Weekly 3x3: 07-Jul-2013

I know, I know, I'm the worst at this. A day late again. Whatever.

Black Flag - Jealous Again EP: I'm only getting into Black Flag now (a sin, I know), and I'm digging everything from Nervous Breakdown to Damaged, but my favorite release so far has got to be Jealous Again. It's a solid mix of the punk aggression and not-Henry Rollins' voice that gets me riled up every time.

Rush - Clockwork Angels: I was jamming Rush's newest album in anticipation of seeing them this past Saturday. And while I loved this album, it was brought to even higher levels of awesome played live with a string sextet.

El-P & Killer Mike - Run the Jewels: This album is like the grindcore of hip-hop. Aggressive, loud, heavy, and before you know it, over. It only clocks in at half an hour, but both El and Mike rip out some freaking awesome lyrics over top of El's futuristic beats.

Magrudergrind - Magrudergrind: This album is what introduced me to this amazing grind/ powerviolence band. I don't jam it as often as I used to, but whenever I want to throw the fuck down, this is the first thing I go to.

Foals - Antidotes: This one is a surprise, even for me. I totally forget how it got onto my iPod, but I jammed it in the car one day, and shit, is it ever good. It's kind of a proggy, indie alt-rock sound, which I understand sounds pretentious as fuck, but I swear, it's actually pretty solid.

Big Chocolate - HiLion: Summer driving music. Especially the title track, my favorite Choco Grande song.

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - The Heist: More summer driving music. Word.

Weekend Nachos - Worthless: What's a man without a circle pit every once in a while?

The Dillinger Escape Plan - One of Us is the Killer: Mandatory (potential) AOTY jams.


That's all for now, folks!

-DG

Gupta's Top 10 Albums of 2012

Well, here we are. The end of 2012. I think I've listened to more music this year than I ever have in the rest of my life. I've expanded my tastes a lot, tried tons of new and different styles and genres, and I like to think that all of this has made me a better person today than I was on January 1st, 2012. I'll save all the sappy stuff for later, so without further ado, here are my top 10 albums of 2012. For once, this list is actually in ascending order of favorites.

#10: Foxy Shazam - The Church of Rock and Roll

What can I say? Foxy Shazam hit hard this year with great rock anthems that sound equally at home in a sold out arena as well as in a sold out small, dingy, intimate venue. Definitely a throwback to bands like Queen, Foxy Shazam definitely crank out one of the most fun and addictive albums this year.

Listen:  I Like It

#9: Death Grips - The Money Store

This album. This. Album. Despite only having access to it for less than a year, now it's definitely become one of my favorite rap albums, ever. It's challenging, progressive, and noisy, but despite all of the experimental sounds and beats, songs can't help but to get stuck in your head. Hip-hop, trip-hop, experimental avant-garde progressive post-rap: call it what you will, Death Grips delivers a sonic experience quite unlike anything else.

Listen: The Fever (Aye Aye)

#8: Rush - Clockwork Angels

Rush dropped their 20th album this year, and by god, isn't it just something. Sounding somewhat like a return to form to their hard-hitting prog rock from their pre-synth rock days, Clockwork Angels tells a magnificent and world-spanning story, and the music definitely fits the bombastic and grandiose setting. This is definitely my favorite Rush album since 1981's Moving Pictures. Review here.

Listen: Headlong Flight

#7: Napalm Death - Utilitarian

Considering 2012 was the year I was introduced, learned to tolerate, and then learned to love grindcore with all of my blackened, icy heart, it only makes sense that grind godfathers and  extreme music heavyweights Napalm Death make this list. Politically charged and ready to maul your face off, Utilitarian is a tidal wave of distorted guitars, blaring drums and barked vocals. Not for the faint of heart. Review here.

Listen: Errors in the Signals

#6: BadBadNotGood - BBNG2

A genre like jazzy instrumental hip-hop sounds like a weird idea at first glance, but trust me, it works. Canadians (woo!) BadBadNotGood dish out a ton of different sounds, tones, and feelings on BBNG2, all of which are loved by this guy right here.

Listen: UWM (Feat. Leland Whitty)

#5: Diablo Swing Orchestra - Pandora's Piñata

Blends of jazz and metal have been around since about 1993, when Cynic released their amazing debut Focus, but since then, metal has really only taken cues from the technical and avant-garde side of the genre. DSO swings over to the other end of the spectrum and plays, well... swing jazz. Perfectly moshable as it is danceable, Pandora's Piñata is easily one of the most refreshing releases this year. Review here.

Listen: Voodoo Mon Amour

#4: Twelve Foot Ninja - Silent Machine

Speaking of refreshing releases, Silent Machine is not only refreshing, but innovative as well. Mixing nu-metal, djent, funk, latin fusion and reggae? That kind of stunt was unheard of before this. Maybe a comedy musician like Weird Al would've attempted it, but I assure you, Twelve Foot Ninja not only attempts it, but shows you it can be done well. I still have no idea how I found out about this band, but all I know is that I'm glad I did. Review here.

Listen: Coming for You

#3: Dawnbringer - Into the Lair of the Sun God

Old school heavy metal (a la Iron Maiden) meets modern day vest metal (a la Valient Thorr) in sound with a scope the size of a 70s prog rock epic (a la 2112-era Rush). No uber-technical playing, no blistering speed and aggression, just nine perfectly executed tracks. Sun God is something you can just toss on to headbang and air guitar to, but the fist-pumping metal is simply a medium for an incredibly intricate story to be told. Review here.

Listen: I

#2: Pig Destroyer - Book Burner

"This then, this is libel, slander, deformation of character. This is a prolonged insult, a gob of spit in the face of art. A kick in the pants to God, man, destiny, time, love, beauty, what you will. I'm going to sing for you. A little off key perhaps, but I will sing. I will sing while you croak. I will dance on your dirty corpse."

Review here.

Listen: Burning Palm

#1: Converge - All We Love We Leave Behind

Atop the pedestal titled "Best Album of 2012" stands Converge. All We Love We Leave Behind just hit all the right spots for me. It was chaotic, challenging, extreme, emotional, melodic and everything else in between. Listening to this album is like feeling every emotion ever, at the same time. It's a giant whirlwind of love, hate, despair, and empowerment. It's a complete sensory overload; a feast for those who love to feel. My raving review can be found here.

So that's it. My top 10 favorite albums from 2012. I guarantee that now that this list has been published, I guarantee I'll find like, a shit ton of albums that I think are way better than every single album on this list. Whatever. That's the way the music reviewing world works. What were your favorite albums of 2012? Let me know down in the comments section or on Facebook. I'm really interested to see what everyone else has been listening to this year!

That's all for now, folks! Happy politically correct non-denominational December holidays!

-DG

Top 10 Albums of 2012 (So Far)

This is my last re-post of my Tumblr reviews. New content from here on in, folks.

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It seems to be a bit of a trend now to make a Top 10 list halfway through the year, so I'm jumping on the bandwagon today! The first half of 2012 has been an absolutely killer for music I think, and I expect the second half to keep rolling with this much momentum. For my Top 10 lists, ratings go out the window, and I rank albums on purely how much I love to come back and keep listening/ enjoying them. So, enough bullshit, here's my Top 10!

#10: Accept - "Stalingrad"

Accept haven't just come back, they're here to stay. Two years ago they released Blood of the Nations, which just took everyone by surprise with how well it was done. Accept show here that they're back in it for keeps, with Stalingrad pumping out even more revitalized energy and awesome heavy metal anthems.

#9: Municipal Waste - "The Fatal Feast"

The Waste have crafted another monster crossover thrash album worthy of the most patch-covered demin vests and the cheapest of shitty lagers.

#8: Woods of Ypres - "Woods 5: Grey Skies and Electric Lights"

After winning me over with Woods IV, Woods of Ypres have really knocked the ball out of the park here in terms of songwriting and atmosphere. A beautiful swan song for David Gold, Rest In Peace.

Ontario black and doom metal. Represent.

#7: Dying Fetus - "Reign Supreme"

DYING FUCKING FETUS.

#6: Rush - "Clockwork Angels"

Rush once again show us how progressive rock should be played. Their best album in a long time, in my opinion. Glad to have you back, boys.

#5: Foxy Shazam - "The Church of Rock and Roll"

Pushing themselves further from the punk/ hardcore scene and more into pop rock, Foxy Shazam really make a versatile and fun record. One day, Foxy Shazam will become the biggest band in the world.

#4: Dawnbringer - Into the Lair of the Sun God

Something that came totally out of left field for me, I've probably listened to bits and pieces of this album every day since I first heard it. One of the better NWoBHM revivalist acts.

#3: 3 Inches of Blood - "Long Live Heavy Metal"

3IoB dropped the hardcore vocalist, and replaced with with (even more) cheese. 80s styled NWoBHM and speed metal done with a modern flair. Current holder of "Most Fun Album of 2012" for me.

#2: Diablo Swing Orchestra - "Pandora's Piñata

This is another album that came out of nowhere. I saw it won May 2012's "Record o' the Month" on AngryMetalGuy and checked it out. I was convinced that no matter how much I loved it when I heard it, it would eventually fade away, but so far, it has consistently remained on my daily playlists. Great album.

#1: Eluveitie - "Helvetios"

Anyone who knows me knows I love this band way too much. After Everything Remains as it Never Was dropped in 2010, I had no idea how they'd top it. Well, they did. This album just stands head and shoulders above the other releases on here. Beautiful music.

And I've got a few albums that I haven't listened to yet (either not released yet or I just haven't gotten around to listening to them) that I'm really excited for. In no particular order:

• Baroness - "Yellow & Green"
• Ihsahn - "Eremita"
• Om - "Advaitic Songs"
• Testament - "Dark Roots of the Earth"
• Dust Sculptures - "Nostalgia"
• Ensiferum - "Unsung Heroes"

Here's to looking forward to the next half of the year!

Album Review: Rush - "Clockwork Angels"

This is it kiddies. Rush have hit the big two-oh. Their 20th album, Clockwork Angels just dropped today. 38 years since their first album-- holy shit, 38 years. They've been releasing albums for twice as long as I've been alive. Y'know what though, Rush need no introduction. If you don't know who they are, slap yourself in the face for me (and my friend/ Rush superfan Matt), go buy and listen to their albums, and just get your fucking shit together, man.

From Left to Right: Geddy Lee, Neil Peart, some third guy (roadie, maybe?).

Clockwork Angels follows the story of a young man set in a steampunk styled (woo!) sci-fi/ fantasy setting, who wants to leave home and head out on a grand adventure (I'll try not to spoil any of the story for anyone who hasn't listened to the album or read through the lyrics and liner notes). After listening through the album, I seem to interpret the story as describing this young man's journey from adolescence to adulthood. A coming-of-age story of sorts. It's a classic theme shot through the lens of three nerds to make a ruthlessly gripping (and awesome) story.

Icwhutudidthur!

Not only is the storytelling top-notch, but the music flows with the story incredibly well too. I was never a really huge fan of post-mid-1980s Rush that used a bunch of synthesizers and keyboards to drive their sound instead of plain old guitar, bass, and drums. Clockwork Angels sees a nice return to form with all the focus returning to traditional Rock instruments. Things get pushed a little further here too. There still are some keyboards, and, the pleasantly surprising use of either a cello and/or violins in a few songs as well. I found a lot of the instrumental breaks on the album seemed to show the Canadian power trio making some cool sounscapes, rather than showing off  their already proven furious Prog Rock chops.

I have to say that after Rush released the songs "Caravan" and "BU2B", I didn't really have the highest of hopes for this album. Once "Headlong Flight" was released, they had my curiosity. Now that Clockwork Angels is out, they have my attention. This album blew what I was expecting right out of the water.

Unfortunately, Clockwork Angels isn't without it's downfalls. Well, downfall. The only thing that doesn't sit too well with me is Geddy's voice at some points. Sometimes I'd have to be reading the liner notes while listening to it to understand what he was saying. I can't really blame him though. After belting out some of the best Rock vocals for almost 40 years, he's allowed a little leeway. And he still sings way better than whoever the hell is on Top 40 radio.

Bomb-Ass Tracks

Carnies: With probably the most badass riff on the entire album and my favorite part of the story (partly because the entire song represents maybe only a handful of seconds), "Carnies" stands tall both in the middle of the story and as a standalone track.

Headlong Flight: The intro sounds like a Tool song. That's reason enough to like a song (But seriously, this song is fucking sweet too).

The Garden: A beautiful closer to the album. I never really thought that Rush could pull off a song like this, but, damn, they did.

On a Playlist With: King Crimson, Yes, and Genesis

Overall Score

4.5

This is definitely my favorite original material released by Rush since 1981's Moving Pictures. I wouldn't peg Clockwork Angels as my favorite Rush album, or even in my top three, but it still holds it's own as a downright awesome album. Congratulations, Geddy and Neil.

You too... Andrew? Allan? Alvin? Whatever.

That's all for now, folks. Keep being Awesome.