Saturday, February 16, 2008

Kyuss - Blues for the Red Sun


With Josh Homme's guitar tuned down two whole steps to C, and plugged into a bass amp for maximum distortion, stoner metal pioneers Kyuss achieve a major milestone in heavy music with their second album, 1992's Blues for the Red Sun. Producer Chris Goss masterfully captures the band's unique heavy/light formula, which becomes apparent as soon as the gentle but sinister intro melody gives way to the chugging main riff in the opener, "Thumb." This segues immediately into the galloping "Green Machine," which pummels forward inexorably and even features that rarest rock & roll moment: a bass solo. "Thong Song" alternates rumbling guitar explosions with almost complete silence, and "Mondo Generator" plays like an extended acid trip. The slow build of the epic "Freedom Run" and the driving "Allen's Wrench" are also highlights, and though the album is heavy on instrumentals, these actually provide a seamless transition from song to song.
get HIGH

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Vince Gill - When Love Finds You

Another request.wooooo
from allmusic:
By 1994, Vince Gill was a bona fide country superstar. His recordings had sold into the millions and his tours were sellouts around the globe. He was ubiquitous on the radio as well. Producer Tony Brown took an even heavier hand on Gill's recordings, even though Gill's own songs dominated his records. The tightrope walk between a handsome tender country-pop balladeer and the rootsy rocking honky tonk guitar picker was beginning to fall on the side of the ballads. It was working on the charts, but some of Gill's older fans -- those familiar with his multifaceted talent -- began to grow weary of him playing it so safe. There are only three uptempo cuts on When Love Finds You: the tough rockabilly swagger that is at the heart of "South Side of Dixie," the honky tonk shuffle "What the Cowgirls Do," and the midtempo country-rocker "You Better Think Twice." The rest are ballads -- every last one of them -- but there are a few real gems, including the opener, "Whenever You Come Around," and the stunning title track.
When Love Finds You

Monday, February 11, 2008

Juno - Original Soundtrack

Music plays a key part in Juno, the way-too-charming indie comedy directed by Jason Reitman and written by Diablo Cody. Juno, the pregnant teen of the title role, isn't just a kid who loves rock & roll; she and her boyfriend Paulie Bleeker play guitars together, the adoptive father of Juno's kid is a recovering grunge rocker who toured the world and elsewhere in 1993, and Reitman punctuates the film with songs, both classic rock and precious twee folk tunes from Kimya Dawson, formerly of the Moldy Peaches. Some might say that the sickly sweet songs of Dawson don't fit comfortably alongside the Kinks, Mott the Hoople, and Sonic Youth's cover of the Carpenters' "Superstar," but a large part of the appeal of Juno is how the world-weary sarcasm of Gen-X rubs against the unapologetic quirkiness of Gen-Y, and the soundtrack reflects that almost more than the movie, as the Dawson songs are even more prominent on this 19-track album than within the 90-minute movie. This may not be to everybody's taste -- many found the twee tunes irritating, not charming -- but anybody who loved the movie completely will find the Juno soundtrack just as witty and warm as the film itself.

request for AMY
get it here

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Black Label Society - Shot To Hell


This is one of my favorite bands of the last few years.Also the first show Pimp Jr. and i attended together at the Masquerade in Atlanta.Always loved Zakk's work with Ozzy.Pride & Glory was a godsend when it hit.I really REALLY love this cats take on life.
Enjoy!

from ALLMUSIC:
Shot to Hell marks Black Label Society's debut for Roadrunner Records, following a six-year relationship with Spitfire summarized on the previous year's Kings of Damnation: Era 1998-2004 compilation. Shot to Hell may mark a new era for Zakk Wylde and company, yet not much has changed artistically, no doubt to the relief of fans. Over the course of 13 songs, the band showcases impressive musicianship, incorporating occasional moodiness and balladic touches into its otherwise charging style of metal. The usual comparisons to Alice in Chains, Pantera, and Corrosion of Conformity are as apt as ever, with Wylde's vocals especially reminiscent of AIC. The album-opening "Concrete Jungle" is an instant highlight, kicking off the album in high fashion, while the piano ballad "The Last Goodbye" is another, highlighting Wylde's songwriting talent, as is "Nothing's the Same," another mellow song. While Shot to Hell offers nothing that past Black Label Society releases haven't, and nothing revelatory enough to convince those so far unconvinced of the band's continuing worth, anyone interested in more of the band's consistent output from year to year should find plenty to enjoy here.