Friday, April 12, 2013

The Black Angels - Phospherene Dream (2010)

Hello 1970s vocals:  meet 1960s psychedelic rock with a modern feel.

Phospherene Dream has a shoegazer garage vibe but with more of a Jesu meandering feel.  It's like a more more laid back Black Rebel Motorcycle Club had met Pink Floyd, taken it out for a few drinks, had some laughs, and even called back the next morning.  And "laid back" is probably a lazy misnomer; think "deliberate and purposeful psychedelia."

This is a really enjoyable listen front to back as an album:  it's a slow, steady dirge you just do not want to see end.  That being said, this is not for everyone -- likely target Mrs. Snilch Report surprisingly dislikes this quite a bit.  

But for me, just listen to "River of Blood."  It's epic.

The Black Angels - River of Blood


As Denis would say:  "Rock."  Word.

CD Placement Rating: Car CD Changer.

- Snilch

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Shabazz Palaces - Black Up (2011)

This was recommended by AMG.  Maybe hip-hop has grown up and I haven't.  Or maybe it's just not very good.  Either way, I would just rather listen to Public Enemy's It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, De La Soul 3 Feet High and Rising, or DJ Shadow's Entroducing than this.

Fin. 

CD Placement Rating:  Pile of Death.

- Snilch

Tuesday, April 09, 2013

Goes Cube - Another Day Has Passed (2009)

A few weeks back, as I watched the snowplow dump snow from my neighbor's unshoveled apron onto my clean one for the third time in less than an hour, I realized I needed to take a break from shoveling before that throbbing vein in my neck blew up.

So I settled into my bathrobe, bunny slippers, and NKOTB*-branded couch, and began to mellow considerably.  Now I just needed the prefect soundtrack to match my current state.  And drown out that plow, which I could hear coming down the street for pass #4.

Immediately, Goes Cube sprung to mind.  How could it not?  With soothing songs like "Another Day Has Passed," "Grinding the Knife Blade," and "I Hold Grudges," I knew I was just a couple of S'mores and some warm milk away from peace and tranquility.  Featuring mellow, melodic death metal underpinnings and soothing primal rage screams, it's what those "in the know" use to quietly lull themselves to sleep.


Goes Cube - "I Hold Grudges"

Okay, if you've listened to the video, you realize this is less Lawrence Welk and more a really angry Jesu or the lead singer from Face to Face with a chip on his shoulder.  So we'll drop the pretense here.  Utilizing a formula of switching back and forth from mid-tempo rock to thrash screaming (see Pennywise, System of a Down, Rise Against, Grade, etc.), Goes Cube crosses a gloomy tone with interesting melodies, finishing it off with both excellent musicianship and production.  It's really heavy tone done right.  If you like Mars Volta, just check out the title track and you will be hooked.


There's a small window for this kind of music for me, but this hits it.

CD Placement Rating:  Portable CD Case.

- Snilch

*New Kids on the Block, of course.  S'up?