I thought about it and decided this column doesn’t need to be just about music I like. This week, I’m going to talk a bit about a song I despise. A song that represents everything that was wrong with disco. You should also know that Jared Sorensen loves Abba. You should go tell him how much he loves Abba right now. Just say, “Hey, Jared. I hear you love Abba.” He’ll know what you’re talking about.
I once read in an interview that She Wants Revenge said, “What could be better than having someone want to cry, fuck or get up and dance to your music?” If there is a single phrase that sums up their music it would have to be that one. Music aside their music videos are fantastic. Check out this video and read my commentary after the break.
This marks the return of the Justice Files in a new, smaller, semi-regular format. Instead of ranting for pages about something I’m going to give a quick synopsis of what it is, where I found it, and why I like it. Link to a song or YouTube video then leave you to decide if you like it. The shorter format should help me churn out more of these then I have been.
The video isn’t an official one, its actually made by a friend. Remember that you’re watching for the song, not the cute girl. Without further ado may I present Wasted State of Mind by …And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead.
It has been awhile since the last edition of The Justice Files but I refuse to write if I don’t have something that I am passionate about. Recently, a topic jumped into my brain and I just have that itch to jot it down on digital paper. Most of my previous columns have focused on either an artist or an album, this one is going to be a little different. I want to talk about the use of music in other media, specifically television shows. After the break, I’m going to get into the meat of this but now I’ll tease that I want to talk about a couple shows that I think use music to be awesome. Read the rest of this entry »
I know that its been awhile since I wrote anything but I have a good reason for that; I haven’t been listening to anything I haven’t recently written about. I figured I could write articles about other music I like but when I’m not in the moment with it I find it really had to come up with the words. So, I’ve just not written anything. Sorry folks, hopefully soon my phase will change but until then lets talk about a band I talked about before. This time, lets talk about the show I saw them at this last weekend.
This is going to be a short article this week, I found out about a band and since I can’t get my hands on any of their albums I have only a handful of YouTube videos to write about. Needless to say, I’m so impressed by the sound of the Yoshida Brothers that I just have to write something for you guys. Zenlizard over at the Spooky Outhouse forums linked me to their unique blend of modern sound with classic Japanese instruments. Like always after the jump I’ll talk a bit about the band, what I’ve dug up from wikipedia mostly, and then comment on the few songs I’ve managed to track down.
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There are many highs and lows to being a podcaster. This week is a low with drama a foot on a podcast that is hosted by people I consider good friends. I considered not writing an article for awhile, I just didn’t feel up for it. Then I came to realize that things need to keep moving on. If your not informed, I suggest you cruise over to the Podge Cast and give their latest episode a listen. I comment on it in the latest episode of Bear Swarm! as well and that’s really more of the proper place for that. This article is suppose to be about music but sometimes the real world steps in and drops something on you that you just can’t ignore. I’ve rambled enough, without further ado lets get into the Justice Files.
Murder by Death: In Bocca Al Lupo
Ready for my big secret? I started writing this article in hopes that people would read it and send me music recommendations. With the Ghoultown article, it worked! Rich Flynn, aka lachlain made a couple suggestions to me via Twitter. I’ve only had time to listen to one of them, Murder by Death, and while I have listened to their entire discography I’d like to take time to focus on In Bocca Al Lupo. In Bocca al Lupo is Murder by Death’s third full-length album, and while not being their most recent I think its one of their best. After the break I’ll do my usual and talk about the band a bit before getting into the album from both the band’s perspective and my own. Enjoy.
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There was a time when my friend/co-host Mike and I stayed in the basement of Podge Cast Matt’s house. This was before the Bear Swarm! and before the Podge Cast. Back in these halcyon days Luke was still with Fear the Boot and we were attending Fear the Con, before it had to be enumerated. I was younger then, a mere twenty three years old, and when Matt and Mike began discussing the latest endeavor by a local band I was completely in the dark. Matt was aghast, “You haven’t told him about Ludo?” he exclaimed. Mike said that it didn’t seem like the kind of music I’d like, which in retrospect is a very fair assessment. Matt insisted I listen to at least one track, “It has zombies.” he said. There were zombies, and so much more. In 2005 Ludo put out a rock opera concept album entitled “Broken Bride” and it is simply one of the best stories ever told with music. I’m a fan of Johnny Cash, who is to me the greatest American music storyteller in history, and I still said that.
Ludo - Broken Bride
Ludo is a band from St. Louis, Missouri who Wikipedia labels as Power pop, Pop rock, Alternative, & Geek rock. Broken Bride is a 2005 rock opera concept album that tells the tale of the Traveler. I’ll keep this spoiler free here but the tale involves death, time travel, dinosaurs, zombies, the apocalypse, and one of the most somber closing tracks I’ve ever heard. At only five tracks long and just over twenty-seven minutes in length its a epic tale that could easily be adapted into a two hour feature film. I can’t sing the praises of this album enough but unfortunately I can’t vouch for the rest of Ludo‘s catalog. I’ve listened to their other albums and I’m just not a fan. They have a few tracks I like but most of it isn’t my tastes. Right now, you just have to go listen to Broken Bride. I’m going to get into spoilers the break with a track by track discussion of the album ending with my thoughts on the overall story and where I think the work really ends at. Last warning, beyond this point there be spoilers.
How do you feel about Johnny Cash? What about The Misfits? What about spaghetti westerns and horror movies? Somewhere between country western and punk rock at the point where ballads meet metal sits Ghoultown. Forming in 1999 they have left their mark on six CD’s, numerous compilations, movies, short films, a comic book and even a video game. Wikipedia says they are a “popular horrorpunk/gothabilly band from Texas, specializing in a mixture of classic garage punk and psychobilly music and dark, horrifying lyrics that is somewhat different than other gothabilly bands, due to a heavy spaghetti western influence.” which doesn’t really sum up their complete experience. Ghoultown is, far and away, one of my favorite bands and I’m going to tell you why after the break.
I get asked about the music we use for The Bear Swarm! Podcast from time to time. Why I picked what it or where I found it in the first place. I figured now that I have this fancy music column, I could write an article about it. Now I can just direct all further inquiries here. In the past we’ve used three different bands for our show; Sore, 137, and Ghoultown. Where I found them, why we switched, what originally attracted me to them, and a little discussion of what I think of the band overall will follow after the break. Enjoy.