Muse — Black Holes and Revelations

• Artist: Muse
• Title: Black Holes and Revelations
• Year: 2006
• Format: CD
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Mary/Tracy
• Acquired: 2006 – No place special, Target maybe.

This is post number 200 in the “record” collection category. I’m celebrating with something special, something new for you kids and grups out there — “Black Holes and Revelations” by Muse.

This band is so musically ambitious and perfectly weird I can think of few, if any, meaningful comparisons. Despite that, or possibly because of it, their last two records have been big commercial successes, even in the US. Their music is metallic, operatic, funky, melodic, pop and everything else you can think of, and somehow it never sounds diluted. Again, this stuff is ambitious, not the output of a few dudes getting together and just jamming out some verses and choruses. And their timing is impeccable. Just before things get too weird for too long they pull out some colossal riff, drop the hammer, and perform another hard rock burnout.

The last song, “Knights of Cydonia”, is probably my favorite. This piece has everything in it from an Ennio Morricone-sounding spaghetti western guitar, to space alien electronica, to anthemic choruses. Just after the four minute mark something extra special happens that on first hearing was so unexpected, and every time thereafter so anticipated, that I break out in goosebumps. More about Muse.

Bad Brains — I Against I

• Artist: Bad Brains
• Title: I Against I
• Year: 1986
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1986 – Bought it when I worked at Mother’s Records in Hampton, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

The Greatest Album by the Greatest Band Ever!

“I Against I.” Bad Brains.

That is all.

(Third image is back of lyric sheet.)

Bad Brains — Rock For Light

• Artist: Bad Brains
• Title: Rock For Light
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: Not sure.
• Keeper: Yes

Again, my favorite band ever, Bad Brains. This “Rock For Light” album has always confused me. A lot of the songs are re-recorded versions of stuff from their earlier self-titled release on ROIR Records. At the time ROIR Records was actually a cassette-only label. I used to have that “record” on cassette, but now I can’t find it. For some reason “Rock For Light” is mostly made up of songs from that cassette and the rare “I and I Survive” EP I’ve already posted.

Bad Brains — there has never been, and never will be another band like them. “Rock For Light” at Wikipedia.

Faith No More — Introduce Yourself

• Artist: Faith No More
• Title: Introduce Yourself
• Year: 1987
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Tracy / Mary
• Acquired: 1987 – We each got copies from the record stores where we “worked.”
• Keeper: Yes

I definitely like “Introduce Yourself” better than their first record “We Care a Lot.” The title track from “We Care a Lot” appears on both records, and I’m not sure why. Wikipedia has a little info about it. I love that song, but I also love the title track of “Introduce Yourself.” In general this record seems more rocked out and the synth less prominent. “Also available on cassette.”

Priestess — Hello Master

• Artist: Priestess
• Title: Hello Master
• Year: 2006
• Format: MP3
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: On the Interweb.
• Keeper: Yes

Thanks to JT for turning me on to Priestess. This site is named after a Judas Priest song. So, odds are if the band name has “Priest” in it and the sound is heavy I’m gonna like it.

One thing that’s great about “Hello Master” is that Priestess manage to throw down the heavy riffs, change-ups, and the occassional tricky time signature without turning every song into a multi-movement jamfest. Tons of hooks will keep your feet tapping. The single “Lay Down” is probably my favorite. It’s perfectly short at barely three minutes with a great snaky guitar riff. Tidy, and rocking.

Their sound reminds me of Sugartooth, but with better vocals. And maybe a little Raging Slab or even Kyuss in there, but not nearly as weird. Priestess is definitely more pop than those those bands, but pop and heavy riffing ain’t a bad mix. I’m excited to hear something new and heavy without the usual lame Cookie Monster vocals. Frontman Mikey Heppner can actually sing!

Check out the official Priestess site to hear some of their music.

That’s right Keith, I downloaded this album.

Bad Brains — I And I Survive / Destroy Babylon

• Artist: Bad Brains
• Title: I And I Survive / Destroy Babylon
• Year: 1982
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: Not sure, mail order I think.
• Keeper: Yes

Punk rock, heavy metal, and separately reggae, with heaping helpings of spirituality and weirdness from four black guys from D.C.? Sign me up for some of that! Bad Brains, despite not being that prolific, or maybe because of it, is probably my favorite band, ever, for all-time, into the future even. I can’t imagine a new band creating music this special to me. Their music has a sophistication, and their playing a musicianship pretty much unheard of in the world of “punk” or “hardcore.” From the moment I heard their music I thought it was as exciting as it was unlikely.

This four song EP must be pretty rare. All of the songs, “I And I Survive”, “Destroy Babylon”, “Coptic Times”, and “Joshua’s Song”, were also released on “Rock For Light” a year later. I’m not sure if they are the same versions. I was unable to quickly find another picture of this awesome cover art on the web. So, enjoy it while you’re here. I liked the art on the label on one side of this record so much that it was basis for the tattoo on my massive right bicep. See the pic.

Another interesting tidbit is that this record was produced by Ric Ocasek, of The Cars. Didn’t know Ric was that cool, did ya? To learn more read this article about Bad Brains at Wikipedia.

Faith No More — We Care A Lot

• Artist: Faith No More
• Title: We Care A Lot
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary ?
• Acquired: 1985 – Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

Come on. You know you like the title track, “We Care a Lot.” But I could believe it if you said that was it. This is the first Faith No More record and one of only two with Chuck Mosley on vocals. I could never get over the keyboard droning through just about every song. Applause for trying something different, but to me the keyboards just took the teeth off the otherwise hard rock sound. One last tidbit I just noticed, in more than one spot on this album they spell the band’s name “Faith. No More.” That’s: excessive, punctuation!!!

I’ll keep this one short. We’re off to see the Caps take on the Atlanta Thrashers. Time to take out the Thrash!

La Muerte — Death Race 2000

• Artist: La Muerte
• Title: Death Race 2000
• Year: 1989
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1989 – Bought it for myself when we had RIP Records.
• Keeper: Yes

I was reading about these guys at Trouser Press and I realized that I got into them near the end. Apparently in their earlier work they were influenced by Birthday Party/Nick Cave. I never noticed from this record which is heavy, in a more conventional way, but the vocals are similarly intense or insane, you decide. In some ways it’s similar to Head of David in the way the riffs are layered up to create these fantastic metallic dirges, but, again, the vocals are way more intense.