It's a little hard to keep on top of all the different music swirling around me. There's the stuff that I'm actively trying to listen to - a pile of albums based on recommendations and reviews and just gut instinct that I will like the sound. It's pretty much ever-growing, and sometimes a little thankless - some of the stuff just doesn't appeal to me, and it's not too often that anything will blow me away anymore. I've heard a lot of different styles and methods of playing metal (and some other genres, too) and it takes some superb execution to catch my ear these days. It's kind of unfortunate that I am perhaps jaded - but, on the other hand, I can find enjoyment in really small sections (10 seconds, 30 seconds, whatever) of good music, even within bad songs. Often, these are songs I listen to the most; sometimes it's the anticipation, the wading through the muck, that makes those 10 seconds so worthwhile and awesome.
There is also the music that I'm working on with Mark. I think there are maybe a dozen ideas that we're actively considering right now, and probably 30 or 40 just out there that we can use. I've been recording random parts and writing down snippets for as long as I've had a guitar, and it's built up into quite a mass.
And then there's Sarah's stuff! She's currently finishing up writing "And Nothing But The Truth," a musical based on her father's novel. With our simultaneous projects going on, it's been a lot of fun to compare notes on what has been working for us and what has not been, and to pass back and forth things that we've just created...and maybe tips on how to make them better. I have to say, she's been giving a lot more of the tips. I wish I had always had an Ivy-educated music composer to help me out with this! It's eye-opening, and actually talking with someone who has studied composition and theory in depth just adds so much more to the view you can take of what you're writing. It's important to have as many perspectives as possible (at least for me) because getting stuck is something I do a little too well.
Despite that fact, I've actually been getting a decent amount done and am liking what I am writing more and more.
It seems that the game plan is to basically conjure up about half a dozen complete songs and then demo them up; maybe sometime within the first three months of the new year. I'm starting to write out some lyrics for a few of them, since vocal lines are beginning to appear - and I may have to make use of Sarah's musical contacts for vocalists, as neither Mark nor I are wonderful singers (though I hope to do a little bit of it with him for one or two of the songs).
All in all, it sounds (ha!) like 2010 is going to be really fucking sweet.
Illness and Whatnot
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
So boy howdy, that was a fun couple of weeks.
Three weeks ago! I was running well and did mid 50's in mileage that week after taking Saturday off.
Two weeks ago! The flu ran me over like a Maglev train to a stationary bovine. I got in about 12, with a poor showing in the 3k, a workout, and like...3 other miles.
One week ago! I resumed normal-ish running styles and ran maybe 30 miles (starting Tuesday) and two workouts.
This week! I returned to Boston and my beloved but filthy apartment, as well as practicing at Reggie.
Today! I went running outside in what weather.com told me felt like -6 degrees, and my lengthy mustache-icepop-thing can attest to that. It was mostly composed of frozen snot rockets, and that was not so cool to have gradually thaw on your face.
Onward!
Three weeks ago! I was running well and did mid 50's in mileage that week after taking Saturday off.
Two weeks ago! The flu ran me over like a Maglev train to a stationary bovine. I got in about 12, with a poor showing in the 3k, a workout, and like...3 other miles.
One week ago! I resumed normal-ish running styles and ran maybe 30 miles (starting Tuesday) and two workouts.
This week! I returned to Boston and my beloved but filthy apartment, as well as practicing at Reggie.
Today! I went running outside in what weather.com told me felt like -6 degrees, and my lengthy mustache-icepop-thing can attest to that. It was mostly composed of frozen snot rockets, and that was not so cool to have gradually thaw on your face.
Onward!
MPW
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Wheehaw. With this update comes the first week of indoor track, which I have awaited eagerly...well, since outdoor track ended last June. I think I can already tell that I'm in better shape than last year - the cross country workouts and races indicated that but I always feel a little iffy until I actually can see some real, concrete numbers from workouts I've done previously.
Plus, track is my thing. For me, anyhow, I feel that it's a little more...(weird adjective choice ahead) intimate than cross country? You're all working out on the same 200 meter track, you can see everything that everyone is doing, and you can basically immediately spot the people that are having a good day and the people that are having a bad day. During cross country...well, you lose a little bit of ground somewhere on the mile and a half long loop around the Res - it's possible no one saw it or knew about it but you.
It's also a lot easier to encourage the people having a bad day in track, and it lets you get to know them a little better (especially since we break into separate groups for mid distance and distance).
From what I can tell of our current mid distance group, it looks like it's going to be an even better year. Mr. McCann, of course, returns in good shape and always is ready to blast a workout into the stratosphere. Jeff "Tri Guy" also seems like he's going to be able to push the pace on the workouts. Sadly, we are lacking Kevin and Old Man Otto, but much to my surprise I saw Paterno out and about yesterday. Steve (http://sasrunning.livejournal.com) is our other newcomer along with Jeff, and I for one am glad to have someone to share bad sexual innuendo with. Big Tim - dare I say, T-Unitzzz? - rounds out the bunch. It looks like he might be a little down and out with his groin right now but I'm hoping that comes around. We also lose Mr. Juiliano to the western half of the US but it sounds like Tony, our resident Canadian, may be making the switch to mid distance when he rejoins us post-finals.
Without further ado, our first week at it:
Sun: 8.5 mi, 63:00
Mon: 9 mi, 64:28
Tues: First workout. 6 mi wu and cd, then 16x200 1R. Soloing it - first two at 32, then 31's and 30's from there out. It felt a little sluggish, unsurprisingly.
Weds: 8.25 mi, 63:51
Thurs: 5.25 mi, 38:19 (feeling like trash, cut it short)
Fri: 6 mi wu / cd, then 8 x 600 1:45 R. 1:47, 1:47, 1:48, 1:47, 1:47, 1:46, 1:45, 1:42. The whole crew: Tim, Chris, Steve, Jeff - were present and it went pretty well. Felt pretty good overall even when it started to get a bit faster.
Sat: 8.5 mi / 61:59 (kind of wanted to do longer but I was freezing)
total: 57.5 mi
Plus, track is my thing. For me, anyhow, I feel that it's a little more...(weird adjective choice ahead) intimate than cross country? You're all working out on the same 200 meter track, you can see everything that everyone is doing, and you can basically immediately spot the people that are having a good day and the people that are having a bad day. During cross country...well, you lose a little bit of ground somewhere on the mile and a half long loop around the Res - it's possible no one saw it or knew about it but you.
It's also a lot easier to encourage the people having a bad day in track, and it lets you get to know them a little better (especially since we break into separate groups for mid distance and distance).
From what I can tell of our current mid distance group, it looks like it's going to be an even better year. Mr. McCann, of course, returns in good shape and always is ready to blast a workout into the stratosphere. Jeff "Tri Guy" also seems like he's going to be able to push the pace on the workouts. Sadly, we are lacking Kevin and Old Man Otto, but much to my surprise I saw Paterno out and about yesterday. Steve (http://sasrunning.livejournal.com) is our other newcomer along with Jeff, and I for one am glad to have someone to share bad sexual innuendo with. Big Tim - dare I say, T-Unitzzz? - rounds out the bunch. It looks like he might be a little down and out with his groin right now but I'm hoping that comes around. We also lose Mr. Juiliano to the western half of the US but it sounds like Tony, our resident Canadian, may be making the switch to mid distance when he rejoins us post-finals.
Without further ado, our first week at it:
Sun: 8.5 mi, 63:00
Mon: 9 mi, 64:28
Tues: First workout. 6 mi wu and cd, then 16x200 1R. Soloing it - first two at 32, then 31's and 30's from there out. It felt a little sluggish, unsurprisingly.
Weds: 8.25 mi, 63:51
Thurs: 5.25 mi, 38:19 (feeling like trash, cut it short)
Fri: 6 mi wu / cd, then 8 x 600 1:45 R. 1:47, 1:47, 1:48, 1:47, 1:47, 1:46, 1:45, 1:42. The whole crew: Tim, Chris, Steve, Jeff - were present and it went pretty well. Felt pretty good overall even when it started to get a bit faster.
Sat: 8.5 mi / 61:59 (kind of wanted to do longer but I was freezing)
total: 57.5 mi
Afghanistan
Thursday, December 3, 2009
I listened to the majority of President Obama's speech the other day and it seems that it was mostly well-received. A not insignificant portion seemed to have changed their minds about the acceptability of sending more troops there after he laid out his case.
And as a friend of mine pointed out, this is something he has said he was going to do ever since he started campaigning for pres - looking to get out of Iraq and more emphasis on Afghanistan.
It's a little worrisome, though. Afghanistan is known as "the graveyard of empires" - both Russia and Alexander the Great were defeated there. And I understand the troop deployment is timeboxed, but it's still expensive.
I look at tech news fairly frequently and it is a little perturbing how advanced the Chinese infrastructure for developing a lot of really important pieces of technology is (I am mainly talking about solar panels here). And I think about the Chinese currency manipulation to keep their import costs high and export costs low. And I think about how there are 1.2 billion people in China and something like 300 million in the United States, and I worry that the days of the US being the world's jolly but kind of dumb big brother are fading fast. Sure, there've been some really asinine moves by the US government in the past 8 years, but I have a lot more faith in ours than in the authoritarian one that governs China.
I guess I'd like to clarify that I have no problems with people from China - it's their government. It's scary and the exact opposite of benevolent. For example: their athletes are hand-picked early on for a particular sport without regard to what they actually want to do - and then taken from their families to high performance centers.
So, like Paul Krugman and Bob Herbert, I am a little worried about spending money on Afghanistan when it's clear we have an awful lot of work to do in the United States. It's obvious we've learned some lessons from the problems in Iraq but is it enough? And is it worth it?
I am not sure. I suppose all I can do is wait and see, and hope that the work President Obama is soon to do on our rather atrocious job market is not hampered by this war effort.
And as a friend of mine pointed out, this is something he has said he was going to do ever since he started campaigning for pres - looking to get out of Iraq and more emphasis on Afghanistan.
It's a little worrisome, though. Afghanistan is known as "the graveyard of empires" - both Russia and Alexander the Great were defeated there. And I understand the troop deployment is timeboxed, but it's still expensive.
I look at tech news fairly frequently and it is a little perturbing how advanced the Chinese infrastructure for developing a lot of really important pieces of technology is (I am mainly talking about solar panels here). And I think about the Chinese currency manipulation to keep their import costs high and export costs low. And I think about how there are 1.2 billion people in China and something like 300 million in the United States, and I worry that the days of the US being the world's jolly but kind of dumb big brother are fading fast. Sure, there've been some really asinine moves by the US government in the past 8 years, but I have a lot more faith in ours than in the authoritarian one that governs China.
I guess I'd like to clarify that I have no problems with people from China - it's their government. It's scary and the exact opposite of benevolent. For example: their athletes are hand-picked early on for a particular sport without regard to what they actually want to do - and then taken from their families to high performance centers.
So, like Paul Krugman and Bob Herbert, I am a little worried about spending money on Afghanistan when it's clear we have an awful lot of work to do in the United States. It's obvious we've learned some lessons from the problems in Iraq but is it enough? And is it worth it?
I am not sure. I suppose all I can do is wait and see, and hope that the work President Obama is soon to do on our rather atrocious job market is not hampered by this war effort.
MPW
Saturday, November 21, 2009
In the olden days of collegiate running, I used to count cross training as mileage. I did it mostly because my mileage would look kind of pathetic otherwise, and I did a lot of cross training. Concrete surfaces as far as the eye can see (such is the lot of New Jerseyian life) does not lend itself well to running without injury - at least for me.
I don't cross-train nearly as much anymore (besides lifting) - I will do it if I am just woefully mentally unprepared for anything else that day. And also I've just found a way that I can handle slightly respectable mileage. So it is pretty awesome, in my mind, that I've run more miles than I ever have before this week. I guesstimated in college that I'd ran something like 80 including crosstraining (yea upon 4 hours or so a week - clearly that does something, it's just not clear what) but this is just all running.
Sun: Did the workout that I'd missed yesterday due to sleeping in. (Maybe not the greatest idea to reschedule it a day later, but...c'est la vie. It's done, can't undo it) 8 x 3 minutes on, 2 minutes off, on some road in New Haven - sadly the fields around the Yale Bowl were occupied with lacrosse games. 11 mi
Mon: 65 min / 9 mi
Tues: Workout at the Res: 5k tempo, 4 minutes rest, 5x 1 min on / off, 4 minutes rest, 3 minutes @ 5k pace
10.5 mi
Weds: 62 min / 8.25 mi
Thurs: 59 min / 8.25 mi
Fri: 62 min / 8.5 mi
Sat: Workout at Lincoln - 5/4/3/2/1 (3R) 3/2/1, taking half rest for the first set, then 2 minutes after the second 3 minute interval - and normal after that. Felt surprisingly decent. 11 mi
So, in grand ballyhooing total, that's 66.5 miles. I've never really stayed over 60 for any sustainable amount of time - perhaps I can make it happen. I am going to go ice my shins and whisper into a microphone, though. Au revoir, pour maintenant.
I don't cross-train nearly as much anymore (besides lifting) - I will do it if I am just woefully mentally unprepared for anything else that day. And also I've just found a way that I can handle slightly respectable mileage. So it is pretty awesome, in my mind, that I've run more miles than I ever have before this week. I guesstimated in college that I'd ran something like 80 including crosstraining (yea upon 4 hours or so a week - clearly that does something, it's just not clear what) but this is just all running.
Sun: Did the workout that I'd missed yesterday due to sleeping in. (Maybe not the greatest idea to reschedule it a day later, but...c'est la vie. It's done, can't undo it) 8 x 3 minutes on, 2 minutes off, on some road in New Haven - sadly the fields around the Yale Bowl were occupied with lacrosse games. 11 mi
Mon: 65 min / 9 mi
Tues: Workout at the Res: 5k tempo, 4 minutes rest, 5x 1 min on / off, 4 minutes rest, 3 minutes @ 5k pace
10.5 mi
Weds: 62 min / 8.25 mi
Thurs: 59 min / 8.25 mi
Fri: 62 min / 8.5 mi
Sat: Workout at Lincoln - 5/4/3/2/1 (3R) 3/2/1, taking half rest for the first set, then 2 minutes after the second 3 minute interval - and normal after that. Felt surprisingly decent. 11 mi
So, in grand ballyhooing total, that's 66.5 miles. I've never really stayed over 60 for any sustainable amount of time - perhaps I can make it happen. I am going to go ice my shins and whisper into a microphone, though. Au revoir, pour maintenant.
Activision, Pt 2 and Otherness
Monday, November 16, 2009
Well, my Activision idea seems to be paying off - it's up roughly $1.30 per share (from $10.40 to $11.72) and if I just jumped ship now I'd get about a 5% return. I think I may hold off, though - as all the good news from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 promises just to push it up further.
In other news, I stumbled upon a biographical short film about recently deceased throws coach, Pál Németh. He was the former coach of Krisztian Pars, the silver medalist in the hammer throw from the Beijing Olympics. You can find it here: http://www.sosagnes.hu/play02-en.html
Life in the world of New Balance Boston is going well - I ran at New England's two...weeks ago? Yes, two weeks, and ended up turning in a PR for 10k (not like my 10k PR was anything but laughable in the first place) with a 34:18. I came through 8k in 27:20, so a good 44 seconds faster than two weeks before - I feel like I've got a pretty decent indoor season ahead of me. I've got some numbers in my head that I'd like to see, but I'm going to keep those to myself.
A friend of mine from north of the border and I have also been working on some music. I don't think we're quite ready to unleash it on the world, but I do believe we have some rocking jams in store for y'all. Think In Flames has sex with The Watchmen and the Tea Party while gently nuzzling Bal-Sagoth and Crematory on the side.
After a long day of presenting my ASP.NET code to the powers that be at my place of employment, this is all I have energy to write! So shoo, away with ye, go develop aerobically or whatnot.
In other news, I stumbled upon a biographical short film about recently deceased throws coach, Pál Németh. He was the former coach of Krisztian Pars, the silver medalist in the hammer throw from the Beijing Olympics. You can find it here: http://www.sosagnes.hu/play02-en.html
Life in the world of New Balance Boston is going well - I ran at New England's two...weeks ago? Yes, two weeks, and ended up turning in a PR for 10k (not like my 10k PR was anything but laughable in the first place) with a 34:18. I came through 8k in 27:20, so a good 44 seconds faster than two weeks before - I feel like I've got a pretty decent indoor season ahead of me. I've got some numbers in my head that I'd like to see, but I'm going to keep those to myself.
A friend of mine from north of the border and I have also been working on some music. I don't think we're quite ready to unleash it on the world, but I do believe we have some rocking jams in store for y'all. Think In Flames has sex with The Watchmen and the Tea Party while gently nuzzling Bal-Sagoth and Crematory on the side.
After a long day of presenting my ASP.NET code to the powers that be at my place of employment, this is all I have energy to write! So shoo, away with ye, go develop aerobically or whatnot.
Band Names
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
I'm working with a friend of mine from long ago and far away on a musical project...and we need a band name. Here's what I've come up with so far:
Stalwart Swineriders
Starscraper
The Oceanic Misfits
Blasphemous Orb
Nefarious Butler
Discourteous Yeomanry
Forgotten Ape God
The Northeastern Beat Enclave
Unmarked Dry Cleaning
Noble Magi
Stalwart Swineriders
Starscraper
The Oceanic Misfits
Blasphemous Orb
Nefarious Butler
Discourteous Yeomanry
Forgotten Ape God
The Northeastern Beat Enclave
Unmarked Dry Cleaning
Noble Magi
Activision
As much as I hate the CEO of Blizzard-Activision right now (Bobby Kotick - and I quote, "The goal that I had in bringing a lot of the packaged goods folks into Activision about 10 years ago was to take all the fun out of making video games.") his company might actually release something good in the near future. A few somethings good - Starcraft 2 and Diablo 3. Furthermore, Activision is rehashing yet another Call of Duty sequel.
So, with them beating financial estimates the past 2 quarters, plus having retardedly strong games coming out (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 may end up being one of the most sold games ever...and let us not speak of Starcraft 2) I dropped some cash on their stock as soon as it dipped two days ago. I ended up buying it at $10.40 a share, so we'll see how it does. If it increases enough just on earnings reports afterhours tomorrow, I may just bail and take my free money with me. If not, it is definitely certain to jump on Modern Warfare 2's release - and if that's not good enough either, I will twiddle my thumbs until SC2 comes out.
If that plays out, I am not quite sure what my next move is - I've been eyeing General Electric for quite some time, and it might also be good to re-invest in Microsoft. We'll see! I am really hoping I don't get the shit kicked out of me come tomorrow evening, though. I've been dealt nothin' but aces so far this year.
So, with them beating financial estimates the past 2 quarters, plus having retardedly strong games coming out (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 may end up being one of the most sold games ever...and let us not speak of Starcraft 2) I dropped some cash on their stock as soon as it dipped two days ago. I ended up buying it at $10.40 a share, so we'll see how it does. If it increases enough just on earnings reports afterhours tomorrow, I may just bail and take my free money with me. If not, it is definitely certain to jump on Modern Warfare 2's release - and if that's not good enough either, I will twiddle my thumbs until SC2 comes out.
If that plays out, I am not quite sure what my next move is - I've been eyeing General Electric for quite some time, and it might also be good to re-invest in Microsoft. We'll see! I am really hoping I don't get the shit kicked out of me come tomorrow evening, though. I've been dealt nothin' but aces so far this year.
MPW
Monday, November 2, 2009
Last week was pretty decent. I'm hoping that my ability to just keep running 60-65 a day consistently will weather well, now that daylight savings has arrived and obliterated any chance of me ever seeing sunlight while running again. At least for the next 6 months, I'm probably going to be running in the dark every day except weekends. Less than thrilling.
Last week:
Sun - 9.47 mi (Mayor's Cup)
Mon - 8.25 mi
Tues - 8.25 mi
Weds - 11.6 mi
Thurs - Off
Fri - 8.25
Sat - 10.85
total - 56ish
Wednesday and Saturday were workout days. Wednesday was 6 times 4 minutes on 1 minute off around the Cleveland res - I got there a little late because my attempted shortcut to avoid traffic on Commonwealth Ave...ended spitting me out 5 minutes later at an even earlier point on Commonwealth Ave. Agh. I ended up running the intervals with Fabian and Jenn, which worked well - I had enough in me to do 6, but I probably would not have been able to if I had gone with the rest of the crew. (I also ended up warming up with Tom, as everyone else had already taken off by the time I got there)
Saturday didn't go quite as well feeling-wise - we did a fartlek at Lincoln. 1000m at a little faster than tempo, then 1000m at marathon pace (such as it is for a 1500m runner) - it ended up being something like 3:30 and then 3:45. Not terrible, but it's just a difficult kind of workout for me.
As always, can't freakin' wait till indoor starts. A little less than a month now!
Last week:
Sun - 9.47 mi (Mayor's Cup)
Mon - 8.25 mi
Tues - 8.25 mi
Weds - 11.6 mi
Thurs - Off
Fri - 8.25
Sat - 10.85
total - 56ish
Wednesday and Saturday were workout days. Wednesday was 6 times 4 minutes on 1 minute off around the Cleveland res - I got there a little late because my attempted shortcut to avoid traffic on Commonwealth Ave...ended spitting me out 5 minutes later at an even earlier point on Commonwealth Ave. Agh. I ended up running the intervals with Fabian and Jenn, which worked well - I had enough in me to do 6, but I probably would not have been able to if I had gone with the rest of the crew. (I also ended up warming up with Tom, as everyone else had already taken off by the time I got there)
Saturday didn't go quite as well feeling-wise - we did a fartlek at Lincoln. 1000m at a little faster than tempo, then 1000m at marathon pace (such as it is for a 1500m runner) - it ended up being something like 3:30 and then 3:45. Not terrible, but it's just a difficult kind of workout for me.
As always, can't freakin' wait till indoor starts. A little less than a month now!
MPW
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
I'm a little late with this one. Whoops.
Last week was a little lighter than I would have liked - Sunday I was stuck on I90 during the snowstorm (yes...in October, how awesome!) and Monday my shins were exploding into a thousand tiny shards.
I have a tendency to miss a day and then do just fine on the rest. So far, this week, I've not had that problem, but I'll wait till I get to the end of it to make any grandiose claims.
Sun - off
Mon - 4.25 mi
Tues - 11.25 mi (90-60-30 hills at heartbreak)
Weds - 8 mi
Thurs - 8.5 mi
Fri - 8.25 mi
Sat - 8.25 mi
A whopping 48.5 total. Oh well. The rolling 7 days from this day back looks more like low 60's, so I'm on the right track, at least. Har har.
Also, I ran a little shindig on Sunday that some folks from around here may know about - Mayor's Cup. A fine and dandy 8k in Franklin Park - however, this year (its 20th) found the course in disarray and in mostly liquid form. I eked out a 28:04 for my first cross race in 2 years. Not bad, not great. I would have liked to run more like 27:30 but I get another opportunity at New Englands in a week or two. That's 10k, though - ugh. Going past 8k is truly not my strong point. I don't actually feel all that tired for having moved up the mileage again, though - and the weather is at least cooperating.
Last week was a little lighter than I would have liked - Sunday I was stuck on I90 during the snowstorm (yes...in October, how awesome!) and Monday my shins were exploding into a thousand tiny shards.
I have a tendency to miss a day and then do just fine on the rest. So far, this week, I've not had that problem, but I'll wait till I get to the end of it to make any grandiose claims.
Sun - off
Mon - 4.25 mi
Tues - 11.25 mi (90-60-30 hills at heartbreak)
Weds - 8 mi
Thurs - 8.5 mi
Fri - 8.25 mi
Sat - 8.25 mi
A whopping 48.5 total. Oh well. The rolling 7 days from this day back looks more like low 60's, so I'm on the right track, at least. Har har.
Also, I ran a little shindig on Sunday that some folks from around here may know about - Mayor's Cup. A fine and dandy 8k in Franklin Park - however, this year (its 20th) found the course in disarray and in mostly liquid form. I eked out a 28:04 for my first cross race in 2 years. Not bad, not great. I would have liked to run more like 27:30 but I get another opportunity at New Englands in a week or two. That's 10k, though - ugh. Going past 8k is truly not my strong point. I don't actually feel all that tired for having moved up the mileage again, though - and the weather is at least cooperating.
One Hit Wondersauce
Friday, October 23, 2009
So, I have quite a few bands in my collection that are there simply because of one freakin' song. Something about it is awesome! And since I hate having single songs, I have their entire cds - and the rest of that CD is completely useless garbage. Or at least, I find all of it to be pretty uninteresting, as a whole.
Anyhow, I feel like I should share some of my precioustreasures with you. Yeah, that's creepy sounding.
HERE'S SHIT THAT YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO
I don't think I am going to be able to dredge up samples for some of these songs, to be honest - my criterion for these songs being on here are that they are by pretty unknown bands. It is unlikely that anyone has uploaded all their stuff to Youtube. You can probably procure it somehow, but I'll leave that as an exercise to the reader.
Golem - The Tower
(sadly not available streaming on the internet)
From their sole release, "Dreamweaver," The Tower is just a pummeling piece of music which I am fairly certain is inspired by Stephen King's "The Dark Tower." It's big, bombastic, and has one of the best rhythms I have ever heard. The final solos, the progressive guitar work through the entire thing, the insanely technical drumming, and the epic scale make this a really fucking excellent song. The rest of the CD, sadly, is kind of boring technical death metal. There are some decent moments in them but nothing compared to this song.
Morian - Warmonger's Ball
(sadly not available streaming on the internet)
I can't think of a catchier opening five seconds. The way the vocal melody slowly edges upwards through the verse is nearly perfect, as well. The chorus seems kind of unfulfilling after all that promise, but thankfully they get back to the point soon enough.
I am certain that it is terrible English, but the phrasing that they use in the verse is also very poetic.
Could it be so we're torn and shaken
Could it be so we are awakened
Could it be so that in all these years I have never seen your face?
Onward - Night
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Q9uAzax4lQ
I really don't know what to say about Michael Grant's (the vocalist) faces in this video. In fact, I'm not so sure about his lace-up frilly shirt, either. But I do declare, the vocal line he is singing has been stuck in my head ever since I first heard this song. No matter how many times I play it, it persists. In fact, I'm not so sure it's a good idea to listen to this!
John Sykes - Cautionary Warning
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIZF50kMlKc
The really worthwhile parts of this song are (surprise) the guitar work (by John Sykes, of Whitesnake and other assorted acts) as well as the...outro, I suppose? The vocals take a darker edge and slowly begin to fade out, and it's probably one of the best uses of that effect I've heard in quite a while (barring "Fade To Black").
This version of the song is from Black Heaven - the original mix is instrumental.
Crimson Tears - Steal My Heart
(sadly not available streaming on the internet)
This song owes all of its awesomeness to a ten-or-twenty second bridge where the key changes and a small part of an earlier track on the CD is played - it more than makes up for some of the really bad lyrics and the debatable "ai-ee-ai-ee-ai-ee" thing the singer does a few times. The bridge starts right at 3:05 on my copy and is basically everything a bridge should be - deeply melodic and catchy, surprising in direction, and makes you want to listen to the song again just to hear it.
Lords of Decadence - The Dreamcatcher
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgDnnglH1VI
Lords of Decadence are a little silly, but the interplay between the one(?) vocalist's styles here is superb. The backing keyboards have a bit of a 'creepy kid's nightmare' vibe going on, and the guitar work is slick even if the production is not. The ascending scale under the lyric Scream! - and the overall groove of the song - make it actually one of my favorites when I'm in a particular mood. No, not that mood.
Imperanon - Shadowsouls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jgCeDwKXDU
The defining element here is the female vocalist's duet with the perpetually-soloing guitar. I don't know what exactly you would call the characteristic of her voice that makes it sound sharp or harsh, but it's doing what it's doing exactly as it should. The slight touch of keyboard in the background, the driving drums - solid, solid song for a Children of Bodom clone that never really went anywhere.
Anyhow, I feel like I should share some of my precioustreasures with you. Yeah, that's creepy sounding.
HERE'S SHIT THAT YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO
I don't think I am going to be able to dredge up samples for some of these songs, to be honest - my criterion for these songs being on here are that they are by pretty unknown bands. It is unlikely that anyone has uploaded all their stuff to Youtube. You can probably procure it somehow, but I'll leave that as an exercise to the reader.
Golem - The Tower
(sadly not available streaming on the internet)
From their sole release, "Dreamweaver," The Tower is just a pummeling piece of music which I am fairly certain is inspired by Stephen King's "The Dark Tower." It's big, bombastic, and has one of the best rhythms I have ever heard. The final solos, the progressive guitar work through the entire thing, the insanely technical drumming, and the epic scale make this a really fucking excellent song. The rest of the CD, sadly, is kind of boring technical death metal. There are some decent moments in them but nothing compared to this song.
Morian - Warmonger's Ball
(sadly not available streaming on the internet)
I can't think of a catchier opening five seconds. The way the vocal melody slowly edges upwards through the verse is nearly perfect, as well. The chorus seems kind of unfulfilling after all that promise, but thankfully they get back to the point soon enough.
I am certain that it is terrible English, but the phrasing that they use in the verse is also very poetic.
Could it be so we're torn and shaken
Could it be so we are awakened
Could it be so that in all these years I have never seen your face?
Onward - Night
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Q9uAzax4lQ
I really don't know what to say about Michael Grant's (the vocalist) faces in this video. In fact, I'm not so sure about his lace-up frilly shirt, either. But I do declare, the vocal line he is singing has been stuck in my head ever since I first heard this song. No matter how many times I play it, it persists. In fact, I'm not so sure it's a good idea to listen to this!
John Sykes - Cautionary Warning
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIZF50kMlKc
The really worthwhile parts of this song are (surprise) the guitar work (by John Sykes, of Whitesnake and other assorted acts) as well as the...outro, I suppose? The vocals take a darker edge and slowly begin to fade out, and it's probably one of the best uses of that effect I've heard in quite a while (barring "Fade To Black").
This version of the song is from Black Heaven - the original mix is instrumental.
Crimson Tears - Steal My Heart
(sadly not available streaming on the internet)
This song owes all of its awesomeness to a ten-or-twenty second bridge where the key changes and a small part of an earlier track on the CD is played - it more than makes up for some of the really bad lyrics and the debatable "ai-ee-ai-ee-ai-ee" thing the singer does a few times. The bridge starts right at 3:05 on my copy and is basically everything a bridge should be - deeply melodic and catchy, surprising in direction, and makes you want to listen to the song again just to hear it.
Lords of Decadence - The Dreamcatcher
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgDnnglH1VI
Lords of Decadence are a little silly, but the interplay between the one(?) vocalist's styles here is superb. The backing keyboards have a bit of a 'creepy kid's nightmare' vibe going on, and the guitar work is slick even if the production is not. The ascending scale under the lyric Scream! - and the overall groove of the song - make it actually one of my favorites when I'm in a particular mood. No, not that mood.
Imperanon - Shadowsouls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jgCeDwKXDU
The defining element here is the female vocalist's duet with the perpetually-soloing guitar. I don't know what exactly you would call the characteristic of her voice that makes it sound sharp or harsh, but it's doing what it's doing exactly as it should. The slight touch of keyboard in the background, the driving drums - solid, solid song for a Children of Bodom clone that never really went anywhere.
Home Trail
The New York Times has an article covering the trail near my hometown which was my daily running route for 5 summers: http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/travel/escapes/23passage.html
It kind of puts in perspective how awesome it really is. I only regularly ran on a 20 mile section of it (with two starting locations) and occasionally would bike farther, when I was recuperating from running injuries. As much as I sometimes disliked the area, the Montour Trail is one of the best things in the Pittsburgh area for runners - only about 15 minutes from my house if you do 80mph on the highway.
It's pretty eerie that something I spent so much of my life on is so widely publicized!
It kind of puts in perspective how awesome it really is. I only regularly ran on a 20 mile section of it (with two starting locations) and occasionally would bike farther, when I was recuperating from running injuries. As much as I sometimes disliked the area, the Montour Trail is one of the best things in the Pittsburgh area for runners - only about 15 minutes from my house if you do 80mph on the highway.
It's pretty eerie that something I spent so much of my life on is so widely publicized!
MPW
Sunday, October 18, 2009
This week, this is what my calves and quadriceps were up to - I was just along for the ride:
sun oct 11 - 7.25 mi
mon oct 12 - 8 mi
tues oct 13 - 12.1 mi
weds oct 14 - off
thurs oct 15 - 8 mi
fri oct 16 - 8 mi
sat oct 17 - 12 mi
I think that adds up to something like 55 miles.
I took Weds off because I'm kind of reworking my way up after dropping down to lower numbers - plantar
fasciitis is pretty dumb. I've basically taken to running only at Cutler Park and the Cleveland Reservoir to combat my lower extremity woes.
Workouts were on Tuesday and Saturday - both actually went surprisingly well, considering they were both long as hell.
Tuesday was - 20 minutes tempo with 4 minutes rest, 4 x 1 minute on, 1 minute off, 4 minutes rest, then 5 minutes @ 5k pace. It was around the perpetually temperate Reservoir and I managed to both freeze and sweat profusely (in the neon orange jacket that Kevin loves so much). Tempo went okay - it always feels a little...awkward, I guess - going at that pace for me. Fell off the back a little bit at the end but I'm okay with that.
Saturday was a delectable 6 x 4 minutes on, 3 minutes off at Lincoln. I can't say that I'm a huge fan of the longer rest workouts, because it seems like I have a tendency to falter on them a lot more than on the 5 x 5 minute on, 1 minute off workout (for example). I imagine it's just because this workout is 39 minutes long - whereas the other is just 29. Your heart rate is elevated for longer - and you're probably going faster. Paterno showed up - it's always good to see a man of his age getting out and about.
Post-workout, I went to Donelan's and had the most delicious dutch chocolate muffin the world has ever seen. It was a quality day - blue skies and bad techno accompanied me home, to a shower and then driving to New Haven.
Damn it's good to be working out again! I will admit - I get a little lazy in the summer when it's just me doing my thing on Comm Ave all the time. Something about the heat gets to me too...anyhow, it would have likely been a much more craptastic summer without Will to heckle me about running in the mornings and going really stupidly long on Sundays. And working out wouldn't be as much fun, either, without Chris - because he destroys every workout and I can't help but try and keep up. The fact that he's in good shape will mean that I get in better shape too. It's just one big clusterfuck of symbiosis. Hooray life! Hooray track!
sun oct 11 - 7.25 mi
mon oct 12 - 8 mi
tues oct 13 - 12.1 mi
weds oct 14 - off
thurs oct 15 - 8 mi
fri oct 16 - 8 mi
sat oct 17 - 12 mi
I think that adds up to something like 55 miles.
I took Weds off because I'm kind of reworking my way up after dropping down to lower numbers - plantar
fasciitis is pretty dumb. I've basically taken to running only at Cutler Park and the Cleveland Reservoir to combat my lower extremity woes.
Workouts were on Tuesday and Saturday - both actually went surprisingly well, considering they were both long as hell.
Tuesday was - 20 minutes tempo with 4 minutes rest, 4 x 1 minute on, 1 minute off, 4 minutes rest, then 5 minutes @ 5k pace. It was around the perpetually temperate Reservoir and I managed to both freeze and sweat profusely (in the neon orange jacket that Kevin loves so much). Tempo went okay - it always feels a little...awkward, I guess - going at that pace for me. Fell off the back a little bit at the end but I'm okay with that.
Saturday was a delectable 6 x 4 minutes on, 3 minutes off at Lincoln. I can't say that I'm a huge fan of the longer rest workouts, because it seems like I have a tendency to falter on them a lot more than on the 5 x 5 minute on, 1 minute off workout (for example). I imagine it's just because this workout is 39 minutes long - whereas the other is just 29. Your heart rate is elevated for longer - and you're probably going faster. Paterno showed up - it's always good to see a man of his age getting out and about.
Post-workout, I went to Donelan's and had the most delicious dutch chocolate muffin the world has ever seen. It was a quality day - blue skies and bad techno accompanied me home, to a shower and then driving to New Haven.
Damn it's good to be working out again! I will admit - I get a little lazy in the summer when it's just me doing my thing on Comm Ave all the time. Something about the heat gets to me too...anyhow, it would have likely been a much more craptastic summer without Will to heckle me about running in the mornings and going really stupidly long on Sundays. And working out wouldn't be as much fun, either, without Chris - because he destroys every workout and I can't help but try and keep up. The fact that he's in good shape will mean that I get in better shape too. It's just one big clusterfuck of symbiosis. Hooray life! Hooray track!
Keep The Conversation
Thursday, October 15, 2009
I'm not sure if this just a phenomenon that I encounter (or if it is one that solely annoys me) but I have found myself within earshot, or on the receiving end, of quite a few conversations that go something like this:
"Honestly, there's something different about the people growing up in today's generation. They don't play outside [usually here is made a reference to video games], they're privileged and spoiled, and they don't know the value of hard work." [etc etc etc]
It absolutely infuriates me. I want to drag them by their hair into some of my friend's lives and make them watch a slideshow of the bullshit they have to put up with on a day-to-day basis. The world has kept turning under these aged miscreant's feet, and I do believe that a great deal more respect is due to those who they slander.
I realize all of my "convincing evidence" is anecdotal and a few sample points do not a proof make, but I think the situation and culture people my age (and younger) find themselves in is just as difficult, although in different ways. I don't experience all of them myself, but I'm at least aware of them.
One of the primary things I would argue is that there are whole legions more of really intelligent people coming out of high school, college, and etc - and the number of opportunities available to them may have remained rather static compared to their parent's generation. That'd be okay, if they didn't have orders of magnitude more competition. The people I see throw themselves against the wall trying to juggle and excel in fifty things still don't get those opportunities, because there are now just so many people like that. Driven. Maybe by parents or by themselves or by something else, but there certainly are hordes of perfectionists about.
And what to excel in? There is, in fact, quite a bit more to know as a responsible citizen of the globe than there was 50 years ago. Being a Da Vinci-style Renaissance man is impossible - you could sit in your apartment reading Nature and Science and the New York Times along with Phenomenology and Noumena 52 weeks a year and still have a few dozen fields in which you are woefully ignorant. If you pick the job that pays, you understand that it is very unlikely to be the job that provides any sort of benefit to the countless number of poor and dying. And it is very difficult to remain ignorant of the woes that assault the peoples of the globe anymore - so where do you draw the line? How much of you do you devote to them? How much can you, and still lead the life you want?
In a great many ways, the problems of the early 20th century were physical and mechanical (cars! atom bombs! federal highways!) - whereas it seems the problems of the generations in the 21st century will be more cultural, societal, and dealing with the fallout of some of those clumsier and less beneficial 20th century solutions (solar power! when to engage foreign dictatorships! the best appropriation of funds to bolster the poor of the united states!).
To the untrained eye, I think it seems like all the hard problems are solved. You can make a fair bit of money if you work pretty hard, and you can live a life of relative ease. But now we are cursed with the knowledge that it is not what is truly important - and we cannot be content in our own happiness whilst others suffer so greatly. The 20th century was knocking down walls - the 21st is maneuvering minefields.
Anyhow, that long-winded muttering was actually a precursor to what I aim to talk about - how the sort of conversation that I speak about is so ineffectual and pointless that it probably shouldn't have taken place at all. Not even necessarily because of the content - but because of the delivery.
Think about it for a second. Someone you don't know walks up to you and says, "Look. You're lazy and irresponsible and I don't think you've ever worked hard a single day of your life. Here's what you should do instead..."
Would anyone seriously listen to this joker? I'd fling the slightly-stale dinner roll in my hand at him and go back to my cubicle. No, that is not a dig at Aramark's dinner rolls. I just have a steady supply of over-aired pastries at my command.
The purpose of that guy's conversation with you, such as it was, was to convince you to do something different. He failed utterly - because he is an asshole. (I swear, my argument is a little stronger than that)
You can't actually be guaranteed that anyone is going to be convinced by an argument you're making, or understand the thing that you want to communicate to them. You can, however, ensure that you do the best possible job of delivering what you want to say to them so that they actually listen. The way to doing so is frighteningly simple in premise and a good deal more complicated in execution.
Just say what you have to say respectfully.
I can't tell you how many times people have said, through implication or through direct insult, that I was an atrocious person for holding a particular position or for doing something that they found repellent. Not to say that I make it a habit of doing things that people find distasteful - but people are just really bad at communicating! I usually get frustrated and angry at the sort of comments they make - and completely unnecessarily so. What advantage did their dig at me afford their argument? None - it's a weaker one for being full of veiled (or not) insults, as well as needlessly being hurtful.
It's not to say that arguments or things that need to be heard should be couched so much that they are ineffective. There is a way to phrase things such that the point is still powerful but delivered respectfully. It does take time to do so, though - and it is sometimes extremely hard to take a step back from someone verbally swinging at you and not retaliate. It feels excellent to lash back and watch someone just recoil under the barrage of all you aim at them - but it's not helping.
Without a respectful conversation, very little can be accomplished - little can be learned. Both parties walk away feeling more righteous in their own positions, and more aggrieved than before - knowing nothing more about the other person. I see it in politics, I see it in relationships and marriages, and I see it between friends.
Why would you cause someone pain when you don't have to? When it serves no need - when it does not advance your own purpose?
"Honestly, there's something different about the people growing up in today's generation. They don't play outside [usually here is made a reference to video games], they're privileged and spoiled, and they don't know the value of hard work." [etc etc etc]
It absolutely infuriates me. I want to drag them by their hair into some of my friend's lives and make them watch a slideshow of the bullshit they have to put up with on a day-to-day basis. The world has kept turning under these aged miscreant's feet, and I do believe that a great deal more respect is due to those who they slander.
I realize all of my "convincing evidence" is anecdotal and a few sample points do not a proof make, but I think the situation and culture people my age (and younger) find themselves in is just as difficult, although in different ways. I don't experience all of them myself, but I'm at least aware of them.
One of the primary things I would argue is that there are whole legions more of really intelligent people coming out of high school, college, and etc - and the number of opportunities available to them may have remained rather static compared to their parent's generation. That'd be okay, if they didn't have orders of magnitude more competition. The people I see throw themselves against the wall trying to juggle and excel in fifty things still don't get those opportunities, because there are now just so many people like that. Driven. Maybe by parents or by themselves or by something else, but there certainly are hordes of perfectionists about.
And what to excel in? There is, in fact, quite a bit more to know as a responsible citizen of the globe than there was 50 years ago. Being a Da Vinci-style Renaissance man is impossible - you could sit in your apartment reading Nature and Science and the New York Times along with Phenomenology and Noumena 52 weeks a year and still have a few dozen fields in which you are woefully ignorant. If you pick the job that pays, you understand that it is very unlikely to be the job that provides any sort of benefit to the countless number of poor and dying. And it is very difficult to remain ignorant of the woes that assault the peoples of the globe anymore - so where do you draw the line? How much of you do you devote to them? How much can you, and still lead the life you want?
In a great many ways, the problems of the early 20th century were physical and mechanical (cars! atom bombs! federal highways!) - whereas it seems the problems of the generations in the 21st century will be more cultural, societal, and dealing with the fallout of some of those clumsier and less beneficial 20th century solutions (solar power! when to engage foreign dictatorships! the best appropriation of funds to bolster the poor of the united states!).
To the untrained eye, I think it seems like all the hard problems are solved. You can make a fair bit of money if you work pretty hard, and you can live a life of relative ease. But now we are cursed with the knowledge that it is not what is truly important - and we cannot be content in our own happiness whilst others suffer so greatly. The 20th century was knocking down walls - the 21st is maneuvering minefields.
Anyhow, that long-winded muttering was actually a precursor to what I aim to talk about - how the sort of conversation that I speak about is so ineffectual and pointless that it probably shouldn't have taken place at all. Not even necessarily because of the content - but because of the delivery.
Think about it for a second. Someone you don't know walks up to you and says, "Look. You're lazy and irresponsible and I don't think you've ever worked hard a single day of your life. Here's what you should do instead..."
Would anyone seriously listen to this joker? I'd fling the slightly-stale dinner roll in my hand at him and go back to my cubicle. No, that is not a dig at Aramark's dinner rolls. I just have a steady supply of over-aired pastries at my command.
The purpose of that guy's conversation with you, such as it was, was to convince you to do something different. He failed utterly - because he is an asshole. (I swear, my argument is a little stronger than that)
You can't actually be guaranteed that anyone is going to be convinced by an argument you're making, or understand the thing that you want to communicate to them. You can, however, ensure that you do the best possible job of delivering what you want to say to them so that they actually listen. The way to doing so is frighteningly simple in premise and a good deal more complicated in execution.
Just say what you have to say respectfully.
I can't tell you how many times people have said, through implication or through direct insult, that I was an atrocious person for holding a particular position or for doing something that they found repellent. Not to say that I make it a habit of doing things that people find distasteful - but people are just really bad at communicating! I usually get frustrated and angry at the sort of comments they make - and completely unnecessarily so. What advantage did their dig at me afford their argument? None - it's a weaker one for being full of veiled (or not) insults, as well as needlessly being hurtful.
It's not to say that arguments or things that need to be heard should be couched so much that they are ineffective. There is a way to phrase things such that the point is still powerful but delivered respectfully. It does take time to do so, though - and it is sometimes extremely hard to take a step back from someone verbally swinging at you and not retaliate. It feels excellent to lash back and watch someone just recoil under the barrage of all you aim at them - but it's not helping.
Without a respectful conversation, very little can be accomplished - little can be learned. Both parties walk away feeling more righteous in their own positions, and more aggrieved than before - knowing nothing more about the other person. I see it in politics, I see it in relationships and marriages, and I see it between friends.
Why would you cause someone pain when you don't have to? When it serves no need - when it does not advance your own purpose?
Seven Songs for Seven Days 6
Saturday, October 10, 2009
I'm going to try to get in the habit of actually doing this every seven days. And maybe write some more in between that...! Things were a little busy for a while there but I think I have finally hit the rhythm of fall. With that rhythm comes....new jams! Yes, you are excited.
Disarmonia Mundi - Ghost Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtdtBF-eC_8
This is off a recent EP of Disarmonia Mundi's - a melodic death metal conglomerate consisting of a lot of Italians and the Soilwork frontman, Speed Strid. What a name! This is a little bit of a strange song from them - usually their tunes are a lot more driving, but this one has a great deal of drifting melancholy. I am not entirely sure what the content of the lyrics is pointing towards, but the rapid change in mood about halfway through fits perfectly and has some mind-burrowing parts.
Redemption - What Will You Say?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzTGRLb6l-M
Redemption is one of a legion of underrated prog metal bands. The song itself is something universally applicable - the painting of an alternative life we might have led had we been with someone different, and wondering and hoping that the consequences of other people's actions will one day haunt them.
Okay, maybe not everyone wishes that upon their exes, but I can't be alone! The song itself is lengthy and mostly vocally driven - the singer (a former member of Fates Warning, I think?) has a way with ascending notes. Some subdued but soulful guitar soloing is happening in this bad boy as well.
DGM - Heartache
http://www.myspace.com/dgmprog
DGM is one of countlessly many excellent Italian bands. Who knows where they all came from? DGM plays progressive metal with a twist - a really good vocalist. There aren't many singers that I truly admire in the prog metal world but this fellow is excellent. They also have really solid skills at reigning in the too-experimental elements of progressive metal. Sure, it's what pushes music to the boundaries - but don't just push them. Make good music while doing it. That, in its essence, is DGM! Give them a round of applause.
Be'lakor - Countless Skies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYaxAosBuro
Be'lakor is an Australian (?!) death metal band that actually has some features reminiscent of Amorphis and Opeth. That's never really a bad comparison, unless you're talking about Opeth fans. They have a sort of progressive death metal take with a lot of piano and very low, roared vocals. I picked Countless Skies as my favorite of their new album, Stone's Reach, because of the lengthy instrumental section that ends the song - I love harmony! I love guitar! It just all fits together.
Amorphis - Godlike Machine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MQvCKoD1Ng
I challenge anyone to come up with a better song title than "Godlike Machine." It just sounds...HUGE! And it's quite appropriate that the chorus of this song sounds like a many-armed steel juggernaut, ripping up soil and tree and throwing it all in some cavernous fiery maw. A ziggurat of unearthly origin! A mobile Tower of Babel!
These guys are awesome at catchy guitar melodies. I highly advise. Many thumbs up - more than I possess.
Metric - Gimme Sympathy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqldwoDXHKg
Metric reminds me a hell of a lot of the other female-fronted indie-ish bands I have been listening to - they've got a little bit of Silversun Pickups, The Gathering, and The Sounds in them. Probably not so much The Sounds. I don't know if they have a dedicated keyboard player or not but some of the more interesting parts and pieces of their songs have to do with really ephemeral keyboard parts and accompanying vocals. This song is a little more immediately arresting and catchy, but they do have a number of lower-key ones.
Ghost Brigade - Suffocated
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkDw9rRl--w
This may be the most perfectly named band in existence. Listen to the opening of the song and it just sounds like something to accompany the slow treading of spirits - and the pounding that slowly ebbs in possesses some measure of dread and gloom - especially the ghostly guitar slide every measure.
The chorus is a big enough stretch from the drone-and-pound of the verse that it elevates the song quite a bit. There's a very slight hint of a choir behind the verse sometimes. It's strange how only two real pieces of music can last five minutes - and still be appealing.
Disarmonia Mundi - Ghost Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtdtBF-eC_8
This is off a recent EP of Disarmonia Mundi's - a melodic death metal conglomerate consisting of a lot of Italians and the Soilwork frontman, Speed Strid. What a name! This is a little bit of a strange song from them - usually their tunes are a lot more driving, but this one has a great deal of drifting melancholy. I am not entirely sure what the content of the lyrics is pointing towards, but the rapid change in mood about halfway through fits perfectly and has some mind-burrowing parts.
Redemption - What Will You Say?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzTGRLb6l-M
Redemption is one of a legion of underrated prog metal bands. The song itself is something universally applicable - the painting of an alternative life we might have led had we been with someone different, and wondering and hoping that the consequences of other people's actions will one day haunt them.
Okay, maybe not everyone wishes that upon their exes, but I can't be alone! The song itself is lengthy and mostly vocally driven - the singer (a former member of Fates Warning, I think?) has a way with ascending notes. Some subdued but soulful guitar soloing is happening in this bad boy as well.
DGM - Heartache
http://www.myspace.com/dgmprog
DGM is one of countlessly many excellent Italian bands. Who knows where they all came from? DGM plays progressive metal with a twist - a really good vocalist. There aren't many singers that I truly admire in the prog metal world but this fellow is excellent. They also have really solid skills at reigning in the too-experimental elements of progressive metal. Sure, it's what pushes music to the boundaries - but don't just push them. Make good music while doing it. That, in its essence, is DGM! Give them a round of applause.
Be'lakor - Countless Skies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYaxAosBuro
Be'lakor is an Australian (?!) death metal band that actually has some features reminiscent of Amorphis and Opeth. That's never really a bad comparison, unless you're talking about Opeth fans. They have a sort of progressive death metal take with a lot of piano and very low, roared vocals. I picked Countless Skies as my favorite of their new album, Stone's Reach, because of the lengthy instrumental section that ends the song - I love harmony! I love guitar! It just all fits together.
Amorphis - Godlike Machine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MQvCKoD1Ng
I challenge anyone to come up with a better song title than "Godlike Machine." It just sounds...HUGE! And it's quite appropriate that the chorus of this song sounds like a many-armed steel juggernaut, ripping up soil and tree and throwing it all in some cavernous fiery maw. A ziggurat of unearthly origin! A mobile Tower of Babel!
These guys are awesome at catchy guitar melodies. I highly advise. Many thumbs up - more than I possess.
Metric - Gimme Sympathy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqldwoDXHKg
Metric reminds me a hell of a lot of the other female-fronted indie-ish bands I have been listening to - they've got a little bit of Silversun Pickups, The Gathering, and The Sounds in them. Probably not so much The Sounds. I don't know if they have a dedicated keyboard player or not but some of the more interesting parts and pieces of their songs have to do with really ephemeral keyboard parts and accompanying vocals. This song is a little more immediately arresting and catchy, but they do have a number of lower-key ones.
Ghost Brigade - Suffocated
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkDw9rRl--w
This may be the most perfectly named band in existence. Listen to the opening of the song and it just sounds like something to accompany the slow treading of spirits - and the pounding that slowly ebbs in possesses some measure of dread and gloom - especially the ghostly guitar slide every measure.
The chorus is a big enough stretch from the drone-and-pound of the verse that it elevates the song quite a bit. There's a very slight hint of a choir behind the verse sometimes. It's strange how only two real pieces of music can last five minutes - and still be appealing.
Seven Songs for Seven Days 5
Thursday, October 1, 2009
The Sounds - Tony the Beat
http://www.imeem.com/jukeboxmusic8/music/uhD1jjDp/the-sounds-tony-the-beat-album-version/
A punk rock song about doin' it. What more do you want from me?
Skyfire - Misery's Supremacy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgaqYKPzLlU
Holy shit! Skyfire's new CD leaked in the interwebs! My mind is fucking blown. After the soft and swimming-in-keyboards introduction, this song just hits fifth gear and never slows down for a second. I especially love the rhythm and ascending fill of the guitar on the verse - transitioning to a very ascendant arpeggio on piano - then slamming home with a chorus that is impossible to forget.
Imogen Heap - 2-1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0-LC2vyge4
It's not especially apparent to me what Imogen Heap is actually singing about here - it kind of sounds like a song about...the universe? It's just so huge and throbbing...it sounds like it should be accompanied by an ever-spiraling galaxy showing us our tiny place in the known universe. And somehow she manages to suggest that something dark is slowly and silently traveling towards our minuscule planet...
Starship - It's Not Enough
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fN49psbUshY
I have long, long, long been in the thrall of 80's rock - my dad played basically nothing else throughout my youth and I am sure it was this that was the crowning touch upon the development of my musical genius.
And, besides, what lyrics!
Wooooomaaaaan! Don't play this game! You'll never get my lovin' this way!
Starship does well what you would expect - big choruses and cheesy lyrics.
Forefather - Theodish Belief
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2955310145739546105
What a disgustingly good song! Even the intro guitar riffs are delicious - the upstroke in the middle of the resonating chord is ballin'. I don't know what kind of key / chord changes they use but they definitely have a weirdly-folksy sound to them. The clean choruses are also a welcome respite from the more harsh-listening verses - the brothers who make up Forefather are fine singers.
Cascada - Wouldn't It Be Good
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGFg-czXA8Q
I am very much allowed to listen to Cascada if I want to. Don't look at me like that. Yes, all of her songs sound exactly the same. It's actually a little eerie how similar they are - but you can't deny that she has a good voice and some catchy techno beats. Oh, if only I was a blonde techno/dance musician.
Twilightning - Painting the Blue Eyes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzvfM45UMNE
Tommi Sartanen of Twilightning might be another guitarist to add to my list. The solos on this song and the obvious holding back that skilled guitarists have to do when they are trying to not overwhelm a calmer song - sometimes they fail at it. Sartanen does a pretty damn good job and the singer compliments the feel of the song very well.
http://www.imeem.com/jukeboxmusic8/music/uhD1jjDp/the-sounds-tony-the-beat-album-version/
A punk rock song about doin' it. What more do you want from me?
Skyfire - Misery's Supremacy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgaqYKPzLlU
Holy shit! Skyfire's new CD leaked in the interwebs! My mind is fucking blown. After the soft and swimming-in-keyboards introduction, this song just hits fifth gear and never slows down for a second. I especially love the rhythm and ascending fill of the guitar on the verse - transitioning to a very ascendant arpeggio on piano - then slamming home with a chorus that is impossible to forget.
Imogen Heap - 2-1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0-LC2vyge4
It's not especially apparent to me what Imogen Heap is actually singing about here - it kind of sounds like a song about...the universe? It's just so huge and throbbing...it sounds like it should be accompanied by an ever-spiraling galaxy showing us our tiny place in the known universe. And somehow she manages to suggest that something dark is slowly and silently traveling towards our minuscule planet...
Starship - It's Not Enough
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fN49psbUshY
I have long, long, long been in the thrall of 80's rock - my dad played basically nothing else throughout my youth and I am sure it was this that was the crowning touch upon the development of my musical genius.
And, besides, what lyrics!
Wooooomaaaaan! Don't play this game! You'll never get my lovin' this way!
Starship does well what you would expect - big choruses and cheesy lyrics.
Forefather - Theodish Belief
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2955310145739546105
What a disgustingly good song! Even the intro guitar riffs are delicious - the upstroke in the middle of the resonating chord is ballin'. I don't know what kind of key / chord changes they use but they definitely have a weirdly-folksy sound to them. The clean choruses are also a welcome respite from the more harsh-listening verses - the brothers who make up Forefather are fine singers.
Cascada - Wouldn't It Be Good
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGFg-czXA8Q
I am very much allowed to listen to Cascada if I want to. Don't look at me like that. Yes, all of her songs sound exactly the same. It's actually a little eerie how similar they are - but you can't deny that she has a good voice and some catchy techno beats. Oh, if only I was a blonde techno/dance musician.
Twilightning - Painting the Blue Eyes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzvfM45UMNE
Tommi Sartanen of Twilightning might be another guitarist to add to my list. The solos on this song and the obvious holding back that skilled guitarists have to do when they are trying to not overwhelm a calmer song - sometimes they fail at it. Sartanen does a pretty damn good job and the singer compliments the feel of the song very well.
Seven Songs for Seven Days 4
Saturday, September 19, 2009
(the picture is my very own, from the sounds show @ the house of blues in boston)
Red Riders - Ordinary
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtBY7_3gj6o
A slightly dreamy song about being too boring. Certainly it is a woe that has never befallen me. Nothing really complicated going on in the song - just a shimmery curtain of guitar and a plain but somehow comforting voice. Even though the song clearly proclaims "nothing I do ever seems to go my way" it does not have the sound of a sorrowful song.
The Sounds - Living in America
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjY4Wj_-Zec
The Sounds are Swedish. The Sounds have sprouted from some sort of punk rock. I'm not really sure where to take it from there. Nor am I able to deduce the actual meaning of this song - it just has the strains of a punk rock anthem to it and that is good enough for me.
Foxy Shazam - Wannabe Angel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HK89uXahpGw
I had the strange pleasure of seeing Foxy Shazam (who opened for the Sounds) play - what a strange bunch of dudes. Sadly their keyboard player is missing his iconic beard in the photo for this youtube video - alas. You will just have to suffer the multitude of influences that pepper Foxy Shazam's pop without his hirsute appearance.
Ensiferum - Iron
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cJ3k7yTNqk
The title track of Ensiferum's second album is just a kick in the face of an awesome mixture of power and death metal. The pace of the song is feverish and and the majestically plodding guitars and occasional gang choruses just propel the music forward ever-faster. It's definitely a pre-workout song. Get this stuck in your head, and you're bound to have a good day.
Gwyllion - Entwined
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sybtEQy9o5U
The only way to actually properly listen to this song is with the intro before it. It's straight up furious while being fronted by a female vocalist - really entertaining mix of pounding rhythm and soaring vocals. The background choir of male vocals mixing with hers makes things considerably more complicated. A good mix of dynamics means that you're not entirely pounded into the ground, and it doesn't hurt that the singer is quite talented.
Drake - houstatlantavegas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7CTlBUsmHs
Drake's an interesting guy. I have to put him up past Kid Cudi as the better of the two - what I've heard of Cudi's album isn't really all that interesting, but Drake's mixtape this year is pretty fantastic. houstatlantavegas is spacy, dreamy, warm, and mellow - a really interesting direction to take for hip-hop / r&b. It's pretty reminiscent of 808's and Heartbreak (Kanye guesting, too). Kanye is probably actually the weakest part of the song, but there does need to be some break from the previous material to make it not simply monotonous.
White Wolf - America (Hello Again)
Sadly, kiddos out in the field will have to find this one themselves. I promise it's worth it - it is only one of a few patriotic songs I can seriously stomach and enjoy. It's sort of like Pain of Salvation's similarly entitled "America," minus the lambasting - just a call for whoever is still listening to answer. Really powerful, if you can get past the cheese.
Is My Message Getting Through?
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
This past weekend, I had a fine adventure of cooking.
I'm not exceptionally great at it - I have a decent sense of 'oh fuck this is totally burning' and 'well it looks like that's about done' and 'these would taste pretty okay together.' Once you start throwing around braising and basting and stuffing and fluctuating temperatures, it gets a little too hairy for me.
So I underwent a small challenge when composing the, ahem, high-class menu for my girlfriend's birthday this past weekend. I knew I had to deal with both vegetarian and decidedly non-vegetarian people, so I had to make two entrees - and in fairly large quantities.
Here's what I ended up making:
* roast potatoes
* arugula salad with peaches and blackberries
* vietnamese dipping sauce with steak and romaine
* corn tomato and basil chowder - nytimes link
* baked apples
Some of these were thoroughly stolen. I was planning on doing something more ambitious with the apples, but I didn't end up having time.
The one that is thoroughly my own is the Vietnamese dipping sauce. At least, I think that's its national origin. Here's my take on it:
1/3 cup fish sauce
1/2 cup lemon juice
4-5 large garlic cloves
3 tablespoons sugar
6 hot peppers (your choice of variety - I use chilies, they are rad)
1 head of romaine lettuce
1 1/2 pounds of steak (I usually use sirloin)
1 1/2 cups of rice
Conjure yourself a fair-sized dipping bowl. Pour the fish sauce, lemon juice, and sugar in. Mix thoroughly - taste and make sure you've got some acceptable combination of sour, sweet, and salty going on. Mince the garlic and the peppers and add them to the mix. Make sure that you're not adding too many peppers - that can make this sauce somewhat of a masochistic food otherwise.
Cube the steak and grill it - I usually leave it somewhat rare.
Cook the rice.
De...frock? the lettuce, leaving the leaves intact.
Procure yourself a plate for the steak, a bowl for the rice, and a plate for the lettuce leaves. Wrap steak and rice in lettuce, dip in sauce, eat, repeat. This is probably proportions for 2-3 people.
It's super-awesome, I promise. It's also relatively fast - the longest thing is going to be cooking the rice.
I'm not exceptionally great at it - I have a decent sense of 'oh fuck this is totally burning' and 'well it looks like that's about done' and 'these would taste pretty okay together.' Once you start throwing around braising and basting and stuffing and fluctuating temperatures, it gets a little too hairy for me.
So I underwent a small challenge when composing the, ahem, high-class menu for my girlfriend's birthday this past weekend. I knew I had to deal with both vegetarian and decidedly non-vegetarian people, so I had to make two entrees - and in fairly large quantities.
Here's what I ended up making:
* roast potatoes
* arugula salad with peaches and blackberries
* vietnamese dipping sauce with steak and romaine
* corn tomato and basil chowder - nytimes link
* baked apples
Some of these were thoroughly stolen. I was planning on doing something more ambitious with the apples, but I didn't end up having time.
The one that is thoroughly my own is the Vietnamese dipping sauce. At least, I think that's its national origin. Here's my take on it:
1/3 cup fish sauce
1/2 cup lemon juice
4-5 large garlic cloves
3 tablespoons sugar
6 hot peppers (your choice of variety - I use chilies, they are rad)
1 head of romaine lettuce
1 1/2 pounds of steak (I usually use sirloin)
1 1/2 cups of rice
Conjure yourself a fair-sized dipping bowl. Pour the fish sauce, lemon juice, and sugar in. Mix thoroughly - taste and make sure you've got some acceptable combination of sour, sweet, and salty going on. Mince the garlic and the peppers and add them to the mix. Make sure that you're not adding too many peppers - that can make this sauce somewhat of a masochistic food otherwise.
Cube the steak and grill it - I usually leave it somewhat rare.
Cook the rice.
De...frock? the lettuce, leaving the leaves intact.
Procure yourself a plate for the steak, a bowl for the rice, and a plate for the lettuce leaves. Wrap steak and rice in lettuce, dip in sauce, eat, repeat. This is probably proportions for 2-3 people.
It's super-awesome, I promise. It's also relatively fast - the longest thing is going to be cooking the rice.
Seven Songs for Seven Days 3
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Threshold - Fighting For Breath
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYuiCM1Jl_M
Man! How the hell had I never heard of Threshold before this year? Evidently they've been cranking out studio albums since the mid 90's - if any of them are nearly as solid as "Dead Reckoning," I have an awful lot of listening to do.
The music might be a little formulaic, but it's a tough formula to master. The songs all go something like this: crunchy, slightly discordant verse, harmonized and simple chorus, repeat once, spastic guitar and keyboard solo, fucking insane bridge that blows your mind.
Seriously. That bridge is BANANAS.
I suppose this doesn't really apply to all their songs but certainly Sarah's and my favorite, Slipstream, fits right into it. This one does too...soooo I feel justified enough in calling that a formula.
The Few Against Many - Sot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXGROAFKgzQ
How many bands can one Swede be in? By Christian Älvestam's growth rate, it seems possibly...an uncountably infinite number? (Somewhere, I just caused a math geek to inflict harm upon themselves...)
And how the hell are they all this good? The Few Against Many evokes early In Flames and Moontower. If you know anything about me, you know I love Dan Swanö with all of my body - so the resemblance to Moontower is about the biggest erection-inducer ever.
Ensiferum - From Afar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALrjjJdmxgA
(an actual video for a metal song?! gasp!)
Not really anything diverging from the usual for Ensiferum - but since the usual is so well done, it's perfectly acceptable. Choir-chorus laden songs with surging rhythm and warlike howling? Invoking pagan imagery and orchestral accompaniment galore? Check, check. Really cheesy video basically only featuring a scowling vocalist shaking his fist? Check plus.
Kid Sister - Control
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiNTVqtLjCI
My head nearly popped off when this song started. I had no idea what was happening for about 30 seconds. It's spastic, freaky, chock full of an accent that makes her lyrics nearly impossible to deduce, and fucking catchy. Woooooooooo!
J. Cole - Lights Please
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dyPeGDeS3o
It's really hard to pass up this song's simplistic but ear-burrowing beat and lyrics like:
And all that deep shit that I was previously down for
Replaced by freak shit that I am currently down for
There's something very positive and comforting under all the layers there (I'm not referring to that specific lyric) but it takes a couple of listens to confirm that he's just not misogynistic and whiny.
Axel Rudi Pell - Live for the King
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CToaWplSSHI
Axel Rudi Pell is like the king of guilty metal pleasures. I have an acquaintance from Norcal who would definitely term them 'buttrock.' He can't stomach super-cheesy power metal with soaring vocals and dragons and rainbows and chain mail - however, I can.
I don't know if Axel Rudi Pell has ever written a song that isn't just oozy with warm catchy awesome goodness. It's really weird - some songs have a kind of discordant nature, or maybe just the production...that makes it difficult, in a way, to listen to them. Therion kind of comes to mind here.
Not so at all with Axel Rudi Pell. I could listen to this shit all day and my ears would never get tired.
Royal Hunt - The First Rock
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PD7XtcC4XT0
Royal Hunt, while definitely still firmly in the cheese camp, is a step more respectable than Axel Rudi Pell. They seem to have some deep-seated problem with religion or God - they seem to be a frequent topic, and rarely in a positive way.
Whereas Axel Rudi Pell is really chill and shit, Royal Hunt is flipping out all over the place with keyboards exploding and belts and guitar solos happening nearly constantly. Or at least this song...it's much more driving, in general. Both methods certainly have their place...which is why they are both in this list!
Okay, that is it for now. I need to buy bananas, lest I blow away in the wind due to my slight figure.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYuiCM1Jl_M
Man! How the hell had I never heard of Threshold before this year? Evidently they've been cranking out studio albums since the mid 90's - if any of them are nearly as solid as "Dead Reckoning," I have an awful lot of listening to do.
The music might be a little formulaic, but it's a tough formula to master. The songs all go something like this: crunchy, slightly discordant verse, harmonized and simple chorus, repeat once, spastic guitar and keyboard solo, fucking insane bridge that blows your mind.
Seriously. That bridge is BANANAS.
I suppose this doesn't really apply to all their songs but certainly Sarah's and my favorite, Slipstream, fits right into it. This one does too...soooo I feel justified enough in calling that a formula.
The Few Against Many - Sot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXGROAFKgzQ
How many bands can one Swede be in? By Christian Älvestam's growth rate, it seems possibly...an uncountably infinite number? (Somewhere, I just caused a math geek to inflict harm upon themselves...)
And how the hell are they all this good? The Few Against Many evokes early In Flames and Moontower. If you know anything about me, you know I love Dan Swanö with all of my body - so the resemblance to Moontower is about the biggest erection-inducer ever.
Ensiferum - From Afar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALrjjJdmxgA
(an actual video for a metal song?! gasp!)
Not really anything diverging from the usual for Ensiferum - but since the usual is so well done, it's perfectly acceptable. Choir-chorus laden songs with surging rhythm and warlike howling? Invoking pagan imagery and orchestral accompaniment galore? Check, check. Really cheesy video basically only featuring a scowling vocalist shaking his fist? Check plus.
Kid Sister - Control
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiNTVqtLjCI
My head nearly popped off when this song started. I had no idea what was happening for about 30 seconds. It's spastic, freaky, chock full of an accent that makes her lyrics nearly impossible to deduce, and fucking catchy. Woooooooooo!
J. Cole - Lights Please
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dyPeGDeS3o
It's really hard to pass up this song's simplistic but ear-burrowing beat and lyrics like:
And all that deep shit that I was previously down for
Replaced by freak shit that I am currently down for
There's something very positive and comforting under all the layers there (I'm not referring to that specific lyric) but it takes a couple of listens to confirm that he's just not misogynistic and whiny.
Axel Rudi Pell - Live for the King
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CToaWplSSHI
Axel Rudi Pell is like the king of guilty metal pleasures. I have an acquaintance from Norcal who would definitely term them 'buttrock.' He can't stomach super-cheesy power metal with soaring vocals and dragons and rainbows and chain mail - however, I can.
I don't know if Axel Rudi Pell has ever written a song that isn't just oozy with warm catchy awesome goodness. It's really weird - some songs have a kind of discordant nature, or maybe just the production...that makes it difficult, in a way, to listen to them. Therion kind of comes to mind here.
Not so at all with Axel Rudi Pell. I could listen to this shit all day and my ears would never get tired.
Royal Hunt - The First Rock
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PD7XtcC4XT0
Royal Hunt, while definitely still firmly in the cheese camp, is a step more respectable than Axel Rudi Pell. They seem to have some deep-seated problem with religion or God - they seem to be a frequent topic, and rarely in a positive way.
Whereas Axel Rudi Pell is really chill and shit, Royal Hunt is flipping out all over the place with keyboards exploding and belts and guitar solos happening nearly constantly. Or at least this song...it's much more driving, in general. Both methods certainly have their place...which is why they are both in this list!
Okay, that is it for now. I need to buy bananas, lest I blow away in the wind due to my slight figure.
In Your Hands
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
I play a fair bit of guitar. During my nine-and-a-half or so years of playing, there are a few things that I've picked up that have made me a better guitarist, and things that I've learned that just made the overall process much more enjoyable.
Here's a couple of things I've been doing recently.
1) Random Classical-Ish Arpeggio Run
This one is for learning how to arpeggio correctly. It's a pretty difficult thing to master, especially when you have runs in the middle, so this one makes you work fairly hard.
It's not insanely difficult just to play but doing it quickly and cleanly certainly is.
2) Ballin' Eurobeat Solo
Another perennial favorite of mine is....an entire solo by some Japanese session guitarist. We'll never know who, but it's smokin'.
When I was still taking lessons a few years ago, my teacher and I transcribed it out.
This is "Spark in the Dark," by the dubiously named Man Power.
E||--10---12---10---------10---12---10---------|
B||---------------13-10----------------13-10---|
G||--------------------------------------------|
D||--------------------------------------------|
A||--------------------------------------------|
E||--------------------------------------------|
------------------------------------|
------------------------------------|
--7---9---7--------7---9---7--------|
------------10-7-------------10-7---|
------------------------------------|
------------------------------------|
--------------------------------------------------|
-----------------------12----12-13-12----------12-|
-----------12-14-12-14----14----------14-12-14----|
--14-12-14----------------------------------------|
--------------------------------------------------|
--------------------------------------------------|
--------12-------12-------19-20-19-17------|
--13-15----13-15----15----------------17---|
-------------------------------------------|
-------------------------------------------|
-------------------------------------------|
-------------------------------------------|
--19-20-19-17------19-20-19-17------20b----|
--------------17---------------17----------|
-------------------------------------------|
-------------------------------------------|
-------------------------------------------|
-------------------------------------------|
--17-19-20-19-17----19-17----19-17-15----17-15----|
-----------------20-------20----------18-------18-|
--------------------------------------------------|
--------------------------------------------------|
--------------------------------------------------|
--------------------------------------------------|
-----15---------------------------------|-------------------||
--17----18-17-15-18-17-15---------------|-------------------||
--------------------------17-16---------|-------------------||
----------------------------------------|-------------------||
----------------------------------------|-------------------||
----------------------------------------|-------------------||
----------------------|--------------------------|---------------------|
--10br----------------|-------------------8--10--|--10b----------------|
----------------------|--9~--------9--11---------|---------------------|
----------------------|--------------------------|---------------------|
----------------------|--------------------------|---------------------|
----------------------|--------------------------|---------------------|
------------------|-------------------------|--------------------|
------------------|--10br------------8--10--|---------------7----|
------------------|-------------------------|--9-----------------|
------------------|-------------------------|--------------------|
------------------|-------------------------|--------------------|
------------------|-------------------------|--------------------|
-----------------------|------------------------|-----------------------|
--7h-8~---L------------|------------7--8--10----|--10g12----------------|
-----------------------|---------9--------------|-----------------------|
-----------------------|------------------------|-----------------------|
-----------------------|------------------------|-----------------------|
-----------------------|------------------------|-----------------------|
--------------------------|-----------------------------|-------|
--12brb--------12----8----|--10br--------10b------------|-------|
--------------------------|-----------------------------|--9----|
--------------------------|-----------------------------|-------|
--------------------------|-----------------------------|-------|
--------------------------|-----------------------------|-------|
------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
--------------7--8--10--|--10br-----------------|-----------8-----8-----|
-----------9------------|----------9------------|---L-------------------|
------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
---------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
---------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
--9~-----------------|-------------------|-------------------|
---------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
---------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
---------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
Here's a couple of things I've been doing recently.
1) Random Classical-Ish Arpeggio Run
This one is for learning how to arpeggio correctly. It's a pretty difficult thing to master, especially when you have runs in the middle, so this one makes you work fairly hard.
-----------------8-7-------------------------5---5\7------------
-----------8---------8---------------------6---------8----------
---------9-------------9-----------------7-------------9--------
------10-----------------10-9-7-------7-----------------10-9-7\5
-----------8---------8---------------------6---------8----------
---------9-------------9-----------------7-------------9--------
------10-----------------10-9-7-------7-----------------10-9-7\5
---10-------------------------------5---------------------------
-8--------------------------------------------------------------
---------5---3-------------------------------------------
-------6-------5-3--------3------------------------------
-----5-------------4----4---5----------------------------
---7------------------5----------------------------------
-8-------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------
---------5---3-------------------------------------------
-------6-------5-3--------3------------------------------
-----5-------------4----4---5----------------------------
---7------------------5----------------------------------
-8-------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------
It's not insanely difficult just to play but doing it quickly and cleanly certainly is.
2) Ballin' Eurobeat Solo
Another perennial favorite of mine is....an entire solo by some Japanese session guitarist. We'll never know who, but it's smokin'.
When I was still taking lessons a few years ago, my teacher and I transcribed it out.
This is "Spark in the Dark," by the dubiously named Man Power.
E||--10---12---10---------10---12---10---------|
B||---------------13-10----------------13-10---|
G||--------------------------------------------|
D||--------------------------------------------|
A||--------------------------------------------|
E||--------------------------------------------|
------------------------------------|
------------------------------------|
--7---9---7--------7---9---7--------|
------------10-7-------------10-7---|
------------------------------------|
------------------------------------|
--------------------------------------------------|
-----------------------12----12-13-12----------12-|
-----------12-14-12-14----14----------14-12-14----|
--14-12-14----------------------------------------|
--------------------------------------------------|
--------------------------------------------------|
--------12-------12-------19-20-19-17------|
--13-15----13-15----15----------------17---|
-------------------------------------------|
-------------------------------------------|
-------------------------------------------|
-------------------------------------------|
--19-20-19-17------19-20-19-17------20b----|
--------------17---------------17----------|
-------------------------------------------|
-------------------------------------------|
-------------------------------------------|
-------------------------------------------|
--17-19-20-19-17----19-17----19-17-15----17-15----|
-----------------20-------20----------18-------18-|
--------------------------------------------------|
--------------------------------------------------|
--------------------------------------------------|
--------------------------------------------------|
-----15---------------------------------|-------------------||
--17----18-17-15-18-17-15---------------|-------------------||
--------------------------17-16---------|-------------------||
----------------------------------------|-------------------||
----------------------------------------|-------------------||
----------------------------------------|-------------------||
And here's the music, so you have an idea of how it's actually supposed to be played: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1gVPJn6rWE Please ignore the slightly fruity AMV. The solo occurs twice, strangely.
I've never really gotten around to finishing transcribing the solo, sadly - I know how to play the ending bit, but I am just way too lazy. Maybe someday!
3) Obligatory Michael Schenker
Most of Schenker's stuff is pretty simple, until you hit the solos. Which, of course, is about 50% of the material (if you don't count repeat choruses and verses). I haven't even taken a crack at the real solo yet, but played 'just so,' this one is heart-rending.
This is 'Desert Song,' by the Michael Schenker Group.
----------------------|--------------------------|---------------------|
--10br----------------|-------------------8--10--|--10b----------------|
----------------------|--9~--------9--11---------|---------------------|
----------------------|--------------------------|---------------------|
----------------------|--------------------------|---------------------|
----------------------|--------------------------|---------------------|
------------------|-------------------------|--------------------|
------------------|--10br------------8--10--|---------------7----|
------------------|-------------------------|--9-----------------|
------------------|-------------------------|--------------------|
------------------|-------------------------|--------------------|
------------------|-------------------------|--------------------|
-----------------------|------------------------|-----------------------|
--7h-8~---L------------|------------7--8--10----|--10g12----------------|
-----------------------|---------9--------------|-----------------------|
-----------------------|------------------------|-----------------------|
-----------------------|------------------------|-----------------------|
-----------------------|------------------------|-----------------------|
--------------------------|-----------------------------|-------|
--12brb--------12----8----|--10br--------10b------------|-------|
--------------------------|-----------------------------|--9----|
--------------------------|-----------------------------|-------|
--------------------------|-----------------------------|-------|
--------------------------|-----------------------------|-------|
------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
--------------7--8--10--|--10br-----------------|-----------8-----8-----|
-----------9------------|----------9------------|---L-------------------|
------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
---------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
---------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
--9~-----------------|-------------------|-------------------|
---------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
---------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
---------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
And here is, as Plato might say, the thing itself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWoLY5x77uk There are some changes, as it is live, but it's not fast and it should be easy to pick up on.
Aight, that's all I got for now. Enough writing about playing, I'm gonna go play!
Seven Songs for Seven Days 2
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Yes, yes, more than seven days have elapsed. I don't care! Shoo! Away with your pedantry.
Here are the things that have haunted my ears for this half a fortnight.
Amorphis - Majestic Beast
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bbVelwUkDY
The beginning of this song is unexpectedly bombastic for Amorphis. Everything else, though, falls perfectly into place - the calmer and melodic chorus, the gradual escalation of tension, the thunderous finale.
Wuthering Heights - Beautifool
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXl40rkVGP4
Speedy Celtic chaos, played by immensely talented Danes. Whomsoever the guitarist is, he deserves praise - as well as the vocalist, for both the lyrics and the vocal lines soar.
Blu & Exile - My World Is...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjTyrfmO_Mw
I've been slowly insinuating my way into the world of hip hop and Blu is a fairly good find. The producer he partnered with, Exile, definitely has a way with soul, funk, and r&b rhythms - and the stuff that Blu is laying down on top of it is certainly fit for consumption as well. It's strange how such good lyricists remain firmly on the bottom of the charts.
Dream Theater - Wither
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrnYiNnEKHg
I haven't given Dream Theater's latest offering many spins at all, which seems now to be quite the error given this song. There's not exactly a whole lot going on in it, but a solid chorus will steal you my heart every time.
Threshold - This Is Your Life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gg1MoJVnYK8
Quite a bit similar to another of their songs, "Slipstream" - low on the melody in the verse, turns it up to 11 during the chorus. The auto-tune-esque vocals after the second repetition of the chorus are for some reason particularly haunting.
Keldian - Ghost of Icarus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DMb6Xjk1GI
Keldian, I am fairly certain, is the only band to base most of their lyrical content around science fiction novels and video games. I'm fairly certain this song came from a somewhat famous Microsoft game (?!), Freelancer. Soaring choruses and a 'spacy' feel dominate the music. I don't know if it's just me, but all of their music seems to contain some element of wistfulness.
Sabaton - Light in the Black
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIenz9tHqbs
I read earlier this week that this song is actually dedicated to peacekeeping forces, and not to the armies of justice like all their other songs. I suppose I can't fault them for finding material in World War 2 - there's certainly a lot to be said and sung about it.
The guitar lead that introduces the song is unfailingly lofty, and the driving rhythm and guttural singing fit perfectly to some sort of memorial march of the world's dead soldiers.
Here are the things that have haunted my ears for this half a fortnight.
Amorphis - Majestic Beast
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bbVelwUkDY
The beginning of this song is unexpectedly bombastic for Amorphis. Everything else, though, falls perfectly into place - the calmer and melodic chorus, the gradual escalation of tension, the thunderous finale.
Wuthering Heights - Beautifool
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXl40rkVGP4
Speedy Celtic chaos, played by immensely talented Danes. Whomsoever the guitarist is, he deserves praise - as well as the vocalist, for both the lyrics and the vocal lines soar.
Blu & Exile - My World Is...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjTyrfmO_Mw
I've been slowly insinuating my way into the world of hip hop and Blu is a fairly good find. The producer he partnered with, Exile, definitely has a way with soul, funk, and r&b rhythms - and the stuff that Blu is laying down on top of it is certainly fit for consumption as well. It's strange how such good lyricists remain firmly on the bottom of the charts.
Dream Theater - Wither
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrnYiNnEKHg
I haven't given Dream Theater's latest offering many spins at all, which seems now to be quite the error given this song. There's not exactly a whole lot going on in it, but a solid chorus will steal you my heart every time.
Threshold - This Is Your Life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gg1MoJVnYK8
Quite a bit similar to another of their songs, "Slipstream" - low on the melody in the verse, turns it up to 11 during the chorus. The auto-tune-esque vocals after the second repetition of the chorus are for some reason particularly haunting.
Keldian - Ghost of Icarus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DMb6Xjk1GI
Keldian, I am fairly certain, is the only band to base most of their lyrical content around science fiction novels and video games. I'm fairly certain this song came from a somewhat famous Microsoft game (?!), Freelancer. Soaring choruses and a 'spacy' feel dominate the music. I don't know if it's just me, but all of their music seems to contain some element of wistfulness.
Sabaton - Light in the Black
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIenz9tHqbs
I read earlier this week that this song is actually dedicated to peacekeeping forces, and not to the armies of justice like all their other songs. I suppose I can't fault them for finding material in World War 2 - there's certainly a lot to be said and sung about it.
The guitar lead that introduces the song is unfailingly lofty, and the driving rhythm and guttural singing fit perfectly to some sort of memorial march of the world's dead soldiers.
Seven Songs for Seven Days
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Here are seven songs that have been stuck in my head this week.
Juiceboxxx - 100 MPH
http://www.myspace.com/officialjuiceboxxx
This single isn't available yet - I think it comes out September 1st. Which is roughly about a year after I first heard it in Philly in a filthy basement show with a 40 in my hand.
Sadly Juiceboxxx's recordings do not do him justice. His shows are absolutely batshit. I have never seen one man possess so much energy and fire - it didn't even seem like he needed the audience to be into it. He climbed up rafters, freaked out to "Born To Run" as his intro, and walked into the crowd to forcibly put people's hands together.
It's pretty simple musically but his entire shebang - performance, lyrics, music - is very optimistic and upbeat. Good stuff.
Wiz Khalifa - I Choose You
http://www.imeem.com/people/rCL4Az/music/xLbwS1B9/wiz-khalifa-i-choose-you/
It's extremely likely that every week there will be at least one Wiz Khalifa song in my mental rotation. This one is off Show and Prove, his debut full length. More of an uplifting song, too - some of his are, of course, womanizing and materialistic - I don't think that's likely to change. The ones I like the most are about more focused on how he works hard to achieve what he's got - this is definitely one of those.
And just try to resist the beat. Whoever was choosing the samples for this record did an insane job.
MAN, that was a giant grain of rice stuck in the roof of my mouth. Now where was I...
Red Riders - My Love Is Stronger Than Your Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHjTjBio9zY
By meandering through last.fm's recommendations for bands like The Sounds, I found Red Riders. The song itself isn't really flashy, and the vocalist isn't blowing my brains out with his belting, but that chorus will haunt you all week.
Pixie Lott - Here We Go Again
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKh_Dwn6pLw
In advance - I'm sorry for doing this to you. But you deserve it.
DGM - Hereafter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bk08JwDpSH4
I'm not entirely sure why Italy is the dominant force in the high-pitched singing world of power metal, but they are. DGM sports a fine, fine vocalist and some good guitar work.
Actually, from glancing at the video, he sort of resembles the very yellow dude in "Sin City." Probably not a good resemblance.
Jay Sean - Down
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_8V_RyijlI
Yeah, yeah, I realize this is flooding the radio waves. It doesn't change the fact that it's stuck in my head, now does it? It loses its power after you listen to it a couple of times, so don't worry - it's not as terrifying a prospect as getting HORSE the band's "Manateen" stuffed between your ears.
Speaking of...
HORSE the band - Manateen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxLe-o1FYMQ
I can't really say that this song was specifically stuck in my head this week, because after a listen sometime during the fall, it's never really left.
Listen to the part of the song at 3:30 specifically. That breakdown, for lack of a better description, is like woah.
never
with the furious poison in my heart
will i return from the darker waters
i'll let the tide tear me apart
Juiceboxxx - 100 MPH
http://www.myspace.com/officialjuiceboxxx
This single isn't available yet - I think it comes out September 1st. Which is roughly about a year after I first heard it in Philly in a filthy basement show with a 40 in my hand.
Sadly Juiceboxxx's recordings do not do him justice. His shows are absolutely batshit. I have never seen one man possess so much energy and fire - it didn't even seem like he needed the audience to be into it. He climbed up rafters, freaked out to "Born To Run" as his intro, and walked into the crowd to forcibly put people's hands together.
It's pretty simple musically but his entire shebang - performance, lyrics, music - is very optimistic and upbeat. Good stuff.
Wiz Khalifa - I Choose You
http://www.imeem.com/people/rCL4Az/music/xLbwS1B9/wiz-khalifa-i-choose-you/
It's extremely likely that every week there will be at least one Wiz Khalifa song in my mental rotation. This one is off Show and Prove, his debut full length. More of an uplifting song, too - some of his are, of course, womanizing and materialistic - I don't think that's likely to change. The ones I like the most are about more focused on how he works hard to achieve what he's got - this is definitely one of those.
And just try to resist the beat. Whoever was choosing the samples for this record did an insane job.
MAN, that was a giant grain of rice stuck in the roof of my mouth. Now where was I...
Red Riders - My Love Is Stronger Than Your Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHjTjBio9zY
By meandering through last.fm's recommendations for bands like The Sounds, I found Red Riders. The song itself isn't really flashy, and the vocalist isn't blowing my brains out with his belting, but that chorus will haunt you all week.
Pixie Lott - Here We Go Again
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKh_Dwn6pLw
In advance - I'm sorry for doing this to you. But you deserve it.
DGM - Hereafter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bk08JwDpSH4
I'm not entirely sure why Italy is the dominant force in the high-pitched singing world of power metal, but they are. DGM sports a fine, fine vocalist and some good guitar work.
Actually, from glancing at the video, he sort of resembles the very yellow dude in "Sin City." Probably not a good resemblance.
Jay Sean - Down
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_8V_RyijlI
Yeah, yeah, I realize this is flooding the radio waves. It doesn't change the fact that it's stuck in my head, now does it? It loses its power after you listen to it a couple of times, so don't worry - it's not as terrifying a prospect as getting HORSE the band's "Manateen" stuffed between your ears.
Speaking of...
HORSE the band - Manateen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxLe-o1FYMQ
I can't really say that this song was specifically stuck in my head this week, because after a listen sometime during the fall, it's never really left.
Listen to the part of the song at 3:30 specifically. That breakdown, for lack of a better description, is like woah.
never
with the furious poison in my heart
will i return from the darker waters
i'll let the tide tear me apart
Gay for Gay in 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Okay, here goes. The World Championships in Berlin are quickly approaching and I am unafraid to make my predictions of the eventual (men's) champions, as biased as they may be. Some, I admit, are a product of my own fallacious thinking. Now, I'm not really qualified to make judgments about all the field events - I just don't follow them closely enough. But here's who I'm looking at for gold:
100m - Tyson Gay
200m - Tyson Gay
400m - Jeremy Wariner
800m - Gary Reed
1500m - Asbel Kiprop
5000m - Devastator Lagat
10000m - Devastator Bekele
Marathon - Deriba Merga
3000m sc - Bouabdellah Tahri
110hh - Dayron Robles
400mh - Bershawn Jackson
HJ - Jesse Williams
LJ - Dwight Phillips
TJ - Phillips Idowu
PV - Renaud Lavenellie
SP - Reese Hoffa
DT - Gerard Kanter
JT - Andreas Thorkildsen
HT - Kriztian Pars
Dec - Trey Hardee
I'll give a quick breakdown of my distance picks here, and why I went with them:
100m and 200m - Tyson Gay
He's got the #1 times in the world in the 100 and 200. Bad weather my ass Mr. Bolt! He just plan ran faster than you this year. Yea, yea, Bolt ran WR's in both events - but he also got in a car accident and has publicly said he's not in as-good shape.
400m - Jeremy Wariner
Another slightly off-the-wall choice. Wariner was well beaten all last year at 400m by Merritt, but it also seems like they are much closer this year. Plus...Wariner just seems filled with quiet rage at his loss. He will triumph this year! More likely than anything, his reunion with Clyde Hart will probably help matters against Merritt.
800m - Gary Reed
What can I say? Reed has shown some good form this year, and a lot of others have not - Borza and Kaki might yet surprise me, but if Reed is in it off the curve, my money is on him. Unless Symmonds is next to him.
1500m - Asbel Kiprop
I don't think I can say much about Asbel Kiprop that hasn't been said before. He's an insane talent - has thwomped the world's best at the age of 19. He will likely soon be the Olympic gold medalist from Beijing, if Ramzi's appeals run out. I think you'd be a little foolish to bet against him.
5000m - Bernard Lagat
I honestly think Bernie G is the man to beat when it comes to the 5000m this year. It's really quite the task to run away from Lagat - you can do it (ala Bekele this year at 3k) but you're going to have a hell of a time of it. It probably requires rabbits, to be honest. And there won't be any rabbits at the WCs. That leaves you, alone, facing the fury of the Lagat tornado.
10000m - Kenenisa Bekele
I don't think I even need a reason to pick Bekele at 10000m.
Oh, and while I'm talking about running...
HOLY FUCK ALAN WEBB IS GOING TO TRAIN UNDER SALAZAR! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
The better article by USA Today can be found here: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2009-08-06-webb-coaching-change_N.htm
100m - Tyson Gay
200m - Tyson Gay
400m - Jeremy Wariner
800m - Gary Reed
1500m - Asbel Kiprop
5000m - Devastator Lagat
10000m - Devastator Bekele
Marathon - Deriba Merga
3000m sc - Bouabdellah Tahri
110hh - Dayron Robles
400mh - Bershawn Jackson
HJ - Jesse Williams
LJ - Dwight Phillips
TJ - Phillips Idowu
PV - Renaud Lavenellie
SP - Reese Hoffa
DT - Gerard Kanter
JT - Andreas Thorkildsen
HT - Kriztian Pars
Dec - Trey Hardee
I'll give a quick breakdown of my distance picks here, and why I went with them:
100m and 200m - Tyson Gay
He's got the #1 times in the world in the 100 and 200. Bad weather my ass Mr. Bolt! He just plan ran faster than you this year. Yea, yea, Bolt ran WR's in both events - but he also got in a car accident and has publicly said he's not in as-good shape.
400m - Jeremy Wariner
Another slightly off-the-wall choice. Wariner was well beaten all last year at 400m by Merritt, but it also seems like they are much closer this year. Plus...Wariner just seems filled with quiet rage at his loss. He will triumph this year! More likely than anything, his reunion with Clyde Hart will probably help matters against Merritt.
800m - Gary Reed
What can I say? Reed has shown some good form this year, and a lot of others have not - Borza and Kaki might yet surprise me, but if Reed is in it off the curve, my money is on him. Unless Symmonds is next to him.
1500m - Asbel Kiprop
I don't think I can say much about Asbel Kiprop that hasn't been said before. He's an insane talent - has thwomped the world's best at the age of 19. He will likely soon be the Olympic gold medalist from Beijing, if Ramzi's appeals run out. I think you'd be a little foolish to bet against him.
5000m - Bernard Lagat
I honestly think Bernie G is the man to beat when it comes to the 5000m this year. It's really quite the task to run away from Lagat - you can do it (ala Bekele this year at 3k) but you're going to have a hell of a time of it. It probably requires rabbits, to be honest. And there won't be any rabbits at the WCs. That leaves you, alone, facing the fury of the Lagat tornado.
10000m - Kenenisa Bekele
I don't think I even need a reason to pick Bekele at 10000m.
Oh, and while I'm talking about running...
HOLY FUCK ALAN WEBB IS GOING TO TRAIN UNDER SALAZAR! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
The better article by USA Today can be found here: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2009-08-06-webb-coaching-change_N.htm
I Sing of Arms
Monday, July 27, 2009
One of the things I do in my copious free time is write music and play guitar. I'll admit that I have, on occasion, been known to listen to OTHER music - possibly containing guitarists who are not me. It's not that much beneath me.
Sadly I have not yet attained the level of masterful wankery of a Joe Satriani or Steve Vai - and personally I don't think it's likely. It's just too much time - and to an extent, it's a waste. I don't see any better songs coming out of Satriani or Vai than your average workaday metal guitarist - in fact, it's pretty much the opposite. They've spent so much time on technical mastery that they are severely lacking in the songwriting department.
So I'm not a Vai or Satriani fan. Who do I get my guitar jollies from, and why?
1. Tak Matsumoto
Tak has been tearing shit up for a good twenty years as a member of the biggest rock band in Japan, B'z. No, I don't know how to pronounce that either.
He's not an insane shredder - I've never heard any lightning-fast arpeggios or tremolo picking on his work, but that's understandable - it doesn't really fit with the blues-based rock style he uses. In a single word, homeboi got soul.
When you feel some sort of fundamental yearning evoked by the soaring of a guitar run, there is something pretty undeniable at work there. Tak does this over and over again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytRq0_ImVAg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0auUw19cgQg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIwXM1A1tvU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zaGI4KGyTg
2. Michael Schenker
Still alive, still insane. Schenker is not very well known in the United States either - he was the lead guitarist for The Scorpions, which are probably only known for their song "Rock You Like a Hurricane." He also played lead for UFO, which I've found that not many people know.
However, you are a sad sack of man if you die not having heard Michael Schenker. He's one of the forefathers of kickass soloing. He's pretty much one of the heroes of metal guitar.
It's hard to aptly describe his music - rather just let it do the talking.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMMFfLc9cek
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGY0KEGVK6Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Blvnoao1WO0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEyvrZfHoZQ
If you listen to nothing else on this entry, listen to something of Schenker's.
3. Kristian Niemann
Kristian Niemann is the interestingly-facial-haired guitarist (actually, former guitarist) of Therion, a gothic metal band of ...strange repute. They're associated with a cult, Dragon Rouge, and the cult leader actually writes all their lyrics - they're filled with mysticism and ancient, non-Christian gods. Strange, but cool.
Mr. Niemann can really write some barn-burning solos, as well as infinitely catchy and startlingly simplistic lead melodies. For this he has garnered much recognition from me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqsQEOBx1MM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5W2Bb7LjqmI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phe04qaT3R8
4. Eddie Van Halen
Come on now. You know Mr. Van Halen. He gets props from me for a very clean tone, catchy, intricate playing, and an intense clarity to his sound. Does that make sense? Every note stands out. It's insane how precise he is, and the fact that he is playing beautiful music makes it sublime. He's the master of tapping and whammy work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_lwocmL9dQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNWArv4J4J8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uqxo1SKB0z8
Anyhow, I hope this colors your vision the next time you hear someone decry Clapton's "Layla" as the best piece of guitarwork ever written. Nay, sir. I say nay.
Sadly I have not yet attained the level of masterful wankery of a Joe Satriani or Steve Vai - and personally I don't think it's likely. It's just too much time - and to an extent, it's a waste. I don't see any better songs coming out of Satriani or Vai than your average workaday metal guitarist - in fact, it's pretty much the opposite. They've spent so much time on technical mastery that they are severely lacking in the songwriting department.
So I'm not a Vai or Satriani fan. Who do I get my guitar jollies from, and why?
1. Tak Matsumoto
Tak has been tearing shit up for a good twenty years as a member of the biggest rock band in Japan, B'z. No, I don't know how to pronounce that either.
He's not an insane shredder - I've never heard any lightning-fast arpeggios or tremolo picking on his work, but that's understandable - it doesn't really fit with the blues-based rock style he uses. In a single word, homeboi got soul.
When you feel some sort of fundamental yearning evoked by the soaring of a guitar run, there is something pretty undeniable at work there. Tak does this over and over again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytRq0_ImVAg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0auUw19cgQg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIwXM1A1tvU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zaGI4KGyTg
2. Michael Schenker
Still alive, still insane. Schenker is not very well known in the United States either - he was the lead guitarist for The Scorpions, which are probably only known for their song "Rock You Like a Hurricane." He also played lead for UFO, which I've found that not many people know.
However, you are a sad sack of man if you die not having heard Michael Schenker. He's one of the forefathers of kickass soloing. He's pretty much one of the heroes of metal guitar.
It's hard to aptly describe his music - rather just let it do the talking.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMMFfLc9cek
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGY0KEGVK6Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Blvnoao1WO0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEyvrZfHoZQ
If you listen to nothing else on this entry, listen to something of Schenker's.
3. Kristian Niemann
Kristian Niemann is the interestingly-facial-haired guitarist (actually, former guitarist) of Therion, a gothic metal band of ...strange repute. They're associated with a cult, Dragon Rouge, and the cult leader actually writes all their lyrics - they're filled with mysticism and ancient, non-Christian gods. Strange, but cool.
Mr. Niemann can really write some barn-burning solos, as well as infinitely catchy and startlingly simplistic lead melodies. For this he has garnered much recognition from me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqsQEOBx1MM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5W2Bb7LjqmI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phe04qaT3R8
4. Eddie Van Halen
Come on now. You know Mr. Van Halen. He gets props from me for a very clean tone, catchy, intricate playing, and an intense clarity to his sound. Does that make sense? Every note stands out. It's insane how precise he is, and the fact that he is playing beautiful music makes it sublime. He's the master of tapping and whammy work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_lwocmL9dQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNWArv4J4J8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uqxo1SKB0z8
Anyhow, I hope this colors your vision the next time you hear someone decry Clapton's "Layla" as the best piece of guitarwork ever written. Nay, sir. I say nay.
Does It Make You Nervous
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
I feel this is an ideal time to expound upon some of the musical virtues of albums released in 2009. I confess that my tastes usually trend towards metal and hardcore, but I've been doing some cross-genre pollination of my mind. Therefore, quite a few albums do not feature howling Scandinavians.
I, of course, reserve the right to change my mind about what's awesome anytime between now and the end of December. But here's what I've got for now...the top 9 of 2009, so far - in no particular order.
1) Silversun Pickups - Swoon
Swoon is a very lush, warm-sounding album despite not necessarily having a lot going on. It's some sort of dreary rock or upbeat shoegaze - more angry, perhaps, than sad. The bassist, Nikki Monninger, seems to have a more prominent role in vocals than in past albums - I think. It's difficult to tell who is actually singing - the liner notes list Brian Aubert as lead vocals, but is that really a man doing that smooth, sultry singing? It would seem so from some of their music videos, but my brain refuses to believe this.
There are some very good lyrical turns of phrase that unite the songs for me, without possessing the sort of long-winded post-punk sardonic irony that sometimes annoys me:
"When you see yourself in a crowded room
Do your fingers itch, are you pistol-whipped?
And will you step in line or release the glitch?
And can you fall asleep with a panic switch?"
The most notable tracks on the album for me are Growing Old Is Getting Old, Panic Switch, Sort Of, and Substitution. The others are certainly still solid but these possess some truly monumental choruses. All in all, not terribly difficult listening, but not necessarily simple either.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AG8fugqFn9Q
2) Wiz Khalifa - Flight School
I've not been a huge hip-hop fan in the past, but Wiz Khalifa has essentially single-handedly converted me. A rapper from my somewhat native city of Pittsburgh, his ear for melody (or at least a good producer) and his ability to amuse me with seemingly shallow lyrics makes his music pretty irresistible. Yes, he's primarily concerned with weed and women, but every so often he drops something serious - Change Up on his last mixtape, Star Power - and on this one, my pick is probably Never Ever. I don't know if he'll ever necessarily return to the seriousness found on his first full-length, "Something To Prove", but as long as he keeps making songs of that ilk I'll be happy.
Flight School is a mixtape, and as such is full of silly introductions, random segues, and contains maybe as many outright hits as misses. I think its a format with legitimacy, as it lets musicians like Wiz experiment with different sorts of songs without worrying about the release failing as a whole.
His stuff about success from struggle is certainly the most interesting - the best songs on this mixtape are Boarding Pass, Get Sum, Kleenex, Never Ever, and Sky High.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRMzytOtrVU
3) Fact - Fact
I am not even certain what genre to try and pigeonhole Fact as. They're something like melodic hardcore - but...from Japan? I don't know either. The lead singer has a little bit of an accent, but not worth losing sleep over, considering the range and clarity of his voice. Their music ranges from moody to ferocious to hyperactive, but always with driving rhythm and a soaring voice overtop. It's been my go-to album for driving around with the windows down and the sun shining.
As far as I can tell, this is their debut release. They're remarkably talented for that - there is some fairly complex drumming and guitar work going on here and they just sound very polished. The consistent quality of the songs is pretty astounding, too - and just the sheer heartfeltness of the music. It shines through, rather than seeming overemoted, as I think is too often the case with some punk-derived bands.
There are enough good songs on the release that it's almost pointless to list them, but regardless - highlights are Paradox, A Fact of Life, Lights of Vein, Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, and Stretch My Arms.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDiUGLuVxCI
4) Amorphis - Skyforger
Aight, let's get to some Scandinavians. Amorphis is probably one of the most-changed bands of the early 90's death metal scene around the Sweden and Finland area, but thankfully they've actually evolved in a positive direction. Certainly this release is a little different from "Tales from the Thousand Lakes" in style but I would in no way argue that this release is inferior.
Amorphis is known for infusing strange elements into a fairly straightforward heavy metal approach - they've incorporated organs, saxophones, and Finnish folk elements with relative impunity. They made one rather lackluster album way back when (Far from the Sun) but I regard that as water under the bridge.
Skyforger finds them treading familiar territory to Eclipse and Silent Waters - strong folk-infused melodies that soar and rage. Not songs that are difficult to listen to - they're remarkably ensnaring despite the relative musical simplicity of what's actually happening. It really is all about execution in their case - everything is just done well. It certainly does not hurt that they have penned some damn catchy choruses, and that the lyrics deal with one of my favorite subjects: Finnish mythology. The songs center around the travels and stories of Ilmarinen - in the Finnish national epic, The Kalevala, he is the smith of the world.
Highlights: Sampo, Silver Bride, Sky Is Mine, Majestic Beast.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qjiWb1O_L4
(if the Ilmarinen from the video looks familiar to you, I might question whether he is any relation to the fellow from Kalmah's video for "Groan of the Wind"...)
5) The Sounds - Crossing the Rubicon
Damn, the Sounds are catchy motherfuckers. The opening twenty seconds of their songs reveal that, in a general way - but then their hook-laden verses and choruses slam into your skull like pink, fluffy clouds - and they will not leave. During my early morning run today with punk rock-knowledgeable companion, my friend labeled them dance punk (at least in their former endeavors). Now I'm not so sure I buy that label - I feel happier with the generi-label of indie rock because then I don't have to deal with punk nuances. Which is sort of a contradictory turn of phrase anyhow...
It's good summer music - at least the first half. The latter half of the album gets a little gloomy but not necessarily in a bad way. Just in a gloomy, more downbeat way.
Maja - the lead singer - has a good voice, and whoever their primary songwriter is has a very good ear for amping up and opening the sound of a song. The music is very deftly written.
Recommended: No One Sleeps When I'm Awake, Beat Box, Midnight Sun, Four Songs and a Fight
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Muci-5Yt0o
6) The Gathering - The West Pole
Once there were beautiful trees
Now there are concrete seas
An eerie calm has befallen the land
Cacophany of wonderful sounds
Is replaced by a symphony of silence
The Gathering's latest album, The West Pole, marks their 9th release and their 20th (!) year of existence. It brings with it a new vocalist, Silje Wergeland, which doesn't really make a difference to me as this is the first release of theirs I have ever listened to.
In a way, this album bears a good deal of similarity to "Swoon", but approached from a different style. Silversun Pickups have their roots in punk and indie - The Gathering in metal. Both have an ambient sound, a warmness, to them, but the differences shine through in small ways. The drumming on Swoon has a pretty familiar shuffle pattern (often repeated, from song to song) - the walking bass line is a recurring theme. The West Pole has a much more pounding rhythm section and a more muted bass - metal, of course, being notorious for burying the bassline. The lyrical style also reflects the differences between the two musical cultures but I think I actually prefer Silversun Pickups in that regard. The fact that The Gathering are Danish may hurt them a little in this respect.
Recommended: All You Are, No Bird Call, The West Pole.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpAP4wvmpWA
7) Skyfire - Fractal
Anyone who knows me to any degree of thoroughness should have expected this EP to be on my list. Only an EP of four songs, and it's included on my top albums? Oh yes. Most assuredly, monsieur.
It's been a good four years since Skyfire has released new material, and this stuff certainly holds up to scrutiny. Their previous two releases, Mind Revolution and Spectral, saw them drifting away from their debut's bombastic power-metal-esque leanings.
Fractal is a reassuring lean back towards the direction of their music on their debut album, Timeless Departure. With a lot of lineup changes and quite a bit of time passing...it's always difficult to say if an album will live up to your expectations. Fractal manages to qualm my fanboy fears.
There's a hell of a lot going on here. Skyfire's first ever released songs with guitar solos, their first with a new vocalist (Joakim Jonsson) and new lead guitarist (Johan Reinholdz, of Andromeda fame) - and certainly their first hint of their music's new direction.
It's got big keyboards all over the place. One could even say that the four songs are gratuitously filled with tinkling pianos and huge synthesizers - in addition to a howling Swede and blistering guitar. This is precisely what my heart of hearts longed for - the combination of the almost-mystical sounding atmosphere of piano and frenetic, progressive rhythm work is this band's staple, the unique stamp that sets them apart from the other hordes of melodeath pretenders.
Recommendations: Uhh...all four of the songs? If I have to choose one, probably "The Transgressor Within" or "Esoteric."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8wap5z6Lew
8) Anubis Gate - The Detached
I'm a notorious sucker for progressive bands with awesome guitar. Anubis Gate definitely possesses aforementioned 'awesome guitar' - which is not merely blinding speed but a vested interest in melody and coherence in song.
They also have a good bit of atmosphere going on in their music - letting the background be filled in with the small touches that make songs full and powerful - the echoing of a chorus of voices and the slow hum of strings.
The caterwauling of their vocalist doesn't always quite mesh with their music - but the compositions are so solidly filled with hooks that I cannot resist their clarion call. Usually his voice in the lower register is a lot more compelling. Pretty brilliant despite my small qualm about his tone.
Recommendations: Dodecahedron, Pyramids, Out of Time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WY72p7CwD-4
9) Skyfire - Esoteric
I'm just going to leave this here.
I, of course, reserve the right to change my mind about what's awesome anytime between now and the end of December. But here's what I've got for now...the top 9 of 2009, so far - in no particular order.
1) Silversun Pickups - Swoon
Swoon is a very lush, warm-sounding album despite not necessarily having a lot going on. It's some sort of dreary rock or upbeat shoegaze - more angry, perhaps, than sad. The bassist, Nikki Monninger, seems to have a more prominent role in vocals than in past albums - I think. It's difficult to tell who is actually singing - the liner notes list Brian Aubert as lead vocals, but is that really a man doing that smooth, sultry singing? It would seem so from some of their music videos, but my brain refuses to believe this.
There are some very good lyrical turns of phrase that unite the songs for me, without possessing the sort of long-winded post-punk sardonic irony that sometimes annoys me:
"When you see yourself in a crowded room
Do your fingers itch, are you pistol-whipped?
And will you step in line or release the glitch?
And can you fall asleep with a panic switch?"
The most notable tracks on the album for me are Growing Old Is Getting Old, Panic Switch, Sort Of, and Substitution. The others are certainly still solid but these possess some truly monumental choruses. All in all, not terribly difficult listening, but not necessarily simple either.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AG8fugqFn9Q
2) Wiz Khalifa - Flight School
I've not been a huge hip-hop fan in the past, but Wiz Khalifa has essentially single-handedly converted me. A rapper from my somewhat native city of Pittsburgh, his ear for melody (or at least a good producer) and his ability to amuse me with seemingly shallow lyrics makes his music pretty irresistible. Yes, he's primarily concerned with weed and women, but every so often he drops something serious - Change Up on his last mixtape, Star Power - and on this one, my pick is probably Never Ever. I don't know if he'll ever necessarily return to the seriousness found on his first full-length, "Something To Prove", but as long as he keeps making songs of that ilk I'll be happy.
Flight School is a mixtape, and as such is full of silly introductions, random segues, and contains maybe as many outright hits as misses. I think its a format with legitimacy, as it lets musicians like Wiz experiment with different sorts of songs without worrying about the release failing as a whole.
His stuff about success from struggle is certainly the most interesting - the best songs on this mixtape are Boarding Pass, Get Sum, Kleenex, Never Ever, and Sky High.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRMzytOtrVU
3) Fact - Fact
I am not even certain what genre to try and pigeonhole Fact as. They're something like melodic hardcore - but...from Japan? I don't know either. The lead singer has a little bit of an accent, but not worth losing sleep over, considering the range and clarity of his voice. Their music ranges from moody to ferocious to hyperactive, but always with driving rhythm and a soaring voice overtop. It's been my go-to album for driving around with the windows down and the sun shining.
As far as I can tell, this is their debut release. They're remarkably talented for that - there is some fairly complex drumming and guitar work going on here and they just sound very polished. The consistent quality of the songs is pretty astounding, too - and just the sheer heartfeltness of the music. It shines through, rather than seeming overemoted, as I think is too often the case with some punk-derived bands.
There are enough good songs on the release that it's almost pointless to list them, but regardless - highlights are Paradox, A Fact of Life, Lights of Vein, Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, and Stretch My Arms.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDiUGLuVxCI
4) Amorphis - Skyforger
Aight, let's get to some Scandinavians. Amorphis is probably one of the most-changed bands of the early 90's death metal scene around the Sweden and Finland area, but thankfully they've actually evolved in a positive direction. Certainly this release is a little different from "Tales from the Thousand Lakes" in style but I would in no way argue that this release is inferior.
Amorphis is known for infusing strange elements into a fairly straightforward heavy metal approach - they've incorporated organs, saxophones, and Finnish folk elements with relative impunity. They made one rather lackluster album way back when (Far from the Sun) but I regard that as water under the bridge.
Skyforger finds them treading familiar territory to Eclipse and Silent Waters - strong folk-infused melodies that soar and rage. Not songs that are difficult to listen to - they're remarkably ensnaring despite the relative musical simplicity of what's actually happening. It really is all about execution in their case - everything is just done well. It certainly does not hurt that they have penned some damn catchy choruses, and that the lyrics deal with one of my favorite subjects: Finnish mythology. The songs center around the travels and stories of Ilmarinen - in the Finnish national epic, The Kalevala, he is the smith of the world.
Highlights: Sampo, Silver Bride, Sky Is Mine, Majestic Beast.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qjiWb1O_L4
(if the Ilmarinen from the video looks familiar to you, I might question whether he is any relation to the fellow from Kalmah's video for "Groan of the Wind"...)
5) The Sounds - Crossing the Rubicon
Damn, the Sounds are catchy motherfuckers. The opening twenty seconds of their songs reveal that, in a general way - but then their hook-laden verses and choruses slam into your skull like pink, fluffy clouds - and they will not leave. During my early morning run today with punk rock-knowledgeable companion, my friend labeled them dance punk (at least in their former endeavors). Now I'm not so sure I buy that label - I feel happier with the generi-label of indie rock because then I don't have to deal with punk nuances. Which is sort of a contradictory turn of phrase anyhow...
It's good summer music - at least the first half. The latter half of the album gets a little gloomy but not necessarily in a bad way. Just in a gloomy, more downbeat way.
Maja - the lead singer - has a good voice, and whoever their primary songwriter is has a very good ear for amping up and opening the sound of a song. The music is very deftly written.
Recommended: No One Sleeps When I'm Awake, Beat Box, Midnight Sun, Four Songs and a Fight
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Muci-5Yt0o
6) The Gathering - The West Pole
Once there were beautiful trees
Now there are concrete seas
An eerie calm has befallen the land
Cacophany of wonderful sounds
Is replaced by a symphony of silence
The Gathering's latest album, The West Pole, marks their 9th release and their 20th (!) year of existence. It brings with it a new vocalist, Silje Wergeland, which doesn't really make a difference to me as this is the first release of theirs I have ever listened to.
In a way, this album bears a good deal of similarity to "Swoon", but approached from a different style. Silversun Pickups have their roots in punk and indie - The Gathering in metal. Both have an ambient sound, a warmness, to them, but the differences shine through in small ways. The drumming on Swoon has a pretty familiar shuffle pattern (often repeated, from song to song) - the walking bass line is a recurring theme. The West Pole has a much more pounding rhythm section and a more muted bass - metal, of course, being notorious for burying the bassline. The lyrical style also reflects the differences between the two musical cultures but I think I actually prefer Silversun Pickups in that regard. The fact that The Gathering are Danish may hurt them a little in this respect.
Recommended: All You Are, No Bird Call, The West Pole.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpAP4wvmpWA
7) Skyfire - Fractal
Anyone who knows me to any degree of thoroughness should have expected this EP to be on my list. Only an EP of four songs, and it's included on my top albums? Oh yes. Most assuredly, monsieur.
It's been a good four years since Skyfire has released new material, and this stuff certainly holds up to scrutiny. Their previous two releases, Mind Revolution and Spectral, saw them drifting away from their debut's bombastic power-metal-esque leanings.
Fractal is a reassuring lean back towards the direction of their music on their debut album, Timeless Departure. With a lot of lineup changes and quite a bit of time passing...it's always difficult to say if an album will live up to your expectations. Fractal manages to qualm my fanboy fears.
There's a hell of a lot going on here. Skyfire's first ever released songs with guitar solos, their first with a new vocalist (Joakim Jonsson) and new lead guitarist (Johan Reinholdz, of Andromeda fame) - and certainly their first hint of their music's new direction.
It's got big keyboards all over the place. One could even say that the four songs are gratuitously filled with tinkling pianos and huge synthesizers - in addition to a howling Swede and blistering guitar. This is precisely what my heart of hearts longed for - the combination of the almost-mystical sounding atmosphere of piano and frenetic, progressive rhythm work is this band's staple, the unique stamp that sets them apart from the other hordes of melodeath pretenders.
Recommendations: Uhh...all four of the songs? If I have to choose one, probably "The Transgressor Within" or "Esoteric."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8wap5z6Lew
8) Anubis Gate - The Detached
I'm a notorious sucker for progressive bands with awesome guitar. Anubis Gate definitely possesses aforementioned 'awesome guitar' - which is not merely blinding speed but a vested interest in melody and coherence in song.
They also have a good bit of atmosphere going on in their music - letting the background be filled in with the small touches that make songs full and powerful - the echoing of a chorus of voices and the slow hum of strings.
The caterwauling of their vocalist doesn't always quite mesh with their music - but the compositions are so solidly filled with hooks that I cannot resist their clarion call. Usually his voice in the lower register is a lot more compelling. Pretty brilliant despite my small qualm about his tone.
Recommendations: Dodecahedron, Pyramids, Out of Time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WY72p7CwD-4
9) Skyfire - Esoteric
I'm just going to leave this here.
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