What music are you listening to?

[Sick N Twisted]

Casting Crowns

[Farmer Reil]

Lay All Your Love On Me, by... Avantasia. I shit you not:

Yes, it is the greatest thing since the last thing that was great.

[YI]

"Field Manual" by Chris Walla

Wooohooo! Fucking quality. The first time through the first track I literally had to force myself to not just sit there with it on repeat. So atmospheric. So beautiful. Floating vocals and clean, stabbing guitar parts that remind me a lot of "Half The World Is Watching Me" circa Mew. The album then kicks in with the straight up rock & roll "The Score". There's a hell of a lot of variation on here. The big rock songs, the quiet, atmospheric tunes. The up-tempo, sweet, DCFC styled numbers. It kind of tails off towards the end, with a couple of 'dull' tracks, although when the piano comes in at the end of "Holes" it's lovely. The run of songs from like 4-9 are absolutely AMAZING. 1 & 2 are amazing too (1 especially). 3/10 are solid. 11/12 are good, but a little dull (They are a lot better through headphones). 11 goes on too long. And by the time it's finished, you kind of zone out through 12, but as I've already said, the ending is beautiful.

BEST SONGS: "Two-Fifty", "Everyone Needs A Home", "A Song Is A Bird", "Geometry & C", "Everybody On" and "Our Plans, Collapsing".

"Good Mourning" by Alkaline Trio

Alkaline Trio are one of those bands where I tend to forget just how much I love them. "Good Mourning" generally gets a bad rep from fans, and even the band alike. Matt Skiba's said that his voice isn't the best on the release (something fans generally tend to point out as well) and he feels that it doesn't flow very well. And for a while I'd potentially rank it as my least favourite Alk3 album. But it's flat out fucking great. It has the interesting dynamic of being both the darkest and the catchiest/poppiest Alkaline Trio record. The fact it's so dark, but so happy gives it a really synister vibe, which is Alk3's trademark style. Skiba's fucked up sense of humour plays up quite a lot during the album, especially during the opening track "This Could Be Love". Seriously, there's not a bad track on here. And in a couple of listens it's probably went from my least favourite Alk3 album, to one of my favourites. The punk "Old School Reasons", with its epic sing along vibe, how can you not love the bit at the end that goes "It might seem meaningless to you/But it means everything to me/AND I'M FUCKED WITHOUT YOU!". I love it. The choruses on here are all absolutely top notch. I can't think of one song on here that doesn't have an 'epic' feeling chorus, that's so god damn catchy. This would literally have to be up there with one of the best pop-punk albums ever. Whilst "Crimson" was a great album. I really do up the tempo again for the new album.

BEST SONGS: "Old School Reasons", "All On Black", "Fatally Yours", "Every Thug Needs A Lady", "Continental" and "Emma".

"Good Luck" by Big D And The Kids Table

Ska gets a lot of flack on here. In recent years bands have REALLY been pushing boundaries. Last year alone Big D, Mad Caddies, Bomb The Music Industry! and Streetlight Manifesto put out amazing, very different albums. Big D put out "Strictly Rude", which went with a more old school vibe, very atmospheric, but still very groovy. Mad Caddies put out "Keep It Going", which was heavily influenced by Jamaican reggae, again a killer album. Bomb The Music Industry! put out "Get Warmer", for free, which involved a fusion of ska, hardcore and electro, in a very DIY feeling album. Then there's Streetlight Manifesto", whose "Somewhere In The Between" was one of my favourite albums of the year, adding more jazz stylings to their songs. But this was released in the early 2000's. Back when Less Than Jake and Reel Big Fish were probably at the height of their popularity, and Goldfinger still had that hint of awesome about them, and didn't write fucking sodding stupid protest songs about vegans and PETA members. Arseholes. Anyways, this was a simpler time, and all these bands seemed to produce the ska that members here seem to catagorise as all ska, and hate. To be honest, this isn't a great album. But it's far from bad. But it's just not my kind of 'ska'. So I can understand why people hate it. That being said there's some absolutely killer tunes. The anthematic "She Won't Ever Figure It Out", the punky "Take Another Look", the tripped out-ska circus sounding "Learning To Listen" and "Can't Be Caught". There are times throughout the album where there's glimpses of the Big D that was to come.

BEST SONGS: "She Won't Ever Figure It Out", "Learning To Listen", "Take Another Look", "Dirt Lip", "Can't Be Caught" and "5 Kids Down".

Edited January 23, 2008 by YI

[MalaCloudy Black]

I listened to Drive Like Jehu's "Yank Crime" and Bear Vs. Shark's "Terrorhawk". Not bad albums at all.

[GRIFT]

Grifter's last 5 songs...

1.Burning by Fugazi

2. Gimme the Loot by Notorious BIG

3. Low Self Opinion by Rollins Band

4. Northern Winds by Steve Earle

5. Bottom by Tool.

[ROC]

Radiohead - Kid A

Another one of those "kick yourself in the ass" sort of predicaments. I have gotten on a massive Radiohead kick as of late and listened to this record. It's probably my second favorite record (first being OK Computer) now by Radiohead, as I didn't care so much for Amnesiac and Hail to the Thief is probably around third. (And In Rainbows and The Bends are in a battle for fourth.) It's a grand album that pays off shittons with many many listens.

[Fire Storm]

I'm having a very Metallica influenced day so no wonder this song has quickly climbed my list of favourite songs.

St. Anger - Metallica

The song itself is great and the video just fits it perfectly as its set in a prison for murderers, rapists... yeah, and a song about anger and hatred just works with a prison in all senses.

[Drake Smashem]

"Rose" by Mott the Hoople.

I bought the album 'Mott' the other day. I love most of it but this is the weakest track on it I think. It isn't bad, it just isn't "Violence" or "Honaloochie Boogie"

[GRIFT]

The guy I work with brought in disc one of WWE Anthology... I would never buy it myself, but man it has entertained the fuck out of me tonight.

[Pepsi]

I've listened to this song now 20 times. It's such an emotional song it really effected me.

[Farmer Reil]

Avantasia - The Scarecrow.

It wasn't as amazing as I thought it'd be. Good, but not amazing. 7/10.

Best songs: The Toy Master (feat. Alice Cooper), Lost In Space (likely to be really overplayed ¬_¬), Twisted Mind (feat. Roy Khan (Kamelot)), Another Angel Down (feat. Jorn Lande (Malmsteen)).

Edited January 29, 2008 by Farmer Reil

[YI]

I read that as Anastacia...I'm so dissapointed. Fuck you Reily...you have no idea what it feels like to be left outside alone. Unless it involves cave's inhabitated by mythical creatures.

[GA!]

Biffy Clyro's Puzzle. I wasn't sure at first as the album sounds way more indie than it did live (I saw them support Linkin Park a week ago). However after listening to it several times, I think it's awesome! 'Living is a Problem...' and 'Semi-Mental' are the best tracks.

[Toe]

Protest The Hero - Blood Meat

[Skummy]

"Ghost Of Love" by David Lynch. It's utterly beautiful, I can't wait for the album.

[YI]

"Hold On Now, Youngster" by Los Campesinos!

I've been following these guys and gals for the best part of 2-years. From the horific sounding, quiet as hell demo's posted on their myspace back in the day. And it's cool to finally have a proper, LP release, with an absolutely incredible buzz surrounding it. There's some killer new tunes on here, as well as reworkings of some of their old tunes, including a faster more frantic "Death To Los Campesinos!". It's quirky, it's crazy and it's cute as hell. It definately has the frantic, nuts, anything can happen feeling the debut Arcade Fire LP seemed to have. I predict a very strong future for this band. They're trendy, they're artsy, but at the end of the day, they just downright rock! The girls are cute too. Only downside is the lack of "The International Tweexcore Underground", and I'd have killed for a reworking of "We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives".

IF YOU LIKE: "Arcade Fire", "New Pornographers", "Architecture In Helsinki" and "Wolf Parade".

BEST TUNES: "Broken Heartbeats Sound Like Breakbeats", "Sweet Dreams, Sweet Cheeks", "Death To Los Campesinos!", "Drop It Doe Eyes" and "This Is How You Spell "Hahaha, We Destroyed The Hopes And Dreams Of A Generation Of Faux-Romantics"".

"Darker Days" by Time Again

Up next is Hellcat's, Time Again. The first thing you notice is the fact that the singer is borderline identical to Tim Armstrong of Rancid. That being said, the song structure and style is a lot more like early Rise Against, Pennywise and the bands generally associated with 'skate punk' like Cigar and 4ft Fingers. It's absolutely nothing flash, you're not going to find crazy guitar work, hell it's a current trend in 'punk-rock' to have crazy drummers, you don't even find that here. What you do find though is 14 perfectly crafted songs. With kick arse melodies, that you just want to rock the fuck out to!

IF YOU LIKE: "Pennywise", "Rancid", "Cigar" and "Rise Against".

BEST TUNES: "Soon It Will Be", "Darker Days", "Outcast", "Montreal (Street Kids)" and "Lucky".

"Heretic Pride" by The Mountain Goats

John Darnielle, the man behind indie-folk sensation, The Mountain Goats is blessed with that somewhat 'dark' sense of humour and optimism also possessed by the likes of Matt Skiba (Alkaline Trio/Heavens). In that they tend to write about dark subjects, but intertwined within that is a sense of humour and optimism about these situations, creating a unique dynamic. Darnielle is one of my favourite vocalists, for just that reason, and others. His voice itself is incredibly unique. One prime example of where his vocals flat out 'make' a song is "If You See Light" from his previous offering. Also, each individual song is a perfectly crafted story. These stories are developed over time, with many songs being part of the same 'story' arch, or connected in many ways. Most notably his "Alpha" couple songs (+"Tallahassee"...which killed off the couple, and the 'old' Mountain Goats style with it) and his huge "Going to..." series. Although as the sound and 'band' has developed (Gone are the days are one man and a tape recorder), both those have been 'dropped' on the later albums. I could rant on all day about how great this is. Potentially the best 'Goats album to date. Definately one I see growing on me, much like Bloc Party from last year.

IF YOU LIKE: "Iron & Wine", "The New Amsterdams", "Sufjan Stevens" and "John Vanderslice".

BEST TUNES: "San Bernardino", "Autoclave", "How To Embrace A Swamp Creature", "Sax Rohmer #1" and "Tianchi Lake".

Also, it's worth pointing out, "Time Again" may be the worst fucking band name I have ever heard. Seriously. I never thought a punk-rock band could ever out shittify the name "Strung Out"...but they have fucking managed it.

Now...The Gaslight Anthem, This Is A Standoff, Witches With Dicks, Death By Stereo, Strike Anywhere...they're top notch punk-rock band names....but 9/10 they have fucking AWFUL names. But "Time Again" is currently the fucking worst I've come across.

Edited February 5, 2008 by YI

[Pepsi]

Juno soundtrack. Had it on while I was on the treadmill at the gym and haven't stopped listening to it all the way home.

[ROC]

Juno soundtrack. Had it on while I was on the treadmill at the gym and haven't stopped listening to it all the way home.

[Sick N Twisted]

Axe Murder Boyz I can't find their albums to download anywhere though

[Lj.]

Varied from The Chariot, Mayday Parade, A.F.I, and Say Anything. Probably end the day with Scary Kids Scaring Kids and a little bit of I Am Ghost.