So great. I am deeply sad that I missed their show last night at Moody Amp, but all I could think about the concert was how I would absolutely need to be in the front little section and not in the boring ass seated area, and I missed out on that section to buy tickets. Oh well.
Turnstile - NEVER ENOUGH. My personal opinion is that this album is not as strong as the last one, but it is still exceedingly enjoyable. I am in this thing called Music League, wherein the participants are required to nominate two songs per round that they thing match the theme for the round - covers, hip hop, women in country, metal, etc. - with the stated goal of the founder being all about finding new music. Unfortunately, the old white dudes in this league can't seem to comprehend that, and so, for example, the hip hop week was all 80's/90's classics that are not new to anyone. But, one week the theme was something like - Best Songs You Have Enjoyed This Week - and I wanted to add a Turnstile song to it because I had been jamming this album. I chose the title track, and I now think that was a mistake. I got no (or very few votes), and I think two major things go against the song. First, there is a long and somewhat uninteresting intro and outro to it that detracts from the fun power of the tune. Second, there is pretty much just one verse and then he says the title to the song 387 times. So, while that would be big fun to mosh to, it's not as cool of a song to bring to a pack of music snobs trying to show why it is an excellent new song. And so then, thinking more about what song I should have used, it dawned on me that these songs jam and make me want to put a fist through the wall, but the lyricism is not going to have them nominated for any Pulitzers. Like, "Light Design" has four lines and then they just say "Light Design" forty-eight times. Is he in love with the art director for their stages? Anyway, top track is that title song, but I'm going to give you "BIRDS" instead, with 12.3 million streams. (this video actually gives you a double shot - "SEEIN' STARS" and "BIRDS" Lucky you.
Loogit that drummer go to town in the buildup to this song! I need to go find video of last night's show to see if people stage dove. I have goose bumps watching these people go crazy during this song. So rad. Other odd thing that keeps popping into my head as I listen are some weird throwback items that make me feel like I am hearing things. "Light Design" and __ both evoke old Police songs to me - not sure if that is a legit feeling, but "SEEIN' STARS" definitely sounds like I've got "When the World is Running Down" vibes. Maybe I should make "DULL" the theme song of my blog - IM GOING DULL! IM GOING DULL! Because there really is a ringing when you talk to me, usually. My right ear just zings along all the time now. Wheee! Love it, and will definitely keep the disc in my playlist!
Sleep Token - Even in Arcadia. I forget exactly how I came across this one, but I feel like someone on the Internet said that they were like Turnstile or somehow related to the same hardcore scene, or something. Hell and No. This is a super weird mashup of, like, Muse and Depeche Mode and Cannibal Corpse and Linkin Park and some nervous British garage rapper I don't know. It super freaking sucks. Like, a song will start with some pretty little falsetto thing over piano and plucked acoustic, and then a voice with a lot of effects will start repeating something inane, and then synths will start swirling mysteriously, and then some dork starts rapping, and then the rapper starts going over 58 guitars riffing straight through your head. I can't tell whether this is metal or pop, maybe they aren't sure either. One song sounds like Kenny G busts in at the end. I just know that it feels overwrought and definitely should not be compared to Turnstile. Time for you to hear some of it. You should be glad that "Emergence" didn't win first place, instead you get "Caramel" with 113.3 million streams.
There you go, some music box to start that one up and get you ready for the riffagery. Oh, but with some reggaeton beats introduced first. In addition to the style that can't seem to find itself, I find his quivery voice to be pretty annoying as well. I definitely do not need to keep this album around for further listens. Yuck.
Wet Leg - moisturizer. These guys freaking JAMMED at ACL. Top tier show (even if the wife likely disagrees). The cover of the disc is slightly unsettling, as the lead singer is crouched in an empty room like some sort of zombie spider monster person, and her face looks like a cross between Leeloo from The Fifth Element and that scary cover art for that Aphex Twin album. The guitar in "catch these fists" reminds me of Franz Ferdinand. The "is it love?" they keep saying in "CPR" is making me think of the Primus song "Is it Luck?" where Les Claypool yelps that phrase repeatedly. "CPR" also has a nugget of an old 80's song that won't come back to me, when she gets shrill to sing the chorus. "pillow talk" is kinda nasty (in a fun way) and has thick riffs, beating drums, and then a piano riff combined with winding guitars that brings Queens of the Stone Age to mind. The bassline in "11:21" makes me think of the Beatles and the folks who copy them like Jet. "mangetout" has vocals that sound like Gwen Stefani getting cutesy. "pokemon" is just purely pretty. If you can't tell, the album is a little chameleonic, but I also think it is great. The top track is "catch these fists," with only 12.2 million streams.
"i just wanna dance with my friends...." Great stuff.
A few years back, my younger brother told me about a fun activity that he will get in to on a night after going out for dinner and drinks. He'll fire up YouTube on his TV and just watch the old videos from our teenage years - grunge, hair metal, West Coast rap - and just revel in the nostalgia and pleasure. I love it. But the other thing I have integrated into there is to watch some of the eighty-million Tiny Desk concerts that are available on there. Very good fun. And these ladies do an excellent Tiny Desk (even if the lead singer now sort of looks terrifying even in real life).
Sure makes it seem like the band has shifted from two ladies making music together to one lady fronting a band of five. I read a thing saying this is because the non-front woman has anxiety and never expected to be the face of a massive rock band. But that version of "CPR" is fantastic. Her vocals on "mangetout" are better in that version than on the album. Excellent album. Truly.
The Heavy Heavy - One of a Kind. Another band that jammed at ACL - these guys were really good. They played a tight cover of Father John Misty and also brought out Adrian Quesada to play "Texas Sun." Good times. Funny thing, I categorized them as kind of a soul rock throwback band, but my wife was like "dammit, Jack, you brought me to a jam band!" Not on purpose! Sometimes musicians just like to solo and rock out when they are on stage, man! This is actually a 2024 album, but I had not heard of them prior to the Fest. The opener and title track is a jam for sure. I love it. But "Happiness" is the hit so far. Just over 2 million streams.
See?! That is the classic soul/rock combo thing. Killer harmonies and a bright and shiny sound. Love it for sure. Whole disc is a good time.
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