Wish

Confession: I don't listen to Fates Warning much, even though they're part of the "big three" that helped kick off the modern prog metal scene. (Along with Dream Theater and Queensrÿche) Well, except for this song. I've thought for years that if my life were a movie, this song would play over the end credits.

I think I just like songs that don't just repeat, but build to a crescendo, then retreat back to nothing. This song starts with a minimalistic guitar chord pattern, then adds a low-key bass line (which sounds really cool on headphones), then drums and finally vocals. The intensity of the song slowly builds, though the laid-back tempo never does, then after an awesome guitar solo the instrumental parts disappear in the reverse order of how they appeared. It's a really cool effect and one of the few times I've seen it outside of post rock. I should probably check out some more of them sometime...

Cool Band/Song Names, Part 1

I keep a note on my iPod of names that would be good for bands and/or songs. Here is what I have so far.

Bands:
Metal-Matic, Inc. (probably for a groove/industrial metal band of some kind)
Thundersnow (already taken, sorry)
Eternal Necrotic Dessicration of Autumn's Tears (a fake band I have a character in my crazy Paper Mario fanfiction listen to. They are a Divine band, so they release about 50 albums a week and are pretty much what the name sounds like)
The Metal Rabbits
Candy Quake

Songs:
Copy of a Copy
Collective Personality
Metric of Complexity (these would all be perfect for a technical metal album)

Comatose

In my iTunes there are many playlists. Among them is one I keep for times when life seems too painful and the face of God too distant. From it, I wanted to post one of my favorite Skillet songs. (lyrics) Even when the difficulties of life make it near impossible to think outside of yourself and your problems, fight to remember Who is really important.

Hands of Time

The unthinkable has happened: I'm obsessed with a Primal Fear song and it's not from Seven Seals! And the style is completely different than my other favorites from them. It's much more chill and just beautiful to listen to. Check it out.

Until next time: what songs are you addicted to that are completely different from their artist's usual style?

Poetry for the Poisoned

For tonight's album, I thought hard about bands that I think should be more popular in America. One quickly came to mind that I've barely touched on: Kamelot! They're a fantastic, interesting, brilliant, and beautiful metal band, and unlike most such bands, they're American! (Well, their vocalist is a Norwegian opera singer, but so much the better for them) I can't decide which of their last three albums is my favorite so I'm just going to cover Poetry for the Poisoned, their latest release. But it's pretty much all fantastic (at least, all their albums since they got Khan).

Poetry for the Poisoned is somewhat darker than Kamelot's other albums, lyrically and musically. Not a menacing or evil kind of darkness, but the whole album has a melancholy genius to it that draws you in and rewards multiple listens. Guitarist and co-songwriter Thomas Youngblood explores the genre of metal from just about every conceivable angle, producing an extremely varied set of memorable, beautiful songs.

Except for the bizarre atmospheric track "Dear Editor", every song on the album is excellent and enjoyable for the ears and the head. "If Tomorrow Came" starts off with an eccentric guitar riff and double-bass drumming, but slows down considerably for the verses and showcases Khan's vocal flexibility. (The auto-tune is used purely for artistic effect) And the chorus is hard not to headbang along with. Songs like "My Train of Thoughts", "Necropolis", and "Poetry for the Poisoned Pt. 1: Incubus" exemplify how the album combines symphonic keyboards with relatively slow guitars to create music that is at least as atmospheric as it is visceral. The latter is the first of the four-part title suite, which is pretty much the epitome of the album's style. "Once Upon a Time" is possibly the most lighthearted track of the album, a fast-paced throwback to Kamelot's more carefree days that brings the album to a satisfying conclusion as "Serenade" did for The Black Halo. Unless you have the redundantly titled bonus track "Thespian Drama", which is best described as a classical composition for guitar and is basically the band proving they don't need Khan's voice to be awesome.

But I've been neglecting the incredible amount of guest talent put into Poetry. Opening track "The Great Pandemonium" has Björn "Speed" Strid contributing death grunts quite a bit more powerful than anything I've been hearing from Soilwork lately. "Hunter's Season" has Greek guitar virtuoso Gus G. contribute a solo beyond the band's usual scope, and "House on a Hill" and two parts of the title suite benefit from Simone Simons' soprano vocals. Jon Oliva's sheer brilliance "The Zodiac" has to be heard to be believed. Why is he so good at playing crazy people? None of these songs rely on their guest stars to be good, but they benefit considerably from the outside talent.

Kamelot has made it their business combining the depth and beauty of classical music with the power and bombast of metal, and Poetry for the Poisoned is possibly their biggest success yet. Less epic than their last two albums, but moodier and more nuanced. No matter the day of the week, this is real music. Do yourself a favor and give it a listen.

That Super-Special Day of the Week

I think today is an appropriate day to tackle a piece of popular culture that has been taking America by storm the past few weeks. Quick quiz: what day is it? That's right, it's Fraiday! Now how did you know that? Because Rebecca Black reminded you. Exactly.

I've been astounded by all the hate Ms. Black has been getting ever since her video went up. If you are one of the many haters of her hit single, it's probably because you aren't in its target audience. In fact, if you're using a computer and reading blogs, you probably aren't in its target audience.

Let's take a look at the lyrics. "Yesterday was Thursday, Thurday/Today is Fraiday, Fraiday...Tomorrow is Saturday/And Sunday comes afterwards". Yes, these lyrics are painfully simple and obvious to you and me. But not to four-year-olds! (Well, aside from child prodigies, but they'll always have their Mozart) This same criticism could be leveled at just about any children's song. Why all the hate for "Fraiday"? Ms. Black was simply trying to do a public service by creating an incredibly addicting song guaranteed to teach the children the days of the week! I expect soon she'll release "Saturday", "Sunday", and so on until she has a concept album with a song for each day. You know how you sometimes forget what day of the week it is? She's trying to end that problem forever! The generation raised on it will always remember what day comes after Thursday! And she could even cap it off with a cover of "Eight Days a Week" in case they add an eighth day to the week someday! Along with the self-guiding cars that can be operated by 13-year-olds, Rebecca Black is looking to the future!

So next time you see some small children, play "Fraiday" for them to show them what real, educational, entertaining music is all about. They'll thank you when they're older.

And I mean, besides the helpful lyrics that can pack weeks of kindergarten into three minutes, it's just an all-around great song. Why else would it have gotten millions of YouTube hits in days and generated such an internet buzz? The beginning has such a nice, steady beat, beautiful melodies, and is constructed in such a way  that you can dance to it literally however floats your boat. Simply genius. So not only is it teaching children days of the week, it also teaches them music theory!

The rap section later on provides some great variety, though rap is personally not my thing. The guitar solo, on the other hand--wow. Just wow. I haven't been able to figure out who is responsible, but I'm pretty sure the ARK Music Factory flew in Gus G. or something. Amazing. And then that ambient keyboard interlude just provides the perfect counterpart to all the Fraiday-partying intensity. And then in the outro with Fabio Lione. Simply incredible duet. This is art. This is genius. THIS. IS. FRAIDAY!!! Why all the hate?

So until next time, be sure to get down on Fraiday!

Note: I have only heard the first minute of this song.