mi manifesto

monotonous instability.

2011-06-07T20:07:00.000-07:00

a bottle of jameson.
pour me a glass on the rocks.
pop a oxycontin or a diazepam.
these girls, glasses or not.
I want you, I don't need you.
stop blowing up my phone, no more distractions.
haven't wrote a good song in decades.
haven't had a good time in centuries.

i'm fucking up.
i'm fucking up.

can't we just talk about life.
without taking a shot, without taking a hit, without abusing our brains.
i had it all, i just got bored with it.
i need it back.
this monotonous instability is killing me slowly.
i came inside you and almost lost my heart.

everyone else acts like they couldn't be happier.
am I the only one going insane?
I'm too young to feel this old.
I'm too blessed to feel this cold.

the bridges I've burned I fear are still on fire.
I can see the flames in their eyes.
Hear the smoke on their tongues.
Their hatred fills my lungs.
I deserve it though, this is how chapter 4 goes.

I'm fucking up.
I'm fucking up.

I can't believe I'm saying this...but,
I wish I was back in my dorm room.
Away from everything & next to nothing.
Yet in the desolate valley I can't find a place to hide.
Hide from the hoes, can't afford to buy clothes.
Hide from the binge drinking, nights home alone thinking.
I think too much, I drink to much.
Can't I just play my guitar and let my dopamine drive me?
I know there is enough hurt in my heart to let a good song come out of me.
I can't sing very well, but I auto-tune my feelings.
Until the hope inside my starts healing.

i'm fucking up.
i'm fucking up.
i can't believe i'm fucking up.

i'm so jealous of my friends.
either because they're where I wanna be.
or because I want them naked onto of me.

i'm fucking up.
i'm fucking up.
i can't believe it.
please tell me what I needed.

Late Night Calls From The Ex

2011-03-20T23:15:00.000-07:00

Now this is a mixtape.

A few 40-40 (Drake's main producer) type atmospheric R&B beats, some industrial rock band playing on and off in the background, and this guy singing about how he's gonna totally get it on with this girl who's life consists of major drug use.

Quite a 9 song journey.

Check it out. You can download it at their website which is linked through the picture of the album.

The Weeknd - House of Balloons

Woe, Is Me

2011-03-02T20:58:00.000-08:00

Woe, Is Me - Number[s] (2010)

I think I just fell in love.

Woe, Is Me is a seven-piece post-hardcore group from the ATL. Their album (Number[s]) is incredible. Blending all the favorite cliques of modern metalcore acts, some catchy snyth back beats, and Tyler Carter's (Lead Singer) just so damn pleasing voice.

Now I admit, I am probably blowing this album out of portion because I have an knack for loving bands that others would classify as boring after two songs. Sorry I just know what I like and love to hear it repeated in beautiful ways. But in sea of bands who paddle through swallow waters, the Number[s] dudes go just the right distance into the unknown.

(link in picture)

40 Proof

2011-02-11T16:05:00.001-08:00

The creative side of me thrives off horrible things happening to me...
...and I have to say I quite enjoy how I'm going to handle each circumstance.

I realize this blog has gone from a music source to me venting every so often,
and I promise to change that...so you can have a nice mix of both.

But as for today, I'm not in the mood.

- King

How to Write A Pop Song In Under 30 Seconds

2011-02-07T14:25:00.000-08:00

"Today I feel like it's gonna rain forever,
but then I realize I live in the desert.
It never rains and it never snows,
but look in my heart and you can see that I'm cold."

Chords: Eb, A, G

GAY GAY GAY.

2011-01-26T16:38:00.000-08:00

some spend and some accumulate, but in the end
what you accumulating for if not to spend
and if you blow it all, i'll be your friend
we'll still hit the town and set a new trend
turn some heads with all the rules we bend
just don't get caught up in the lyrics i pen
because i never dig too deep, just enough to pierce the skin
and no matter where we end up later, you're the one i wanna be in
either here or in syndey, got you convinced the money is between me
so sit your beautiful ass down, let that dark hair wrap around
i just lost it all even our special relationship
sitting back with my cup of 40 proof reminicse i'm about to sip

I'm Like A Miniature Zesus.

2010-12-23T01:28:00.000-08:00

I don't wanna post the whole album because it's relatively new...but everyone should check out The Damned Things.

2 parts Anthrax/2 parts Fall Out Boy/2 parts Every Time I Die.

The oddest super group I've seen in a while and even though it's a ludicrous premise the music is actually really good.

Apocalyptic Literature

2010-12-14T01:21:00.000-08:00

Counting shooting stars with my friend tonight...we were battling each other, seeing who could get up to 21 first.

Little did we know there was a meteor shower tonight, now we don't feel special for getting up to 21 so quickly.

Thrice - Beggars (2009)

I never really liked Thrice. I dug their Beatles covers but that's just because I dug the originals. Yet...I decided on a whim to listen to this album after hearing so much about it and I have yet to finish it but I felt overwhelmed to post it for y'all. There is just something about this album. It isn't my style of music that I usually get into nor is it something amazingly fresh but it just hits you like nothing else. I started listening to the song "Circles" for the first time and I started singing out loud and found the right words to the song which I had never heard before. It's just one of "those" albums that hits you so sweet and so powerfully.

Enjoy it while watching a meteor showering.

Life Is But A Collection of Words Pt. II

2010-12-06T17:19:00.001-08:00

Went diggin' in the crates for these gems. Twit files.

"you gotta get yourself a mexican girl...why?...because mexican bitches supervise."

"don't be executing on these mother fucking college kids."

"you better pick your ass, because you don't know how many grapes you got."

"you never know with these noodles fucks, they might throw a noddle with they feet."

"we can't fucking be like these boy scout fags."

"all you can do is pinch my balls, after that I got some time to think about it."

"oh you gon get it."

"because I want revenge...I want retaliation...and I want get back."

Life Is But A Collection of Words

2010-12-04T16:18:00.000-08:00

"Neva!"

"Everything!"

"That's that kettle boy."

"I just do me...and that leads to bitches doing me."

"But of course."

"Oh you already know."

"Not like this."

(more to come)

Shakespeare's God

2010-11-21T18:29:00.001-08:00

...and these failures of life, make up my facade.
so my suffering runs through the veins of GOD.

twitter.

2010-11-15T17:30:00.000-08:00

you wanna reminisce?
well follow me @kingmchris
we can talk about the time we kissed.
pressed your neck against my wrist.
oh baby you knew I couldn't resist.
I just wish you didn't exist.

Bitches are...

2010-10-27T00:04:00.001-07:00

...nothing but tricks and snitches.

but these bitches rock.

I first heard Arise From Ruin play at the local Indio Fairground's Annual Battle of the Bands. They rock and I would love to rock the lead guitar player's world...and no that isn't the guy (faggots). They did a lovely cover of "Use Somebody" by Kings of Leon that I wish they had recorded or I recorded it live so I could share it with the world, but the rest of their catalog is very posh as well. The multi-guitar layered breakdowns do get old after about the seventh one, but the lead singer's voice and range (singing to growling) definitely makes up for the musical downfalls and adds to the appeal for me.
They hail from Riverside, CA and you should give them a listen....and don't hit on the guitarist...she doesn't like it...trust me. Ha.

Arise From Ruin - Entire Recorded Catalog

website: www.myspace.com/arisefromruin

I have a rather big beef with Formulas. They are the offspring of Delta Delta. I used to frequent a website called punkdisasters.com (it no longer exists) and one of the members, Kelc, was the lead singer of Delta Delta. She would post lyrics, song demos and ideas on the forum. That's how I got into the band, but I guess disappointed with her performance or something (never found out the real story) she was replaced by the other band members. A new (less talented) singer recorded on their debut EP under a new band name, Formulas. The EP however features rehashed Delta Delta song ideas which is why I still posted it. Delta Delta was awesome, so anything with their original work in it is fine by me. Even if it sung by a wanna-be Kelc.
I think they're from Ohio? Check em out if you're in the area and make sure to chant "We Want Kelc!" at the shows.

Formulas - Unsaid, Undone (2010)

website: www.myspace.com/formulas

Here's the band that started the aforementioned Formulas, Delta Delta. Spear-headed by their rather mopey looking lead singer, don't let the looks fool you kids her voice gives her energy. I wish they recorded some more tunes before reworking their line up. The four songs I have collected are available for download, perhaps my blog will spark a reunion tour.....NOT! They are known for simple pop-punk guitar driven verses and melody driven choruses that inevitably get stuck in your head. And you may call them Paramore or Hey Monday ripoffs, but if you don't enjoy those bands you probably aren't going to like Delta Delta and would have stopped reading a long time ago and if you do like those types of bands, DOWNLOAD NOW!

Delta Delta - Demo Tracks (2008)

website: sadly, I think it is now Formulas' website. GRRR!

Rare As A Clover, In October

2010-10-20T02:07:00.000-07:00

The month of October is never long enough. At least it brings days like today. Wet and muddy as a Mississippi thicket and the sky never looked so ominous. The smell of water vapor always makes me eager to get my lazy ass up in the morning. Although I'm sure I'm speaking sign language to the blind if you live in Seattle, Washington. These watery filled streets make minds wander, and they certainly need a sound track.

Big L - Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous (1995)

Thanks for the Big L recommendation Jimbo, I don't think I'll ever let you live that one down for not showing it to me earlier. In any case, I'm off to kill my students because I'm sick of their bullshit. Enjoy the seasons.

Hot Chicks With Glasses

2010-09-14T19:08:00.000-07:00

So I was watching VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time on Monday, and besides the fact that it was a horrible list placing Michael Jackson at #2...(he doesn't even deserve to be in the top ten), one of the commentators caught my eye.

The Lovely Lisa Loeb.

I have quite the affinity for brunettes with thick framed glasses, so as soon as I saw this beauty, I had to look her up. Turns out she is a singer, guitar player and song writer. What a find at that. Her grammy nominated album "Firecracker", features a collection of standard pop songs with a bit of folky twang, in the vain of Alanis Morissette (a bit more tamed on the "fuck your ex boyfriend" song themes though). The songs are catchy, meaningful, and sung so eloquently. Plus she's hot, so what do you have to lose?

Lisa Loeb - Firecracker (1997)

....and on a side note, if you hunger for more girls with thick framed glasses look no further than: http://hotchickswithglasses.com/

Cheese Heads Unite

2010-09-12T19:16:00.000-07:00

The first official Sunday of regular season football has just come to a close. My Packers held off Michael Vick and the Eagles. Thank goodness. They were about to turn it around in the second half. So, I'll finally give you few followers some new music.

I got the pleasure of meeting the drummer for this band during my freshman year at Cal State University Northridge and he let me borrow their demo. This is La Bulla from San Mateo, CA (near San Francisco). A group of guys who play some well put together and tightly organized alt. rock. Branching off into elements of dance-rock and indie rock, they remind me of a style of music that has yet to hit the mainstream but has a huge underground following. My favorite track is the ending instrumental, it sums up what they can do as a group quite nicely. I look forward to hearing more, newer recordings from them in the future, I've bet they've gotten even more precise and fine tuned their sound to a crisp.

La Bulla - Self Titled EP

check em out: www.myspace.com/labullamusic

September Blues

2010-09-11T15:04:00.000-07:00

So I haven't been on this thing in a coon's age.

And I have nothing new for you today.

Weezer's new album was mediocre as I expected.

Band Camp

2010-07-29T11:44:00.000-07:00

Big props to James, who runs The Cut (http://raazorblades.blogspot.com), for hooking it up with this website. It is great for new bands trying to get their music out there into the general public. Check it out!
And if you have a band, make a page and leave a comment. I'll be sure to listen.

www.bandcamp.com

My band's page:

Here On Out

2010-06-03T16:47:00.000-07:00

My favorite local band from the 760 of all time. One of the first few pages I got the chance to see live on a regular basis. Unfortunately they are no longer together, haven't been for a good five years. Their farewell show @ Cafe Abuelita featured a set list that was comprised entirely by the audience. Members of the audience would shot out favorite tracks and then subsequently bust into them. Here On Out was comprised of Sean Brown handling the vocals & guitar, Blake Williams on the bass and Jeremy Barnes pounding the drums. Sean, Blake and Jeremy had an impressive live show. They were always full of energy, Sean belted out so much emotion when he sang it was awe inspiring. Blake and Jeremy held down the rhythm section while Sean put his witty lyrics, emotionally delivery and guitar skills that added just enough without being considered a show boat.

I have linked their EP dubbed "An Ideal Tragedy" and three unreleased tracks in the .zip file above. Check it!!! It is hard to describe what kind of style of music they played, but just check it...if it wasn't good I wouldn't post it.

PS: The members of Here On Out since 2005 have formed The Kiss Electric (www.myspace.com/thekisselectric)

Night Time Music

2010-03-26T16:32:00.000-07:00

Probably the best mixtape by a current rapper/singer.

Now, don't get turned off by the fact that it is Drake, The current Young Money signed artist who hangs out with Lil' Wayne smoking weed, this is the soulful, smooth and heartfelt Drake.

Taking a cue from Kanye West's "808's & Heartbreak" this mixtape is full of what myself and my friends like to call nightime music. Something you can bump in your car as you are driving through the city in the pitch black. The only thing lighting your way is the street lights. Also, say what you want about auto-tune, I don't believe it is unappealing or fake, this is a CD..it is art...however you choose to make it is your choice. That being said, Drake makes uses of his deep, soothing voice through auto-tune to turn out great modern R&B track after another. With the help of Omarion, Trey Songz, and Lloyd of course (who actually have great non auto-tuned voices). His words are heartfelt and you feel that, fake singing voice or not. "Lust for Life", "Bria's Interlude", "Little Bit", and "Brand New" are songs I could picture one having a deep metaphoric moment with. It is a thinking album, a respective album, and overall a great listen.

Get it! Don't make me gush anymore about it.

Drake - So Far Gone (2009)

The Mix Up

2010-03-26T16:24:00.000-07:00

I don't know what to describe this as, but it is hella cool.

The Beastie Boy's very overlooked and underrated instrumental album from 2007, dubbed "The Mix Up". It has a lounge jazz feel to it, so very laid back music to play when you are doing nothing and want to feel really cool about it. The use of repeated motifs makes the album interesting on an different level, not expecting certain songs to be tied together by riffs and progressions that might have changed key but still remind you of previous songs. Overall this is just album is super chill, relaxing, and a laid back kind of music that the Beastie Boys should make more over. Not that I don't thoroughly dig the Jewish raps.

Beastie Boys - The Mix Up (2007)

Wes Wes Y'all.

2010-02-08T22:33:00.000-08:00

...before you jump on my case, 30 Seconds to Mars' debut album sounds nothing like their newly found radio friendly sound.

It is apparent from this album that Jared Leto (vocals) LOVES space and anything to do with it. Dating back to 2002 their self titled debut album features a drastically different sound. Definiely heavier in instrumentation and a more vast approach to production. Long gaps in music, haunting-ghost like vocals, flanger driven lead guitar parts, and compressed snare drum hits rear their face every once and again to remind you that Jared Leto LOVESLOVESLOVES space. He wants you to believe that everything from the instrumentation to the lyrical concepts to possibly even making you believe that the album was recorded in space. It gets ridiculous at times, but I admire the approach. I actually wish that 30 Seconds to Mars continued this approach to songwritting and music as I whole. This album is much more engaging that their recent work.

Recommended Tracks:
Basically the middle of the album is very strong and represents the best at it's best.

Oblivion
Buddha for Mary
Echelon

A rare find, you're welcome.

30 Seconds to Mars - 30 Seconds to Mars (2002)

A Sensational Switchfoot Session

2010-01-31T19:13:00.000-08:00

I have decided to start a Switchfoot only entry, every...whenever I feel like it.

Switchfoot's third album as described by their frontman Jon Foreman was "energerized, and full of a new zest that the band had upon entering the recording studio." They were no longer afraid to try new things and experiment with different approaches in the studio. While the album retains the very happy lyrical and uplifting instrumentation of the first two Switchfoot albums, the presentation is stronger and overall superior than the first two. I really enjoy this album. It is a postitive way to start your enternal music playlist rolling. "The Loser" and "Erosion" have wonderful lyrical themes accompained by Switchfoot's care free and chill atmosphere of song structure. Their beach home of San Diego always comes through in their peaceful and placid playing I believe. So enjoy, more Switchfoot to come in the future.

Switchfoot - Learning to Breathe (2000)

The Sophomore Slump Is Over?

2010-01-27T22:49:00.000-08:00

Well I have caved. I have been up at school for a few weeks so therefore I was hesitant to post due to:

work
school
school work
lack of time
and the overwhelming fact that my internet access is monitored

But fuck all of that shit, for today at least.

This is post goes out to my good friend James who runs (http://raazorblades.blogspot.com) and the always humble Freddy who plays a mean drum. Not to long ago they both introduced me to a type of punk music to which I fell in love with. I have always loathed the UK inspired punk such as: The Addicts, the Misfits, the Sex Pistols and bands of the sort. But these more melodic hardcore/punk rock outfits such as H20, Living with Lions, and Crime in Stereo that Freddy and James opened my ears too are such a more perfected variety of punk music for me. The vocal harmonies, the alternative rock influences, and the overall fun inspired lyrics that songs usually represent. The perfect music to blast when the day isn't quite going your way to cheer you up, or perhaps when the day is going your way and you want to feel that much better.

So I bring you a mash up of Living with Lions' great vocal harmonies, Crime in Stereo's great drum work, and H20's three chord punk progression.

Smoke or Fire - This Sinking Ship

therocksonic

2010-01-03T00:16:00.000-08:00

Woah, what a great find. I was lurking through a Queens of the Stone Age blog on bloggers and I came across a local Austria band called Rocksonic. And let me just say, these guys rock hard! Their first song "Catcus Man" gets straight to the point with it's fercious distortion and raspy voiced singer that infects your mind with his inmmenstakable phrasing and meldoies. I swear, nobody sounds like this guy. The rest of their album sound very much like Beaver and early Queens of the Stone Age which is all fine by me. Please check these boys out.

You can purchase their album through their myspace, I know I am going to.
(link in picture.)

Here is a sample of four of their songs of their 8 track EP.

The Holy Trio of Rock

2010-01-01T22:22:00.000-08:00

I would like to introduce you to the Sick Puppies. If you have not heard of them before, they have received got a little bit more exposure with their new single "You're Going Down". Yet their meat and potatoes are clearly on their sophomore album.

"Dressed Up As Life" by Sick Puppies
Shimon Moore: Vocals/Guitar
Emma Anazi: Bass
Mark Goodwin: Drums
http://www.sickpuppiesworldcrew.net/

Taking a good six years to craft their sound from their debut album in 2001 and moving their location from Queensland, Australia to Los Angeles, California did wonders for them. Vocalist/Guitarist Shimon Moore perfectly is croons, whines, and screams (with the help of some wonderful production) to sound like a energy filled frontman worthly of an incredible stage presense and also a soundly voice that grips you no matter the emotions being portrayed.
There is also tons of good musicianship. Emma Anazi handles the bass duties and also being the eye candy of the band for us guys (she is smoking hot). Emma has a mastery of slap and pick techniques of bass playing and makes use of both of them to create a different feel for every part of the song. She also has a great nack for "playing in the pocket", the drummer must love her because she is all about the grove. That is another thing that really took me to idolize this band, they give each member a chance to shine without overpowering one another. Emma's bass, Mark's drums, and Shim's voice and guitar either shine individually or collaborate together, they never fight, they never bounce around a chord progression, it all messes extremely well. Once again probably due to the wonderful production work.
In any case, if some really good, meaningful and talented alternative rock/post-grunge music is itching upon your sleeve. Get this. You will not be dissapointed. ("The Bottom" is their masterpiece BTW.)

Band of Gypsys

2009-12-30T00:52:00.000-08:00

....and now we have this.

The New Year's is upon us...or close damn enough. I would like to late Christmas gift you my favorite Jimi Hendrix album, "Band of Gypsys"...and oddly it is one of the most looked over. Everyone seems to gravitate towards "Electric Ladyland" or "Axis: Bold As Love". But the line up of Jimi Hendrix, Billy Cox and Buddy Miles just blows the Jimi Hendrix Experience out of the water. Buddy Miles has such an incredible voice that adds so much to the trio's formula, it also gives us a break from Jimi's voice, which in my opinion is the weakest part of the great musician's repertoire. The 12 plus minute "Machine Gun" is obviously the highlight of the album, Jimi goes inane with feedback, effects and such a powerful sustain from his guitar that allows him to grip you by every fiber of your being. It is the best. The line of the Band of Gypsys is a bit more funky than the Experience, but the funkier the better.

Bottom Line...must have album.

Enjoy your New Year's everyone.

the differences...

2009-12-02T01:29:00.000-08:00

Alright, time for some music since that has not been happening in awhile.

I have a soft spot for Chevelle, they make some catchy tunes and they do it in the best possible way. HEAVY. Enjoy my favorite album by them.

Chevelle - This Type of Thinking (Could Do Us In)

Ever since Nick Oliveri left the band (or was fired...we shall never know), Queens of the Stone Age has become someone of the Josh Homme project which is fine by me. The guy is a very underrated musician. "Suture of Your Future", "Make It Wit Chu", and "Into the Hollow" are some of my favorite from this album. They show how Queens of the Stone Age can really dial down the distortion and just let a grove carry a song. Of course don't forget to check out The Strokes' very own Julian Casablancas on "Sick Sick Sick".

Queens of the Stone Age - Era Vulgaris

(links in the pictures.)

Girls Are Evil

2009-12-01T21:58:00.001-08:00

This Guy Is Incredible

2009-12-01T19:46:00.001-08:00

Super Sprayer - Funny video clips are a click away

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T17:20:00.000-08:00

Alright, I am doing some rap today. I have been in the mood lately.

50 Cent's latest offering is quite the surprise to me, after The Massacre 50's solo stuff pretty much fell off the radar for me. His guest spots were fine, but his solo albums were just not up to par. Curtis was horrible, but wow I am quite impressed by Before I Self Destruct. 50's flow and word choice is the standard, but on all of the tracks he is quite the aggressor. He comes fierce and more powerful than I have ever heard him. Worth checking out if you like'd his previous work.

Recommend Tracks:
- Psycho
- Crime Wave
- Gangsta's Delight
- So Disrespectful

50 Cent - Before I Self Destruct

Now if you consider yourself a fan of West-Coast hiphop and you have not heard of Long Beach's very own Crooked I. Go kill yourself haha. This guy is great, he has a way with words and his flow is unmistakble. This is first real release, he has been more of a mixtape/guest spot kind of rapper in the past. If you like this EP please make sure to check out his Hip Hop Weekly series.

Crooked I - Mr. Pig Face Weapon Waist (EP)

(links in pictures.)

Please Watch This Movie

2009-11-23T21:28:00.000-08:00

I cannot even to begin how amazing Leonardo DiCaprio's performance in this movie is, it moves me to drop my jaw and say: "wow, I am shaken to my very core by the realism." You owe it to yourself to check out this great movie, I just happen to stubble upon it on Showtime and I am glad I did.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=0BWSMAH2

Never Deserved The Future

2009-11-18T16:17:00.000-08:00

Them Crooked Vultures presented their Self Titled Debut Album...
bass, keys = John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin fame
drums = Dave Grohl of Nirvana, Foo Fighters fame
vocals, guitar = Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age, Kyuss fame

you knew this was coming, being the huge Kyuss and QOTSA fanboy that I am.

First things first. From the tone of the guitars and the style of the songs, its clear that despite the fact its a 'supergroup' comprised of three members on paper, there's no doubt in actuality its down to one guy. The other two weren't just bystanders obviously, their impressive musicianship can be heard all over the record, but this may as well have been a QOTSA album. Which isn't a bad thing.

Not to say there's no change, there's a definite and definitely welcome emphasis on rhythm and boogie, the infectiously funky 'Gunman' points the revolver to the floor, tells you to dance and by god if you won't whereas the colossal 'Warsaw' evokes the image of a drunken gangster swaggering out of a speak-easy feeling on top of the world before the song descends into a spaced, echoing jam drenched in paranoia.

With this newfound emphasis comes the notion that the band aren't taking themselves too seriously and are having the time of their lives as 'Scumbag Blues' shows. A wonderful example of the chemistry of the band bubbling out of the flask as Homme's squealing guitar, Jones' toe tapping bass and clavinet and Grohl's energetic drum stomp meld seamlessly like a Scotch mixer, going down just as smooth whilst the cocksure strut of 'No One Loves Me & Neither Do I' and the charging 'Mind Eraser, No Chaser' are just plain fun. Sleaze laden lyrics provide the icing on the cake; 'I've gotta beautiful place to put your face’; a line slyly delivered by Homme's faux innocent falsetto with tongue firmly in someone elses cheek.

Them Crooked Vultures are one of the few bands with the name supergroup that actually live up to it somewhat through their output as well as their past achievements. The album isn't perfect, nor is it revolutionary. But it should be regarded as a new blueprint for hard rock, perhaps not to be adhered to but to be considered. They don't make rock like they used to, but some do still make it well. Though of course, this does depend a little upon whether you hold QOTSA in any regard. Perhaps it would have been better had all the members exerted an equal influence (Grohl has only one vocal cameo for instance) but we can only speculate. And after all, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Them Crooked Vultures (2009)

(link in the picture.)

The Study of Battle

2009-11-18T16:12:00.000-08:00

John Mayer presents "Battle Studies" (his follow up to Continuum)

Heavier things have been done than topping a Grammy winning album like Continuum, but a monumental task it would seem. John Mayer’s Continuum had a huge impact on pop music the years that it flooded the radio stations and influenced my guitar playing as well as how I was to approach different genres of music (with open arms). Continuum introduced me to crafty yet meaningful pop song-writing, a blues style of guitar playing, and not just any blues…Mayer’s blues. It was a very central record for me, needless to say the follow up intrigued me.

Upon first listen I was taken back with disappointment, the songs seemed stripped down; incomplete versions of what could have been potentially great songs. Mayer, who is usually the new reigning king of blues, turned “Crossroads” into a bore. The overuse of the fuzz pedal created an electronic feel to the guitar sound and simplistic drum patterns put an overall lull in the song’s otherwise head boppin’ groove. Plus several of the songs felt like they had a country swing to them. “Half of My Heart” and “Perfectly Lonely” both had a sway of country in them from the lyrical melody to the guitar playing, it disappointed me.

The goods came in form of plain pop sensibility, “Edge of Desire” and “Assassin” both has great uses of instrumentation build up. The slow adding of layers during the interlude of “Edge of Desire” make the final guitar lines mean that much when Mayer finally wails them out. Mayer also shines, most of the time, when it comes to lyrical ability. “Friends, Lovers, Or Nothing” presents an age old topic and makes for an interesting journey of a song. "Heartbreak Warfare” features great use of imagery and subtle nuisances of a relationship, as Mayer does so often, but tinged with metaphors of struggles of war and combat.

After rounding out a few dozen listens, I realized that because Continuum taught me to come to grips with new genres of music with open arms, I should not knock Mayer for adding some country twang to his obviously superior blues playing, but it does not make up for lyrical downfalls (“Who Says” and “Do You Know Me”) and poor blues renditions as mentioned earlier. This is no-where near Continuum, not that I was expecting it to be, but I wanted some ballpark area songs, Battle Studies offers few and far between, just a decent pop album.

- kingmchris

(link in the picture.)

Gama-Go Wallets

2009-09-16T13:33:00.000-07:00

I am terrible. I like to buy wallets, but that defeats the purpose of actually buying a wallet. You buy a wallet to put money inside of it, yet if you calculate the amount of wallets I have bought over the years...I don't have any money left. Anyways, I found these Gama-Go wallets last night. They are awesome with all kinds of extra letters that you kids like to use now a days. I heart them more than a gay man could heart another gay man.

Anyways on to what we all really came here for, music. Not fucking wallets. Mi amigo hooked it up with a bonus track of Brand New's latest album "Daisy". The album is horrible, but the bonus track isn't that bad. An acoustic version of "Bought A Bride"

Alright onto the good stuff. Chevelle's new album has been stuck in my iPod for quite sometime. Just seeping in the utter goodness that it is. Love the title as well: Sci Fi Crimes. You can't wrong with a title like that. Chevelle's fourth (fifth? I forget) release is definitely their most consistent. The album is a true collection of songs that stay true to whatever Chevelle is trying to covey, they rock hard doing it and make some really incredible 3-4 minute tunes. Check it out.

Muse Presents The Resistance

2009-09-09T00:16:00.000-07:00

This is Muse's follow up to 2006's Black Holes and Revelations. The hard rock, sci-fi influenced album that spawned tons of singles and showed off some of the new found guitar prowess of Mathew Bellamy. Now comes this piece of shit.
The Resistance is a pop album, Muse has taken on light classical, 80's synth pop, and late 90's radio pop influences to create 11 track train wreck. The saving grace of this album is the last three tracks, which is Muse's attempt at an orchestra art piece (they are incredibly good at it I wish the whole album was this direction). Yet attached the first nine tracks it just doesn't fit. I recommend you check out the last three tracks all dubbed "Exogenesis".

New Infected Mushroom Album

2009-09-08T23:59:00.001-07:00

WOAH!

Now this one sneaked up on me. Just recently had I indulged in the world of psychedelic trance and the umbrella of techno under which it is engulfed. Listening to bands like: Junior Boys, Crystal Castles, Pendulum, and Justice. None can hold a candle to Infected Mushroom though. They take the rave influenced techno scene to a whole new level, never has such creativity, musicianship and overall “wow factor” been tangled together on a trance record. Their previous records: “IM the Supervisor” and “Vicious Delicious” are intense, immense and incredible.

Now we come to “Legend of the Black Shawarma” which I didn’t even know was in the making. I just came across it one day. I don’t want to call it a disappointment, but it could be much better. Perhaps it shall have to grow on me more, with time I shall edit. In any case on the positive side, their latest album features some great guest work by Jonathan Davis of Korn and Perry Farrell. Each album of their features a different genre influence and this album is definitely fixated on a lot of rock elements. The track “Heavyweight” from the previous album is a good intention on what they are aiming for on my tracks, but they fail at replication on a lot of levels. Tons of tracks feel unfinished, while others find themselves repeating the standard techno formula of 5 or 6 sample build ups going into a release and right back to the build up.

I strongly suggest you check out “IM the Supervisor”, “Vicious Delicious”, and “Classical Mushroom”. But this album isn’t horrible either.

Recommed Tracks:

- “Smashing the Oppotent”

- “Project 100”

- “Legend of the Black Shawarma”

Infected Mushroom - “Legend of the Black Shawarma

"Mess of Me" - Switchfoot

2009-09-08T23:58:00.000-07:00

Just got ahold of the new single by Switchfoot. Off their upcoming album, Hello Hurricane. They definetly amped up their style on this single. I am interested to see if the rest of the album follows this hard rock/blues influenced style.

Enjoy