Ununited States of Eurasia Muse Style…

Muse, a band with a stadium rock meets classical, dark sound has entertained me over the years. Their first three LPs are nearly perfect. Absolution, now six years old, still stands up to the test of time. Their previous effort, Black Holes & Revelations was decent; no doubt it created its moments. Overall though, it almost made me lose interest in the current day recorded Muse. Live, it’s an extravagant event – electric meets epic. Being a fan of openers like New Born or Apocalypse Please will always keep my interest piqued to experience what these English lads are composing next. The Resistance, the forthcoming Muse record debuts in September. On the local board, I began to become excited about studio Muse again with comments like these:

With their previous record, Black Holes & Revelations being a slight let down, compared to their three previous efforts displaying true excellency, Bellamy has been quoted about the band trying to write a larger, epic piece with a an Orchestra this time around. Wanting to put out a work as large in-scale as Dark Side of the Moon. I recall him saying they were working on a 15 minute epic piece for this album.

Or something like this re-sparked my interest in a band capable of so much:

classical, orchestral, hardest song ever, and song in three parts they’ve been working on for years

Maybe a single; maybe just an idea of their current thoughts in the studio, Muse has unleashed Ununited States of Eurasia. Once, Muse was pegged as a Radiohead rip-off. And now, some may say the trio is biting Queen. All artists have influences, and if Muse wants to put them front and center, for us to experience, I won’t object; especially since the piano is just as essential as Freddy Mercury.

Today, for the first time in unfortunately three months, I sat down at a nice, upright piano. Within seconds, I went to situate my fingers to begin Apocalypse Please. Nothing came about. I couldn’t remember the right chords and notes. This band still excites me, even if I can’t rock the keys like Bellamy or Rachmaninov.

You and I Must Fight to Survive…

This morning, I decided to partake in my first indoor cycling class of the season – a Spinning class to most.  It’s an intense workout in every aspect that a training session should be.  And any good instructor sets the tempo to his/her playlist.  You want the class to pick up the pace for a four minute sprint?  Put on LL Cool J’s “Mama Said Knock You Out” where the tempo remains the same throughout the first beat to the last. For a set of intervals, queue up a track that has a rolling tempo – one that has peaks and valleys.  Maybe Refused’s “New Noise”.  Unfortunately for me, she didn’t opt to use tracks in my collection – except one…

We’re nearing the 50 minute mark and my legs are slowly beginning to wither out, but then I heard a shimmering hum and galloping from a far, with sporadic neighing, and forgot all about any suffering below my waist. Within two seconds of the intro, I clapped my hands twice and exclaimed, “Good song!” Plain Jane, with sweat rolling down her forehead, looked at me like I was high and an idiot.  High on Muse, girl! “Knights of Cydonia” was going to bring us to the finish line! It’s interesting how music can move you in various ways – physically but mentally, too.

This morning’s second wind in video form…

Muse :: Knights of Cydonia

Your Death Creates Success–An Appreciation

It’s been almost five years (UK release) since Muse unearthed their flawless record Absolution.  Over on one of the message boards I frequent, a great deal of the members are doing their own rendition of Listmania and compiling their top 100 albums of all time.  This would turn into an ordeal for me.  Seriously, what criteria does one use to determine if record A should rank higher than record B; I dunno.  This I do know though: Absolution would fall into the top 20.  How did I stumble on that number you may ask?

September Yet Again…

Maybe visiting the mad professor every September in Denver, CO can become an annual event.  Last year, I was fortunate enough to rendezvous for a one-two punch that will most likely never be topped–LCD Soundsystem, who hold the ability to inoculate us from the doldrums, opened up for the mini-symphony rock group Arcade Fire.  The fun didn’t stop there, because the boombastic sound of Muse was the following night.  And, oh, this was all situated between two red things – monoliths to be more exact at none other than Red Rocks.

You still with me?  If so, my journey out west isn’t for a few bands I like some; September brings the Monolith Festival to one of the only outdoor venues worth traveling for.  Have you seen the lineup?  Saturday is nothing to fuck with: Silversun PIckups, Presets, Cut Copy, Vampire Weekend, Foals, Pop Levi, Superdrag, etc. With so many potentially exceptional sets, it will be hard to take it all in.  Sunday holds potential as well, but not till the sun descends behind the Rockies.  The French par excellence act Justice closes it all up with a bang, I hope.

The Presets are an act who bring unprecedented energy no matter where they go, and I can only assume Colorado will be no different.  Their latest LP, Apocalypso has been on repeat round these parts for months.  I don’t care if the record has been labeled “Mortal Kombat music.” It just….doesn’t….stop.  Check my favorite track from the record below….

The Presets :: Yippiyo-ay

And it will be glorious…

Yea, if you sold-out 75,000 capacity venues you could dress like that, too. Our main competitor, Pitchfork, reported today that the U.K. superstars Muse are gearing up for a CD/DVD release of a show from last June at Wembley Stadium. HAARP is what the three-piece have decided to title this package. Those blokes across the pond will get to hear and see this spectacle in all its glory in mid-March, and us wankers will get the full experience on April 1st. This trailer gives one a slight idea of what a non-Muse fan has been missing.

To celebrate this future release, I wanted to up two b-sides that you should own if you already don’t.

‘Glorious’ was graced upon the Japanese release of Muse’s ’06 LP; those releases over on that island always seem to have absolute gems of bonus tracks. (Anyone remember this Japanese only killer?)

Muse :: ‘Glorious’

‘Fury’ was featured on you guessed it, the Japanese release of one of my favorite records, Absolution.

Muse :: ‘Fury’

Gettin’ Live in 2007!

Another 12 months have passed, and this time around, only 39 live shows attended. Now, my tone is intentionally darker, because last year, our crew rolled deep to 46 shows. That still amounts to about 3.25 shows per month, which ain’t so bad, right? Just like with records this year, there wasn’t any truly amazing shows in the Chicago area, and you’ll quickly notice that when you see the locales of three of my favorite shows. Even though !!! aren’t listed, I have to give them props for bringing it both times in Chicago; Nik and crew were insane at Lollapalooza. Onward after the jump….

It must be that time of the year again..

These records were on repeat rather often this year. Please excuse my wordiness, but these are all deserving of being in your physical or digital collection. Yes, “Hell Hath No Fury” and “Night Ripper” are beyond strong records; however, in a year I thought was rather poor for music, actually turned out to generate some breathtaking records. Check it…

10. Sergent Garcia-Mascaras

English, Español, and Français are the languages presented on Sergent Garcia’s latest energetic record, Mascaras. Just like some of my other favorite artists, Sergent Garcia is someone who has true talent when it comes to anything that is associated with music. With the help of his band, Los Locos del Barrio he composes 12 tracks that he has labeled, “salsamuffin” due to their unique hybrid of hip-hop, salsa, reggae and just about anything else he feels like throwing into his mix. More often than not, those hybrid albums that consist of so many different genres just don’t work, but just like his other four timeless albums, he’s concocted another upbeat classic for today and definitely for tomorrow too.

9. Damien Rice-9

Sophomore slump seemed to be the consensus on the Internet about this Irish man’s latest record, which we anxiously awaited for over three years time. To me, he came very far from disappointing, even though this time around, he trades beautiful words like, “Hallelujah” for phrases like, “Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you”, but, I sense the sincerity in his true hatred for I assume his past love. Ironically, that is why some people were hating on this record because of his desire to be over emotional at times. Whatever. Rice’s voice and vocal delivery has always reminded me of another at times hated musician, Ryan Adams, but luckily for us, Damien isn’t capable of creating a new album everyday, or has one serious quality control manager who only lets him release the ones that matter. With a striking piano ballad with Lisa Hannigan on“9 crimes” and the upbeat, yet sensitive material that is “coconut skins”, 9 is a record that truly proves Damien Rice has far surpassed his sophomore jinx.

8. The Features-Contrast EP

This has happened before that an EP was just that strong and impressive to gain a spot in my most coveted Top 10 list, which the Features have most definitely earned. It is always funny to hear what’s produced from a band after they are dropped from their label, and if this EP is even a minuscule amount representative of their still to be named full length, they’ll definitely be earning a spot in my 2007 list as well. The Features produce amazing compositions, generate witty lyrics, and create a live performance that’s destined to leave audiences craving more every time they’re fortunate enough to witness the foursome from Tennessee. With these fellas, it just does take a little commotion for an epic rock experience!

7. Secret Machines-Ten Silver Drops

It usually plays out like this; I hear a record, enjoy it, go witness that band’s live show, and then really begin to appreciate that album even more based on the live experience. With the Secret Machines, it was the complete opposite. I sadly just began to see the utter brilliance of this band in 2006 after witnessing them live for their “In-The-Round” tour, which consisted of a hand-built round stage, which created the opportunity for spectators to witness them from any angle. Besides the unique setup the band brought, the 360-degree stage was outfitted with some of the best lighting I’ve ever witnessed that was choreographed with every single one of the band’s movements throughout the surreal set list. This New York based group creates epic rock songs that have a psychedelic meets spacey feel to them, but still include enough hooks to engross the average pop fan, and by epic, I mean their average song is about seven minutes or more. On “Ten Silver Drops”, it is yes, only eight tracks, but every single song is so well composed that instead of yearning for more, you’ll just decide to repeat the album from the excellent opener that is, “Alone Jealous, and Stoned”.

6. Hot Chip-The Warning

This record really describes itself. Take a bunch of dorky looking white boys who are down with Casio beats, Prince, giving you the opposite of a laid-back record and you have possibly one of the more entertaining acts of 2006. Any band that sets up as many keyboards live as these guys decide to, are plenty ok with me. Hot Chip produce a strong electro meets funk sound that makes you want to get up and show you got good rhythm, girl. The quality of these songs are credible enough to impress the rock kids, but will standup to anything the club kids are banging today too. Like a monkey with a miniature cymbal!

5. Junior Boys-So This Is Goodbye

Within seconds of the intro, “Double Shadow”, this record already has me hooked with its bouncy, yet subtle electo beats. At times this record is upbeat, almost club like with tracks like “In the Morning”, with pulsating beats and dirty synth sounds, but overall, some may categorize So This is Goodbye as a dreamy, chill-out record with the sporadic dance track. Regardless of the category you want to place this record into, Junior Boys have simply made the most forward thinking, electro pop record of this year that is sometimes dark and dreamy, but also melodic enough to make you smile.

4. Muse-Black Holes and Revelations

As the notes on the dark sounding Wurlitzer begin to pulsate, you know you’re in for another monumental opener by this UK threesome that to me generate outstanding orchestral rock. “You will burn in hell for your sins” are the lines so keenly uttered by Matt Bellamy on their ominous opener, “Take a Bow”. No matter the song, Matt is always flexing his vocal range and ability, even on the where did this come from single, “Supermassive Black Hole” he demonstrates his ability to drop a fancy falsetto. It’s the ability to write and invent eclectic sounding compositions that make this band stand out as one of the only bands out of that area that still matter to me. Rather it’s an epic opener, an emotional ballad like “Hoodoo”, or the truly closer of closers, “Knights of Cydonia” that they decide to intersperse with horns even, Muse will always be the only English group that really matters.

3. Wired All Wrong-Break Out the Battletapes

Mahaffey hasn’t officially put out a record since summer of 2000, which seems like an eternity, and in today’s fast paced era, it most definitely is. This record gets an automatic slot just because I could buy it commercially. When it comes to Self/Mahaffey projects, they usually just are shelved, some band will not grant a right to a cover song, or something else that prohibits us from hooking the man up with funds, or at times, he just wants to put it up for grabs online. Regardless of past bogus situations, Wired All Wrong finally became something after talk about this project for some time now. Take one part industrial, studio wizard Jeff Turzo from God Lives Underwater fame and add Matt Mahaffey on vocals of none other than Self to produce Break Out the Battletapes. Turzo lays down the beats while Mahaffey screams, drops a flow, does some Prince like falsettos, and just plain rocks the M-I-C every time he opens his mouth. No bullshit, just 10 strong tracks that maybe iTunes users do not dig, but hey, we do. As always, Matt and company have not disappointed with this one.

2. Spank Rock-YoYoYoYoYo

2 Live Crew for the hipsters is and will still continue to be Spank Rock’s most perfect description of who and what they are. MC Spank Rock has instant credibility with me just based on his lyrical content. How many records do you own where the lyricist drops, “Slam back that Sparks and you’ll believe me”? Lyrically speaking, Spank Rock is the epitome of dirrrty rap music with songs that talk about everything you can imagine sexually. Besides that, MC Spank Ro references characters from HBO’s the Wire, which is filmed in his hometown of Baltimore. And oh yea, their beats are probably the most infectious thing I’ve heard in a minute. Most are just simple, dirty club beats with the occasional sample thrown in. On “Sweet Talk”, there is a small clip of Frank Wilson’s “Do You Love Me?” Most people need to make a mix or a special play list for a party to be bumping, but with YoYoYoYoYo, all you have to do is press play, stop acting like a bitch, and throw your hands up!

1. Silversun Pickups-Carnavas

As much as I may now loathe Los Angeles for being the city that it is, that area continues to generate some of the highest quality music since the mid 90’s boom in the Chicago area. It really baffles me that it took months after finally hearing this full length to appreciate its true brilliance and beauty, which just sounds like an unusual word to use on a band relying heavily on distortion/feedback. As I mentioned earlier here, my mind was plenty made up by November on what record was deserving of my number one spot. With a R.I.Y.L. of Autolux, Hum, and the Smashing Pumpkins, how could have someone with my tastes not absolutely fallen for this foursome? Carnavas saw the most play from me all year out of all albums I purchased, and this record came out post mid-year. Live, they are something to blog about. The Pickups have already posted a brief 2007 tour itinerary and they’ve long graduated from the small clubs. I feel for those who missed out.

And what are you feeling this year?