J.S. - Justin Stockton

This review as to go up on the 2nd of this month but things happen and I wanted to let this linger a little longer before I do any review. So this is the first Ep by my friend Justin Stockton, and was released independently on my label. Now usually I don't like reviewing anything I've touched, but I can give this a go. This is the first release that he's done with acoustic guitar. I want to say this was recorded and released on February 17th, 2014 and the only thing I did was fix digital distortion, and also resize the artwork and convert the mono to stereo. So I didn't contribute in anyway to the material so I can review this. Oh yeah, he also reviewed my album I did. Which by that way, was his best to date. And the first review of anything I've ever done so, yeah life's good.

1. Mary Ann: This opens the EP with a country feeling. It actually sounds like a song that I could imagine being something in the vein of Robert Johnson. Now it's not one of his songs, but very influenced and inspired by. I like that it's only about 1.5 minutes, because the thing about blues is lots of time it can drag on and on and on and on and... you get the point. This song is straight forward and doesn't stay past its welcome. It's also a great way to open this new flavor to incorporate in his material. Also he sings within his range. My only complaint is the vox be clearer, but I can't complain to much because I run into that problem sometimes too.
2. Good Night: Now I talked to him about this song and he told me its dear to his heart. There is a religious aspect in there and this is the deepest he's gotten ever. Thought that chords aren't that drastically different from the prior track, this is the style and I enjoy it. Oh, question Justin is the progression Am-F#m-DMaj. Just wondering if I can hear correctly.
3. Jack: This sounds very similar to Mary Ann, but I think it's a solid track. There is a type of just tongue-n-cheek aspect that I think he did a good job at, but there were certain slips. This reminds me of possibly a cover of a song off Folsom Prison.
4. Gettin' The Blues: This is a good song, just needs to be a little more fleshed out. I think that if he added a guitar solo in there it may have been better, but it's a good track.

Overall I have to give this a 6/10. Now this is by far the best thing he's done yet, it's showed maturation, and is showing artistic growth, which is necessary as a musician. I can't damn him because some of the ideas could have been furthered, this is only his third release. I still make mistakes and fuck up, but he is definatly growing and glad I know him. He's on the right path, also look forward to that album I'm producing for him. PS, click _here_ to go and get a copy yourself. 

Phantom Antichrist - Kreator

I was going to review this when it first came out this summer but I didn't like it enough to give it a positive review. My friend asked me to review this for his birthday. So when I realized what album this was I was like SHIT!. But then I went, well that was then, this is now. I'm going to listen to it more open minded and try to think. Sometimes you need more than one listen ah-lah Lulu. So, Here we Go.

1. Mars Mantra: This is the introduction to the album. It's pretty intresting. It makes me want to hear what the rest of the album will be like. The transition from this song to the title track kind of reminds me a little of The Hellion to Electric Eye. I've been making a bunch of Priest comparisons lately haven't I?
2. Phantom Antichrist: This is a pretty cool song. I like this song. I think that it sounds like a song that I imagine would be on Nuclear Blast. (quick fact I own Symphony X's 2011 Iconoclast which was released on Nuclear Blast). I like the guitar and I like the crunch of it. Thought I like it, I'm hoping this entire album isn't like this. I heard it in June but don't remember much beside I didn't care for the album first time through. I really like the tone of the guitar in the solo. For some reason it vaguely reminds me of Yngwie's 2008 Perpetual Flame (which I really like).
3. Death to The World: This song reminds me of, don't Slayer's songs on World Painted Blood or God Hates Us All. I feel like there is a message in this song, but I am more interested in the song. The solo is epic sounding with the dual guitars. It vaguely reminds me a little of Set The World On Fire by Symphony off 2007's Paradise Lost (amazing album).
4. From Flood Into Fire: I do like this song too. The one thing thought, I fear, is that this will contiue this way. Like the similarity  This song reminds me a little of Dimmu Borgir. The solo also reminds me of the solo in the song Through The Fire And The Flames off Dragonforce's 2006 Inhuman Rampage (I also own that Cd, I go back and forth on it). This is totally a Dragonforce type of song. But less "gay".
5. Civilization Collapse: This song is pretty cool. I kind of think that it is a total thrash song. But who the fuck doesn't like thrash metal!
6. United in Hate: The beginning of this song reminds me of The Unforgiven, or Nothing Else Matters. I don't think I need to specify were those are from. It's "Kill 'Em Master of Lightning, For St. Justice". Its on that "For Puppets & All" album, right? You know from 1865.
7. The Few, The Proud, The Broken: The album is kind of starting to get a little repetitive. I'm not dissing the album, but I wish there was a little more variety. At least there was an acoustic guitar in the last song. I do like the breakdown after the solo though. I really like that guitar tone.Wait I spoke too soon, there it is, the Acoustic guitar. It reminds me a little of Killswitch Engage.
8. Your Heaven, My Hell: I think it's kind of getting a little repetitive :(
9. Victory Will Come: I love metal, but sometimes some band's just reuse a sound too much. I still like this song, along with the rest of this album, some songs more than others, but yeah.
10. Until Our Paths Cross Again: I think that this beginning of the song is kind of a good way to end the album. It kind of gives off a vibe that "Victory Has Come". This is a good ending. :)

Overall I have to say, second time through, this gets a 7.6/10. I enjoyed this more then Meshuggah's ObZen or the little of Koloss I heard. There are some cool guitar tones on this album. I enjoyed this album, but it got a little too repetitive at the end. I think that I would be willing to pick this up on CD. I also need to finish up Pleasure to Kill. Tomorrow will see the uploading of my favorite Bowie album. I should probably do a Judas Priest review too.

Bomber - Motörhead

This is the third, and second released in 1979, album by British Heavy Metal band Motörhead. I don't have a ton of experience with Motörhead, but I do know some of their stuff. I've listened to about 90% of the 1980 release Ace Of Spades, and various other releases I've heard a decent amount off. For some reason I can't recall ever hearing anything off Bomber. My friend, Justin, was supposed to have this up for his 18th birthday, but we made a deal. Since I goofed about the whole understanding of the review I do Bomber today, and Phantom Antichrist tomorrow. I did So Far, So Good... So What last year. This album was produced by Jimmy Miller, look him up, he has a pretty neat discography for production. This includes the first three Traffic albums, Blind Faith's sole album, the five Stones albums between Beggars Banquet and Goat Head Soup and albums two & three for Motörhead. There are other's but lets get back to the review.

1. Dead Men Tell No Tales: This song starts out with a type of intro that I would recognize as Motörhead. This sounds like a classic Motörhead song. The first time through I don't really know what to say about it. I think the solo's distortion is pretty cool.
2. Lawman: I like this song a little more than the last. Maybe because it's kind of sinking in. I was reading about this song and it says that it's one of his more "ferocious" because it's "hitting hard at the police". I don't really know what that means but I think it doesn't sounds anymore aggressive, lyrically maybe, but not sound wise. And after looking at the lyrics, they are kind of aggressive. Upon second listen this song kind of has a march to it. I think it's a pretty decent song actually.
3. Sweet Revenge: I like the guitar in this song. I like the like scream "REVENGE" at the fade out. This is a pretty cool song. I am curious as to how they got that guitar sounds. Though I like the sound of this song it is kind of "wearing" my interest in the album down. This totally reminds me of Priest off Sad Wings Of Destiny.
4. Sharpshooter: Yes, an uptempo song. This song kind of reminds me of Iron Fist. Which might be my favorite Motörhead song. Either that or Mean Machine off 1986's Orgasmatron. The guitar is awesome, and I think that solo is pretty sick. This is what I needed. This kind of lifted my spirits in listening to this. I'm not dissing the album, but from the first three tracks it kind of wore me down, but this has gained my interest back.
5. Poison: The lyrics to this are kind of a "backlash" at his father for leaving his mother. That's from what I read. I think this is another Ok song.
6. Stone Dead Forever: Before I started this song I went and did a "favorite hits" of my own to kind of get more in the spirit to listen more intently. This is a pretty decent song. Better than those side 1 songs.
7. All The Aces: Does that include Spades? This song isn't really any different from any other songs. I think it's ok, but yeah.
8. Step Down: This also reminds me of '70s Priest. The guitar and whole entire "darkness" to it. Eddie's voice even reminds me a ton of Judas Priest. I could see this being a tribute or a cover of a song by them. This song UGH!
9. Talking Head: I doubt that this is a reference to the band, mainly because their first album came out in '77, but who knows. It's actually about TV. The beginning of this riff reminds me of Lonely Boy by The Black Keys. I did a review of the album that was on. I also own that CD. The bass in this song reminds me of that song. The guitar in it is also awesome.
10. Bomber: This is a pretty good way to end this album. Don't pussy out, make it mad! Go out with a bang! It's A Bama, It's A Bama, It's Obama?

Overall I have to give this a 8/10. The lyrics on this thing are pretty aggressive any "angry". That doesn't play any part in the score, but it's kind of neat that there was obvious passion that went into these lyrics. I like that the songs are no longer than, minus 1, about 4 minutes long. Part of what frustrates me is that the songs, you can't really understand Lemmy. It's frustrating to me. I have to look at the lyrics to understand what the hell, beside the title of the songs, he was saying. But because of songs like Talking Head and Sharpshooter, Talking Head, Step Down. Also the kind of Priest vibes I got from this helped me enjoy this. So I hope you like this review Justin. And look for tomorrows review, tomorrow. The 2nd side is much better, I think, than the first.

So Far, So Good... So What! - Megadeth

Today is my friend Justin Stockton's 17th birthday. I asked him what album he wanted me to review for him on his birthday and he told me So Far, So Good... So What!. I know that this is my favorite Megadeth album, well either that or Peace Sells... Who's Buying. But part of the reason I like this so much is because it isn't their ''masterpiece'' and I think it should be. This album is very underrated and should be more respected. I think that this is well....

1. Into The Lungs Of Hell: This is my favorite song off this album. I love the intro with the electronic sounding horns. There is something about that that makes me feel like that is an awesome way to start a song and an album. The intro solo in this song also sounds awesome I love the guitar distortion. This song kind of reminds me of my favorite Iron Maiden song Transylvania. This is like their Transylvania to me. There is a certain feel for this so good The soloing and the recording in general on this song just... This song is a 10/10.
2. Set The World Afire: The sample in the beginning of this track of the radio then getting bombed. I think that that's hilarious. The riffs in this song are more like Transylvania. than Track 1, but that's the intro instrumentation. The reason I say that this vocals on this album work is because there is some type of evil vocal effect in the background making it sound evil. There is a part in here where the riff speeds up, that is my favorite part of the song. This entire album in general is defiantly BA. The intro, solo, chorus, instrumentation this also gets a big 10
3. Anarchy Of The U.K.: I like this song. I like the original and I also like this version to. This a a good cover of the song with a cool sounding solo. I also like the music video for this song. Also I'm glad that Dave  didn't really change the lyrics up so much. I don't really have a ton of stuff. This cover is solid.
4. Mary Jane: It don't matter what this tracks about. All that matters is that it is beast. It is slow moving and reminds me of the album, well it's Metallica's 1984 sophomore effort Ride the Lightning. The guitar just sounds awesome and the beat. When this speeds up it gets more intense and reminds me of, for some reason the song Transylvania comes to mind. The soloing on this is amazing.period! This is defiantly a headbanger and thrash classic.
5. 502: the beginning of this song reminded me of Miserlou by Dick Dale and the Del Tones. Well that is until he says shit. Ha. there is some type of police alarm and vehicle horns sampled were it founded like a solo, which was followed by a bad ass soloing power. The ending with the like emotional breakdown during the fade. 10
6. In My Darkest Hours: This is an emotional song. I like this and it is like their Stairway to Heaven. If you've heard it you know what I'm talking about. I love how the acoustic guitars sound on this album. I feel this is Megadeth's own For Whom The Bell Tolls, but better mixed and better quality. The fact that the lyrics are based on Cliff Burton in honor of his passing. That's touching man, that he would do that for someone in a band that kicked him out. This only hits you harder when you find out Metallica hadn't really, until after this song, honored Cliff. They are honest bastards, in a bad way. The solo in this is among the awesome solo parts
7. Liar: This reminds me of something I'd hear on a 1970's Judas Priest album. Which is their shining moments as a band, in my opinion. The song keeps on driving and picks up after the emotion of In My Darkest Hours is done. It's like he is now denying the fact that Cliff has died and calls the person who told him this that they are a "Fucking Liar". I think that from that point of view it is masterpiece.
8. Hook In The Mouth: this song has a very driving bass riff in it. I like that it's different. This seems like something I could vision Cliff playing on. Now that isn't the case. But the song has a type of solo where in the beginning of it it sounds like bees buzzing. Which I think is funny an also at the same time amazing.

Overall I'd give this album a 9/10. By far one of my favorite 80's album and better than some of Metallica's 80's monsters. This is different, but it's not. This stands out from Dave's discography. There are very important parts on this that are important to me. This album has a pre-Meagdeth existence world Metallica. The first two albums are their best and they sound like Dave's writing.

History of Forgotten Things - Jed Whedon and the Willing

Today is my friend Jason Meagher's 17th birthday. In honor of his birthday I'm going to listen to his favorite album and voice my opinion on it. Now the first time I heard it I kind of thought it was terrible, and didn't even listen to the whole thing. But since I'm doing a review of it I have to listen to it at least twice or more. I also know that Jed's brother Josh is in the movie business, well here is the wikipedia page info that will do him more justice that I.

Joseph Hill "Joss" Whedon (born June 23, 1964) is an American screenwriter, executive producer, director, comic book writer, occasional composer and actor, founder of Mutant Enemy Productions and co-creator of Bellwether Pictures. He is best known as the creator and show runner of the television series Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997-2003), Angel (1999-2004), Firefly (2002) and Dollhouse (2009-2010), as well as the short film Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (2008). Whedon wrote and directed the movie adaptation of Marvel's The Avengers which will be released in May 2012. He is also notable for his work in film, comic books, and online media. Many of Whedon's projects, as well as Whedon himself, enjoy cult status.

 Now there is probably stuff missing but that's just the wikipedia stuff at the top. So I am going to actually listen to this at least twice and see whats what.

1. Interstate: The Beginning of this song remind me of an electric xylophone with a guy talking over a microphone to space. As soon as the guitar and chorus come in it reminds me of a Phil Colins song In The Air Tonight, with vocals that also sound like Peter Gabriel on the Genesis album Selling England By The Pound. But that all stops with at about 1:10 where he begins to sing and the drum beat is upbeat with some extra outer space type feeling sound ambient effects going on. The piano solo at about 2:15 is probably the part where is sounds like outer space. This song reminds me of Eisley's brand new Ep Deep Space. Now my second time through this reminds me of what I now know as desrible as donkey kong.
2. Tricks on Me: I thought it was funny that in the beginning he says allegory. That, not that meaning, but an different spelling of that word is an inside joke between me and Jason. This song seems like something that would be on a Big Movie soundtrack. Something like when the kid is riding a bike an it's the beginning where he/her is talking about the premise of his/her life. This song also has a country feel to it, with a drumbeat that somewhat reminds me of Paul Simon's 1975 hit single 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover. Which also is another song that is cool because one of our favorite bands is Flight of The Conchords and they payed homage to that song in their song Carol Brown .
3. To Be Money: The feel I get from this song is one that is what I guess you'd call low-fi. My favorite part of the album is at about 2 minute mark where there is a change in the song, kinda. Like by that I mean like, not sound wise just way wise, Another Girl by The Beatles where it goes "Another Girl, who will love me till the end, through thick and thin she will always be my friend". The song is pretty much a easy listen until it picks up and gets heavier at the last 40 seconds to the fade of the song. 
4. Drone: I feel like this name fits the song. This is another song that has an outer space feel to it. The ambient feel of the background is what adds to it. This reminds me of Lights Out off Deep Space Ep. The second time around I figured out that the introduction beat reminds me of Eminem's song The Way I Am off The Marshall Mathers Lp. I like the acoustic guitar solo on this song. It adds to the vibe and feel.
5. Sugar Cane: This is like like Tricks On Me where it isn't a mellow song, except at the 2:43, but it picks up. The solo in the song is very electronic and sounds good and I love the fact that the bass is so prevalent. The second time around I like the beat more and the guitar and the dirty bass in the background.
6. Ancestors: This songs beginning reminds me of that one song from Titanic, but in space. I know I keep making that space comparison but that what it reminds me of. But it is I think a pretty cool outro, if this was a vinyl, to side one. Because it ends with a sweet feel to it, which is almost always good. 
7. Last Man: Now if this was a Vinyl this would be a good start to side 2. The song is completely different that any other song on the album. This song's chorus reminds me of a good version of Teenage Dream. Which might be a turn off but it is good. This is probably my favorite song. at 2:27ish there is a industrial machine feel right before a solo that sounds like a jazz solo. I don't really think it fits the song. I wish that that machine beat would be more than like 10 seconds and get cut off by a jazz sounding solo that I don't think fits the song.
8. Heat of a Match: This doesn't have a good flow from Last Man to Heat of a Match. I know that it is a different song but in the solo of this song it reminds me of the keyboard solo in MGMT's Congratulations title track, but with a guitar added in. This song gives me a very much so MGMT's Congratulations instrumentation to it until the singing comes in, then it goes back to the space feel, and one that drifts away into space with the piano solo.
9. Trouble Maker: The electronic beat in the background of this song remind me of Diddy Kong. You know the one that is for Super Nintendo. The one with the pirate crocodiles 
10. Bad Son: At first the strings make this song good. but the strings end up making this song kind of drag. And I'm at just over 2 minutes.At 3:30 mark there is a guy who is talking over the music and it reminds me of As I Lay Dying, not style just the way it is played, song to Repeating Yesterday. Or a Killswitch Engage. I laughed the second time around because when that guy talked he asid "Huge Mass" and "Ann" and i said Her!?
11. One of Those Ages: The beginning is like this kid is regretting that he has done some mistakes. I feel like this is has a good lead into the chorus to it and the chorus reminds me of some type of Arcade Fire song off Funeral, which is my favorite Arcade Fire album. This is just an teenage song, like I could see things being the part in the movie where he is forever young and wants summer to last forever but he ends up looking back and his youth has gone by and he is grown up, wanting to do over some mistakes and relive some fun times to.
12. These Words: The beginning of the song is sweet and soft. My only complaint is that he wouldn't sing on this album. I think it would be a good "reprise" of Ancestors if it was just instrumental, but the think is it picks up and the vocals fit. I don't think it would work without vocals unless the beginning of the song was the whole song. and I also wish that if it was instrumental version of the song the build up is gone and it only be like 2 minutes. I still like the song, I just think you should look at it from that aspect. This would be at the end leading up to the credits where the person says the ending words and leads to the ending with the part where the credits start at where the song goes into that heavier part, until the end of the song which fades and thus the credits are over.

Over all this album gives me a novelty feel to it, but in a good way. I would give this a 7.5/10 the first around, but after relistening to it I'd give it an 7.8/10. I'm not huge into this type of much.I think this would be a soundtrack to some movie that would be very successful, and would be one that has a setting in summer. I feel like the lyrics also fit to that summer movie of a kid who would be just growing up and gets himself into messes but grows up and looks back. I think this sounds like a cross between, though this came out after this album, Eisley's Deep Space Ep and Phil Colin's In The Air Tonight and MGMT's 2010 release Congratulations. Another thing this reminds me of is Diddy Kong game for Super Nintendo. The sounds of the electronics in the background remind me of the music in that game. I like this buy. The second time around I fell like it also sounds like Fleet Foxes on some tracks and I also like it a lot more that I did the first time.