White Zombie - La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Vol. 1

Review# 119

This is another album brought after playing Guitar Hero, the track Black Sunshine appeared on GH3 and not long after that I had to buy the album! The album is full of lots of Groove and a healthy dose of Funk, I find that the pacing of a lot of the tracks are both danceable and laid back. There are a huge pile of samples on the album too mostly taken from b-movies, horror or cult exploitation films with clips from Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! Being rather prominent. Iggy Pop makes an appearance doing spoken lines on Black Sunshine.
Overall this is a fun album and it's lack of a realistic theme is great if you need a break from the real world.

Thunder Kiss '65: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPNFVj-pISU
Black Sunshine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqPClltS5k8

Electric Six – Fire

Review# 118

Super fun cheesy party time? Yes. You want super fun cheesy party time? Yes? Then listen to Fire.

Dance Commander: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=of2WzZx9AhA
Danger! High Voltage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a4gyJsY0mc
Gay Bar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTN6Du3MCgI

Isis – Wavering Radiant

Review# 117

So I really don't get the term "Post-Metal" which Isis are heavily labelled - how can you be post something that is still exists and is relevant? But even so I love this album, it is sludgy and interesting with a fantastic depth. The sound is amazing and it perfect listening for a cold gloomy day. I know that this would be a hard listen for a lot of people, like most Sludge or Doom bands there is no real song structure, rather you just follow along on the tracks meandering path.

Hall Of The Dead: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AQF_cfNDRk
Ghost Key: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uv5t1KsVqnA

Foo Fighters - There Is Nothing Left to Lose

Review# 116

I think the main thing that has always kept me one step away from properly liking the Foo Fighters is just a lack of grunt. I fully appreciate they have some rad tunes though, but I prefer the grunty Dave Grohl... It's just much... Sexier.
This album has some solid tracks though, Generator is a party classic and Stacked Actors is a pretty banging tune too - Aurora and Learn To Fly are the other stand outs. The album does sound nice and has a decent balance to it too. I think it's just a little nice for ms is all.

Stacked Actors: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJD-uYuuJCs
Generator: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSWuV93N030

Vulgar Display Of Power

Review# 115

Vulgar Display Of Power is a classic. I don't really have anything bad to say about it to be honest. Dimebag Darrell's guitar work is great and so are the drums and bass, Phil Anselmo's voice is also fantastic.
The artwork is also pretty cool, apparently they just paid a guy to be punched in he face for it and it took about 20 hits to get the shot! Poor sucker.
Pantera are one of those bands that have influenced a large chunk of musicians and likely will do for years to come.

Walk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkFqg5wAuFk
This Love: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tymWpEU8wpM

Mozart – Requiem

Review# 114

In fifth form music we spent a number of weeks studying the first three movements of this requiem as well a bit of back story to it. I love the story and myth behind the whole thing but I will not delve too much into that here as it is long and complex but thankfully there is google for those interested. This is Mozart's final piece... Well part of it is his final piece anyway, Mozart died writing this and there is much speculation around how much he had already completed etc. Scholars have found evidence of certain complete portions/vocal lines etc as well as notes left on scraps of paper. The work was mostly finished by Franz Xavier Sussmayr but was advertised by Mozart's wife as being completed by Mozart himself and that it was a requiem for himself and his own death as he knew he had been poisoned...
Personally I prefer the first three movements, possibly in part due to the freakish amount of times I had to listen to them in school but to me they feel the most immediate and powerful... But that's just my opinion, I will not profess to having a deep knowledge of classical works. I just have a cheap $5 copy I picked up from the warehouse but I understand that there are some really good recordings out there as well as different arrangements.
One last thing that I thought of - in fact the main thing I thought of while listening to the Introitus was that it would make a great mash up with a Sunn O))) track!

Introitus: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsyPhvrEzPU
Kyrie Eleison: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIhwX7jxBWM
Dies Irae: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqaARDsiJv4

John Mayer - Heavier Things

Is this title supposed to be ironic? John Mayer is a guy who seems to know how his instrument works and claims he was influenced by blues musicians. Don’t really want to get too far into the habit of quoting Storm but: there are no balls to this music. It’s also brickwalled to the max. It’s pleasant, but pleasant doesn’t necessarily mean good. Interesting is good and there’s not very much challenging to this album.

In fact I’m just going to say it: This is an ungood listen. It’s boring in its politeness, which sucks considering he can play so well.