en http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/ Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 60 http://www.audioscrobbler.net/data/webservices http://www.last.fm/user/rRed_Drop/journal The Last.fm journal for rRed_Drop. Last.fm journals are a place to talk about all things music. http://www.last.fm/user/rRed_Drop/journal/2012/07/30/5k2fr9_my_most_influential_albums Mon, 30 Jul 2012 03:17:18 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/rRed_Drop/journal/2012/07/30/5k2fr9_my_most_influential_albums Haven't written here in forever, but I want to get my thoughts down so I don't forget them. The albums that have influenced my life the most:

James Brown - 20 All-Time Greatest Hits!
I can remember growing up in Milwaukee listening to this album over and over again with my dad.
Genesis - Invisible Touch (1986)
I think this was the first album I ever owned. Genesis and Phil Collins were my favorite when I was young and looking back, this album was pretty progressive. Sure, it was poppy too, but there are some 6+ minute songs on here!
Billy Joel - River Of Dreams (1993)
Billy Joel was on my playlists a lot too before I turned 10. Remember, this was right when CD's were coming out. I remember having a boom box and falling asleep some nights to this.
The Offspring - Smash (1994)
So, we moved to Russia in 1994 and I started to listen to techno on the radio there. Didn't listen to an album except for this one. Someone in my class gave it to me and I was so blown away. I didn't know what I was listening to. They were cursing, screaming, playing loud guitars. I loved it. From this point on, I was hooked to rock music.
Foo Fighters - The Color And The Shape (1997)
Incubus - Make Yourself (1999)
Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory (2000)
The Livid - Fear of Fading (2002)
The Juliana Theory - Love (2003)
Dream Theater - Train of Thought (2003)
Down and Above - Anodyne (2004)
Swift - The Absolute Uncontrollable (2005)
Between the Buried and Me - Colors (2007)
Protest the Hero - Fortress (2008)
Cadillac Sky - Gravity's Our Enemy (2008)

I can't really say what has influenced me or not the past few years, it hasn't been a long enough time to really digest everything yet. I would say Cloudkicker - Beacons and Scale the Summit - The Collective have had the most if I were to say anything. Counterparts - Prophets is a good one too, however I don't know if it's changed much of my tastes.

I will continue this further at a later time...]]> http://www.last.fm/user/rRed_Drop/journal/2008/08/03/23l555_sunset_black_writing_new_music!!!! Sun, 3 Aug 2008 15:36:14 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/rRed_Drop/journal/2008/08/03/23l555_sunset_black_writing_new_music!!!! Oh my god. I think this is the news of the year that all the guys in Sunset Black made it to hollywood and are writing. This is unreal. I'm so pumped. KICK ASS!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO]]> http://www.last.fm/user/rRed_Drop/journal/2008/06/28/21m6td_70,000_tracks_scrobbled... Sat, 28 Jun 2008 03:57:12 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/rRed_Drop/journal/2008/06/28/21m6td_70,000_tracks_scrobbled... I figured now would be a good time to start over. Too bad I'm in the middle of a Misery Signals binge!!! :-D]]> http://www.last.fm/user/rRed_Drop/journal/2008/06/25/21gf7e_bands_i_love Wed, 25 Jun 2008 03:28:04 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/rRed_Drop/journal/2008/06/25/21gf7e_bands_i_love Down and Above
Hook Echo
Sunset Black
Between the Buried and Me
August Burns Red
Misery Signals
Foo Fighters
Tool
Align
The Livid
Protest the Hero
smugface
Swift]]> http://www.last.fm/user/rRed_Drop/journal/2008/06/25/21gdxi_throw_the_fight_-_in_pursuit_of_tomorrow Wed, 25 Jun 2008 02:49:34 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/rRed_Drop/journal/2008/06/25/21gdxi_throw_the_fight_-_in_pursuit_of_tomorrow HEY!!!!!!!!! So finally Throw The Fight releases In Pursuit of Tomorrow. Been waiting for this shit since the last EP came out a while ago. WOO!!!!

The guitar tones are WONDERFUL! Oh, if you didn't know, Matt and James over at World Record Productions did this CD. They are both my favorites as of late with such bands as Quietdrive, Lucky Boys Confusion and Down and Above under their belts. So yeah, the guitars tones. SICK!!!!!!!!!! love 'em. Mixed very well, but more just that cruchy palm muted tone is bad ass. Melodies and riffs are off the charts. these guys can play guitar. impressive. VERY catchy

biggest complaint is obviously the length. only 9 tracks since the one is an "intro" track. Word to the wise, don't take up a whole track with an intro. especially if the intro isn't even a song!!! there is no instrument playing. weird. other than that, great song writing. yeah its kinda been done before, OH WELL. an album about heart break, murder, suicide, devastation. AWESOME.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/rRed_Drop/journal/2008/05/10/gzw_10_years_-_division Sat, 10 May 2008 17:24:09 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/rRed_Drop/journal/2008/05/10/gzw_10_years_-_division Wow.

I'll get back to you all in a second after I listen to this more. But...

Wow.

10 Years

EDIT:

Ok. I've listened to the entire CD. Usually a first listen consists of me skipping through and getting a jist of every song. This album is so good, I had to hear it front to back. Its unreal. The songwriting, the vocals, the melodies, everything. GO GET THIS NOW.

More to come.

EDIT2:

Yep. Great album!!! GO OUT AND GET IT!!!

Overall: 9/10]]> http://www.last.fm/user/rRed_Drop/journal/2008/05/10/gzv_36_crazyfists_-_the_tide_and_its_takers Sat, 10 May 2008 16:36:25 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/rRed_Drop/journal/2008/05/10/gzv_36_crazyfists_-_the_tide_and_its_takers Gotta love 36 Crazyfists. Yeah, they're not the most original or anything, but lots of energy and solid songwriting make up for it. I've always remembered them for their great tones and melodies combined with powerful rhythms and vocals.

This new album took me a couple listens to get used to. Its kind of different from their previous work...but not really. Its got that 36CF sound for sure, but theres something different. Listening to the third track, The Back Harlow Road, the singing is very refreshing. Its still a potent song, but the songwriting is polished. Way more than I've ever noticed in a Crazyfists song.

Theres a lot more acoustic guitar on this album. Theres always been the token acoustic song at the end of the album. But theres a lot more melody here than in previous albums. Waiting on a War starts off with a nice acoustic intro. Damn!! This song is pretty sick!! There are some pretty sick riffs.

This is now the third time through that I've listened to the album, and it definitely keeps growing on me. The drumming stands out big time. There are a lot of different fills throughout. Its quite enjoyable.

I'd suggest listening to this cd if you're in a good mood. It will pump you up and you'll probobly start dancing around your living room. I know I did. Its not perfect or anything, but its still pretty good.

Overall: 7.0/10]]> http://www.last.fm/user/rRed_Drop/journal/2008/05/03/gzu_meshuggah_-_obzen Sat, 3 May 2008 21:25:06 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/rRed_Drop/journal/2008/05/03/gzu_meshuggah_-_obzen I have never been the biggest Meshuggah fan. Thats not saying I don't respect what they do. The music they create is so unorthodox and atonal its difficult not to sit down and try to distinguish whats going on. However, its not that difficult to change the song either.

There is so much going on here, I can't keep up. I never liked the guitar sounds. Its just...not as crunchy as I like it to be. All bass. Boo. Drumming always a key in metal bands. Meshuggah does this just as good if not better than everyone else. Their use of rhythm might be from a different planet.

Its too hard to say how I feel about this album after a couple listens. Its crazy. The riffs seem to go on for ages. Really atonal. MESHUGGAH! haha

Overall: 6.0/10]]> http://www.last.fm/user/rRed_Drop/journal/2008/05/03/gzt_story_of_the_year_-_the_black_swan Sat, 3 May 2008 20:22:08 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/rRed_Drop/journal/2008/05/03/gzt_story_of_the_year_-_the_black_swan Story of the Year hails from St Louis. We all know them from the hit song "Until the Day I Die" but after seperating from their previous label, we're starting to see what they really are.

I thought for sure this album would be...well, different. Its still got a good vibe to it though. I'm still not completely sold on it yet after a half a dozen listens.

Its not complete garbage like Avenged Sevenfold or anything. The first song has some pretty good riffs and the drumming on the disc is the best I've heard from these guys.

The highlight as always is the guitars. Both guys are absolutely talented and I love hearing what they come up with. Great progressions, great song writing. This album is a lot more radio friendly than the last one.

Overall, not bad. Not my favorite or anything. Its definitely a political album. Whoopdie doo.

Overall: 6.5/10]]> http://www.last.fm/user/rRed_Drop/journal/2008/04/15/gzs_2008:_whats_in_store!%3F Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:11:33 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/rRed_Drop/journal/2008/04/15/gzs_2008:_whats_in_store!%3F Looking ahead to 2008, theres much to look forward to! Many bands are writing or have finished mixing and plan to release new albums this upcoming year. In this blog (which hopefully I will actually UPDATE throughout the year), I will cover some of my favorite bands and their efforts to release their best material to date. Lets take a little preview shall we?

RELEASED ALBUMS
Protest the Hero - Fortress (1/29/08)
Bullet for My Valentine - Scream, Aim, Fire (1/29/08)
Winds of Plague - Decimate the Weak (2/05/08)
Down and Above - Hold Your Breath For The Rising Tide
Secret And Whisper - Great White Whale (2/12/08)
Dead To Fall - Are You Serious? (2/19/08)
The Working Title - Heart EP (1/23/08)
Meshuggah - obZen (3/11/08)
The Sword - Gods Of The Earth (4/01/08)
The Crystal Method - Drive (2/05/08)
Baltimore-Baltimore (4/15/08)
Destroy The Runner - I, Lucifer (4/15/08)
In Flames - A Sense Of Purpose
Walls Of Jericho - Redemption
Thrice - The Alchemy Index: Vol. 3&4
36 Crazyfists - The Tide and It's Takers
All The Way Rider - The Eagle's Nest
Sevendust - Hope And Sorrow
Pillar - For The Love Of The Game
Johnnyrook - Nameless Ghost
Story of the Year - The Black Swan
MYCHILDREN.MYBRIDE - Unbreakable
ANew Revolution - Rise
10 Years - Division
Black Tide - Light From Above

TO BE RELEASED:

City and Colour - Bring Me Your Love
Throw The Fight - In Pursuit of Tomorrow
3 Doors Down - 3 Doors Down
Between Home and Serenity - Embrace the Dead
Brandon Sammons - ME&MYEGO
Quietdrive - Deliverance
Disturbed - Indestructable
Filter - Anthems For The Damned
Opeth - Watershed
Bleed The Sky - Murder the Dance
Trigger Point - Giving Up The Ghost
Shai Hulud - Misanthropy Pure
Taproot - Our Long Road Home
Misery Signals - Controller
Walls of Jerhico - The American Dream
Slipknot - All Hope is Gone
War Of Ages - Arise and Conquor
All Shall Perish - Awaken The Dreamers
All That Remains - Overcome
The Human Abstract - Midheaven
Trivium - Shogun
It Dies Today - Lividity
Open Hand - Honey
Funeral for a Friend - Memory and Humanity
Mastadon - TBA
Finch - Finch EP
In This Moment - The Dream
The Acacia Strain - Continent
Metallica - Death Magnetic
War Of Ages - Arise and Conquor
DragonForce - Ultra Beatdown
A Static Lullaby- Rattlesnake!


BANDS THAT ARE WRITING/RECORDING:

Lennex
Antenora
Left in the Fire (Broken Up) RIP
Celldweller
The Ohio Sky
LEXSIS JUMPS
Years of Fire
Element Eighty
The Slain
Deftones
dredg
Kaddisfly
Ladybender
Finch
Redoverlunar
2nd HALF
Faktion
Unearth



OPINION

Throughout the year, albums will be released and people will be rocked. I will try to organize some of the madness in my own head by writing down how I feel about certain albums and hopefully provide insight to you, the reader, into weather or not these pieces of music are worth the 15 dollars a piece we pay for them. I look forward to keeping up with this!!! Rock on.

EDIT: 1/22/08: E80 is off tour. Details to come.
EDIT: 1/26/08: E80 is still together. They are writing, but its going to take longer than expected. Check out what they have to say at http://www.myspace.com/elementeighty]]>