There's a few haiku poems at this blog, written by Dr. Nerdenstein.
Here's my favorite:
How Not To Start Your Day
Bad morning at sink,
Simultaneous Brushing,
Wife spits on your head.
Could switch it around:
Bad brushing at sink,
Simultaneous morning,
She spits on my head.
I saw this line at The Church of Shiny Objects blog, and it's funny.
Post: "If Obama’s people are smart—really smart—they will reproduce this shot of McCain embracing Bush like a baby koala at a recent campaign rally on every conceivable medium: billboards, mouse pads, t-shirts, TV ads, yard signs, coffee mugs, tortillas, baby bibs…if it’s a transferrable surface, use it."
McCain embracing Bush like a baby koala! It is weird looking.
That's the thing about still photos, though; it freezes odd moments that may have looked fleeting and semi-normal in real life. But this one. I don't know.
There's something about McCain's little arms trying to get around the appearance of Bush girth, and he can't make it. But rather than be frustrated, he gets this look of beatification on his face, "I weally weally wuv you!"
And there's poor Bush, not knowing whether to hug back, push away, or what.
I agree with CHV on how damaging this picture could be to McCain. Print it, run it, publish post, send it on. McCain is running for Bush's third term.
Here's a blog with just a few posts, but they're good full, funny ones. Things that get on his wick, which means annoys, cheeses him off, makes him upset.
He's Jimmie P. of the U.K.
A couple samples of things that get on his wick:
- People who tell you they're 'really into music' and then when you ask further they claim to like "everything". Being 'really into' something requires having an opinion, expressing your taste, likes dislikes etc. You can't just like everything. That's like a food critic or a chef saying they're really into food then eating anything they are served and raving about it whether it's caviar or supernoodles."
- When you ask for a coke in a pub or restaurant and they tell you "We only have Pepsi, is that OK?". Of course it's OK. Asking for a "Coke" is shorthand for "whatever you have that is like Coca-cola". Just put it in a glass and I'll never know the difference anyway.
I'm of course one of the biggest prudes on the internet -- you've all heard of the Prudish Trinity, James Dobson, Don Wildmon, and D.B. Kundalini. We were thinking of expanding it to a quarternity, but then Falwell went and died.
But having said that, I truly appreciate artsy flair when it comes to panties, and most other things as well.
So, if you're over 18 and willing to swear to it on a stack of of Cosmos, and under 60 and not given to breathing difficulties, and you're not on Cialis and have problems with erections for more than four hours at a time....is that enough disclaimers? ...
Then check out this very colorful erotica/panties blog: Trollop With A Laptop. The arrangement of panties, and some being modeled, is very fetching.
"Using my weaknesses to get what you want. Imagine if i have actually gone to america with you like we said! I would have been a proper gooseberry. But I really do hope you have a wonderful time living in america :) and enjoy your stickam whores, oh wait you are one. you pathetic little sod. bless! "
That's a paragraph from Danni's new blog, Thoughts and Feelings. It was written for "someone," someone who probably won't see it, but might.
Danni describes herself as "an annoying redhead who has nothing better to do than sit around when i aint in work, make music, paint.. draw.. and make purdy websites."
Here's a blog that goes way back, ChangeQuest, "Change is Good."
"Finding change since 1998. Pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, everything. This is a log of what I have found."
As of today, since Jan. 19, 1998, Brian has found $688.86.
On Monday, he found 7 cents, Tuesday and Wednesday nothing.
Very interesting quest. Like most of my quests, I'm sure it'd be very hard to quit once you kept it going for a year or so.
I love that title, which is the title of a new blog by someone. (Not me.) There's only one post as of this moment, a general introductory post. Anth, or WorldofAsshats, says the reality is that asshats surround us, "Nevertheless, welcome to my blog."
The presidency of George W. Bush has always been one of lies, lies, and more lies. It has been a secretive, deceptive, manipulative, and corrupt Administration. This has been obvious, baldfaced obvious. And yet they continue to deny, dodge, and act offended by the insinuation. Heavens, forfend, little old us?
The book by Scott McClelland -- himself usually a stranger to the truth -- has been all the news today, and part of yesterday. He lays out the case that the Administration has been exactly what we've known it to be all along. But because he's an insider, and not just someone with eyes and a sense for the obvious, his story carries more weight.
It turns out -- big surprise -- that the Iraq war was based on lies and spin. Also that the tooth fairy is Mom and Dad.
It turns out that George W. Bush wanted to take us to war for the sake of his legacy, because wartime presidents always get the best legacies. So, speaking of Mom and Dad, to anyone who lost a son or daughter in Iraq, to anyone who lost a limb in Iraq, cheer up, it was for Bush's ego. You made a contribution. All the yellow ribbons, all the flag-waving, all of it -- you contributed to the George W. Bush Ego Fund. So he can sit on his rocking chair someday and muse, "All those thousands of people died for me!"
And now the White House is in full denial mode, with their usual obvious talking points. Scott is "disgruntled." Scott was never in the loop. This isn't "the Scott" we knew.
Hey, when you're caught, and you've been caught repeatedly over the years -- and the only ones who think this White House is innocent seriously need therapy -- for once in your stinking lives, admit it.
Except for the occasional lucrative book deal -- as in the present case -- it looks like they'll go to their graves with the same old lies.
McClelland's book is What Happened. Here's what happened: Our country elected scum, and we've suffered because of it.
Speaking of Patty Duke, I used to like the old Patty Duke record, "Please, don't just stand there..." And however it went from there, "Come kiss me, you silly fool" No, that's not right. I probably, maybe still have it in a box somewhere.
I was actually just listening to a couple old 45s, which I haven't done for a few months. But I got them at a couple garage sales a few weeks ago.
The first one was an obvious cash-in on the Batman craze in the late '60s: The Camps, "The Ballad of Batman" and "Batmobile." Both written by Sonny Curtis, so a connection back to Buddy Holly. And one of the websites I saw puts this record in the Crickets' discography! So that's awesome. Here's a great link for Batman related rock groups. I love these guys in their Batman outfits, or multiple Robin costumes!
Side A (Parkway P-974) tells about Batman. "This is the story of Batman and Robin." Making things tough for the underworld mob. Making things safe for the little boys and girls. Tells what Batman and Robin wear. And that kids marvel when they pass. Good song, 'Fun fun fun' to drive the Batmobile. The delivery actually has a tinge of Bob Dylan's delivery, faintly.
Side B has a rockier sound. In fact, it's essentially one of the standard rock tunes. Like if you took the words out, it sounds just like a dance tune from a beach movie.
The other record is by a guy I've heard of, but that's about it. Ernie Maresca. Basically from the Tab Hunter/Frankie Avalon/James Darren time frame, but he definitely looks working-class. He had a famous song, "Shout! Shout! (Knock Yourself Out), which record I don't believe I've ever had.
The one I was playing was Seville 45-119, "Mary Jane," which may be the B side. It sounds similar in certain ways to "Geraldine" by Jack Scott, but is just basically a rocker addressed to Mary Jane, and what she does to him. The other side is "Down On The Beach," which is an A-side sounding title. Opens with "dum-diddly's," so it's meant to be a group/fun song, and indeed, it tells about getting together at the beach and doing the latest dances. Twisting, mashed potatoes, getting together with Patty Ann and Johnny Angel. We're going to have a party, it's true! School is out! I'll bring my yo-yo, my boomerang won't come back. Numerous references to the latest fads (of circa 1960-61).
Neither of these Ernie Maresca songs do much for me today. They were meant to push certain buttons at a certain time and make a buck. The Batman sides also aren't much to speak of. They cashed in to whatever extent it turned out to be, and that was it. But as far as being more entertaining, they are.
Has everyone else said that yet? About Dick Martin, who just died.
Wow, I loved Dick Martin when he was on TV. He had that great party spirit, his personality, and was mildly/wildly lascivious, with some great double entendres.
In the Dan Rowan/Dick Martin team, Dick was funny and ditzy, Dan was sort of exasperated, trying to make sense of Dick's ability to twist things around to some dirty end.
So Dick was 86. And Dan was already gone.
I still have my Laugh-in record, which I'm pretty sure I "reviewed" at this site. Somewhere.
Remind me, please, never to invite Hillary Clinton to a party.
It'd be 2 o'clock in the morning and people'd be drifting away.
3 o'clock and still several hanging on.
4 o'clock, the party, the conversation's over, nearly everyone's gone.
5 o'clock, Hillary's still sitting on the couch, wanting her drink refreshed.
6 o'clock, she still won't leave.
7 o'clock, we take the dog out and invite Hillary along. Then we and the dog are running down the sidewalk, doubling back through the alley, in the back door, doors locked, windows shuttered.
8 o'clock, she's still knocking. "We don't hear that!" the wife says.
9 o'clock, a peek out the blinds. She's milling around on the lawn!
10 o'clock, this is ridiculous, we call the police and have her carted off.
I bought this film at an antique store recently. Magicians of India, Official Films - No. 615, 16mm. The box pictured is just over 3¾" square.
Unfortunately, I don't really have a way to watch it. I have access to a 16mm projector, but last time I tried to use it with a film, I couldn't get it to work and it even chewed up some of the film in the attempt. But it's a cool box, and that's what I bought it for, to have on a shelf. I like India, magicians, gurus, fakirs, snake charmers, all that.
I see there are a couple of descriptions of this film online.
The first one says: "Magicians of India -- Out in the open, without screens, mirrors or confederates, they work their wonders. The string trick; watch him break it, burn it, then pull it out whole! The coin that slides uphill! The toy bird that becomes nine living ones! The mountain goat turned flag-pole sitter! The mango seed that grows before your eyes! Lifting a stone with the eye-lids! Even in India they have the shell game! The snake charmer hypnotizing the most deadly of all reptiles- the king cobra! A sting and you have 50 seconds to live! Regular 8mm / b & w / silent 1-reeler 200-foot-reel edition from Official Films, $8." So I guess at that site they sell you the film version of it instead of it being on a DVD. That's pretty cool.
The second one is equally interesting, but this one looks like it's from someone who simply collects films and tells about them online: "Magicians of India (1947) Official Films -- Pictures a series of strange feats performed by the fakirs or magicians of India. Includes the Indian version of the shell game, a snake charmer, a trained goat and a man who lifts a stone with his eye-lids. I've got a pretty jaded bunch that watch films and they weren't buying most of these magic tricks. The best scenes were the trained goat that balanced on a tiny peg that was probably three inches in diameter and the guy who lifted stones with his eyelids. This reminded me of a great Penn and Teller DVD, Penn & Teller's Magic and Mystery Tour, where the duo watch street magicians in China, India and Egypt."
Each description gives a pretty good description of what's on the film. Sounds good!
I was listening to that Lunachicks CD a little more tonight, walking around downtown with my Ipod. I think I only got to track 9, although that's pretty far.
My method of reviewing CDs really isn't the greatest, which is to describe it pretty much the first time through. I heard a few songs then put it on and type-type-type. Even so, I was pretty nice.
But listening to it close like that, while walking, it has more texture and more depth in the ear. The vocals sounded sweeter and more trained, but while typing the vocals are more one dimensional.
Anyway, each song really has something to commend it. And even the lyrics that are overly-vulgar or a tad bit of a reach, have a nicer ring to them when you're not reading them at the same time.
"Edgar" was a song that leaped out at me, hearing it while walking. It's a song about a cat, a cat like most cats that goes to the bathroom and it smells. We can all relate. Songs about your animals are a nice thing. Anyone ever heard The Shagg's "My Pal Foot Foot"? In my opinion, their best song. A good tribute.
I was trying to think of other songs that are about pets, and know I know some, but couldn't think of any while walking. "Martha My Dear," of course, by Paul McCartney. "Old Shep," sung by Elvis. "Ode to Billy Toad," by Bobbie Gentry. Hey, I like that, "Ode to a Toad."
Lunachicks - Jerk of All Trades
CD on Go-Kart Records, 1995, GK013. The group is made up of Theo (vocals), Squid (bass & vocals), Gina (lead guitar and vocals), Sindi (guitar), Chip (drums). Produced and engineered by Ray Martin.
1) Drop Dead - Rousing opener. "I like you better when you're deader...Drop dead! Drop!" Catchy tune. The thing about this album is going to be lots of vulgarity, just putting it out there, whatever body function, four-letter word applies. So it's either parody, self-parody, some other form of humor, putting the things off a bathroom wall to music. It was a strong opening.
2) Fingerful - I like the riff, basic guitar thing going on all through this song. Very insistent. The lyrics go with the tune for more classic rock sound on this track than on the first. Some real sweet building of guitars in the chorus. Some of the same kind of "bathroom" stuff, literally, then in the lyrics. Nothing so terrible. Funny actually, but this tune seems to require something less funny. This is a great tune, the lyrics are so-so.
3) F.D.S. - The same guitar sound, in a more theatrical, eccentric way on this song. It marches along in a fast way, then stifles out, goes silent. The second time through there's a great guitar solo. The lyrics are in key with the whole CD, which in this case has some children's rhymes along with the whole over-the-top vibe. Such as "Greasy, grimy gopher guts ... and I forgot my spoon," which is probably public domain, that part of it.
4) Light As A Feather - This one is going to be like Fingerful, with a more classic rock, riff sound. The lyrics sound like kids messing around with tarot cards, seances, etc., autobiographical from stuff kids do for excitement. "Spin the bottle." Maybe you could say this album is bubblegum music with a heavy metal twist. Not much difference, really, between "Indian Giver" or "1, 2, 3 Red Light" and "Spin the Bottle" and "Greasy, Grimy Gopher Guts." It's nostalgia and biography. Just inside memories.
5) Edgar - About a cat named Edgar, "named after that Poe dude." A loving tribute, with good humor and sentiment. Sweet tune, and a good memory of how smelly his droppings were. Kind of a personal song, but with some good shared insights.
6) Dog Yard - Stuttering tune, instrumentals. Cool sounding. The lyrics get into a whole playful thing, I think from a dog's point of view. Reminds me of that dog song -- Damned Dog -- from Times Square. Maybe just because of the dog theme. But this one doesn't really communicate much to me. There are certain similarities between dog excitement and ours, though.
7) Butt Plugg - That is "Plugg" with two G's. Spitting song, short lines, short space for lines. "I like," "I love," quickie. Tribute to a body accessory. Short song.
8) Bitterness Barbie - This song sounds like it's saying something, some of the bitterness of being Barbie, from the doll's point of view when things start going wrong. Like what if Barbie had a mastectomy or clogged-up pores? In the semi-funny lyrics it's still saying something tragic about the ideal Barbie image, how even she can have troubles, and will eventually. Message songs aren't my favorite genre, but something like this has something positive without being overly in your face.
9) Deal With It - A slower tempo song at the very beginning, but it steps up quickly, and sounds like a serious song. It's personal what an artist wants to say, but I think subtlety wins the day, just my own opinion. This one has more lyrical subtlety, at least for the first bit. But "I'm gonna let it all out / Like a fresh water trout," doesn't say much to me. It sounds very 'rough draft.' I do like "mummified in toilet paper," but even that still isn't really touching me.
10) Brickface + Stucco - Exciting beginning. The singing has a real consistency throughout the album. A real sameness, except for the tunes. Brickface and Stucco are doing some gender bending, involving dressing like women, and, in Stucco's case, sailing the seas like a pirate. But in this joining of opposites they have a child together, November 10 is the birthday, and the little girl's name is Formica Linoleum. Building products or surfaces, like Z-Brick (not mentioned). Maybe complexion problems.
11) Jerk of All Trades - Title track, starts with horns. Then the horns after a fanfare are gone, and the guitars and a multiplicity of voices launch into it. This is about "Woman," who can do most anything, as she is the 'jerk of all trades.' The great advantage to singing the first thing that comes to mind is you never reach pretentiousness. The big disadvantage is everything sounds trite. But I like some of the effects in this one, like western noises of shooting. And the voices together are exciting. As the title track this must be saying something about the group.
12) Spoilt - The one starts off really nice, then becomes Generic Tune Off The Lower Shelf That's Within Everyone's Reach. The lyrics are more on the serious side, like the problems of women, the environmental, in war, something like that. Some of the fallout from war, it's what spoils everything, collateral damage, as they say. I like the seriousness of this one. The tune even gets better as we go, and it has a good menacing quality to go along with the lyrical theme. Not a funny song, which is good.
13) Ring + Run - This is another bubblegum one, like kiddie games, ringing doorbells, intercom buttons and running. "We're gonna have a little fun / In Brooklyn playing Ring + Run." Quick Joey Small might like this one. Get the Ohio Express on the line. They could do something great with this song. Just a fun, nostalgic song for every mischievous ex-kid.
14) Fallopian Rhapsody - I'm thinking, having glanced at it an hour ago that this one might have to do with abortion. Now I'm hearing it and it has a serious tune, a serious tone, yep. Taking someone to task for discouraging choice, thinking "procreation [is] what you think we're for." The tune switches in the middle to a very fast, insistent pace. Some angry spitting mad stuff, ending up with this message, "Gotta have choice, it's the only solution...Never go back!" Obviously a serious message song. Not a song I personally find very entertaining or inspiring, but it balances out some of the overly-silly stuff. More than a novelty act.
15) Insomnia - Great sentiment to start this one off, "I wish the sleep fairy would come do the trick." Anyone could identify with this song, anyone who's ever had trouble falling asleep. Even mentions "counting sheep"! Then ends up with the perfect solution to insomnia, which is sex (mercifully restrained here, which shouldn't go without saying). You don't get that on the medicine commercials! "I wanna go to, I really need to, please God let me! Good tune.
16) Why Me - Lyrically a small song. But I like the lyrics to this one maybe most of all. Because it's a little more mysterious about what's going on, so you can project all kinds of things into it. Like any kind of depression, any kind of personal challenge, from a splinter to raging dementia. Neat vocals from the group at the edge, beyond the lead singer. "If something's broken you gotta fix it," is repeated a few times. I think this would be my favorite song on the album. Some good raging attitude on it. Then the instruments break down, in a swirl of craziness. That's nice. Then repeating the "Something's broken" line....till we get to the beautiful, unfolding guitar end. And off.
17) A continuation of Track 16 after a minute or so -- a hidden track -- with a bit of horn from a Herb Alpert song, I think 'Whipped Cream.' And the group is sitting around laughing, burping, having a great time. Several burps. Someone says "Puke up a lung there, honey." A little more laughing and out.
This is nasty stuff. President "Clueless" Bush says he gave up golf because of our war dead, or because people shouldn't see the commander-in-chief playing golf during a war. It sends the wrong signal. The nasty part is that he has never heard of video tape, or assumes no one keeps track of what Presidents of the United States do or have done. So, naturally, they nail the little liar yet once again, as having.... [drum roll].... played golf after the time he says he gave it up!
It was a thing to beauty to see this clueless conservative spinmeister get a smackdown from Chris Matthews.
Chris has this thing about history, historical analogies and all that. He does it a lot with politics, anecdotes about presidents and other pols. So he knows something about it.
But the poor clueless guy he had on wasn't prepared. Chris was like a vicious dog ("Good boy! Down boy!") on Kevin James' leg, chewing for all it was worth. And funnnnnnny .... wow. These conservatives don't care about facts or getting anything right. They're simply all about spouting slogans, fear-mongering, fear and loathing.
So let's repeat: Neville Chamberlain was an appeaser, an appeaser, an appeaser, an appeaser, an appeaser, an appeaser, an appeaser, an appeaser, an appeaser, an appeaser, an appeaser, an appeaser, ad infinitum.... What else do we need to know? Ha ha!
OK, guess what, I got this album. A 2-CD package, $12.99 at Target, I think that sounds like a good deal.
I can't exactly give a track by track summary of it, but I've been through it a time and a half. Mostly while reading at the same time, and it's definitely good for that.
I think the subtitle, something on the sticker that was on the front, said, [OK, I found it], "Soundtracks For Daydreams." And that's exactly right.
I don't know if the tracks have names. I didn't see any listed, but they're quite nice. Nice to read by certainly, and daydream to, if that's what your mood is.
There's a little bit of everything, instrumental snippets, noodling, whiling-away, distortion, clarity, piano, guitar, plink-plink, heavy, soft, not-too-wild, very wonderful, artistic, reserved, and interesting sounds. I could probably go 1, 2, 3, 4, etc., and peg everything, but that wouldn't really accomplish much.
If you're looking for something off the beaten path -- something to stimulate thought and imagination (I don't think I've overstating it) -- this is a great set.
First, what do I know about Nine Inch Nails. Virtually nothing, the guy who is whatever in it, Trent Reznor. And I have an album, maybe I've had more, things come and go. Downward Spiral, I know, I bought it when it first came out. But being an expert in NIN's recorded output -- or even that one particular album -- nope, I ain't.
That doesn't mean I don't recognize a bargain when I see it, since this new album is a free download at their site. I've already listened to the first four or five tracks and like it so far. But I'm going to back up and do this blog entry about it, because I do like it.
1) 999,999 - Ethereal rising of sounds, short track (1:25), increasing in volume, like a factory doing quiet work. Some voices indistinct. Segues into....
2) 1,000,000 - (3:56). Very cool immediate, insistent guitars, and great vocal interplay. I love it, and being not a big fan over the years, I'm struck by how accessible (conventional?) of a song this is. "I feel a million years away, I don't feel anything at all." This will be a favorite track of mine, I'm sure, since it's like audio medicine for needy souls (I'm funny, right, but sincere in that.) Ooo, I like the layers here of dirty guitars. "So high, so far to fall." A million miles away! Great one, goes like that till an abrupt ending.
3) Letting You - (3:49). Starts with drums and jagged, nervous guitars. Some industrial grime tossed into the mix, processed trebly voice. Nice nervous breakdown sound. It's getting very thick, less conventional than the 2nd track, but as nice as can be. The voices fall out and the guitars exchange a few notes, then back into the singing. A very muddy sound, like snarling. Cheaper than a therapist, and probably more understanding, crank it up. Distorts itself into oblivion, nicely.
4) Discipline - (4:19). This one has a great guitar/drum thing going on. And very casual vocals, very honest sounding. Probably not as casual as it sounds. I do like "raggedness" in art, or anything really. Blog writing. Ragged is good. This is just a blissful song, shouldn't be challenging to anyone's nerves, even with pretty bits, a piano, oo-oo's in the vocals. Simple, nice. "Once I start, I cannot stop myself, I need your discipline, I need your help." This is a restraining sentiment, so I guess there's some positive vibes there.
5) Echoplex - (4:45). Very clean sound, drums, guitar. Lone vocal, immediate, close to you. A simple, stripped down sound and feeling. After a bit there's some more complex layering introduced. "My voice just echoes off these walls." It goes on like that, a comfortable song, nothing especially challenging to the senses here. Interesting mood music, which I like, the introspective, not utterly predictable sound, enough things to listen to. Could really be background music, not meant as an insult. Toward the end there's more going on simultaneously, then it simplifies, strips down again.
6) Head Down - (4:55). Synthesizer type of thing with distortion, guitar distorted, clean drum to start. Then a voice, clear, addressing audience in brief snippets of lyrics. Interplay of instruments has machine like give and take. Impressionistic to me, personally, like a printing press, gears going around, etc. I like the mixture of cleanness and density. It's a very organized song, conventional while still being interesting. This is my first time through, and I like it (not always a good sign). But the density is challenging enough to remain interesting for many other listens. I like the instrumental break, it's more haphazard, like splotches of sound thrown against the wall. At the end it all goes away, and sounds like something over-processed on Cool Edit.
7) Lights In The Sky - (3:29). Very very laid back beginning, piano and subdued vocal, then going on like that. Sounds like a demo so far, kind of like what a John Lennon demo sounds like, different voice of course. Second draft kind of thing, first recording. I don't know, I'm not too whoopie for this one.
8) Corona Radiata - (7:33). A long song here. Opens with a menacing humming drone, like a beast on the horizon, getting closer. Going on like that, texture going a couple ways in a very patient, whaaaaaa, then a more trebly eeeee announcing itself (don't you love my technical musicese?). Drone it out, whaa whaa eee. Hovering overhead, like a helicopter cutting out some of the whack whack whack, and overprocessing it, that's what it would sound like. Now it's settling down for a long winter's nap. I have my thinking cap on. This should be the last sound I hear just before I fall asleep. Maybe my dreams would have a more linear stability to them, which would be a welcome change. We're moving on, not too much difference, except there's some distant, approaching hoofbeats, closer. Then like a drum in a distant apartment or car driving by, if there were something wrong with your ears. This I would call a tone piece, like something to lift weights to (not heavy heavy weights, just 15 pounders, or 20 at the most.) You get good impressions, like maybe a crowd of people is being portrayed, a bunch of communists in dark grey costumes and strange faces, like something from My Chemical Romance. The people are crying for their freedom. The piece is building, struggling either to live or die, and since we have to be getting toward the end, probably the latter. Now some crazy birds pop in, only to be liquidated by a bubbling guitar or droning killing tank.
9) The Four of Us Are Dying - (4:37). I like the whole clean-cut sense of things here. Everything is very much in sync. Beat-beat-beat, dom, dom, dom, Duane Eddy on acid in the background, maybe Link Wray smiling in there somewhere. Reminds me of something with tusks. Ponderous, like machines tapping out Morse Code, machines that are working well. The guitars are like wrenches being thrown into the gears. But it still flows along like a well-oiled ship's motor. Big, powerful, death screams, being electrocuted. Then fading down to a manageable drone. Here is a high pitched weee thing, and the mix starts building again, not slowly. Ponderosity is back, and nice. I could call this the Ponderosa, it's certainly big and expansive enough to be a ranch. And since the album was free that was a Bonanza for me. Hard guitars and out.
10) Demon Seed - (4:55). This is going to round out the album. It starts heavy enough, and very clean. This sounds like the kind of song I can sink my teeth in. And since I'm getting a filling tomorrow, it's just in time. Some actual vocals are back, with a breathy vocal deeper in the mix. The instruments are all heavy, still with a very clean sound. Heavy, beautiful. It's the sound of words back there, which I don't entirely understand because I was focused on the music. This is a favorite track, one of them, so far. About midway the vocals are more front but the instruments don't fade. There's a 'yeah yeah yeah yeah' from other voices, higher pitched. Then with that gone, the instruments are like slam-slam, a door falling on you over and over. Very pretty, lavish instrumentation. The vocals more insistent, the yeah-yeah-yeah's back. Then it cuts off and dizzies down into some other more peaceful valley or realm. The instruments are a little bit on fire, wondering where they should go next. I hear a few backfires, sparks leaping off. Then it's wild man at the sledge again, more so than before. Very heavy, digging in for the long haul, I would guess. We're crescendoing it to the door, is my guess. Sweet song, one that I'm going to have a nice time listening to when I'm not busy typing at the same time. Then it just clips off. Silence.
I would call this, overall, a fairly conventional album, accessible to my shriveled up ears, although I was already in the mood for it. There's nothing I heard that would leave you feeling worse than you already feel. And plenty, actually, to cheer you up and give you a sense of understanding. Sound, albums can do that, and I believe this one hits the mark.
