Video: HEALTH – “Stonefist”

HEALTH have released a video for a radio edit of "Stonefist" off their new album Death Magic. I already shared the audio stream multiple times so you know how I feel about the song and band but just in case you missed it, or still need some convincing, maybe this clip will push you over the edge. Directed by NAKED FACES, “Stonefist” sees the band undergoing plastic surgery to both humorous and disastrous effect.

Listen: The History of Big Black From Bulldozer To Atomizer

Jughead’s Basement released his latest podcast highlighting records that are important to him, the focus of this month’s being on Evanston, Illinois’ legendary, Big Black.

Founded by singer and guitarist Steve Albini, the band's initial lineup also included guitarist Santiago Durango and bassist Jeff Pezzati, both of Naked Raygun. In 1985 Pezzati was replaced by Dave Riley, who played on Big Black's two full-length studio albums, Atomizer (1986) and Songs About Fucking (1987).The band’s aggressive and abrasive music was characterized by distinctively clanky guitars achieved by using metal guitar picks notched with sheet metal clips; the notch causing the pick to hit each string twice, creating the effect of two simultaneous guitar picks. Equally distinctive was the use of a drum machine (who they lovingly called Roland) that pre­-cursored industrial rock. Big Black's music challenged convention, pursuing an abrasive sound that was more aggressive than contemporary punk rock. The band acknowledged no taboos and Albini’s lyrics openly dealt with loaded topics including murder, rape, child sexual abuse, and racism.  They also held staunch principles, shunning the mainstream music industry and insisting on complete control over all aspects of their career.  Jughead’s podcast successfully attempts to tell a portion of the history of the band from the perspective of their Bulldozer EP through their first full length record Atomizer.  (Marking a transition from a project purely conceived by Steve Albini into a cohesive band with the added influences from collaborators Santiago Durango and Dave Riley.)

This episode is co-hosted by Russ Forster and includes interviews with band members Santiago Durango, Steve Albini, and Jeff Pezzati, including extra interview material with friend and fellow songwriter/musician Camilo Gonzalez. Lastly an audio piece written by journalist/novelist/radio personality Jim DeRogatis.

It’s amazing how well the band’s music holds up thirty plus years later. Steve Albini’s menacing vocals really still are the gold standard on how to sound sinister without coming off as cheesy. The band recently received some well-deserved props via a mainstream outlet with Dave Grohl’s incredible HBO series, Sonic Highways. While the band have always got their just due in the underground it’s immeasurable how important the recent conventional exposer has been, equally important is how Albini’s peer’s speak of the artist/engineer during the series’ flagship episode as his reputation has not always been one that is warm and fuzzy. For myself the influence has been great and hearing other’s speak so highly of his importance, Chicago’s influence and independent music’s influence on the history of music as a whole literally brought tears to my eyes as both the tv series and Jughead’s podcast cut through all the bullshit and rumors and honor one of the greats.

Exclusive: Onomatopoeia Playlist Series: Vol.5 - "/həˈbiləmənt/"

It’s been about four months since I last shared a new playlist, it was June,  hot,  and New Yorker’s were out in full force doing their seasonal impression of someone who has always loved hiking and mountain biking before opting to move to a city that's totally inappropriate for either.  But hey, we all like to live out a fantasy from time to time and what better represents that then Halloween? So in celebration of all things make believe here is volume 5 in the series, “ /həˈbiləmənt/". The festive mix includes over three and a half hours of music from the past, present and future, spanning a wide range of genera’s alongside a healthy dose of remixes, mashups and exclusives that should help move some asses come the 31st.  

I will not be posting any of the track information here or in the metadata normally attached to the mp3 files. If you would like a copy of the full track list you can contact us via email and we will gladly send it your way. 

Onomatopoeia Playlist Vol. 5 -  /həˈbiləmənt/

61 Tracks, 3 hours 36 minutes

10-22-2014

Art: Jediak

DOWNLOAD (381 MB)

Throwback Thursdays: Big Black - live at CBGB July 1986

It’s been a while since we posted a new Throwback Thursday so we were about due for one to say the least.  I always try to balance things out on the blog with what types of music content we post, in theory multiple contributors should help in this department as we all have different tastes, but this has been a solo effort for the last several months as my fellow bloggers keep busy with their day to day lives. The end result is that I have to try and police myself somewhat to make sure you, the viewer, aren't being bombarded with 99% hip hop/electronic oriented content.  In all honesty I think the mix tape culture that is hip hop in 2013 just provides way more content on a day to day basis than rock can keep up with.

Whatever the case my roots have always been in punk rock and this week’s Throwback Thursday focuses on one of the most influential in the genre.

What we have below is a Chicago’s Big Black performance from July 13, 1986 at CBGB’s in New York, filmed by Greg Fasolino. Black's abrasive sound was characterized by distinctively trebley guitars and the use of a drum machine, elements which precursored industrial rock. Albini's lyrics openly dealt with loaded topics including murder, rape, child sexual abuse, arson, racism, and misogyny, so you know, the classics! The 45 minute set list is broken down below…

1. Clear Out!
2. Fists of Love
3. Big Money
4. Passing Complexion
5. Cables
6. Pigeon Kill
7. The Ugly American
8. Kerosene (stopped)
9. Kerosene (with Mission of Burma/Volcano Suns’ Peter Prescott on drums)
10 Rema-Rema (with Peter Prescott)

Video: Cold Cave – “Black Boots”

After sharing an audio stream of Cold Cave’s “Black Boots” last week a video has made its debut this morning.  The visuals were directed by Slava Tsukerman in aesthetic collaboration with designer Alexandre Plokhov and see Wes being gloomy in some surreal yet colorful environments.

Listen: Cold Cave - "Black Boots"

Cold Cave offers up another one-off single with “Black Boots.” Wes Eisold sticks with what he is known for as of late with this one, channeling the ghost of  Joy Division with the simple Casio drum track and vocal echo as he sings about death, sex and alienation.

The “Black Boots” 7-inch comes b/w “Meaningful Life” is available now from Cold Cave’s website.

Listen: Cold Cave – “God Made The World”

Cold Cave frontman Wesley Eisold let loose a new single-song 7” entitled “God Made the World.” Apparently Eisold is currently making music alone under the Cold Cave moniker with the first results being pretty great, take a listen below and if you dig it pre-order via www.theheartworm.com