Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Rolling over Minds

Just lovely, beautiful, euphoric, sludgy release. Thank you, Hawkeyes.


-My God's in my head and I'm thinkin I've been thinking too much

Friday, September 20, 2013

Secrets of the Ooze

A few weeks back, while galavanting around Montreal in a drunken stupor with my brother-from-another-mother, Jesse, I was introduced to an album that, even after weeks of listening to, still blows my mind every time. Really, the album has got it all: passion, aggression, epic riffs, monstrous drumming, witty lyrics...

And 4 heroes in a half shell.

The BCASA (previously known as the Bill Cosby Anarchist Society of America prior to legal involvement) are a band that Jesse had been speaking about for years and even played a number of times. Every time I heard them, I recall being impressed, however, it wasn't until the release of their Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-based concept album, Fuck You, Shredder, that I was truly sold on the band. In addition to writing 15 songs based around TMNT, these 3 green crusaders also showcase their exceptional musicianship and the markings of a band who has played together for a number of years and are now into their 3rd full-length. Part surf punk, part Wu-Tang, all ridiculous, this album - though juvenile and hilarious in nature - has more replayability than 90% of the shit I listen to these days (and makes me giggle more than 100% of it).

Cowabunga, dude.

-Before my eyes you materialize

Friday, September 13, 2013

Dark Side of Sound

We were all fans of Soundgarden growing up... or at least, anyone that I would care to associate with better have been. While I knew they were an exceptionally talented band full of savant-esque musicians that did a pretty terrific job of working through a collaborative writing process, I never exactly knew which influences came from where.

Thus, when Ben Shepherd released his solo album, In Deep Owl, under the moniker HBS, it was interesting to see the source of one of my favourite grunge bands' dark side. Almost immediately, I could far better understand some of my favourite Soundgarden tracks such as Half, Head Down or Jesus Christ Pose. Shepherd was a dark, macabre man.

Thus, listening to his first and only solo effort, it's pretty glorious to hear the raw sounds of Shepherd's work without the influence of his equally talented bandmates. His tracks are engaging, mellow, dark but still driving and cool. They're the kind of tracks that you feel like a bit of a badass just listening to.

Don't take my word for it, badass:



-I raise 3 fingers to the skies, between the lines is your reply