thesoundtrackofdecay
This section is basically dedicated to all the amazing artists out there that make it that much easier for me to get up every day and face the monotony. My soundtrack is made up of many different forms of music. Remember that when you limit yourself to only a couple of types of music, you're only closing doors on yourself. Open your mind, and maybe check out a few of these artists you've never heard of before. you might be pleasantly suprised. I've picked one song out of the probable many that I like that stands out above the rest. A description is also included. Yippee.
glassJAw - "Majour" off of the album "Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Silence" on Roadrunner Records.
This band straight outta LI combines ferocity of the illest hardcore with the melodic beauty of emo and alternative rock. Anything this band does makes me cream right in my knickers. Saw them live when they opened for the Deftones at Hammerstein Ballroom, and let me tell you just how sick that fucking show was. Damn. The singer is my age and lives like a town away from me, so it really hits home that these guys are sooo good and that it can actually happen. To anyone who complains that they sold out, fuck off. When you're an artist you don't make a living by playing small clubs on LI to close-minded fucks like you.
Deftones
- "Lotion" off of the album "Around The fur" on Maverick Records. No doubt one of the best bands doing their thing today. Every single thing these guys touch is golden. Never before has a band combined depth, melody, metal, and talent so seamlessly. Lately they have gone a little soft with their latest, "White Pony", but with that their songwriting skills have doubled. Deftones are definitely maturing and will be around for a long time.
incubus - "Certain Shade Of Green" off of the album "S.C.I.E.N.C.E." on Sony Records. I'm sure all of you know who Incubus are, so I don't have to go all out here on a description. Basically, these guys are extremely talented fucking songwriters and musicians, and blend the finer points of metal, funk, hip-hop, and honesty along with their love for science fiction. The live show is awesome, or would be without the huge population of women swooning over singer Brandon Boyd. Incubus might be mainstream now, but they're always going to be 100% quality music in my book. Bitch.
Mindless Self Indulgence - "Clarissa" off of the album "Frankenstein Girls Seem Strangely Sexy" on Electra Records. Holy sick shit. You've never heard anything like this before, I guarantee you. At first I was a little leary, but this band, who labels themselves "Industrial Jungle Pussy Punk" grows on you like a crazed fungus. You have never seen a live show like this before either, it's a life experience, something you tell your grandkids about on your death bed. Picture Atari Teenage Riot taken over by punk kids, dropping the political agenda and then writing songs like "I Hate Jimmy Page" and "Cocaine and Toupees". Behind the sillyness, MSI actually writes really good songs, some of which feel like you could make multiple songs out of them if you take them apart. Check 'em out.
snapcase. - "She Suffocates" off of the album "Progression Through Unlearning" on Victory Records. For those of you who like hardcore, you know this band. For those of you that don't, I definitely suggest you check these guys out. They've been doing their thing for a long time, and they come up with some of the sickest hardcore around. They write quality songs with quality lyrics, and snapcase definitely stand out from the rest of the scene because of it.
Alien Ant Farm - "Wish" off of the album "ANThology" on DreamWorks Records. You know, I'm really fucking pissed. ANThology is probably one of the best records released this year, and I'm really fucking serious about that. It's not lame or stereotypical, it's actually a really honest, quality album with great fucking songs. They covered an awesome song by MJ, "Smooth Criminal", it blew up, and now they're going to be known as the band that covered Smooth Criminal. It really fucking sucks, but that's the way of the industry I suppose. I beg of you to check this album out, if you like great music then you won't be disappointed.
poison the well - "Nerdy" off of the album "The Opposite Of December" on Trustkill Records. Here is one of the best unknown bands out today. Straight out of South Florida, this 5-piece has the sickest fucking melodic hardcore/metalcore. With a little twinge of emo, Poison The Well have potential bleeding out of their pores. I fully expect these guys to explode, and hopefully record some great new songs with some good production. The world needs more of bands like PTW, who aren't afraid of hard, emotional music. They've already built a huge following, and golly gee, I like them, so isn't that enough?
boysetsfire. - "Our Time Honored Tradition of Cannibalism" off of the album "After The Eulogy" on Victory records. Unfortunately, most hardcore bands fall into the stereotypical hole of cheesy testosterone-filled lyrics and musical thrashings. Most hardcore bands have absolutely nothing to say, and when they do, it's either complaining about some girl or barking straight edge ethos. Well, boysetsfire is not most hardcore bands. In my eyes this band is what hardcore should be. A sharp political consciousness combined with emo-tinged melodies and a great usage of samples make this band a real joy to listen to. Not only can they rock your ass off, but you can sing along to them too, which are two traits I fucking love. Beware: these guys are extremely addictive.
REM - "Nightswimming" off of the album "Automatic For The People" on Warner Bros. Records. This album is undoubtedly amazing. I know I'm losing quite a few of you on this, but as far as I'm concerned it's you who's losing out. Nightswimming is by far one of my favorite songs of all time. This band writes beautiful, incredible songs and I've always loved them. In fact, they were the first band I ever saw live. So fuck off, all you haters.
A Tribe Called Quest - "Scenario" off of the album "The Low End Theory" on BMG/Jive Records. This is true fucking hip-hop, and they combine jazz and r&b influences as well. Everything these guys touched became godlike, and now that they unfortunately have broken up, it's time for the solo albums. Their album "Midnight Marauders" is one of the best rap albums ever made. Ever. The link goes to the best fan site I found, since they have no official site anymore. If you haven't copped them yet, what the fuck are you thinking? You think Cash Money is hip-hop?
Gang Starr - "Mass Appeal" off of the album "Hard To Earn" on Virgin records. Who's this DJ Premier guy that's remixing crazy tracks and guest DJing on records? Look no further than the hardest of core Gang Starr. Nowadays rap is being infiltrated with clean, dancey beats and professional production. Gang Starr always has and always will come straight out of the streets, with amazing lyrical contributions by Guru, who lives up to his namesake throughout his music. ALSO: Check out Guru's solo project called "Guru's Jazzamatazz" which is an incredible experimental fusion of jazz and hip-hop. Or don't.
Atari Teenage Riot - "Deutschland (Has Gotta Die!)" off of the album "Burn Berlin Burn" on Grand Royal Records. Sicker than a truckload of ebola. Picture a hardcore band, but instead of crazy guitars, it's crazy drum and bass, and techno that makes you want to fuck someone up. These little imports from (you can guess where) bring on quite possibly the best live show in existence. I've been to ALOT of rock shows, including some harder than fuck bands, and by far I have never seen a sicker pit than ATR. You have no idea. Screaming matched with high-bpm drum machine death and a political standpoint will make anyone go clinically insane with rage.
lostprophets - "The Handsome Life Of Swing" off of the album "The Fake Sound Of Progress" on Sony/Columbia Reocrds. Oh my shit. I just picked up this album cuz it came out recently, and I think I have just found my new favorite band. These fucking Brit boys rock the house like I've never heard. They are a combination of all of my favorite things in rock today: emotion, melody, hardness, turntables, and originality. Plus, the vocalist is in my vocal range which is weird cuz we're both falsetto, and the band has the same line-up as my band (2 guitars, bass, drums, dj and vocals). I love everything about this band. I could write about them for hours, so I'm stopping now.
Finch - "Grey Matter" off of the album "What It Is To Burn" on Drive-Thru Records. Hell yeah... one listen to this album and you're hooked. Picture a bunch of metal kids in a pop-punk band, and you're pretty close to what Finch sounds like. The album is absolutely amazing, ranging from hardcore with programming? (Project Mayhem) to beautiful, slow and BIG (Ender). They have really catchy poppy punk songs, and TWO! songs that have a guest appearance by none other than my favorite vocalist... Daryl from GlassJAw. I've seen these guys live 4 times already and they are fucking genious. 9 out of 10 on the replay scale, and 10 out of 10 in my books.
THE USED - "Maybe Memories" off of the self-titled album on Reprise Records. Okay. This band is abso-fuckin-lutely AMAZING. I picked the song "Maybe Memories" only because it's fast, short, and it gives you a good idea of how amazing these guys are, and it was the first song I heard from them. As soon as I heard it a immediately shit myself and knew I was falling in love. The easiest way I can explain them is, picture The Deftones if they grew up on pop-punk and hardcore instead of metal and rap. Okay, now picture them making really really catchy, radio-ready music while not changing their hard edge at all. Got it? Now you have about one-tenth of what The Used is going for. This is one of the best albums I have EVER HEARD. You heard me. And this coming from a kid who's whole life is music. Go out and buy this album NOW.
Thrice - "In Years To Come" off of the album "Illusion Of Safety" on Sub City Records. Wow, I met these guys once when they played with Finch, I talked to them for a pretty long time and they were really cool guys. I was helping to set up the show, and since I was there early they asked me if I was the local opening band. I said no but I told them I heard alot about them and was eager to check them out, and we started talking. Unfortunately I didn't get to see them play (had to leave early) but I checked them out later on... and wow. One of the most original sounds I have heard in a long time. Basically hard, fask punk rock influenced by hardcore and 80's metal. You heard that. But wait! Is that melody and actual complex songwriting I hear? And great lyrics to boot? Definitely check these guys out.
The Prodigy - "Diesel Power" off of the album "Fat Of The Land" on Maverick Records. I'm not too into electronic music at all. Most of it is shitte. But these guys are one of this decades greatest bands. I look at them as basically a punk band who doesn't know how to play instruments, except for techno equipment. And that's just how they act. They are amazing performers, they go against the system, and they make thought-provoking music and ground-breaking videos. If you like good music in general, then you will like The Prodigy. And if you haven't heard of them already then there's something wrong with you.
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"Just like a man without skin, everything he touches seems to hurt him..."
