Truthfully, this list is distinctly lacking in the metal department. I guess most of the metal I listen to is from my high school years, when I got pretty into the Norway goth scene. Quite cheesy, I know.
T is for Theatre of Tragedy. Originally a doom metal band, these guys set a pretty dark, gothic mood, complete with some rad piano pieces and orchestral melodies.
Not to mention the old movie samples. I know it's cheesy as hell, but I think they did a fucking great job with that one.
They struck a fine balance, contrasting deep male vocals with female soprano vocals. This mesh of vocals has remained the same through their significant change in musical style.
With the release of the album Musique, it was quite clear that Theatre of Tragedy would never be the same.
At this point most diehard fans were about ready to cry. The new synthpop/industrial style was pretty much the opposite of what they were looking forward to, and a lot of people saw it as "selling out."
Me? If there's anything this month of blog posts has demonstrated, it's that I'm a total sucker for electronic music. I thought it was so fucking cool.
Then the record Assembly came out, and the electronic style was even more refined. Everything was so tight, and the combination of heavy guitar and sweet ass boops and beeps just seemed so badass to me! Like, fuckin'... Universal Race. That's all I know how to say right now, and that pretty much says it all for me.
Since then, Theatre of Tragedy have released a few more albums, but I've had a hard time getting into them. Gone is the Electro pop sound, and long gone is the doom metal sound. I have a hard time viewing their newer albums as much more than generic overproduced metal. Pretty disappointing, though I am glad they didn't overdo either of their prior musical styles. Even so, I think I'd rather see a band break up than actively choose to suck ass. This is the point where I'm ready to hop on the "sellouts" bandwagon, sad but true.
Also, honorable mention goes to another norwegian gothic metal band, Tristania.
I've only heard the album Widow's Weeds, but it looks like they've been quite prolific since.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Entry 11: Fortune
Nothing too spectacular, but I did promise art. I drew this a few weeks back, and while I don't have a scanner, I do have a camera, and that will just have to suffice.
I've been pretentiously referring to it as "a study of my right hand and my left ventricle."
Don't think too hard about it, you might end up like me.
Don't think too hard about it, you might end up like me.
Something I've been waiting for.
Seriously, all month I've been waiting for this one, and I'm probably the only person that's actually stoked about these guys too. A sad fact of life.
S is for Starship Amazing. While not technically chiptunes artists, these guys draw a lot of inspiration from video game music, and the result is something I couldn't possibly be happier with. I mean, goddamn!
(Everybody's Got) A Case Of The Glitches by Starship Amazing
8-BIT BONER!
I could listen to that song on loop for probably the better part of a week.
Over the past two years or so I've been listening to a lot of these guys. I'm not going to say it's for everyone, or even most people. It's all electronics, no vocals, and quite goofy at times. Nevertheless, they're one of my favorite bands to just throw on while I'm walking or whatever. Obviously it appeals to the gargantuan gamer nerd in me, and beyond that, there are some things you can get out of the electronic music medium that are otherwise impossible.
You've Got the Cash Reserves of a Tortilla by Starship Amazing
Also, clever titles are clever.
So who is Starship Amazing and where do they come from?
Starship Amazing are Derek and Calvin, and they come from Anchorage, Alaska. My first exposure to their music was via Derek's video project, The Happy Video Game Nerd.
HVGN all started as a single video, playing off the style of the Angry Video Game Nerd, but praising a great and underrated game instead of admonishing a shitty one. I don't think it was intended as a series, but it was solid, and people liked it.
After seeing some of his reviews, the musical influences become more apparent. Starship Amazing has a whole album that reminds me of Earthbound, and some of their dark, moodier songs would not be at all out of place in a survival horror game.
In case it's not yet apparent, this is just going to be some decent sized text blocks of me gushing, punctuated by soundcloud players until I run out of favorite songs to show you.
I Can Do the Math, I've Done the Calculations by Starship Amazing
To reiterate, I know not everybody's going to want to add this stuff to their collection. I don't know what to say on the subject... I mean, it's obvious why I like it, but that's not going to help somebody who's never learned the Konami code.
Yes, a significant degree of the appeal is in the nostalgia that the plethora of beautiful beeps provides, but I'm just so inured... I fail to see how beeps are not superior in all ways to any conventional instrument.
Guitar? Cello? Who cares? Give me Beeps!
Ya Burnt by Starship Amazing
I'm sure most of you have lost interest by now... I mean, if geeky electronic music isn't your thing, why read about it, right? It's kind of like if I were to start reading the sports section. I'd probably die.
Well, if you are still with me, check this one out too.
A Vile Climate by Starship Amazing
Well, thank you for bearing with me through that. I'm so stoked to be finally doing this one, so I hope somebody enjoyed it. If you like what you heard, check out their site. The albums for sale are super cheap, and there are a bunch of free ones too, including a rather entertaining but none too serious rap album. Enjoy!
S is for Starship Amazing. While not technically chiptunes artists, these guys draw a lot of inspiration from video game music, and the result is something I couldn't possibly be happier with. I mean, goddamn!
(Everybody's Got) A Case Of The Glitches by Starship Amazing
8-BIT BONER!
I could listen to that song on loop for probably the better part of a week.
Over the past two years or so I've been listening to a lot of these guys. I'm not going to say it's for everyone, or even most people. It's all electronics, no vocals, and quite goofy at times. Nevertheless, they're one of my favorite bands to just throw on while I'm walking or whatever. Obviously it appeals to the gargantuan gamer nerd in me, and beyond that, there are some things you can get out of the electronic music medium that are otherwise impossible.
You've Got the Cash Reserves of a Tortilla by Starship Amazing
Also, clever titles are clever.
So who is Starship Amazing and where do they come from?
Starship Amazing are Derek and Calvin, and they come from Anchorage, Alaska. My first exposure to their music was via Derek's video project, The Happy Video Game Nerd.
HVGN all started as a single video, playing off the style of the Angry Video Game Nerd, but praising a great and underrated game instead of admonishing a shitty one. I don't think it was intended as a series, but it was solid, and people liked it.
After seeing some of his reviews, the musical influences become more apparent. Starship Amazing has a whole album that reminds me of Earthbound, and some of their dark, moodier songs would not be at all out of place in a survival horror game.
In case it's not yet apparent, this is just going to be some decent sized text blocks of me gushing, punctuated by soundcloud players until I run out of favorite songs to show you.
I Can Do the Math, I've Done the Calculations by Starship Amazing
To reiterate, I know not everybody's going to want to add this stuff to their collection. I don't know what to say on the subject... I mean, it's obvious why I like it, but that's not going to help somebody who's never learned the Konami code.
Yes, a significant degree of the appeal is in the nostalgia that the plethora of beautiful beeps provides, but I'm just so inured... I fail to see how beeps are not superior in all ways to any conventional instrument.
Guitar? Cello? Who cares? Give me Beeps!
Ya Burnt by Starship Amazing
I'm sure most of you have lost interest by now... I mean, if geeky electronic music isn't your thing, why read about it, right? It's kind of like if I were to start reading the sports section. I'd probably die.
Well, if you are still with me, check this one out too.
A Vile Climate by Starship Amazing
Well, thank you for bearing with me through that. I'm so stoked to be finally doing this one, so I hope somebody enjoyed it. If you like what you heard, check out their site. The albums for sale are super cheap, and there are a bunch of free ones too, including a rather entertaining but none too serious rap album. Enjoy!
Quite succinct.
Questioning whether I should bother with this one. I'm not certain anything I say will do them justice.
Q is for Queen. If you don't know who Queen is, you're probably six, so I'll spare any introduction. I suppose it's worth noting that they wrote Bohemian Rhapsody.
A great song, and pretty much everything they've ever put out has been just as spectacular. I think my favorite queen songs are the more quirky ones that sound like show tunes. Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon and Seaside Rendezvous spring to mind.
That is all.
Q is for Queen. If you don't know who Queen is, you're probably six, so I'll spare any introduction. I suppose it's worth noting that they wrote Bohemian Rhapsody.
A great song, and pretty much everything they've ever put out has been just as spectacular. I think my favorite queen songs are the more quirky ones that sound like show tunes. Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon and Seaside Rendezvous spring to mind.
That is all.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Proclivity
Part of me would like to review one of the many great band options that I can come up with off the top of my head, but lately, I've been digging this album all too much to ignore it.
P is for Pablo Honey, by Radiohead. Some people may say that their debut album doesn't stack up to much of their later works, but I still regard it as one of my favorite records. Pablo Honey is probably most recognized for the song Creep. Hell, considering the volume of radio play, it's probably still the most recognized Radiohead song.
The band has definitely written more interesting, more technical, and altogether more moving pieces since, but Creep was an anthem for pretty much anybody who ever felt awkward and not good enough.
In my opinion, not the high point of the album, though it definitely has it's place.
The record starts off with You, and that usually amps me up for the whole experience. Another favorite is Ripcord, especially lately... it just keeps getting into my head.
If I keep going like this, I'm just going to end up linking every song, so I'll just wrap it up here and say the album closes with another fantastic song, Blowout.
In summation, if you aren't much into Radiohead because they're too weird and electronic now, Pablo Honey might be right for you. For those of you that do listen to Radiohead, but haven't given their older stuff a chance, I say spin that shit!
P is for Pablo Honey, by Radiohead. Some people may say that their debut album doesn't stack up to much of their later works, but I still regard it as one of my favorite records. Pablo Honey is probably most recognized for the song Creep. Hell, considering the volume of radio play, it's probably still the most recognized Radiohead song.
The band has definitely written more interesting, more technical, and altogether more moving pieces since, but Creep was an anthem for pretty much anybody who ever felt awkward and not good enough.
In my opinion, not the high point of the album, though it definitely has it's place.
The record starts off with You, and that usually amps me up for the whole experience. Another favorite is Ripcord, especially lately... it just keeps getting into my head.
If I keep going like this, I'm just going to end up linking every song, so I'll just wrap it up here and say the album closes with another fantastic song, Blowout.
In summation, if you aren't much into Radiohead because they're too weird and electronic now, Pablo Honey might be right for you. For those of you that do listen to Radiohead, but haven't given their older stuff a chance, I say spin that shit!
One time I saw a ghost.
Off topic, I know... If you don't get the reference (though I'm not sure you want to) check out "My Year With the Dragon" on Sick Animation. Incidentally, this post does relate to flash animation though.
O is for Of Montreal, a very cool band that I discovered whilst checking out Kangaroo Alliance. They did a particularly fantastic music video for Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games. Listening to it now, the vocals make me think of Phoenix a whole lot.
But after hearing more of their music, Of Montreal strikes me somewhat differently. They've done some pretty interesting and unexpected things. I've found myself especially enjoying their 2010 record, False Priest.
That's not to say it's perfect, there are some songs that I just don't get. Such is the case for a lot of their albums, too. While that sort of inconsistency is hard to overlook in a band (at least for me it is) I keep coming back, because the stuff I do like, is remarkable. Like my new favorite song, Our Riotous Defects.
To be fair, after a few more listens, I'll probably get into all of it a lot more. I tend to veer towards more depressive music, and the problem may be that some of their stuff is really upbeat. I could probably use more of that anyway.
Here's another great song from False Priest.
Some of the lyrics are pretty great, like "I don't want to catch you with some other guy's face under your eyelids."
False Priests definitely strikes me as the most interesting, though Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? is also fucking monumental. Of Montreal has been pumping out albums forever like crazy though, so there's probably more that I'm overlooking. You should definitely check them out for yourself.
O is for Of Montreal, a very cool band that I discovered whilst checking out Kangaroo Alliance. They did a particularly fantastic music video for Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games. Listening to it now, the vocals make me think of Phoenix a whole lot.
But after hearing more of their music, Of Montreal strikes me somewhat differently. They've done some pretty interesting and unexpected things. I've found myself especially enjoying their 2010 record, False Priest.
That's not to say it's perfect, there are some songs that I just don't get. Such is the case for a lot of their albums, too. While that sort of inconsistency is hard to overlook in a band (at least for me it is) I keep coming back, because the stuff I do like, is remarkable. Like my new favorite song, Our Riotous Defects.
To be fair, after a few more listens, I'll probably get into all of it a lot more. I tend to veer towards more depressive music, and the problem may be that some of their stuff is really upbeat. I could probably use more of that anyway.
Here's another great song from False Priest.
Some of the lyrics are pretty great, like "I don't want to catch you with some other guy's face under your eyelids."
False Priests definitely strikes me as the most interesting, though Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? is also fucking monumental. Of Montreal has been pumping out albums forever like crazy though, so there's probably more that I'm overlooking. You should definitely check them out for yourself.
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