EventsThe Incident | Porcupine Tree
I think the only thing regarding Porcupine Tree that amazes me more than meeting supposed rock/metal music aficionados that have never even heard of Porcupine Tree is how many albums they’ve released and have yet to bore me. This is a band that is constantly growing and led by someone with a very clear passion for music. Whether you’ve never heard Porcupine Tree before or you’re a long time fan, their latest release will not disappoint.
Ki | Devin Townsend
Devin Townsend actually has a rather extensive music résumé, and while I encourage you to check it out, I’d just be regurgitating wikipedia if I tried to summarize it. On the other hand, I have been listening his latest album, Ki (2009), practically non-stop since Monday night. I’ve gone from worrying I may have finally bought an album based on instinct I would end up not liking, to thinking this isn’t so bad, and finally to realizing… holy shit, this album is brilliant! Hopefully, I can help you skip the first few steps.
Animals as Leaders
Animals as Leaders is a project based out of Washington D.C. with an absolutely phenomenal guitarist. Few people can eloquently harness an 8-string guitar and even fewer can actually bring emotion to shredding. I was instantly hooked by the guitar, but it’s the fact that every piece of this band is just as incredible that got me addicted.
Gazpacho
Gazpacho is roughly what I’d call a progressive rock band. They have the core of a progressive rock band but surface appearance of an older rock band. Their singer immediately reminded me of an odd mixture of Thom Yorke and Jeff Buckley, but the music definitely had a sound of progressive rock. What makes Gazpacho a bit on the outskirts of progressive rock is their ambient, art rock, and folk influences.
Gloria | Disillusion
I could write an entire editorial about the nuances of attempting a complete sonic redefinition, so I won’t bore you with the details (yet!) and I’ll get back on topic. I’m not sure I can succinctly express to what extent I love Gloria, but it’s not often that I hear an album so ground breaking that my review of it turns out to be full of general and fundamental ideals about music. I think this album will be hit or miss for most of you. It will challenge how you think metal should sound; so much so that you may even try to claim this isn’t really metal… but you’d be wrong. See, for me, this is the best kind of metal I never thought existed. To quote Disillusion’s MySpace page: this sounds like “David Lynch on Metal”.
Uplifter | 311
I feel that I have to start this out with a disclaimer; I’m a huge 311 fan. There is a very good chance that my opinion about anything they put out is going to be biased seeing as they are my favorite band. You can take that for what it’s worth and I hope that instead of discounting my point of view because of it…you’ll feel that being a fan for 16 of the band’s 19 year history gives me at least a little credit to write this and gives you some energy to get off your ass and check out 311’s music.
Beardfish
With similarities to bands like Yes, Supertramp, and (most aptly) Frank Zappa, Beardfish is a fresh, new take on classic prog rock.
If These Trees Could Talk
I’m inclined to call these guys a heavier and guitar oriented God is an Astronaut. Granted, God is an Astronaut has a guitar player, but If These Trees Could Talk has three…
Back to Times of Splendor | Disillusion
To all metal heads looking for intense, heavy, articulate guitar work and drumming, creative song structures, melodic singing, and a strong sense of diversity throughout an album, you need look no further than Back to Times of Splendor.
ADHD | Riverside
There’s something very different between my first review of Riverside and this one. When I wrote the first review, I had literally just found them that very night and only owned Rapid Eye Movement (2007) and Voice in My Head - EP (2005). At the time, I thought they might be on to something, but nothing really clicked. It’s been more than a year since that first review. I now own their first three full length studio albums (i.e. the Reality Dream Trilogy) and two EPs. Nirav and I have also since had the privilege of meeting them backstage at their only non-feastival show in the US to date for an interview with the lead singer, Mariusz Duda. So can you tell the difference between when I wrote my first review and now? Riverside has become one of my favorite bands and among the best of my finds since the start of Obnoxious Listeners.
