Obviously as a long-standing metal fan I've got no problem with bands shouting and screaming their heads off, although it did take me a while before I could accept the cookie monster vocals adopted by a lot of modern bands. But I notice a lot of new, young bands are virtually screeching, all the time, and I wonder the value of it. I guess they don't care whether they appeal to a 49-year-old like me but given the youth of some of these bands it does make me think they do it just to piss off their parents. That's a bit glib, I admit.
Take a band like Architects. I've listened to some of their stuff and musically its pretty fine. Lively, heavy, interesting, but the vocals, apart from a short bit on one of the tracks I checked out, were just shouting relentlessly and I couldn't help wonder how much more interesting I might find them if there was a bit more light and shade. After all, I didn't initially listen to Opeth because I thought they were cookie monster vocals the whole time. It wasn't til I realised they alternated between cookie monster and clean that I bothered to check them out. And what a life-changing moment that was!
Anyhoo, you've probably got your own ideas about screamo, or whatever we're supposed to call it these days, but go and check out Architects if you haven't already done so: http://www.myspace.com/architectsuk
And you might as well check out Rolo Tomassi (http://www.myspace.com/rolotomassi) too. Oceansize like them, and frankly that's good enough for me.
Tuesday 9 November 2010
Friday 5 November 2010
Indukti
Just a quickie 'cos its past my bedtime. In the past few weeks I have been listening to the two albums by Indukti, a Polish prog metal band. Both albums, S.U.S.A.R. and Idmen, are simply splendid and if you've any interest in this genre, if you've any interest in the likes of Tool, Porcupine Tree, Oceansize (which of course you should have) then do your darndest to get hold of them.
Sunday 31 October 2010
Trick or Treat…an epiphany
I don’t remember what we used to do on Halloween when I was a kid growing up in the 60s and 70s but I dare say I enjoyed it to some extent. Now, as an adult and a parent, I can, at best, take it or leave it.
Trick or Treat, however, is a whole different ball game.
For the last 15 years or so I have loathed the 31st October. For a number of years on this date I have, like a whole bunch of people I’m sure, sat at home in the dark with the TV off, whilst hordes of kids have banged on the front door ready to issue their demands. As I was obviously not going to say trick and, being a bloke, I had never got round to buying any sweets, I didn’t really have an option.
But this year, while epiphany may be stretching it somewhat, I have experienced a paradigm shift, to use modern business parlance.
My son Evan, 6 next month, has been quivering with anticipation about Halloween for the last couple of weeks and positively apoplectic with excitement since the 29th when I came home to find the lounge decorated like a witch's grotto - pumpkin lights on the front window, a giant spider attached to the ceiling, and a torch shining a ghostly silhouette on the wall.
Halloween fell on a Sunday this year and the whole day was one long build up to 6pm which is when we went out Trick or Treating.
We began, unsurprisingly enough, with our nearest neighbours who, contrary to modern perception, we do know and get on perfectly well with. Heck, we’ve even been round to dinner a couple of times and our cat, Cash, regularly makes himself at home on the divan in their conservatory. They had also been primed for our visit so we were off to a good start.
We moved on up our road, knocking on the doors of the people we knew to say hello to in the street and then on as far as those who we wouldn’t recognise if we were stuck in a lift with. Most were much more sociable than I expected, though a couple of houses remained in darkness with no sign of life inside. To be fair, maybe they were actually out.
Evan was well into his stride now, his pumpkin bucket filling up with all sorts of chews and choccy bars, some packets that I remembered from my own childhood and others I’d not heard of. We both agreed that they all looked pretty yummy and Evan seemed delighted with his haul so far.
We ventured into unknown territory…the street round the corner. We knew no-one on this road, though we had walked up and down many times when Evan was smaller. One of the houses had a porch light that came on automatically when you were within 20 yards of the house. Evan used to love this and I recall many a time having to push his buggy backwards and forwards past the drive just to activate the light.
We picked some houses at random that we thought had potential. On one occasion the door was opened, somewhat tentatively I felt, by a middle-aged guy who peered out. “Trick or Treat” we cried in unison. In my case I was trying to both make the man comfortable and ensure a successful visit. The man smiled shyly.
“Oh, I’m a bachelor, I don’t have anything. Hang on.” He waddled off with a somewhat comical gait. Evan was about to pass comment but I cut him off quickly. After a minute the man waddled back and, looking pleased with himself, handed Evan a pound coin. It was all too obvious that Evan would have been happier with a bag of jelly tots but I made sure he expressed appropriate gratitude.
A little further on we came upon a house with the figure of a soldier for a door knocker. I lifted Evan up and he banged it fiercely. Almost immediately the door was opened by someone who was clearly an old soldier. He had a handlebar moustache and was dressed as if ready for a military function. His eyes twinkled as he pretended to be scared of Evan’s vampire regalia and then handed over a bunch of loose sweets that he’d neatly wrapped in a Halloween napkin.
A little further, by now about 300 or 400 yards from our home, we passed a house which had an array of Halloween decorations and a front door that was wide open. Standing out on their driveway the owners were swigging red wine while a number of vampires, ghouls and ghosts ran around them, in and out of the house, yelling and screaming and trying to scare the willies out of each other. The adults hailed us, beckoning us over, and Evan got a smorgasbord of candies to add to his bucket and I enjoyed a small glass of Pinot Noir.
We’d been out nearly an hour now so it was time to head home. As we strolled back, Evan carefully auditing his haul, I felt something about Trick or Treat that I would never have expected. Not only did I genuinely enjoy myself, which was miraculous in itself, I realised there were a lot of perfectly agreeable people virtually on our doorstep who we’d simply never had cause to meet before. Of all things, Trick or Treating had brought us together, albeit briefly.
I felt heartened that these people existed when there had been so many times in the seven years we’ve lived here we had really not felt connected to the area or to any sense of community, but I also felt sad that I probably wouldn’t see them again, at least not until next Halloween. I wondered if it is socially acceptable to go round the next day and engage them further in conversation, or is that a step too far?
Saturday 30 October 2010
Cookie monster vocals
Its time to deal with the thorny issue that even now causes division in the metal community, especially between older and younger fans. That issue is cookie monster vocals. I’ve heard it described all number of ways but I think cookie monster vocals sums it up perfectly. We all know what the cookie monster sounds like. I used to hate those kind of vocals. Couldn’t see the point, couldn’t see any value and it was preventing me getting into a whole swathe of bands.
But a few years back I got into Porcupine Tree…who to be honest deserve half an hour to themselves, due to the genius who is Steven Wilson, their main man. I started to read up on the Porcupine Tree and discovered Steven Wilson had produced and performed with Opeth, a band hitherto closed to me because I thought they were a cookie monster band. I read that the singer and main man in Opeth, Mikael Akerfeldt, who turned out to be another genius - what are the odds - alternates between cookie monster and clean vocals. This sounded hopeful.
I went and downloaded a few tracks – and I make no excuse about downloading tracks because it’s a great way of getting to know stuff and then you go out and buy the CDs. I guess I’m old-fashioned in that regard, I like to buy CDs, I like to feel a CD in my hand, I like to flick through the inserts…even though the writing seems to be getting smaller and smaller as I get older and older…wonder what that’s all about. As luck would have it, the first track I ever listened to by Opeth was the 13 minutes of unbridled awesome magnificence that is “Deliverance”. As I’ve just used the word awesome again – for the second and last time today - I think you get the idea of just how awesome the track Deliverance is…doh!
Suddenly, another door had opened.
I cannot impress upon you enough how important it is – if we assume that metal has any importance at all…and oh my laws we do – that you listen to the Deliverance album by Opeth. Not only will you be able to savour the wonders of the afore-mentioned title track but the rest of the album is incredible. As indeed are all of their other albums. Ghost Reveries is as good a metal album as there could be. Light and shade, cookie monster and clean vocals, gentle, ethereal, evocative and bone-crunching, mind-blowing, shattering music.
In fact just thinking about them let me make a bold assertion. In my estimation Opeth are/have been the best metal band in the world for the past ten years.
If you take nothing else away from this blog, if you go away and discover Opeth for yourself anything I've written will have been worth it. Opeth encapsulate all that has been good about metal in the last 40 years whilst simultaneously leading the way into the next 40. I mentioned another time about how you couldn’t imagine how the world existed without certain songs and certain bands. There are a number of Opeth tracks that sound as if they were created by the Gods.
Jeez, I’m getting evangelical now.
But listen to Deliverance, listen to The Grand Conjuration, listen to Blackwater Park, listen to The Leper Affinity…heavens to Betsy there is just nothing finer.
But a few years back I got into Porcupine Tree…who to be honest deserve half an hour to themselves, due to the genius who is Steven Wilson, their main man. I started to read up on the Porcupine Tree and discovered Steven Wilson had produced and performed with Opeth, a band hitherto closed to me because I thought they were a cookie monster band. I read that the singer and main man in Opeth, Mikael Akerfeldt, who turned out to be another genius - what are the odds - alternates between cookie monster and clean vocals. This sounded hopeful.
I went and downloaded a few tracks – and I make no excuse about downloading tracks because it’s a great way of getting to know stuff and then you go out and buy the CDs. I guess I’m old-fashioned in that regard, I like to buy CDs, I like to feel a CD in my hand, I like to flick through the inserts…even though the writing seems to be getting smaller and smaller as I get older and older…wonder what that’s all about. As luck would have it, the first track I ever listened to by Opeth was the 13 minutes of unbridled awesome magnificence that is “Deliverance”. As I’ve just used the word awesome again – for the second and last time today - I think you get the idea of just how awesome the track Deliverance is…doh!
Suddenly, another door had opened.
I cannot impress upon you enough how important it is – if we assume that metal has any importance at all…and oh my laws we do – that you listen to the Deliverance album by Opeth. Not only will you be able to savour the wonders of the afore-mentioned title track but the rest of the album is incredible. As indeed are all of their other albums. Ghost Reveries is as good a metal album as there could be. Light and shade, cookie monster and clean vocals, gentle, ethereal, evocative and bone-crunching, mind-blowing, shattering music.
In fact just thinking about them let me make a bold assertion. In my estimation Opeth are/have been the best metal band in the world for the past ten years.
If you take nothing else away from this blog, if you go away and discover Opeth for yourself anything I've written will have been worth it. Opeth encapsulate all that has been good about metal in the last 40 years whilst simultaneously leading the way into the next 40. I mentioned another time about how you couldn’t imagine how the world existed without certain songs and certain bands. There are a number of Opeth tracks that sound as if they were created by the Gods.
Jeez, I’m getting evangelical now.
But listen to Deliverance, listen to The Grand Conjuration, listen to Blackwater Park, listen to The Leper Affinity…heavens to Betsy there is just nothing finer.
Monday 25 October 2010
How to get the most out of the new Oceansize album
Here's a few simple tips on how to listen to the new Oceansize album "Self Preserved While The Bodies Float Up".
Firstly, the inaugural play of the album has to be uninterrupted and in its entirety. None of this listening to three tracks and buggering off to post something inane on Facebook. In this case you will need the best part of an hour. If you're like me, recently redundant, this should not be a problem.
With a band like Oceansize you're never going to get anywhere near appreciating all the layers for a good few months. Indeed, the first play of any album is invariably disappointing but you gotta go through it. SPWTBFU kicks off with probably the heaviest track Oceansize have ever done, track four has some gorgeous strings, but track 7 "Silent/Transparent" is the one you can't wait to play again.
With the first play done and dusted we now consider the other ways of listening to the album, and that doesn't mean simply playing it a lot, which goes without saying.
Listening to it on headphones
This is a good way of getting into the quieter tracks. "Ransoms" and "A Penny's Weight" begin to make their mark. "Silent/Transparent" continues to enchant.
Listening to it in the car
Cocooned in your vehicle you can crank it up and scream along to the noisy bits. "Silent/Transparent" also benefits from said cranking.
Listening to it in the background
Whereby you wander in and out of the room, and so you hear different bits out of context as it were. The strings at the end of "Oscar Acceptance Speech" really start to grab you and track 9 "Pine" suddenly comes to life.
Listening to it quietly
Its not de rigeur to listen to rock and metal albums with the volume down but you'd be surprised what this can highlight. The skill of Metallica's song-writing or the incredible dynamics of Opeth, for example. Honest. With this new Oceansize album I find the noisy but nicely-crafted second and third tracks beginning to register.
Okay, there's some handy hints on how to fully appreciate the new Oceansize album "Self Preserved While The Bodies Float Up". I can't stop you applying the same technique to whatever album you like. Even Pixie Lott. Although what the fuck you're listening to Pixie Lott for when you should be listening to Oceansize I don't know.
Firstly, the inaugural play of the album has to be uninterrupted and in its entirety. None of this listening to three tracks and buggering off to post something inane on Facebook. In this case you will need the best part of an hour. If you're like me, recently redundant, this should not be a problem.
With a band like Oceansize you're never going to get anywhere near appreciating all the layers for a good few months. Indeed, the first play of any album is invariably disappointing but you gotta go through it. SPWTBFU kicks off with probably the heaviest track Oceansize have ever done, track four has some gorgeous strings, but track 7 "Silent/Transparent" is the one you can't wait to play again.
With the first play done and dusted we now consider the other ways of listening to the album, and that doesn't mean simply playing it a lot, which goes without saying.
Listening to it on headphones
This is a good way of getting into the quieter tracks. "Ransoms" and "A Penny's Weight" begin to make their mark. "Silent/Transparent" continues to enchant.
Listening to it in the car
Cocooned in your vehicle you can crank it up and scream along to the noisy bits. "Silent/Transparent" also benefits from said cranking.
Listening to it in the background
Whereby you wander in and out of the room, and so you hear different bits out of context as it were. The strings at the end of "Oscar Acceptance Speech" really start to grab you and track 9 "Pine" suddenly comes to life.
Listening to it quietly
Its not de rigeur to listen to rock and metal albums with the volume down but you'd be surprised what this can highlight. The skill of Metallica's song-writing or the incredible dynamics of Opeth, for example. Honest. With this new Oceansize album I find the noisy but nicely-crafted second and third tracks beginning to register.
Okay, there's some handy hints on how to fully appreciate the new Oceansize album "Self Preserved While The Bodies Float Up". I can't stop you applying the same technique to whatever album you like. Even Pixie Lott. Although what the fuck you're listening to Pixie Lott for when you should be listening to Oceansize I don't know.
Sunday 17 October 2010
Porcupine Tree at the Royal Albert Hall
Perhaps not surprisingly, Thursday was the first time I'd ever been to the Royal Albert Hall. I say not surprisingly because over the last 32 years of gig going the bands I go and see are not the sort of bands that play the RAH. However, that is changing as Opeth of all bands played there in April - and don't ask me how I came to miss that, I'm still not sure myself - and here we are on 14th October 2010 and Porcupine Tree have sold out. Pretty impressive for a band most people haven't heard of. Obviously, that's a sweeping generalisation but frankly its generally true.
I had a rotten journey there, having to abandon the tube in favour of a black cab and then abandoning that halfway through Regent's Park because of the traffic. I was getting anxious because the PT web site had said they would be on stage at 7.45. I finally sat down in my seat at 7.41 and would you believe it, at 7.45pm on the dot, according to my mobile, the lights dimmed and on walked Steven Wilson and the rest of Porcupine Tree. As soon as they started I realised what a venue with great acoustics sounds like. You don't get this in Koko or the Scala or even, to be honest, in the Hammersmith Apollo. And certainly not Wembley blinkin' Arena.
PT played for 3 and a quarter hours, with two short breaks, and were absolutely splendid. The whole thing was a joy, apart from the guy behind me pouring his Guinness down my back. Gavin Harrison, the drummer, is one of the great modern rock drummers and I was in awe, as ever.
As I walked out I couldn't help but wish that Rush would play at the Royal Albert Hall. I think I might suggest it to them.
I had a rotten journey there, having to abandon the tube in favour of a black cab and then abandoning that halfway through Regent's Park because of the traffic. I was getting anxious because the PT web site had said they would be on stage at 7.45. I finally sat down in my seat at 7.41 and would you believe it, at 7.45pm on the dot, according to my mobile, the lights dimmed and on walked Steven Wilson and the rest of Porcupine Tree. As soon as they started I realised what a venue with great acoustics sounds like. You don't get this in Koko or the Scala or even, to be honest, in the Hammersmith Apollo. And certainly not Wembley blinkin' Arena.
PT played for 3 and a quarter hours, with two short breaks, and were absolutely splendid. The whole thing was a joy, apart from the guy behind me pouring his Guinness down my back. Gavin Harrison, the drummer, is one of the great modern rock drummers and I was in awe, as ever.
As I walked out I couldn't help but wish that Rush would play at the Royal Albert Hall. I think I might suggest it to them.
Tuesday 12 October 2010
Women and Children First by Van Halen – My Favourite Album
To you its just another piece of cardboard with a slice of plastic inside. There are some words on the front and back and a couple of photos of some gentlemen with long hair and dodgy dress sense. The words on the front indicate that it is “Women and Children First” by Van Halen. It is their third album. I bought it when it came out in May 1980. It is my favourite album in the whole world. It is just over 33 minutes long. Every single nanosecond is, to my ears, perfect. It has nine tracks. One of those tracks is called “Everybody Wants Some!!” It contains an Eddie Van Halen guitar break that still makes me weep. Alex Van Halen’s drumming is like a pummelling from those giant cotton buds they used to have on Gladiators and they now have on Total Wipeout. Michael Anthony’s bass rumbles through your body like a hug from your favourite uncle. Dave Lee Roth sings like the rogueish boyfriend of your teenage daughter who you don’t want to like but you kind of do.
It’s the sound of a band so together, playing as one, personal battles put aside for the common good and this album is so uncommonly good. My world is a better place with this piece of cardboard and plastic in it. I don’t care if you only know Jump by Van Halen, I don’t care if you think I’m crazy ‘cos a Van Halen album is my favourite of all time, I frankly couldn’t give a toss if I was the only man alive who loves this album and I certainly wouldn’t care a jot if Van Halen themselves said they hated this album and anyone who likes it is an idiot and should be sectioned.
Anyone familiar with them will know that it’s the first Van Halen album that is the bonafide classic that all metal fans must own, and while I entirely agree it’s essential, its this one – Women and Children First – that is the one that makes me go doolally.
Wednesday 6 October 2010
Oceansize
Although I am a metalhead through and through and although the main purpose of this blog is to encourage more people to get into metal, I feel a duty to talk about Oceansize, who are not a metal band but who tick a number of the metal boxes. However, they also tick a number of other boxes and this could go some way to explaining why they are currently the best rock band on the planet. If you haven't listened to them or even haven't heard of them then please rectify this immediately by going to we7.com or YouTube.
Oceansize have released four albums, the latest "Self-preserved while the bodies float up" came out only a month ago and to say it is splendid would be like saying the England football team got it slightly wrong in the World Cup. Go listen to track 7 "Silent/Transparent". If you don't like it, leave now because there is nothing for you here. If you do like it then you must explore everything else they have done, and then you must see them live. It will improve the quality of your life.
Oceansize have released four albums, the latest "Self-preserved while the bodies float up" came out only a month ago and to say it is splendid would be like saying the England football team got it slightly wrong in the World Cup. Go listen to track 7 "Silent/Transparent". If you don't like it, leave now because there is nothing for you here. If you do like it then you must explore everything else they have done, and then you must see them live. It will improve the quality of your life.
Saturday 25 September 2010
Dagoba
Thanks to we7 I have recently discovered Dagoba, a French metal band, who sound promising in the style of Gojira and Hacride. Who would have guessed that France would be spearheading a new metal movement?
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