Spread the wealth

I'm going to start occasionally uploading music onto this blog. Don't expect any massive posts for leaks of new releases. Just some stuff from my own collection, as well as some good finds snatched up from other blogs. Along with the audio files, you'll still receive the standard analysis of the artist/album at hand. To kick things off, I'm adding download links to both the Trash Talk and Daycare albums I posted on back in February. So check those out.

If you have any problems downloading, please let me know. Being new to this, I'm sure I'll goof something up.

Myspace endnote

While I posted a brief farewell bulletin on the deletion of my Myspace profile, there's a little more to it than what was contained there. The post did hint at my dissatisfaction with the growing corporatization and marketing schemes of Myspace. I mean, I get why companies would want to extend their influence into that arena. But I guess I'm an aging purist who remembers the early years of Myspace when you could sign in without getting assaulted by advertisements for the new T-Pain album and receive a message from somebody you didn't know - and I don't mean porn or garbage noob bands.

Speaking of Myspace's involvement in music, my feelings are mixed. It is a convenient manner of checking out new artists. And I fully support it as an alternative to forcing bands to shell out loads of cash for an overblown java/flash website; it's got the essentials: songs and tour dates. Though I do see an overall downside to this convenience. In terms of discovering new artists, it contributes to the overall disposable nature of music by making it too accessible; listen to a track by a band - don't like it - band is wack - next (and the process repeats). The art of appreciation gets lost when the product becomes too easily attainable, which in turn increase the number of band jockers/shit-talkers who form their dubious opinions upon insufficient evidence. To be fair, these issues of convenience and disposability in music are much bigger than Myspace, being deserved of a more in-depth exploration separate from this entry.

But the reason I killed my profile has more to do with the virtual social networking aspect of Myspace. Or lack thereof. I, of course, only speak from my experience; there are assumedly others who fully utilize this service which Myspace provides. But for me, in the end, Myspace deteriorated into a sort of graveyard. The majority of 140 or so "friend's" profiles were more like tributes to past friendships - ones that will most likely not be re-established - rather than a way to keep in touch. So if you are reading this, you can probably count yourself as one of those whose headstone I am not referring to.

Part of me felt like I was trapped in a piece of science fiction. That if I didn't pull out of the simulacrum soon, I'd become forever dependent upon communication by virtual means. That there would be no definite separation between the human and the computer. While I'm exaggerating a bit here, I did develop this compulsive need to constantly check my profile for new messages. I figure that I should try to curb that compulsion towards more constructive activities - like reading a book, riding a bike, pushing weight, or maybe even having a face-to-face conversation with someone.

I don't want to come off like a technological nihilist. Technology is good if it improves the quality in some aspect of life; the fork and knife, excellent upgrades in the category of food consumption. But problems arise in defining the slippery slope of "quality." Most people will blindly substitute "convenience" (making another appearance here) for "quality," not taking into account that ratio is not a constant 1:1. Communication on Myspace, as I found, suffered from a loss of quality by way of convenience. It was an acceptable system for sending whimsical Chuck Norris jokes, but not in the forging and tending of human relationships. The convenience factor, if anything, has an isolating effect: so many "friends," and nothing to say. The issue is not one of aesthetics. There are severe limitations upon a communication more or less fixed outside of real time. Rapid-fire interjections like "shut up, douche" and "my bad, I didn't realize your brother was actually a retard" are necessary to establishing a basic connection with another person, and they lose their potency when trapped statically as "comments."

Those be the facts, albeit presented in an incoherent mess of text. Summary: disconnect from technological convenience when it threatens to cheapen your humanity.

See you on Facebook.

One Liners

I don't watch CSI Miami, but these David Caruso lead-in's are golden.

Narrows - New Distances

Deathwish Inc.
(2009)

First inclination dictates that something should be said in relation to how this debut LP compares to the band members' past endeavors. The plural isn't really necessary here, since everyone just wants to know if New Distances lays waste a la Botch. They can rest assured, because if they weren't familiar with Narrows, they would have a have a hard time not believing Botch had reunited for another recording (subsequently defecating in their trousers). Angular riff dissonance, ebb and flow groove, inimitable vocal carnage. All elements are present to recreate the glory days of a past when metal, punk and hardcore could blend into an entity that overstepped its respective components, but without losing the aggression of each root influence. To be fair, the approach here is not entirely a rehash, as two guitars are incorporated into the mix this time around, allowing for more sonically complex layers and textures; both "Sea Witch" and "Gypsy Kids" are exemplary of simultaneous point/counterpoint interplay between six-strings. But for mere satisfaction, it doesn't get any better than "Newly Restored," which pulsates with the crushing force of a giant's footsteps - one who shares an undeniable kinship with Tacoma's finest.

Those still petitioning the empty sky for a Botch reunion would be wise to check out New Distances. Although a few wonderments short of the classic status of We Are the Romans, Narrows gives plenty to get rejoiced on. At the very least, all are blessed to have the pipes of the former Botch vocalist gracing ears once again. (Vital life sustaining elements: fire, water, Dave Verellen throat.)

Download

Get in the van/plane(s)

Boston, Massachusetts hardcore band Have Heart has just kicked off what has to be the most ambitious, massive touring schedule I've ever seen for a band of their stature. While they indeed are the current bee's knees of hardcore, this is straight Van Halen. Take a gander at this beast.

Asia
07/05 Shanghai China @ YuYintang
08/05 Wuhan China @ Vox Club
09/05 Guangzhou China @ 191 Space
10/05 Hong Kong China @ TBA
11/05 Manila Philipines @ Bay Park Center
13/05 Bangkok Thailand @ Overtone
15/05 Jakarta, Indonesia @ Studio Hall Bumi Wiyata
16/05 Kuala Lumpor Malaysia @ MCPA Theater Hall
17/05 Singapore @ Fad Media Studio

Australia
20/05 Perth, Australia @ Rosemount Hotel
21/05 Perth Australia @ YMCA HQ
22/05 Adelaide Australia @ Underground
23/05 Melbourne Australia @ Arthouse
24/05 Melbourne Australia @ The Castle
27/05 Canberra Australia @ Tuggerangong Youth Centre
28/05 Annandale, Australia @ Annandale Hotel
29/05 Sydney Australia @ The Fitz St. Ives
30/05 Brisbane Australia @ Princess Theatre
31/05 Byron Bay Australia @ High School

South America
13/06 Bogota, Colombia
15/06 Lima, Peru
17/06 Santiago, Chile
18/06 Iba, Chile
20/06 Buenos Aires, Argentina
21/06 Sao Paolo, Brazil

Europe
25/06 Germany München Feierwerk
26/06 Italy Vicenza Centro Tecchio
27/06 Germany Durmersheim bei Karlsruhe New Noise Festival
28/06 Germany Essen Pressure Festival - Club Edition
29/06 France Paris Le Peniche Alternat
30/06 France Toulouse Le Caravan Serail
01/07 Spain Barcelona PUERTO HURRACO
02/07 Switzerland Luzern Sedel
03/07 Germany Wiesbaden Vainstream Beastfest
04/07 Germany Münster Vainstream Festival
04/07 Holland Hengelo Innocent
05/07 Germany Hamburg Rote Flora
06/07 Sweden Örebro Kulturhuset
07/07 Germany Berlin Cassiopeia
08/07 Ireland Dublin TBA
09/07 Austria Wien Viper Room
10/07 Slovakia Kosice Khoi Khoi Club
11/07 Romania Cluj Roland Garros
12/07 TBA
13/07 Croatia Zagreb Mochvara w/ Comeback Kid, Defeater
14/07 Slovenia Ljubljana Gala Hala w/ Comeback Kid, Defeater
15/07 Hungary Budapest Dürer Kert w/ Comeback Kid, Defeater
16/07 Germany Schwenfurt Alter Stattbahnhof w/ Comeback Kid, Defeater
17/07 Germany Rosswein JUHA
18/07 Belgium Herk de Stad Rock Herk
19/07 UK Southampton Talking Heads
20/07 UK Sheffield Corporation
21/07 UK Aberdeen Korova
22/07 UK Manchester Moho Live
23/07 UK London Underwolrd
24/07 Germany Köln Underground - Allschools Birthday Party
25/07 Belgium Maasmechelen Moshvalleyfest
26/07 Czech Republic Pilsen Fluff Fest

Africa
29/07 Johannesburg, South Africa
30/07 Johannesburg, South Africa
30/07 Durban South, Africa
31/07 Gobarone, Botswana
01/08 Zimbabwe

Canada
16/08 Quebec City, QC
17/08 Montreal, QC
18/08 Toronto, ON
19/08 Sudbury, ON
20/08 Thunder, Bay ON
21/08 Regina, SK
22/08 Winnipeg, MN
23/08 Calgary, AB
24/08 Edmonton, AB

Central America
30/08 Iba, El Salvador
31/08 Guatemala City, Guatemala

United States
8/14 Philadelphia, PA
8/15 Portland, ME
8/26 Seattle, WA
8/27 San Francisco, CA
8/28 Anaheim, CA
8/29 Phoenix, AZ
9/2 Austin, TX
9/3 St. Louis, MO
9/4 Chicago, IL
9/5 Romeo, MI
9/6 Covington, KY
9/7 Nashville, TN
9/8 Birmingham, AL
9/9 Jacksonville, FL
9/10 Atlanta, GA
9/11 Raleigh, NC
9/12 New York, NY
9/13 Hartford, CT
9/14 Poughkeepsie, NY
9/15 Erie, PA
9/16 Syracuse, NY
9/17 Albany, NY

Fucking Zimbabwe?! How do you book that? I want to go to the Seattle show on 8/26 to see how ragged these guys are by that point. Nevertheless, a great band and hopefully they'll fare well in spreading the good vibes worldwide.

Zao - Awake?

Ferret Music
(2009)

Another Zao album. At this point fans of the band should know what to expect: Dan Weyandt's scathing vocals over the heavy grooves of a revolving lineup of musicians. This much Awake? achieves, as there is no shortage of that now classic metalcore breakdown which Zao helped pioneer. Though there are enough subtle nuances to keep things interesting. The bridge of "1,000,000 Outstretched Arms of Nothing" comes to a molasses crawl of bass guitar before Weyandt lays down a few lines of well executed spoken word, while "Reveal" nicely separates the crushing breaks with an ethereally discordant picking sequence. The standout track here is easily "Romance of the Southern Spirit," a remake of an older song, this time infused with a melodic hardcore vibe akin to old Shai Hulud.

So it is unfortunate that Awake? marks the return of sing-songy clean vocals - an element that Weyandt [a] got away from on the excellent The Fear is What Keeps Us Here (thank you Steve Albini) and [b] pockmarked otherwise decent albums in Self-Titled and The Funeral of God. But when it's acknowledged that Tim Lambesis of As I Lay Dying had a hand it producing this album, speculation over whence the sappy choruses spawned from can commence with accuracy. In the wake of this unsavory inclusion, Awake? is still a solid release from a veteran band who continues to piece together chords with enough of the heavy to keep heads banging.

That should be the end of the review. But it is not. If this album was completely isolated - from the band who wrote it, from their past records - then it would stand as is. But there are circumstances relevant to this release that alter my perception of it.

Before the release of Awake?, Zao announced that they would not tour full-time in support of the album. Anyone who knows anything about the music business understands that this is where most artists earn their living: on the road. This signals that the band is not a means of subsistence for its members. Also, anyone who is familiar with the metal/hardcore scene knows that the community is not very forgiving towards bands who experiment too far outside their already defined perimeter of sound. Zao themselves must have realized this on their 2002 "farewell" tour when they neglected to play a single track off of their then recently released and less-than-metal Parade of Chaos, instead constructing a surefire setlist mainly out of the staples Where Blood & Fire Bring Rest and Liberate Te Ex Inferis. (I was at the Seattle show and am not complaining.)

Without the monetary and critical pressure that comes with being a "full-time" band, the avenue for artistic freedom and creativity becomes much wider. This is theoretically speaking, of course, because Awake? does not represent the ideal. While being a decent Zao record, it still a by-the-numbers Zao record. It fails to do anything drastically different, or better, than previous albums. Yet, the band were in the position for an unorthodox script-flip, and baulked. They cite artists like Neurosis and Queens of the Stone Age as influences; this release would have been the perfect chance to incorporate them.

This is not a call for Zao stop mixing metal and hardcore and put out some totally avant-garde noise shit. But damn. They've been in the game too long to miss the opportunity to mix it up - whether it be in terms of form, style, or production. Maybe next time, dudes.