I figured the last news installment of 2004 should be huge, so hide your daughters, batten down the hatches, and grab your security blankets. Let's do this.
Deepspace5, one of hiphop's most talented(and numerous) crews, are "putting the finishing touches" on their next record; no word on a title or release date yet, but Beat Rabbi's done gone and produced the entire thing, which means the beats will be ridiculous throughout, and all the usual suspects will be on hand to drop the knowledge.
And speaking of great hiphop and new albums, LA Symphony are also reportedly working up new material. If it's as good as The End Is Near, we will all be destroyed.
And another hiphop note(stuck in a rut...stuck in a rut...stuck in a rut Monty Python): tomorrow, New Year's Day, at Surface, in downtown Ottawa, Trevor Walker headlines a big ol' hoedown to ring in 2005 with an attack of The Beats. Opening the show are Illo and Kid SL, and myself and sweetdisaster enforcer DJ Omnifik will be on hand to witness the audio slaughter. I think it's like eight bucks before ten pm, more after midnight, and more still after two.
I was watching part of the Arizona State/someoneorother game earlier today at the lovely Katie's dwelling and was struck by the panoramic view the A. State football stadium commands of the mountains and plains and such...and in that vein, one of Arizona's best musical products, The Bled, will be locking themselves in a studio commencing next week to build their next opus, the followup to Pass the Flask. I hope the breakdowns are as good. [absolutepunk]
Our boy Leonardo at saveyourscene over in Italy has penned a four-out-of-five review of the debut from spastic Solid State rookies Showbread and their CD entitled No Sir, Nihilism Is Not Practical. I gotta hear this album. The previously-mentioned sweetdisaster enforcer DJ Omnifik won't quit raving about it either. Read Leo's review over here.
We reported the other day that the original Further Seems Forever lineup is reforming to play a set at Bamboozle Fest in Jersey next spring - also appearing will be Thrice. I actually bought my second copy of their breakout album The Artist In The Ambulance for Christmas - that's how good it is, that I lost the first and re-purchase it.
I think it's time for an injection of some vegan-action fist-in-the-air hardcore here, so whassup: an interview with Terror main man Scott Vogel. He could so beat you in a street brawl. And were you aware he rocks a Gang Starr tattoo?? That's so bad. And by 'bad' I clearly mean 'hugely amazing'.
Roll on over here and scroll down to the entry from December 27th; a pictorial account of my brother and his best friend's early-morning expedition to Best Buy on Boxing Day. This is the second annual trek, and the pictures are classic.
This band These Arms Are Snakes is pretty good; I know nothing about them aside from the fact that their sound is pretty 'now' and 'trendy' - and still appealing enough to me to mention them here...with thanks to the lovely Veronique for hooking me up with the CD-R. Many thanks. This is the same lovely Veronique that supplied me with the new Fear Before The March of Flames too. Good band.
Mark January 26th on the calendar, because Sleeper Set Sail will be in Ottawa to play a show at Maverick's, opening for Alexisonfire guitarist Dallas Green, doing a solo thing. Also playing are locals Scheme and Toronto band Raising the Fawn. I will be there. [amplify819]
Just thought I'd take a second out to notify all of you that Seb, guitarist extraordinaire of Rivals, is the greatest man alive. Here's why. There's some naughtiness involved here, so be warned. Can't say we didn't caution you.
Well, Mars Ill's new record won't be out til June(JUNE!!), but in the meantime, there's a record of rough stuff and 'raw material' for sale on their website and at shows to tide all the hiphop fans over til June. JUNE!! I'm so pissed. [musicrefuge]
A band that I was a fan of, waaaay back in the day(I have their one and only album on cassette - that's how back in the day we're talking here), are back: Fono have a new EP available for a nominal fee through their website, almost six years after their first recording. They were on KMG Records, which went bust, and yeah, Fono and Glisten and EDL were all screwed. Remember EDL? Amazing!
The new double album from Nas, Street's Disciple, was obtained by yours truly recently, and while it's decent, it's nowhere near his output of a decade ago, namely Illmatic and It Was Written. There's a lot more bling, a lot more guest appearances, and a whole lot more offensive content(though that's purely and obviously a subjective matter). Some good beats. You're better off picking up the two other albums mentioned.
New Starflyer 59 is scheduled for April 12th, 2005. It's called Talking Voice Vs. Singing Voice, and it will be amazing, like every single other record in the band's decade-plus catalogue. And almost as exciting is the news that they're trying to track down the original tapes from the Gold and Silver albums for remixing, remastering and re-releasing. I am very stoked to hear a cleaned-up version of that massive chord progression from 'Dual Overhead Cam'. You know which riff I'm talking about. And if you don't, go find the song. [decapolis]
I don't particularly love the new album from .hopesfall, but I sure don't despise it like this guy. Pretty honest review - and note the shout-out to Embodyment! Amazing band.
I was busy the night it aired, but CBS' 60 Minutes did a segment on the rise of 'Christian music in America' or some such, and an online account is over here. Featured are P.O.D., Third Day and - woohoo! - Relevant magazine honcho Cameron Strang. That 'zine is so ridiculously good. I'm ravingly jealous over here. Notice how the piece says Relevant is a "sort of Rolling Stone for the religiously-minded." That's hysterical. [rockrebel]
Kanye West is only 26 years old? Holy crap. Mr. 10-Grammy-Nominations is a year older than me. Hmph.
They're baaack: PFR have put out a new album(available in Ottawa at Salem Christian Storehouse, 727-0203) called The Bookhouse Recordings, the followup to 2001's supposedly-last effort, Disappear. I will own it. And before that, I and all of us shall read this.
Yaaay Copeland: the band named after The Police's drummer will put out their second album, In Motion, March 22nd through The Militia Group. Their debut, Beneath Medicine Tree, gets better every time I listen to it. "That's when Paula sparks.." [soundthesirens]
A Perfect Murder have a new guy playing guitar and screaming named Pierre Remilliard...this isn't the same guy from Quebec who's produced, like, Cryptopsy and bands like that, is it? Someone lemme know here. [qchc]
Ever heard of Reeve Oliver? I've never heard them, but the name has been around for over a year; they're fronted by ex-Dogwood guitarist Sean O'Donnell, which is more than enough for me to check them out, despite this review from aversion.com. I wish Dogwood would put out another record, if they're not in fact already broken up. Lemme check...okay, their website ain't been updated since July. That bodes not well.
Anyone who actually buys Armor For Sleep's new album What To Do When You Are Dead(March 22nd) gets a DVD with purchase. I like them, but not enough to buy the record just to get a DVD. Screw it.
Band Name of the Day: Made Out Of Babies!
A B-sides/rarities compilation from Strike Anywhere called To Live In Discontent will come out January 25th on Jade Tree. I for one will most assuredly own it.
Bring on 2005.
Posted by mike at December 31, 2004 11:45 PM