Band Of The Week Revisited: Aeges

This is exciting. Aeges are gearing up to release their newest album and if this what we can expect, then we are in for a treat. “Another Wasteland” is chock full of melody and crunchy riffs that will get you more than in the mood for more! This song will appear on the upcoming album Weightless, which should be out later this summer. In the mean time, check out the video below and play it loud. Aeges are part of the resurgence of rock music that I’ve been mentioning for some time. They are the real deal and do it with the utmost conviction and passion, and you can tell when you listen.

Aeges- Another Wasteland:

 

Previous Albums:

Above and Down Below:

 

The Bridge:

 

https://www.facebook.com/aegesband

 

 

Album Rank: Thrice

In anticipation of Thrice’s new album coming out in May, I thought it would be a great time to do an album rank of their catalog. Here are their albums from not their best to the best.

Beggars:

 

Major Minor:

 

Alchemy Index Vol III & IV:

 

Alchemy Index Vol I & II:

 

Identity Crisis:

 

To Be Everywhere Is To Be Nowhere:

 

Illusion Of Safety:

 

The Artist and The Ambulance:

 

Vheissu:

Unsung Masterpieces: Stabbing Westward- Darkest Days

Back in 1998 while I was waiting for a new Nine Inch Nails record, an album was released by Stabbing Westward that would hold my attention for years to come. Darkest Days is the album I’m talking about. Stabbing Westward took their industrial influences a few steps further on this album without sacrificing their knack for writing catchy melodic songs. Singer Chris Hall’s anguish, pain and suffering all show through in his vocal performance. Something I found interesting about the album is that it’s actually a concept record. It’s made up of 4 parts,  with each depicting  a different emotional phase after a break up. The Tracks 1-4 is about sabotaging the relationship. Tracks 5-9 is about lust, hope, and longing. Tracks 10-12 is about hitting rock bottom after it’s all over. The final part is about recovery and self-respect. When I found that out a few years back, the album made a lot more sense to me. I’m sure most of you will remember the song “Save Yourself,” as it was the first single released for the album. But there is way more to the album than just that song. Songs like ” Everything I Touch,” “Drugstore,” “You Complete Me,” “Haunting Me,” “When I’m Dead,” “Torn Apart,” and “On Your Way Down” are absolute standouts. That’s not to say that the other songs aren’t as good, these ones just always seemed to have a lasting effect on me.

Stabbing Westward called it quits in the early 2000’s. Chris Hall went on to start the band The Dreaming. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing them a few times over the years, and he is still one hell of a singer and frontman. During the early years of The Dreaming it wouldn’t be shocking to hear them play a couple Stabbing Westward songs live. It was announced recently that Stabbing Westward will be reuniting for a show to celebrate their 30th anniversary, but in Chicago. Let’s hope it goes well, so we can get a full on reunion tour!!!

 

Stabbing Westward- Darkest Days:

Must Own Albums: INXS- Kick

I remember being 4 years old, watching MTV and seeing the video for “Need You Tonight.” My first thought was I have to have a jacket like the one Michael Hutchence had. Second was this song is great and I need to hear more. So like any good parent would do, mine took me to go get INXS Kick. I was hooked. The album and band was one of my favorites growing up. I can still remember all the videos that aired. Of course I was young and was very focused just on those songs, but as I got older and really listened to the album, I realized how good it truly was. Besides “Devil Inside,” “Need You Tonight,” “New Sensation,” “Never Tear Us Apart,” songs like “Mystify,” “Kick,” “Wild Life” and “Tiny Daggers” are exceptional songs that help to make this album a classic.  Michael Hutchence had a voice that was raspy and filled with sensuality that radiated all over the songs. He had a style all his own making him one of the most enigmatic frontmen of the time. Interestingly enough this album was almost not released. When the band turned it into their record company, they hated it. So much so that they offered the band a million dollars to go back and come up with something else. Another point of interest about Kick, is that it was produced by Chris Thomas. Thomas was the guy behind the boards for the Sex Pistols album Never Mind The Bullocks.

INXS’s Kick is one of those timeless albums that stretches beyond just the 80’s. The legacy of the band continues on long after Michael’s death in 1997. They even tried a resurgence in the 2000’s with the TV show contest Rock Star: INXS. Michael Hutchence is one of those frontmen that is just irreplaceable. The band themselves have a tremendous catalog that they can be proud of. Kick is the highlight sure, but there are some other greats out there from them that deserve the attention.

 

INXS- KICK:

Audioeclectica Podcast: Episode 2

Episode 2 is here!!! This is quite fun to do I must say. In this new episode we discuss our favorite debut albums, the reunion of Guns N Roses, Debate Appetite For Destruction vs Use Your Illusion II, Bands that should come back Skid Row, Unsung Masterpieces: Marilyn Manson Mechanical Animals, Deftones very disappointing new album Gore, Band Spotlight on And We Are Them.

Enjoy!

Let us know what you think? and Here are a few questions for you.

What are your favorite debut albums of all time?

What bands would you like to see come back?

 

Episode 2 :

Cover Tuesday: Head Wound City (Ministry)- Just One Fix

If you aren’t familiar with Head Wound City, they are made up of members of The Blood Brothers, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and The Locust. In May they will release a new album called A New Wave Of Violence. These gents just released a single which included a cover of Ministry’s “Just One Fix.” It’s a really great cover, and captures the craziness of the original, all the while making it their own.

Head Wound City- Just One Fix:

 

Ministry- Just One Fix:

Album Anniversary: Temple Of The Dog

It’s crazy to think that it’s been 25 years since Temple Of The Dog released their one and only album. For those that don’t know, this band and album was a tribute to singer Andrew Wood of Mother Love Bone (The band before Pearl Jam). This is one of those albums that still stand the test of time. I remember first hearing “Say Hello To Heaven” and “Hunger Strike” and being totally in awe of how good those songs were. Not to mention the guitar solo by Mike McCready on “Reach Down.” Seriously, Mike is one of the most underrated guitar players in the last 25 years. The entire album is from start to finish tremendous. There are a few things I find very interesting about this album. One, that it was made and released before Soundgarden put out Bad Motor Finger. Two, “Say Hello 2 Heaven” and “Reach Down” were written by Cornell in direct response to Andrew Wood’s death. While the rest of the songs were written about various topics. This is one of those albums that should be in everyone’s collection. It’s just so damn good.

 

Temple Of The Dog:

Live Review: 1000 Suns, And We Are Them, Ghost Idols @ Silverlake Lounge

There is a lot of talk out in the mainstream about rock music being a dying part of music. Well I’m here to tell you that it’s not true at all. There are a slew of bands out there that are carrying the torch for the rock genre and doing it with extreme amounts of passion and love for the music. Last night at the Silverlake lounge, three of the most solid rock bands shared the stage last night and showed those who were in attendance that rock is still very much alive.

1000 Suns started the night off with their blend of instrumental post-rock . Through the 45 minutes during their set you could feel the passion in their music as it permeated through the venue. Armed as a three piece, these guys led by guitarist Andy Scott, have a sound with influences ranging from Radiohead, Tool, and a slew of 90’s bands like Failure. 1000 Suns were the perfect band to open up the night.

Next up was And We Are Them. These gents brought it last night. Their high energy filled music mixed with passionate lyrics really left a statement on the night. During certain songs you can hear the influences of bands like At The Drive In, Quicksand, and Failure. I’ve mentioned before that this band really believes in what they do and it shows in their performances. Playing songs from their newest EP A Subtle Tyranny and some other older gems, And We Are Them had the crowd intrigued and glued to watching them play, as they left it all on stage.

Closing out the night was Ghost Idols, another band that delivers passionate music with a 90’s tinge and some sludge. They deliver a wall of thunderous sound live. They three of them all play with conviction and belief in what they do. They played a slew of new songs that up their game from their previous EP. Ghost Idols were the perfect band to close out the night.

All three of these bands are proof that rock music is alive and well. They deliver music they believe in and it shows. You can tell they all do this for the love of music and the creation of art. With bands like this out there, it’s only a matter of time before more people start to clue in that there are great bands out there playing good music. So get out there people and support bands like this!!!

 

1000 Suns:

https://www.facebook.com/1000sunsband
And We Are Them:

https://www.facebook.com/AndWeAreThem
Ghost Idols:

https://www.facebook.com/GhostIdols

 

 

Cover Thursday: Thrice (Real Life)- Send Me An Angel

Thrice is coming back with a new album this year. I’ve seen them a few times and they always put on a good show. While I was doing some research on them, I came across this cover they did of Real Life’s “Send Me An Angel.” Enjoy it!

Thrice- Send Me An Angel:

 

Real Life- Send Me An Angel:

Video Rank: Beastie Boys

I woke this morning with Beastie Boys “Sabotage” in my head. Naturally I had to listen to it and it got me thinking about all their videos. I present you with a ranking of their top ten videos.

10. Rhymin & Stealin:

9. Body Movin:

8. So What Cha Want:

7. No Sleep Till Brooklyn:

6. Fight For Your Right:

5. Ch Check It Out:

4. Triple Trouble:

3. Make Some Noise:

2. Intergalactic:

1. Sabotage: