New Queens of the Stone Age

Queens of the Stone Age- Villians 

    It's been years since we've last heard new Queens music. Well, it's been a lot longer than that for some people reading this. It's been an undetermined amount of time for anyone not reading this because who knows how long no one listened to something, right? Anyway, this album is great. Allow me to explain.

   The previous album "...Like Clockwork" holds a very special place in my heart. I was in a real shitty spot, so I flew out to California to be with friends. While I was out there, a friend in the Queens circle sent me the album before it came out. It was very much my best friend through my nonsense. The lyrics, the songs, the interviews with the band around the time.. it was all perfect timing for my head space. Turns out there was quite the amount of turmoil going on in the band as well. Now typically a band that has a "softer" album wipes their tears after getting flamed for being "pussies" and then releases their next album to be nothing but macho man riffs. This album doesn't act embarrassed of the previous record at all. While you can tell it came from a more grounded place lyrically, musically it sounds a lot

   While all Queens albums truly stand on their own, you can always find similar traits here and there from previous albums. Songs like "Fortress" keep that more sensitive approach the previous record explored with melodic vocal patterns that are catchy but frail. The song was written for Josh's daughter. Without watering down the actual lyrics themselves, he explains how inescapable depression and great loss is, and how he hopes hers is not as bad as his got. Songs like "The Evil Has Landed" take a similar feel to Them Crooked Vultures with a real groove oriented, loose rock n' roll feel.

   Overall, the album again is great. It's tough to change styles without sounding like you're either faking it or barely keeping up. These guys seem to effortlessly swoop up various feels, tones, and often times members to create their own kind of sound, while still being catchy enough for (mostly) everyone to enjoy. 

-Novak

Happy Weekend

It's the weekend, thank Jeebus. Here are today's jams.








Fudge Tunnel- "The Complicated Futility of Ignorance"

One of the most underappreciated bands of the 90s, the UK's Fudge Tunnel helped keep heavy music alive during the 90s and bridged the gap between alternative rock and extreme metal. This album and their earlier material still manage to sound powerful without coming off dated. Jam this.








Carbonized- "For the Security"

One of the most interesting bands to emerge from the crowded Swedish death metal scene, Carbonized blended death metal with elements of rock and jazz without losing a bit of the heaviness or edge. Highly recommended if you're a fan of early European death metal but you're looking for something with a unique identity. You could argue this is the early primitive beginnings of what would inform death n' roll.








Brotha Lynch Hung- "Season of da Siccness"

The infamous release from Brotha Lynch Hung, one of the best west coast MCs of the 90s. Although the lyrical content can sometimes come off cheesier than a box of Kraft, his flow and the beat production is undeniable and this is a capstone of 90s west coast hip hop.










Earth, Wind, and Fire- "That's The Way of the World"

A timeless piece of soul, funk, groove mastery that along with Jack Daniels and the invention of the thong have helped women get pregnant since 1975.

- Joe

Playlist

I've been heavily listening to film scores and soundtracks lately. Here are three current favorites.






Beyond The Black Rainbow

Beyond the Black Rainbow is a fantastic 2010 Sci Fi- Horror film directed by Panos Cosmatos that combines 60s and 70s Visual Modernity with elements of psychological and body horror. A standout in the film, is the brilliant soundtrack composed by Jeremy Schmidt of Black Mountain. Influenced heavily by the synth scores of John Carpenter and Tangerine Dream, the music is heavily reminiscent of scores such as The Shining and Midnight Express. If you're a fan of hypnotic synth scores you will more than likely eat this up. Highly recommended.










We Are Still Here

Ted Geoghagen's 2015 We Are Still Here is the best modern homage to the Fulci subgenre of horror films that I have seen in a long time. If you're a fan of House by the Cemetery particularly, you will love the atmosphere and the homages contained in the film. You will also appreciate the dark, haunting, and eerie soundtrack from Wojciech Golczewski. The slow, brooding compositions really make you feel like you're in an evil situation.
















Event Horizon

A 90s favorite and cemented cult classic, Even Horizon is somewhat of a polarizing film with mixed reactions even to this day from audiences. Despite a pretty weak theatrical cut of the film, the recent director's cut shows the movie in its intended form and for me it stands out as one of the most horrifying films ever made. The soundtrack has also aged quite well for me as well with some amazing classical scores that fit super well. A perfect fit for your Halloween playlist.

- Joe

Headache Curing Music

I did a lot of cleaning/reading on Sunday. These albums do a great job with keeping my mind and body busy. 

Mott the Hoople- All the Young Dudes

An essential for anyone who likes music that doesn't suck. Bowie produced this record in 1972 when the band was hanging on by a thread. Writing the track that was released shortly before this album "All the Young Dudes" the band was shot into glam rock history. Bowie played this track all the way up to his very last tour in 2004. 

Drab Majesty- Careless 

This album has made it on this blog quite a few times. I've been listening to it a lot lately. If you haven't heard it, do yourself a favor and check this guy out.

-Novak