Community

Man this is such a good show.

As soon as I watched the first episode, I knew I would tear through the season quickly... more than half in one day. I know this will be one of those things that I regret watching so quickly, because it's so good... but hey - it's worthwhile.

Community is kind of half feel-good, half intelligent comedy, but when you have good ol' Ken Jeong (who is the spanish teacher) screaming at people, you know you will get a good laugh either way. It's based around an over the hill cool guy who has to go to community college, meets an ensemble cast- I mean bunch of misfits, and the rest is history.

Go watch it.

Modern Life Is War

Good modern hardcore from Iowa, with a melodic edge similar to many other bands from the last decade or so, but they do it better than most. Aggressive, passionate, thoughtful... what else do you want in a hardcore band?


My Love, My Way
Witness
Midnight In America

NYC... pt II

Part two is here, and what is NY dominating this time around?

Death Metal.

Incantation

One of the heavy hitters in death metal, and leaders of the NY scene, Incantation play a form of death metal that is uncompromisingly heavy. Often their songs feature contrasting tempos that range from breakneck pace, to doom style crush. Basically, they are a great band with some great albums.

Onward To Golgotha

Mortal Throne Of Nazarene

Diabolical Conquest

The Infernal Storm

Immolation

Ok, I know Immolation are from Yonkers, but it's right around the corner from the Bronx so for the sake of this post they will fit under the general term NYC... 

Anyways, Immolation are an amazing band, producing some of my favourite death metal. Such a huge sound, some crazy rhythms, and fantastic drumming from Alex Hernandez (whilst he was in the band). Finely crafted songs, dense atmosphere... just get it already, fuck...

Dawn Of Possession

Here In After

Failure For Gods

Close To A World Below

Unholy Cult

Majesty And Decay

Suffocation

Often referenced as innovators of the brutal death sound, Suffocation were highly influential throughout the 90's and set the tone for much of what became modern death metal. They have the powerhouse drummer Mike Smith too, which is more than a plus.

Effigy of the Forgotten

Pierced From Within

...and that's New York for you. Hopefully I will make my way over there one day.

NYC... pt I

The Big Apple.



What is it good for?

Well, as you could have probably guessed, music. What kind of music though?

Firstly, hip hop. (Shocking, I know)



Basically, I'm all about the East Coast when it comes to hip hop, and New York is the epicenter. The West does have some redeeming artists however, like Del tha Funkee Homosapien, and really I grew up with NWA and 2Pac, but nothing beats the East.

Wu-Tang Clan

Such a ridiculously strong group, and hugely influential. At the time when Dre's G Funk was taking over hip hop for the West Coast, New York, the birthplace of hip hop, needed something big to strike back. The Wu-Tang Clan more than delivered.

As a group, they are amazing, and released an absolute classic:

Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)


Individually, they have between them some of the greatest hip hop albums of all time:

GZA - Liquid Swords

Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...
Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... pt II

Ghostface Killah - Ironman
Ghostface Killah - Supreme Clientele

Mos Def

For a while it seemed like this guy was more interested in being an actor than producing quality tunes, but 2009's The Ecstatic proved he is still one of the best. Mos Def is a favourite of mine because he has a great flow, thoughtful lyrics, but also is very musical. His style seems to work much better with interesting and diverse beats than most out there.

Black On Both Sides

The Ecstatic

Also, Mos Def teamed up with Talib Kweli to form Black Star, a very powerful duo with an amazing album:

Black Star

Nas

Another great who helped restore NYC to power in the 90's, Nas is often seen as the guy with an amazing debut yet quite average career... and that is basically because it is true. Illmatic is widely held as a hip hop essential; a classic. What Nas did after that however... well, we won't even go there. Let's just say it isn't worth your time.

Illmatic

MF Doom

The underground king, Daniel Dumile, better known as MF Doom. Heavily influenced by comic books and weed, this guy has some awesome rhymes, and is a hugely talented MC. He has done plenty of stuff, though here are some highlights.

As MF Doom:

MM... Food

Operation Doomsday

As Viktor Vaughn:

Vaudville Villain

As Madvillain (with Madlib):

Madvillainy

As Dangerdoom (with Dangermouse):

The Mouse And The Mask

He wasn't born in NY but I don't care.

A Tribe Called Quest

Jazzy hip hop with lyrics focusing on social commentary instead of gangsta bravado. Influential, important, talented... I feel like I'm repeating myself. Anyways, it's great stuff.

The Low End Theory

Midnight Marauders

There is plenty of great stuff I have not mentioned, like De La Soul and Public Enemy, but hey - there is still heaps of quality here. 

Stay tuned for pt II, and the next genre of New York dominance.

Wavelets

Sweet band from Florida playing some jangly and twinkly midwest style emo. Considering how relatively unknown these guys are, they are pretty damn good. Comparisons to Algernon Cadwallader, Snowing, etc.

This is everything they have recorded, which the band have actually posted themselves.

Wavelets

Deathspell Omega

I have always been quite unsure of what to think about black metal, as I have always been intrigued by the stories to come out of the genre's beginnings, though unsure if the music is actually any good.

Well these guys sure cleared up that last part for me.

Deathspell Omega are quite a mysterious French band that have an interesting and diverse sound. Lyrically, they are also more sophisticated than your average satanic black metal practitioners. They really are a great band, and definitely changed my mind on what black metal can be.


Mass Grave Aesthetics
Fas - Ite, Maledicti, In Ignem Aeternum
Kenose
Si Monumentum Requires, Circumspice

John Coltrane

Honestly one of the greatest musicians to have ever lived, and one of the most influential. There really can not be enough said about Trane's remarkable talent.

I don't know what else I can say, apart from that A Love Supreme is possibly my favourite album of all time.


Meditations
Ascension
A Love Supreme
Lush Life
Giant Steps
Blue Train

Alpinist

Just got this, and it's awesome. German screamo with a pretty powerful sound; nice and dark.

You should probably get it.

Minus.Mensch

Sea Of Shit

Fuck yeah, get stomping.

Demo

Money Problems

Man I'm running pretty close to being broke, ever since I got a car and started paying for petrol. That and a more expensive phone plan (damn you iPhone!).

There's heaps of stuff I want to buy, like some more records (Jane Doe re-release, some GY!BE), and a record player set-up so I can actually listen to them. Also I need to have my guitar set-up which costs an outrageous price (to get it done well).

Although as I'm thinking "woe is me, and the $20 in my bank account", I can't help but feel like a spoilt brat in a developed nation, whining about not being able to afford the extravagant luxuries in life, whilst others not only in poor, war ridden countries, but in my own country, starve and go cold, struggling through everyday...




But fuck the poor, I need to build my pretentious vinyl collection for online credibility and a sense of self-importance.