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~~MicShazam~~ · 12-04-2017, 01:15 PM

A Quick Tour Through My Year in New Music - part 2/4

A bunch more to go. I was thinking whether or not I want to talk about all of those many, many albums I've listened to this year that were not from this year. Joni Mitchell, Cristina Branco, Carly Simon, Carole King, etc. etc. etc... there are many albums that have colored my experience of this year very heavily, that were of an older date, but for now, I guess those will not be discussed. I've got some sort of weird obsession with current music, in that I really feel a motivation to keep my finger on the pusle of the current year and have an opinion about brand new music. Arguably, it shouldn't matter at all when an album is from, but I can't be the only one who find there to be some kind of extra attraction to keeping up with what's going on right now?

Anyway, I don't consider myself an above average writer, but I'd happily give my perspective on any music that I've heard, so if you want me to write about the many older things that I've explored this year, just say so. But really, I'm not being falsely modest here, I do not think I'm good at writing or at articulating my thoughts about music. I like trying to be better, so I guess that's really where some of the motivation for doing this journal comes from. The rest is just that I feel genuine enthusiasm for music, and that I would like to share that. Plus I want to challenge myself to be better at writing about music, but... It's clear to me that certain posters on this site are vastly more sharp than me when it comes to that.

I guess what I'm saying is that I'm just doing the best I can. My best quality is that I really, really love music. I don't know if I'm managing to say much about this music, so if you've got some suggestions; let me know.

Enough rambling. Here's another few 2017 albums that I bought on CD and what I think about them.

Dreaming Dead - Funeral Twilight

I've been into this melodic death metal act since they put out their debut album in 2009. Elizabeth Schall, the lead guitarist, vocalist, writer and composer of this band is really the one who deserves most of the credit for how great this underappreciated little band is. Her band has been through a series of band-mate changes over the years, but it's clear by now that the heart and soul of the band is in her.
I loved the first album, Within One, and the follow up, Midnightmares, was an interesting evolution of that very sound, this time somewhat more austere and moody. I loved that one as well.

This new album is... well... Somewhat disappointing. The main thing that I loved about Dreaming Dead was how the songs flowed and how they had this emotional anchor, despite being rooted in melodic death metal and even thrash metal - two genres generally more concerned with energy and aggression than evocation of any deeper emotions. This album is fast paced, short (barely 29 minutes!) and rather more concerned with speed and with referencing various death metal and thrash metal traditions. Here and there, the Dreaming Dead that I connect with comes up to the surface, but mostly, this is somewhat faceless and doesn't play to the strenghts of the band. Kind of frustrating, really, since the wait for this short album was so very, very long. There's no nice way to put it: This album is a disappointment to me.

Basically: Check out the previous two albums...

Kobra and the Lotus - Prevail I

I wrote about this album already in here and... well... it's great. Overproduced? Sure. Simple? Sort of, yes. Fun? You bet. Can't recommend it highly enough. It is probably a prerequisite that you're into heavy metal. Although sometimes it makes me feel like I'm listening to some old Lacuna Coil record. Either way, this is potent, entertaining and life affirming metal. The kind of thing that fills my tank rather than draining it.

Basically: Shake your booty or be square. This is good.

Marialy Pacheco - Duets

It's a bit of a difficult album to talk about. My opinion of it has changed several times but... it's definitely interesting. The album is centered around piano performances, although some tracks put vocals front and center. Marialy is a piano player, so that's obviously going to be the main dish. The idea, as I understand it, is that she's collaborated with a variety of musical artists that she admires. One for each track. Each track represents a meeting of her creative voice and that of one of her musical idols - thus the title of the album.
There's quite a variety of musical styles on display and my feelings about each individual track are so different from each other that it's difficult to say something about the album as a whole.
It's good.
Is that a cop-out?

Basically: Interesting for sure. I think I love it...? Your mileage may vary.

12-04-2017, 01:15 PM	#64 (permalink)
~~MicShazam~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Aalborg Posts: 7,636	A Quick Tour Through My Year in New Music - part 2/4 A bunch more to go. I was thinking whether or not I want to talk about all of those many, many albums I've listened to this year that were not from this year. Joni Mitchell, Cristina Branco, Carly Simon, Carole King, etc. etc. etc... there are many albums that have colored my experience of this year very heavily, that were of an older date, but for now, I guess those will not be discussed. I've got some sort of weird obsession with current music, in that I really feel a motivation to keep my finger on the pusle of the current year and have an opinion about brand new music. Arguably, it shouldn't matter at all when an album is from, but I can't be the only one who find there to be some kind of extra attraction to keeping up with what's going on right now? Anyway, I don't consider myself an above average writer, but I'd happily give my perspective on any music that I've heard, so if you want me to write about the many older things that I've explored this year, just say so. But really, I'm not being falsely modest here, I do not think I'm good at writing or at articulating my thoughts about music. I like trying to be better, so I guess that's really where some of the motivation for doing this journal comes from. The rest is just that I feel genuine enthusiasm for music, and that I would like to share that. Plus I want to challenge myself to be better at writing about music, but... It's clear to me that certain posters on this site are vastly more sharp than me when it comes to that. I guess what I'm saying is that I'm just doing the best I can. My best quality is that I really, really love music. I don't know if I'm managing to say much about this music, so if you've got some suggestions; let me know. Enough rambling. Here's another few 2017 albums that I bought on CD and what I think about them. Dreaming Dead - Funeral Twilight I've been into this melodic death metal act since they put out their debut album in 2009. Elizabeth Schall, the lead guitarist, vocalist, writer and composer of this band is really the one who deserves most of the credit for how great this underappreciated little band is. Her band has been through a series of band-mate changes over the years, but it's clear by now that the heart and soul of the band is in her. I loved the first album, Within One, and the follow up, Midnightmares, was an interesting evolution of that very sound, this time somewhat more austere and moody. I loved that one as well. This new album is... well... Somewhat disappointing. The main thing that I loved about Dreaming Dead was how the songs flowed and how they had this emotional anchor, despite being rooted in melodic death metal and even thrash metal - two genres generally more concerned with energy and aggression than evocation of any deeper emotions. This album is fast paced, short (barely 29 minutes!) and rather more concerned with speed and with referencing various death metal and thrash metal traditions. Here and there, the Dreaming Dead that I connect with comes up to the surface, but mostly, this is somewhat faceless and doesn't play to the strenghts of the band. Kind of frustrating, really, since the wait for this short album was so very, very long. There's no nice way to put it: This album is a disappointment to me. Basically: Check out the previous two albums... Kobra and the Lotus - Prevail I I wrote about this album already in here and... well... it's great. Overproduced? Sure. Simple? Sort of, yes. Fun? You bet. Can't recommend it highly enough. It is probably a prerequisite that you're into heavy metal. Although sometimes it makes me feel like I'm listening to some old Lacuna Coil record. Either way, this is potent, entertaining and life affirming metal. The kind of thing that fills my tank rather than draining it. Basically: Shake your booty or be square. This is good. Marialy Pacheco - Duets It's a bit of a difficult album to talk about. My opinion of it has changed several times but... it's definitely interesting. The album is centered around piano performances, although some tracks put vocals front and center. Marialy is a piano player, so that's obviously going to be the main dish. The idea, as I understand it, is that she's collaborated with a variety of musical artists that she admires. One for each track. Each track represents a meeting of her creative voice and that of one of her musical idols - thus the title of the album. There's quite a variety of musical styles on display and my feelings about each individual track are so different from each other that it's difficult to say something about the album as a whole. It's good. Is that a cop-out? Basically: Interesting for sure. I think I love it...? Your mileage may vary. Last edited by MicShazam; 12-04-2017 at 01:29 PM.