The Chorus Music Club Society • Page 219

No, because the second and third aren't worth anyone's time

 

I had no idea Korn had a 3rd S/T album

Please no one give me this for album club

 

Well technically speaking it's not a true self-titled where it'd be confusing like the first two, because it has a full name:

 

Well that’s a creepy album cover

 

I didn't like the 2nd one at all, but the 3rd one had some good songs on it and a nice return to form after a few stinkers.

 

Agreed. I liked that album actually. I forget what album they picked up their current drummer whom is actually pretty good.

 

Fort Minor
The Rising Tied
2005



The other album that @JediMasterKevo182 gave me for this session (in addition to the previously reviewed Creeper album) was Fort Minor's album The Rising Tied. I was familiar with Fort Minor prior to this session, but had never heard this entire album. To date, The Rising Tied is Fort Minor's only full-length studio album. For those not familiar with Fort Minor, it is Mike Shinoda's alternative hip hop side project. Mike is best known for being one of the founding members of Linkin Park and he contributes to that band in a variety of ways (vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboard, synthesizer, samples, programming). The majority of his vocals for Linkin Park are rapped, and this album by Fort Minor is no different in that regard.

After a brief introductory track, the album launches into the song Remember The Name, which was one of the two songs on this album that I had heard prior to this session. It's a catchy track but I really don't enjoy its chorus very much. The next song, Right Now, was one of the standouts on the album for me. Its chorus is sung and I enjoyed its political lyrics that touched on themes including poverty. A few tracks later is the song Where'd You Go, which was the breakout hit of this album (and the other song that I had heard prior to this session). I think it still holds up well 13 years later and it is one of my favorite tracks on this album and also one of the more unique tracks here.

I enjoy Linkin Park (and Mike Shinoda, specifically) so it was no surprise to me that I enjoyed the vocals on this album as well. Musically, the album could probably best be described as alternative hip hop as I mentioned above. It wouldn't really be too out of place to be on rock radio or for Fort Minor to make appearances at various rock festivals. Lyrically, I think the album shined, evidenced by a few tracks on the back half of the album. The song Cigarettes has a lyrical theme of truth, perception, and distorted reality and I thought it was cleverly done. The short track Get Me Gone has lyrics that touch on Linkin Park's critics and media coverage. I appreciated these personal lyrics of Mike's. Finally, the standout track for me in terms of lyrics is the song Kenji. It's about Mike's grandfather and his experience in an internment camp. These deeply personal lyrics give the listener no doubt that Mike is very proud of his ancestry and hasn't forgotten where he came from.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that the majority of the songs on this album had guest vocalists. I wasn't familiar with all of the guest vocalists, but some of the big names that I am familiar with are Common (Back Home), John Legend (High Road), and Black Thought of The Roots (Right Now).

All in all, this album was about what I expected and it didn't really throw any big curveballs my way. I would recommend this album to any Linkin Park fans and to fans of alternative hip hop music.

To sum up my favorite tracks: Right Now, Where'd You Go, In Stereo, Cigarettes, Believe Me, and Kenji.

Thank you for the recommendation @JediMasterKevo182 !

 

Nice review. Jonah Montraga of Far, Gratitude, etc is on Where’d You Go. Along with a female vocalist whose name escapes me.

 

That album I think is where the new drummer became a permanent member of the band!

 

Update: Listened to There is Only You(twice). I can’t decide which album is better. All I know is Kids on Drugs is amazing!

 

That’s my third favourite behind the title track and Live Like This

 

That thumbs up looks so weird! Lol!

 

The first record that @Nate_Johnson assigned me this week was Superchunk- What A Time To Be Alive. This was a really fun power-pop record with elements of punk thrown in.

The record begins with the title track “What A Time To Be Alive” It is a catchy song that instantly grabs you, chock-full of guitar solos throughout the song. “Break The Glass” and “Dead Photographer” both have a great power-pop sound as well, whereas the even numbered songs to begin the record have a certain element of punk music to them(“Lost My Brain” “Bad Choices”) Sometimes vocally the band reminds me of the surge of power-pop bands that started with The that occurred in the early 2000’s. “All For You” is a great example of this almost surf-pop sound I’m referring to, and also one of the best songs on the record. Possibly my favorite song, the record ends with “Black Thread” which sounds like Dinosaur Jr. mixed with the Replacements.

The band reminded me of Weezer at some points with how they truly seem to have mastered the sound of power-pop. The band they remind me of the most is Dinosaur Jr. The guitar solos they have scattered through most of their songs are very reminiscent of the great J Mascis. The guitar solos reminded me so much of his guitar solos that I actually went on Wikipedia to see if he was in the band or was associated with them in some way. In my search I was impressed to see that the band has been active for almost 30 years, and still had a sound so fresh. I had heard the band name thrown around, but had no clue that they were such a veteran band.

This is a band that I have A LOT of catching up to do if I want to do a full genre run, but I genuinely enjoy this record a lot, and am sure they have changed considerably from album one to this record. With these things considered it makes a good case for catching up on them, and giving them the proper attention I’ve never given them.

Thanks for a fun first recommendation @Nate_Johnson

Favorite tracks: “What A Time To Be Alive” “Break The Glass” “Dead Photographers” “All For You” “Black Thread”

 

Nice (quick!) review! This really is a great record and is another in my favorites of 2018 so far.

 

I think I’ll have to check that out. Sold me on it with the Weezer and Dino Jr comparisons. They’re one of those bands where I heard the name from back in the day but never got round to checking out.

 

That was the same with me. I don’t think their older albums hold up as well but I think their last few have gotten really good reviews.

 

Why does no one listen to Dinosaur Jr.?!?! You'll really dig this if you're a fan of DJ.

 

They are another one of those bands I hear in circles and know they have a huge following but never really got into. Are they still active?

 

They sure are! They are still releasing new music too! Most recent record was 2016, and they're still absolutely fantastic

 

They have a single on Apple Music released this year. Maybe new music?

 

I never actually got round to their last one but I've liked most things J Mascis has put out over his career. If I had to pick a fav Dinosaur Jr album mine would be Beyond which was their 2007 come back album. Where You Been would be a close second for me (which I think is generally regarded as their classic album).

 

I'm hoping so. I haven't heard any album announcement, so it could be a one-off single, but could be a new full-length too!

 

From what I listened to so far they are more rock than Superchunk but I love the guitars. I get an almost Pearl Jam vibe from them.

 

Yeah, my biggest reference to them having some Dinosaur Jr. vibes is that J Mascis has a lot of guitar solos scattered through songs

 

Right review time, I don't think I'm going to get round to reviewing all 3 albums I had last week tonight but lets start with at least one of them and then I might get chance to do another after I've eaten. This one was given to me by @Larry David.

Bleachers - Strange Desire (2014)




So I had heard of Bleachers before and once I put the record on I realised I knew Get Better as well. I knew who Jack Antonoff was and just how prolific he'd been in his co-writing and producing over the last few years along with his previous work with Fun (who I enjoyed quite a bit).

I really loved this album from the get go and it's been growing on me even more since then. I'm really kicking myself for not checking this out at the time it came out. It starts with Wild Heart which is a particular favourite of mine, it has a super modern production but with a bit of a throwback kinda of sound to the pop of the 80’s I guess sort of a precursor to a lot of the music coming out now. The main thing you realise when listening to this is man this guy knows how to write a great hook, like there are so many choruses on this that get stuck in your head. Which is hardly surprising when you look at some of the songs he co-wrote on, like Taylor Swifts "Out of the Woods" and "Look What You Made Me Do".

Basically @Larry David nailed it with this one, it’s indie rock with lots of 80’s keyboards and a real fun feel to the whole album.

Favourite Tracks: Like a River Runs, Shadow, Wild Heart

RIYL: Fun indie rock with hooks for days

I'll also add that there's a companion album that he released a year later that has a whole load of female artists singing the album. Which is totally worth checking out as well as it's got some really great artists on there and gives the album a whole new vibe.