The Chorus Music Club Society • Page 380

@stijn_p and I traded and the first recommendation they gave me is:

FM-84: Atlas (2016)

FM-84 is the moniker of Col Bennett and within the first second of pushing play you know what you are in for: beautiful, atmospheric, 80's soaked synth pop from San Francisco, California. For the most part, the album is instrumental but occasionally vocalists are brought in, most notably, Oillie Wride whom is essentially an unwritten member of the band. The last song, Goodbye, utilizes vocalist Clive Farrington, who is just as fantastic and fit the 80's aesthetic perfectly. This record immediately made me think of another album released this year that I fell in love with: Timecop1983, and it's really great because they have a song together on this album, Let's Talk. The differences between the two artists are slight with both giving nods to the 80's while Timecop1983 is at darker end of the spectrum and makes me think of the genius duo, Survive who are behind the Stranger Things soundtracks. FM-84 is just so much fun and you can't help but want to smile while listening. It's the perfect album for summer nights when the sun in is going down, much like the cover depicts. You could also picture an artist like Carly Rae Jepsen tapping FM-84 to do the production for her album. Once again, this is an album that demands headphones but it is just so atmospheric and dense that you can't appreciate it without them. Although, I have put it on in the background while doing things around the house and it still sounds fantastic. I have nothing but amazing things to say about this and I can't wait to hear more.

Favorite Songs:
The whole album is amazing!


RIYL:
80's synth pop
Pop music
Timecop1983

 

For the countless people I’ve shared Starset with, Starset went and reworked Bringing It Down

 

It's pretty neat. They're doing Vessels 2.0 expected end of September - ‎Vessels 2.0 by Starset

 

HOW DID I NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS!!
@bachna84 !!

 

Sept. 28th expected!!

 

Found this after doing some digging. Looks like some acoustics (probably the stripped down violin versions like @bachna84 and I saw at their shows), the 2.0 Version, some remixes and one BSide

 

Time to rekindle the love all over again!

 

Hoping there’s a physical release too

 

I don't know where else to share this but did anyone see the Rock Sound top 100 pop punk albums? Shit like that makes me wonder if them or Alt Press are worse.

 

I haven’t seen it but them and AP have been pretty bad (imo) for a while now.

I stopped following Rock Sound a while back after their bad coverage/reaction to a lot of the problematic bands in the pop-punk/emo scene when a lot of it was coming to light a year or two ago. I can’t remeber exactly what made me stop but I can remember it was down to something related to all that. Same goes for AP.

Anyways in more positive news (at least for me lol) I found £40 in a betting account from a bet I forgot I placed on the World Cup. So I went ahead and bought one of my favourite releases from this year on vinyl this morning, Nervus’s Everything Dies (not my hand but I bought this variant)

 

Earth Crisis - Gomorrah's Season Ends (1996)



So @Nate_Johnson gave me this album to review as a bonus trade after my partner dropped out last week. Earth Crisis for those that don't know are one of the more influential hardcore bands from the 90's. They're known for being Straight Edge and bringing veganism and animal rights into the forefront of hardcore. They were also hugely influential on the metalcore scene that emerged in the late 90's/early00's. I'd heard Earth Crisis before but never really went fully in on their older releases. I really liked (their much hated) more Nu metal leaning album Slither that came out in the early 00's.

So onto the review, Earth Crisis bring that hardcore punk sound of bands like Sick Of it All and Madball and mix it in with the guitar sound of the likes of Slayer. Then add the crunching riffs of bands like Biohazard and Hatebreed. The vocals remind me of a more intense version Lou Koller from Sick Of It All if he was to lose the melodic tone to his vocals and strain his voice a bit more. Lyrically this album is mostly about living straight edge, animal rights, and generally how we're destroying the planet (so nice and cheerful )

I found this is kind of a hard album to review, basically this albums metallic hardcore sound and production makes this seem pretty dated now but damn it still goes hard. Their vocalist Karl Buechner barks the vocals at you, it's got lot's of crunching riffs throughout. There's lots of that evil sounding guitar tone from their Slayer influence sprinkled in and while the pace slows down in places there's not really much let up throughout the whole 37 minutes.

So yeah this album while well dated goes in hard and was a fun listen. You can tell this band had a ton of influence on bands that came out of the late 90's/early 00's metalcore scene and you can definitely hear their influence on the newer hardcore bands that have popped up over the last few years like Code Orange, Knocked Loose, Vein and Harms Way.

Thanks for another great rec Nate

RIYL: 90's hardcore, Code Orange, Knocked Loose
Favourite Songs: Cease to Exist, Gomorrah's Season Ends, Cling To The Edge

 

Great job! Actually, a lot of their heavy sound is influenced by Sepultura. Igor Cavalera loves hardcore music and actually drummed for them when they did the Ozzfest tour in the mid 90’s. It really is a hard album to review lyrically because it’s so in your face but you can’t deny how talented they are and the influence they had on the scene.

 

They’re a band I’ve heard of but have never checked out. Time to change that I suppose!

 

They are from the same city I grew up in so I saw them A LOT. I would start with their most accessible album that @ugman_2000 loves, Slither.

 

They’re definitely well worth your time. I echo Nate’s rec in Slither. It’s got their trademark hardcore sound but also brings in some more melodic vocals so it’s an easier entry point. Don’t let me comparing it to nu-metal in my review put you off. It’s definitely still routed in hxc, it’s just that it got that tag thrown at it back in the day. Slither actually reminds me a lot of Vision of Disorder, if you know them.

 

Their most iconic song.

Title track off of slither.

 

Rock Sound are a sad excuse for music journalism. It''s basically a gossip magazine for 13 year ols, it might as well come with free glitter.

Also they rim that misogynistic/racist douchebag from Waterparks and it's depressing.

 

Here are a couple of the reviews I am behind on. Sadly, due to how late I am on these and how many I am behind, these won't be my usual length but I will give it my best.

First, two from @GBlades

Hunter & The Bear- Paper Heart
This was an all around good listen. I have never heard of this London band going in, so I was eager to check out this 2017 release from the band. What I was treated to was something reminiscent of the sound portrayed on Sevendust's album this year, anthemic radio rock with crunching guitars and smooth, catchy vocals. This does not just refer to the singles that the album has, but the album as a whole has this scope to it that begs to be sung along to and its infectious. Filled with lyrics dealing with social observations, you will be hard pressed to find songs on here that you don't relate to. The title track 'Paper Heart' and 'Who's Gonna Hear You' come to mind especially on this aspect, as they are very big, anthem like songs that are very relatable and filled with moments that you want to chant along to on the first listen even. With a very radio friendly sound, these guys fit in with a lot of bands of the alt rock genre, and I am surprised they are not finding more mainstream power here in the states; something that I hope changes on future releases to come. The sound emulated on this album is a cross between Sevendust, as I mentioned, and Bruce Springsteen, with a dash of pop rock goodness. Its a sound that is easily accessible to new listeners, whether it be anthems like the previously mentioned songs or the soft ballad of 'I Am What I Am'. There are even songs such as 'DRK' that seem to have a dash of a Zepplin influence intertwined with the sound; and it is something that this band pulls off extremely well. The vocals are the best part of this album, they are smooth and well produced; and very much made for this style of music.

These songs have a grittiness and soulfulness to them that is sometimes lacking in this genre of music, but Hunter & The Bear pulls it off fantastically. Soaring guitars highlight the vocals, bringing for some insanely good riffs and catchy songs. Filled with excellent arrangements and moments that will have you bobbing your head with the guitars while you sing along, this band has a bright future with its resonating lyrics and sonics. There are some nice moments on the album where they also push the envelope of their sound, something that is sort of a breath of fresh air on these songs and allows for the band to express what they are trying to convey nicely. This is an excellent album and one that I recommend checking out. My stand out tracks have to be: Hologram, Paper Heart, Who's Gonna Hear You, I Am What I Am, DRK, Won't You Ever Come Home, and IX. Give this album a spin if any of these genres are in your wheelhouse, and I am confident you will enjoy what you hear.

Colony House- Only The Lonely

Believe it or not, I have heard of these guys before. They are from my neck of the woods, a Nashville based band! Because of this, I have heard of them before; though I am remiss to say I never got around to checking them out before now. With a strong thematic structure of songs about relationships, the connections we create with another in life, and just an overall searching for someone to understand them, this album is one that shows the band wearing its heart on its sleeve, and this makes for a great alternative rock album that is filled with songs that will pull on the heart strings. This is evident as soon as you hear the opening track 'Cannot Do This Alone' which begs the statement that is put forth in the songs title; how you cannot travel this world alone and live this life, in the end no matter how strong you are you need someone supporting you by your side. Songs like '1234' have these thick, nice guitars that lay out the framework of the songs behind the vocals, and at times show a little bit of the Nashville influence with an almost Americana twist on alternative rock at times with a dash of Elvis Costello. This is extremely evident on 'You Know It', the lead single that I will flat out say is insanely catchy and rips, its no wonder that this was the lead single. Encompassing keyboards, tambourines, group chants and other sonically pleasing influences into these songs, Colony House branches out and incorporates a lot of influences from other genres into these songs. There are sonic similarities to U2, The Killers, Coldplay, and The Arctic Monkeys on this album, and they are interwoven surprisingly well. The cascading guitars in the background of these songs is the highlight of the album, and the production is done very well.

I will say it again that the guitars in this album are a huge highlight. Sure the vocals are good, but the man behind the strings on this album is a whiz. Look at '3:20', which has this insane riff and these fluxuate of the guitar strings that enhance the song so very well. This is a very smooth, well played album that while having a run time of 45 minutes never quite feels that long. I recommend this album if you are a fan of any of the bands I said seem to influence their sound, and its definitely an album that has repeat value and will have you spinning it a couple times at least. Full of well crafted songs and seemless transitions into the next, this is an album that if I had heard last year would have been on my list of year end favorites definitely. My standout tracks for this one have to be: 'Cannot Do This Alone', '1234', 'You Know It', '3:20', 'Was it Me', and 'Follow Me Down'. Excellent album and recommendation!



Here is one from @xapplexpiex

Lil Peep- Come Over When You're Sober Pt. 1
So I have heard the term 'emo rapper' before, but until today I would never had been able to name one of them for you. According to my research, Lil Peep is described as this. This album has the odd setting for me of being one foot in my wheel house, and one foot very far out of my wheel house. I was surprised though when I listened for a few things; the flow was insane on a lot of these songs, and was a lot more palpable than I thought it was going to be. There were a few moments on this album where Lil Peep reminded me of Mike Shinoda, but a lot of the time he was his own thing with these songs about pessimism and the feeling of being a tortured soul. I was definitely a fan of the sound put forth on this album; the musical composition of the guitars and the effects in the background of these songs was actually very well put together, and the rhythmic movements through out the songs was actually really smooth. A lot of these songs seem to be about tortured souls that continue to hurt each other; a lot of the time none of the characters in these songs are good people, they seem to hurt each other and no one is innocent. This is a lyrical theme style that I can appreciate, and its actually kind of refreshing to hear something like that.

A lot of these songs lie in the simplicity of their message, but with some really cool music and good flow to back it up. 'Awful Things' and 'U Said' are ones that stood out to me the most, containing some very nice guitar lines and some themes of broken hearts and toxicity that can resonate well with a lot of people. Emo pop punk rock channeled into rap is something I found very interesting throughout this album, and it was a lot more enjoyable that I thought it would be going in. The album is only 27 minutes long, but it runs so quick that its over in the blink of an eye. There is a great production value on this album as well, and the transition from song to song is seamless, sometimes you won't even recognize you have moved on to the next song for the first couple of seconds until the beat kicks in. Hook focused rapping over melodic guitars and techno beats, this is something I can get in line with. This isn't something I will return to very often, but I can see myself throwing it on especially if I am with someone who sits in this wheelhouse often. Stand out songs to me had to be: 'Awful Things', 'U Said', 'Better Off', and 'The Brightside'.



Here is one from @Larry David

Kendrick Lamar- To Pimp A Butterfly
This album is one that I have seen mentioned on Chorus numerous times over the past few years, and often by @Larry David as well. While this is outside of my current wheelhouse, this style of music is very much within my early high school years wheelhouse, so it wasn't that much of a shock to the ears to me. The first thing I noticed throughout this album is that musically, the beats and flow of this album is insanely good. I was insanely impressed with that right off the bat, and it was something I could really appreciate immediately. The other thing I liked was that these songs seemed thematic and linked in a way, with messages and twisted morality lessons intertwined throughout the songs and flowing into the proceeding songs. There are features from Dre and Snoop Dogg on this as well, which were big artists in my catalogue back in the day; so that was a very welcome surprise. Kendrick has a very good flow as well, and while these chaotic and ironic moods are painted through the songs, the guy does an insanely good job of artistically bringing you along for the journey with a sound you can ride with. 'Wesley's Theory', 'Institutionalized' and 'Alright' are just a couple of examples of songs like this, and are insanely good driving songs when you hit the interstate. I think that the jazz band influences in the back of the songs is a nice touch as well, providing some structure and flow to the album. I have always enjoyed those kind of influences, and hearing them functionalized so well here was a nice touch. These songs wouldn't be too far off being on the soundtrack of Luke Cage with how well they are used. The themes of oppression, depression, seduction, temptation, and the evil of the world around is ever present, as the overall arching narrative of a tempting yet evil woman plays through each of these songs along side these messages as a metaphor for the conflicts of temptation in one's soul.

This is an album of battling your demons to be a better person, and Kendrick sells it extremely well. Its a fun album, with some deep lyrical themes that I feel I am just beginning to scratch the surface on. Musically and sonically the album is top notch for the genre, with a lot of cool effects and jazz mixed in to create some really groovy beats and flow. This was a pleasant surprise of an album. Its not very much in my current wheel house, but this is something I can see myself listening to again especially on long drives on a summer night. I have always thought Kendrick was talented from what I have heard from him before, and this full album experience of this album was a definite confirmation of that thought. My stand out tracks from this album are: Wesley's Theory, Institutionalized, These Walls, Alright, For Sale?, The Blacker The Berry, I, and Mortal Man. If you are into a deeper hip hop album with a nice flow and some cool jazz vibes, check this album out.


I still owe reviews to @ugman_2000(2) , @anonimito(1) , @Anarchivist (1) and @edisnfg(1)

 

CMCS PAIRINGS

08/20-08/27

@Bad Frequencies // @Larry David

@bachna84 // @ugman_2000

@Patterns in Traffic // @Nate_Johnson

@teebs41 // @GBlades

@figureitout // @edisnfg

@Anarchivist // @ineverlose

@xapplexpiex // @anonimito

@Kiana // @summertimejesus

@SamLevi11 // @Jim Morgan

@iCarly Rae Jepsen // @marioeatworld

Did I forget you? Let me know

 

I get a double scoop of @Nate_Johnson

 

Just got home from seeing Sparta. Jim Ward is a bad man in a good shirt.

 

CMCS concert review or it didn't happen

 

Great set of reviews. Lil Peeps songs are about his drug addiction and how his, and others, affects people. And Kendrick’s lyrics on his album are about police brutality and racism. I guess I wanted to clarify :)

 

@Larry David and I have already agreed for next week.

He gave me:

Dredg- Catch Without Arms

I gave him:

Conditions- Full Of War