurdity of Adult Swim. A Hip-Hop oddity if there ever was one, this beat friendly and lyrically mesmerizing creation is a masterful answer to all that is popular Hip-Hop/rap these days. Does Kanye West give you unending douche chills? Tired of P-Diddy MTV reality shows? Does an endless use of Auto Tune voice pitch changing shit make you bang your head against the wall?

It is unquestionable that pop hip-hop is a wasteland of lowest common denominator marketing and mind numbingly repetitive sampling. But there are still shining points of creativity within the world of Hip-Hop, Danger Doom is the combination of two of those forces. Guest appearances by the likes of rap emissaries Ghostface, Talib Kweli, and Cee-Lo Green are met by Adult Swim personalities Brak, Harvey Birdman, Master Shake and the rest of ATHF, the cast of Sea Lab 2021 and more. The songs wander freely around cartoon inspired plot lines and animated landscapes. Sound surreal? It is.

I really need you to have this.

slap happy crappiness

Blackfield

Blackfield is the result of a collaboration between Steve Wilson (Porcupine Tree) and Israeli pop singer/songwriter/peace activist Aviv Geffen. Their music is a dreamy sort of pop/rock with some atmospheric as well as prog moments (it is Steve Wilson after all). With this self titled first release (2004) they've created a very accessible and lush sounding album. At times, the duo seem to summon the likes of Pink Floyd as well as John Lennon. That's definitely a compliment.

I had the pleasure of catching these guys during their NYC show in March of '07. There was a ridiculous snow and ice storm that night and the trek to the show was like that time in Voyage of the Mimi when that creepy captain almost died of hypothermia. Did you know Ben Affleck was on that show? Crazy huh? Anyway, trust me, it was cold that night. The show was great, you really screwed up by not being there.

..enjoy..

Bonus Video NYC

Kauan

Finland's Tenhi blend the minimalist atmosphere of neo-folk with a rock foundation, creating an ethereal and moving tribute to all things melancholy and alone. Kauan (1999), their first full length, is a beautiful and stunning creation. Its' sound is stark yet rich, invoking the spirit of nature throughout. The acoustic guitars weave effortless melodies, like ripples on a calm lake's surface. There are occasional pianos as well as violins and even a didgeridoo, aiding to create this masterpiece. This album is everything that neo-folk should be. It takes the listener on a journey through a series of natural landscapes, where gentle sounds and whispered echoes paint a scene of simple beauty. The sparse and haunting vocals are in Finnish, but the song titles are accompanied by English translations so you will at least have a starting point for their meaning. However, it isn't necessary as the album is emotive beyond the barriers of language. Kauan is an experience and it seems fitting that with the start of Spring, it be posted.

..enjoy..

Hermeticum

Like a Voodoo hexed zombie... this blog lives again!

By 1998 the good gentlemen of Portugal's Moonspell had pretty much abandoned any black metal influence they once embraced. To some, their turn towards the more gothic and pop friendly sound was unfortunate. To others it was impressive to watch a versatile group of musicians morph into a new entity from album to album. But for all interested onlookers, it was a shocking twist in the story of Moonspell when they decided to reach deep into their dark past and create a one off side project under the moniker Daemonarch.

Based upon the poetry of lead singer Fernando Ribeiro's teen years, who went under his old pseudonym of Langsuyar for this side project, Hermeticum is primal black metal with a serious occult vibe. Daemonarch, for the brief moment of their existence, consisted of all Moonspell's members at the time, sans drummer Miguel Gaspar. I once asked Miguel about Daemonarch and he informed me that he was not involved in the project. In turns out that all the drumming was programmed on a drum machine. We shared an awkward moment or two and I decided to bring my still infant interviewing career to an end. No one ever accused me of being smooth. Anyway, the stars of Daemonarch are easily the vocals and guitars. Fernando's (Langsuyar) vocals are explosive, vicious and inhuman throughout. The guitar work, while not overly complicated, is dramatic and creates a memorable atmosphere of horror. Even the sprinkling of keyboards serves the album well.

Daemonarch were more in the Mediterranean vein of black metal, think latter day Rotting Christ (with that heavy Septic Flesh influence) ...nothing Scandinavian here. But if you found yourself alienated by Moonspell's early musical shift, you may be pleased with what you find. It's a solid album and I for one am sad that it was just a brief stop for Moonspell. Maybe the future will bring about a second effort... maybe they'll even let Miguel in on the action this time...

..a thousand tongues..

On A Night Like This

Just when the little ticker at the bottom of the blog starts going up.... I'm taking a break. You see, I'm departing for an alcohol fueled week in New Orleans. And alas, I cannot bring you with me. Please don't be sore. Please? But, fret not, I shall return by the end of the week. So until then, feel free to explore past posts as well as this, my fitting send off:




Buckwheat Zydeco pretty much is zydeco music. For fuck's sake, it's his last name! Okay, that's just a stage name, but still he has taken the regional Creole music of Louisiana and accomplished a fair amount of mainstream success. If I'm aware of him, he must have. Because I do not know much about Zydeco at all. But what I do know is that his music is lively and charming. And this album is filled to the brim with accordions and washboards. And, for some reason this makes me happy. If I see Buckwheat in NOLA I'll be sure to tell him you say bonjour.

git some!

Another Great Love Song

My mind is currently being fucking obliterated by Ludicra's brand spanking new effort, The Tenant. Unlucky for you, I do not make a habit of posting new albums on this blog. You should go out and buy it. But, lucky for you, all of Ludicra's albums are of the fucking mind obliterating variety. So behold, their second album, from 2004 anno domini, Another Great Love Song.

Pain, suffering, loss, addiction. Another Great Love Song is drenched in all that turns us away from light, love and all the pretty little things of the world. It is brutal yet mesmerizing. It is one of the ugliest, angriest and most sincere albums I have the pleasure of owning. It is brilliant. It is art. It is what you fear as you lay awake at night. This album serves as a rare and sobering reminder that anger, hate and fury are just expressions of the deepest of sorrows.

Laurie Sue Shanaman's screeching vocals are disturbingly honest, her pain is almost too evident. Listening to her, and frankly seeing her perform live as well, is like watching a poor and wretched soul perform a self inflicted exorcism. The bass of Mr. Ross Sewage (Impaled) is menacing and unrelenting, the drumming of Aesop (Hickey, Agalloch) twists and turns with trailblazing violence. John Cobbett (Hammers of Misfortune) is uniquely brilliant on lead guitar, as anyone who knows his body of work would attest. Christy Cather's voice can be shrill and vicious, but also ghost like at times. With an ethereal grace she is the calm to Laurie's storm. But do not be lulled, like a Siren, she too will draw you to your doom.
You want highlights? How about "Time Wounds All Heels" and "Why Conquer?" And then after those two, the rest of the fucking album.

..enjoy..

NOTE: The aforementioned Aesop,
is also the author of the best blog
the intraweb ever did see: Cosmic Hearse.

rajaportti

Driving melancholic rock is the name of Finnish group Timo Rautiainen & Trio Niskalaukaus' game. Their music flirts with metal but generally stays within the rock arena and their melodies are of the mournful Finn variety. Rajaportti is an easily accessible and catchy album. Now, here's the kicker: it's all in their native tongue. I don't speak a lick of Finnish...okay, maybe like three words, but they aren't helping me much with this album. Still, Timo and the gang are masters at communicating emotion through song, even with a language barrier firmly set between us. There is one line that I know is somewhere on the album, although I'm not sure where because again, I don't speak Finn, but I believe it conveys the sentiment of Rajaportti well, "It is difficult to hang ones self when the ceiling is too low and the rope too thick." Can you argue with that notion? I cannot.

.enjoy.

Wildhoney

Tiamat put the European metal scene on notice with the release of 1994's Wildhoney. Facing their break up, the band decided to just make an album for themselves, never believing it would be a critical or financial success. They could not have been more wrong.

A departure from their much more aggressive and heavy efforts of the past, this album showcased a band coming into their own as musicians and proved that creativity would not be bound by genre limitations. While some elements of their metal past were still evident, Wildhoney showcased progressive and psychedelic song writing unfettered by restraint. Nature and the wonderful hallucinogenic drugs it provides is a theme throughout. It plays out like a trippy drug induced journey through an otherworldly realm. While there you will marvel at all nature has to offer, but you will also stand witness to man's careless destruction of it. Man is such a dick sometimes. Pink Floyd and King Crimson can be heard whispering inspiration behind each track, so make sure you listen carefully. I recommend that you enjoy this album in its' entirety, letting it play from beginning to end. It plays not like a group of songs, but like an experience. And not one you are likely to forget.

If I had my own planetarium, and if life were fair I would, there would be a Friday midnight laser light show for Wildhoney. And all the cool kids would come and we would smoke. Alot.

For every tear, a dream

Live at Vicar Street

Holidays make it an easy go at picking which album to post... Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Christy Moore sings with a natural warmth and sincere passion. He has been a national treasure in Ireland for some 40 years and is the living embodiment of Irish folk music. Here on his fourth live album, Live At Vicar Street (2002), he performs mostly covers and a couple originals. Each of the covers he recreates as his own with his distinct voice and perspective. Moore, in good Irish tradition, is able to wander freely among songs of love and lament, political and revolutionary anthems as well as the more upbeat foot stomping and crowd pleasing tunes. Live At Vicar Street is a beautifully organic album, proving that sometimes a few musicians with just their guitars is all that is needed to provide an enlightening and moving experience. Moore's performance is disarmingly soulful and his banter with his audience makes his charm evident throughout. Enjoy.

Erin Go Bragh

Rebel Extravaganza

Cold, vicious and razor sharp. Satyricon's Rebel Extravaganza (1999) is everything a black metal album should be. Departing from their more grandiose and medieval inspired style of the past, Satyricon ventured forward into the frigid wastelands of misanthropic disdain. The drums of Frost (and guest drummer Fenriz) are viciously precise, the vocals of Satyr are scornful and the music like a discordant anthem of hate. This album represents the vile underbelly of humanity, it is ugly to its' rotten core. S.W. Krupp (Thorns) contributes guest guitar on a few tracks, but his influence, even if not direct, is evident throughout the album. The introduction of industrial elements and the lack of melodies being prime examples. There is nothing redeeming or likable about Rebel Extravaganza, it is an album comprised of pure, blackened, disgusting, anti-human vomit. Well played gentlemen.

no-love machine

The Dark Third

I don't think "progressive" really describes Pure Reason Revolution adequately. Maybe "progressively symphonic psychedelically epic melodic rock," would be more appropriate. The Dark Third, their debut from 2006, is comprised of slowly building melodies and often soaring vocal choruses. It appears, according to information provided by the band, that there are four member of PRR. This is obviously some sort of ruse. I cannot comprehend that only four human beings are responsible for the sonic output of this album. The album plays out like a 70's prog- rock epic, however it's songs are very forward looking, almost futuristic at times. Think maybe Pink Floyd meets Porcupine Tree plus a whole boat load of choruses and harmonizing. Listening to this album while driving down a pitch black highway in the dead of the night is highly recommended.

.enjoy.