Since a large part of my blog lately has been metal-related (and also kind of depressing, with the passing of Mark Reale and Ronnie Montrose), I thought it was time to switch gears a bit and focus on my love for dance-pop music.
I have run across several very talented women in the last year or two who are starting to make waves and I wanted to do my part to help promote them and get the word out. First up is…
JESSIE AND THE TOY BOYS
I first became aware of Jessie Malakouti’s work when I saw J&TTB was opening for Britney on last year’s Femme Fatale tour. Finding her video for “Push It,” I was immediately impressed with the mix of 80s retro and modern dance, kind of like early Madonna filtered through a 2011 timewarp. Even more impressive was her Show Me Your Tan Lines EP, mainly due to the fact that all of the songs were good. “Valentine” is a welcome blast of classic freestyle, while “Money Makes the Girl Go Round” is simply one of the most infectious pop records I’ve ever heard. I’m surprised she didn’t do a video for this track as it really has the potential to be a big hit. “We Own the Night” and the breezy “Summer Boy” are rock-solid cuts, with an edgy remix of “Push It” rounding out the EP.
While a full album is still in the works, J&TTB kept things rolling with a brand new track and video this year, namley the suitably risque “Let’s Get Naughty.”
Although a bit more conventional musically/lyrically, it still has plenty of charm, the video has Jessie looking particularly hot, and most importantly, it features the immortal line, “All my hoes, touch your toes.” As referenced in this amusing bit of silliness:
But the most recent thing to drop was the unexpected song/video “Runaway,” a beautiful ode to love and tolerance in the midst of the current conservative hatefest (aka the GOP primary).
If anyone is poised for a major breakthrough this year, it is Jessie. She’s got the songwriting skills, the voice, the look, the business savvy, and a good sense of how to walk the line between catchy pop and edgy club music. Keep an eye out for the full album (tentatively titled This Is How Rumors Start) soon.
Probably the most dramatic new artist I have run across lately is Porcelain Black. With a look that mixes stripper chic with Hollywood rocker glam and even some classic pin-up (not to mention her long, Cheronian hair), Porcelain certainly has a striking look that stands out from the crowd. Fortunately, her voice is just as wonderfully in-your-face, with a really throaty grit to it that most pop singers utterly lack. Just check out her first video (the guttural delivery around 3:47 is especially satisfying):
One thing I like about Porcelain is the mix of styles, fusing elements of pop, rock, hip-hop and even industrial (mainly on some of the remixes). The overall darker edge of the music and her voice also makes for a nice change of pace in the pop scene. The second single is a bit bouncier but still has a nice sexy edge to it:
Much like Jessie has some earlier material out there under the ‘Jessie Malakouti’ name (check YouTube), Porcelain’s earlier, less pop project ‘Porcelain and The Tramps’ can be found with a bit of searching. Here is a good example of the harder side of it:
The third single is imminent and a full album is supposed to drop sometime this summer or fall. Can’t wait!
If Porcelain has taken the dark side of the industrial/goth sound into the pop realm, then Kerli takes the lighter, more ethereal side of it there. Hailing from Estonia, Kerli has a gorgeous voice that floats elegantly over the dreamy mix of pop, house and synthpop, calling to mind everything from Bjork to Delerium to Depeche Mode. Her look is equally unique, mixing elements of gothic lolita with anime and plenty of home-made platform shoes. And white. Lots and lots of white. The term ‘bubble goth’ that Kerli is fond of using suitably describes both her music and look.
Along with doing her own work, Kerli has already made some impressive waves by writing for other artists, most notably Tarja Turunen and Demi Lovato, going so far as to pen the latter’s big comeback single that got so much mainstream love last year, “Skyscraper.”
Although she already has an album and EP out there, the newer singles “Army of Love” and “Zero Gravity” promise to really take Kerli to the next level. Hopefully a full album is on the way but until then, enjoy some truly otherworldly fashion, art and music in the newest video:
It was with a heavy heart indeed that I read the news of Mark Reale passing away on January 25, 2012. Although it wasn’t entirely unexpected, as he had been in a coma since earlier in the month, it was still devastating in its finality. It has been a rather crazy and depressing month for a number of reasons so I haven’t had a chance to sit down and pen my thoughts until now but that is no reflection of the impact Mark’s work has had on me, rest assured.
I think it is pretty safe to say that Mark Reale is one of the most underrated players in the metal world. He didn’t play with the speed of Yngwie or the flashiness of Van Halen but his solos were always tasteful, melodic and not just complementary to the songs - they actively took them to a higher level. I was lucky enough to see Riot live once in 1990 and his abilities were even more impressive in person. Beyond the musicianship, Mark had a real gift for songwriting, reeling out amazing riffs album after album, from Rock City to Immortal Soul. These were songs that walked that fine line between rock and metal, combining melody and heaviness with the utmost skill. They have provided an integral part of the soundtrack to my life and I will always appreciate that.
Mark was more than just a great guitarist and songwriter, though: he was a true rock ‘n’ roll survivor. When life threw obstacle after obstacle at him, he persevered, keeping the spirit of Riot all the way through to the very end, even encouraging his bandmates to soldier on when it became clear he wouldn’t be able to play the first dates of the Immortal Soul tour. His selfless dedication to the music and the fans will be remembered always and he will be sorely missed.
The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something.
Although 2011 was a terrible year for movies, it was a very good one for music, especially metal. While the hipster crowd wet themselves over the likes of Mastodon, Liturgy and Ghost, there were actually quite a few truly great albums in the classic heavy metal vein to be had. My tastes tend toward the European flavor of rock and metal but I actually found quite a few American bands making my list this year, too, which was a nice surprise.
Anyway, here are my choices for the best heavy metal and rock albums of the year…
20. VEKTOR – Outer Isolation
Although I don’t think it is quite as strong as their debut, Vektor still manage to create a thoroughly engaging mix of progressive blackened thrash that does old-school Voivod proud.
19. NIGHTWISH – Imaginaerum
Much like Vektor, this album suffers mainly from comparisons to its predecessor, which in this case was the monstrously excellent Dark Passion Play. Still, there is plenty to love here and “Slow, Love, Slow” is one of the coolest tunes the band has penned to date.
18. PENTAGRAM – Last Rites
One of those rare ‘legendary’ bands that actually deserves the acclaim, it is great to see Victor and Bobby back together again. Best of all, it still sounds 100% like Pentagram, with probably the best production they have ever had.
17. ALICE COOPER – Welcome 2 My Nightmare
It’s been a long time since I really enjoyed an Alice Cooper album (that would be The Last Temptation in 1994), but somehow revisiting the Welcome To My Nightmare mojo has actually turned out a solid, diverse and highly enjoyable record. Plus it features a duet with my favorite pop sen$ation of the moment…
16. ANTHRAX – Worship Music
Here is another act that hasn’t released a truly great record in a couple of decades, although We’ve Come For You All had some cool tracks. Sure, there are still a few throwaway tracks here, but the majority are quite strong and Joey’s vocals have not sounded this good since Spreading the Disease.
15. BRAINSTORM – On the Spur of the Moment
I’ve loved these guys ever since hearing Soul Temptation and both Liquid Monster and Downburst are among my favorite power metal albums ever. Memorial Roots in 2009 was a bit of a disappointment, but thankfully things have improved again with this one. It is still a bit more restrained and melodic than the older material but the quality of the songs is consistently high.
14. ANVIL – Juggernaut of Justice
My first encounter with these Canadian nuts was buying the album Metal on Metal back in 1983, due in large part to the awesome album cover, which was totally fucking METAL! Loved those first four albums, but kind of lost interest a bit after Pound For Pound, until Back To Basics rekindled it. JoJ is not their best but it is still quite good.
13. HELL - Human Remains
I can still remember reading about these guys in Kerrang! back in the day, thinking it must take some balls to adopt a name like Hell for your band. Unfortunatley, I never got to hear them but I did fall in love with Sabbat, who were massively influenced by them, and it is no surprise to hear a lot of the same kind of complex, heavy and theatrical metal here (not to mention Andy Sneap on guitar and twiddling the knobs).
12. FALKENBACH - Tiurida
Falkenbach is one of those bands that can repeat essentially the same formula on each album and still create awesome and inspiring works of art. One of the first acts to take what Bathory created on the Viking albums and take it to a new level, Falkenbach is always the first thing I think of when I hear reference to the genre.
11. SNIFF ‘N’ THE TEARS - Downstream
This is the first album on my list that has nothing to do with metal, but Paul Roberts has created several great records over the last 30+ years and Downstream is one of the best yet. There is a brooding sense of melancholy on songs like “Black Money” and “Pray” that is utterly captivating. Great lyrics, great tunes.
10. ANTICHRIST – Forbidden World
These Swedish thrashers came to my attention thanks to Fenriz’ ‘Band of the Week’ and their brand of old-school, dirty, blackened thrash is just infectious. Had to get this one on vinyl, of course!
9. SLINGBLADE – The Unpredicted Deeds of Molly Black
This unusual female-fronted band from Sweden came to my attention via High Roller Records excellent mailorder and I’m glad they did. Although a concept album, it plays like a great collection of old-school metal songs that rock in a great early-80s way.
8. ALICE IN VIDEOLAND - A Million Thoughts and They’re All About You
I discovered AiV through Wikipedia of all places, looking at the list of music groups in Sweden. Once I saw the video to “Cut the Crap,” I was hooked and have loved just about every single song the band has recorded to date. This is actually my least favorite of their four albums so far but it still rocks with their unique blend of new wave rock and electro-dance pop.
7. SAXON – Call To Arms
2011 was really a ‘return to form’ year for many bands (Anthrax, Alice Cooper, Riot, etc.) and it was certainly true for NWOBHM survivors Saxon. Recent albums have been good (esp. The Inner Sanctum) but Call To Arms is classic Saxon heavy metal, with a just a few modern touches to keep it current. The songs really speak for themselves, though, with some of their catchiest and most diverse tunes in ages.
6. HAMMERFALL – Infected
I’ve always had a soft-spot for HammerFall and (with the exception of Chapter V) love all of their records. Much has been made of the darker, more modern artwork and production on Infected, but at its heart, this is still very much a classic heavy metal album in the HammerFall tradition.
5. PORTRAIT - Crimen Laesae Majestatis Divinae
After a really promising debut, these Swedish metallers lost their vocalist and had to quickly regroup. Fortunatley, they found an even better replacement and produced this top-notch opus, taking their King Diamond influnences to the next level.
4. MIDNIGHT CHASER - Rough & Tough
Another great Heavy Artillery band (see also Vektor, Sign of the Jackal, Spellcaster and Volture), Midnight Chaser are curious throwback to the days when the line between hard rock and heavy metal was pretty blurry. Straight-forward songs about drinking and hooking up never sounded better.
3. CAULDRON – Burning Fortune
Altough not quite as brilliant as their debut (and with a slightly thinner production), Burning Fortune is still a great album that can shift from melodic Scorpions rockers to Exciter-styled speed metal without missing a beat. Cauldron are all about the riffs but there are plenty of memorable vocal melodies here, too.
2. IN SOLITUDE - The World.The Flesh.The Devil
Where Portrait take their cue from King Diamond, In Solitude are more of the Mercyful Fate persuasion, with complex arrangements and pitch-black themes. The band’s debut held promise but this one.. damn! Destined to be looked back upon as a classic, if not a defining album of its time.
1. RIOT – Immortal Soul
I’m not sure what else to add to my glowing review elsewhere on this blog but, if anything, my estimation of this album’s genius has only grown since writing that. Everything that made Thundersteel great is here, cleaned up and perfected, and I really hope they manage to play somewhere in the NW on the upcoming tour. Long live Riot!!
In addition to these twenty great releases, I was also suitably impressed by new albums this year from ARCH ENEMY, MOONSORROW, WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM, EINHERJER, TOXIC HOLOCAUST, SPELLCASTER, and OZ, plus some others I am probably forgetting. Like I said, it was indeed a great year for rock and metal (not to mention dance, electro and pop music, but that’s another blog post…).
top albums of 2011, heavy metal, rock, vektor, nightwish, pentagram, alice cooper, anthrax, brainstorm, anvil, hell, falkenbach, sniff 'n' the tears, alice in videoland, antichrist, slingblade, saxon, hammerfall, portrait, midnight chaser, cauldron, in solitude, riot,
It’s been a while since I attended a show at El Corazon (since Accept in April I think), but there was no way I could miss this line-up. Originally Ghost were to perform as well but got nixed due to visa problems, the upside of which is I was able to stay for the entire show and still make the last bus home.
I arrived a bit late but still managed to catch the last two songs by Christian Mistress, an Olympia-based (?) band who are a bit hard to pin down stylistically beyond ‘metal’ but that is a good thing in this case. One song was a bit doomy, quite heavy, while the other was a more upbeat rocker, reminding me of the first Warlock album with a bit more Maiden influence. Good band all around and vocalist Christine Davis has a strong and unique voice that serves the band well.
Junius were a little more focused in their sound but also a little less interesting to my ears. They combine melodic elements of alt-rock with leaden slabs of metal, following pretty much the same formula for each tune. The result reminds me a bit of modern Katatonia, with an approach that is at once heavier and less metal, if that makes any sense. I am not knocking Junius because they are quite good at what they do, but none of the songs really engaged me on an emotional level. The visceral impact of their sound is hard to ignore though.
Alcest couldn’t have looked more different, resembling more of a stoner rock outfit than the indi-rock aestehtic Junius projects. The band play with a no-nonsense nonchalance that is rather disarming, as they reel off these long, atmospherically charged black metal compositions that shift from clean and melodic to blinding blastbeat with unnerving grace. Although Alcest seem like the kind of band best enjoyed in a darkened room with good headphones, the live version of the band gives the music a whole new vibe that is just as compelling.
I must admit, I haven’t followed Enslaved’s more recent work with as much enthusiasm as I did early discs like Eld and Blodhemn, but after this show, I have a whole new respect for these guys. Enslaved has been going for 20+ years and the experience really shows as they delivered one helluva tight set, injecting as much energy and heaviness into the new songs as the old. Sevearl cuts from Axioma Ethica Odini made an appearance, with “Giants” in particular sounding just unbelievably heavy. Enslaved is one of those bands that does not rely on image or gimmicks to make an impact, it is all done with well-crafted compositions and an execution that is confident, brutal and most of all, alive. I don’t know how else to describe it, but certain bands have a way of bringing their music to life on stage that really transcends anything on their albums. Bands like Immortal and Moonsorrow have impressed me in this manner in the past and Enslaved were right there with the best of them. As much as their more recent output has taken on progressive tendencies, there is no doubt you are witnessing a METAL band from the very first note to the last. Even the encore of Zep’s “Immigrant Song” was elevated to a new stature, definitely the best and most physical version of this song I’ve ever heard. It may have taken them twenty years to get a headlining show here in America but, damn, it was well worth the wait!
NIGHTWISH – Imaginaerum
PENTAGRAM – Last Rites
ALICE COOPER – Welcome 2 My Nightmare
ANTHRAX – Worship Music
BRAINSTORM – On the Spur of the Moment
ANVIL – Juggernaut of Justice
HELL - Human Remains
FALKENBACH - Tiurida
SNIFF ‘N’ THE TEARS - Downstream
ANTICHRIST – Forbidden World
SLINGBLADE – The Unpredicted Deeds of Molly Black
ALICE IN VIDEOLAND - A Million Thoughts and They’re All About You
SAXON – Call To Arms
HAMMERFALL – Infected
PORTRAIT - Crimen Laesae Majestatis Divinae
MIDNIGHT CHASER - Rough & Tough
CAULDRON – Burning Fortune
IN SOLITUDE - The World.The Flesh.The Devil
RIOT – Immortal Soul
