Christmas with McGriff

This was actually originally the other release I planned on doing this Christmas. There are some covers and some originals here. At one point I planned to only do albums with originals, but I figured the chances of finding Christmas albums of all  originals is next to..... It's unrealistic. I just was lucky to stumble into that James Brown record. So I went with this, look at that cover.... I know I'd buy that in 1964.

1. White Christmas: This was the opening track to the last album I reviewed...... What a coincidence. Well, to be completely honest I doubt you can hear this on just about every Christmas track. To be completely honest, I kind of like this organ, sax, guitar drums and bass. It doesn't specify if it's a Quintet but I like the set up. This has promise, and it probably my favorite version of this song I've heard.
2. Christmas With McGriff: This is an original, and I think it sounds pretty good. I mean not to the point that I'd revisit it not around Christmas, but still. I think it's a pretty decent track. I think the star is the organ, but that's probably almost always may answer. I do have a very soft spot for theses Hammond organs (?, I assume it's one). This track isn't anything that blows me away, but it's a nice change of pace from the last review.
3. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus: A song I normally dislike, here turned into a song that I think isn't terrible. I mean it doesn't have that cutesy feeling that irritates me. But on the other hand, I don't like the organs sound on this so much. I wish it was played on maybe guitar. And this is basically just a vamp with the organ playing the lead melody. While I probably shouldn't expect people to not do that, I wish it wasn't just that you know. Though I think it might drag on a bit to long. But lots of songs here may over stay their welcome.
4. Hip Santa: This feels pretty fun, I mean it's not amazing, but it feels fun to hear them play. I feel like this was fun while they were recording it. I do enjoy the drumming here, but really I kind of forgot what was happening after spacing out for a second.
5. Winter Wonderland: Of all the songs here this might be the least interesting. I'm sorry to say, but at this point I really can't say that the album is that interesting. I mean it'd be a much better EP. This kind of feels like it's the old "rich people play jazz as background music" stereotype.
6. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town: This is two of three songs that also appeared on Christmas Songs by Sinatra, my previous review. Not this version, but song. This is very faithful to the sound of the rest of the album in it's rendition of this Christmas Classic.
7. Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer: Another song I don't care for, turned into another version that is just another track on this album. I can't really report anything of note.
8. Jingle Bells: This is the last song to be featured on the Sinatra album I just did. Lets see if this version of the song is better than Ole Blue Eye's take. To be honest, I like the swing of this track. I mean it isn't perfect or anything, but much more fun than a standard vocal jazz verison, or really any other version I've heard.

Overall I have to give this album a 5/10. Don't worry I still got at least one more review for this month. Hopefully it'll have Auld Lang Syne or Ave Maria. Either that or be if all original songs. But this is exactly what you'd expect from a jazz organ player. I like this record, but I can't really say anything more that just like. You have no idea how bad I want to review Blowfly's Christmas Party (the single). I could do his Christmas record, but I don't really care much for it..... Maybe next year. Here's a little Christmas gift to you, since I need a lot more time to review these albums I'll just mention some Jazz records to listen to New Grass by Albert Aylers, Pakistani Pomade by Alexander von Schlippenbach Trio, Pre-Bird by Charles Mingus, Out to Lunch by Eric Dolphy, Sextant by Herbie Hancock and one more review to do this year, unless I change my mind.

Colma - Buckethead

The first time I'd ever heard of Buckethead was when his song Jordan was in Guitar Hero II, when the game first came out. I remember seeing him with a KFC bucket on top of his head and he was wearing a white emotionless mask. And behind him was two people dressed up as chickens. That was very odd to me but at the same time it was and awesome song. The song was a competition of who could get farther or who could beat the song on expert, and also what his real face looked like. I remember trying to do it, but eventually another Guitar Hero: Rock the 80's came out, which I got the day it came out, and so on. I was addicted to those games and because of that I barley play them anymore, with exception of family parties or hanging out. I have become interested in what Buckethead does because, like Frank Zappa, he uses Xenochrony.  Xenochrony is basically recycling old parts of songs for new songs and changing them. But he also has like 50+ albums he's been on in like 20 years. I respect that... a lot, even if some of it was with a Les Claypool side project. Now as I had said that I am not really qualified to review a Buckethead album because I don't really know much by him, I do though like the song Big Sur Moon so that is a good reason to listen to it. I already heard like up to that song on the album a little bit ago so I want to voice my opinion on it correctly this time around. So I will listen to it probably twice. Really fast I love the fact that he made this album softer for his mom because she has colon cancer at the time. I do want to say that I did give this a gap between finishing up the album.

1. Whitewash: The drum beat to this song is simple. I love the delay on the guitar and the feel of the bass or what ever backing atmosphere. This is a sweet song and its very laid back. I've heard some of Buckethead's stuff, not like a ton, but it is more aggressive and fast. This is a song that you can just relax to and sit back. This is a song I could see on Comcast Music Choice for smooth jazz kinda. I don't exactly how to back my self up with that but that's what I picture.
2. For Mom: I love this title to a song. This is another pretty song. Imagine how much it meant to his mom when she saw a song called For Mom. This is a song that defiantly makes me cry. The solo in the song is beautiful. And the drumbeat keeps it going. This almost reminds me of some type of classical piece. The acoustic guitar solos throughout this track make me want to cry when I pay attention to their beauty.
3. Ghost: This is another song I could see on the Comcast Music Choice for Smooth Jazz. It is pretty but the second time I heard this I'm still not a huge fan. I do though very much like the solo type thing that comes in at like 2 minutes into it. I hope that that solo can save this song for me. I do love the end of the song where it is chords and the solo fades out while the chords fade in.
4. Hills Of Eternity:This is another pretty song. The one thing about it though it that it is beginning to get a little repetitive. And by that I could see this all being one rehearsal for one song except there is different improve for the song, but not that different.
5. Big Sur Moon: This and For Mom are my two favorite tracks. I love this fricken song. It's only like 2 minutes long but it is one of the sickest songs I heard. I love the delay but not only that the background sounds that you hear with headphones. The way it moves back and forth between ears, left to right. It also sounds like a surf rock type of song. By far the best song.
6. Machete: I could know of see this being an Enigma song. Either that or some song that would be in a movie where it's like a spy. A movie where they are walking in a Casino and about to steal the money. Something like that. This song is pretty smooth.
7. Wishing Well: This song has this kind of country twang to it. I think that it's kind of pretty sounding. This solo kind of reminds me a little of Santana.
8. Lone Sal Bug: This is also a pretty sweet song. I don't really think there is much difference between any of the tracks. At least, it's hard to tell.
9. Santum: This song has a little more distortion to the guitar then some of the other tracks.
10. Wondering: This is a pretty song. It's not that different than anyother track, but yeah.
11. Watching the Boats with My Dad: This is a pretty neat song. I think it's fine. I don't think it's anything special sounding, but I still think it's Ok.
12. Ghost/Part 2: I didn't think much of this.
13. Colma: The atmosphere and sound of this song is one of something that would be like recorded in a church. It gives it this eerie feeling to it. It also has record crackles in the background to make it sound like an old school record.

Overall this album was ok. I'd give it a 5/10. I didn't like it as much as I wanted to but I did have a certain expectation. I hope that this grows on me but as of now I have to say its too repetitive for me. And I sat through 12 hours of 7 Skies 3H. The soloing to the songs are pretty but some of the repetition are just too much. I had to turn the album off twice. TWICE. I don't know, I just kind of think this is a dull album. Maybe with some more listens I'll like it more. But, realistically, I don't even think I'll remember this album. The one thing about this album thought it it obviously have memories for Buckethead and it seems all the tracks are named after some childhood memory. His mom must have loved this. This is a meaningful album, but not to me. I HAVE NOTHING BUT RESPECT THAT HE DID THIS, but I'm just not a fan of the music on it.

The Portable Cypher Volume 1 - Brock Berrigan

This is some download that I just downloaded because I thought the album cover was kinda goofy. I thought, getting into this, that this would be like a hip-hop album or something that I wouldn't really like but well, you'll see how I was wrong. What I am going to say about this is, that it completely kicked my ass.

1. Brandy of the Damned: This song kind of reminded me of a song that I could see being in Kill Bill. One of the parts where she is in Tokyo, in Vol. 1, and the bride in walking through the club is in O'ren Ishii's in. If you didn't know that's my favorite movie EVER!!!!!
2. Geronimo: This song could also kind of be in that to, possibly. I'm not sure, but I could see this being a song that kind of reminds me of Sweet Cream (Redux) off the the Crank High Voltage soundtrack Mike Patton did back in 2009. I love that song, this reminds me of it because of the drums and stuff.
3. Orchestrated Mad Man: This beat sounds like a new updated, hip/underground, James Bond song. I could see this playing while he is walking thought a Casino in on of the movies and is about to meet the bad guy for the first time. There is eve
4. Breakfast with a Stranger: This is defiantly a song that I could see being in like a revamped '60s James Bond classic. Maybe a movie like Thunderball. I might just be crazy, but this gives me this ocean, underwater feel. One that is portrayed through Thunderball.
5. Dragon's: This song starts with an older woman singing "A dragon once lived on the side of the mountian". The thing that's cool about her saying that is that her voice moves back and forth pretty fast alternating between left channel to right channel.
6. Get The Message Out: This song is like a song that I could see being in an action movie. Possible like Crank. There is a ballin feel to it where I could see it on that basketball video game Dan the Automator did back in like '08-'09 one of those.
7. Paddy's Pub: This song has this girl voice in the background that reminds me of The Resident's song Burn Baby Burn. The rest of the song has this smooth, jazz feeling. Like its slick cats. If you know what I mean.
8. The Headless Horseman's Rampage: This song has that eerie feel to it that makes me feel like it would reminds me of an eerie scene in a movie. I think there it a clip from Ricky Bobby in that song, but I'm not sure.
9. Coffee and Bacon: This is defiantly a song where I could see it fitting the morning where they are planning and it is starting to flow, and the story line gets interesting. This could be in like Pulp Fiction or a Quentin Tarentino movie. Actually I think this would fit into Kill Bill Vol. 1 perfectly. It definitely has that chill feeling, relaxed and layed back.
10. Long Strange Evenings: I don't really know how to explain this track, You have to listen to this. I think that the name fits it. It is a cool track. This song is also very chill, and I think that it has a lot of keys in it more so, if that makes sense. I love the way the keys sound for it to. This is a sick ness.
11. Yesterday's Hero: This song is really cool. It sounds like the rest of the tracks, but it is more big, like orchestra sounding big. This song is really cool and has this sample of someone singing under the mix, but it's buried in the mix. The guy singing sounds like he is screaming to get out, and that works perfect with the fact his voice is so buried in the mix. This would be an amazing way to end a movie. And to top it off this is ten seconds short of being one minute longer than the second longest track at 2:46. This is probably the best track and an amazing way to end. The song kind of cuts off. One of the best endings of like, Ever. {11/10}

Overall this was a 9.7/10. It was awesome, I very much so suggest it if you like instrumental music. Also it you like music with a jazz feel to it. Or if you like Mike Patton's solo soundtrack work or that Lovage album he did with Dan the Automator in 2001. This actually reminds me of the instrumental version of that album, a ton. It's kind of hard to explain these type of soundtrack albums . I really like this, and I am definitely going to pay for all of his stuff, as soon as I get a debit card.

The Dark Side of the Moon - The 8-bit Album

What better way to celebrate the one year shy of 40th anniversary of on of the greatest albums, and one of my most influential albums I've ever heard on me, that to upload and review the 8-bit version that I downloaded and the original 1973 Pink Floyd version of the album. I'm doing this review first and then I'm uploading the original after I get home from school at about between the time of 3:30pm-5:00pm. This bitch is going up at midnight. Now I have been willing to listen to this album because I don't have anything to do today so I'll try to pump as many album reviews as I can today for this next week. This weekend is gonna be separate, mainly because my friend Justin Stockton's birthday is March 2nd and I'll review So Far, So Good... So What for his birthday, which is my favorite Megadeth album. Now I don't know much about 8-bit songs, except for that they usually sound like Mario or Pokemon. So I'm playing this by ear and memories of the original 1973 Pink Floyd version. I'm also saving all my supre descriptive stuff for the actually original version review that's going up later. Sorry change of plan The original Pink Floyd version is going up the 8th, one week later, inorder to save room for a more meainigful album to me Eisley's The Valley.

1. Speak to Me/Breathe by bit_rat: The beginning of this song sounds like a copying machine, until the music comes in. The sound of this song works with this program and it sounds pretty good. I like how most all the instruments sound like real. And I think the vocals sound reminds me of something you'd hear on Pokemon video games for Gameboy.
2. On The Run by EvilWevil: This is probably on of the best songs for them to do this 8-bit version for because this song is primarily synthesizers.
3. Time by khades: This song is ok. I'm not a huge fan of this version of the song, at first. But it does get better after it starts playing the vocal parts
4. The Great Gig in the Sky by Rabato: Bitches step aside for one of my favs. The one thing is that this didn't live up to my expectation of the song.
5. Money by sergeeo: This song also didn't reach what I wanted but it was fun. Pretty danceable mix of the song.
6. Us and Them by Videogame Orchestra: This song is always a good one and this version isn't an exception. 
7. Any Colour You Like by Jason Vincion: This is ok. can't complain
8. Brain Damage by echosignal: This is a fun easy listening version of the song.
9. Eclipse by Brad Smith and Temp Sound Solutions: I really like this version. I don't know what it is about it I just really like this version of the song for some reason or other. It is just.... I don't know. It just gets me excited to review the original.

Over all I give this a 6.8/10. I don't know much about 8-bit music except for that fact that I'd love to review it again. This was fun listening to such an iconic piece of history, or the world and also myself, with a new take. I really enjoyed it and am going to look for more 8-bit versions of albums.

In Today Already Walks Tomorrow - Sleepmakeswaves

I don't really know anything about this band. And neither do you probably. I'm going to educate you, along with myself, about this band and my opinion on this album. I'm gonna start doing this more often in order to listen to more of my music free music, legal of course, on my computer. Alright this is an Instrumental Australian band and released 3 Eps and a full length that came out last year. I like the album cover and what I heard is pretty nice and sounds cool.

1. I Will Write Peace On Your Wings And You Will Fly Over The World: Alright this song starts out with an atmosphere in the background. Then a grumbling bass comes in along with a guitar riff and drums. This song is pretty enjoyable. After the 1:45 intro the song goes into a arpeggio sounding guitar part that is accompanied by pretty acoustic/Spanish guitar and atmospheric synths. The song progressively begins to build. During that build up there is a drum that comes in like a marching beat along with a bass beat and it all goes together until it climaxes to then stops, then restarts at a new level with more going on in the song. There is what seems to sound like choir type vocals in the background as this 7 minute epic starts off the Ep. The song flows with this electronic thing carrying it to the end.
2. Exits To Nowhere: The guitar in this song has a similar sound to the guitar at the beginning of the last song. This also has an atmospheric opening feel to it. The thing that I don't like is that so far, knowing that these guys are instrumental, that this would be better if this was more spread out. I'm afraid that this will ruin it for me. I could see this song being later on an album or the beginning of a double album like side 3 but not the second track of an Ep.
3. One Day You Will Teach Me To Let Go Of My Fears: This song is a little different at the beginning. This is more bass driven to start the song. This song builds with this bad ass guitar riff into another somewhat similar, song backing atmosphere to the others before it on the Ep. I feel like these guys are trying to hard to make this sound big. I know that this is a good sound but still. I don't really think that there is much differences, beside strings, on this song.
4. So That The Children Will Always Shout Her Name: Yet another song. The drums sound cool but there is no actual real thing met. The song has some what sound like horns. wooo :(
5. It's Dark, It's Cold, It's Winter: There is what seems to be someone writing with chalk in the background. This song is a little different, because it has more guitar instead of bass and drums. This song also seems more electronic. The shit thing is that doesn't last very long, because it builds up. But after the build up it goes down.
6. What We Cannot Speak Of Must Be Passed Over In Silence: This song is the ending. Guess what no changes either. :) #jk. If anything this was a good music to get something done to. Like an sound to just pass up and stuff. Like music that shouldn't be paid attention to.

Over all this is a 4.5/10. I liked it but I could tell that the album would be a bore when I found out it was instrumental and when I heard the second track. That's bad. The songs seem to be structured the same way and they could be the same song, just different variations. I think the album cover paints a picture for this album. I like the songs but It would be better with vocals and a full album. The builds on this album are not noticalbe. Like I had to piece together the parts to realize the build up was over and it was the climax or the part where it built up to. Want to listen to again, just not all that willing to waste another 37 minutes of my life with this ep. Hopefully they will make another this and it will be good. Who knows all I know is that this isn't a good way to start the hopefully tri weekly, or even weekdays, segment of these free music reviews. -I am going to re-review this after I do a review of Lift Yer Skinny Little Fingers Like Antennas to Heaven by Godspeed You! Black Emperor.-