I wanted to talk about one of the more difficult and least accessible aspects about this genre of music that I love so dear. Last time I alluded to the rockin that most of the bands provide, but now I'm going to bring in the crucial element to the DDSS, one of the cornerstones. Drone. Sounds like a barrel of monkeys huh?
What is Drone? Well take your favorite guitar riff and slow it down by like a lot. No seriously, more than your mind knows how to. There you go, now play that riff over and over again. There. That's it. Sounds easy? Well taste this my cynical friends.
Now just imagine that not screwed up with YouTube. It is it simple? Absolutely. Is it heavy? Baby it doesn't get much heavier than that. So much power from a single note, left to linger in your ears. That was from the Melvins, who were one of the main innovators of drone, but are hardly a drone band. Hell they're not an anything band. Except awesome. But there is no doubt that every note played, every drum beat, every chord change is just as carefully choreographed and timed as any melodic/thrash riff.
What got me talking about it was a recent camping trip with two buddies of mine who are very well versed in music, metal in particular. I began to realize why the DDSS sub genre of metal is for the most part passed over by most "metal heads." It's because of shit like Hung Bunny. Metal heads aren't interested in that. If you listen to Black Dahlia Murder or Faceless, it's a brutal assualt on your senses, and it fucking rocks.
Drone however, focuses your senses, instead of a million notes a minute on a sick solo, there is one riff, one sound, and it's being hammered into your skull. I think it has more in common with hip-hop than metal. When RZA samples "As Long As I've Got You" for "C.R.E.A.M" he simply utilizes the opening piano riff, one riff and makes it one awesome song. Drone accomplishes the same thing.
What I'm trying to get across is that a song doesn't have to be a twenty minute prog epic in order to be complex. No band gets this more than Dylan Carlson and Earth. I wanted to post the original version of Coda Maestroso in F, but couldn't find a video to do it justice and in all actuality, take my word for it Pentastar - In The Style Of Demons, just get it. The entire album is a case study of complexity through simplicity.
Dylan Carlson may not have "invented" drone, but he sure patented it. What's the most fascinating/tragic is that style of drone that he helped popularize with Pentastar, he sort of abandoned it. In fact his next album after Pentastar wasn't until almost a decade later. Probably because his best friend shot himself with a shotgun that Carlson gave him. Enough to fuck with anybody. But his best friend's name was Kurt Cobain.
Now Earth's music is drone, but it's drone if Ennio Morricone was doing it. Seriously, pick up a copy of any Cormac McCarthy book and listen to Hex by Earth and you'll see it's a wonderful marriage in your imagination. Carlson's music is now for the lonesome drifter.
Picture the worst thing you've ever done. Remember the most hurtful, embarrassing thing you've ever done to another living thing, and because of that, you wander the desert. Alone. This is not a Boulevard of Broken Dreams, this is an open field of fallen nightmares.
I'm not trying to get artsy, but drone, more than any other metal, forces introspection. That's right, this is metal my friends. The heaviness isn't in the guitars, it's in your head. So for the command image for this, you do need to hear some early Earth, and while it's not pure drone, it certainly is a thumbnail scratch at the DDSS that Dylan Carlson would master, teach, and eventually leave behind.
High Command
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
A quick thought since it's so late
A note about the internet.
I recently signed up for Twitter. You can see my little...*sigh*..."tweets" lower on this page. Other than updating photos for this site, I can really find no real purpose for it. But then I thought...Why is Twitter so bad? If it is, it's just as bad as Facebook, MySpace or even this site?
You've got me there. The internet is strange place for a human being. We've been reduced to quick answers and cliff notes. For now, I suppose it'll work for me. Plus...I'm following Larry David! How cool is that?
The whole internet thing got me thinking. Our access to information is no longer limited. The world really IS getting smaller. Which is both good and bad. Art isn't limited to just location. But without direction, lack of location could mean lack of art. "It's on the web and a million people have seen/heard/followed/commented on it." But you can't just go blindly picking up any scent of hilarity or good on your own. You need someone to TELL you where to go. To do that, you truly need a trusted source.
As for me, my source is usually people I know.....
ahem.
....After they've let me down, I look stuff up. Amazon, Myspace, Wiki's....Whatever. It's kind of a cool way of doing it. But there is another way. A better way. A way to listen to things that YOU might never ever hear before. Internet Radio Stations.
For example, there is Combat Music Radio (http://www.combatmusicradio.com/) . They have a radio show called Return to Zero hosted by Scott Kelly of Neurosis. I decided to download the shows unto my ipod while I deliver pizzas to people I hate (more on that later). Not only is the show eclectic (The Terminator Theme) but it's also full of rare demos and bands who I've never heard of.
While working at this job I hate, I heard this song and since I didn't have the playlist in front of me...I had to make a mental note to remember to look up the song that was playing and remember to get it as soon as I get near a computer.
Flash Forward to a few days later when I finally remembered to look it up.
Junior Bruce - Plague of Thieves. (Good southern stoned shit. Mucho potential.)
I couldn't find it. Not on iTunes, not on Amazon, last.fm, or even my torrent sites.
How could this be? You mean I actually have to GOOGLE this freakin' band? What is wrong with the world?
When I found them (Myspace), I realized that they some local band from Florida. I thought: "Wow, that's really cool. I can't buy a CD from them (not even illegally). But here they are. Playing a show in Florida with Mouth of the Architect. In order for me to get anything from this band...I'll have to see them live."
Which sucks. But also cool because I'll have to keep my eyes open.
Anyway, that was a long rant about the usefulness of the internet when we let people run it and not let it be run by machines. A radio show actually hosted and selecting songs to play on their show serves a purpose. I may never be able to hear Junior Bruce again, but at least I did. I'm glad for that.
The world may be getting smaller, but at least it can never replace the ol' fashioned need to buy a CD at a dive bar. It helps to have some guidance in order to keep it real.
But what I will say, as much as a dinosaur MySpace might be nowadays with everyone's need to get just the headlines and not read to full story. MySpace is still pretty cool place to find bands that are local and independent. Which is how I found Junior Brown.
Enough ranting. Time for Richard to find me this band on CD and give it to me!!
Command Image: Radio Commands Dog
I recently signed up for Twitter. You can see my little...*sigh*..."tweets" lower on this page. Other than updating photos for this site, I can really find no real purpose for it. But then I thought...Why is Twitter so bad? If it is, it's just as bad as Facebook, MySpace or even this site?
You've got me there. The internet is strange place for a human being. We've been reduced to quick answers and cliff notes. For now, I suppose it'll work for me. Plus...I'm following Larry David! How cool is that?
The whole internet thing got me thinking. Our access to information is no longer limited. The world really IS getting smaller. Which is both good and bad. Art isn't limited to just location. But without direction, lack of location could mean lack of art. "It's on the web and a million people have seen/heard/followed/commented on it." But you can't just go blindly picking up any scent of hilarity or good on your own. You need someone to TELL you where to go. To do that, you truly need a trusted source.
As for me, my source is usually people I know.....
ahem.
....After they've let me down, I look stuff up. Amazon, Myspace, Wiki's....Whatever. It's kind of a cool way of doing it. But there is another way. A better way. A way to listen to things that YOU might never ever hear before. Internet Radio Stations.
For example, there is Combat Music Radio (http://www.combatmusicradio.com/) . They have a radio show called Return to Zero hosted by Scott Kelly of Neurosis. I decided to download the shows unto my ipod while I deliver pizzas to people I hate (more on that later). Not only is the show eclectic (The Terminator Theme) but it's also full of rare demos and bands who I've never heard of.
While working at this job I hate, I heard this song and since I didn't have the playlist in front of me...I had to make a mental note to remember to look up the song that was playing and remember to get it as soon as I get near a computer.
Flash Forward to a few days later when I finally remembered to look it up.
Junior Bruce - Plague of Thieves. (Good southern stoned shit. Mucho potential.)
I couldn't find it. Not on iTunes, not on Amazon, last.fm, or even my torrent sites.
How could this be? You mean I actually have to GOOGLE this freakin' band? What is wrong with the world?
When I found them (Myspace), I realized that they some local band from Florida. I thought: "Wow, that's really cool. I can't buy a CD from them (not even illegally). But here they are. Playing a show in Florida with Mouth of the Architect. In order for me to get anything from this band...I'll have to see them live."
Which sucks. But also cool because I'll have to keep my eyes open.
Anyway, that was a long rant about the usefulness of the internet when we let people run it and not let it be run by machines. A radio show actually hosted and selecting songs to play on their show serves a purpose. I may never be able to hear Junior Bruce again, but at least I did. I'm glad for that.
The world may be getting smaller, but at least it can never replace the ol' fashioned need to buy a CD at a dive bar. It helps to have some guidance in order to keep it real.
But what I will say, as much as a dinosaur MySpace might be nowadays with everyone's need to get just the headlines and not read to full story. MySpace is still pretty cool place to find bands that are local and independent. Which is how I found Junior Brown.
Enough ranting. Time for Richard to find me this band on CD and give it to me!!
Command Image: Radio Commands Dog
Friday, April 17, 2009
Breaking Bad: Television Rarely Gets THIS Good.
So, I don't like to be referred to as a "television junkie." I think somebody who is a television junkie is somebody who likes ALOT of crap. It's like that commercial where the dude reached the end of the internet. What fucked up shit did that guy sift through?
So I am not "television junkie," rather I am television snob. Out of all my interests, TV is the one thing I truly feel I am a holier-than-thou-up-your-own-ass-stuck-up snob. With all of my other interests I have a generally open attitude. I can enjoy a can of Key Light as easily as I can enjoy a delicious double IPA. I like my art movies, but not above an awesome action movie or silly comedy. I'll see BB King (affordability pending, hint hint Mr. King) and have just as good of a time as I would moshing to In Flames.
Not with TV. Oh sure, I used to be hooked on junk, but when it comes to my television, I demand a little bit more. Don't get me wrong, I'll watch silly cartoons and Cops, but I barely enjoy them, they're just on for noise anymore, or yucks if the Cops episode is particularly entertaining. For me to enjoy a television show, to truly be sucked in, I demand a higher standard.
It's not easy to please me with television. If you're not the Wire, than you should be reaching for it. Sorry Entourage, Sorry Heroes, Sorry 24, but if you want me to savor your flavor, don't insult my intelligence, don't lead me down a road with plot holes and questionable shark jumping, and for christ sake, be funny! Looking at you Entourage, get to work.
Which brings me to the inspiration behind this rant, the most recent episode of Breaking Bad.
If you don't know about it, you're truly denying yourself the best that television has to offer right now. That's right, it's not Lost, it's not House, it's not Idol, my friend Breaking Bad is best thing on television right now.
Russell was very astute in describing this show, watching somebody's nightmare. He could not be more correct. The most recent episode left chills with me that I haven't felt since Rear Window, chills that I won't be able to shake for quite a while. I was able to be scared again, be afraid again. The storytelling in Breaking Bad is so patient, yet so fearless.
The premise is that Walter (Bryan Cranston, a name you will hear again come awards time, I promise you) is a very smart chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with cancer and is going to die soon. So he partners up with one of his old students, and begins making and selling meth.
It's a pretty gutsy premise for any network not having the letters "H," "B," or "O," but I suppose after FX treated us with some good old fashioned raunch with shows like Nip/Tuck, a cable network carrying it is not out of the question. Enter AMC. A network who hit out of the ball park with Mad Men, has a real ace in the hole with Breaking Bad, and since they've already renewed for it's third season, AMC has proven to be a network that not only values television quality, but seeks to redefine it. Look out HBO, you don't have The Wire or the Sopranos to cover your ass any more.
I can not stress this enough, all television can be this good. It doesn't have to be Tila Tequila or a 17th incarnation of Law and Order in order to relevant. It doesn't have to be able to show boobs in order to be edgy. Original, groundbreaking television can exist anywhere, whether it's on network*, cable, or premium. So get cracking you purveyors of televised entertainment.
* - Don't believe me? Do yourself a favor and pick up the first season of Friday Night Lights, than kick yourself for not watching it because you though it was going to be a silly, network OC. Yes, a show that good actually exists on a major network!
Today's Command Image: Uncle Sam Command!
So I am not "television junkie," rather I am television snob. Out of all my interests, TV is the one thing I truly feel I am a holier-than-thou-up-your-own-ass-stuck-up snob. With all of my other interests I have a generally open attitude. I can enjoy a can of Key Light as easily as I can enjoy a delicious double IPA. I like my art movies, but not above an awesome action movie or silly comedy. I'll see BB King (affordability pending, hint hint Mr. King) and have just as good of a time as I would moshing to In Flames.
Not with TV. Oh sure, I used to be hooked on junk, but when it comes to my television, I demand a little bit more. Don't get me wrong, I'll watch silly cartoons and Cops, but I barely enjoy them, they're just on for noise anymore, or yucks if the Cops episode is particularly entertaining. For me to enjoy a television show, to truly be sucked in, I demand a higher standard.
It's not easy to please me with television. If you're not the Wire, than you should be reaching for it. Sorry Entourage, Sorry Heroes, Sorry 24, but if you want me to savor your flavor, don't insult my intelligence, don't lead me down a road with plot holes and questionable shark jumping, and for christ sake, be funny! Looking at you Entourage, get to work.
Which brings me to the inspiration behind this rant, the most recent episode of Breaking Bad.
If you don't know about it, you're truly denying yourself the best that television has to offer right now. That's right, it's not Lost, it's not House, it's not Idol, my friend Breaking Bad is best thing on television right now.
Russell was very astute in describing this show, watching somebody's nightmare. He could not be more correct. The most recent episode left chills with me that I haven't felt since Rear Window, chills that I won't be able to shake for quite a while. I was able to be scared again, be afraid again. The storytelling in Breaking Bad is so patient, yet so fearless.
The premise is that Walter (Bryan Cranston, a name you will hear again come awards time, I promise you) is a very smart chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with cancer and is going to die soon. So he partners up with one of his old students, and begins making and selling meth.
It's a pretty gutsy premise for any network not having the letters "H," "B," or "O," but I suppose after FX treated us with some good old fashioned raunch with shows like Nip/Tuck, a cable network carrying it is not out of the question. Enter AMC. A network who hit out of the ball park with Mad Men, has a real ace in the hole with Breaking Bad, and since they've already renewed for it's third season, AMC has proven to be a network that not only values television quality, but seeks to redefine it. Look out HBO, you don't have The Wire or the Sopranos to cover your ass any more.
I can not stress this enough, all television can be this good. It doesn't have to be Tila Tequila or a 17th incarnation of Law and Order in order to relevant. It doesn't have to be able to show boobs in order to be edgy. Original, groundbreaking television can exist anywhere, whether it's on network*, cable, or premium. So get cracking you purveyors of televised entertainment.
* - Don't believe me? Do yourself a favor and pick up the first season of Friday Night Lights, than kick yourself for not watching it because you though it was going to be a silly, network OC. Yes, a show that good actually exists on a major network!
Today's Command Image: Uncle Sam Command!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
A few thoughts after an exhausting Tuesday: Pale Nostalgia riding a Wavering Radiant.
It's going to be a rough couple of weeks folks. While I'm still trying to find my keyhole into the Western Metropolis of Los Angeles by applying for internships. So while I survived my hardest day of classes. So I had some thoughts that I would like to share with you since I'm exhausted and need to oxidize my brain a bit. With that in mind....Away we go.
So in parts of three.
Part one:
Tuesdays are always really hard for me. I'm in go mode from about 10:00am until 10:00pm. Long days. Usually the days where everything happens. At least there are small times for down times and long limes for music...times.
Usually during my downtime I spend time messing around on the Internet and do nothing. But along with sorting out some production work; I continued my quest for the internship to whisk me away to the deserts of California. Some internships mention places, sections, suburbs of LA that I've never heard before. Honestly, my limited experience in California transpires in the north. It was my first love with a big city. I think I was in the 6th grade. The next time I would reach the foggy bay would be well into High School.
Which brings us to part 2: Beyond the Pale
Richard and I had just turned 16. I had gotten my drivers licence literally the day we flew out there. I had worked all summer at the library to save up and go to the first ever Beyond the Pale festival, hosted by Neurosis.
As many of you may or may not know Richard and I are huge fans of Neurosis. I mean huge with a capital HUE. There will be more on that later on this thing I'm positive.
This was to be our first time ever seeing Neurosis live. I'll never forget how cool meeting them was and how remarkable nice they were. And, seemed impressed that we had flown out to see them. The Beyond the Pale festival had a many number of my favorite bands when I was 16. Isis, Tarentel, Michael Gira, Amber Asylum....the list goes on. After the fourth day of the festival, my god worship of Neurosis had only enhanced and grown to epic proportions.
It was also our first time seeing Isis. At the time Isis had only come out with Celestial, so that's what they were known for. Before Isis played, there was Thrones. Not knowing, or ever hearing of Thrones, you could only assume I had no idea who Joe Preston was. Joe Preston! Former bassist for The Melvins and Earth! I was so close to meeting him and had the chance to, but due to my young ignorance, I had never heard of him. Had I known then what I know now, I would have been a lot more receptive and anxious to see him.
Anyway, Isis was not as well known then. I remember after their set Richard and I wanted to meet them. They were pretty cool and demonstrated the same reverence that we had because.....Neurosis was coming.
After Neurosis, we had to step outside and reflect on the experience. I remember looking over and the whole band of Isis was just leaning up against the wall of the Great American Music Hall. Aaron Turner and I made eye contact and had a "whew" moment.
Now Isis has really come into their own. Touring with Tool and building a nice worship crowd of their own. I feel proud of them as musicians and as a fanboy myself that I remember the Celestial days. It's nice observing the ground floor of a future great band.
Link that to my conclusion.
Part 3: Wavering Radiant
Isis's new album had recently been leaked on the Internet. And before I give my thoughts on the album, I want to state with great confidence that I WILL PURCHASE THE CD WHEN IT COMES OUT! I'm not Roger Freidman or anything and revealing any Wolverine pirates or anything; but thanks to whoever leaked it to confirm what I already knew. I am going to buy and love this album.
Okay, that should cover my ass right?
Anyway, Isis's new albums are always a strange experience for me. I never listen to their albums and click right away. It's a slow process. To give you hint, I've only recently realized how brilliant Oceanic (their previous album) is. I always like it, but it can take months to years to LOVE the album.
It's produced clean and complicated. To any of this albums naysayers; I only have this to say. Listen to Isis from Celestial to In the Absence of Truth and you can hear the evolution. So this album really shouldn't have surprised anyone. Melodically tuned with some deep toned riffs. Like Beyond the Pale, their fandom and companionship with Neurosis teaches this band what other bands should learn. There is a difference between selling out or growing up with experimentation and maturity. I'm not saying Isis has never taken themselves seriously, but I can hear them taking it MORE seriously with every album.
Okay, not really a review. But what do you want?!?! I have no command over the thoughts that come out of my head.
It just needed to happen.
Command Image:
So in parts of three.
Part one:
Tuesdays are always really hard for me. I'm in go mode from about 10:00am until 10:00pm. Long days. Usually the days where everything happens. At least there are small times for down times and long limes for music...times.
Usually during my downtime I spend time messing around on the Internet and do nothing. But along with sorting out some production work; I continued my quest for the internship to whisk me away to the deserts of California. Some internships mention places, sections, suburbs of LA that I've never heard before. Honestly, my limited experience in California transpires in the north. It was my first love with a big city. I think I was in the 6th grade. The next time I would reach the foggy bay would be well into High School.
Which brings us to part 2: Beyond the Pale
Richard and I had just turned 16. I had gotten my drivers licence literally the day we flew out there. I had worked all summer at the library to save up and go to the first ever Beyond the Pale festival, hosted by Neurosis.
As many of you may or may not know Richard and I are huge fans of Neurosis. I mean huge with a capital HUE. There will be more on that later on this thing I'm positive.
This was to be our first time ever seeing Neurosis live. I'll never forget how cool meeting them was and how remarkable nice they were. And, seemed impressed that we had flown out to see them. The Beyond the Pale festival had a many number of my favorite bands when I was 16. Isis, Tarentel, Michael Gira, Amber Asylum....the list goes on. After the fourth day of the festival, my god worship of Neurosis had only enhanced and grown to epic proportions.
It was also our first time seeing Isis. At the time Isis had only come out with Celestial, so that's what they were known for. Before Isis played, there was Thrones. Not knowing, or ever hearing of Thrones, you could only assume I had no idea who Joe Preston was. Joe Preston! Former bassist for The Melvins and Earth! I was so close to meeting him and had the chance to, but due to my young ignorance, I had never heard of him. Had I known then what I know now, I would have been a lot more receptive and anxious to see him.
Anyway, Isis was not as well known then. I remember after their set Richard and I wanted to meet them. They were pretty cool and demonstrated the same reverence that we had because.....Neurosis was coming.
After Neurosis, we had to step outside and reflect on the experience. I remember looking over and the whole band of Isis was just leaning up against the wall of the Great American Music Hall. Aaron Turner and I made eye contact and had a "whew" moment.
Now Isis has really come into their own. Touring with Tool and building a nice worship crowd of their own. I feel proud of them as musicians and as a fanboy myself that I remember the Celestial days. It's nice observing the ground floor of a future great band.
Link that to my conclusion.
Part 3: Wavering Radiant
Isis's new album had recently been leaked on the Internet. And before I give my thoughts on the album, I want to state with great confidence that I WILL PURCHASE THE CD WHEN IT COMES OUT! I'm not Roger Freidman or anything and revealing any Wolverine pirates or anything; but thanks to whoever leaked it to confirm what I already knew. I am going to buy and love this album.
Okay, that should cover my ass right?
Anyway, Isis's new albums are always a strange experience for me. I never listen to their albums and click right away. It's a slow process. To give you hint, I've only recently realized how brilliant Oceanic (their previous album) is. I always like it, but it can take months to years to LOVE the album.
It's produced clean and complicated. To any of this albums naysayers; I only have this to say. Listen to Isis from Celestial to In the Absence of Truth and you can hear the evolution. So this album really shouldn't have surprised anyone. Melodically tuned with some deep toned riffs. Like Beyond the Pale, their fandom and companionship with Neurosis teaches this band what other bands should learn. There is a difference between selling out or growing up with experimentation and maturity. I'm not saying Isis has never taken themselves seriously, but I can hear them taking it MORE seriously with every album.
Okay, not really a review. But what do you want?!?! I have no command over the thoughts that come out of my head.
It just needed to happen.
Command Image:
Friday, April 10, 2009
Doom and Drone, Sludge and Stone Part 1: Origins
Don't get me wrong, I loves me my speedy, ear bleeding metal. There is some sort of primal satisfaction I get while listening to some fast, harsh, metal. Amon Amarth makes me want to take up arms and join my fellow vikings in arms and have a Ragnorok up in someone's shit.
But for my money, I think that the Doom and Drone of Candlemass or Boris and the Sludge and Stone of Acid Bath and Pentegram are the creme de la creme of metal. So this is the first in a series of posts of why the DDSS (abbreviated for my sake) is the best kind of metal.
Let me provide a quick disclaimer: I am not a musician, I won't be breaking down the intricacies of the G major as opposed to the F Flat or whatever. I am also not a music critic, to be honest I don't understand how one becomes a music critic. I am simply a music fan, I know what I like (which is a lot.)
It is the closest kind of metal to stay true to the roots.
While there are many an argument to who is the greatest metal band of all time, there can be little argument as to the origins of metal, Black Sabbath. The British Invasion is often cited as the birth of modern rock and roll. The Who, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, etc. have all had profound effects on the rock and roll culture at large, yet for some reason Black Sabbath is rarely mentioned in the same breath. I never really understood that, I mean they came along at around the same time, but what they played was something darker than "I Wanna Hold You Hand," something more epic than "Can't Explain," and something more original than "Satisfaction." And that's just the bass player.
When guitarist Tony Iommi tuned his guitars down to make them looser because of an injured hand, nobody could've predicted that metal would be born. To this day, they're one of only a few bands that are metioned with any sort of reverence from accross the music spectrum (Slayer and Metallica being on that list.) Not even metal godfathers Iron Maiden are taken so seriously (Sorry Maiden heads.) I still defy anyone to name another band that has been covered by almost every metal band in existance. From Cannibal Corpse to Hed(pe) (sure they count) everyone has taken on a Black Sabbath song of some sort.
Yet of all the "different" genres of metal that grew out of the Black Sabbath seed, the metal of DDSS has remained the most true to the sound of Black Sabbath. The slow, methodical, focusing of the drop down guitars, the almost funky riffs.
Here is a standard Black Sabbath favorite amongst the DDSS elite.
I doubt you'll hear a Lamb of God song that sounds anything close to that. Now compare that to the Stoner metal icons of Sleep.
It sounds (and looks) like it could've been played at Black Sabbaths peak in the 70s, but this was made in the mid-90s, and they have inspired a whole new generation of Stoner rockers.
Now this isn't to say that all DDSS bands sound like Black Sabbath, not even close, but the bands that slow it down and pump the bass are closer to the spirit of Black Sabbath, whereas most other metal bands have gone the way of more modern day metal gods. For my money, I'll take bands that have a Master of the Sabbath sound, than a band that can strum as fast as Van Halen.
But for my money, I think that the Doom and Drone of Candlemass or Boris and the Sludge and Stone of Acid Bath and Pentegram are the creme de la creme of metal. So this is the first in a series of posts of why the DDSS (abbreviated for my sake) is the best kind of metal.
Let me provide a quick disclaimer: I am not a musician, I won't be breaking down the intricacies of the G major as opposed to the F Flat or whatever. I am also not a music critic, to be honest I don't understand how one becomes a music critic. I am simply a music fan, I know what I like (which is a lot.)
It is the closest kind of metal to stay true to the roots.
While there are many an argument to who is the greatest metal band of all time, there can be little argument as to the origins of metal, Black Sabbath. The British Invasion is often cited as the birth of modern rock and roll. The Who, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, etc. have all had profound effects on the rock and roll culture at large, yet for some reason Black Sabbath is rarely mentioned in the same breath. I never really understood that, I mean they came along at around the same time, but what they played was something darker than "I Wanna Hold You Hand," something more epic than "Can't Explain," and something more original than "Satisfaction." And that's just the bass player.
When guitarist Tony Iommi tuned his guitars down to make them looser because of an injured hand, nobody could've predicted that metal would be born. To this day, they're one of only a few bands that are metioned with any sort of reverence from accross the music spectrum (Slayer and Metallica being on that list.) Not even metal godfathers Iron Maiden are taken so seriously (Sorry Maiden heads.) I still defy anyone to name another band that has been covered by almost every metal band in existance. From Cannibal Corpse to Hed(pe) (sure they count) everyone has taken on a Black Sabbath song of some sort.
Yet of all the "different" genres of metal that grew out of the Black Sabbath seed, the metal of DDSS has remained the most true to the sound of Black Sabbath. The slow, methodical, focusing of the drop down guitars, the almost funky riffs.
Here is a standard Black Sabbath favorite amongst the DDSS elite.
I doubt you'll hear a Lamb of God song that sounds anything close to that. Now compare that to the Stoner metal icons of Sleep.
It sounds (and looks) like it could've been played at Black Sabbaths peak in the 70s, but this was made in the mid-90s, and they have inspired a whole new generation of Stoner rockers.
Now this isn't to say that all DDSS bands sound like Black Sabbath, not even close, but the bands that slow it down and pump the bass are closer to the spirit of Black Sabbath, whereas most other metal bands have gone the way of more modern day metal gods. For my money, I'll take bands that have a Master of the Sabbath sound, than a band that can strum as fast as Van Halen.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
The Blair Mix Project: an Introduction.
So a few weeks ago some friends and I decided to exchange mixes based on themes that we could come up with. It started out simple enough and we thought it was a good way to hang out with one another without actually having to hang out with one another. Also, it's a great way to get in with certain music taste that I might not be exposed to. It's a nice way to archive your friends emotions during a certain period of time or their feelings towards a particular subject.
Past mix themes have been:
Summer Mix
Shitty Job Mix
Buddy Mix
A movie soundtrack mix (That was interesting)
Political/Religion Mix
Road Mix
and a 2008 Retrospect mix
The Rules:
11 Tracks (although there have been 12)
No repeated artists
No repeated albums
The latest mix is Ian's idea. A water mix. Pretty vague but with mixes I find the vague-er, the better...er.
I'm using this space as an opportunity to share my thoughts on the mixes I make. Specifically why I chose to use a certain track and why I put the mix in the order that it was in.
So here we go. My water mix is titled My Lungs are Fine. A mix in two acts.
The first act: Atmosphere
1. The Who - Quadrophenia
The title track from the Who's rock opera. The whole album deals with beaches and water. I open with this song because it's a nice instrumental kick-off song. It deals with the fears and anxieties that I have about water, but also the beauty and the love I have for being in water. This is the idea.
2. Pelican - March to the Sea
If Quadrophenia was the idea of water, March to the Sea is the actual going to water. It's driving opening riffs play to determination one has when running to the water. For me personally, water means an either ocean, or Lake Powell. This song is an homage to the hardship and brotherhood I feel when camping by water.
3. Explosions in the Sky - Six Days at the Bottom of the Ocean
Yet another song that plays my valentine for camping by a lake. I always had a feeling of displacement in water. My body does not belong here and yet I love the feeling I have when I'm in water.
4. Isis - Maritime
Ahhh...The peace. This song reminds me of floating. Isis has a whole album dedicate to the ocean. It was tough chosing this song from the album instead of other songs. To be honest I didn't want a whole lot of screaming for this mix. Somber and soothing was my vocal philosophy. So this instrumental plays to my ears slightly in between air and water. When I come too, I've floated too far and have to swim back to shore.
5. Tribes of Neurot - Sub Aqua
The sounds I hear when I swim under water. It's swimmers ear recorded. Neurosis understands sound at such a technical level, their (lack of a better term) alter ego Tribes of Neurot is their ambient outlet to demonstrate that manipulation skill. It fits for water to me because it's like listening to a seashell from another dimension. It's a nice conclusion to act one.
Act 2: The Beach
6. Simon and Garfunkel - Sounds of Silence
I'm not going to lie. I may have only chosen this song because of The Graduate. But it still fits. It's a soothing introduction into the second act. Not only is this a brillant song, but I like it because it reminds me of a call back to nature. A song looking unto water, wishing the rest of the world was as peaceful as the water.
7. Tom Waits - Swordfishtrombones
It's a grown up kind of "Under Da Sea." Only if Sebastian the crab sang at a dive bar underwater lamenting about Aerial going to land. Tom Waits is always good sailor music. I put this song here after the Simon and Garfunkel song because it because it's another spin on beach music. The xylophones sound like fishbones.
8. The Arcade Fire - Haiti
Another beach tune. It conjures up visions of dancing by a fire in your swim wear. It brings out of the somberness of the first two beach tracks. Despite the fact of it's not-so-cheery subject matter. This is kind of a transistion to a beach and water party.
9. Sublime - Badfish
Every party has a pooper. I expect this would get some eye-rolls from all you music snobs, and albeit Sublime has become a staple of frat boy parties, but there's a universal-ness to Sublime that brings warm memories to all who hear it. This song is more like the heartbreak at a party. It plays to certain insecurities that one feels at a party and meeting someone. Or those uncomfortable feelings you get when you see someone you like being hit on.
10. Dalek - Tarnished
This is the return to the water. In a drunken or stoned stupor you run to the water in the dark. You swim and you swim. The mixing of the violin and the vocals sound like they are produced underwater. It's an awesome song.
11. The Melvins - Lividity
Alone and floating in the dark. This instrumental bass riff is repeated over and over, but it combines the atmosphere and the physio-sphere. It's a peaceful but eerie tone that speaks to the haunting stillness of water at night. The hacking and weezing at the end explains the title of my mix. "What you mean, my lungs are fine." Even though you might be drowning, you can still choke it out.
The Command Image: Water Command ring from Kings Quest.
Past mix themes have been:
Summer Mix
Shitty Job Mix
Buddy Mix
A movie soundtrack mix (That was interesting)
Political/Religion Mix
Road Mix
and a 2008 Retrospect mix
The Rules:
11 Tracks (although there have been 12)
No repeated artists
No repeated albums
The latest mix is Ian's idea. A water mix. Pretty vague but with mixes I find the vague-er, the better...er.
I'm using this space as an opportunity to share my thoughts on the mixes I make. Specifically why I chose to use a certain track and why I put the mix in the order that it was in.
So here we go. My water mix is titled My Lungs are Fine. A mix in two acts.
The first act: Atmosphere
1. The Who - Quadrophenia
The title track from the Who's rock opera. The whole album deals with beaches and water. I open with this song because it's a nice instrumental kick-off song. It deals with the fears and anxieties that I have about water, but also the beauty and the love I have for being in water. This is the idea.
2. Pelican - March to the Sea
If Quadrophenia was the idea of water, March to the Sea is the actual going to water. It's driving opening riffs play to determination one has when running to the water. For me personally, water means an either ocean, or Lake Powell. This song is an homage to the hardship and brotherhood I feel when camping by water.
3. Explosions in the Sky - Six Days at the Bottom of the Ocean
Yet another song that plays my valentine for camping by a lake. I always had a feeling of displacement in water. My body does not belong here and yet I love the feeling I have when I'm in water.
4. Isis - Maritime
Ahhh...The peace. This song reminds me of floating. Isis has a whole album dedicate to the ocean. It was tough chosing this song from the album instead of other songs. To be honest I didn't want a whole lot of screaming for this mix. Somber and soothing was my vocal philosophy. So this instrumental plays to my ears slightly in between air and water. When I come too, I've floated too far and have to swim back to shore.
5. Tribes of Neurot - Sub Aqua
The sounds I hear when I swim under water. It's swimmers ear recorded. Neurosis understands sound at such a technical level, their (lack of a better term) alter ego Tribes of Neurot is their ambient outlet to demonstrate that manipulation skill. It fits for water to me because it's like listening to a seashell from another dimension. It's a nice conclusion to act one.
Act 2: The Beach
6. Simon and Garfunkel - Sounds of Silence
I'm not going to lie. I may have only chosen this song because of The Graduate. But it still fits. It's a soothing introduction into the second act. Not only is this a brillant song, but I like it because it reminds me of a call back to nature. A song looking unto water, wishing the rest of the world was as peaceful as the water.
7. Tom Waits - Swordfishtrombones
It's a grown up kind of "Under Da Sea." Only if Sebastian the crab sang at a dive bar underwater lamenting about Aerial going to land. Tom Waits is always good sailor music. I put this song here after the Simon and Garfunkel song because it because it's another spin on beach music. The xylophones sound like fishbones.
8. The Arcade Fire - Haiti
Another beach tune. It conjures up visions of dancing by a fire in your swim wear. It brings out of the somberness of the first two beach tracks. Despite the fact of it's not-so-cheery subject matter. This is kind of a transistion to a beach and water party.
9. Sublime - Badfish
Every party has a pooper. I expect this would get some eye-rolls from all you music snobs, and albeit Sublime has become a staple of frat boy parties, but there's a universal-ness to Sublime that brings warm memories to all who hear it. This song is more like the heartbreak at a party. It plays to certain insecurities that one feels at a party and meeting someone. Or those uncomfortable feelings you get when you see someone you like being hit on.
10. Dalek - Tarnished
This is the return to the water. In a drunken or stoned stupor you run to the water in the dark. You swim and you swim. The mixing of the violin and the vocals sound like they are produced underwater. It's an awesome song.
11. The Melvins - Lividity
Alone and floating in the dark. This instrumental bass riff is repeated over and over, but it combines the atmosphere and the physio-sphere. It's a peaceful but eerie tone that speaks to the haunting stillness of water at night. The hacking and weezing at the end explains the title of my mix. "What you mean, my lungs are fine." Even though you might be drowning, you can still choke it out.
The Command Image: Water Command ring from Kings Quest.
First Post to the right and straight on till morning.
Greetings and hello.
There isnt much to report. It is late at night and I just started this becasue I am looking for an outlet to say shit and share some thoughts and uber-servations on stuff that I find interesting. I am staying up late lately and I like to let some of these randomness out of me some time. For example:
Lately I've been SUPER into:
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Sludge, stone, doom and drone (A phrase from my twin Richard, but more on that later I'm sure)
News
My difficult mental states
Bashing Blackjack Pizza
I mean, this list could take me all night. I guess I am trying to make a preview on what I would like to write about. I also feel like this a good place to start new train of thoughts. It's not Penn Station, but it's a lot like the Light Rail stations in Denver. Not exciting or busy as it is sleepy and rigid. It's called lack of command because as you will see, even it's author is not in command. My respect for science is it's need for experimentation. This my experiment on chaotic thought and musings. I hope to do this weekly. But it will vary. Everything. Always. Varies.
Anyway, Larry Sanders is on and I've got to make it to Spanish class.
Enjoy the show.
Todays Command Search:
There isnt much to report. It is late at night and I just started this becasue I am looking for an outlet to say shit and share some thoughts and uber-servations on stuff that I find interesting. I am staying up late lately and I like to let some of these randomness out of me some time. For example:
Lately I've been SUPER into:
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Sludge, stone, doom and drone (A phrase from my twin Richard, but more on that later I'm sure)
News
My difficult mental states
Bashing Blackjack Pizza
I mean, this list could take me all night. I guess I am trying to make a preview on what I would like to write about. I also feel like this a good place to start new train of thoughts. It's not Penn Station, but it's a lot like the Light Rail stations in Denver. Not exciting or busy as it is sleepy and rigid. It's called lack of command because as you will see, even it's author is not in command. My respect for science is it's need for experimentation. This my experiment on chaotic thought and musings. I hope to do this weekly. But it will vary. Everything. Always. Varies.
Anyway, Larry Sanders is on and I've got to make it to Spanish class.
Enjoy the show.
Todays Command Search:
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