Clear Spot - Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band

This is the album seven by Beefheart. This is the follow up from The Spotlight Kid released earlier in 1972. This was released in October and recorded in Autumn of that year. This is a part of his unloved period and I decided why not take a crack at it. I know that TSK wasn't all that bad, so why not do the album that it has since been paired up with on CD reissues of the album. And after this will probably be.... well a surprise. The album was, for commercial reasons, co-produced by Don Van Vliet and Ted Templeman. It was also released in October 1972 on Reprise Records.

1. Low Yo Yo Stuff: This song is kind of cool. It's kind of slick. I think it has a groove to it. It's a good way to start out the album. It has a drive along the lines of Bat Chain Puller. 
2. Nowadays a Woman's Gotta Hit a Man: The drum beat in the beginning of this thing reminded me of Ballroom Blitz by Sweet. Then comes in that harmonica. This song isn't anything special that isn't kind of redundant after hearing The Spotlight Kid. The solos kinda cool in this song. 
3. Too Much Time: This sounds like it could be Beefheart backed by Chicago. Then the female vocals in the background damn, I see how he "denounced" these albums. This is very radio friendly and I could see angering the Trout fans. This is a decent song though that I could play for my mom with few complaints though. 
4. Circumstances: This guitar reminds me of that one commercial in the beginning. Then the harmonica takes over. Then during the normal verses I can honesty say it feels like it never quite lined up, but that drum roll. I think that's kinda cool they did that, and love the guitar distortion. The harmonica reminds me a little of Bat Chain Puller. I really like the drum roll part. 
5. My Head Is My Only House Unless It Rains: The best part of this song is definitely the vibes. Other than that little thing that reminds me of Ruth than there isn't really much positive I can say. In all 100% honesty based off this album, and this song, this is the type of artist I'd only listen to the album once and probably never regret never hearing it more than once. Forgot to mention that The Tubes covered this in 1977 on their album Now, which Don also plays on the track Cathy's Clone.
6. Sun Zoom Spark: This is a little more colorful with the vocals, bass, and cowbell thing. The cowbells keeping the rhythm of the song, and this song is more in the vein of Circumstances. It's interesting, but probably because its on this album were there isn't much to keep one's interest. 
7. Clear Spot: The title track, and well I  don't know what to say. After 7 tracks deep I can't say much good about this LP. The chorus is kind of cool when it sounds "bad" and out of sync. I like that, and that beeping in the background. I also like the guitar and bass. I like it, not love. 
8. Crazy Little Thing: This song could be a cover of Funk #49, but with female backing vocals in the track. I'm literally not kidding on the sound, the solo is neat up against the James Gang idea, but yeah, it's charm might only last so long. To be honest, this is the only track I'm keeping thus far. 
9. Long Neck Bottles: This song is pretty epic power chords in it that remind me of 21st Century Schizoid Man or some other where it has a powerful strum. Won't Get Fooled Again is another example, though I can't quite pick what song it reminds me of exactly. This album is starting to pick up its slack. 
10. Her Eyes Are a Blue Million Miles: This is kind of pretty, it's got a neat acoustic arpeggios that kind of remind me of Spanish flamenco music. This is a decent track, definitely one of the best here. Part of it reminds me of Dear Prudence. 
11. Big Eyed Beans from Venus: The guitar is pretty current sounding. The mix I'm listening to sounds like what a blues guitar sounds like today. I do think its neat this is kind of heavy, like conventionally heavy. This gives me hope for his other hated albums, there are hidden gems in the rough. I can tell I'll love this [track] with a few more listens. 
12. Golden Birdies: This seems like an outtake from a more ambitious Captain. The guitar and marimba harmony is just great. It is also in that Zappa vein. Possibly he best song here on The Clear Spot.

Overall I have to give this a 6/10. Damn Capt why did you do this to me. There isn't much for me to say about this thing. I know it was headed in a more commercial direction, but you kind of have up your personality in the process. Don't worry, I actually am a fan, just not huge on these ones. Though it starts to pick up towards the end. PS figured get the bad ones off my iPod first. Oh yeah, it's only this high because of the second half. Oh yeah, Roy Estrada and Art Tripp from The Mothers played on this album.

God's Father - Lil B

This is the 22nd, or so, mixtape release by rapper Lil B. I reviewed his albums 6 Kiss from 2009, and 2011's I'm Gay (I'm Happy). I have, before reviewing this, listened to it now 3 times. The reason is because I liked I'm Gay until the third listen to it. Because it got boring, but I don't think this one will be the case. Quick note, Brandon has said that everything except Choices and Flowers under the name The Based God is a mixtape. Finally I get to upload this, it's done, it's really done! The next Lil B review I'm gonna do is probably Trapped In The Basedworld, aka this ones follow up.

1. The BasedGod's Layer: This is the introduction to the mixtape. This has like an angelic feeling to it. I heard this song a bunch of times before I listened to the rest of it. I think that this is a really good intro. And I like how the style switches from this and the next track. This is a pretty neat intro for the trip to come. Sit down, put head phones on, relax, and listen.
2. I Own Swag: He raps like Danny Brown on this song. For some reason I sing along with this song, just like I would to a Danny Brown song. Even the terribly sung chorus part of the song is sick. I don't know why, but it just works for me. The beat is trap, but there is a type of thing that makes me sounding industrial. It is like a robot charging up, and computing. The beginning continues the epicness of the prior track. I also laugh at the "faggot" and "fatty" insults. He also does a Jamaican thing that's funny too. 
3. Fuck Ya Money: This is a pretty song more in line with R&B. He's actually staying on beat, which yes it is pretty slow, but still Bs doing it. He's doing it, this 
4. Febuarys Confessions: Another great sample and R&B flavored. He's sing talking/rapping here, but the whole aura of this song makes you believe he is trying to say something. Some lyrics don't 100% make sense but that's ok because it's joyous. It's a happy song, touching. 
5. Buss Em 4 Points: This has awesome strings on this song. Another joy, but instead of pretty joy it's happy joy. Upbeat joy, and the sample, 5 for 5 so far. I want to know these song in the background they are great. 
6. Tropics: The intro is great and a continuation of the joy from the previous track. 
7. Real Hip Hop 2012: This could be a Wu-Tang Clan beat. Now, me saying that sets a bar. By saying that that means you need to flow to kill this beat, and DAMN! He is living up to it. I don't ever recall him doing this good. It's suprising, and this beat is so solid. I'm running out of things to say about this other than this is great and the beat is like Asian sounding. {8/10}
8. Keep It 100: This song reminds me a little of The Lonely Island. The beat is great and part reminds me of the interludes between "The Kardashian" Show or other E! Reality Shows. The strings are pretty great, and I like the digital analog drums sounds. 
9. Fonk Ain't Dead: If the bass drum was slightly different this would remind me of old school hip-hop. This beat reminds me a little, only the atmosphere and female voices and reverb, of Outkast's 1994 debut album. 
10. Feds At My Doh: This is a pretty "gay" beat, but Lil B makes it fun. The 80's sound quality vibe of it is why people make fun of that and the following decade. This is a solid track though and I'm suprised it as enjoyable as it is. It's relatively simplistic and that's probably it's apeal. And there's one of my favorite rappers again. The ending is kind of funny sounding, and I like the added "pinball machine racking up points, arcade" sounds. 
11. Remy: it sounds like an R&B sample with a computer booting up and shutting down. The guitar in here sounds great, it's pretty seductive. I wonder what the original track it's off. 
12. Flowers Rise: This has a little flute thing in it. I could see the being on the bedroom escapades comps. I could also see it being the music to a Super Nintendo Game or Pokemon waiting music in the one for Wii. 
13. God Help Me: This starts with him giving condolences to the ones who've passed. The drums on this are ok, but the sample gives it an intresting feel. It makes me think the woman's calling through the jungle. It's a nice track, a pretty track, a touching one.
14. Breath Slow: The piano on this reminds me a little of X-Men off his 2009 6 Kiss, which I reviewed in the past. This is a trap song, but that piano still makes me think if it. This is one of the weaker songs in my opinion. The reverb on the vocals at the end remind me of The Holy Filament off 1999's California album by Mr. Bungle.
15. I Ain't Neva Won: this song I feel is a little weaker than the prior track. Trust me, the album is 100fold better when you sit the two hours through. 
16. Let It Drop: This actually reminds me more of older hop hop. The beat ad the "wind" sound and guitar sample reminds me a little of Wu-Tang or one of the solo projects. This is a pretty song, that also doubles as good too. 
17. God's Father: This has a mellow kind of sample in the chorus/hook. I feel like the sample during the verses reminds me of something like Mr. Rogers. I don't know why, but I mean that in the best way possible. I think that it has this child feeling to it. And Who doesn't like children. I like the Eminem references to.
18. Be A Star: This sample reminds me of What's Going On, the feeling of warmth  you get from it, or at least a similar one. The title track on that album has this type of introduction where it has the instrumentation come in as there are people talking. Then the strings through out the track reminds me of a song on that album. I'm not exactly sure if it's a certain track, but the style more so. This has pretty arpeggios in it. 
19. Deep Ass Thoughts: The guitar sampled here is pretty, and the theme is neat here. I don't know why, but I feel Brandon isn't lying, or bending the truth. The chorus is kind of funny here. 
20. Go Dumb Tonight: This song samples a soul song that reminds me of Motown. The way it is though   Is pretty glamorous. He is also rapping here at a pace and is doing an accent, a funny one, at party. He sounds Jamacian kinda. This is a funny song and a great sample. The horns on this sound great. 
21. Bitch I'm Bussin: I like the ambience to the sample. The beat isn't so ambient, but I think the combination of the two kind of work. It kind of sounds like underwater parts in "Donkey Kong Jr Country" or whatever it's called. You know, for Super Nintendo.
22. Glourious BasedGod: The great electronic discharges in the intro rock. I enjoy the sound of it and like the way the he's rapping on the track. This is a solid track. 
23. See Ya: This song has the type of beat that I would imagine on a Basket Ball game. Like Holy Calamity by that one Handsome Boy Modeling School. I like this and think its funny.
24. Flash: This is probably the most A$AP he gets here, even dropping his name. Except the bass might not be in an Rocky song, you know the underwater bass. Pretty epic sounding. 
25. The Deal: this intro reminded me a little of Death Grips with more minimal beats. This is very minimal, but B isn't scaring me. That doesn't mean he's doing a bad job though. 
26. Pain: This has another guitar in it. There are also doorbells, or shall I say some M3 intervals..... hahahaha. This is another good song, like I said earlier I can't find any bad tracks. 
27. Secrete Obsession: This song features an upbeat 80's sample. This song kind of talks about when he first started rapping. When he was in PE in 6th grade and they wanted to see who was better. This song is actually, though I can't relate because of the rap part, it is pretty cool that's the way it happened. Better than Last Call. 
28. Turned Me Cold: This is another fanominal Track all around and just pumps me up. In this song he samples the 2011 track Man Down by Rihanna and lowers it. I really enjoy this track and think it's pretty great. I like how it alternates between funny, kind of serious, then at the end funny again.
29. Sf Mission Music: The piano in it reminds me a little of TC. I actually really like this track a lot. This also has some pretty electronics in there.
30. I'm Just Livin: I like the fun feeling to this song, and also the welcome vibe of it. I also like that percussion sample in there, it's very pretty sounding. This is another very fun song.
31. Words Not Spoken: This track reminds me of The Real Slim Shady by Eminem. I actually wouldn't be suprised if he sampled that song in this track. This is a pretty solid track.
32. Wake Up Mr Flowers 3mix: This song has a jazzy intro, then it goes into a hip hop thing. The sample in this song is pretty cool, and I like the instrumentation there, especially the way the keys sound. This is kind of like BadBadNotGood, well at least more or less.
33. Water Is Dmg: I really think the strings on this are pretty cool sounding, and they make this epic book closer effect to the next track when heard front to back. This is the perfect way to kind of sum up the mixtape. I like that he starts the mixtape out with a dreamy song, and ends it with a louder dreamy track.
34. I Love You: This is the outro. I don't know if he is singing on this, or if he is just talking. The thing is that this is a touching song. It kind of reminds me of the ending of Sesame Street. It is just pretty relaxing, even though he can't sing very good. I can't really explain this unless you hear it. It is the, no exaggeration, best possible way he could have ended this 1 hour and 56 minute long mixtape. I was surprised to see this sampled a Final Fantasy song.

Overall I think this thing is really good. I think it's a 9/10. Part of the reason I like this so much, probably, is because I'm Gay didn't really change style. This changed styles like it was various artists. By that I mean that this seems like a 34 track record label sampler, but some artists appear on this more than once. The thing too about Lil B is that he is so fricken happy. How, I want to know your secret. Not literally, but seriously who doesn't want to love life. This thing is good because you can tell he put his heart into the more touching songs. He didn't just bs and make stuff up. One more thing, though it's two hours long, it's best when you hear it front to back. It kind stinks about it being two hours, but it is well worth it and after time 2 it went by faster each time. I have to also apologize for the 3/10 rating on I'm Gay, I took him a little too serious and wasn't as open minded and didn't know Brandon as much as I do now. But this shows that confidence is the key to making people believe in you. There isn't a single track on here where he isn't completely confident in what he's saying that. I applaud you Brandon. I want him to release an instrumental version of this, I'd like to listen to that too. But in all honesty, I can't stress the front to back aspect of it for me. It's way better that way. 

Kiss & Kill - Le Butcherettes

This is the, I believe, debut release by Le Butcherettes. This was released in 2008 and I'm just gonna do a quick review for today. Why not, this things like under 20 minutes right. So here we go.......

1. Feminist Politics: This song starts out with an electronic drum beat. It also features a woman talking in Spanish.
2. I'm Queen: This song starts out with a punk riff. This is relatively simple and reminds me of The Runaways or The Slits (I like the latter way more). It's a good song and I enjoyed it.
3. The Problems Hide In Our Backs: This is just the two girls talking. This reminds me of the G.T.O. album. The way that they would have tracks where they just talked, and the sound quality of it too.
4. Kiss & Kill: This has another solid riff that reminds me of One Way Or Another, but with variations. I actually like this song more than I'm Queen. This song is a little more catchy and guitar sounds great. 
5. Last Tear: This opens with a telephone conversation in Spanish then the song starts. The lyrics are obviously tongue-and-cheek. They are actually kind of funny too.
6. Honey Honey: This is a bluesy song. For some reason I am not getting bored of this song. Possibly because it's short, but still.
7. For You're Bleeding: This is probably my favorite song on this Ep, it's the funniest song on here, but it's also the best. I think the pitch wavers in the voices are pretty funny. This is a fun song and hopefully the next song will be good too. It's also the longest track too. This ends with a sound that sound's like a rappers gonna come on pretty soon, but the singer laughs and coughs.
8. Six More: This is the last song on the EP, and by this point there isn't really anything here on this song that isn't anywhere earlier in the album.

Overall this thing gets a 7/10. It's short, and doesn't really get overbearing because of that. I also like the kind of, what some would say as "filler". I think it's pretty funny and gives personality to the Ep you know what I mean.

Super Collider - Megadeth

This is the 14th studio album by Megadeth, one of the Big Four. I remember this album coming out, but not anticipating it. I knew about it, but I never even realized it came out until the day it came out, I was at Best Buy and saw it. I didn't buy it, I wasn't there for that, I think I was there for something else. But I decided to review this because my friend Justin Stockton did (The guy who I did the So Far, So Good... So What? review for on his birthday) and I kind of wanna see what I think of this album. I do know I enjoyed TH1RT3EN which came out the same day as Lulu, and was also co produced by this Johnny K guy, so that's a good thing.

1. Kingmaker: The first song I heard was the last track, so after that I have the bar set a little higher. This is a relatively Megadeth song that sounds like the other songs at this point in their career. This song is good, my only complaint is it's a little long. I do like that arpeggios at the end of the song though.
2. Super Collider: This is another good song, thought I don't think it's amazing. I enjoy the solo on this song and I think it's cool. There is energy and the song isn't really boring. I like the chorus of this song, thought it is a little poppy for this band, but that's Ok. I don't want to damn Dave for that, he wanted it.
3. Burn!: This intro is a little more of a return to what I want from Megadeth and the song is too. Its good that this song follows up the previous. This is a song that could be a song that I see being on a "greatest hits of the '10s". This is pretty solid and rough. I just wish it ended at the first ending part.
4. Built For War: I like the drums in this track. This reminds me a little of High On Fire, instrumentation wise. You know, the riff during the verses of the song. That reminds me of them, and maybe sludge metal in general. The only thing is his voice isn't sludge oriented, if you know what I mean.
5. Off The Edge: This has much more sludge vocals to it. This is a good song that I could picture maybe Mastodon playing, except for the faster parts. The solo is pretty solid here too.
6. Dance In The Rain: David Draiman of the famous Chicago band Disturbed is on this song. I don't like Disturbed, just look at the review I did for them. To be completely honest, this is my only fear, I don't have high hopes for this song. This song reminds me of the vocals on Symphony of Destruction like the intro of the song kind of. It's a good song, but it's doing everything that's pointing towards it to just flop for me. It's getting tense. This song did work my nerves and is a "paranoid" song I could see being in a movie. If you got rid of Draiman, this would be an instant classic in their catalog. This is probably my favorite song because it almost seems, minus maybe the lyrics, like it was rerecorded and a song from the 80's. {9/10}
7. Beginning Of Sorrow: The bass in this song is something that reminds me of Korn. I'm not huge into Korn. Infact, I've never really been invested in them, outside of maybe a review or two or three for the future. I do like that this is a little departure from the rest of the album.
8. The Blackest Crow: I thought this was a commercial for Spotify, I can't believe it's on a Megadeth album. Never in 100 years would I think this would be there. This song is a neat idea and I think it's pretty good. I don't think that he over did the banjo, which is a very good thing. They were able to mix the two genres together and not overdo it. To that I applaud you. {7.5/10}
9. Forget To Remember: This is another good song, that with time, may grow on me, but as of right now it's just ok. Nothing special, nothing horrible. It's a good track, the ending is something cool though and that solo too, and right before the "solo"
10. Don't Turn Your Back: This has a Jimi Hendrix vibe to it. Until the song really starts. Then it gets into something heavy. Something good heavy. This is a song that I think it pretty good, and it's title reminds me of that Budgie album title. The guitar pre-solo reminds me of Jimi again. This is another solid solo on this LP.
11. Cold Sweat: This is a cover of the Thin Lizzy track that was on their 1983 Thunder And Lightning album. I thought it would have been from an earlier album, but whatever. Justin also pointed out that this is the first cover since 1988's So Far, So Good... So What? album. The original version of this song has a punch to it, and a kick, so I expect Dave to do a good job. I like how his "evil" vocals give it a gritty tone. This is also better produced, but that isn't saying much based on the difference in technology in the early 80's and the early 2010's. I do enjoy the solo in this song. It was relatively straight forward, they didn't really change much, but they still did a good job, an enjoyable track. This is a good ending to the LP.

Overall I have to give this album a 7.6/10. If you want to check out Justin's review you can see it here. He chose a good album, and though it's not gonna be my next review, let's see what else he does. He might just pick another good album again and surprise me. From what I remember of TH1RT3EN this is a relatively similar follow up, partially probably because of Johnny K. The solos on this album are pretty solid and I can't really complain. At this point in a career being able to put out these albums, of this quality, that's pretty great. This album is somewhat diverse, I respect that. That's why Slayer isn't my fav or the big four. It's Metallica, thought Megadeth is awesome too. I ''don't'' know when, but I'm gonna be reviewing Persistence of Time in March of this year. That's a promise. And overtime this may grow on me. Also don't let the "silly" un-menacing cover fool you about his album.

Houses of the Holy - Led Zeppelin

This is the fifth, and my favorite, album by Led Zeppelin. This album is much different from all the other LPs by them and deserves more praise. It was released on March 28th, 1973 and recorded from January to August the prior year. This is the first time that Zeppelin didn't release an album every year, I and II were from 1969, III was from 1970, and IV was from 1971, this was from 1973. If I'm also correct this is the first album done by their longtime collaborators Hipgnosis. This also includes funk and reggae, and it's a more prominent through the album. The albums prior were all Blues/Folk/Rock. I really got into Zeppelin from Mothership which was on sale because Circit City was closing and we went there the day of the Super Bowl 2007. Instead of watching the game I played the two disc on that CD and Damn! I still love some of those songs, some more than ever. But here's my review.

1. The Song Remains The Same: This opens, and sets the tone, for this trip. And damn, this is one journey. This track, when played live, was another to feature the famous Gibson EDS-1275 that he used in Stairway. The reason is because he needed it for the next part. On the studio version he overdubs with a Tele and a Rickenbacker 12 String, but that's enough facts. This intro pumps you, and it is tight. Like the later Achilles Last Stand this is great. It was supposed to be an instrumental overture into The Rain Song, but the lyrics give it so much more power. The playing from everyone on this track is top notch and probably the best on this album. The energy emoted from this is amazing, it literally blows me away with each listen. I'm still coming back after almost 7 years of loving this song, the Super Bowl this year will be 7 years. JPJ and Bonzo are just fricken Gods on this track.
2. The Rain Song: This is a pretty song, but it's also kind of slow. It's also 39 seconds longer than the second longest track No Quarter, an even 7 minutes. The mellotron reminds me though of the orchestral effects in I Talk To The Wind, and it actually kind of saves the song a little for me. This is very nice and I somewhat agree with Plant about it being his best vocal performance. I like his vocals on Achilles more and the prior track, but what ever. The song progressively builds up. If I'm correct there is an alternate tuning in this song? Probably why it achieves that weird guitar sound.
3. Over The Mountains And Far Away: This sounds like it'd be fun to play on acoustic guitar. This is another tight song. Not as tight as the first track, but it's great. And continues where The Rain Song left off, but picks up the pace of the album. This is a fun song, and the riff right after the solo it awesome. I love the playing on this song, and I think that the acoustic guitar sounds awesome. I also like the whole instrumental ending.... I don't want to spoil it if you haven't heard it, but it's pretty epic.
4. The Crunge: This is one funky song. It reminds me a little of reggae infused into Mother Popcorn. I love the mellotron, or what every Key instrument JPJ is probably using for the song. It almost sounds like its being played backwards, which reminds me of their take of Revolver. I think the way he "speaks" at the end gives the song a little humors vibe to it.
5. Dancing Days: This song is odd, but it's great. I like the organ and the odd time signature in this song, If I'm correct it also changes keys in this song. This is just a bizarre song that I hardly imagine would be on the radio if it wasn't be Zeppelin. This isn't that serious of a track either. It kind of falls into that No Quarter realm of odd sounds. Not as atmospheric, but definitely some different things here
6. D'yer Mak'er: This is probably, no it IS, the funniest moment on this LP. I just want to sing and play along to this track. This is the most reggae on this album, and Zeppelin ever really got. I don't really have much to say about this track, the distortion is sick, the solo rocks. This is just a really fun and not entriely serious song. The title's a pun on "Why'd ya make her, Jamaica". I also love the whole whispered voices at the end and that they add stuff at the ending, it's not just boring and repetitive, they add other instruments and part. The honky-tonk piano thing.
7. No Quarter: Damn, this song is defiantly a foreshadow. They would do that atmospheric eerie sounding songs on later albums too. I remember being creepy out by this track years ago when I first started getting into Zeppelin, I used to skip this song. Now I almost always listen to this track when I get the chance. That mellotron in this song is damn great, and defiantly why that's one of my favorite instruments. Imagine hearing this for the first time, it's pretty intense. Now it's not as much of a scare, but still. I used to be afraid to listen to Eleanor Rigby and Mr. Kite. The whole piano solo part just kind of takes you to another planet. I could see why people would get stoned to this. I could only imagine what this would be like to hear on that warm vinyl record. The riff in this song reminds me a little of Echoes, like how it's atmospheric and then there's a sick ass riff. I love the ending, when he says the title. That's probably my favorite part, all that guitar fuzz. I need to know how they got that fuzz!
8. The Ocean: This wraps up the tone of the album, giving it a proper end.  This album has an ocean vibe to it from style to the titles of tracks to the artwork. Naming the end The Ocean brings this theory full circle. As everyone knows the truth, The Ocean Is The Ultimate Solution and I'm just pointing it out. This isn't as funky a song as some others, but I like the whole A Capella thing too. Something that reminds me of a song they'd do later on In My Time Of Dying.

Overall I have to give this album a 9/10. Though some of these ideas were later expanded on, this is where it "started over" for them and truly is my favorite album they've released. I mean, they were already established as a blues band, but they kind of got rid of that style for this album, and it worked very well. This album isn't that serious of an album either, which gives it great power.