Chat Pile: Cool World (2024)

“I AM DOG NOW!” Those words, over that music…that might be the most repeated lyric I shouted out in 2024. And to think Chat Pile were a band that, until now I had a cool admiration for but from a distance, their breakout 2022 album God’s Country impressive but leaving me somewhat cold. At the time. Because there was just something about Cool World, the Oklahoma City noise rock quartet’s new album that not only turned me completely around, but shed new light on their previous output and turned me into a dedicated fan. I am dog now, indeed…

ChrisDecember 19, 2024December 19, 20241 Comment

Vinyl

Papangu: Lampião Rei (2024)

Work has me under the gun so I’m going to cheat a bit to talk about the wonder of progressive/avant-garde/death metal hybrid machine Papangu, whose sophomore album Lampião Rei takes an abrupt left turn from their already weird and wonderful debut Holoceno in 2021. The outfit, hailing from João Pessoa, Brazil are brazen and utterly heartless when it comes to smashing genres together, juxtaposing jazz breaks next to death metal next to traditional Brazilian rhythms and straight up 70s prog from the Canterbury scene. It’s a case of had they gone the full prog route I would have been happy; had they stayed completely metal I would have been just as happy. But in this mixed incarnation I’m bowled over.

ChrisDecember 18, 2024December 18, 2024Leave a comment

Vinyl

Wand: Vertigo (2024)

You ever read a review for an album, and the reviewer makes a comparison to another band that you didn’t think of, and that becomes ALL you can hear afterward? I’ve always though of Wand as this swirling, psychedelic garage rock that started with more of a punk blast off and now with new album Vertigo have settled into this flowing, cinematic psychedelic rock that sweeps you into its currents and takes you on a journey. That all still applies, but now I can’t help but hear how much this also sounds like Radiohead. In the best possible way, of course (I love Radiohead) but it’s slightly frustrating to have that implanted in my brain. It doesn’t capture the earthiness of the songs, or the aural narrative the album leads you through.

ChrisDecember 17, 20241 Comment

Deep Purple: = 1 (2024)

Here’s a hot take even if it’s not a surprise with me: when it comes to Deep Purple, I more often than not reach for the later, Steve Morse era of the band. Sacrilege! Don’t I know that the only “true” Deep Purple HAS to have Richie Blackmore?! No, because honestly despite my enjoyment of early Deep Purple, Blackmore hasn’t had a really interesting riff or idea since 1987, and it’s a disservice to how this band has persevered, crafting intelligent, fun, and stadium-ready hard rock, particularly in the ir most recent decades partnership with Bob Ezrin as producer. With Morse leaving the band in 2022 to focus on his dying wife, the group found a kindred spirit in Simon McBride (formerly of Sweet Savage) to take the guitar reins. It makes for a different beast, but I’m happy to say the awkwardly titled = 1 continues to showcase a band not content to ride into the sunset just yet.

ChrisDecember 16, 2024December 16, 20243 Comments

Vinyl

Willow: Empathogen (2024)

I’ve never been shy about my love for neo-soul and more, jazz-inflected R&B…heck, we already featured two artists in the best of 2024 series that have excelled at this kind of thing for a while now. Still, if you had told me a year ago that come December I’d be listening to the new album from Willow, the daughter of Mr. Jiggy himself, I’d probably laugh and move along. But here we with Empathogen, Willow Smith’s sixth album and return to her initial sound after two albums that stuck heavy to alternative pop/punk and rock. There’s a heavy emphasis on acoustic instruments and her voice, which is lovely whether it’s naked and bare or stacked in lush harmonies. I’m still slightly awed at how much this record speaks to me, and make no apologies for it when the end result sounds as good as this thing does.

ChrisDecember 15, 2024December 15, 20241 Comment

Playlists

(Un)Focused Definition Ep. 28: Death (Metal) From Above

It’s been a week. I found myself when it was all done slumped on my couch in my den, a pile of cassettes I’ve accumulated over the past year, blasting scuzzy death metal to chase away the fog and stress and depression. It worked (to a degree), and I started to think about doing a playlist of just the cassettes I’ve amassed. That’s probably make a future playlist, especially once I start getting down to the business of actually reviewing them, and thinking about why I started collecting cassettes again (nostalgia I’d guess). For now I want to focus on music that’s loud, fast, and filled with filth.

ChrisDecember 14, 2024December 13, 2024Leave a comment

Consuming the Tangible

We are what we consume

Month: December 2024

Chat Pile: Cool World (2024)

Papangu: Lampião Rei (2024)

Wand: Vertigo (2024)

Deep Purple: = 1 (2024)

Willow: Empathogen (2024)

(Un)Focused Definition Ep. 28: Death (Metal) From Above