Category Archives: Music

The greatest band of all time…my time.

27 August, 2008 Brian Mc Leave a comment

If someone were to ask you who the greatest band of your time was, what would you say?

I myself would be speechless and have no response. That is just too tough of a question to answer.

To me it is impossible to label just one band being “the greatest band of my time”. Still there are a lot of bands out there I see could hold the title if I had to be forced to make a decision (to each their own of course). With so many genres of music I love along with the tons of artists that have my respect I think I might be able to narrow it down a little, but I know I would be missing out on someone who deserves credit so we shall just call this a sample.

Here are a couple of bands that stand out as great to me and reasons why:

NIN – Since I was a kid I have loved this band. I learned of them freshman year in high school when some lame jock kid found a cassette tape in his locker that was next to mine. He was going to throw it away but decided I was a better target and tossed it at me. It was a copy of Pretty Hate Machine and I remember that day throwing it into my big 4 AA battery of a hog yellow Sony Walkman. I was hooked instantly. It was a new genre for me seeing how I was all about the Beastie Boys and Metallica. Every album that NIN has released I enjoyed tremendously. I still find it a shame though that it took me over 15 years to see them live… It was amazing though. NIN blew me away and I almost hate myself for missing them live so many times…

Pantera – I was introduced to them thanks to some illegal substance smoking friends back in high school. I was already a fan of metal but there was something about Pantera that just grabbed me. Maybe it was Phil Anselmo’s voice or Vinnie Paul and Dime Bag Darrell’s musical capabilities. They were one of my first live shows and even if some of their beginning albums were hair metal and concluding albums seemed a little weak to me I am still a fan of Cowboys from Hell, Vulgar Display of Power, and Far Beyond Driven.

Faith No More / Mike Patton – Mike Patton is a musical god and I wish to hell Faith No More would group together just for one more last hurrah. Ever since “Epic” was featured on MTV I labeled myself a fan. Throughout the years Faith No More went their own ways and Mike Patton continued his uniqueness in bands like Mr. Bungle, Tomahawk and Peeping Tom. Sure it got a little weird sometimes especially when he worked with jazz experimentalist John Zorn but it still was Mike Patton!

Bjork – Yeah I know…call me what you want but I love Bjork. I did not really appreciate her until I picked up Homogenic. That album changed the way I started to look at music. Perhaps I was growing up but saddening loud metal and screaming bloody murder just did not seem as exciting. Her voice was so depressing in songs yet so happy. It may not make much sense but I know what I like and I love Bjork.

Radiohead – This English rock band is and will always be one of my favorite bands of all time. I rocked out to them since their first album was released. “Creep” grabbed my grunge attention when I was sporting flannels and saying how great Nirvana and Pearl Jam were. As years passed their music became a little too much for some but not for me. I loved OK Computer and Kid A because I found them so unique. I would listen to each album over and over singing along with a smile on my face. That to me is a great band.

NoFX – Drug infused punk rock music since the 80’s who now are successful after capturing pop punk rock at its opening stages. Saying no to commercial radio and MTV the band made their own success literally. The band may not have your top quality musicians but their look on life, politics, and themselves make for one hilarious act.

So that was my small piece. I could change the above six to other bands easily but they were the first that came to mind… Misfits, Iron Maiden, Rolling Stones, Minor Threat, and even Tupac… There are so many other heavy hitting bands/musicians that I could talk about…

What are some bands you consider your greatest band of your time?

Music, Punk, Review

The Briggs – Come All You Madmen – CD Review

24 August, 2008 Brian Mc 1 Comment

The Briggs are a punk rock act that had a hard time getting to me. I am not saying that I was forced to listen to them; rather I missed many occasions to sample them in the past. I either heard a song by them on a compilation and never researched it or simply showed up to a live show just as they left the stage. Missed opportunities did not discourage me though as I finally had the prospect of seeing the Irish punk rockers The Briggs live at the 2008 Van’s Warped Tour and I made damn sure I was in the audience before they took stage.

The Los Angeles punk rock act won me over with their punk rock energy and wholesome sound. I was excited at my decision of finally checking them out as they were one of the few true punk rock acts on the popular tour. Recently releasing their fourth full length album Come All You Madmen I finally got a taste of what I have been missing all these years and I must say it was scrumptious.

Formed in 2001 the foursome has continually toured the US with heavy hitting punk rock acts such as the Dropkick Murphys and Bad Religion. They work hard at what they do and take it to heart. Once quoted as saying that Bob Dylan and Elvis Costello are more punk than most of the punk bands out there today by taking chances and being serious about what they do, The Briggs continue the trend.

“Mad Man” started up the album with politically powerful lyrics and had plenty of sing-a-long opportunities. The Briggs’ ode to “LA” almost has an Oi feel to it but by no means sounds like a simple creation; this ode is heartfelt to their hometown.

“Bloody Minds” had a hint of Against Me! to it, but the song was really likable, especially the horns making for one of my choice cuts off this disc. Another track “Not Alone” really captured my attention too. The song was catchy with unity inspired lyrics layered on top of pleasant sounding punk rock.

“Oblivion” takes a change in the CD’s direction toning down the punk rock feel. The change is welcomed as it is a great song more rock and seemingly more personal to The Briggs. “Final Words” slows down a tad with a song I feel might have sounded a little better if it were sped up. At times I am reminded of something the Clash might have created but not enough for me to want to keep this song on repeat.

“Molly” crawled past me as the closer of the album. What a change in tempo from first to last song. The song is more of an Irish bawl that would be suitable for a drunken evening in a pub. I am not sure why the band started so strong and then ended it with almost a sleeper of a track. Perhaps it was a metaphor I completely missed.

If you are thinking that maybe punk is dead or over processed then maybe you should check out The Briggs. In my opinion they were one of the bands that helped make the 2008 Warped Tour more memorable and after seeing them live and even talking to them at their merch tent (friendliest band ever), I had to check out their newest release. What they have created was not thrown together in hopes of making a quick buck. They are very passionate about the music they display and prove it on Come All You Madmen. Check out their MySpace page if you need some proof.

The Briggs - Live @ Cleveland Warped Tour 2008

Music

Metallica releases a new single….

22 August, 2008 Brian Mc 1 Comment

I finally submerged to reality and listened to Metallica‘s new release “The Day That Never Comes” their first single from the upcoming Rick Rubin produced Death Magnetic. I sampled it on my way to work this afternoon thanks to Sirius radio’s Hard Attack and for the most part liked what I heard. When I came home I went to Metallica’s website to sample it again. The song was just about 8 minutes and honestly all I could think of is that the song could have been sped up just a tad and it might have sounded even better. It does not sound like anything from St. Anger (thankfully) but does not necessarily go all the way back to their roots. It’s got a good sound to it especially for a band that has been around for so long.

I guess I’ll have to wait until 09/12/2008 when the CD hits stores and will also be legally available to download to hear some more. I admit, I am kind of excited. I just hope I am not disappointed…..

For more info including links to hear the song and read the lyrics check out Blabbermouth.net.

Live Shows, Music

Concert Review: Radiohead At Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, OH, 08/04/08

5 August, 2008 Brian Mc Leave a comment

Originally posted on Blogcritics.Org 08/05/2008

After four long years the innovative rock act Radiohead decided to make a stop at Blossom Music Center before their adoring Ohio fans. It was no surprise that the show was sold out, as many in Ohio and the surrounding states planned this special day months in advance knowing that the band rarely tours. Rumors of Radiohead touring were finally laid to rest at the end of February, when the band announded their second leg of the North American tour.

Sold out crowds mean traffic jams, and I am pleased to say that with the help of Google Maps I avoided the mile-plus long backup that filled up Route 8. Parking the car and walking almost a mile to the coveted amphitheater did not get my spirits down as I was excited to be seeing Radiohead for the fourth time in my life. This was their third time returning to Blossom Music Center in the last seven years.

One thing I admired about the show is that it was “green.” The beers were served in biodegradable cups made form corn, and the merch was made from recycled materials. I opted out from dropping $40 on a T-shirt formed from plastic bottles, but did spend some money on a container made from recycled aluminum material. The container stated “Radiohead Tour 2008 H2O” and posted the amount of water bottles that are sold every year (18 million). I thought it was a good keepsake, and at the same time my personal small way to help the envoirnment.

I barely obtained a ticket this year (and yet again it was a lawn seat), but I was OK with that and so were the rest of the people around me. Opening act Grizzly Bear tried to entertain the crowd, but their music just was not providing the energy to everyone. Some fans sang along to the indie sounding band from Brooklyn, NY, while others mocked them. Still, they seemed honored to be touring with such an influential band.

The sun set showcasing a beautiful partly cloudy sky when Radiohead took the stage. The band opened with “15 Step” from their latest, pay-what-you-feel-like album In Rainbows. The light show behind the band was their best yet in my opinion, with what looked like reflective bars with a media screen behind them.

It was not until the band started playing “Pyramid Song” that I realized how lucky I was to be stuck in this crowd of people. Looking around I saw hippies, punk rockers, families, and the occasional scenester all collected on a hilly lawn on a warmer than normal summer evening. I smiled because I knew that even though it was my fourth time getting to see them live, they still enthralled me. I also admired the looks on the faces of the fans that clearly were attending their first Radiohead experience.

Some songs sounded a little more natural with acoustics, while others were overly processed with sweet samples and electronic beats. Regardless of how they tweaked their material it was a real treat to listen to them. The crowd was also entertaining to watch especially when someone took it upon themselves to throw about 200 light sticks in the air, only to have the crowd continually throw them towards the stage.

Focusing on newer material, I sometimes found myself not as entertained, but soon the light show helped redirect my attention as did hearing some older material like “The National Anthem” and “Climbing Up The Walls.” One thing that was irritating was that where I was standing I could barely see the band and had no idea when they left the stage, only to return to for an encore.

One of the highlights of the evening for me was hearing “Paranoid Android” live. I have and will always love that song. On top of that, there was the always amazing guitar solo in the middle of it which in turn had the entire crowd cheering at the top of their lungs. After “Street Spirit,” the band left the stage and came out once again for a second encore.

Thom Yorke took a minute to state “this is most definitely a love song” before the act started playing “House Of Cards.” Ending the show was Kid A’s “Everything In Its Right Place,” a another song I was hoping to hear. It was a nice ending to an amazing performance.

The show seemed to blow past much faster than previous performances, yet they were onstage for over 2 hours. Before I knew it I was in what my friend called the “ET shuffle” as closely grouped fans slowly made way back to their vehicles. During the long walk, we spoke about how awesome it was to see them live once again and how breathtaking they are. It was truly a special evening, thanks to one of the most important bands out there on the rock scene.

Set List:

Set list:
15 Step
There There
Morning Bell
All I Need
Pyramid Song
Nude
Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
The Gloaming
The National Anthem
A Wolf At The Door
Faust Arp
Exit Music (For A Film)
Jigsaw Falling Into Place
Idioteque
Climbing Up The Walls
Bodysnatchers
How to Disappear Completely

Encore 1:
Videotape
Paranoid Android
Dollars and Cents
Reckoner
Street Spirit

Encore 2:
House of Cards
Lucky
Everything In Its Right Place

Additional Comments:

Thanks to the wonderful invention of YouTube I was able to get a better look at what was going on at the show that amazing evening. Each member of that bad has their own special talent/ability that when combined create the mezmurizing music that is Radiohead.

If you need proof check this out:

Notice Jonny Greenwood replicating the Jimmy Page like guitar playing with a bow. Amazing.

Electronic, Emo, Hip Hop, Indie, Music, Music Video, New Release, Punk, Review

3OH3! – Want – CD Review

29 July, 2008 Brian Mc Leave a comment

3OH!3 (pronounced 3-OH!-3) is far from your ordinary band. For instance, when I downloaded the CD to my iPod it was listed as an unclassifiable genre and that is an understatement. Debuting with WANT, the twosome white-boy rap/rock duo certainly have released material worth talking about as they have mixed up elements of crunk, punk, electronica, and even emo, making for an energy overload album.

Hailing from the streets of… umm… Boulder, the duo have discarded their college educations in favor of creating some of the best crunk rock dance party tracks I have ever heard. Already debuting on the Top 10 on the iTunes album chart, the band has also gained attention from Alternative Press Magazine naming them one of AP’s one hundred bands you need to know.

3OH!3 stands for the area code that front men Sean Foreman and Nathaniel Motte represent. Born and raised in Boulder, Colorado, the duo met while studying physics in college and discovered one another’s love for underground hip hop. The mutual fixation for a genre of music that is rarely handled in the capitol of hippies brought the two united to create 3OH!3 and before they knew it they were selling out local clubs with their high strung dancing layered on top of their truly unique genre-bashing music.

“Punk Bitch” was the first track I heard from these guys and I must admit I thought they were a Lil John wannabe project. Not until halfway through the song did I realized this was not really a rap act but something much more entertaining. The opening to the song imitated lots of crunk music I have heard before, but as you go through the song you start to hear a blend of crunk and emo, something I did not think was possible until now. The result is an infectious track that I have listened to over and over. This gangster emo track will be getting the clubs moving for sure this year.

The third track “Don’t Trust Me” has the greatest refrain ever: “Shush girl, shut your lips. Do the Helen Keller and talk with your hips.” Dance like Helen Keller? Who the hell writes something like this? How offensive… I loved it. I can only see it now, a forbidden dance called the Helen Keller created from this track. Aside from the crude lyrics talking of a no-name groupie, this track is full of danceable music that is far from annoying.

Sounding almost like what Electric Six would sound like if they collaborated with Lil John & The Eastside Boyz is “I’m Not Your Boyfriend Baby”. The electronic beats alone surpass a lot of crap I have heard in the clubs or on the radio, and once the interesting, whiny, emo cry solo was slammed with their tough ass rap lyrics I was addicted.

“Star Struck” has more of a R&B feel a la Kenna mixed with hard electronics and a beat that pretty much has been stuck in my head since I first heard the sexually suggestive song. Then there are the full on rap tracks “Choke Chain” that you will be singing along with and “Photofinnish” that reminded me of the Faint but excessively crunked out.

3OH3! @ the 2008 Warped Tour in Cleveland

Just when I thought things were insane enough, “Still Around” started up. This slow sensitive track regarding the love of a special something really proves to me these guys are not just out there to jump around and get the party rioting. The lyrics at times were predictable but the music and the idea of the song is sweet and almost depressing, especially if you have been in the situation of which they sing.

No need to be too depressed though, because “Holler ’til You Pass Out” brings back all that energy that was paused for a moment with a full blown anthem all about representing the city of Boulder. This track is tough, addictive, and fun and I wanted more once it was over.

Want might very well be the most fun CD I have heard all year and at this moment I am addicted to 3OH!3 and their crazy ass music. These guys have something a little gangster, a lot insane, and damn well genus. If you are looking for something a tad different from the norm yet catchy at the same time then 3OH!3 is where it’s at.

Already stealing the show at the 2008 Warped Tour with their high vigor, including their hilarious onstage presence, this is one band you need to experience especially if you are in need some new pickup lines to rifle off to the ladies.

Just in case you wanted to hear what they sound like or what the hype is all about:

(Warning, as with many crunk infused tracks, there is a lot of cussing on this video. Like truck driver cussing…. Play accordingly)