I know the actual album does not come out until March 22nd, 2011 and there have been no real leaks of the album, but Born Of Osiris did put out 3 new songs from the album. SO, I am going to write about those. Track #1 – Follow the Signs. Starts off with a crazy synth keyboard and goes straight into a ridiculous time signature of heavy 7-string guitar. This song doesn’t have as much power as one of my favorite songs from them on this new album called Visualized to Perfection. Follow the Signs is equivalent to the whole album of The New Reign. It would blend perfectly with that album. Don’t get me wrong, but The New Reign was my favorite album by Born of Osiris. Track #2 – Intelligent Design. This song starts off like a Linkin Park song and immediately turns me off to it until it gets to about :45 seconds in. Again decently heavy riffs with some nice solos in there. Overall this song doesn’t really do too much for me. I like it and all but I think it is an extension of their second album A Higher Place (which I did not like as much as The New Reign). The end of the song redeems itself with a heavy “breakdown” and deep vocals. Track #3 – Visualized to Perfection. Now this song takes over and makes this whole album worth waiting for and pre-ordering. The vocals are heavy as shit, and the guitars again are just all over the place time wise and the solo behind all of the monster sounds has a distorted beginning. Honestly I cannot explain it so I will post the song and listen to this timestamp 0:32 seconds. That part made me say out loud alone on a car drive by myself, NO WAY!!!!!! SICK!!!!!!!!!! After that, I have been checking EVERYDAY for a leak for this album. I absolutely cannot wait.

Overall this album preview nailed it. It made me crave more and somehow got me to do a pre-order with a shirt and a poster. Something tells me that when I get this album, I will not stop listening to it for a long time to come!

I really hope you guys enjoy some good heavy music. These guys are from the Chicago area and make us Illinoisans proud!

Thanks for reading!

https://www.facebook.com/bornofosiris

Born of Osiris – Visualized to Perfection

Although I may have started listening to Radiohead at the album Kid A, I cannot tell you how much I love Radiohead. A lot of people tell me that The Bends or Pablo Honey were their best albums, and after listening to them I don’t see it. Maybe because they want to be able to say “I listened to Radiohead first” just to seem musically intelligent because they are older. Makes me kind of mad. ANYWAY!!! I am writing about Amnesiac because the other day I was listening to Pulk/Pull Revolving Doors, and was AMAZED at how that song was made. I still don’t know what was involved in making that song. Doesn’t matter because it was made and I enjoy it so much! Each song is packed full of incredible beats, amazing guitar work, sootheing piano, and pounding bass lines. I have told MANY people that this album is one of 5 to go to heaven and a deserted island with me. I still can’t get over how incredible and relevant this album is to this day. Amnesiac was way before it’s time. I have not heard any album of this genre to do half of what this album did. Honestly I don’t think an album ever will.

I honestly have no more words about this album. I love it and will always love it. My kids WILL know every word of this album before they are 13. I will make sure of it. haha

Okay well I wanted to say sorry to everyone who have been coming to the site but not seeing any new posts. I am hoping to change that.

www.myspace.com/radiohead

Well FINALLY after a few weeks I am writing a new post about an album that I love so much! I don’t know if it is because of the Minneapolis skyline, or because the album is just so beautifully crafted.

This album was a great addition to The Appleseed Cast’s lineup of albums because it was very different from most of their albums but still had the soul of the previous albums. When I first heard this album I can honestly say I didn’t like it. The reason being is because I couldn’t get over how the vocals were a lot different than previous albums and it wasn’t anything I was used to. At the same time this is the EXACT reason why I fell in love with it! Before this album TAC left their previous record label and in that transition recorded somewhere different and I think this really let things go for TAC. They became more comfortable with who they were and wanted to show that with others! This album has both old and new elements and I believe this album opened up doors to albums of theirs that followed.

Sticking to their roots they have a bit of instrumental and nice flowy tunes, but also add more vocals and happier tones. All in all this album will die with me! I love this so much! I really don’t know what else to say about this album except BUY IT! Buy all of their albums! You will be seeing more and more albums posts of theirs of this year! I guarantee it!

Good to be back, sorry for letting you guys down the past week or so!

http://www.myspace.com/theappleseedcast

You guys pulled through on this one! I asked for a suggestion and got an outstanding one. Today’s album was inspired by our friend Lua from Istanbul!

I personally LOVE this album. The first song on this album paints an outline for the rest of the album. The album starts off in what sounds like a car ride with friends, and slowly a single acoustic guitar is being plucked to an amazing tune. The choppy and not so crisp vocals start as if Conor Oberst were trying to tell a story while having this car ride of a movie playing in the background. As the songs progresses and the story is being told, the vocals become more and more clear like a microphone is inching itself closer to this storyteller. I can’t get over how amazing this song is. The lyrics to this whole album are not structured. It is one solid mass of words put together so well. I love how each song tells a new story! You get a clear picture of what Conor is singing about. I love that about this!

The song “Don’t know when, but a day is gonna come” is one of my favorites on this album. Talks of his childhood made me remember my own. Lifted became an album that I related to back in 2003. I had a rough time with my family and and this album made it okay, it also showed me that I am becoming a human being and that happens and it is not the end of the world. I made amends and my life has been better since. To this day I cannot stop listening to this album. It is as powerful as the first time I heard it! This album is full of philosophical questions and ramblings and if you don’t think about those sorts of things, you will. I just love it.

I love Conor’s aura and how he represents himself on this album. Calm and strong, with a dash of fun on this album. This was the first album I started to listen to from Bright Eyes and after the first few songs I was like “I love them!” Since, I have purchased the other albums and as of now I have EVERY Bright Eyes album and they are totally worth it!

To put it shorter, this album is worth a listen. The folkiness is great! The collaboration between what seems like an orchestra on one song, and then a towns bluegrass band on the next, it makes for an incredible experience. The “lyrics” or stories being told while music is playing are just inspiring! This is would be a highly recommended album from myself and Lua! Check it out!

www.myspace.com/brighteyes

Show us some love, show us some comments!

Love you guys!

Chris Staples will always have a special place in my heart.  Chris was the vocalist and guitarist for  Twothirtyeight, one (and still is) of my favorite bands of the  early 00′s.  I have seriously listened to Regulate the Chemicals and You Should be Living more than a bajillion times, and they’re still amazing.  After 238 Chris released some solo eps and went on to start discover america.  But I’m not here to talk about that, I’m here to talk about Badlands, Chris Staples newest solo album.

Badlands showcases Chris’ amazing songwriting in ways 238 (and even Discover America) never could.  The sound on this album is extremely stripped down and it literally sounds like Staples is just sitting there alone with his guitar, playing just for you.  The stripped down sound allows you to get swept up in his words like you can’t believe.  Most of the songs on this album are just Chris alone with his guitar, but the few exceptions (Bell into my Ear being one of them) are just as incredible.  Bell has a beautiful piano riff throughout of it, and really is one of Staples more gorgeous songs.

My favorite song on the album by far is Thrift Store Jesus Painting .  Something about this song just pulls at my heart so hard.  The first time I listened to it I immediately connected to it.  Maybe it’s the wistfulness of the sound, or maybe it’s the little synth part in it, who knows, but I absolfreakinglutely love this song.

This album is brilliant. The album starts out very nice and smooth, with some great synth driven music and the computer manipulated vocals pair up to make something so messy but beautiful. This 18 minute album WILL keep you intrigued. The whole time listening to this album, I try to mimic the ups and downs of the vocals and find myself acting ridiculous. If you love synthy type music, this is a great album to listen to. The duo of Crystal Castles will blow your mind. This album is GREAT for road trips. Turn up the bass and just go nuts! This album gets me pumped up. I am a huge fan of this and can’t wait til April for their next album! Give this album a shot!

To those who visit our site frequently, we apologize for not doing much lately. I have had some family issues to help out with and in my absense I did not have a computer with me. So I had to take a break. I hope we can make a comeback here in the next few posts and regain your viewership<–?? We appreciate you guys checking our blog out!

Peace

www.myspace.com/crystalcastles

“Take to the Skies” is the first full length album buy British hardcore band Enter Shikari. Enter Shikari is seen by their fans as the opposition to the largely RnB-dominated charts. Straight away, in the opening the song ‘Enter Shikari’ the bands influences (other than hardcore) become clear – Jungle and Drum and Bass. However, we are then reassured of their obvious rock background with the opening screams and heavy guitar. The man behind the screams and synths is Roughton ‘Rou’ Reynolds, the energetic front-man of the band. Reynolds is the author of the clearly political but not self-centred lyrics. The rousing scream of “Stand your ground, this is ancient land” resonates through the mind and invites the listener on a journey through the albums themes.

The themes can be of a lighter ilk, such as Jonny Sniper. Although carrying the trademark guitars and screams, it has an energetic (dare I say feel-good?) synth line and a comical topic. The lyrics are supposedly about a character from their school sex education lessons that would go from rooftop to rooftop firing condoms at couples having unprotected sex.

The flagship song is most definitely “Sorry You’re Not A Winner”, an energetic yet heavy good fun song. The sing/shout along line of “Sorry You’re Not!” is a near-euphoric crowd favourite. It is accompanied live by a Jungle-ish dance intro with some cartwheels while holding the guitar and climbing up the stage set, making the live videos a must-see (if you aren’t going to a gig).

The album, although almost being in its own genre, encompasses the tender side of it, notably the opening halves of “Today Won’t Go Down In History” and “Adieu”, as well as the much raw side with “Return To Energiser” being a prime example . It is on this journey that it is possible to see that, they have greatness within them. I would highly recommend this album, and I hope it gives you an insight into the music ‘cross the pond. I would place a bet on them being one of the biggest bands in the world in the next few years.

-Chris Baker

BIG props to Chris from London sending a post this great! We appreciate the willingness to post something for us! Thank you!

www.myspace.com/entershikari

Americana is the perfect album for staring of into the middle distance.  That seems like a strange thing to say, I’m sure, but honestly, go listen to it and it’s true.   Just turn off everything else for a second and put on some headphones,  and just let your mind wander, you really won’t regret it.   This album make me feel wistful and even a little angsty, the kind of way you feel after you’ve broken it off with someone.  You miss the days when you could just hang out and be friends, but it’s over now.   But really, it’s sad overglossed pop music, so what did you expect.   What gets me about this album the most is how much I’m enjoying listening to it right now, some 15 years after it’s birth.   I wouldn’t say it’s timeless to everybody, but to me, this album still sounds as fresh as it did 10 years ago when I first gave it a listen.

Anyways,  check out this song Harmony from Americana and love it.

and then watch this video of a Unicorn Samurai.

seriously.  What the Fu……….nk.

]]> http://betweenparties.wordpress.com/2010/01/20/starflyer-59-americana/feed/ 2 modesthouse Americana http://betweenparties.wordpress.com/2010/01/20/norma-jean-bless-the-martyr-and-kiss-the-child/ http://betweenparties.wordpress.com/2010/01/20/norma-jean-bless-the-martyr-and-kiss-the-child/#comments Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:53:28 +0000 betweenparties http://betweenparties.wordpress.com/?p=244 ]]> Norma Jean – Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child

“LEECH WITH TWO DAUGHTERS, GIVE GIVE THEY CRY” is just one of the many passionate one liners spewed from Josh Scoggins mouth on this album. Every song, every note is packed full of power, and depth. This album started a whole new generation of hardcore/metal bands called noisecore. Seriously this album will forever be in my top 5 favorite albums of my life! I remember back in 2002 going to Cornerstone and hanging out with guitartist Derr’s finacee and friend from Georgia cooking burgers for people who responded to our walkie talkie conversations to anyone who was on our channel about free food. While we were sitting around cooking we were listening to this album two months before it came out. I felt so privaledged because the year prior I was huge into Luti-Kriss (now Norma Jean) and I remember Leah (Derr’s wife) saying this album is WAY HEAVIER than Luti-Kriss’ Throwing Myself. I thought, “How could this be possible?” So we sat around, cooked 40 hamburgers and listened to this album straight through at least 4 times. I was so pumped to be one of the lucky people to hear it before it got “leaked” on the internet.

Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child is a necessary album to have on any portable device. I WILL NOT leave the house without this album. The whole dynamic of this album is incredible. Grabbing Aaron Weiss from MewithoutYou to come yell poetry while having heavy guitars repeat their riffs was an eye opener to me and I am sure everyone else who has heard this album. Norma Jean had a range of a minute and thirty second song to a sixteen minute song. ALL of them straight up heavy and powerful! I cannot begin to tell someone how amazing this album is. It certainly changed my life, not just music wise, but also lyrically. The lyrics spoke to me quite a bit. I don’t know if it was because I had a huge man crush on Josh Scoggins, but either way I can sit anywhere without listening to this album and repeat the lyrics and respect the context behind it. This album should be a part of everyone’s life. Please give this album a shot if you haven’t already. If you have heard this album before, LISTEN TO IT AGAIN!!!! This album will forever get an A+ from me. I have listened to it I am sure at least 200 times all the way through and not once have I gotten sick of it. Never will.

www.myspace.com/normajean