The Identity Matrix Hall of Fame

The Identity Matrix · 12-23-2015, 10:23 PM

One step forward twenty steps back...

Tell Me I'm Pretty by Cage the Elephant

Year: 2015
Genre: Garage/Psychedelic/Blues Rock
Nationality: American

The Review: After a wonderful album with 2013's Melophobia, I was awaiting this record. When it was announced I was super excited, then I heard that Dan Aurebach, of Black Keys fame, was going to produce it. Excitement left the building and dread creeped in uninvited. After listening to the discography of the Black Keys, his solo work, and his new band the Arcs, I figured out that Dan couldn't do something different if his life depended on it. While his work is solid, he writes the same thing with every record. I was worried that this fate would befall one of my most anticipated releases of the year. Unfortunately it did. Cage the Elephant have created an album that lacks originality. I have three major issues with this record. First, Matt Schulz, lead vocalist, has just dumped every ounce of energy he ever had in his voice into a bucket and threw it out the window. Tracks like Cry Baby got me excited because it was a change of pace from the other tracks the band has written in the past, less energy a little slower. However, I quickly found that in every song, his voice sounds the exact same. Some of that is due to the production I get that. But come on, its like no one gave this guy a chance to really sing, if that makes sense. Secondly the song writing is very repetitive. From the first single, Mess Around, to Portuguese Knife Fight I hear the same song. The songs are not bad, don't get me wrong, its just the lack of variety is killing me. In fact I do enjoy some tracks like Cry Baby and Mess Around. Its just the rest of the album doesn't stand out on its own. Finally I cannot stand the fact that these guys, or Dan that piece of ****, decided to shove every type of garage/psychedelia/Blues/Classic Rock influence they could find into not one, not two, not three but all ten tracks on this album. Why?!?!?!?!?!? I just don't get it. This band created the most frustrating release of the year for me. Disappointment follows with every single listen, I am sad that I am even writing this about Cage the Elephant. I am going to use my new found blind hatred of Dan Aurebach as a way to forgive this band. I hope they can clean up their act and get back on track for the next release.

Tell Me I'm Pretty receives a 4.9/10

Standout Tracks: Cry Baby, Mess Around

Weaker Tracks: Everything Else

Dan Aurebach, if this is his fault he gets the biggest **** of the year award from me. But If its not then he still gets it because I need someone to focus my anger and disappointment on.
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The Identity Matrix · 12-23-2015, 10:25 PM

Thought I would post this just so everyone can see my new found hatred for Dan Auerbach.

Tristan: I will add both albums to my listening list. I really wanted to like the album but it didn't click. I'll try number two and see how it goes.

The Identity Matrix · 12-24-2015, 01:46 PM

Memories found on remedy lane...

Remedy Lane by Pain of Salvation

Year: 2002
Genre: Progressive Rock/Metal
Nationality: Swedish

The Review: The fourth studio album by progressive rock/metal act Pain of Salvation is a different beast compared to the first one I reviewed, One Hour by the Concrete Lake. I mean this in a sonic way because this album lacks a lot of the industrial overtones that surrounded One Hour by the Concrete Lake. However, I found that the progression of the album did feel similar to OHBTCL due to the story of a protagonist searching for self discovery. I read that this album is supposed to be loosely based on the frontman of the band, Daniel Gildenlöw, and his trials and tribulations in life. So there is a definite connection to OHBTCL which I think is really cool considering I already reviewed that album. Now on to Remedy Lane. The album begins with an interesting prelude, Of Two Beginnings, then moves into the first track, Ending Theme. A very dark and intimate track that sets up the rest of the album quite nicely. The vocals are perfect fit for the mood of the song and I am definitely digging the Geoff Tate style vocalization for the track. The infamous piano that I was quite fond of on the other record returns in the next track Fandango. I have no idea why but I see the song as being very ethereal. The distant vocals mixed with the tougher instrumentation makes it feel ghostly in nature. It progressively moves into a much more staccato delivery in the same vein as some Dream Theater tracks. Trace of Blood is a fantastic slice of progressive rock with a heavy edge. The intimacy returns with This Heart is Mine (I Pledge) reminding me of Genesis almost. I hope you have noticed the pattern here. These guys are taking a ton of influences from other bands and putting it to work in their own songs. I hear Rush (Chain Sling) Genesis, Dream Theater and Queensryche all intermixed within these tracks. Waking Every God gets heavy, along with Rope Ends. More prog in the track Beyond the Pale, which is a fantastic closer in my opinion. The remaining tracks hit me in a different way though. A sound that was a little different. I ended up loving Second Love even though the concept seems so simple on paper. I think that is where these guys shine. When they simplify their sound and concept to a level in which they can develop it within the song. It shows true progressiveness when they manage this feat. I am not sure I understand the point of putting two instrumentals right in a row. Dryad of the Woods is a very Zeppelin style track in my opinion mixed with the intimacy of their sound, minus the vocals, (cause there aren't any) but Remedy Lane right after it seems off to me. Overall I found the vocalist has really found his place in the band. He was struggling just a slight bit in OHBTCL but here I feel he shows his talent very well. I believe he wrote most of the record by himself if I am not mistaken. The greatest thing about this whole record though is that I am still finding new ways to view each track on the album with each listen. A lot of ideas and details left unexplored makes me excited to keep diving into this album and probably the rest of their discography. My main issue with the record though is the lack of originality in some of the tracks. But it isn't a big enough issue to ruin the album for me at all.

Remedy Lane receives an 8.6/10

Standout Tracks: Ending Theme, A Trace of Blood, Rope Ends, Chain Sling, Second Love, Beyond the Pale.

Weaker Tracks: Undertow

A great record that shows some cool ideas being fleshed out. I can't wait to dive into the rest of their albums. Congratulations again Chula Vista you have hit two for two with this band. What else you got for me?

The Identity Matrix · 12-29-2015, 01:04 PM

Hey everyone just letting you all know that I am a little backed up with the listening list I have going on right now and I am working hard trying to get through these albums and review them.

The Identity Matrix · 01-05-2016, 09:50 PM

What a wonderful style...

Enter the Wu Tang (36 Chambers) by Wu Tang Clan

Year: 1993
Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
Nationality: American

The Review: Considered an absolute classic by many, Enter the Wu Tang has appeared on so many "best of" lists that really its become quite the enigma. I get a strange nagging feeling that this album was put on all of those lists due to its age and release time rather than its artistic merit. Don't get me wrong, I have a dozen reasons why I consider this album a classic (spoiler alert: I have heard this album before) but I feel that better records have been released in this genre since then and they still do not get as much praise. 2000's MF DOOM for example. I guess what I am getting at is that this album looks to be a bit overrated based on the fact it wasn't released in the 2000's. Moving on, I truly enjoy quite a few tracks off of this record. The organic beats behind the verses serve to be some of the best of the time. Tracks like Method Man and Protect Ya Neck are two of my favorite rap songs from the early 1990s period. The whole concept behind the record and the real progression of the tracks equate to a very smooth listening experience. I do find that the second half of this record shines a bit more than the first. C.R.E.A.M and Tearz combined with the aforementioned Method Man and Protect Ya Neck and that wonderful finisher the Wu Tang: 7th Chamber/Conclusion is the strongest back half of any rap album period. The first couple of tracks though like Bring da Ruckus and Clan in Da Front aren't really doing it for me. I guess its the flow of the narrative in these tracks that seem a little boring to me. Narrative is key for me when it comes to hip hop and rap and this album can sometimes struggle with that. I feel I may be a bit ignorant to the subject matter of the album, gang violence and society of that time, but I won't hurt the album for it. Instead I praise it for tackling such issues and weaving a narrative that listeners could easily follow. It's cool to think about. My gripes with the album is simply based in the ability for me to get into the early songs off of the record. Its tough for sure, but the strength of the second half of the album make up for that in a huge way. I enjoy this record a ton whenever it gets a spin here so I appreciate the rec.

Enter the Wu Tang (36 Chambers) receives an 8.5/10

Standout Tracks: Method Man, Protect Ya Neck, Wu Tang: 7th Chamber/Conclusion

Weaker Tracks: Bring Da Ruckus, Clan in da Front

A classic to some but a great record to me. Welcome to the Hall of Fame DwnWthVwls

The Batlord · 01-05-2016, 10:04 PM

Quote:

The first couple of tracks though like Bring da Ruckus and Clan in Da Front aren't really doing it for me. I guess its the flow of the narrative in these tracks that seem a little boring to me. Narrative is key for me when it comes to hip hop and rap and this album can sometimes struggle with that. I feel I may be a bit ignorant to the subject matter of the album, gang violence and society of that time, but I won't hurt the album for it. Instead I praise it for tackling such issues and weaving a narrative that listeners could easily follow. It's cool to think about.

They might be considered a gangster rap group, but I see those as trimmings on an old school, 80s rap group who just raps about how they can rap better than you. They've got the odd song that's about social issues, but by and large they don't have much to say. Lyrically, they're just about having fun with wordplay.

Ilistentoeverything · 01-05-2016, 10:24 PM

Gregory Alan Isakov - The Weatherman

Trollheart · 01-06-2016, 04:02 PM

Just a small point: you have the PoS album title shown as Remedy Land, when it's Lane...

The Identity Matrix · 01-07-2016, 10:33 PM

^^^

Fixed

Expect quite a few reviews this coming week. I have Bowie at the top of my list to do here and my main journal.

The Identity Matrix · 01-08-2016, 10:56 AM

What a way to start 2016...

Blackstar by David Bowie

Year: 2016
Genre: Art Rock/Progressive Jazz
Nationality: English

The Review: I am a big Bowie fan. I just wanted to preface this review with that in case you want to take my review with a grain of salt or not. I try to be as unbiased as possible so bear with me on this one. From Aladdin Sane to Ziggy Stardust to the Next Day to now Blackstar I have hit up every before now and after work that Bowie has produced and released under his moniker. Each album has a little something new for me to enjoy. I am not going to say his discography is perfect, because it most certainly is not, but I will say I enjoy it immensely. Blackstar is something that I was not expecting. The sounds and lyricism and atmosphere on this record was something that blew me away. Obviously my first taste of the record was the title track's spacey jazz influenced experimental sound that I was hoping that it would represent the overall record. Well it did, but not in the way I was expecting it to. This album is driven by the progressive and free jazz instrumentation that dominates the tracks on this record. But the spacey atmosphere of Blackstar never leaves. From the haunting delivery of Girl Loves Me and the wondrous Lazarus I see a very cohesive style surrounding the album. Something that doesn't always happen with these kinds of records. There are some expletives on this record which can be sometimes a turn off for me. But only if they feel forced. On here it feels like these tracks are completed by them. I did get lost between the tracks Girl Loves Me and Dollar Days. On the first listen I couldn't actually differentiate between the two tracks. I do not like that when that happens as it makes the album at that point feel too cohesive. I need to be able to distinguish between each track. However that doesn't make either track weak in any way shape or form. I enjoy the single power of Sue (Or in the Season of Crime) and it might be my favorite song, at least for right now, off of the album. I cannot stop listening to this record, and I need to because of other reviews. Excellent instrumentation, thoughtful lyrics, beautiful atmosphere... You cannot go wrong with that combination.

Blackstar receives a 8.9/10

Standout Tracks: Blackstar, Lazarus, Sue (Or in the Season of Crime), I Can't Give Everything Away

Weaker Tracks: I guess Dollar Days would be the only track I don't see myself listening a ton too.

If this were too be the last Bowie record... what a send off... Thats all I can say...
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01-05-2016, 10:24 PM	#57 (permalink)
Ilistentoeverything Bread scientist Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Everywhere Posts: 166	Gregory Alan Isakov - The Weatherman __________________ In war, not everyone is a soldier.

01-06-2016, 04:02 PM	#58 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Just a small point: you have the PoS album title shown as Remedy Land, when it's Lane... __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018