El Toro De La Muerte - Dancer These Days EP Review

"I just did another review for The Brainless Horde and I liked the album a lot... I'll let ya'll know when it's up!

-Austin Lovelace"

 

 

 My first introduction to this band was four guys playing a last minuet show to fill time between two sets at the Colorado Springs Indy Music Awards (that's my guess given that the we'rent on the original schedule). For some reason they had decided to start playing an acoustic set so in my head I was watching a great folk rock band. As the cashier at The Leechepit informed me, I had not really seen this band live. IMPORTERS, I didn't see any of them scream once. It's always cool to see a band in a form that isn't what you expect, but if anyone else was there to see the same show you missed a 90s rock band, you should go and see them again and so should I.

These guys are some freak of nature built by Modest Mouse, Weezer, and The Shins like some kind of gene splicing mad man experiment. They're lost in an age that is now 12 years old. These guys clearly where their influences on their sleeves; each song is going to remind you of someone else but they do it so proudly that you've gotta love it. This is their first release and they already know their game, and they really don't care if you don't.

"BACK IN MY DAY, I COULD MOVE MY FEET WITH THE REST OF THEM", there really couldn't be a much clearer Pavement influence than on the track "Dancer", which despite the vocals screaming in your face, makes you want to get up and move. But you do it without punching someone, okay maybe, but you should, okay maybe, it depend on who, but you probably shouldn't, okay maybe.... It's hard to move through an EP when you have the first track on repeat. "Things In My Head" has one of the catchiest intros and the words are practicably coming out of Issac Brock's (of Modest Mouse) mouth, but it doesn't have the same energy until it's end, #punkfanproblems. The next three tracks bring the energy back full force and if the vocal melody of "The Chartering Rats", very Shinsy, doesn't get stuck in you're head you're just not human, nope get your gears checked you can't be human. "Animals" sounds a lot like an early Weezer track, especially when the exit riff starts playing at about 2:20min in. The last track of the album, probably my favorite, goes for a much softer approach. If Edge (of U2) conceived a kid during a conga line, you would get the chorus Riff on "Like a Ghost".

I have a feeling that everyone will be able to take these guys and put what ever label they want on them, and everyone should and will. However, what ever label you put on them wont affect that these guys are taking everything an making it their own. They give soft instrumentals a mosh worthy energy by screaming their faces off into your own. It should be clear by their name that Spanish music somehow or another makes its way into every song, and it's clear when they do. This album takes an extremely aggressive sound and makes you want to dance to it. On top of everything else they have a seance of being optimistic even when they are negative without beating you in the head with it.  If my first experience with this band live wasn't what it was, I picture the crowd split into two halves; one in a giant mosh pit and the other dancing through the whole show, me the former.

Being a part of The Brainless Horde has been my schooling on the city I live in. Discovering that Colorado Springs is cultural on a most basic level, which is contrary to my opinion of plain vanilla. It's bands just like this that I look out for SO KEEP IT UP "The Bull is Dead".



The Note Pad:

Other Bands You Might Like: Modest Mouse, Weezer, Pavement, Dinosaur Jr., Sugar, No Age, New Order, Joy Division, Mumrah, Radiohead, Green Day, The Replacements, Husker Du

Fav. Tracks: Dancer, The Chattering of Rats, Like a Ghost

MUSE - The 2nd Law ALBUM REVIEW

"I'm working here!

-Austin Lovelace"
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MUSE is a band that I've been trying to putt my finger on for a while. Coming out with the very ambitious space rock, Radiohead inspired, "Showbiz" they got my interests engaged. I understand how people mark them off as a copy but I saw no reason to place that name on them, yet. Fallowing that with my favorite MUSE album, "Origin of Symmetry", they made them selves out to be a band that had found their sound, one they could call their own. I loved the aggressiveness and in my opinion, it had some of the most creative bass lines of the early 00s, especially the single "New Born". Sadly they fell hard on their next album; "Absolution" was the Radiohead copy everyone always uses against them, and I can't say I disagree. I heard a very clear "Ok Comp./Bends." influence on "O.O.S." but they took it to such a level that any of their songs could be confused with Radiohead's by a casual listener. I hated that album so much that their next just skipped by me and I didn't hear it until "Uprising" dropped from "The Resistance". I listened to "The Resistance", only because I loved the single, but I found MUSE once again copying, just another band. I'm really not a Queen fan and so the only reaction I could have, to an album ripping so much from their corner, was to rush back to their last album hoping for something better. "Black Holes and Revelations" was an album I can defiantly say sounded only like MUSE, not the same as the album that sounded like MUSE before, but still strictly MUSE. 

So, we're clearly dealing with a band that has a very rocky past, with my career as a fan. One album I like, two I love, and two I hate; I hoped that this album would break that tie. I don't think MUSE did much to advance them selves from their last album. Almost every track here sound like it would have fit fine with anything on "The Resistance". "Survival" even has these background vocals that sound completely torn from Freddy Mercury's play book, along with "Supremacy" and "Explorers". "Panic Station" has a guitar riff that sounds way to close to the bass intro from "Another One Bites the Dust", to even call it a MUSE track. They even pull from a side of the 80s a lot of fans are guaranteed to hate. The only real difference between "Big Freeze" and U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday" is Matt's vocal. 

I know that taking other peoples songs, and sound, is a long standing tradition in music, Just Look at Balkans  and The Strokes. I'm just not hearing MUSE take these influences, or even when they take  rhythms and sounds directly, in a way that is moving them in a unique direction. MUSE is a case of a band who wares their influences on their sleeves, and they've done it very well in the past, but the only thing they're adding to all these, over used 80s sounds, are the dub step wubs that are just carelessly layered over their instrumentals.

There are tracks that brake this mold but they don't even come close to saving the album for me. "Madness" is an electronic love song that gets more and more ambitious as it runs from very dub sounds, not dubstep just dub, to a full collage of instrumentation that easily meets the volume of their older material. "The 2nd Law Unsustainable", is pretty much just a dubstep song though the aimless drop is pretty underwhelming, especially when it sounds just like all the other dubstep productions flooding the market. "Animals" is a really smooth jam that sounds nothing like anything I've heard from MUSE, or any other band for that matter, and the outro is a refreshing  instrumental, Matt's vocals are more a part of the background that foreground, that reminds me that this Album isn't all bad. Sadly the only song that I liked enough to give them the credit, that I wish I could, was "Animals".

I don't want to sound like a snob, saying "MUSE should go back to their old sound", in fact I encourage progression but if this is the direction that they're heading I have no interest in going with them. I'm also sure that a lot of readers will have a different definition of copying, and will also have a different idea of where the line should and should not be crossed. I can't recommend this album to any MUSE fans who fell of the bandwagon on "The Resistance" but if you liked that album I can't see you disliking this, but for me they've crossed a line I'd rather not cross my self, two too many times.

The Note Pad:

Other Anthem Rockers: The Killers, U2, Queen, Bruce Springsteen, Arcade Fire, The Foo Fighters, Radiohead. Journey, Styx, Kansas, R.E.O. Speed Wagon, Aerosmith

Other Bands You Might Like: Almost anything from the 80s

















-Austin Lovelace

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Stray Suns and The State of Blues Rock

Blues Rock is one of the healthiest genres for this generation and will continue to be; “Blues Rock” being an operative term because it takes more work to find rock with out blues than with. Thanks to the first wave being the 60s with The Rolling stones, The Beatles (Revolver era), and of course (oh of course) The Jimi Hendrix Experience, it hasn't really had time to slow down. Dire Straits in the 70s, (later) Queen holding it on a thread in the 80s, jam bands like Blues Traveler with a 90s revival, and without question the 00s blues duo explosion (Thank you so much, The Kills, Black Keys and White Stripes). So now that we are in the 10s, what is the status of the genre and how does this apply to Stray Suns?

Simply writing off any band past the 60s straight blues rock is an insult to the genre. Somehow this genre has been able to keep copycats and simplifiers in the background in ways other forms of rock have failed. Thanks to the big three duos (mentioned above) every two piece band thinks they’re a prime blues rock group and every classic rock band thinks they’re Jimi Hendrix. Keeping my rant at bay, I can successfully say Stray Suns is ready to meet the expectations of their predecessors. Every new blues rock bands needs to meet a set of requirements (most of these apply to other genres as well.

Stray Suns Report Card ([x]=check [_]=nope (you don’t have to read this)

1. Originality: there are many different styles to pull from but you need to know the difference between copying and influences [x]

2. Clear Influence Outside of Blues: (the White Stripes AC/DCd the hell out it) [x]

3. Actual Emotion: fake whininess is the reason why music gets simplified too much to handle [x]

4. Disrespect the Hell Out of Your Inspirations: Do you really think music would go anywhere if we stuck to any “rules”. [x]

4. Screw Rules: Blues is as much of a statement as it is a form of music but it’s creators didn't care if anyone liked what they did, they just expressed their feelings strait to record. [x]

This is that part you put in your press kit v
                                                                V
Stray Suns is a blues rock band and there is no question about it but they also managed to take the heart of grunge and crush in between their guitar strings. At times Jake’s vocals sound creepily similar to Eddie Vedder’s and every once in awhile you’ll hear a Stone Temple Pilots sounding riff sneak its way into the mix. Live they play out like you would expect jam bands like Blues Traveler would. Thanks to all the 90s influence is part of the reason that their version of Blues Rock is so hard to pin down and that’s what I’m looking for to start off the next decade of blues rock. I’m definitely a fan and that’s saying something because I’ve only heard them live and the three demos they’ve put on soundcloud. After seeing them live and knowing that they have more songs I have to ask... WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

Best Albums of November 2011

"This time it will be a lot less rushed and we tried to make it a lot more "indie" and all "hipster" and stuff (Joel did a better job than me this time)."

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1. DRC Music- Kinshasa One Two

Show all

I hope you guys forgive me for I’m about to recommend music to you that is not all in English snd it’s mostly electronic. I’ll just cut to the chase before you guys throw me to the wolves; IT HAS THE GUY FROM GORILLAZ IN IT. Ok now that “Feel Good Ink.” Has your attention I can speak! After the “The Fall” Damon Albern took a one way trip to the Congo (yes the one in Africa). He was seeking to help people in need but in that proses he found many people with musical talent and a way to help the Congo while playing music. You see he took the opportunity to make music with the locals and that became “Kinshasa One Two” and he became a DJ by the name of DRC Music. I can’t accurately explain to you what this sounds like except electronic African music with the melancholy sound of Gorillaz. You just simply have to hear how the scythes drums and Native chanting/rapping intertwines. For yourself and below is your opportunity to listen to great music and help by buying the album.

-Austin Lovelace

2. Total massacre- Restore

It's these EPs that you kind of want to keep for yourself because you want the magic to be for yourself only, but this month, I'm gonna be nice with you and share the magic! Now, the first track is actually quite impressive and makes me want to take a walk down town... well, the whole EP makes you feel like a cool kid. It makes me think of a nice peaceful world, not the one that we see on the news nowadays anyways. I love how it has energy all through the album but still keeping it exciting to hear it again (I think that’s because of the amazing quality of the instruments). You can hear the singer being a bit off tune for some of the songs, well I just feel like it ads lots of power in them and makes it have real gutts. The guy just basically lets himself go when he sings, impressive vocals and makes you want to sing it out loud.

All in all, great band, great EP, check out their other stuff and if I had to describe this EP in a couple of words is (warm and flashy, ready for a brand new day!)

Impressive album art right?

- Joel Duplessis

3. Chalk Dinosaur- Follow Me

For the first track: Wow, what a surf feeling! Like if you're watching people surf with this colorful background that makes everybody want to go swim! A real fresh sound coming out these attacking guitar riffs, and omg, the beach boys feeling when the backup singers comes in, very impressive. And then all the other tracks are different. This is what makes the album so enjoyable, you don't get tired of it easily, you always get a different blast from the mixtures of styles they have on this album, buuuut, it always has this surf rock background. Love it, simply amazing...

10/10 album coming right at you!

-Joel Duplessis

4. Los Campesinos - Hello Sadness

You guys can relax now okay, they sing in English… I don’t know how to explain this album; I really don’t. I can tell you that they have a really dense sound that comes from indie rock and ska and I can tell you that this album features a lead singer that sings in a dirty, high falsetto, voice that sounds like Thom Yorke , of Radiohead, and Isaac Brock, of Modest Mouse, having a violent muscle spasm; I can tell you that the lead singer loves to complain, bitch ,moan, and sing about girls but I still can’t tell you how this album sounds. This album is emotional even if it feels happy or over complaining (think the Smiths but really messy). I just can’t do this album justice you have to hear it for your self below.

-Austin Lovelace

5. Koudlam- Goodbye

I don't even know why I listened to this in the first place. I don't know what I was thinking, I don't know why we chose put this in 5th position, but each time I listen to it, I get abducted by aliens... So I kind of have no choice... Anyways, this album is actually really great, except for the first track... don't know why the dude just didn't give that track to the dog. So it really does sound like the guy comes from all over the world.
(Me: so Koudlam, could you eplain to me where you're from?
Koudlam: all over it man.)
theres nothing much more to say about the album, it really is great. (love the arrangements! omg.)

have the best of times listening to this album, and I recommend it into your itunes.

-Joel Duplessis

6. The Beach Boys – The SMiLE Sessions

After all this time they’re back they’re really back. No their not but they were holding out on us for a long time. This album is just that puzzle peace from the wrong puzzle that made it into the box. It’s all unfinished ideas of those songs you love because despite what you think they didn’t just pop in to the studio and walk out after an hour of recording. It’s hard to know what to expect from an album like this but I can tell you that you get a full disc with all those songs you love like “Good Vibrations” and “Surfs Up” but as you move through all 5 discs you will find out how they screwed up and they did a lot. They had 34 takes of “Heroes and Villains” before they got it right and 24 takes of “Good Vibrations” (the whole last disc). You also get to hear all the subtle ideas that just floated around and never made it onto songs. This is the most humble thing I think I ever heard; it’s just a band showing off all of their flaws right in front of your face and you enjoy listening to it. Pick this thing up if you can!

-Austin Lovelace

7. Ghoul- Transmission Zero

Ah good old thrash metal; wait I’m 16 I wasn’t there to remember that? At least I feel like I was but I don’t remember “And Justice for All…” being influenced by that Beach Boys album above. Oh my head hurts so why did I head bang. All I’m saying is that “Ghoul” somehow put “Surf Rock” into thrash metal; you just need to hear it what am I supposed to say. Should I also say that they are influenced by “Misfits”. They put punk into metal; man they sing like “Misfits”. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH brain fuck! Okay this is really good I just don’t know what to say anymore just hit this album up and if you want to get even more confused look up the band members (most of them are famous for other metal projects btw).

-Austin Lovelace

8. The Spits - The Spits V

I don’t know if anyone else is a punk fan as much as I am but there has been a recent come back from all of the pop punk that’s invading the music scene with bands like “OFF!” and “Cerebral Balzy”. The Spits are no exception to this; they are dirty, they are fast and they are mean and ready to crash the party and steel your girlfriend after they egg the white house on the way there, they’re with a monster in the back seat. This is punk in its modern come back weather than can decide whether they want to be the Misfits, Black Flag, Or the Clash. You could say they don’t know what to sing about but I think they have a good idea, they’re the thinking bully. I don’t want to say they sound just like they came out of the 80s though because there is a hint of the distortion of late “Husker Du” and some of the popyness of “Green Day’s” album “Dookie”. They are as new as classic punk will ever be. PLEAs check out their earlier stuff if you like this you’re in for a treat!

-Austin Lovelace

9. Treelines- Courage

This album made me want to sing: "COURAAAAAAAAAAAGE"... Yeh, pretty much an unknown band from vancouver that cought my attention with this brand new EP called "courage", witch is named after the third song on the album, by a band named... ah whats the name again... Treelines. What did I like about the album? well, I love the song "courage" and the fact that the singer is like, really good, his voice has real soul in it. The reason why this album didn't make it further than this into the top ten? hmmm... Well you see, we like to pick original artists and, the songs in this EP are bassicaly simple chords and well done leads, good drum beats... It really is the singer that makes the band interesting and keeping you from clicking on the stop button. Anyways, if you want a short descrption on the album, its "soulful indie rock with that country twang that makes you want to take your car and go for a trip... until the EP is over, you might get tired of it after only a bit of listens"

well, time for you to go for a quick look at this EP!

-Joel Duplessis

10. Snow Patrol- Fallen Empires

(p.s. You guys have a great time laughing at my last review!)

Snow Patrol really changed during the years... Going back to their best hit "Chasing Cars" on the album "Eyes Open", the band was more Alt. Rock but then it just seemed like the band was trying to get into that indie pop scene and for me, just didn't work out very well... Fallen Empires is more Indie Pop Rock if I was to say what style it is, but I hate to just say that, because now I feel like you guys are gonna just look at it as a bad way to waste your time. Be nice to the 90 year old man walking down the street- yeh, I'm comparing this album as a 90 year old man walking down the street, a kick-ass one, that can fly! haha, so if you listen to this album, just remind yourself, hey, they know what they're doing, better than I do listening to them right now! They’ve lived for 90 years and they have super powers!

Here’s a song that describes "grampaman?" the best.

- Joel Duplessis

Austin's Wildcard Picks

1. R.E.M. - Part Lies Part Truth Part Garbage, 2. David Lynch - Crazy Clown Time, 3. Pianos Become the Teeth - The Lack Long After, 4. Orthodox Point Never - Replica, 5. Vector - Outer Isolation, 6. The Oh Sees - Carrion Crawler / The Dream, 7. Blut Aus Nord - 777 - The Disanctification

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Joel's Wildcard Picks

1. Birdy - Birdy, 2. Newsboys- God's not dead, 3. Smashing Punkins -Teargarden by Kaleidyscope (Still In Work)

This Months Fan Suggestion(s)

brokeNCYDE - Guilty pleasure

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