Foxy Shazam - Introducing
I only got a grip of this album last week, and since hearing it, I've loved it. I've always been interested in hearing "original" sounding music, and this honestly is the most refreshing musical experience I've had in a long time. It almost felt like a musical hole in my life has been somewhat filled - I've been a sucker for big poppy choruses within well structured music, provided that musically the rest provides. I mean, I can't really describe their genre at all: it's very soul and blues inspired rock, with a lot of pop and progressive parts, along with some pretty damn heavy parts too.
Lyrically, I think they're great too, from the weird lyrical content of "Ghost Animals", to the "I told you so" lyrics of "A Dangerous Man", to the spacey lyrics of "The Rocketeer", there's something for everyone lyrically. I think as well that the album is very appealing to all kinds of music listeners; there's some very nice almost classical-esque piano passages, to the poppy vocal melodies and hardcore screams and high falsetto singing to appeal to the rock listener. It's a very odd mix of genres, but somehow it just makes sense. By the end of the album, I just want to play it again - and that is something I very rarely ever do - it could well be because the album consists of 3 - 5 minute songs.
Whilst I haven't seen them live, they are said to put on a good show, and based on the videos I've seen, they seem to get completely into it, which for me shows they really are passionate about it; which makes this offering even better for me. Instrumentally, they bring a lot of interesting textures, key changes and are able to blend the different musical styles to perfection.
Despite being a short review, I really can't say anything about the music, because it's such a well executed blend of genres - but I highly recommend this for everyone. 5 stars.
An album that changed my life:
Lyrically, I think they're great too, from the weird lyrical content of "Ghost Animals", to the "I told you so" lyrics of "A Dangerous Man", to the spacey lyrics of "The Rocketeer", there's something for everyone lyrically. I think as well that the album is very appealing to all kinds of music listeners; there's some very nice almost classical-esque piano passages, to the poppy vocal melodies and hardcore screams and high falsetto singing to appeal to the rock listener. It's a very odd mix of genres, but somehow it just makes sense. By the end of the album, I just want to play it again - and that is something I very rarely ever do - it could well be because the album consists of 3 - 5 minute songs.
Whilst I haven't seen them live, they are said to put on a good show, and based on the videos I've seen, they seem to get completely into it, which for me shows they really are passionate about it; which makes this offering even better for me. Instrumentally, they bring a lot of interesting textures, key changes and are able to blend the different musical styles to perfection.
Despite being a short review, I really can't say anything about the music, because it's such a well executed blend of genres - but I highly recommend this for everyone. 5 stars.
An album that changed my life:
Deftones - White Pony
This was the 2nd Deftones album I heard (Adrenaline being the first), I was 15 at the time, and it just made a connection with me. The first thing I noticed was that it was a lot more mature than Adrenaline and the song matter and content was very dark, along with Deftones typical heavy rock and interesting rhythmical ideas by guitar and drums. This album not only completely influenced my drumming (Abe Cunningham rocks a lot in this album; his grooving in the songs "Digital Bath", "Korea" and "Passenger" have to this day stuck by me as big influences on my own grooving), but it also inspired my songwriting, and this album led the way for me to explore other albums and bands. It's one album that I still listen to on a regular basis that I did listen to when I was younger.
I didn't fully appreciate the music as much back then I don't think, but when I listen to it now with an enhanced musical ear, and deeper appreciation for mature songwriting, it just clicks with me. Right now, I would say that it is at least Top 5 of my favourite albums of the 21st century, just everything about it works. Chino Moreno's vocals are so emotional at times, and send severe chills down my spine - Change (In The House of Flies) and Teenager are 2 songs that come to mind.
I was glad to see how they broke away from their "nu metal" tag, which I do think was undeserved, it was just by chance that they broke the scene the same time Korn did, thus branding them "nu metal". But, they definitely removed all sense of "nu metal" from this album, and instead were branded with a more respected "mature alternative metal" tag. Whilst this album might not be everyone's cup of tea, whether it be because it's a little too heavy or not heavy enough, I think that it is, on record, one of the most balanced albums of all time - from trippy, spacey, electronica inspired tunes such as "Teenager", and pure balls to the wall "Elite", "Korea" and "Knife Prty", and other great offerings, this album is just, to me, one of the most perfect albums of all time.
I didn't fully appreciate the music as much back then I don't think, but when I listen to it now with an enhanced musical ear, and deeper appreciation for mature songwriting, it just clicks with me. Right now, I would say that it is at least Top 5 of my favourite albums of the 21st century, just everything about it works. Chino Moreno's vocals are so emotional at times, and send severe chills down my spine - Change (In The House of Flies) and Teenager are 2 songs that come to mind.
I was glad to see how they broke away from their "nu metal" tag, which I do think was undeserved, it was just by chance that they broke the scene the same time Korn did, thus branding them "nu metal". But, they definitely removed all sense of "nu metal" from this album, and instead were branded with a more respected "mature alternative metal" tag. Whilst this album might not be everyone's cup of tea, whether it be because it's a little too heavy or not heavy enough, I think that it is, on record, one of the most balanced albums of all time - from trippy, spacey, electronica inspired tunes such as "Teenager", and pure balls to the wall "Elite", "Korea" and "Knife Prty", and other great offerings, this album is just, to me, one of the most perfect albums of all time.
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