Alice In Chains is in the top 2 of my favorite bands of all time list. I thought today would be a good day to rank their albums from not the best to their best.
SAP:
Black Gives Way To Blue:
The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here:
Alice In Chains:
Facelift:
Jar Of Flies:
Dirt:
By: Brian Lacy
This weeks top 10 songs I’ve been listening to:
Mastodon- The Motherload (from Once More Round The Sun)
Seemless- Things Fall Apart (from What We Have Become)
With Our Arms To The Sun- Great Black Divide (from A Far Away Wonder)
Wild Throne- Shadow Deserts (from Blood Maker)
Sidewave-Sundrop (from Big Time)
Incubus- Sick Sad Little World (from A Crow Left Of The Murder)
Call Me No One- Thunderbird (from Last Parade)
Deftones- Risk (from Diamond Eyes)
The Esoteric- Shipyards Of Foreign Cities (from Subverter)
Walking Papers- Already Dead (from Walking Papers)
The criteria for this list is that it has to be LP’s not EP’s. Yes some bands next albums after their debut were EP’s.
1. Pearl Jam- VS
2. Mastodon- Leviathan
3. Alice In Chains- Dirt
4. Metallica- Ride The Lightning
5. Radiohead- The Bends
6. Deftones- Around The Fur
7. Poison The Well- Tear From The Red
8. Nirvana- Nevermind
9. A Perfect Circle- The Thirteenth Step
10. Killswitch Engage- Alive Or Just Breathing
11. Stone Temple Pilots- Purple
12. Nine Inch Nails- The Downward Spiral
13. Pantera- Vulgar Display Of Power
14. Isis- Oceanic
15. Black Sabbath- Paranoid
16. Megadeth- Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying
17. Iron Maiden- Killers
18. Live- Throwing Copper
19. Cold- 13 Ways To Bleed On Stage
20. Slayer- Hell Awaits
21. Brand New- Deja Entendu
22. Incubus- Science
23. White Zombie- La Sexorcisto
Big hooks, thick riffs, and thumping rhythms all encompass the new album Above and Down Below by Los Angeles’s Aeges. Singer/Guitarist Kemble Walters lyrics are dark yet full of optimism. His voice compliments each chord and rhythm and at times is reminiscent of Steve Brodsky of Cave In. Both Walters and Corey Clarks guitar work on this album supersede their previous effort. The tone is clean yet with enough distortion to drive home the riffs. The bass of Tony Baumeister sits perfectly in the pocket while drummer Mike Land keeps it all going with his steady rhythms. This new album is 12 tracks of nothing but solid rock n roll. No filler! It has the right amount of influence from genres such as alternative, metal, post hardcore. The hooks aren’t cheesy, rather they are melodic with an aggression that allows the band to balance the heavy with the subtle nature of the songs.
I’ve listened to this album quite a few times and my favorite tracks so far are “Echoes,” “Parasite,” “Fault,” “Halos,” and “Wasted Time.” On the scale of 1-10 I would give this album a 9. It’s great and so is this band. They are on top of their game and it shows. In a time when there is a bunch of stale music out there Aeges is a breath of fresh air. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Above and Down Below. You won’t be disappointed. And Aeges are about to start a month long residency on Monday nights at the Silverlake Lounge in October!
https://www.facebook.com/aegesband
By: Brian Lacy
On paper supergroups sound like a good idea. Mix parts of one band with another. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don’t. Thankfully when Isis members Aaron Harris, Jeff Caxide, and Bryant Clifford Meyer joined up with Deftones singer Chino Moreno, musical bliss was created. Last night at the Troubadour was definitely something inspiring. The bands 75 minute set was full of intrigue. Their set started off with an untitled new song, then quickly jumped into “Tropics.” The main highlight of the night was when Adam Jones from Tool got on stage to join the band in playing “Shortwave Radio.” The crowd erupted when Adam appeared, almost to the same level as when Chino took the stage. You would think that with all the projects Chino is involved with he would run out of things to sing about. That is not the case. In Palms he gets to expand his thoughts into something more etherial that at the same time fits within the music and his voice is subtle as it caresses against the musical backdrop. Closing out the night was the fantastic song “Patagonia.” Palms is the type of band that can transcend heavy music and get those listening to just relax and settle into the music.
Opening band The Beta Machine, was nothing special. Actually to be perfectly honest they were rather drab and boring. I’d almost rather it have been an evening with Palms, than have to sit through their set. Though their drummer is quite fantastic.
What a great night for music. I love shows that leave me wanting more and that make me want to go home and write songs. In the past 4 days seeing Abloom and Palms really did that for me. And despite the venues sound guy not being on top of their game when it came to the live mix of Chino’s vocals, it was a great show.
Palms Setlist:
1. New Song
2. Tropics
3. Mission Sunset
4. Future Warrior
5. Shortwave Radio (with Adam Jones)
6. Antarctic Handshake
Encore:
7. Patagonia
Shortwave Radio w/Adam Jones
By: Brian Lacy
Photo by: Alisa Diaz
When a band reunites after a long time, especially 10 years later, the expectations are very skeptical. But there are some instances when its as though the band never left. That’s exactly how it went down for the shows Abloom played this past weekend. Starting in Santa Barbara at Velvet Jones and then again at the Sunset Strip Music Festival, Abloom picked up right where they left off. The bands energy on stage mixed with the perfect setlist of their songs was awe inspiring. The dueling guitars of Levon Sultanian and Sonny Mayo (filling in for Mikey Doling) were beyond in sync. Roy Mayorga pounded away on his drums with authority while Marcello Dias’ bass thumped perfectly and Jasan Radfords vocals were top notch. When the band started playing, all the lyrics came back in my head as though it were 10 years ago. Those that remember them from way back really went all out during both shows. More on Abloom in a moment.
Opening the show at Velvet Jones was The Broken Stems from San Diego. Their blend of indie rock, mixed with a laid back vibe fit perfectly against the back drop of Santa Barbara. Next up was the very fantastic With Our Arms To The Sun. Their sound encapsulates doom metal, sludge, and prog rock. These guys are beasts live. Think Tool meets Neurosis. The energy from their set radiated throughout the night. Their 35 minute set was smart and intriguing. They were the perfect band to be a part of the night. After them was Soma. They carried on with the energy of With Our Arms. All that momentum carried on to Abloom. The guys in Abloom came back with a vengeance. They don’t need much on stage since their repertoire of songs is unbeatable. Songs like “January 2nd,” “What You Came For,” “After That Quiet,” “So Softly,” Blood Sweat and Tears,” and “Alone We Sing” have all been personal favorites of mine for years and they sounded great. Their sets at both Velvet Jones and Sunset Music Fest were on fire
It’s a breath of fresh air now that Abloom has returned. Now they can finish what the started properly. I can’t wait to see what comes next.
Abloom Setlist:
1. January 2nd
2. What You Came For
3. Nothing Left To Do
4. After That Quiet
5. Burnt Offerings
6. So Softly
7. Blood, Sweat & Tears
8. Cover Up
9. Along We Sing
By: Brian Lacy
Friday night September 19th at Velvet Jones in Santa Barbara, Abloom returns from a 10 year hiatus. Sharing the stage with them is With Our Arms To The Sun, Soma and The Broken Stems. It’s primed to be a great night! Come out and enjoy the music!! Show starts at 8pm. $12 and 21 and over!
It’s going to be well worth the trip!
Abloom:
https://www.facebook.com/abloomband
With Our Arms To The Sun:
https://www.facebook.com/WithOurArmsToTheSun
Soma:
https://www.facebook.com/entersoma
The Broken Stems:
https://www.facebook.com/thebrokenstems
I’ve been a huge Mastodon fan since I heard Remission in 2002. They have been one of the few bands that has been able to create just what they want. There are some people that are not into their evolution, but if you really delve into their catalog you’ll be able to see how great they really are! This is the order of their albums from not the best to the best.
The Hunter:
Blood Mountain:
Once More Round The Sun:
Remission:
Leviathan:
Crack The Skye:
By: Brian Lacy
After witnessing the abomination that is now Soundgarden recently, it got me thinking of all the bands that have come back and released such mediocre and bad albums. The criteria for this list is that the band had to have called it quite for sometime then reconvened or took a long time off. Here is the list so far:
1. Soundgarden- King Animal
2. Stone Temple Pilots- Self Titled
3. Smashing Pumpkins- Zeitgeist
4. Motley Crue- Saints Of Los Angeles
5. Jane’s Addiction- Strays/ The Great Escape Artist
6. Blink 182- Neighborhoods
7. Eminem- Relapse
8. Guns N Roses- Chinese Democracy
9. Black Flag- What The…
10. Def Leppard- Songs From The Sparkle Lounge
11. Metallica- St. Anger
This weeks top 10 songs to enjoy
1. Abloom- After That Quiet (from Abloom Demos)
2. Chevelle- An Island (from La Gargola)
3. Failure- Daylight (from Fantastic Planet)
4. Mastodon- Ember City (from Once More Round The Sun)
5. Black Map- I’m Just The Driver (from Driver EP)
6. Placebo- Meds (from Meds)
7. Wovenwar- All Rise (from Wovenwar)
8. Godsmack- Something Different (from 1000 hp)
9. Incubus- The Warmth (from Make Yourself)
10. Down- Nothing In Return (from Down III: Over The Under)
By: Brian Lacy
audioeclectica 