The Beach Boys- Pet Sounds (1966)

The Beach Boys are, by some, widely admired for their songwriting and creativity, and others are completely unaware of what they have done for music, what they accomplished or they just think of the fact that a douche bag from Full House wanted to be their drummer.  If you fall into the latter category, then please go read something else on the internet, but it you are in the group that agrees, then you can read if you like, but I doubt you will hear anything new.

Pet Sounds is one of the quintessential albums in modern rock n' roll.  Not only is it well written lyrically, the composition was ahead of it's time for the era in which it was released.  Some of the tracks are from the famous Smile album, and others are only found on this release.  Not only do you get songs that will play to your emotional side, you will also get to hear numerous animal sounds, and a song telling you why it's important to eat your vegetables.

16 tracks are on this release, and all of them, I mean all of them, are at this point, timeless classics.  Being nearly a 60 yr old release, more and more people will continue to love this album once they get turned on to it, or they discover this from the archives of musical greatness.

I really don't feel a need to go into depth when describing this album or reasons why you should find it, listen to it, then fall in love with it.  All in all, this is one of those albums that you must own.  (emphasis on Must)

Official Score- 5/5, 5 gold stars, whatever you want to call it, it's bad ass!!!

Sanseverino- Le Tango des Gens (2001)

Another great find from my Last.fm listening experience, Sanseverino encompasses what I really like about jazz: gypsy style guitar, foreign language, energy and style. 

Le Tango des Gens is a great well rounded Jazz album.  "Jazz album" actually sells this a little short, in my opinion.  Even though I don't speak French, Sanseverino's vocal energy is equally matched by his guitar style, and it's accompanied instruments. (Accordian, electric guitar, etc.)  Having 11 tracks in all, I have listened to this album many times, and haven't found a track I don't like.  I am a huge gypsy style jazz fan, and Sanseverino adds some oomph to the style, switching up tempo's throwing in different vocals emphasis on certain tracks that have a tendency to get your blood pumping, much like a "rock" album would. 

If you're a fan of jazz, and high energy gypsy style jazz, this is a must.  I haven't got any other Sanseverino albums, but if they're as good as this one, then I'll become a loyal fan. 

Official score: 4.25/5

Tartufi - Nests of Waves and Wire (2009)

I'm not really quite sure how I stumble across Tartufi, I'm thinking it was from last.fm and listening to stuff throughout the day at work, while I sit behind a desk and computer for over 8 hours a day.  However I found it, I'm pretty glad that I did. 

Nests of Waves and Wire is a pretty damn good album, with lots of changes throughout the 7 tracks being offered.  Being hesitant on using the description of post rock for this band, I use it in a very vague sense.  Tartufi captures the essence of post rock but with  twist of changes that lend multitudes of styles within the album. Soft female vocals layer the guitar work that interweaves some spectacular drumming.  Honestly, the drumming impresses me more than anything else on this album; with multiple bands within this pseudo post-rock genre, the drumming/percussion of Tartufi is what set them apart from other bands.


In my opinion, Tartufi could speak to the masses, if they were given the opportunity.  I found this album on Soulseek, so if you use this P2P program, you'll find it quite easily.  Definitely worth a listen or 2, or 10, maybe not a must have, but for sure a must listen.  Check them out on Facebook, Myspace, Bandcamp and their website. 

Official score:  3.75/5

Hank Williams 3- Ghost to a Ghost/ Gutter Town (2011)

I had been doing my best to not do a review on a musician that I had already reviewed, due to the multitude of great musicians/albums out there, but after listening to the newly released Ghost to a Ghost/Gutter Town album by Hank Williams 3, I felt a review was necessary. 

Ghost to a Ghost/Gutter Town is a 2 disc release that has 2 completely different vibes being offered.  The 1st disc, Ghost to a Ghost is the standard sound that is unique to Hank 3: classic "Hellbilly" country mixed with metal/punk style lyrics all thrown together with a country twang, vocal wise.  I like Hank 3, but honestly, there are many of his slower tracks that are just too "country" for me.  I usually enjoy what is being portrayed lyrically, but the sound of the song usually makes me want to skip ahead to the next track.  One of the major changes to this disc of tracks is the metal infused sound that is evenly mixed with his country style.  Now, as a general rule I tend to enjoy when different musical genre's are intertwined, but his style of metal, maybe nu-metal?, isn't my cup of tea.  His vocal effects nor the standard distorted guitar riffs seem to grab me, and when that is mixed with the regulatory country song verse-chorus-verse standard, it seems to lack a lot.  With that being said, there are a couple of tracks that seem to stick in my head and I really enjoy, but with only 2 tracks out of 11, not too impressed. 

Disc 2- Gutter Town, is a completely different ballgame, completely.  Imagine a country based, experimental concept album about a fictional town called Gutter Town.  When I started this album, I was blown away, not due to what I was hearing, but by the sheer magnitude of the experimentalism.  There is a lot going on within this disc.  Containing multiple instruments, guest appearances from Les Claypool & Tom Waits, each song seems to tell the journey of someone within Gutter Town, all the way to his death and resurrection.  Hank 3 has done other highly experimental tracks, but this is the first full length experimental concept album types stuff that I have heard from him.  Throughout the 19 tracks there are ambient soundscapes, industrial tinged riffs, eerie spoken words, effect laced polka sounding segments, all leading into a story line about a fictional town that sounds like an "end of the road" destination.

Hank Williams 3 is definitely one of those musicians that has some really good stuff and not so good stuff, but what is good, is usually bad ass; but the 2nd disc of the release is him entering a whole other musical atmosphere.  Overall I really enjoyed this release, but had it not been for the 2nd disc concept album, I wouldn't have as many good things to say about it.  If you have enjoyed previous Hank 3 albums, you'll really like this one, at least the 1st disc.  If you're into experimentalism within your music you'll like this album, at least the 2nd disc.  Overall I'd definitely recommend it, but I think it'll be a "love it or hate it" type of album for the standard regular music fan. 

Official Score: 4/5 for the overall album.  (1st disc-2.5/5, 2nd disc- 4.5/5)

Fredrik- Trilogi (2010)

My first exposure of this band was their live performance on the NPR Music site's Tiny Desk Concert series, which showed 2 of the 3 members playing live songs off of this album.  Needless to say I was instantly enthused to find this album and give it a listen.  I am an avid fan of any group/band/musician that utilizes experimental aspects into the music they have produced; and Fredrik made my interest instantly spark due to this aspect of their music. 

Trilogi is actually a compilation of 3 of their 3" releases, combined for us to enjoy in one simple album.  Downtrodden and based in a weird suburb of "indie rock" this trio combines a tasteful multitude of sounds that are strong together in a soliloquy of sounds and emotion intertwined with rhythms and beats based on instrumentation that sparks a simple subtle yet intense sound that can push the normal desire of a indie pop trio.  With 13 tracks on their CD release, and more if you have the LP version, Trilogi sparks an artistic drive in us as listeners and has an eerie sound that I believe can urge even the darkest of music fans to find lyrics and sounds stuck in your head for the remainder of your day.

All in all, I'm not usually a fan of very many albums that can fall into the "indie pop" category, but fortunately for Fredrik, their sound transcends the connotation of that genre.  Along with an album that was gotten me enthused to find more of this band, their videos don't disappoint either, adding a full spectrum of art laced intoxication. 

I would encourage any avid music fan to check this out.  It might not become a favorite, but I could definitely see it becoming an album/artist that more people could enjoy for their own reasons.  My real only issue with Fredrik, is the fact that I don't see them being an "anytime" band, more of "in a specific mood" type sounds.

Official Score: 3.9/5
M@ Mc

DEADFOOD - 1998 - ME TIME

As M@ has stated and we've both hinted at this greatly odd band blows minds with effortless execution; truly unique, bizarre, and fun all within the same breath. This their first outing (that i possess) of impressive oddity a most definite statement of mission to be as strangely engaging as human conception will allow. Mixing the worlds of ska, psychedelia, metal, country, blues, lounge, i.d.m./electronic/techno, soundtrack sample soundscaping, and just about everything under the blaze of thermonuclear fusion.

To relay a direct experience of the mental tapestry they throw upon the mindscape of the exotically intoxicated brain: a rollercoaster of cartoon clowns soaring through, around, and about a rainbow cloud vapor backdrop while morphing amongst the other creatures of colorfully shitting animated nature resembling the inner workings of ecstatic madness in the thoughts of a crazed individual enjoying their bout with schizophrenic delusion and perception; a mischievious grin taking hold of the willing victim resembling that of the clowns painted visages, other polychromatic circus beasts, performers blowing indigo fire turning into cotton candy which is the mane of the lion with the taming clown's head between its smiling teeth; at a further distance becomes the rubber nose of countless waving clowns within tilt-a-whirls and ferris wheels of thoughts unhinged yet floating serenely in their abandon. To state it more simply imagine the gatefold of the self-titled Mr. Bungle album crossed with Beavis' Rob/White Zombie desert peyote trip of Beavis & Butthead: Do America.


Needless to say I do think extremely high of this band and everything they and their members have done which i've had the fortune to hear. Here's a list of everything Deadfood related i either own or have managed to find in mp3:
Deadfood-Me Time
Deadfood-Weird Feelings
Deadfood-Spill The Milk
Deadfood-Anger Meats
Deadfood-Self-Titled Promo
Deadfood & Irritate-Split 7 inch
Fetus Eaters-Mediocore
Fetus Eaters-Softcore
Fetus Eaters-Vomitcore ep(?)
Fetus Eaters-splits with Irritate, Brainchoke, and Sanitys Dawn
Watch Me Burn-Demo
Watch Me Burn-Self Titled
Watch Me Burn-The Wolf That Ate The Sun ep
Watch Me Burn-At The Stake
Chewable Cyst-No Country Will Escape America
A.D.D. H!tman-May I Have Your Attention
HFATTM-Raquel Felch
Murder Construct-Self Titled

Trying to hunt down as much of their various outputs each a great step into experimental/generally wacky/brutally awesome terrain. Give it a shot you may just become a bit strangely intrigued and disturbingly obsessed.....

http://www.mediafire.com/?w6h7lfjptxy5b1q

To find contact info and other discog knowledge go to:
http://www.fetusk.org/aural-resume.html

(whom i myself need to contact in the name of permission)

5/5 (wish i had the ability to weave, knit, crochet, or latch hook together such fine yarns of madness into such a hearty, tasty, and flavorful stew...no need for crackers there's nuts built right in)

Crass- Penis Envy (1981)

Being introduced to Crass as a young teenager, and loving them instantly, I have a very designated spot in my heart for Crass. As a youth who was into punk rock-the music, the attitude, the hygiene, I was instantly hooked by Crass' social/political lyrics as well as the angst behind all of the songs/albums that I heard.  Penis Envy was the 2nd album of theirs that I was introduced to, but out of all of their releases, this is by far my favorite.  Maybe it's the topics- pro equality and anti-sexism- but either way, this is still an album that I keep in a constant rotation of album that I listen to; all these years later.

Crass was the pioneers of the anarcho-crust type punk movement and even though they were an early 80's punk band, their lyrics and style are timeless.  Penis Envy, with mainly female vocals that cover lyrics based on society's sexism and gender bias, is a great 10 track album that comes in around the 30 minute mark.  Classic Eve Libertine and Joy De Vivre vocals recount female struggles within a male dominated society, with your classic punk sounds of the early 80's and its accompanied analog recording quality. (which is the best in my opinion for the punk sound.)  If you know Crass, you know their style of punk, British Anarcho vocals with distorted guitar and the popping bass that will always lead to your foot tapping; along with their usual style, there are great lead-in's/outs that accompany some of the tracks that enhance the sound that is being pushed across the table.

I can't say enough good things about this band, every album is great, but I decided to go ahead and review my favorite of them all.  I have the cd and lp version of this album, and the great thing about the lp version, is the huge fold out poster that is the backside of the cover art.  Get this, or any Crass album and you'll understand what I'm talking about.

Official score 4.5/5

Dystopia- The Aftermath (2008)

I can remember hearing these guys for the 1st time, many years ago and instantly falling in love them.  I was mainly driven by aggressive music, with social-political lyrics and was blown away by everything that I could get my hands on by Dystopia.  Many years later, and many more bands discovered that are in the "same vein" I still think that Dystopia is a league of their own. 

The Aftermath is Dystopia latest (final?) release and it has many many aspect of the crust sound that transcends that genre into a hybrid "progressive crust" genre.(if that even exists)  The Aftermath is basically a comp. of songs that they had previously released and then on unreleased track.  13 tracks with a running time of nearly 45 minutes long, this is a great album to have, if you're only going to own 1 of them, but after listening you will want everything they've done.  A perfect mix of metal meets crust punk sporadically infused with sound samples that push their political/social lyrics to a higher level of thinking and audio attack.  Both low end and high end growling crust punk/metal style vocals add a great twist to the metal edged crust punk tempos that are followed up with great drumming that hits on the fast side and the off beat side! 

A great album, a great example of crust punk and an even better example of who punks/metal heads can create beautiful music that has a wonderful message.  Get this, buy it, download it, steal it- do whatever you have to do to get this.

Official score- 4.25/5

Valley of the Giants- Self Titled (2004)

Being unable to remember exactly how I came across Valley of the Giants, I am going to safely assume that I saw this album up for download, on Soulseek.  Like with a lot of the releases that I have, or even review, I just see a name and if the genre is labeled with something that I am into, I usually download it.  With Valley of... being a post-rock band, I would think that was the main reason for me wanting to check them out; and after the first listen I was intrigued and then after the second, I heard a lot of the sounds/production that made me a fan. 

This self titled release that's over an hour long didn't really grab me too much after the first listen.  I have a really bad tendency to flip through tracks if I get bored with the song, or if I feel like it's dragging on a little too much.  But, there was enough there to make me give it a 2nd listen; which now I am happy that I did.  The album starts off pretty slow, beginning with acoustic guitar/violin and slow building up until the 2nd track comes in with the same pace and some female vocals.  Even though it's a little on the slow side, each track seems to build off the previous track culminating into a really thick layered sound of multiple instruments and on a few tracks, the female vocals.  Over all this is a post rock album, but with the sound that almost mimics a movie score, there are additional elements that add twists and turns to the overall feel of the album.  I like the fact that this is an "abnormal" post rock album, due to the fact that unless it's really outstanding, post rock can get a little boring in my opinion; honestly it's the female vocals that adds a dream pop sound that really gives it that twist. 

With lots of layers and sounds along with some good instrumentation, this post rock supergroup adds their own style to the post rock genre that can appeal to a wide audience, given the opportunity.  The quality of the recording is superb and is really clean yet the studio production gives it enough "dirtiness" that a music snob like myself can appreciate what is being played.  A good album to have, it might not be in a heavy rotation in your music collection, but when the mood strikes you, this will fulfill what you are needing. 

Official score- 3.25/5