Five & Five on Friday 9/15/23
New gigs and new blogs
Happy Friday! Congratulations on making it to the end of the week. As you head into your weekend, here are five recommendations and then five micro reviews of albums from my high school CD collection. Maybe you’ll find something new to read, listen to, or do this weekend. See you next week!
Hey, did you hear? I’m drumming for BELLOWS on September 23rd at Alphaville! Frank “Friend of Music” Meadows has returned from his North Carolina expedition, so we’ll be operating at full musical capacity. Expect fresh tunes!
If your desire for rock is not satisfied next weekend, I’m playing drums for Dan Rico at Union Pool on September 29th! We’ve made some minor tweaks to our set and sound since the first show and we’ll be ready to get you grooving for the whole weekend.
While on vacation in August, I realized that I was the only member of my extended family that still listens to full albums instead of playlists. This made me feel like a total weirdo. As such, I found this recent issue of Penny Fractions about the rise of the playlist in the music industry very interesting. I especially liked David Turner’s reflections on the demise of music criticism. Can’t wait for part 2!
Charlie Dore-Young, DIY lifer and former high school classmate of mine, recently launched his own Substack with an essay about the importance of truly independent music spaces in NYC and reflecting on the closing of many such spaces over the last few years. Check it out!
On I whim I decided to google Patrick Roesle, author of The Zeroes and All The Lonely People, to see what he was up to these days. I was delighted to discover that Roesle has ALSO launched a Substack. Roesle’s old blogspot was a huge influence on me as I was getting my blogging sea-legs, so I this was a pleasant surprise. From what I’ve read so far he’s only gotten sharper as a thinker and critic since those days.
Now, onto the five micro reviews. Long time Lamniformes Instagram followers will recognize these from my stories back in late 2020, however they’ve been re-edited and spruced up with links so that you can actually hear the music instead of just taking my word for it.
The Whirlwind by Transatlantic (2009) - Progressive Rock
A single 77 minute long song by a prog supergroup whose most famous member is Mike Portnoy (formerly of Dream Theater) on drums. Maximalist in every sense. That I owned and enjoyed this record in college makes me incapable of ragging on jam band fans. This has the same “posi-vibes” / “noodle for the sake of it” energy. A lot of it holds up as throughly composed and well executed prog rock with a radio sheen, but the final 12 minutes just tank the whole thing. It could have ended on a high note but they had to fizzle out in ballad hell instead. A shame.
Ghost Reveries by Opeth (2005) - Progressive Metal
My first Opeth record! This album completely reoriented my view on what was possible in heavy music. I spent that first listen in total awe, and it’s still a thrill today. Though lyrically framed by a story of hauntings/demonic possession, it’s really the music that moves the narrative forward. Listening to the band twist and turn through each song feels like traveling through a decrepit estate, leading to a spine-tingling discovery at the finale. Top tier metal imo.
Scattered Ashes: A Decade of Imperial Wrath by Emperor (2003) - Black Metal
Another greatest hits compilation. I picked this one up because I had heard that the later Emperor records were spotty, so I figured that getting a taste of what they were like might save me some cash. Of the Norwegian second wave scene, Emperor were always my go-to. Lots of cool interlocking guitar parts and twisty compositions. I think this collection actually sums up their best stuff pretty neatly, nice job!
10,000 Days by Tool (2006) - Progressive Metal
When this one dropped I remember a lot of Tool fans (at least on the internet) were disappointed. I even saw some conspiratorial posts about there being a “real” album that would drop a week later. Not sure what the fuss was about, I guess people expected a bigger change in their sound? Who knows! I actually liked this one more this time around. Killer playing, especially the bass parts. The funny sections are actually funny, and the meditations on grief and Christianity are a nice balance to MJK’s general cynicism.
Delirium Cordia by Fantômas (2004) - Avant Garde
The first Mike Patton project I checked out. I really jumped right into the deep end lol. The Slayer connection (Dave Lombardo plays drums for Fantômas) sweetened the deal but didn’t prepare me for what I’d bought. This is basically a through-composed narrative symphony about being operated on in a surgical theater. Berlioz-esque, if Berlioz grew up on jazz, westerns, and death metal. One of the few rock albums that credibly earns its David Lynch comparisons. It’s real good.