Classic Album Review. Vision of Disorder, Imprint

Vision of Disorder, Imprint (Roadrunner Records-1998)

Now here we have some real heavy metal for you. Ok not so much metal but hardcore and a band that were a member of the NYHC (New York hardcore) scene. Many take the HC music to be just a bit much for them to listen to. Or as some say 'too loud' or 'too heavy'.

Put that a side for now and think about the logistics of what this band were doing. They were involved in a scene, one that was pretty one dimensional at that. Many of the bands did sound similar, but they were offered a major label deal. There first album was released on a subsidiary of Roadrunner and gained many positive reviews.

So Roadrunner took the band under there wing and let them do the next on there label. Imprint was recorded in two weeks and you can tell. Raw and loud but with melodic undertones it seems to mix hardcore and metal and split fans when released.

Many of the fans felt the sound was not what they liked, shame they missed out on a fine album. It may not sound like true NYHC but it does sound fucking amazing.
The limited production here does nothing but add to the sound, two weeks in a studio to put down an album going out around the world on a major label is insane. But the pressure paid off!

Vocalist Tim Williams could cut through an army with his screaming and shouting. I have never heard a performance like it, every track has the same utter sharp spiteful voice. But here is where it splits the old fans as he will sing as well in what could be described a clean voice. Well more so to add calm to the music, and it works. It is easy to make heavy music sound different but near impossible to make it sound different and good.

Oh don't forget the guitars here as well, Guitarists Matt Baumbach and Mike Kennedy seem to gel so well in a scene where it is uncool and unnecessary to have two guitarists they have rewrote the book. Riffs and palm muted thrash are littered all over this album at the same time adding to the sound with small interludes for the vocals to come in and make you wonder if this band are made with CGI. 

This album is the reason the band parted ways with some in the band wanting the old sound and some seeing where they wanted to be. It was also the reason they walked away from Roadrunner as they deemed the two week recording way to little. But sometimes the record company get it right and here they did.

The band went on to make two more albums with the first being rerecorded demos and the second a bizarre attempt to break the grunge/nu metal market.

Roadrunner took a gamble here and it did not work. but the next gamble did, Slipknot had a double platinum selling debut the next year. Vision of Disorder were and are way better then them and I hate to say it.. but it could have been them.

Imprint is available on amazon via download and CD.    

Classic Album Review. Monster Magnet, Dopes to Infinity

Monster Magnet, Dopes to Infinity (1995 A&M)

Dave Wyndorf and co had made two albums before this. The first picked them up a major label deal and the hopes that they could make the big time with an album. First album on A&M was Superjudge. For me a great album but just too stoner rock and acid filled for a mainstream audience.

The major was trying to cash in on the grunge rock highs that were being made by Nirvana and Soundgarden but the next album was a great cross of stoner and grunge and shows a band that could be even more alternative.

Mixing Hawkwind styled space rock and stoner rock they made a fantastic album that was released to glowing reviews but copies just did not sell.
The production is big for this album and unlike much of the stoner underground it is needed. This band can play and riff with the best in the planet.

Don't get me wrong they are more of a rock band than anything else and that come through here. But it takes guts to write songs that are 6 minutes long and add in lyrics about sci-fi daemons and orgies in another world while hopping about on a spaceship full of drugs.

The band did get some mainstream with the "Negasonic Teenage Warhead" single being a minor hit but for some reason the album sales stalled. To be fair the album does sound very good with the guitars getting a typical forward mix and the band accompanying the riffs. Even track six "Blow em off" shows a real relaxed side to the band with an acoustic song in its entirety, so it is not all out space rock.

With this album being number three they have had time to become a great band and also have some time to mess about in the studio "Dead Christmas" shows a band who know what they want to play. Dave's vocals make you want to close your eyes and think of something else, he can sing in such a relaxing way that you swear he is in the room. When you get to the last track "Vertigo" he is singing "There's a tiny little monkey, he lives inside my head" and clocking in at over 11 minutes there was never going to be a music video on MTV for this one.

The band was miles ahead of all the other stoner rock bands who tend to just simply make the same album time after time. They had the guts to make a change to there sound and try and incorporate the rock n roll style into there psychedelic stoner senses.

One thing people did do was buy the next album "Powertrip" gaining a gold certificate in America and even having hit singles in the UK everything did work out in the end. But this should be selling the same as there big album.

But again what do I know? All I know this is a classic stoner rock album and needs to be played with headphones on and a peace sign to the devil.

Dopes to Infinity is easily available on CD via Amazon.

Classic Album Review. The Distillers, Sing Sing Death House.

The Distillers, Sing Sing Death House (2002 - Hellcat Records)

This band at the time seemed to have the NME backing them for the big time. I tend to stay clear of the NME but they were right just this once.

I was close to buying this a few times but I just was not sure if it was too close to pop punk as I am not a big fan of that. Well I did like Brody Dalle and loved her whole punk rock attitude and the more I learned about her the more I needed to hear the music.
I got this CD and with it being on a proper punk label in Hellcat Records I felt as if it should be good. With the band in 2003 signed to a major label this album appears to be the one that made the deal.

I see why it is one hell of an album, it has got the punk rock feel to it but the production is really great. Nice and crisp guitars and her voice is just simply stunning here. At times good production is needed and this is one of em. The guitar riffs need to be recorded for future reference and believe me I still nearly 10 years on play these riffs.
Not often do you get a really great punk album, I mean where all the songs are great and you always play it right through from start to end. Here is a real stayer in that I have repeated this album twice (yes yes that good).

First track 'Sick of it All' sets up the album perfectly, simple guitar power chords, some great bass playing to bring in the drums that blast as if they were going to self destruct. Her voice comes in and it does feel like 1977 for a small second. But the lyrics are so important as she can really project her voice so well. Topics on the first song are eating disorders and suicide and growing up on the streets.

Guitar played by Casper Mazzola here is just so fucking amazing, all riffs are done well and are so different from each other. Even most of the chords are different, no real style or bad habits in this guy at all. He drives the songs on so well with just a pick scrape and a small chord interlude you would think he had planned this for 20 years.

The intro riff to 'I Am a Revenant' is as melodic and as happy as I want my punk music to be once it is done it is time for that voice and again more guitar work that finds you playing air guitar.
Third track in is 'Seneca Falls' and if you were to review each track this is a 10/10. Time for the rhythm section to take a song by the neck and show what they can do. A song that should be played to kids in a history class and to all women around the world, remember Broady can write from the heart and head.

'City of Angels' is a classic punk rock song that should be used to accompany all film openings that are set in Los Angeles. Also the promo video was made for this and for some reason it just did not sell the album.

 I really can't go on and review every song this is a classic album blog and not the Guardian but the equation is pretty simple. Every song has great riffs, lyrics and most of all her voice.
The band did make a third album for a major and had a little bit of successes in the UK but ultimately they failed to sell much more than before. You can easily blame them being on Hellcat but bands like the Offspring and Rancid sold millions on an indie label. Also the whole punk pop thing that started with Green Day was still going and Blink 182 and many other bands were all doing great at the time.

And we come to why I do this blog, you missed this one and yes the punter is to blame again. The record label did sign them but you did not buy it.Was it too punk for the kids? Could have been I suppose but the fans did have a few years to "get it".

Well anyhow make up for it now and buy this album as soon as you can. Still on CD and download it is a must own for anyone who likes punk rock.

Classic Album Review. Swans, The Burning World

Swans, The Burning World (MCA 1989)

They made it! Finally on a major label and the band have a chance to finally make some money from the torture that is playing small venues.
But signed to MCA they had to compromise and this was done with Bill Laswell
as the producer. Nothing bad can be said about the man and he is a great producer but Michael Gira has felt that his inclusion on the record was really the record company making sure the album was commercial enough for selling.

Many Swans fans see this album as a big change in direction but for me it was obvious a change had to be made. The industrial post-punk noise was great but it is now 1989 and the 90s are coming. One thing is sure this album was a change in direction for later albums as the band did not go back to the sound they had before this. 
Still heavily influenced by folk music the album seems to have a barrier around it as if they were confined to one room of a house. The harsh industrial material from earlier albums totally missing from this album.

Opener 'The River That Runs Red With Love' feels like the band are jamming in the studio but it does make sense. The backing musicians doing a great job and focusing on making songs rather than music. 
One thing about this album is Michael Gira's vocals are so weak and I think that is why Jarboe gets main vocals on some of the songs. 'Can't Find My Way Home' could have been on a soundtrack to a Hollywood film with clean vocals and a nice acoustic accompaniment.
'Saved' was a single and a great introduction to the band. Michael is the lead vocal on this song and it works. With a major label behind them new fans could have been made by this single.
Back to Jarboe and 'I Remember Who You Are' takes front stage, a real classy song that has very little else apart from her voice and basic guitar work. To many people Jarboe may not be singing properly but define why it is proper or not? She makes you listen and want to understand and use repeat on the CD player.
Last track feels as if it is the end, lyrics that could make you rip the CD out of the player with drinking, depression and loosing a loved one. Memories of past albums may have come to mind and possibly ideas of the bands future after this track. 'God Damn the Sun' is a track that Gira has now made a side project of, with the solo acoustic folk/country mix of down tuned rock music that is called The Angels of the Light.

This album may have at the time seemed the end of Swans but for some and mostly people who get into them in later years this is just the start. The album famously only sold 5000 copies in the UK and that was it, dropped by the label and next up was an amazing solo album by Jarboe and another three amazing Swans album that all seem to have stolen something from this album.
The people in the suits took a gamble on this band and for them it failed. But for us they went on to there own label in Young God Records and kept on going not only releasing there own music but some from other artists.

This is one that got away and if you do own it I suggest having a listen again. If new to Swans then start here and move onto the next album 'Love of Life' for a real full on Swans album.

This album has never been re released but tracks are available over 'Various Failures' and the website only 'Forever Burned'