Showing posts with label Anathema. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Anathema. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
All Media Reviews Podcast #4: Albums of the Year Part 3
10. Steven Wilson - To the Bone 9. Anakdota - Overloading 8. Godspeed You Black Emperor - Luciferian Towers 7. Anathema - The Optimist 6. Pain of Salvation - In the Passing Light of Day 5. 22 - You Are Creating: Limb 1 4. Bent Knee - Land Animal 3. Everything Everything - A Fever Dream 2. Small Leaks Sink Ships - Golden Calf 1. Mutemath - Play Dead
came out okay. I forgot to suggest in the comments to include your aoty, but I changed the subject on Youtube at least.
I guess as I stressed at the end, I am excited to make the 2017-2018 preview/anticipation podcast soon. With this done now, probably in the next few days, although as I've mentioned in past videos and in here, I probably should just do it by QUARTER so call it 1st-Quarter and Beyond or something.
Monday, July 10, 2017
Anathema - Endless Ways
I finally got around to revisiting Anathema's new record The Optimist , as I hadn't given the whole thing a listening since I first got to hear it about 2 months ago.
I can say, I have a better sense about it now, and maybe its concept to a point.
But for me, especially right now, the 1st half worked very well, and the 2nd half I found a little more hit and miss.
But the biggest thing that I'm retaining right now from it is this track "Endless Ways" with Lee Douglas on lead vocals. Sohhh melancholy. It just hit me like a ton of bricks. I would rank this now as 1 of my 5 favorite Anathema songs, and kind of like 2016's track "You Never Were Alone" from Cloud Cult and "Happy Returns" from Steven Wilson.
I was fighting back the tears trying to listen to it. Different images and reasons for them. A bit like The Antlers 2009 album Hospice and the timing of discovering it not long before and then after when my grandfather passed away. My head is lingering with nostalgia for the recent past and my now old apartment.
I feel almost like someone or something died. And actually, my wife's Aunt did sadly just pass away, and I was at the funeral last Friday which was melancholy in a lot of ways like this song. But this song is capturing my sadness from my memories of the past 8.5 years. I'm not sure how else to describe it.
I guess leaving my independence in a lot of ways behind. Sort of closing a chapter in a book. It definitely carries that emotion. And given the timing of hearing it more profoundly now, I may always associate it with losing or leaving my independence behind and the memories I have of my life since 2009 and my bachelor-lifestyle back in my old apartment in Maplewood.
I suppose it and a lot of the rest of the album brings my frequent thoughts of mortality and aging too, and the story about someone living on the West Coast of North America, likely Northern California and a tragic event (a Wild Fire?) that impacts them. Their home burns in a fire and they have to drive away to an unknown destination?
I am not sure how much I will love The Optimist compared to their other recent records which are all 4-4.5 stars, but the criticism of it not comparing I only can follow to a small degree. It may just be more of a slow burner and a grower. At a minimum, Endless Ways is gorgeous and sad as all fuck, much like many of their songs are, which is one of the biggest reasons I love a lot of their music. And to add to the timing of this for me, may just be what makes it an all-time favorite of mine.
Saturday, May 13, 2017
2016-2017 Midseason Albums Videos
So I crammed in all the titles for the most part, from the lists on the entry I posted like a week ago.
I didn't include the Offa Rex thing and only included a bit about the Steven Wilson album at the end of the 2nd video.
But, anyway, somewhat par for my course, We'll see how, when the end of the year stuff happens given these will be the last videos for this current years music as lists, that I can make at my apartment.
I didn't include the Offa Rex thing and only included a bit about the Steven Wilson album at the end of the 2nd video.
But, anyway, somewhat par for my course, We'll see how, when the end of the year stuff happens given these will be the last videos for this current years music as lists, that I can make at my apartment.
Thursday, March 30, 2017
Anathema - The Optimist (2016-2017)
3/30/17 9:40AM
1st single "Springfield."I haven't heard it yet, but from some of the comments, it doesn't stray all that much from their past few records (which is still a good thing).
The rest of the record may though.
3/24/17 6:40AM
Facebook Announcement
June 9th, 2017 release date.
Certainly looking forward to this as espeically their last 3 records ( Distant Satellites, Weather Systems, We're Here Because We're Here) are somewhat Modern Classics (progressive college rock I suppose, as opposed to their older/earlier gothic doom/death metal).
Hopefully the 1st single will arrive relatively soon as that snippet below I don't know if it *teases* me enough as it's so brief.
I do recall reading that there is a Jazz and chamber element coming as some of the content on Social Media mentioned them using in the recording. Upright Bass among other instrumentation. Quite curious about that.
1. 32.63N 117.14W 1:18
2 Leaving It Behind 4:27
3 Endless Ways 5:49
4 The Optimist 5:37
5 San Francisco 4:59
6 Springfield 5:49
7 Ghosts 4:17
8 Can't Let Go 5:00
9 Close Your Eyes 3:39
10 Wildfires 5:40
11 Back to the Start 11:41
1st single "Springfield."I haven't heard it yet, but from some of the comments, it doesn't stray all that much from their past few records (which is still a good thing).
The rest of the record may though.
3/24/17 6:40AM
Facebook Announcement
June 9th, 2017 release date.
Certainly looking forward to this as espeically their last 3 records ( Distant Satellites, Weather Systems, We're Here Because We're Here) are somewhat Modern Classics (progressive college rock I suppose, as opposed to their older/earlier gothic doom/death metal).
Hopefully the 1st single will arrive relatively soon as that snippet below I don't know if it *teases* me enough as it's so brief.
I do recall reading that there is a Jazz and chamber element coming as some of the content on Social Media mentioned them using in the recording. Upright Bass among other instrumentation. Quite curious about that.
1. 32.63N 117.14W 1:18
2 Leaving It Behind 4:27
3 Endless Ways 5:49
4 The Optimist 5:37
5 San Francisco 4:59
6 Springfield 5:49
7 Ghosts 4:17
8 Can't Let Go 5:00
9 Close Your Eyes 3:39
10 Wildfires 5:40
11 Back to the Start 11:41
Friday, November 21, 2014
iamthemorning - Belighted (2013-2014)
1. Intermission IX 01:20
2. The Howler 03:57
3. To Human Misery 04:18
4. Intermission X 00:53
5. Romance 03:01
6. The Simple Story 03:30
7. Intermission XI 01:21
8. 5/4 03:50
9. Crowded Corridors 08:44
10. Gerda 04:52
11. Os Lunatum 04:31
12. Intermission XII 02:36
13. K. O. S. 06:06
14. Reprise Of Light/No Light 05:16
15. Intermission XIII 00:58
I'd like to write an extensively detailed review about this band and album, but I can't promise that. But I do want to post something, however short or not this is.
I recall hearing about iamthemorning at least a year ago or more, but don't even recall if I checked any of their music out. But this past Season, this album received a fair amount of buzz among progressive rock fans. That and I recall it was per the KScope Podcast and them announcing the signing to KScope sometime in the last year, which brought their name to me.
I eventually checked a little of this album out, and kind of forgot about them. But then I think it was around the time I checked out Marketa Irglova's new LP Muna, I also finally gave this whole record a go. And I remember liking it, but also thinking people were overhyping it a bit. And given the receny, thinking Muna was similar but better. However, now I'm not so sure.
But in going through the end of Season records, I gave it another shot the other day and I must say, I am a fair amount more into it and the band.
What are they like? they use very tasteful string and other chamber or classical arrangements along with very clean, delicate female vocals. Which on paper is nice, but I suppose it is how they are written/composed which stand out. The dynamics, crescendos, twists and turns at points. They even use samples on the 2nd track "The Howler" which is from an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents titled "Human Interest Story"(by Googling "Howard Wilcox" an "TV Episode" reveals it).
This album and band combine very lush arranged songs that segue very well with the interludes or "Intermissions."
I feel bad I slept on this album and band this year, but better late than never. It's hardly the 1st nor last time this kind of late/pre-end-of-Season post changes with review/revisiting of an album I was not as high on earlier in the Season.
iamthemorning I guess are just a duo of Gleb Kolyadin & Marjana Semkina. From St.Petersburg, which sadly is quite a ways away, to hope for a tour of the US. But who knows, maybe they could open for KScope labelmates Steven Wilson or Anathema at some point in North America. But until then, enjoying this record and their previous work will have to do.
Favorite tracks: 5/4, Gerda, K.O.S. Os Lunatum, The Howler
http://iamthemorning.com/
Friday, June 20, 2014
11/1/13 - 6/20/14 (Albums Countdown/List SO FAR)
Haven't heard/heard enough to really rank/mix in.
Wolfmother - New Crown
Bigelf - Into the Maelstrom
KXM - KXM
Being - Anthropocene
----------------------------------------------
Pharrell Williams - G I R L
St.Vincent - St.Vincent
Transatlantic - Kaleidoscope
Crippled Black Phoenix - White Light Generator
Warpaint - Warpaint
Hannes Grossman - The Radial Covenant
Fire Garden - Sound of Majestic Colors
Destrage - Are You Kidding Me? No
Bed of Stars - Tell Me If It's True [EP]
Mastodon - Once More Around the Sun
The Aston Shuffle - Photographs
Pat Metheny Unity Group - Kin
Cloud Caverns - Gypsy Loft
Agalloch - The Serpent and the Sphere
Toria - Octave
Chromeo - White Women
Three - Sugarlife/You Are the Alien
The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra - Zombie Mouth
Cynic - Kindly Bent to Free Us
Moron Police - Defenders of the Small Yard
Jeremy Messersmith - Heart Murmurs
Hotel of the Laughing Tree - Mammoth Skin Pt. 2 [EP]
Casey Crescenzo - Amour and Attrition
Umphrey's McGee - Similar Skin
I'm not as blown away as I initially thought I would be, but I still am enjoying a lot of this. The heavier and proggy parts probably most. "Bridgeless" and 'Hindsight" which end the album, maybe most. The Joel-vocal songs maybe stand out most on a lot of levels. "Little Gift" being one of those. This record does continue their pattern of every-other-album being good being much better than Death By Stereo.
I guess I'll see how much better or growing it does for me, although I still have only listened to it about 3 or 4 times at this point.
Archive - Axiom
Nice,. trippy/trip-hoppy, moody soundtrack to a film of the same name. The title track has this section about 3 or 4 minutes in that is ear-wormy. This band continues to make impressive music, this album being no exception.
Genders - Get Lost
Katherine Paul (ex-Forest Park) was how discovered this band. She is the drummer and sings some (background) I guess. I really like the blend of elements and influences from this band/on this album. Psychedelic, power-pop, dream-pop, etc.
Brice Plays Drums - ProgTagonist
"Sisyphus" being my favorite. The closing piece is Yes-inspired apparently, although it reminds me more of The Grateful Dead actually (not in a bad way though). I do like how they changed/did some different things with Jazz and Middle Eastern element on a song like "Alyosha" and "Ramses."
Fjokra - Thoughtsteps [EP]
"Infinite Loops" is the best song I've heard in 2014 thus far. Catchy, textured, dynamic, and lyrical. It is kind of like the sequel to Kevin Gilbert's "Shadow Self" in some ways. This EP is rather addictive though. "Love, Thrust, Burn" and "That Old Time Nook" among the other parts that I keep going back to.
Grimus - Emergence
"Satellites" is maybe my favorite track. The title track, "Morning Stars" 'Legends" "The Hell I'm In" "Weird Disco" "Peregrine" ..more or less the whole record. I like that they have what sounds like 2 or more lead singers, although Bogdan Mezofi, their longtime lead singer still is featured and while he does remind me of some other singers like Jimmy Gnecco of Ours, his vocal lines and the melodies still really work on their own level.
The Family Crest - Beneath the Brine
Coming a bit out of nowhere, Great chamber folk-rock of sorts with the instrumental layers, vocal harmonies and memorable sections/melodies that make this record work beginning to end. The title track is probably still my favorite.
Anathema - Distant Satellites
"Ariel" the title track, the Self-Titled track, "The Lost Song" suite, and more or less the whole record. Don't mind the synthy/pop stuff, nor even the Radiohead inspired music, mainly because Vince is singing and not Thom Yorke.
Bend Sinister - Animals
Another great record from these guys. "The Best of You" is wonderful. The sad synths in "It Will Never End" always get me, like I don't want the album to ever end, lol.
EDIT: A 20 minute video may be put in here sometime soon as I made it last night, but don't have the time right now to edit/upload it yet.
Wolfmother - New Crown
Bigelf - Into the Maelstrom
KXM - KXM
Being - Anthropocene
----------------------------------------------
Pharrell Williams - G I R L
St.Vincent - St.Vincent
Transatlantic - Kaleidoscope
Crippled Black Phoenix - White Light Generator
Warpaint - Warpaint
Hannes Grossman - The Radial Covenant
Fire Garden - Sound of Majestic Colors
Destrage - Are You Kidding Me? No
Bed of Stars - Tell Me If It's True [EP]
Mastodon - Once More Around the Sun
The Aston Shuffle - Photographs
Pat Metheny Unity Group - Kin
Cloud Caverns - Gypsy Loft
Agalloch - The Serpent and the Sphere
Toria - Octave
Chromeo - White Women
Three - Sugarlife/You Are the Alien
The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra - Zombie Mouth
Cynic - Kindly Bent to Free Us
Moron Police - Defenders of the Small Yard
Jeremy Messersmith - Heart Murmurs
Hotel of the Laughing Tree - Mammoth Skin Pt. 2 [EP]
Casey Crescenzo - Amour and Attrition
Umphrey's McGee - Similar Skin
I'm not as blown away as I initially thought I would be, but I still am enjoying a lot of this. The heavier and proggy parts probably most. "Bridgeless" and 'Hindsight" which end the album, maybe most. The Joel-vocal songs maybe stand out most on a lot of levels. "Little Gift" being one of those. This record does continue their pattern of every-other-album being good being much better than Death By Stereo.
I guess I'll see how much better or growing it does for me, although I still have only listened to it about 3 or 4 times at this point.
Archive - Axiom
Nice,. trippy/trip-hoppy, moody soundtrack to a film of the same name. The title track has this section about 3 or 4 minutes in that is ear-wormy. This band continues to make impressive music, this album being no exception.
Genders - Get Lost
Katherine Paul (ex-Forest Park) was how discovered this band. She is the drummer and sings some (background) I guess. I really like the blend of elements and influences from this band/on this album. Psychedelic, power-pop, dream-pop, etc.
Brice Plays Drums - ProgTagonist
"Sisyphus" being my favorite. The closing piece is Yes-inspired apparently, although it reminds me more of The Grateful Dead actually (not in a bad way though). I do like how they changed/did some different things with Jazz and Middle Eastern element on a song like "Alyosha" and "Ramses."
Fjokra - Thoughtsteps [EP]
"Infinite Loops" is the best song I've heard in 2014 thus far. Catchy, textured, dynamic, and lyrical. It is kind of like the sequel to Kevin Gilbert's "Shadow Self" in some ways. This EP is rather addictive though. "Love, Thrust, Burn" and "That Old Time Nook" among the other parts that I keep going back to.
Grimus - Emergence
"Satellites" is maybe my favorite track. The title track, "Morning Stars" 'Legends" "The Hell I'm In" "Weird Disco" "Peregrine" ..more or less the whole record. I like that they have what sounds like 2 or more lead singers, although Bogdan Mezofi, their longtime lead singer still is featured and while he does remind me of some other singers like Jimmy Gnecco of Ours, his vocal lines and the melodies still really work on their own level.
The Family Crest - Beneath the Brine
Coming a bit out of nowhere, Great chamber folk-rock of sorts with the instrumental layers, vocal harmonies and memorable sections/melodies that make this record work beginning to end. The title track is probably still my favorite.
Anathema - Distant Satellites
"Ariel" the title track, the Self-Titled track, "The Lost Song" suite, and more or less the whole record. Don't mind the synthy/pop stuff, nor even the Radiohead inspired music, mainly because Vince is singing and not Thom Yorke.
Bend Sinister - Animals
Another great record from these guys. "The Best of You" is wonderful. The sad synths in "It Will Never End" always get me, like I don't want the album to ever end, lol.
EDIT: A 20 minute video may be put in here sometime soon as I made it last night, but don't have the time right now to edit/upload it yet.
Thursday, June 12, 2014
On KFAI Radio's "In Your Ear" 6/12/14
should be available (STREAM and DOWNLOAD) until June 26th until 1:59AM
RIGHT CLICK "SAVE AS" to DOWNLOAD
http://kfai.org/archive
The Family Crest - Beneath the Brine - Beneath the Brine - Tender Loving Empire
Anathema - Ariel - Distant Satellites - Kscope
Forest Park - Golden - Forest Park [EP] - S/R
Miracles of Modern Science - Dear Pressure - MEEMS - S/R
Queen - March of the Black Queen - Queen II - EMI
sElf - Ordinaire - Gizmodgery - Spongebath Records
Bruce Peninsula - Steamroller - A Mountain is a Mouth - Outside Music
Shadow Gallery - Floydian Memories - Room V (Special Edition) - Insideout Music
Time of Orchids - All I Ever Wish - Sarcast While - Tzadik
Time of Orchids - Whim - Sarcast While - Tzadik
Team Me - Show Me - To the Treetops - Propeller Recordings
Jazzkamikaze - Bring Back Spring - Supersonic Revolutions - SevenSeas Music
Foals - Spanish Sahara - Total Life Forever - Transgressive Records
background
*Shels: various clips from Plains of the Purple Buffalo
Good show. Just me. In some ways easier for me, but who knows how much that has to do with it.
The Midnight-2AM thing on a weeknight? who knows when the next time will be.
Friday, June 6, 2014
Anathema - Distant Satellites (2014)
6/5/14 12:30PM-6/6/14 5:46PM
edit: okay, checking it out again today, I'm enjoying the entire record more now. The title track is terrific and rather dreamy if still subtle. "You're Not Alone" and the Self Titled track also have some of that melancholy elements I love from these guys.
I can safely say this record is in the top albums of 2014 mix now.
Full Album Stream Link
Listened to this record a few times now. I enjoy it, especially the track "Ariel." The electronic element, which is only only 3 or maybe 4 tracks, is fine, not really something that makes the songs bad or anything.
But I can't say at this point, I am being blown away or more that compared to their last 2 LPs and even "Falling Deeper" I can't say it quite compares.
But it's early on. I think it will certainly be among the better 2014 records, but I'm not sure how much better I will see it. But who knows, some of it may grow more on me. "The Lost Song" suite, theme, etc is nice and much like the recent Anathema stuff. I'm not sure it quite as good though.
I'll likely try and make a video that includes something about this soon anyway.
oh, and HI 2355 hits in the last 5 days, LOL. At least this sucker is streaming in FULL now.
5/22/14 5:10AM
another nice piece. sorry it's a day or so late, I haven't been online much the last 24 hours.
5/2/14 5:51PM
4/10/14 10:30PM-4/29/14 8:23PM
edit: New review w/ Google Translate
it mentions Sigur Ros and some others.
Track 9 is there
Track Listing
01. THE LOST SONG part 1 5:53
02. THE LOST SONG part 2 5:47
03. DUSK (dark is descending) 5:59
04. ARIEL 6:28
05. THE LOST SONG part 3 5:21
06. ANATHEMA 6:40
07. YOU'RE NOT ALONE 3:26
08. FIRELIGHT [instrumental] 2:42
9. DISTANT SATELLITES 8:17
10. TAKE SHELTER 6:07
track 9?
http://www.omerch.eu/shop/Anathema/proddetail.php?prod=omerch_anat_dsDELUXE
4/9/14 12:04PM
For what it's worth: a Tracklist has already been posted on Wikipedia:
The Lost Song part 1 5:53
The Lost Song part 2 5:47
Dusk (Dark Is Descending) 5:59
Ariel 6:28
The Lost Song part 3 5:21
Anathema 6:40
You're Not Alone 3:26
Firelight 2:42
Distant Satellites 8:17
Take Shelter 6:07
3/28/14 11:56AM
June 9th. Title, artwork, Steven Wilson mixing confirmed. WHBWH I do prefer to WS a bit, so the fact Steven was involved with WHBWH might favor this one. Granted, Weather Systems is still a terrific record.
Also below is a new 24 minute interview with Danny (I haven't checked it out yet).
KScope Link
![[IMG]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uO8lOD72EOV44qi3SzAGqa_0qqc5tY6rejFDRSWN6acgjnZWxI_XzS79JVZA0h8oZWciIl0K5U-nN7B246xpT2LQ=s0-d)
ANATHEMA return in June with distant satellites, their brand new studio album.
Due to be released on 9th June via Kscope, distant satellites is the highly anticipated follow up to 2012’s Weather Systems, recorded at Cederberg Studios in Oslo, with producer Christer-André Cederberg.
The beautifully ethereal artwork was created by Korean new media artist Sang Jun Too and based around his ‘Distant Light’ Installation
The band released a statement on their new album:
“distant satellites is the culmination of everything Anathema been working up to so far in our musical path. It contains almost every conceivable element of the heartbeat of Anathema music that it is possible to have.
There is beauty, intensity, drama, quietude, and extra musical dimensions that the band have previously only hinted at. All built on the song writing chemistry of Daniel, John and Vincent ~ and the haunting voice of Lee Douglas.
Produced and mixed once again by our very own Christer-André Cederberg (Weather Systems, Universal) and with some songs also mixed by the unassailable Steven Wilson, It’s a special and unique release for the band.
ANATHEMA hopes the fans get as much joy from listening to and feeling the music as we did in creating it.”
3/16/14 11:30AM
I just saw this on the dreamtheaterforums, and while the band have not officially announced this, given this t-shirt is for sale and the wording "Distant Satellites" is printed on the front like some of the other Anathema shirts, it wouldn't be so surprising to have that be the title and the cover art be what is on the shirt as well.
So I'm going with this at least for now. Hopefully the band and KScope will post something soon with it and more details like a track list.
http://www.omerch.eu/shop/Anathema/proddetail.php?prod=OMANDistTSB&cat=2919
Here's a new interview with Vincent Cavanagh where he talks little bit about the timing/progress of Anathema's new record, although this interview doesn't include a lot of specifics, but the fact they are mixing this album in Chicago and there's something interesting coming with it, a documentary, etc.
http://metalassault.com/Interviews/2014/03/14/anathema-frontman-discusses-next-album-touring-more/
British eclectic rock band Anathema have been exploring a broad range of musical horizons over the nearly 25 years of their existence and have traveled a greatly diverse stylistic journey. While they’re not heavy on a sonically superficial level as they were in their early death/doom metal days, there’s still a large section of fans of rock and metal fans that can appreciate the band’s modern-day approach towards creating and portraying their art. After completing an overwhelmingly successful and long-awaited first ever tour of the United States last fall, they have returned to these shores for another run of dates, this time as main support to Finnish goth rockers HIM. The House Of Blues Sunset Strip in West Hollywood played host to the first show of this tour on Friday March 7th, and about 30 minutes before Anathema took the stage, I sat down with vocalist/guitarist Vincent Cavanagh to discuss the tour, mixing stages of the next album, and more. Enjoy the insightful conversation below, along with live photos from the LA show.
Vincent, you were here in Los Angeles on your first ever US tour a few months ago and today you’re starting another tour. How are you doing?
Feeling good. It’s been a really strange and bizarre day in a good way, I suppose. We’re right in the middle of making our album. We’re in the mixing stage right now and this morning we were given some news that I had to basically finish one of the tracks. That’s what I’ve been doing for the best part of today. In truth, we should really be in the studio right now. But we’ve decided to come on this tour for various reasons, number one I guess was the opportunity to go out with our friends, finally in the US. Ville has asked us to come out with them to the US three times now, so it was like, if we couldn’t do it this time it would almost be rude, you know. So we didn’t want to do that, plus the fact that we have faith in our producer to finish the mixes because he’s been there since the beginning. But at the moment, today basically I’ve been working all day on the mixes. I’ve been mixing tracks and getting them ready for the final push. I have some of the session on the laptop. So, the gig today is actually secondary for me. It’s actually the easy part of the day. But if I appear to be in a somewhat contemplative mood, it’s because I’m somewhere in the middle of the album, mixing down this song, and the gig itself is going to be bizarre for that very reason. But I think it’s good. It’s almost like a distraction from my day. I can get in there and just have fun for 45 minutes.
That’s an interesting situation to be in. The gig is something you don’t even have to think about. I guess it’s almost like muscle memory.
Muscle memory. Exactly, that’s what it is. I remember even when I was 17 years old and doing gigs, I was always happy to do it and I was never nervous. The trick is to not think about it too much and don’t expect anything either. For me, it’s just getting on and letting it happen right there, not thinking about it. Be in the moment as much as you can possibly be and try to enjoy it!
You did the headline tour recently and played at the El Rey with Alcest and Mamiffer. Did you even expect to be back so soon?
I guess not! Had things just flowed normally into the next headline tour, I guess we would have been back in amount a year, so around early next year. But this opportunity came around. We have new management and he’s working us hard. I said to him, ‘Listen, we’re in the middle of mixing, so for me it’s a compromise to break up the mix and come on tour in the middle of it.’ But he told us that we had to do it, and I didn’t really listen to him. I still didn’t want to do it. But then I listened to the producer explain how it was going to be done. We actually got a studio booked in Chicago in a couple of days, so we do the first three gigs in Los Angeles, Anaheim and San Francisco and then Danny and I fly to Chicago where we’re going to work in a studio to finish mixing and we’ve got two more dates after that to do recalls. But it’s almost done as it is anyway, so we’re pretty confident it’s going to be absolutely right. If we weren’t confident enough I don’t think we would be here but at the moment if we can do both, it’s perfect for everybody, I suppose. And it’s cool to be out with our friends. We’ve known HIM for years, they’re really, really nice guys and they treat us really well. Their crew is fantastic and they have no ego about them whatsoever. They’re just a cool rock band who’s here for the right reasons.
So you were confident of being able to do both the touring and mixing at the same time.
Well exactly, yeah. Specially having the studio booked in Chicago is going to help a lot. It’s pretty cool the way it’s going at the moment. There are some very intense things happening behind the scenes. I can’t really talk too much about it because it will all be revealed in a interview/documentary kind of thing which will be coming out on the album and we’ll explain it all on that.
You’re a support act for HIM on this tour. Do you think their crowd is already familiar with Anathema in terms of the musical style and everything, or do you have to play a show that’s very different from your headline shows in its overall vibe?
I’m not sure what it’s like in America, but in the UK we’ve played with HIM a number of times and their crowd were great to us. I mean, after all we’re a bit of a rock band ourselves, you know. We’ve been known to experiment, of course, and we’ll continue to do so. But we’ve got some rock songs too. I just think if you’ve got good tunes, you sound good and you play well, you’re going to do OK. Doesn’t matter who you’re playing for. If we were playing in front of a Slipknot audience I’m not sure that would go down too well but with HIM it’s fine.
Obviously over the years you’ve traveled quite a journey of musical styles. Where do you see it going with the next album and what path do you see it taking, moving from ‘Weather Systems’ to the next step?
It’s a very difficult thing to put into words in terms of what your music actually is. It’s becoming more diverse, I guess. The way I see it is, our music has grown from a nucleus outwards and it’s continuing to expand. It’s like its own little universe in a way. It’s just expanding in all directions and I think that’s the way it’s going to be. There are lots of things we want to do in our music that we haven’t done yet, but when we write music we don’t really think about that. It’s just a case of it coming out of us in a certain way where we just don’t have to think about it too much and we just do it naturally. It always changes, so you can be the same writer and the same person but you could write two completely different things on the same day. It all depends on what happens. And then what you choose to do for the whole band and for the whole record, you just choose the best stuff you’ve got, really. You make the best possible of collection of songs that you can do, you call it an album, give it away and then it’s not yours anymore (laughs). It’s everybody else’s, and that’s fine because that’s a part of the process. But at the moment the next album is still ours and we’re holding on to it for dear life, clutching onto it like a newborn baby and being very, very careful with it. When it’s done, it’s easy. We never really stopped creating anyway. Even when we’re in the studio doing an album, we’re still writing stuff. It kind of never stops. So in answer to your question, we don’t know where it’s going. It just happens.
Is this musical progression a reflection of your own musical tastes?
I would say it’s a reflection of us as people. But definitely, our musical tastes are very, very diverse, far more diverse than the music we put out. I listen to plenty of stuff that I would never want Anathema to sound like (laughs), but I guess it’s a reflection of who you are as an individual, how you express yourself and how you grow with your music. Every time you’ve done something it really teaches you something about yourself and how you can do things. You learn all the time about your own music. We never want to repeat ourselves, ever. So that also forces the evolution because if we do a song and it sounds like something we’ve done before, we’ll scrap it. Or if we come up with a song that sounds like it could have been written five years ago, we don’t do it. Everything we do has got to be fresh, now and new.
Finally, aside from this tour and the finishing touches on the album, what plans do you have for the rest of the year?
After this tour I’m going to be home for a couple of months and I’m looking forward to a welcome break from everything. I’ll still be busy behind the scenes of course, with interviews and things like that, but as far as actual touring goes, it’s just a couple of gigs in the summer for European festivals and then we start major touring in the autumn in the UK, then we go to the rest of Europe. Then probably early next year we’ll be back in the US. In the meantime I’m looking forward to getting home, being in my new house with my girlfriend and my cat, my new studio which I just finished, writing some more music and doing something completely different to Anathema. I’m looking forward to having my life back for a little while. I have to take those moments whenever I can because I’m a very busy person and I don’t often get a chance to live my life. So I can’t wait to do that just for a little short time.
3/1/14 10:28AM
Vague/Brief Update:
Recently, Anathema's singer/multi-instrumentalist Daniel Cavanagh announced that the band has been working on its 10th studio album, and that it is scheduled for release in May of this year.
Cavanagh stated that he was influenced by Radiohead and Atoms for Peace, and that some tracks will have a slightly more electronic feel. He also talked about a possible short acapella song. He says the next album will follow the same path than the previous two, but he stated that, on those past releases, the band has played it a bit safe, and that Anathema plans to gradually shift away from that on the next few albums.
link
this may be from a mailing list or something, and not that I have anything against Sputnik music, but it's a bit lazy to not at least include an actual SOURCE or link.
However, other than the May part, pretty much the other details in this post were known, at least for those who checked out That Drummer Guy's interview with Danny last September. I guess the Radiohead/Atoms for Peace and electronic influence doesn't concern me given it's not actually Thom Yorke singing, but, obviously no guarantees.
But if this record is being released in May, I would think more details will be announced pretty soon.
12/6/13 3:50AM
This is just a brief heads up about their upcoming new album, which is supposed to be coming out in the Spring or maybe Summer of 2014.
Weather Systems and We're Because We're Here were both outstanding records, so naturally there's some reasonable hope for this next record as well.
Here's a few brief clips per their Facebook.
Post by ANATHEMA - official band page.
Post by ANATHEMA - official band page.
edit: okay, checking it out again today, I'm enjoying the entire record more now. The title track is terrific and rather dreamy if still subtle. "You're Not Alone" and the Self Titled track also have some of that melancholy elements I love from these guys.
I can safely say this record is in the top albums of 2014 mix now.
Full Album Stream Link
Listened to this record a few times now. I enjoy it, especially the track "Ariel." The electronic element, which is only only 3 or maybe 4 tracks, is fine, not really something that makes the songs bad or anything.
But I can't say at this point, I am being blown away or more that compared to their last 2 LPs and even "Falling Deeper" I can't say it quite compares.
But it's early on. I think it will certainly be among the better 2014 records, but I'm not sure how much better I will see it. But who knows, some of it may grow more on me. "The Lost Song" suite, theme, etc is nice and much like the recent Anathema stuff. I'm not sure it quite as good though.
I'll likely try and make a video that includes something about this soon anyway.
oh, and HI 2355 hits in the last 5 days, LOL. At least this sucker is streaming in FULL now.
5/22/14 5:10AM
another nice piece. sorry it's a day or so late, I haven't been online much the last 24 hours.
5/2/14 5:51PM
4/10/14 10:30PM-4/29/14 8:23PM
edit: New review w/ Google Translate
it mentions Sigur Ros and some others.
Track 9 is there
Track Listing
01. THE LOST SONG part 1 5:53
02. THE LOST SONG part 2 5:47
03. DUSK (dark is descending) 5:59
04. ARIEL 6:28
05. THE LOST SONG part 3 5:21
06. ANATHEMA 6:40
07. YOU'RE NOT ALONE 3:26
08. FIRELIGHT [instrumental] 2:42
9. DISTANT SATELLITES 8:17
10. TAKE SHELTER 6:07
track 9?
http://www.omerch.eu/shop/Anathema/proddetail.php?prod=omerch_anat_dsDELUXE
4/9/14 12:04PM
For what it's worth: a Tracklist has already been posted on Wikipedia:
The Lost Song part 1 5:53
The Lost Song part 2 5:47
Dusk (Dark Is Descending) 5:59
Ariel 6:28
The Lost Song part 3 5:21
Anathema 6:40
You're Not Alone 3:26
Firelight 2:42
Distant Satellites 8:17
Take Shelter 6:07
3/28/14 11:56AM
June 9th. Title, artwork, Steven Wilson mixing confirmed. WHBWH I do prefer to WS a bit, so the fact Steven was involved with WHBWH might favor this one. Granted, Weather Systems is still a terrific record.
Also below is a new 24 minute interview with Danny (I haven't checked it out yet).
KScope Link
ANATHEMA return in June with distant satellites, their brand new studio album.
Due to be released on 9th June via Kscope, distant satellites is the highly anticipated follow up to 2012’s Weather Systems, recorded at Cederberg Studios in Oslo, with producer Christer-André Cederberg.
The beautifully ethereal artwork was created by Korean new media artist Sang Jun Too and based around his ‘Distant Light’ Installation
The band released a statement on their new album:
“distant satellites is the culmination of everything Anathema been working up to so far in our musical path. It contains almost every conceivable element of the heartbeat of Anathema music that it is possible to have.
There is beauty, intensity, drama, quietude, and extra musical dimensions that the band have previously only hinted at. All built on the song writing chemistry of Daniel, John and Vincent ~ and the haunting voice of Lee Douglas.
Produced and mixed once again by our very own Christer-André Cederberg (Weather Systems, Universal) and with some songs also mixed by the unassailable Steven Wilson, It’s a special and unique release for the band.
ANATHEMA hopes the fans get as much joy from listening to and feeling the music as we did in creating it.”
3/16/14 11:30AM
I just saw this on the dreamtheaterforums, and while the band have not officially announced this, given this t-shirt is for sale and the wording "Distant Satellites" is printed on the front like some of the other Anathema shirts, it wouldn't be so surprising to have that be the title and the cover art be what is on the shirt as well.
So I'm going with this at least for now. Hopefully the band and KScope will post something soon with it and more details like a track list.
http://www.omerch.eu/shop/Anathema/proddetail.php?prod=OMANDistTSB&cat=2919
Here's a new interview with Vincent Cavanagh where he talks little bit about the timing/progress of Anathema's new record, although this interview doesn't include a lot of specifics, but the fact they are mixing this album in Chicago and there's something interesting coming with it, a documentary, etc.
http://metalassault.com/Interviews/2014/03/14/anathema-frontman-discusses-next-album-touring-more/
British eclectic rock band Anathema have been exploring a broad range of musical horizons over the nearly 25 years of their existence and have traveled a greatly diverse stylistic journey. While they’re not heavy on a sonically superficial level as they were in their early death/doom metal days, there’s still a large section of fans of rock and metal fans that can appreciate the band’s modern-day approach towards creating and portraying their art. After completing an overwhelmingly successful and long-awaited first ever tour of the United States last fall, they have returned to these shores for another run of dates, this time as main support to Finnish goth rockers HIM. The House Of Blues Sunset Strip in West Hollywood played host to the first show of this tour on Friday March 7th, and about 30 minutes before Anathema took the stage, I sat down with vocalist/guitarist Vincent Cavanagh to discuss the tour, mixing stages of the next album, and more. Enjoy the insightful conversation below, along with live photos from the LA show.
Vincent, you were here in Los Angeles on your first ever US tour a few months ago and today you’re starting another tour. How are you doing?
Feeling good. It’s been a really strange and bizarre day in a good way, I suppose. We’re right in the middle of making our album. We’re in the mixing stage right now and this morning we were given some news that I had to basically finish one of the tracks. That’s what I’ve been doing for the best part of today. In truth, we should really be in the studio right now. But we’ve decided to come on this tour for various reasons, number one I guess was the opportunity to go out with our friends, finally in the US. Ville has asked us to come out with them to the US three times now, so it was like, if we couldn’t do it this time it would almost be rude, you know. So we didn’t want to do that, plus the fact that we have faith in our producer to finish the mixes because he’s been there since the beginning. But at the moment, today basically I’ve been working all day on the mixes. I’ve been mixing tracks and getting them ready for the final push. I have some of the session on the laptop. So, the gig today is actually secondary for me. It’s actually the easy part of the day. But if I appear to be in a somewhat contemplative mood, it’s because I’m somewhere in the middle of the album, mixing down this song, and the gig itself is going to be bizarre for that very reason. But I think it’s good. It’s almost like a distraction from my day. I can get in there and just have fun for 45 minutes.
That’s an interesting situation to be in. The gig is something you don’t even have to think about. I guess it’s almost like muscle memory.
Muscle memory. Exactly, that’s what it is. I remember even when I was 17 years old and doing gigs, I was always happy to do it and I was never nervous. The trick is to not think about it too much and don’t expect anything either. For me, it’s just getting on and letting it happen right there, not thinking about it. Be in the moment as much as you can possibly be and try to enjoy it!
You did the headline tour recently and played at the El Rey with Alcest and Mamiffer. Did you even expect to be back so soon?
I guess not! Had things just flowed normally into the next headline tour, I guess we would have been back in amount a year, so around early next year. But this opportunity came around. We have new management and he’s working us hard. I said to him, ‘Listen, we’re in the middle of mixing, so for me it’s a compromise to break up the mix and come on tour in the middle of it.’ But he told us that we had to do it, and I didn’t really listen to him. I still didn’t want to do it. But then I listened to the producer explain how it was going to be done. We actually got a studio booked in Chicago in a couple of days, so we do the first three gigs in Los Angeles, Anaheim and San Francisco and then Danny and I fly to Chicago where we’re going to work in a studio to finish mixing and we’ve got two more dates after that to do recalls. But it’s almost done as it is anyway, so we’re pretty confident it’s going to be absolutely right. If we weren’t confident enough I don’t think we would be here but at the moment if we can do both, it’s perfect for everybody, I suppose. And it’s cool to be out with our friends. We’ve known HIM for years, they’re really, really nice guys and they treat us really well. Their crew is fantastic and they have no ego about them whatsoever. They’re just a cool rock band who’s here for the right reasons.
So you were confident of being able to do both the touring and mixing at the same time.
Well exactly, yeah. Specially having the studio booked in Chicago is going to help a lot. It’s pretty cool the way it’s going at the moment. There are some very intense things happening behind the scenes. I can’t really talk too much about it because it will all be revealed in a interview/documentary kind of thing which will be coming out on the album and we’ll explain it all on that.
You’re a support act for HIM on this tour. Do you think their crowd is already familiar with Anathema in terms of the musical style and everything, or do you have to play a show that’s very different from your headline shows in its overall vibe?
I’m not sure what it’s like in America, but in the UK we’ve played with HIM a number of times and their crowd were great to us. I mean, after all we’re a bit of a rock band ourselves, you know. We’ve been known to experiment, of course, and we’ll continue to do so. But we’ve got some rock songs too. I just think if you’ve got good tunes, you sound good and you play well, you’re going to do OK. Doesn’t matter who you’re playing for. If we were playing in front of a Slipknot audience I’m not sure that would go down too well but with HIM it’s fine.
Obviously over the years you’ve traveled quite a journey of musical styles. Where do you see it going with the next album and what path do you see it taking, moving from ‘Weather Systems’ to the next step?
It’s a very difficult thing to put into words in terms of what your music actually is. It’s becoming more diverse, I guess. The way I see it is, our music has grown from a nucleus outwards and it’s continuing to expand. It’s like its own little universe in a way. It’s just expanding in all directions and I think that’s the way it’s going to be. There are lots of things we want to do in our music that we haven’t done yet, but when we write music we don’t really think about that. It’s just a case of it coming out of us in a certain way where we just don’t have to think about it too much and we just do it naturally. It always changes, so you can be the same writer and the same person but you could write two completely different things on the same day. It all depends on what happens. And then what you choose to do for the whole band and for the whole record, you just choose the best stuff you’ve got, really. You make the best possible of collection of songs that you can do, you call it an album, give it away and then it’s not yours anymore (laughs). It’s everybody else’s, and that’s fine because that’s a part of the process. But at the moment the next album is still ours and we’re holding on to it for dear life, clutching onto it like a newborn baby and being very, very careful with it. When it’s done, it’s easy. We never really stopped creating anyway. Even when we’re in the studio doing an album, we’re still writing stuff. It kind of never stops. So in answer to your question, we don’t know where it’s going. It just happens.
Is this musical progression a reflection of your own musical tastes?
I would say it’s a reflection of us as people. But definitely, our musical tastes are very, very diverse, far more diverse than the music we put out. I listen to plenty of stuff that I would never want Anathema to sound like (laughs), but I guess it’s a reflection of who you are as an individual, how you express yourself and how you grow with your music. Every time you’ve done something it really teaches you something about yourself and how you can do things. You learn all the time about your own music. We never want to repeat ourselves, ever. So that also forces the evolution because if we do a song and it sounds like something we’ve done before, we’ll scrap it. Or if we come up with a song that sounds like it could have been written five years ago, we don’t do it. Everything we do has got to be fresh, now and new.
Finally, aside from this tour and the finishing touches on the album, what plans do you have for the rest of the year?
After this tour I’m going to be home for a couple of months and I’m looking forward to a welcome break from everything. I’ll still be busy behind the scenes of course, with interviews and things like that, but as far as actual touring goes, it’s just a couple of gigs in the summer for European festivals and then we start major touring in the autumn in the UK, then we go to the rest of Europe. Then probably early next year we’ll be back in the US. In the meantime I’m looking forward to getting home, being in my new house with my girlfriend and my cat, my new studio which I just finished, writing some more music and doing something completely different to Anathema. I’m looking forward to having my life back for a little while. I have to take those moments whenever I can because I’m a very busy person and I don’t often get a chance to live my life. So I can’t wait to do that just for a little short time.
3/1/14 10:28AM
Vague/Brief Update:
Recently, Anathema's singer/multi-instrumentalist Daniel Cavanagh announced that the band has been working on its 10th studio album, and that it is scheduled for release in May of this year.
Cavanagh stated that he was influenced by Radiohead and Atoms for Peace, and that some tracks will have a slightly more electronic feel. He also talked about a possible short acapella song. He says the next album will follow the same path than the previous two, but he stated that, on those past releases, the band has played it a bit safe, and that Anathema plans to gradually shift away from that on the next few albums.
link
this may be from a mailing list or something, and not that I have anything against Sputnik music, but it's a bit lazy to not at least include an actual SOURCE or link.
However, other than the May part, pretty much the other details in this post were known, at least for those who checked out That Drummer Guy's interview with Danny last September. I guess the Radiohead/Atoms for Peace and electronic influence doesn't concern me given it's not actually Thom Yorke singing, but, obviously no guarantees.
But if this record is being released in May, I would think more details will be announced pretty soon.
12/6/13 3:50AM
This is just a brief heads up about their upcoming new album, which is supposed to be coming out in the Spring or maybe Summer of 2014.
Weather Systems and We're Because We're Here were both outstanding records, so naturally there's some reasonable hope for this next record as well.
Here's a few brief clips per their Facebook.
Post by ANATHEMA - official band page.
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Blackfield - Blackfield IV (2013)
7/25/13 11:54AM
New song "Jupiter." I haven't heard it yet of course, but some comments are saying it's good like the track "Pills" below.
6/8/13 9:53AM
Scratch the info from 6/6/13, here's the info. So AUGUST 26TH at least internationally.
https://www.burningshed.com/store/kscope/product/272/4816/
Israel's leading counter-culture Rock musician Aviv Geffen returns with Blackfield IV, featuring Steven Wilson and other special collaborators.
The new album includes guest vocal performances from Brett Anderson (Suede), Jonathan Donahue (Mercury Rev) and Vincent Cavanagh (Anathema).
Since Welcome To My DNA, Geffen's profile has continued to rise and Aviv has worked with legendary producers Tony Visconti and Trevor Horn, played live with U2 and Placebo, and been a judge on the Israeli TV show, The Voice.
Aviv contributed writing and vocals to Blackfield IV, while Steven Wilson - who also mixed the album and provided the 5.1 mix - added guitar and vocal parts.
This is the limited double disc cd/dvd-av edition, presented in a digibook.
Pre-order for 26th August shipping.
preorder (£11.99 GBP)
1. Pills
2. Springtime
3. XRay (featuring Vincent Cavanagh - Anathema)
4. Sense of Insanity
5. Firefly (featuring Brett Anderson - Suede)
6. The Only Fool is Me (featuring Jonathan Donahue - Mercury Rev)
7. Jupiter
8. Kissed by the Devil
9. Lost Souls
10. Faking
11. After the Rain
6/6/13 7:30PM
apparently for mixing reasons among others?, this album has been pushed back to November.
Source: I read it on the dreamtheaterforums.org I recall.
2/25/13 9:00PM
The news about a new Blackfield album isn't really all that new, as the below linked Twitter status is from November 20th. But the video stream below is for a new song titled "Pills."
And I may have not made as much time for another BF album, namely due to the fact their last record Welcome to My DNA was "forgettable" among other ways to describe it. And the fact Steven Wilson has stated more than once his involvement with Blackfield is even more limited, now not even being an official member. So, it really is just Aviv Geffen and whatever guests along with Steven Wilson in a much more limited role. I guess he sings on a few songs, and plays some guitar among a few other things (see Wikipedia or some recent SW interviews).
But "Pills" sounds pretty good actually. More textured and melancholy maybe than anything since the debut record.
And it's coming in April according to that post. Among the guest singers, one is Danny Cavanagh from Anathema. And I believe it'll be released on Kscope Music.
https://twitter.com/blackfieldband/status/270863119251824640
BF4 should be out around April,sounds really good and Steven worked on 5.1 mix as well..more details to follow pretty soon A
New song "Jupiter." I haven't heard it yet of course, but some comments are saying it's good like the track "Pills" below.
6/8/13 9:53AM
Scratch the info from 6/6/13, here's the info. So AUGUST 26TH at least internationally.
https://www.burningshed.com/store/kscope/product/272/4816/
Israel's leading counter-culture Rock musician Aviv Geffen returns with Blackfield IV, featuring Steven Wilson and other special collaborators.
The new album includes guest vocal performances from Brett Anderson (Suede), Jonathan Donahue (Mercury Rev) and Vincent Cavanagh (Anathema).
Since Welcome To My DNA, Geffen's profile has continued to rise and Aviv has worked with legendary producers Tony Visconti and Trevor Horn, played live with U2 and Placebo, and been a judge on the Israeli TV show, The Voice.
Aviv contributed writing and vocals to Blackfield IV, while Steven Wilson - who also mixed the album and provided the 5.1 mix - added guitar and vocal parts.
This is the limited double disc cd/dvd-av edition, presented in a digibook.
Pre-order for 26th August shipping.
preorder (£11.99 GBP)
1. Pills
2. Springtime
3. XRay (featuring Vincent Cavanagh - Anathema)
4. Sense of Insanity
5. Firefly (featuring Brett Anderson - Suede)
6. The Only Fool is Me (featuring Jonathan Donahue - Mercury Rev)
7. Jupiter
8. Kissed by the Devil
9. Lost Souls
10. Faking
11. After the Rain
6/6/13 7:30PM
apparently for mixing reasons among others?, this album has been pushed back to November.
Source: I read it on the dreamtheaterforums.org I recall.
2/25/13 9:00PM
The news about a new Blackfield album isn't really all that new, as the below linked Twitter status is from November 20th. But the video stream below is for a new song titled "Pills."
And I may have not made as much time for another BF album, namely due to the fact their last record Welcome to My DNA was "forgettable" among other ways to describe it. And the fact Steven Wilson has stated more than once his involvement with Blackfield is even more limited, now not even being an official member. So, it really is just Aviv Geffen and whatever guests along with Steven Wilson in a much more limited role. I guess he sings on a few songs, and plays some guitar among a few other things (see Wikipedia or some recent SW interviews).
But "Pills" sounds pretty good actually. More textured and melancholy maybe than anything since the debut record.
And it's coming in April according to that post. Among the guest singers, one is Danny Cavanagh from Anathema. And I believe it'll be released on Kscope Music.
https://twitter.com/blackfieldband/status/270863119251824640
BF4 should be out around April,sounds really good and Steven worked on 5.1 mix as well..more details to follow pretty soon A
Thursday, June 27, 2013
ANATHEMA and ALCEST Fall 2013 NA Tour (was RUMOR/SPECULATION)
6/27/13 10:14PM
Not that I love Mill City Nights, but at least it's on a Sunday night. I do worry that place will get hot and humid with the crowd. Getting there early (and buying tickets when they go on sale) will be a must.
my gawd September and the Fall are starting to get busy:
Tues 9/17 The Dear Hunter @ The Varsity
Thurs 9/19 Typhoon @ The Cedar
Sun 9/22 Anathema/Alcest @ Mill City Nights
Sun Fri 10/11 Between the Buried and Me/The Faceless @ The Varsity
https://www.facebook.com/anathemafan/posts/10151557669418952
Anathema has announced its most extensive North American tour in the band’s celebrated career with co-headliner Alcest and special guest Mamiffer.
Anathema has only performed twice as a full band in North America at the infamous Milwaukee Metal Fest 2000 and 2001, as well as supporting a few dates of Blackfield's 2011 tour as an acoustic duo. The fall 2013 co-headlining tour has the band visiting many cities in both the U.S. and Canada for the first time, beginning September 12 in Philadelphia.
The tour will also coincide with the release of Universal, a concert film on CD/DVD and Blu-ray directed by acclaimed photographer/filmmaker Lasse Hoile (Porcupine Tree, Opeth) out September 17, 2013 on Kscope. The audio / visual release captures a special one-off gig at the ancient Roman theatre of Philippopolis where the band was joined by the Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra.
The film and album capture the magic of this unique evening as the band started on its lengthy world tour in support of its most successful album, Weather Systems. Universal will be available as an audio visual CD/DVD and Blu-ray.
Anathema / Alcest
Special guest: Mamiffer
9/12 Philadelphia PA @ Underground Arts
9/13 Springfield VA @ Empire
9/14 New York NY @ Gramercy Theater
9/15 Boston MA @ Middle East
9/16 Montreal QC @ Foufounes Electriques
9/18 Toronto ON @ Opera House
9/19 Flint MI @ The Machine Shop
9/20 Cleveland OH @ Peabody's
9/21 Chicago IL @ Reggie's
9/22 Minneapolis MN @ Mill City Nights
9/24 Denver CO @ Summit City Music Hall
9/25 Salt Lake City UT @ In The Venue
9/26 Boise ID @ Knitting Factory
9/27 Seattle WA @ Studio Seven
9/28 Vancouver BC @ Rickshaw Theater
9/29 Portland OR @ Hawthorne Theater
10/1 Oakland CA @ Oakland Opera House
10/3 Los Angeles CA @ El Rey Theater
10/4 San Diego CA @ The Casbah
10/5 Tempe AZ @ The Marquee Theater
5/30/13 12:10PM
This is at this point, PURE SPECULATION, but I saw per the dreamtheaterforums.org
there was already an announced concert with both of these bands in Oakland, California in October 1st.
So, if a tour happens with them in North America this September/October, don't be surprised.
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10152884594040195&id=209358445194
Anathema / Alcest incoming October first.
If this tour hits Minnesota, likely St.Paul aka Station 4, I would love to go obviously. Schedule and budget-wise will of course be the main factors.
If it's not coming to MN, but Chicago, I may have to sit it out unfortunately. But I certainly will be happy that many people will get to see Anathema that never have. The Cynic/3 tour they were announced to be on a few years ago, would have been amazing. But maybe this tour will makeup for it as I do like Alcest, as much as they remind me of Klimt 1918.
Not that I love Mill City Nights, but at least it's on a Sunday night. I do worry that place will get hot and humid with the crowd. Getting there early (and buying tickets when they go on sale) will be a must.
my gawd September and the Fall are starting to get busy:
Tues 9/17 The Dear Hunter @ The Varsity
Thurs 9/19 Typhoon @ The Cedar
Sun 9/22 Anathema/Alcest @ Mill City Nights
Sun Fri 10/11 Between the Buried and Me/The Faceless @ The Varsity
https://www.facebook.com/anathemafan/posts/10151557669418952
Anathema has announced its most extensive North American tour in the band’s celebrated career with co-headliner Alcest and special guest Mamiffer.
Anathema has only performed twice as a full band in North America at the infamous Milwaukee Metal Fest 2000 and 2001, as well as supporting a few dates of Blackfield's 2011 tour as an acoustic duo. The fall 2013 co-headlining tour has the band visiting many cities in both the U.S. and Canada for the first time, beginning September 12 in Philadelphia.
The tour will also coincide with the release of Universal, a concert film on CD/DVD and Blu-ray directed by acclaimed photographer/filmmaker Lasse Hoile (Porcupine Tree, Opeth) out September 17, 2013 on Kscope. The audio / visual release captures a special one-off gig at the ancient Roman theatre of Philippopolis where the band was joined by the Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra.
The film and album capture the magic of this unique evening as the band started on its lengthy world tour in support of its most successful album, Weather Systems. Universal will be available as an audio visual CD/DVD and Blu-ray.
Anathema / Alcest
Special guest: Mamiffer
9/12 Philadelphia PA @ Underground Arts
9/13 Springfield VA @ Empire
9/14 New York NY @ Gramercy Theater
9/15 Boston MA @ Middle East
9/16 Montreal QC @ Foufounes Electriques
9/18 Toronto ON @ Opera House
9/19 Flint MI @ The Machine Shop
9/20 Cleveland OH @ Peabody's
9/21 Chicago IL @ Reggie's
9/22 Minneapolis MN @ Mill City Nights
9/24 Denver CO @ Summit City Music Hall
9/25 Salt Lake City UT @ In The Venue
9/26 Boise ID @ Knitting Factory
9/27 Seattle WA @ Studio Seven
9/28 Vancouver BC @ Rickshaw Theater
9/29 Portland OR @ Hawthorne Theater
10/1 Oakland CA @ Oakland Opera House
10/3 Los Angeles CA @ El Rey Theater
10/4 San Diego CA @ The Casbah
10/5 Tempe AZ @ The Marquee Theater
5/30/13 12:10PM
This is at this point, PURE SPECULATION, but I saw per the dreamtheaterforums.org
there was already an announced concert with both of these bands in Oakland, California in October 1st.
So, if a tour happens with them in North America this September/October, don't be surprised.
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10152884594040195&id=209358445194
Anathema / Alcest incoming October first.
If this tour hits Minnesota, likely St.Paul aka Station 4, I would love to go obviously. Schedule and budget-wise will of course be the main factors.
If it's not coming to MN, but Chicago, I may have to sit it out unfortunately. But I certainly will be happy that many people will get to see Anathema that never have. The Cynic/3 tour they were announced to be on a few years ago, would have been amazing. But maybe this tour will makeup for it as I do like Alcest, as much as they remind me of Klimt 1918.
Monday, July 9, 2012
2012 Mid Season Index
This is hardly a perfectly accurate list, even right now. This year, like last year, has been filled with for me, many days/weeks with not enough time to take-in albums I before 2011 especially, would have.
In other words, I look to catch up on a lot of music over the next 5 months or so, not only in LISTENING, but BLOGGING.
The keyword is HOPE though, as my schedule with work and the relationship I'm in has really hampered my ability to really write as much and as often as I mean to in here. Will it change? I hope (again the keyword). But I guess I can only assume it won't greatly, save for me taking a day off from work every couple of months for writing, and writing only.
The listening part tho, I wish I could explain, but basically, when you do work that in order to do production like you need to, often all focus should be on the work, and not adding any music. It's the ole right-brain left-brain. My newest position, and the work I've done, especially this year, has required more right-brain work.
I mean there's literally, probably 30 or more albums, I have not heard I mean to, or have only heard once or twice and can't exactly justify ranking high. Even the list below, a few of them I've only listened to a couple of times.
I do the whole Albums Index every year, looking for the cream of the crop. The Apes & Androids and Kaddisfly's, and know, I should require to hear many albums that don't come close to those. But in those cases, it did require time and effort. Sure, reviews can help, but given my taste, I know it's possible (if not likely) I need to do the hunting myself in order to pull those albums in. And with my change in time priorities especially in the last 18 months, it's really not been quite the same as I'm used to.
Not to mention television (watching) and movie reviews.
However, at least I do have a week off coming up soon, which in the near time, should help.
I will say, there still are a lot of records to make their way into this mix, just to name a few:
Emanuel & the Fear, The Reign of Kindo, Archive, Amanda Palmer & the Grand Theft Orchestra, Vuvuzela, The Age of Rockets (maybe if it comes out), Annuals (if it gets released), The Book of Right On, Brice Plays Drums, Bloc Party, Minus the Bear, The River Empires (if it comes out).
So this below should likely be a fair amount different come December.
Rateyourmusic's 2012 Index list
Edit: Some parts of this list may be edited (or reposted) just in due time as I tend to do with the rym list.
1. Pepe Deluxé - Queen of the Wave. Awesome record that's as addictive for it's flow as for it's energy and length. So many moments I enjoy, from the catchy "Go Supersonic" to the riffy "Night and Day."
This album is like a retro-scifi soundtrack being recorded with modern mastering. It so perfectly captures how cool some of those vintage tones and sounds came out in the late 60's and early 70's. I just fall for the romantic element of it.
I pretty much enjoy every moment on it. It's one of those albums I love to continue to play on a weekly if not daily basis. My experience of it being a go-to record is reminiscent of many other Highly played/Ranked albums, or Albums of the Year. That's what I hope for and look for among other things in a top album. If I keep going back to it and enjoying it, likely as much if not more than when I 1st heard it.
I bought it on CD and Vinyl even.
And I'll retract 1 thing I said earlier this year with its chances to be an Album of the Year, being doubtful. I'd say that's long gone. Its chances are highly likely now, since I've played it so many times and still love it.
I know a lot of other folks haven't been wow-ed by it, or even liked it much, but so be it. Is it campy? maybe, but I don't care. I found it a bit cheesy at 1st. But the damn thing just works so well track to track.
The handful of singers, the layers, the influences, the energy, even the story. The last track "Riders on the First Ark" totally works to end its telling of a story of sorts, which I guess it's based on.
I think this is a record I'll be listening to for years, even if the band never makes another album. It reminds me of the evolution or culmination of time and changes in developing a sound that works.
2. Ne Obliviscaris - Portal of I. This is by default, better than more or less anything else I've heard this year. My initial impression of it was it almost sounded too much like Opeth, but after spending more time with it, I don't think it matters. The compositions, production, the use of violin of course adds a lot to the depth. It is a lengthly record being around 70 minutes, but it is definitely case of an album that flows well enough, the epic journey is more than worth the time it takes to get through it all. If I might compare it to another record, I'd say it has a lot of what I love from In Vain's classic debut album from 2007 The Latter Rain. You listen to this record and each song has those jaw-dropping moments that you always enjoy and look forward to. I think a great deal of how well it came out had to do with how long the band spent working on it, as of course all 3 of the songs on the Aurora Veil ep/demo are included and re-recorded and mastered.
3. Bend Sinister - Small Fame. I'll admit, I am cheating a bit here, having only heard this record 2-3 times via the stream online. It does drop this coming week anyway, and 3 of the tracks "On My Mind," "Give it a Rest," and "She Don't Give It Up" I have spent enough time with already before the online stream last week. But even with early impressions of the rest of it, I sense this is another record like their last album Stories of Brothers, Tales of Lovers where it is without a track to skip, and every song offers something to enjoy or look forward to.
"Quest for Love" I already sense is 1 of the best tunes they've ever written, very *epic* sort of in a Iron Maiden or Queen sort of way. " My Lady" "Don't You Know" "Hot Blooded Man" "Black Magic Woman" just re-scanning the track list and remembering, were some of the others that I'm already digging. Sound-wise it may not be a huge departure for the band, but the songwriting also isn't a departure, which is often all I hope for with an artist with their new album.
4. Gatherer - So Be It . A pleasant surprise coming from an endorsement from a native of down under, Kimbra. These guys have their own sound, which coming from the evolution of their sound from This City Sunrise, the band previous name. They know how to compose songs that incorporate harshness with beauty. Dynamics are a plenty. The drumming and vocal harmonies are among other parts which keep me going back to this album. Track-wise, the single "Regular Frontier" and "Thrive" may be the most accessible, although like a lot of great records, this one seems to have songs the more I hear them, the more I enjoy them, and notice new things about them to like.
5. House of Fools - Versus the Beast Consistently good throughout. It's been a long time coming for various reasons. I love Live and Learn, and while this is probably not quite as good an album as that, it is still more than good enough to have me going back to it and with each listening.
Will it help them catch-on like I always thought they could? I assume no. But that is status quo, save for they are still a band making music. I at least hope that can still happen.
Pretty much every track has something enjoyable. Specifically, the guitar solos, including some of House of Fools trademark southern-bluesy double (or triple even) solos, are perfectly placed and fit each song's mood. There's a bunch of them.
Song-wise, "Time" "Dogfight" and especially "Need to Be Free" stand out the most. Although, I'll admit the demo of "Need to Be Free" on Fresh Hot Shit, I may still prefer a little due to my love of fat, bubbly keys. But they added an interesting element by using a lot of vocal distortion. Some of the other songs that continue to grow for me include "Daylight," "Johnny Utah," "Another Place," "Oblivion," and "Pick or Choose."
here's the rest of my review on rym
6. Anathema - Weather Systems. I have enjoyed this album close to as much as their last proper record We're Here Because We're Here. Although admittedly, Anathema make rather melancholy music, that best works for the mood I desire, so often it doesn't become addictive right away.
But specifically, the moods, and the drum work are what I can say at this point, standing out. The "Untouchable" suite opening the album, and the closing piece "Internal Landscapes" are among the most memorable. Probably with the samples about the man claiming to experience dying I suppose helps.
This may end up higher than WHBWH due to my previous interest, hopes, etc for this record. Although I'm skeptical if I will find it better or even as good as its predecessor.
But with this album following WHBWH, Anathema have become one of the most interesting bands making college-prog of a sort today.
7. Ramona Falls - Prophet. "Spore" stands out as one of the best, most memorable tracks of 2012. I have that song in my head for hours after I hear it.
It couldn't be this galaxy is lifeless
I keep on searching for a sign Olly oxen free, my telescope is watching For any trace you leave behind".
"Take off the veil Let yourself be found. Ready or not, here-I-come."
That is the standout song on it, but I definitely find it shares in common with the 1st RF's record Intuit, not having a weak track. I suppose in a way, it's an album like that record, but includes 1 or 2 of the best songs Brent Knopf's ever written.
"Archimedes Plutonium," "Bodies of Water," "Brevony," "Proof," "Fingerhold," "If I Equals U," etc, all tracks that work here. I guess I enjoy some of the textures Brent used on this album, specifically the strings and keyboard patches.
Like House of Fools, I am pretty convinced the progressive rock scene will never latch on to them. For whatever reason, it just never happens. They're too college-rock sounding, or not technical enough, or something. But I suppose seeing it happen as often as I have, I've become accustomed to it and reminding myself and others of it in writing/talking about it. Maybe it'll become a fun sarcastic cliche? lol.
8. Lehto & Wright - November. Not as jaw-dropping as 2010's Children's Songs, but this still includes more than enough music to compare favorably with the rest of their extensive catalog. Even the Bob Marley and Bob Dylan covers, "Redemption Song" and "Tom Joad."
They didn't leave their proggy side either with the opening suite "The Humors of Tuaimgreine / RakishPadddy / The Callahan Stomp" along with the closing piece "Dominion of the Sword." Really nice dynamics and guitar work on both of those.
9. Josh Benash - The Dismal; The Beautiful
Pretty impressed how trippy, layered, experimental, yadayada, this album is. Not too surprising, given how outside the box a lot of Kiss Kiss's music is. But this definitely differs in enough good ways.
Lots of humor, and surreal parts are going to give me enough reason to go back to this a lot early in the year.
10 The Mars Volta - Noctourniquet
I am on board with this more than any record they've made since Frances. Some of the best vocal lines Cedric has ever come up with. The electronic element adds something, and the lack of clipping cymbals along with lack of repetitive-ness helps this one a lot.
11 Umbrella Tree - To the Memory of a Once Great Man
I enjoy a fair amount of this experimental electronic dark-pop. Nice saxophone, and an intriguing story. Nice blend of male and female vocals. I believe Timbre may have participated again with this.
This album actually was made thanks to a Kickstarter campaign which I was a supporter of. Enough so, the band thanked all those who put in enough for the Vinyl which it and a compact disc release I recall is expected sometime later this year.
12 Sucré - A Minor Bird
sublime, tasteful, very nice orchestral arrangements. "No Return" may be my favorite track, early on.
13 Diablo Swing Orchestra - Pandora's Piñata
14 Northern Abbey - Northern Abbey [EP]
Much in the vein of The River Empires. Sublime.
15 Forest Park - Forest Park [EP]
Terrific atmosphere. This is a side-project, I guess from some of the members of Portland, OR-based Chamber rock group Typhoon. After listening to this enough, I'm not sure if I don't like this more.
a 3-track, 24 or so minute EP.
16 Mercies - The Ballet[EP]
Awe-some
17 Memoryhouse - The Slideshow Effect
Like their debut EP, this is still dreamy and catchy. "The Kids Were Wrong" maybe the most accessible.
18 Crippled Black Phoenix - (Mankind) The Crafty Ape
Epic record, and not one I've been able to digest fully at this point. It doesn't stray all that much from their other albums, with the infectious blend of Ennio Morricone and Pink Floyd influences. With Floyd, the Meddle-era seems to be notice-able as much as any. I do still feel this band/project, which is related to, among others, Mogwai, has taken the baton from the likes of Clann Zú and Murder by Death in doing progressive rock of a sort that emphasizes country/western music effectively. Too bad those other two aren't anymore.
19 Rush - Clockwork Angels
a pleasant surprise.
20 Jazzkamikaze - The Return of JazzKamikaze
Pretty much back to their purely jazz/jazz-rock roots. Has not blown me away, but still enjoyable enough.
In other words, I look to catch up on a lot of music over the next 5 months or so, not only in LISTENING, but BLOGGING.
The keyword is HOPE though, as my schedule with work and the relationship I'm in has really hampered my ability to really write as much and as often as I mean to in here. Will it change? I hope (again the keyword). But I guess I can only assume it won't greatly, save for me taking a day off from work every couple of months for writing, and writing only.
The listening part tho, I wish I could explain, but basically, when you do work that in order to do production like you need to, often all focus should be on the work, and not adding any music. It's the ole right-brain left-brain. My newest position, and the work I've done, especially this year, has required more right-brain work.
I mean there's literally, probably 30 or more albums, I have not heard I mean to, or have only heard once or twice and can't exactly justify ranking high. Even the list below, a few of them I've only listened to a couple of times.
I do the whole Albums Index every year, looking for the cream of the crop. The Apes & Androids and Kaddisfly's, and know, I should require to hear many albums that don't come close to those. But in those cases, it did require time and effort. Sure, reviews can help, but given my taste, I know it's possible (if not likely) I need to do the hunting myself in order to pull those albums in. And with my change in time priorities especially in the last 18 months, it's really not been quite the same as I'm used to.
Not to mention television (watching) and movie reviews.
However, at least I do have a week off coming up soon, which in the near time, should help.
I will say, there still are a lot of records to make their way into this mix, just to name a few:
Emanuel & the Fear, The Reign of Kindo, Archive, Amanda Palmer & the Grand Theft Orchestra, Vuvuzela, The Age of Rockets (maybe if it comes out), Annuals (if it gets released), The Book of Right On, Brice Plays Drums, Bloc Party, Minus the Bear, The River Empires (if it comes out).
So this below should likely be a fair amount different come December.
Rateyourmusic's 2012 Index list
Edit: Some parts of this list may be edited (or reposted) just in due time as I tend to do with the rym list.
1. Pepe Deluxé - Queen of the Wave. Awesome record that's as addictive for it's flow as for it's energy and length. So many moments I enjoy, from the catchy "Go Supersonic" to the riffy "Night and Day."
This album is like a retro-scifi soundtrack being recorded with modern mastering. It so perfectly captures how cool some of those vintage tones and sounds came out in the late 60's and early 70's. I just fall for the romantic element of it.
I pretty much enjoy every moment on it. It's one of those albums I love to continue to play on a weekly if not daily basis. My experience of it being a go-to record is reminiscent of many other Highly played/Ranked albums, or Albums of the Year. That's what I hope for and look for among other things in a top album. If I keep going back to it and enjoying it, likely as much if not more than when I 1st heard it.
I bought it on CD and Vinyl even.
And I'll retract 1 thing I said earlier this year with its chances to be an Album of the Year, being doubtful. I'd say that's long gone. Its chances are highly likely now, since I've played it so many times and still love it.
I know a lot of other folks haven't been wow-ed by it, or even liked it much, but so be it. Is it campy? maybe, but I don't care. I found it a bit cheesy at 1st. But the damn thing just works so well track to track.
The handful of singers, the layers, the influences, the energy, even the story. The last track "Riders on the First Ark" totally works to end its telling of a story of sorts, which I guess it's based on.
I think this is a record I'll be listening to for years, even if the band never makes another album. It reminds me of the evolution or culmination of time and changes in developing a sound that works.
2. Ne Obliviscaris - Portal of I. This is by default, better than more or less anything else I've heard this year. My initial impression of it was it almost sounded too much like Opeth, but after spending more time with it, I don't think it matters. The compositions, production, the use of violin of course adds a lot to the depth. It is a lengthly record being around 70 minutes, but it is definitely case of an album that flows well enough, the epic journey is more than worth the time it takes to get through it all. If I might compare it to another record, I'd say it has a lot of what I love from In Vain's classic debut album from 2007 The Latter Rain. You listen to this record and each song has those jaw-dropping moments that you always enjoy and look forward to. I think a great deal of how well it came out had to do with how long the band spent working on it, as of course all 3 of the songs on the Aurora Veil ep/demo are included and re-recorded and mastered.
3. Bend Sinister - Small Fame. I'll admit, I am cheating a bit here, having only heard this record 2-3 times via the stream online. It does drop this coming week anyway, and 3 of the tracks "On My Mind," "Give it a Rest," and "She Don't Give It Up" I have spent enough time with already before the online stream last week. But even with early impressions of the rest of it, I sense this is another record like their last album Stories of Brothers, Tales of Lovers where it is without a track to skip, and every song offers something to enjoy or look forward to.
"Quest for Love" I already sense is 1 of the best tunes they've ever written, very *epic* sort of in a Iron Maiden or Queen sort of way. " My Lady" "Don't You Know" "Hot Blooded Man" "Black Magic Woman" just re-scanning the track list and remembering, were some of the others that I'm already digging. Sound-wise it may not be a huge departure for the band, but the songwriting also isn't a departure, which is often all I hope for with an artist with their new album.
4. Gatherer - So Be It . A pleasant surprise coming from an endorsement from a native of down under, Kimbra. These guys have their own sound, which coming from the evolution of their sound from This City Sunrise, the band previous name. They know how to compose songs that incorporate harshness with beauty. Dynamics are a plenty. The drumming and vocal harmonies are among other parts which keep me going back to this album. Track-wise, the single "Regular Frontier" and "Thrive" may be the most accessible, although like a lot of great records, this one seems to have songs the more I hear them, the more I enjoy them, and notice new things about them to like.
5. House of Fools - Versus the Beast Consistently good throughout. It's been a long time coming for various reasons. I love Live and Learn, and while this is probably not quite as good an album as that, it is still more than good enough to have me going back to it and with each listening.
Will it help them catch-on like I always thought they could? I assume no. But that is status quo, save for they are still a band making music. I at least hope that can still happen.
Pretty much every track has something enjoyable. Specifically, the guitar solos, including some of House of Fools trademark southern-bluesy double (or triple even) solos, are perfectly placed and fit each song's mood. There's a bunch of them.
Song-wise, "Time" "Dogfight" and especially "Need to Be Free" stand out the most. Although, I'll admit the demo of "Need to Be Free" on Fresh Hot Shit, I may still prefer a little due to my love of fat, bubbly keys. But they added an interesting element by using a lot of vocal distortion. Some of the other songs that continue to grow for me include "Daylight," "Johnny Utah," "Another Place," "Oblivion," and "Pick or Choose."
here's the rest of my review on rym
6. Anathema - Weather Systems. I have enjoyed this album close to as much as their last proper record We're Here Because We're Here. Although admittedly, Anathema make rather melancholy music, that best works for the mood I desire, so often it doesn't become addictive right away.
But specifically, the moods, and the drum work are what I can say at this point, standing out. The "Untouchable" suite opening the album, and the closing piece "Internal Landscapes" are among the most memorable. Probably with the samples about the man claiming to experience dying I suppose helps.
This may end up higher than WHBWH due to my previous interest, hopes, etc for this record. Although I'm skeptical if I will find it better or even as good as its predecessor.
But with this album following WHBWH, Anathema have become one of the most interesting bands making college-prog of a sort today.
7. Ramona Falls - Prophet. "Spore" stands out as one of the best, most memorable tracks of 2012. I have that song in my head for hours after I hear it.
It couldn't be this galaxy is lifeless
I keep on searching for a sign Olly oxen free, my telescope is watching For any trace you leave behind".
"Take off the veil Let yourself be found. Ready or not, here-I-come."
That is the standout song on it, but I definitely find it shares in common with the 1st RF's record Intuit, not having a weak track. I suppose in a way, it's an album like that record, but includes 1 or 2 of the best songs Brent Knopf's ever written.
"Archimedes Plutonium," "Bodies of Water," "Brevony," "Proof," "Fingerhold," "If I Equals U," etc, all tracks that work here. I guess I enjoy some of the textures Brent used on this album, specifically the strings and keyboard patches.
Like House of Fools, I am pretty convinced the progressive rock scene will never latch on to them. For whatever reason, it just never happens. They're too college-rock sounding, or not technical enough, or something. But I suppose seeing it happen as often as I have, I've become accustomed to it and reminding myself and others of it in writing/talking about it. Maybe it'll become a fun sarcastic cliche? lol.
8. Lehto & Wright - November. Not as jaw-dropping as 2010's Children's Songs, but this still includes more than enough music to compare favorably with the rest of their extensive catalog. Even the Bob Marley and Bob Dylan covers, "Redemption Song" and "Tom Joad."
They didn't leave their proggy side either with the opening suite "The Humors of Tuaimgreine / RakishPadddy / The Callahan Stomp" along with the closing piece "Dominion of the Sword." Really nice dynamics and guitar work on both of those.
9. Josh Benash - The Dismal; The Beautiful
Pretty impressed how trippy, layered, experimental, yadayada, this album is. Not too surprising, given how outside the box a lot of Kiss Kiss's music is. But this definitely differs in enough good ways.
Lots of humor, and surreal parts are going to give me enough reason to go back to this a lot early in the year.
10 The Mars Volta - Noctourniquet
I am on board with this more than any record they've made since Frances. Some of the best vocal lines Cedric has ever come up with. The electronic element adds something, and the lack of clipping cymbals along with lack of repetitive-ness helps this one a lot.
11 Umbrella Tree - To the Memory of a Once Great Man
I enjoy a fair amount of this experimental electronic dark-pop. Nice saxophone, and an intriguing story. Nice blend of male and female vocals. I believe Timbre may have participated again with this.
This album actually was made thanks to a Kickstarter campaign which I was a supporter of. Enough so, the band thanked all those who put in enough for the Vinyl which it and a compact disc release I recall is expected sometime later this year.
12 Sucré - A Minor Bird
sublime, tasteful, very nice orchestral arrangements. "No Return" may be my favorite track, early on.
13 Diablo Swing Orchestra - Pandora's Piñata
14 Northern Abbey - Northern Abbey [EP]
Much in the vein of The River Empires. Sublime.
15 Forest Park - Forest Park [EP]
Terrific atmosphere. This is a side-project, I guess from some of the members of Portland, OR-based Chamber rock group Typhoon. After listening to this enough, I'm not sure if I don't like this more.
a 3-track, 24 or so minute EP.
16 Mercies - The Ballet[EP]
Awe-some
17 Memoryhouse - The Slideshow Effect
Like their debut EP, this is still dreamy and catchy. "The Kids Were Wrong" maybe the most accessible.
18 Crippled Black Phoenix - (Mankind) The Crafty Ape
Epic record, and not one I've been able to digest fully at this point. It doesn't stray all that much from their other albums, with the infectious blend of Ennio Morricone and Pink Floyd influences. With Floyd, the Meddle-era seems to be notice-able as much as any. I do still feel this band/project, which is related to, among others, Mogwai, has taken the baton from the likes of Clann Zú and Murder by Death in doing progressive rock of a sort that emphasizes country/western music effectively. Too bad those other two aren't anymore.
19 Rush - Clockwork Angels
a pleasant surprise.
20 Jazzkamikaze - The Return of JazzKamikaze
Pretty much back to their purely jazz/jazz-rock roots. Has not blown me away, but still enjoyable enough.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Ne Obliviscaris - Portal of I #1 on rateyourmusic.com !
rateyourmusic.com 2012 Chart
Yes!. Take that Hipsters! and your substance-less, Kacica-wannabe band Beach House. (or Apes and Androids wannabes Japandroids)
Ne Obliviscaris just brought some justice to your list.
Of course we'll see, but don't be surprised if a bunch of Non-Metal listening/P4K lemmings go and downrate it.
But for now, like Pepe Deluxe and Anathema earlier this year, an actual album that warrants being on top, is.
Yes!. Take that Hipsters! and your substance-less, Kacica-wannabe band Beach House. (or Apes and Androids wannabes Japandroids)
Ne Obliviscaris just brought some justice to your list.
Of course we'll see, but don't be surprised if a bunch of Non-Metal listening/P4K lemmings go and downrate it.
But for now, like Pepe Deluxe and Anathema earlier this year, an actual album that warrants being on top, is.
Friday, March 16, 2012
2012 Album Index Race
http://rateyourmusic.com/list/SoundscapeMN/2012_year_long_modified_music_index
I can now claim to there is an actual *race* as Pepe Deluxé has taken over the top spot, and Anathema is right behind them. House of Fools was in 1st for pretty much the entire year until this week.
Pepe Deluxé
Anathema
House of Fools
The Mars Volta
Lehto & Wright
Josh Benash
Umbrella Tree
Northern Abbey
Forest Park
Memoryhouse
Crippled Black Phoenix
Jazzkamikaze
Spawn of Possession
Bend Sinister
Flying Colors
The Royal Veil
Tetrafusion
Lost Lander
Van Halen
School of Seven Bells
I can now claim to there is an actual *race* as Pepe Deluxé has taken over the top spot, and Anathema is right behind them. House of Fools was in 1st for pretty much the entire year until this week.
Pepe Deluxé
Anathema
House of Fools
The Mars Volta
Lehto & Wright
Josh Benash
Umbrella Tree
Northern Abbey
Forest Park
Memoryhouse
Crippled Black Phoenix
Jazzkamikaze
Spawn of Possession
Bend Sinister
Flying Colors
The Royal Veil
Tetrafusion
Lost Lander
Van Halen
School of Seven Bells
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Anathema - Weather Systems (2012)
3/13/12 6:20AM
for those unaware, this album was made available yesterday, March 12th, on Spotify (and various other sources/webrips). And just having heard it, it's rather breathtaking.
3/5/12 6:13PM
popmatters story
Wow, this record is sounding better and better. Damn, some of the vocals sound a little like Annuals, who by the way, announced they finished mixing their new album Born Raised recently. But that's unrelated to Anathema and Weather Systems.
I'm gonna prognosticate slightly here and predict this record will finish in my top 10 for 2012. If it doesn't, that either will mean 2012 was amazing, or this incredible stuff doesn't stand the test of the year. But I'm skeptical if that'll be the case.
I received a "pre-order" bundle offer via The End Records in my email (claiming I ordered something from Opeth from them, which I don't recall, lol) that includes Vinyl+CD+T-Shirt for $40. Tempting. I may consider canceling my Flying Colors order, and getting that instead. But I'd guess I have a little while to decide still.
2/15/12 8:37PM
Track times edited-in below
Free download of "The Beginning and the End"
http://www.burningshed.com/store/kscope/freedownload/46/
2/3/2012 12:17AM
Anathema.ws
track list from b-mouth link
1. Untouchable Part 1 (6.14)
2. Untouchable Part 2 (5.33)
3. The Gathering Of The Clouds (3.27)
4. Lightning Song (5.25)
5. Sunlight (4.55)
6. The Storm Before The Calm (9.24)
7. The Beginning And The End (4.53)
8. The Lost Child (7.02)
9. Internal Landscapes (8.52)
story from their homepage
Anathema will return in April with Weather Systems, their brand new studio album.
Weather Systems is the follow-up to 2010’s We're Here Because We're Here. That album featured prominently in numerous end-of-year polls and the producer, Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree), has described it as 'definitely among the best albums I’ve ever had the pleasure to work on.'
The bar for Weather Systems has been set pretty high then but Daniel is certain that the album will exceed these lofty expectations, ‘it feels like we are at a creative peak right now, and this album reflects that. Everything from the production to the writing to the performances are a step up from our last album.’
He continues, ‘This is not background music for parties. The music is written to deeply move the listener, to uplift or take the listener to the coldest depths of the soul.’
The intertwining melodic structures of these profoundly beautiful songs are intensely powerful, yet simple. These are songs that will transport the listener closer to the heart of life, that is to say, to the heart of themselves.
It is also an album of polarity. The play of opposites; light and shade, birth and death, love and fear. The simple truths of life and loss, hope and strength and darker internal themes are all explored here.
The album was recorded in Liverpool, North Wales and Oslo, each place significant to Anathema past, present and future. The record was produced and mastered by 5 times Norwegian Grammy nominated Christer-André Cederberg (Animal Alpha, In the Woods..., Drawn), who Daniel has described as ‘a revelation. His calmness and brilliance has helped to bring about the greatest inter-band chemistry that Anathema have experienced together in their career.’
This album will please fans who call for more of Lee Douglas’s vocals, as her role within Anathema’s brand of alternative, melodic rock has matured to become an integral energy. In this way and more, Weather Systems is the sound of a band finding their voice and growing in stature, moving further along their artistic path with a truly stunning musical vision.
Their best ever work? ‘Not yet’ says Daniel, but he does believe that with Weather Systems they have surpassed previous glories; ‘we are pleased and proud of the record and we feel that, alongside the best moments of WHBWH, this record contains our very best work so far in what is becoming a long career.’
Weather Systems will be available on Kscope from April 16th 2012.
Yes yes yes! I actually expect a lot from this, but that of course is a GOOD thing. I adore Falling Deeper and especially their last proper LP We're Here Because We're Here from 2010. Atmospheric, melancholy, gothic, heavy progressive rock.
Fuck yeah! April 16th baby!
for those unaware, this album was made available yesterday, March 12th, on Spotify (and various other sources/webrips). And just having heard it, it's rather breathtaking.
3/5/12 6:13PM
popmatters story
Wow, this record is sounding better and better. Damn, some of the vocals sound a little like Annuals, who by the way, announced they finished mixing their new album Born Raised recently. But that's unrelated to Anathema and Weather Systems.
I'm gonna prognosticate slightly here and predict this record will finish in my top 10 for 2012. If it doesn't, that either will mean 2012 was amazing, or this incredible stuff doesn't stand the test of the year. But I'm skeptical if that'll be the case.
I received a "pre-order" bundle offer via The End Records in my email (claiming I ordered something from Opeth from them, which I don't recall, lol) that includes Vinyl+CD+T-Shirt for $40. Tempting. I may consider canceling my Flying Colors order, and getting that instead. But I'd guess I have a little while to decide still.
2/15/12 8:37PM
Track times edited-in below
Free download of "The Beginning and the End"
http://www.burningshed.com/store/kscope/freedownload/46/
2/3/2012 12:17AM
Anathema.ws
track list from b-mouth link
1. Untouchable Part 1 (6.14)
2. Untouchable Part 2 (5.33)
3. The Gathering Of The Clouds (3.27)
4. Lightning Song (5.25)
5. Sunlight (4.55)
6. The Storm Before The Calm (9.24)
7. The Beginning And The End (4.53)
8. The Lost Child (7.02)
9. Internal Landscapes (8.52)
story from their homepage
Anathema will return in April with Weather Systems, their brand new studio album.
Weather Systems is the follow-up to 2010’s We're Here Because We're Here. That album featured prominently in numerous end-of-year polls and the producer, Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree), has described it as 'definitely among the best albums I’ve ever had the pleasure to work on.'
The bar for Weather Systems has been set pretty high then but Daniel is certain that the album will exceed these lofty expectations, ‘it feels like we are at a creative peak right now, and this album reflects that. Everything from the production to the writing to the performances are a step up from our last album.’
He continues, ‘This is not background music for parties. The music is written to deeply move the listener, to uplift or take the listener to the coldest depths of the soul.’
The intertwining melodic structures of these profoundly beautiful songs are intensely powerful, yet simple. These are songs that will transport the listener closer to the heart of life, that is to say, to the heart of themselves.
It is also an album of polarity. The play of opposites; light and shade, birth and death, love and fear. The simple truths of life and loss, hope and strength and darker internal themes are all explored here.
The album was recorded in Liverpool, North Wales and Oslo, each place significant to Anathema past, present and future. The record was produced and mastered by 5 times Norwegian Grammy nominated Christer-André Cederberg (Animal Alpha, In the Woods..., Drawn), who Daniel has described as ‘a revelation. His calmness and brilliance has helped to bring about the greatest inter-band chemistry that Anathema have experienced together in their career.’
This album will please fans who call for more of Lee Douglas’s vocals, as her role within Anathema’s brand of alternative, melodic rock has matured to become an integral energy. In this way and more, Weather Systems is the sound of a band finding their voice and growing in stature, moving further along their artistic path with a truly stunning musical vision.
Their best ever work? ‘Not yet’ says Daniel, but he does believe that with Weather Systems they have surpassed previous glories; ‘we are pleased and proud of the record and we feel that, alongside the best moments of WHBWH, this record contains our very best work so far in what is becoming a long career.’
Weather Systems will be available on Kscope from April 16th 2012.
Yes yes yes! I actually expect a lot from this, but that of course is a GOOD thing. I adore Falling Deeper and especially their last proper LP We're Here Because We're Here from 2010. Atmospheric, melancholy, gothic, heavy progressive rock.
Fuck yeah! April 16th baby!
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Anneke van Giersbergen/The Gathering
This is I guess a few notes about both of them.
I recall around 10 or 11 years ago, maybe even going back to the late 90's, knowing-of The Gathering, and their beautiful lead singer Anneke van Giersbergen aka "Anneke." I think they had their share of fans among the Dream Theater fans even back then. But I know around the time I started listening to "The Root of All Evil" and then volunteering/dj-ing at KFAI, I got to know their name. And eventually I purchased a copy of their 1st album with Anneke 1995's Mandylion
Soon after, I recall James Bickers both telling me about some of their fans at the initial ProgPowerUSA festival in 2001, saying they don't like them anymore because "they're not metal anymore."
And I recall he also wrote about their latest album in his impressive yet short-lived music zine Sea of Tranquility. In fact, it may have been reading about them in there that motivated me to purchase a copy of Mandylion soon after.
And while I liked some of that album, it never really grabbed me to the point of addiction. I probably listened to it 4 or 5 times, and have since not gone back to revisit it sadly.
The other really sad thing about The Gathering for me is, I still to this day, regret missing them live, with what I believe was on their tour during the Summer of 1999 with King's X, at what was known as "The Lab" or "4th Street Station." in St.Paul.
Now I'm not certain in terms of evidence they were on that tour, the Summer of 1999. On Wikipedia though, it does mention
Positive reactions came from all over the world, including the United States, where they played 14 shows during the summer of 1999.
But I do distinctly remember not too long after that show, seeing something online about those 2 bands on tour that Summer. And for King's X, I had never missed seeing them (since becoming a fan in 1996), since I probably had seen them 4 times during the 3 years or more, before that show took place. But the Summer of 1999 was not an easy one for me, as I lost my job at Best Buy and had just moved into my 1st apartment. When I became unemployed, I had to be as careful with my money as I could be.
Fortunately, I did find a job a few months later, but at the time, little did I know I missed the chance to see this band I would grow to become at least curious about. And to add, Anneke being there would have been a big reason to go, as I'll admit, she's as pretty a musician as I've ever seen, even just in photographs. I won't lie, getting to see and hopefully meet her, was probably as big a reason why I felt and still feel sad/bad about missing that show as anything.
But after that period of time, I knew they were still active, and recall wanting to see them live if given the chance. But I don't recall any other tour dates coming to Minnesota, at least for many years. And their studio work, I never spent much time checking out, for whatever reason, likely mostly due to listening to so many other things. Plus, it wasn't like they were a very buzzed-about band in the 2000's. At least not much on the forums I read and posted on.
But I do recall reading about Anneke's departure from The Gathering in 2007. Although I'll admit reading about Tarja Turunen's departure from Nightwish as much, if not more so around that same period of time. Maybe even mixing up the 2 lead female vocalist departures from European Metal bands. And for whatever reason, I wondered if Anneke leaving The Gathering was possibly a good thing.
But it still didn't end up motivating me to check out her music or more of The Gathering's. But now, some 12 years of more later, I stumbled upon her releasing her 3rd in-effect solo (studio) record Everything Is Changing, which was released a little over a week ago, and I streamed it a little while ago here.
Now what I heard on that album didn't really blow me away. A lot of it is gothic hard rock, not that different from my memory of her music with The Gathering. Although a bit also seems to be leaning in the pop and college rock vein. But I'll admit, I am interested to check it out again, with headphones. I also am curious enough about her other solo records, Pure Air, Air and In Your Room.(the latter two under the name Agua de Annique).
I guess the music on those is more acoustic, more stripped down, poppy, folky and singer/songwriter. Which for fans of The Gathering, is a big departure. Although part of what I remember about The Gathering's history, was an interest to change, evolve, not do the same kind of music each time around, etc. At least I recall James Bickers talking about his appreciation for them, for that reason. And in that sense, they were/are progressive. Maybe Anneke could be described in that way too.
And The Gathering themselves, given I have not heard really, more than a few songs beyond Mandylion, I am curious enough to check out their work, especially the albums from the last decade. With Anneke and the one since her departure, The West Pole. A lot of reviews suggest Souvenirs to be their best since Mandylion, but a few others like Home and the heavily layered How To Measure a Planet? may very well be worth the time to take in soon.
And they also have a new album expected in September I guess. The 2nd with new lead vocalist Silje Wergeland, who came from the The Gathering-influenced Norwegian band Octavia Sperati. They released a new single and video last May for the song "Heroes for Ghosts" and I must say, the 1st part of the song starts off a little slow, but by the middle of this track I became more impressed/mesmerized than I expected.
So I'm thinking I will be checking out a lot more of The Gathering and Anneke's work. Anneke has appeared on many albums as a guest and done some collaborations too. Maybe most notably for me, her appearing on Anathema's 2011 release Falling Deeper, on the track "Everawake"
She also performed with Anathema's Danny Cavanagh on a live disc from 2009 titled In Parallel, which I guess is mostly tunes from both Anathema and her work, re-arranged. I found 1 video earlier which was pleasant enough.
Perhaps I may find a new appreciation for both The Gathering and Anneke, in some ways like Anathema the last few years. I guess the biggest issue I have found with Anneke is her voice and vocal-lines seem to be limited to a certain range; which the songs end up sounding a lot alike. But maybe that was partially just a product of The Gathering's music. She does have a very good voice tonally/technically. She does remind me in some ways of Annie Haslam of Renaissance, or rather, my being drawn to her beauty, both outward and inward. She has an angelic voice like Annie. And I can see why many others have called upon her to sing on their albums. Even artists like November's Doom, Moonspell, Giant Squid, Napalm Death and Devin Townsend Project have. In fact I found a video of Anneke with Devin's band from last year live.
That tune is from Devin Townsend Project's Addicted LP. I may have to revisit it now, just for the fact she's on it.
I recall around 10 or 11 years ago, maybe even going back to the late 90's, knowing-of The Gathering, and their beautiful lead singer Anneke van Giersbergen aka "Anneke." I think they had their share of fans among the Dream Theater fans even back then. But I know around the time I started listening to "The Root of All Evil" and then volunteering/dj-ing at KFAI, I got to know their name. And eventually I purchased a copy of their 1st album with Anneke 1995's Mandylion
Soon after, I recall James Bickers both telling me about some of their fans at the initial ProgPowerUSA festival in 2001, saying they don't like them anymore because "they're not metal anymore."
And I recall he also wrote about their latest album in his impressive yet short-lived music zine Sea of Tranquility. In fact, it may have been reading about them in there that motivated me to purchase a copy of Mandylion soon after.
And while I liked some of that album, it never really grabbed me to the point of addiction. I probably listened to it 4 or 5 times, and have since not gone back to revisit it sadly.
The other really sad thing about The Gathering for me is, I still to this day, regret missing them live, with what I believe was on their tour during the Summer of 1999 with King's X, at what was known as "The Lab" or "4th Street Station." in St.Paul.
Now I'm not certain in terms of evidence they were on that tour, the Summer of 1999. On Wikipedia though, it does mention
Positive reactions came from all over the world, including the United States, where they played 14 shows during the summer of 1999.
But I do distinctly remember not too long after that show, seeing something online about those 2 bands on tour that Summer. And for King's X, I had never missed seeing them (since becoming a fan in 1996), since I probably had seen them 4 times during the 3 years or more, before that show took place. But the Summer of 1999 was not an easy one for me, as I lost my job at Best Buy and had just moved into my 1st apartment. When I became unemployed, I had to be as careful with my money as I could be.
Fortunately, I did find a job a few months later, but at the time, little did I know I missed the chance to see this band I would grow to become at least curious about. And to add, Anneke being there would have been a big reason to go, as I'll admit, she's as pretty a musician as I've ever seen, even just in photographs. I won't lie, getting to see and hopefully meet her, was probably as big a reason why I felt and still feel sad/bad about missing that show as anything.
But after that period of time, I knew they were still active, and recall wanting to see them live if given the chance. But I don't recall any other tour dates coming to Minnesota, at least for many years. And their studio work, I never spent much time checking out, for whatever reason, likely mostly due to listening to so many other things. Plus, it wasn't like they were a very buzzed-about band in the 2000's. At least not much on the forums I read and posted on.
But I do recall reading about Anneke's departure from The Gathering in 2007. Although I'll admit reading about Tarja Turunen's departure from Nightwish as much, if not more so around that same period of time. Maybe even mixing up the 2 lead female vocalist departures from European Metal bands. And for whatever reason, I wondered if Anneke leaving The Gathering was possibly a good thing.
But it still didn't end up motivating me to check out her music or more of The Gathering's. But now, some 12 years of more later, I stumbled upon her releasing her 3rd in-effect solo (studio) record Everything Is Changing, which was released a little over a week ago, and I streamed it a little while ago here.
Now what I heard on that album didn't really blow me away. A lot of it is gothic hard rock, not that different from my memory of her music with The Gathering. Although a bit also seems to be leaning in the pop and college rock vein. But I'll admit, I am interested to check it out again, with headphones. I also am curious enough about her other solo records, Pure Air, Air and In Your Room.(the latter two under the name Agua de Annique).
I guess the music on those is more acoustic, more stripped down, poppy, folky and singer/songwriter. Which for fans of The Gathering, is a big departure. Although part of what I remember about The Gathering's history, was an interest to change, evolve, not do the same kind of music each time around, etc. At least I recall James Bickers talking about his appreciation for them, for that reason. And in that sense, they were/are progressive. Maybe Anneke could be described in that way too.
And The Gathering themselves, given I have not heard really, more than a few songs beyond Mandylion, I am curious enough to check out their work, especially the albums from the last decade. With Anneke and the one since her departure, The West Pole. A lot of reviews suggest Souvenirs to be their best since Mandylion, but a few others like Home and the heavily layered How To Measure a Planet? may very well be worth the time to take in soon.
And they also have a new album expected in September I guess. The 2nd with new lead vocalist Silje Wergeland, who came from the The Gathering-influenced Norwegian band Octavia Sperati. They released a new single and video last May for the song "Heroes for Ghosts" and I must say, the 1st part of the song starts off a little slow, but by the middle of this track I became more impressed/mesmerized than I expected.
So I'm thinking I will be checking out a lot more of The Gathering and Anneke's work. Anneke has appeared on many albums as a guest and done some collaborations too. Maybe most notably for me, her appearing on Anathema's 2011 release Falling Deeper, on the track "Everawake"
She also performed with Anathema's Danny Cavanagh on a live disc from 2009 titled In Parallel, which I guess is mostly tunes from both Anathema and her work, re-arranged. I found 1 video earlier which was pleasant enough.
Perhaps I may find a new appreciation for both The Gathering and Anneke, in some ways like Anathema the last few years. I guess the biggest issue I have found with Anneke is her voice and vocal-lines seem to be limited to a certain range; which the songs end up sounding a lot alike. But maybe that was partially just a product of The Gathering's music. She does have a very good voice tonally/technically. She does remind me in some ways of Annie Haslam of Renaissance, or rather, my being drawn to her beauty, both outward and inward. She has an angelic voice like Annie. And I can see why many others have called upon her to sing on their albums. Even artists like November's Doom, Moonspell, Giant Squid, Napalm Death and Devin Townsend Project have. In fact I found a video of Anneke with Devin's band from last year live.
That tune is from Devin Townsend Project's Addicted LP. I may have to revisit it now, just for the fact she's on it.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
2011 Album Index 30-21
30. Nicole Atkins - Mondo Amore
I was really impressed and surprised by this record when it came out. Not so much that it had good songs on it, but I sort of forgot about Nicole after enjoying much of her 1st proper full-length in 2008's Neptune City.
But for whatever reason, I had no clue this was coming out. And this was released in February I recall, and as a result, it was early-on, one of my top records.
It is/was a consistent record start to finish. Bluesy piano and string driven rock. To add, here's a little from what I wrote in my delayed review back in March.
I guess in terms of songs to namedrop: Cry Cry Cry, The Tower, My Baby Don't Lie, Vultures, War is Hell. Memorable melodies and sections. Even just how she used piano in it, with the segues and transitions.
The Tower is great, epic, and probably up there with "Neptune City" among the best songs she's written.
At this point, I can't say this album went much further than it did early in the year. I suppose I may have worn it out a little, and the fact whenever I went into Barnes and Noble last spring and summer to visit my girlfriend, they had it playing. I heard it so much in a short period of time, it may have run its course for me. I guess that's why it didn't hold up the whole year and dropped this low. But unlike other records from 2011, I don't find anything or any songs bad on it. I suppose when her next record comes out, or the next time she hits Minnesota on tour, I'll be up for revisiting it again.
29. White Denim - D
I noticed this band added to the "New Prog" list on Wikipedia over the Summer. I read a bit about them and even sampled their music, but didn't follow why. At that point I dismissed them. However, when they were included on the tour with The Dear Hunter and Manchester Orchestra this Fall, I was a little more curious.
At said show in Minneapolis at The Cabooze in November, I wasn't expecting to watch them on stage. But in the process of being there, after The Dear Hunter finished, their music drew me in. They played 2 or 3 songs that almost sounded like The Mars Volta. I was impressed enough, I decided to pickup this new album of theirs on Vinyl after their performance.
After hearing this album enough times, The Mars Volta comparison might not be so accurate. But they or this album has a great, late 60's/early 70's psychedelic rock vibe to it. It's really playful, energetic and upbeat. Their singer almost sounds like the singer from Skeleton$ or Dirty Projectors, but is not annoying in any way.
In re-reading some of the comments about it on rateyourmusic, I would agree with stuff like, they have a familiar sound, yet there isn't exactly any band who combines all the styles they do. They're prog, they're jammy, they're blues-rock, they're psych, they're even poppy at times.
My favorite song probably is the instrumental "At the Farm." I have yet to get tired of that one. The drumming and guitar interplay is just infectious. It's almost like Led Zeppelin, Cream or early Rush or something.
I even hear a band like Wishbone Ash in their sound. Not sure if them or The Volta is the best comparison, but I recall wanting to pull out Argus more than once when listening to this record recently. I may do that, along with spending time with their back catalog. now, as this is one of the better new bands I've been introduced to in 2011. And one I would definitely see live again.
28. NewVillager - NewVillager
The next Apes and Androids? Well, that may be wishful thinking and never actually happen. However, as I posted in here a few weeks ago, this band may be one-of the best bands to come since, making that style of melodramatic, humorous, falsetto-driven electronic pop/rock.
And like Apes and Androids, I understand their live shows outdo this studio work. But, since all I have to go on is this record, I was still impressed enough. I suppose they fall sort of in between Apes and Androids and a band like The Chap. And this being NewVillager's debut record, it might just be a foreshadowing of what may come in the coming years (assuming they do make more music after this).
But as I posted a few weeks ago, this record has it's share of highlights. The single "Lighthouse" especially is uplifting.
Go out, go free, up to the lighthouse
Go out, go free, up to the lighthouse
See what you never
See, see what you never...see
I could see Apes and Androids writing that. Others like "How to Get Back" "Say the Code""Upholder"; and the rest, I honestly enjoy pretty much every tune on here. Some of it almost sounds like TV on the Radio, who are a band I've never loved, but never found repulsive. I might say the same about Abba, who maybe they are fans of as well by listening to the track "Black Rain."
I think part of me wants the next Apes and Androids, and by finding this band, I am partially believing they are in a way, and their future may bring the same ambition AandA's had. Although I kind of thought the same about The Chap and few others a few years ago, but I'm hoping this band may stand out more. Also hopefully I'll have an opportunity to see them live at some point soon, because that is maybe my biggest regret with AandA's. Perhaps I'll even regard this record greater as that has happened to me with others (a great live show makes the studio work seem better).
27. Meniscus - War of Currents
This Australian "post" band released an EP in 2007 titled Absence of I which I have enjoyed off and on for many years. But I always was curious about when they would put out something new and longer. And actually this release isn't a great deal longer being about 35 minutes. That EP though, had these great builds and dynamics, which in truth, isn't all that different than a lot of "post" music. But, for whatever reason, the heavy riffs, the samples including bees, or something else, I found their brand of "post" music better than a lot of the formulaic Explosions in the Sky copycats.
Well this record varies a bit from Absence of I, but not incredibly. The samples are there again, and some of, but maybe not as much of the heavier sections. The flowing nature of it is like their 1st release. I don't ever get bored or wonder when the song will go somewhere.
The style at times almost reminds me of some trip-hop or another "post" band I like in God is an Astronaut. Even the early Porcupine Tree I hear moments similar to. Although I honestly was thinking this could be bigger, more epic, etc of a debut record, and for that I can't say I was attached to it. At the same time, I enjoy it a lot for what it is. And the truth is, I'm not even sure the band themselves regard it as a full-length, as I recall reading something from them saying they wanted to include more music, but due to time/budget they didn't record more. So perhaps this is just the next part leading to their 1st extensive work. I guess we'll see, but for now I am enjoying this as much if not more than their other release. And they along with some others like Tangled Thoughts of Leaving, support a great scene down under for this kind of arty instrumental rock.
26. UneXpect - Fables of the Sleepless Empire
A long awaited and celebrated release by the band and their dedicated fan base. I have enjoyed Unexpect for a few years now, although not to the point of being addicted. But I'd say along with a few other unique extreme metal bands such as SikTh, maudlin of the Well, Between the Buried and Me and a few others, they have always stood out as being original and much less derivative. In other words, they have defined their own sound, as opposed to aping off of others (even with some exceptions when that happens, but the songwriting is still good).
That all being said, I was rather excited for this like most of their fans. And honestly, I enjoy it, but not really as much as I hoped. Why is it this high on my list? I suppose part of that is just respect and it still works really in the *mood* music purpose it has for me.
Some have said it's a departure from their other records, namely their last record from 2006 In a Flesh Aquarium. And I understand that, but I also don't think it hurts how it's more accessible, melodically. The vocals are still outrageously crazy, and there are still extremely technical sections that seem darn silly.
I probably have taken a number of years to digest their other albums, and perhaps this one will require more time in the future as well. More of a grower, but right now, I'd call it a well polished (production-wise for one) record that given the desire to hear something really busy, I will probably give it another go. But it wasn't sniffing my top 10 just purely on how much I listened to it alone.
25. Dream Theater - A Dramatic Turn of Events
Well well well. The post-Portnoy Dream Theater now has been produced, and the end result actually ended up pretty damn good. A Grammy nomination, more attention they've received probably since Images and Words. Yada yada yada.
The truth about this album for me is, it sounds like Dream Theater, not any other band. And the quality songwriting and meticulous sections are there throughout most of the album "Build Me Up, Break Me Down" is probably the only track I'm not all that crazy about. But the rest is what I at one time, really looked for in an album from them.
Now is it a classic? not at this point. I really, probably listened to it 5 or 6 times, and then just was content with what it was. Why that is, is primarily due to my interest to listen to Dream Theater music regularly. I just don't. Maybe once or twice a year at best. Although I did recently purchase Scenes From a Memory on Vinyl (and not realizing I wasn't receiving a 20% discount from The Electric Fetus until after the clerk rang me up).
But just from when I was listening to it, some of the sections of "Breaking All Illusions" and "Outcry" really worked, even giving me goosebumps. Maybe part of that is due to hearing them make music like this again. They didn't seem to include those long-winded noodle-y sections I roll my eyes at, and Jordan's keyboards were not as plastic-y, nor did they seem to overstay their welcome. Even the single "On the Backs of Angels" I really enjoyed.
Mike Mangini? he seemed to fit well with the band. No disrespect to Mike Portnoy, but I could easily see the parts he had, being parts Portnoy would have made. In other words, I didn't notice Portnoy's absence.
Now the BS about it copying Images and Words that went down, I just rolled my eyes at. Musically, tonally, structurally, sonically, this album sounds more like their last couple of records as-a-whole. It just doesn't include nearly as much of the un-desired parts of those (Portnoy vocals being one, but not the only part).
A step in the right direction. We'll see if anything happens at The Grammy's. I would be up for seeing them again live supporting this, but their tour with Trivium didn't end up in the Twin Cities anyway. But perhaps another US leg happens next year and it will.
24. Anathema - Falling Deeper
Another year, and another Anathema record comes out of nowhere to me. Although unlike 2010's wonderful We're Here Because We're Here, this album was actually not new material, just newly arranged versions of songs from their 1st 2 albums and EPs (1992-1995). And I guess it's the 2nd time they've done this, with previously re-arranging older songs on the Hindsight compilation from 2008.
The string arrangements, the flow and textures, the guests (Anneke Van Giersbergen ex-The Gathering among them). The emotional element that comes across much of it. Very melancholy, yet extremely beautiful. I could probably listen to this album 10 more times and receive the same therapeutic, calming reaction.
Anathema, a band I have known about for years, but only the last couple have I spent any time with their music. Their darker, gothic Metal period, perhaps I'll dive into eventually, but for now, I am really adoring their recent transition into somber progressive rock of this sort.
23. Erick Serna and the Killing Floor - The Grip
When The Dear Hunter decided to move back to California late in 2009 from Rhode Island, Erick Serna decided not to go with them, being that is not where he's from. So, he wasn't on tour with them, nor recording with them. As a result, he decided to start his own project, and with the aid of bandcamp, was able to make this debut record of him and "The Killing Floor," which became available for $5 digitally.
While this album may have been partially inspired with his work with The Dear Hunter, this is not music The Dear Hunter would seemingly make. This is, really great ballsy blues-rock. A lot of thick riffs, and including a great old-school tradition from the likes of Robert Johnson and of course Jimi Hendrix.
It's definitely a less-is-more record, and one that I would put on semi-regularly because how good it was, and how it never felt long at all being around 35 minutes. Maybe blues-rock works best around half-an-hour? I dunno, but I just know how it brought in that love for dirty, grindy, blue-collar sense I have often loved about Blues based rock music.
My favorites specifically include "Whiskey Song" "It's Been a Long Time Comin'" "Jet Plane Blues" "Hey Sweet Thing," "The Grip, "some are ballads, some nice twangy acoustic guitar, and some use what sounds like slide-guitar. And his vocals work well in this style. I'd say more or less every song is good, as this album I never skip a tune.
We'll see what Erick does now after this. I know he was involved with Mercies and he has played some shows supporting it, at least in his native Massachusetts and the Northeast. He emailed me wanting to come play in Minneapolis again, and I'd love to see that happen. Perhaps if the situation arises, such as opening for another band he knows, it may happen. But in the mean time, I'll be enjoying this record along with other new Blues-Rock releases like the one from Trent Romens, and look forward to what he may do next.
22. Neverending White Lights - Act III: Love Will Ruin (Part One)
An album that Daniel Victor in a lot of ways, SLAVED OVER, for many years. I recall an interview and/or perhaps the recent online webcast with Evan Konrad he did, he mentioned more about the tumultuous amounts of stress over it.
How to summarize? Basically he wrote blog after blog on myspace about struggling over the songs for it for the better part of 2 years. Re-writing, and re-working. He wrote a ton of songs, so much so, this became only Part One, and Part Two will be released next Summer.
Daniel Victor also had a scary situation with damaging one of his vocal chords, he was in danger of never being able to sing again. I recall him mentioning going for a few months, not even being able to speak, let alone sing.
So, this was a miracle to finally, after the better part of 4 years, being released. And the end result was pretty damn good. Although less guests than on the past records, and maybe not as many breathtaking tunes like "Dove Coloured Sky" or "The Grace" there is still a great flow and consistency on here. These songs are well written, very well and cleanly produced.
Evan Konrad also known as Bed of Stars, clearly is a talented singer and songwriter, so much so, he was featured one three songs, "Falling Apart" "The Lonely War" and "The Hereafter," including some of which he co-wrote. His voice definitely channels/is-influenced by Jimmy Gnecco and even Dallas Green, who had been on the previous 2 NWL records. His has a great falsetto, and I can totally see why Daniel has taken him under his wing. Bed of Stars is to be releasing music under Daniel's label, Ocean Records, soon as well.
I guess to offer a reference point, musically the songs on here do remind me of Peter Gabriel, Pink Floyd and maybe more on this album at times, U2. But they aren't exactly aping that style. It's more just using those artists ability to make at times darker, textured/layered pop/rock. The songs I wouldn't call simple or simplistic. But they aren't overdone. It's somewhere in that happy medium, that I have always liked about their music.
Now given this is only the 1st part, the 2nd may eventually impact how much I appreciate this album. I suppose to see the two as a double, or even listen to both all-at-once may happen. Although the previous two records were longer than this, I recall Daniel saying how he didn't want to release something as excessive as a double album. But the 2nd Part coming next Summer will feature among others, Jimmy Gnecco on 1 track. That alone has me very optimistic about it. But until hearing that, I am still going to be extremely satisfied with this one, especially given how much work I know it took to make. Also the fact a few weeks ago, Daniel sadly lost his studio due to water damage, makes this album and all the music he made there, almost more sad, and thus I want to appreciate it more.
.
21. Radical Face - The Family Tree: The Roots
I don't recall exactly who recommended this band, but I suspect it was a friend of mine on rateyourmusic who has been rather good at suggesting bands to me. And in looking back, it was May of 2010 I 1st checked out the 1st record Ghost from this band/project of Jacksonville, FL native Ben Cooper, whose also known for playing in a few other bands such as Electric President, Iron Orchestra and Mother's Basement.
I remember liking Ghost last year, enough to rate it at 3.5 stars and suggesting it to others. But not so much, I was keeping tabs on Radical Face after that. So, reading about this album, and it being the 1st of a trilogy (the other two "Family Tree" releases "The Branches" and "The Relatives" are expected in 2012), really got me intrigued.
It ended up being a really sublime composition of chamber folk/rock. I almost think I was surprised how good it was at 1st, almost forgetting what drew me to RF's music in the 1st place.
As I wrote in my initial posting:
So, in describing Radical Face, I suppose to call them sort of melodic, layered acoustic/chamber rock/pop/folk might be somewhat accurate. Of course hearing the music itself is best, but as a necessary evil, the artists I might compare them to being Punch Brothers, The Age of Rockets and even The River Empires, to name a few.
Its an album that has this dreamy almost spiritual side to it. Almost like an escape album of sorts. I do love how the subtle melodies and harmonies play with my attention. I'll put it on, enjoy the various emotions expressed, and think wow, damn that was great.
So, when the 2nd and 3rd parts come next year, I suppose any and all connections to this album may be made. I am expecting some ambition, given what it seems like Ben Cooper's trying to do here. How they compare musically, or other facets, we'll know soon enough. But just with this album I have come to already view Radical Face in a more favorable/memorable way.
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