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.
Heard the new .hopesfall yet? A-Types? I have, and I like it. Not tremendously, but the production is miles better than their previous album(The Satellite Years), which was pretty much all I was asking for. I remember two years ago telling Adam White of The Reason that his band was starting to sound like .hopesfall, and he had no idea who they were. Now, two years later, I'm proved right. Good bands both, though. Anyway, read pastepunk's .hopesfall review over here.
Strikefirst Records continues their bid for world domination by actually going out and signing two bands from parts of the world other than North America: Clear Convictions(sounds here) are from big bad Puerto Rico, and Opposition of One(sounds here) hail from Germany. Having heard neither band but basing my opinion on Strikefirst's good rep(heard Jesus Wept yet? Sick!), I bet both bands rock. [The Scene]
Check that: having listened to approximately fifteen seconds of Clear Convictions' 'Firme', it has become clear the Latin America is bringing the nasty ruckus in a big way. Highly recommended. Dirrrrty guitar! Breakdowns aplenty! Yes!
Bassist Daniel Pishock has left mewithoutYou, whose album this year(Catch For Us The Foxes) is one of the year's most intriguing records. But bassists are a dime a dozen, so no sweat. Just kidding! [absolutepunk]
Bamboozle Fest '05 goes down April 29th-May 1st down in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and this year's features something I'd kill to see: original members Chris Carrabba and Nick Dominguez will be playing a show with Further Seems Forever - that's right, kids, the original lineup. You'll actually hear 'The Moon Is Down' and 'Snowbirds and Townies' from Carrabba's lips instead of the two subsequent(great) vocalists FSF has trotted out post-Chris. Who wants to take me?? There are some pictures of practicing for this event in the 'media' section over here. Funny how the Further guys, having done time in Strongarm before FSF was even conceived, all look kinda middle-ageish and accountant-type. What a great band.
It's a sad day, this second-last day of 2004, with the news via email from Brian that Jason Dodd and his crew have decided to cease publication, both online and in print, of the venerable Bandoppler magazine. Years ago Brian and I were inspired to start a 'zine because of previous examples like Jason's, and I for one will miss the honesty and perception that Bandoppler's writers always displayed. Rest in peace.
Don't know if we already reported this, but Society's Finest are writing a full-length record with plans to record it later this winter(February/March-ish). I hope the production doesn't bury their awesome sound. And speaking of SF, their vocalist Josh Ashworth spent some time in Zao, and I retrieved a copy of that massive collective's self-titled album, and it is truly as sick as I remember it. Yes. [buzzgrinder]
New Found Glory are doing something they're calling the Back to Basics tour, with opening acts Reggie and the Full Effect and Eisley. This tour will see NFG playing small clubs and the like again, and my entire reason for relating this news is my shred of hope that it'll bring them back to Ottawa again after I missed them two months ago. DOH! If you wanna read all about it blah blah blah, click this.
The Take Action tour: check the lineup. Plain White Ts, Anberlin, Hawthorne Heights, Head Automatica and Sugarcult. Wierd bill. Man, I love Anberlin.
Victory Records has signed some band called Aiden. Why do I care? Because my girlfriend's brother-in-law's name is Aidan. Close enough.
Oh yay: Bane are gonna have a new record out in the spring! Produced by Brian McTernan! I'm excited. Work commences next week, apparently. [lambgoat]
If you're not doing anything Saturday(New Year's Day) and you live here in Ottawa, c'mon out to Surface around and watch Illo and Kid SL drop the most amazing hiphop attack in the city. There's a bunch of others playing the rave, notably headliner Trevor Walker, but I'm going for the hiphop.
How's this for a cryptic online breakup note, this from the now-defunct A18: "It's over Jonny. No Last show. No nothing. Some of us cared too much. Some of us couldn't care less. Thanks to those who were there for us. We love you." Weird.
You know what truly massive band I've discovered this month? 100 Demons. Holy breakdowns everywhere.
Speaking of unholy breakdowns everywhere, behold: Throwdown - lost a guitarist, have a new album(Vendetta) coming next July. There you go.
You a drummer? Like the metal? Wanna play for a band signed to the mighty Abacus Records? 'Course you are/do. So! Now that we've straightened that out, The Abandoned Hearts Club outta Toronto(featuring this bassist dude Erik I interviewed years ago when he was in Moneen) are looking for a new drummer. Send your floods of email over here! Whee! I proudly display my AHC matchbook on my computer.
One of my favourite bands of the last couple years, Winnipeg's Comeback Kid, are putting out their Victory Records debut Wake the Dead on February 22nd, and that makes it an ideal birthday present for yours truly, should anyone care to make a small donation to moi. [theprp]
An underrated band on Pluto Records down in the Lone Star state(that's 'Texas', kids), called Please Mr. Gravedigger, are releasing an EP March 29th. It's called Throw A Beat, and we'll all love it.
I sincerely hope that you Ottawa kids aren't doing anything March 8th, because it'll have to be postponed/canceled/torched, on account of the Atreyu/Norma Jean/Unearth/Scars of Tomorrow tour that'll be hitting the Capital Music Hall that night. Ye gods, that'll be good. And the next night at the same club is the Rise Against show! And March 3rd is Underoath in Montreal! I can't contain myself!!
...in case you live somewhere other than Ottawa and kinda wanna know where else Unearth et al. are heading, here:
February 08th Anaheim, CA - House of Blues Anaheim
February 15th San Antonio, TX - White Rabbit
February 16th Houston, TX - The Meridian
February 18th Covington, KY - Madison Theatre
February 19th Winston-Salem, NC - Ziggy's
March 02nd New York, NY - Spirit Performance Center
March 07th Montreal, QC - Spectrum
March 08th Ottawa, ON - Capital Music Hall
March 09th Toronto, ON - Phoenix Concert Theatre
March 10th Pontiac, MI - Clutch Cargos
March 11th Louisville, KY - Headliners Music Hall
March 12th Grand Rapids, MI - Orbit Room
March 13th Chicago, IL - House of Blues Chicago
March 15th Cleveland, OH - House of Blues Cleveland
March 16th Milwaukee, WI - The Eagles Club
March 17th Minneapolis, MN - The Quest
March 18th Lawrence, KS - Granada Theatre
March 19th Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre
March 20th Salt Lake City, UT - Lo-Fi Cafe
March 22nd Seattle, WA - Graceland
March 23rd Portland, OR - Meow Meow
March 24th San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
March 25th Sacramento, CA - Colonial Theatre
March 26th Santa Cruz, CA - The Catalyst
March 29th West Hollywood, CA - House of Blues Los Angeles
The Chevelle slash Helmet tour I would kill to see will in fact be in Canada: Toronto on February 19th, venue to be confirmed.
I was just talking to the lovely Mikyla about this yesterday: when're Thrice gonna come out with a new record? There's information on that very topic right over here. You're welcome.
This blows my mind completely: a new scream/grind project comprised of - get this - members of Glassjaw, Thursday vocalist Geoff Rickley, a dude from Kiss It Goodbye and another dude from The Number Twelve Looks Like You and a guy from Eyeball Records in Jersey?? That's insanity!! A GRIND project with a dude from THURSDAY IN IT? Get real. I can't wait to hear it. This is from Alternative Press, so I hope it's credible. [punknews]
And just for the sake of memory, check out this interview with Rickley that I edited years ago for another 'zine; it was 2001, I believe, or 2002, and the interview was in Pittsburgh. Yes.
It was probably a matter of sheer odds: legendary gore/grind band Nasum's lead vocalist is among the many thousands that are missing following the disaster in Asia this week. God, please grant them peace in this time of unrest, Nasum and the many others in their situation.
Yeeeeesss: new Strike Anywhere song called 'Asleep' is available over here. Modern agitated punk at its very finest - go now.
How's this for something to do on New Year's Eve: checking out The Weakerthans opening for The Tragically Hip, in a hockey arena, in Hamilton, Ontario? I LIKE it. If you actually do wanna go, it's at Copps Coliseum in H-town, Weakerthans go on at quarter after nine, Deck 31st.
An interesting tidbit, at least to me: The Chariot's frontman Josh Scogin(yes, the one who used to be in Norma Jean) is actually producing new labelmates' As Cities Burn's new Solid State Records album in the new year. How 'bout that. [OGS]
In some extended tsunami-in-Asia coverage, an update on how much Canada is committing to helping: we've upped the ante from four million bucks to forty. Good.
Since I don't have time to do any news or anything today, I'll just say a belated merry Christmas to one and all, followed by a list of new music I bought yesterday with all my Christmas gift certificates!
Burnthe8track - The Ocean
Derek Webb - I See Things Upside Down
Thrice - The Artist in the Ambulance
Taking Back Sunday - Where You Want To Be(check out the 'So and So Sez' feature on TBS in the current issue of HM)
DJ Shadow - The Private Press
Smalltown Poets - can't remember the title offhand
There's a couple more; those are the highlights. I can't wait to bump the Shadow in my discman with brand-new headphones courtesy of the lovely Kate.
Hope your holidays were restful and productive.
And by 'productive' I mean 'loot-packed'.
Yes.
And in case I forget or don't have time, there are a bunch of people who deserve Merry Christmas shout-outs from us here at sweetdisaster. So here are those I remember in my current about-to-miss-my-bus impeded state of mind:
1. Jason and Burnthe8track, bringing the pain straight outta Winnipeg
2. Shawn at punkottawa for believing and extending me a helping hand once in a while
3. Brian and Rebecca at OGS HQ on Baseline Road - word up
4. Heid in PA
5. Steph, who lives about a block from me
6. My lovely family
7. My even lovelier girlfriend Katie and her family
8. Dan Stephens and his new bride at The Scene in sunny Southern Cal
9. Lori and Frank Lenz
10. Brandon Jones at IVM, who's sent me records I still ain't reviewed yet - they're coming!
11. Emily Orzio, ex of Tooth & Nail Records, now married to US Marine Jason Adams - multiply and prosper!
12. There's more, I just don't have time right now.
Word.
Since it's Christmas Eve, I thought I'd be ironic and report a display of massive giving on the part of the NFL Atlanta Falcons: quarterback Michael Vick has been given a ten-year contract for - hold onto something solid here - one hundred and thirty million dollars(all terms USD) with a record thirty-seven million dollars in bonuses.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Vick's suburban household, awright. Geeeez.
Anyway. Some news to tide you over the Christmas break.
U2's How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb sold almost 850,000 copies its first week out. Nice. [cmcentral]
Upon the release of their third album, Denison Marrs are featured in interview format right over here. What a great band. The new self-titled album smokes! [buzzgrinder]
Remember Bloodshed?? Waaaay back in the day? Check this out!!
Mars Ill's new album Pro-Pain has now been delayed til, um, June 2005. I'm super-ultra-mega pissed now, but not nearly as much so as I bet Manchild and Dust are. I feel bad for our boys. Watch for an interview we did with them a couple months ago to appear in this space at some point. [sphereofhiphop]
One of Tooth & Nail's biggest successes already, Anberlin are set to drop Never Take Friendship Personal in February, and apparently they're putting out one new track a week from the new album, beginning with a song called 'Paperthin Hymn', right over here. Enjoy! Lousy 'internet sound' on the track, but you get the idea. Catchy vocals? Check. Pummeling yet fragile guitar tone? Check. Sounds a lot like 'Change The World' from the band's last album, as put by sweetdisaster correspondent Andrew Jensen? Check. Good tune.
In related T&N news, the label's signed California band Waking Ashland. They toured with labelmates Mae this year(great band!) and did some Warped stuff. I like 'em. Reminds me of a less-dramatic, poppier Copeland. Thumbs up.
So Hot Topic(excuse me while I suppress an involuntary shudder) are giving away a Gibson guitar signed by one of my absolute favourite bands, Further Seems Forever, and to win it, you gotta sign up over here. Happy scavenging.
There's this band Mutemath, right, and I dig 'em, they're pretty sick, but there USED to be this band Earthsuit who were very very rad, didn't last a long time, but when they were on they were on, kids. Read this and be educated.
Good news: the man who wrote my favourite song ever(Five Iron Frenzy's 'Every New Day') almost ten years ago, has now had his band signed with Floodgate Records(Denison Marrs, Cool Hand Luke, Mourning September, etc). Scott Kerr and Yellow Second(also featuring another FIF alum in drummer Andy Verdecchio) are gonna drop their power-pop-goodness-filled debut, Altitude, next March. I'm stoked. [Renown]
Ex-dc Talk member Kevin Max has signed with another California label, Northern Records, and we'll see if his label debut with them equals or exceeds his solo debut, 2002's Stereotype Be. I bet it will.
Merry Christmas, kids.
Back in the saddle again, kids!!
After what industry insiders called a 'server migration', we're back on a new server apparently, and the old sweet disaster is still bringing the rock in a whole new way...okay, entirely not a whole new way, but we're jivin' nonetheless. Do read our call for web help in the post directly before this and follow instructions accordingly. We'll see you soon.
Peace.
This is a plee for help.. I am the underabled webservant Dave here at Sweetdisaster.com I have talent but very little knowledge and time here. Please help my friend Mike with his site.. I have a vision for this site, what it could be but i don't have the skills to put it forward for mike here. If anyone knows HTML CSS PHP MySQL and/or anthing else that could help here at sweetdisaster please contact me. yakkob_the_frog@hotmail.com Thank you.
What're your plans for Friday, the 17th? If you're in Ottawa, they hopefully include a stop at ye olde Club SAW(67 Nicholas, doncha know) to see Buried Inside absolutely demolish the place in honour of their record Chronoclast, which came out a couple months ago on Relapse Records. I have yet to hear the album, but I've heard it destroys, and BI along with four other bands will be rocking Christmas in hardcore. I myself shall be in attendance, alongside the returned-from-concussion sweetdisaster enforcer DJ Omnifik and the prettiness quotient in the form of former writer Steph. Tickets are cheap, doors at six-thirty or sevenish. For all the info hit that punkottawa site linked up there in our logo. See you there, suckas!
So Saturday afternoon I'm invading the Rideau Centre downtown with the lovely Katie, blitzing through the Christmas shopping, and my phone rings and it's Ryan, informing me that Beloved have broken up. Alas, unlike a lot of internet jabbering, it turns out to be true: drummer Joe Musten(I believe that's his name) decided to leave to start a family or somesuch, and it follows that the band has since decided to pack it in. This is a terrible day. There's a statement from the band as a whole over here, not that it really matters, since I'm already weeping over here. BOOOOO!!!! Oh, and vocalist Josh Moore will be playing on in a project called Classic Case. This entirely sucks.
A prayer request to throw out there - for those of who choose such things as a life path: our web guy Al(that's his ad there on the bottom right) has a friend - his son-in-law's best friend in fact - Scott by name, who, shortly after having his first child with his wife, was diagnosed with brain cancer. He remains a light to the hospital staff who attend him as well as his wife, and prayers are appreciated. Thanks y'all.
My brother Dan is straight-up hilarious.
Dinner time!
According to Shawn at punkottawa, the March 9th Rise Against show is rapidly selling out - thusly, I'll have to elbow my way to the front of the line at Record Runner and get mine 'fore they're gone.
Word also filtered its way to me via Ryan B. that Underoath are opening a massive five-band bill in Montreal March 3rd; also appearing will be My Chemical Romance, The Used, Killswitch Engage and Senses Fail. Rumour had it that Saosin(incredible!) were also scheduled, but nay to that - they're on the tour, but not in Montreal. What a show that'll be. And Killswitch have been nominated for a Grammy! There is hope for mankind!
There's a band called I Hate Kate. Somewhere. I've never heard them, probably don't care, but it's just funny because my girlfriend's name is Kate and it's just funny, okay?? Shut up!!
There's a tour rumoured to be happening come February featuring Name Taken, Mae and Relient K. I'd go see it. Not that they'd even think of sending it to Ottawa. [absolutepunk]
This little booklet Solid State Records has concocted to showcase the Christian faith of their bands(too numerous to mention, but you know and love a lot of them) wound up at my Friendly Local Christian Retailer, and I got a call this morning from our man Flikkema, as always manning his post at the music desk there, and to make a long story short, on the last page of said booklet is excerpted part of an interview I did with Figure Four vocalist Andrew Neufeld in early 2002. What a trip.
In honour of editor-in-chief Dan Stephens getting hitched last month(congratulations!!), check out the interview he did with the various cast members of legendary SoCal hardcore band No Innocent Victim concerning their regrouping, new album and touring plans - right over here! Thye're already booked for Cornerstone Festival '05, and I'm going. Woohooo!!!!
Unless you don't a) own a computer and b) consider yourself a metal fan, you already know this, but again: Damageplan/ex-Pantera guitarist extraordinaire "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott was shot to death shortly into a performance with Damageplan last night in Ohio. His drummer brother Vinnie was rumoured to have been killed as well, along with three other known fatalities, including a club employee. The gunman, a 25-year-old, was shot dead by police.
It's senseless, and it's random - and I'm praying for peace.
The crew at Asterik Studio are old pals of ours here at sweetdisaster, and since 'tis the season and all that, we'll extend to them a favour and reprint portions of an email we received from them: "So, it's that time of the year, again. Can you believe it? Gone are the days of riding our ultra-powerful jet-skis, going 130 mph on our matching crotch-rockets, racing our $300,000 jet boats across Puget Sound and basically overdoing it in every aspect of partying that you can imagine. Um...sorry, none of that is true. In fact, we love the holidays. Especially in Seattle. Mmmmm...toasty. So, if you decide that a poster, shirt or maybe a few buttons would make a great gift for someone you love, then we wanted to let all of you know that you need to order your goods by December 19th in order to receive it by Christmas. And, we do hope that you make Asterik part of your gift giving experience this year. Shameless atttempt? Yes. And, just in time for Christmas, we've added five new posters to the store! Check 'em out." End of letter. Anyway, since the posters aren't viewable here, click on the link up there to see the new stuff featuring American Hi-Fi, Sparta, Pedro the Lion and more.
P.O.D. and Kanye West will be featured on this Christian music thing 60 Minutes is doing tomorrow night(Wednesday, December 8th, for those of you who're calendar-impaired); check your local listings. Third Day will also be profiled, apparently, if you're into that. I'm sure not.
Speaking of Kanye, his breakout album The College Dropout is up for ten Grammy nominations - including Best New Artist - leading that field by a good two(Usher, who's crap, and Alicia Keys, who's genuinely talented, are up for eight apiece). And another amazing record, Green Day's comeback album American Idiot, is also up for Best Album. Word. It's so rad. [rockrebel]
junkedcamera: still your source for pictures of every show that hits Ottawa. Except maybe Yanni.
To be amused, to be provoked, to be strengthened in your Christian faith - if that's what you're about anyway - check this out. It's my brother Dan's blog, and I hope he doesn't physically intimidate me for doing this without his permission. Meh. Take particular note of the cheetah picture! And here's a joke, reproduced in full and without any attempt whatsoever to obtain any republication rights:
"At Heathrow, a 300-foot long red carpet is stretched out to Air Force One and President Bush strides to a warm but dignified handshake from Queen Elizabeth II. They ride in a silver 1934 Bentley limousine to the edge of central London where they board an open 17th century coach hitched to six magnificent white matching horses. They ride toward Buckingham Palace, each looking sideways and waving to the thousands of cheering Britons lining the streets, all is going well.
But suddenly the right rear horse lets fly with the most horrendous, earth-rending, eye-smarting blast of gastronomic flatulence ever heard in the British Empire, including Bermuda, Tortola and the Falkland Islands. It shakes the coach. Uncomfortable, but under control, the two dignitaries of state do their best to ignore the whole incident, but then the Queen decides that's ridiculous. She turns to Mr. Bush and explains, "Mr. President, please accept my regrets. I'm sure you understand that there are some things that even a Queen cannot control."
George W. Bush, ever the gentleman, replies, "Your Majesty, please don't give the matter another thought. You know, if you hadn't said something, I would have thought it was one of the horses...."
I think our work here is done. Ha! On to more news.
Did you know Glassjaw's guitarist quit like a month ago? Me neither. [saveyourscene]
Thrice, who are amazing, have a new album coming out probably next year. At least, they're writing songs for it, and I bet they're equally amazing as their last album. Oh, and there's a DVD that was supposed to be out in time for Christmas, but now it ain't coming til like mid-2005. Sucky. [absolutepunk]
How funny is THIS: Josh Freese, well-known session drummer as well as a longtime member of the legendary Vandals, will be druming for Sting on an upcoming tour. Sting. STING!!! That's insane.
STING!!!
'This Is Your Life' is the new single from Switchfoot's mutiplatinum breakthrough album, last year's The Beautiful Letdown; while not as good a song by far as 'Dare You To Move' or even 'Meant To Live', it's a decent little ditty, and it's already at thirty-four on the charts. So there you go. Wonder when they'll come back to Ottawa.
Yo.
So today the Big Cheese here at sd.com is sick as a dog with stomach flu; I was sent home from work early after making a ruckus in the washroom if you get my drift. *sour look* So now I'm sitting around at home feeling FINE except for when my intestines get that wrapped-around-a-spiked-wagon-wheel feeling. Hmph.
On to the news.
Rise Against are coming back to Ottawa! March 9th at Capital Music Hall downtown will see Chicago's best punk band(I know, I know, that's up for debate, shaddup) headlining a show also featuring Calgary blitzkrieg Belvedere as well as Mute and Twenty2, who have a stupid name, but hey. Tickets are on sale as of tomorrow, December 4th, except over here, where there's apparently a day-advance internet presale. Word UP.
I was at my Friendly Local Christian Retailer earlier and had a chance to listen to the new album from Relient K. Now, this band had me years ago when 'Hello McFly' was like one of my favourite songs in life(remember that tune? So good), but I'd kinda outgrown the whole pop-punk thing with a new notable exceptions(I see you New Found Glory in all your greatness), and today I just happened to hear some of the new RK, and man it's fun. Like uber-fun. Like get-it-now fun. Yes.
Also new out is The Chariot's debut album on Solid State. It's title has roughly eighty-six words, so I'm certainly not wasting my time typing all that madness out, but 'madness' surely describes what the music is all about. This is raw, off-the-studio-floor ruckus here, featuring Norma Jean's original vocalist, Josh Scogin, extending himself to great lengths to scream his way into your psyche. Very good.
There's a song on Pigeon John's first album(Pigeon John...Is Clueless, 2002) that had this killer little baroque-type horn sample, and I was like, "Yeah, that's awesome" and then the other day at work I heard Led Zeppelin's 'All My Love', quite possibly the worst Zep song ever, but that's where the horn sample came from!! I love discoveries like that.
Cursed, widely regarded as Canada's loudest band(having seen them live I'm not averse to agreeing), have another album dropping January 25th of next year; it's called Two, the logical followup to 2003's One. See how it all ties together? Producer Ian Blurton(Change of Heart, C'mon - both great bands he was/is in) no doubt completely mangled this album and it'll be the greatest thing anyone's ever heard period.
Some news from Blood & Ink Records now: "Blessed By A Broken Heart would like to thank everyone for coming out and seeing them on their tour through these beautiful United States. The trip was awesome but only because of the kids that came out and supported them. BBABH will now be retreating back to the forests of Canada to convene with their animal brothers and make maple syrup and spruce beer. Just kidding...keep a look out for local shows if you live in their area and make sure to get your copy of their debut All is Fair in Love and War. You can also pick it up at your local Hot Topic. If it is not there then order it and tell them you refuse to buy another skull belt buckle or Slipknot t-shirt until they get this album for sale in their store." I love B&I's updates.
Some speculation to throw out there: sd.com source Dave Leibold has word of Underoath playing two Ontario shows, March 4th in Mississauga and the 5th in London. There's no show listed for March 3rd, however, and I would like to bring them to Ottawa. Who's with me??