Monday, September 10, 2012
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Arrows of Atreides - RPM Challenge 2012
Arrows of Atreides - RPM Challenge The challenge was to record a record in the month of February. This is what I made. Mike Levine assisted on Track 10. Rey Loki and Jason Logo co-wrote tracks 4 and 6.
Arrows is last years RPM challenge. Enjoy.
Arrows is last years RPM challenge. Enjoy.
joeafish's "arrows" player:
Friday, May 20, 2011
00003 Cannibal Corpse
Fuck Yeah! Time for the fun stuff. Letter 'C'! Cannibal Corpse. Let's get the metal out and stab someone in the eye with it... lyrically. I was a very young and wide eyed little boy. When I saw a Cannibal Corpse t-shirt. I had already been exposed to Slayer and the likes of some other metal. But I just had to find out what this band was all about.
It was the first time that I had heard such words thrown together in the titles of songs like. Hammer Smashed Faced, I Cum Blood, Entrails Ripped from a Virgin's Cunt, and Post Mortal Ejaculation. Not only did I not understand what most of these meant. You can't really make out the lyrics either.
I found out they were from Buffalo, NY which is not too far from Rochester, NY where I was born and raised. They even used a voice clipping of Arthur Shawcross (Rochesters most notorious serial killer) in the beginning of one of their songs. ""I don't know, I just took that knife. And cut her. From her neck..........down..........to her anus. And cut out the vagina. And ate it.""
They even appeared in a short scene in Ace Ventura Pet Detective
Flash forward to now. I hit up their website while writing this and lo and behold. They're taking pre-orders for their new record. http://www.cannibalcorpse.net/ Haha! They're still around! It's crazy to think they've had longer careers then Ricky Martin or a slew of other phony baloney pop stars. Proof once again of what a true artist is. Creating work out of passion not out of contractual liability. No matter your flavor or if it's done in poor taste. They're not doing it to make money, they're doing it for much more than that. And for that I salute you! Thank you for showing me this at a very early age.
It was the first time that I had heard such words thrown together in the titles of songs like. Hammer Smashed Faced, I Cum Blood, Entrails Ripped from a Virgin's Cunt, and Post Mortal Ejaculation. Not only did I not understand what most of these meant. You can't really make out the lyrics either.
I found out they were from Buffalo, NY which is not too far from Rochester, NY where I was born and raised. They even used a voice clipping of Arthur Shawcross (Rochesters most notorious serial killer) in the beginning of one of their songs. ""I don't know, I just took that knife. And cut her. From her neck..........down..........to her anus. And cut out the vagina. And ate it.""
They even appeared in a short scene in Ace Ventura Pet Detective
Flash forward to now. I hit up their website while writing this and lo and behold. They're taking pre-orders for their new record. http://www.cannibalcorpse.net/ Haha! They're still around! It's crazy to think they've had longer careers then Ricky Martin or a slew of other phony baloney pop stars. Proof once again of what a true artist is. Creating work out of passion not out of contractual liability. No matter your flavor or if it's done in poor taste. They're not doing it to make money, they're doing it for much more than that. And for that I salute you! Thank you for showing me this at a very early age.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
00002 Beastie Boys
Hell, why not keep with the alphabet theme for a while. See how that goes. B! I can't help but go with Beastie Boys on this one. It could be a soft entry. But we'll see what I can come up with.
Alot of people my age, claim they don't remember a time before MTV... I barely do. I remember when the national anthem would play on TV and then SHSSHSHSH!!!! Static. until around 6am when the news would come on and the day would start a new. This was before infomercials and the like. However, I DO NOT remember a time before the Beastie Boys. They were already doing music and were already artists befor I learned to tie my shoes or even piss standing up.
That said, they're worthy here... by far. When I first heard 'Fight For Your Right'. I was immediately hooked. I knew why my parents hated it, and it led me to understand that hey, they were kids once too. It was the Beastie Boys that forced my mother into telling me the age old story of how her parents hated the Beatles etc. Growing up they were MTV Staples, fun videos, white boys in hip hop, and wether they were commercially succesful or not,... well it didnt matter at that time. After all, it was the 80's.
Yet somehow it being the 80's had no effect on them. Their songs and sounds transcend time, isn't that weird to say... the Beastie Boys are CLASSIC. Wow, kind of puts things into perspective.
To be honest, I kind of lost pace with them around Pauls Boutique and when they got into sampling and doing really creative stuff. What can I say? I was young, and Guns N Roses had just come out. It wasn't until my late teens that I picked up "The In Sound From Way Out" in which I was amazed to learn (and some might still be) that they put out an instrumental record in which they played all (or most) of the instruments.
Since then, I've truly appreciated them for the artists and musicians that they really are. Instead of the ridiculous rawkous group of misfits they portray. When Hello Nasty came out. I think I wore out my friends ears with my repetative play of it. I simply loved that record, and still do to this day. Alot of people said it was old school... I still don't get that, there are a lot of things on that record that are still very very fresh. (oh maybe that's why it's old school... cuz it's fresh) My favorite parts on the record werent really the stand out songs... but the interesting things they did in between, and the genres they touched within it.
Flash forward to now. They're still kicking it. I saw Adam Yauch at a screening of The Wrestler when that came out. I'm a huge fan of Tamara Davis, who directed a few of their videos and some great comedy movies (and some bad ones... see Crossroads), and who I believe is still married to Mike D. They have a new record coming out, and have been putting out these hilarious cameo ridden videos for their new songs.
Alot of people my age, claim they don't remember a time before MTV... I barely do. I remember when the national anthem would play on TV and then SHSSHSHSH!!!! Static. until around 6am when the news would come on and the day would start a new. This was before infomercials and the like. However, I DO NOT remember a time before the Beastie Boys. They were already doing music and were already artists befor I learned to tie my shoes or even piss standing up.
That said, they're worthy here... by far. When I first heard 'Fight For Your Right'. I was immediately hooked. I knew why my parents hated it, and it led me to understand that hey, they were kids once too. It was the Beastie Boys that forced my mother into telling me the age old story of how her parents hated the Beatles etc. Growing up they were MTV Staples, fun videos, white boys in hip hop, and wether they were commercially succesful or not,... well it didnt matter at that time. After all, it was the 80's.
Yet somehow it being the 80's had no effect on them. Their songs and sounds transcend time, isn't that weird to say... the Beastie Boys are CLASSIC. Wow, kind of puts things into perspective.
To be honest, I kind of lost pace with them around Pauls Boutique and when they got into sampling and doing really creative stuff. What can I say? I was young, and Guns N Roses had just come out. It wasn't until my late teens that I picked up "The In Sound From Way Out" in which I was amazed to learn (and some might still be) that they put out an instrumental record in which they played all (or most) of the instruments.
Since then, I've truly appreciated them for the artists and musicians that they really are. Instead of the ridiculous rawkous group of misfits they portray. When Hello Nasty came out. I think I wore out my friends ears with my repetative play of it. I simply loved that record, and still do to this day. Alot of people said it was old school... I still don't get that, there are a lot of things on that record that are still very very fresh. (oh maybe that's why it's old school... cuz it's fresh) My favorite parts on the record werent really the stand out songs... but the interesting things they did in between, and the genres they touched within it.
Flash forward to now. They're still kicking it. I saw Adam Yauch at a screening of The Wrestler when that came out. I'm a huge fan of Tamara Davis, who directed a few of their videos and some great comedy movies (and some bad ones... see Crossroads), and who I believe is still married to Mike D. They have a new record coming out, and have been putting out these hilarious cameo ridden videos for their new songs.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
00001 Arctic Monkeys
Well why not start with "A" And a band that has really shaken my core and keister for about a year now. Arctic Monkeys... when I first heard of these guys, I didn't think much of it. I was actually pretty anti - Monkeys at the time. And for some reason my brain drew a line between The Decemberists and Arctic for some reason and I imagined them to be of the same vein. Avoid it I did, and rather well.
That was until I stumbled upon the video for BRAINSTORM off of "Favourite Worst Nightmare"
Wow, I thought, girls booty dancing to a pretty rockin, somewhat heavy tune. I dug a little deeper but hardly scratched the surface. Mission Accomplished, as far as AM should be concerned as I stopped with my abrasive face whenever I heard there name.
Later, and much to my suprise I learned that their new record (at the time) would be produced by hands down my favorite contemporary artist / musician Joshua Homme from Queens of the Stone Age, Kyuss, Desert Sessions, Them Crooked Vultures, and Eagles of Death Metal Fame. Holy moses I thought, and I did some research. Found some quotes with Homme saying that he was going to "slap the sheffield out of this kids" and that they're one of the only bands doing intersting stuff these days. SOLD, INTRIGUED, and I just couldnt wait to hear what they did next.
HUMBUG (2009)
Finally, now this is why we're here. Upon first listen, Humbug didn't really rock my socks off, yet carried me into a dark and swarmy soundscape by the hand. Then as soon as the first few bars go through 'My Propeller" your hand is let go. And albeit a seemingly harmless thing, you can really get lost in the ride without the proper guidance.
Other songs rocked me right off the bat. Crying Lightning of course, the first single struck me the first time I heard it. Single material of course. Brilliant song. From there the only other song that I really fell in love with was "Pretty Visitors"
Upon later listens, I was able to decipher what was really going on. Is this a concept record? I tend to lean towards yes, without actually saying it. After a few listens and a few times with friends I began to see the lyrical imagery taking shape. My Propeller took on a whole new meaning. All of the pieces fell into place. And the carnival ride took form. I swayed and swaggered until I fell down. The sounds echoing through my open ears. This is an epic album with endless nooks and crannys to be explored and discovered. I highly recommend this one and I'd love to hear your similar experiences with this album and what you've been able to get out of it.
That was until I stumbled upon the video for BRAINSTORM off of "Favourite Worst Nightmare"
Wow, I thought, girls booty dancing to a pretty rockin, somewhat heavy tune. I dug a little deeper but hardly scratched the surface. Mission Accomplished, as far as AM should be concerned as I stopped with my abrasive face whenever I heard there name.
Later, and much to my suprise I learned that their new record (at the time) would be produced by hands down my favorite contemporary artist / musician Joshua Homme from Queens of the Stone Age, Kyuss, Desert Sessions, Them Crooked Vultures, and Eagles of Death Metal Fame. Holy moses I thought, and I did some research. Found some quotes with Homme saying that he was going to "slap the sheffield out of this kids" and that they're one of the only bands doing intersting stuff these days. SOLD, INTRIGUED, and I just couldnt wait to hear what they did next.
HUMBUG (2009)
Finally, now this is why we're here. Upon first listen, Humbug didn't really rock my socks off, yet carried me into a dark and swarmy soundscape by the hand. Then as soon as the first few bars go through 'My Propeller" your hand is let go. And albeit a seemingly harmless thing, you can really get lost in the ride without the proper guidance.
Other songs rocked me right off the bat. Crying Lightning of course, the first single struck me the first time I heard it. Single material of course. Brilliant song. From there the only other song that I really fell in love with was "Pretty Visitors"
Upon later listens, I was able to decipher what was really going on. Is this a concept record? I tend to lean towards yes, without actually saying it. After a few listens and a few times with friends I began to see the lyrical imagery taking shape. My Propeller took on a whole new meaning. All of the pieces fell into place. And the carnival ride took form. I swayed and swaggered until I fell down. The sounds echoing through my open ears. This is an epic album with endless nooks and crannys to be explored and discovered. I highly recommend this one and I'd love to hear your similar experiences with this album and what you've been able to get out of it.
Starting to roll a ball.
Or get the ball rolling as some have said. Not sure exactly where this is going. But I've been more interested in music than anything else in my entire life. I recall being a little boy rocking out to Led Zeppelin on my SOUNDWAVE transformers tape deck. I would play Black Dog over and over. Hall and Oates, 'Family Man' was my jam for a while after that. I would bang my head to that song... so you know I was more than ready when metal music first hit my hears. Not that Zeppelin isn't metal. You'll run into those guys all over the place too.
Regardless I found that music has been around throughout my life and all of our lives, for better or worse. You would think "geez what could be bad about music" Hmmmm, well I would think the same thing if I hadnt been around it so much. I won't waste time here sharing little tid-bits but of how music has driven me crazy or has been a large part of a bad experience. But I will however tell you this. This is not a place for labels, or calling things neo-sub-pop, or post-electro-rock-house. No, none of that here. I may say Grunge, or come up with my own grassroots explanation of a genre, band, or what have you. Hell sometimes I'll even mis-label things on purpose. But hopefully it will be obvious when I do so.
Anyways, as I mentioned. I am not sure what these posts will be going forward. Reviews of albums old and new, sure. Talks about Artists in general, why not. Show reviews... ok. Just random BS and babbling like this... Of course!
Hopefully if you're reading this it's because there was a lot of other info on this blog and you have found your way to the original posts. Which means, something got you here didn't it. YAY!
Regardless I found that music has been around throughout my life and all of our lives, for better or worse. You would think "geez what could be bad about music" Hmmmm, well I would think the same thing if I hadnt been around it so much. I won't waste time here sharing little tid-bits but of how music has driven me crazy or has been a large part of a bad experience. But I will however tell you this. This is not a place for labels, or calling things neo-sub-pop, or post-electro-rock-house. No, none of that here. I may say Grunge, or come up with my own grassroots explanation of a genre, band, or what have you. Hell sometimes I'll even mis-label things on purpose. But hopefully it will be obvious when I do so.
Anyways, as I mentioned. I am not sure what these posts will be going forward. Reviews of albums old and new, sure. Talks about Artists in general, why not. Show reviews... ok. Just random BS and babbling like this... Of course!
Hopefully if you're reading this it's because there was a lot of other info on this blog and you have found your way to the original posts. Which means, something got you here didn't it. YAY!
Thursday, April 14, 2011
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