Ocean of the Alcohol (I mean Sky) - The Used

Here we are again. You, me, music and whiskey. Well, I guess you're not technically here, but I'd like to imagine you are. Just watching me guzzle alcohol with my headphones on judging my alcoholic ways.

But enough about my vices, I have an album to review, and tonight, it is a band that I enjoy immensely: The Used. However, in recent years, life has cause me to drift away from following them as I used to. In fact, The Used has managed to release a whole two albums that I had no awareness of whatsoever. Decidedly, this is unacceptable, so I will be reviewing the latter of these two albums, Ocean of the Sky (2013).

Heh. Look at the bone.

And providing the liver pummeling tonight will be Ancient Age whiskey, my girlfriend's preferred cheap liquor, because I am poor and thus, drinking on a budget. Paired with Dr. Pepper, it actually tastes quite swell.

A match made in... Purgatory?

At this point, I am a drink and a half in and feeling the affects, so if I'm going to survive this with any amount of coherency, we should get started now. On to the review!

Album:

The Used - Ocean of the Sky

Alcohol:

Ancient Age Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (with Dr. Pepper)

Feedback opening into a nice riff, and a little laugh from Bert as the disc opens with Iddy Biddy. A fast paced tune that has all the hallmarks of a The Used tune with a more honed in sound. Nothing spectacular, but fun. Breakdown and build is nice, and I love when it kicks back in. They let the noise breakdown linger just long enough to make it impactful when they bring everything back bigger and better.

Feedback carries to an almost metal opening to "Quixotica". The use of feedback and noise in this album thus far is amazing. It's like if Nirvana recorded In Utero to actually be a hit album instead of the the best album that is hard to listen to. The Used does some totally cool things in the bridge here that remind me why I will swear up and down these guys are SO much more than the "emo" band too many people write them off ass. A collapse ending feels like it is a bit early to happen on the album, but fits the song beautifully.

The transition into "Thought Criminal" is beautiful as is the song itself. I've never thought Bert to be an attractive man, but I would make sweet, sweet love to those vocal chords, and they are on display in "Thought Criminal". He is such a versatile front man. The keys are a nice touch especially with keeping a heavy guitar tone behind them. And the epicness grows with the guitar overtaking the piano. The Used does this so well. Taking things from gritty and borderline noise rock (done well. It's hard to do) to soft and tender but never in a corny way. Ending with a grungy piano is lovely.

And going right back into the feel of grunge with a really cool almost swing rhythm on the title track. A good feeling track. The chorus has a little bit of a meh feel, but the lyrics are powerful. They are definitely meant to shine here, so I can respect that although the music swells, it doesn't give me the explosion I love so well. Third chorus building into... Oh... A drop off. But wait.. Noise and bass swell. Feedback... Ooo's from Bert... Drop out and noise. You have my attention. Now what will you do with it? Abrupt cut off... Studio talking. In some language? I'm not sure, and I'm lost... Drop off again. "shut the fuck up" is heard. Static. And I'm completely lost. <drinking during wait> The samples are cool, but way too long... Toooooo Long... The feedback has lost it's affect...

And with nothing more to that song, we move to the subtle entry of "Tethys". This opens with an electronic swell moving into an electronic beat. I'm bored-ish at this point, but anxiously awaiting where this will go. The track is rapidly switching feels, but feels like it is still moving with purpose. Elctro-organ chords ring with sounds coming and going. I'm going to be honest. I'm starting to lose interest. The Used, I need something soon or I am going to start drunk rambling... Something? Anything? Wait? Sounded like a beat made from sampling a copying machine and then bass swells again... I think this would be better with a different drug of choice. Mushrooms maybe? It's, like, trippy and cool, but doesn't really DO anything. Seriously, I'm six minutes in now, and there is no coherency at all to whats happening. Just random electronic ideas loosely strung through out--copy machine again. And it's gone. Replaced by-- back. Gone again... This is exhausting. I'm gonna apologize guys. I don't think this was recorded with any intention of being listened to by humans. This is the sort of thing you'd think you'd experience as you die. Or trip so hard you think you were experiencing death. Two drinks down in this song alone. I just looked up Tethys, and apparently, she was a sea goddess. I suppose I get the feel they were going for, but this is something that has been done a lot, and better. Sorry, guys, I was expecting more. This reminds me of a Tool album: You have this number of tracks, but only half of that is listenable song material. Like, I get the cool flowing transitional tracks, that's part of what makes an album, but when I'm being subjected to fifteen minutes of check-out-the-cool-sounds-I-can-make-on-my-thousand-dollar-Casio, I become a little disenchanted. Dropped to almost silence... And the bass swells are back... And now... Oh, wait, still bass swells and synthy noised. Ugh. Broken glass. And no, I didn't break one out of frustration, there was a random sample of a glass breaking. No reason, or even something to coming out of it. Just the kuh-shhh of a glass breaking. Feedback swell into nothing And I've goddamned lost hope if your still with me (and I doubt you are), I hope you have as much alcohol as me, because I would have shut this off along time ag--Oh, wait, it's over. I'm drunk. The end.

Final Thoughts:

I don't dislike The Used. They are amazing. But to release an EP with 2 and a half good songs and roughly 25 minutes of what the fuck is just not acceptable. I appreciate what you did early in this album, but you lost me when you stopped writing music and started fucking around in the studio. I'm sure it was fun to record, but I'm now drunk and feel like punching small children. That's not really fair though, I feel like punching small children most of the time. They're, like, evil aliens who have been sent here only to annoy me. Also, they are generally soft and squishy which is easy on my fists. My delicate fists. So in conclusion, listen until The Used uses up their written material. The disc is good until then, but don't buy unless you need a sound track for your psychedelic usage. Oh, and punch small children (disclaimer: Don't punch small children, it's against the law, and feels way to satisfying).

I'm a bad person,

-Badhorse

Albums/Alcohol on Major/Minor (Thrice)

It's time again for a night of drinking and music! (cheers and applause)

Thanks, I know I'm amazing, but seriously, I have beer and an album to review, so let's get on with it.

Tonight, I will be reviewing Thrice's latest (and hopefully not final) album, Major/Minor. This comes at the request of my friends, Colin and Chris. The latter of whom is the guitar player for the killer band, Vaudeville (Check them out!).

Now, Thrice is a band that I've been aware of since 2004 when a track from The Artist in the Ambulance appeared on the soundtrack of Madden (Yeah, I'm a football nerd and don't give a shit about the oxymoronic nature of that claim). This revealed them to be, in my mind, a mediocre hard(ish)core band.

That being said, I never really checked them out until the afore mentioned Chris turned me on to 2009's Beggars, and I am compelled to tell you that it is an AMAZING album. Own it now! Thrice really explored and grew. All of the material I've heard not off of The Artist in the Ambulance has been stellar.

This turns us now to 2011's Major/Minor. I have high hopes for this album and desperately hoping I'm not disappointed, so on with the review!

Album:
Thrice - Major/Minor

Alcohol:
Grain Belt Nordeast (Tallboys! Fuck yeah!)

From the start I'm pulled in with a killer riff on "Yellow Belly", and Dustin's vocals waist no time cutting in and gripping you right off. Such an angry song done in such a beautiful way. We head into a breakdown after the first chorus, and it is sexy with awesome guitar work in the background, and the explosion out of it is awe-inspiring. Lyrically, this song is so identifiable without being overly generic. Killer first track.

"Promises" begins by pulling out the energy created by the first track but totally builds it's own momentum with in the opening seconds. Can I rape a guitar line? Because I fully intend to forcibly insert my penis into the verse licks. Seriously, I can't even focus on the awesome lyrics over the guitar play happening. Kudos to mixing because the guitar comes through right along with the vocals. Oh, god, bass fuzz breakdown. Pause. Punch in the face followed immediately by a soothing guitar line, and abrupt ending for the win! Did I make a rape joke about a song denouncing the down spiral of society? Yes. I did.

The energy is not lost at all after the abrupt stop as "Blinded" comes in with a solid paced, but low key feel. A very heartfelt sound from Dustin, and although the tone is definitely a Christian feel (after all they are a Christian rock group), the song has enough ambiguity to keep the it great and emotional for this atheist. Not feeling the rise and falls in this track the same as the first two, but it has it's merit as it ends long and ringing.

And opens up to one of the sexiest basslines I've ever heard on "Cataracts". This has a calling to their punkier days, but with the distinct  guitar play of their better stuff. And OH! That bassline again. Hot! Exploding into the second chorus the song seems to slowly be growing in intensity. The bridge is rhymatically sweet, and very catchy. Snare build! Into a pretty explosion, but explosion none the less, and I'm given a breakdown ending that leaves me smiling widely.

From the breakdown ending grows "Call It in the Air". A song about a coin toss. Well, with metaphors and shit, but I can tell you musically they do the metaphor justice as I can feel the tension of waiting to see whether heads or tails will fall. And the riffage coming out of the second chorus is badass as all hell (And from a Christian band no less!). The amount of low key intensity that this band is able to created and the pretty epicness is sucha trib--oh, wait badassery happening again! Holy shit! The last bit is incredible and puts a crazy awesome stamp on the whole song. Amazing!

Quiet beginnings birth out from that crazy ending. So pretty and n--OH WAIT! Here's the badass! Wow. The ground they cover in the opening of one song is incredible enough, but the writing on this albums is just unbelivable. From pretty first verse to driving and heavy second verse and the versatility is causing me to drool and I NEED a cigarette. NEED. Ooo. Pretty breakdown, and oh shit, kick that back in with more power than I think is legal for one band. This song is "Treading Paper", by the way, and it is definitely a high point. Ooo, with a pretty ending.

But staying true to form, "Blur" smashes me over the head with badass. And oh, so much badass. Is it wrong to be fully erect? Oh my god, even when they break it down, the almost jazz feel is badass. Yes. Jazz feel is badass. Believe it. This is Thrice. The guitar work is so fluid in and out of hard hitting riffage and flowing melodies. God, if you did something right, Thrice is it. Excellent punch in the face ending. So great.

But never wanting you to feel the same emotion for too long, a very pretty opening ensues on "Word in the Water". The drums come in on a snare roll that last all of the first verse, and from what has come before you can't help but feel a sense of impending doom. The best kind explodes in your face with some of the prettiest guitar work yet complimenting the vocals beautifully. Stripping down to the same snare roll build in the second verse. And my very first real complaint on this whole album is that the awesomely pretty doom of the first chorus is simply repeated in the second. But is that really fair? On any other album, this could be a stand out track, but here it is a low point that isn't even low. Still a great song. Pretty release to end the song.

Long pretty fade out ending is cut into by a pretty guitar work with a nice edge. "Listen Though Me" sets up nicely with a pretty verse leading into another snare build (No doubt the presence of all the snare builds is a punk carry over) that opens to a heavy hitting chorus. So much power! And the dynamics drop again to keys, and oh, the keys! SO PRETTY! SO FUCKING PRETTY! snare build again, this better deliver more this time. I'm expecting it. Pause. And kick in doesn't disappoint. Although it differs little from the first chorus, the music builds up around the snare roll this time, and the bridge stays so intense bringing us to a final chorus that ends in naked voice. Beautiful.

"Anthology" opens with snare clicks and pounds down with beautiful guitar melodies. Going from driving to flowing, and finally, opening into a low key but fast verse. The chorus shows this to be the most static feeling song on the album yet, and that's saying a lot considering it still delivers a wealth of dynamics and feel. The higher guitar line to open the chorus is such a cool sound that I am immediately jealous to not have written first. A simple thing, but adds so much. Dustin's vocals really shine here. And I feel bad for not noting his marvelous performance earlier. Such a pretty grit that is complimented so well by the guitar tones used. A drop off ending with feedback leads us to the last track.

"Disarmed" has found me at a point of tipsiness, and believe me, editing will happen before I post this. It'd be hard-ish to read as is. Such a subtle song to close the album, but yet, there is no lack of emotion here. The feel is depressing in a purposeful manner, but out of the second chorus come a badass bridge that solidifies this as an ending track. It opens up to more pretty. SO MUCH FUCKING PRETTY! Like, I'm almost tearing up from the pretty. I must hide my emotions behind a cigarette. Now. Really cool breakdown ending. Guitars are beautiful. Simply... Beautiful as they close out the disc.

My mind is now warped worse than a vinyl record in the backseat of a car parked in the sun on an Arizona summer afternoon, and as I take off my headphones to the harsh reality of being drunk in my living room with my girlfriend asleep on the couch, I will consider my ass kicked. Those who know me will understand the gravity of this one sentence summary: This album gives me faith in the Christian religion.

This has nothing to do with the messages they may have been trying to spout, but rather with the sheer beauty I was just pummeled with by those spouting them. Holy shit. Thank you, Chris and Colin.

Final Thoughts:

Good. Buy it. Or God will condemn you to hell. Seriously, it's not guaranteed passage into heaven (I'm a point in case), but failure to own this album can only result in eternal fire and pain. The end.

-Badhorse

And So It Begins... (Bless This Mess - Prima Donna)

Here we are, my first review (It is okay, and in fact preferred if you'd applaud). I've decided to kick this off with the sophomore album (I believe it's their second studio effort) from Prima Donna, a wonderful glam rock group I learned of from my lovely girlfriend.

Visible androgyny is the first sign of any good glam rock band.

I've decided on this particular album because I adore the two recorded songs I've heard by them and even enjoyed seeing them live (Although, a solid amount of alcohol prevented me from recalling a lot of it), but I have yet to actually explore their music thoroughly. Also, because no man can rack up enough brownie points with his girl. =P

It was my girlfriend who actually brought me to the show where I fell for this group and actually introduced me to frontman, Kevin Preston, who she had met at an earlier show in her hometown of Chico. Here they are at that show:

Can you guess which is my girlfriend?

Kevin is a killer dude who actually dedicated a song off of Bless This Mess, "Feral Children" (Her favorite song of theirs), to us at the show; however, it wasn't until doing some basic research for this review that I discovered he actually played guitar for the Foxboro Hot Tubs.

He's the one in the AMAZING military-esque jacket.

Pretty cool, eh? I thought so. Anyway, accompanying the record, I will be drinking Leinenkugels' Original because I made a Wisconsin run on Sunday (For those of you not from Minnesota, they don't sell alcohol here on Sundays). Now, that I've rambled to the end of my first beer (I promise introductions will be shorter in the future), on to the review!

Album:

Prima Donna - Bless This Mess

Alcohol:

Leinenkugels' Original

The opening is "Sociopath", and right away they are staying true to their straight up rock sound. As I was already aware, I adore Kevin's voice, and you gotta love the nice little solo coming out of the second chorus. Simple, but completely fitting. Any song that gets you singing aloud over and over, "I am a sociopath!"has got to be a classic.

Although, it feels as though it ends too soon, the pace carries on with the bouncy "Maxine." Here Prima Donna begins to flex their glam muscles, and although that may not be the best analogy to use, I find glam completely badass, so whatever. A sexy song about a loving a lady? I'm there.

Again, however, it seems to end to soon. No worries though, it flows right in to the slower paced and wonderful Feral Children. They keep the sexy glam going with the refrain, "I will corrupt you/Tell you lies so filthy, you won't mind/You won't care." And I will continue to gush about the sexy guitar tone. It's like somebody took the feel of the 70s to 80s glammers and gave them the production value they so desperately deserve. And that harmonizing solo? Beautiful.

The best ending of a song gave way to what I though was going to be the weakest opening, but give "Broken" a few seconds and it reveals itself as a lovely little 60s-esque anti-love song. Note to Kevin if he reads: You're voice shines wonderfully with this feel. Heading into the bridge, the pace is picking up, and I'm starting to bob. Considering I'm alone in my living room with headphones, I feel kind of silly, but fuck it. It's good. I can hear an organ in the back that is so lovely to hear in rock music. Seriously, there just aren't enough keys in rock anymore.

Another solid ending breaks into the aggressive intro of "Let the Games Begin." This definitely has a fun new wave feel, and along with that, I'm continuing to bob perhaps even bounce. And OH! One-note solo for the win! I feel like the album really solidified it's pacing here, and an aggressive ending to compliment the open.

Onward, we go to the bluesy feeling "Bless This Mess" which I am feeling is the "Cat's meow" (Yay, for silly lyrics!). Choral stuffs in the background are fun, and blues solo comes on strong. Not only is there a blues solo, but in fact a whole solo section including two guitars and a FUCKING HAMMOND ORGAN! They have found the way to this reviewers heart. And to be frank and honest, while I would not rate this as a top blues song, hearing a blues sound done well from a modern glam rock band is wonderful and refreshing. This was everything I was hoping for in an eponymous track.

The blues feel continues while getting more punchy with "Miss Avenue". Opening with some sexy sax that is also so damn refreshing to hear in modern rock. While only used as an accent, it still adds SO much, and makes me feel dirty (In a good way, not in the I-haven't-showered-in-a-month way).

This gives way to a "Starring Daggers" that, while featuring some really cool vocal melodies and guitar work, is lost behind the awesomeness that was the previous two tracks.

Also, ending way to soon, it becomes apparent for it's placement, because as soon as the guitar intro comes in on "Crimson Lust" you remember you are listing to a bad ass glam rock band, and indeed, the whole attitude of the song overflowing with sexy glam rock. The guitar solo brings back an accompanying sax, and the breakdown is sexy as all hell. Building, building, BUILDING... Splooge! Probably my favorite track thus far.

Ooo, and the metaphorical orgasm gives way to the slower paced "Tryin'". And I LOVE the choice. Especially with these opening lines: "Oh, no, look what I've done/I think I had too much fun." It's just so damn fitting. They also hit me again with the organ, and it gets its own solo this time which fits in with the tone of the song wonderfully. However, I must say I am less than stoked with the fade out ending.

However, the redemption comes in the fun and fast paced "Puta, Te Amo". And who could hate a song with a title like that. Not to mention the song is about a girl who is "Such a tramp," yet he sings lovingly to her in this revisitation to the new wave sound.

Closing out and staying with the new wave sound is "She Says". The organ is pumping along with the guitars and I get another organ solo giving way to a wah-tastic guitar solo giving way to a sexy breakdown. Until this moment and the release after the breakdown, I was very concerned about this as the closing track, but the ending is kicking my ass repeatedly in ALL the right ways. Ending on the way... Coming... Coming... Organ rings, Guitar chords play, and I final organ swipe to close out a killer album.

Oh, wait, there was a incomprehensible shout at the end after a pause. Sounded like "Oh, money!' maybe?

Final Thoughts

Prima Donna definitely lives up to their glam rock reputation and not just with appearance. Sure, if you are looking for soaring solos and falsetto, you're better off putting in The Darkness, but for those of use who remember (Or in this 23 year-old's case, have explored) the simpler side and beginnings of glam such as Iggy Pop and Bowie, Bless This Mess provides a modernized version of that both in production value and versatility. Kudos for incorporating genres outside of glam, and the inclusion of oft underutilized rock instruments, but only because they were used correctly and with great taste. Front to back, Bless This Mess is a great disc that you should own. Me too. I gotta get this one.

So concludes my first review. I made it out with a slight buzz, and less cigarettes than when I started.

Writing aides.

Hoping you enjoyed as much as I did,

-Badhorse

Greetings and Salutations!

Hello, and welcome to the most accurate album reviews in the history of music! 

How am I able to make such a bold statement, you ask? Two reasons. One: Every review I write will be pounded out in one sitting while listening to the album and drinking. Two: I have it on great authority (myself) that my musical tastes are flawless. 

In reality, I have two strong passions in my life. Music and words (Also, booze, but I am less ready to admit that one). I feel like it is only natural to combine these passions in a way that would both allow me to express my thoughts and opinions through word and listen to and discover new music.

So I give to you Albums & Alcohol. A blog in which I will do something that has sadly become an outdated passtime: Sit and listen through albums. As I do this, I will be drinking because I like alcohol, and it helps brain cognition. True story, the inter-webs says so! In fact, I am pounding out this sterling introduction with the brain fuel that is Summit EPA.

Out of a glass because I'm classy, and with cigarettes because I'm only a little classy.

So yes, I will sit and listen to albums in their entirety while drinking. All the while, I will be writing in one draft a review of said album. There will be, however, some ground rules for myself to keep this blog legitimate and on course:

• All of the albums I review will be ones I've never heard in their entirety. It doesn't count if I'm familiar with a song or two because I want to review the album as a whole.
• Also, I'm prone to ramble and get off topic, so each blog must be written during the sitting while listening to the album. No pausing; although, I may make a revision to add fun facts, further explain things that need to be explained, and in the event of over consumption, make the entry at least somewhat legible.
• I WANT requests. If you know of a band that you think I should hear, TELL ME. My main focus is to hear new music whether it's amazing, terrible or simply exists. I need more musical exposure.
• Finally, although I am fully for older music, I am going to do my best to keep things to more current music (Current here meaning 90s onward).

So, again, welcome to Albums & Alcohol. If nothing else, I hope this site gives you some decent musical input on current music, but my real hope is that people may start to see and re-dicover the joys of actively listening to an album because seriously, album making is becoming a lost art.

Enjoy this! (Please?)

-Badhorse (No, not the evil Leader from the ELE)

P.S. Yes, I realize writing a blog while listening to an album seems to go against my request to simply listen to an album, but seriously, how else am I to do this blog? Don't answer that. Fuck you. Please read. =)