The Chorus Music Club Society • Page 280

Here we are people! The pairings for next week, hot off the press and ready to go!


CMCS PAIRINGS
05/21-05/28

@bachna84 // @Mr. Serotonin

@Larry David // @jorbjorb

@Bad Frequencies // @ryanfears

@Nate_Johnson // @CSWAPPO

@mad // @iCarly Rae Jepsen

@nickyeatworld // @cshadows2887

@Mary V // @anonimito

@disambigujason // @teebs41

@ugman_2000 // @skurt

@Patterns in Traffic // @Micool1

@Kiana // @highfidelity203

@broken22 // @JRGComedy

Did I forget you? DM me and let me know!

 

@bachna84 have you listened to every Third Eye Blind record?

 

Yeah - I love the song Kryptonite and that got me into them!

but seriously, yes

 

Have you listened to Bad Suns?

 

I have not...

Might as well just do this in here I guess since we already started haha

Have you listened to the new Charmer album?

What about Illuminati Hotties?

 

Where am I supposed to do this and what kind of music do you like?

I haven't listened or heard of either of those. Hi, I'm Jacob. My favourite band is third eye blind. I enjoy vocally driven alt rock, alt pop, indie, and hip-hop akin to J cole/Chance/Anderson Paak

 

Usually @Bad Frequencies cracks the whip when people don't do this part in private messages. He runs a tight ship.

 

Sorry @Bad Frequencies, that's my bad.

 

You did this too early I meant to tell you I need to skip that session I'll be gone next weekend

 

I typically listen to alternative, rock, alternative rock, metal (or subgenres of metal), etc. I'm willing to try anything (musically) at least once.

 

I’ve got you @mad!

 

Guess what? Time for another review! This time the album is A Perfect Circle - Eat the Elephant.



I had already heard the name A Perfect Circle, but didn't really know what their music sounded like. When I saw that it was Tool's vocalist who was in this band, I was expecting some heavy weird music, which made me a little reluctant to dive in this album (and let's be honest, that album cover is creepy as fuck).

The album opens up with the title track, Eat the Elephant, a mellow track inspired by the suicide of 2 people close to guitarist Billy Howerdel. Early versions of the song were also cowritten with Chester Bennington, who sadly committed suicide in July 2017. The subject of death comes back later on with So Long and Thanks for All the Fish, with lyrics relating to recent celebrity deaths (Now Willy Wonka, Major Tom, Ali and Leia have moved on). This song is also a high point in the album.

Of course, there are strong political undertones in this album. TalkTalk being a song about denouncing people who preach some things, but don't do anything to actually make things better (Try walking your talk or get the fuck out of my way). I think one problem I have with this album is that a lot of the lyrics seem vague and it makes it difficult for me to grasp what they mean.

Stylistically, this album is much mellower than I imagined it would be. There are some more rocking moments like The Doomed, or Delicious, but a lot of the album is slower with piano and some electronic elements. They make a good job of capturing the feeling of angriness. I didn't think it was anything special at first, but I found some more interesting details on subsequent listens. The instrumentation is top notch. I was not a big fan of the last track though as I found it kinda boring.

Overall, I think this album makes a great political statement and was much more enjoyable than I thought it would be. I don't know if I will go back to it much or if I will check out their older stuff, but it's a good comeback album after 14 years.

Favorite tracks: The Doomed, So Long and Thanks for All the Fish, Talktalk, Delicious, Hourglass

8/10

Thanks for the recs @Bad Frequencies!

 

STOKED

 

Excellent job and I’m so happy you liked this album. Your standouts are the same as min (especially So Long And..., the line in particular you mentioned is one of my favorites from the whole album). It’s a very open to interpretation lyrically album, but the social outlook undertones are great. Glad you were able to put the silicone obsession down and listen

 

I would never have listened to this album if it wasn't for this club! That's why I love it here!

 

So are we. Welcome back to one of the OG members

 

7000 posts!

 

Great review @Micool1 glad you dug the album. If you want to try some other stuff by them their other two albums a both incredible. If you’re not into heavy stuff I’d start with Thirteenth Step, as Mer De Noms is a litter heavier in places (kinda like how The Doomed is).

So long might be my favourite song I’ve heard this year. I’m fully in on that APC album but I’m a massive Maynard fan.

 

Viva La CMCS!

 

If you like his vocals check out 10 Years. Jesse, the singer, sounds JUST LIKE JMK.

 

I’ve not heard of them, I’ll Have to give them a listen, Thanks Nate.

 

@Mr. Serotonin and I have exchanged albums for this upcoming session:

I'll be listening to Bad Suns - Language & Perspective

He'll be listening to Charmer - Charmer

 

@Nate_Johnson and I were partners for this week. We ended up trading two albums.
I gave him:

All Time Low - Last Young Renegade and Hot Mulligan - Pilot

He gave me these two:
Sink The Ship - Persevere


6/10


Bands like Sink The Ship tend to be a little divisive for me. I like metalcore, but more bands like Knocked Loose and Counterparts. That being said, these guys are very much influenced by ADTR, a band I have liked for a few years and even saw live with Blink-182. Persevere is like 2018’s version of Homesick. Upon first listen, I was pretty immediately turned on to the heaviness of it as soon as the Asking Alexandria esque riff of “Second Chances” kicked in.


Powering through the first 5 songs, one thing I noticed is that the songs kind of drag on. It feels like a lot of these songs would be better if the band shaved off about a minute. For example, “Out of Here” is 4 minutes and 12 seconds. If the band shaved off some extra instrumental parts, they would have a more effective track. “Put Up or Shut Up” is where the album picked up for me. That song in particular, while longer, has some cool electronic elements at the beginning, which helped to differentiate a bit. The following track, “Persevere” is pretty short and sweet, also a banger. My favorite track on the record is “Deadweight”. This song is a bit more pop-punk than it is metalcore, and it feels like the parts differentiate a little more. Not to mention, it’s catchy as hell. I almost forgot to mention “Exposing the Hype”. Probably the heaviest track on the album, it slaps and the breakdown is pretty punishing.


Overall, I give this album a 6 because while all the songs are good enough, they tend to drag on a little long and blend together. If this band’s next album featured some more refined songwriting, I think they’ll go places. If you like ADTR but felt underwhelmed by their most recent album, this is right up your alley.


Heavy Things - Glimpse


9/10


This record is very, VERY up my alley. Heavy Things blend pop-punk, emo and even a little shoegaze together to make the sweet sounds that echo throughout these 11 tracks. I had never even heard of this band prior to this recommendation.


The album opens up with a trippy, spacey intro track called “Lately”. Moving into the 1-2 punch of “Missing Out” and “Gone Again”, I immediately noticed the ability of this band to really create a steady buildup throughout each song until it reaches a climax.


As the album moves along, some other highlights were “Last Night” and “Feeding Flowers”. These two are definitely more relaxed. The first has a really cool intro, with some ambient and spacey drums leading into the first verse. The end of the song really emphasizes the afforementioned ability of this band to create a strong buildup to a climax. “Feeding Flowers” is even more relaxed, using some electronic elements. This is probably my favorite song on the album, despite its brevity. It reminds me very much of The 1975, songs like “Medicine” or “Me”.


Overall, this record is excellent. I am very much into this band’s sound and would recommend this to anyone who likes indie rock/pop-punk. I only gave it a 9/10 because I don’t think I’ve heard more than 2-3 perfect records, but this one is damn close.

 

Great reviews! I’m really glad you liked the Heavy Things album. I’m converting one person at time into seeing how incredible they are. I really think they have a ton of potential to become huge.