skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Let me tell you something... Finding and owning a copy of this CD is truly a dream come true. For those of you not in the know, The Wildbunch was the original band name of Electric Six! And if you know me, you know I'm into this group like they were a religion.
I ran across this disc on eBay and bought it straight away. I won't tell you how much I paid because it's quite a bit for one used CD. Especially this one. Don't get me wrong, I love this album, but it's not up to the standard you're normally accustom to with E6.
This is a live concert set performed by The Wildbunch back on November 26, 1997 at The Gold Dollar in Detroit according to the insert. What makes this release so interesting is the fact I get to hear one of my favorite bands of all time when they were first starting out. I get to hear the live progression of their sound. I also get to hear a bunch of early songs they didn't use when they changed their name and started releasing as Electric Six. Some of these songs survived but many of them didn't.
Dick Valentine delivers another inspired performance and you can hear him commit to the material just as strongly then as he does today. This is a vocalist who does more than just sing. He adopts a persona and performs not just as a singer, but as a character. His ability to completely transform himself is one of the most amazing qualities an artist can have. He leaves the pretentiousness and pomp of Dick Valentine on the stage when he's not performing and becomes one of the most genuine human beings you'll ever meet. It's inspiring.
There are a few covers included in this set. The first is 'The Model' by Kraftwerk. A most unusual song to find on this record, but one I think is also pretty cool. It's followed a couple tracks later by Alice Cooper's 'Clones (We're All)'. Another great number performed here. The Verve Pipe's 'The Freshman' is performed acoustically by Dick sort of as a joke. Earlier in the set, he tells the crowd if they don't get $100 in merch sales, he's going to perform the song and because they fail to make the target, he does the tune. First off, it's a great cover, Dick does an excellent job, I don't know why it would be so horrible to hear him perform it and seriously, I drop $100 bucks just by myself at the merch table when I see them perform. It should also be mentioned, it's not listed on the tracklist even though it has a dedicated track on the disc. Meaning, the tracklist on the album cover lists 22 songs but there are 23 on the disc. I'm guessing it's because they didn't have the rights for the song. But that's just a wild guess.
Discogs.com lists 'I'm A Demon' as a cover and I had to look it up because it seems like such a perfect E6 title to me. However, it seems it is Roky Erickson's track, 'I'm A Demon' is from his 1986 album, "Gremlins Have Pictures". I listened to his version on Youtube and it's definitely a cover. Darn it. Great tune.
There's a lot of Greatest Hits material here from Electric Six's first record, "Fire" including the international smash hit, 'Gay Bar'. So much to consume and consider. A lot of this material ended up on "Fire" or subsequent albums. Some of the tracks ended up as single b-sides. A few of them show up in demo form on "Sexy Trash" and some of them just sorta disappear into the ether.
This isn't a highly polished live outing. It's a rough and hard explosion of a band cutting its teeth and paying its dues. The songs are super short and there are a couple obvious cuts letting you know without a doubt, you aren't getting the full show. I'm not sure how many songs they actually played that night, but this is amazing for a young band. This is an epic moment in the development and history of one of America's greatest Independent bands. And a true treasure! My final words: ONE OF MY PRIZED MUSICAL POSSESSIONS! EXCELLENT GLIMPSE INTO EARLY ELECTRIC SIX!
THE WILDBUNCH - DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE ROBOT LIVE AT THE GOLD DOLLAR
01. Nuclear War (On The Dance Floor)
02. Speak English
03. Naked Pictures
04. The Model
05. Computer
06. The Ballade Of MC Sucka DJ
07. Clones
08. Immolate Me
09. Taxi To Nowhere
10. Don't Be Afraid Of The Robot
11. Breaking Up
12. I'm On Acid
13. R U Afraid Of The Devil?
14. Meat The Band
15. I Am The Knife
16. I Am Detroit
17. I Lost Control (Solo)
18. The Freshman
19. I'm A Demon
20. Tiny Little Men
21. Take Off Your Clothes
22. Gay Bar
23. I Know Karate
As much as it pains me to admit this... I didn't know who The Ting Tings were until after their 3rd album was released. "We Started Nothing" is their first and frankly, if I'd heard it earlier I would've been on board following this band from day one.
There are so many reasons to like this group but the one I like best is the simple fact they write some of the most fun and energetic pop music I've ever heard. They blend sounds from other genres into their musical stew and somehow it all melts together to form the perfect toasted cheese music sandwich. You just sink your teeth in.
I've talked about this before, but once I'd heard some of their songs I was hooked and in the space of a couple weeks I bought their entire catalog. This is actually the first CD of theirs I owned and it's fantastic!
Right off the bat, 'Great DJ' takes simple lyrics, repetition and a compelling drum beat, throws them together and the result is absolute top-of-your-lungs-in-the-car-driving-window-down-singing good times! There's not a lot of content here as far as lyrics are concerned. It's a very simple story and the repetitive "drums" chant would drive me crazy in a band like The Cranberries, but here it actually works and gets me excited!
There's a punk edge to the sound of this first record and it's here in the second track. 'That's Not My Name' is another power house of a song that's so catchy you can't help but sing along! Between the first two songs, I'm already in the zone and completely grooving. But nothing could prepare me for 'Fruit Machine'. There's something about this tune that brings to mind the rock The Go-Go's used to make. And when you hit the chorus and with Katie White singing "Ka-Ching, Boy", I'm jumping up and down like I was at a B-52's concert. This band has an uncanny knack for writing these incredible hooks and catchy songs. You just can't help but get into them.
Following 'Fruit Machine' is 'Traffic Light' and this song slows things down dramatically. It's a mid-tempo tune that initially sounds like another band. You actually turn around and think to yourself, "Wait, what happened to the CD I was playing?" Eventually, Katie's vocals float in and you realize you're still in the spell of this band. Even a simple song like 'Traffic Light' is good. My favorite bit comes toward the end of the track when they use orchestral sounds to punctuate the lyrics.
'Shut Up And Let Me Go' is easily my favorite track on this disc. Once again, you have the driving punk sound of the drums hammering behind animated vocals. This tune is a forerunner to a funkier sound they explore more on their subsequent albums. The rhythm guitar is absolutely pumpin'! As much as I dig this album, I will put this disc in sometimes and play this track on repeat. If you haven't heard it, stream it on Youtube now and discover this band!
'Keep Your Head' moves the band in yet another direction. The signature drum and guitar are present and driving the track along until suddenly, you get some keyboards motifs jumping in and a fuller band sound suddenly takes over. 'Be The One' comes in at number 7 and is another stunning effort. The melody really stands out on this number. Up to this point, White alternates between singing and an aggressive half shout talking rap style. 'Be The One' showcases her in a softer way. Like 'Traffic Light', this track is sung all the way through and Katie really shines. Jules is also noticeable on vocals here. He sings background.
The album takes another shift with 'We Walk'. There are a lot of elements in this track I'd normally dismiss as ridiculous. It starts off with a piano intro before the percussion kicks in and the drums erupt. White is back to her Speaking/Singing delivery. It's a still a typical Ting Tings song and includes all of the things I like about them, but there's something Broadway about this track. Maybe it's the way the piano plays along with the drum track, but it reminds me of a number that would work in a Broadway musical.
'Impacailla Carpisung' is a song I still haven't quite figured out. The vocals and music sound like a jungle chant. When I hear it I'm reminded of a song Vanity did on her "Skin On Skin" album called 'In The Jungle'. I'm sure if I listened to it right now it wouldn't sound anything like this track, but for some reason, my mind connects the two and they have a similar vibe for me.
'We Started Nothing' ends the album on a high note similar to the one it started on. The funky drumming and rhythm guitar hooks build wonderfully in this tune. White sings the song verging on a falsetto. The strange edge it gives her voice creates a tension they build throughout. Eventually you get some horn parts and it's like an excellent foreshadow in a movie. You can hear the funk direction they'll eventually expand on with the release of "Super Critical".
I realize everything sounds like rainbows and unicorn farts when I write about The Ting Tings, but their music is so infectious I get sucked in and I absolutely love what they do. This is a band I desperately want to see live. It would be quite the experience I imagine.
I find myself checking their website at least once a week because they've posted statements about a new album they're working on. I haven't been this excited for new music since the last Electric Six album came out. This is a band I think everyone should check out. I think you'll find them just as thrilling as I do.
BTW, the reason I have two covers is because I have two copies of this record and one has the yellow cover and one has the red. So I'm including them both.
My final words: THE BEST FRESHMAN OUTING IN A CENTURY!
THE TING TINGS - WE STARTED NOTHING
01. Great DJ
02. That's Not My Name
03. Fruit Machine
04. Traffic Light
05. Shut Up And Let Me Go
06. Keep Your Head
07. Be The One
08. We Walk
09. Impacilla Carpisung
10. We Started Nothing
Residual Kid are a band I just saw live in Flagstaff during an Electric Six concert. They were the second of three bands and got upstaged by the antics of Phoenix based party band, Broloaf. When they took the stage, the crowd was so wound up over the loud mashing metal of Broloaf, their alt rock sound seemed almost washed out.
Still, you gotta give em credit, they got up and played their hearts out. It's hard to follow a band who passes out beer and shots to the crowd.
I don't remember much about their set as I was sitting at the bar and by that time, Broloaf were hanging out nearby. It was a bit loud around me and I had a hard time concentrating on what was happening onstage. Still, I'd picked up their CD and was looking forward to giving it a listen.
When I met the band, I was initially surprised at how young they looked. Some of that youthfulness is evident when you hear their album. On first listen, the disc seems to revolve around extremely shallow concepts, but on closer inspection you pick up on the themes they're trying to get across.
For a young band, they've got some interesting musical ideas and I like the fact they don't follow a standard method of composition or playing. There are quite a few outstanding tracks on this disc, but my favorite of the bunch is easily 'Friend'. That song just hammers.
'Purple Shoes' is awesome musically, but the lyrics... Lol, I can't get over the lyrics. Residual Kid are strongly influenced by an alternative rock scene and there's a punk sensibility to what they're doing. They remind me of bands like Green Day who dominated the Alt. Rock scene of the mid to late 90's.
Based out of Austin, Texas, Residual Kid may not be the torch bearers of a California punk movement, but they certainly may herald a new underground music scene happening in their native Texas. You'll just have to stick around and see where they end up.
It would be interesting to see this band play again. This time without the distractions around me. I'd like to give them a fair shot. Based on this disc, I suspect I'd really enjoy their show.
My final words: A FINE BIT OF ROCK FOR YOUR EARS! CHECK IT OUT!
RESIDUAL KID - FACES
01. Faces
02. Friend
03. Purple Shoes
04. Pulling Through
05. Lab Rat
06. Lost Cause
This is an interesting band! A friend of mine recommended I check them out. He knew I'm a huge fan of Dick Valentine and Electric Six. I didn't quite understand why he wanted me to hear this CD as much as he did until I got it. Although not mentioned by name, E6 dynamic frontman, Dick Valentine appears on the track 'I'm A Vampire' as a guest vocalist. Because I tend to be a completist when it comes to bands I like, this record would of course be essential to my Electric Six collection. However, unlike previous albums I've picked up because Valentine makes an appearance, I really like this one.
SG is a band that combines the pop sensibility and sound of 80's new wave genre with innovative lyrics, catchy melodies and a challenging approach to just about everything they stick their hands in. Photos of the band on the back cover and in the CD insert look like a drag version of glamour shots. But instead of evoking a cringeworthy response, it comes across colorful and expressive. Part of what made the 80's so interesting was the fantastic ways people would dress and wear their hair. Like many of their glam rock compatriots, SG use costumes and make-up to create an image that's youthful, fun and brimming with gender bending sexuality.
I've actually got a few songs I really love on this disc. The first one to end up on repeat for me was '19th & Lexington'. I'm absolutely curious about the origin of this track and what inspired it. There's a story behind that tune and I wanna hear it. The second song I've completely flipped for is 'The Collection'. This is one that might end up on a playlist I post online. I love the "Roll call role play" chant in the song. It's super catchy, tongue twisting and intentionally complicated.
'The Apple Falls' is another track I'm utterly enchanted with. I love the line, "...circle fruit undo my made up world..." One of the things I find myself really loving about this group is the lyrical content and the way they arrange the vocals. It's unique! 'Socially Activist' is another blasting track with an amazing vocal performance.
There's the electronic element throughout the album, but there's also a strong California rock sound as well. At time's I hear The Red Hot Chili Peppers and on 'Now Unthinkable' I hear some drumming that reminds me of the drummers Prince used towards the end of his career in the New Power Generation. That's some serious funk chops they're laying down.
One of the most rewarding aspects of this blog is when I find a new up and coming band I think is doing something different and interesting. Shitting Glitter fits that description and I see them as a vital musical force with the potential to start a new musical movement in California and beyond. Their amalgamation of musical styles and queer culture make them a force to be reckoned with. If they survive their time in obscurity as a new artist trying to crossover, I predict they'll end up fronting a whole generation of new bands ready to push the boundaries of conventional thinking. If you want this record, click HERE to contact the band on Facebook and order it directly from them. My final words: JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE TO GO BACK IN THE 80'S... SHITTING GLITTER ERUPTS LIKE A DIAMOND PIMPLE ALL OVER YOUR DISCO MIRRORS! BUY THIS RECORD!
SHITTING GLITTER - OPEN FOR BUSINESS
01. Legalese
02. 19th & Lexington
03. Milk Money
04. Idiot Light
05. The Collection
06. Hopeless Romantic
07. The Apple Falls
08. I'm A Vampire
09. Socially Activist
10. The Red State
11. Now Unthinkable
12. Treasure Good Things
This is another E.P. I picked up by the band, In The Whale at the Electric Six show. They were the opening band. Once again, the disc is loaded with rocking material. In The Whale is a guitar/drum duo who really bring the intensity and the noise. As a live band, they're both exciting and engaging. On disc, they're able to convey the same level of energy and excitement they produce in a live setting.
I picked up three discs by them and this is the second I'm reviewing. 'Whiskey Gin + Beer' strikes me as a Southern Rock number. It's got a great swing and I could easily see it racking up fans of that musical genre. The first track is 'Radio' and it's an aggressive hard number that sets up the disc rather well. There are some interesting vocal techniques used and overall, I quite like it.
My favorite song on the disc is probably 'Cavity'. I like the rockabilly swing on this tune and it's the track I enjoy singing along with the most. 'Johnny Two A Day' is another blasting rock number performed with a more traditional metal vocal.
Surprisingly, the final track, 'Mail', is an acoustic ballad sung almost as a duet with a female vocalist. I think the reason I like this track is because it demonstrates the band is so much more than just a rocking force of nature. There's melody and substance there as well.
I'm happy to recommend In The Whale to people who are looking for a new group to discover or something to rock out with. My final words: WELL WORTH YOUR TIME AND MONEY.
IN THE WHALE - FULL NELSON
01. Radio
02. Whiskey Gin + Beer
03. Cavity
04. Johnny Two A Day
05. Mail
For those of you who don't know... Dick Valentine is the lead singer of both Evil Cowards and Electric Six. He's released a series of solo records that usually consist of acoustic songs. His new album is no exception. However, it is slightly different in that the songs are all covers of material previously recorded and released by Evil Cowards and Electric Six.
I was excited about this release and even more pleased with it once I received it and was able to hear it. I spent an entire morning driving around in my truck listening to it. I was blown away!
No matter what the band or how much you love them, there are always certain songs you like more than others. Oddly enough, this compilation has some of my all time favorite Evil Cowards and Electric Six tracks represented. Right off the bat, Valentine starts with 'I Buy The Drugs'... This song was the absolute jam the first time I heard it and I've enjoyed it immensely over the years. I never get tired of hearing it. Both 'Steal Your Bones' and 'Alone With Your Body' are present at the start of this disc and both songs were my favorite tracks on their respective albums. 'Steal Your Bones' is from "Kill" and 'Alone With Your Body' is from "Human Zoo". One song about cloning and one about necrophilia... Once again, Valentine challenges our preconceptions about taboo subjects and turns even the most grimacing perversions into humorous anecdotes. If necrophilia ever becomes a socially acceptable form of sexual expression, we'll know who to blame.
The track I was most anticipating is number 8. 'When I Get To The Green Building' is easily one of my all time favorite E6 songs to date. I absolutely adore this song. In some ways I see it as a classic rock opus... One of those early rock ballads from the 70s where you would get more than just a cool song, you'd get a supernatural story; like the Eagles' 'Hotel California' or Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway To Heaven'. To me, this is one of the strongest songs Valentine has ever committed to tape and I'm thrilled to have it appear here in this acoustic format. It's as magnificent here as it is on the album. It's followed by another song in this vein called 'Watching Evil Empires Fall Apart' and it's an epic as well.
There are two Evil Cowards' covers here. 'Sex Wars' from "Covered In Gas" and 'Rich Kids' is from "Moving Through Security". Coincidently, 'Rich Kids' is my favorite track from "Moving Through Security". So once again, he's picked more of my favs to re-invent and express here.
There are a couple songs on here I consider sleeper tracks. In other words, I didn't like them the first time I heard them but as I listened to the album a few times, they grew on me and have become favorites. These songs include 'The Band In Hell', 'Pink Flamingos' and 'Iron Dragon'. There's even newer songs appearing on this compilation such as 'Roulette' and 'Take Another Shape'. Both of these tracks are from Electric Six's last record.
Dick Valentine is an interesting character. He's prolific. Maybe not as prolific as Prince, but he writes a lot. And his lyrics are written off by a lot of people, but those who take the time to invest in his work discover a song writer who is insightful, concerned, relevant and deeply poetic. He's an under-rated talent.
What more do I have to say to encourage you to take a chance and buy this awesome record??? You need it. Right now you can order the CD directly from Valentine through his Facebook page. Otherwise, you will have to attend a live E6 show to purchase one.
If you don't know anything about Dick Valentine, this is a good starting point. Pick up this record and if you like it, prepare yourself for even more to come as you explore the worlds of his various projects and bands.
My final words: ACOUSTIC MASTERPIECE FROM A MASTER ARTIST!!!
01. I Buy The Drugs
02. Wikileaks
03. Steal Your Bones
04. Alone With Your Body
05. Show Me What Your Lights Mean
06. Sex Wars
07. Take Another Shape
08. When I Get To The Green Building
09. Watching Evil Empires Fall Apart
10. Rich Kids
11. The Band In Hell
12. Doom And Gloom And Doom And Gloom
13. Pink Flamingos
14. Roulette
15. Heartbeats And Brainwaves
16. Iron Dragon
So what do I know about Troy Gregory? Absolutely nothing. However, I've known about this CD for a few years now and I finally decided to bite the bullet and buy it. My reason for buying this disc is because I keep finding it on Electric Six discographies. Apparently, E6 collaborated with Gregory on a track called 'Dealin' In Death N' Stealin' In The Name Of The Lord'. I was excited to hear the track. I found it on eBay for a decent price and so I picked it up.
I was disappointed when I got the disc and found out none of the members of Electric Six actually receive a writing credit for the song. They play all the instruments and Dick Valentine sings background. So far that's all I can ascertain. And just as a side note... E6 did this while they were still The Wildbunch.
Oddly enough, this disc is 13 tracks of Gregory working with a bunch of different bands, most of which I've never heard of before. I knew The Volebeats and I'd heard of Bantam Rooster, but everyone else on this record is completely unknown to me. With strange names like Outrageous Cherry, The Sights, Slumber Party and They Come In Threes.
Now, to be fair, I haven't lived with this disc for very long so I'm giving you my initial reaction to it. All of the songs range between two and four minutes with none of them actually breaking the four minute mark. They're short and remind me heavily of the Paisley Underground movement back in the 80's. Gregory's music blends the psychedelic rock of the 60's with punk and rock influences of the 80's. It's a trippy album.
So far, my favorite track on the album is actually 'Leave The Ghost At Home. There are other great songs on the record, but it's not surprising it didn't fare better. The disc lacks the pop hooks and melodies of a record with mass appeal. It lingers in psychedelic weirdness for much of its length. Songs like 'Down 2 The Last Santa Claus' and 'Freezing Rain Freezin'' sound experimental and disjointed; while tracks like 'We Werk The Lines In Yer Hand' sound more like advertising for a national chain of palm readers.
This is a rather strange piece of music, but there are moments of absolute brilliance and charm. I get a little frustrated with the broken record routine and Gregory falls victim to it on this album quite a bit. When I say "Broken Record Routine" I refer to a song where lines are repeated over and over. The Cranberries were notorious for it in the 90's. It almost drove me insane. Sometimes, I still can't listen to them for this reason. Gregory certainly has a vivid imagination and should've been capable of coming up with additional lyrics rather than setting the song on repeat. But he doesn't. And although I don't like it, I'm sure some people do.
It's not what I was expecting or hoping for. But it does have its appeal and charm. I'll need to live with it for a bit longer before I decide if I actually love it or hate it, but for now, I'm somewhere in the middle and that's fine. It hasn't convinced me to become a huge Gregory fan, so that's a strike. But you never know.
My final words: A STRANGE BIT OF MUSIC TO INVESTIGATE.
TROY GREGORY - SYBIL
01. Lice Cats N' Rabies Shots
02. Leave The Ghost At Home
03. Rat Squad
04. Regrets...I've Had A Few
05. Left My Mind Alone
06. Other Dimensions Will Reveal Themselves 2 B True 2 U
07. Dealin' In Death N' Stealin' In The Name Of The Lord
08. It Ain't Human
09. Down 2 The Last Santa Claus
10. Electric Fool
11. Born In A Haunted Barn
12. We Werk The Lines In Yer Hand
13. Freezing Rain Freezin'
Another awesome Kickstarter exclusive from E6 and frontman, Dick Valentine! This time, the band deliver a soundtrack to a mocumentary film they made called, "Roulette Stars Of Metro Detroit". The two disc set also includes a new Dick Valentine CD entitled "Raw". But more on that in a minute.
The E6 disc is actually quite amazing! It's made up of a selection of tracks. There's new original material, some covers and a remix. Together, it's a rather satisfying listen and one I'm currently enjoying on a regular basis. The covers are interesting choices. The first one, 'All Night Long' is from a band called Rainbow. They're made up from former members of Blue Oyster Cult. I think the track was originally released in 1979 but I'm not sure. I didn't know this one at all prior to it showing up here. I had to research it online. The first time I listened to it, I thought, "Holy smokes, they're turning into an 80's hair band!" but the song is so rocking and fun it's become one of my favorite on the disc. The second cover is 'Obsession' by 80's one hit wonder band, Animotion. I actually remember buying their cassette when the song first came out and hating the rest of the tracks. 'Obsession' was the only track worth owning and I never upgraded that cassette to CD. The third and final cover is Oingo Boingo's 'When The Lights Go Out'. Danny Elfman is an amazing songwriter and his quirky song writing style translates well into E'sixian. It's excellent!
The mix on the disc is the Dubai Bros. remix of 'Night Vision'. The first time I heard it, I thought it was weird and I wasn't sure if I liked it. However, on subsequent listens, it's become one of the tracks I love the most. In fact, I play it all the time in my truck while I'm driving. It's such an odd remix and yet it feels completely right! It's actually made me excited to listen to mixes again. I've sorta got to the point where I think they're not worth my time. As much as I like the original 'Night Vision', I like this one just as much if not more. It adds so much dimension to the song. Wow.
As for the new original material, holy smokes! I love 'An Omen Of Things To Come', 'I Upgraded To You' and 'Shrink The Bastards'. They're simply phenomenal and yet another reason I've become such a hardcore fan of this band.
The second disc, the Dick Valentine album, isn't a disc full of new songs like his other previous efforts, but rather an outtake disc of sorts. Don't get me wrong, you hear demos of songs that haven't been released, but the majority of the tracks are music demos for tracks that were released. He includes his rough musical ideas for tracks he wrote for both Electric Six and Evil Cowards. The majority of the tracks are instrumental or the musical blueprints of the songs, but what makes the disc so fascinating is you actually get an idea of how the songwriting process works for him. It's interesting to hear these rough versions compared to the produced and polished released tracks. I'm highly pleased with the amount of material included on these discs and I'm enjoying the discs equally!
This set was a kickstarter exclusive. If you didn't buy it through the original campaign, I'm not sure you'll get another chance to own it. It's certainly worth having and for those of you who didn't, you're missing out. My final words: ANOTHER VICTORY FOR THE ROULETTE STARS OF METRO DETROIT!!!! THEY WIN ALL THE MONIES!
ELECTRIC SIX/DICK VALENTINE - ROULETTE STARS OF METRO DETROIT/RAW
DISC ONE - Original Soundtrack
01. Compensation
02. All Night Long
03. An Omen Of Things To Come
04. Obsession
05. Night Vision (Dubai Bros. Remix)
06. I Upgraded To You
07. Shrink The Bastards
08. Lottery Reptiles (Tropicalia Mix)
09. When The Lights Goes Out
DISC TWO - Raw
01. Classon Av. Robots
02. Digital Jackass
03. Hello! I See You
04. I Belong In A Factory
05. I Can Translate
06. I'm Not Scared Of Flying Saucers
07. Laughing Gas
08. Making Progress
09. Miami
10. Rubbing Me The Wrong Way
11. Suitcases
12. Synth 2
13. Theme From Garage Band (Test 1)
14. Tonight Should Have Never Been Tonight (Test 3)
15. Waste Of Time And Money
16. Zora And Nora
Transit-Cast is another band I saw play live the other night. They're a local Salt Lake band and they opened the Electric Six/In The Whale show. I wasn't sure what to think about them when they first started. I had a hard time understanding what they were saying but that was due to the crap sound at the club. Once I got past that, I thought they were pretty good.
They're not a flashy, over the top sorta group, but they're solid and the members play well together. The lead singer has a strong tempered voice in the tradition of rock bands. The biggest difference between this group and the more standard fare metal would be the subject matter they tackle with their lyrics. The songs of love are taken from a place of devotion.
The music is pumped up and rockin'! The disc maintains a strong tempo all the way through and it's enjoyable to listen to.
Now here's where I'm gonna be a little rough with this group... It's obvious from the music on the disc and the live performance, that these guys are all fairly experienced. They're great on their instruments and they know what to do. They play in the pocket together and everything is right in line... But I feel like the music isn't where it should be. They're not challenging themselves or breaking any new ground. With as much experience as they have, they shouldn't be relying on such formulaic songwriting to fill an album.
I love a lot of their ideas and I think the songs are nice, but they lack that "umph!" a good rock band needs. Let's take the song 'Bullseye' for example... It's got a huge amount of potential. It's got a hook in the guitar bits. It's a little busy and could be more power chord, more simple, but when the song starts, that hook is played lower in the mix. It should rage and be right up front. Everything should bow before it. The lyrics offer the vocalist a chance to scream, shout, drone or even speak lyrics. But he sings in the steady voice he's used throughout the entire disc. There's no variation or change up. Of all the tracks, this one to me shows the most potential lost in the arrangement.
I think the right producer could challenge this group and get them to kick their game up a notch. Let's face it, metal singers are a dime a dozen. You've got guys with great voices singing in their showers and garage bands all over the world. The groups that cross over or really make it do so because they bring something unique and different to the game. Both Electric Six and In The Whale do a great deal of work on the vocal arrangements. In both cases, they've developed a sound that can be associated with them alone. Transit-Cast hasn't found its voice yet. But its there. It really is.
The biggest concern I have for this band is without pushing themselves and their songs, the group can easily sound dated. If that's what they're trying for then they've captured the 80's hair band sound exactly. If they're trying to do something new and exciting, it's time to shake things up.
This is a sensible band. A group of great guys who I'd like to see more of and who I'd like to see do more with their music.
They gave copies of their album out for free at the show. I think you can get a copy through their facebook page. Just search for Transit-Cast. At the end of it all I think this is a great band with a lot of potential. My final words: ON THE VERGE OF FINDING THEIR VOICE AND SOUND! AN INTERESTING DISC WELL WORTH LISTENING TO.
TRANSIT-CAST - TRANSIT-CAST
01. Red Red Roses
02. Beautiful Babies
03. Of Love
04. Come Over
05. The Good Ones
06. Something Out There
07. Disco Chicks
08. Follow Into This
09. Bullseye
10. Maybe
11. Count The Clocks
In The Whale is a band from Denver, Colorado. They are a guitar and drum duo currently on tour with Electric Six and these guys can really bring the noise. As I do with most bands I see playing with E6, I looked In The Whale up online before I actually saw them play. I like to have an idea as to whether or not I'll like a group before I see them live. I immediately liked what I was hearing. This is an exciting group!
They had three discs on sale at the show and I picked up all three... I'm reviewing "Cake" first because it has my current favorite song by them on it. Of the four songs on this disc, 'Heels' is my favorite but all of them are quite compelling and listenable. In the tradition of The White Stripes, Pucifer and Little Hurricane, this group rocks you relentlessly from start to finish.
Although the sound at the concert wasn't all that great, (in fact, it was absolute crap), you could still get the feeling for what they were capable of bringing. Live, they are dynamic, engaging and a lot of fun! In person, they were friendly, shy and even flattered by attention. Definitely a group worth following and hearing more from.
I can't recommend this group enough. You won't find their CDs through traditional means. You can find them on bandcamp though. And I believe you can order a physical copy of their "Cake" EP there. All of these tunes are worth owning so don't wait! Go pick up yours today!
My final words: AN EXCITING NEW VOICE IN ROCK MUSIC EMERGING FROM THE ROCKIES!!!! YOU WANT THEM, YOU NEED THEM, GO GET IT!!!!
IN THE WHALE - CAKE
01. 34-28-32
02. Woman
03. Heels
04. Shall Not Be Moved
As many of you already know, I discovered Andy D when he performed on 'It Gets Hot' by Electric Six and met him when he opened for them during the "Heartbeats And Brainwaves Tour". I'd already seen him perform on Youtube clips and I was excited to see more of him. Andy is a dynamic live performer and a genuinely nice guy. I enjoyed chatting with him and spending time at the show. I bought his first and second albums at that concert and I felt like the first disc, "Name Your Perversion" didn't quite translate from the live performance to the disc. But I had great hopes for this album and I wasn't disappointed. This disc certainly conveys the energy he projects during a live performance.
I don't think it will come as a surprise that most of his songs are sophomoric and over-sexualized. Sometimes he comes across like a teen boy who's just discovered sex and his lyrics come across as rather trivial. But that's more or less where Andy D lives. He's not here to change the world or make a political statement, he's here to party and have a good time. Once again, the instrumentation is quite minimalist and the lyrics simple and straight forward. The first song, 'Playground' is an interesting song about oral sex of various kinds. Um, wow. 'Electric Wilderness' is next and it's got a few funny lines throughout. It's a pretty good song. I like the music on this track and I think he delivers on the vocals. On my CD, Andy wrote "Your magic is real and I believe in you!" Imagine my surprise when I heard that line appear in the song. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and tell you, that autograph actually personalized this song for me and made me listen to it constantly. It's one of my favorite tracks on the disc! 'Hey Tina (Pick Up The Phone)' was probably the track I remember most from his live show. It was highly dramatic. And he delivers it here with just as much enthusiasm. When you actually listen to song you realize the music is actually inspired and borrows elements from George Clinton and his 70's bands like Funkadelic and Parlet. It's actually quite funky and enjoyable. If you don't listen to anything else, check out this number.
'Angels On The Dancefloor' is a song that doesn't offer much musically, yet I love the lyrics on this one. It makes me laugh everytime and I listen to it a lot. 'Wizard' kicks in with some interesting sounds, but when the tinkling keyboards kick in, it starts to sound like early 80's rap. Still, it's cool for what it is. Andy does have an affinity for that older rap and he emulates it with his own material. 'I Wanna Be Your Unicorn' combines some rock metal guitar licks with some funk rhythm guitar. It's a metaphor. His horn is of course his "you-know-what" but the tune is catchy. 'Bump In The Nite' is Andy's Halloween single. Of course, the four letter words strung throughout the chorus means it will never see playtime at kids parties. If it could, this might have been a breakthrough hit for him.
'Moderne Romance' is up next and this one uses lots of drum fills and beats to create a frantic pace. 'Alchemy Of The D' is the obligatory "I'm-all-that" track. Andy proclaims his superiority in many different ways. 'Black Rainbow' is another song with that's highly Clintonesque. It's got a 70's funk vibe and I like the chorus. The final track is 'Ragnarock (Viking Lover)'. This one kinda marches on with a guitar lick playing along with the beat, but it's mixed low in the track. Based on the title, you'd expect something huge and climactic, but it never achieves that build.
In the end, this is a CD that at the very least lives up to the live performance of this artist. The live show is unbeatable. I think it's vastly superior to the previous disc and I'm looking forward to hearing even more. Andy D is a fun listen. My final words: AN IMPROVEMENT WITH THE PROMISE OF EVEN MORE TO COME.
ANDY D PRESENTS THE WEEKEND - SONGS IN THE KEY OF MAGIC
01. Playground
02. Electric Wilderness
03. Hey Tina (Pick Up The Phone)
04. Angels On The Dancefloor
05. Wizard
06. I Wanna Be Your Unicorn
07. Bump In The Nite
08. Moderne Romance
09. Alchemy Of The D
10. Black Rainbow
11. Ragnarock (Viking Lover)
White Reaper is a band I saw live when they opened up for Electric Six. I usually enjoy the bands that E6 chooses to tour with, so I picked up their EP at the merch booth and I've given it a listen over the past couple of months.
White Reaper look like a metal band and although their music rocks like a metal band, they sound more like a lot of that great alternative rock coming out of the 90's. I hear bands like Mudhoney, Fantomas and The Melvins in them. And that's not bad company to be in.
If I had one complaint it would be the vocal levels. The lead singer's voice gets drowned out by the barrage of instruments. The engineering on this disc isn't balanced well and at times you just get washed in sound. I'm guessing the music was recorded as the band played it live in the studio rather than multi tracked.
The disc starts off with 'Cool', featuring a cool guitar effect and a great drum beat. The lead singer comes in and you instantly think about the Paisley Underground movement in the 80's. It's almost something I'd expect to hear from The Beatles with The Go-Go's playing the music. I quite like the song. It's groovy and rockin' at the same time and quite frankly, that's something people who get into Electric Six look forward to hearing. 'Funn' is the second track and this one is a bit more straight forward rock and roll number. I like the punctuated half shouts of "No!" on the chorus.
'Half Bad' reminds me of The Bangles circa "All Over The Place" back in 1984. It's got an amazing breakdown about three quarters of the way into the song. It's a risky move but it works and the church organ sound playing in the background is absolutely brilliant. This is probably my favorite track on the disc. I really like it. 'She Wants To' almost makes me think of Adam And The Ants, while 'Conspirator' has strange timing. There's a hesitancy in the progression that's interesting and quite different. They have a knack for taking unorthodox musical chances and making them work.
'Ohh (Yeah)' is the final cut on the EP and it starts off with an almost reggae vibe then transitions into some excellent head shakin' rock. I like the music I'm hearing on this disc and I'm excited to hear more from this group. My only complaint is the vocal tracks. The lead singer has an animated voice and he's actually pretty good. But again, it gets drowned out in the music. I want the vocals to be more pronounced. Louder in the mix. That's my opinion. I'm super glad I picked up this awesome disc! My final words: ROCKIN' INTRODUCTION TO A NEW AND EXCITING BAND! GET IT IF YOU CAN!!!
WHITE REAPER - WHITE REAPER
01. Cool
02. Funn
03. Half Bad
04. She Wants To
05. Conspirator
06. Ohh (Yeah)
This was the second disc I bought at the last E6 show I saw with Yip Deceiver as the opening act. I'm going to guess it was probably the first thing the duo actually released together. It's an EP of sorts. Not really a single. It's not given a title, so there's no lead track. However, two of the songs are on the album. Tracks 1 & 4. The other two could be considered b-sides if you choose to see this as a single.
You can read my reviews of 'Obnoxia' and 'Get Strict' on my album review of "Medallius". I should mention, the version of 'Obnoxia' appearing on this disc might be different from the one on the album. When I listen to it, I think I hear some differences. I'll have to compare them. Track 2 is 'For All The Haters' and it's got a great pop beat and sound. The subject matter is a little heavy. But the tune is so upbeat, you don't really notice. Once you learn the lyrics, this is a great one to sing along with.
'Sadie Hawkins Day' is an amazing track. There's a lot of stuff happening here. The music is interesting and the lyrics are catchy. The vocal arrangement is intriguing. This is a band I'm constantly getting more and more excited about. The more I hear from them, the more I want to hear.
I highly recommend you pick this up and start following this exciting up and coming duo.
My final words: EP OR SINGLE... IT WORKS AND YOU SHOULD OWN IT! NOW GO GET IT!!! RIGHT NOW!!!!
YIP DECEIVER - YIP DECEVER
01. Obnoxia
02. For All The Haters
03. Sadie Hawkins Day
04. Get Strict
Nash is probably best known for his work with Electric Six. For those of you who don't know Johnny Na$hinal... he's also known as the White Wolf. He's lead guitarist and this is his solo project. It's a self release and you won't find it in stores. You can, however, order it through bandcamp or pick it up at a show he's playing.
Let me first say, I sometimes have a hard time being objective when it comes to Electric Six and some of the side projects band members are involved in. I love the music they release and because of that, I tend to lump the side project material in with their main body of work.
That being said, I like most of what I hear on this disc. But I do find a couple of things distracting. The tempo can be a bit slow. I want it to speed up. Especially on 'The Sound Of Ghosts'. My other complaint is the echo on the vocals. In my experience, overuse of the echo effect is because the vocalist doesn't feel confident. That may be the reason for it here. Too often, Nash's voice is completely lost in the mix. He sounds so far away, it's hard to connect to the music.
'Children Of Doom' is an interesting tune. It starts off with a deep bass guitar motif that reminds me of 'Dance-A-Thon 2005'. It's also interesting to note the inclusion of lyrics such as "Saturday" and "Knife Fight" which have all recently also appeared on music released by E6 bandmate, Christopher Tait on his side project, Belle Ghoul. He sings the song with a breathy vocal and the echo effect is there. With the deeper tones, a faster speed would give the song some energy. However, those deeper tones also make you instinctively slow things down. Minor chords and sounds often do.
'Phone It In' is next and this track is pure bliss. It starts off sounding like some Spanish guitar playing and it transitions into a conglomerate of sound mixing live and programmed drum sounds together along with some excellent mixing of guitar sound. 'The Sound Of Ghosts' is both lyrically and musically a great idea from start to finish. The vocal arrangement and timing is similar to the lyrics of E6's 'Waste Of Time And Money'.
'Mindy Kisses Stars' has a great beat, nice music... It's followed by 'Black Suit, White Suit'. Once again, you get some Spanish guitar up front. Very acoustic and reminiscent of something you'd hear from early Adam And The Ants. I actually like this number quite a bit. It's got a lot of character and feel. Next up is 'Good Times' and this is by far the best song on the disc. This is one I'll be including on playlists for awhile from now on. It's got a marvelous blend of synth sounds, guitars and drum tracks. I can't praise this one enough.
The final track is 'Love Design'. It starts off sounding like an early 80's new wave number. I hear The Cars... And finally, we hear Nash's voice without too much echo effect. The vocal arrangement leaves a lot of room for animated punctuation, but Nash pulls his punches. He seems almost embarrassed to animate his vocals. He's hesitant, but that's not unusual. It's not always easy to transition from singing backup to being the front man. I really like this EP and I like what Nash is doing. All of the reasons he's one of the main songwriters for Electric Six are here. He's got great ideas, excellent timing musically and he comes up with some amazing melodies. The tunes are fun and enjoyable to listen to. I actually listen to this disc a lot while I'm driving.
I want to hear more! It would be interesting to see if Nash decides to put a full length project together. The material is there... The songwriting is there... The musicianship is there... Do it!
My final words: A SOMETIMES WHISPY, BUT MOSTLY STRONG MUSICAL FORAY LEAVING ONE HUNGRY FOR MORE! PLEASE, NASH, CAN WE HAVE SOME MORE???
NASH - BLACK SUIT, WHITE SUIT EP
01. Children Of Doom
02. Phone It In
03. The Sound Of Ghosts
04. Mindy Kisses Stars
05. Black Suit, White Suit
06. Good Times
07. Love Design
