Initially, every NEW album that Incubus churns out will be a weird experience. Sure there's the recognizable Incubus sound in a few songs, but mostly, the feel and approach of each album is definitely different from the previous one.
There are some fans that will absolutely love one album, and complain and loathe the next because it's so different. But it's the true blue fans who will appreciate their experimentation with sounds (aside from Brandon Boyd's abs - hehehe).
MAKE YOURSELF was my favorite Incubus album (along with SCIENCE). It rocks. When MORNING VIEW came out, I had misgivings initially, because it there was a departure from the angsty sound. Let's face it, MORNING VIEW was the "hanging out and just chillin'" album. I fell asleep and failed to finish listening to it the first time. But over time, it grew on me, and I eventually loved the album. Now, it's one of the overplayed CDs in my car.
I don't have a copy of CROW LEFT OF MURDER, so I don't have much to say about it, except that I really didn't like "Megalomaniac."
Incubus releases an album every 3 years and their latest offering is LIGHT GRENADES.
The carrier single "ANNA MOLLY" is impressive. It made me curious enough to check the album out.
The first song off the album is "QUICKSAND," an ethereally weird song to start an album. Then it kicks off with "A KISS TO SET US OFF." The next songs will then make you think what the band it trying to get at (I was looking for the main theme of the album and the reasoning for LIGHT GRENADES for the title).
And as bleu cheese as it seems, the theme is the none else but L-O-V-E and the insanity that comes with it.
One song is entitled "LOVE HURTS" ... that's how cheesy it gets. It even has a chorus that goes "..love hurts but then it's a good hurt ..." --> Brandon what the heck were you thinking?! But in fairness, disregarding the lyrics of the song, the melody is nice.
High notes of the album besides "ANNA MOLLY" are songs like "DIG" (one of the best tracks lyrically and musically speaking), "ROGUES", "LIGHT GRENADES", "PAPER SHOES", "A KISS TO SEND US OFF", and yes, "LOVE HURTS" (just forget the lyrics).
Other songs either sound the same or are too blurry to comprehend.
In totality, I may have to listen to this again and again, maybe it'll grow on me like "MORNING VIEW."
This album is for serious INCUBUS fans, 'cuz if you're not, it will be quite difficult to appreciate it.
As a fan though, it's a good album. But as of the moment, not really the best.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Not Never An Addict
The great/worse thing about me is that when I totally like/love something/someone, I take it to the maximum. Same statement also applies to hate.
I am an extremist ... that's why the road I travel on is constantly plagued with so much irritation, gargantuan migraines, and blundering trolls.
With that said, I think the psychological profile would classify me as a person also prone to addiction, if I'm not careful. And I take so much precaution in everything because I don't want to lose control of myself. I think I'm so good at doing it that I can actually detach myself consciously from a situation/thing/someone if I wanted to .... hence, the cold-blooded beyatch title.
While I do my darnedest to restrain myself from all the things unclean, unsafe, unfiltered, and that cute married guy in the office ... I realized I get into safe wholesome addictions just to release the pressure from too much temptations/distractions/strokes-in-evolution that surround me.
I do not abuse alcohol, I just drink socially or when I notice that the insomnia eyebags start to appear. Never touched drugs ... just administered prescribed ones to others in the hospital. I experimented with smoking, but I hated the smell (my perfume costs A LOT ... don't want it to be overpowered by the stench of cigarettes). The only 3 reasons that will make me pick a pack of Marlboro lights:
1. A REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY BAD DAY.
2. ESPIONAGE - hang out the dragons/dragonettes, sometimes I need to know a lot of inside info/gossips in the work place.
3. POLITICAL STRATEGY - when I want to know something from a smoke puffing superior.
Anyway, going back to safe addictions. The substance that I am guilty of abusing is coffee. My body will not start without coffee. I recall a time of my life when coffee was my water (and that was when I was in brain-deadening medical clerkship). I even ventured into the cafe business once upon a time (too bad it didn't last).
Another addiction is Lord of the Rings. My ultimate seal of geekdom. My brain is too wired in Middle Earth. Hence, the frequent lapses of autism everytime that talkative officemate blabbers about her lovelife. The crazy book reading rituals and DVD marathons ... and not to mention naming pets with Elvish or hobbit names. Then there's the adopted Elvish name I dare not mention to the unknowing public, for there are very high expectations that come with it (I think I already failed the height requirement since I'm more of a hobbit).
Then there's this anime "Fullmetal Alchemist" ... and the secret wish that someone like Col. Roy Mustang exists. Though I cannot understand a darn thing they are saying (thank you subtitlers!!!) I absolutely love the main theme (sung in Japanese) and of course, the Elrich brother's adventure for atonement.
So why am I suddenly enumerating these things? Well, my pal Chloe is to blame for a latest addition to my addiction (aside from her usual heckling of my undying loyalty to her DJ friend/crush).
She spends a weekend in my place lugging along DVDs of this Korean drama shown in the local TV every weekdays 10 PM (apparently a time when I am shackled to my office cubicle).
I was vacillating at the thought of playing that thing on my player(which I proudly vaccinated on anything tacky). Or so I thought.
I was trying to get some shut eye and was telling her to keep the volume down. When I noticed her selective deafness with my pleas, I got up and watched this JU MONG with her to figure out this fascination she has.
Well, 15 minutes turned into 30 minutes into 1 episode then into 24 episodes. I got converted real fast. She was the one prying the remote control away from me to drag me out of the house to visit Starbucks. When we got back, I resumed watching it.
You may keep your distance from scary things, but it is the virus of curiousity that will always kill the cat.
I am an extremist ... that's why the road I travel on is constantly plagued with so much irritation, gargantuan migraines, and blundering trolls.
With that said, I think the psychological profile would classify me as a person also prone to addiction, if I'm not careful. And I take so much precaution in everything because I don't want to lose control of myself. I think I'm so good at doing it that I can actually detach myself consciously from a situation/thing/someone if I wanted to .... hence, the cold-blooded beyatch title.
While I do my darnedest to restrain myself from all the things unclean, unsafe, unfiltered, and that cute married guy in the office ... I realized I get into safe wholesome addictions just to release the pressure from too much temptations/distractions/strokes-in-evolution that surround me.
I do not abuse alcohol, I just drink socially or when I notice that the insomnia eyebags start to appear. Never touched drugs ... just administered prescribed ones to others in the hospital. I experimented with smoking, but I hated the smell (my perfume costs A LOT ... don't want it to be overpowered by the stench of cigarettes). The only 3 reasons that will make me pick a pack of Marlboro lights:
1. A REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY BAD DAY.
2. ESPIONAGE - hang out the dragons/dragonettes, sometimes I need to know a lot of inside info/gossips in the work place.
3. POLITICAL STRATEGY - when I want to know something from a smoke puffing superior.
Anyway, going back to safe addictions. The substance that I am guilty of abusing is coffee. My body will not start without coffee. I recall a time of my life when coffee was my water (and that was when I was in brain-deadening medical clerkship). I even ventured into the cafe business once upon a time (too bad it didn't last).
Another addiction is Lord of the Rings. My ultimate seal of geekdom. My brain is too wired in Middle Earth. Hence, the frequent lapses of autism everytime that talkative officemate blabbers about her lovelife. The crazy book reading rituals and DVD marathons ... and not to mention naming pets with Elvish or hobbit names. Then there's the adopted Elvish name I dare not mention to the unknowing public, for there are very high expectations that come with it (I think I already failed the height requirement since I'm more of a hobbit).
Then there's this anime "Fullmetal Alchemist" ... and the secret wish that someone like Col. Roy Mustang exists. Though I cannot understand a darn thing they are saying (thank you subtitlers!!!) I absolutely love the main theme (sung in Japanese) and of course, the Elrich brother's adventure for atonement.
So why am I suddenly enumerating these things? Well, my pal Chloe is to blame for a latest addition to my addiction (aside from her usual heckling of my undying loyalty to her DJ friend/crush).
She spends a weekend in my place lugging along DVDs of this Korean drama shown in the local TV every weekdays 10 PM (apparently a time when I am shackled to my office cubicle).
I was vacillating at the thought of playing that thing on my player(which I proudly vaccinated on anything tacky). Or so I thought.
I was trying to get some shut eye and was telling her to keep the volume down. When I noticed her selective deafness with my pleas, I got up and watched this JU MONG with her to figure out this fascination she has.
Well, 15 minutes turned into 30 minutes into 1 episode then into 24 episodes. I got converted real fast. She was the one prying the remote control away from me to drag me out of the house to visit Starbucks. When we got back, I resumed watching it.
You may keep your distance from scary things, but it is the virus of curiousity that will always kill the cat.
A Fire Inside - Decemberunderground
Last Christmas, I gifted a friend an AFI CD entitled "Decemberunderground." I had no idea who these guys were then. All I know is that he's absolutely raving about them. So while travelling with my friends one day, I asked him to load the CD (since I think I already etched a crater on my Nickelback CD due to overplay) and find out myself what exactly is the fuss about.
The album started with the song "Prelude 12/21." It reminded me of Depeche Mode, probably because the delivery of the song sounds hauntingly like Dave Gahan. I was impressed. Actually, I was blown away. My senses were tingling ... I absolutely loved what I was hearing. After that, the songs just kept on coming and I have to say that THESE GUYS ARE GOOD. I really don't know what genre to place them because they're not totally punk rock, or even EMO, or even gothic (their faces in the album sleeve though reveals some gothic packaging). It would be too uncomfortable to place them in line with My Chemical Romance (also a great group) or even Evanescence. They're not too wavish like The Killers. I'd say it's a mixture of all with a twist and kick.
Other songs to look out for in this album: "Miss Murder," "Summer Shudder," "Love Like Winter" and "The Missing Frame" --> the most overplayed song in my Ipod.
There is this bad review from Rolling Stones magazine which I totally disagree. The reviewer was complaining of the band's divergence from it's punk rock roots like it's a crime. In their defense, experimentation of sound in this album is not totally novel but it definitely makes a great case. It made them DIFFERENT. It's hard enough to compete and make a statement at the same time with the other bands out there. To prevent oneself from being stereotyped into a punk formula or worse, cloneship, is a daunting task already for any conscious artist. With this album, I laud the creative efforts to bring life to the old blood of rock n' roll with a shot of limey refreshment. This is an album you'd like to listen to when you're tired of the same old thing or if you'd like to get rid of that irritating LSS.
Highly recommended for open-minded rock listeners.
The album started with the song "Prelude 12/21." It reminded me of Depeche Mode, probably because the delivery of the song sounds hauntingly like Dave Gahan. I was impressed. Actually, I was blown away. My senses were tingling ... I absolutely loved what I was hearing. After that, the songs just kept on coming and I have to say that THESE GUYS ARE GOOD. I really don't know what genre to place them because they're not totally punk rock, or even EMO, or even gothic (their faces in the album sleeve though reveals some gothic packaging). It would be too uncomfortable to place them in line with My Chemical Romance (also a great group) or even Evanescence. They're not too wavish like The Killers. I'd say it's a mixture of all with a twist and kick.
Other songs to look out for in this album: "Miss Murder," "Summer Shudder," "Love Like Winter" and "The Missing Frame" --> the most overplayed song in my Ipod.
There is this bad review from Rolling Stones magazine which I totally disagree. The reviewer was complaining of the band's divergence from it's punk rock roots like it's a crime. In their defense, experimentation of sound in this album is not totally novel but it definitely makes a great case. It made them DIFFERENT. It's hard enough to compete and make a statement at the same time with the other bands out there. To prevent oneself from being stereotyped into a punk formula or worse, cloneship, is a daunting task already for any conscious artist. With this album, I laud the creative efforts to bring life to the old blood of rock n' roll with a shot of limey refreshment. This is an album you'd like to listen to when you're tired of the same old thing or if you'd like to get rid of that irritating LSS.
Highly recommended for open-minded rock listeners.
The Process of Un-ORC-ing
There is this book written by Tom Holt entitled "YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE EVIL TO WORK HERE, BUT IT HELPS," which caught my attention when I was browsing for interesting reads. I was with a friend that day, who witnessed my amusement with the book's crazy title. She bought the book as a gift to me later that week as a Christmas gift. I never really got to read it since the whole month of January was tornado month at work (explains for the lack of blogs that month - excuses, excuses!).
A week ago, taking time out from the usual everyday BS in the corporate universe, I decided to clean my always cluttered abode and discovered that the book is still in its gift bag, immaculately safe from the dust bunnies slowly breeding in the room. I also realized that I have a lot of book assignments to read ... and so little time to do it (a coffee recipe book, a book about making great writings and speeches, Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Love In The Time of Cholera, and as a yearly tribute to JRR Tolkien, I made a vow to retrace Frodo's adventure to Mount Doom and into the West by reading the book with the accompanying atlas of Middle Earth every January - MY CERTIFICATION OF GEEKHOOD NEEDS TO BE RENEWED EVERY START OF THE YEAR). --> all that I failed to read. (Tsk, tsk).
Work takes the fun out of everyday living sometimes, and I realized that I've been working too hard for the past months that I forgot my little escapes.
After acquiring my new "precioussss" - 80 GB video IPOD - to keep me from going nuts while I'm with fellow drones, I decided that I will not let the minions of Sauron turn me into a bloody stupid corporate orc (... actually they just promoted me, hehehe).
So I will be un-orc-ing myself by reading those books (at least a chapter a day), listening to internet radio for new songs to get updated, parking my butt on the couch Saturdays to watch House MD and E-Ring, and for the love of God and all things sacred, exercise.
Now, why do these sound like late New Year's resolutions?
A week ago, taking time out from the usual everyday BS in the corporate universe, I decided to clean my always cluttered abode and discovered that the book is still in its gift bag, immaculately safe from the dust bunnies slowly breeding in the room. I also realized that I have a lot of book assignments to read ... and so little time to do it (a coffee recipe book, a book about making great writings and speeches, Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Love In The Time of Cholera, and as a yearly tribute to JRR Tolkien, I made a vow to retrace Frodo's adventure to Mount Doom and into the West by reading the book with the accompanying atlas of Middle Earth every January - MY CERTIFICATION OF GEEKHOOD NEEDS TO BE RENEWED EVERY START OF THE YEAR). --> all that I failed to read. (Tsk, tsk).
Work takes the fun out of everyday living sometimes, and I realized that I've been working too hard for the past months that I forgot my little escapes.
After acquiring my new "precioussss" - 80 GB video IPOD - to keep me from going nuts while I'm with fellow drones, I decided that I will not let the minions of Sauron turn me into a bloody stupid corporate orc (... actually they just promoted me, hehehe).
So I will be un-orc-ing myself by reading those books (at least a chapter a day), listening to internet radio for new songs to get updated, parking my butt on the couch Saturdays to watch House MD and E-Ring, and for the love of God and all things sacred, exercise.
Now, why do these sound like late New Year's resolutions?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
