Album Review: Filter- Crazy Eyes

When you think of the band Filter these days, I would guess two songs come to mind, “Hey Man Nice Shot” and “Take A Picture.” One would think they have moved on from their early more industrial side of things, considering the last album didn’t really have any of those elements. Well Filter have just released a new album that harkens back to the Short Bus era and adds a bit of a modern approach. The new album Crazy Eyes is very influenced by the early days of Filter and a bit of Nine Inch Nails Broken era. Richard Patrick is back and angrier than he’s been in a long time. Armed with a band that helps realize his vision and tests the limits of electronic and industrial tones, the new album is one that stands out amongst the bands catalog. Songs like “Nothing In My Hands,” “Pride Flag,” “Take Me To Heaven,” and “Welcome To The Suck (Destiny Not Luck)” are complete standouts on this record. On a fun note Danny Lohner helped write and produce the song “City Of Blinding Riots,” which is a song that will be a great in a live setting. There is also an instrumental called “Under The Tongue” that is very Nine Inch Nailsesque in a good way.

I had the pleasure of speaking to Richard and he says “this album is a bit more reckless dangerous and quirky.” He also mentions that this incarnation is one of the most passionate version of the group since the early years.  He also goes on to say that “this album should be triumphant in its anger.” While the album is full of anger, social commentary, honesty and a DGAF attitude are very prevalent themes throughout. Filter have come back to their roots and it’s very fitting in a time when music is getting stale.

Filter- Crazy Eyes:

Live Review: Killswitch Engage @ Fox Theater

There are certain bands that I have an affinity for and have made it a personal mission to go see them live. I’ve been a Killswitch Engage fan for many years. I’ve seen them a handful of times, but never with Jesse Leach. So after the release of their new album Incarnate, I knew I had to go see them. Jesse’s lyrics and voice are powerful and inspiring. So this night was full of great expectations, and I was full of excitement.

Kicking the night off was the band Toothgrinder. Their blend of prog and metal created a sense that this night was going to be heavy. Their short set was decent and full of energy. Enough to get the crowd pouring in to the venue into a frenzy in the pit.

Next up was 36 Crazyfists. These guys have been at it a long time and still deliver. Their first two albums especially A Snow Capped Romance, were in heavy rotation with my way back when. So this was very cool to see them playing with Killswitch. When the band got to the point in the set which they played songs off Snow Capped, the crowd erupted and got into it. You could tell who knew them from that era.

The direct support slot of the night went to relative newcomers Memphis May Fire. These guys are definitely not my cup of tea, but there sure were a lot of youngsters that were really digging them. Thankfully I had seats upstairs, so it was nice to take a break from standing while watching their energetic set. While they had great crowd interaction, I couldn’t help but be bored by their generic music. Plus I just wanted Killswitch to be on.

Finally the time arrived for Killswitch Engage, the main event of the evening. And they didn’t disappoint. The set began with “Strength Of The Mind,” and went straight into “A Bid Farewell,” and “Numbered Days,” signaling this was going to be one of those heavy nights. Getting to hear Jesse live was tremendous. Even with him being sick, he put his all into the show and delivered with his heart on his sleeve. The crowd participation was astounding, singing along to every song, helping out Jesse throughout the night. The rest of the set was a nice mix of hit songs, and deep cuts. Jesse brings a new sense of belief and urgency to the songs that former singer Howard Jones wrote. The new songs that were played “Alone I Stand,” “Hate By Design,” and one of my favorites “Embrace The Journey…Upraised” all were top notch. Closing out the set was the majors, “The End Of Heartache,” “My Curse,” and “In Due Time.”

At the end of the night my voice was nearly lost and my neck was hurting from head banging. Getting to watch and hear someone I’ve been inspired by for his words and voice give it his all was worth it for me. I’ve always believed that Killswitch with Jesse is the way it should be. Not to take away from what Howard did with the band, Jesse just has a certain personality that fits with the band. This was the best Killswitch show I’ve seen in a long time. I can’t wait for the next tour!

 

Killswitch Engage Set List:

Strength Of The Mind
A Bid Farewell
Numbered Days
No End In Sight
Beyond The Flames
Alone I Stand
This Fire Burns
Vide Infra
Always
Breathe Life
Hate By Design
Rose Of Sharyn
Embrace The Journey…Upraised
My Last Serenade
The End Of Heartache
My Curse
In Due Time

 

By: Brian Lacy

Photos: Alisa Lacy

Album Review: Deftones- Gore

After 20 plus years as a band and now 8 albums in, where do you go? Deftones have never been a band to play it safe. They shake things up every now and then, showing the band is constantly evolving. Their new album Gore is a prime example of a band maturing and expanding upon its influences. It’s nice to hear a band like this take chances and try new things, but the end result isn’t all that pretty. Gore has a flow to it that is makes it seem more like a collection of songs rather than an album. There are a few songs that are absolute standouts on this record. Songs like “Hearts/Wires,” “Phantom Bride,” and “Rubicon” are the best the album has to offer. “Hearts/Wires”  should have been the first single released. Chino sounds vulnerable and focused on this song. There are great harmonies as well that take it up a notch or a few. As of this writing my favorite track is “Phantom Bride.” Jerry Cantrell guests on the song, providing a guitar solo that fits ever so perfectly with the vibe of the song. The song is also one of the the most heartfelt songs on the album. Chino shines on this, as well as the rest of the band. Other songs that caught my attention are “Prayers/Triangles,” “Acid Hologram,” and “(L)MIRL.” There is something very etherial to these songs. They expand upon the Deftones more “ambient” side.

Part of the problem with the album is the production and mixing. It’s very disjointed. The drums are buried in the back and don’t have the sense or urgency that fans of the band have loved for many years. There is a “raw” element to this album and I get it, but it’s just not done well at all. I understand why they didn’t want to continue on the path that they laid with Diamond Eyes and Koi No Yokon, but they seemed to have strayed a little too far on this one. The end result is that this album will definitely be one that grows on you with time. This is not to say that you won’t enjoy Gore, but it will for sure be one of the albums in the bands catalog that songs get skipped on a lot.

Scale of 1-10: 4

Deftones- Gore:

Cover Thursday: Pearl Jam (Pink Floyd)- Comfortably Numb

Pink Floyd isn’t an easy band to cover. I’ve heard a lot of bands try to cover them and fall short. Pearl Jam absolutely nailed it. Eddie Vedder kills it vocally, Mike McCready slays the guitar solo. He’s so damn good!!! This cover is done so well.

Pearl Jam- Comfortably Numb:

Unsung Masterpieces: Red Hot Chili Peppers- One Hot Minute

The year is 1995 and the Red Hot Chili Peppers are about to release their follow up to Blood Sugar Sex Magik. John Frusciante left the band and was replaced by Dave Navarro. By adding Dave Navarro, the Chili Peppers sound changed rather drastically. The lyrics grew darker, exploring the perils of drug use, depression, grief and many other themes along those lines. Navarro also added a heavier approach with his style of guitar playing. Granted this album was a bit of a detour from what the band had put out with Blood Sugar, One Hot Minute has become an album that with age, has become a true unsung masterpiece in the bands catalog. The history of the making of One Hot Minute is quite the story. Anthony Kiedis had relapsed, thus causing a slow down in the writing and recording of the album. But the end result was something special. Songs like “Warped,” “Aeroplane,” “My Friends,” “Tearjerker,” “One Hot Minute,” and “Transcending” are stellar compliments to a very underrated album.

One thing I’ve noticed over the years listening to the album is that Dave Navarro really brought something  special and different to the band. He brought a different style to the band than what John Frusciante did, leaving a signature mark on the one album he did with the band. Interestingly, One Hot Minute isn’t an album that the Chili Peppers visit often. In fact they have even come out to say that “We don’t really feel that connected to that record anymore. No special reason, not to say we would never play those songs but we don’t feel that emotionally connected to that music right now.” Which is quite sad, considering how good the album really is. Hopefully there will be a time again that they revisit some of these songs.

What do you think of One Hot Minute?

 

Red Hot Chili Peppers- One Hot Minute:

 

 

 

 

Ultimate Set List: Stone Temple Pilots

I had the pleasure of seeing Stone Temple Pilots a few times in my life. When I saw them Scott was always on his game. The one thing that kind of bothered me about the show was the set list. The songs that were chosen to play were mainly just the “hits.” I had hoped that each time they would play some deep cuts, but that didn’t happen. Even though Scott has left us, here is what I would have loved to hear at a show.

Here are the rules:

Rule 1: maximum 25 songs

Rule 2: What line up of the band would it be

Rule 3: Where would you want to see the show

Lineup: Scott, Dean, Robert, Eric

Venue: El Rey Theater

Setlist:

Meatplow
Vasoline
Lounge Fly
Interstate Love Song
Still Remains
Pretty Penny
Silvergun Superman
Big Empty
Unglued
Army Ants
Kitchenware & Candybars
Down
Trippin On A Hole In A Paper Heart
No Way Out
Dead & Bloated
Plush
Creep
Crackerman
Sin
Piece Of Pie
Where The River Goes
Atlanta

Band Of The Week: And We Are Them

And We Are Them, one of the first bands to be featured as Band Of The Week, just put out a new track called “Confirmation” off their upcoming E.P. entitled A Subtle Tyranny. The band whose influences include Quicksand, Thrice, No Knife and many others permeate through this new song. And We Are Them have a knack for coming up with songs that are energetic and full of melody. Each of their releases have shown great growth and ability as songwriters and a dynamic band. The conviction in which the song is sung and played is astounding. I think they’ve really upped their game with this new track. It’s a great play off their previous EP City Of Ghosts. If you haven’t checked out And We Are Them, now is your chance. And We Are Them are the kind of band that put their all into their music and it shows with every note played.

 

And We Are Them- Confirmation:

 

City Of Ghosts:

 

Align:

 

The Swindle: