Rumours From The Dodgy Bootleg Guy

Only yesterday I frequented the local bootleg guy at my university in Melbourne Australia. I don't why they let this guy on the grounds, i mean he looks like he should have to wear bright colours and a bell around his neck, seriously weird man. However he happens to be a valuable source of info, especially on the rumour front. Now, this in no way should be taken as gospel, however, he says that the managers of the Big Day Out are now in talks with Tool, Muse and the Red Hot Chili Peppers to play the bill next February. I don't even have to say how awesome that concert will be with 3 of the best live bands on the planet with 3 of my favourite albums of 2006. If these rumours come to fruition it may well bring the Big Day Out out of the mediocrity that was last year. I'm excited Godammit. Anyways peace out till next time and enjoy the Mp3's

Tool - Vicarious - from "10,000 Days" (2006).

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Sir Psycho Sexy - from "Bloodsugarsexmagic" (1991).

Muse - Supermassive Black Hole - from "Black Holes And Revelations" (2006).

Those vast minority of people wishing to contact me should send mail to mgrey1@student.monash.edu. Those people wishing not to can fuck off and die of syphilus.

Have a Great day!

Bandwagon Jumper: Know The Facts

Danger Mouse

Now that the whole of the populated world has well and truly fixed themselves to the Danger Mouse band wagon we, as musical enthusiasts need to be able to claim prior knowledge and scoff in disgust at the ignorance of others. These are age old traditions, passed down from generation to generation of music wankersand they must be sustained in our modern music loving era. In order to be part of this elite fraternity of arrogance that we all strive to one must "know the facts" and the sooner the better. Here's the run down.
Brian Joseph Burton AKA Danger Mouse was born in White Plains New York and released his first electronica material under the moniker of "Pelican City". Between 1998-2003 he released a series of remix cds under his new persona of "Danger Mouse", named after the British cartoon series of the same name. During 1998 Danger Mouse placed second in a talent contest and landed a gig opening for "Outkast" and "The Goodie Mob". Here was his first contact with Cee-Lo, a member of "The Goodie Mob" and a future collabor on his "Gnarls Barkley" project.
His first original project was a collaboration with the rapper Jemini on the "Ghetto Pop Life" release which despite garnering critical acclaim, failed as a commercial success. Widespread recognition didn't come until Danger Mouse released the most controversial of his projects, "The Grey Album", a mash up of Jay-Z's A cappella release of the "Black Album" and The Beatles "White Album". Originally created to entertain his friends the album spread accross the internet recieving enthusiastic critical and public feed back.
This massive amount of attention attracted interest from former "Blur" frontman Damon Albarn who recruited Danger Mouse to produce the second "Gorillaz" album "Demon Days". This was much to the disdain of the Gorillaz record company EMI who also own the Beatles rights and had issued Burton a cease and desist order for the use of their material in his Grey album. I also earned his first Grammy nomination as Producer of the Year. His next project came in the form of a collaboration with underground rapper MF Doom called "DANGERDOOM". Their first release "The Mouse And The Mask" was made about and for The Cartoon Network's cult cartoon "Adult Swim" and surprised critics with its excellence. However, Burton's most successful work was still to come with his Cee-Lo collaboration "Gnarls Barkley" releasing it's first album "St.Elsewhere" which spawned the worldwide hit single "Crazy" which i'm sure you've all heard 1 quadrillion times.
He is one of the most sought after producers on the planet and bizarrely likens his own career to Woody Allen's saying "Woody Allen was an auteur: he did his Thing, and that particular Thing was completely his own. That's what I decided to do with music. I want to create a director's role within music, which is what I tried to do on this album. I have to be in control of the project I'm doing. I can create different kinds of musical worlds, but the artist needs the desire to go into that world.... Musically, there is no one who has the career I want. That's why I have to use film directors as a model." Well, I Hope you both enjoyed and was educated by the writings of me about the music of a guy in a giant Mouse suit. Here's some of his work.

DANGERDOOM - Sofa King

Danger Mouse & Jemini - Knuckle Sandwhich 2

Gnarls Barkley - Smiley Faces

Gorillaz - Dirty Harry

Enjoy

What I'm Listening To When I'm Not Listening To Ween (The best band ever - fact not opinion)

Top 5 Albums:

1. The Format
Dog Problems (2006)

This album was released today believe it or not. Is my finger on the pulse or what. For those people who were aware of The Format before now, expect what you knew and loved about their first effort "Interventions and Lullabies" and add a dash of "compared to this that seems shit". For those who haven't heard of the Format, which is probably most of you, their last album was actually quite good, but that feeling is a testament to their new material. The Format comprise of Nate Ruess and Sam Means who have honed their knack for a catchy chorus to the razors edge for this, their sophomore release. They make it almost too easy to to pick out potential gems however this album still must be heard as an album to be fully appreciated. Their penchant for ohh-la-la choruses and meaty melodies fuels this release, but they still find time to play with 20's dance hall melodies on the title track and even create a country music vibe on "Snails". I hope these guys go places because i'd rather hear the radio playing one of the plethora of potential hits on "Dog Problems" ("Oceans", "She Doesn't Get It", "Time Bomb" etc.) than any of the rest of the crap on commercial radio.

High Rotation: Oceans

2. Nick Drake
Bryter Layter (1970)

There becomes a time after an artist has stopped recording when a music wanker such as myself doesnt feel the need to claim to have been a fan since the beginning. In all seriousness I only started listening to this album after i heard "One Of These Things First" on the Garden State Soundtrack. Since that day the hauntingly mysterious figure of Nick Drake has taken it upon his dead self to cram his melodies into my short term memory relentlessy. It's hard to resist the dreamy landscape of "Northern Sky" or the ethereal strings of "Fly". I can now fully appreciate why such great musicians as the late Elliot Smith and indie wonder child Sufjan Stevens and country rock crooner Ryan Adams mark Nick Drake as a major influence.

High Rotation: One Of These Things First


3. The Weakerthans
Reconstruction Site (2003)

When I listen to the Weakerthans i feel smarter. That's the honest to oprah truth. And when i feel smarter, i'm a happier man. John Sampson(formerly of highly political hardcore punk band Propaghandi), goes on in this their third effort to further differentiate himself from his punk roots. The Weakerthans don't have a style thats easy to pin down, because Sampson manages to balances his punk rock roots with the sounds of folk, alternative pop music and some country thrown in there for good measure. Lyrics wise, you'd be hard pressed to find a leading man more thouroughly educated, even name checking Michel Foucault at one point. However, Sampson manages to never step over the line of pretentiousness and that is when you can fully appreciate that the The Weakerthans are making the most intelligent indie music around.

High Rotation: Psalm For The Elks Lodge Last Call

4. Parkway Drive
Killing With A Smile (2005)

It's hard to listen to this album without being seriously impressed with these Byron Bay boy's debut effort. It's hard to listen to this album without your ears wanting to abandon ship. This is a seriously brutal series of death metal infused metalcore sounds that show the fasioncore eyeliner wearing dregs of society just how its done. I was also very impressed with the production of Killing With A Smile and it was no surprise to me when i learnt that Killswitch Engage's Adam D was responsible. There are parts of this album that sound more than a little bit like Killswitch's work, including the spoken parts that sound eerily like an in form Jesse Leach. However, at times their breakdowns and change of tempo can be jarring, but overall, their melodic guitars and machine gun riffage wins the day. I recently learned that this is the highest selling Australian extreme metal album of all time and i have no doubt that their recent signing with Brett Gurewitz's Epitaph record label will help them cave a few American faces in while their at it.

High Rotation: Gimme AD

5. Motion City Soundtrack
Commit This To Memory (2005)

Alright people, this is as girly as i can get without sprouting breasts. There are three things that i like about Motion City Soundtack. One, their lead singers ability to write lyrics of a quality that shits all over the rest of the poser pop punk scene. Two, they use a moog, a much maligned and underrated instrument in modern pop music. And thirdly this guy has the greatest hair of all time. Seriously he does. this album is full of catchy choruses and oh-la-la's helped along by their lead singer's quirky pop culture infused humour and oddly fragile voice. He name checks twin peaks too so you can just tell he's a massive nerd. But so am i so all is forgiven. Anyway, this album is about as good as it gets in modern pop punk scene, a gem plucked from a sea of rotten feces.

High Rotation: Make Out Kids

Live In My Basement, Not: Vol.1

I thought i'd start off my live music posts with some Australian hippy roots music, as i am an Australian and know some guys who are hippies. This is a "Beautiful Girls" concert recorded at "The Zoo" in Brisbane, Australia on the 31st of May 2003. I know a guy who knows these guys so listen up and enjoy the goodness that is TBG.These guys have a highly energetic live show with a great reggae vibe, highly recommended listening.



01. Goodtimes
02. Leaving Here
03. Morning Sun (Dub)
04. On The Radio
05. Guns Of Brixton%/Dub Be Good To Me$
06. On A Clearer Day (Wonderful Night)
07. Music
08. That Man
09. Big Mama's Door
10. Blackbird
11. Learn Yourself
12. All I Need
13. Encore: Freedom* (Mason Jennings Version)
14. Encore: Freedom* (Mat Mchugh's Version)
15. Encore: In Da Club # > Periscope

Bon Apetite

Get To Know My Friend Vol.1: Ryan Adams

Yes i have started another regular segment, one through which i hope to educate many of you out there in cyberland. Basically, the concept is that i select one of my favourite artists and give you a basic bio and album rundown and review. Trust me, its better to have a basic knowledge of an artist before you start trashing them in public. I've decided to begin with Mr Ryan Adams, considered to be the angriest and most prolific artist currently operating in the alternative country scene. Born David Ryan Adams he began playing music with his highschool punk band "Patty Duke Syndrome", influenced by the likes of the Dead Kennedys, Sonic Youthand Ryan's beloved Husker Du. However, after his love of punk turned sour he converted to the sounds of country music and 60-70's country infused rock. He first hit the Jacksonville music scene with his band "Whiskeytown" who released two albums, the second garnering Adams public and critical acclaim which aided him in his assimilation into a solo career following a few years of introspection. I must admit that sometimes i am hesitant to give Ryan Adams my money. He's obviously talented and you'd be hard pressed to find an act releasing this much material in so little an amount of time. But he possesses that holier than thou rock star attitude where he knows hes more talented than you and doesnt care. I prefer my rocks stars as crazy megalomaniacs (e.g. Axl Rose, Scott Weiland) or modest and humble (e.g Chris Cornell,Eddie Vedder) his manner does grate on my nerves. Material wise its a total mixed bag. He varies wildly from genius to utter drivel. However, this kind of inconsitency is unavoidable when you release three albums in one year as he did in 2005. I think anyone who knows their Ryan Adams would agree that one album of quality controlled material rather than 3 erratic ones would have been simply breathtaking. Hes also rather entertaining, rock star antics wise. His most famous antic being his ejection a fan from his concert at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium for yelling out "play summer of 69". Apparently Ryan was tired of the Bryan Adams jokes, turned the house lights on, singled out the guy, personally refunded him the 30 buck entry fee and refused to continue with the concert until he left. Fair enough i say, i would have killed the guy. Anyway, I regard Ryan Adams as the creative pinacle of the modern alternative country music scene, combining his 60's-70's rock influences like Gram Parsons and The Grateful Dead with an adoration of real 60's country music stating influences such as Johnny Cash, Hank Williams and Merle Haggard to name just a few. During the course of his career Adams has gone from country rock to pop rock to piano ballad guy to what the hell is he going to do next. Perhaps the most infectious thing about his music is his voice's ability to crack at that perfect breaking point where it just breaks your heart, its the ability to convey the two emotions of misery and bittersweet love that makes a true country music singer.

For the MP3's i've decided to use live tracks out of respect for the artists, sounds like a wank but then again i dont care how it sounds.

Whiskeytown - Faithless Street (1996) Whiskeytown's first release which suffers from poor production quality , a mistake that his band has subsequently corrected on its 1998 re-release. On this album we can see Ryans talents emerging, even from this early release. At this early time in his career he was already able to blend his country roots with his love of rock and roll. There are paralells to be drawn to legendary country rock band Uncle Tupelo but Whiskeytown definitely rock more than they ever did. My personal favorite cut from the album is "Too Drunk To Dream" (download).

Whiskeytown - Strangers Almanac (1997) This is without a doubt one of the, if not the best album of 1997. With its beautiful fusion of those country elements its sounds like what would happen if Uncle Tupelo, The Rolling Stones, The Replacements and Gram Parsons all got in bed, had one perfect night of passionate love making, discovered they were pregnant and booted the subsequent offspring into the gutter. Ryan Adams uncanny ability to portray the bittersweet really comes across here. Songs like the exquisitely beautiful "Excuse Me While I Break My Own Heart Tonight" (download) are a testament to his emerging talents as a songwriter but the emotional intensity of "Houses On A Hill" (download) is arguably Whiskeytowns greatest song, its definitely mine.

Ryan Adams - Heartbreaker (2000)
Ryans solo debut and in my opinion one of his finest. Heartbreaker opens with an argument about a Morrissey song before kicking into the the first track and this self referential gloominess carries though into Adams solo material. His country boy soul shines through in this release despite his rocker attitude. However there is a much more rounded set of textures at use here than his old bands alt country twang. Use of glockenspiel and organ signal his movement into a more sonic type of arrangement, yet still reflecting his aforementioned influences. Stand outs include the opener "To Be Young(Is To Be Sad Is To Be High)" (download) and the Emmy Lou Harris Colaboration "Oh My Sweet Carolina" (download).

Ryan Adams - Gold (2001) The first example of Ryan's execution not matching his vision. This album includes some of Adams's brilliant moments such as "New York, New York" (download) a success in the wake of the the 9/11 attacks despite it actually being a song about a girl. However, I just couldn't seem to stomach the mess of plodding percussion and indistinct guitars that make up the remainder of Gold. This doesn't mean that Ryan cant strike a few emotional chords or two with tracks like "When The Stars Go Blue" (download), one of my personal favourites.

Ryan Adams - Demolition (2002) After releasing Gold Adams wrote enough material to fill a 4 disc box set. However, he made one of the only good quality controlling decisions hes ever made and decided to single out 13 of his best unreleased demos to go on the appropriately named Demolition compilation. And in my opinion it totally eclipses Gold in both its writing and execution and is some of Ryans best material to date. Tracks like the acoustic ballads "Dear Chicago" (download) and "Tomorrow" (download) are just a few highlights.

Ryan Adams - Rock N Roll (2003) Every artsist has to have one. This is the album for which his public accused him of "selling out" whatever the hell that means. This album's mission statement is blatantly obvious in its title, and if you don't like Rock And Roll you can stick it where it gets uncomfortable. Adams sets out not to create a smorgasbord of accessible rock and roll tunes and in that respect Rock n Roll is a total success. His fans hated it. The album remains his lowest selling album despite positive critical accliam. Maybe i'm being a rebel but i don't mind itas light entertainment. My faves include "This Is It"(download) and "Shes Lost Total Control" (download).

Ryan Adams - Love Is Hell (2004) This was originally released in the form of two separate EP's and then subsequently made one. This album remains the favourite of many a devout Adams fan as it is arguably his most beautiful if not most consistent. I maintain that the latter half of the album is considerably weaker than its beginning, as all my favourite cuts are taken from the first EP. Production wise it was a step up from his earlier stuff and this helps to create some beautiful ambience. Leaving behind the alt country stigma, parts of this album sound Jeff Buckleyesque in their arrangement. Best tracks includean interesting interpretation of the Oasis smash hit "Wonderwall" (download) and the truly beautiful ballad "The Shadowlands" (download).

Ryan Adams - Cold Roses (2005) He just had to one-up Conor Oberst's 2 album effort in 2005 by releasing three albums and this, the first one, a double album no less. However, just beacuse there's lots of it doesn't mean it's any good. If anything this is the least impressive of the trio being held down by too much of his trademark "Heartbreaker" style laments, which seem unconvincing after he revealed his mainstream ambitions in his previous two releases. However, tracks like the country rockin' "Let It Ride" (download) and the beautiful ballad "Mockingbird" (download) save it from mediocrity.

Ryan Adams - Jacksonville City Nights (2005) Jacksonville City Nights was the second album released in 2005 and consisted of some of Adams most straightforward country tunes. And this is a good thing, if you like true country music, and i do. So i highly enjoyed Jacksonville City Nights with its pedal steel and its honky tonk piano. There's also the interesting song "The End" (download) dedicated to his hometwon of Jacksonville. However "A Kiss Before I Go" (download) sticks in the memory as the one that deserves some heavy itunes rotation.

Ryan Adams - 29 (2005) Adams's third release of 2005 finds him at his most dreamiest and romantically indulgent. Many of the arrangements are stripped back to simple piano and guitar backed by non-intrusive percussion which gives the material an ethereal ambience. On tracks such as "Elizabeth, You Were Born To Play The Part" (download) he exhibits his soft side for all to see, and although it sometimes comes accross as syrupy sentimentality its equal with Jacksonville in my opinion.

I hope you find this enjoyable and enlightening because it took me a fuckload of time.

Till next time.

Classics That You Missed Because You Have No Clue Vol.1

I have decided that my first order of business as a responsible blogger is to educate the masses about that classics that may have passed them by. Because really you can't know everything, unless your me and awesome. I have decided to start with a my favourite EP of all time.

The Dillinger Escape Plan - Irony Is A Dead Scene EP

Let me list three things i love in quick succession. Dillinger Escape Plan, The Beverly Hills Cop Theme and Mike Patton. If there is an album like this with two of those things in it, it is worth your time. Mike Patton, in my not so humble opinion, is a genius in almost everything he does (i say almost due to Faith No More's Cover of "I Started A Joke" the Bee Gees song. Not even Patton can make Bee Gees sound good.)I am a massive fan of Faith No More, Mr.Bungle, Fantomas, Tomohawk, Peeping Tom etc, on and on and on. The mans a machine. Dillinger Escape Plan are one of the most exciting and progressive bands on the planet period. After their much loved "Calculating Infinity" album was released in 1999 DEP blew up into the most rabidly followed underground noisecore bands in the world. After their original singer left them in the year 2000 Mike Patton (a big DEP fan) decided to lend his voice to the controlled chaos that is DEP. What ensued was incredible, an 18 minute EP of combined musical genius combining elements of hardcore, speed metal and warped jazz into a fusion of crippling intensity. I fully realise that some people dont get this kind of music, but they damn well should for gods sake. Change your life and all that jazz. Any way here's my personal favourite cut.

The Dillinger Escape Plan feat. Mike Patton - When Good Dogs Do Bad Things

Get Some Matches Up Ya!

Hey. I have a blog. Woo Hoo. Get excited people. Just a little bit. OK. Moving on this site will generally be dedicated to my own rambling diatribes about how good my taste is and how and how shit yours is. Fair Nuf. Good. First things first. I like punk music. I just thought i'd put that out there. It's just that while traversing the internet entities known as mp3 blogs i noticed that nearly every blog owner was dedicated to proving their cutting edge indie sensibilities by posting little known indie band after little known indie band. I'm not going to do that. I will however post whatever the fuck i like whenever the fuck i like, so if you want cutting edge indie bands there are plenty of other options. Unless they' re a cutting edge indie band that i happen to like. Any ways, i thought i'd start my very first by posting something none too challenging.


The Matches - Dog Eared Page

The Matches - Sick Little Suicide

The Matches are a great pop punk band out of Oakland California in the states. There first album, E.Von Dahl Killed The Locals was self produced by the diligent quartet and despite the poor production values was picked up by Brett Gurewitz's Epitaph label and rerecorded. These two cuts come from that rerecorded version of 'killed the locals and their new album "Decomposer" has just been released. It's catchy pop punk executed with the confidence of an early Green Day. Highly recommended.