69. Killing Joke - Absolute Dissent (2010)
Genre: Post-Punk

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Absolute Dissent
The Great Cull
Fresh Fever From The Skies
In Excelsis
European Super State
This World Hell
Endgame
The Raven King
Honour The Fire
Depthcharge
Here Comes The Singularity
Ghost of Ladbroke Grove


Alright so I've decided that the only way this list is ever going to get done is if I say "to hell with the ranking" and just post whatever album I feel like talking about, and today I feel like talking about one of the most neglected and important alternative music groups to ever walk the Earth.

Killing Joke started off as a post-punk band in the late '70's early '80's when all those other post-punk bands you enjoy were also active. Why is Joy Division and The Fall more fondly remembered? Well Killing Joke's self-titled debut utilized the same style as those bands, but their music was far heavier and slower, more in line with Black Sabbath. This dissonance made it hard for them to find an audience, as their music lacked the same kind of introspective lyrics popularized by the genre, instead focusing on the occult and socio-political that are more present in punk and metal. In any case, the band progressed through the '80's releasing a steady stream of albums with varying styles and acclaim, but it was perhaps having Metallica cover their song "The Wait" that really helped them break over into the metal community, where the band has set up camp. From 1990's Extremities, Dirt, and Other Repressed Emotions onwards the band's musical style has largely been a heavy and slow, with glimpses of their former post-punk origins, until 2010.

I felt there needed to be a little context before this review so people who are unfamiliar with the band may understand what makes this album so good. It's a band that has been around for 30 years, making musics that range in sound, all culminating into one glorious record that affirms the band's cult status, as well as the continued relevance of a band that has inspired so many others. I think that's where the real success comes from, it's not enough to just release a good album, but to release a good album that is relevant to the musical stylings of the current age as well as the current socio-political climate without sounding withered or archaic is no easy task. It's like if a father were to go away to war, leaving the household in charge of his son, and while the son does the best job he can, there's a certain sense of comfort when daddy comes home and says "take a rest son, I'll show you how it's done"

The great thing is, even if you're just in it for the music, you're still going to get your money/time's worth because the band has proven they can rock louder and harder than bands half their age. The attention to production is a welcome change from their previous album, which suffered a little from muddled production that made it sound very intimidating, but hard to get into for new fans. There's enough of a crisp production that still leaves room for a kind of jam session that allows for mistakes or inconsistencies that perfectionists never allow. The only song that feels a little too artificial for its own good is the electronic song, "European Super State", but fortunately the song is incredibly catchy so you likely won't notice it.

The songs also follow a great consistency, which is another thing Killing Joke do very well. While the songs all have their own unique sound and no two sound the same, they do retain similar qualities which helps the album feel as a cohesive unit, intended for a full listen rather than the disjointed schizophrenic symptom some albums succumb to.

As for the lyrics, well... depending on how political you like your music this can either make or break the album. The good thing about Jaz's muddled lyrical delivery is that it can be hard to make out what he's saying, so if your political views fall more along the ultra conservative side, you probably won't be offended. Not that the lyrics are all "Labour Party fo life", in fact, they probably represent more political apathy and focus more on the consequences the constituents face when dealing with political and societal stagnation. Some songs can fall more along the conspiratorial side like "The Great Cull", which predicts a "Great Cull" if you will of the human population due to water fluoridation, nutrients being extracted from foods, and the Codex Alimentarius. The thing is, when it comes to their political themed songs, the band doesn't use convenient umbrella labels and terms, instead using specific words and examples, so unless you're familiar with them, the political/socio ranting will only be secondary. Yet despite their political leanings, there are a few songs about more trivial or personal matters like luminous lights spotted over Ladbroke Grove, or the the theory of technological singularity, or the stress that touring puts on a band and their relationship with friends and family.

In a nutshell, Absolute Dissent is one of those rare albums that does so much right and has so much going for it, that I feel the need to share it with as many people as possible. Not only that, but it really seems like the perfect Killing Joke introduction album for younger people who are familiar with the bands Killing Joke inspired (like every alternative rock band from the late '80's/ early '90's onward). It's a testament to the few who manage to remain relevant throughout their entire career, able to be enjoyed through a fresh perspective like Patrick Stewart, rather than subsisting on nostalgia and self-deprecation, like Axl Rose. I would highly recommend everyone check out this album.

68. Corb Lund - Hair In My Eyes Like A Highland Steer (2005)
Genre: Country

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Hair In My Eyes Like A Highland Steer
Truck Got Stuck
Always Keep an Edge on Your Knife
The Rodeo's Over
Hurtin' Albertan
Big Butch Bass Bull Fiddle
All I Wanna Do Is Play Cards
The Truth Comes Out
Counterfeiters' Blues
Good Copenhagen
Trouble in the Country
Little Foothills Heaven
The Truck Got Stuck Talkin' Blues (featuring Ramblin' Jack Elliott)



Ever since I started listening to Corb Lund I've been internally debating which album I prefer, Hair In My Eyes... or Horse Soldier, Horse Soldier. Horse Soldier was the first album of his I listened to and it really hit me hard because it was so steeped in history, but it also woke me up to the fact that good country existed beyond Johnny Cash. While there were some upbeat songs on Horse Solider, it was a far more sombre and melancholy album which suited my mood at the time. Years later though, I think I prefer Corb more when he's having a good time, and I really can't think of a more upbeat and fun album than Hair In My Eyes....

The album starts off with the titular song which is an upbeat, if short introduction to what to expect on the album. No greater meaning or subtle humor, but it is a catchy as hell song that will stay stuck in your head for a couple of hours. Fortunately the humor comes from the next song, "Truck Got Stuck" which recants an afternoon of driving trucks in the mud with friends. While I've never had a truck nor the desire to go out mudding, the tale is told in such a friendly way that you can't help but picture yourself in the situation. This is where Corb really excels at songwriting because country music is so based in telling simple stories that can appeal to everyone, even if you've never done the actions mentioned in the story.

If there's one problem with the album it's the two slow songs, "Rodeo's Over" and "The Truth Comes Out" really feel out of place with the rest of the songs and kind of slows the album down. It's a bit of a shame because "The Truth Comes Out" is a great song, but would feel more at place on one of his other albums. Other than that, I really don't have any problems with the album. Some could argue that the instrumentation is a little on the plain side, but I always find country music to be a lyrical genre, with the music as a frame, and all the instrumental pieces fit the song and the bass gets some real treatment on "Big Butch Bass Bull Fiddle".

Overall this is a jovial upbeat album that is perfect for a road trip. If you're on the fence about country because of what you hear on the radio then I would highly recommend Corb Lund.