This is a dramatic departure for Mastodon. Much more metalcore than a continuation of their brand of sludge/prog/death metal. The clean vocals are very pedestrian and I believe are only done for the mallcore crowd. Personally, I loved their hardcore screams and indifferent stoner vocal delivery of the past. Brann Dailor still drums like a tsunami, but the guitar riffs are a lot less thrashy. Infact, the mathcore tightly coiled rhythm guitar is virtually absent, replaced with time tested guitar hero solos inserted in every song. There are times on this album, when Mastodon starts sounding derivative, such as the much ballyhooed “The Czar: Usurper/Escape/Martyr/SpiralInvariable” which reminds of of Rush crossed pollinated with QoTSA. Bands go directions that I don’t find interesting and lose me, and this may be the case with the Mastodon, but I’m going to give this one more time because I love this band.
November 6, 2009
The Faces – Most Under-rated Band Ever?
Faces, w/Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood had a boat load of highly influential and great songs. Their best rockers are => than the Stones. Always casual and loose, the band possessed a genuine quality in their music, which was also bolstered by the fact that Ronnie Wood had incredible chops as lead guitarist, creating a seamingly endless run of tasteful riffs and slide guitar. No wonder Keith Richards fought so hard to bring him into the Rolling Stones. Unfortunately for the Faces, the never produced a classic record, and were disrupted by Rod Stewart, who managed a very successful solo career during his tenure with the band, often saving some of his best songs for his solo outings. Consequently, the Faces are best experience in one of several compilations that are available. If your looking for something conciese and to the point, there’s “Good Boys When There Asleep”. If your looking for something more, there’s the 4 CD box set ” Five Guys Walk Into a Bar”, which includes all the songs in “Good Boys..” plus live cuts, out-takes and rarities.
Best New Wave Songs of the 80’s
1> ABC – The Look of Love Pt 1. This band had the new Romantic vibe in spades. Lush sophisticated orchestrated disco pop songs performed urgently and earnestly. The album “Lexicon of Love” simply pure pop candy.
2> Thompson Twins – Love Lies Bleeding. Before they become popular and began to take themselves to seriously, they were a delightful and charming new wave dance band outfit, that occasionally provided a little edge to provide a bit of drama. This song finds them at delivering the catchest and most memorable performance. One of several great cuts off their best album, “Side-Kicks…”
3> Tears for Fears – Pale Shelter. Another contenders for top 80’s bands, TfF were the whining man’s signature band. Always on the verge of complete mental collapse due to the slightest whiff of rejection, these boys harnessed all of their ill feelings into their classic album “The Hurting”. Success made them happy, but unfortunately, boring. “Pale Shelter” is the most deliciously angst driven piece of pop you’ll ever hear.
4> Aztec Camera – Oblivious. The single most under-rated and under appreciated album from the early 80’s, Aztec Camera “High Land, Hard Rain”, is a masterfully crafted acoustic guitar driven Brit-Pop album, lead by mastermind, Roddy Frame. A virtuoso guitarist, as well as an expressive and at times melancholy vocalist, Roddy Frame had the type of talent that the like of Elvis Costello were envious of. “Oblivious” was the best song on the amazing album.
5>Echo and The Bunnymen – Never Stop. Really, this could have been one of a dozen of Bunnymen songs, including “Do It Clean”, “Villiers Terrace”, “A Promise”, “Killing Moon” and many others. This was one band that was tight, dark and edgy.