Monday, October 20, 2014
Brand New - Sowing Season(Lyrics)
So much energy in this song that just explodes so randomly. Blew my mind the first time I listened to it.
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Record Collection (7"): Four Minutes Being Cool
Four Minutes Being Cool - Silverstein / August Burns Red Split
Side A: Silverstein - Coming Clean
Side B: August Burns Red - You Vandal
I got this record at Warped Tour along with August Burns Red's "Leveler" LP. It was there, and I didn't own a 45 at that point so I figured, why the hell not? and nabbed it for an extra $5. I'd later come to find that it sells online for around $30! Looks like I made quite the deal on this one. Plus it comes on this cool peach-creme color.
This first song by Silverstein, "Coming Clean" (originally performed by The Get Up Kids) is a pretty good one. I'm not too familiar with their material, but after listening to this song, it definitely makes me want to investigate a bit more. Sadly, I still have yet to do so. The B-side features "You Vandal" (originally performed by Saves The Day) by ABR. It's a pretty good song, but "Coming Clean" definitely outshines it.
[[Photos from Google Images and my Instagram (@draggingtheneedle), Video from Youtube]]
Side A: Silverstein - Coming Clean
Side B: August Burns Red - You Vandal
I got this record at Warped Tour along with August Burns Red's "Leveler" LP. It was there, and I didn't own a 45 at that point so I figured, why the hell not? and nabbed it for an extra $5. I'd later come to find that it sells online for around $30! Looks like I made quite the deal on this one. Plus it comes on this cool peach-creme color.
This first song by Silverstein, "Coming Clean" (originally performed by The Get Up Kids) is a pretty good one. I'm not too familiar with their material, but after listening to this song, it definitely makes me want to investigate a bit more. Sadly, I still have yet to do so. The B-side features "You Vandal" (originally performed by Saves The Day) by ABR. It's a pretty good song, but "Coming Clean" definitely outshines it.
Record Collection #12: August Burns Red - Leveler
I can't lie and say that I'm a huge fan of this album, but it's still a record that I can pull out of my collection and tell a story about.
August Burns Red - Leveler (2011)
1. Empire
2. International Cannon
3. Divisions
4. Cutting the Ties
5. Pangaea
6. Carpe Diem
7. 40 Nights
8. Salt & Light
9. Poor Millionaire
10. 1/16/2011
11. Boys of Fall
12. Leveler
Leveler is August Burns Red's 4th studio recording. It's a good album, but not one I was too crazy about after giving it a listen. We'll get more onto why later on, but first things first; If I'm not a huge fan of this record, why add it to the collection? Well that's because the vinyl pressing I have is apparently a Warped Tour Exclusive, so I jumped on it.
There are a couple things differing from this pressing and the original. Firstly is uses the alternate cover that was used for the special edition CD. In addition, the vinyl it'self is a minty green. I'm not certain that this wasn't sold anywhere else after the tour, but the merch guy told me that it was only being sold at Warped. With that kind of rarity, I had to get it. I know now that they have yet another pressing using the alt. cover, but its on an every cooler green and brownish swirl. I suppose I should mention that even though these pressings use the special edition cover art, they don't include the 4 bonus songs that are found on the CD.
Ok now onto the question that I opened this article with. It's not that it's a bad album by any means. Really, a lot of it is quite good. Songs like 40 Nights (sick ending) and Poor Millionaire are awesome. My problem with this record was that if somewhere were to shuffle songs from Leveler, with songs from their prior album, "Constellations", I wouldn't be able to tell which song was from which album. I was more involved in Constellations because it was fresh and new, but Leveler feels like much of the same. That's not to say the album isn't enjoyable, but nothings shines out from it for me.
[[Pictures form Google Images and my Instagram (@draggingtheneedle), videos from Youtube]]
August Burns Red - Leveler (2011)
1. Empire
2. International Cannon
3. Divisions
4. Cutting the Ties
5. Pangaea
6. Carpe Diem
7. 40 Nights
8. Salt & Light
9. Poor Millionaire
10. 1/16/2011
11. Boys of Fall
12. Leveler
Leveler is August Burns Red's 4th studio recording. It's a good album, but not one I was too crazy about after giving it a listen. We'll get more onto why later on, but first things first; If I'm not a huge fan of this record, why add it to the collection? Well that's because the vinyl pressing I have is apparently a Warped Tour Exclusive, so I jumped on it.
There are a couple things differing from this pressing and the original. Firstly is uses the alternate cover that was used for the special edition CD. In addition, the vinyl it'self is a minty green. I'm not certain that this wasn't sold anywhere else after the tour, but the merch guy told me that it was only being sold at Warped. With that kind of rarity, I had to get it. I know now that they have yet another pressing using the alt. cover, but its on an every cooler green and brownish swirl. I suppose I should mention that even though these pressings use the special edition cover art, they don't include the 4 bonus songs that are found on the CD.
Ok now onto the question that I opened this article with. It's not that it's a bad album by any means. Really, a lot of it is quite good. Songs like 40 Nights (sick ending) and Poor Millionaire are awesome. My problem with this record was that if somewhere were to shuffle songs from Leveler, with songs from their prior album, "Constellations", I wouldn't be able to tell which song was from which album. I was more involved in Constellations because it was fresh and new, but Leveler feels like much of the same. That's not to say the album isn't enjoyable, but nothings shines out from it for me.
[[Pictures form Google Images and my Instagram (@draggingtheneedle), videos from Youtube]]
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Record Collection #11: Pierce The Veil - A Flair For The Dramatic
If someone where to ask me "What's your favorite PTV record?", I'd be hard pressed to come up with an answer. Although, there is just something about this early record of theirs that sticks out to me.
Pierce The Veil - A Flair For The Dramatic (2007)
1. Chemical Kids And Mechanical Brides
2. Currents Convulsive
3. Yeah Boy And Doll Face
4. I'd Rather Die Than Be Famous
5. The Cheap Bouquet
6. Falling Asleep On A Stranger
7. She Sings In The Morning
8. The Balcony Scene
9. Drella
10. Diamonds And Why Men Buy Them
11. Wonderless
The timing of this pressing was near perfect. I had been a PTV fan for just enough time for me to be familiar with their 3 spanning albums. To be exact, I got into these guys just before the release of their 2012 release "Collide With The Sky". First becoming a fan of "Selfish Machines" (2010) and their most recent release, I decided to look into "A Flair For The Dramatic". Needless to say, I liked it just as with the other two albums.
So at this point I've become a fairly new (but big) fan of both vinyl and PTV, and boom; Equal Vision presses both AFFTD and Selfish Machines of vinyl for the first time. I was fairly excited to get myself a copy, and you could tell within the vinyl community, that I wasn't the only one. But I had a system at the time: One record a week. So I was pressed with the question of picking a favorite between two albums I really liked near equally.
The smart decision would've been to get Selfish Machines first because I knew is was of higher favor, and would sell out first. But after spending a whole day listening to nothing but these two records, I felt that AFFTD was something I couldn't pass. Though, as suspected, when the next week rolled around, AFFTD was still available. Selfish Machines was not.
The vinyl it'self is a really gorgeous coral pink color with some light streaks blended in. The rose on the center label makes this record look just incredible. For the longest time it was the best looking piece of wax in my collection, and to this day (with over 100 records in my collection) I still consider it one of my favorite records aesthetically.
So what made me choose this over Selfish Machines? To be honest it's kind of hard to explain why I have favor in this one, so bare with me if this doesn't come out to make a ton of sense. I kind of feel like this record, being earlier in their career, has a more "raw" feeling to it. I suppose what I mean by raw is that it sounds less edited. Like more of a genuine sound. Also, Vic's voice doesn't sound as "whiney". This is all totally subjective, so I'm not saying that is indeed the case. Ill constantly find random parts from different songs on this record will randomly be stuck in my head. Just the other day I had "The Cheap Bouquet" in my head for no reason at all. I'm pretty sure all the record is a solid thumbs up.
[[Images from Google Images and my instagram (@draggingtheneedle), video from youtube]]
Pierce The Veil - A Flair For The Dramatic (2007)
1. Chemical Kids And Mechanical Brides
2. Currents Convulsive
3. Yeah Boy And Doll Face
4. I'd Rather Die Than Be Famous
5. The Cheap Bouquet
6. Falling Asleep On A Stranger
7. She Sings In The Morning
8. The Balcony Scene
9. Drella
10. Diamonds And Why Men Buy Them
11. Wonderless
The timing of this pressing was near perfect. I had been a PTV fan for just enough time for me to be familiar with their 3 spanning albums. To be exact, I got into these guys just before the release of their 2012 release "Collide With The Sky". First becoming a fan of "Selfish Machines" (2010) and their most recent release, I decided to look into "A Flair For The Dramatic". Needless to say, I liked it just as with the other two albums.
So at this point I've become a fairly new (but big) fan of both vinyl and PTV, and boom; Equal Vision presses both AFFTD and Selfish Machines of vinyl for the first time. I was fairly excited to get myself a copy, and you could tell within the vinyl community, that I wasn't the only one. But I had a system at the time: One record a week. So I was pressed with the question of picking a favorite between two albums I really liked near equally.
The smart decision would've been to get Selfish Machines first because I knew is was of higher favor, and would sell out first. But after spending a whole day listening to nothing but these two records, I felt that AFFTD was something I couldn't pass. Though, as suspected, when the next week rolled around, AFFTD was still available. Selfish Machines was not.
The vinyl it'self is a really gorgeous coral pink color with some light streaks blended in. The rose on the center label makes this record look just incredible. For the longest time it was the best looking piece of wax in my collection, and to this day (with over 100 records in my collection) I still consider it one of my favorite records aesthetically.
So what made me choose this over Selfish Machines? To be honest it's kind of hard to explain why I have favor in this one, so bare with me if this doesn't come out to make a ton of sense. I kind of feel like this record, being earlier in their career, has a more "raw" feeling to it. I suppose what I mean by raw is that it sounds less edited. Like more of a genuine sound. Also, Vic's voice doesn't sound as "whiney". This is all totally subjective, so I'm not saying that is indeed the case. Ill constantly find random parts from different songs on this record will randomly be stuck in my head. Just the other day I had "The Cheap Bouquet" in my head for no reason at all. I'm pretty sure all the record is a solid thumbs up.
[[Images from Google Images and my instagram (@draggingtheneedle), video from youtube]]
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Record Collection #10: Sleeping With Sirens - Feel
I have some very mixed feelings about this record. At first I liked it, but really, I haven't really played it a whole lot to be honest.
Sleeping With Sirens - Feel (2013)
1. Feel
2. Here We Go
3. Free Now
4. Alone
5. I'll Take You There
6. The Best There Ever Was
7. Low
8. Congratulations
9. Deja Vu
10. These Things I've Done
11. Sorry
12. Satellites
This one was my first vinyl pre-order. Definitely exciting to get a new record in the mail of new music that you haven' heard. The delay in arrival because of the production time of the vinyl does suck (my girlfriend pre-ordered on CD, and got hers on time, while I'll received my record a week later), but it's one of the most satisfying feelings, making it definitely worth the extra wait.
I ordered it on the red pressing over the white. I figured white is a pretty common color artist seem to press their music on and that I'll likely get another album on white in the future; even though I'm currently at my 28th record, and still don't own anything on white vinyl. Ha. Anyhow, the red looks really crisp, and I like how it matches the text on the cover, even if that is an incredibly small connection, they compliment each other wonderfully.
As far as the music goes, I don't know; I'm kind of torn between a couple songs that are pretty good, but I suppose all in all, I feel this album is a step down from their previous two. The album starts out kind of plain. The title track "Feel" actually feels kind of out of place. Things didn't really pick up for me until 4 tracks in with "Alone" where MGK made an unexpected rapping vocal appearance, that I admit I didn't care for at first, but now sounds like it fits in well.
The next two tracks are also quite good. "The Best There Ever Was is the album's "heavier" song featuring Fronz from Attila, and frontman Kellin get's pretty into it as well ("WHA-WHA-WHA-WHAT") which gives the song a lot of energy. However, "I'll Take You There" [video below] impressed me the most off this album. The song kicks off with a really solid chorus that leads into some really smooth verses. It's just a really good flowing, solid track. The guest vocal appearance by Shayley Bourget; former clean vocalist of Of Mice & Men; now front man of the new band Dayshell; was a welcome surprise. I just wish he had a longer part, but him and Kellin double upping on 2 separate parts of this bridge is the best part of this song that completely over rules the entire album, and in my opinion, is of a much higher caliber than what I would expect from SWS.
After "The Best There Ever Was" the album drops off for me. There's the single "Low" that sounds the most like "old SWS", and a late 80's, early 90's rock style song "Congratulations" featuring Matty Mulins (frontman of Memphis May Fire) that's going to be either love or hate for most fans (I don't like it, but it was still fun to see live at Warped Tour). Deja Vu is a surprisingly sexual song which is a new writing approach from Kellin. The rest of the album is rather forgettable, for me at least.
It's an alright album. If the rest of the tracks were as solid as the 4th through 7th tracks, it would be an awesome record. Regardless, "I'll Take You There" is a musical jewel that everyone into this genre of music should check out.
[pictures from google images and my instagram (@draggingtheneedle), video from youtube]
Sleeping With Sirens - Feel (2013)
1. Feel
2. Here We Go
3. Free Now
4. Alone
5. I'll Take You There
6. The Best There Ever Was
7. Low
8. Congratulations
9. Deja Vu
10. These Things I've Done
11. Sorry
12. Satellites
This one was my first vinyl pre-order. Definitely exciting to get a new record in the mail of new music that you haven' heard. The delay in arrival because of the production time of the vinyl does suck (my girlfriend pre-ordered on CD, and got hers on time, while I'll received my record a week later), but it's one of the most satisfying feelings, making it definitely worth the extra wait.
I ordered it on the red pressing over the white. I figured white is a pretty common color artist seem to press their music on and that I'll likely get another album on white in the future; even though I'm currently at my 28th record, and still don't own anything on white vinyl. Ha. Anyhow, the red looks really crisp, and I like how it matches the text on the cover, even if that is an incredibly small connection, they compliment each other wonderfully.
As far as the music goes, I don't know; I'm kind of torn between a couple songs that are pretty good, but I suppose all in all, I feel this album is a step down from their previous two. The album starts out kind of plain. The title track "Feel" actually feels kind of out of place. Things didn't really pick up for me until 4 tracks in with "Alone" where MGK made an unexpected rapping vocal appearance, that I admit I didn't care for at first, but now sounds like it fits in well.
The next two tracks are also quite good. "The Best There Ever Was is the album's "heavier" song featuring Fronz from Attila, and frontman Kellin get's pretty into it as well ("WHA-WHA-WHA-WHAT") which gives the song a lot of energy. However, "I'll Take You There" [video below] impressed me the most off this album. The song kicks off with a really solid chorus that leads into some really smooth verses. It's just a really good flowing, solid track. The guest vocal appearance by Shayley Bourget; former clean vocalist of Of Mice & Men; now front man of the new band Dayshell; was a welcome surprise. I just wish he had a longer part, but him and Kellin double upping on 2 separate parts of this bridge is the best part of this song that completely over rules the entire album, and in my opinion, is of a much higher caliber than what I would expect from SWS.
After "The Best There Ever Was" the album drops off for me. There's the single "Low" that sounds the most like "old SWS", and a late 80's, early 90's rock style song "Congratulations" featuring Matty Mulins (frontman of Memphis May Fire) that's going to be either love or hate for most fans (I don't like it, but it was still fun to see live at Warped Tour). Deja Vu is a surprisingly sexual song which is a new writing approach from Kellin. The rest of the album is rather forgettable, for me at least.
It's an alright album. If the rest of the tracks were as solid as the 4th through 7th tracks, it would be an awesome record. Regardless, "I'll Take You There" is a musical jewel that everyone into this genre of music should check out.
Friday, September 20, 2013
Vinyl Collection #9: Bring Me The Horizon - Sempiternal
Bring Me The Horizon has been around for a while and throughout all their albums we've seen a very subtle evolution of their sound working down to something...That something is this. This is Sempiternal!
Bring Me The Horizon - Sempiternal (2013)
1. Can You Feel My Heart
2. The House of Wolves
3. Empire (Let Them Sing)
4. Sleepwalking
5. Go to Hell, For Heaven's Sake
6. Shadow Moses
7. And the Snakes Start to Sing
8. Seen It All Before
9. Antivist
10. Crooked Young
11. Hospital For Souls
I didn't preorder this album as it released when I first begun my vinyl collecting. However, I did order it once given the chance, and I held off listening to it more than once until it came in. what we have is a simple gatefold with the lyrics in the center fold. nothing too fancy. The back has the track listings, and the front the cover art. Surprisingly enough, the band name is no where to be found anywhere on the record. Not the cover, spine, back, centerfold, credits, not even on the center label of the vinyl it'self. Kind of odd. So when my grandchildren look through all my prehistoric records after I'm long gone, they'll have no clue who it is! Eh, they'll probably just scan it using their iOS 184 device and google it if they care that much. Ha.
The vinyl is a cool translucent yellow that give off the impression that it's a shiny gold while spinning on the turntable. Much like the one I got with Parkway Drive's "Killing With A Smile". This one is a bit more yellow though. Other pressing include clear, and standard black.
Sempiternal is probably BMTH's most unique album yet, and I love it. The first song "Can You Feel My Heart" set's the mood wonderfully. New innovations such as the new keyboardist Jordan Fisher just feels like the missing piece of the puzzle. Fisher also helped Oliver Sykes bring forth some new music styles including; what?; Singing? Definitely some unexplored territory for frontman Sykes who in the past, only reduced his screams and growls to chanting shouts. The emotion the singing portions bring is just the freshness the band needed, and it's more than welcome. Most notably so in "And The Snakes Start To Sing" and "Hospital For Souls" (if you happened to get the deluxe edition [not available on vinyl] an additional song "Deathbeds" is an amazing display of Sykes new talents).
Don't worry hardcore fans of the old style BMTH; heavy songs are still there and the pit will still be in action. Songs like "Empire", "Shadow Moses", and "Antivist" are all heavy jams that hold a lot of energy. Most of the other songs are mixtures between the 2 sounds offered in this record. My personal favorite off this album has to be "Sleepwalking" [video below!].
Be warned though; most of this album is based off a troubling time where the band felt their life was basically looping itself (hence the album name "Sempiternal", which means without having a known start or end.); according to an interview (also available on the deluxe edition). A number of these songs push against religious beliefs. And they push rather hard. The band has no problem displaying their personal atheistic views, even to the point where some who value their own religious views could take the message personally offensive. So if religion is a sensitive topic for you, or lack there of, be cautious when listening to this one. But all that aside, this is still one of the best albums released recently out of the hardcore genre.
Bring Me The Horizon - Sempiternal (2013)
1. Can You Feel My Heart
2. The House of Wolves
3. Empire (Let Them Sing)
4. Sleepwalking
5. Go to Hell, For Heaven's Sake
6. Shadow Moses
7. And the Snakes Start to Sing
8. Seen It All Before
9. Antivist
10. Crooked Young
11. Hospital For Souls
I didn't preorder this album as it released when I first begun my vinyl collecting. However, I did order it once given the chance, and I held off listening to it more than once until it came in. what we have is a simple gatefold with the lyrics in the center fold. nothing too fancy. The back has the track listings, and the front the cover art. Surprisingly enough, the band name is no where to be found anywhere on the record. Not the cover, spine, back, centerfold, credits, not even on the center label of the vinyl it'self. Kind of odd. So when my grandchildren look through all my prehistoric records after I'm long gone, they'll have no clue who it is! Eh, they'll probably just scan it using their iOS 184 device and google it if they care that much. Ha.
Sempiternal is probably BMTH's most unique album yet, and I love it. The first song "Can You Feel My Heart" set's the mood wonderfully. New innovations such as the new keyboardist Jordan Fisher just feels like the missing piece of the puzzle. Fisher also helped Oliver Sykes bring forth some new music styles including; what?; Singing? Definitely some unexplored territory for frontman Sykes who in the past, only reduced his screams and growls to chanting shouts. The emotion the singing portions bring is just the freshness the band needed, and it's more than welcome. Most notably so in "And The Snakes Start To Sing" and "Hospital For Souls" (if you happened to get the deluxe edition [not available on vinyl] an additional song "Deathbeds" is an amazing display of Sykes new talents).
Don't worry hardcore fans of the old style BMTH; heavy songs are still there and the pit will still be in action. Songs like "Empire", "Shadow Moses", and "Antivist" are all heavy jams that hold a lot of energy. Most of the other songs are mixtures between the 2 sounds offered in this record. My personal favorite off this album has to be "Sleepwalking" [video below!].
Be warned though; most of this album is based off a troubling time where the band felt their life was basically looping itself (hence the album name "Sempiternal", which means without having a known start or end.); according to an interview (also available on the deluxe edition). A number of these songs push against religious beliefs. And they push rather hard. The band has no problem displaying their personal atheistic views, even to the point where some who value their own religious views could take the message personally offensive. So if religion is a sensitive topic for you, or lack there of, be cautious when listening to this one. But all that aside, this is still one of the best albums released recently out of the hardcore genre.
[all images from google images and my instagram (@draggingtheneedle), video from youtube]
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