Welcome to my side of the 'net. I ruminate over music, books, movies, places, or people that have somehow made me what I am or continue to influence me to this day. I usually post links to mp3s of songs I find interesting.
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An official announcement about the band's plans for 2007 will be made on Tuesday, 7th November. Full details will be made available FIRST on this site at a time to be confirmed.
No further information will be supplied until that date and we respectfully ask that people desist from sending emails, letters and making phone calls for advance information - this will NOT be provided until the official date. Thank you for your patience until then.
I wonder if it's the reunion that people have been speculating? Will it be with Peter Gabriel? Will it just be the Collins/Rutherford/Banks lineup? Will any new material be written? Will they do more middle-of-the-road Adult Contemporary music? We'll know for sure when the date arrives.
Rivermaya's Sunday Driving happened to be one of the videos I was mesmerized with the first time I saw it on TV--while on vacation in The Philippines. Between this and Daydream Cycle's Roses and Cadillacs, they stood out as music videos that would've been awesome to see in a show like Subterranean on MTV2 out here in the US. I hope you check today's Youtube feature and maybe if you really like the song, you can also check out the audio track as well. Anyway, here's the CGI-laden music video.
Incidentally, Rivermaya released a new album filled with covers and one original called Isang Ugat, Isang Dugo (One Root, One Blood) which contains their most faithful renditions to Pinoy originals by noted 80's bands who weren't called The Dawn. Some complain that the production was shabby, but I think the "audiophiles" were missing the whole point of the exercise--Rico Blanco and the rest of the group wanted to re-create the sonic conditions just like when the originals were made. That's why the guitar distortion for instance seemed to sound a little tinny and dated by today's standard. I think some of the purist fans were too spoiled by the lush production that their previous albums had. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.
The Wu Tang Clan has got to be the best and most colorful hip hop group ever. They received praise along with The Beastie Boys, Rakim, Russell Simmons, MC Lyte, Ice Cube, and Easy E at last Monday's VH1 Hip Hop Honors. Because of that, here's a list of why I admire The Clan:
1. Every one of them had a distinctive personality as an MC. You could tell the difference in style and flow whether it was ODB, RZA, or Inspektah Deck. It was like seeing someone from the X-Men flaunt their unique ability.
2. They have encyclopedic knowledge of pop culture. Be it Shaw Brothers kung fu films, Marvel superheroes, or Machiavelli, these guys know it and filter everything through their lyrics with impeccable grace and bravado.
3. They appeal to both the mainstream and the underground culture.
4. They're rock stars in their own way - no one had balls bigger than ODB to collect a welfare check riding in a limousine to get to Social Security. Gangsta!
5. Some of the best solo albums come from this crew. Raekwon's Only Built for Cuban Linx, Ghostface Killah's Fishscale, GZA's Liquid Swords--just some of the brilliant gems in the treasure chest.
6. They've made cameo appearances in some of the funniest comedy shows like Crank Yankers and Chappelle's Show. Not limited to that, they've also made their presence felt in Jim Jarmusch films either in front of the camera or just in the soundscape.
Portland-based Viva Voce is husband and wife duo Kevin and Anita Robertson. They've got four albums under their belt, with Get Yr Blood Sucked Out as their most recent effort. The new album has been lauded for the tight, simple arrangements. The band continues to hold the torch up high for the Barsuk label just as Death Cab For Cutie once did.
I can feel the frustration in Giant Drag's taunt as entitled as such in a song on their second album. Kevin Shields has been in hiding for so long and hasn't given thought about releasing a follow-up to My Bloody Valentine's shoegaze masterpiece, Loveless. He only shows up once in a while for the occasional Greg Araki or Sofia Coppola film (check Splendor for the former, Lost In Translation for the latter). He continues to do more work for Sofia in Friday's anticipated release of Marie Antoinette. I've already been reeled in by the soundtrack, so this is a no-brainer for me to check out this weekend.
Anyway, I'm not posting a soundtrack song. Instead, I'm presenting Kevin where he's been creatively known. This is the second track from Isn't Anything.
The Blow's Poor Aim: Love Songs is available for download on the K Records website. This will tide you over until Paper Television's release day on October 24. Grab it while you can!
The Tarantino/Rodriguez project Grindhouse got a sneak peek at the Spike TV Scream Awards. If you want to check it out, start firing up that Youtube player below.
Here's another band worth checking into. If you like laid back vocals and music that's in the same vein as anything that's been on the Garden State soundtrack, then perhaps you'll like Outerhope as well. Here's the script from their website:
Outerhope was formed when siblings Mike and Micaela Benedicto decided to collaborate on songs built with guitars, keyboards, and vocal harmonies.
Their first studio recording is the album Strangely Paired, a collection of songs that are almost whimsical and a little absent-minded, with constant references to fictional forms of travel.
In 2005, the duo collaborated with Joon Guillen on a song called Final Hour which was completed entirely through mail. Outerhope is now doing new versions of the Strangely Paired songs with Joon on electric guitar, Owel Alvero on bass and Zig Rabara on drums.
Strangely Paired was recorded by Shinji Tanaka at Sound Creation Studios, produced by Outerhope and to be re-released soon by Terno Recordings.
You can download Sky High Blue off their Myspace site. They've also got a couple of other songs in their stream as well.
Formed in 1996, Gojira has been combining strains of various subgenres of metal. From the old-school Thrash of Slayer, the Gothenburg-style vocals found in Death Metal, and even the progressive time-signature shift styles similar to that of Meshuggah, this band has mixed it all together to come up with very heavy results.
The French group was originally named Godzilla. Due to legal reasons, they had to change their name to the original Japanese movie equivalent. Like the allegorical implications of the monster in their moniker, the band is very vocal about the way man has tampered with the environment. Their latest album is entitled From Mars To Sirius.
