Music Notes 5.11

Kylesa - Spiral Shadow


Heck yes Kylesa! Though this band has been on my radar for quite some time, I had never heard any of their stuff until I bought this album on somewhat of a whim earlier this month. I’m glad I did. This is exactly the type of music that sums up my current taste in music: stoner sensibilities, cosmic groovyness and some great ass-kicking roll-the-windows down songs. This album was practically on repeat the entire month, and in that month’s time, I can unabashedly put these guys right alongside Clutch, Fu Manchu and Kyuss as titans of the stoner rock genre. I’m sure I’ll be *spinning* this album all summer long, but not without checking out this band’s other efforts.

Iron Maiden - A Matter of Life and Death

Honestly, this album was a let down. It just feels like something is missing, probably a standout track or some more uptempo songs. Most of the songs on here a mid-tempo with nothing terribly exciting going on. For the most part, it plays like a showcase for the vocal prowess of Bruce Dickinson. I like his vocals as much as the next guy, but I wouldn’t buy any a cappella releases from him either. This doesn’t really do anything to tarnish my feelings towards the band, and it’s very likely that this thing is a grower and not a shower. In a few years, I’ll probably look back at this review (Hi future Josh!) and think ‘what wuz i thinking? this albums is best.’

Riverside - Anno Domini High Definition

Every once in a while I catch wind of a band that has somehow slipped under my radar. Case in point: Riverside. While scanning progarchives.com I came across a band that was likened to Pink Floyd, Porcupine Tree and Dream Theater, or basically the three best bands in the history of progressive rock (hyperbole anyone?). I scooped up this album immediately and was glad I did. This band is the real freaking deal and any progressive rock fans out there would be doing themselves a great disservice if they don’t check them out.

Fu Manchu - California Crossing

Remember what I said above about Kylesa’s Spiral Shadow being a great ass-kicking roll-the-windows-down album, well California Crossing is the ultimate, most-high, roll-the-windows-down, feel-like-the-coolest-kid-on-the-block album. This was the album that I first learned the pleasures of rolling down the windows and driving slowly through suburban streets on the hottest day of the year. While it wasn’t my inaugural Fu Manchu album, this definitely played a big part in recruiting me over to the heavier, desert style rock that I find myself deeply embroiled in today. Sometimes when I listen to this album I wonder why I never took up skateboarding, but then I remember about how balancing isn’t my thing.

Edguy - Hellfire Club

What can I say about this album that already hasn’t been said more awesomely in this review: http://www.metalreview.com/reviews/966/edguy-hellfire-club. To quote: “All other forms of music have been rendered obsolete, and will now be called..."the sounds that be not Edguy".” I have listened to this album so many times and it only gets better with age. “The Piper Never Dies” is still the coolest, longest, most rocking power metal song I have ever heard. Do you ever wonder where Van Halen went? You know, the good Van Halen that liked to party and rock and party? Their souls migrated into the band that is Edguy. If you don’t like Edguy, more specifically this album, then you are stupid and you don’t rock.

Vinyl selection of the month:

Earth - A Bureaucratic Desire For Extra-Capsular Extraction

I’m going to be really glad I bought this album when the thermometer cracks the triple digits and my balls are sweaty balls. On tap is the pioneering release for the genre of drone ambient stoner doom metal, or something. This shit is heavy, slow as molasses and repetitive. And I mean all that in the best way. The tunes on this album are looong and some would say boring, but not if you’re in the right mood, though I wouldn’t recommend it for beginners. This is exactly the soundtrack for the hottest day of the year, when even thinking makes you sweat. This is actually the only album I have of these guys, but I have my eye on their latest release Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light if anyone is looking for a birthday present to get me. Note: the song for this video probably runs about twenty minutes, but you'll get the gist of it from this clip, plus, boobs!