Friday, April 11, 2008
NEW SATCH ALBUM OUT!
I can't believe I missed it. A review is coming. Until then, enjoy the robots and puppets. And, as always, remember that this is Satriani's world. The rest of us just live in it.
Labels: MUSIC
Saturday, June 09, 2007
SYSTEMATIC CHAOS: A REVIEW
Dream Theater used to have a message board on their Web site. It was filled with passionate users who had frank, brutal opinions about their favorite band. When Octavarium came out, the board was filled with people slamming the album, calling it full of ripoffs. Nevermind that it had a title track that is easily DT's most powerful epic ever. Or that it made use of a symphonic orchestra, which the band expanded for their live DVD, Score. Naysayers said that one song sounded too much like U2. Another sounded too much like Muse. The point that these rabid, passionate fans made is that the band should be exploring its own music, not piling in influences. Those influences were the same thing as ripoffs, in their eyes.
I never agreed with those fans. Dream Theater has always been open and honest about its influences. Instead of rehashing something that has been overplayed on the radio, they take something they have heard, twist it and turn it into something fresh and engaging.
Take the second track of their new album, Systematic Chaos. "Forsaken" is a song about vampires. The song is filled with the sound of Evanescence, with a haunting, Michael Myers-esque piano melody played on top of low guitar and bass playing in gothic unison. Anyone that listened for two seconds might think, "Yeah, Amy Lee wannabe." But after listening to "Forsaken" all the way through, the average listener will be blown away. Odd time signatures add an urgency to the sound. Keyboards simulate a full orchestra and add punch to the chorus. Mike Portnoy's drums add complexity and groove.
The same happens on most of Systematic Chaos' eight tracks. A sharp-eared listener can pick out Foo Fighters and Queen in "Prophets of War," Megadeth in "In Constant Motion," Black Sabbath and Rush in "In the Presence of Enemies." Are those ripoffs? Hardly. But if you call those ripoffs, then you have to also call "ripoff" when you hear strains of Liquid Tension Experiment, A Change of Seasons, Voices, In the Name of God, Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence and many other Dream Theater songs.
I don't buy into the argument that DT is ripping off other bands. Vanilla Ice's "Ice Ice Baby" is a ripoff. Come to think of it, almost any rap song is a ripoff. Even Evanescence is a ripoff. Don't believe me? Listen to Lacuna Coil. Dream Theater pays homage to those bands by extracting those influential styles, adding layer upon layer of counterbalance and creating a magical, full sound that travels far beyond anywhere the original influence could have gone.
Systematic Chaos is a great introduction to the world of progressive rock where, like learning to drink beer, the music becomes quite enjoyable once you acquire the taste. Systematic Chaos is one of the band's better releases. Dream Theater fans should be immensely pleased with a CD that was expected to be a sequel to the aggro "Train of Thought," yet is a much more musical journey. If you have never listened to Dream Theater before, prepare for an adjustment period. Once you hear what's going on, your ears will never be the same.
Labels: DREAM THEATER, MUSIC
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
AUDIO BLISS, GEEKING OUT
What a wonderful day. Systematic Chaos is out. I'll have a review later.
I went to get it during lunch (heck yeah, I bought the special edition with the bonus CD/DVD that has a making-of documentary and every track in Dolby 5.1!) and brought it back to work. I was hoping that I could listen to it while writing, especially since the battery on the iPod was dead and the Musak in our office is more loud than it used to be. I don't care what anybody says: It's difficult to write stories when "Free Bird" is playing.
Yeah. "Free Bird."
ANYWAY... Long story short: Through the miracle of technology, my computer geekiness and iTunes ver. 1.1 (Yeah. iTunes ver. 1.1), I was able to hear parts of it while writing my story. Initial impression: Wow. This album is fierce. I thought it would be corny, but WOW. I really think that Jordan Rudess is the best thing to happen to Dream Theater. Not that KevMo and Derek Sherinian weren't great, nay, incredible. But as awesome as those two are, JR is on "a whole nother LEVEL." He brings and enhances the band's compositional skills, turning a standard rock song the "The Dark Eternal Night" into a blend of grungy camp and blistering thrash. The unisons between JR and John Petrucci are amazing -- their first unison in the first minutes of the first song almost brought me to tears. And the slower songs, such as "Repentance" and "Ministry of Lost Souls" are powerful yet restrained.
Like I said, I'll post a review, once I'm done geeking out.
I went to get it during lunch (heck yeah, I bought the special edition with the bonus CD/DVD that has a making-of documentary and every track in Dolby 5.1!) and brought it back to work. I was hoping that I could listen to it while writing, especially since the battery on the iPod was dead and the Musak in our office is more loud than it used to be. I don't care what anybody says: It's difficult to write stories when "Free Bird" is playing.
Yeah. "Free Bird."
ANYWAY... Long story short: Through the miracle of technology, my computer geekiness and iTunes ver. 1.1 (Yeah. iTunes ver. 1.1), I was able to hear parts of it while writing my story. Initial impression: Wow. This album is fierce. I thought it would be corny, but WOW. I really think that Jordan Rudess is the best thing to happen to Dream Theater. Not that KevMo and Derek Sherinian weren't great, nay, incredible. But as awesome as those two are, JR is on "a whole nother LEVEL." He brings and enhances the band's compositional skills, turning a standard rock song the "The Dark Eternal Night" into a blend of grungy camp and blistering thrash. The unisons between JR and John Petrucci are amazing -- their first unison in the first minutes of the first song almost brought me to tears. And the slower songs, such as "Repentance" and "Ministry of Lost Souls" are powerful yet restrained.
Like I said, I'll post a review, once I'm done geeking out.
Labels: DRUMS, MUSIC, TIME-WASTERS
Saturday, May 12, 2007
UNDECIDED: DRAGONFORCE
I don't know what to think about DragonForce. Go ahead, watch the video below.
I was told that DragonForce is the new Dream Theater, so I had to check the band out. I've watched all the videos and listened to all the songs that I can, and I'm still undecided about whether to burn caysh on these guys.
GOOD: Damn, those two guitarists rock.
BAD: Avenged Sevenfold wants its sound back.
GOOD: The drummer has incredibly fast feet and is tight.
BAD: The drummer plays so fast it sounds like thrash polka.
GOOD: They have a frenetic, hectic and majestic sound.
BAD: It makes me think of Jack Black in "School of Rock" playing at twice the speed.
GOOD: The singer actually sings well, instead of impersonating Cookie Monster.
BAD: He sings cheesy lyrics about mystical wars and medieval battles.
GOOD: For thrash metal, they are tight, musical and sound pretty solid.
BAD: For thrash metal, they sound like their audience is eight-grade D&D players.
VERDICT: They are definitely not the new Dream Theater. But they are decent. I just don't know how I can justify DragonForce in my iPod.
I was told that DragonForce is the new Dream Theater, so I had to check the band out. I've watched all the videos and listened to all the songs that I can, and I'm still undecided about whether to burn caysh on these guys.
GOOD: Damn, those two guitarists rock.
BAD: Avenged Sevenfold wants its sound back.
GOOD: The drummer has incredibly fast feet and is tight.
BAD: The drummer plays so fast it sounds like thrash polka.
GOOD: They have a frenetic, hectic and majestic sound.
BAD: It makes me think of Jack Black in "School of Rock" playing at twice the speed.
GOOD: The singer actually sings well, instead of impersonating Cookie Monster.
BAD: He sings cheesy lyrics about mystical wars and medieval battles.
GOOD: For thrash metal, they are tight, musical and sound pretty solid.
BAD: For thrash metal, they sound like their audience is eight-grade D&D players.
VERDICT: They are definitely not the new Dream Theater. But they are decent. I just don't know how I can justify DragonForce in my iPod.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
WHEN PROG-ROCK AND PROMOTION UNITE
What a difference a new record company can make.
Dream Theater signed with Roadrunner Records for their upcoming album, Systematic Chaos. Since that time, they have started a MySpace page (finally), released a song as a free mp3 (kick-ass), requested bootlegs for a YouTube page and put out extra videos to promote the upcoming album, including this online press kit.
Here's the latest to hit the 'Net: This is a recording of "Dark Eternal Night" on top of footage taken in the studio. Watch, turn the volume up and marvel at bassist John Myung's fingers and drummer Mike Portnoy's feet.
The Mailbox doesn't remember a time when Dream Theater was so well promoted. From the sounds of the two songs released, it doesn't sound like they've made any musical compromises for mass-market consumption. The Mailbox is excited as all get out about Dream Theater's future. The real question is whether it will translate to higher record sales, but Roadrunner will see that we DT freaks are loyal buyers, even though our number is not as high as the group who will buy whatever popcrap the radio tells them to.
Two petty gripes from the two songs: There's too much singing about mystical beasts and Portnoy is not the best backup singer. But John Petrucci has some amazing performances, Portnoy is all over his kit and the band sounds tight -- especially the unison between Petrucci and Myung. Can't wait for June 6.
Dream Theater signed with Roadrunner Records for their upcoming album, Systematic Chaos. Since that time, they have started a MySpace page (finally), released a song as a free mp3 (kick-ass), requested bootlegs for a YouTube page and put out extra videos to promote the upcoming album, including this online press kit.
Here's the latest to hit the 'Net: This is a recording of "Dark Eternal Night" on top of footage taken in the studio. Watch, turn the volume up and marvel at bassist John Myung's fingers and drummer Mike Portnoy's feet.
The Mailbox doesn't remember a time when Dream Theater was so well promoted. From the sounds of the two songs released, it doesn't sound like they've made any musical compromises for mass-market consumption. The Mailbox is excited as all get out about Dream Theater's future. The real question is whether it will translate to higher record sales, but Roadrunner will see that we DT freaks are loyal buyers, even though our number is not as high as the group who will buy whatever popcrap the radio tells them to.
Two petty gripes from the two songs: There's too much singing about mystical beasts and Portnoy is not the best backup singer. But John Petrucci has some amazing performances, Portnoy is all over his kit and the band sounds tight -- especially the unison between Petrucci and Myung. Can't wait for June 6.
Friday, March 23, 2007
PERSONAL LIFE INVASION: SATCH!
Things are pretty interesting right now. There's an offer on my house that may be accepted -- meaning I can finally move to Joplin and stop doing the daily drive. Of course, that leads to a whole bunch of new stress related to a move.
But none of that matters right now. TLP, the greatest girlfriend in the world, got us tickets to see two of the greatest guitar players in the world -- and the greatest rock drummer in the world is going to be there too. Joe Satriani and John Petrucci are playing tonight in KC as part of the G3 tour. WOOT!
Remember: This is Joe Satriani's world. The rest of us only live in it.
Labels: MUSIC, PERSONAL LIFE INVASIONS
Friday, March 16, 2007
DRUMMING PRODIGY
The Mailbox is depressed.
Holy crap. That kid -- Eloy Casagrande -- is good. I'm jealous of what he can do with his feet. This video was recorded at the Modern Drummer Festival in 2005. So no telling what the kid can do now. Maybe we can catch up once the English version of his Web site is released.
Yeah, the Mailbox is two years too late on this. That's YouTube for you...makes the past the present again.
Holy crap. That kid -- Eloy Casagrande -- is good. I'm jealous of what he can do with his feet. This video was recorded at the Modern Drummer Festival in 2005. So no telling what the kid can do now. Maybe we can catch up once the English version of his Web site is released.
Yeah, the Mailbox is two years too late on this. That's YouTube for you...makes the past the present again.
// posted by MoJoe @ 16:48
Monday, February 26, 2007
I AM NOT MIKE PORTNOY
Yep. Learnt that myself. Real quick.
I've been listening to Dream Theater religiously for close to five years now, but for some reason, I never got the idea to play along with the god of thunder himself. So, I cranked up the iPod, duct taped the earphones in and rocked out on my six-piece Yamaha with double-bass pedals to "Honor Thy Father" and "Blind Faith."
My leg hurts. That's all I have to say.
Dream Theater is releasing a new CD in June, by the way. Track listing is up on their Web site. Too bad their forum is no more...probably because so many whined and complained that Octavarium and Score wasn't anything like Awake. Makes it tough to talk to Dream Theater fans. There were some good people on that forum, and I don't know where they went. Also, there were some jerks on that forum, and I hope they didn't pay their electric bills.
Still, the band probably canned the forum because there was too much complaining. Yeah, yeah, I know what you're thinking. Does Dream Theater have such a thin skin that they can't handle criticism? Probably, but Dream Theater fans are irritatingly picky about music. An entire CD can be ruined because of one chord to some fans. But, the band just started a MySpace page. What the hell do band members think they are going to see there?
What's this, you say? Never heard Mike Portnoy or Dream Theater? Enjoy:
Labels: MUSIC, MYSPACE, TIME-WASTERS
Thursday, February 01, 2007
KJML GAINS GROUND, ZIMMER DOMINATES
Woot! The Mailbox was worried about alternative station KJML slipping in the ratings, but the latest ratings say otherwise. However, the big winners show that Zimmer is still the big dog in the Joplin market, although the Big Dog KXDG is only No. 3. KSYN pulled a 10.2 for No. 2. As in Springfield, a country station rules the roost: KIXQ pulled a 13.2 for No. 1.
Kissin 92.5 was the biggest gainer, jumping from a 7.7 to its 10.2. The station is led by Steve Kraus (in da House). Springfield radio fans will remember him from Hot 106.7, back when Ray Michaels was a genius, Superfrank was managing radio stations and the station ruled the Springfield market. (Side note: Ray Michaels is still a genius, wherever he is, and Superfrank is the manager of James Brown and, really, no one else.) Kraus is one of the business' nicest guys. The Mailbox is super-mega-proud of the job Kraus is doing at Kissin'.
Also, the DJ-less KMXL (95.1 Mike FM), owned by Ronald L. Peterson gained more than a point to finish with a 6.6. The computers at Mike seem to churn out tunes that Joplin likes.
The ratings don't look so hot for everyone else. The Big Dog only gained a tenth of a point. Zimmer's KKMK Lite Rock 93.9 lost a half-point, pulling a 6.0. KKOW, 96.9 The Kow, lost more than 2 points, finishing with a 2.4.
Community Radio got hit hard, as well. KMOQ (Q 107.1) is on a downward slide, going from a 4.3 to a 1.8 in a year. KBTN 99.7 Classic Country Legends took a sizable step back, sliding from a 6.1 to a 4.2 in a year. KCAR, Cool 104.3, lost almost two points since spring '06, pulling a 3.6. All those stations are owned by Community Radio, which means Rock 105 is the company's only bright spot in this book.
Rock 105 gained .3 points in the fall '06 Arbitron period, finishing at No. 7. Not a huge gain, and not enough to match the 4.3 it pulled a year ago, but a gain nonetheless. And it helps support the Mailbox's spin... er, theory... that alternative rock radio is seeing success.
Kissin 92.5 was the biggest gainer, jumping from a 7.7 to its 10.2. The station is led by Steve Kraus (in da House). Springfield radio fans will remember him from Hot 106.7, back when Ray Michaels was a genius, Superfrank was managing radio stations and the station ruled the Springfield market. (Side note: Ray Michaels is still a genius, wherever he is, and Superfrank is the manager of James Brown and, really, no one else.) Kraus is one of the business' nicest guys. The Mailbox is super-mega-proud of the job Kraus is doing at Kissin'.
Also, the DJ-less KMXL (95.1 Mike FM), owned by Ronald L. Peterson gained more than a point to finish with a 6.6. The computers at Mike seem to churn out tunes that Joplin likes.
The ratings don't look so hot for everyone else. The Big Dog only gained a tenth of a point. Zimmer's KKMK Lite Rock 93.9 lost a half-point, pulling a 6.0. KKOW, 96.9 The Kow, lost more than 2 points, finishing with a 2.4.
Community Radio got hit hard, as well. KMOQ (Q 107.1) is on a downward slide, going from a 4.3 to a 1.8 in a year. KBTN 99.7 Classic Country Legends took a sizable step back, sliding from a 6.1 to a 4.2 in a year. KCAR, Cool 104.3, lost almost two points since spring '06, pulling a 3.6. All those stations are owned by Community Radio, which means Rock 105 is the company's only bright spot in this book.
Rock 105 gained .3 points in the fall '06 Arbitron period, finishing at No. 7. Not a huge gain, and not enough to match the 4.3 it pulled a year ago, but a gain nonetheless. And it helps support the Mailbox's spin... er, theory... that alternative rock radio is seeing success.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
ALTERNATIVE MUSIC CATCHING ON AROUND SPRINGFIELD
Joplin may be another story, sadly.
That Chatter guy had a post about the latest ratings from fall '06 in the Springfield radio market. The numbers are interesting, and Davis breaks 'em down succinctly. But I couldn't help noticing how well KQRA and KZRQ -- Springfield's two current-rock stations -- performed in the Fall '06 numbers.
Q102.1 was Midwest's top performer, pulling a 5.7. Z 106.7 was Journal's worst performer, pulling a 4.2. (Of course, when you're in the same company as KTTS, you'll never be the head of the family.) Both stations are up about 3 points each from last year. Though Q slipped .3 points, it is still No. 5 in the market. Z is 1.5 points behind Q, coming in at No. 9. Both stations beat US97 and The Cave. Q also beat Alice and two country stations.
The downside: In stations targeted to younger demographics, Q and Z finished last. Power 96.5 still reigns at the top of that chart with a 6.7, and its format can attract a broader base of listeners.
Since every radio station spins its own success story out of the ratings, the Mailbox will do the same. The Mailbox sees current-rock formats thriving in the Springfield market. For a culture once dominated by country and chatter, it's good to see that Q and Z are bringing noise to the ratings.
Unfortunately, KJML 105.3 in Joplin isn't faring so well. According to the the spring '06 numbers, the Columbus, Kan.-based Rock 105 has been sliding down the ratings, after a stronger showing in spring '05. The fall '06 numbers for the Joplin market should be out by Friday, and we'll see if it can gain ground in the ratings.
Yeah, the Mailbox is biased with this post. The Mailbox loves its rock and wants hard radio stations to bring the noise and pound its earholes between Springfield and Joplin.
That Chatter guy had a post about the latest ratings from fall '06 in the Springfield radio market. The numbers are interesting, and Davis breaks 'em down succinctly. But I couldn't help noticing how well KQRA and KZRQ -- Springfield's two current-rock stations -- performed in the Fall '06 numbers.
Q102.1 was Midwest's top performer, pulling a 5.7. Z 106.7 was Journal's worst performer, pulling a 4.2. (Of course, when you're in the same company as KTTS, you'll never be the head of the family.) Both stations are up about 3 points each from last year. Though Q slipped .3 points, it is still No. 5 in the market. Z is 1.5 points behind Q, coming in at No. 9. Both stations beat US97 and The Cave. Q also beat Alice and two country stations.
The downside: In stations targeted to younger demographics, Q and Z finished last. Power 96.5 still reigns at the top of that chart with a 6.7, and its format can attract a broader base of listeners.
Since every radio station spins its own success story out of the ratings, the Mailbox will do the same. The Mailbox sees current-rock formats thriving in the Springfield market. For a culture once dominated by country and chatter, it's good to see that Q and Z are bringing noise to the ratings.
Unfortunately, KJML 105.3 in Joplin isn't faring so well. According to the the spring '06 numbers, the Columbus, Kan.-based Rock 105 has been sliding down the ratings, after a stronger showing in spring '05. The fall '06 numbers for the Joplin market should be out by Friday, and we'll see if it can gain ground in the ratings.
Yeah, the Mailbox is biased with this post. The Mailbox loves its rock and wants hard radio stations to bring the noise and pound its earholes between Springfield and Joplin.
Friday, January 26, 2007
LIPS OF AN ANGEL, WORDS OF A PLAYA
The Mailbox is always amazed at what people will buy. Apparently, enough of y'all are buying "Lips of an Angel" in both rock and country flavors. It needs to stop.
I about drove into a ditch when I heard a country singer singing, "My girl's in the next room, sometimes I wish she was you." Jack Ingram had to go and remake a song that was just released last year by Oklahoma City band Hinder.
"Lips of an Angel" -- the Mailbox will say it -- is the worst song ever. The lyrics are cheesy, bombastic and immature. And, though the band denies the song is about cheating, the song sure sounds like it's about cheating.
The Mailbox read the lyrics to the song and wonders if girls really buy into this crap. "I never wanna say goodbye / But girl you make it hard to be faithful / With the lips of an angel." The song made it to No. 1 in the Top 40, meaning that a whole bunch of people bought it and bought into it. TLP, official girlfriend of the Mailbox, says it best: "Any woman who would find that song romantic is an insult to the species."
I about drove into a ditch when I heard a country singer singing, "My girl's in the next room, sometimes I wish she was you." Jack Ingram had to go and remake a song that was just released last year by Oklahoma City band Hinder.
"Lips of an Angel" -- the Mailbox will say it -- is the worst song ever. The lyrics are cheesy, bombastic and immature. And, though the band denies the song is about cheating, the song sure sounds like it's about cheating.
The Mailbox read the lyrics to the song and wonders if girls really buy into this crap. "I never wanna say goodbye / But girl you make it hard to be faithful / With the lips of an angel." The song made it to No. 1 in the Top 40, meaning that a whole bunch of people bought it and bought into it. TLP, official girlfriend of the Mailbox, says it best: "Any woman who would find that song romantic is an insult to the species."
Labels: AWFULNESS, MUSIC, TRENDS
Saturday, December 02, 2006
DAVE WOOD: A REASON TO LISTEN TO TAYLOR HICKS
Yeah, yeah, Taylor Hicks guy won American Idol, he has gray hair and sounds all soulful and stuff. But check out his band. Especially the guitarist.
That there is Dave Wood, former guitarist of the Groove Tube, a funk band that ripped up Springfield's music scene in the '90s. He joined the Taylor Hicks band and played at the tree lighting at the Rockefeller Center in New York City before an appearance on last night's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."
You can find more of his music and guitar method here.
Yeah, yeah, Taylor Hicks guy won American Idol, he has gray hair and sounds all soulful and stuff. But check out his band. Especially the guitarist.
That there is Dave Wood, former guitarist of the Groove Tube, a funk band that ripped up Springfield's music scene in the '90s. He joined the Taylor Hicks band and played at the tree lighting at the Rockefeller Center in New York City before an appearance on last night's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."
You can find more of his music and guitar method here.
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