Wanted to do something different today. It’s my birthday, and I already built a playlist last week celebrating a bunch of great music that came out during the year of my birth. But the music of 1973 isn’t what made me into who I am now – that’s an ever-growing, ever-evolving store of musical moments and memories. And so I wanted to make another playlist, of the songs that inspired me, moved, me, marked significant moments of my life.
Continue reading “52 Reasons Why”
Not sure what to call these entries that are more just the music I’ve been listening to over the course of the week, so expect some playing around a bit. Besides the physical stuff I listened to, it’s also a bit of new release music I will probably (inevitably) end up purchasing in some form or another, especially as it relates to the two in the title. Anyway, also RIP to John Sykes whose guitar work was always incredible no matter what killer band he was a part of. I also just realized there’s some rhyme in my title so let’s quit while we’re ahead and get to the playlist.
Continue reading “(Un)Focused Definition Ep. 34: The One With FKA Twigs and Dax Riggs”
“Where would you be, without music?” It starts with Tipton’s guitar, panned hard right laying out the basic riff. On the next measure John Hinch’s kick comes in, reinforcing the beat. Downing’s so eager to get into it you can hear his amp kick in, the hum warming up before the pick slides and one of the most famous dual guitar lineups in heavy metal history join together. But Rocka Rolla, the debut by the immortal, the forever Judas Priest really starts with that lyric, maybe the greatest opening lyric in modern rock history. And while the opening salvo from the Metal Gods largely gets overshadowed by literal decades of incredible albums, including a sophomore powerhouse that would solidify their stature, it’s important to remember, 50 years on, where it all started.
Continue reading “Judas Priest: Rocka Rolla (1974)”
Last playlist of the year is all metal. On Thursday I released my Nine Circles Honorable Mentions, and it’s a beast: 25 albums that moved and rocked me in some way. So similar to last week’s (Un)Focused Definition this is going to focus on those albums, with the final, “official” best of metal list coming in the first year of January, and then my “all-in” playlist accompanying the year-end round up post here, sometime in mid-January. I want to say I’m looking forward to getting back to older albums again, but the truth is there were so many great records released this year I’m having a blast going back and revisiting them all. So grab your denim vest, don your spikes, and let’s get heavy for round #2 of great 2024 metal.
Continue reading “(Un)Focused Definition Ep. 30: Best of 2024: Metal Honorable Mentions”
Yup. Every week for the last six months I’ve put out a playlist. I don’t know how many people actually read or listen to them, but I’m glad I kept the consistency up. The other thing I’ve kept up is buying more and more records and CDs; there will never be enough time to listen to them all. Maybe I’m hoarding for that time when I’m bed-ridden and this is all that will be left to me. maybe this morning for some reason I’m just more morose than usual; I’ve got a head cold and eating way more than I should. A morning walk with these tunes, recent purchases that need digging into might put a foothold or two in the pit.
Continue reading “(Un)Focused Definition Ep. 26: Six Months of This?!”
9/22/2024 UPDATE: Don’t ask me how, but in my bleary, exhausted attempt to get Episode 16 out on time, I somehow wrote over Episode 16’s post instead of simply copying the post and using it as a template. So the TL;DR version: for the rest of September and probably most of October I will be participating in the annual Hooptober Horror Marathon, watching and writing reviews for 34 horror films based on a number of rules and criteria that change each marathon. Yo can see my list and the rules that built it here, and follow along over at Cinema Dual. In the meantime I’ll still be getting these playlists out, and will try to do a few capsule reviews in the meantime.
We’ll be back to normal programming in November!
Continue reading “(Un)Focused Definition Ep. 15: Horror Hiatus (A New Definition Shuffle)”
Consuming the Tangible 