Dishwashing Through Other Eyes

I want you to listen to this with your eyes closed, without a single thought on the brain. I want you to let this literal environment of noise and music surround you, as it did me. When I first heard this, I had the good fortune of hearing it through a full surround sound speaker system so if you have have that luxury, I highly recomend it. It truly surrounds you. Let emotion or thought come and go, like a river through your being. Just embrace whatever this piece of work brings to you.
Created by two very important people in my life, this music touches my soul because it captures alot of human contradiction in its 5 minute duration. It's quiet yet loud, soft yet thunderous, focused yet unfocused, passive yet aggresive. But most of all, it doesn't force any sort of ideas or emotions onto the listener, its not that sort of easy listen... it inspires and brings them out from within.
It's honest, it leaves an impression and it provokes thought. This is the most true music can hope to do.
It's the work of some truly talented and amazing people. Enjoy!

Tunng - "And Then We Saw The Land"

Dontcha love it when a band can simultainiously make you think, and put your mind at ease?
Paradoxical, I know. But so is combining electronica with folk, yet Tunng does just that. With style.
This charming blend of simple chords and wrap-around textures is exactly the kinda thing that goes down well with tea, or a bike ride. Anything that soothes the soul, because these guys do that in spades! I really hope you like it!

01. Hustle
02. It Breaks
03. Don't Look Down Or Back
04. The Roadside
05. October
06. Sashimi
07. With Whiskey
08. By Dusk They Were In The City
09. These Winds
10. Santiago
11. Weekend Away

DL Link here!

Martyrdod - "Sekt"

Every now and then, I hear an album old or new that reminds me why I love crust punk music. "Sekt" is one of them, coming from the always reliable Sweden to burn a sound of hatred and disgust right into my eardrums. Walls of sound, ominous and fast riffs, d-beats, blastbeats, and lyrics so powerfully delivered, it doesnt matter what language there in... Martyrdod is REALLY good, in case I'm to subtle for you! The neat thing about this album is that despite its raw production and vibe, there is seriously potent song writting and musicianship on this album. The riffs all sound iconic but never recycled, bringing a fresh take on a genre prone to generica. And while none of it is to revolutionary, its all delivered with such intensity that its impossible not to like. Add an obvious black metal influence and the occasional split second solo that riffs on (gasp!) heavy metal, and you have an album so deceptively varied that it recquires multiple listens. Throw this on and smash some states!

1. Livets Strängar Dödsackord
2. Nåd
3. Gloria Runt Iris
4. 6 Grader Till Helvetet
5. Sekt
6. Vanmakt
7. En Demon
8. Kärleksmässan
9. Död Åt Vek Punk
10. Cassiopeia
11. Stormfödd
12. Gast

DL Link here!

G.A.T.E.S - "Total Death"

In between creating crazy comics and encouraging freaky sex fetishes, Japan churns out some seriously solid punk music, music so aggresive it hits you like a bulldozer! From the lo fi hatred of Disclose to the menace and swagger of Gism, its a whole world that oughta be recquired listening for anyone getting into punk music! G.A.T.E.S throws a biker hat into the fray with a rocking sound that brings to mind Discharge, Tank, and Motorhead, all d-beats and solos just long enough to crack open another beer! I cant emphasize the Motorhead influence enough here, and in no way do I mean that as an insult. In fact, the "Overkill" cover on this album could easily be mistaken for the legendary band and pounding bass metal punk assault will make you wanna throw back a shot of whiskey and jump on the nearest bike! I hope you dig it!

1. G.A.T.E.S.
2. Sacrifice
3. Demon Crusade
4. Night Howl
5. Filth
6. Long Live the Evil
7. Overkill (Motörhead Cover)

DL Link here!

Peachcake - "What Year Will You have The World?"

This kinda stuff always puts a smile on my face, and I swear it'll slap a big ole grin on yours to! Upbeat electronic dream pop with a breezy yet enveloping sound, Peachcake plays quirky little tunes that leave a handprint on your soul, be it small or large. Drum machines may have no soul, but Peachcake sure tries, and the unique synth riffs decorate everything like candycanes on a christmas tree! Not only that, there lyrics are super catchy, blending snarky puns on famous catchphrases and songs with genuine feelings and soul.
Its sweet without being sugary, airy without floating to much. You gotta chill out and slip away from all the noise of this world every now and then. Put this on at the end of a bad week and you will look back and laugh, I know I have! (track 2 is my fave) =]

1. Welcome to the Party to Save the World!
2. Are Your People Ready to Shrink Continents?!
3. Did I Just do That, or was it Jim Carrey?
4. How to Get to the Moon and Back on a Half a Tank of Gas (As Told by the Great Racecar Driver From Outer-Space)
5. Flight of the Space Owl: The Contentions of the Great Space Panda...
6. Souls Have No Drum Machine
7. Make Movement, Not War!
8. Stop Acting Like You Know More About the Internet Cafe Than Me
9. Kyle's Words of Wisdom (Section 2 Part 39)
10. Need Room? We Have Space! (December 22nd)
11. Nervous Breakdance!
12. Jeremiah, Stop Taking Bukowski So Seriously...
13. Keep the World Safe, Tony Soprano
14. Welcome to the Post-Apocalypto Mall
15. The Song of the Century!

DL Link here!

upcoming show; ILL INTENT

ILL INTENT (SEATTLE) http://www.myspace.com/illintent206
FRUSTRATION (DUBLIN) http://www.myspace.com/frustrationhc
OLD PROBLEMS (SASKATOON) http://www.myspace.com/oldproblems
...THE ILLUSTRATED (CALGARY) http://www.myspace.com/theillustratedca
RUNAWAYS (CALGARY) http://www.myspace.com/runawayshc

New Black Centre
$10, Doors at 6 pm
No Drugs or alcohol

be there! be violent! stay free!

Cress - "Propaganda And Lies"

Not to be confused with a certain OTHER similiarly named anarcho band, Cress is straight up anarcho with street punk influences. Nice, fast, to the point, just like this post. Hope you enjoy!

01 Earth
02 TV Screen
03 Prisons
04 Progress
05 Fears
06 Monuments
07 Beast
08 One
09 DIY
10 Sirens
11 Machines
12 Illusions
13 Safe
14 Two Veg
15 Own Eyes
16 Manslaughter
17 Christs
18 Violate
19 Mans Laughter
20 Mentality
21 Consume

DL Link here!

aural

Music will forever be linked to certain memories and as human beings, we have no choice of this. We are naturally aural creatures and anything we see, hear or smell while experiancing events of rapid personal change are bound to stick with us. There are certain notes, certain chord progressions, certain key signatures that will forever bring chills to my spine and tears to my eyes as I get lost in the mirrors of my brain, reminiscing. They cut through my heart like a hot wire through ice, and they touch my soul like a rock being skipped across the river.
Music, in its truest form, is like a good book to me. Its form, its impact can vary; how I remember it is what counts. If it touches the soul, the mind, or the body, then music has succeeded in saving your life; for what would you have done without that one song to get you through it all?

The Black Keys - "The Big Come Up"

The Black Keys have been getting a decent amount of media coverage lately, what with so many of there songs being used in movies. Still, this is the album that noones heard, the first spark in the smoky barrel of blues that is The Black Keys.
Made up of a singer/guitarist and a drummer, The Black Keys may seem like a White Stripes rip but dont write them off in any way! While the Stripes stick to simple riffs that drive into your skull, the Keys treat each song like a jam session, trading drum fills and guitar licks like cards in a poker game. Its loud, hard edged, sexy, soulful blues with some of the COOLEST vocals I have ever heard! If The Black Keys don't make you want to seduce someone, then I don't know what will!

1. Busted
2. Do the Rump
3. I'll Be Your Man
4. Countdown
5. Breaks, The
6. Run Me Down
7. Leavin' Trunk
8. Heavy Soul
9. She Said, She Said
10. Them Eyes
11. Yearnin'
12. Brooklyn Bound
13. 240 Years Before Your Time

DL Link here!

Movie Soundtrack - "Les Triplettes De Belleville"

This may seem like an odd listen.. and don't worry, because it totally is. In fact, this soundtrack to the french animation movie of the same name is such a surreal treat of an album that I guerentee it will get stuck in your head for days, its gypsy like rythms and smooth jazz work leaving a creepishly awesome mark in your brain.
I got my first taste of this album when I watched the animated movie in question for the first time. The movie relied so heavily on its music rather then dialogue that it was impossible not to get into it, and let me tell you, its pretty fucking rad. Smooth jazz, freaky folk, up tempo swing, gypsy madness, and an overall sour taste that is just to sweet to resist. I highly recomend giving the movie a try by the way. The fact that its in french makes no difference, due to its silent nature.
I was actually in a play recently that utilized quite a few tracks from this soundtrack. Its a bizarre and insanely catchy treat, download and feel a little wicked my friends!

1. Sous Le Pont (1:51)
2. Belleville Rendez-Vous (French version
3. Générique D'ouverture
4. Cabaret D'ouverture
5. Tour De France
6. Attila Marcel
7. Thème Bruno
8. Tout Doux Bruno
9. Belleville Rendez-Vous (Maquette)
10. Thème De La French Mafia
11. Bach A La Jazz
12. Cabaret Aspirateur
13. La Jungle De Belleville
14. Barbier " Cieco, Cieco"
15. Pa Pa Pa Palavas
16. Retour De La French Mafia
17. Filiature
18. Poursuite
19. Belleville Rendez-Vous (English version)

DL Link here!

oh me, oh you

this really sucks, everything I write sounds so cheesy to my ears! I keep putting my feelings down for you in song and they sound so cliche. Gah. Maybe there is nothing I can do. Maybe its just cliche to be happy.

Agent Orange - "Living In Darkness"

All you gotta do is listen to the chorus of "Bloodstains" to know whats up; "I lost my sense I lost control I lost my mind" Agent Orange cried, echoing the discontent that many kids of the 80's felt. It was a time of change, of stupid music scenes, judgemental folks, bright lights, and cheap wine. Agent Orange is a perfect snapshot of this chaos!
Playing a unique brand of surf/punk/skate/metal music, Agent Orange bursted onto the punk scene in 1981 with this underrated gem. Noone paid attention. The fact was Agent Orange consisted of three kids, not really caring for there clothing or who they played for, playing this strange music, covering surf classics like "Miserlou" in punk fashion and just straight up not giving a shit. It was... unique. You gotta realize this was at the dawn of the 80's, the segregation of scenes was commencing and punk fans were becoming more judgemental by the day! Gone was the old pipe dream of art school drop outs and washed out stoners all coexisting in peace; in was the brigade of identical mohawked, boot laced, studded punk kids, shoving there ideals and music tastes on anyone who didn't fit the description. Agent Orange didn't fit the description, they just happened to be amazing.
I love this album and I hope you do to! "Bloodstains" and "El Dorado" remain classics in my ear.

01. Bloodstains
02. Too Young to Die
03. Everything Turns Grey
04. Miserlou
05. The Last Goodbye
06. No such Things
07. Cry for Help
08. Bloodstains.mp3
09. Living in Darkness
10. Pipeline
11. Breakdown
12. Mr. Moto
13. America
14. Bored of You
15. El Dorado
16. Agent Orange Interview

DL Link here!

miss yea, boys

Heres a list of lost souls who I wish I could meet, if only for a fleeting moment. Musicians, true artists who I will never actually have the chance to meet.

Joe Strummer

John Mellor. Joe Strummer. Complete Control. Complete hero.
Joe Strummer was a soulful, wise, independant man who's soul shone through in the music he wrote and the ideals he expressed. He was a pub philosopher, a punk hero, a protest icon. He changed the world, one way or another. He inspired and continues to inspire so, so much in me and I wish more then anything the world hadn't lost his spark of life. It was one of the brightest sparks this world has ever seen.

Bob Marley

Bob Marley was an advocate of peace, a voice of the people, an intrument of change. His music was both rabble rousing and soothing as rainfall; his demeanor was light, carefree, and full of life. His soul touching voice and love of life left a mark on this world that noone forgets, as evidenced by the Bob Marley shirts I see every day on the bus.

Woody Guthrie

In an era of depression and change, dry winds and empty wallets, Woody Guthrie did what so few people did back in those days; he spoke, sung, and strummed his mind. Singing both tall tales and political rants, utilizing a barebones knowledge of a fretboard, Woody Guthrie killed fascists with his guitar and paved the way for people everywhere, myself included, to stand up and speak there mind.

Quorthon

Noone influnced metal like Quorthon. Noone. Channeling his rage and knowledge into anthems of despair, his music left an impression on the ear and a mark on the soul. He single handedly created two seperate genres of music, did everything himself, and paved oppurtunities for himself. In doing so, he paved the paths of hundreds of fellow musicians and artists. His death marked the loss of a true musical genious.

Coil - "Unnatural History"

Another band my girlfriend showed me, Coil was a mind warping, horizon stretching industrial music project and honestly... they were undescribable. In my gal`s own words, "you have to listen to it with an open mind to understand its brilliance."
And its true!
Its incredibly atmospheric, dark, thought provoking, artistic, and creepy at times music. It can be a little upsetting to listen too at times, with it`s unsettling ambience and use of sounds/textures. It can sound like nothing and everything at the same time, a million ideas and sounds throbbing into your skull tempered with the sweet reprieve of silence. This is the kind of music that is a true statement, something dragged up from the dephs of someones soul, music that is "experianced" moreso then listened to, best heard with darkness and candles. I personally use it to help me sleep, morbid as that may seem!
My jumping stone into Coil was actually a track off of the live album "...And the Ambulance Died in His Arms." I heard it with my eyes closed, while travelling on a train. The feeling of the train hurtling forward, the environment of sound that consumed me... it was amazing! This, however, is a compilation of Coil`s earlier work. It`s an amazing listen. Stay free!

1."Various Hands
2."The Swelling of Leeches"
3."The Pope Held Upside Down"
4."His Body Was a Playground for the Nazi Elite"
5."Homage to Sewage"
6."Here to Here (Double Headed Secret)"
7."S Is for Sleep"
8."Dream Photography"
9."Comfortable"
10."Never"
11."Penetralia II"
12."Sicktone"
13."How to Destroy Angels"

DL Link here!

Darkthrone - "A New Dimension"

First, lets just get this out of the way; Darkthrone is hands down one of my favorite bands of all time. No question! They are true artists, constantly evolving and making consistently amazing music that spands so many genres, its dizzying. Like any other self respecting fellow, I love "A Blaze In The Northern Sky" "The Cult Is Alive," and "Transylvanian Hunger," but this old '88 demo of theres is something I had never heard of until recently. I think it just may be better, in two songs, then any of those albums combined!
Consisting of one 40 second long ambient intro and one 9 minute killer of a song, this is a short and sweet showcase of why I love this band. Guitar heroics and pointless widdling are negated! No, what you have here is raw, driving black metal with death and crust influences. Catchy riffs, d-beats, straight up fucking metal. You think Darkthrone just up and switched to crust punk with FOAD? Think again when you hear this demo! Its killer, one of my favorite recent listens, and definatly worth a place in your library!

1. "Intro - Twilight Dimension"
2. "Snowfall"

DL Link here!

Wolfpack - "A New Dawn Fades"

Before there was Wolfbrigade, there was Wolfpack! An extremely influential band that played a mix of d-beat, crust, and death metal, Wolfpack paved the way for many bands like Tragedy and Skitsystem, combining the new level of heavy that crust punk was known for with the grinding speed and aggression of d-beat! Wolfpack changed its name to Wolfbrigade to avoid affiliation with a neo nazi group but they ALWAYS kept it heavy, and they continue to gig out today! "A New Dawn Fades" is an insanely powerful album, grabbing you by the throat from the first track and refusing to ever relent. Throw this one on when your in the mood to break shit because seriously, this will make you violent!

1. "Living Hell"
2. "Enter The Gates"
3. "Wave Of Fear"
4. "November's Delirium"
5. "Predator"
6. "Landshark"
7. "No Dreams"
8. "Get Ready To Burn"
9. "Soul On Fire"
10. "Twisted Hunger"
11. "Deep Cuts"
12. "Silencer"
13. "Outlaw Vagabond"

DL Link here!

Elliott Smith - "Either/Or"

Alot of people see Elliott Smith as another doe eyed folk artist, with his share of problems and basic knowledge of a fretboard. The fact that he killed himself just amplifies this. But I see Smith as far more then that. I see him as a man who could make no sense of his soul, a house of mirrors within his own head. Music was his way of testing the grounds and attempting to figure it all out. Nothing else made sense to him, so he just wrote was on his mind. I know I've been there, personally; you sit and suddenly your vision goes blurry, your heart ambushes you, and the only thing that can bring clarity is a heart baring hour or so with a musical instrument. I'm pretty sure everyone has been there! Ultimately, nothing could bring sense to the maze of Elliott Smith's soul and he stabbed himself. However, I like to imagine writing some of this music led him somewhere farther along his personal path. Elliott Smith may have been a lost soul, but I sincerely hope he occasionally found the right footsteps.
I could have picked any of his albums and comfortably posted it, but I chose "Either/Or" because of one song, "2:45 A.M."

1."Speed Trials"
2."Alameda"
3."Ballad of Big Nothing"
4."Between the Bars"
5."Pictures of Me"
6."No Name No. 5"
7."Rose Parade"
8."Punch and Judy"
9."Angeles"
10."Cupid's Trick"
11."2:45 AM"
12."Say Yes"

DL Link here!

truth.

"Did I listen to pop music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to pop music?"

The Jesus and Mary Chain - "Psychocandy"

Its hard to describe this album without falling to ridiculous hyper-bole, but I will try.
Few people have ever been able to tap the conscience of man like this band. Without trying to hard or to little, this album was -and still is- incredible, blunt, raw, and yet still earnestly refined. The lyrics continue to intigue me; its the kind of stuff I could comfortably read as written poetry as well as lyrics. "Too many things move fast, I can;t quite get a grip at last" they sing on my favorite track, "Taste the Floor." And it honestly leaves me speechless, how they are able to say so much while still saying so little. Soundwise, this album is a slightly surreal blend of alt and post punk, playing a fuzzed out wall of noise that is controlled by ingenious melodies well hidden underneath all the chaos. This is an amazing album, I hope you love it.

1."Just Like Honey"
2."The Living End"
3."Taste the Floor"
4."The Hardest Walk"
5."Cut Dead"
6."In a Hole"
7."Taste of Cindy"
8."Never Understand"
9."Inside Me"
10."Sowing Seeds"
11."My Little Underground"
12."You Trip Me Up"
13."Something's Wrong"
14."It's So Hard"

DL Link here!

This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb - Front Seat Solidarity

So you may be wondering where the image above came from! Well, a young adult in europe came under criminal investigation when his bike was seen to have a sticker labelled "this bike is a pipe bomb" on the body. Turns out this kid wasn't a terrorist in hiding, he was just a bike riding free soul with great taste in music! Thats his bike above!
As for the band This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb, they are jim dandy amazing. Rootsy folk music with punk energy and songs sung straight from the heart, they are my kind of band! The optimism of this prevails in every single track they write as they cover topics such as cops, unity, being married, being drunk, and everything that lies between in the cracks of the soul. Think a more optimistic Against Me, or Defiance Ohio! Throw these folks on and ride your bike, inhale fresh air, take a look at this wonderful life we lead!

1. "This Is What I Want"
2. "Selma"
3. "Body Count"
4. "Trains & Cops"
5. "Mouseteeth"
6. "A Hundred Dollars"
7. "Depression"
8. "The Arguement"
9. "Drunk Punk"
10. "Grampa"
11. "Board Of Tourism"

DL Link here!

Massgrave/Stormcrow Split

Fuck do I love Massgrave. Straight outta Vancouver, the incredibly tight brand of blackened stoner crust grind punk they play just gets me amped everytime I hear it! and this split DESTROYS.
The Massgrave portion of this split is an assault on the ears, and I mean that in the best possible way. Putrid and disgusted lyrics with contrasting howls and growls set to a hell shaking blend of blast beats, breakdowns, and brick walls of distortion. But what sets Massgrave aside from many crust/grind bands is not only the level of production and timing they put into there music, but one simple element that many grind bands miss out on; melody. Heavy and rotten as it may be, there's a discernible melody to every Massgrave song that you can hum along to and my friends, that is what kicks them up a notch. Whiplash inducingly fast and evil as hell, this band is amazing.
If Massgrave is the atom bomb, Stormcrow is the mushroom cloud, slowing things down but in no way letting up on your ear drums. I had never heard of Stormcrow prior to this split but I sure wish I had. Atmospherical heavy and crushing beats, this is stench core at its finest, taking you places you never wish you had gone. Like Amebix taken even heavier, Stormcrow plays encrusted music that calls to mind wastelands and loneliness. Contrasting the one or two minute blasts of noise that Massgrave has so perfected, Stormcrow prefers instead to drag you through the dirt rather then shove your face in it. "Poisoned Minds" in particular lulls to you an uncomfortable place, before kicking it up 20 notches. Stormcrow is dirty and rotten and I can't get enough of it.
Crust splits sometimes lack variety, but this is as good as it gets. Two perfectly contrasting bands, lyrics of hatred and despair, killer timing and brutal guitar work... this split is a must have. I hope you dig it!

MASSGRAVE

1. "At What Cost?"
2. "Only Your Mind Makes You free"
3. "Blind Folded Conscience"
4. "Corruption of Innocence"
5. "Suffering Until Death"
6. "Unconsciously Mundane"
7. "Get Over Yourself"
8. "Corporation Mind Control"
9. "Q: Landfill? A: Landfill!"

STORMCROW

1. "Poisoned Minds"
2. "Lost Hopes"
3. "The Science of Tyranny"

DL Link here!

The Ruts - "The Peel Sessions"

Henry Rollins once did a spoken word piece about how The Rut's affected him as a kid, about how song titles like "In a Rut" appealed to him as a dissaffected youth. I couldn't agree more, and adding on to that, The Ruts were one of the most criminally underrated punk bands of the 70's and 80's! Accused of being a carbon copy Clash, The Ruts found mainstream success to be elusive but I truly do not know why. The lyrics are so relevant, the instruments are so crisp and intricate yet sensible, energetic, and melodic! Yes, there is an obvious Clash influence here, but saying that a punk band is influenced by the Clash is like saying you were influenced by oxygen. Dig this great, great album and stare at the rude boys all night long!
(PS, Henry Rollins performed with The Ruts a few years ago, sitting in for the long deceased vocalist! Look it up on youtube, it looked like such a great show)

1. "Savage Circle"
2. "Babylon's Burning"
3. "Dope For Guns"
4. "Black Man's Pinch"
5. "Criminal Mind"
6. "Sus"
7. "Society"
8. "Your Just a..."
9. "It Was Cold"
10. "Something That I Said"
11. "Staring At The Rudeboys"
12. "Demolition Dancing"
13. "In A Rut"
14. "Secret Soldiers"

DL Link here!

Cymbals Eat Guitars - "Why There Are Mountains"

This little gem of lo-fi, shogaze, and indie is a treasure to behold. I learned of CEG through an interview with the lead singer of Titus Andronicus and the melodically driven wall of noise that they play has had me hooked since the moment I first heard it. At time's delirously happy and at others just plain weird, "Why There Are Mountains" is an album perfect for contemplation... or a good walk. It can be backround music, or it can be truly dissected and appreciated. The lyrics are gloriously trippy, the textures are softened yet hard, and the sound bounces happily between walls of noise and rushes of melody. This is such a cool album, and I hope you like it.

1. "And The Hazy Sea"
2. "Some Tree's"
3. "Indianna"
4. "Cold Spring"
5. "Share"
6. "What Dogs See"
7. "Wind Phoenix"
8. "The Living North"
9. "Like Blood Does"

DL Link here!

Bolt Thrower - "In Battle There Is No Law"

Bolt Throwers debut and my favorite album by them,"In Battle There Is No Law" is a great, great listen. Retaining elements of death metal while still blending in some crust punk and even grindcore elements, it's a great gateway drug if your just getting into death metal.

1."In Battle There Is No Law"
2."Challenge for Power"
3."Forgotten Existence"
4."Denial of Destiny"
5."Blind to Defeat"
6."Concession of Pain"
7."Attack in the Aftermath"
8."Psychological Warfare"
9."Nuclear Annihilation"

DL Link here!

pop music rant!

I'm really not a fan of the absolute spectacle that has become pop music. No longer is it acceptable to get up on a large, televised stage and rock out in jeans and a shirt unless your Bob Dylan; some sort of visual stimuli seems to be the norm now, as our culture has shifted to absolute opposition of merely "listening" to music. Now, we need shiny things. Now, we need a huge lighting show, costumes, fake blood and guts and plastic dongs to captivate an audience. Dancers, revolving stages, fog machines, sets, makeup, giant swings, its a circus I swear!
It has come to the point where I feel like I am watching really bad theatre and to me, really bad theatre is when a connection can't be made. I see all this nonsense and I honestly feel such a disconnect from the stage, a disconnect that cannot and will not be bridged by a bucket of fake bile and piss being dumped on my head. (thank you, Gwar.)
The fact is that none of this seems to be happening to me. As a spectator, I feel like just that; a spectator, not participating in something special as an showgoer should feel. Yes this spectacle is being presented to me and yes, its flashy. Yes, I am being drenched in it. But its also the result of hollow mountains of money, inflated ego's and my friends, there is a mile of distance between my mind and that reality.
This is why I go to live theatre. No other art form is able to so viscerally hold up a mirror to the human condition, to take everything you don't want to look at and put it on a stage in front of you. An actor looks you right in the eye, and connects with you. Capture that element and I will play along with any sort of setting or theatricality. However, what happens when all the pomp and circumstance is presented without that element of connection? You get Lady Gaga swinging around on a giant fucking sling on the television like the Looney Toons Coyote, Gwar's aforementioned assault of fecal matter, U2 dropping $750 000 a show to surround the audience in some big fucking claw thing (pictured above), and the soulless carnival that is a live KISS show.
With the possible exception of bands like Tool, or Coil who use such stage elements to add to the music and artistry, it is all a purposeless sham which does nothing but drive me away from the tune being sung to me.
I go to live shows not to be thrown into some world of empty noise and dazzling lights. In fact, I would take a musty bar over an intricate light show any day. No, I see music live to be captured in the energy and emotion of the musician, and in the case of more artistic bands, to witness how they express themselves. When those live stage elements compliment the lyric, empower the music, and stimulate the mind, it is such a beautiful thing.
But why not simply trust in the music alone! If your music is truly heartfelt, all the glitz and glamour is truly unneeded. All you have to do to make an impression on losers like me is rock your damn heart out, and mean it! Get the crowd moving and grooving, play straight from the heart, and mean every single lyric you sing, while taking comfort in the fact that your lyrics can actually be focused on without a layer of makeup obscuring your face.
As I have belaboured before, its all about honesty. Just play your music, and let the audience be captured by it's brilliance alone rather then shiny packaging and blinding lights.

Artist of the Month; Fornskog

DIY in the truest sense of the word, "Fornskog" is one of the solo projects run and operated by local musician (and good friend of mine) Phil Feiss. Self recorded, self produced, and self sufficient, Phil plays every instrument and screams every single howl of this amazing and atmospheric black metal project. Its clear even after one listen that this is powerful and driven music.
The music is like a glance into a soul, intricate and complicated with overpowering themes and beliefs. At times as calming as a walk through the woods and at other times as harsh as winter cold, Fornskog is music to immerse yourself in. To lose yourself to. Grinding hatred contrasts with soothing peace, walls of noise crash upon the framework of gentle guitar, and it all comes down too the haunting howls that Phil supplies on most songs. This is seriously incredible music. It's true, honest, and dark. I don't even want to compare it with other bands, so I will simply describe it as grinding black metal with folk and traces of ambience. But really, those are just labels; Listen for yourself to figure it out!
Phil's "fuck the industry" stance lends itself to the innate truth of his music, clear in the fact that he literally does everything himself from promotion to instrumentation. Hell, he even objects to the inevitable advertising that every band does in the comments section of a myspace page. I was even lucky enough to be supplied with the entire unreleased (and only recently mastered!) new Fornskog EP to share as a free download by Phil himself, further proving that the music of Fornskog is a statement of artistry rather then a tool of profit or gimmickry. Hopefully Phil takes it upon himself to assemble a live line-up but a part of me hopes it stays this personal! It's a refreshing blast of air to see such a real musician making his own impact, without a care for what others think.

Check out the Fornkog myspace here!


Fornskog - "Reflections of the Autumnal Wane" EP

1. "Wane of Sowilo"
2. "The Great Autumn"
3. "Voices of the Old Winds (Murmurs of Gnosis Lost)"
4. "Where Darkness is Lord and Death the Beginning (Inquisition Cover)"
5. "Outtro"

DL Link here!

SLED ISLAND!

Come to Olympic Plaza today and party down! The Thermals, Fucked Up, City of Fiction, Random Task Collective all in one day!

Look out for me!

- N

if you make it

If You Make It is something you really oughta know about. If you've ever seen a band performing on a pink couch online, it was likely through If You Make It!

http://vimeo.com/4874297

An amazing community of friendly and true people, cheap and free music, acoustic jam seshs on a pink couch! Based on the promotion of local bands in the Brooklyn area, this is where its at; and home to many bands I love. Please check out If You Make It. I guarantee, it will leave a big ole' smile on your face!


http://www.ifyoumakeit.com/

Canada Day!

Happy Canada Day! I decided to upload a few of my favorite canadian records for today! Hope you dig em!

Chad Vangaalen - "Soft Airplane"




Chad makes the most thought provoking music. Based out of Calgary, he makes and distributes most of his art/music from home, and you can feel the heartfelt pressence on this CD! Spacy indie folk with the occasional synthesizer thrown in for good measure, this album is the kind of album you just wanna sit down and listen to; it works as backround music, but you'll wanna just soak in the music, close your eyes and be taken to another place.

DL Link!

Funeral Circle - "Sinister Sacrilege"



Funeral Circle destroys. Formed in Vancouver, they play a REALLY rad for of traditional heavy/doom metal, calling to mind Pentagram, The Sword and Black Sabbath. This album sounds straight outta the 80's! Heavy riffs, dissonant vocals, and an overall crushing feel. Keep it heavy!

DL Link!

Wednesday Night Heroes - "Superiority Complex"



I got no shame in calling myself a HUGE WNH fan! Having seen them three times and owning two of their cd's, I really love the street-punk-with-style music they play. Based outta Edmonton, these guys really kick ass and clearly love what they do. Listen and learn to love!

DL Link!


Stay free friends!