Music Reviews
Here at Horrace Mc Knight, we
would like to
provide you with more than a now bi-weekly show! We will be
posting Music Reviews to appease your taste-buds during the non-show
weeks! Keep checking here to see new music, Mainstream or
Indie,
being reviewed! We will keep a Rating system, it goes as
follows:
1) Sux 2) Eh - Could Be Better 3) Good 4) Damn Good 5) Best Sh*% Out!
21 October 2005- Opeth-Ghost Reveries
Well, I finally told Horrace to bugger off and stop getting me drunk so I could write this review. I've been meaning to do it for a couple months now (and Jory's been riding my ass like it's got a saddle), especially since this album is so unbelievably good.
First, disclaimer:
Opeth plays DEATH METAL. For those of you who own Damnation, Opeth only sounds like that for an entire album on that album. In reality, singer Mikael Akerfeldt sounds like he's channeling good ole' Satan himself when he's growling.Now, I know what you're all saying. Death metal sucks. Death metal vocalists can't sing. We all hate the Cookie Monster. Yea, blah, blah, blah. I know all the excuses, because I used to use them myself. Then I picked up Deliverance and Damnation, and I've loved it ever since. Mind you, not all death metal is created equal; in fact, a fair amount of it is shit.
Not Opeth, and certainly not Ghost Reveries. Since they've added a dedicated keyboardist (previously their producer did most of the keys work), their sound has taken on a lot of really neat Zeppelin influences (think "No Quarter" and "Stairway to Heaven"). What makes Opeth so cool is the incorporation of so many non-metal elements to create a sonic landscape that I wouldn't mind running nekkid all over. Well, maybe I would. I think that's the booze talking. Anyway, you can take solace in the fact that Mikael Akerfeldt can actually sing, and does quite a lot of it on this album.
Track 1, "Ghost of Perdition" gets right into the death-growling, double-bass pounding metal that we know and love. At over 9 minutes long, it wanders from all out distortion-laden riffage to prog Tool inspired droning with syncopated vocals that actually rhyme for a change, to mellow breakdowns punctuated by the tight rhythm section (comprised of Martin Mendez on bass and Martin Lopez on percussion). Definately my favorite track on the album, and probably one of the top 10 Opeth songs in my alcohol-laden opinion. Akerfeldt's leads are as good as ever: soulful and not over-the-top annoying like certain overly-talented guitarists these days (are you reading this John Petrucci?). Tons and tons of Gilmour moments in there. All in all, this track is dynamic and explosive in so many excellent ways. Great harmonizing too.
Other tracks that stand out are #7, "The Grand Conjuration," which is even more Tool inspired with its odd time signature and percussive guitarwork. Tasteful finger tapping too, ladies and gentlemen! This track is so utterly evil it makes me want to go smother kittens and then feed them to the venus fly-trap from "Little Shop of Horrors." It has lots of ambient creepy moments too. Highly recommended.
#6, "Hours of Wealth" is also one of my faves, and it's not even metal. It's very jazzy with a lot of acoustic work, probably Akerfeldt's best vocal work I've ever heard, and tons of feel in the solo. It's so good I'm sad when it ends.
#8, "Isolation Years," is a little less memorable, mainly because it's a big wind-down from "The Grand Conjuration" so that we finish the album all mellow, melancolie and suicidal instead of ready to summon Beelzebub to destroy our enemies. It's very, very trippy.
I won't bore you with the details of the rest of the album; you should go out and give it a listen yourselves! Death metal is definately an acquired taste, but Opeth makes it one very easy to acquire. I can't really imagine them without the death growls; they serve as a counter-point to the mellow portions and make everything stand out in vivid color.
Anyway, I give this album a 4.5876321, which means it's pretty freakin tasty.
Amina (Opener / Backup to
Main band) - - Sigur rós (Main Band) - Madison, WI
Hey all y'all! I litterally ten minutes ago got back into Oshkosh from the Sigur rós concert in Madison, WI. Russ dragged his feet on getting tix, so I went myself - met some diehard fans - one fan i ended up sitting next to - got a hug from Jónsi from Sigur rós at his pharmacy earlier in the day...Jónsi was buying Face cream - all natural even...
Amina opened the show with a 4 piece string quartet; but then went on to playing zylophones, cups with water, and the bells you ring at a hotel - they had like 15 of em, and two of the members were playing them hand over hand...it was reallllly awesome. They played for about an hour, and got us all prepped up for the Sigur rós act. They ended their set with a synthed out string/electronic beat - crowd cheered majorlly.
Sigur rós then followed. They played songs from all three albums for about 2 1/2 hours. This band, seriously, is amazing. I have to say that the whole time I was listening - my hands were on the railing (we had balcony seats) and my head was resting upon them with my jaw hanging wide open. This band, litterally - is better than Sex...(leaving it at that.)
Let me clue you in on Sigur rós; Jónsi is an amazing guitarist and vocalist; when he sings - you literally stop what thinking, and just listen. He is a falsetto - and it is an utterly amazing voice. His guitar skills are mad also - he mainly plays his guitar using a cello bow - it's amazing - you litterally have to hear it to believe it.
Orri páll dýrason - plays the drums - this man is an amazing drummer - when he gets his solo - you feel those drums even at the back of the theatre...and the bathroom! The drumming skills that Orri has - are probably the best I've ever heard (I listen to lots o music also...)
Goggi - on bass - kicks some mad lines...these along with Orri's drum lines - combine to make a great backup to everything else on stage.
Kjarri - Cannot forget this keyboardest... The whole band but Kjarri left the stage, and he played for what must have been 5 minutes on his own, and you could probably hear a pin drop if the music wasn't being played - that's how quiet that crowd was.
Overall, Sigur rós - being the Icelandic band that they are - have some of the most ethereal music I have ever heard. From teenagers to the elderly - this band will appeal to you. It is sung in some Icelandic, and a language that the band themselves created; and will pull you in.
This show gets a 5 - Best
Sh*% Out! -- Jory
Dark New Day / Crossfade / Seether Concert August 3rd - Oshkosh, WI
With amazing vocals, hardcore guitar licks and drum lines, Dark New Day opened the show with a slight drizzle. The rain didn't stop everyone in the crowd from moshing and having a great time. Dark New Day played for roughly half an hour, and made us wish they would have kept going!
Crossfade came up next and rocked the pants off of everyone, or well - made my brother spill his beer down my socks, and the socks of one of my co-workers, and all over some chicks foot! Crossfade did the majority of their album, and played a new song in which we were all lucky enough to hear!
Seether then rocked all of Oshkosh - Opening with one of their lesser radio played songs, and then playing all the way to Remedy as their last song, they definately made the police work to get the moshers ejected.
Seether then invited members from both Dark New Day and Crossfade to play an Alice in Chains song, and then Change by Deftones!
Since Russ didn't go, and I did, I have to give this a rating. I give it a 5! This show was well worth the 5, be wary though, we won't be giving many of those out, but it was well worth it!
Dark New Day - C.D. - 12 Year Silence
I had heard this band on the radio, like
you hear
many bands - yes they are corporate rock; but damn! This band
utilizes their lyrics and their amazing ability to actually play their
instruments properly, to make some very relateable music. The
lyrics make you feel like you are actually there - Brother
being one of the most popular songs, chorus going as this: "Father when you coming back?
Mother leave the light on again.
Sister with someone somewhere somewhere
Brother Brother Brother."
While listening to the song, I found myself wondering all the same things, good music makes you think, lyrics make you think, and make you want to listen more.
The music itself is very well "orchestrated," by combining relentless drum lines, along with outrageous Guitar tab, it all ties together amazingly. I, Jory, give this band a 4 - Damn Good. (Maybe my rating will change after I go to the show...keep an eye out for the review!)