The Beginner's Guide to...

Astronomer · 08-13-2009, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gotjuice

I'm not sure how useful this will be to most people, but I had this idea and decided to do it anyways. Worst case I just spent an hour doing this that I would have wasted anyways

The Beginner's Guide to Maynard James Keenan

If Maynard James Keenan has not had the greatest musical impact on my fairly young life so far, he would at the very least be in the top three. Tool is one of the few bands that I can say actually prompted me to change major things around in my life and attempt things I might not have attempted before. I can still identify with the ideas and emotions MJK put forth, from the pissed-off disillusionment of Opiate to the self-discovery of Aenima to the bitterness toward the ****ed-up world of 10,000 Days. One of the reasons I love MJK is that he seems to be able to convey whatever emotion he needs to in his vocals, so these feelings of rage and self-doubt and grief come pouring through even more powerfully. Tool seems to be one of those bands that you either love or hate, I guess it's fairly obvious which side of that fence I am on.

But Maynard's two side projects also deserve more recognition than they usually get. A Perfect Circle gets compared to Maynard's main project far too much. IMO, it should be thought of less as Tool's little brother and more of Tool's third cousin twice removed. There are glimmers of similarity, but nothing you should ever attribute to anything more than having the same frontman. APC is not Tool 2.0, but it has still produced two fine albums. Mer de Noms is a dark and depressing album, but its the selective anger that allows it to lash out in just the right places that makes it a great album IMO. Thirteenth Step is a solid album that I didn't enjoy as much as their debut, but does have a very interesting concept and some great tracks.

If APC is Tool's third cousin twice removed, then Puscifer, Maynard's most recent side project, would be like the creepy cousin that nobody wants to invite to the family reunion. Obviously it's not to be taken nearly as seriously as either of the two bands listed above, but that doesn't mean that the music isn't kickass. Maynard's had a lot of help with this group, but that doesn't take away from the fact that it takes someone seriously creative and talented to transition completely away from what he's been doing, to this.

This comp is in two parts for a few reasons. One, my Tool bitrates are higher than the others, so when I tried to make one file I found myself having to cut too much of one group for all the songs I wanted to include. Two, a lot of people have heard Tool but maybe haven't given a serious listen to either APC or Puscifer, so no sense wasting bandwidth if that's the case. So, without further ado.

The Introduction to MJK Part One
1. Tool-Part Of Me (Opiate, 1992)
2. Tool-Flood (Undertow, 1993)
3. Tool-Eulogy (Ænima, 1996)
4. Tool-Forty Six & 2 (Ænima, 1996)
5. Tool-Ænema (Ænima, 1996)
6. Tool-The Grudge (Lateralus, 2001)
7. Tool-Lateralus (Lateralus, 2001)
8. Tool-Reflection (Lateralus, 2001)
9. Tool-10,000 Days (Wings, Part 2) (10,000 Days, 2006)
10. Tool-Right In Two (10,000 Days, 2006)
Bonus track: Tool-Pu**** (Live) (Salival, 2000)
MJK Part One

The Introduction to MJK Part Two
1. A Perfect Circle-The Hollow (Mer De Noms, 2000)
2. A Perfect Circle-Judith (Mer De Noms, 2000)
3. A Perfect Circle-3 Libras (Mer De Noms, 2000)
4. A Perfect Circle-The Package (Thirteenth Step, 2003)
5. A Perfect Circle-Weak And Powerless (Thirteenth Step, 2003)
6. A Perfect Circle-Pet (Thirteenth Step, 2003)
7. A Perfect Circle-Imagine (eMOTIVe, 2004)
8. A Perfect Circle-Passive (eMOTIVe, 2004)
9. Puscifer-REV 22:20 (Don't Shoot The Messenger EP, 2007)
10. Puscifer-****ry Boner (****ry Boner single, 2007)
11. Puscifer-Queen B. ("V" Is For Vagina, 2007)
12. Puscifer-Vagina Mine ("V" Is For Vagina, 2007)
13. Puscifer-Trekka ("V" Is For Vagina, 2007)
14. Puscifer-Indigo Children (JLE Dub Mix) ("V" Is For Viagra, 2008)
15. Puscifer-Drunk With Power (Hungover And Hostile In Hannover Mix) ("V" Is For Viagra, 2008)
16. Puscifer-Queen B. (Glitched And Bent Mix) ("V" Is For Viagra, 2008)
Bonus track: Puscifer-****ry Boner (Disco Viagra Mix) ("V" Is For Viagra, 2008)
MJK Part Two

Comments welcome, like I said this was mostly just a way to kill time.

My new favourite poster

MJK is definitely THE biggest influence as far as music goes in my life. Even further than music.

Great comps with nice key tracks picked out. One problem I seem to find myself having with Maynard and his musical projects is how they often all get lumped together. I like to think of Tool, A Perfect Circle, and Puscifer as completely different musical entities - well, because they are. Especially Tool. When people think of Tool they think of Maynard and not of the other amazing musicans who make the band what it is - Adam Jones, Danny Carey, and Justin Chancellor. This is precisely what Maynard wanted to avoid and why he attempts to put himself in the shadows and create equality for all band members. Another issue with Tool compilations in particular is that I think Tool albums really have to be listened to as whole albums rather than separate songs.

But you're right in that people seem not to give A Perfect Circle and Puscifer a listen because 'they've already heard Tool.'

Nevertheless, this post makes me happy because I think MJK is just awesome and an amazing musician/artist who has definitely influenced me in a lot of areas of my life. People should definitely give this comp a listen, and I'd be curious to know what they think of it!

Fender · 08-13-2009, 02:53 AM

Nice Sublime comp, though I would have liked to see Garden Grove on there. On the subject, I think Sublime is a decent band. They do get too much praise by many people that have little idea on ska/reggae, however I also think they do get a little too much hate from the ska/reggae fans.

For me, I got into Sublime my sophomore year in high school. I dug the sound and they were the bridge to my ska/reggae love. I got into other ska bands, and eventhough I enjoy most of the ska bands more than Sublime, I still feel like I wouldn't have stumbled upon them if it hadn't been for Sublime.

Son of JayJamJah · 08-13-2009, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhammer

Sublime are terrible. They are an affront to the music that spawned them. Why does everyone go gaga on second rate Reggae and ignore the real deal

Because the music of Sublime is endlessly more accessible and instantly relatable\enjoyable for a whole more broader spectrum of people. A lot of ska, reggae and the like are almost impossible for the uninitiated ear to enjoy, almost everyone who gets high likes Sublime.

jackhammer · 08-17-2009, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayJamJah

Because the music of Sublime is endlessly more accessible and instantly relatable\enjoyable for a whole more broader spectrum of people. A lot of ska, reggae and the like are almost impossible for the uninitiated ear to enjoy, almost everyone who gets high likes Sublime.

Real smokers get off on Dub

I was mainly hoping for posters to maybe dip their toes into the influences of Sublime and they will find a very rich, diverse and rewarding spectrum of music but alas

debaserr · 08-17-2009, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhammer

Real smokers get off on Dub

I was mainly hoping for posters to maybe dip their toes into the influences of Sublime and they will find a very rich, diverse and rewarding spectrum of music but alas

albums to get?

jackhammer · 08-17-2009, 05:28 PM

Scientist wins the world cup.
Mad Professor- RAS Portraits
10ft Ganja plant- midnight Landing
Sly and Robbie- Drum and Bass stripped to the bone by Howie B.

Bulldog · 08-17-2009, 05:34 PM

^ Don't forget Augustus Pablo's East Of the River Nile - quite possibly my personal favourite.

Oh, and Keith Hudson's Pick a Dub.

jackhammer · 08-18-2009, 05:11 PM

Massive Attack

I posted about this band recently in my journal which piqued a little interest and also a couple of members have enquired about getting more into electronic music, so what better way than to celebrate one of England's most influential and unique bands.

Massive Attack were born from the Bristol scene that was a huge collective of musicians and DJ's from the city of the same name. MA have generally been credited with being the first 'Trip Hop' band which is a genre that amalgamated sampling and DJ cutting with a less commercial sound that relies on atmospherics and a 'cinematic' soundscape whilst retaining a core sound that is quintessentially English.

The core trio of Daddy G, Mushroom and 3G has now almost become a project for 3G alone but they have always been a band that has had numerous guest vocalists and musicians to contribute to a sound that veers between dance orientated grooves and post punk guitar driven monolithic tracks.

Hugely original and innovative, their meagre 4 albums over a near 20 year period (plus a couple of average film soundtracks) have still produced a body of work that is always highly listenable and rewarding in it's intensity and vigour.

Possibly creating one of the finest electronic dance tracks ever (Unfinished Sympathy) lead the band to be evermore creative and each subsequent album has seen them diversify whilst still retaining their qualities. Even 2003's long awaited album 100th Window (which was essentially a solo album for 3G and collaborator Neil Davidge) which initially disappointed is now something of a lost classic.

If you really don't know where to begin with Electronic music and may even have prejudices against then I urge you to be amazed and enlightened to just how amazing and essential this band is.

Tracklisting:

1. Protection
2. Angel
3. Teardrop
4. Weather Storm
5. Unfinished Sympathy
6. Dissolved Girl
7. Lately
8. Heat Miser
9. Black Mel
10.Everywhen

debaserr · 08-18-2009, 05:21 PM

i will give it a go!

jackhammer · 08-18-2009, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trace87

i will give it a go!

Good man. I hope you find at least a couple of tracks that you will like.

08-17-2009, 05:28 PM	#206 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	Scientist wins the world cup. Mad Professor- RAS Portraits 10ft Ganja plant- midnight Landing Sly and Robbie- Drum and Bass stripped to the bone by Howie B. __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

08-18-2009, 05:11 PM	#208 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	Massive Attack I posted about this band recently in my journal which piqued a little interest and also a couple of members have enquired about getting more into electronic music, so what better way than to celebrate one of England's most influential and unique bands. Massive Attack were born from the Bristol scene that was a huge collective of musicians and DJ's from the city of the same name. MA have generally been credited with being the first 'Trip Hop' band which is a genre that amalgamated sampling and DJ cutting with a less commercial sound that relies on atmospherics and a 'cinematic' soundscape whilst retaining a core sound that is quintessentially English. The core trio of Daddy G, Mushroom and 3G has now almost become a project for 3G alone but they have always been a band that has had numerous guest vocalists and musicians to contribute to a sound that veers between dance orientated grooves and post punk guitar driven monolithic tracks. Hugely original and innovative, their meagre 4 albums over a near 20 year period (plus a couple of average film soundtracks) have still produced a body of work that is always highly listenable and rewarding in it's intensity and vigour. Possibly creating one of the finest electronic dance tracks ever (Unfinished Sympathy) lead the band to be evermore creative and each subsequent album has seen them diversify whilst still retaining their qualities. Even 2003's long awaited album 100th Window (which was essentially a solo album for 3G and collaborator Neil Davidge) which initially disappointed is now something of a lost classic. If you really don't know where to begin with Electronic music and may even have prejudices against then I urge you to be amazed and enlightened to just how amazing and essential this band is. Tracklisting: 1. Protection 2. Angel 3. Teardrop 4. Weather Storm 5. Unfinished Sympathy 6. Dissolved Girl 7. Lately 8. Heat Miser 9. Black Mel 10.Everywhen __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

08-18-2009, 05:21 PM	#209 (permalink)
debaserr eat the masters Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 5,470	i will give it a go! __________________ Last.FM

08-13-2009, 02:53 AM	#202 (permalink)
Fender Groupie Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11	Nice Sublime comp, though I would have liked to see Garden Grove on there. On the subject, I think Sublime is a decent band. They do get too much praise by many people that have little idea on ska/reggae, however I also think they do get a little too much hate from the ska/reggae fans. For me, I got into Sublime my sophomore year in high school. I dug the sound and they were the bridge to my ska/reggae love. I got into other ska bands, and eventhough I enjoy most of the ska bands more than Sublime, I still feel like I wouldn't have stumbled upon them if it hadn't been for Sublime.

08-17-2009, 05:34 PM	#207 (permalink)
Bulldog why bother? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Posts: 4,840	^ Don't forget Augustus Pablo's East Of the River Nile - quite possibly my personal favourite. Oh, and Keith Hudson's Pick a Dub.