So it's been about a week since Scurrilous was released. I got it the day it was released and it was sad to hear that I was the first person to buy this album at the HMV close to my campus. I didn't even go early (I accidentally slept in), I went maybe an hour after it opened. But ya, realistically, there isn't much of a market for what these boys do. So it's just a testament to their talent/skill that they can make a living out of this.
So there's a bunch of old and a bunch of new on this album. The most notable change is the abrupt change in lyric style. This time around, Rody is taking lyric duties replacing Arif... and to hearing this information my mood was questionable. Rody isn't exactly the most complex human being in the world (and definitely not the most thoughtful). This is the man who wrote the Pro-Smoking Cigarette song (which is awesome)! Regardless, I will pass judgement after I listen to the album (in my head I thought). So the standout tracks (lyrically) were the openers and closers of this album, C'est la Vie and Sex Tapes. I also liked Moonlight and Hair-Trigger. Although Hair Trigger was only good because "Kezia" was on it :P. But wait... lo and behold. The lyrics for C'est La Vie, Sex Tapes, and Moonlight were written by Arif. No lies, I didn't even know that until after listening to the album. However, not to totally bash Rody, you can tell a lot of effort was put in on Rody's part. Although the lyrics themselves lack finesse, a lot of truth can be found in the lyrics. I think the band themselves take a lot more from Rody's lyrics than an "outsider" would. If you look at a song like tongue-splitter for example, "so i apologize, mostly to that four or five guys who stand behind me on that stage every night, as the mic starts to whisper, and the words start to blister in my mouth, that I know aren't right." It's an honest apology to the band that none of us could feel the true impact of those words. Only those 5 guys in the band would really know the true meaning of it. So, although I do not enjoy Rody's lyrics all that much, I can respect them, and the band probably has a lot more fun with Rody's lyrics.
Musically, meh, same old same old. And when I say that, it means, mind blown here, mind blown there. Don't expect anything less from these boys, they still bring the fire. With each album they get more and more progressive. I prefer Fortress to all they're albums simply because I'm a metalhead. The blend of power vocals, death vocals and other metal elements were prefect on Fortress. With Scurrilous, you get more of a Dillinger sound which is still awesome.
The reason why I didn't do an album review as soon as I listened this album is because it takes awhile for your brain to wrap around what's going on. On first listen, it just sounds like mush because of all the time changes, counter-melodies, etc. but after your brain picks out parts and analyzes them, you slowly understand what's going on. That's the beauty of these albums like this, every time you listen to them, something new pops up that you didn't notice before. So ya, it took me a week to finally figure out the intricacies of the songs.
With all that said I give this album,
Rating: 4.5 ridiculous polyrhythms out of 5
Because the only real weakness of this album is Rody's lyrics
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Dub Serenity
I sorta want to hit myself over the head for last time. I guess it was just laziness of me not being able to feature a band. But dammit if I just thought a little harder I would have thought of a band. To makeup for last time, I’m gonna feature 2 bands today. :D
So first up, we put in some epic, Symphonic Metal from the glorious return of Serenity. Their third album is nothing less but over indulgent. A chronicling of various famous Europeans throughout the ages. However, what I want to feature today is just simply a song. With the AMAZING Ailyn from Sirenia (I don’t think Sirenia is all that great, but Ailyn is damn hot and awesome) on vocals, we have the song The Chevalier.
So first up, we put in some epic, Symphonic Metal from the glorious return of Serenity. Their third album is nothing less but over indulgent. A chronicling of various famous Europeans throughout the ages. However, what I want to feature today is just simply a song. With the AMAZING Ailyn from Sirenia (I don’t think Sirenia is all that great, but Ailyn is damn hot and awesome) on vocals, we have the song The Chevalier.
Second up, is Hip-Hop, dub, dancehall, bass & drum... etc etc etc artist... Dub-FX. Mr. Dub-FX, as a lot of guitar enthusiasts might recognize him as, is currently one of the legendary BOSS pedal manufacturer’s spokesperson for the RC pedal series. So as you might expect, to attract the attention of a major corporation is no small feat. When you say British/European Hip-Hop it’s a much more loaded term than what you expect American Hip-Hop to be. American Hip-Hop you have west coast, east coast; bling, gangsta; dirty south, crunk (and then without mentioning rap, breaking, etc.) you have different segregations within these main sorta groups. When you talk about British Hip-Hop you talk of a completely different beast altogether. Although Dub-Fx is Australian, when you listen to him, you can hear the very distinct and cultural influences of the Brits on their take on Hip-Hop. As you all know, I love a good musician who knows how to use their loop pedals, so here it is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEPEleJVjOo
Where’s the DJ?!?!??!?!?! No need, Dub-FX’s got it covered. Just mind blowing.
Well there it is. Some music homework for all you guys for the next few days.
Now that’s done, I don’t have really much to say. Lots of emotions going through my head but even more emotions going through my heart. Big decisions. And leaving is closer than I thought. I might just go away for awhile. Who knows, I might not hit stage for another year. Is it ok if I want to die right now?
Where’s the DJ?!?!??!?!?! No need, Dub-FX’s got it covered. Just mind blowing.
Well there it is. Some music homework for all you guys for the next few days.
Now that’s done, I don’t have really much to say. Lots of emotions going through my head but even more emotions going through my heart. Big decisions. And leaving is closer than I thought. I might just go away for awhile. Who knows, I might not hit stage for another year. Is it ok if I want to die right now?
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Why People Who Say That Record Companies Should Embrace The Internet Are Idiots
Just as the title suggests, people who think record companies should adopt a model of internet distribution of their music are idiots. Internet killed the record company. There's no doubt that illegal distribution killed the industry but legal distribution will also kill the industry. Legal distribution will only prolong the inevitable. Illegal distribution is just plan stealing and we can see how that will cause mass hysteria in businesses. Legal distribution will kill the business because now, the companies can no longer charge the consumer $10 for an album where the consumer only wanted/liked 3 songs off the album. If you look at the average consumer of music today, you will find that the majority are casual listeners. As all things in life, the common person is the average listener/watcher/buyer/etc. Let's assume that the average consumer will consumer there music through legal means that is to say through the internet. The average listener will only buy the singles. The one song that they like and are willing to spend money on. Music isn't like a majority of goods out there, you can't return it. Once you listen to it, you can't return it whether you like it or not. The average consumer will buy the single and move on forgetting about the rest of the album (good or not). The record label can no longer capitalize on the filler on the rest of the album. Promoting a single takes a lot of money. Hardly any single makes any sort of cashflow. The purpose of the single is to promote the album, that is it's sole purpose. So now that consumers only buy the advertisement, the record company makes little to no profits onmusic sales. This is why legal or illegal distribution of digital music will not help the record companies in any sort of way.
Now, the second argument for digital distribution of music is advertisement. The internet is a relatively free way to advertise your band to (in theory) an infinite amount of people. In that way, the band can bring in money from more music sales, concert sales, merch sales, etc. However, if that is the case, that in the internet is such a great promoter, why even have record companies at all. If you use the internet as your medium to promote your band, you no longer need a record company. What you do need are lawyers for copyright issues; an investor/manager to set up shows for you to sell your entertainment to people. You need a person to deal with the law. You need a person or team to organize venues/contracts and travel accommodation. And if you so choose an investor into recording your songs. However the last thing is optional.
Why is it optional? Your songs are no longer the product. What you are now selling is the show, that is what brings in the money and customers. Your songs are now considered advertisements. So as a rational producer, if you can get away with a cheap but innovative/unique commercial then you will do it. There are commercials everywhere; each one costing a certain amount of money. Regardless of price, some advertisements are just more effective than others.
Let's say you can get away with a dinky 96kbps which brings in x amount of dollars but costs nothing to make. Then you have a full blown production in WAV format that brings in y amount of dollars but costs 10,000 dollars to make. If x> y-10,000, the obviously you're going to go with the dinky recording of your song because in the end you'll be making more money.
So in conclusion, record companies are at its end, regardless if they adopt a digital distribution model or not. Also, sometime down the road modern recorded music will not be the same as today. Who knows, maybe recorded music may not exist.
Sorry no band today, no one's really caught my ear recently. Might I recommend a band called Dovetails, they're mighty tasty
Now, the second argument for digital distribution of music is advertisement. The internet is a relatively free way to advertise your band to (in theory) an infinite amount of people. In that way, the band can bring in money from more music sales, concert sales, merch sales, etc. However, if that is the case, that in the internet is such a great promoter, why even have record companies at all. If you use the internet as your medium to promote your band, you no longer need a record company. What you do need are lawyers for copyright issues; an investor/manager to set up shows for you to sell your entertainment to people. You need a person to deal with the law. You need a person or team to organize venues/contracts and travel accommodation. And if you so choose an investor into recording your songs. However the last thing is optional.
Why is it optional? Your songs are no longer the product. What you are now selling is the show, that is what brings in the money and customers. Your songs are now considered advertisements. So as a rational producer, if you can get away with a cheap but innovative/unique commercial then you will do it. There are commercials everywhere; each one costing a certain amount of money. Regardless of price, some advertisements are just more effective than others.
Let's say you can get away with a dinky 96kbps which brings in x amount of dollars but costs nothing to make. Then you have a full blown production in WAV format that brings in y amount of dollars but costs 10,000 dollars to make. If x> y-10,000, the obviously you're going to go with the dinky recording of your song because in the end you'll be making more money.
So in conclusion, record companies are at its end, regardless if they adopt a digital distribution model or not. Also, sometime down the road modern recorded music will not be the same as today. Who knows, maybe recorded music may not exist.
Sorry no band today, no one's really caught my ear recently. Might I recommend a band called Dovetails, they're mighty tasty
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Massive Attack
In April, Dylan was supposed to perform in China. The future seems uncertain, however let's entertain the thought that one day Dylan will play behind the Great Wall. Well as we all know the fascist state of China will exercise it's full "privilege" of censoring everything that doesn't bode well with the government, i.e. see The Rolling Stones. Dylan is 50% poet, 50% anarchist. Now I don't know who Dylan is these days but I do know the Dylan that we all love and hold dear would cause quite the ruckus. I could even see Dylan getting shot by authorities in turn becoming a martyr. Unlikely but I could see it happening. So as predicted, Dylan will not get to play 90% of his songs. Songs with drug reference, sex reference, religious reference (remember those 3 gospel records? lol, those were interesting), and of course no reference to anti-government. .... well that leaves Dylan with..... uhhhhhh..... Hurricane?.... no..... honestly what else is there to sing about :P. Anyways, if Dylan goes to China, 2 things can happen, either one he has totally lost touch and will disappoint me and break my heart or he will get shot by authorities which will also break my heart. There is no win win situation here. Imagine Bob Dylan performing in front of a Chinese audience.... would have never thought in a million years.
Ok, time for today's featured artist. Looking through my library, I found Massive Attack. "Love, love is a verb, love is a doing word" House anyone? I don't really have a specific reason why I'm talking about Massive Attack today. I think it's simply to have a little change of pace from the past two Japanese rock/metal bands featured. But ya nothing bad could be said about this collective. Awesome tunes, definitely, Mezzanine is an album you have to have sex to. It's a very dirty album without being 1970s porn.
Ok, time for today's featured artist. Looking through my library, I found Massive Attack. "Love, love is a verb, love is a doing word" House anyone? I don't really have a specific reason why I'm talking about Massive Attack today. I think it's simply to have a little change of pace from the past two Japanese rock/metal bands featured. But ya nothing bad could be said about this collective. Awesome tunes, definitely, Mezzanine is an album you have to have sex to. It's a very dirty album without being 1970s porn.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7K72X4eo_s
OH also RISE AGAINST 15th new album, ironically called Endgame. I thought Megadeth just did this album :P
OH also RISE AGAINST 15th new album, ironically called Endgame. I thought Megadeth just did this album :P
Monday, March 7, 2011
One Ok Rock
Finally midterms are done for a little bit.
And it seems like a lot has been missed...
1) EMI was bought by Citibank
2) Phil Collins retires
3) Trent wins a Oscar
4) Barlow leaves Iced Earth... again....
5) Bob Dylan's Muse dies
Lots of crap, I know EMI was bought awhile ago, but I failed to acknowledge it here so there is it.
To lazy to comment on any of these things -____-
Let's try to run through this as quickly as possible
1) A bank bought EMI? and they're gonna run it? Citibank.... really.... bailout much? I don't see the point in running EMI. Just buy it and liquidate... The Beatles liquidate it
2) An angry, low self-esteem old man can't be bothered with life anymore. Having low self-esteem is not an excuse for being a ass, but it is an explanation. With that said... GENESIS!!!!
3) "Bow down to the one you serve"
4) REALLY? I'm sorry Jon, Ripper is busy, he won't take your call. I think Barlow should have thought about it a little harder before saying he was coming back as a permanent member of Iced Earth. I have no problem with a one off gig and/or album for the fans (or yourself) but COME ON!!!!
5) All the heroes are getting old
Ok, so today's featured band hails once again from Japan (what is it with Japan these days?).
One Ok Rock, derived from the lack of ability to pronounce one o'clock (sorta funny).
Definitely not a band that I would fall in love with, but damn they are talented. Not so much in the Rush sense but in the Iron Maiden sense. Where really there is no substance but pure energy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGbxsiBZGPI
The funny thing is I heard this band 2 years ago. And to this day, I have been looking for this band.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmTP7J0h060
And it seems like a lot has been missed...
1) EMI was bought by Citibank
2) Phil Collins retires
3) Trent wins a Oscar
4) Barlow leaves Iced Earth... again....
5) Bob Dylan's Muse dies
Lots of crap, I know EMI was bought awhile ago, but I failed to acknowledge it here so there is it.
To lazy to comment on any of these things -____-
Let's try to run through this as quickly as possible
1) A bank bought EMI? and they're gonna run it? Citibank.... really.... bailout much? I don't see the point in running EMI. Just buy it and liquidate... The Beatles liquidate it
2) An angry, low self-esteem old man can't be bothered with life anymore. Having low self-esteem is not an excuse for being a ass, but it is an explanation. With that said... GENESIS!!!!
3) "Bow down to the one you serve"
4) REALLY? I'm sorry Jon, Ripper is busy, he won't take your call. I think Barlow should have thought about it a little harder before saying he was coming back as a permanent member of Iced Earth. I have no problem with a one off gig and/or album for the fans (or yourself) but COME ON!!!!
5) All the heroes are getting old
Ok, so today's featured band hails once again from Japan (what is it with Japan these days?).
One Ok Rock, derived from the lack of ability to pronounce one o'clock (sorta funny).
Definitely not a band that I would fall in love with, but damn they are talented. Not so much in the Rush sense but in the Iron Maiden sense. Where really there is no substance but pure energy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGbxsiBZGPI
The funny thing is I heard this band 2 years ago. And to this day, I have been looking for this band.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmTP7J0h060
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Maximum the Hormone
So today, before I go to bed at 4am, I want to bring attention to one of my favourite bands... Maximum the Hormone. Hailing from Japan these Progressive Hardcore musicians bring the pain and so much more. New song, new video... LOVE IT!!!!!!!!! The video starts all cheery and pop-y. At first I thought it was a joke, 1 minute later... I'm starting to think it's not a joke and they've totally sold out (my definition and thoughts on selling out will be examined either at the end of this blog or in the next post). Phew, gladly a minute later back to true form, Ryo pukes on the old video and here comes Maximum the Hormone back in full force. It's nice to see these boys (and girl) back in action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YV6IJLoBv4
Maximum the Hormone aren't your average band. Mix of punk and metal thus hardcore; add some progressive elements from all walks of life and you've got one heck of a band. If you took Queen gave them some Dillinger Escape Plan in their veins that would be this band. Well anyways check them out, I've been listening to them for 4 years now. Haven't been disappointed yet.
On a side note... Maximum the Hormone "sells out"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaNLGLHyw7E
Ok, I have some energy left in me to deal with the topic of selling out. In the most broad sense of the word the above video is selling out. BUT if you constrict your artistry to that definition you'll never leave your parent's basement. At some point, one needs to make money; I'm sorry there's no such thing as a person with a utility preference for no money. Diminishing returns sure, but deriving utility from money is and will forever be a law.
No, doing commercials, selling your songs to promote a product, no that is not selling out. How can it be? U2 selling Ipod isn't selling out but American Idol contestants selling Ford trucks are? Really, taking that argument to the extreme, musicians who sell tickets for shows and who sell their CDs and MP3s for money are also sell outs. I'm sorry but being a musician is also a job. You need to make money. And in today's market there's no way a musician will make money from CD sales. All you morons who think that you're gonna take back the music industry from the hands of the whores in their suits are absolutely off your rockers. Do you really think that the suits are going to invest in "credible" artists when they themselves aren't making money? Think about it. In the history of modern recorded music, who has made the most money? Spice Girls, Justin Timberlake, Spears, Mariah, Celine... the list goes on. I'm sorry when the chips are down and I need to make money now to keep my job I'm gonna invest in Bieber any day of the week over Dylan. Dylan will rake in half a million to 1 million on average of his next CD. Bieber will pull in multi-million sales and a movie. Overhead costs aren't even an issue, the return on investment is so one sided. I'm sorry you're an idiot if you think record companies are going to give you what you want now that you have them by their wallets. No, they're just gonna manufacture the next Jonas Brother and make millions. That's what I would do. That is what a rational person would do.
Wow tangent... opps
anyways back to the main point. So what is selling out then?
Selling out is when you change your music to feed a niche market. When you write music that isn't you. That's selling out. Metallica's Black album was selling out, Metallica's Load and Reload were not sell outs. Load and Reload as sh*tty as they were, were experimentation. They were records necessary for Metallica to come back and write St. Anger which in turn allowed them to write Death Magnetic. Metallica's Black album had one purpose and one purpose only. To feed a niche market, to become bigger, and ultimately richer. Selling out is not always about money. No, real selling out is when artists compromise their music for something else other than for the art. That's why I have no problem with musician's using their music to sell products. As long as that song wasn't written to sell something, the song was real and hence not selling out.
As Newstead says: Hell ya we sold out, every f*ckin' seat!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YV6IJLoBv4
Maximum the Hormone aren't your average band. Mix of punk and metal thus hardcore; add some progressive elements from all walks of life and you've got one heck of a band. If you took Queen gave them some Dillinger Escape Plan in their veins that would be this band. Well anyways check them out, I've been listening to them for 4 years now. Haven't been disappointed yet.
On a side note... Maximum the Hormone "sells out"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaNLGLHyw7E
Ok, I have some energy left in me to deal with the topic of selling out. In the most broad sense of the word the above video is selling out. BUT if you constrict your artistry to that definition you'll never leave your parent's basement. At some point, one needs to make money; I'm sorry there's no such thing as a person with a utility preference for no money. Diminishing returns sure, but deriving utility from money is and will forever be a law.
No, doing commercials, selling your songs to promote a product, no that is not selling out. How can it be? U2 selling Ipod isn't selling out but American Idol contestants selling Ford trucks are? Really, taking that argument to the extreme, musicians who sell tickets for shows and who sell their CDs and MP3s for money are also sell outs. I'm sorry but being a musician is also a job. You need to make money. And in today's market there's no way a musician will make money from CD sales. All you morons who think that you're gonna take back the music industry from the hands of the whores in their suits are absolutely off your rockers. Do you really think that the suits are going to invest in "credible" artists when they themselves aren't making money? Think about it. In the history of modern recorded music, who has made the most money? Spice Girls, Justin Timberlake, Spears, Mariah, Celine... the list goes on. I'm sorry when the chips are down and I need to make money now to keep my job I'm gonna invest in Bieber any day of the week over Dylan. Dylan will rake in half a million to 1 million on average of his next CD. Bieber will pull in multi-million sales and a movie. Overhead costs aren't even an issue, the return on investment is so one sided. I'm sorry you're an idiot if you think record companies are going to give you what you want now that you have them by their wallets. No, they're just gonna manufacture the next Jonas Brother and make millions. That's what I would do. That is what a rational person would do.
Wow tangent... opps
anyways back to the main point. So what is selling out then?
Selling out is when you change your music to feed a niche market. When you write music that isn't you. That's selling out. Metallica's Black album was selling out, Metallica's Load and Reload were not sell outs. Load and Reload as sh*tty as they were, were experimentation. They were records necessary for Metallica to come back and write St. Anger which in turn allowed them to write Death Magnetic. Metallica's Black album had one purpose and one purpose only. To feed a niche market, to become bigger, and ultimately richer. Selling out is not always about money. No, real selling out is when artists compromise their music for something else other than for the art. That's why I have no problem with musician's using their music to sell products. As long as that song wasn't written to sell something, the song was real and hence not selling out.
As Newstead says: Hell ya we sold out, every f*ckin' seat!!!
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