The Chorus Music Club Society • Page 344

Dope review! Glad you dig it @ugman_2000 !!

 

Awesome review! I had a feeling you'd really dig this one. His earlier material has more of a folk/singer-songwriter feel - the electronics started with this album. I personally adore both this one and "Dive Deep." And yes, "Pieces" is amazing and would be a fantastic introduction!

 

Lol! "I Want You" was my first SG song! But yes, I would imagine there are plenty of singles that you didn't realize were them - "Affirmation" and "Chained to You" are ones that come to mind.

"Black Out the Sun" is probably my top favorite! We're in a similar boat with "Talk Talk Talk" (which was the lead single), though the acoustic version tears me to shreds.

His first solo album ("Spin") was very much in the same vein as his SG work, but with a more R&B feel at times. His second album, "The Tension and the Spark," is a dark, heavily synth-based/electronic album, and is my favorite album of all time. His third (and fourth, I guess) was a double LP, "This Delicate Thing We've Made." There's a lot of variety in 25 tracks, but it shares a lot of the electronics from "Tension" while also serving as a good bridge to "Secret Codes & Battle Ships."

Really great job, here!

 

Yeah I've definitely heard "I Want You" many times but it was probably from listening to the radio in my parents' car, a while before I developed my own taste in music and started paying attention to artists and albums. That's big praise for The Tension and the Spark, I will have to check that one out!

 

And here for your reading pleasure, I present a few more CMCS reviews. Submitted for the approval of the cmcs, I call these two by @Micool1 …

Panic! At The Disco- Pray For The Wicked

Ah, Panic! At The Disco. This is a band that I used to listen to quite a lot way back in the day. Their first two albums had very frequent plays in my car in the mid 2000s, and then I fell off from them. They seemed to be heading in a direction I just wasn't interested in, or perhaps my music tastes had changed. Either way, I stopped listening to them. My fiancée loves them, and Ive heard some of their newer songs from the few albums before this through her. They weren't bad but there wasn't anything that made me go "I need to listen to these guys again." So when people started talking about this newest entry, I did not really hop on board with it. And then Micool recommended it to me for this round; so whether I liked it or not I would be checking it out. I am glad this is how it went down, because this album was a very good surprise. This album is a certified blast of excitement and just dancing and fun. Gone are their past rock roots from their first few albums, but what we are treated to is something quite excellent.

This album is a literal blast of fun. Every song on this album seems like front man Brendon Urie just having the time of his life and celebrating everything that his life has offered to him. There is a sense of whimsical fun on these songs, something that you can feel the groove of the songs and expect everyone around you to just burst out into some choreographed jazz hand dance along with the songs, much like the theatric feelings that some of these songs have. There are a number of songs on this album that feel like they should be the intro or soundtrack to a stage play, and the smooth groovy of these tracks is just infectious. This is true of the first half of the album especially, which seems like a blast of sheer enjoyment of life. The second half of the album is just as poppy and fun, but lyrically takes a step into the dark side of self destructiveness and what wealth and fame can do to a person. Somehow though, even those songs become this huge symphony of brass, pop lyrics, explosive beats, trumpets, and all of these other insane pop effects that you cannot help but find those songs to be the most happy dark songs that you have heard as of late. You follow the journey of someone in a life of fame, from happiness and excitement, to rich and wealth, to sin and self destruction; on the most fun ride ever. There is a lot of pizazz and flare to these songs, every song sounds like an extravaganza. There are helpings of synths, distorted and remixed vocal samples, brass, drums. Sometimes these kinds of effects (especially the in my opinion over used skewered vocal samples pop songs use) can be annoying; and yet Urie makes them work into something fantastic. 'One Of The Drunks' for example, carries a huge amount of all of these effects, but if it isn't just the damn catchiest song and one of my favorite songs on the album. I found this entire album as infectious as it gets and contagious; as I am jamming the album around my house and in my car everyone else around me who came into contact with it got into the groove as well. And then the album closes on 'Dying In LA', this fantastic piano led closer ballad that is just the perfect way to close this album.

This is a great 2018 release, and has taken a place in my top 10 albums of the year so far. I was amazed how fun this album was and how much of a blast I had listening to it multiple times through the last week. I will be digging this album for quite a while, and I suspect that I will probably go back and check out their older albums that I missed now. I also discovered they were coming to my town in January, and my fiancée and I scored some damn good seats at the arena they are playing for the show. I recommend this album if you want some fun and theatrical songs that embrace its poppiness to make the catchiest songs possible and just have a blast doing it.
Stand Out Songs: Silver Lining, Say Amen (Saturday night), Hey Look Ma I Made It, Dancing's Not A Crime, One Of The Drunks, King Of The Clouds, Dying In LA

The Fratellis- In Your Own Sweet Time

Unlike with Panic!, I was not aware of who this band was. This is some fun, almost psychedelic at times indie alternative rock from a band that as far as I can see really knows how to write some hooks. I was a bit amazed by how good the hooks that these guys could write were demonstrated on these songs, and just like with my experience with the Panic album, this album is a fun time with some extremely danceable and groovy tunes to them. Look no further than the intro track, 'Stand Up Tragedy', that almost sounded like something that would have come from a rock band like The Beatles or The Beach Boys, but with this dark and adult twist to it. This record is extremely lively, it has a lot of spirit and is very well produced. Sonically there are many things playing their parts; guitars, drums, pianos, bass, rhythm guitars, with a dash of experimentalism. This is a band that is definitely doing its own thing, and it comes together really well on this record.

'Starcrossed Lovers' is another song that bares mentioning. Its a well made, fun song using the analogies of Romeo and Juliet to discuss a love due to doom, its almost a modern version of the story really. Its these kind of lyrical themes that run through out the album that make it extremely worth listening to the lyrics of the album, there's a sense of self loathing and humor at one's own expense in the lyrics, and that is something you don't hear a lot of these days; and its something that is sprinkled nicely through each of these songs. The album is filled with jams such as 'Next Time We Wed', these funky and fun jams that have these driving guitars that create a beat that you just want to dance to and sing along with, but also have this ambiance to them that just cannot be ignored. There are a lot of small layers to the album to, headphones serve these songs well as you can hear soft compositional touches that the band has included to give these song this extra oomph to them. There are some deep lyrics going on through the album's run though; songs like 'Laughing Gas' when you get the hang of what the lyrics are about are a lot stronger lyrically then you think they are. The album is arranged really well, and I was easily able to replay the album multiple times in a row without getting tired of it just because of how fun it was; this deep sense of a good time wrapped around rejection and emotional trauma. When combined with the skilled musicianship of the band (Seriously these guys have some chops), this was an album destined to sit well with me. This ALSO made it onto my AOTY top 10 list so far for this year.

I highly recommend this album, its a really fun listen that makes you want to get up and dance in the middle of your house or in your car. Its an album of delights, and I would say anyone who likes those ambient, fun bands such as the ones I mentioned earlier or more modern acts like Arctic Monkeys or the like to give this album a spin. You will not be disappointed, I sure as hell wasn't.
Stand out tracks:
Stand Up Tragedy, Starcrossed Lovers, Sugartown, The Next Time We Wed, Laughing Gas, Advaita Shuffle, Indestructible, I Am That

And I call this one from @Davjs

Wolves At The Gate- VxV


Well THIS is a departure from the other two albums I am reviewing tonight. A couple weeks ago, I reviewed the follow up to this album, 2016's 'Types & Shadows'. So when I was given another album by this band I was more than happy to dive into it. I was warned ahead of time that this album was heavier than the more accessible follow up, and was a different beast than what I was introduced to. Knowing this, I dove into the album unsure of what to expect. I was surprised by what I heard, and this not what I expect when I am told they are a Christian rock band that has a deep message to their songs. What I found instead was something explosive and full of raw, aggressive energy; and lyrics that are relatable to both Christians and non Christians alike. This album is extremely complex, and it has a sense of scope and focus to it that you have to admire when you are listening to it, even as you are headbanging and singing along to heavy hitters like 'Dust To Dust'. The album has a nice, consistent flow to it that plays well to its strengths; heavy and shredding vocals that work so well with the unclean and melodic clean vocals that intertwine themselves in the musicianship.

There are a lot of punches pulled on this album, and they are executed in ways that work. The two vocalists work so well together on here, 'Return' is a prime example of how the unclean vocals interweave and play off of the clean melodic vocals with such passion and yet seem so seamlessly it seems skillful. This really does sound like a band firing on all cylinders, just look at the breakdown and bridge of this song. You have this explosive, aggressive, roaring bridge that suddenly cuts into this softly played bridge with soft clean vocals, before letting loose and letting the clean vocals and the guitars soar into the horizon with the unclean vocals. Its rather impressive, and something that really showcases the skills that this band has. The heavy guitars through these songs have some real bite to them, and its something that will have you invested in the music and screaming along with the vocals at the top of your lungs. That's not to say that this album is completely intense, there are softer moments such as songs like 'The Bird And The Prey', which take things in a more alt rock, energetic route than the rest of the album where the clean vocals seemingly take the front seat. Having it play only a couple tracks before 'From East To West', one of the albums heaviest and most energetic tracks is a bold move, but one that is well sequenced and plays nicely. Another cool thing about this album is that there are a lot of spoken word segments that play into the songs, such as closing track 'The Father's Bargain' and the opening title track, the middle of East To West, and others. Sometimes, too many spoken word songs can hinder an album, but in this case Wolves At The Gate uses them well enough to enhance these songs. The production on this album is great, the guitars and drums are crisp hard rock/metal goodness, and the vocals sound equally crystal clear whether they be sung or screamed. There seems to be a sermon concept to the album, where each song is a message trying to be taught to the listener. However, it is not heavy handed, and these songs are accessible to everyone.

The lyrics are mature and focused, and Wolves At the Gate seems to have a handle on what they are doing. Both their more recent effort and this one are very well done, and contain a flare and energy that I was very surprised with. This band delves into the side of music that's a little heavier than I like sometimes, but these guys do it well enough that I loved it. If you are a fan of bands like Every Time I Die, this band will suit you well. Give it a listen, and enjoy the heavy shreds of Wolves At the Gate.
Stand Out Songs:
Wake Up, Dust To Dust, Return, The Bird And The Snake, East To West, Wild Heart, The Convicted

 

Hell yes, we need more people on board with this Fratellis album. It is definitely in my top 10 for this year. So groovy! "Advaita Shuffle" really hits the spot for me.

Also their debut came out 12 years ago but this isn't their first album since then. This is actually their fifth album and their last one was released in 2015.

 

@teebs41 uh oh... @Bad Frequencies has two new albums in his top 10...

 

:(

 

I recently spun OOS multiple times, so it actually moved up the list a couple pegs. And then these knocked it back down a bit but it survives

 

#showusthelist

 

UPDATED AOTY 2018 LIST

1. Hawthorne Heights- Bad Frequencies
2. Senses Fail- If There Is Light, It Will Find You
3. Mike Shinoda- Post Traumatic
4. Colour & Shade- S/T
5. Panic! at The Disco- Pray For The Wicked
6. The Fratellis- In Your Own Sweet Time
7. The Longshot- Love Is For Losers
8. Sevendust- All I See Is War
9. Out Of Service- Morning
10. Emecia- Familiar Spirits

 

That new Panic album is so good. It's normally not my thing AT ALL, but damn if it isn't catchy and loads of fun.

 

Great reviews! Damn, two albums on your top 10! That puts me at 3 I recommended you with the Longshot album! I'm so glad you enjoyed these fun albums so much!

 

Means I hve to step it up, I think only 1 album I gave you is in yours IIRC

 

Bad Frequencies and If There Is Light are in mine.

 

Ok so two then! Neat

 

I think it's the only two 2018 albums you have recommended me haha

 

Artifas
Inhuman
2015



This session I was paired with none other than @Bad Frequencies and we exchanged two albums. I had never heard of this band before and @Bad Frequencies told me that they were a band that he saw last year as a local opening act for (I hope you're sitting down) Hawthorne Heights. @Bad Frequencies currently resides in the state of Tennessee, so it's no surprise that Artifas is from Tennessee (Memphis, to be exact). This is their first full length album and they are currently in the final stages of a new album. Per their Facebook page, members of the band came from various musical backgrounds ranging from metal to classic rock. Their page also lists the following artists that the band enjoys: Red, Incubus, Periphery, Karnivool, Love and Death, Chevelle, Silverchair, Sevendust, Slipknot, Mastodon (even though they spelled it incorrectly on their page), Linkin Park, Devin Townsend, Stone Sour, and Korn. So going into this album, I had a good idea of what to expect.

The album opens up with their cover of the song Alive by P.O.D. It's not really a cover song This is absolutely a radio rock/hard rock/modern rock song. I don't say that as an insult, I'm just trying to convey its genre as clearly as I can. The vocals remind me a bit of the aforementioned Red and the music reminds me a bit of Breaking Benjamin. There's loud guitar here and the vocals are sung, but with a bit of harshness at times. The following track, Inhuman, is one of my favorites on the album. It's a heavier track musically with some pretty intense vocals over the course of the song's final minute. Blood 4 Blood is a bit less straightforward. It contains a bit of an instrumental interlude during the song and it also features a guitar solo. The vocals are also a little bit different in this track with how they're layered. It isn't one of my standout tracks on the album, but I do appreciate that it's a bit different from the first two tracks, which helps the songs from blending together.

Drowning With You is a solid track and the music itself is pretty good. I guess if I had to pinpoint the band's weakness, it's that it seems that they don't necessarily have a clear identity. Part of that may be because they are such a new band, but it seems to me that they don't really know what kind of music they want to make. I totally get bands wanting to mix different styles and influences, but when they jump around so much it's a bit difficult for the listener. This may be a bit of a harsh critique and I certainly don't know the band members, so this is just my opinion. Anyway, the chorus is catchy and sung, and there is some screaming toward the end of the song. The next track is their cover of Puddle Of Mudd's hit song Control. it's not really a cover song It's another of my favorites on the album. The background screams remind me of Sevendust here (who also happen to be one of the artists they enjoy per their Facebook page). One thing I appreciate about this band is that their songs are long enough to give the instrumentation room to breathe, but they also don't overstay their welcome.

The back half of the album kicks off with Clover, which is their most ballad-like song up to this point on the album. It's certainly not a traditional ballad as the drums and guitars are still very prominent. The chorus is a really catchy, poppy chorus too. Next up is their spin on Korn's Coming Undone. it's not really a cover song - I hope you've enjoyed this bit This is a really interesting track. The song has portions of JFK's "conspiracy" speech sprinkled throughout which is certainly unique. Confession time - I haven't taken any history classes in roughly 20 years, so I had to do a search to see what this audio was. The chorus is another catchy one, particularly the backing vocals at the end of it. This was another of my favorite tracks on the album.

Hold On Me was one of the lighter songs on the album. It's not a ballad, but the music is not too aggressive and it features sung vocals. It's a middle of the road rock song. Resurrect Me featured about a minute long intro and the music itself is solid, although not much else about this track stood out much to me. The album closes with its one true ballad When I'm Away. It's the longest track on the album and I suppose it makes sense as the album's closing track. I really didn't connect very much with the last three tracks on the album, but they're not bad songs.

All in all, this was a solid radio rock/hard rock/modern rock debut album. Fans of those genres and bands such as Red, Breaking Benjamin, and Sevendust should be able to find something they like here. I just don't know that this band does enough to make them stand out in a sea full of bands in these genres. I suppose only time will tell and since they are such a young band, let's give them the benefit of the doubt.

Give these songs a listen if you like what you've read: Inhuman, Control, Clover, and Coming Undone.

Thanks for the recommendation @Bad Frequencies !

Also I'd like to make a not-so-humblebrag and give myself a shoutout for my 50th CMCS review!!! Here's to the next 50!

 

Fifty!

 

Awesome review! Glad everyone who’s giving this album a listen has been enjoying it too.

 

Great review! I'm not sure if people remember this band, but one or two of these guys went on to form Elevate:I Am (with A Static Lullaby's screamer) who put out one of the best recent records in that genre.


Unrelated, I screwed up my last post haha. I'll post that second review once I'm back on my computer tomorrow. I'm a bit too busy to do another session this week, but I''m stoked to start again for the next one.

 

Me and @ineverlose have exchanged:

They will be listening to:
The Longshot - Love is For Losers

I will be listening to:
Thief Club- Just Give Up

 

@ugman_2000's second recommendation for me is:

ISIS: Panopticon (2004) Ipecac



Let me make small note in that I feel really lucky to be able to review this album but at the same time that I will never do it the justice it deserves. This is a seminal record not only in the heavy music scene but is one of the bands that made post metal and post rock what it is today.

Isis is a band based out California and this is their fifth full length album, following up the highly successful and influential, Oceanic. They essentially took the post metal sound created by bands such as Neurosis and Godflesh to the next level, turning it into something more atmospheric.

The album is centered around a loosely based concept, and I say "loose" because 95% of the album is instrumental. Only briefly do we hear Aaron Turner, who alternates between a guttural tone and a sort of droning/monotone singing. In the end, you forget it's there because even the production is done in a way that pushes it in background. The main theme of the album is focused around philosopher Jeremy Bentham’s idea of a Panopticon prison, a tall central tower that allows the guards to observe inmates from the tower with the idea that the prisoners don’t know if they are being watched or not.

As I mentioned, the album has very few vocals and is written in a way that demands your attention. The record is dense, demanding multiple listens but it's also dense in the physical sense and just captures you and takes you with it. For the most part this album is very melancholic almost post rock, but when it builds it crashes all around and throughout your entire body. That leads to my next point in that this album is one that headphones are absolutely needed because of how textured and layered it is. You will never get the full experience just hitting play in your car or casually listening while doing chores. The band uses these pulsating guitars mixed with soaring sounds coming from a synthesizer and this simple plodding drum beat just entrancing you and then minutes later it turns into crushing, sludgy, bass heavy madness. That is another real interesting thing about the album in that the bass almost feels like the center point of the band and is something I have never really seen before. The whole album feels simple but is so far from that. I don't know of another band that has been able to capture what Isis has done.

The album as a whole spans 59 minutes, but it never feels that long with each song ranging in length from 6 to 8 minutes. Every time you listen you will find something new that just leaves you in shock how this band ever stopped making music. The band did reunite just this past month in order to play a tribute show for Caleb Scofield, bassist for other legendary band, Cave In, that died tragically in a car accident.

I mentioned at the start of my review that this record and band is something truly special and words cannot express that. I think the best way to sum up this record: EPIC. If you are a fan of any type of music, you will fall in love with this record and I truly believe that.

RIYL:
Post Rock
Post Metal

Favorite tracks:
So Did We
Altered Course
Grinning Mouths

If you are looking for more music by this band, I highly recommend their album prior to this one: Oceanic. Aaron Turner has also been involved in a NUMBER of other projects, including SUMAC who are putting out an album this year. The other members did a project a few years back with Chino Moreno called Palms that incorporates a lot of the lighter moments Isis was known for.

Thank you for this awesome recommendation @ugman_2000 !!!

 

Excited to hand in my 2 reviews over the next few days. Thanks to @Bad Frequencies and the team for letting me part of this!

 

Incredible review mate. This album holds a special place in my heart as it was the first post metal album that truly clicked with me and helped get me into that genre. I finally picked it up on vinyl the other month and my god it sounds lush on that.