March Madness Album Review: Blues For The Red Sun - Kyuss

Blues For The Red Sun - Kyuss

This just has to be one of my personal favorite albums of all time. It passes any test I put it to. I can listen to it all the way through without being bored or a song at a time randomly and out of context (like when my ipods on shuffle). I've been listening to it for about a year and a half now and it hasn't worn out, and any part of any song I listen to (be it instruments or even moments) I find something memorable or new to enjoy. It is not, however, something I would go around handing out to people on the street. It's not that its the heaviest thing I've ever heard (or that the band produced) or the weirdest or least accessible, it's just takes a certain taste. I'd say if you liked some of the heavier Queens of the Stone Age, or aggressive bass heavy hard rock, give it a try. On to the review.

This music is absolutely mad for starters. Whether its in the slowed down form of Molten Universe (reminds me of Electric Funeral) or the hyped up 50 Million Year Trip, which in addition to being two great drugged out song names also form one of the greatest one two punches an album can offer. As I mentioned in my review of 50 Million Year Trip a while ago, it could be at any moment my favorite song of all time, the last two or three minutes are just amazing. That song is also a good example of some of the range the band has in sound, soft and light to dark and heavy while still being a little "mad" and out there. This album is just so unique; it almost sounds like the blues (Thong Song), it has bass lines (Freedom Run go to about 1:29 for actual song start), drums (Apothecaries Weight), a two minute song that isn't just filler (Caterpiller March), another two minute song that isn't just filler (800) a less than one minute song that still doesn't sound like just filler (Capsized), and dirty guitars (Green Machine). Any of those songs have the qualities of the others listed (For the time ones, lets just say its the quality of "not filler"), all have interesting drum, bass, guitar, and serve a purpose in the album. The small songs for example, aren't put next to one another in the album, because they act as transition pieces, instrumentals that can give context and flavor to the songs before them and after them. These small songs are done so well though, that I don't mind hearing them on their own. This album simply does it all, and its all mad. Freedom Run? Its intro and jam quality makes it mad standard. Apothocaries weight? Swirling guitars and non stop drumrolls: mad. Green Machine -> Angry -> Mad.

In the above review there were only two songs off that album and one bonus track that didnt get above. 1. Writhe Its not even a bad song. It's just one that didnt stand out as much as the others did. 2. Mondo Generator The clunker song of the album written by the bassist (Classic!). That one actually gets interesting once the vocals drop out at 3:25. Oh and the bonus...YEAH!

March Madness: High on Fire

I figured I'd do my own version of March Madness with a couple of posts during this month about some "mad" music. First up is High on Fire.

High on Fire was founded by Matt Pike the guitarist of Sleep after they broke up in 1995 due to their inability to get their single track, hour long, album appropriately called Dopesmoker released in it's entirety. The new band Matt Pike created took the same sludgy, heavy sound and sped it up a bit putting in wilder drums, faster guitar parts and more manic solo's. Personally I think there's a big difference between the earlier High on Fire and the newer stuff, and I really prefer the older. The earlier seems a little grittier, more rhythm and riff oriented and less about showing off how fast you can play that guitar solo without feeling. Old or new however, High on Fire definitely earn a spot in the "March Madness" tournament with their reckless tone, and low pummeling sound.

Some choice songs:

Hung Drawn and Quartered

Rumors of War

Song of the Week: Almost Cut My Hair

Almost Cut My Hair - Crosby Stills Nash and Young - Deja Vu

Although its probably not the most famous track off the album, (Teach Your Children or Carry On) it's an absolute favorite of mine. What always blew me away was what this song should have been. It could have easily been an over the top rocker with it's slow tempo, three electric guitars, and soaring vocals, but it isn't. The chemistry of the three guitarists has them playing off of each other instead of soloing ontop of one another. It's fluid, but also powerful, characteristics amplified by their number and their harmony.

Song Here

Artist Spotlight: DJ Rockwell

I first heard DJ Rockwell about two years ago randomly on some internet radio station that "stumbleupon" had taken me to. I thought it sounded cool and wrote down a note to myself that said "Relax - Rockwell". Two months later I tried to find this song again, going only off of that note, not even remembering what it sounded. It was a four hour journey into the corners of the internet to find it but I was well rewarded with this song (which I have uploaded to youtube for ease of access). Since then I've tried to keep updated and follow his profile on soundcloud, and I've always been surprised by how much I've liked his stuff. Since that first listen hes gone more instrumental (his free album can be downloaded here), but still has a great mix of obscure samples (Like this one which has some sounds from the movie Brazil) and steady beats. Here are my favorites besides those already posted:

Feelin High
Knockin Doors Down

Album Review: Here Comes That Wierd Chill

Here Comes that Wierd Chill - Mark Lanegan

This album actually has two titles, the one mentioned above and "Methanphetamine Blues, Extras & Oddities". I think both give the listener a pretty good idea of whats in store when you listen to the album, that it can be powerful and eerie but also just weird and seemingly rough or shoddy. The track Methamphetamine Blues for example is rough, but that quality is not a mistake, instead it only adds to the filthy druggy tone of the song, while the track Clear Spot has a roughness that more sounds like an idea that never fully got realized. With that in mind I really think that this is a hit or miss album with a lot of hit or miss tracks. It hits so long as you don't think it has too much grit, and misses when you find it repetitive and sloppy. Personally I love that evil quality that Mark Lanegan can have (See Live Performance of Song For The Dead) but I know its also not for everybody and doesn't really sound "good". Still I find this album a cool change of pace with lots of weird sounds, and one powerful, smoky, creepy, voice backing it all up. Here's my pick of the album.

Methamphetamine Blues

On The Steps Of The Cathedral

Message to Mine

Lexington Slow Down

Skeletal History

Big Tuesday: 18

I'm Eighteen - Alice Cooper - Love it to Death

What a great song about being 18. The lyrics really capture the experience of the song (and of that time of life) which is why I've included them in this post. I find it somehow comforting that teenagers really haven't changed at all in the 40 years it's been since this was written.

Song: Here
Lyrics:

Lines form on my face and hands
Lines form from the ups and downs
I'm in the middle without any plans
I'm a boy and I'm a man

I'm eighteen
And I don't know what I want
I gotta get away
I gotta get out of this place
I'll go runnin in outer space

I got a
Baby's brain and an old man's heart
Took eighteen years to get this far
Don't always know what I'm talkin' about
Feels like I'm livin in the middle of doubt

I'm eighteen and I LIKE IT
Yes I like it
Oh I like it
Love it
Like it
Love it
Eighteen!
Eighteen!
Eighteen!
Eighteen and I LIKE IT

Live Performance Special: Tempel - Colour Haze

This live performance of Colour Haze was filmed during the “Dunajam Festival” which seems to be an absolute Mecca for those that enjoy psychedelic or stoner rock. Dunajam is (from what I can gather) a week long festival that takes place on a small Mediterranean island, featuring about 20 or so bands that play live outdoor concerts all over the largely unpopulated island. Those who go get intimate concerts and enjoy some of the best weather, and background the Mediterranean has to offer. The reason I chose Colour Haze and their song Tempel over other performances was because there could not be a more fitting setting for their music. Rolling drums are complimented by a sea crashing on cliff side behind them, while the thunderous guitar is as impressive as the mountains that litter the background. Dynamic highs and lows of tone and volume are as stark as the blue of the sky against the white and yellow sandstone. The images that music brings to mind are literally brought into view in perfect synchronization with what the band is playing. The only knock is the poor quality of the video, and even that isn’t so bad (you can try the 480p not sure if it makes a difference).

Performance: Here