Aaahhhh Amnesiac… Kid A’s younger sibling who lurks in the shadows. Peculiar, mystifying and at times perplexing; in the end Amnesiac has been nothing but another remarkable album from Radiohead.
Love ‘em or hate ‘em I personally think Radiohead should always be admired for their constant innovation, something which too many bands these days fail to find.
A track that gets into the issues of materialism, the soulless nature of capitalism and the swines that run it all.
Most people recognise this track from the cover version that Nirvana made many moons ago on the MTV Unplugged in New York album. But the original will always hold a special place in my cavernous heart.
Tool’s first full length monster that they unleashed and let scamper out of the hole in which they kept all their secrets in. Dark and menacing the music, even early on has been able to create a landscape which is both forbidding and seductive. But still manages to capture one of tools more powerful messages. That through introspection, in everything that you do, who you are and what you are becoming you can realise your true potential.
To me this track is about an artist who’s true creativity comes through their addiction (alcoholism). The works of art are incouraged by society, wanting more hense fueling the addiction. In the end the artist feels worthless, manipulated and is trapped in a downward spiral.
Its a record of dark beauty, that on a knife edge manages to mix the right amount of tension and elegance. Its an impressive record that deals with observations of a city, friends, lovers and strangers.
To me “Mistaken By Strangers” is about growing into adulthood and starting to move in different circles than current friends who are quite happy not to embrace change. Experiencing the world/city through your own eyes, and developing into someone new to the point that you become anonymous to these old friends.
Tomahawk was the band that Mike Patton said would carry on the legacy of where Faith No More left off. It’s beautifully dark, melodic but my only complaint is that it isn’t entirely fresh sounding.
What this album did manage to do was cement the genius that is not only Patton but every artist that he chooses to associate himself with.
I have a number of favorite songs on this album, “God Hates A Coward” is just one of them plus the clip is fantastic.
The Fantomas Melvins Big Band – Live in London 2006 DVD flew into my hot little hands yesterday after many painstaking weeks of waiting. So after the days dust had settled and a cold beer was wedged firmly in my hands I sat down to watch this monster growl.
With Buzz Osborne, Dave Lombardo, Trevor Dunn, Dale Crover, David Scott Stone and Mike Patton at the helm you can imagine the beast that unleashed. I mange to catch Fantomas, Fantomas Melvins, Melvins and Tomahawk a few years back and still to this day it is one of the best shows I have ever witnessed.
A absolutle killer of a closing track. Personally I think you would be straining to find a better closing track to any album.
To me a song about being afraid to aspire to your greatest potential. The higher you aim the greater the risk of failure, understanding that consequence (s)he restricts themselves to the point of being unaware, shallow and ignorent.
…Alternative, Progressive Rock/Metal from Californ-i-a…
This album is the one that probably changed the whole way that I listened to music. Blew me away from the first listen and it still holds up well today.
There are many arguments out there about what the lyrics of this track fully mean. One theory is that its about the evolution of the human species, that we will develop two extra chromosomes for a total of forty six and two (the two being the sex chromosomes). Throw a little Jungian and Melchizedek theory into the mix as well and the song is supposedly self explanatory.
Personally I dont think its that simple. I agree its about evolution, but more the evolution of thought and eventually society. Ther moving of one conciousness to another, higher consciousness. The evolution of chromosomes from 46 to 48 I believe is to be taken not literally but metaphorically.
In the song Maynard sings about looking into the shadows and discovering who he really is. Also he sings the line “listen to my muscle memories” referring to the fact that the cells hold the memory for life to construct itself again and again in an orderly and efficient manner. Learning from the past and moving up into the higher level of consciousness.
But in the end an astounding song that really gets you thinking, which I beleieve is what Tool has intended all along. Remember believe in nothing, beliefs are crippling to the mind. Explore anything and everything.
I just love the rawness of this early Tool release.
Maynard has said many times that this song is about masturbation, but knowing Maynard and how he likes to fuck with his flock I suspect that there is a deeper meaning.
To me the track is more about our attachment to beliefs and our conscience.
But hey thats just me…I still love the idea that this is Maynard’s love song, his ode to his cock.
Album:Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness – Disc Two (1995)
…straight from 1995…
Last night was bored with the dribble that was presented to me on the television, i turned to my headphones, a good book, beer and itunes on shuffle.
This track was the first off the list and straight away I started reminising back to 1995, when ‘Bullet With Butterfly Wings’ was ruling the airwaves, I was naive to the ways of the world and spent much of my time thinking that I was bulletproof.
I realised last night that this is such a sweet, moving song and as I sat there and listened to the lyrics I came to the conclusion that its about people just wanting to feel comfortable to be themselves, under the cover of darkness. To explore, as Billy puts it “the secret places of the heart” and just finding you own way through life.
