Let's see now, where to begin?
Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy is honest to God, really, finally out. I haven't heard any of it yet, but I know for a fact that it's out and I've got my can of Dr. Pepper to prove it.
Whether or not Chinese Democracy can really be called an actual GNR record or not is a matter of some debate, since neither Slash, Izzy or any of the other original gunners are on the record, save for Axl Rose. Either way, the first new music in some 14 years from a band calling itself Guns N' Roses is finally here, and it can now be yours by heading to your neighborhood Best Buy. Yup. Another one of those deals.
This past Sunday night at the American Music Awards, Kanye West boldly proclaimed that he wants to be the new Elvis. Whether or not his new 808s & Heartbreak is a step in the right direction remains to be seen. Advance reviews on the album have been decidedly mixed, and the biggest news here seems to be the heavy use of processed vocals on the tracks leaning more towards R&B than hip-hop. Kanye has up to this point been pure gold at the cash register though, so we wouldn't bet against him.
Another highlight of the AMAs was a very stoned looking Scott Weiland introducing Pink by calling her "one of the great artists of our time." Weiland's new solo disc — his first in 10 years — is said to lean more towards STP glam-pop than Velvet Revolver crunch.
The Killers third full length album Day & Age is a return to the wave-pop of Hot Fuss and a step away from the loftier ambitions of Sam's Town. Jeff Beck turns in a blistering live set of guitar mechanics on Performing This Week... Live at Ronnie Scott's. Coldplay offer up a companion piece to their smash hit Viva La Vida with the new EP Prospekt's March. Ludacris takes some time out from his acting career to explore the Theater of the Mind.
Mark Saleski has a few choice words on guilty pleasures as he considers the new live set from Hall & Oates. But first, Tom Johnson is here to report on the return of a band who've been away from the limelight for nearly as long as GNR. Take it away, Mr. Johnson...
Article comments
1 - Mark Saleski
Weiland did seem a little toasted, eh? i did hear one of his new tunes on the radio and it was quite good.
and speaking of the awards show...geezies, aren't there any rock bands out there anymore? Coldplay? c'mon...!
2 - Jordan Richardson
aren't there any rock bands out there anymore?
Rock is dead.
3 - hannnah;]
i like guns and roses.
(8) welcome to the jungle.
rock is not dead.
4 - hannnah;]
tbh rock is actally alive.
5 - Mark Saleski
oh, i totally think rock is alive...just not on the american music awards.
6 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
I don't know exactly what kept Cynic apart in the decade and a half since 1993's groundbreaking Focus...
Cynic first disbanded in 1994 but the members were quick to approach different avenues. Sean Malone gave us the brilliant Gordian Knot while his own solo release prior to that was just as amazing for its time. Sean Reinert stuck with Mr. Malone for his solo effort as well as Gordian Knot. BUT, he was also involved with Aghora on their Y2k self titled release which was damn good. Both members including Paul Masivdal had some brief but worthwhile commercial success with AEon Spoke. Masvidal also writes and performs music for television and motion pictures, credits include main title (composer credit) on an Emmy nominated NBC teen series show 'Operation Junkyard', short films 'The Yellow Umbrella', 'A Bride In Black', session musician for Carsey Warner network sitcoms, 'That 70's Show, 3rd Rock From The Sun, also has library songs regularly performed on network and cable television.
*Phew*... After all that it is nice to hear a new release and I, for one, am an odd mind that finds "Traced in Air" to be not only Beautiful but a true "progressive" effort for the metal community.
It pushes the envelope on so many levels. Cynic is no longer technical for the sake of complexity but more like Modern Jazz where it blends in. It is different but the same &, to me, shows a mature vision of where "Prog" Metal needs to go.
7 - Tom Johnson
And there you go, our resident Cynic expert chimes in. I somehow knew you'd help us here, Brian. ;-) And, yes, it is a very, very good album - took me by surprise even though I really wasn't sure what to expect from the band after all this time.
8 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Oh?? Come on Tom... Don't report like you didn't know that Wikipedia existed *Smirk*. Of course, it doesn't hurt that I am quite the frenzied fan of Cynic,Gordian Knot,etc...
Honestly, you took me by surprise with such an insightful review. Nice Job!
9 - Pico
so sez Mr. Guppus...
Cynic first disbanded in 1994 but the members were quick to approach different avenues. Sean Malone gave us the brilliant Gordian Knot while his own solo release prior to that was just as amazing for its time.
I didn't know about the connection between Cynic and Gordian Knot. Gordian Knot is indeed very good stuff, so if this Cynic is anything like that, I'm on board. Thanks for the tip.
10 - Josh Hathaway
Hall & Oates, without a trace of irony.
11 - Mark Saleski
irony is for the weak.
12 - Tom
Hall & Oates a guilty pleasure? Do you eat ice cream when listening?
13 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Pico...
IMHO, if you are ProgHead, like me, I don't see why you wouldn't like Cynic. The growling back-up vocals may turn you off if you don't like Death Metal,but, I feel with Traced in Air they are used tastefully. Almost more like an added emotion/instrument instead of being the main focal point. As for Focus, I think you could appreciate the progressive attributes though it is a little bit of a tougher listen. Just like Tom said, it was very groundbreaking for 1993 so you kinda have to expect that. Those sounds were unheard of for this genre with exception to Watchtower & Atheist,but, they still presented some amazing ideas.
14 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
I totally dig I can't go for that(No can do)
by Hall & Oates. I just don't understand the whole "guilty pleasure" thing...But, I also like Benny Mardones If I Could Fly. I guess I'm just weird like that.
15 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Oh and let's not forget Jo Jo by Boz Scaggs
16 - Tom Johnson
Yep, Pico, you need to check out Cynic. The "death growls" on the new one are very minimal - they are basically almost background vocals on the new one, with the "altered-straight" vocals being the most prominent. I guess it's kind of a vocoder type effect (Brian? you probably know more,) but more sci-fi sounding. Honestly, even if you're not big into this, but you can handle it, Cynic is VERY worth checking out. They are several cuts WAY above, and the instrumental stuff is so tasty.
17 - Jordan Richardson
Because I trust Brian's metal cred. and Tom's everything cred., I'm checking out Cynic. Wish me luck, fellas.
18 - Glen Boyd
If you trust TJ's cred Jordan...and you should...you should also check out Porucpine Tree. TJ (and Pico) turned me onto them about a year ago, and I've since become a pretty big fan. If I'm not mistaken, Gupster's a fan too.
Word of warning though, they've got a ton of records and if you get hooked it'll be expensive. Trust me, I know...
-Glen
19 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Yea, Tom, it is a vocoder. Though, I am not certain how far the technology has come and whether Paul is using an actually piece of equipment or hardware/software for a computer.
Either way, he has a great voice and this really masks it in a supportive way.
Jordan... thanks. Glen is right, you should check out PT.Very Solid Prog Rock. I like most of their latter stuff but my favorite is In Absentia.
I would also suggest:
Spiral Architect
Attention Deficit
Aghora
Spock's Beard
Sieges Even Paramount
SubSignal
Oh and of course The Improv Project
*Smirk*
20 - Mark Saleski
i will take the vocoder-ed vocals over the silly growls any day. besides, the music is really happenin'.
gonna have to buy that one.
21 - Tom Johnson
The artwork is worth the purchase of a hard copy, Mark. Really beautiful stuff - the kind of thing we don't see very often anymore, unfortunately. It's this kind of thing I'm going to be very sad to see disappear when downloads/streaming are the only choices we have.
22 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
It's this kind of thing I'm going to be very sad to see disappear when downloads/streaming are the only choices we have.
Actually, I think it could get better. No paper to worry about so they could design artwork in HD and make it like 1600 x 1200 and @ only 1-2Mb the cover art would look sick. Include that file with a Flac formatted d/l(96Khz/24Bit) then you could print that shit yourself via color laser printer on some glossy photo paper and have an actual poster.