Composed one of the greatest songs I've ever written.
And that's saying something.
Back to basics after almost strictly composing electronica for a while- programmed drums, 2 guitars (live), bass (live). Can't decide if I'm brave enough to put my own voice over it just yet. If I actually write lyrics for it, maybe. We'll have to wait and see.
5.28.2007
5.24.2007
Eat Me
So, I got a chance to, uh... "preview in its entirety" Marilyn Manson's new album Eat Me, Drink Me. Now, that might make it sound like I've got some mad hookups or something, seeing as the album doesn't come out until June 5th; let me assure you that my "maddest" hookup is simply my internet connection and this handy-dandy illegal downloading tool.
Okie dokie, about the album... MY GOD. As you listen through the album, almost every song has a sound in it that is unique to this album. It's highly guitar driven, but not in his classic power-chord-strumming rock-out kind of way. Eat Me, Drink Me is easily Manson's most musically intricate album to date. Guitar solos are not uncommon, and a plethora of as-yet-unheard influences come right out to the forefront. Several tracks have a definite bluesy feel to them, while still retaining... Manson. That's something that's fascinating about this record- it's a HUGE shift in style, yet it is still undeniably him. This record is really everything that it should be for this point in his life, and that aspect shows most prominently in Manson's lyrics (and vocal delivery- there's definite successful experimentation on that front as well). Eat Me's lyrics are his most personal to date, dealing almost solely with the events in his life from the last couple of years (you know, Dita, Evan, etc... look it up).
That aspect of Eat Me is particularly interesting to me, considering the current trend in mainstream bands- "going political". Trent Reznor produced a freaking CONCEPT ALBUM to mirror our current socio-political scenario; even Linkin Park has gone political apparently. Yet, Marilyn Manson, who's lyrics have been predominantly socio-political in nature from day one, decided NOT to go that route. I think it's freaking excellent, personally; I enjoy Manson going all introspective (I think I've read his autobiography- here ya go- about 30 times).
To conclude (gotta get to my life outside the internet), even people that DON'T enjoy Marilyn Manson should check out Eat Me, Drink Me when it comes out June 5th. Drastic stylistic changes, all for the better. Some longtime fans might feel like they're getting jipped due to the complete lack of balls-to-the-wall headbangers on this record, but true fans and new fans alike will gladly trip balls all the way through.
-C.
Okie dokie, about the album... MY GOD. As you listen through the album, almost every song has a sound in it that is unique to this album. It's highly guitar driven, but not in his classic power-chord-strumming rock-out kind of way. Eat Me, Drink Me is easily Manson's most musically intricate album to date. Guitar solos are not uncommon, and a plethora of as-yet-unheard influences come right out to the forefront. Several tracks have a definite bluesy feel to them, while still retaining... Manson. That's something that's fascinating about this record- it's a HUGE shift in style, yet it is still undeniably him. This record is really everything that it should be for this point in his life, and that aspect shows most prominently in Manson's lyrics (and vocal delivery- there's definite successful experimentation on that front as well). Eat Me's lyrics are his most personal to date, dealing almost solely with the events in his life from the last couple of years (you know, Dita, Evan, etc... look it up).
That aspect of Eat Me is particularly interesting to me, considering the current trend in mainstream bands- "going political". Trent Reznor produced a freaking CONCEPT ALBUM to mirror our current socio-political scenario; even Linkin Park has gone political apparently. Yet, Marilyn Manson, who's lyrics have been predominantly socio-political in nature from day one, decided NOT to go that route. I think it's freaking excellent, personally; I enjoy Manson going all introspective (I think I've read his autobiography- here ya go- about 30 times).
To conclude (gotta get to my life outside the internet), even people that DON'T enjoy Marilyn Manson should check out Eat Me, Drink Me when it comes out June 5th. Drastic stylistic changes, all for the better. Some longtime fans might feel like they're getting jipped due to the complete lack of balls-to-the-wall headbangers on this record, but true fans and new fans alike will gladly trip balls all the way through.
-C.
5.16.2007
Fish!
NIN's new live DVD would definitely be a bigger fish. I can't wait to buy it and beat off all over the case myself, but that probably won't be for a while.
In the meantime, my big fish coming up is Saturday night, when I shall be going to my first rave with a couple of friends. I'll DEFINITELY be writing about that, let me freaking tell you.
Until then,
-C.
In the meantime, my big fish coming up is Saturday night, when I shall be going to my first rave with a couple of friends. I'll DEFINITELY be writing about that, let me freaking tell you.
Until then,
-C.
Update
Cory, you are lucky. I don't actually feel like flaming you for your liking Rise Against. Strange? Perhaps, but I have bigger fish to fry. I just got Beside You In Time and I'm itching to watch it. What better excuse than to review it? Haha. I know, you might be sensing a trend in my reviews (NIN) but what can I say? Year Zero blows my freaking mind and I am on a huge NIN kick. Anyways, be prepared for that one. Cheers.
-Sam
-Sam
5.15.2007
Speaking of Pop Sensibility
I can't get enough of Rise Against's new album (well, 2006 anyway).
I can appreciate Rise Against because while they are indeed a mainstream band, with lots o' radio singles that KROQ plays over and over again till you want to puke, they have enough punk cred to tour with Bad Religion. That, at least, says SOMETHING. And while the majority of "punk" bands today that actually get radio play fall more in line with the bubblegum punk movement (fuck you, Blink 182), in which pop sensibility is the ONLY discernible trait of the music, Rise Against sticks to a more classic format and actually infuse their music with some MEANING. Politics of a variety of sorts make up a good chunk of the lyrical content, but there are plenty of more personal songs dealing with love and life in general. Thankfully, though, Tim McIlrath manages NOT to come across like a whiny brat (see: Panic at the Disco, The Academy Is, Fallout Boy, etc) while still emoting as though he really does indeed feel the words he's singing. I think his vocals are probably one of my favorite aspects of the band, because his range is pretty damned decent and he knows how to cover all the bases. Soft and melodic, belting it, scratchy and frantic, balls out screaming... the man covers it all.
What I've heard of the new album is excellent. The only reason I haven't listened all the way through it yet is because I can only listen to so many of the songs before I'm dying to hear "Prayer of the Refugee" and "Ready to Fall" again. Those two songs (both of which are the singles released so far) are just... excellent, especially "Prayer". Few songs can get me pumped up enough to want to throw down my cool exterior and jump around like a lunatic, but this one does it every fucking time. It's one of those "Fuck you asshole, I don't need your kind of help" kind of songs, which is always fun, but this one manages to not be "just another one like that" (see: Linkin Park).
Well I'm not feeling incredibly eloquent or descriptive right now, so I'll leave it at that. Go check out the album, The Sufferer and the Witness, then follow it up with Siren Song of the Counter Culture. You'll be glad you did.
Unless of course you don't like that sort of thing, in which case you can just fuck off.
-C.
I can appreciate Rise Against because while they are indeed a mainstream band, with lots o' radio singles that KROQ plays over and over again till you want to puke, they have enough punk cred to tour with Bad Religion. That, at least, says SOMETHING. And while the majority of "punk" bands today that actually get radio play fall more in line with the bubblegum punk movement (fuck you, Blink 182), in which pop sensibility is the ONLY discernible trait of the music, Rise Against sticks to a more classic format and actually infuse their music with some MEANING. Politics of a variety of sorts make up a good chunk of the lyrical content, but there are plenty of more personal songs dealing with love and life in general. Thankfully, though, Tim McIlrath manages NOT to come across like a whiny brat (see: Panic at the Disco, The Academy Is, Fallout Boy, etc) while still emoting as though he really does indeed feel the words he's singing. I think his vocals are probably one of my favorite aspects of the band, because his range is pretty damned decent and he knows how to cover all the bases. Soft and melodic, belting it, scratchy and frantic, balls out screaming... the man covers it all.
What I've heard of the new album is excellent. The only reason I haven't listened all the way through it yet is because I can only listen to so many of the songs before I'm dying to hear "Prayer of the Refugee" and "Ready to Fall" again. Those two songs (both of which are the singles released so far) are just... excellent, especially "Prayer". Few songs can get me pumped up enough to want to throw down my cool exterior and jump around like a lunatic, but this one does it every fucking time. It's one of those "Fuck you asshole, I don't need your kind of help" kind of songs, which is always fun, but this one manages to not be "just another one like that" (see: Linkin Park).
Well I'm not feeling incredibly eloquent or descriptive right now, so I'll leave it at that. Go check out the album, The Sufferer and the Witness, then follow it up with Siren Song of the Counter Culture. You'll be glad you did.
Unless of course you don't like that sort of thing, in which case you can just fuck off.
-C.
5.14.2007
5.11.2007
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