Music overload holy fuck
So, yamanto was here for three weeks. Unfortunately, he's gone home (he actually just texted me as I was typing this to say he got home okay). But, while he was here, we got 39 CDs. THIRTY-FUCKING-NINE. HOLY SHIT.
The local used record store is moving and trying to liquidate some of their inventory. Everything $12.99 or less is $3, or 10 for $20. Fuck yeah. Got 30 CDs from them, and 9 from other places.
American Hi-Fi - American Hi-Fi
Flavor of the Weak is still a decent song. The rest of the album is boring.
Angry Banana - Be Nice or Leave
Angry Banana came to town for the annual Skalloween show, and after enjoying them throughly, I picked up the CD. It's very good! They are much better live (with crowd participation like every other song), but I can at least sing along at home!
Animal Chin - the ins & outs of TERRORISM!
I remembered liking Animal Chin when Pandora would play them back in high school. I picked up their entire (3 disc) discography. I'm glad it was cheap, because it pretty much all sounds the same. I'm listing them chronologically from first to last (and will do this with each band that I picked up multiple albums of).
Animal Chin - All The Kids Agree
See above.
Animal Chin - 20 Minutes From Right Now
See above.
Babylon Zoo - The Boy With The X-Ray Eyes
Dingo picked this one out based on one track being used on Battlestar Galactica or something. It's not bad, but it's very strange.
Bim Skala Bim - Universal
I enjoyed this one, but none of the songs really stood out to me. Decent ska, at least.
bis - intendo
I picked this up because Statement of Intent was on Jet Set Radio Future and I love that game to death. The album is mostly crap though, the lead vocalist is really grating.
Blindspot - Acceleration Zero
Fairly mediocre ska band, no stand out tracks to speak of. Not bad, but not memorable.
Blueline Medic - A Working Title In Green
Another dingo pick; we both liked it more than we expected to, and wished it was an album instead of just an EP. Very unique vocals, as they were gravelly yet higher pitched than you'd normally expect for a gravelly tone.
BNB All-Stars - MAN! These Cookies ROCK!
This is the silliest ska album I have ever heard, hands down. The best track is the instrumental "Intermission", which is a ska version of the Marble Zone music from Sonic the Hedgehog (the original). They also have probably the only blatantly Christian song I will ever enjoy listening to, because it actually calls out Christians on being bigots and assholes. If only it didn't talk about being closer to Jesus it'd be perfect, but I can live with it considering the point of the song is that most Christians are pricks. The rest of the album is incredibly inane and goofy.
Catch 22 - Washed Up!
An EP from when Catch 22 was trying to remain a fast band like it originally was! Fun to listen to, I should find their earlier albums. Unlike most ska nuts, I actually like them the way they are now, but then I don't usually mind when bands evolve musically.
Dethklok - The Dethalbum
I loved the first season of Metalocalypse to death, so this is all classic to me. Unfortunately the Deluxe version is still scarce, and copies are going for over $100, so fuck it, I'm just going to torrent the bonus disc.
Dethklok - Dethalbum II
I haven't had cable for two years, so I haven't seen more than season 1 of Metalocalypse, but this is still very, very good. I'm curious as to who the other vocalist is, though.
Electric Six - Flashy
After I Shall Exterminate sort of flopped (in my opinion), I didn't have high hopes for this one. Indeed, I didn't find it very memorable on the one play through I've had time for. I wouldn't say it's bad, it's just kind of mediocre (like Exterminate). Their first three albums really grabbed my attention and have kept my interest over time. Maybe with repeated listenings this will grow on me more, I know Exterminate did, at least a little bit anyway.
Electric Six - Kill
HOLY. FUCK. After two albums that just sort of breezed by, this one grabbed me by the ears and crammed awesomeness down them for 42 minutes. THIS is the Electric Six I know and love. Not only did it grab me like the first three, there's almost nothing in it that I would call filler. This album is just fantastic. By far their most solid work. I might even like it more than Switzerland.
The Ernies - Meson Ray
This album is the BEST of what I found at Hear Again. The only song I had to go on was Here & Now from the original Tony Hawk game, and since I had the N64 version that only had clips of songs, I didn't even know the band had a baritone sax! This album is a crazy mix of dark punk rock, synth, and a hint of ska thanks to the bari sax. I loved every second of it. Why Hear Again had eight copies is beyond me, because seriously, this is a 5 star album to my ears.
Five Iron Frenzy - Our Newest Album Ever!
I think this album was the biggest disappointment. I have never heard anything negative about FIF, not even once, but there's only one song on this album that I like. Most of the tracks are on the bland, cookie-cutter ska side, and the ones with stand out musical quality are so religious it hurts. The only exception is Oh, Canada which has great music without sucking up to Jesus. I guess the other albums are better, because I know I've heard plenty of good FIF on Pandora...
Goldfinger - Hang-Ups
I'm not a big Goldfinger fan. Superman is still a great song, but nothing else stands out.
Jersey - The Battle's Just Begun
This is a fun one, mixing fancy basslines with ska upstroke, but otherwise being straight up punk, with both male and female vocals. I'm not sure I have a favorite track from it, but I quite enjoyed it.
Jersey - Generation Genocide
I still enjoyed this record, but there's no trace of ska influence left and the female vocals are gone. I'm a little disappointed by that, as there's less variety without it, but it's still a solid punk album.
Johnny Socko - Oh, I DO Hope It's Roast Beef!
This is another one that just blasted its way into my ears. After the low quality tracks I'd heard on compilations, I was not expecting the quality that this album provided. Very pleasantly surprised by the production quality and overall musicianship, and as is the norm for ska bands, their subject matter is on the silly side. My only complaint is that a couple of songs are way too long.
Kill Clouseau - Kill Clouseau
Very good progressive rock, picked this up after they played a show with one of my friend's bands. Very high qulity, I'm honestly surprised these guys aren't on the radio.
Lazlo Bane - 11 Transistor
Another dingo pick, apparently based on the theme of Scrubs being by this band. It's not really my kind of music, but I have nothing bad to say about it. The Men In Hats cover was nice, and featured the original singer.
Left Alone - Dead American Radio
Their first album was extremely repetitive, and I got sick of it pretty quick, but I'd heard this one was better. It certainly is, as the band travels through four or five genres and really shows off the band's growth musically, while keeping the rough tone of the first album.
Limp - Guitarded
The two standout songs on this album are both on a compilation I have, but the album is solid regardless. The cover is classic.
Mid Carson July - Wound Up Down South
This is Jeremy's mediocre pick to match my pick of Animal Chin. The vocals suck, and the guitars are way too high in the mix. It's not terrible, but certainly not memorable.
Mid Carson July - Ten Years On Autopilot
See above.
Mr. Review - One Way Ticket To Skaville
One way ticket indeed, this album has 18 tracks. While enjoyable, there is not nearly enough variety to account for it's length, so it got boring around halfway through. The live tracks at the end were a good way to end it on a high note, from the sound of them I would enjoy seeing this band live.
People In Planes - As Far As The Eye Can See...
This isn't something I'd normally pick out, but it's not bad at all. I can't remember any specifc songs standing out to me, but I liked it enough to throw it on my iPod.
Save Ferris - Modified
Like a lot of ska bands did, the horns on this later album are much less noticeable. It's not a bad album, but it's got nothing on their first release.
Scatman John - Scatman's World
If this album doesn't scream '90s, I don't know what does. Scatman's World is probably my favorite dance/electronic song ever.
Scatman John - Everybody Jam!
This album is more consistent than the first, with much better non-singles than his first release. The title track is the stand out, and is great fun.
The Tantra Monsters - Stereo
I'm not sure if the title of this is actually Stereo or not. It says Stereo on the front and on the spine, but the CD itself says Stereophonic, and I've seen it referred to as being self-titled. Whatever. This album is very experimental ska, with a heavy tropical influence as the band is from Hawaii. I quite liked it, especially Boto Chanji and Ten Hours.
Toy Grenades - Who Needs a Plan When you Have One of These
This band played with Kill Clouseau and Long Strange Day, and they handed me a CD afterward. Not a fan, the singer is terrible, and they really aren't much fun to watch. They are good musicians, but the singer just kills them.
Zebrahead - Playmate Of The Year
Zebrahead is the other highlight of my three trips to Hear Again. These guys are just outstanding all around, I can't really pick any favorite tracks out of either album I got.
Zebrahead - Waste Of Mind
See above.
Various Artists - Go Ahead Punk ...Make My Day
The album title says it all, this is pretty straightforward punk. Short and fast, just how I like it, but I can't specifically recall any of the songs.
Various Artists - More Songs About Anger, Fear, Sex & Death
Another comp heavy on the punk, 26 tracks worth, though about half the album is Bad Religion and NoFX. That's not necessarily a bad thing, of course.
Yeesh, the list under the cut will make this my longest entry ever, I think. Anyways, next are youtube videos of me playing bass! On stage! Again! But not under a cut, BWAHAHA.
Please watch these and let me know how much I suck! Video game nerds should at least watch the second one!
The local used record store is moving and trying to liquidate some of their inventory. Everything $12.99 or less is $3, or 10 for $20. Fuck yeah. Got 30 CDs from them, and 9 from other places.
American Hi-Fi - American Hi-Fi
Flavor of the Weak is still a decent song. The rest of the album is boring.
Angry Banana - Be Nice or Leave
Angry Banana came to town for the annual Skalloween show, and after enjoying them throughly, I picked up the CD. It's very good! They are much better live (with crowd participation like every other song), but I can at least sing along at home!
Animal Chin - the ins & outs of TERRORISM!
I remembered liking Animal Chin when Pandora would play them back in high school. I picked up their entire (3 disc) discography. I'm glad it was cheap, because it pretty much all sounds the same. I'm listing them chronologically from first to last (and will do this with each band that I picked up multiple albums of).
Animal Chin - All The Kids Agree
See above.
Animal Chin - 20 Minutes From Right Now
See above.
Babylon Zoo - The Boy With The X-Ray Eyes
Dingo picked this one out based on one track being used on Battlestar Galactica or something. It's not bad, but it's very strange.
Bim Skala Bim - Universal
I enjoyed this one, but none of the songs really stood out to me. Decent ska, at least.
bis - intendo
I picked this up because Statement of Intent was on Jet Set Radio Future and I love that game to death. The album is mostly crap though, the lead vocalist is really grating.
Blindspot - Acceleration Zero
Fairly mediocre ska band, no stand out tracks to speak of. Not bad, but not memorable.
Blueline Medic - A Working Title In Green
Another dingo pick; we both liked it more than we expected to, and wished it was an album instead of just an EP. Very unique vocals, as they were gravelly yet higher pitched than you'd normally expect for a gravelly tone.
BNB All-Stars - MAN! These Cookies ROCK!
This is the silliest ska album I have ever heard, hands down. The best track is the instrumental "Intermission", which is a ska version of the Marble Zone music from Sonic the Hedgehog (the original). They also have probably the only blatantly Christian song I will ever enjoy listening to, because it actually calls out Christians on being bigots and assholes. If only it didn't talk about being closer to Jesus it'd be perfect, but I can live with it considering the point of the song is that most Christians are pricks. The rest of the album is incredibly inane and goofy.
Catch 22 - Washed Up!
An EP from when Catch 22 was trying to remain a fast band like it originally was! Fun to listen to, I should find their earlier albums. Unlike most ska nuts, I actually like them the way they are now, but then I don't usually mind when bands evolve musically.
Dethklok - The Dethalbum
I loved the first season of Metalocalypse to death, so this is all classic to me. Unfortunately the Deluxe version is still scarce, and copies are going for over $100, so fuck it, I'm just going to torrent the bonus disc.
Dethklok - Dethalbum II
I haven't had cable for two years, so I haven't seen more than season 1 of Metalocalypse, but this is still very, very good. I'm curious as to who the other vocalist is, though.
Electric Six - Flashy
After I Shall Exterminate sort of flopped (in my opinion), I didn't have high hopes for this one. Indeed, I didn't find it very memorable on the one play through I've had time for. I wouldn't say it's bad, it's just kind of mediocre (like Exterminate). Their first three albums really grabbed my attention and have kept my interest over time. Maybe with repeated listenings this will grow on me more, I know Exterminate did, at least a little bit anyway.
Electric Six - Kill
HOLY. FUCK. After two albums that just sort of breezed by, this one grabbed me by the ears and crammed awesomeness down them for 42 minutes. THIS is the Electric Six I know and love. Not only did it grab me like the first three, there's almost nothing in it that I would call filler. This album is just fantastic. By far their most solid work. I might even like it more than Switzerland.
The Ernies - Meson Ray
This album is the BEST of what I found at Hear Again. The only song I had to go on was Here & Now from the original Tony Hawk game, and since I had the N64 version that only had clips of songs, I didn't even know the band had a baritone sax! This album is a crazy mix of dark punk rock, synth, and a hint of ska thanks to the bari sax. I loved every second of it. Why Hear Again had eight copies is beyond me, because seriously, this is a 5 star album to my ears.
Five Iron Frenzy - Our Newest Album Ever!
I think this album was the biggest disappointment. I have never heard anything negative about FIF, not even once, but there's only one song on this album that I like. Most of the tracks are on the bland, cookie-cutter ska side, and the ones with stand out musical quality are so religious it hurts. The only exception is Oh, Canada which has great music without sucking up to Jesus. I guess the other albums are better, because I know I've heard plenty of good FIF on Pandora...
Goldfinger - Hang-Ups
I'm not a big Goldfinger fan. Superman is still a great song, but nothing else stands out.
Jersey - The Battle's Just Begun
This is a fun one, mixing fancy basslines with ska upstroke, but otherwise being straight up punk, with both male and female vocals. I'm not sure I have a favorite track from it, but I quite enjoyed it.
Jersey - Generation Genocide
I still enjoyed this record, but there's no trace of ska influence left and the female vocals are gone. I'm a little disappointed by that, as there's less variety without it, but it's still a solid punk album.
Johnny Socko - Oh, I DO Hope It's Roast Beef!
This is another one that just blasted its way into my ears. After the low quality tracks I'd heard on compilations, I was not expecting the quality that this album provided. Very pleasantly surprised by the production quality and overall musicianship, and as is the norm for ska bands, their subject matter is on the silly side. My only complaint is that a couple of songs are way too long.
Kill Clouseau - Kill Clouseau
Very good progressive rock, picked this up after they played a show with one of my friend's bands. Very high qulity, I'm honestly surprised these guys aren't on the radio.
Lazlo Bane - 11 Transistor
Another dingo pick, apparently based on the theme of Scrubs being by this band. It's not really my kind of music, but I have nothing bad to say about it. The Men In Hats cover was nice, and featured the original singer.
Left Alone - Dead American Radio
Their first album was extremely repetitive, and I got sick of it pretty quick, but I'd heard this one was better. It certainly is, as the band travels through four or five genres and really shows off the band's growth musically, while keeping the rough tone of the first album.
Limp - Guitarded
The two standout songs on this album are both on a compilation I have, but the album is solid regardless. The cover is classic.
Mid Carson July - Wound Up Down South
This is Jeremy's mediocre pick to match my pick of Animal Chin. The vocals suck, and the guitars are way too high in the mix. It's not terrible, but certainly not memorable.
Mid Carson July - Ten Years On Autopilot
See above.
Mr. Review - One Way Ticket To Skaville
One way ticket indeed, this album has 18 tracks. While enjoyable, there is not nearly enough variety to account for it's length, so it got boring around halfway through. The live tracks at the end were a good way to end it on a high note, from the sound of them I would enjoy seeing this band live.
People In Planes - As Far As The Eye Can See...
This isn't something I'd normally pick out, but it's not bad at all. I can't remember any specifc songs standing out to me, but I liked it enough to throw it on my iPod.
Save Ferris - Modified
Like a lot of ska bands did, the horns on this later album are much less noticeable. It's not a bad album, but it's got nothing on their first release.
Scatman John - Scatman's World
If this album doesn't scream '90s, I don't know what does. Scatman's World is probably my favorite dance/electronic song ever.
Scatman John - Everybody Jam!
This album is more consistent than the first, with much better non-singles than his first release. The title track is the stand out, and is great fun.
The Tantra Monsters - Stereo
I'm not sure if the title of this is actually Stereo or not. It says Stereo on the front and on the spine, but the CD itself says Stereophonic, and I've seen it referred to as being self-titled. Whatever. This album is very experimental ska, with a heavy tropical influence as the band is from Hawaii. I quite liked it, especially Boto Chanji and Ten Hours.
Toy Grenades - Who Needs a Plan When you Have One of These
This band played with Kill Clouseau and Long Strange Day, and they handed me a CD afterward. Not a fan, the singer is terrible, and they really aren't much fun to watch. They are good musicians, but the singer just kills them.
Zebrahead - Playmate Of The Year
Zebrahead is the other highlight of my three trips to Hear Again. These guys are just outstanding all around, I can't really pick any favorite tracks out of either album I got.
Zebrahead - Waste Of Mind
See above.
Various Artists - Go Ahead Punk ...Make My Day
The album title says it all, this is pretty straightforward punk. Short and fast, just how I like it, but I can't specifically recall any of the songs.
Various Artists - More Songs About Anger, Fear, Sex & Death
Another comp heavy on the punk, 26 tracks worth, though about half the album is Bad Religion and NoFX. That's not necessarily a bad thing, of course.
Yeesh, the list under the cut will make this my longest entry ever, I think. Anyways, next are youtube videos of me playing bass! On stage! Again! But not under a cut, BWAHAHA.
Click to viewPlease watch these and let me know how much I suck! Video game nerds should at least watch the second one!